Author's Note: Here we are! Did you guys know that I love happy endings? Well, I also love this chapter.
You Stole the Rain is the new Gray x Juvia story, an interlude/companion story to Possession. The first chapter shows the results of Natsu and Lucy's bet in chapter 7. Go check it out if you're a fan of Gruvia! I also have a similar Gajeel x Levy story planned for the future, but that is all for the Possession series. Don't worry; Possession is my top priority. You guys are always guaranteed an update. :)
As always, I'm very appreciative of all the support, so thank you to everybody! I hope this chapter lives up to standards. Please enjoy!
Possession by HawkofNavarre
Chapter 13 – Never Been in Love
"If he doesn't buy you, I will," Lucy stated plainly. She ran her fingers through the soft blue locks in front of her, completely straight. She'd done a good job.
"Thanks," Levy giggled, standing up off her chair and twirling around in the school girl uniform she was wearing. She smoothed out her hair in wonder, peeking into a nearby mirror. "I never thought straight hair would look good on me."
"That's because you've never tried it before," the blonde replied casually. She fixed up her own hair into a French braid, uncertain of which style would look best with this odd outfit she'd been forced to wear. It was a long, forest-green skirt with a slit running up to her mid-thigh on the right side. Her shirt was a matching halter that was skin tight and showed off her midriff, and both pieces were adorned with golden patterns. The entire outfit was cute, and she didn't really have a problem with how much skin it showed, it was just…
Why had Makarov chosen the costumes? That thought alone disturbed her more than anything else. In fact, Levy was only wearing that school uniform because she had been told to by Erza. Of course, the ex-quipped, Lucy had discovered, sold their rights to choose their own clothes the minute the master had allowed her to use her bunny costume for the event. Erza was not an easy person to buy over, but she really loved that cursed bunny outfit.
Jeez, that brought back memories of humiliation. She'd been forced to dance for Gajeel's musical number in that very costume…
Whatever, whatever. It was a long time ago. She didn't want to relive that nightmare again.
"So, Lucy, any thoughts on what kind of guy is going to buy you?" Levy asked, applying some foundation to her face.
The stellar spirit mage pondered for a second, dropping herself onto an armchair. This whole thing was a hassle, though she had to admit it was a rather brilliant fundraising idea. It was a silent auction for a date with the female members of Fairy Tail, proposed by Wendy of all people. It was a little irritating, to say the least, that she might have to deal with some creep for a night while the cause of this horrible thing was still too young to date. Wendy was such a sweet and innocent girl; she probably had no idea what kind of guys were out there.
Of course, when most of the males you knew were feral idiots, Lucy might have to reconsider her previous statement.
"Hey, as long as it isn't some creepy weirdo, I don't really care," she muttered as an answer, though she did care.
The thought of Natsu prickled at her mind endlessly. It hadn't stopped ever since that mission where they'd shared a room together. Sparks had flown that night and their chemistry was undeniable. She saw that her partner felt something for her and she'd no longer been able to wave her own feelings away as simple attraction. Natsu had to feel something for her. The blonde was absolutely certain that he did. Nothing else could have warranted the change in him toward her. Now, though, there was a change in her too. An opportunity like a fundraising auction would have excited her had it not been for all these revelations. Getting guys interested in her seemed more like a very troublesome event for her now. She didn't want another guy; she wanted Natsu.
It was odd, thinking that. Her dragon slayer had never really been appealing to her in the way of romantic prospects. In fact, she would have judged him to be possibly the worst boyfriend in the world…but it wasn't true at all. Even as just a friend, he was absolutely spectacular. He did so many things for her that a great boyfriend would do. She was certainly good friends with Mira and Levy and Gray—and that list went on, but nobody else had hijacked a sakura tree for her or caught her when she jumped from a tower or thought about the day she joined their family. To say he was perfect would be totally ridiculous, but if she wanted any more than that in a boyfriend, she was just being greedy.
Still, this was a sensitive subject. Lucy would have much preferred to solve this the day she'd figured out her feelings, but she had to be careful. Natsu appeared to be afraid of his own feelings and she needed to tread lightly if any of this was going to work out at all. They'd both worked so hard to not let those things that happened get between their current relationship, and the last thing she wanted was for him to feel awkward around her.
Life was hard. Forced to date a random guy for a day and unable to force the guy she liked to date her. The universe worked in funny ways.
"Sure you care! You could get a real hottie out of this! I mean, on a shallow level, every guy will want to buy you!" Levy encouraged her optimistically. Boy, that girl was hard to get down.
"Our guild is full of beauties—especially Mira-san," the summoner countered modestly. The only guy who wouldn't dare bid on such a "stupid event" was the one guy she actually wanted to have some time with. Missions were one thing, but a date could really help her entire predicament.
"I think she'll be the one to bring in the most for our guild," the blunette agreed with a nod. "I really hope Master doesn't make any bids…"
"Laxus'll keep him in line," Lucy assured her confidently, but in her mind "I hope" echoed with fervour.
The pair left the bathroom, laughing about the potential couples of their guild and discussing which guys would be cheap or skip out on trying to get their girl for a day for lack of money and which guys would be bringing out the big bucks to win their prize. Lucy may have once been afraid of a brutal Gajeel, but if he didn't pull out all the stops for Levy today, she was going to have words with him. He'd held Levy's heart and done nothing about it for long enough.
Of course, since the single female guild members were the ones who ultimately got the short end of the stick in this fundraiser, the guys were stuck preparing for the event again. Gajeel was rather humorously bunching up a decorative stage curtain, looking quite focused and well-behaved, almost as if he was enjoying the task. Some threads from the fabric had gotten caught in his dark hair as well, creating some rainbow-coloured streaks for the iron dragon slayer.
Too bad she didn't have a camera.
"Maybe I should go help him?" Levy wondered aloud, glancing anxiously at the former Phantom Lord member.
"Yeah, you should so he'll get a good look at what he's missing out on," the blonde agreed for completely different reasons.
"Lucy!" the blunette shrieked in embarrassment.
"Levy-chan," she started seriously, placing her hand on her companion's shoulder, "you can't keep going on like this. He's hurting you by doing nothing. You deserve better."
The solid-script mage peeked down at her feet. "It's…not so easy to let go…"
The summoner rubbed Levy's arm softly. She understood. Emotions could push you into unintentionally hurting yourself when they ran as deep as Levy's. She was just so peeved by the fact that Gajeel clearly knew all his options and picked the stupidest, most damaging one: doing nothing. He knew that Levy was willing to be with him even though he'd hurt her in the past, but for such a fearless warrior, he was quite the damn coward. The least he could have done by now was return her feelings (since it was blatantly obvious he did) or reject them so the poor girl could move on.
Mavis, were all male dragon slayers so emotionally incapable?
Lucy sighed in exasperation. "When he finally decides he wants to keep you, you'd better make him beg."
Levy smiled at her and giggled softly, mumbling a "yeah…" before skipping off to go remove Gajeel's newly acquired "hair". The celestial spirit mage was really hoping that it worked out for her good friend. For some reason, Levy had decided to wait for him, and that in itself was a painful task. She was enduring it for him, so the metal-studded dragon slayer had better man up soon and give Levy the happy ending she deserved.
The stellar spirit mage decided to look for her current object of affection. It only took her a minute to find him as he was setting up tables in front of the stages where the papers for the auction would sit. Gray too was busy nearby, but a certain ex-quipper's presence prevented them from getting into any sort of brawl. Besides, after getting thoroughly beaten by Juvia in light of their bet, Natsu was beginning to pick less fights with the ice mage, and if that wasn't enough, with Erza sitting happily in her bunny suit, nobody wanted to do anything that could change that cheerful mood the redhead was in.
"Hey, how's it going?" Lucy greeted her partner casually as she hopped onto one of the tables the fire-eater had set down and crossed one leg over the other.
"This is boring," Natsu grunted in complaint, "and Erza's there. I'd rather be on a mission."
"A lot of things are better than blowing stuff up, Natsu."
"Like what?" he shot back arrogantly, like there was nothing in the world better than explosions and setting evil guys on fire.
Lucy thought for a moment. Most things she would consider being better than combustion (which was a lot of things, as said) definitely wouldn't make the pyromaniac's list. Natsu was a different kind of animal, but they still had things in common. "Like…love."
He raised an eyebrow in question. She smacked her face with her palm.
Taking a deep breath, she tried again. "Love can be that bond you have with your friends, but it can also be a deep connection to someone that nobody else can replace—like your mate," she explained, his reaction causing her to rethink the prospect that Natsu might feel something for her.
The dragon slayer paused in his work to look at her for a moment. "Doesn't…it hurt though?"
She blinked, not expecting that response. "Eh?"
He seemed to grapple with himself mentally, trying to find a way to express himself. "Doesn't it…hurt when you want someone that doesn't want you? Doesn't it scare you…that—that you could ruin something you already had by making it more? Isn't it strange that someone…could affect you so much that it…changes you? Isn't that more pain than it's worth?"
Lucy sincerely wanted to say something, but she was at a complete loss for words. Why did he seem so conflicted and insecure about this subject? Was this how he really felt right now? Was that why he was so afraid? The man she knew simply didn't speak so pessimistically about anything.
"Forget I said that," the dragon slayer said quickly, shaking his head. "Gajeel tells me weird things."
"It's still better than blowing stuff up," the blonde blurted out, kind of taking his outlook on the subject as a personal offense. She might not share an appreciation for explosions with Natsu, but she refused to let him slander something so important to her. Admittedly, she had never actually fallen in love before, but the idea of having that feeling—the one Levy had—was still a beautiful dream to her. Sometimes it could hurt, certainly, but just being capable of feeling that way for someone was better than not trying at all. She wanted to feel complete. That couldn't come without a price.
"Why?" he challenged quietly.
She glared at him when she failed to produce a sufficient answer. All those reasons she had in her head…would Natsu even understand them? He was different from her; the fire mage didn't feel the need to seek another part of himself. He was perfectly content with being single and could live happily so long as he had his friends. To him, it was enough. For her, it wasn't. Maybe she was greedy, wanting more than the magnificence of what she already had in her life, but she had her reasons, so it was okay. Why would Natsu ever look for more when he didn't want more than what he already had?
"…I'll think of something," Lucy grit out in determination.
She didn't bother looking back at him as she walked away. Knowing that he didn't care for love in the way that she did had been fine. Knowing that he felt so negatively about it made her angry. This was a man she had feelings for. She would show him. She would give him a reason.
Backstage a couple hours later, Lucy was still wracking her brains for something to counter Natsu with. Despite the creepy costume choices by Makarov, all the women looked fabulous. Lisanna appeared to be the only one in a normal dress though, and the blonde suspected that the animagus' older sister probably had something to do with it. Mira could definitely scare a grown man stiff if she so chose.
At that moment, the event was being introduced by Alzack, a man who could hardly be a creep because he was married and had a daughter (that Lucy highly doubted the sharpshooter wanted men to be ogling at in the future). He had enough charisma to be the MC and it was a little comforting knowing that the only other person that would be on the stage with her was unlikely to grope her.
The spirit mage was hardly focused on her surroundings though. She usually revelled at the idea of having attention, but more important things were on her mind. It barely registered when the first of the females was called to walk the stage. This inexplicable need to prove to Natsu that love was worth it had taken absolute control.
Levy was called to walk.
Was he actually convinced that love was such a bad thing—that destruction was better than any pain you had to go through to get that feeling? He was wrong; he had to be. How could she know though? She'd never been in love herself. She'd never fallen so hard for someone that all she knew was that only he could give her that warm feeling—and that that feeling pushed away all the suffering it caused too. How could she know?
Lisanna was called to walk.
She knew because she had felt it before. It came in brief moments, giving her little hints that she was stupid enough to never pick up on. It came when she didn't expect it, arriving so suddenly that she could brush it off as just surprise. It came when he came because he was the one behind it all.
She'd never been in love? Wasn't she in love right now? Didn't that ring she wore on her finger everyday prove it?
Lucy was called to walk.
"Doesn't it…hurt when you want someone who doesn't want you?"
The words echoed through her mind as she strutted to the middle of the stage, so many eyes glistening at the display. Did Natsu want her? She liked to think he did at the moment, but if he didn't, would it hurt? Of course.
"Doesn't it scare you…that—that you could ruin something you already had by making it more?"
The summoner struck a pose, one hand on her hip and one raised high into the air as if reaching for the sky. Getting low, she ran her hand suggestively up the side of her exposed leg back into an upright position, blowing a kiss to the crowd.
She'd worked so hard to keep her friendship with Natsu where it was today. No amount of strain on their relationship had ever prevailed in making them an awkward duo (or trio, if you counted Happy). They were always candid with each other, and cared for one another deeply, perhaps more deeply than a husband and wife. They'd been through fights, physical and emotional, and still came out strong.
So what if she changed that because she wanted more? Not everything worked out and a break up could shatter all that they'd accomplished over the years. All it would take was a second for something so special to fall to pieces.
"Isn't it strange that someone…could affect you so much that it…changes you?"
Lucy deliberately swayed her hips in an exaggerated manner as she walked to the end of the stage.
She supposed it was a bit strange that someone in the world could influence you so much. Once upon a time, she had been the most proper little girl in the world, but as she grew older, the rebellious Lucy had emerged. Even after she'd joined Fairy Tail, some of that proper girl had stuck inside of her though. It had been Natsu who had finally gotten rid of the part of her that was uptight and afraid. He'd brought out the fun Lucy, and he'd taught her what it meant to fight for your friends—and fight for your family. Change…what was wrong with it when it was good?
"Isn't that more pain than it's worth?"
No… It was worth it…because in the end she would have him. Wouldn't it… Wouldn't it be the same reversed?
The celestial spirit mage dashed out into the main floor as soon as she'd gotten off stage. Juvia was making her entrance now and the blonde wasn't even noticed amongst the crowd. She glanced around erratically. He was difficult to find under the blanket of darkness and sea of males. With only the light from the stage, she searched for that familiar rose hair and white scarf. Instead, she located the next best thing standing inconspicuously on one of the auction tables.
"Happy? Is that you?" she asked loudly, trying to be heard over the blaring music.
"Aye!" the cat confirmed cheerfully, holding up a pen in his paws.
"Why do you have a pen?" Lucy enquired curiously.
"Aye!" he simply replied.
She scowled, unsure as to whether or not he'd just been ignoring her or actually hadn't heard her. Knowing Happy though, he was probably doing that just to annoy her. Instead of buying into his act, Lucy focused on her primary objective.
"Never mind. Where's Natsu?" she asked hurriedly.
His brow furrowed in though before holding up the pen and pointing its tip toward the back of the room. "He was standing back there when you were on stage, but I'm not sure where he's gone now."
"Thanks," she breathed, whirling to head in that direction. The summoner paused mid-step and glanced back suspiciously. "Happy, don't do anything bad."
The feline just smiled as he usually did, eyes wide, replying for the third time that day, "Aye!"
The key-user shook her head and continued on her quest dutifully. Her loud companion was most definitely not in the spot he'd been in while she was on stage, nor was he in a nearby hallway or the kitchen or at the bar. She'd been everywhere, even the men's bathroom, and Lucy had some pretty clear boundaries when it came to doing stuff like that. Pondering that idiot's location was getting pretty darn tiring—especially since she was actually supposed to be entertaining guests so that people would want to bid on her. Maybe she wouldn't get any high prices for herself, but she was going to find Natsu!
Returning to the main room had been painful. Several men had stopped her to talk and Lucy had been so distracted that she wasn't quite sure how she'd even blown them off. Maybe she hadn't. Was she still pretending to listen to the same guy? She wasn't sure, but—
NATSU!
I finally found you! The stellar spirit mage celebrated internally. She didn't even bother trying to excuse herself from whatever conversation she was supposed to be in when she saw him. She just moved.
"Where have you been?" the feisty blonde demanded as she stalked up to him.
Natsu looked around slightly nervously, uncertain of the situation. "Uh…around?"
"Whatever," she huffed grudgingly as she backed him into a corner. "I have an answer for you."
Natsu crossed his arms, stubbornly looking away. "I wasn't looking for one."
"It is worth it," the blonde mage told him promptly, ignoring his statement. "Maybe it hurts, or it's scary, or it's weird, but it is worth all that. I know it. I know that feeling."
"So?" he shrugged carelessly. "Why am I supposed to care about that?"
A surge of frustration burst throughout her body. He'd asked her such honest question earlier and now he was rejecting them? Lucy was getting really pissed off. Really pissed off. What was his deal? The only answer she could give him was only applicable if he liked her. Did he even like her?
She didn't know, not for sure, but now was a good a time as ever to find out.
"Do you trust me?" the summoner asked sharply.
The dragon slayer eyed her cautiously. "You know I do."
"Then close your eyes," she commanded him quietly.
He was hesitant. She could practically feel the uncertainty radiating off him. Nevertheless, Natsu did as he was told.
Lucy needed to confirm this and there was only one way to do it.
She didn't remember how exactly she'd done this last time, so she settled for a revised version. The celestial spirit mage moved forward, placing her hands on his shoulders. Her right hand trailed down the side of his muscular arm while her left hand found its way to the back of his neck. She leaned her head against his chest, ear above his heart, listening intently as she weaved her fingers between his. His heart was racing. His hand was hot in hers. He felt so perfect against her.
The blonde playfully stroked the nape of his neck as she felt her own heart kick up a notch. Her own eyes fell closed in contentment, enjoying his warmth and his scent and the feeling of him.
"Tell me you feel something," she whispered, though loud enough to hear over the music and the chatter in the solitude of this dark corner. "Tell me…there's something there."
Natsu remained completely silent, but his hand squeezed hers and he pulled her tightly in with his other. It was the best feeling she'd had in a long time. He was reciprocating, wasn't he? Even if he hadn't said anything, this had to mean that he felt the same way. The way he was clinging to her as if he couldn't possibly let her go said it all. She unconsciously tightened her hold on him in return. She didn't want to let go either. She wanted more.
Lucy pushed against her toes, bringing her right hand up to join the other. She'd been craving this so badly, and right now, just being in his arms wasn't enough. The stellar spirit mage pressed her lips onto his and it was like a reservoir of relief came crashing out of her. She had everything she wanted. Everything.
And suddenly, it all had to be taken away.
An immediate rush of cold hit her when the dragon slayer pushed her away. It took her seconds to process exactly what had happened, and when she finally did, the blonde was thoroughly confused. She looked to her partner and couldn't fathom why he was stand there looking angry and hurt. Had Lucy just imagined how he'd returned her feelings?
"N-Natsu?"
He was a couple of feet away from her now, shaking his head. "Just…just stop. You've proved your point. I get it."
"Wha…?" she breathed in utter bewilderment.
"I believe you, okay? You don't have to do any more," Natsu muttered as he peered at the floor. Once more, he shook his head before he walked off, not sparing her a glance, just as she'd done earlier.
Lucy stood there feeling hollow and confused as she watched his retreating figure. Her mind was blank, even as the tips of his white scarf disappeared from sight. The sound of the music muted as it passed through her ears and the celestial spirit mage was left standing alone with only the lights on the stage illuminating the dark hall where he'd gone.
What in Earthland had just happened?