"Well, I think he's really into you."
Lucy blushed at Levy's words as she sipped her tea inside what was slowly becoming their hangout cafe.
"I have to agree. I've never heard of him having that much restraint towards a woman."
Lucy looked at Freed in curiosity. She wasn't exactly sure why he always insisted on coming with them, and she wasn't sure how he knew they were coming here, but he showed up nonetheless. "What do you mean?"
"Well," he cleared his throat and put his cup down. "With most women, he usually just took what he wanted. With Mira, he just approached her and proceeded to... make his intentions clear."
"So then, why is he being so vague with me?" Lucy asked with a small hint of anger.
"I would have to assume that you are more important to him." Freed quickly answered, realizing this wasn't the best thing to discuss. "You are also a bit younger as well."
Levy interjected when Lucy scrunched up her nose. "Just think about it, Lu. You're his daughter's mother. I'm sure he wants to be careful with how he goes about things, because you are much more important than a pair of legs to get into."
Lucy sighed and melted onto the table. "Why does everything have to be so complicated?"
"Don't worry, miss Lucy. I'm sure everything will work itself out eventually." Freed consoled her as he took a sip of tea.
"Yeah, Lu." Levy rubbed her back. "He's clearly interested, so maybe you should make your intentions clear."
"I dont fucking know my intentions." She mumbled. Freed and Levy gave each other amused looks, definitely curious how this was gonna turn out.
Lucy sat at a guild table about an hour later, watching her daughter run around and play with the other kids. She would sneak glances up at Laxus every now and then, but he just kept doing the same shit over and over: just sitting there listening to music. He really was like a tree, he barely moved.
She was wholly surprised when Gildarts suddenly sat down in front of her, mug in hand. "Hey there, new girl. Been hearing lots of things about you. Name's Gildarts, nice to meet ya."
She smiled and reciprocated the handshake that he offered her. "Lucy. Been hearing a few things about you too."
"Oh?" He leaned in in curiosity. "Good things I hope."
"Just a few crashy things." She smirked and he nervously scratched his temple, quickly changing the subject.
"You got a spunky kid there." They both looked over to see the kid in question doing a handstand. "I hope she turns out nothing like Laxus."
She scrunched her eyebrows even though he was probably joking since he was laughing. "I don't think that would be such a bad thing, despite the fact that he can barely fit his head through the giant guild doors." She felt a glare aimed her way, but she ignored it while she laughed with Gildarts.
Suddenly, his laugh died into a lecherous grin and he leaned forward slightly. "So, I hear you skipped the first step of reproduction. I can show you what it's like, If ya want."
Her eyes bugged out of her head at the sheer age difference between them and the fact that he was yet another dirty old man in this guild. Before she could react, the older man suddenly jumped up with a small squeak. His head whipped upstairs to a Laxus trying to look nonchalant, but he knew... oh, he knew. Letting out a low whistle, he turned back to Lucy. "I'm gonna take that as my que to leave." The sound of a whip was heard in the distance.
"Oh, Gildarts?"
"Hmm?"
"My daughter doesn't know Laxus is her father... do you min-"
"Don't worry little lady." Gildarts interrupted. "I've been informed." She gave him a smile that said 'thank you'. "It was nice to meet you, Lucy. I'll see you around."
"It was nice to meet you too." She laid her head in her hand as the older man walked off and her eyes drifted up to the lightning slayer upstairs. "You could come sit with me for a change."
He smirked as he peeked an eye open to look at her. His eyes drifted over to Mira for a second and, seeing as the barmaid was busy, he actually made an effort to get up and make his way downstairs. Lucy was wholly surprised when he sat down across from her, she had entirely expected him to ignore her. "I have a question for you."
"Okay." He steeled himself, she looked pretty serious.
She leaned forward slightly. "Do you listen to music, or do you just listen to everyone and like for them to think you're listening to music?"
A chortle left his lips before he could stop it, that was so not where he thought she was going. "Sometimes I do both."
She hummed with a playful smirk. "The minds of men will never be understood."
"Could say the same about women."
"Yet you are much more mysterious than I."
"I would have to disagree."
"And yet your intentions remain unclear."
He opened his mouth to retort, but shut it a moment after. She had caught him off guard and pinned him with a problem that he was facing himself. He didn't quite know what his intention were exactly, he was just enjoying teasing the girl right now. He supposed it was a bit unfair to her though. So, leaning forward, he came up with a solution. "Alright, I have a proposition for you."
Raising an eyebrow, she leaned in as well. "I'm listening."
"Go on a mission with me."
She frowned as she looked at his face. "That wasn't a question."
"I wasn't asking."
She rolled her eyes at his controlling attitude and motioned to the side. "What about Lily?"
He shrugged. "The team could watch her, or she could come with us." He raised his hand before she could protest. "We could grab a simple one, which could be good training for her. It would be completely supervised. I would never let any harm come to my daughter. Plus, it would be a good opportunity for us to get to know each other a little better."
Any and all protest left her mind, he made a lot of sense. Looking over at her cheery daughter, she debated bringing her along. A selfish part of her wanted to spend some alone time with the man before her. "You're completely right, but I would really rather wait a year or two before she begins her adventures, or for the world to know a mage like her exists."
Laxus grunted in agreement. He had forgotten just how rare her magic was, and she could easily become a target if too many people knew about it. "So, some bonding time for us then."
Her eyebrows rose at how willing he was to even do such a thing. To think that he went from hating her entire being to wanting to spend some alone time with her was completely flabbergasting. "Alright, Laxus. I guess it's a date." Regret immediately shook her as soon as those words left her mouth, and her face burned bright red in embarrassment. Laxus, however, looked quite amused.
"I wouldn't really call it that."
"Yep, you're right. Let's not." She shook her head and looked away in shame.
"I'll let you know when I find a decent mission."
She nodded as he got up to head back upstairs and she sighed in defeat when he was gone. Burying her head in her arms, she wished for the sake of all things holy that she could go back in time just a few damn seconds. She lifted her head when she felt a presence sit next to her.
"That. Was. Pathetic."
She rolled her eyes and subtly flipped off the newcomer. "Shut up, Gajeel."
"Gihi."
When Laxus got home later that evening, he stepped onto the back porch to find a beautiful sight. Both Lucy and Lily were sitting cross-legged in front of each other in the yard, meditating. He slowly sat down on one of the steps and leaned against the pillar. His daughter had come so far in just a few months, and her mother could now help her all she damn well pleased. It was comforting to know that they would be okay no matter if he was here or not. He had picked out a pretty simple mission for him and Lucy, and he had already informed his team that they would be looking after his daughter. He knew they didn't mind, since Evergreen's face lit up like Freed's hair.
After watching them for about ten minutes or so, he got up and decided to start cooking something, since they would probably be hungry when they were done.
Half an hour later, Lucy cracked an eye open when she heard her daughter yawn. She supposed they had been going at it for a while. "Finish up, baby." She whispered as she drew her magic back into herself. When she was done she stretched her arms above her head, waiting for her daughter to finish. Lily always needed a little more time to reel her magic back inside her. Once she was done, she grunted and dramatically collapsed on the ground, making her mother giggle. Lucy crawled over her daughter and gave her a peck on the nose, to which Lily scrunched up her face. "Good job, sweetie."
Lily just sighed. "I'm tired and hungry."
"Of course you are." She poked her stomach, successfully drawing a giggle out of the little girl. "What do you want to eat?"
The girl accepted her mother's hand as the woman helped her back on her feet and they began walking towards the house. "I want eggs!"
Lucy rolled her eyes. "You would think you hatched from an egg."
"Where did I come from?" She peered up at her mother.
"Um... not an egg...you came from my stomach." Lucy nervously explained.
"Woah..." lily breathed as she just stared at her mother's stomach while they walked up the steps and through the door. The smell of food instantly hit their nostrils and they both perked up in surprise.
The flooded gates opened below Lucy's waste when Laxus turned around from where he was sizzling something in a pan, apron on and all. She began to salivate for many reasons and almost fainted when he smiled and said, "hello, girls."
"What are you making?" Lily asked as she bound up to him.
"Spaghetti."
Crossing her little arms, her smile dripped and she hummed. "It's not eggs, but I guess it will have to do."
Laxus' eyebrows rose. "Oh, well I'm so glad the queen approves."
"You're lucky, sir."
He let out a chuckle and picked her up. "That I am squirt." He set her down on a chair and then pulled one out for Lucy. He motioned for her to sit down and she did so without hesitation.
"Wow." Lucy said as he set the bowl of spaghetti in from of them. "I'm surprised you know how to cook."
"What do you take me for, princess?" He mocked offense as he dug in to the food.
"A meathead." She smirked as she stabbed a meatball with her fork and took a bite.
"Oh, if only you knew how true that was." He gave her a pointed look and she gulped, trying desperately not to picture it in her mind. She was saved from her treacherous thoughts when the front door opened.
"Honey we're home!" The voice of Bickslow made Lily giggle and Lucy roll her eyes. The man walked in a moment later, followed by Freed and Evergreen. "Oooh, what's this?" Bickslow grabbed Lily's plate and took a big sniff.
"Hey!" The little girl angrily protested and zapped one of his babies as punishment.
It worked when he suddenly set her plate back down and cried, "oh my god, why?!"
"Because you're an idiot." Evergeen chided as she and Freed sat down at the table.
"I just wanted to smell it!" He defended, still crying.
"I forgive you." Lily said as she continued eating, making the man's jaw drop at the audacity. The rest of the table let out amused chuckles. Lucy shared a smile with Freed before they all fell into a comfortable silence as they stuffed their faces. This was what was most comfortable to her now, and she always looked forward to it. Looking at Lily's content face as she ate, she had a feeling she loved it too.
Hey guys! I'm sorry for the long wait yet again, but I'm on of those 'essential' motherfuckers and I've bee really busy. But I have not forgotten you wonderful beings and I love you guys! stay safe!
