Woo! Another chappie! We having fun yet? I sure am!
Disclaimer: Hiro Mashima-sensei owns all rights to Fairy Tail (or at least most of them because I sure as anything don't…).
Hey There… Ch. 14
The next month or so went without much incident for Lucy. For Juvia and especially Gajeel, however, they were trying their best to be accepted by the guild and were subjected to lots of ridicule. Lucy tried her best to make them feel welcome, but it was slow going. She did manage to get Levy on board though, and that in it of itself the blonde deemed as an accomplishment.
"Luce! We need to go on a job!" Natsu shouted playfully as he came up behind Lucy again while she was eating.
"Natsu, I'm trying to eat! Go pick out a few you think I would like that you wouldn't mind doing okay? I'll be right behind you," Lucy said after she finished her mouth full. Lucy sighed and shook her head in wonder as her partner sauntered off with almost childlike glee.
"You so like him," a voice behind Lucy said knowingly, causing the blonde to jump.
"Eh?!" Lucy squeaked as she quickly turned in her chair to face a smug Mirajane Strauss. "Me? Like that pink haired goofball? That's-"
"Luce! I thought I told you that my hair color was salmon!" a hurt Natsu cut in over the dull roar of the daily guild hall proceedings.
"Fine SALMON haired goofball," Lucy grumbled loudly and the pinkette was satisfied, turning back to look at the mission board.
"See? You're catering to his whims! You're totally into him!" Mira exclaimed as hearts appeared in her eyes.
Someone please save me Lucy thought frantically to herself as she gulped in face the dreaded match making face.
"Natsu! Lucy! Gray! I require your assistance!" Erza commanded and the trio who had their names called perked up their ears in interest and caution.
Why is Erza calling on us three? Doesn't she usually go on missions by herself? Lucy thought as she joined Erza and the two males in the back of the room.
"Master has told me of this new mission and I feel like I will need your assistance for it," Erza began once everyone had settled around.
"What are we going to be doing?" Lucy asked as she propped up her head with her hands on the table and glanced at the two males on either side of her.
"We're going to be investigating some ruins in the east that have to do with the ancient tribe of the Nirvit. The word is that there have been some dark guilds seeking refuge over in that area. Before we set out to investigate the ruins, we will meet up with some ally guilds at one of their remote bases. Any questions?"
"Can I come too?" Wendy exclaimed as she rushed over to meet them. "I came from there originally and if we are teaming up with Lamia Scale, then I could run into my friend Chelia…" Wendy trailed off as a soft pink graced her delicate cheeks.
"That is a great idea Wendy!" Erza said and smiled warmly at the little bluenette while patting her on the head. "Having a mage who specializes in support magic will also help tremendously in battles. It would be wonderful if you would come with us."
"Okay, now I have a question, which allied guilds will be coming with us?" Lucy asked.
"Let's see… There will be Lamia Scale and Blue Pegasus," Erza firmly replied and Natsu and Gray paled.
"Damn, we're going to see him for sure," Gray groaned as he covered his face with his hands.
"I was hoping I'd never have to smell that man again," Natsu shuddered and gulped.
"What are you two talking about?" Lucy asked the males with an eyebrow raised.
"Oh… I forgot that it was HIS remote home that we were going to be meeting in…" Erza blanched and slapped her cheeks as if to drag herself out of unpleasant memories.
"Who are you talking about?" Lucy tried again.
"Do we have to expose pure, innocent little Wendy to him? …I'm pretty sure Lucy is used to it considering her looks-"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean Gray?" Lucy deadpanned.
"I didn't mean anything by it!" Gray quickly amended, waving his hands in front of him and gulping as he glanced at Lucy. "I just don't want sweet Wendy to be scarred by his persona…"
"I hate to burst everyone's bubble, but working in the hospital did that to me years ago," Wendy deadpanned and the entire table shifted their eyes to the bluenette.
"EH?!" was the collective's eloquent response. Gray and Lucy fell out of their chairs while Natsu's soul left him and Erza slammed her fist down on the table in righteous fury.
"Who besmirched this innocent girl's virtue?" Erza roared as she grabbed Natsu by the scarf and shook him for good measure.
"Nooo! Not poor Wendy!" Gray exclaimed as his soul left him as well.
"What in Mavis' name is going on?" Lucy cried out in frustration as she tried to get some answers. "Did you guys actually think that working in a hospital would be all sunshine and rainbows? And why the hell is this nameless guy you keep mentioning so formidable?"
"Let's just say that Ichiya is… an INTERESTING character…" Gray said lowly and upon hearing the man's name, Erza promptly fainted.
"Do you guys have any idea how many depraved people come in and out of the hospital?" Wendy asked and the trio still conscious stared at the small bluenette in horror.
"I think that's quite enough out of you three!" an annoyed voice sniffed and a white cat hopped up on the table next to Wendy.
"Oh Charle! I was beginning to wonder where you went to!" Wendy exclaimed with glee as she hugged the white cat.
"Oh hush now!" Charle half-heartedly scolded as a faint blush crept up her cheeks. "I wasn't anywhere special…"
"Charle!" Happy called out and zoomed to the table on his wings. "Please accept my fish!" the blue cat said and knelt on one knee to offer the she cat a fresh salmon. Charle took one look at the offering and turned up her nose in disgust, leaving a sad Happy to sulk over to Natsu.
"Maybe next time buddy," Natsu murmured in a low voice as he scratched his blue haired friend behind the ears in solace. Lucy couldn't help but smile at her partner's attempts to soothe the cat.
"Okay, where were we in our briefing?" Erza asked as she roused herself out of her stupor.
"Talking about the different guilds that we were going to be working with," Gray said wryly as he was once more reigned into the conversation.
"Right. Well we will be meeting them tomorrow afternoon at the designated location in the East. The mansion is on the outskirts of town so as to not arouse suspicion. I want everyone packed and ready to go in three hours. We'll meet up at the train station at 8 p.m. and ride the night express to the nearest town since they don't have an airport," Erza announced and then stood up.
"Damn, not the train," Natsu said and paled slightly, causing Lucy to giggle.
"Oh come on Natsu! I don't think it will be too bad. Don't you have any motion sickness medicine that you can take or get Wendy to give you some type of anti-sickness spell?"
"Wendy's troia doesn't affect me anymore," Natsu said helplessly and he flopped onto the table in despair. "The motion sickness drugs have never worked on me either… I've always used Happy or my own two legs to get to my missions."
"You look absolutely pathetic," Lucy said with a chuckle and got up from her own chair to start packing.
"He's always been pathetic when it comes to transportation," Gray smirked as he started heading for his own apartment.
"Fight me you popsicle bastard," Natsu growled as he hopped up to challenge Gray. The ice mage's response was a lunge in his direction and Lucy and Wendy looked on briefly in amusement before walking up to their respective dorms.
"I'm excited to get to see you in action," Lucy gushed to Wendy as they climbed the flights of stairs together.
"Thank you Lucy-san! I'm quite curious to see how your magic has been improving as well!" Wendy chirped with a sweet smile.
"Well, I hope that I won't be a hindrance to you guys in battle," Lucy nervously chuckled as she put a hand on her key pouch at her hip. Since she had arrived at Fairy Tail, she had gained two golden keys and five silver keys to her arsenal. None of her silver keys could help her in battle, and Aquarius was finicky at best, which left Taurus, her newest (and most perverted) spirit so far as her mainstay of support while fighting. She mainly had to rely on her steadily improving whip skills and her hand to hand combat training that she received from Natsu.
"I'm sure that any help you provide will be great!" Wendy beamed at the blonde and Lucy couldn't help but smile in response.
As they stepped onto the landing of the top floor, the two parted ways and Lucy let herself into her apartment to start packing. I think I should take a shower first Lucy thought to herself after she surveyed her closet for clothes. Without further thought, she started the water, stripped and started getting out toiletries and makeup that she would pack and wear on their trip. As soon as the water got to the right temperature (a little past scalding but not quite to molten lava), she stepped in and enjoyed the hot stream of water sluicing over her skin. I don't think it could get much better than this Lucy sighed in contentment as she washed herself and finished up her shower routine. Wrapping a towel around herself, she stepped out of the shower and into her room to find a wild Natsu had appeared in her room.
"What have I told you about coming into my room unannounced?!" Lucy screeched as she Lucy Kicked him into her wall.
"Damn Luce! Why do you have to kick me so hard?" Natsu complained as he picked himself up off the floor.
"Maybe you shouldn't train me. I wouldn't have gotten stronger otherwise," Lucy deadpanned and then realized her current state of dress. "Kya!" Lucy squealed and then dropped down to the floor in embarrassment.
"What's gotten into you?" Natsu scratched his head in confusion as he neared the blonde.
"Don't come any closer!" Lucy groaned as she clutched the towel to herself.
"But you kicked me into the wall not 15 seconds ago ya weirdo," Natsu scoffed and reached out a hand to help the blonde up. Lucy warily took his hand and when she stood up, sighed in exasperation.
"Whatever Natsu. Just go finish packing so that we can leave," Lucy grumbled as she went to her closet to pick out some clothes.
"I'm already packed Luce," the pinkette dryly replied and watched in amusement as Lucy puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.
"Well could you please give me some space while I change?" Lucy said as she moved some blonde strands of hair from her face.
"I don't see what the big deal is; we are partners after all. Plus I hear you mumble in your sleep about people being naked together all the time…"
"W-what?!" Lucy squeaked in mortification as she whipped around to face him, face burning crimson.
"Yeah, almost every morning when I come to wake you up, you're talking about people being naked… Sometimes you talk about me too-"
"Please just get out!" Lucy pleaded and proceeded to shove him out of her bedroom and into her living room, much to Natsu's surprise. Slamming the door behind the pink haired male, she leaned back on it and took in a deep breath. I can't believe I've been talking in my sleep again! I haven't done that in a really long time… I can't believe that Natsu didn't figure out what I was dreaming about! Lucy shook her head to clear her thoughts and then walked back over to her closet to get dressed.
The time soon came for the team to board the train and they were hard pressed to coerce Natsu onto it.
"I don't wanna!" Natsu whined as he clung to a light pole for dear life as both Erza and Gray tried to pry him off without completely destroying the fixture. Lucy and Wendy sweat dropped at the sight while the two exceeds acted like actual cats…
"C'mon Natsu. It won't be so bad once we get going," Lucy tried as she walked over to the struggling trio.
"That thing is death! There's no way you can make me get on that speeding death trap!" Natsu despaired and wrapped himself even tighter around the pole.
"What if I let you sit next to me on the trip and when we get back, I'll cook you whatever you like?" Lucy bribed, hoping he would relent.
"Really?" Natsu stared at the blonde openly and Lucy shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. As soon as Lucy nodded to confirm, Natsu let go of the pole and sauntered into the train car without another complaint. The rest of the group eyed Lucy suspiciously and the blonde tried to pass it off nonchalantly with a shrug of indifference.
"What was that all about?" Gray asked with a smirk, resulting in a returning scowl from the blonde.
"If I knew, I'd be the next queen of this country," Lucy grumbled and then boarded the train herself.
"Might as well get on. We don't want to miss it," Wendy said with a simple smile and walked onto the train with Charle in her arms and Happy trailing blissfully behind. Gray and Erza followed suit and before they knew it, the train departed the station, setting out for their destination.
Man, this is actually turning into a story neh? Wendy's innocence has been lost! O_o Well, in a current era and working in a hospital, I figured it wouldn't have lasted long… One can see some really crazy things in hospitals… And Lucy got busted! Heh heh, she's so perverted and Natsu didn't even realize!
A very special thank you to Alyss Hatter, NaLu and InuKag, and Karsyn1p2 for your lovely reviews! Each of them are very appreciated, and never fail to make my day! :D
Thank you all so much for continuing to read my story! I truly appreciate it and until next time, buh-bye! :D