CHAPTER THREE
6 Months Ago
"You know, you don't have to visit every single time you're near Crocus," Lucy grumbles.
"I know." Laxus stretches his arms above his head as he makes himself comfortable on Lucy's couch.
After meeting Laxus and the Thunder God Tribe at Akane Beach during one of her photoshoots, Lucy made an effort to keep in contact with her former guildmates. Not that they gave her much choice. The group insisted on visiting her every time they accepted a job request near Crocus.
"Where are the others anyway?" Lucy sets down a glass of water for Laxus on her coffee table before taking a seat on the other end of the couch.
"I was on a solo mission. The others stayed at Blue Pegasus because the guild had some kind of annual dinner event that's apparently very popular and tons of people go to. I didn't want to be anywhere near all of that," Laxus replies.
"Ah, the mighty Laxus Dreyar runs from social interaction." Lucy laughs. "You know, I used to think you were this arrogant asshole—I mean you are—" Laxus snorts. "But you're really just horrible at socializing, aren't you?"
Laxus scoffs. "I'm not horrible, I just don't like it."
"Mhmm." Lucy curls up on the couch and settles her head against her folded legs.
She would never admit aloud, but Lucy loved that Laxus and his team spent time with her whenever they could. When Fairy Tail still existed, she never interacted with them much because she was always away with her team or the guild was battling various threats. But now, she's learned so much about all of them, especially Laxus. Before, Lucy could only describe Laxus by the things he did to or for the guild: the lost and crazed man who forced his guild members to fight in a battle royale, the changed man who came to their aid on Tenrou Island when Grimoire Heart attacked during the S-Class trials, the Fairy Tail member who took out his father's entire guild during the Grand Magic Games, and most notably, the selfless and caring man who did everything in his power to protect his team and a town from Bane Particles.
As he sits in front of her now, he's all that and so much more. Laxus has come a long way from the angry, power-crazed young man he was when Lucy first joined Fairy Tail.
"Whatcha smiling at, Blondie?"
Lucy didn't even realize she was. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
"I haven't seen you smile like that since before the battle against…" He trails off as Lucy's smile dims. "Nevermind that. It's just nice to see you smile."
Lucy ducks her head as her cheeks burn red. "Gods, how are you not embarrassed saying that?"
"What's there to be embarrassed about? I'm just telling it how I see it." He smirks and downs his glass of water in one go. "Do you want to go grab some dinner? My treat."
The blond mages exchange conversation over ramen. Laxus tells Lucy about his misadventures as a member of the pretty boy guild and Lucy tells Laxus about her work at Sorcerer Weekly. They laugh and tease each other, and Lucy has no idea it's happening, but her damaged soul is slowly repairing, weaving balms over her wounded heart with newfound friendship.
"So who else have you found? Any sign of Gray or Erza?" Laxus asks.
Lucy's fingers tighten around her chopsticks. "The last I found about Gray, he was staying in some cabin with Juvia."
"Juvia must love that," he replies.
"Yeah." Lucy laughs softly. "She hasn't called me her Love Rival since Natsu and I got together, but she was insecure about how much time we all spent together. I hope Gray comes clean about his feelings for her soon."
"What about Erza?"
"She's with Jellal and his guild. Meredy of all people sent me a letter to tell me Erza was with them and that she's okay. Struggling with whatever she went through during…um…during Tartaros." Her voice lowers as she picks at her food. "I'm glad she found people to take care of her."
"Hey," Laxus calls. Lucy slowly raises her gaze to meet his, hoping all her pain isn't reflected in her eyes. "I'm sure Erza didn't mean to leave like she did. She probably thought you'd be okay with Natsu and Happy; she had no idea he'd leave too. I know it hurts, and I can't completely understand how you feel because my team stayed together, but—" He reaches across the table to grab Lucy's hand. "—there are people who care for you, Lucy. My team cares, I care. We're here for you."
Tears slide down Lucy's cheeks, her heart swelling with emotion. "Thank you, Laxus."
"Always, Blondie."
She chokes out a laugh, "You're such an idiot for that nickname."
"Yeah well, I might be an idiot, but it got you to smile, didn't it?" He squeezes her hand and smiles. "Now finish up your ramen before it gets cold."
He returns to his meal, but Lucy just watches him for a minute. His face is soft and his eyebrows are smooth and unwrinkled, very much unlike they were when she first met him. Laxus opened his heart to his guild and something in Lucy thrilled at getting to see this side of Laxus, the Laxus hidden underneath his admittedly psychotic actions all those years ago.
With a small smile, Lucy picks up her chopsticks and digs in. When they finish eating, Laxus covers the check, but Lucy insists on handling the tip.
"Blondie, I told you it was my treat. Let me pay it all," Laxus says.
"Nope, I want to contribute." She keeps a firm hand on the jewels she's placed over the receipt.
"Stop being so stubborn."
"You're the one being stubborn!"
"Am not."
"Laxus, just let me cover the tip."
"Lucy! I had no idea you were so bold."
"Wha-what?! Laxus, shut up!"
In the end, Lucy let Laxus pay for the bill and tip their waiter. Lucy's still blushing and sputtering when they leave the restaurant. Laxus guffaws beside her.
"You're so easy to tease," he says.
"You're lucky I didn't Lucy Kick you in front of all those people," Lucy grumbles as she kicks a rock in their path.
"Please, you would never get close enough." He smirks triumphantly, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
Scary Lucy: Activated.
"Uh…Blondie, why are you looking at me like that?" He backs away, hands outstretched.
"Blondie? Come on, I was just kidding."
"LUCY KICK!"
"Aw fuck!"
Lucy didn't know her own strength and regretted everything after she was forced to drag an unconscious Laxus back to her apartment, a pulsing red bump on his head.
"Stupid dragon slayer." She pulls him across her living room floor and hastily leans his large body against the couch. Huffing, she blows her hair out of her face and places her hands on her hips. "Why didn't I call Taurus? I'm as stupid as Laxus."
Laxus groans, shifting his body and clutching his injured head as his eyes flutter open. "Blondie, what the hell?"
"Sorry?"
"That's one hell of a kick you got there." He winces as he brushes the bump on his forehead.
"I've been training with my spirits," Lucy tells him as she wets a rag and grabs her first aid kit.
"Are they training you to fight dragons? Mavis, Blondie, I'm like 200 pounds of muscle and a dragon slayer."
"Gotta be prepared for anything, right?" Her voice is soft as she tries so hard not to burst into tears. She's dealt with all sorts of enemies: dark mages, dragons…demons.
She leans over Laxus to dab at the bump on his head with her wet rag and he hisses. "I'm sorry, I really didn't think you'd go down. You didn't even try to block it."
"S'alright, Blondie. That's what I get for teasing ya." Lucy doesn't notice, but Laxus averts his eyes away from her bountiful breasts swaying before him as she takes care of the injury she inflicted upon him.
"I'm going to put a bit of healing salve on this bump. It's going to sting, but it works wonders," Lucy explains as she grabs the small tin from her first aid kit.
She carefully pushes Laxus' hair back from his forehead with one hand and gently swipes the ointment over his bump with the other. Instinctually, Laxus winces and grabs onto Lucy's waist. His large hands are warm and almost wrap around the entirety of her midriff. She ignores the blush crawling up her neck as she jolts away from him.
"There, all done." Lucy has no idea why she's so breathless or why her heart is ready to beat out of her chest.
"Lucy? Is that a broken key?" Laxus nearly chokes on his words as he stares up at the golden piece hanging from a chain around the celestial spirit mage's neck.
Horror washes over Lucy as she grips the broken key that slipped from under her shirt when she moved away from Laxus. The tears come hard and fast as she realizes what she's just accidentally revealed to Laxus. She trips backwards, catching herself on her coffee table.
"Lucy!" Why does he sound so distraught?
Laxus rushes to Lucy and grips her by the shoulders. She refuses to meet his gaze as she clutches Aquarius' key in her palm and her bangs sway in front of her eyes. A sob escapes her, the salty taste of her tears reaching her lips.
"Lucy, wh-what—why?" He gently grabs her hand and tries to pry her fingers open but Lucy shakes her head, drawing her arm back. Laxus tightens his hold on her. "Lucy, please, talk to me."
Lucy chokes on a sob. "It's Aquarius. Was Aquarius. I did this to her."
Laxus rubs gentle circles into her arms and shoulders as she whimpers in excruciating pain. Her chest is hot and cold and the pressure is stifling. She tightens her grip on the broken key until she feels the sharp sting of the metal cutting into her skin.
"Lucy, loosen your hand, you're hurting yourself." She's never heard Laxus speak so softly, so gently. She barely feels as he finally manages to pry her fingers open. Maybe she lets him.
"Lucy…what happened to Aquarius' key?"
"I told you, I did this to her." A fresh wave of tears slips from her eyes as she muffles her sobs with her free hand.
"Lucy, I know you wouldn't have broken this key willingly. Please, tell me what happened." Laxus pulls the key from Lucy's palm and lightly rests it against her chest. He grabs the rag Lucy just used on him and turns it inside out, shoving the clean side into her palm and curling her fingers around it to staunch the blood flowing from her broken skin.
Lucy sniffs, wiping at her eyes, and finally raises her head, her eyes widening as she meets Laxus' tear filled eyes. "Wh-why are you crying, Laxus?"
"It was Tartaros, wasn't it?" Lucy doesn't answer. She can't; the words are stuck in her throat.
He sighs sadly. "Those demons really took something from all of us, didn't they?"
Lucy finally finds her words. "Did they take something from you, Laxus?"
He swallows thickly, his adam's apple bobbing slowly. "I'll tell you, but I want you to tell me about the key too, Lucy."
Pain spears her heart. "I can't."
"You don't have to shoulder your pain alone, Lucy."
She doesn't deserve his kindness, not after what she did to her spirit, her friend.
"I'm not ready to talk about it."
"Fine, we don't have to talk about it today. But Lucy, I'm here, okay? Whenever you're ready." His hand lifts to wipe at her tears, his calloused fingers brushing over her reddened cheeks.
Lucy's fingers wrap around his wrist. "What did they take from you, Laxus?"
"My health," he whispers. "The Bane Particles I inhaled…Porlyuscia couldn't heal me completely."
"Laxus…"
"No one knows—well you know now." He breathes heavily and rubs his hand over his chest. "I get these attacks sometimes, especially when I use too much magic, and it's like my lungs are tearing apart all over again. I can't breathe, sometimes I cough up blood…I'm not really sure how long I have to live." His eyes have gone storm gray as they fill with sorrow and Lucy's lips quiver. "I don't regret it. I was able to save my team and Yajima and those townspeople." His voice cracks and a tear trails down his cheek. "I just wish I didn't have to leave everyone so soon…"
"Oh Laxus." Lucy moves forward, brushing away his tears with careful tenderness and cupping his cheek. "We'll figure something out. I have a spirit who's basically an encyclopedia, I'll find out if there's something to save you."
"Thanks, Lucy. I've been researching too, but I haven't found anything yet." He nuzzles his nose into her palm and Lucy almost smiles, but her heart clenches at what Laxus has just admitted to her. He sacrificed his life before the full-out battle with Tartaros even began. And no one knows how deep his sacrifice runs. Except her.
Lucy swallows and summons all her courage. "I sacrificed Aquarius' key to summon the Celestial Spirit King."
Laxus' eyes widen and he grabs Lucy's wrists. "How is that possible?"
"We were trapped in Alegria. One moment I was with Natsu and Happy and the next, I was completely alone and all the demons were after me. It was some kind of contest to see who could kill me first…and they would've succeeded if it wasn't for my spirits." Lucy rubs her eyes raw as she tries to stop the new flow of tears. "I already had Loke and Virgo out—summoning another spirit could've killed me, but I had to do it, we were so outnumbered…Jackal, that annoying rabbit girl, and the shark guy were all after me and then they knocked out Loke and Virgo and even Aquarius didn't stand a chance against sharky and—"
"Breathe, Lucy."
She takes a moment to control her breathing, her fingers bunching up the fabric of Laxus' shirt as she curls her hands over his chest.
"Aquarius told me to summon the Spirit King, but the only way to do that is to break the key of a spirit with whom you have a strong bond, someone you trust and trusts you back…So I summoned him and he destroyed the curse that kept everyone trapped and now Aquarius is trapped in the spirit world." Lucy pulls back to trace a finger over her collarbones. "Aquarius gave me some of her power before she left; it's called Star Dress, and I've been training with my spirits to use hers and learn to use everyone else's." Her hand wraps around the broken key. "That was my sacrifice. My oldest friend."
Laxus pulls Lucy against his chest and wraps his arms around her back. "Thank you, Lucy. You saved us all."
Lucy trembles as she's overcome with emotion, tears once again leaking from her eyes and falling onto Laxus' shirt. They hold each other like that, Lucy crying into his chest, Laxus with his cheek against her hair. And as they cry themselves into exhaustion, neither of them realize how profoundly their relationship has changed.
A/N: I wanted to jump into the past a bit to explore how Laxus and Lucy became close friends. Next chapter will take place in present time again. Hope you all enjoyed!