I know I know! I'm sorry my loyal fans! I've been trying really hard to find time to write! And it doesn't help how I have MAJOR WRITER'S BLOCK! :(
Hope you like this chapter. I try to update soon.
Hiro Mashima owns FairyTail
Pant pant.. pant..
she was clutching her chest.. the burning subsided and in its place was a cooling sensation..
She looked around.. her desk.. her bed..
a wide smile grew on her face.
It was mid day now and everyone at the guild was having a relaxing day. Mira had gotten the latest scoop of Gray and Juvia's date from yesterday. She was surprised to find that Gray had enjoyed his date with Juvia and had taken the time to get to know her better. Juvia spilled the beans and rambled on and on about how sweet the date was and how he was so amazing. Gray on the other hand drank and chilled with the other men of the guild.. not particularly divulging any information about the date other than the fact that it was nice. The men all seething with jealousy.. Gray had not only gone on a date with Juvia.. but Lucy as well.. TWO GIRLS! It didn't help that both were fairly beautiful and one of the most popular girls in the guild. But what they couldn't get over was that Lucy had finally opened up to Gray to go on a date!
Laxus was sharing some comfortable silence with Master Makarov at a table.. both drinking their own beers.. Laxus had informed Master Makarov of Lucy's events in the last two days… Master Makarov just nodded and seemed to be too calm. And so Laxus' suspicions rose on whether Master was hiding something from him.
And then he smelt her..
The door opened Lucy walked in. Plue in her arms.
Laxus was surprised.. he hadn't expected Lucy to come to guild today after yesterdays events.. and especially alone and happy as she was.
"Good afternoon Lucy." Mira yelled.
"Lucy" Gray said smiling from his table.
"Hi Mira. Hey Gray." Lucy smiled and walked towards Gray's table.
In the process all the other men surrounding him dispersed away and left the two alone. Lucy sat down and began talking to Gray. Juvia.. was still sitting at the bar talking with the girls.
"Juvia.. does Lucy know that you went on a date with Gray?" Lisanna asked softly.
"Juvia doesn't know.. Juvia thinks love-rival doesn't"
Lucy's eyes widened..
"What's up Lucy? You okay?" Gray asked noticing her sudden change.
Laxus who had been looking away from Lucy turned around to see her reaction.. he knew that she heard perfectly clear.
"I'm fine Gray. So… how was your date with Juvia?" Lucy smiled.
Everyone around the two became dead silent..
Gray's eyes widened.. "Lucy… I.." he stopped.
"Well? How was it?" She smiled warmly.
"It… was… good?" Gray was pale and sweating now.. he didn't know what Lucy was playing at.
"Well that's good. I'm happy for you. You finally opened up to her. I'm proud of you Gray." Lucy put a hand on his shoulder.
Gray was speechless.. so were everyone else.
Lucy looked around for Juvia.. and smiled.
"I'm in full support of Gruvia!"
Juvia was wide-eyed… Gray was wide-eyed..
All the men were confused.. the girls smiling..
"Love rival is no longer my love rival!" Juvia cried as she ran over to Lucy and Gray.
"Of course not. I never stood a chance against you Juvia." Lucy said laughing.
"Wait.. Lucy." Gray said panicking..
"Gray-sama!" Juvia clung unto Gray.
"Nooooo Lucy let me explain!" Gray reached out towards Lucy.. Juvia holding onto Gray's waist.
Lucy just laughed as she walked away towards the mission board.
Laxus kept watching Lucy from his seat. Blankly watching Lucy with a serious face. But as he noticed her walking towards the mission board.. he frowned..
Makarov noticed Laxus' unwavering gaze on Lucy.. he looked alternatingly between the two.. Lucy and Laxus..
He smirked and continued to drink his beer.
Mira too noticed Laxus' unwavering stare at the celestial dragon slayer.. she watched Laxus with curiosity.
She glanced through each job request.. bandits here.. fixing there.. body guard here… all sorts of requests… she found one that was interesting towards the top of the board. She tiptoed onto her toes to reach it. But then she saw a shadow appear over her.. she had sensed his scent become stronger in the last few seconds.. and the shadow cast over her confirmed her theory.
"Hello Laxus" Lucy smiled as she continued to try and reach for the flier.
Laxus' raises an eyebrow.. "What.. do you think you are doing." He said in a low voice.
"Taking up a job request." Lucy jumped a little to get the flier.. but it was just at her fingertips.
"What happened to metal freak... I thought you went to see his dragon?"
"Yup I did. Saw him and came home." She continued to jump up and down.. and her chest with her.
"…" Laxus just watched her in amusement.
She finally got the flyer between her fingers and was about to pull the flyer down when Laxus' giant hand slammed the flyer to the wall. The loud bang of Laxus' hand against the mission board brought the attention of many towards them..
"You are in no condition to go out taking missions again."
"And who are you to say I can't" Lucy turned around putting her hand on her hips. She frowned slightly as she looked up at him.
"I say so." Laxus looked at her with a serious face.
"What? You have no authority over me. And why can't I?" Lucy crossed her arms.
Laxus bent down to face her face to face.. she stepped back to lean away from him and walked into the wall. His face was awfully close now.
"I know exactly what state you are in by just looking at you. Sorry Blondie.. but you aren't hard to read. And plus… I was implanted with a dragon lacrima too.. " he pointed to his temple.. "Remember?"
"I'm not easy to read. And I'm perfectly fine." Lucy pouted and frowned.
"Ha." He straightened out his posture. "Whatever. You don't know how to control your new magic or even let alone use it. You'll just die out there." He took the flyer in his hand and took a few steps away.
"Give it back Laxus." She dropped her arms. "I was looking at that job first."
He turned around and looked at her with a smirk.
"It's mine now."
"You know.. you can be a real jerk sometimes." Lucy crossed her arms and frowned.
He glared her..
"What did you say?"
"You can be a real jerk sometimes!" Lucy yelled, not backing down. Everyone around them started backing away.. Lucy.. had just yelled Laxus.. and they did NOT want to be in the crossfire..
Laxus stalked up to her and glared down at her.
"I come over here.. telling you you can't go on missions for your own safety.. and you tell me I'm a jerk?"
"You're a jerk because you just watched me struggle to try and get that flier the entire time.. and then you go and steal the mission I want. It's a simple mission that barely needs any magic to complete it and gives little money. You obviously don't need it. You think you're being nice? You are a jerk."
"If you think I'm such a jerk.. what about two nights ago?" Laxus growled back. "What do you call that then huh?"
The guild was dead silent..
Gray's eyes widened.. 2 nights ago?.. after he had dropped her off at home? He froze in Juvia's embrace..
"I don't know what you're talking about." Lucy panicked.. she didn't want anyone to know what she was doing in the lake.. it was her secret.. she had to stop Laxus from talking about that night…
"Oh… don't you act like you don't remember.." Laxus smirked..
"What happened 2 nights ago?" Levy asked from her seat at the bar.
"Nothing!.. I just went for a swim.. I.. "
"TCH.. I found her at the lake.. washed up ashore.. shivering and cold.. so I took her home and she stayed the night." He crossed his arms.
"What were you doing in swimming at night? Where? At the lake?" Gray said alarmed.
"I.. just wanted to go for a swim" Lucy said laughing nervously.
"Wait.. You stayed the night? So.. it was just you two.. all alone?" Cana said surprised and smiling.
"Wait.. you stayed at Laxus' place?!" Levy said shocked.
"Yea.. I.. fell asleep… but.." Lucy tried to explain.
"Where did you sleep?" Mira asked smiling mischieviously.
"I.."
"She slept in my bed of course." Laxus said with a irritated look.
Mira, Cana, Levy, Lisanna, and everyone else.. looked shocked at Lucy and Laxus..
When.. when did THEY happen?!
"STOP IT LAXUS. YOU'RE GIVING EVERYONE THE WRONG IDEA! NOTHING HAPPENED BETWEEN US! I did sleep in his bed.. but he slept on the couch!" Lucy said panicking.
"Whatever blondie…" Laxus smirked.. "feel free to come by anytime to pick up the things you left behind." He was clearly enjoying toying around with Lucy.. he didn't mind what the other members thought that might have happened between her and him. And something about the whole situation.. made him smile.
"I NEVER LEFT ANYTHING! NOTHING HAPPENED!" Lucy yelled. She grabbed his hand and took the flier from it. She glared at him and hissed…
"You'll pay for this sparky."
"Sparky? You better give that flier back if you know what's good for you.. " Laxus said in a serious tone now. He wasn't kidding when he said she couldn't go on a mission. He knew how unstable her magic was.. it was only the second week she's had it for goodness sakes.. no one knew what her magic capacity was anymore… let alone what dragon slayer magic she would come to learn.. it was all just too early..
His eyes widened when he saw her smirk.
She stepped a couple steps backwards away from him.
"Mira~ I'm going to take this mission."
"Lucy… I don't think you should be going on missions so soon.." Mira said worried.
"I'll be fine~ Don't worry! I'll show you all I'm perfectly fine and capable." Lucy said smiling.
"Hand it over." Laxus said getting more annoyed now. "And don't you dare think about running.."
"Make me." Lucy smirked.
Everyone was amazed at Lucy's boldness..
"Are you crazy Blondie? Do you know who you're talking to?" Laxus frowned at her.
"Yea.. do you?" She said lifting the flier up towards eye-level.
"Be back soon Mira~" Lucy said smiling as she winked at Laxus. Her body began to light up..
Laxus eye's widened and he lightning lunged towards to grab her. But he just found open air in her place..
He stared at the very place Lucy had stood just a second before..
Everyone did.. a few seconds passed… and then the guild went into to uproar.
"WHERE DID LUCY GO?!"
"HOW DID SHE DO THAT?!"
"CAN.. SHE TELEPORT?"
"IS THAT TELEPORTATION MAGIC?"
Laxus clenched his fists.. he walked over to his grandpa.. and sat at the table again. He chugged his beer and sat annoyed.. the raijinshu were sitting at the table right next to him..
"Laxus…" Master Makarov said calmly.
"…yea….."
"Go check on her." Master Makarov took a sip of his beer.
"WHAT?!"
"Make sure she doesn't hurt herself.. you're worried for her too anyways.. just watch over her as she completes her mission.. I know she can do it.. but whether she can without any damages…" he took another sip.
"I'm not a babysitter Jiji.. I've got stuff and my own missions to do." Laxus got up and began to walk away.
"Laxus… make sure she makes it home!"
Laxus continued walking to the guild exit. The raijinshu followed faithfully after him.
"Is it just me… or is Laxus flirting with Lucy?" Lisanna came up to Mira.
"It is interesting isn't it Lisanna.. for some reason.. when it comes to Lucy.. he's always doing and saying surprising things.." Mira said smiling as she dried her mugs.
He blinked a few times in thought.. had he been acting differently with Lucy? He continued on acting annoyed to the situation.. but inside.. he knew. That he was going to find her and make her pay for not listening to him.. once again.. she had run away.. and he was going to catch her all right..
Gray frowned as he look at his hands.. wondering what he had done wrong.. he thought he finally had a chance.. an upper hand… and now.. it was completely gone.. he looked to his side where Juvia was hanging.. she smiled warmly up at him.. he laughed at her warm smile… and admired Juvia's smiling face.. something warm began to grow in his chest.. he sighed.. at least now.. It was for certain.. Lucy and He.. could never work.. but as partners in a team.. they would be as close as always. At least he would always have that..
"So you finally arrived.. what took you so long Salamander"
"Heh.. Igneel and I lost track of time because we were training."
"Figures.."
"How are you and Grandeeny Wendy?"
"I'm a little nervous... but we are ready."
"Gihi.. let's do this…"
"Yosh.. I'm all fired up!"