By the time Natsu clambered inside the window of Lucy's apartment, he was the last one to arrive. He heard Lucy talking to herself in the bathroom, and Gray was perched on her couch, acting like he owned the place. Surprisingly, Loke was sitting in the armchair, a stormy expression in his face. Natsu waved as he stumbled over to a seat, his hangover lingering.
"Thought you chickened out, Flame Wad," Gray said in the way of greeting, his insults uncreative due to the pain in his head.
Natsu just glared and flopped on the seat next to him, not even bothering to reply. That would mean talking and talking meant pain, something the flame boy didn't want to endure if he could help it.
Feeling a glare on him, he looked up curiously. Loke was sitting there, his arms crossed and a deep frown etched onto his features. His posture was slightly predatory, with a gleam in his eyes that made Natsu's inner dragon baulk. "What's up Loke? You look grumpy? He said, not watching his tone.
"I wonder why that is. Any ideas Natsu?" He said coldly, a haughty undercurrent in his voice.
"Your mirror broke?" Natsu suggest, just as Gray added, "girls got brain cells and turned you down?"
The two boys shared a smirk, approving of each other's replies. Loke's glare deepened, a deep warning growl reverberating in his chest.
"No you idiots. I'll only say this once so listen up," he growled, standing up and stalking over to his prey. "If you dare make my master walk herself home when she is in such an inebriated state, you won't need to worry about any hangovers because I'll rip you to shreds myself. Am I making myself clear?" He said, his tone deadly as he towered over them.
They went to reply, their pride and fighting spirit not allowing them to take his words without some story. However when they thought about his words they visibly deflated. Sure, Gray was busy running from a loved up water mage, and Natsu was trying to engage everyone in a real, but that was no excuse. They saw Lucy leave and just let her go. Not a good action of a friend.
"Yea Loke. We apologise," Gray said, meeting the Lions eyes.
"Yea that wasn't cool of us, we should've made sure she was safe," Natsu added.
Pinning them with his glare for a few more moment, Loke eventually nodded. "See that you do. She's my master and I'll protect her from everything that can hurt her, but even I am not superman. You are lucky I can open my own gate or she might've fallen into the canal," he said, ignoring the fact me was laying it on thick.
The boys were about to reply when Lucy's bathroom door opened, the blonde coming into the room with a bright smile. "Hey guys! Are you as excited as I am?" She squealed, her happiness infectious.
"Hell yes Luce! I'm all fired up!" Natsu cheered, standing up and pumping his fist in his enthusiasm. Only for his hangover to catch up to him and make him wince.
"Hungover?" Lucy asked, her eyes softening in sympathy.
"Immhmm, how are you not in pain?" Natsu asked, realising the chirpy blonde seemed fine.
"My upbringing. We drank often and I learnt how to stop hangovers," she said, smiling pityingly at her friend.
"Care to share, Lucy?" Gray asked, fininally joing in the conversation.
Lucy looked at him, raising an eyebrow mockingly. "You hungover too?" He nodded, pulling a face at the pain the movement caused. "I would but it's a pre hangover cure not a post hangover cure. I can grab you some pills and water though if you'd like?" She asked, moving to her cabinets in the kitchen as she spoke.
Without waiting for a reply, she pulled out the box of pain killers and the bottles of water. Meanwhile the boys looked around and saw how bare the house looked, only her furniture really remaining.
Walking back, Lucy passed each boy a bottle and some pills. "Sorry I don't have any glasses, all packed," She apologies, giving them a half smile.
"Where are they?" Gray asked, looking around.
"Virgo, as part of her duties is able to hold items for Princess in the Celestial World. She has all the important things Lucy needs." Loke replies, and Lucy nodded her agreeance.
"Yup, and Levy is coming around to make sure everything stays okay while I'm gone. Do you guys have someone checking on your things?" Lucy asked, her head slightly cocked to the side.
"Yes, Elfman offered to look after both mine and Natsu's places, with Mira helping," Gray said, screwing on the cap of his water bottle.
"That's good. Do you guys want me to ask Virgo to store your things with mine?" Lucy asked and both shrugged.
Sighing, Lucy pulled out Virgos key and began her incantation. "Open, Gate of the Maiden, Virgo!" Lucy chanted, grinning as she heard the doorbell as the Gate of her beloved spirit opened.
"Punishment time, Princess?" Virgo asked, bowing.
Sweat Dripping, Lucy hurried to deny that. "No Virgo, no punishment." She said, ignoring the fact Virgo's face dropped. "Could you please hold Natsu's and Gray's stuff for me please?"
"Of course Princess. It would be my honour." She said, grabbing both boys bags and vanishing in a rain of stardust before they could react.
"Now that's done, we should head out Princess if you want to make good time," Loke said, and Lucy nodded, turning to the other guys.
"Alright guys, let's get going. Our journey won't start itself!" Lucy cheered, shooing the boys out the door.
She took one last lingering glance at her place, flicked off the lights and walked out the door, grabbing Happy's tail from her fridge as she left.
She locked her door and scampered down the steps, knowing she should be looking forward, not back on her journey.
The group of five walked in companionable silence through the streets of Magnolia. After much discussion, they had agreed to walk not catch the train. They didn't have a set destination in mind, and this would strengthen their endurance. Or at least that's what Loke claimed, though the boys knew he really just liked watching Lucy walk.
"Does anyone know where we are going or have any plans for our journey?" Lucy piped up, ducking under s stray branch.
"Yea Ice Princess, what was your plan?" Natsu jeered, looking at his teammate.
"Well i've been reading up in snow magic so I was planning on finding a way to learn that and maybe go to Mount Hakobe to train," gray said, ignoring Natsu.
Lucy pulled a face but didn't comment, knowing her friend trained best in the icy climates. "That sounds good, I just need to mediate morning and night and would like to find more keys and maybe practice my whip more," Lucy said, nibbling her lower lip as she planned out her practice.
"You can use your whip on me anytime, beautiful," Loke grinned, wiggling his eye brows suggestively.
"Pervert!" Lucy screamed, pulling out her key. "Close, Gate of the Lion!" She hissed, relishing Lokes Expression as he vanished.
"Take that you playboy," she hissed, glaring at Loke as he materialised under his own power.
"Princess you wound me," he said, covering his heart with his hand with false hurt.
Lucy groaned and rolled her eyes, but otherwise refrained from commenting. "Any plans for you, Natsu?" Lucy asked the Pyromaniac, deliberately ignoring her spirit.
"Search for dad, of course!" Natsu cheered, grinning toothily at her.
Lucy smiles back, her heart hurting at the thought of her friend's pain. She knew how it felt to lose a parent, but at least she knew what happened to her mother. It was terrible, but Natsu was in the dark, clasping straws to did out where his beloved father went. It made her want to find the answers almost as much as her friend did; if only to relieve his pain.
She smiled and walked over to him, holding his hand in hers. He looked up at her curiously, tilting his head. "We'll figure out what happened to Igneel Natsu, I promise." She said softly, her eyes shining like molten gold. "A Celestial Wizard never breaks her promise!" She declared, pumping her hand in excitement.
Natsu turned to smile at her, her determination infectious. Her declaration brought a warmth to his chest that had nothing to do with his power. I'm the moment, seeing her eyes shining and sincerity plastered on her face he believed her. She could tell him anything and he'd believe her in that moment. He smiled softly, his eyes simmering in affection for his human best friend. "Thanks, Luce," he whispered, infusing his words with sincerity.
She smiled and winked, before gently removing her hand from his. She skipped ahead, giggling as she danced in the light. The boys looked at her, find smiles on their faces, each enjoying her happiness.
"Hey Princess, call out a spirit to walk with us. We need to try extend the time you can have us out for," Loke said, and Lucy smiles, fully agreeing.
"Should I go silver, or gold?" She asked, turning to face him.
"I'd go gold, if possible," Loke said, smiling.
"Okay perfect, I know just who to call!" Lucy grinned, starting the incantation and finishing it. "Open the Gate of the Giant Crab, Cancer!"
Cancer did his usual summoning routine, before crouching in front of Lucy to defend her. "Where's the enemy, baby?" He asked cooly, standing up to look at her.
"Hey Cancer! There's no enemy, this is training. Loke.. err Leo wants me to see how long I can hold gates open for and to try to improve it" Lucy explained, smiling brilliantly at the Crab spirit.
"Sounds good, baby. But Why didn't you call Virgo?" He asked, falling into step with her.
"Oh, I can if you'd prefer but we haven't spent a lot of time relaxing together recently and I guess I wanted to change that…" she said, a faint flush on her cheeks.
Cancer looked at his master, a small smile on his face. She never seizes to amaze him with her kind heart, always thinking about others. He loved his master and to spend more time with her was a privilege, and not one he'd be treating lightly.
"I'd love to, baby. Anyway I can help you and spend time with you I'm down for, baby," he said, snipping his scissors.
Lucy grinned and hugged the Crab Spirit tightly, making him chuckle and hug her back. "Come on baby, I'll tell you about what I do when I'm not with you, if you would like?" He said, slight uncertainty concealed by a cool smile.
"Ooh yes I'd love too hear about it!" Lucy cheered, dragging her Spirit ahead and falling into conversation with him, her eyes gleaming in her excitement.
Gray watched her, a small smile on his face. He looked either side and saw his friends wearing similar expressions, eyes trained on the pair before them. "She truly loves her Spirits, doesn't she?" Gray asked rhetorically, eyes fixated on Lucy and Cancer.
Loke sighed happily, tearing his eyes off the lovely scene. "She does, she is the best master any of us has ever had, even Cancer admits she suprasses her mother. We'd all do anything for her and she's return the favour, her devotion brighter than the sun," Loke said, a wistful smile on his face.
"I don't know much about her magic but it's always great to see!" Natsu added, grinning at the boys.
"Lushy is great, even if she won't let me eat the fishy lady," Happy added, flying down to land on Natsu's shoulder.
"Don't let Lucy year you say that , she adores Aquarius despite her temper," Loke warned grinning slightly.
"Match made in heaven," Gray jokes, making the other guys chuckle.
"Are you guys coming or not?" Lucy called out, somehow ending up on Cancer's back.
They shook their heads fondly before speeding up to join her. They grinned at her when they caught up, making her smile back at them. Lucy enraptured herself in conversation with Cancer, seemingly trying to draw out weeks worth of conversation in the short time they had. Cancer never complained, just answered every question with an amused silence. The boys just grinned knowing this was Lucy to a T and they wouldn't have her any other way.
Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed this update. Managed to slip in a Nalu moment in there for you Nalu shippers! I want Lucy to forget stronger bonds with all her spirits so they'll be joining them on their journey frequently. I'll update again soon, until then I hope you enjoyed it and stay safe!
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