Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail nor any work professionally associated with it. All original plots and characters are mine.
In a land far, far away lies the kingdom of Fiore, a small, peaceful nation of 17 million, and a place filled with Magic found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace. For most, Magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life. For some, however, Magic is an art, and they've devoted their lives to its practice. These are the wizards. Banded together into magical guilds, they ply their skills in search of fame and fortune. Many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore. But there is a certain guild in a certain town that soars high above the rest, one from which countless legends have been born. A guild that will no doubt continue to create legends well into the future. Its name...is Fairy Tail.
DRING-A-LING-A-LING-A-LING…!
A group of nearby college students came into the foyer of the café. It shined in such relaxing colors with framed original artwork from local artists, record album covers and vinyl from famous singers who inspired those to be themselves, and photographs from the themed nights the café occasionally hosted. As they talked amongst themselves and griped and teased about their latest exam scores from their nutty professor, a pair of heels came towards them.
HEEL-CLICK! HEEL CLICK! HEEL-CLICK!
"You're back!"
The group of college students put a pause on their conversation to look at their hostess. Blushes appeared on their faces as a relaxed aura washed over them. "Thanks for welcoming us," they murmured dreamily.
A wide beam. "Of course, Masters! We've missed your company!" Hair drenched in sun-touched blonde spilled down the back in loose curls with a maid headdress tucked into the front of hair. A gloved hand tucked back a lock. "So, please take a seat and relax!"
The maid dress was a halter with a skirt thankfully supported by a white tulle tutu skirt. The top of the halter contained a white pinstripe pattern and a droopy black bow with the collar crisply done. The apron was directly on the skirt with two pockets and crispy black bows on the front, the apron tied in the back with its own luxurious bow. Unattached sleeves were black with white outlining and started from the middle of the forearm down. White stocking went from mid-thigh down, wrapped in a black bow and heels completed it all.
Warm hickory greeted the group. "And welcome back, Masters!"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Oh oh oh oh oh
Kirei de itai watashi wo mite hoshii (mite hoshii)
Oh oh oh oh oh
Pasuwaado wa
Kimitsu "Like you" kimi wa Just friends
•
Ima no tokoro
Kowashitai shoudou
No no no osaete mo dame kamo maiagatte
•
Swing swing swing (Oh oh)
Swing swing swing (Oh oh)
Yurayura to (My heart)
Yure nagara (To heart)
Swing swing swing (Oh oh)
Swing swing swing (Oh oh)
Chikazuite (motto)
Surechigau (yada)
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The café was nothing like an ordinary maid café where cute maid knelt at your side to take your order and requested you chant with them, something five-year-olds and forty-year-old men might enjoy. The maids flitting about each had a costume tailored to their own needs and personalities. One maid had an old-fashioned outfit with a floor-length dress and apron and hair tied back in a low ponytail. She appeased her adult using a few a telekinetic spell to make an afternoon cocktail for them. One had taken the approach of a gender-bent butler with her bust spilling out of her vest that lengthened into a low-to-high skirt. With her fiery red hair trapped in braids, she accepted the challenge to a game of rapid-fire Uno with teenaged guests. Another maid was all for the sultry look and seemed all for attracting the more adult crowd with her feather duster. Though, her eyebrow twitched as a sweaty fifty-something seemed insistent on personally handing her the tip. On stage, an up and coming drag queen dressed as a Perench maid with high cheekbones and was singing the low-toned Why Don't You Do Right?.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is Madame Maid, an atypical maid café. During normal business hours, Madame Maid is a normal maid café. However, after five p.m., the maid café turns into a place for those seventeen and older as it combines a speakeasy, café, and cabaret. You'll never guess who owns this place. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
I've lost all my dignity.
Nashi hunched over a counter in the kitchen with a violet and dreary mood around her as the kitchen staff went about their business. Her arms shook and she felt like she could see herself die from disastrous embarrassment.
I feel like my worst nightmare has come true, Nashi bemoaned. If Ellie and Justin saw me, I'd never live it down. Thank God I used Transformation Magic on my hair to turn it blonde and Magic Concealer on my guild mark. No one should recognize me.
CRICK!
A fan came out with the words BITCH BOSS painted on it. "Oh, Darling, you always pull my creations off beautifully!"
Nashi sighed and looked up with a weak smile. "Thanks, Madame Faye."
The fan snapped shut. Next to Nashi stood an Amazon of a drag queen. Rather than a maid, he looked like the mistress of the maids with a cape on one shoulder and a mermaid dress in silk black with sailor buttons. Black painted his lips and his puffed-up hair had been curved to one side, an ink-black with a streak of white. He did not look like a mistress. He looked like Morticia in a sexier way with platforms no one could pull off. "I'm so glad I added the weights on the top skirt," he noted as his gloved hand went to inspect his design. "No chance of flip-ups."
⌜MADAME MAID
Name: Tate "Faye Boulous" Norton
Age: 32
Occupation: Drag queen, Owner of Madame Maid
Likes: listening to remixes Dislikes: jokes
Special Note: Faye is a legend in the Drag Queen community after winning Season 3 of Drag Race! He took his fame to build his maid empire!⌟
Nashi nodded and widened her smile. "I'm happy to model your designs for you, Madame." Inwardly, she felt her soul leave her. But a piece of my pride dies with every dress!
Madame Faye laughed. "No need for the 'Madame', Darling, you know this. Call me 'Tate' or 'Faye', whichever you choose."
Nashi chuckled. "Sorry, Faye." She stretched out and yawned before sighing in relief as she cracked her back. "Man, today's been a busy one."
"I know, right?" Faye tapped his fan against an open palm. "I'm debating if I want to start adding in a wait. All five of you have been pretty flexible with your tables, but if it gets any busier, I don't want any of my girls overwhelmed. Especially when I have to leave early to get to my club."
Nashi waved away the concern. "We'll be fine, Faye. I know how much being at the club during peak times is important to you. We have a lot of veteran maids tonight, so if we get busy, it won't be too big an issue." She yawned again. "Just don't party too hard."
Faye frowned when he saw Nashi rub her eye. "You feelin' tired, hun?"
"A little," Nashi admitted though against her better judgment. "It's nothing, really."
Faye leaned against the counter to study Nashi a little closer. "What's been going on?"
"Just trying to keep up with my studies and training," Nashi yawned to her. "It's been a bit of a hassle, but it's nothing I can't handle."
Faye did not look too convinced. "Mmm… Well, to your point, we do have a lot of veterans. So how about that group you just sat is your last and you can go on home once they're gone and your tables are clean."
"But I—!"
"And I'm not taking 'no' for an answer, young lady."
Nashi scowled at him and gave him the stink eye.
Faye stuck his tongue out. "What? I know you've been doing a lot around here, little Miss Angel of Fairy Tail. Besides, you have quite the train ride home and you know how I feel about you taking the train home late at night."
"Might I remind you I have Magic?" Nashi pointed out smartly.
"And might I remind you you're still a teenager susceptible to getting ambushed?" Faye gave Nashi a light bop with his fan on the head. "Magic only helps when you let it help. I'd much rather you not have a surprise ambush." When Nashi groaned, Faye laughed and playfully shoulder-checked her. "C'mon. You know your mama's right."
"I know…!" Nashi whined. "Fine. I'll listen to Mama Faye." Hickory warmed with appreciation. "I really am thankful for you taking me in with Justin vouching for me."
Faye waved off the thanks. "It's nothing. Anything for JJ; he knows that. Besides, he's talked about always wanting you to be a cute little Perench maid."
Nashi snorted as she could see Justin's Cheshire smile now. "Yeah. He certainly has a way about him."
"Angel!" came trill from one of the kitchen staff. "Your number sixteen is ready!"
"Coming!" Nashi shouted back before breaking into a yawn.
"Hey." Faye put a comforting hand on Nashi's shoulder. "Just shout if you need anything, Angel."
The smile was feeble, but it was there. "I will," Nashi murmured. "Thanks, Madame."
°•°•°•°
Nashi yawned as she unlocked the screen door and the front door. Maid outfit gone and hair back to pink, she sufficed in ratty old hood and tights beneath her skirt. The porch lights were on and so were some of the house lights as she stepped inside and kicked off her slides. "I'm home…!" she drawled before yawning again.
"We're in the living room!" came Luna's trill.
Nashi swung off her mini backpack and let it hit the floor before carrying on down the hall. An arch to the spine led to a satisfying crack of her back as she emerged into the living room. Luna had her hair up in twin buns in one of Gale's t-shirts while Igneel was on the floor, letting her mess with his hair as he focused on reading another volume to one of his manga. Luke was on his PAL and seemed to lazily play a PL game while also in a chat room with some of his gaming buddies. It looked like neither brother cared Luna had put on Snow.
The youngest sibling beamed over at Nashi as she put a clip into Igneel's hair. "Hey, Nashi! How was work?"
"Long," Nashi muttered then yawned. "What'cha doin'?"
"Igneel got back from his job not too long ago and Luke is letting one of the potions simmer for the next fifteen minutes," Luna explained. "I already made everyone some dinner, so we're just unwinding for now. Igneel made sure your steak would keep warm and Luke made sure your rice and veggies would stay steamed and fresh."
Nashi went over to hug Luna from behind. "Best baby sister ever." With a kiss to Luna's temple, she looked up to absently watch Icebound. "How's Mama and Papa?"
Shoulders deflated. "Not all that great and Papa's being extra," Luna reported back, a tad irked. "Seriously. How does someone so old get competitive with dogs?"
Igneel snorted. "You obviously don't remember back when Pops got so fricken pissy when Ma first got Lelantos and Actaeon." A page turned. "God, he was such a little shit. He swore up and down Ma was abandoning him for the dogs and had to sleep in the guest bedroom or the couch since the dogs were bonding with Ma and pretty much surrounded her in bed. He turned it into this whole thing on who Ma loved more."
"That was a nightmare," Luke agreed. He looked up to see the bags under Nashi's eyes and frowned. "Everything okay? You look extremely tired."
Nashi made a so-so motion with her hand. "Yeah. Did some homework on the train ride back. Still have that paper to write for one of my CCP classes. And helping Papa along with his newest hardcore training regimen was lit." She made a finger gun and pretended to pull the trigger on herself.
Luna giggled as she went for the comb. "Yeah, I could see this morning when I was doing yoga with—"
"Gah!" Igneel's sudden movement startled everyone as he whirled on his little sister with a blush and a shaking finger. "What did I say?"
Luna blew out a breath. "Fine. I could tell Papa was being a total butt this morning when Igneel and I were doing manly flexibility stretches on the deck." An arched eyebrow towards Igneel. "Happy?"
Igneel leaned back to let her have access to his hair again. "You didn't have to be so sarcastic," grumbled he.
Nashi swatted at him. "How come you got to luck out and I had to endure it?" she grunted, disgruntled. "You're the one with Fire Magic. He should've been drill sergeanting you, not me."
Igneel smirked. "Because I'm the favorite."
That got two pillows to the face.
Nashi stuck out her middle finger towards him. "What the Hell ever." She waved a hand over her mouth as she yawned. "I'm gonna go check on them and then get dinner. Igneel, so help me, if I learned you touched—"
"Woman, stop accusing me of touching that God-awful fake ice cream!" Igneel growled after her as she walked away.
Nashi rolled her eyes. "Asshole."
"Bitch."
"I heard that!"
"I know! That's why I said it loud…!"
Nashi took deep breaths as she climbed the steps. "It's illegal for me to beat a minor to a pulp," she had to remind herself in several chants. When she made it upstairs, she could hear an old Magia movie playing in the background. The noise grew closer as she went to her parents room until she was knocking on one of the doors. "Hey, it's me," she murmured. "You guys decent?"
A giggle. "No! We're naked…!"
Nashi groaned and put her head against the door. "Mama, you know you'll get cold."
"But Natsu-nyan will warm me up," came purr. Another giggle. "He's so hot…!"
"Whatever, Mama. I'm coming in." Nashi wrenched open the door. Taking a sweep around, she was dismayed at her find. The room was a mess…again. Clothes had been tried on and off, but at least there were no dishes or food everywhere. She knew Luna had made sure of that. Instead, she found a deliriously blushing Lucy draping herself over Natsu in a silk robe that looked ready to slip off her, making a perfect imitation of a purr. Natsu, on the other hand, seemed to be intensely focused on his push-ups that he barely noticed his wife laying on his back.
"Good Lord, give me strength," Nashi whispered to herself. Warily, she called out, "Papa…? Why are you doing push-ups at nine at night?"
"Gotta stay in shape," Natsu grunted in her. "We have to expect the worst to prepare for the worst so when the worst comes, we're ready."
"Right…" Nashi leaned against the doorway. "And, um… What exactly is the worst again?"
Natsu upped his push-ups to clapping in-between each one. "That ice princess beating me in a rematch."
Lucy giggled as she curled a hand in Natsu's hair. "The only princess you need to worry about is me, Mas – ter Nat – su - nyan."
"Not now, woman," Natsu grunted to her. "I'm in the middle of training."
"Pet me, Natsu," Lucy urged him in a saucy whisper. "Come stroke your kitty."
Nashi facepalmed. I hate everything and want to delete this from my life. She went for the doorknob and told her parents, "Okay. Well, whether you like it or not, bedtime is in an hour which means, Mama, Papa will not be…'petting' you tonight. And Papa, you'll have to stop working out and no, it doesn't mean you're getting permission to work out on Mama."
Lucy pouted. "What if we're fast?" A snicker bubbled out of her. "A quickie for your kitty, Master?"
"Later, woman," Natsu snapped. "I have to keep training so I can destroy that ice princess and that metalhead. And then I'll fight Erza and Laxus and take them both down."
Lucy loudly whispered, "Can I be your warm up work out then?"
Natsu gave pause, holding his position. "Fine." The word was gruff. Then, he went back to clapping push-ups.
"And this conversation has been productive." Nashi feigned a smile. "Have fun, kids. I'll be back with your bed-time potion soon." She shut the door behind her and leaned against it. "Oh, Heaven help us all." She shouted, "Luke? How much longer until your counter potion is ready?"
"Two more weeks tops!" Luke shouted up to her.
Nashi did not care how many heard her when she bemoaned their misfortune and stumbled to her room. "Someone needs to make sure Mama doesn't seduce Papa again!" she caterwauled. "We are not getting another sibling out of maglock!" She opened the door to her room. "And make sure Papa showers! He's starting to smell rank again!"
SLAM!
With the door shut, Nashi fell against it and nuzzled her head in her hands. God… How did we get here?
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Fairy Adventure Omake
Even a Fairy can be a Maid!
何これ? 妖精だってマダムメイドになれる!
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Two weeks earlier…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
CLINK!
Nashi, Justin, and Ellie threw back their kamikazes like they were nothing. Justin had ripped flexible high-waist jeans and a long-sleeve crop top with his brand logo on it and had been eyeing a familiar businessman who came together with others from his firm who eyed him back in his suit, three buttons from his shirt undone. Ellie had chosen a short sleeve crop top with a camisole overlay that stated PLEASE DON'T DO COKE IN THE BATHROOM, her high-rise pleated skirt catching more than a few eyes. Nashi's dress was a long-sleeve off-the-shoulder type that dipped up, a mini pinafore dress, and she smartly stuck to platformed boots.
The bar was hitting hard tonight with the DJ mixing in Tasty. Heavy grinding carried on and it was easy to see how many people would at least wait until they chose whose house they were visiting for their affair or would settle for one of the bathrooms for a quick time.
Nashi went back to her Woo-woo and took a long sip. "Gods, I need this!" she squealed. "It's been forever since we've gone to Trinity."
"Right?" Ellie went back to her daiquiri and smiled prettily for a frat brother who jerked his chin and grinned as his greeting. "Definitely loving the potentials." She made a show of wrapping her lips around her straw.
Justin laughed. "Sis, please, you're not fooling anyone, Miss Virgin."
Ellie hit his arm as she swallowed her sip. "Hey, some guys like that!" she said in defense of herself. "Besides"—she showed off her purity ring—"I promised our Heavenly Father I wouldn't let a man penetrate my kitten with his thing, but I made no other promises."
"How do you make Christianity so slutty?" Nashi murmured as Justin mmm-hmmm'ed behind her. "But, seriously, I think I need something this weekend. My parents took a job on some island again, so you know my papa is going to try and get his way with my mama again."
"Do I hear baby shower in our future?" Justin clapped his excitement. "Please, God, yes, I want to plan another sprinkle!"
Nashi laughed wholeheartedly. "We can only dream, JJ." Her head tilted as a familiar electronic beat came to her and sparked her joy. "Omigod, Ellie, this is—!"
"Baby Don't Stop!" Ellie took the rest of her drink in one sitting to get up from her stool. "We have to!"
Nashi made sure to finish off her Woo-woo and turned to Justin. "We'll be on the dance floor, so now's your time to get your man over there," she teased before kissing his cheek. She grabbed Ellie's hands just as the first verse came on.
Neoreul cheoeum bon ihu
Modeun sasohan iyuneun piryo eopseojin feeling
Choye baekbunwilkkaji
Neukkyeojineun magic seomsehan one minute
Both of them made it close to the center of the dance floor with a look of understanding passed between them. Nashi took Ellie's hand and walked around her, a hand curling around her waist as she did so. A grin shared between the two as Nashi spun out and waved an arm.
Nae modeun shingyeongi jeonbu gonduseo
Neoreul algireul wonhae
Nasseolgo mimyohan jageun tteollimmajeo
Jeonbu da jeonhaejine
Nashi dropped it slow before straightening her legs and slowly bringing herself back up with Ellie to guide her. Both knew eyes had settled on them in high speculation and lust just at their closeness. Ellie spun Nashi back to her and rest a hand lovingly on her cheek.
Stop baby don't stop
Meomchuji ma baby don't stop
Both of them popped it at the same time with their legs swinging out for them to do body rolls to beat. A circle had been cleared for them and cheers went about as the pair of them worked their routine, bouncing energy off of each other, mirroring and adding in their own flares. More than enough men and women hooted when Nashi and Ellie allowed their bodies to get entangled during the sensual song, teasing their audience with a near kiss. At the last second, Ellie kissed Nashi's cheek instead, resulting in cheers and some groans. The circle broke as everyone moved onto the dance floor. They looked more energized from watching the duo dance that less grinding happened and more originality in their moves.
Justin threw back his head and laughed at something the businessman said while the man smirked and took a sip of his bourbon. Ellie found a new partner and made the first move of touching his chest, running a hand down. He caught her wrist with delicacy before placing a kiss on it.
Nashi saw it and laughed to herself as she felt the music. A grin wove around her face when a presence came behind her, following the shake of her hips. "Sorry, buddy, but I only dance for me," she dismissed.
Winter's breath chilled over her the back of her neck. "That's fine, Angel. Wouldn't want it any other way."
Nashi whipped around with horror and disgust on her face. "You!"
There Gary stood with his hands in his pockets and in a tight black shirt smiling all cheerful like a swarm of horny adults did not surround him. "I'm so happy the tip I got on your location was right!"
"Ugh, you're such a stalker!" Nashi snapped, thankful the lighting effects hid her blush well. "I should get a restraining order on you—Oh!" Someone had danced into her and sent her flying. Cold hands wrapped around her and she found herself staring deeply into mischievous cerulean.
"Not even a restraining order could keep me away from my Angel," came husky whisper than left goosebumps and tingle grow in her belly.
Nashi ripped away from him and feigned a shiver. "Geez. Psycho, much?" she muttered. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at a party in Lantanasburg and making sure Dazzler doesn't get drunk."
Gary raised an eyebrow. The look of a cat who got his cream donned on him. "And how would you know that? Unless…?" His hands threaded through her hair and he caught the hitch in her breath. "Was Angel stalking me too?"
"N-N-No!" Nashi shook him away and tried to blink away the image of his eyes burned firmly in her memory. "Look, just go away, okay? I came here to have a good time and I can't have that with you around, stupid dog." Turning on her heel in an about-face, she was ready to make her dramatic exit and sift through the cr—
Cold caught her hand.
Nashi stumbled back to fell herself engulfed in a forbiddingly comfortable winter and wanted to melt and shiver when those firm hands wrapped around her. Anxiety spun around her, but it was nothing like she was panicking and wanted to flee. Something tickled her stomach when she felt a chin drop on her shoulder. Locked up. She could not even wriggle away. A breathless whisper escaped, "What are you…?"
"Stop," Gary whispered in her ear, in-sync with the singer in the club remix. "Baby, don't stop."
Nashi bit her lip to keep the groan from coming out. Feeling his words so close to her did…things. Things she was not wanting to figure out. "W-Wait—"
"Meomchuji ma baby don't stop," he went on, his lips feather against the warmth of her skin. He nudged her to move from side to side.
A bit of confusion tore at Nashi, but not enough to stop her from feeling things. "You know Josean?"
"Cade." The answer was that simple. "He's been teaching me a little more every day since I know Angel like J-culture. I wanted to impress you." He ran his nose down her jaw. "Is it working?"
She felt weak in the knees. In moments, she knew she would fall against him. Stupidly, she compared herself to an animal in heat, unable to resist a pull. "Mmmm…" Was she moaning? Did she seriously just moan?
"Hmmm?" The sound was amused and vibrated against her. "What was that, Angel?" Hands feathered against the curve of her hips. "I couldn't hear you."
Nashi tried to clear her head of this fog she felt. "Can't think…" Oh, dear Lord, was she panting now? "Stop…"
"'Stop' what, Angel?" A tease. A challenge with a darker edge. "Say it. Say what you want."
Nashi did not even realize she was leaning into him and rolling as he did like a marionette to their puppeteer. As lips puffed chilling air across her skin, her eyes fluttered. "Ah…"
"Say it." Winter pressed against summer as a light kiss was placed upon her pulse.
Nashi squirmed and tilted her neck like he was guiding her to do so. "I… I w-want… I want—"
VRRRRR-VR-VRRRRRR.
Everything shattered around Nashi as she comically jumped away from Gary, face red. "Oh, would you look at that? My Compact is coming—vibrating!" She laughed nervously as she held it up for Gary to see, trying to not be intimidated at how dark his eyes had gotten. "And it's from Luke too, so it must be important! I, um, just better take this and let you have your fun!"
Gary growled and icy-blue-silver could be seen flicking through his eyes. "Angel—"
Nashi darted away through the throng with her heart pounding and did not care if she were rude nor did she want to witness the smug look on Justin and Ellie's face. She rushed to the hall where the bathrooms were. Thankfully, the bathrooms had no lines and had enough stalls and single bathrooms that no one would need to wait or worry. She rushed into the women's restroom and made a dive for one of the lounge chairs to answer the call. "Luke, oh thank God, you won't believe—!"
"Nashi, you need to come home."
All the embarrassment and other feelings fell away into confusion when Nashi heard uncensored feminine giggling in the background and Luke hissed for the person to be quiet. "Luke?" She dropped her voice in a whisper when two girls passed by. "Are you sure you want me to come home if you're, uh…preoccupied?"
Luke groaned. "I don't have a girl over." Boy, would his ears be red if he were in her presence. "It's…" His voice dropped. "It's Mom and Dad. Something's…wrong with them."
"What?" Nashi passed an apologetic smile to the girl fixing her make-up. "What do you mean 'something's wrong'? They're them. Everything with them is wrong."
A blown-out breath. "Just listen, okay?"
"For what? Luke, you can't—!"
"C'mon, Natsu-nyan…!" came giggle. It sounded like her mother, but… No, that could not be her. "I want you to make me purr all night long."
"Dammit, woman, not now." Now that could not be her father. He normally had to capture Lucy for time alone and he was rejecting it? And since when did he call her mother "woman'? "I'm in the middle of training so I can kick Ice Princess' ass!"
Nashi sweatdropped. Papa turning down Mama for a fight and Mama trying to seduce him? What alternate universe did I just listen to?
"See?" Luke came back onto the line. "C'mon, Nashi, you have to help us! We got called in by the damn Guard because Mom was making a scene and trying to take her clothes off and they thought Dad was taking advantage of her! Then, they were going to arrest Mama for public indecency. Thank God Luna used her sweetness so they wouldn't keep in holding overnight."
Nashi leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. A headache was in order. "Sweet Mavis," she hissed.
"I smell Magic on them that wasn't theirs," Luke explained. "I think they've been spelled. Mama only gets this crazy when she's drunk and Dad's competitiveness spikes when he drinks which means—"
"They've been magicked to act like they're drunk." Nashi groaned. "No, no, no…! This was supposed to be my weekend out! I even planned a day trip to go one of the Fioren Isles and everything!"
"Well"—this was Igneel speaking in the background—"I know I've been wanting a little sibling, but not like thi—Pops, stop it! Drop it! Leave it! Dammit, Pops, don't uproot a freaking tree!"
A dark cackle was distant. "I bet that stupid stripper can't do this!"
"Luna," Luke urged, "take the C—… Gah, Mom! Stop it! You can't just—! Ugh! Luna, talk to Nashi. Mom, please, stop trying to seduce Dad!"
A long sigh. "I just want to go home," Luna mumbled. "I'm all cuted out."
Nashi fluttered a laugh. "Well, thanks to your sweetness, our parents aren't in jail," she jested. "But, seriously, though. How far away from home are you? Do you guys need me to jack Mama's car?"
"Um… Maybe," Luna said, absent. Then, she was quick to backpedal. "Actually, yes. Yes, please, hurry. Some Guard-officers are coming by because we're 'disturbing the peace' meaning I have to turn on the sweetness again." She groaned. "Why was I cursed with this?"
Nashi got up and dusted herself off. "Where are you guys?"
"We're literally five minutes away from the train station." Luna's voice pitched a bit higher. "Oh, goodness, they're coming closer and starting to shout warnings."
"Don't move. Be cute. Stall them for at least, maybe, twenty minutes," Nashi commanded. "I'll be there as soon as I can, okay? Don't panic, Lu. I love you."
"Love you too. Please hurry. I don't know how much longer I can be this cute."
The call ended and Nashi rubbed her temples as she went to the door. "Of all the freaking nights…" When she opened the flap, she saw Ellie and Justin standing there, worry on their faces. A sigh. "So, listen—"
"No apologies," Ellie stopped her. "We sort of knew this might happen. Every time we think we get a weekend with you, some sort of something happens." No joke. No sarcasm. No harshness. Just facts.
Facts that made Nashi wince. "I'm—"
"No sorries." Justin stepped closer to grab her elbows. "What do you need?"
"To go home." Nashi sulked a little at that. "I know I'm not supposed to say, 'sorry', but I really am. My parents…" She rubbed her temples. "They've been spelled. We think it's supposed to bring their drunk personas out, but I'm not sure."
Ellie and Justin shot each other a yikes look. "We're coming too," Ellie decided. "We've all pretty much seen how everyone's parents get when drunk. My dad gets into his manly talk until my mom comes barging in and becomes a radical feminist."
"My dad either becomes a rainbow or a stereotypical straight man." Justin huffed and dramatically rolled his eyes. "Honestly, it's embarrassing."
Nashi tried to laugh, but it was hard. "Yeah. But you guys don't have to bail because of me."
"Your parents are family to us too, babe." Ellie came over a put comforting hands on Nashi's shoulders. "Come on. I'll get use a Ryde."
"I'll take her."
All three looked up to see Gary standing there with his easy smile and kind eyes.
Ellie and Justin snuck a look and a plot was made.
Nashi was already shaking her head. "I don't think—"
"Perfect!"
Nashi's eyes widened as she was thrown rashly into Gary's arms. "Woah!" As Gary steadied, Nashi flipped her hair to the other side to see Ellie and Justin edging away with mocking grins. "Wait, guys—!"
"A true woman is in better hands with a hunk like him," Ellie decided with a wink.
Justin blew her a kiss. "Text us when everything's settled."
Nashi tried to stand, but Gary held her firmly in front of him. "W-W-W-Wait! Guys, don't—! Her shoulders sagged when Justin and Ellie ran out of the hall like maniacs. "…leave me with him…"
Winter tickled her ear. "Ready for a ride?"
Nashi whirled around and jabbed a finger onto Gary's chest. "This doesn't mean anything," she hissed. "Just get me home and make it fast. I need to pick up my family." Flipping her hair in an indignant fashion, she stomped away. "Come along, dog. Your Master is waiting."
Gary followed after her with ease. "Yes, yes, Angel."
°•°•°•°
SLAM!
Nashi slammed the door to the Lacrima Car in a nearly empty parking lot. She had not changed out of her club clothes and shivered against the night air. She witnessed the happenings in the parking lot. Guard-officers who were on night patrol on in their car had pulled over with Natsu already in handcuffs, spouting off profanities about his rivals, while Lucy whined sensually about how she needs her master to make her purr and free her from her handcuffs The two younger guards were blushing and watched as she wriggled and groaned while the older guard was entranced at Luna's cuteness. She could see Igneel trying to hiss for their father to be quiet while he quietly used his flames as a blow torch against the cuffs. Luke was doing his best to keep his mother decent and not accidentally flash anyone.
Nashi sighed. "My life is struggle." She heard footsteps and a jacket landed on her shoulders. She scowled. "Why did you follow me?"
Gary had a flowery love aura around him as he stood beside her. "Because I'm Angel's perverted stalker dog."
TICK!
Gary laughed as he easily avoided the roundhouse kick Nashi tried to deliver onto him, face aflame. "You're so annoying!" she seethed.
"Nashi?"
Nashi calmed to see Luna's tight smile. She hurried over to her sister and slapped on a smile for the Guard. "Oh, there you are…!" She side-hugged Luna to her and adopted an innocent look. "Everything okay, officer?"
The guard cleared his throat. "Miss Dragneel, we've found your parents making a scene at the train station. The conductor reported they had indecent exposure as well on the train ride and we have had many complaints of the noise." He eyed Lucy. "We also have some suspicions on Misses Dragneel's current mood."
"My father didn't drug her," Nashi quickly vouched. "He would never—!"
"Calm down, Miss Dragneel," the guard chuckled. "We'd never think the Fire Dragon King would drug his wife. The man's saved this city more times than we can count and so has she. We've all seen how they are in public and seeing how good you kids are, we don't suspect Mister Dragneel had anything to do with Misses Dragneel's current state."
Nashi let out a sigh of relief and she felt Luna squeeze her hand. "That's great."
"Unfortunately…"—the guard ran a hand over his balding held—"with the disturbance they've caused, we'll have to take them both in for questioning and have them thoroughly checked. I had one of my guys confirm with your Guild Master they were on a job assignment against a powerful Magician."
"Yes, officer, we think they've been spelled," Nashi agreed with her own deduction.
"Yes, well, if that's the case, it should take a day, but we'll be able to get them over to a Magic Detox tank."
Nashi's smile fell. "Wait, excuse me? Can't they just come home with us?"
"Please, sir?" Luna looked up at him with shining chocolate eyes. "Please don't take my parents away."
The guard looked like he was going to cave at Luna's look, but he shook himself free. "I'm sorry, but there're multiple charges against them…" He hesitated when he saw Luna's bottom lip tremble. He could see a sad golden retriever puppy blinking up at him pitifully. It was then he cracked. "But… I'm sure some of those charges could be dropped to simple misdemeanors and… Well, they didn't really hurt anyone…"
Nashi wanted to sit down at how relieved she felt. "Oh, officer, thank you! Thank you so much!"
The guard nodded and told his fellow two comrades. "Release them into Miss Dragneel's care over here!" he called. To Nashi, he warned, "But we'll still need to inform your master. I'd prefer it if your parents didn't leave Magnolia until the Magic in their system is drained out."
"Absolutely," Natsu agreed, nodding. "We'll make sure to get them home and get started on reversing the spell." To Luna, she nodded for her sister to help out their mother. To the officer, she beamed. "I don't know how to thank you, kind gentlemen. We're so lucky it was your patrol my parents ran into."
The guard shrugged. "This is Fairy Tail we're dealing with. We're used to some strange things happening around here," he joked.
Nashi forced a laugh. "You've got that right!"
It was one a few moments later (and some signed documents) that Luna and Nashi were waving as the patrol cars pulled away. Once they were out of sight, both sisters sighed and leaned against each other.
"That was awful," Luna muttered. "And I'm so tired."
Nashi brushed back Luna's bangs. "Well, you can sleep in the car on the way home," she promised. "I think we're all going to need—"
"YOU!"
Everyone froze when Natsu pointed at a struck Gary seething fire and free from his cuffs.
"Yo, Ice Princess!"
Gary blinked as question marks went off around him. "'Ice Princess'?"
"Fight me!" Natsu knocked his fists together to blaze his flames. "C'mon! Rematch right now!"
Gary blinked again. "Does he think I'm my dad?" He touched his face. "But we don't even have the same eyes."
All four siblings cataloged the lack of shirt, the dark hair, the build, and the cross-necklace chain and could see Gray beside his son with his signature smirk. Yeah. They don't look alike at all…
Natsu pointed at him with crazed eyes. "It's on, Stripper! This time, you're going do—!"
SMACK!
Natsu was on the ground from the kick Igneel delivered and was bound in Purple Flare. Igneel held his foot down on his father's back with comical agitation clear on his face and a tick mark on his temple. "Dammit, Pops, shut up!" he snapped. "No one wants to hear your rivalry bullshit!"
"Oh, Natsu-nyan…!"
Luke had to hold his mother back from rushing off to Natsu. "Mom!" he gritted. "Please, no!"
Lucy reached out for Natsu. "Make me purr, Natsu-nyan!"
Natsu huffed. "Not now, woman! I have to beat the crap out of the stupid stripper!"
"What if I'm your kitty stripper?" Lucy purred to him. "And you can spank me all you wan—Mmmph!"
Red tinted Luke's cheeks as his Magic had lashed out to cover Lucy's mouth. His eyebrow twitched. Mom, you're so much better than this.
Natsu started shouting at Gary again, startling him. "Fight me, Ice Princess! C'mon! Or are you scared? Ha! I bet that's it! You're—Mmmph!"
Now Igneel had lassoed Purple Flare around his father's mouth, his fist trembling. "He's so lucky I didn't sucker punch him," he growled. He got off his father to make a little chain out of his violet flames and dragged a pissed off Natsu (who glared daggers at Gary and seemed to be shouting a slew of muffled curses) towards Nashi and Luna. "Okay, I've had enough. Let's get them home, so I read Lu a story and go to bed." Marching off, he dragged Natsu in his wake who tried to keep his glower pinned on Gary for as long as he could.
Luke struggled to hold Lucy back as she tried desperately to chase after her husband. "Mom, calm down!" He pleaded to Nashi and Luna, "Guys, please help! I don't know how much I can hold her back! Mom's really strong when she wants Dad!"
Nashi facepalmed. "Oh, for the love of…" She shook her head and made an O with one of her hands. "Holy Bubble!" she chanted. Blowing into the O-shape, a translucent bubble tinged in a rainbow came out and grew and grew and grew until it was hilariously large. "Luke, let her go."
Luke did so.
Lucy ran after Natsu with hearts in her eyes. "Natsu-nyan…! Your kitten has arrive—!" She had run straight into the bubble and found herself stuck inside. Her hands went to the other side, but she bounced back and landed on her rear. It seemed she was still talking, but her words were muted.
"You bubbled Mama?" Luna questioned in disbelief.
"Well, she was going to try to jump our father," Nashi reasoned. "This should hold her, at least until we're home. Then, I say we get her and Papa to bed." She looked haggardly over to Luke. "Can you strap her to the top of the car?"
Luke pushed on the bubble and Lucy stumbled inside. "Yeah, I got it," he grunted. He pushed the bubble further and winced when Lucy fell over and giggled to herself. "Sorry, Mom."
Nashi ran a hand through her hair and pulled it to the side while Gary came back over to her side. "Anything I can do?" he offered.
"Unless you can reverse this whole thing? Then, no." Nashi rubbed Luna's back when she saw her poor sister was falling asleep on her sleep. "Don't worry about it, okay? We'll be fine. Not the first time our parents have come home magicked." She tried for a grin. "What's the worst that can happen? It'll wear off in no time—I bet on it."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Four Days Later…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Stay still, woman. This is only for stamina training."
"Then, train yourself how to please your kitty-cat, Natsu-nyan…!"
Nashi winced from the kitchen as she went to pour herself some pineapple mango juice. Luna had made breakfast for everyone with Igneel grumpily munching on his pancakes and then glaring at the ceiling and Luke trying to bury himself in his book, sinking in his seat the more he heard.
Nashi gestured to the ceiling. "Are they…?"
"Nine times," Igneel said darkly. "You're only hearing it now. You're lucky you don't have our hearing."
"Or smell." Luke made a face to show he had covered his nose. "This place reeks of them doing it."
Nashi groaned as she set down her cup. "We're going to need to explain to them how we got a new sibling nine months from now, aren't we?"
Luna came over to set down Nashi's breakfast (eggs over medium mixed with spinach and green onion with potato cubs and steak strips) to look up at her sister with a cheerful smile. "Good morning, Nashi! Did you sleep okay?"
Nashi's eyebrows shot up. "Uh… Lu? You're shouting at me."
"What?" Luna's brow furrowed. "What did you say?"
Nashi looked at her brothers for help when Luke murmured to her, "Muffle spell. I didn't want Lu listening to this and"—he gestured between him and Igneel—"it doesn't work on us."
"Someone just kill me." Igneel's entire face was wrinkled in revulsion. "This is worse than Magic Season."
Nashi held up a finger. "Um, no it is not," she debated. "Let us all remember when Papa was so horny, he refused to even wait for us to leave the house to corner our poor sweet mother."
"Our 'poor sweet mother' is the one cornering our perverted old man," Igneel grunted, ornery, as he flattened his hands against his ears. "We've tried drowning them out with headphones, music, movies—something—and nothing works. Nothing works."
"Nine months…" Nashi sung as she took the cup of coffee Luna prepped for her, humming along to a J-Pop song. "So what's our plan? Y'know, outside of knowing our parents are doing some freaky hentai shit."
"I've been doing some research." Luke flattened his book to show he was going through Forbidden Potions Throughout the Ages Edition 9 with sticky tabs and notes everywhere and highlights. "I think they had a few potion combinations combined through a spell." As Igneel and Nashi crowded around Luke (Luna was blissfully ignorant as she did the dishes), Luke turned to show them the first potion.
Igneel scrunched his forehead. "Liberty Luck?"
"A liberation potion," Nashi read. "Looks like it frees concealed thoughts, emotions—sort of like a truth serum, but it doesn't compel you to tell the truth. It just compels you to let it all out."
"Right." Luke flipped to another page where he left another sticky note and pointed at a spell. "And then get this…"
Nashi read it before her eyes widened. "The Tipsy Wipsy? That roofie potion? You think our parents got roofied?"
"In a way, yes," Luke explained. He brought out his notepad. "Liberty Luck, Tipsy Wipsy, Overcome, and One Track," he listed. "Igneel and I took a sniff of Mom and Dad's clothes and all the ingredients we figured out were in cross-referenced with each of these potions. And…" He put down the book for a change of another and went to flip through it.
Nashi could not believe it. "But it doesn't make sense. Papa would've smelt something like all this a mile away and made sure Mama didn't drink it. Heck, he would've taken both of their drinks and drank them both for her."
"Mmmm…" Igneel rubbed his chin. "Not necessarily. Having a sensitive nose is a good and bad thing. Yeah, we can pick out dangerous scents, but overpowering scents give us headaches and migraines." He snapped a finger at Luke. "We did smell two heavy scents on Mom and Dad's hands and breath. Mom had black tea. Pops had that Spirytus stuff, remember?"
"That's a crap ton of alcohol," Nashi exhaled.
Igneel shrugged. "Between that and Bruich, Pops and I don't really feel that much when we drink. We just burn it off. Same to Dash."
"Here!" Luke pointed at a spell. "This is a combining spell that's mainly used as a support spell. It's not that commonly used among Mages or Magicians, but potioneers use it to smoothen over a multi-potion spell so there's no ingredient interaction. I've never smelt the spell before, so I'm not one-hundred percent sure, but—"
"Dude, we all know you're right on this one," Igneel interrupted.
Nashi crossed her arms. "So, we figured out what they got roofied with. But how does that help us now? I didn't think potions lasted this long. Max potion should last maybe seventy-two hours?"
"Not if they added a lengthening spell," Luke negated. "It stretches the effects to the user's content. It's not in the Infinity Magic category, so it's still linked to the user. But…" He flipped to another page. "Coming up with an antidote shouldn't take me too long—"
"Hold up!" Nashi pointed an accusing finger at Luke. "No. No way are you messing with potions after your last mistake."
Luke adjusted his glasses. "Okay, so I made some mistakes—"
"Like turning Mom and Dad seventeen again," Igneel remembered, quirking an eyebrow. "Not just physical—mentally, bro. We didn't have parents for, like, a week, and it got weird when Mom started having a crush on Gary."
"Which we don't speak of," Nashi reminded very heatedly. "Or how about that time you tried to 'help' me during one of my periods and gave me a freaking hormone monster like in Changes!"
Luke pushed up his glasses. "Well—"
"And what about the time where you made gender-bent Nashi and Misty." Igneel's lips twitched into a smirk as he regarded his older sister. "And Gary came out as, what was it, Nashi? Angel-sexual?"
Nashi's cheeks flames. "I seem to recall you using Luke's potions to change your voice when you kept having voice cracks and what did you change into again, little brother?" She cupped her ear as Igneel huffed and scowled. "What was that? What voice was that? Oh, that's right…! You sounded like a ghetto grandma who saw some shit."
Igneel snarled at her. "Wow, Nashi, surprised you're still talking with us. I would've thought that house that dropped on you in munchkin land would have done the trick."
"Well, Igneel, I woke up this morning and wondered why all the birds stopped singing only to come downstairs and see you."
"Believe me, this morning was a nice one and then I saw you and wondered if you're here, who is guarding Hell?"
"You—!"
SLAM!
Both siblings jumped back at Luke's loud closing of his book. "Focus!" he barked at them. "You can have a bitch-fit later. We have more important things." He glared at both of them. "Now. I'll make the antidote"—Igneel and Nashi groaned—"but we need to divide and conquer. These ingredients are pricey and so is our living expenses as we all realized during Accident Seventeen Again."
"No, we realized that in Accident Musical." Nashi shivered. "No one could stop singing. It was a nightmare."
Luke had to agree with that. "So? Game plan?" When both siblings looked expectantly at him, he sighed. "Okay, so I thought of a game plan. Nashi, you'll need to find an assignment that has steady pay. I looked at our job website for some Settler gigs, but you'll have to ask around."
Nashi looked a little glum at that, but she consented with a nod. "I'll see what I can do."
"I'm sending Igneel a little farther out." When Nashi looked about ready to explode, Luke quickly put her at ease. "He's the only other one with the Dragneel nose in the family. Plus, he's pretty good at magichemistry. He supplies a lot of herbalists and Granny P and Aunt Wen with their herbs and ingredients."
Igneel rolled his shoulders. "Not like I got the better part of the deal," he muttered.
Nashi turned to look at the youngest member of the family. "And what about Luna?"
Luke sighed heavily. "Well…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Present Day
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Nashi groaned as she tried to cover her ears with her pillow at the noise. "Luna!" she yowled. "Your turn!"
Hurried footsteps. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" A door opened and Luna sweetly said, "Mama! How about we get you into a bath and get you ready for the day to see Papa?"
"I want Natsu-nyan!" Lucy demanded in a silly little child voice.
"We'll go see…'Natsu-nyan'"—Nashi flinched on behalf of the hitch in her sister's voice—"in just a moment, I promise. Why, he's waiting for you outside—"
"Where?! Where's my Natsu-nyan?!"
Nashi yawned as she sat up in bed. She saw the time and wanted to scream. "It should be illegal to get up a nine in the morning," she muttered darkly. Getting out from bed was a challenge and she cracked all her muscles until she saw satisfied. "Time for another day of training and studying." She went to her Compact to check the texts and notifications when she saw a text message from Faye and expanded it.
⌜MESSAGES
FAYE
Morning, my little Angel! Misa can't make the opening shift with her morning sickness. I wanted to offer the shift to you first before I put it in the work group chat. Let me know if you're interested!⌟
Nashi was about to send a text when she could hear Luna coaxing Lucy into a bath and a fresh change of clothes with the assurance "Natsu-nyan" would appreciate it and would make her purr again. But then, what made her even more disturbed was when she heard boat engine snoring. Perplexed, she exited her room and…
SNORE…
Looking down, she saw Igneel halfway out of his room, on the ground, snoring up a storm. She made a face as she went over to lightly kick him. "Idiot, get up!" she snapped. "Papa's outside and he'll destroy the forest unless you're there."
Igneel's snoring came to a lazy stop when Nashi kicked him in the collarbone. "Mmm. What?" He arched his back to wake himself up. "What time is it?"
"Time for us to get to work, lazy ass," Nashi muttered. "Why were you sleeping on the floor?" She scrunched her nose when Igneel stuck his hands in shorts to scratch. "Um, heard of manners much?"
Igneel ignored her as he yawned. "You might not have heard it, but Luke and I are convinced our little brother was conceived last night or very early this morning."
"Oh, gross." Nashi held her nose.
Igneel waved a hand. "Try having to smell it everywhere," he groused. "Lu's been sweet to try and uses those scentilizers and room sprays which dull the scents, but Pops reeked of Ma this morning when he popped off to train. I'm thanking Lu in a million milkshakes for making Ma take a long fruity bath." He nodded at her. "You want me to walk you back from work tonight?"
"Nah." Nashi dismissed the offer. "I'll be fine."
"I don't like it." He locked his jaw and ground his teeth. "You're working too far from home and too late at night. That leaves you open. If Pops were sane, he'd be all over you about this."
"And I'd remind him I'm a capable Mage and a legal adult just like I'm telling you." She mockingly squished his cheeks then laughed when he batted her away and tried to wipe away her touch. "But thanks for looking out for me, Igloo. Honestly, I'm just happy no one's found out about my job. If they knew…" She could hear their laughter and some of their disappointment and sweated nervously. I'd lose so much respect of everyone.
"Oh."
Nashi popped out of her nightmarish daydream to look at Igneel. "What?"
"We need to come up with the money for the landscaping," Igneel told her. "Since Pops' pretty much is tearing up everything, we're gonna need to do it this now and urgently."
Nashi let out a loud exhale. "That'll be another unexpected utility," she supposed. "Our grocery bill was jacked with Papa insistent he needs more fresh meat and thank you again from stopping him from overhunting. Not to mention the gas went up with Luke trying to make the antidote around the clock and we need a few repairs from Papa's training sessions gone wrong."
Igneel studied his sister. "You're overthinking and overworking," he deduced.
Nashi glared at him. "Excuse me?"
"Nashi, you come home exhausted every night and have a Starfox every day—like you weren't basic enough." He earned that swat. "I'm just saying. We'll get through this." Then, he looked hesitant like he was about to say something he should not. "Maybe… Maybe we could ask Gary—"
"No." Nashi put a firm foot down. "We are not turning to that perverted dog for help." She laid a hand on his shoulder. "This is our family, Igneel, and our problem. We'll take care of it."
"At the price of your health?" Igneel looked irked at that. "Stop pretending like this is fine. Our mom acts like she came straight out of hentai. Our dad is acting like a competitive ass. It's okay to admit we don't have this as down packed as we wished. Asking for help—"
"We're fine, Igneel." Nashi turned her back on him. "Just… Let me figure out a few things, okay?" She strode away from him and back to her room. Igneel called after her, but she shut her door behind him to show him she was done with this conversation. She rushed over to her compact to go to her text message thread with Faye.
« I'll take the shift. Thanks for telling me! Be at the café soon! »
°•°•°•°
DING-DONG!
Gary looked around him when he heard a faint voice tell him from the inside she was on her way. The door opened for a frazzled Luna to make her appearance. He smiled at her. "Hi, Looney."
"Morning, Gary," Luna greeted in a strained smile. "Sorry. Were you waiting out here long? I had to give Mama a bath." She opened the screen door for him. "Come in, come in!"
Gary stepped inside. "Nah, it wasn't too long. Just wanted to stop by and check-in." He could hear Natsu's crazed battle monologues and sighed. "He's at it again, huh?"
"Mama claims he tricked her into cuddling her pillow so he could slip out and cheat on her for training." Luna rolled her eyes. "So, you can see how this is going."
Gary nodded his sympathies. "It could be worse." At Luna's disbelief, he added humorously, "Your mom could have a crush on me still."
Luna burst into laughter. "That was so funny!" she wheezed. "Papa was so jealous too!"
"Don't get me wrong," Gary started. "Your mom is very beautiful and I'm flattered and all, but…"
"Okay!" came shout from upstairs as feet thundered. "I'm off to work!"
Gary looked up to see Nashi rushing down the stairs in her light Fairy Tail coat, hair parted in twin ponytails and high waist shorts that drew attention to her knee-high socks supporting the Clover Town Axehounds. Time slowed as hickory collided with loving cerulean.
"…my heart is set on someone else," Gary finished to Luna.
Nashi slowed her stride and warily came down when she saw Gary. "Is the stray bothering you, Lu?" she asked, keeping an accusatory eye on Gary. "I can take it out if you need me too."
"No thanks!" Luna said brightly. "I like this dog! I think we should keep him!"
Playing along, Gary let out a ruff and hung his hands like he was a puppy. He barreled over towards a giggling Luna and gathered her on his back, barking. He twirled both of them around as Luna clung to him. "My very own puppy," she teased, messing with Gary's hair.
Nashi rolled her eyes at the display to find her slides and her key from the hooks on the wall. "Yeah, well, you adopt him and keep him far away from me, got it? I need to get to work."
Gary frowned as he adjusted Luna on his back. "Angel, you know if you guys need money, I'll provide for you—all of you. Whatever you need."
Luna looked touched. "That's so sweet of—"
"We don't need your money." Nashi adjusted her mini Magia backpack and plucked her keys. "I can provide for my family on my own."
Gary stepped closer. "Angel… I'm just trying to help—"
"Well, don't!"
Luna and Gary froze as angry and pained hickory glared into cerulean. Nashi seemed to realize her outburst and hastened herself to get on her slides.
Luna slid off Gary's back as he tried to stop her. "Angel, what's—?"
"I have to go." Nashi rushed out the door and bolted down the porch steps.
Gary was at her heels in moments. "Angel, wait!" From the corner of his eye, he saw her broom zipping towards her and picked up his pace. "Angel, come back! Please!" He reached out, just wisps of catching her hand…
…when her broom swept under her and carried her high into the sky.
Gary felt the Devil within his stir in agitation and urge for the use of wings. He tossed off his shirt and felt his Curse thread into his Magic when a small hand touched his wrist. He looked down to see Luna at his side, though she looked after Nashi's disappearing figure in something akin to understanding.
"She'll be okay," she assured Gary. "She's been overwhelmed these last two weeks. Everyone has." She sent him a smile. "Don't worry too much."
Gary's smile was tapped in sarcasm. "How can I? I'm just a lowly stray perverted dog without an owner."
"That's not true at all."
Gary tilted his chin down to see Luna shading her eyes as she smiled, the wind blowing through blonde tresses. "Nashi's always been a stubborn person. It's who she is. She doesn't like accepting help from anyone. Maybe she's more stubborn with you because of how much she knows you mean it. She might call you a stray from time to time, but it only means she's getting more aware of how much you mean to her and she wants to push it away."
Gary was amazed at how wise and observant Luna had been. "I suppose so. Angel does have a hard time getting out her feelings." He looked back into the sky.
"I just hope…she doesn't push people away so much that they don't want to come back." Luna kept a lock of hair behind her ear. "But I won't give up on helping her. I know she hasn't been eating, but I won't stop making meals for her. And I know she hasn't been sleeping, but I won't stop making sure the house is in order so she doesn't have to worry. I just… I really wished she'd let me share some of her wordy."
Gary looked to see the sadness in Luna's eyes. He reached down a hand to wrap around her shoulders. "It'll be okay, Looney," he murmured. "Because no matter how many times Angel pushes me away, I'll still come back to her." He straightened. "Speaking of which…" He let Luna go to take out his Compact. "I have somewhere I need to be."
°•°•°•°
DRING-A-LING-A-LING-A-LING…!
The three maids bowed as two men came into the café. "Welcome back, Masters!"
Nashi watched as a maid dressed in an eyepatch and reversed the traditional maid colors with a white dress and a black apron took the two guests to their section. A sigh escaped her as she finished wiping down her tables and having them all set for the brunch rush. Checking her watch, she cursed. As long as I can finish the conclusion to my social work paper on my first break, I'll be good to turn it in on my second. And that'll just leave my Josean homework for the train ride home.
"Planning your escape already?"
Nashi looked up like she was caught doing something she should not to see the other maid she was working with. Her curves hit the right places dressed as an ancient palace maid with an A-line skirt, her front bow big, and her hair up in the ceremonial bun with headpiece. "Hi, Maisha," she greeted. "How's your son?"
Maisha smiled that Duchenne smile as she rolled her eyes. "Stubborn as all get out," she snorted. "Boy tears his meniscus and ACL from basketball and has the nerve to ask if he can do baseball next." She shook her head. "And he's only fifteen!"
⌜MADAME MAID
Name: Maisha Novák
Age: 36
Occupation: Maid/Waitress (Part-time); Remote Interior Designer
Likes: designing Dislikes: hoarding
Special Note: Maisha is a feisty single mother—until she watches Markie and Me!⌟
"My brother Igneel's the same way," Nashi chuckled. "Luke was more sensitive and took his injuries seriously, but Igneel was hard-headed and wouldn't care if he bled and bruised." She covered her mouth as she yawned "Oh, my. Excuse me."
Maisha frowned. "Have you been sleeping okay, honey?"
"Yeah. Just studying is what's keeping me up lately is all." Nashi dismissed the worry she saw. "It's okay, Maisha, I'm not overdoing it, I promise."
A quiver. "I-I'm sorry, Master, but I can't do that."
Maisha and Nashi looked over to see one of the men who had been sat had a hand wrapped around the wrist of the maid with an eyepatch, a lecherous smirk about him. "C'mon, baby, we both know all these effects are fake. Just take off the patch," he leered. "I want to look into those beautiful eyes of yours."
She tried to tug her wrist away, but his grip was strong and uncomfortable. "Master, please, I can't. Please allow me to continue my work," she beseeched then winced when the grip on her wrist became tighter. "You're… You're hurting me…"
The man sneered at her. "Now you're just being a little tease—!"
A gloved hand placed above his meaty fingers. An easy smile. "Now, Master…" Nashi had interrupted and had laced forcefully removed the man's hands from the maid's wrist to intertwine their fingers. "You're going to make me jealous touching maids like that." She winked and unraveled her fingers from the man.
The man and his companion were set at ease in moments, their aggression gone. "Mmmm… Sorry, Angel," they hummed.
Nashi lifted her chin. "Would you please apologize to my maid-sister Ryu too? After all…"—she bent forward for a flash of Magic to go through her eyes—"I wouldn't want to get rough with you, Master."
The man broke into a nervous sweat and gave a quick apology to Ryujin before he and his companion got up to leave. Nashi settled back as she contained her irritation. "Pigs," she muttered under her breath. "Don't come back." She turned back to the frightened Ryujin trying to throw back on her mask of happiness. "Ryujin? Are you okay?"
"Yes," Ryujin whispered. "Thanks so much, Angel."
⌜MADAME MAID
Name: Ryujin
Age: 26
Occupation: Maid/Waitress, Graduate Student
Likes: D&C Dislikes: loud noises
Special Note: Ryujin might look shy, but she's the DM of her D&C campaign!⌟
Nashi smiled. "What are maid-sisters for? Please don't hesitate to ask for help. Faye has me here as a maid, but I'm also back-up with the means to threaten if necessary."
Ryujin tried for a smile. "Of course. I better go check on my tables." And she shuffled away.
Maisha sighed, cupping her cheek, while Nashi frowned after Ryujin. "Don't pay any ole attention to Jin," Maisha dismissed. "She's a little skittish tonight since her ex-girlfriend is back in town. She's been in her own head ever since she found out the news."
"Exes have a way of messing with your mind," Nashi agreed sympathetically. Cerulean invaded her vision and she scowled. "And so do people in your present."
Maisha flashed a look to Nashi and bumped. "Does that mean Angel has her own little Devil?" she teased.
Red shot up Nashi's cheek and she hated how her heart beat a little faster. "As if!" she sniffed as she picked up her tray. "I'm a little too preoccupied for anything like that! And I…."
Warm cerulean.
She sighed. "Well, I have a dog anyways," she supposed. "And he's very…territorial."
"Momo has the same problem," Maisha empathized. "I think she's right dogs have that sixth sense about them. They probably can tell if the man you brought home is just a boy playing pretend. But, to be safe, she crates her dog whenever she has company over. Maybe you should try that."
Nashi sighed, longer this time. "Or maybe I should put it outside once and for all." Tone soft, thoughtful. But those blues and their honesty made her shoulders sag. "Let it become a stray or…keep him. Those are my choices."
An arched brow. "He's that bad a dog, huh?"
Nashi hugged her tray to her chest. "He's not necessarily 'bad'; he's just…different. And it's…terrifying that he is, but it's nice he is. No matter how much I want to cut him loose or get angry, he's so patient and considerate." Her lips twisted. "And it pisses me off, but… I can't help but admire him. And I hate that I do, but…" Her arms hugged the tray tighter. "Maybe I don't hate it as much as I want to."
A sly grin. "Why do I get the feeling we're not talking about dogs anymore?"
Nashi comically froze and then exaggerated a laugh. "I should check on my food!" She dashed away, leaving behind smoke. "Bye, Maisha!"
Maisha only chuckled. "That girl… Whoever this 'dog' is…he has his work cut on him with a very stubborn owner."
°•°•°•°
"Can you get the outdoor area, Angel?"
"I'm on it!"
Nashi opened the door to the back half of Madame Maid. She was impressed at Tate's ambition to have an outdoor eater with dual levels. The street was pure brick and a few of the surrounding bars had fenced outdoor pavilions as well. She could tell one of the bars was doing a hip-hop version of Macarena. The sun was setting with the stars trying to peek out. A mother had brought her two little ones to Madame Maid for dessert. A couple sat on the same side of their booth, love in their eyes. Nashi smiled and bowed as she went to wipe down a few of the tables and stack chairs.
For all it's worth, being a maid here isn't like all the bloggers wrote about, Nashi criticized. But I think it's because Tate makes it so unique. It's not like a Selan maid café and awkward. It's a place for everyone to come and be themselves. She wiped her third table before looking up at the magenta-violet sky with a smile. This has been a cool job to have. I'll have to tell Tate to become a Settler. I think some of the others at Fairy Tail would like it.
A breeze trickled in, warm and inviting, and she closed her eyes as she let it tussle her hair in its passing.
"Wow."
Hickory popped open—
—and crashed into cerulean.
Nashi gaped like a fish as the words did not come out. Gary was on the street, hands in his pockets, pleasantly surprised as he looked at Nashi.
Gary.
He had seen her.
Inwardly, Nashi was hyperventilating. Out of the millions of people in this country, how did he find me?! Wait. I'm blonde. He probably doesn't know it's me, right? Then, why does he keep staring at me?
Gary studied the name of the café before grinning. "Interesting." He winked at her as he carried on. It was only when he was out of the vicinity when Nashi could finally get the words out. But it was too late. The damage had been done. Other guests looked on in skeptical concern as Nashi's soul left her body.
I'm done for.
Luna found herself exhausted as she laid against the doorway where she heard her mother's giggles. "Mama…!" she whined. "Stop running away!"
"Natsu-nyan…!" Lucy trilled. "Make me purr!" A door slid open.
Heaving a breath, Luna half-heartedly went down the hall and to the kitchen to see the deck door was wide open. She groaned instantly when she saw what was happening. "Not again…"
Much to her dismay, her mother had darted outside in one of her more scandalous bikinis and cat ears she had stolen from Luna's room to cling happily to Natsu as he worked on the power behind his punches, expanding his Magic Power. The entire backyard used for training had been ripped up and crumbled under his force and he did not look like he was planning to stop any time soon.
Natsu growled as he delivered another bunch, the sheer force breaking the ground beneath him and the essence of his Magic demolishing another tree. He did not seem to mind (not notice) Lucy was rubbing against him and clung to his back. "Gotta beat that stupid stripper—Ha!"
Luna was knocked off balance at the next strike when the earth shook. "Papa…!" she called from the safety of the deck. "Can you please take a break? I made lunch!"
"No time!" Natsu called. "I have plenty more training to do so I can beat Laxus to the ground!"
°•°•°•°
"Achoo!"
Mira paused from rocking on the back-porch swing when she saw Laxus rub under his nose beside her. Both were enjoying their books respectively on such a nice day and the house to themselves. Concern came to Mira. "Are you okay, Laxus?"
Laxus's eyebrow twitched as he wrapped an arm around the back of the bench. "Yeah, baby, fine," he grunted. "I don't know why, but I just get that feeling I need to track the stupid fire brat down and beat his ass."
Mira tittered as she placed a hand on his chest. "He'll be family before long, you know."
Laxus made a face as his arm came down to wrap around her. "Jesus, now I want to beat him up even more."
°•°•°•°
Luna bit her lip to mask her growing exasperation. "Please," she begged her parents. "You both need to eat. Especially you, Papa. You've been training too hard. You're pushing yourself too much."
Natsu did a kick with Lucy trailing a finger down the veins on his biceps. "I'm fine!" he snarled. "Eat without me. I got trainin' to do!"
"Then you can train me to purr!" Lucy giggled in his ear.
Natsu punched again. "I told you, woman, we were doing stamina training," he hissed. "I'll work on that later."
Luna's brows twitched as that fiery anger gnarled in her stomach and made her teeth clench. Something warm and light filled traced her veins and she did not even notice the air began to swarm into wicked winds. White illuminated around her body as she pressed her eyes shut. She could hear her father proclaiming who was on his fight list while Lucy giggled along and made innuendos, but it just…
It was so…
…so…
…frustrating!
Luna's eyes opened to be consumed in a glow of white and she pointed a finger at her parents. A choir of voices commanded alongside her: "Stop this! I've had enough!"
Natsu and Lucy looked like a deer in headlights when Luna rose herself up from the ground, consumed in her own Magic.
"You are both acting like children!" Luna seethed within her sea of voices. "I am done babysitting!" Her arms swung down and—
CRACKLE!
—the glass of the back of the house shattered at the sheer force she exuded.
Luke warily stuck his head out from his shattered window for his eyes to widen seeing his sister.
CR-CRACK!
He looked up at the sky to see warring clouds coming together with grunts and grumbles of their own over the house. "Oh, crap." He hurried left his room. "Not again!"
But Luna did not care. She glared at her frozen parents as her Magic expanded and twirled around her in high whistles. "You will both come inside and eat and be separated or I will make you do so"—she lifted her arms as white fanned out to display to wings and the storm snarled as her backup—"by force!" She whirled her arms around her before shoving her Magic towards her pa—
"Luna, no!"
Luna tensed up.
Her Magic paused.
Luke was panting from his position at the sliding doorway.
He took a careful step with Magic coating his feet as he stepped on cracked glass. "Luna," he murmured, "the sun is getting real low."
The white drained from Luna's eyes as she gently fluttered back to the ground. The storm dissipated with no rage to be had. Luke strode forth to catch Luna when she landed and wobbled. Her eyes closed for a moment as she tried to catch her breath.
"Wha…?" Luna leaned on Luke for a moment until she righted herself. "What happened?" Her eyes opened to take in the shattered windows and remaining glass. "Did I…?"
"Shhh," Luke shushed her. "We can fix that. Why don't we get you something to eat, okay?"
Luna nodded. "Okay."
"Woah…"
Luna blinked and both she and Luke looked back to see their father looking at Luna in awe and a wide grin.
"I didn't know you could do that," Natsu professed with pride in his voice.
Luna ducked her head, a little shy. "Only when I'm upset," she admitted. "I'm sorry, Papa, Mama. I'll clean it all up, I promise."
Natsu shook his head, stepping towards her. "No, I'm sorry, baby girl," he apologized. "I was…wrong and I'm so sorry."
Luke and Luna exchanged incredulous glances. Does he mean…?
Natsu lit his fists on fire as challenge glinted in his eyes. "I should've fought with you if I knew you had this much power!"
Luke and Luna fell over. He's at it again!
Lucy jumped on Natsu's back and licked at his pulse. "Mmmm, Natsu-nyan tastes good," she moaned.
Luke slapped his head over Luna's eyes when he saw his mother's hands roam. "Mom!" he snapped. "Not in front of your children!"
Lucy nipped at Natsu's ear. "C'mon, Natsu-nyan, your kitty wants to be stroked."
Luke's eyebrow twitched as a tick mark hit his temple. "Mom—!"
Natsu whipped around to change Lucy to wrapping around his front. "Fine," he bit. "Until I can get a match with the kid, we can do stamina training." Without warning, his lips crashed into hers and Lucy shivered, giving into his rough touch.
Luke picked up Luna and hurriedly went back into the house. "Lu, whatever you do, don't look outside."
Luna blinked up at him. "But—?"
He set Luna on one of the barstools and turned her away from the window. "I love you too much for you to witness something that could ruin your innocence." He kissed her forehead. "So, please, don't look outside of I'm going to be forced to do the thing again."
Luna looked disturbed. "But I don't want the thing again."
"Then, don't look outside and stay pure," Luke reasoned. He took her hand. "Here, you can help me with the potion and be my instruction reader."
Luna whined as Luke lead her up the steps, shielding her eyes. "But I hate being the reader…"
Nashi found herself hilariously expired on one of the break room/changing room benches. Her soul was barely attached to her as she felt like putty on the bench. My life is over, she droned. I'm done for. She melted onto the ground in a puddle of embarrassment and shame. I was blonde, but it felt like he knew it was me. He'll tell everybody. Or worse…
She could imagine Gary as the big bad wolf with an evil cackle to go along with it. "Now you have to date me," he cackled to her in her nightmarish fantasy, "or else I'll tell the world you're a maid! Mwah-ha-ha-ha! You'll never escape me now, Angel!"
DING!
Nashi felt her soul leave. Someone just kill me and the wisps of my ghost.
"U-U-Um, Angel?"
Nashi peeked from her position to see a younger maid was calling to her. She had taken to become a sailor maid with a big bow on top and her eyes nice and wide and droopy and her shaved on one side but lengthened to her breast on another. Nashi still felt too ashamed to reform herself. "Hi, Erxi," she greeted weakly. "What can I do?"
⌜MADAME MAID
Name: Bei Er Xi
Age: 22
Occupation: Maid/Waitress, YouViewer
Likes: hot tea Dislikes: second point of view books
Special Note: Erxi is a blossoming YouViewer with the help of Tate! She reviews a lot of beauty products, LV series, and even some games!⌟
Erxi smiled brightly. "Ryu and I are the last on the floor. Do you think you could take out the recycling before you clock out?" She clasped her hands together. "Pretty please? I'm sorry! We'd do it if we could—!"
Nashi gathered herself in an instant, grateful for the reprieve. "Don't worry about it!" she dismissed. "I'll make sure the recycling goes out before I head out, but are you sure you don't need help cleaning?"
Erxi shook her head. "No, no, we still have some guests left, so we'll be here for a while. Go home and get some sleep." She winked. "We owe you!" And she bounced away.
Nashi sighed once Erxi was gone. "I can make it through this," she convinced herself. "The stray probably got wound up with his friends and forgot. I have a job to do." She went over to the bags of recycling. Looking to see the coast was clear, she made an O with her hands and blew as a Holy Bubble appeared to wrap around the recycling bags. She guided the bubble out of the back door. The sun had set with the stars bright and beaming. The recycling cans were a little bit away and widely shared between the restaurants. Depositing them was without issue, especially with her Magic helping. But once she was finished, she did not travel back all at once. She took to staring at the stars with thoughts running through her head.
I wonder what's going on at home. I haven't been able to check my Com all day. A stray wind threaded through her hair and chilled her. Crossing her arms, she felt goosebumps arrive. Man, it's cold. I hope it's not cold all the way back to the train station. I brought a jacket, but still.
Warmth came onto her shoulders and spooked her. "H-Hey!" she began to protest only for her eyes to widen on the culprit. "You?!"
Gary firmly kept his jacket on her shoulders with a hard concern in his eyes. "You shouldn't be out in this weather without a jacket," he scolded sternly.
Nashi scowled and tried to shrug off his jacket, but his hands stayed on her shoulders. "I don't need your help!" she viciously fought. To solidify her act, she proclaimed, "I don't even know who you are! Get off me!" She attempted to shove him away, but the gravity abandoned her for a moment and she wobbled over.
Cerulean widened. "Angel!"
Nashi blinked to see she was in Gary's arms, confusion wrapped around her and a throbbing dizziness. "Wh-Wh-Wh-What…?" She rubbed her forehead. "What was that? How d-d-did you know it was me?"
Gary studied her and his concern softened into modest fretting. "You can change your hair or your clothes or the color of your eyes, but I'll always know when my Angel is near," he murmured. Studying her as she shook, he deduced, "You've been working too hard. How much have you been sleeping and eating?"
Nashi pushed off him to straighten herself. "Enough," was her curt answer.
An answer not good enough for him as he grabbed her bicep. "Angel," came warning growl.
Nashi tched. "I don't see how this is your business," she spat unkindly. Rather than slip off his jacket, she kept it on. Not for his sake, but she knew he would be difficult if she defied him. "I'm going back inside." She walked away with her head held high and refused to look away at the silence she received to see if Gary was there because she could feel that icy glare. She kept her head forward all the way until she got back into Madame Maid. Once the door was shut, she leaned against it as her soul tried to leave her body.
I'm so screwed.
°•°•°•°
The next time Nashi appeared, she had a cap on from a random MagiCross team, a crop top hoodie representing Young Nation, an antiviral mask on, Gary's jacket over her arm, hair back to pink, and her broom in her hand. She looked left and right, but the little street connecting the backs of the restaurants was empty save for the lights. She had a little sigh of relief as she stepped down the stairs. "Good. He's not here."
VROOOOOOOOOM!
Nashi's breathing hitched when a motorcycle barreled down the street. She put a hand on the vizor of her cap and tried to look away, sweating bullets. That has to be someone taking a short cut, right? Right. It couldn't be him. There's no way. He went home. Right?
VROOOOOOM! GRR-GR-GR-GRRRRR…
Nashi winced when she heard the motorcycle beside her and cursed. Dammit.
"Get on, Angel."
Nashi coughed and kept looking away. "U-U-Um," she spluttered, roughening her voice. "Who's this 'Angel' person?"
A loud sigh. "Angel, this isn't the time."
Nashi peeked to see Gary looking at her with pressed lips and she hooked a finger to lower her mask. "Yeah, well, I made plans already," she hastily told him and showed her broomstick. "And I have my ride home, so—"
"Angel."
Nashi froze when she saw Gary take a deep breath. Cerulean steeled over as he gestured towards the extra helmet he had and was offering to her. "Get on." His tone left no room for argument.
Nashi swallowed and nodded, thoroughly chastised. With a muttered spell, her broom shrunk down to the size of a keychain. She went onto the motorcycle and mounted it like a professional. When Gary turned to give her a helmet, she was all set to reject him. "I'm good, thanks."
Gary had no patience and ripped off her hat (he ignored her gawking and stammers) to put on the helmet (he did that with care). He took her cap and threw it in his saddlebag before turning attention to the front of his motorcycle. "Hold onto me."
Nashi gulped. "I-I-I'm okay—"
"Nashi."
That really stung hearing her name like that. Nodding again like a child who knew when they were wrong, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Gary tightly to ensure he was not provoked. Gary revved the engine when he felt her and heard a terse warning. "Hold on tight." And they were off.
Nashi watched the lights go by, but her mind was elsewhere. Why does he sound so angry at me? What did I do? It's not like I did anything wrong. I was just working. And, yeah, it's late, but this is my job until Mama and Papa are normal again. What would he know about struggling anyways? He's the freaking Ice Devil of Fairy Tail. Mister Perfect. Always knows what to do and when to do it. Hickory lowered. Always offers his help when I'm down just to rub it in my face of all the things he can do that I can't.
The motorcycle came to a stop. Nashi got off when she heard the engine cut and took off the helmet only to see they had not made it to a station. Instead, Gary had taken her to— "Um…" Nashi pointed at the sign. "Why are we here?"
A courtyard restaurant was to the right of them and seemed to be fairly busy this time of night. Most were older than Nashi and Gary with their group date nights or an intimate date between two people. A group of friends laughed over shared cocktails and beers. A man moved to sit with his girlfriend on her side much to her amusement at his jealousy of others looking at her dark skin in wonder and lust. One of the waiters came out with a steaming tray of appetizers and another helped follow with another tray.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is Greenes, a courtyard restaurant popular in Minstrel and known for its "date night" atmosphere and family-style cuisine. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Gary took off his helmet and shook out his hair (she hated how some might find him attractive with his messy hair) to grunt, "We're having dinner."
Nashi scoffed. "I don't think so."
"Nashi."
She winced.
A sigh.
Cold fingers took her chin.
Hickory hesitantly looked into sincere cerulean.
"Angel," Gary amended softly, "will you please join me for dinner? It doesn't have to mean anything. But I need to know you've eaten something. And if not for me," he added when she looked like she would deny him, "think about how worried Luna is about you."
That got Nashi to feel her guilt. "I'll have dinner with you," she accepted in small voice.
Gary kissed her cheek in gratitude and swung off his bike to park it. Once their helmets were properly placed, Gary extended his hand. Nashi hesitated, but she took it and blushed a little when he threaded their fingers. He took the lead toward the hostess' booth while Nashi looked at the stream of floating lights. She caught a cursory look of a couple playfully feeding the other cheesecake and cringed. "And we're eating…outside?"
Gary's lips twitched. "They have enchantments, so you don't have to worry about bugs swarming around you." A teasing lilt.
"You should worry too," Nashi retorted with no real bite. "Eating actual meals outside is gross, especially at night." She looked around warily. "Mosquitos love to feed on my blood."
The host came over with a beam. "Hi! Two?"
Gary nodded. "Something away from the fun, please." Cerulean swung heatedly to look at Nashi. "We're going to need privacy."
The host arched an eyebrow, amused, while Nashi's face turned red (from indignation or embarrassment was anyone's gust) and he nodded in understanding. "Right this way."
Gary and Nashi found themselves seated further into the outdoor eatery. Greenes had bought a portion of grass where three little gazebos had been built only for couples of two. Curtains were closed around one gazebo, but you could see the lights still on. The other gazebo was empty. The one the host lead them was the furthest away and the floating lights came to life the moment the host stepped up the gazebo steps to place down the menus and silverware. After a quick introduction, the host left them to their own devices. Gary made sure Nashi was seated before he followed after her and opened his menu.
Nashi awkwardly picked at her own. "I could've eaten what Lu left me," she murmured.
"You could have," Gary supposed, "but Looney told me you've been skipping breakfast and dinners."
Nashi inwardly cursed. Dammit, Lu. Ratting me out to the enemy. She feigned a smile. "I'm sure she's just exaggerating. I do have breakfast and dinner—"
"Starfox in the morning with an occasional chocolate bar is not breakfast, Angel," Gary cut in bitingly as he skimmed the specials. "And having two bites of Looney's home cooking is not dinner."
Nashi tensed. "Yeah, well, sorry we can't all be perfect like you and have time to cook and set our own schedules and not have a care in the world," she snapped at him. She tried to hiss more, but the waiter came with a bright introduction and read off the specials. Nashi sat back in her seat, not at all hungry, but Gary ordered for them both (a woo-woo for her and water for them both). The moment the waiter left, Nashi muttered, "Thanks a lot for ordering for me."
"Well, you weren't going to," Gary pointed out, "and you look like you could use the drink."
Nashi swallowed back her growl. "Stop trying to help me," she bit. "I don't need your help or your psychoanalyzing, okay?"
Gary flattened his menu. "Angel," he started with a voice like gravel, "you're right."
Nashi blinked, clearly put off. She expected an argument. "I…am?"
Gary folded his hands. "You are. You don't need my help or my observations. You have the full capabilities of doing this yourself. I admire that about you. You're self-sufficient and driven." Before Nashi could add in her input or maybe show her gratitude at such praise, Gary cut her with, "But that also means you're bull-headed and ignorant to the people around you." Nashi's face turned into a scowl, but Gary plowed on: "I know about all the extra bills you've been racking up. This isn't the first time you guys had an accident like this and this won't be the last. You're determined to help your family, but by overexerting yourself, you don't realize how much you hurt them and yourself. Anyone could have attacked you in that alleyway and you would have been defenseless."
"I wouldn't have!" Nashi managed to get out, reeling from his critique.
"You would," Gary countered with iron conviction. "That's what makes me angry the most. You want to take care of everything yourself but yourself. You're skipping meals, you're obviously tired—you're making yourself sick." Cerulean flickered in icy-blue-silver. "And it makes me furious seeing you this way."
The waiter came back with their drinks to let Nashi stew in Gary's words. The waiter read the air and promised to give them a few minutes to choose their meal before slipping off.
Nashi took a long sip of her woo-woo while Gary watched her gather her counterpoint. When she did, she seared him with a look. "You're an asshole," she opened with. "I don't care if you're angry seeing me like this. I have to work this hard to help my family. They're my family, not yours. You don't have any sort of reason to help us."
"They're family to me too," Gary rebutted. "My dad and your mom are closer than siblings. We've gone on family vacations together, holidays together. I treat your siblings like my own and you think your family isn't like my family?"
Nashi realized she touched a nerve and was torn between wanting to give him a piece of her mind and wanting to swallow back such a bad choice of words. "Right, well…" She cleared her throat. "You…might be right about that, but still. This isn't your concern—"
"Everything to do with you," Gary interrupted, "is my concern."
"It shouldn't be," Nashi snapped. "There's no reason for you—"
"Dammit, Angel, we're partners!" Gary finally exploded and effectively stunned her into silence. "I'm not like some guy who you casually see and you can give him bullshit excuses and he'll buy it. We're partners. We rely on each other because that's what we do. We bounce ideas off each other, learn from each other, and help each other in need. That's the deal between us."
Nashi glanced every other way. Weakly, she argued, "But you might ask for something later—"
Gary groaned and rubbed his face. "Angel, when have I ever seriously made it sound like you owed me for my help?" He noticed how uncomfortable and small Nashi was making herself to reach his hands forward to grab hers and rub her knuckles to soothe her. "Angel"—tone softer—"we're partners. Helping each other out because we want to is what we do. I don't do this because I expect your love in return or anything like that. I just hate knowing you're struggling." He lifted a hand to his lips to kiss her knuckles and took in her closed eyes. "I want you to succeed in every way, believe me." He kissed her other hand. "And I could force my help on you. My Devil could threaten your billers so the payments can be transferred in my name. I could make Genius wire money into your account. But I want to be on the same page. I won't cross those boundaries just like I've been trying not to now."
Her throat and lips dried at that. Her arguments were dying. Unable to look at such intense eyes, she kept her stare down.
The waiter returned, tentative. Nashi kept her head down as Gary ordered appetizers and dinner for them both. The waiter looked between them like he knew something they did not before slipping away.
Several beats of silence fell between them. Nashi had time to wet her lips and think of something—anything—to say. "I… I'm sorry," she choked. "I didn't know how much this was hurting everyone else. I was just trying to do the best for my family."
"I know," Gary hushed. "We all know, Angel. But we worry and we care. Ellie and Justin can't get through to you. God knows how many times my dad's called your house because, after that first visit, and with how your dad's being right now, we'd much rather him and my dad not destroy the house. We care, Angel. You just have to let us." When he saw Nashi's trepidation, he lessened the blow with, "How about a healthy compromise? I come over in the mornings to make sure you eat breakfast and take you to work. I take you home and you promise me you'll eat Looney's cooking."
"I don't need you to take me to work," Nashi quickly put in. "I have my broom."
Gary shook his head. "Both of your brothers, Justin, and I don't agree with that," he told her. "This is a nice city, but it's still dangerous."
Eyes narrowed, she bristled and pulled back her hands. "I can defend myself—"
"But not when you aren't taking care of yourself," Gary pushed. "Angel, it's either this or we bench you and I take matters into my own hands."
She scoffed. "Nice to see I have options." Bitterness laced each word. "Nice to see my own friends and family ganging up on me."
"Compromise," Gary reminded. "Do we have a deal?"
Nashi stewed in her own agitation for a moment or two before squaring her shoulders. "Fine."
A smile finally donned Gary's face as he sat back, relaxed. "Good." He took out his Compact and smiled when he saw what he was looking for. "Also, you're coming home with me tonight."
"What?" Pink flushed down Nashi's cheeks and neck. "Hold on a second. That wasn't part of the deal!"
"It wasn't." Gary pocketed his Compact. "But Igneel agreed you've been a little wound up at home and said the three of them could handle your parents and the potion."
"That's not their call to make," Nashi snapped, though it sounded like a complaint. "I'm the only sane adult in the house left!"
"Are you saying you don't trust Igneel and Luke's judgment in magical affairs and taking care of Looney?"
Nashi bit back her retort. "Well… No—"
"Good." The smile turned into a pout. "Because I've been feeling neglected these past two weeks and missed Angel in my bed."
Nashi glanced around frantically. "Shut up, you idiot," she hissed under her breath. "I don't need another paparazzi incident. We're not in Magnolia! I can already imagine those stupid photographers are going nuts right now."
"Does Angel not miss me too?"
Nashi looked over to see the equivalent of a husky sitting before her, whining and staring up at her with big blue eyes. She tried to cover her growing blush as she got out, "I…might've…missed you," she groused. "But I don't have any clothes—"
"Taken care of," Gary dismissed. "Looney helped me after you left." He tapped his chin. "And then Igneel mentioned something about you not coming home until you get laid."
Nashi was steaming as she could envision her monster of a little brother with little devil horns and a tail around her, cackling. Igneel… You're so dead when I get home…
°•°•°•°
"Achoo!"
Igneel shivered from his place in the kitchen (the windows had been restored) half-naked and in dire need of a drink. He rubbed his nose and looked around. Why do I get the distinct impression someone wants to beat me up?
°•°•°•°
"And you would have gotten laid if you hadn't run from me in the club," Gary sang.
"You startled me!" Nashi argued. "Who skips on a penthouse party to come to a dirty club?"
Gary shrugged. "Parties are great when you're single," he reasoned, "but my heart's taken. I can sit on the sidelines only so much. I don't know how Chi-chi does it." A dirty smirk. "I feel like Angel was trying to tease me dancing like that."
Now Nashi shrugged as she brought her drink to her lips. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
The conversation diverted into more light-hearted topics and Gary watched the tension leave Nashi's body as she smiled and graced him with her laughter. Nashi engrossed herself in her order appetizer of potato wedges and moaned at the goodness. As Gary teased her and she swatted at him half-heartedly, she did not notice something far from their private getaway. Something hiding in the bushes.
And she did not notice that something had flashed.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Fairy Adventure
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
In the morning…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Luna shuffled about the kitchen like a dancer as she made breakfast. She was going for the works with bacon, steak, cubed potatoes, scrambled eggs, eggs over medium, croissants—any and every breakfast food.
"C'mon…! Just one match!"
Her eyebrows twitched. Maybe she was cooking more as a distraction.
"It'll be fun, I promise! One little match!"
Luna let a bowl clatter into the sink as she whirled around to see her eager father shining with stars at the prospect of a fight. "I said, 'no'," she tried to explain, a little coldly. "No means no, Papa." Huffing, she turned back to the dishes.
Natsu was not one to give up. "C'mon," he begged. "I bet you're even stronger than Erza! That was some serious power!"
Luna faltered. "I don't like losing control like that," she resigned to say. "Magic isn't to use when I'm upset at something. My Magic is to be used to help people. You taught me that." She turned to him. "Remember that, Papa?"
Her hopes were dashed when an all-too-happy Natsu got in her face with a grin. "First touch wins, huh? What do you say?" he offered.
Luna tried to push him away as she cried, "Igneel! Get Papa away from me!"
Igneel came thundering down to the kitchen and scowled seeing his father. "Dammit, Pops, stop harassing Lu!" he snapped as he strung out Purple Flare like a lasso. "For the last time! She's not the enemy! She's your daughter!" He shot the rope of fire over his father and yanked him away.
Natsu wriggled. "She's strong!" he argued. "I only fight strong people!" He pinned Luna with a stare. "I want to see all that you can do."
Luna shivered. "That sounds so creepy…"
Igneel wrapped another rope of Purple Flare around his father and gagged him for good measure. "Stupid Old Man," he muttered. "Thanks for breakfast, Lu. I really thought he'd be distracted by the food to hound you again."
Luna sagged her shoulders. "It's okay. And it's no problem." She turned back to the dishes. "Luke's trying out some of the prototype potions on Mama, so at least we don't have to worry about their craziness."
Igneel could drink to that. "Yeah," he muttered. When Natsu tried to squirm, Igneel flicked light blue fire at him that acted like water. "Bad. Stay," he barked. Turning back around, he stretched. "Man, the job last night was a pain in the ass," he complained. "Got the last of the herbs and everything, but still. I'm gonna need a nice and long massage from MJ for this."
"Stop taking advantage of Mary Jane's kindness," Luna scolded.
Igneel pouted. "I'm not!" Then, he grinned. "I'm sure Nashi took advantage of Gary's kindness."
"I don't know how spending the night at his apartment is 'taking advantage'," Luna muttered. "Most they did is sleep together."
Igneel snickered as he took out tequila and the orange juice, but he masked it with a cough. "Yeah. I'm sure they did sleep together." He went for a rock glass.
Luna kept scrubbing when something felt off. "Doesn't Papa seem ridiculously quiet?"
"I gagged him." Igneel poured in two-parts orange juice. "He's just sulking—" When he looked over, he could see the outline of where Natsu had been, but there was no Natsu. The blood drained from his face. "Shit."
CRASH!
"Ice Princess Junior!" came Natsu's roar from outside. "Get out here and fight me! You don't deserve my princess, you bastard!"
Igneel dragged a hand down his face. "I got it." Stomping away, he shouted, "Dad, stop threatening Gary!
Luna giggled to herself. "At least some things never change." She looked out the renewed window and into the clear sky. I wonder how Nashi's doing right about now anyways…
Gary paced outside the master bedroom door in nothing but athletic shorts and tried not to bite at his fingernails. He heard the murmured voices going on within his bedroom and he wanted so badly to barge inside, but he waited it out like he was asked. When the door opened, he was at attention. "How is she?"
The person who stepped out looked older than Gary, but he was dressed in a button-down and slacks with his PAL bag slung around his shoulder. "Her temperature rose a little bit and her breathing is labored," came report. "She'll be looking flushed and she needs to take it easy on solid foods. Without being at the hospital, I can only gauge who dehydrated she is. What I'm worried about is her dizziness. You told me she was diagnosed with syncope. With her being this stressed, fainting could be a possibility."
⌜MAGNOLIA TOWN
Name: Diego Sepúlveda
Age: 25
Occupation: Adult Neurology Resident (PGY-3) at Crocus Clinic
Likes: podcasts Dislikes: ex-girlfriend's cat
Special Note: Diego lives in Gary's condo complex alongside an anesthesiologist and both act as resident medical professionals for the tenants! Did I mention he hates his ex-girlfriend's cat?⌟
"Which means she should stay at home," Gary reasoned.
Diego sighed. "Try telling her that." He glanced at the door. "So that's the one." His lips pulled into a grin. "I see why you didn't want me to meet her."
Gary punched his shoulder. "Healthcare worker or not, you'll get a smackdown," he jested.
Diego shot him a rueful look. "Yeah, well, when there's a pandemic, you'll be thanking me." He glanced at the door one more time. "She's a stubborn one. Just try to get her to take it easy, at least for a few days. No sickness, but overexertion and severe stress wear down the body. I don't want to see her in the hospital on any grounds."
Gary sighed. "Neither do I." He shook Diego's hand. "Seriously, man, thanks for doing this before your shift."
"It's what I do," Diego said with a dismissal wave of his hand. "She was feeling nauseous. She told me she used to take Zofran so I wrote her a prescription. She should have that and I authorized a renewal on her blood pressure medication. If you can, get her some magnesium oxide and Benadryl. She complained about a throbbing in her head and I want to prevent her from having a headache."
"Will do."
"And…" Diego raised an eyebrow. "I asked her, but I wanted to ask you too. There's no chance of pregnancy? I'd take blood and urine samples if we were at the hospital, but…"
Gary shook his head. "No, no pregnancy."
"Just have to ask," Diego soothed. He checked his watch and gave it a grim look. "Now, I have to go. I'm still in my ICU module and I'm really hoping one of my patients can make it out and go into rehab." He patted Gary's shoulder. "I'll see myself out. Go talk to her."
Gary nodded and watched Diego stride away before opening the door. Nashi lay on his bed propped up and in one of his t-shirts. Sure, she looked flushed, but the annoyance settled in her hickory eyes was uncanny. Arms crossed, she huffed, "Well? Did he tell you I could work?"
Gary settled at her side. "He said he wanted you to take it easy for at least the next days," he explained slowly, watching the annoyance ruffle Nashi, "and he sent some prescriptions I'll pick up later."
"But 'take it easy' doesn't mean stop working," Nashi decided. "Which means I can still work."
Gary hesitated. "Angel, are you sure that's a good idea? You're overworked."
"I have bills to pay—"
"Which I can help you with—"
"No. Thank you," Nashi added in haste. "You're doing enough as it is. We can handle our own finances, Gary."
Gary did not look convinced, but he was in no mood to argue. "You don't have any shifts today, right? What if we stayed in bed all day? Nothing like that," he backpedaled seeing Nashi's face. "But I could take care of you. At least for the day."
Nashi shook her head. "I need to get home. I can't leave my siblings to deal with our parents alone. They're a handful sober, let alone magicked."
Gary halted her. "What if I said I could have that taken care of?"
"I'd laugh in your face and tell you to screw off," Nashi deadpanned.
"Seriously," Gary insisted. "Look, it'll be a day off for you guys from your parents. You all could use it. Looney's burnt out and Igneel must be annoyed beyond belief keeping your dad in control."
Nashi considered this. But still… "How are you going to handle it?"
"A favor." Gary reached for his Compact to shoot off a text message. "They owed me. We'll be even after this." Setting his Compact back down, he got off the bed. "I'll make us some breakfast and run to the pharmacy to get your prescriptions. Then…"—he reached down to peck her on her lips—"we can stay inside and cuddle and watch YouView videos on the projector."
Nashi accepted another kiss from him. "You're just trying to distract me," she breathed before being engulfed in another kiss.
Gary grinned against her lips. "Is it working?"
Nashi hummed, body abuzz at his touch, before she pulled away and tried to reclaim her thoughts. "I'm not saying anything to feed your ego," she decided. "Go, dog, and make your mistress breakfast. Doctor hottie said I needed to take it easy, remember?"
"You thought he was hot?"
Nashi's lips curled into a grin. "That's what you got out of that?"
"You thought he was hot?" Gary repeated a little forceful as though she never said anything.
Nashi pretended to think about it. "I feel like Aine told me about him." It came to her. "He's the Bachata Bae!" She moaned. "God, I've seen videos of him before! She's right, he's so delicious—Mmmph!" She melted against Gary's aggressive kiss and wrapped her arms around him. When she pulled away from air, she rushed, "Don't tell me you're jealous."
"You neglect me for two weeks and call another man 'hot'." Icy-blue-silver washed through his eyes for a moment. "We don't like that."
Nashi chuckled and her lips came to his ear. "Then, do something about it."
A growl left him as he tackled Nashi down onto the bed.
DING-DONG!
The door swung open for a thoroughly haggard Luna to open the door to let the world hear Lucy's pouty demands, Natsu's mad cackle, and Igneel's shouts. She looked up at her guests. "Hi." She tried to smile. "How are you guys?"
Before her stood Justin, Orochi, and Dazzler. While Justin looked ready for the day, Dazzler looked like she was nursing a nasty hangover and Orochi was just along for the ride. Dazzler dipped down her sunglasses to tell Luna, "Gare-bear sent us as the relief team. Looks like your parents got magicked and he thinks you guys could use a little break from the chaos. And from what it sounds like, ya need it desperately."
Luna shook her head. "Oh, no, we're really okay—"
"Oh, God, yes, right there, Natsu-nyan!"
Luna tried to turn around (Justin smirked, Dazzler snorted, and Orochi went blank) when Igneel barreled through to her side. "Lu, we're leaving," he decided. As Luna sputtered, Igneel hoisted his sister over his shoulder and swung open the screen door. To Justin, Dazzler, and Orochi, he said, "I'm pretty sure they're only in foreplay. Break them up before my little bro is conceived. Luke's upstairs. We're taking the day off." He ran off. "Let's go, Lu!"
Luna panicked and waved at the trio. "Oh, um, bye then! Thanks for looking out for our parents!"
Justin chuckled. "Poor Igneel… All of them have done a great job shielding Lu."
"And their parents are doing a great job pregaming from the sounds of it," Dazzler tittered. "I need to get drunk again before I get sober. JJ, why don't we raid their liquor cabinet while Orochi helps out Luke with the reversal potion?" She stepped through the threshold with Justin, but Orochi was more hesitant.
He pinched his nose the second he stepped inside. "Oh, God, it reeks," he lamented, shutting the door. "I definitely don't owe Gary a thing after this."
Nashi woke up to vibrations. The world blurred and the sleep in her eyes was heavy. Gravity be damned, nausea rolled in her stomach and made her feel uncomfortable. She shimmied out of Gary's grip to see he had fallen asleep embracing her and looked adorable with his hair tugged in a hundred directions. Shaking her head clear of the dizziness, she went to her side of the bed to get her Compact and checked an email.
Tate
Double time, ladies!
To all my lovely maids! Tonight is a special night! We've got the ritzy rich coming which means, for the tips you get tonight…⌟
Intrigued, Nashi opened the email.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
From: Madame Fave
To: Nashi Dragneel
XXXX XX, XXXX at 2:46PM
Found in Bmail Inbox
To all my lovely maids,
Tonight is a special night! We've got the ritzy rich coming which means, for the tips you get tonight, I'll match your tips so you go home with double! They rented out the entire building, so anyone who isn't working is welcome to come in for extra hours and double-time pay!
Let me know if you want to come in! If you can come in early to prep, that would be great!
Love you!
Madame
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Nashi's eyes widened. Holy crap! Double tips plus double-time? We could afford landscaping and groceries would be set! Guilt tore at her as she looked over at Gary. I know he said to take it easy, but… This money is just too good to pass up and we need it. Luke is so close to finishing the potion.
She shot off a quick text to Faye to let her know the time she would be in the building in thirty minutes or less. Eyes darted around for her change of clothes. Putting them back on took a little bit when the world tilted and she stumbled. She would freeze if her foot hit the ground a little too hard, but Gary did not wake up. Once she was finished dressing and her hygiene routine was complete (one day, she would realize she had a toothbrush, deodorant, soap, shampoo, and conditioner at Gary's), she started packing.
"Nashi…"
Nashi gave into pause and looked to see Gary growing agitated he did not feel her near. She crept back onto the bed and guided his hands around her body. He sighed in satisfaction and snuggled a cheek against her breasts. Affectionately, she smoothed out his hair.
Thanks for taking care of me, but I'm sorry. I need to do this for my family. She kissed his forehead before rolling out of his grip. Grabbing her duffel, she tried to be as quiet as possible when she left the room…
…and did not notice Gary's eyes cracked open to show a sliver of silver.
She let the condo complex to grab her broomstick keychain. Whispering a spell onto it, it became full size again. She mounted it and took off for Madame Maid with a low cough. It'll be fine. If we have enough people on the floor, I'll probably be taking care of a couple people. As long as I make a good impression, hopefully, I can get some good tips. The world pivoted and she nearly did with it. Her broom dipped, but she righted herself. Better put this in autopilot. She rubbed her broomstick with a quick spell and dusted it in pink Magic. It accepted and set course. Nashi sighed and allowed herself to relax. We're going to be okay. I can do this.
But no one else, not even herself, could convince her that was the truth.
°•°•°•°
The party within Madame Maid was large. Thirty-five people dressed in black tie showed up as they spoke in terms of stocks and marketing and laughed about who was dating who last week and what cover of a magazine on which they appeared. With seven maids on duty, thirty-five people were nothing for them. Each took sections of five to make everything go faster and more efficient. The kitchen staff worked hard making practically every item on the menu while Faye had enlisted a few friends to rotate in singing on stage.
Nashi was all light smiles and polite laughter. She carried delicacy around the suits and did her best to appear confident and demure at the same time, playing to her "Angel" character. A lull came over from her five and as she stood nearby to ensure their glasses were full and they did not need anything, she thought, So… Tate said some of these are investors, but others are just from the same firm. She witnessed Tate this evening looking too handsome for his own good in slacks and a blouse that exposed a little bit of his chest. He was shaking hands with a woman and gave a megawatt smile. He really knows how to make connections. No wonder his business is booming. I hope he can expand someday.
"Angel?"
Nashi perked to see someone not of her section call her. Another suit with a pleasant smile. She pasted on her work smile and came over to him with a bow. "You called for me, Master? Do you need me to get your maid?"
"You'll do, sweetheart," he assured. "I just wanted to say you've all done such a fine job here."
Nashi bowed even lower. "Thank you, Master. We don't deserve your high praise."
The man chuckled. "I take it you don't remember me?"
Nashi straightened, confused. "I'm sorry?"
A hand shot out to grab her wrist and Nashi sucked in a breath when she was forced to see his face. His smile widened into something predatory. "You interrupted my friend and I having a little fun with Ryu," he murmured too softly for anyone to hear. "I didn't appreciate that, Angel."
Nashi swallowed. She tried to summon her bite, but the world was looking bleary. I'm…so tired. Why am I so tired? She dipped her head. "My apologies, Master, but I couldn't let you get rough with Ryu." Her smile was weak as she winked. "I'm quite the jealous maid."
"Oh, are you?" The hand tightened on her wrist. "Naughty Angel teasing her master. You just want me all to yourself."
I feel so weak. Nashi chuckled. "Master shouldn't say such things in front of the other maids. We wouldn't want them jealous." She tried to pull away, but his grip was down packed. "Master, if you would let me go, I have other Masters to attend to."
"Be my maid," the man murmured, his hot breath tickling her ear. "My personal maid, Angel. Then, you could keep me all to yourself."
Nashi blinked, but she could see black spots. "M-Master…?" She stumbled when he tugged on her wrist and could not stop herself when she fell onto his lap. Why…? Why am I feeling this way? She placed a hand on the man's chest and tried to leave. "Master, my apologies. I… I don't know what's gotten into me."
A filthy chuckle. "You just can't get enough of me," came insistence. "All the more reason for you to come home with me and be my maid."
Nashi felt her thoughts muddle a bit. "Wait, I…" A throbbing hit her right temple. Something doesn't feel right. Why does everything…hurt?
Alcohol breath made her stomach curl as it spoke, "Let me see how much of an Angel you really are."
Nashi wanted to lurch forward, but her legs were shaking and she wanted to throw up and lie down. "Please stop," she pleaded hoarsely that it was very hard to hear her. She winced when lips graze her cheek—
A hand encompassed her wrist.
Nashi fell forward and into the chest.
"Sorry, but she's already mine."
Nashi looked up to see— Wait… Gary?
Gary held her in a three-piece suit that was colored the same as his hair which had been slicked back for the evening except for a few loose bangs. A tamed smirk added to his charm as he stared down at this man. "She might be a jealous maid, but I'm a jealous master." Icy-blue-silver reinforced his eyes. "And I don't share."
The man began to sweat bullets. "U-Uh, right. She's yours. Understood."
Gary lifted his chin in triumph before he took Nashi by the hand and let her closer to the kitchen. She stumbled and bumbled after him, watching his back in a daze. What is he…doing here? When Gary pulled her back through the kitchen and into the breakroom, Nashi found her voice, even if it was scratchy. "H-Hey… What are you…?" She flinched when she was whirled around and her back hit a locker. Cold fingers got to her chin and forced hickory to stare into cerulean cough in silver.
"You left me," Gary snarled lowly. "You said this would be your day off."
"The money," Nashi wheezed. "Double pay, double tips… Needed it…for…bills…" She lifted her arm to cough into the crook of her neck.
Gary softened and cerulean filled his eyes. "You're sick, Angel," he diagnosed. "You need to go home."
Nashi tried to shake her head. "No," she got out, holding back a cough. "Need to stay… Promise…Faye…"
"For once in your life, don't fight me on this," Gary demanded (though it was more like a plead). "Let me take care of you. I already talked to Faye. You'll get your pay and sick pay too. I've got it covered." The back of his hand went to under her bangs and to her forehead. Her eyes closed from the relief of the cold while his eyes widened at the heat he felt. "You're burning up."
"I'm…fine…"
Gary gritted his teeth. "Say you'll come home with me."
Nashi shivered. The faint spell was overpowering her. "No… Need to work…"
"Angel…" Gary squished her cheek in light punishment. "Say you'll come home with me."
Glazed hickory looked closer to see the desperation in cerulean. She swallowed, but it hurt to swallow. "Okay." It came out in a shaky breath.
Gary's entire body sagged against her. "Thank you," he whispered into his ear. "Let's go home."
°•°•°•°
Nashi found herself comfortable in a steaming hot bubble bath with a light pink spanking her skin and her hair in a high bun. She leaned back in the tub and stared at the mural on the ceiling. It was the tale of stormy waters and an ever-determined female pirate captain and her crew who weathered before it to find their goddess. She touched her ears as a whisper tickled her memory.
"Let's go home."
Nashi sighed. "Home, huh?" She sunk further into the water. This isn't my home. This is his home. Why does he care so much anyways? She dipped until her nose and above were still topside. I feel fine. I'm not sick.
KNOCK-KNOCK.
That startled Nashi to sit up. It made her dizzy going so fast, but she cleared her throat still. "Yes?"
"I have a fresh set of clothes for you and made you some soup and honey lemon tea whenever you're ready."
Nashi blinked, surprised. "O-Oh, um… Thank you. I'll be out soon." She heard Gary walk away after a moment and groaned openly as she sunk back into the water. And why does he always do these sweet things for me? Is he trying to kill me by embarrassment?
It took a few more minutes, but she was out, dried, and comfy in one of Gary's looser shirts. Gary had forced her to lie on his bed while he brought her dinner and fed it to her, more focused on how much she ate than the blush on her cheeks. When Nashi was halfway done, she pushed him away. "I'm full," she promised.
Gary did not look happy, but he relented and put the tray on his nightstand. He got to his side and smoothened his hands over each other. When he released them, frost dithered out to see he created an icy towel. Delicately, he placed it on her forehead and she sighed in relief. "Feeling a bit better?"
"Mmm-hmm," Nashi hummed. "Thanks for getting my meds."
He focused on brushing back her bangs from her face. "Anytime," he murmured. "I checked in on your siblings. Chi-chi's been a big help for Luke since he's a potioneer. Looks like with his help, they sped up the process. Igneel and Luna are at my dad's." He then winced. "But from what Justin and Dazzler claimed, getting your parents to stop mauling each other was nearly impossible and they recommend pregnancy tests."
Nashi groaned. "Did Luke—?"
"Chi-chi gave them sleeping potions that should calm their nerves a little more into the morning," Gary soothed as he grinned and prodded her stomach. "You were the one hoping your mom would, by miracle, gift you with another sibling."
"Not like this," Nashi hissed, giving him a one-eyed glare. A throbbing hit her head and she curled in on herself. "Ow…"
Gary instantly tucked her into his side (somehow, he had lost his shirt) and let her temple feel the coldness of his skin. "Better?"
Nashi sighed and willingly latched onto him like a koala. "My personal ice pack," she moaned. "Much better." She opened her eyes to look up at him, compelled to say the words. "Thank you for… Well, you know. Thanks for looking out for my siblings." Her lashes lowered. "And looking out for me."
Gary kissed her forehead. "Of course," he murmured against her skin. "Alexis," he called, "LV on."
A ping. "Okay."
The LV mounted to the wall turned on to WebFlix automatically.
Gary saw Nashi weaning away to sleep and whispered, "Anything you want on as background noise?"
"Mmmm, your heartbeat," Nashi sleepily requested. She breathed in his scent and snuggled even closer.
Gary smiled. "I like it. You okay if I put on ISPN then for the highlights?"
"Mmmm…" Nashi hummed to him.
Gary chuckled and kissed her forehead again before grabbing the remote. He adjusted them so he was on his back and she was half on him, her head on his chest. "ISPN it is, Angel." He shifted to hockey before setting down the remote to take Nashi fully in his arms. As he watched the highlight reel, he could not help glancing down at her sleeping face. A loving smile looked good on him. "I adore you, Angel," he whispered to her. "Sleep. I promise things will be better in the morning."
Nashi only sighed.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The next, next, next day…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
DRING-A-LING-A-LING-A-LING…!
"Welcome back, Master!" Nashi bowed low to the two university students who blushed in her presence. Today's theme was tailored to the zodiacs. Fittingly enough, she chose the lion (lioness) with her cat ears and cute gloves shaped like cat paws and a lion's tail.
STARE…
She tensed. She did not need to look over to see Gary a few tables away with his rice omelet and heavy cerulean gaze pinned onto her. She straightened up, got two menus, and smiled at the students. "Right this way, please!" As she led them away, she tried not to duck her head under the weight of Gary's stare. What the heck is up with him? I'm at one hundred percent, but these past few days, he's been coming here and staying as long as he could. He came just to order a cup of coffee and watched me for an hour! Can't I get a protective order in place?
With the students seated, she placed down their menus. "May I take your drinks, Masters?"
"I'll have a sweet tea."
"Strawberry lemonade for me, Angel."
"Wonderful." Nashi's beam radiated flowers. "Masters truly have a wonderful taste just like the lion zodiac." She winked at them. "I'll be back with your drinks. Please look over the menu in the meantime, okay?" As the students murmured lovestruck agreements, her face twitched as she tried not to scowl when Gary's stare intensified. I can feel the jealousy coming off both of them. It's basically my job to flirt to make good tips, don't they get that? The second she got to the kitchen, she sagged in relief from the reprieve of such a stare while Erxi loaded up her tray. "Erxi…!" she cried. "Make the bad man go away!"
"No way!" Erxi gasped. "That hunk is the only way I'm getting through my shift." She nudged Nashi with a playful waggle of her eyebrows. "Not like anyone stands a chance after a few nights ago. So, is he your boyfriend?"
"No!" Nashi made an X with her arms as she furiously shook her head, but anyone could see past her venomous tone and to her blush. "No, we are not together! Take a shot with him please! Date him, screw him—I don't care, just get him off my back, okay?" She sped over to the drink machine and grabbed two glasses. What do I care? It's not like we're dating or anything. He can date whoever he wants. I mean… She hesitated as she filled up one glass. He can do a lot better than a mess like me…
Nashi filled the drinks and put them on her tray. Slapping on a sunny smile, she made her way out (flinching when Gary's stare hit her) and went to her table. As they asked her questions about the menu like what her recommendation and her favorite meals and asked her to do her signature catchphrase as the lion zodiac, she did notice Erxi was the one serving Gary's table.
Gary did not look up when Erxi brought him another iced tea, but he did mutter, "Thanks."
Erxi smiled. "No problem. Your bill is one the house." She looked over at Nashi who was doing her zodiac routine. "You've been good to our little Angel. It's the least we could do. Madame Faye is all in agreement."
Gary grinned as she watched Nashi politely handle the student who stared intently at her swishing tail. "She's my Angel," Gary reasoned. "It's my job to look after her."
"I see." Erxi held her tray against her stomach. "And, um… Does that mean you're in a relationship with her?"
"I'd like to say, 'yes' and scream the world she's mine," Gary started, "but sadly, she's playing hard-to-get."
Erxi chuckled. "I know the feeling." When Gary raised an eyebrow, she explained, "My partner was the same. They played hard-to-get in away, but they also were going through a lot. I met them when they were conflicted about so much about themselves. We were together, but we weren't together. It was hard, but I never gave up on them. I wasn't going to be a crutch for them as they figured out who they were, but I was moral support in any way I could be." She gave Gary a sidelong glance as he sipped his iced tea. "Something I see you're familiar with."
Gary shrugged with a conspiratorial smirk. "More or less."
Erxi tittered. "Well, please don't hesitate to ask for anything more. Madame Faye is at her club since they have an event tonight, but I'm on manage-on-duty." She winked at Gary. "Enjoy your meal, Master. I'll be back with a dessert menu."
Gary shook his head while he chuckled. Though, his eyes caught onto two familiar businessmen in their corner with their heads down and a Compact between them. When both looked over at Nashi, Gary's eyes narrowed.
Yet he did notice his exchange with Erxi did not go unnoticed by Nashi as she finished taking orders. She frowned for a moment before shaking herself loose of those creeping feelings she did not want to admit. I told her to go for it and she did. Can't be mad about that. She made her way back to the kitchen and punched in both orders. The shift went relatively smooth when the dinner rush kicked in and everything got darker. When the dinner rush thinned out, it was only then Nashi noticed it.
Huh. I can't see him anywhere. Nashi wanted to jump for joy. He must've left. Thank God! She pranced back to the kitchen when she saw a maid in glasses who pulled off the biker maid look without flaw. "Hey, MC!" she trilled.
MC raised an eyebrow, cocking her head. "What's got you all hearts and stars and crap, Angel?"
⌜MAGNOLIA TOWN
Name: Monica "MC" Colette Welters
Age: 27
Occupation: DJ, Maid/Waitress
Likes: surround sound Dislikes: Chronicles of the Galaxy
Special Note: MC is Monica's stage name at events. She's called the "biker maid" since she rides a motorcycle and some think her father is president of an MC!⌟
Angel spun around. "Oh, just happy I shook off my stalker," she purred. "Also, I got a decent amount of tips and I'm gonna be so thankful to cash it out!" As she clapped, she felt something off in the pocket of her apron. She took out her Compact to see Luke was calling her. "Oh, crap, my brother."
"Go." MC nodded towards the back door. "Take the call out back. Dinner rush is thin and Ryu and I are up on rotation anyway. You're not a closer, so we'll just split your section."
Nashi beamed and blew her a kiss. "Thanks, MC! You're the greatest!" Nashi practically skipped away to slip out of Madame Maid and off of the back porch to answer the call. "Hey, Luke! What's—?"
"We did it!"
Nashi stopped. "Wait. What did you do?"
Igneel was whooping in the background while all the dogs in the house howled and Luna giggled. "The potion! We got all the ingredients and I just finished putting them in!" Luke told her. "Nashi, we're done! We just have to let it sit!"
Her heart soared. She felt hotness sting her eyes as she breathed. "Oh, my God…" Louder, she screamed her enthusiasm and jumped up and down. "Oh, my God, we're done! We can go back to having normal parents! You did it, Luke!"
"No, Nashi, we did it," Luke insisted. "This couldn't have happened without all of us, especially you. We know you've been working really hard for the extra bills and money for the potions. So thanks, big sister." His voice softened into that sweet and caring voice he got from Lucy. "You've been amazing."
Nashi wiped away a fat tear. "You're going to make your big sister cry after she worked so hard on her makeup with JJ's palette," she sniffled. "Um, okay, well. Since this is our last night dealing with this, we need to celebrate. Would you be so kind as to roofie our parents to sleep so we can hit up a restaurant? Tell Lu I'm letting her have some champagne. She's earned it."
"Aye, sir!" Luke laughed. "Oh, God, this is incredible! Sorry, I didn't mean to call while you're at work—"
"No, thank goodness you did," Nashi cut him off. "This is really good news. I'm glad you didn't wait. Listen, I'll be home soon. Let me wipe off my make-up and we can go out."
"Are you sure you don't want Igneel or me to come out and get you? It's dark out, Nashi—"
"Oh, would you hush?" Nashi shushed him. "You're just as bad as Gary and all our family. You're talking to the Angel of Fairy Tail here. There isn't anything I can't handle when I have the power of God on my side, right?"
Luke gave her a long sigh. "Nashi…"
"I'll be okay," Nashi soothed. "I'll ride my broom to the train station and take it from there, if that makes you feel better, okay?"
"Okay. Just…text us, okay? When you leave work and when you're on the train."
"Yes, baby brother," Nashi teased. "I gotta go so I can wipe down my section. Love you. Bye." She ended the call with a pleased squeal. "Things are really looking up!" She looked up at the stars to see a few wink at her. We're homeward bound, guys. Nothing's gonna get in our way.
"Wow."
Nashi froze. She looked to her right to see those same two businessmen Ryujin had encountered. One seemed to be on the lookout while the one who Nashi personally dealt with sauntered forward. She maintained a stiff smile. "Hi. Can I help you?"
"You might." The man dug out his Compact to unlock it. "You see… I've been noticing something very interesting about you, Angel." He showed her the Compact.
Nashi's eyes widened when she saw it was a video of her leaving Madame Maid. Her blonde hair crackled off the Magic to reveal her pink hair. When he swiped, the next showed a photo of her and Gary. The next photo was obviously taken in a bush, but she and Gary were in their personal gazebo for dinner. Another showed Nashi with her pink-hair and Nashi with blonde-hair side-by-side.
Fear overrode her. Wait… These pictures… He's been stalking me? Anger overrode fear and she glared at him. "What the heck is this?" she spat. "You've been stalking me? Are you for real?"
The man shrugged as he looked at the photos. "My brother over there is an investor of Madame Maid," he drawled. "When I learned the great Madame herself spontaneously hired a maid, why, I had to see for myself and do a detailed background check on this mysterious and very young new addition." He came closer as Nashi backed up. "To protect my brother's investment of course. There's nothing that goes on in his establishment we don't take notice of, Angel. And you see—"
BAM!
Nashi looked back to see she had hit the fence that caged in the dumpster.
SLAM!
She flinched when cruel fingers capped her chin and a hand caged her in.
Grayed-out hazel leeched onto furious hickory. "—my brother and I took a special interest in you."
Nashi wound to move and summon her own Magic, but something trapped her. Fear nettled in her mind and panicked surged through her throat. My Magic… My body… I can't… I can't feel either of them!
A ruthless cackle. "So you've noticed?" The man let out a smirk. "I've used the Lock Spell on you, Angel. Your body and everything about it can only move with my permission."
"You're a Mage," Nashi spat.
The man clicked his tongue. "Nuh-uh, dear Angel. I'm a Magician, making me even more dangerous." A finger went down her neck. "Right now, my invisible chains are winding even tighter the more you resist. And please do resist. I like the fire in you. My brother and I want to see more of it."
Nashi snarled, "How dare you! What do you get out of blackmailing me, huh? Pigs like you have enough money and women to throw around that a minute with me should be a minute too long."
The man had the audacity to throw back his head and laugh. "You're a feisty one. I like that." Grayed hazel met hickory. "No, Angel, while we do have money and women, it's not much of a challenge. But you, the Angel of Fairy Tail, are. No one can touch you. Daughter of the Star Queen and the Fire Dragon King and girlfriend to the Ice Devil." He licked his lips. "We like touching the untouchable."
Tears welled up in Nashi's eyes when she felt his hand slip to her breast and give it a squeeze. "Stop it," she choked out with the last of her ire. "Please, just tell me what you want and I'll do it. Just don't touch me."
The man lifted an eyebrow. "What we want? Simple, Angel. My pictures go away so long as you become our personal maid." His hand circled her breast before dipping lower. "Anything we command, anything we desire, anything we could dream of—you do it and become it. Our willing little maid."
Nashi tried to hold back the bile as memories overlapped reality. Faces shifted and whispers she thought she buried were resurfacing. "Please stop touching me," she begged. "Please leave me alone!"
The man eased back, but his spell did not release. "Fine," he supposed. "We'll leave you alone. Though, we could settle on your sister."
Nashi's eyes widened when the brother in the background gave a lecherous grin at the notion. She could see her sister, frightened and crying for help. Fury was what drove her to abandon her fear, her pain, her memories. "Don't even think about it, you sick freak!" she seethed. "You will never have her! She's just a child—!"
"We're not pedophiles," the man soothed. With a glance towards his brother, he amended, "I don't have a thing you minors, Angel. Have some respect. But you have to train your maids young so once they are the right age, they understand what's expected of them."
Nashi spat at his shoes. "You're disgusting and you deserve to rot in jail!" she shouted.
The man laughed. "And what are you going to do about it?" he leered. "Try anything and I guarantee you that money 'Madame Faye' has is gone. We'll make sure every investor pulls out and leaves her with nothing." The man got nose to nose with Nashi. "Choose, Angel. Are you coming home with us or should we send a car to your sister?"
"Take me." The answer was quick and a no-brainer. "Leave her out of this. Please just…just take me."
The man let his knuckles brush Nashi's cheek. "Good girl."
"No. Bad boy."
The man tried to whirl around, but his eyes widened when he saw his brother frozen in a block of ice. Just as he was about to cast a spell, another was cast faster, "Ice-Make: Block!"
The man wilted and comically froze within a block of ice.
Nashi felt the invisible chains leave her and she stumbled forward. Gary was the one to catch her without fail, pants ragged with frost, and studied her face. "Angel," he began in plea, "stay with me. Are you injured? Are you okay?"
Nashi let out a heavy breath. "Yeah," she wheezed. "Just caught up in all the excitement. My poor heart can't take much more than this." She pushed off him to stand on her own two feet and dusted herself off. "Thanks for coming to the rescue." The gratitude might have been brittle, but the sincerity was also there.
Gary was not finished with his inspection. "Did they hurt you?"
Nashi did not look at him. "I have no bruises, I'm not bleeding—"
Gary forced her to look at him. "Did they hurt you?"
Hickory feigned calmness. "No, they didn't." The lie fell out like butter. "Just surprised me and shook me up is all." She pivoted the topic. "Anyways, Luke called. Looks like we're finished with the potion. After I'm done cleaning my section, I'm heading home for all of us to celebrate. Did you, uh, want to join?"
Gary stared her down for a long moment. Then, he spoke. "Yes." Voice rough. "I'll join you." He took her wrist and pulled her into his chest. "I'll stay by your side and won't leave."
Nashi rolled her eyes as she tried to get away. "Stupid dog, don't—!"
"Angel, please."
Nashi paused. That was when she noticed it. He's shaking. He must've been really worried about me. Slowly, her hands came up to cling to the back of his jacket and she leaned into his embrace. Hickory softened with regret. I'm sorry I can't tell you the truth, but it's better this way. Her eyes closed. "A couple more seconds, okay?" she murmured, tone muffled by his fabric. "I've got to get back to work."
Gary tightened his hold as his answer.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The next, next day at the Fairy Tail Guild Hall…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"I'll fight you too! Bring it on! I'll beat every last one of you!"
Natsu found himself wrapped in earth with metal chains holding him to the ground near the ball of the guild hall. Igneel came up and slapped Purple Flare on his father's mouth to quiet his outrageous howls, a tick mark banging on his temple. "Dammit, Pops, you better cool it before I do it for you," Igneel seethed. He pointed into the crowd. "Look what you're doing!"
Not just Natsu had to be bound. Gajeel and Gray were both shouting profanities as they were bound and chained to the ground.
Gale smacked the back of his dad's head who turned to shoot him a deadly glare. "What? You're literally arguing with roofied Uncle Natsu, asshole," Gale deadpanned. "Act like a child, I will treat you like a child."
Juvia clung to Gary's prison. "Oh, my beloved Gray is so attractive when he's hurling insults at his rivals!" she giggled.
Silver sweatdropped. "Mom, come on, don't make us chain you up too…"
Levy sighed from her seat at the barstool as she watched Lucy pant and beg for her "Natsu-nyan" from within her prison of a Holy Bubble. Her muffled moans were well-thanked, but Igneel took an extra precaution to bind her legs and feet together to keep her from stripping or flashing. "Oh, Lu," Levy sighed. "We'll laugh about this someday."
Luke was by his cauldron stoked by fire and was stirring it laboriously. "Lu, the beakers?"
Luna nodded and held up two large beakers. "They're here."
Luke stopped stirring. "Okay, everyone, back up! If this goes wrong, I don't want anyone hurt!" When everyone gave him a wide berth, Luke took a deep breath. Concentrating on the Magic within, he let out a slow breath as his arms moved. The potion within the cauldron swirled for a moment before it slithered out into the air. It had turned into a pleasant shade of lavender as it created a thick bubble in the air. Luke parted his arms for the bubble to halve itself. Like a snake, the bubble whirled down into the two beakers.
Once they were filled, Luna was quick to set them on the table and get down to look at their meniscus levels. When what she found was it, she gave her brother a thumbs up. "We're good!"
Luke looked over to Igneel and Levy. "Are you two ready?"
Igneel and Levy each took a beaker and nodded. "Ready."
Luke looked at Nashi and Gale. "Ready?"
Both nodded. "Ready."
Luke looked over at Luna who nodded back. She drew up a hand. "Okay, get ready in three…two…one…go!"
Nashi dissipated her Holy Bubble while Gale stamped a foot and clawed down his arms for Natsu's earthy prison to go back into the ground and reveal his Purple Flare chains. Before Lucy or Natsu could wriggle their way, Levy and Igneel respectively caught them (Igneel tore away his father's gag), tipped open their mouth, and forced the contents of the beakers down their throats. The entire guild watched in bated breath as the two, wide-eyed, swallowed mouthful after mouthful until the potions were completely gone. Levy and Igneel backed away with Nashi ready to cast a spell and Luna safely behind Luna with Happy having flown into her arms. Natsu and Lucy twitched and groaned until both stopped moving.
No one in the guild moved.
The entire guildhall was silent.
Then…
Lucy groaned from her position on the floor. "Nnnngh… What time is it?" She tried to move her arm, but she was surprised to see it chained to her side. "Huh…?"
Natsu arched his back to crack it, then sighed in relief at the popping sound. "Ugh… My back…" He blinked open his eyes to see a teary-eyed Luna and Happy, a wary Nashi and Luke, and a skeptical Igneel. "Yo. What's up? And why are you guys so tall?" He finally seemed to notice his restraints. "And why am I tied up?" He looked over at his wife and pouted. "Lucy…! You said I could use chains on you, not the other way around!"
Red could not even define Lucy's blush. "Natsu! You don't just say that in public!"
Happy and Luna made a dive for Natsu in their sniffling. "Natsu…!/Papa…!" they cried respectfully as they hugged him.
Natsu cackled. "Hey, I like hugs too, but could you untie me? Damn, these fire chains are killin' me." He eyed Igneel in approval. "Nice job."
Igneel shrugged. "Yeah, well, had to do it to you."
Nashi helped Lucy out her restraints for both her and Levy to pull Lucy to her feet. Nashi hugged her mother fiercely. "Welcome back, Mama."
Lucy laughed, albeit a bit perplexed, and hugged her daughter. "Thanks, baby, but…from what?" She looked around. "The last thing I remember is being at a bar and getting that"—her nose scrunched—"awful, awful tea."
"Yeah." Natsu leaped to his feet with Happy on his shoulder and Luna tucked into his side. "That alcohol I had was strong, but it tasted funny."
"You were both drugged," Luke explained. "Someone put something in your drinks so you guys stayed drunks for pretty much a month."
Lucy gaped. "What?" Just then she realized what she was wearing—a silk robe that nearly exposed her naked chest and a thong. "Gah!" She covered herself up the best she could and tried to avoid the interested stares of her fellow guildmates. "Don't look at me!" She hid behind Levy. "Levy, please tell me there's a change of clothes! I can't be seen like this!"
Levy only laughed. "Welcome back, Lu."
"Levy, that's not an answer!"
"Hey!" Natsu growled and stalked for Lucy, glaring at his guildmates. "You guys might be family but quit staring at my wife! Only I get on perv on her so back the Hell off!"
"You don't get to perv on me either!" Lucy did not pause at Natsu's kicked puppy look and wagged a finger at him. "Oh, no! Don't give me those eyes! This is your fault! I knew you taking me out for drinks was just a distraction! You were trying to loosen me up!"
Natsu pouted and ticked his pointer fingers together. "Well, we were away and childfree and I just thought, you know…maybe…we could try for another kid?"
"Natsu!"
Natsu hid behind Luna while Lucy rubbed her temples.
"Natsu…!" Lucy began to start.
Levy stepped in. "Lu, before you get wound up, how about we get you changed into something less revealing, hmm? Cana will get handsy if you don't."
Lucy blew out a breath. "Fine." She pointed sharply at Natsu. "But this isn't over, Natsu Dragneel!" With a huff, she followed Levy away.
Natsu sagged in relief behind Luna while she giggled at her father's antics. "Papa, trying to get Mama to drink to loosen up. Didn't you teach me if a guy tries to do that, I should leave him?" she teased. "Should Mama leave you?"
"N-N-No!" Natsu stammered, blushing. He flailed his arms as excuses ran through his head. "Lucy's my wife, so it's different and I wasn't trying to drug her or anything! I-I wouldn't do that! Lucy's my everythi—!" He never finished the rest when a chair was thrown at him.
A seething Gray was free of his restraints and in his Molding Magic position. "Asshole, that's for trying to get my kid sister pregnant again!"
Natsu barely avoided a table and dove behind a bar.
Gajeel was the culprit as he pointed at Natsu. "That's just for pissing me this last month, Salamander!" he snarled. "Fucking cut into my romance time with my woman with your bullshit wanting to fight nonsense! You ain't gettin' away with this!"
Static clacked off Laxus as he stood with his arms crossed and lightning in his eyes. "I've got a bone to pick with you too, Natsu," he growled like his voice was thunder itself. "Just because you aren't magicked anymore doesn't mean I'm letting you off scoff-free."
Natsu smirked and leaped onto the bar with his fists ablaze. "Oh, yeah? I'll take you all down, easy!" Ducking down, he murmured to Luna, "Get somewhere safe, baby girl, Papa's about to show you how it's done." When Luna dutifully shuffled away, Natsu let his fire burn hotter. "Fire Dragon's…!"
Nashi, Luna, and Luke watched as the entire guild hall fell into disarray with tables and chairs and booze and Magic flung around like no tomorrow. Natsu and Luke sweatdropped while Luna had taken up holding Happy with a blissful look. The older siblings murmured, "Some things never change."
Nashi noticed Gary had hung back from the fight and dipped her head to mutter to Luke, "Make sure Lu's out of the way, okay? I need to do something." When Luke gave his consent, she strode over to a brooding Gary and met him with a cheery grin. "Hey, um…" She jerked a thumb to the guild brawl. "Not joining in?"
"Not in the mood," Gary told her with tightness in his voice. "It'd be better if I just left." He pushed himself off the wall and moved past her—
A hand grabbed his jacket.
Cerulean widened. Gary turned to see a flustered Nashi looking to the side. "Angel?"
"Would you mind…staying?" Nashi murmured. "I, um…haven't properly spoken to you since a few days ago and…"
Gary could not resist. "Okay. Since getting to the roof is a 'no', want to go to the rec room?"
°•°•°•°
The Recreation Room was empty and that was just how they liked it. The LVs were turned on in a low buzz, but the radio station was the true background noise. Gary had gone behind the bar to make her a cocktail while he enjoyed a rocked whiskey. A couple of tequila shots were in-between them as well. They settled side by side on one of the couches and took sips of their drinks, no words between them.
Nashi had enough. "Look, I… I wanted to thank you. You know, for everything."
"Not a problem," Gary dismissed as he set his drink on his end table.
"No, it is a problem," Nashi insisted as she stared into her cocktail. "You keep saving me like I'm a damsel in distress like it's nothing, like I'm…weak or something. And everyone can see I rely on you way too much and it's hindering from you meeting other people and I—"
"Angel?"
Nashi twisted her lips.
"Look at me."
Nashi shook her head.
A smooth chuckle. "Angel…"
Nashi flinched when cold breath fanned her ear. "Please don't make me," she whispered to him.
Gary conceded a bit. "You are certainly not a damsel in distress and you are not weak," he told with such certainty. "You've been reading too many of those blogs and C-list journalist entries. What they say means nothing and you should always take their word with a grain of salt."
"What about you meeting people?" Nashi asked. "Like Erxi?"
"Erxi?" Now Gary was confused. "Who is that?"
Nashi gaped up at him. "The pretty maid you were flirting with at Madame Maid." When question marks went off around Gary, she scowled and slammed down her cocktail. "Oh, stop playing innocent with me! You guys were totally flirting! What, she didn't give you her number on the back of your receipt or something?"
Then it clicked. "Oh…" He made a motion on the right side of his hair. "The shaved-hair girl, right?"
"Her name is Erxi, you idiot!" Nashi locked her jaw as a tick mark bounced against her temple. "Honestly, how could you forget the person you asked out on a date?"
Gary blinked. Then, he pointed to himself. "Me?"
"Yes, you!" She went for a shot and downed it quickly before crossing her arms. "Idiot dog. You must have a lot of women to not remember their names."
Gary's lips twitched before he slouched over and laughed.
The tick mark grew larger. "What's so funny?" Nashi gritted out.
Gary waved at her. "Sorry, but… Erxi's dating someone."
Nashi blanked. "Oh."
"Yeah. 'Oh'." Gary sidled up closer. "Did Angel get jealous of thinking me with another woman?"
Nashi flushed. "N-N-N-No! I don't care what you do, you stupid stray."
A frown. "A stray, huh?"
Nashi lifted her nose into the air. "Be someone else's dog for all I care. I don't—Nnngh!" Much to her bewilderment, she had been forced onto the couch and onto her back. Gary hovered over her with her arms pinned above her head. She wriggled and squirmed, desperate for him to move. "H-H-Hey! You can't just—"
"So Angel is giving me up then?"
Nashi quit squirming.
"Angel…wants me to find a new owner," Gary perceived. "Another woman."
Nashi looked away. "Do what you want," she spat at him. "It doesn't concern me."
Three beats of silence.
"Okay."
Nashi thought she would relax, but she tensed even more. "Good." The word was hollow to her. Was she expecting a better fight? Was this not what she wanted? "Glad we're on the same page then."
"Yes. The same page."
Hickory widened when lips kissed her pulse. Her neck tined red. "Wh-What are you—?"
"Doing what I want." An icy kiss feathered her vein. "Kissing the only owner I ever want."
Nashi squirmed when the next kiss was on her jaw. Her weakness. "I thought I disowned you." The words turned into a wanton mess. "Now you're free to be with whoever—Mmmph!" She hated herself for melting into the aggressive kiss and responding to it eagerly.
When Gary pulled away, he drank in the sight underneath him. Nashi with her chest heaving and her lips bee-stung from the fierceness of their kiss. His thumb came to smoothen over her bottom lip. "Angel must not know much about dogs," he murmured to her. "They're one of the most loyal creatures on this planet. You can try to abandon a dog, but it'll try its hardest to chase after you and be by your side." He kissed one side of her neck and felt her pulse spike. "Try to abandon me and make a stray all you want"—a wintery kiss went to the other side of her neck—"but I'll always seek you out and try to make myself your dog again." He placed a docile kiss on her lips as though an assurance to his blunt promise.
Nashi fluttered her eyes open when Gary release her lips. Emotion welled up inside her. Maybe it was from this moment. Maybe it was from remembering two days ago. Maybe it was from remembering all of Gary's quirks and relentless chase of her. But the emotion was clogging her heart. "Thank you," she said thickly.
Gary kissed her forehead as his answer before withdrawing, lips hovering over her own. "Now then…"
Nashi nearly got whipped lash when Gary sat up to reveal to her a picture of her smiling face as Angel the Maid. Her eyes bulged at that. "Wait! How did you—?"
"What to do with this picture?" Gary wondered innocently. "Maybe Angel could become my personal maid…or maybe Angel could become my pet instead."
Nashi was steaming red. Gary was one step ahead and was dashing away like a maniac with Nashi close on his heels, looking ready to strangle him. "Gary…! You perverted dog, get back here!"
"Chase me, Angel, chase me! If you can catch me, you get to have your wicked way with me!"
"DELETE THE PHOTO, YOU PERVERT!"
"I will…if Angel dresses up as my personal maid—"
"GARY…!"
Yoru asa made
Zutto soba ni ite
Aizu wo shitatte
Iwanai no?
•
Zenzen kidzukazu
Mou houhou wa nai
Atashi ga hoshii to
Sou itte yo
Lucy rubbed her forehead from the sanctity of the kitchen with her PAL open, Plue on the counter, and her hunting dogs by her feet. She smiled up at Luna as she set down a nice piping hot teacup for her. "Thanks, Lu." She went over the sheet on her PAL screen. "Looks like you guys did a great job keeping up with bills."
Luna shrugged. "Luke did all the math and Igneel and Nashi did the work. I didn't really do anything.
Lucy hummed and thumbed Luna's cheek. "You did a lot," she assured. "Thanks for taking care of us, baby."
As Luna laughed, Nashi hesitantly made her way with Luke and Igneel, a bag in her hands. "Hey, Mama…"
Lucy looked up with a tired smile. "Hey. You guys went shopping?" She noted the single bag. "Um… Was it for vegan ice cream again?"
Igneel made a face and Luke cut in before he could insult, "No, Mom. Um…" He adjusted his glasses. "Look, it's been a little bit since the accident and things might have…happened while you and Dad were magicked."
A raised eyebrow. "Okay?" Lucy questioned. "I mean I know what I'm like drunk. Wasn't that it?"
Nashi carefully set the bag next to her mother. "Why don't you just take a look inside, okay?" She beckoned Luna. "We'll just be, uh, out and about."
Luna frowned as Nashi hooked an arm around her shoulders and led her out of the kitchen. "But I wasn't done eating…!"
Lucy frowned at her children's strange behavior. "What in the..?" She dove a hand into the bag and pulled out one of the cartons. Eyes narrowed, she read what it was. "Plus One…Pregnancy tests…"
TICK…
TICK…
TICK…
BONG!
Lucy's entire face was drenched in red as her hand fists the box.
°•°•°•°
Natsu panted as he finished with the front lawn, sweat beading down his skin. Satisfied, he rubbed his hands and grinned. "There! Now that I stupid chores, I can have some Lucy-Ti—!"
"NATSU DRAGNEEL…!"
Natsu was on the move and dashed back into the house. Inhaling her scent, he sprinted into the kitchen with fists ablaze and a snarl in his throat. "What is it? Are you okay—?"
"IDIOT!"
Natsu caught whatever Lucy threw at him to give her a wounded look. "What did I do?" He looked down at the object to see it was a…
…pregnancy test?
Natsu blinked owlishly and looked up at the furious Lucy then back to the pregnancy test than to his wife. A slow smile overtook his face and he whooped. "Finally! Yes! You're—!"
"Lucy-Kick!"
SMACK!
Lucy stormed away with Natsu on the ground, smoking with a huge lump on the back of his head and a red bruise on his cheek. "I'm moving out!" she declared. "Ugh, you stupid jerk, how dare you!"
Natsu lifted a shaking finger. "Don't stress…Lucy… Not good for…baby…" And he was out unconscious.
Chibi-Luna and Chibi-Nashi appear with their fake glasses. Chibi-Nashi waves. "Hi, I'm Nashi!"
"And I'm Luna," Chibi-Luna interjects.
"And welcome to fairy-pedia!" they chorus.
Chibi-Nashi draws down a projector and the lights are struck. She begins to play a screen that shows MAGICAL BUREAU of INVESTIGATION. "Did you know Mages have a thing called the MBI?" she asks. "The MBI is a crime and Magic unit that specializes in Magic crime cases as well as abnormal spells."
"So when are parents were magicked," Chibi-Luna pops in, "the officers were going to turn them over to the MBI who would've filed for an investigation as well as helped them detox from the potion in them."
Chibi-Nashi scowls. "Bad thing about the MBI is that their investigations take too long, so Mages try to avoid going to them whenever they can."
"We never do and we get magicked a lot," Chibi-Luna giggles. When Chibi-Nashi nudges her, Chibi-Luna adds, "Also, today's opening theme is SWING by TWICE and the ending theme is SAY SO which was originally performed by Doja Cat, but Rainych!"
Both sisters wave. "See you next time!"