Chapter 12: Jealousy

Laxus Dreyar informed Ichiya about what happened in Crocus and his desire to confront his client. However, the perfume master looked reluctant about his plan. According to him, if Blue Pegasus could sort out conflict without using any form of violence, then they should take that course.

The dragon slayer sat on the table, feeling more frustrated than ever. Apparently, Ichiya was adamant in having the Trimens investigate the matter first. Laxus was on the verge of exploding, but he contained himself because the man did help Lucy.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to prepare the airship. Meeen," Ichiya sang, breezing his way out of the guildhall.

Moments later, Eve and Jenny arrived in the main hall. They seemed to be arguing about her rude behavior and the things she shouldn't have said because they weren't true.

"How is she?" Laxus asked Eve.

"She's fine," Eve replied cautiously. The way he scratched his head told the dragon slayer a different story. "I mean, she ate a bit, but..."

"Oh, don't hide it, Eve. Lucy got melodramatic and started ignoring us!" Jenny complained and then squeezed herself between Hibiki and Ren on the table.

"That's not what happened," Eve retorted, clenching his fists. "You're the one who got all melodramatic and upset her."

Jenny scoffed and crossed her arms, leaning against Hibiki.

"Don't you want to check on her, Laxus?" Ren Akatsuki asked, raising an eyebrow.

Laxus didn't answer him. The question was whether or not Lucy wanted to see him. She probably hated him for putting her in harm's way.

"Why don't you take care of Lucy while we head out?" Hibiki suggested to him.

"Yeah, I'll do that," he grunted, wiping his face with his hand.

"I'll be sure to inform the Thunder God Tribe where you are as soon as they're within my telepathy range," Hibiki added.

He nodded his thanks and got up from the table. It was time to face her.

At the infirmary, Laxus quietly opened the door and watched as Lucy picked out a book from one of the shelves. Her blonde hair was slightly disheveled, and her nightdress was rumpled. Taking a deep breath, he knocked.

The blonde girl didn't even turn to face him.

"Are you all right there, Missy?"

There was no reaction from her. He watched her as she started flipping the pages of the book she was holding with her back still turned. As he expected, the celestial mage was angry at him—her heartbeat told him so.

"Listen. I want to tell you something."

Nothing. He moved closer to her until he was standing behind her. She still ignored him.

"Hey."

Frowning, he looked over her shoulder and noticed that the book she was holding was upside down. On a normal day, he probably would have found this funny.

"I knew you had a problem with your hearing. But I didn't realize you have a problem with your vision, too," Laxus mused.

Lucy suddenly turned around and fixed him a stony glare. "What do you mean that I also have a problem with my vision? Are you trying to pick a fight, big guy?"

Okay, so that got her attention.

Instead of answering her, he gently tugged at the book she was holding and turned it upside down. Then, he watched as her face turned into a deep shade of red as she stared at the book in its right position.

"I'm not here to pick a fight with you," he sighed. He placed the book back into the shelf.

Lucy suddenly looked troubled as if she was thinking about something.

"Please look at me," Laxus told her, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. Slowly, she met his gaze. "Lucy, I want to tell you how sorry I am for everything. For giving you those cursed keys. I swear to you on my life that I never meant—"

He couldn't finish his apology. Lucy had flung her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his. Laxus instinctively held her in his arms and lifted her off her feet, feeling surprised yet hopeful at the same time.

"Lucy—"

The celestial mage wrapped her legs around the dragon slayer and moaned in his mouth, urging him to return her kiss. She was kissing him with such fierceness that he opened his mouth and gave in to her demands. He knew he didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve her.

"I've missed you," Lucy murmured moments later, her breath fanning against his lips. Then, she slowly pulled back and gazed intently at him.

"How can you be like this when I was the one who put you in danger?" Laxus asked her miserably.

"Don't think like that. I don't blame you for what happened," she assured him. "Eve told me everything. You saved my life."

"I could've lost you."

"But you didn't," she pointed out. Then, she sighed heavily. "And the reason I got mad at you earlier was because you told Jenny something."

He cocked his head, confused. "Ah? What are you talking about? I barely even spoke to Jenny."

"But—"

He suddenly remembered Eve and Jenny arguing earlier about the girl lying about something. "Wait—what did she tell you that got you all upset?"

She sighed and seemed to glare at the infirmary door. "It's nothing," she muttered angrily, hugging him tightly. "Forget it."

"Are you sure you don't want to tell me?" He buried his face in her neck. When he felt her shake her head in response, he contented himself with inhaling her sweet scent.

"Hey, don't go on sniffing me," she protested. "I haven't bathed yet. And I'd like to very much right now."

He felt her trying to push him away, but he didn't budge. Instead, he placed soft kisses on her neck and then slowly lowered his lips to her bare shoulders. He could feel her body shiver.

"Laxus?"

"Yes?"

"I think… I think we should…"

"We should what, Missy?" He drew back and gazed at her. Then, he smiled slightly. "Do you want to go to my place?"

She looked at him, her face reddening. Moments later, she nodded. "Yeah, let's do that."