Chapter Twenty Four: The Price
-X781-
Natsu sat at the edge of the bed, watching a peaceful Freya and Happy sleep. It's been a week since the first day of spring and the hanami party. Since then the three of them agreed to take it easy for the rest of the month.
Freya has pushed herself to her limits between her part time job at the hospital, training, playing concerts once a week, and going on small jobs in between.
He actually had to threaten her with no more hugs, cuddles, or kisses until she took a break. She of course gave in instantly.
He actually just wanted to go on vacation with her. Him and Happy had the perfect idea as well for the three of them to go and we're going to leave tonight on the train. They certainly had the jewels for it, and boy was it going to be an expensive week. Though it seemed Happy had other plans and was going to stay with Lisanna.
The sun shone through the window, radiating Freya causing her to stir briefly, searching for Natsu within the bed until she cuddle the small of her back against his. He heard her sigh softly before going back to lightly snoring.
Natsu smiled for a moment, as he turned and looked at the younger girl. Slowly over the past couple of years, she had grown out of her shell. She was no longer that scared little girl. It seemed he had burned away those fears, and nightmares finally. It had taken all this time, but her heart had finally began to heal. The scars slowly fading. She had even given him his scarf back during the night of the hanami party.
He got up and walked over to the other side of the bed, since Freya now occupied the other side and climbed back into bed laying down on his back as he ruffled his pink hair. It's been almost three years since she had returned to him. He was roughly three years older than her, or so he assumed. He wasn't entirely sure when his birthday was but it wasn't that important to him. Though Freya has found amusement in celebrating his birthday on the first day of summer, since his name means summer. He had finally decided to celebrate her's on the day she first arrived to Fairy Tail, since spring wasn't the best of day for her still.
He turned over eyeing Freya who still to this day slept in his clothes. She has grown so much along with him, and even if she was twelve she was slowly, day by day growing into a young lady. Her baby fat had melted away, replaced by her lean physic that had begun to fill out. She had grown her hair out more, though she retained her side swept bangs and braid.
He would occasionally catch a few strangers eyeing her, and one in particular he almost burned their eyes out. Even now, if he ever seen that lecherous old man without Freya around, he would still do it.
He was somewhat surprised she wasn't up already, as she rose every day before sunrise. He couldn't complain though as he was just happy that she was finally resting.
Freya sat at the bar within the guild hall, tapping her fingers on the smooth wood, shutting out the back ground noise. She couldn't help but feel bored. Day in, day out, she was always busy. Rather it was with her job, or taking job requests with Natsu and Happy, or playing at the request of others. She always cooked, cleaned, wrote new music, and lately and secretly she had begun writing more powerful healing spells for herself. While they were nowhere complete, as her work only had begun in that area, but now with the agreement she made with Natsu she couldn't help but feel bored. She wasn't allowed to do anything, as him and Happy were to take care of everything for the next month.
She wasn't even allowed to practice archery as that required "work" as Natsu and Happy put it. While she didn't rely on it as she once use to, she still enjoyed it. Though her sowing skills have improved, and she's been working on a dress of her own to wear one day.
Her thoughts drifted to the past couple of years. Happy sat next to her, amused at the fight between Natsu and Gray.
Erza recently came an S-class wizard, the youngest ever within Fairy Tail, earning the name Titania from the guild.
Her dull green eyes looked at the different colored bottles of liquor. She was still too young to have a drink herself, but Natsu would sometimes indulge himself. It didn't seem to have too much of an effect on him. No doubt his fire within him burned the liquor away. She wondered if her own body would have the same reaction.
Freya looked over her shoulder, eyeing the fire dragon slayer. He has grown so much over the past two years. He was taller, and had a lean muscular build. Their training and jobs has certainly paid off for him in big ways. He was becoming more well known as Salamander of Fairy Tail.
While her on the other hand, she had a part time job at the hospital, and was paid. No matter how much she protested, in order for her to continue to perform her duties she had to take the pay check. Her reputation as a talented healer gotten out, and now people traveled far and wide to be healed by the Life-binder. A name she wasn't to particularly fond of, but not much she could do about it.
About once a week, she would also play at concerts or dinner parties. In between all of it, her, Natsu and Happy still found time to travel and take on jobs outside of Magnolia. However, much to her chagrin, the master and Natsu wouldn't ever let her pick jobs to far from Magnolia. Not even a day's train ride.
From all of it, the three of them certainly didn't have any worries when it came to money. In fact, from where they would always put it back, from all the jobs they took on, her job at the hospital, and playing her violin the three of them could certainly be considered one of the richer families. Though the three of them actually hid the fact. The three of them didn't ever desire to be thought in such a way. It's just how everything worked out for them. The three of them doing things they enjoyed that just happened to earn them a lot of jewels over the years.
They didn't need the finer things in life, as the three of them only needed each other and their family that was Fairy Tail.
Freya seen the reflection of oncoming flying derby in the liquor bottles and ducked her head. The fight was beginning to get out of hand. As Natsu and Gray's fight had spread unto the entire guild. Freya reached over moving Happy to the side, as a shard of glass flew by his head.
Freya picked up a cheering Happy and held him within her arms as fire, ice, card magic, solid script magic began flying in every direction. Freya finally caught Happy's infectious laughter, and began to laugh with him as the blue cat kicked his legs in amusement.
Even Freya was amused that the fight had even pulled in Levy, Cana, and Lisanna. Though it wasn't all that surprising to see Mira Jane mixed in with it.
With Erza not around and the Master not around for the day due to the local guild meeting with other guild masters, there wasn't anyone around that could reign in the chaos.
Freya thought it was for the best for herself not to get caught in it all as she didn't want to see the guild hall completely go up in flames.
With Happy in her arms, she dodge the chaos by side stepping and weaving her way through. She pushed the back door open, stepping out into the rain. She didn't even know it had started to and stepped back under the door way.
A fog rose from the ground as the cool spring droplets hit the scorched ground. This year was hotter by far, and while it was only spring, one of the rivers in Magnolia started to go down. She couldn't imagine what the summer was going to be like. Though not the heat in particular bothered her or the cold for that matter, she was worried about others having heat strokes.
Freya's ears perked up as she heard Natsu yelling for her to move, which she done so quickly as him and Gray went flying past her landing in the mixture of mud and sand.
Freya turned her head only to see Erza standing in the doorway cracking her knuckles. "Oh, your home early Erza."
Erza's icy glare turned towards Freya, causing her and Happy both to gulp. But the icy facade melted as she sighed. "I see the two of you were the only one not pulled into their shenanigans."
"Aye!"
"Tra..tior…" Natsu looked up at a snickering Happy. He may not had been a part of it, but he was certainly enjoying watching it.
Erza glanced back over at Natsu, who quickly shut his mouth. "What am I to do with the two of you."
"It's only natural for brothers to fight." Freya smiled.
Gray and Natsu shot up both yelling that they weren't, causing the two to bicker again.
Sighing Erza stepped back inside the guild hall, she was understandably a little exhausted from returning from the job request she had taken on. But at least their fight was outside.
'It's odd seeing you around at the guild hall this time of the day." Erza sat down at a stool at the bar, with Freya stepping behind as she reached under the bar, sliding a small refrigerator door open pulling out a fresh strawberry cake. The guild now kept a supply of them for the armored mage.
Sitting it on the bar, she proceeded to cut a slice of the sweet confection. "It feels weird not doing something." Freya sighed as she put the slice onto a plate and sat it in front of Erza who thanked her. Freya quickly walked out from behind the bar, before she caught by Natsu or Happy. "Natsu has it in his head that I've been over working lately."
"You have been quite busy as of late." Erza took a bite out of the cake, humming as it melted within her mouth. "It's important to take it easy once in a while." Erza swallowed.
"I suppose." Freya put her head into her palm, as she pouted. "It's just, well I can't help but feel bored. And I'm worried if the hospital can handle me not being there for a month."
"I'm sure they will manage. They did before you came along." Erza took another bite.
"Yeah." Freya mumbled. Her eyes darted over to the back entrance, with Natsu entering victorious with Happy flying next to him. He was covered in mud and sand head to toe.
"Natsu!" Erza icy glare returned. "Don't walk through the guild like that!"
Natsu looked down and finally noticed he was tracking in mud on the wooden floors. Freya hopped up from the stool and walked over to him. She figured the three of them would go home for the day, as Natsu desperately needed to clean up.
"Have fun!" Happy flew over closer to Natsu wishing him well on his upcoming vacation with Freya. "Cya in a few days, Frey! I'm going to go on a job with Lisanna."
Freya crooked her head and eyebrows in confusion and surprise. Happy has never left Natsu or her side for as long as she could remember. "Happy?" Freya questioned.
Lisanna came up as Happy flew onto her head. "We are taking a special job request that requires us to fish, right Happy?"
Freya felt a mixture of feelings. He was growing up, so it was only natural he wanted to venture out without her or Natsu. He wasn't even gone and yet she had a growing pit of loneliness growing inside her heart. Most would probably think of Happy as their pet, but her and Natsu thought so much more of the blue cat. He was part of their family, their partner. He was true to his name, and brought happiness to her and Natsu. Without the two realizing it, he felt like a son to them both.
Freya felt tears begin to well in her eyes, but she fought them back. "I'm sure you'll catch plenty of fish then!" She smiled. "Just try not to eat all the fish." She reached up and ran her hands through his fur on top of his head.
Happy pushed his head into her hand, rubbing into her hand. He would certainly miss the two of them, but it wouldn't be for long. After all, it was something the two of them needed. Especially Freya. She always pushed herself and never got a moments rest. "Aye."
"Don't worry, I'll keep a close eye on him." Lisanna tried to reassure the worried Freya.
Freya withdrew her hand from Happy smiling softly as she nodded. "I suppose me and Natsu need to get home then."
"Good luck lil' bud!" Natsu grinned as he held his arm into the air, giving the Fairy Tail salute. Freya, Happy and Lisanna done the same as Natsu and Freya walked out the back doors.
The mud was slowly washing off of Natsu as they walked through the streets that were slowly becoming flooded. Freya was soaked to the bone, her hair and light green dress clinging to her body. The soaked dress became darker in color, and only revealed her developing figure.
An idea struck Natsu and he only grinned as he got closer to Freya, who seemed to be lost in thought over the absence of Happy. He quickly wrapped his muddy arm around her waist, and rubbed his face against the side of hers, getting mud and sand all over her.
It brought back memories of all the time she would rub mud all over him or throw it at him. He heard an "eek" as she squeaked, and playfully pushed him away.
As she wiped the mud off her dress, she grabbed a clump and threw it, landing a direct hit to his face. Grinning, Natsu wiped the mud from his face and immediately gave chase to Freya who ran quickly through the streets, the water splashing up each time her feet came into contact with the cobbled stone street.
Once they reached the forest, Freya turned standing defiantly in a mud puddle that was mid-shin deep. Reaching down and digging her hands into the mud under the water, she brought up a handful of mud and threw it at Natsu who dodge it with little effort.
The two of them ran in circles, throwing mud at each other. Some hits landed, some missed.
Without warning Natsu tackled her down into a puddle smirking. "I win." He declared.
Freya pushed him off, and the two rolled around fighting for dominance, as they both got more and more covered in mud.
Eventually it turned into a wrestling match, neither side giving in. Natsu even resorted to tickling Freya on her sides.
No longer able to fight back, as she grew weaker by the minute as Natsu tickled her relentlessly. Her legs kicked as she wiggled. "Okay, okay! You win." She giggled.
Natsu rolled off of her landing in the puddle she laid in. The two of them breathless looked up into the gray sky.
The gritty water seeped more and more into her dress and hair. "Now we both need to take a shower."
Natsu rolled over propping himself up with his arm, as he looked down at Freya. His hair that generally stuck up in every direction, untamed, was clumped and weighed down by all the mud he had accumulated from earlier at the guild hall, and just now. He leaned down, gazing intently into her eyes. "Let's take one together." He said as serious as he could, just to watch her reaction.
Her eyes widen, as her face turned as crimson as her blood.
He chuckled as her breathing became shallow, her heart beating hard and fast, even missing a few beats. "What's the matter, Frey?" He made his voice lower than normal, just to tease her further. "We could take a shower together like we did a few years ago, don't you remember?"
Freya's face puffed up, as she sat up looking away from him. "Of…of course I remember." She stumbled over her words. It was when she had been shaken up from the ethereal she seen in Demantur. But they both kept their backs turned towards the other, and they were younger too. She was much more innocent then. She didn't quite grasp about boys and girls, and actually how that was somewhat inappropriate.
Natsu came closer, sitting down behind her resting his head on her shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her. Perhaps he shouldn't tease her, but sometimes he couldn't help himself. His playfulness got the better of him at time. "I'm only joking."
Freya crossed her arms, as Natsu chuckled. He could feel the heat rising from her face and body. He rubbed the side of his face against hers once more, smearing mud on both of their faces. He felt her cheeks puff out as she began to pout. "Oh come on, don't be like that Frey."
He moved more to the side of her, reaching up he took her face into his hands.
She wasn't actually mad at him, she was just frustrated. Frustrated over the fact she was a few years younger than him, and while she was growing and slowly becoming a woman, it felt as if their relationship would be this way for a while. She wanted to be older, to take a shower with him. He viewed her as child still, and at times it was frustrating.
He was always careful around her, never crossing the line. She heard the talk around the guild hall when she is around, and most adults within the guild had begun to experiment around her age. Even more so at Natsu's age. He was a teen, and she knew from her medical text books, that boys his and Gray's age their hormones would be raging out of control. But not Natsu. He was so reserved, and more so when it came to her.
Just more importantly she wanted to start taking steps into the next level of their relationship. But she wasn't entirely sure what that level would be. They already lived together, in fact they were together every day. They do everything together. More importantly, they were boyfriend and girlfriend. They've been together for two years now, and gone on numerous dates together. From going out to a karaoke bar in Magnolia, to him taking her to rent a magic motorcycle and riding around in the country side. They've been to theme parks together, a lakeside beach camp out, were just some of the numerous things they've done with Happy always coming along.
The rain continued to drench the two of them as they sat in the mud puddle, gazing into each other eyes. "What's on your mind?" Natsu inquired, finally speaking up as he seen Freya lost within her thoughts.
"Natsu…" She mumble for a moment, unsure if she could actually ask for it. She wanted a real kiss.
He could see the blush spread across her cheeks once more and thought the whole shower ordeal was still on her mind. "Whatever it is you can tell me."
Freya nibbled on her lip for a moment as she looked down pushing her two pointer fingers together, and then apart and back together.
Natsu chuckled at her cute reactions. She was at times too cute and adorable for her own good. "Come on, you can tell me Frey." He laughed lightly.
"I want you to kiss me." She spoke sheepishly.
"Is that all?" His voice lowered once more and as he moved closer to fulfill her wish, she pressed her finger against his lips. His eyes widened since she stopped him, as it was her request.
Her eyes brighten her resolved came through. "I…I want a real kiss." She whispered, her eyes looked down to the ground as her blush brighten.
Natsu blinked a few times. Quietly he stood up for a moment, his back turned towards her. Freya felt her heart sink as he stood up, and her eyes looked at his back side. His pants and vest were stained, and for a moment she was unsure if she could even wash it out. She looked back down at the ground again. Perhaps she shouldn't had asked.
Natsu sighed as he crossed his arms. He knew this day would come, her asking for more. He knew that one day she would even ask for more than that, and the day would eventually come for him to mark her. He never really gave it thought, she was still far too young. It would only become a growing problem as she grew older, something they would both have to work through until the time was right, which would be when she was of age. Which oddly he felt would be in another four years or so.
"I'm sorry." She mumbled. "I shouldn't…had asked."
Natsu turned around and pulled her up and into his arms. He wiped some of the smeared mud off of her cheeks, and tucked her hair that clung to her face behind her ears. Slowly he took in a deep breath, he wasn't quite sure what he was doing, or what he was supposed to do. But he held her face with his hands, bringing them closer pressing their lips together.
The fire quickly spread from their lips and through their bodies. Slowly he parted his lip, licking her lower lip, waiting for her to part her own. As she done so, it was more heavenly than she could have ever imagine. What was this effect he held over her? She wanted more, craved more.
Natsu's pushed his tongue pass her lips, and for the first time they both got a true taste of the other as their tongues mingled together for a brief moment. She tasted of sweet fire, while he tasted of hot fire.
Natsu pulled away for a moment and as he done so Freya was so weak in her knee's she couldn't support herself anymore causing the two of them to fall, with Natsu landing on top of Freya.
They looked at each other for a moment bewildered before he knelt down, kissing her once again, before pulling back and then going in for more. This time however, boldly Freya pushed her tongue into his mouth, wanting more.
Fire scorched inside his veins and he found himself slowly losing control as their tongues continued to dance. Natsu pulled back, both of them breathless, rain beating him upon his back. Droplets of water rolled off him down to Freya below him. "I love you, Frey."
Freya's face was flushed as she smiled for a moment. "I love you too."
"That's as far as it goes, for now." Natsu nuzzled her as she looked disappointed. "There's no need to rush everything at once." He placed a kiss on a clean spot on her cheek before he sat up, pulling Freya up along with him as they both stood up. While he wanted to establish what he felt was far enough, it was also for himself. "Come on, let's go get cleaned up."
Natsu took the first shower, since he was always faster. Freya stood in the shower, feeling the cool water run over her clean hair and skin. She couldn't stop blushing or thinking about the kiss they shared. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to kiss him in the same way. Even now she could still taste his lips upon hers. Her skin tingled as his fire still coursed through her veins. Those silly romance novels, of what she has read of them said nothing of this.
Natsu sat on the edge of the bed, as he had finished off packing listening to the rain hit the roof. In an hour they would need to leave for the train station in Magnolia for their surprise vacation. His wet hair hung limp in front of his face, his body still felt as if it was on fire. Here he was, a fearless dragon slayer and he was completely at her mercy. Hell, he felt if he hadn't set that rule earlier, Freya would had pushed for more. And he would have stupidly given into her. He tried to think about to what Igneel had told him before. That while he would know when she was ready, she would always be more attune to this than himself. Though it was still too early. He knew this, but if she would have asked it then, for him to bite her then, he would have foolishly done so. He had to get himself under control, and even reel Freya in as well.
They may be mates, but neither of them were truly ready for what that would entail and bring with it once that bond is made. He maybe a few years older than Freya, but even he wasn't quite ready. Not that he wouldn't be in a few years, as he knew he would be. It's just, even now at times being as close as he is to her, he can feel her emotions bleeding over to him. Sometimes it's hard to sort it out, what he actually is feeling and what is hers.
Besides, he wanted to enjoy this part of their relationship while they both could. Both of them were still becoming adults, and he especially wanted Freya to enjoy her childhood and get the most out of it. Since she had such a rough start. He tried not to think too much about it, as he didn't want their vacation to start off on the wrong foot. All in all, he just wanted her to still enjoy being just a kid.
He ruffled his own hair. This was so confusing. He wanted more, desired it, and yet he didn't. He looked over his shoulder as the door to their bedroom opened. Freya only wrapped in a towel looked at the bags packed on the bed, her wet hair still clung to her face and shoulders.
Natsu stood up grinning. "Surprise!" He held out his arms. "We're going on a vacation! We gotta leave in an hour if we are going to catch the train."
"Vacation?" She walked over still eyeing the pack bags. "But what about Happy?"
"Me and him planned the whole thing. At the last minute though he decided he wanted to stay with Lisanna." Natsu sat back down on the bed.
Freya slowly walked over to the other side of their bed. "Where are we going?"
"That's still a surprise." He smiled softly as she turned around and knelt down. Slowly, Natsu warmed his hands up and ran them through her hair, causing steam to rise.
Freya hummed as he done so. Each and every time he done this for her, she would always fall asleep against his legs. It was just so relaxing feeling his warm palm and fingers rub against her head. "So this is why you had me stop doing any and all work."
"That and well, you do need to take it easy for a while Frey."
Before she had the chance to nod off, her hair was completely dry and straight. She stood up, yawning and rubbing her eyes before she stretched.
Natsu stood up and began to walk out of the room. "Might wanna hurry and finish getting ready." He quickly closed the door behind him.
Natsu and Freya both carried their bags as the huddled under an umbrella as it seemed the rain was here to stay for a few days in Magnolia. It was twilight as they got closer to the train station. "How long of a train ride?" She was a little curious if they would be sleeping on the train tonight.
"We will get there in the morning." Natsu shuffled some of their bags around. "Don't worry though." He grinned. "I brought the train tickets in advance, so that we will have a sleeping cabin."
Freya smiled as she blushed. She's traveled on the train quite a few times since she has come to Fairy Tail, but not in a manner such as this. She always wondered what it would be like to take more than a day train ride across the country or countries. She hoped as the moved out of Magnolia the rain would clear up.
Natsu and Freya boarded the train with him handing off their tickets. She tried to keep from looking at the signs. Since Natsu wanted it to be a surprise as they pulled up into their stop in the morning. They walked from train car to train car, until they reached the third one from the back. It had a narrow hallway with only two bedrooms. Freya looked down at their tickets and seen it was the first one. She slide the door open with Natsu coming in and closing it behind her. They both tucked their bags away under the bed, and slide the curtains close over the door and windows to the hallway with Natsu locking the door. Freya stretched for a brief moment before falling onto the soft, plush bedding.
She kept eyeing the room, as it was more than she could have ever asked for. Just how much exactly did he spend? The room was red and golden in color, with deep rich mahogany wood walls, and furniture. They even had their own small private bathroom.
Natsu took his vest off tossing it upon the small couch within the room attached to the wall. "Do you like it?" He laid down next to Freya.
She quickly snuggled up to him, smiling as she nuzzled her nose into his ribs wrapping her arms and legs around him. "Like it?" She questioned. "I love it."
He was relieved to hear it, though he knew if she found out how much he spent on said trip she would probably flip out on him. She wasn't one who believed in spending an insane amount of jewels just to be happy. He was the same way but he wanted to treat her to something special, and more so she deserved it.
She has worked so hard over the past two years. She could now fight evenly with him, so long as he didn't' use magic. Even then if he did, she could keep up fairly well. He'd even wager that in a fist fight between her and the other wizards in Fairy Tail she would flat out win. There was even times during their sparing she would win against him. Not always, but when she truly focused and gave it her all, she had faster reflexes than him.
Freya finally realized she was cuddled up against him without him wearing his vest. Normally he either wore his vest or a t-shirt whenever she cuddled up to him. For someone of his age, he was quite muscular and here she was cuddle up against the hardened muscles he gained from all their training. It's not that she's never noticed, because she would find herself staring and admiring him. Just she's never really touched his muscles that much.
Natsu felt a sudden burst of heat coming from Freya's face, and only chuckled as she lightly traced her fingers over and into the dips and valleys of his muscles. He's seen her ogle over him a few times, especially if he was working out. Eventually her fingers intertwined into his scarf.
They heard the whistle as well as the announcement that they will be departing soon. Freya got up deciding that it would be best to go ahead and change since once the train started she wouldn't really be able to get up and move about.
As Freya changed Natsu done the same, slipping on some shorts but remained shirtless. Freya came out of the small bathroom dressed in one of his t-shirts. She quickly hoped on the bed once she felt the train jerk, as it slowly began to pull out of the station. "Hungry?"
Now that he mentioned it, she was actually. She had gotten caught up within the day she never got around to cooking dinner. "Yeah, I'm starving actually."
"Let's order something then!"
Freya was completely passed out from a mixture of eating, the soothing rain against the train car, and him running his hands through her un-braided hair. He was beginning to doze himself, but he felt uneasy and restless as he did a few years ago. The day she had been taken from him. He turned and pulled her backside into his arms and held her tightly. He nuzzled his nose against the top of her head, the scent of her honey shampoo helped soothed his uneasiness.
No one would ever take her from him again. He was stronger now and would do whatever it would take to protect her. It didn't matter what it was, he would do it.
Images of her broken body still haunted him within his dreams occasionally. It was forever burned into his mind, something he couldn't ever forget. Though it seemed Freya has finally moved on from that night for the most part.
She doesn't get flashbacks as much as she used to, and some noises that once bothered her no longer do so. It's taken him two years of doing everything he could think of to help her move past it. Dates, training, anything and everything he would do it for her. Every day he tried to do something different, to fill her with happiness and overwrite the painful memories. Most of all, what signal that she was ready to let go, was her giving him back Igneel's scarf.
Dusk was once again within Fiore, as he had a leed that lead him back to here. He walked through the forest and as he came to a clearing he seen a girl sitting on a rock, a little older than his sister if he had to guess. He thought about Freya for a moment, and wondered how she looked now. How much has she grown up? Was she happy? Could she find happiness after what happened to her? Though it didn't seem to matter much, as he knew what the future held for her. It held only despair. He's had many sleepless nights over what was in store for her. He knew she would survive, that she would push on. But at what cost?
He looked around and seen no one else was with her. The moonlight shone upon her, her face was filled with sadness and grief. Her golden blonde hair pulled into a side ponytail.
He stood for a moment, debating if he should get involved or not. She didn't seem to hold much magical power, and probably didn't need to be out in the wilderness by herself. But he also didn't want the leader of Dragon's End to slip through his fingertips once more.
He slowly walked up to the girl, who had yet to notice him. He pulled his hood down on his cloak to keep from scaring her. As he got closer she turned her head, her sad brown eyes meeting his. Dusk immediately stiffened, everything hit him at once. His eyes widen, as the feeling of being hit in the gut took over him. He held his hand over his nose, her vanilla and lavender scent overwhelming him.
"What were the chances!?" He tried to regain composer, his body tingled from the electrifying experience. He wasn't worthy, not anymore. He had too much blood on his hands. The things he has done, and yet here was this innocent young girl sitting before, much younger than him, looking just as wide eyed as himself. He had given up all hope, and stopped dreaming of the chance not long after he set out on his perilous journey.
She had never seen eyes such as his. Eyes of the heavens. She had run away from home yet again though she was still on the Heartfilia grounds. Here was a stranger who looked as shocked as she was to see him. As much as she would have ran away if it had been anyone esle within her family's grounds, she couldn't move or look away from his eyes.
After a moment of battling within himself, he pushed it all aside. Trying his best to ignore his dragon's instinct. He wouldn't let it control him as it did his sister and Natsu. He couldn't be a slave to it as they were. Well, perhaps he shouldn't quite use that term. He was happy for them both. It was indeed rare to find each other as they did. And yet he had found his. She was nothing more than a little human girl. Though he knew it had happened in the past, he just didn't expect it to happen to himself.
He had things he must do. To protect his sister, to bring an end to the cult seeking out her death, and more importantly await her return. Zeref and Acnologia were the enemies of humanity. His sister was, or well he should say she would set her determination to rid the world of the black death.
"What are you doing here? This is my father's property." Lucy stood up from the rock she was sitting upon, pointing at the black cloak figure, demanding answers.
Dusk took in a deep breath and looked around. "Sorry. I was just taking a short cut and didn't realize someone lived here." He ran his hand through his silky black locks pushing them up and out of his eyes, only for them fall back in front of them. He tried ignore her voice that sung within his head. "Though I don't think you should be out here alone either."
Lucy couldn't think of anything to say. He was right, she really shouldn't be out here alone. What if someone else just strolled through their land as he had done?
Dusk walked up and knelt down, looking into her eyes. He wanted to rest his hands on top of her head, but he refused. He wouldn't touch her and stain her with his sins. "Come, I'll take you home so you'll arrive safe and sound."
Lucy looked away, she wanted to refuse to return to that house. She hate it. She despised it and her father. She couldn't leave however. It was painful to leave behind the memories she had made with her mother there.
"I don't want to go back." She stomped her foot, holding her arms down to her side.
Dusk sighed as he kept his eyes on her. "You can't stay out here all night either." He couldn't leave her, not now. Not until she was back safely where she belonged. He looked up as the moon was slowly being covered by rain clouds. "It's going to start raining soon, you don't want to catch a cold do you?"
Lucy shook her head and finally relented. The two walked side by side, with Lucy a little bit in front. It was growing darker, as it began to sprinkle rain. Slowly dusk removed his cloak and threw it over top of Lucy. The action almost caused her to trip as it was twice her size, but she thanked him and wrapped it around herself.
"I'm Lucy. Lucy Heartfilia." She finally spoke up the rain rolling off of the black cloak.
"That would explain how I just stumbled upon this place." He didn't quite know all the names of the wealthy families within Ishgar, though Heartfilia stuck out to them as they owned most of the trains within Fiore.
Lucy kept waiting for him to give his name. She looked up at him, his eyes drawing her in once again. He was pale as the moon, with a round face.
"Well, what's your name?" Lucy was growing impatience.
Dusk was reluctant to give it to her. His name was a poison, as was Freya's. Their names only brought misery upon those close to them. She was the lady of the gods, while he was the twilight of the gods. He especially had to be careful, as if it ever got out that this young innocent girl was his mate, they would surely use her against him.
"Dusk." He finally replied. "I have no last name." It actually pained him to deny it. To deny who he was, and to deny her an answer.
Dusk stopped a fair distance back, watching as Lucy walked up through the gardens on the stone pathway. The servants all ran up to the young heiress relieved to see her back safe and sound.
Dusk threw his pack over his shoulder and with one last look at the golden hair heiress he slowly walked away blending into the night. Even if she wasn't a dragon, draconic or a dragon slayer, he knew she would still feel the pull towards him as he would unknowingly charm her. All of their kind done it. As long as he kept his distance, she wouldn't feel the pull towards him and could go on and live a normal happy life, with someone else.
The thought pained him, even with each step he took away from her knowing he wouldn't see her again, sent shock waves of pain through him. He did his best to ignore it and pushed on.
The guild hall was quite with the absence of the reckless and energetic fire dragon slayer more so with a member of the magic council standing before Makarov who sat upon the bar within the hall. It was much too early in the morning for him to have a headache.
"Like I said, she left last night on vacation with her boyfriend."
"How convenient that she just disappear into the night." Lahar pushed his glasses up. "Strange for someone her age to go out and about with a boyfriend. Where did she go with her supposed boyfriend?" He inquired.
Makarov shook his head sighing, pinching the bridge of his nose. "He kept it a secret from everyone to surprise her."
"I suppose her brother is the one known as Salamander, Natsu Dragneel, correct? Since they share a common last name. I would like to speak with him if he is around."
Makarov wasn't sure or when the Magic Council suddenly came interested in Freya once again. Though he thought it had to do with her reputation as a healer. And she was quite the peculiar healer. How all this slipped past Mest he wasn't sure. More importantly how were they going to work around this mess this time around?
"They share the name Dragneel because Natsu had given it to her." Makarov reached over and took a drink of his beer. "Natsu is in fact Freya's boyfriend."
Slowly it was all coming together for him. "When will the two of them return?"
Makarov shrugged. "Who knows? Shall I send a messenger pigeon to you once they return?"
"That won't be necessary. I'll shall await here in Magnolia for their return." Lahar promptly turned and walked out of the guild.
The guild members just quietly looked at one another with whispers of what Freya had done to earn a visit from the magic council. They could see if it was for Natsu, as he was reckless as he was powerful. The amount of paperwork the guild master had to fill out each time the trio set out on a job.
Makarov sat his drink down. It must be more serious than what appeared for them to remain in Magnolia to await for the Life-binder's return. The name she gained from her notoriety from the public, also must have caught the council's attention. As life binding magic was closely tied to none other than Zeref.
Freya stepped off the train and onto the platform looking around in wonderment. He had brought her to the second biggest city within Fiore. Lili was a bustling city of hot springs, spa's, flower gardens, amusement parks, beaches and ski resorts. It was a city built around to attract tourists within Fiore itself and outside of Fiore. The city was nestled within the south west region of Fiore, and with its given location with the sea to the south and a mountain range to the north east, it stayed warm down on the beach, with dry snows in the mountains.
"Surprise." Natsu spoke tenderly, leaning close to her ear. He knew she has wanted to visit the city for some time as the botanical gardens was marked by her Granny on her map.
Freya looked around wide eye, her eyes sparkling. While Crocus was known as the blooming capital of Fiore, Lili was known far and wide for its variety and biggest botanical gardens. It was after all were Crocus received a bulk of its flowers.
Freya squealed as she leapt into the arms of the fire dragon slayer causing him to drop all their bags. She squeezed him tightly, as she repeatedly thanked him. The crowds move around him as tears of happiness slowly streaked Freya's face. Natsu could only laugh as he hugged her in return. He sat her down, with Freya wiping away her tears. He picked up all of their bags off the platform and began walking out of the train station with Freya happily walking next to him.
Freya wiggled and dug her toes into the warm white sand, enjoying the sounds of the ocean waves rolling onto the beach. The smell of the sea was inviting and it was the first time she's seen the ocean. At first she felt a little insecure wearing her white two piece with pink flowers but Natsu assured her she looked perfectly alright. She left her hair un-braided, the smooth silky dark chocolate brown locks flowed down to the small of her back. It was getting a little long and she thought about getting a few inches trimmed off. Her guild mark however proudly shone in the sun. The golden out line glittering and shimmering, and she seen a couple of people eye her and her guild mark. Along with Natsu and his.
Though Natsu thought they were looking at her for an entirely different reason, and they could have been. But she seen a couple of eyes only look at her guild mark, and her guild mark alone. She knew he was just being protective but wishing for his fiery personality to learn control was out of the question.
Natsu laid on a beach towel completely stretched out enjoying the sun. He had his scarf tied around his hips above his swim trunks, with a flame design. It was appropriate for him, or so she thought. She looked around the beach for a moment. Even if this part of the beach was reserved for the particular resort they were staying at, there was still quite a bit of people.
She wasn't quite sure what all Natsu had planned but it seemed they would be staying here for quite a while. Freya reached into her bag getting out some jewels as she spotted an ice cream vendor nearby. Natsu opened his eyes as he felt the towel shift around and watched Freya run over to a vendor a short distance away.
Shortly she was running back with two ice cream bowls with small spoons sticking in the ice cream. She knelt down as Natsu sat up taking the cool small bowl. She sat down next to Natsu, quickly digging into her chocolate ice cream with chunks of strawberries covered in hot fudge.
"You're going to turn into a strawberry covered in chocolate one day, ya know?" Natsu took a bite of his own. It was sea salt ice cream, something that Freya introduced him to one day that he took a liking to.
"Is that a bad thing?" Freya took a bite out of the chunk of strawberry.
Natsu swallowed before leaning in closer. "I guess I'll have to eat you if you do." He chuckled lightly nipping on jaw before kissing it and pulling it back. As he done so he couldn't help but burst into laughter as Freya sat slowly blinking, un-moving, refusing to breathe. She suddenly snapped out of it, her face flushing bright red as her arms fell into her lap. She puffed her cheeks out, furrowing her eye brows.
"Natsu!" She pouted.
He only grinned before taking another bite of his ice cream. It was a hopeless cause after all. His playfulness got the better of him when it came to her.
Freya stuck her tongue out at him and proceeded to continue to eat her ice cream, trying not to give anymore thought to his comment.
As they ate their ice cream, someone went by on a SE powered jet ski. Natsu jumped up and grabbed Freya and their beach bag. "Ooooo! Come one, let's go rent one of those!"
Freya locked their personals into a locker on the dock and hurried over to Natsu who was putting the SE plug on. He had listened to a brief explanation, but knew he would have to figure most of it out as he went. Freya climbed behind him wrapping her arms around his waist, blushing as her fingers ran across his scorching hot muscles.
He revved the engine, to gauge how much it was going to drain his magic. He then put it into gear and the two of them sped out and away from the dock, bouncing up and down the waves. Freya looked out from behind him, her hair whipping around her head, taking in the sight of the sparkling blue ocean, and the coral reefs on the bottom of the ocean. The fish swimming around, and feeding off the reef.
The ocean waves would occasionally splash up getting the two of them wet as they continued to cruise around on the waves. Natsu felt the familiar fire spread from his back, mixing with his own magic. If it wasn't for her he could have never done something like this. He never knew how much he loved transportation until she came along. The faster he could go, the more he loved it.
They came out a fair distance, with Natsu bringing it to a stop, taking the SE plug off. The ocean in this spot was relatively calm, he looked over at Freya who was smiling as she looked at water down below. He turned around and wrapped his arms around her as he brought her down into the cool water with her squealing in glee as he done so.
They both came up for air, wading in the water. Natsu got back onto the jet ski, lifting up the seat and getting out goggles and snorkeling gear. As they both put it on, they each took a deep breath taking a dive under, swimming towards the coral reef.
The sun was setting with Freya resting her head against Natsu's back, the two of them drifting upon the sea as they sat on the jet ski. They were both breathless, as she was amazed they were both able to stay down as long as they could each time.
Sea water still rolled down both of their tan skins, and each time she would draw in a breath and breathe out it tickled his back. He slowly and carefully turned around on the jet ski to keep from tipping the two of them over.
He tried to not pay too much attention to her, well it wasn't like he was ignoring her. It was just her bathing suit revealed more than he's used to seeing. As they were swimming earlier, her hair would flow in the ocean. She actually looked like a mermaid, the way she swam so naturally through the water. He was captivated by her, drawn to her.
His hands slid down her back bringing her closer to him, his eyes were clouded by something Freya hadn't seen before. As they noses touched he slowly brought one hand up her back causing her to shiver from his touch. His hand entangled within her hair behind her neck.
He knelt in capturing her lips with his own hungry ones. He teased her at first, placing a kiss, pulling away and then pressing their lips together. The kiss was salty from the sea water, but neither seemed to mind as Natsu continued to tease her which just left her eager wanting more. Her hands traced over his chest and down his side until she wrapped her arms around his waist pressing her own body against his.
Wanting more, Natsu licked her lips begging for entry which she happily granted. Fire scorched them both within and out, and he suddenly became aware Freya kept moving her hips closer to his as his tongue continued to explore her mouth. Before she could wrap her legs around his waist, he lightly kissed her lips twice before pulling away.
He pushed away the hair falling into her face, her checks where pink as she was lightly panting. He couldn't ever let it go too far, not yet anyway. They both were dancing around a dangerous line, and he could clearly see it in her eyes. He sighed happily pressing their foreheads together, but Freya none the less got into his lap, wrapping her legs around his waist as she wrapped her arms under his. He hugged her tightly for a moment, resting his head on her shoulders, looking out to the sea.
He cleared his throat finally. "Frey, you can't sit on me like this."
"Why not?" Freya pulled away to look at him, his pink locks falling in front of his dark green olive eyes. "I was just wanting to be closer to you." She frowned.
Natsu laughed at her innocence's. If Erza seen the two of them like this, he would no longer have a head or his family jewels.
Freya actually knew why she really shouldn't sit in such a manner, especially in a public place as this. But no one was around, and she truly just wanted to be closer.
Natsu could see now she was feigning on being innocent on the subject. "You know exactly why." He placed his hands on her mid thighs and with little effort he picked her up off of his lap sitting her back down on the seat. He placed a kiss a on her forehead, chuckling at her pout and her sticking out her tongue, before turning around and slipping the SE plug back onto his wrist.
Natsu sat down in the private and fenced off hot spring, the water was really murky but it felt really good. He honestly felt a little exhausted from pushing the jet ski as fast as he did and all the swimming they had done together. Freya kept assuring him that she felt fine and it seemed like she was. She did have keep contact with him on the train and the jet ski.
Though she has two years to perfect her control over her own magic, just giving him enough to keep his motion sickness at bay.
Freya was taking her sweet time but as he thought about it, she slide the door open, wrapped in a towel with her hair pinned up. Stepping out she slid the door closed behind her.
She was nervous as she slowly walked over to where he was sitting, and wasn't sure if he left his towel on or not since the water was so clouded from the minerals.
"I won't peek if you want to take your towel off. I did mine. Not like we are going to see anything anyway."
Freya swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. "It would feel pretty weird sitting in it with a towel on." She laughed.
Natsu turned his head away closing his eyes.
Freya came over to the edge and looked around making sure no one could see her, but it was well hidden with the tall fence and the trees and bushes towering over it. She unwrapped her towel and folded it placing it on a dry rock and quickly stepped in, sinking into the water up to her chin.
"You can look now." Freya wasn't sure if the blush on her face was from the slight embarrassment or if it was the heat rising from the water.
"Just going to kneel in the water? I won't bite much." He turned, looking at her with the eyes that caused her heart to skip so much.
His hair was damp, hanging in his eyes, and she couldn't look away from the dragon eyes. She knew he would do it on purpose, but she slowly came over as she was pulled into them. As she sat down next to him, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder pulling her closer to his side.
Freya held her hands over her heart as her lips trembled from her anxiety. Taking in a deep breath, she held it for a moment, and exhaled slowly releasing all of her worries with it. It was just Natsu. It wasn't actually like he was going to hurt her. The opposite in fact. She relaxed under his arm and rested her on his shoulder.
The night was still young and he was thinking since they both showered before getting in, that once they got done soaking in the hot spring they could go out. Go for a walk on the pier or have dinner. Just something, he wasn't ready to turn in yet and wanted to do as much as they could on their vacation. Honestly he was thinking about them staying an extra week. It would certainly cost more, since he didn't reserve it, but it would be worth it. They could stay down here at the beach for the week, and then go up into the mountains next week.
Slowly Natsu sunk more into the spring, and rested his head upon the rocks with Freya adjusting and getting comfortable.
"Wanna do anything else tonight?"
"Well…" Her words trailed off as she closed her eyes. She was hungry, but she was also in the mood to sing. She wondered if there was a karaoke bar around here with private booths that also served food. Then again she wasn't entirely sure if they would let her enter one in this town cause of her age. She was young, she might be able to dress up and pass off that she is of the legal drinking age, which happened to be fifteen. In Magnolia it didn't matter much as she was fairly known within the city along with being a Fairy Tail mage, and knew she wasn't interested in drinking. It also helped she always had Natsu and Happy with her. "Do you think I could get into a karaoke bar?"
Natsu mulled it over. He wasn't entirely sure. It was hard enough to make the reservations that he did. Freya was underage, he was of age. He was finally only able to make them as they were both part of a guild, with Gramps helping out on sending them on a "job". Which he absolutely could not forget to go back to the guild without the specially made sake from here.
"We won't know unless we try." He tried to formulate a plan. He could tell her to dress older, and try to make herself appear older but on the other hand he didn't want everyone eyeing her. It was hard enough at the beach when they first got here. "You could always try to look older than you are." He knew he would regret it.
Freya giggled as it seemed they both thought alike. Unfortunately Freya didn't really have anything that could make her look like she was older than twelve. In fact she had to look as if she was fifteen. She could run out and buy something real quick but should she attempt make up? She's never really tried it, but girls in the magazines she's seen always looked older than what they say within it.
She knew Natsu would have no problem getting in. He actually looked at least sixteen in her mind, with all the training he has done.
She had one problem however. Her figure was just developing and she wasn't truly filled out like a fifteen year old would be. While she was proud of the fact she now officially had to wear a bra and that she was in the second cup size, it wasn't enough.
She held her hands over her chest. "I don't think I could pull it off though, to be honest."
Natsu sat up, opening his eyes to see what she was going on about but realized quickly she was talking about her size.
"Even if I dress up, I'm still not…well you know…" She blushed as she looked away.
A pink blush spread across his cheeks as well but he quickly looked away so she wouldn't know he was blushing. "Not every girl looks the same Frey." He wasn't quite sure how to put it. He never paid too much attention to other girls or women, but it was obvious that everyone came in different shape and sizes. "Never hurts to try."
"Your right." She chirped, cheering up she settled back down into the water.
Natsu pulled up the dark blue jeans he had bought for the trip, and didn't know how the hell Gray or anyone for that matter wore them. They were tight, and he felt like he could hardly walk in them. He then quickly slipped on the light breathable long sleeve button up dark green shirt. He buttoned the shirt up until three buttons from the top, leaving the mid chest open. He looked at his white scarf that he had draped over the headboard of the bed, as much as he wanted to wear it tonight, it strongly smelled of the ocean. He would need to let it air out before he could wear it again.
He steamed his hair, drying it off with it sticking up in its usual directions but he left his bangs in front of his face.
He stepped out from the bathroom and watched Freya quickly cut, rip and stitch some blue jean shorts. She must had made it back from the store she ran out to.
He sat down and watched her make quick work of some shorts she had brought. He thought it was strange she brought them and was doing whatever it was she was doing to them. Why didn't she just buy what she wanted to begin with?
Freya held the needle within her lips as she carefully lined up some seams she need to sow together. She was working on converting the shorts into a blue jean skirt. She was lucky that Granny had taught her this skill as it certainly came in handy for tonight. As well she was thankful she grabbed her on-the-go sowing kit. She had learned over the years to take it with her wherever she went. She never knew whenever she would have to do last minute adjustments on the dresses she would wear when she performed. Also she doesn't know how many times she has stitched Natsu's ripped clothing whenever they went on jobs. It seemed he always found a way to rip it in some shape or form.
She finished within ten minutes holding up her work and admiring. "Not bad for the time I done it in."
"Guess you've had plenty of practice cause of me?" He smirked as she nodded.
"I couldn't find anything the department store that would work so I figured I could do this real quick." She laid the dark blue jean skirt she made onto the bed as she then proceeded to pick up the shirt fashion in a ripped slits all down the short sleeves and down the back and some in the front. In the front it was on top above where her bra would cover and then the ripped slits started again down below her bra coverage. She had seen some older girls as she walked to the clothing store wearing it and thought she could pass it off.
"Is that even a shirt?" Natsu eye the black ripped shirt, not entirely happy with how much it would reveal.
Freya nervously laughed. "Of course it's a shirt! I saw some older girls wearing it as I went to go buy some new clothes for tonight." Freya picked the skirt she just made, along with a small bag.
"It'll just take a moment to change." She hurried into the bathroom closing the door behind her. She carefully laid out the contents of the bag, which was a magazine with makeup tutorials and tips. Along with mascara, eye liner and dark shimmering eye makeup. She really wanted to do this, and knew she would have to go all the way in her attempt to look older.
She changed into her clothes first, adjusting and pinning the shirt to her black bra she purchased so there would be no slip ups. She opened the magazine, flipping through it quickly and seen a look that she thought would be simple enough to recreate for a beginner such as herself.
She was worried how it would all look in the end and wonder if she and Natsu would both like it. She didn't really feel as if this was herself and didn't feel as if she needed to wear any of this. But she didn't blame others for doing so. She was a stronger believer in doing whatever made you happy as long as it didn't hurt others.
Natsu walked out onto the balcony overlooking the ocean, the crescent moon reflected in the ocean. The cool breeze felt nice against his newly tanned skin. He wasn't too dark, but he was a shade or two darker.
He really enjoyed his day with Freya. He couldn't help but feel it had been ages since they have spent time together like this. He just hoped she was having the time of her life.
He turned and looked when he felt a hand on his shoulder. How could he put it? He was simply floored. Was this truly his Frey that was standing in front of him?
Freya smiled at his shocked expression, she couldn't blame him. She had applied mascara, making her eye lashes longer especially in the outer corners. She had eye liner on her upper and lower lids. She had forgo the eye shadow afraid she would make it too dark. She did however put on a dark shade of pink lip gloss.
Natsu eyed her for a moment, the ripped shirt did in fact reveal more of her body than he was comfortable with. But he really had no control over it, as it was hers, not his. He just already hated the gazing eyes he could already see looking upon her.
Her skirt was also short, shorter than anything she's wore before. It clung to every curve she had. Her shirt was also fairly tightly, revealing her lean barely noticeable muscular build she had gained over the past few years. But they were after all trying to make her appear older than she was. He looked at her guild mark, which was visible and might even help with their entry.
"Well what do you think?" She twirled around in her black sandal high heels. Her tight and slick pony tail swaying as she done so.
"I see a lot of people being burned in the near future." He crossed his arms, cocking his eye brows up.
Freya chuckled as she lightly punched in the shoulder. "Natsu."
"Well, we won't have to worry about rather you can get in or not."
They walked down the street, arm in arm walking to the nearest karaoke bar according to the hostess at their hotel they were staying at. Freya had a bounce in her step, quite happy that they would be able to pull this off.
Natsu quietly seethed as guys his age or older ogled at Freya. His bright dragon eyes glowing, piercing through each guy that dare to look at her.
Freya however eye Natsu's bare neck. She could barely see the scar behind the collar of his shirt that he gained from "a scary monster" shortly before she arrived. It was the first time she had actually seen shudder from fear at a memory. Though admittedly she liked the scar upon his neck, and would often traced her fingers across it.
They arrived and walked into the bar and was greeted by a bouncer. He looked at the two of them for a moment, gauging their ages. However once he seen Freya's guild mark above her left hip, allowed the two of them pass him. They walked up to the counter, music was loudly blaring with a guy up on the stage singing as people sat around the stage, bar and tables drinking.
Natsu pulled out his wallet, as he asked for a private room and pointed to a meal choice for the two of them. The hostess nodded, and rung the two of them up and led them to their private room.
Once they were inside and closed the door, Freya couldn't help but jump into his arms in victory cheering. "And we made it without you getting into a brawl."
"Barely." Natsu replied under his breath, still somewhat annoyed but he quickly pushed aside as he picked Freya up into his arms and held her for a moment above himself. He brought her down placing a quick kiss on her lips, before sitting her down.
Freya twirled around the private room. Natsu couldn't understand how happy she felt. She was finally able to be seen as a young lady, not as a little girl anymore. She only hope he was beginning to see her in that way as well. "I'll pick the first song as we wait for our food and drinks." She looked at the drink menu, with buttons beside each one.
"Drinks?" Natsu questioned her. "Hey, now." Natsu sat down next to her who was still kneeling over looking over at the menu. "Just because we made it inside, doesn't mean you can drink."
Freya's cheeks puffed out. "And why not? I seriously doubt it will affect me anyway."
"Then there is no reason for you to drink it." Natsu just wasn't a fan of her drinking at such a young age.
"You drink it." Freya sat down crossing her arms.
"I'm old enough to." Natsu sighed. He already knew she was going to be stubborn about it and fight him until he gave in. In which he knew he would. "Frey." He paused for a moment. "You keep trying to grow up so quickly. You're in such a rush to become an adult, when really you should just enjoy being a kid as long as can."
"I'm tired of people viewing me nothing more than a child, especially you." Freya looked down into her hands, as she nervously began to crack them. "I know that I still look really young, but I'm not."
Natsu gazed over at her. All this time he has been wanting her to enjoy what was left of her childhood while she could, and here she was wanting to grow up as fast as possible. It could just be her wanting to escape her demons of her childhood by transitioning into a new stage of her life.
"I just want you to see me in a different way, is all. Really…" She mumbled as she cracked more of her joints.
He reached over taking her hands into his causing her to look up into his deep green eyes. "Frey, I already see you. You've grown, and I know you're not that same little girl that arrived in the guild." As much as he hated to admit it, he did. Perhaps it was yesterday when it changed with the new kiss the shared in the rain. However it was especially today. Her bikini she wore, the kissed they shared on the jet ski, her climbing into his lap and now with how she was dressed. They were both transitioning, especially her. "From now on, we both cannot push it this further because of how I see you now."
Freya nodded, as she finally understood. He placed his hand behind her head, bringing their foreheads together.
He just wanted to keep that little girl around a little longer, as selfish as it may had been. Or well, he wasn't sure if it was all that selfish or not. But here they were, Freya stepping out of her shell even more. "Sorry if I was being selfish, or that I am being selfish over our relationship, but I do you love you Frey and I always will. Nothing will ever change that."
Freya closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth that flowed from him. "I love you too."
"You can order ONE drink. ONLY one." Natsu gave in but that was as far as he was going to allow it to go. She was probably right, it probably wouldn't have any effect on her.
"Then I suppose I need to choose wisely!" She placed a quick kiss on his cheek as she stood up once again looking over the menu. Her eyes instantly spotted the winner among them. It was of course a strawberry daiquiri. Her favorite fruit. She pressed the button, and then sat down flipping through the flat screen powered by lacrima to choose the first song. As she done so, Natsu pressed the button for a shot of fireball.
"We could sing a duet?" Freya looked over at Natsu who sat up.
"Which song?" He looked at the screen, and seen "Thousand Years – Part Two" He groaned for a moment. He didn't really know it but he's heard it once or twice. "Sure." He gave in instantly when he seen her puppy eyes.
She pressed upon the flat lacrima screen, selecting the screen and handed Natsu a microphone as she picked up one for herself.
It started out slow, and the screen in front of them showed it was the girl part.
"The day we met, frozen, I held my breath, right from the start, knew that I found a home for my heart."
Natsu couldn't help but smile as she sung the words. Her voice was light, and airy. It serenaded his soul much like when she played the violin for him.
His eyes returned to the screen seeing his part was coming up. Oddly, the song she picked seem to fit the two of them quite well.
"Time stands still, beauty in all she is, I will be brave, I will not let anything, take away." He stepped closer to her, looking away from the screen. The words were all coming back to him from where she had of course sung it around their house. "Standing in front of me, Every breath, Every hour has come to this."
Freya wanted to float away, as she could listen to him sing to her until the end of time. She took a deep breath snapping out of her trance.
"Once step closer." Their voices harmonize quite nicely together.
As the song neared its ending they sung the last words together. "I have loved you for a thousand years, Love you for a thousand more."
As the piano played at the end, there was a knock on the door. They sat down their microphones, with Natsu opening the door.
Two hostess came in carrying two platters of food that Natsu had ordered along with their drinks. As they bowed and walked out the two of them quickly dug into the steaming food. It was an assortment of barbecue meat for the two of them, with side dishes of grilled veggies. There was even udon noodles for Freya, ramen for Natsu and a variety of sushi. Served with a sweet sake and freshly made green tea.
Freya felt stuffed and couldn't eat another bite. She did however feel what she believed to be a little bit tipsy but she felt the healing stream that flowed through out her body already working to burn it off. As quick as the buzz came on it was already fading just as quick.
As she finished off her the last of her daiquiri, Natsu had picked the next song. He grabbed the mic and stood up.
The music began to play and Freya immediately recognized it.
"I'm hurting, baby, I'm broken down. I need your loving, loving." He pushed the table aside with his leg strength walking up closer to Freya who remained star struck, gazing at him.
Natsu dropped to his knees. "I'm something weak. You got me begging, begging. I'm on my knees." He knelt in closer to her.
"I don't wanna be needing your love. I just wanna be deep in your love. And it's killing me when you're away, oh baby." He stood back up.
The room was beginning to feel overwhelming hot, even to her. "I just wanna be there where you are. And I gotta get one little taste." He licked his lips, gazing into her own hungry eyes with his own dragon eyes that drove her crazy. Though those eye didn't only make her heart skip a beat but other girls as well. Each time when Fairy Tail held a karaoke contest, Natsu always found it amusing to sing a song to tease her while looking at her with those eyes. While she hadn't seen those three girls again, there were other girls that seemed to get caught up within the fire dragon.
As he sang and danced around, teasing the hell out of Freya he came to the part that caused steam to rise off her. Or at least it felt that way every time.
His voice was deeper, husky as he got closer to her once again. "I want that red velvet. I want that sugar sweet. Don't let nobody touch it. Unless that's somebody's me. I gotta be your man."
Freya's face was completely flushed, completely taken in by the fire dragon slayer as he sat down next to her as soon as the song finished. The alcohol she had consumed was completely burned off, as her blood pumped hard and fast through her veins, burning her.
Natsu nuzzled her nose for a moment. "What's the matter, Frey?"
Freya could only smile. "You know what that does to me."
"Exactly why I done it." He smirked placing a kiss on her burning cheek. "Your turn, Frey." He whispered lowly into her causing her to quickly stand up as it tickled her.
She rubbed her ear for a moment, the tingle sensation traveling down her ear, into her neck and back. "And you tell me not to push it any further."
Natsu could only shrug. He wasn't quite sure how to answer. He honestly at times couldn't help himself.
She chose her next song, and cleared her throat, before briefly shaking off the feeling Natsu had brought upon her.
"I've seen the world, done it all, had my cake now." Her voice took on a ghostly sound as she sang along to the music. "Hot summer nights, mid July. When you and I were forever wild."
Natsu sunk into the seat as she turned and faced him, singing to him. "The way you'd play with me like a child."
She took a deep breath. "Will you still love me, when I'm no longer young and beautiful? Will you still love me, when I got nothing but my aching soul?"
It was the first time he had heard the song, but it was as if she picked it to ask him would he truly still love her? It was a silly question, of course he would.
"I know you, I know you will."
He smiled tenderly. Of course he would still love her. He knew the two of them would actually age differently than their friends and family. Dragon's aged slowly, and with the two of them being dragon slayers, even if she wasn't anymore, they took on all the qualities of being a dragon. And she was once again dragon like. But even when they were finally old, she would always be his one and only.
Freya stepped out of the room, walking down the dark hallway. They have been singing to each other, with each other, and dancing for the past two hours since they ate, with it just now being midnight. She desperately had to go to the bathroom.
As she turned the corner she felt something stab her in the neck causing her skin to sting and her veins to burn. She reached out for the wall, the sudden effect of the medicine causing her head to spin. She looked around and seen two figures she couldn't quite make out, standing before her. With the man that had pushed the needle into her neck still standing behind her and a little to close at that.
She quickly placed her free hand under her shirt and onto her stomach, healing the toxic medicine out of her system.
"Give her another dose." One of the men standing before her demanded.
As Freya opened her mouth to call out to Natsu, the man behind her put his hand over her mouth while shoving a new and fresh needle into her neck. Pulling out the needle quickly he wrapped his hand around her chest, pinning her own arms against her.
"This one is feisty." The man licked her cheek causing her to recoil in disgust. The arm he was using to pin her arms against her, cupped her left breast.
While they didn't know it her body had already adapted to the medicine and worked on its own now. Her eyes shrunk, she glared at the two men standing before with her amber eyes that became brighter and brighter burning with rage.
She sunk her canines into the man's disgusting tasting flesh as she quickly threw him over her towards the other two men. Spitting and wiping the blood from her mouth with her hand, she gauged the three men against herself.
She wasn't entirely sure what she would be going against and the three of them defiantly had magic flowing from them. She had caught them by surprise as she was sure on most the medicine would have knocked any other victims out completely.
They got up and all three of them charged at her, with her dodging the three of them, each time one came at she would deliver a blow to their torso, arms or legs. Each blow to their torso's cracked some of their ribs from the force of her blows. They came at her more and more, unable to fathom how a girl such as herself was unaffected by the medicine they dosed her with, and how someone without magic was besting the three of them.
The man that had held her came up behind her again grabbing her and held her in place for long enough as another man stood up. He held his hand in front of him, as he attempted to charm Freya with the recently outlawed magic. However it held no effect over her and she reached up and grabbed the man's arm that was holding her, twisting it and using his own weight threw him over her again into the man that was attempting to charm her.
The force of his landing, she heard a distinct snapping noise. His bone had been broken.
"Just kill the fucking bitch!" One of them yelled out but none of them could get up. All they could do was scramble around on the ground, unable to stand.
However she suddenly felt heat rolling down the hallway, her hair stood on edge as she turned around.
There he was, standing behind her. His eyes flared to a brilliant green. He looked down at the three men who were scrambling on the ground trying to stand from where Freya had punched and kicked each of them with precision to disable them. None of them having any success, especially the man whose arm was now broken.
Freya couldn't look away as Natsu looked on as if they were bugs to be stepped on and killed. Fire began to dance across his body, a brilliant red. The color of his rage. She has never seen him like this. He was so taken over by rage, that he trembled from it. His veins were visible upon his forehead and hands.
His blood boiled from hearing the phrase that they spoke. "Just kill the fucking bitch?" He questioned as he cracked his knuckles and rolled his shoulders as he stepped in front of Freya. "In your own words, this was the wrong"bitch" that you chose. How about I just kill the three of you low life's instead?"
"Who the hell are you?"
He reached up grabbing the shirt her wore, ripping it off. "Who the hell am I, you ask?" He wanted them to see his guild mark. The mark of Fairy Tail. What they had done, not only made him their worst nightmare but Fairy Tail's as well. You never messed with any of its guild members and got away with it. Though it was truly Natsu they should fear for uttering such a phrase.
His noise recoiled as well from the smell. It was on her, that disgusting smell from that man. There wasn't any particular smell to it, other than it reeked to him. And it was all over her.
Freya watched the pieces of cloth fall to the floor, before looking back at his back side.
She gripped her head and fell against the wall sliding down it. Memories of the day she was kidnap in Magnolia came flooding through. Her eyes widen fear, as she began to tremble. Here she was, it was happening all over again.
The men looked at the guild mark upon his right arm, below his shoulder. "Fairy Tail?!"
"I'm the demon that's gonna burn the three of you worthless pieces of shits into nothing but ashes" His green eyes changed into a bright red as he sucked in a deep breath.
Freya sensed the changed within him as he prepared to unleash a powerful roar. Freya pushed her reemerging fears aside and quickly got up throwing herself into his back side.
"Natsu!" Freya begged.
He stood still, his blood still boiling, quietly seething as he looked at the three groaning men. Freya had taken care of it herself. Just like he knew she could, but he snapped when he heard one of them utter that phrase.
Course he wouldn't had even known any of this was happening if it wasn't for him also having to get up and go to the bathroom.
"They're already defeated." The fire that danced across his body now danced across hers. She could feel it through is flames. The rage, the anger, and the underlying fear. Even if he didn't realize it himself, it was there. Freya closed her eyes, as Natsu finally exhaled all the air he sucked in.
The two of them stood there for a few minutes as the groaning men finally gave up on fighting the girl, as more time passed the more the three of them couldn't move.
The fire that danced across their bodies, died down. Natsu took Freya's hands that she had wrapped around his torso, into his as he turned around.
He seen the blood that was smeared on her mouth, and across her face, but it wasn't her own. "What happened?"
"I'm not entirely sure. I turned the corner and one of them grabbed me and injected me twice with a sedative." Freya looked down, as she could still feel the man's tongue licking across her cheek. She quickly removed her hands from Natsu's as she crossed her arms in front of her chest remembering he had groped her. This was their vacation and it was spiraling out of control. "Anyway let's go inform the staff. It's not like the three of them can go anywhere while we do."
"Say, Frey, why is that man's smell that is bleeding all over you?" Natsu was grinding his teeth. He wanted to know, he had to know why she suddenly reeked of him.
"He grabbed me and…" Freya fumbled over her words. Honestly she wasn't sure if she could stop him if he found out.
"The bitch tasted of sweet candy and her small tits were nice to squeeze too." The man sneered.
Freya looked up at Natsu and it was then she could finally see the red within. He gazed at Freya for a moment. Her eyes were their breath taking amber. Her dragon eyes. But he seen she still had her arms crossed in front of, and he then remembered as she talked about it, what little she did she reflexively covered herself.
Natsu quickly turned with Freya reaching out, but she knew there was nothing she could do now. The foolish man dug his own grave. She was so angry, frustrated, that she could cry.
Natsu knelt down his red eyes boring a hole into the man that spoke that committed the crime. He seen the blood seeping from his hand. "Fang marks." "So you like to grope little girl's, is that it?" Natsu seethed as he reached down grabbing the man's wrists. "Let you tell you something, bastard." He seethed. "You'll never be able to grope someone else again." Natsu sent flames up the man's wrist and hands, burning them slowly, and painfully causing the man to screech. "Don't worry, I'll get your tongue next." He growled.
A staff member turned the corner, and instantly demanded Natsu unhand their coworkers. But as he gazed up at the young lady, she was frozen in fear. Freya quickly grabbed a hold of the woman dragging her around the corner and instantly tried to explain the situation as she heard Natsu curse at the three men for using their work place to prey on women and girls.
Freya even showed the needle marks that she kept her body from healing as proof. The lady immediately ran to inform the manager and call the authorities.
Freya came back, and seen through Natsu's flames he had slowly cooked the man's hands to only a first degree burn. She was somewhat relieved he didn't instantly turn them to ash, though it seemed he was set on burning him slowly.
Her heart ached. She understood his anger and even his fear. She didn't blame him for feeling that way. In fact if he didn't feel that way she would be even more concerned. However, he was out of control. He was being reckless, and he for sure needed to learn how to control it. He had done what the man wanted. Instantly he gave into his jeering.
Though she understood Natsu as well. She had been attacked in a darkened hallway, that wasn't traveled as much it seemed. All in all, she was a young girl and if it hadn't been for her healing magic that flowed freely throughout her, she would have succumbed to the sedative and possibly been raped and god knows what else.
While she did subdue them without much effort, and further action wasn't necessary…she wouldn't lecture him. Instead she would do something else. She knelt down, taking Natsu's hands into hers. As she done so the man held out his steaming hands in front of him and rolled around in his pain. He's been bitten, his arm broken, now his hands have been burned.
She threw her arms around his neck hugging him tightly as she squeezed her eyes shut, tears escaping out of the corners. "Thank you." She whispered.
With that, his red eyes faded and he wrapped his arms under hers, standing up with her and brought her as close as he possibly could.
Freya stepped out of the bathroom. She had taken a shower, desperate to wash the feeling of the man grabbing and licking her. She didn't have much luck, but she was able to finally get the disgusting taste out of her mouth as she brushed her teeth feverishly in the shower. She rubbed the towel gently against her head, drying off her hair as she looked at Natsu laying on the bed in nothing but boxers. Freya was more thankful he had taught her everything she knew. Thankful that he just happened upon the situation.
Over the past month there had been girls that had been kidnapped for a day or two, turning up without a memory of what happened. Of course once they had been examined medically, the doctors had revealed to the girls and investigators of what took place.
The two of them had been thanked for their work in catching the three of them. Freya had to assure them for an hour that she was perfectly fine. She was just happy Natsu wasn't going to face any punishment, because while the three had been subdued by her, he took it further than in defense of her.
Though Natsu was laying quietly on the bed, quietly seething from not being able to do his own form of punishment. Their room was hot, even to her.
She looked at the time. "Two in the morning?" She sat down on the queen size bed next to him which actually startled Natsu. He sat up looking at her, who was somehow just smiling softly at him as she carefully squeezed and rubbed the towel through her hair.
He couldn't see how she was smiling, after all that happened. All of it would of course happen to her. She attracted danger it seemed. But his heart was filled with pride. She didn't panic, she handle the situation on her own. She didn't cower away, but instead faced the three of them head on and fought for her survival.
"Wanna go visit the gardens here in the city later on today and take it easy?" She spoke softly, her green endless eyes were warm, melting away his anger. "We could have a picnic." She beamed.
Reaching up he took the towel out of her hands. "Let me."
She could still hear the rage in his voice, but at least he was calming down. He sat behind her as he slowly ran his hands through her hair. "Yeah, we can do that."
The two of them stepped off the train, both of their hands full. They were going to stay one more week up in the snowy mountains within a cabin, but Freya was somewhat homesick, and missing Happy. They both did, and they were worried with how he was doing.
Rest of their vacation was smooth sailing, with Freya buying a camera to take plenty of pictures of the two of them together. He couldn't believe with how much stuff they returned with or how much she had brought for gifts for everyone. Especially for Happy.
They were excited to go to the guild hall right away but they needed to go home first.
It's only been a week since the two of them left out together and the two of them had already caused a ruckus. Not only that but it was within the very day they arrived! Makarov crumpled the paper throwing it behind his shoulder with Lahar standing in front of him. Of course the incident would be reported to the magic council since the two of them were wizards, but now they knew where the two of them were. Not only that but they should be arriving later on today by train. More importantly he couldn't get a hold of Mest.
He debated of sending someone to wait at the train station for them but it would only delay the inevitable at this point. They would eventually catch up to her one way or another. From their memories being wiped, he was sure they only wanted to question her and not execute her as they wanted to before.
"While the incident was obviously in self-defense, it seems Fairy Tail causes trouble where ever they go." Lahar spoke flatly as he carefully watched the guild master.
"I'm just relieved two of my children are unharmed." As he said the words, the two of them stepped through the doors. Lahar looked over and instantly recognized the two from his reports. He waved his arm in the air causing magic runes to appear around Freya.
"Get out of here!" Gray cried out catching Freya and Natsu off guard and they both looked over at a member of the magic council.
The runes forced Freya and Natsu apart, locking her within them. She pressed against them with her hands against the invisible wall, asking what was going on but no one outside the runes could hear her.
Natsu's eyes flared as he pushed against the runes desperate to break them. "Frey!" He roared. Fire erupted from behind him as he used it as a pushing force against the runes.
Freya was able to hear him and the commotion outside, but could only watch as Natsu needlessly struggled against her prison. Even she knew those in the Magic Rune Knights, their runes were near to impossible to break. Their runes were absolutes. Their runes were the law.
Though she didn't understand why this was happening. Was it because of the incident at the karaoke club almost a week ago now? Though she seriously doubted it. If it would be anyone that would be detained, it would be Natsu. Not her.
Natsu put his head on the invisible wall, causing the runes to shimmer and ripple. Freya put her forehead against it as well, unable to calm the raging fire storm that was about to erupt. He would undoubtedly be arrested and detained with her before it was all over.
Natsu's face was filled with rage, fear and a hint of despair. He didn't understand why she was being detained, but he felt her slipping through his fingertips. He couldn't explain it, but this what he had sensed coming a week ago. Not the attack from the night at the karaoke bar. He would fight, he wouldn't give her up to anyone. He didn't care if it was the Magic Council.
Natsu turned and looked at Gramps and the man he had met once before. "I'll only say this once." His voice was low. "Let her go." He demanded as his green eyes glowed.
Freya desperately beat her fist against the runes, to get Natsu's attention but it was too late as he already pushed himself off of her invisible prison.
"I'm afraid I cannot do that. The Council wish to speak with her and question her."
"Then why is she being treated as if she's a criminal?" Natsu slowly walked over, closing the distance. He planned to use a dragon slayer secret art. He figured if he done it close range, he wouldn't be able to defend himself from the attack. He tried to contain his magic, not allowing it to give away what he had planned.
"She is a wizard, and all wizards are detained in this manner. She should be able to return in a day's time."
"Should?" The word peeked his interest. "So then there is a possibility of her not returning?" He knew that if the Council truly wanted, they could imprison her permantely.
"Natsu!" Makarov yelled out but Natsu completely ignored him.
Everyone with in the guild hall only stood, frozen as sweat rolled down their bodies. Natsu was dead serious, and more so the heat that radiated from his body was overwhelming.
As Makarov reached out to grab Natsu to keep him for attacking a member of the Magic Council, he dodged it quickly, with fire erupting from his hands.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art:" He jumped towards Lahar to not entangle the other guild members within his attack. He was going to end it all, and use everything he had been saving. He knew it was reckless, and knew he probably didn't have much of a chance to get those runes to break with him knocking out the man that placed them. But he wasn't going to take the chance of never seeing Freya again either. It was insane, he knew it. But if he was able to break those runes, he would take her and run off with her. However within the split second he had he changed his plan. The dark voice he heard many years ago urged him to direct it all Freya. To melt the runes that held her, it would once again give him the power he needed.
As he landed in front of Lahar who was still reeling to get away Natsu quickly turned and shot over towards Freya. His eyes turned red, black curse marks spread across his face, unseen by the others. His flames turning a deep red. He swirled his hands right in front of the invisible wall. Freya's eyes widen as she quickly covered her face, to keep from being blinded from his fire. His fire held no effect over her, but the brightness of the swirling flames would still temporarily blind her. "Crimson Exploding Flame Blade!"
Fire shot out in from of him, swirling around him and through the guild doors, the wood not even catching fire, but instead melting from the sheer heat.
As the smoke cleared up the black flame curse marks that were once on his face, faded away just as quickly as they appeared. Freya stood in disbelief for a moment, as the invisible wall that once held her actually had melted. The clear like wall melted and around the edges where it was still melting was dark purple.
Natsu reached in pulling Freya through and started to run out the guild doors with her. She stumbled a little as she was floored he had managed to pull of such a feat. She turned and looked behind her, and from what she could see through the guild doors, their guild mates were stunned.
"I can't believe he melted it." Lahar stood stunned if only for a moment but he quickly regained his composer. As she was about to pursue them, Makarov cleared his throat.
"If you truly want to question her, the only way you'll be able to do so is to keep the two of them together. Separating them only leads to more of a headache." Makarov rubbed his temples, unable to fathom Natsu's recklessness, and foolishness. All the work that Mest would have to do to erase these events. That is if he could get a hold of him.
"Master!" A few of the guild members cried out. They couldn't believe their ears that he was openly suggesting for the Council to take the two of them together. Instead of just fighting it all together. However they knew it was the Magic Council, and there was no out running it.
"What, so the two of them can escape together?"
"You've already seen his reaction no?" He motioned for Lahar to come closer. He pushed up his glasses and approached. Makarov leaned in closer to Lahar. "He is the son of a dragon, a dragon slayer. Keep that in mind the next time you foolishly try to separate him from her."
So that what it is then. He had read about it in his studies, but dragon slayers were so rare.
Natsu turned and was about to pick her up as she just seemed to lag behind him but she held her hand up. "Even if we try to run, you should know Natsu…"
"I'm never letting you go again." Natsu reached and grabbed her wrist and proceed to run again with her. "If we don't get out of town and into…"
Freya twisted her wrist out of his. "I know your worried, scared even. I am too." Freya mumbled the last part. "But, I don't just want to up and run and leave everything behind! What about Fairy Tail? What about Happy? You can't run from the Magic Council forever!" She started to pace back and forth in the alley. "What if they truly just want to question me? It could be something simple or frivolous."
"I'm not taking the chance." Natsu crossed his arms.
"Well I am!" Freya's eyes turned to her golden amber ones. "I've finally have true happiness in my life, and I'm not just going to run from my problems anymore. I'm not giving up my happiness that you help give to me to anyone!" She stood definitely against him but she relaxed and slowly walked over to him. "I'm not going to cower or turn my back from anything anymore." She reached her hand out taking his hand into hers. "But it truly makes me happy, that you are willing to fight so hard for me." She hugged him tightly, with him sighing.
He didn't know anything anymore. He always had the strength, he was courageous, and optimistic. He knew he was truly no match against the Magic Council. To defy them, was to defy the order within the magic world. It was why he suddenly chose the "run" option without thinking. He was impulsive, true to his nature as well. He didn't think it through, he just simply wasn't willing to take the chance. The chance on her being held indefinitely because they had the power to do that.
He smiled if only for a moment. There she was though. Even if only for a moment. The battle maiden he seen within the doorway what seemed ages ago had been shone to him once more.
"I'm going back." She pulled away placing a kiss on his cheek. "To turn myself in."
"I'm coming with you."
Freya shook her head. Before she could give her reason why, he spoke again.
"I don't care what your reason is, I'm coming back with you."
Lahar was just now walking out of the guild hall, and he seen the two of them standing in front, hand in hand.
"I'm willing to overlook your sudden outburst within the guild hall if the two of you come quietly." He motion for the guards that walked out from the guild hall who pulled out hand cuffs for the two of them.
They both nodded in unison as they stuck their wrists out, with the guards quickly latching them to their wrists.
The ride in the carriage was certainly rough for both of them. Natsu was slumped over suffering from his motion sickness, as Freya tried desperately to not think of the time when similar cuffs were around her blocking out her magic. She looked down into her hands for a moment. At least the design was just metal cuffs around her wrists, with a red ball in the middle. Not chains that rattled.
Freya looked back across the carriage, wishing she could quell Natsu's groans of sickness. But as long as she remained restrained, she knew there wasn't much that could be done. She did wonder if she would make it to ERA before Natsu blew chunks all over her and himself.
Freya walked through the doors, escorted by guard with Natsu still reeling from the day's carriage ride. She walked up to the podium as Natsu was taken off to the side.
"Please state your name, age, guild and magic for the record." A female frog clerk spoke up.
"Freya Dragneel. Twelve years old. I'm in the Fairy Tail guild and I use healing magic."
"There are several types of healing magic my dear child, what specific kind do you use?" Belno inquired.
Freya thought carefully for a moment. It's only displayed physically on a couple of times, and it's not like she spoke words with her magic like Natsu and some others done. She just simply willed it. "Fire."
The council members whispered among themselves for a moment. "That is quite rare. Even considered a lost magic. Where did you learn it?" Org stroked his beard, curious as to someone so young learned something as ancient as she had.
Freya honestly didn't have an answer, as she didn't even know it herself. She had to be careful though, she knew this. "I don't remember anything before the summer of 777. In my travels I came across Fairy Tail, in which they took me in and taught me the ways of the magic world." It was true though she danced around the truth with her answer.
"You've earned quite the reputation as a reputable healer, Life-binder." Jellal spoke, his words smooth. His icy eyes looked on in interest, causing Freya's hairs to stand on edge. "For someone to wake up with a talent, truly is a blessing."
She mentally had to keep control over the change in her eyes. She felt she was in a dangerous place, more than she realized. She knew she had to keep control over every little bit.
Natsu could see the cold sweat that was starting to break out. All these questions, poking around in her past. He knew it was bringing it all back, especially were these damn cuffs. Though she was handling their questions fairly well. Better than he could of especially.
"I'm thankful to have been given such a talent and use it to the best of my ability almost every day. To heal and cure those who are sick. To help those who are less fortunate than myself." Freya bowed her head.
Yajima sat quietly, believing this whole thing to a farce. They wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for Siegrain suddenly taking an interest in the child.
"Does anything peculiar happen when you heal others?" Yuri pushed the questioning quicker, so they could be done with the inquiry. "Can you heal yourself?"
Freya swallowed hard. She felt the truth was dangerous and toxic to reveal. She didn't quite understand it, but she even felt compelled to lie.
Natsu still couldn't piece it together. Why they were so interested in her abilities and what she could do. Then realization hit him and it hit him hard. Freya could create life. Not as she used to, but she has displayed it one several occasions. The time in Demantur when she caused life to blossom in the wake of her flames, and whenever her pure, un-poisoned blood came into contact with the ground.
"I can heal myself, however nothing of interests happens when I use my magic." She paused for a moment. "I could display it for you right now if you like?"
"No. It's quite alright, Miss Dragneel." Yajima finally spoke up. "You have been quite honest and have patiently answered our questions."
"If there is no further questions?" The chairman, Crawford spoke picking up his gavel as he waited. "You may release Freya Dragneel and Natsu Dragneel." He brought his gavel down a few times, concluding the matter.
The guards stepped in front of each of them releasing the locks on the magic binding cuffs as Freya inwardly sighed in relief. As the guard removed Freya's the metal nicked her skin causing her to recoil away rubbing the sting.
Natsu for a moment panicked but he smelled no blood sighing in relief also. The party would have really started if they seen the result of a single droplet coming into contact with the marble floors, but all of her gruesome training of cutting herself every morning, almost as if it was a ritual finally paid off. He truly hated it when the morning came on the days she decided to practice, but seems her hard work has paid off. As it just saved them both. Especially her.
Jellal sat within his library, smiling quietly as he was quite amused.
"It seems nothing is out of the ordinary then?" Ultear walked in closing the door behind her.
"Quite the opposite." Jellal kept the secret to himself all these years. It's quite hard to wipe the memory of a thought projection. He could see it as she stood before him, she truly was the child of Zeref. The magic that radiated off her body was indeed similar to him. He was just happy the fools on the Magic Council were too stupid to realize her true identity. It did seem however the girl was unaware of it herself or she would have hidden it better.
Whoever wiped the memory and records of her existence and her true magic only had helped him in the long run. Whoever was behind the scenes trying to protect her only proved more so of what he knew. That in the end all of it would only further his own plans.
What truly seemed serendipitous was that she was in the same guild as Erza.
"Oh? Do tell." Jellal was putty within her hands, and whatever secrets he knew of, she would know as well.
They sat in the train car, alone. Side by side, both of them relived. She rested her head on his shoulder as he had his arm sitting upon hers. Freya pushed all of the resurfaced memories aside, instead choosing to think upon another matter to occupy her mind.
Natsu now seen he had panicked for no reason it seemed. She had handled the questioning gracefully and without fear. He really needed to stop being so reckless. More so on their jobs since the ones that hire them generally take a cut out. Not like they were particularly hurting for money.
"Those black marks that appeared on his face." They were unlike anything she had seen or read before. It was only for a moment, but whatever it was felt truly dark and looming. She felt as if she could had been crushed under it all. Even if but for a moment she truly feared Natsu. Not Natsu himself, but those black flame markings. She feared them, and what came along with them. Those flames, were entirely different from his fire dragon slayer magic. Even if he had used a dragon secret art, those flames were not of dragon slaying. She didn't know what they were. Whatever they were, she wasn't entirely sure if she could call it magic and that perhaps was why he was able to break her free.
They were a deep crimson. So deep and intense they were almost black. Even now thinking of them, almost caused her to shudder.
In a sense, the presence she had felt during that moment within his flames and black marking felt oddly familiar to her. Something she had felt long ago before she arrived to Fairy Tail. In fact it was shortly after she left from Granny's. Natsu was within Fairy Tail at that time, so there was no way it could had possibly been him.
"Natsu." Freya finally spoke looking up at him.
"Mmm?" His stomach still felt a little queasy from earlier, but it was improving with each passing moment.
"What were those black marks on your face?"
He should had known she would have taken notice. He wasn't entirely sure if he had been imagining it when he felt the marks creep across his skin or not. To be honest he didn't know and that dark voice, HIS voice has spoken twice to him. Each time whenever he was truly desperate for Frey. He didn't feel as if it was connected to them being mates, but something separate entirely. He had chosen to ignore it all those years ago, but perhaps those weird occasional nightmares were connected to it. Until he knew the answers, he couldn't really give her one. "Don't know." He shrugged. "I was really just focused on breaking you free." Should he be worried? Or should he be thankful and not question it further? It was his own voice after all, just it was deeper and had a dark air about it.
"The day is approaching, the day when you will have to let her go." The foreboding voice broke the silence once more. "Like hell I will." "Until that fated day I'll be here." "What the hell are you talking about? What fated day?" Natsu waited for it to reply but it never came. It was certainly his voice, but it seemed to almost be a separate entity from him. "Tell me!" It was gone.
Freya looked into Natsu's eyes, but they were different. They were filled with pain and heart ache. It was almost as if he was in a daze for a moment. But he shook his head, the expression melted away.
"You okay?" Freya put her hand on his cheek caressing his skin with her thumb.
"Never better." He grinned his normal goofy grin. "Can't wait to get back home!"
Makarov sat in his office, it was late at night. The day kept getting stranger that was for certain. He just accepted a strange, though kind young man from what he could see. He wore a cloak, and was covered in bandages, as well as keeping his face completely concealed. "Mystogan?" He thought for a brief moment.
He was still unable to get a hold of Mest. He wasn't worried however as he was raised within the guild. He could just quite possibly be out of range for the time being. Though he was worried about Freya and Natsu. Would they arrive tonight? Tomorrow? If the Magic Council didn't release them it would be quite a bit of work for Mest to do and cover up to get the two of them out. The biggest problem would be containing Fairy Tail.
Natsu and Freya just picked up Happy from Lisanna at her home that she lived in with Mira and Elfman. Happy was still sobbing in Freya's arms. He had returned with Lisanna shortly after the two of them had been taken to ERA. Natsu though reassured him that Magic Council or not, the two of them would always come back home.
She knew the Master must be worried, but figured he had probably already went home, which was where the three of them were going. She kept having brief flashes of the chamber Natsu had found her in, what now seemed like yesterday. "I'm not going to let it control me."
The night however did not go easy for the three of them. Happy dreamed of Freya and Natsu never returning. Freya didn't dream, but was instead filled with dread and fear as she walked through the emptiness of the void.
Natsu however, dreamed of something different.
It was truly a nightmare. Freya was once again older, her hair was shorter, just below her chin. He could clearly see several of her bones were prominent through her skin as she was chained in a standing position against a stone wall. She was naked, covered in lacerations as if she had been whipped. She had been whipped violently. The wounds were deep, some to the bone. He didn't understand why they weren't healing.
However as horrifying as the image was, he seen what appeared to be fang marks on the left side of her neck on her pulse. Along with fang marks on her left breast and right above her left hip bone, below her guild mark. As he came closer to her, she opened her sunken eyes. They burned a brilliant amber but what hurt the most was how she looked at him. They were empty, filled with hatred and rage. He came closer, he was desperate within the dream to free her. He couldn't even fathom why he was dreaming of this.
To his dismay he stopped within an arm's reach of her, and no matter how much he willed it within the dream, he remained un-moving.
"Why the hell are you here?"
Freya remained silent, her eyes burning a hole through him. No matter how much rage and hatred she held within his eyes, he could also see the hurt. As if he betrayed her. But more importantly he could see his own reflection within her eyes. Black curse marks were etched into his skin, in flame patterns.
Natsu tried to wake himself up from this nightmare but no reprieve came. It was all so real, as if it were a memory.
"Why do you insist on speaking to such trash, my lord?"
Natsu turned in the direction of the voice, and seen someone unfamiliar to him. "Are you the one that captured her and seen her to be fit for torture?"
"Indeed I am my lord. It seems no matter what I do, she refuses to let me hear her sweet screams of agony and misery."
"Then you should try once more. Let's see if she can sing" He turned back around facing Freya who seemed unfazed by his sickening command.
He couldn't believe what he was saying. How could he even say such a thing? Just how? He even felt the tears on his face, as his stomach twisted. He was so repulsed by himself, so ashamed. She was his mate! And he was dreaming this twisted nightmarish hell.
However as the whip flew by his face and before it could make contact with her skin, he reached out catching it, sending black flames up the whip. He turned quickly around and thursted his hand through the unknown man's chest, crushing his heart.
He withdrew his hand from the nameless man, shaking the blood off.
He slowly turned to face her once more, and what he seen was a horrified Freya, with tears streaming from her blood shot amber eyes.
She quickly looked down, but he seen her bit her lip as her chains rattled. "How…" He could barely hear her at first.
"How could you just do that to your…your subject!?" She screamed at him, looking back up at him.
"Did I not please you with killing the one that tortured you? I thought you would be happy to be freed from those chains." Natsu walked up and as soon as he touched her wrist she trashed within her chains.
"Don't you dare touch me!"
The words cut at him. She was refusing to even be touched by him. It was maddening. But he didn't listen within this dream.
He grabbed her wrists and pushing himself against her, pinning her against the wall. He put his lips to her ear, causing her to twist her head away biting her lips as she sobbed.
"Tell me." He whispered. "Why, why the hell can't I stop thinking about you? Why the hell do I feel so compelled to release a piece of trash, a draconic girl such as yourself?" He paused for a moment as Freya shook her head. "I know all about your stupid mating, but I'm a ….. from the book of ….."
He couldn't hear some of the words oddly enough, but he would do anything for all of this stop. He could feel himself sobbing. Hysterically even.
"I'm the king of this world, and yet some bitch, a piece of garbage such as yourself think you can charm me? That you could seduce me? To tame someone such as myself?"
However her trembling suddenly stopped and she turned her face back towards him. Her nose almost touching his. "Then just kill me and be done with it. I'm just withering away, unable to die." She looked down in defeat. "If you truly are the king of this world, I'm sure someone such as yourself could manage."
He released her writs only for him to pull back his blood covered arm, and right before he could impale her as he done the bleeding out man behind him his eyes snapped open.
Natsu sucked in a deep breath, sitting straight up within their bed trembling. He put his hand to his forehead as it felt as if it was splitting open. Cold sweat covered his scorching body. Scorching wasn't even the right word for it, as he felt hot to even himself. The smell of that place remained in his nose, turning his stomach.
He threw his legs over the side of the bed as he rested his head within his arms that he propped against his legs. He felt shame, disgust, rage, fear, terror and horror. He felt so unworthy to even touch her now, even if it was a sick twisted nightmare. His heart twisted in his chest, as all he could do was cry. He couldn't understand why. Why the hell did he dream of something like that? Before he could begin to find the answers, Freya was sitting up within the bed and reached over, lightly touching his bare back.
"Natssuu." She whispered, rubbing her eyes. Thankful she was awake finally from the plains of the void. She felt him tense under her touch and she lazily ran her fingertips across his shoulder blades to relax him.
He sucked in a breath, and cleared his throat. He couldn't let her know or let her see him in this condition.
"What's wrong?" She yawned.
"Nothing." He shook his head trying his best to keep his voice from cracking. "Just go back to sleep. I've got to go take a piss." He shook her hands off and abruptly stood up. He stormed out of their bedroom and slammed their bathroom door.
It startled her. He has never spoke to her in suck a way nor has he acted in such a manner. Her ears perked as she heard running water. "Taking a shower at this time of the night?"
She was about to get out of bed, but froze when she unmistakably heard him sobbing. Shower or not, she was going to waltz right into the bathroom.
"It seems each time I awaken however brief it maybe, this will be the result. The price for her future." "Then just stay the hell away and out of my head. I don't need your power then if this is the cost. I'll become stronger on my own." And it was gone. He punched the tiled shower, cracking it, causing a few to fall into the tub breaking completely.
He never heard Freya come into, in fact he didn't notice her at all. He was completely consumed, being swallowed whole within his raging emotions.
Taking a deep breath as she mentally prepared herself, she closed her eyes and slide the back side of the shower curtain open, stepping in fully clothed. She reached out, wrapping her arms around Natsu, pressing herself into his back side.
Natsu stood straight up, his whole body tensed from the closeness.
"What the hell are you doing Frey?" His voice cracked, but he couldn't exactly turn around and push her off of him.
"Something is obviously wrong." Freya was slowly becoming soaked, as the water from the shower ran down his backside.
He didn't say anything. It felt so wrong for her to be hugging him after that night terror. "You have to get out."
"No." She tightened her grip on her own arms, to keep them around him since he was trying to remove her arms. "Something is bothering you, and I'm not leaving until I know you're okay."
"I'm fine." He lied.
"You're not!" She shook her head against him. "Please, don't lie to me. Just tell me what's wrong." She was finally drenched head to toe, her clothes clinging to her body.
"I want to keep my head on my shoulders for a little while longer, so please. You have to get out." He pleaded. The night terror. Her in the shower with him even if they sat in a hot spring together. Her love. He felt undeserving. It was wrong. Everything was suddenly wrong now.
"Why are you desperately trying to push me away?" He could hear the hurt within her voice. "It pains me to see you like this." She clenched her eyes shut.
Steam filled the bathroom, as it rolled up off the scorching water. They both remain motionless, and silent.
"I can't force you to tell me, and if you can't tell me then I understand." Freya spoke tenderly. "Just let me be here with you." She relaxed her grip, as she continued to rest her head in between his shoulders.
He could feel it. Her smoothing fire spreading from her into him. With each passing second, his fear and anxiety's melted away. Slowly, piece by piece the night terror he had faded from his memory.
Even if she couldn't do much, she could at least do this much. Take his unknown burdens away, even if only for a moment. "This is only temporary, Natsu." It was an imperfect healing spell she had been working on. The final product would not take their memories away of their pain, but to give them true tranquility and peace. To heal the hidden scars of people's hearts and souls. She had been working on it to help victims such as herself in the future. So no one would ever suffer as she had done.
She believed it was important to learn from the pain you experience through life much like you do mistakes. She had promised herself to only use it in cases much like hers or ones that were worse than her own. If it hadn't been for Natsu and Happy, she wouldn't had recovered. She knew not everyone within the world had someone in their lives such as the two she had in hers.
He stood there finally relaxing, his tension melting away under her gentle fire. He wasn't entirely sure what he had dreamed of now, but he was becoming acutely aware of her pressed against his back. Only a thin, wet piece of fabric that used to be one of his t-shirts that he would wear until it got worn out, were between them.
He swallowed hard, trying not to think about the forming curves that were pressing into him. "Frey, thank you." He gently pushed her arms off of him as he turned his head and looked over his shoulder. "I'm sorry."
But Freya only looked up smiling at him, as she shook her head. "Don't be. We all get a little grumpy when something is bothering us. That's why we gotta stick together."
He turned his head back around, as he smiled. "I really think you should get out of the shower now, so I can get out."
Dusk stood within the empty small fortress, cursing to himself. No one was here and it appeared they all evacuated a day before his arrival. He missed his only chance to end it then and there. How much longer would he have to give chase, until not a single member was left alive? He was growing tired of the chasing game and just wanted to end it all within a single decisive blow.
He kicked a pebble across the room and each time the pebble bounced the sound echoed through the empty halls. He didn't really believe his brief encounter with Lucy a week ago, delayed him a whole day. However it appeared they were always somehow one step ahead of him now.
The only explanation was he was being observed somehow but that also didn't make sense either. He's been very careful of his movements, and of his magic over the past couple of years. Perhaps he has just been unlucky and in order to keep their distance from him, they move from place to place.
He sighed as he figured perhaps it was time to implement his infiltration plan. It was his last plan and his last hope. He didn't exactly want to do any of Dragon's End's dirty work but he would have to in order to work his way up the ranks and learn their movements, their plans and finally get close enough to their leader. However there was a serious drawback to this plan. He would need to divide himself into a thought projection. He would have to have enough magic at all times to keep the thought projection going, while also keeping that thought projection transformed using transformation magic. It was going to be quite the under taking.
However if he ever wanted to end this game and bring an end to the cult so he can start training for the future battle that is slowly approaching, this was it.
Author's Note:
I can't believe I finished this massive chapter within two weeks! I've been playing a lot of Overwatch as well as writing this and rewatching Fairy Tail.
Well, here we have everyone! Everyone is growing up and slowly but surely becoming stronger! :D Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Sorry its so long! I wanted to write some of their vacation together, but I was a bit afraid of writing their WHOLE vacation together and didn't want everyone to get bored. So I wrote the first day. :)
I've been thinking of going back and revising some of my older chapters, especially the first couple of ones. I was reading my story and I found some mistakes, but I also just want to improve some of the older chapters as well. If and WHEN I do it, I'll be sure to let you guys know. :)