The sun was just beginning to rise and the cool air of the night still hung in the shadows.
Lucy stood in front of a worried Sting as her group prepared to leave. He was frowning and looked agitated. Rouge stood a couple feet behind them to supervise.
"Sting it's gonna be ok." She held his hands to reassure him.
"Why can't I go with you?" He was pouting.
Ack that's kinda cute.. like a puppy…
"You're still recovering. Oh but don't worry! I've got my guildmates with me so I'll be fine." She flashed him a bright grin and a bit of red rose in his cheeks.
"But-"
"No buts!" Lucy scolded him while shaking a finger in his face. "You are going to get some rest and wait for me to come back mister!"
Rouge smirked but tried to hide it behind a cough.
Sting didn't look too convinced as he gave her hand a squeeze.
"How about this?" Lucy raised a hand to her heart and closed her eyes "I Lucy promise to come back to you in a couple of days."
Sting raised a skeptical eyebrow at her before she opened her eyes.
"There, now I've made a promise. And a Celestial wizard never breaks her promise!" She gave him a satisfied grin.
Sting hesitated a moment before nodding slowly.
"Alright, I trust you.. but not a day later!" He returned her smile with one of his own.
Lucy was about to pull away but Sting held her firmly. Quickly he gave her a peck on the cheek. And then one on her other cheek, then on her forehead and eye brows and nose. Lucy gave out a startled Yelp as Rouge looked away unnerved.
A warm hand yanked her back away from Sting's grasp before he could completely cover Lucy's face in kisses.
"Come on Lucy." Natsu forced a grin and his voice was strained. "We're gonna be late to catch the train. And I don't want to deal with Ezra's yelling."
Where'd he come from?
Lucy looked away in embarrassment as Sting scowled at her best friend. Rouge narrowed his eyes at Sting. Wondering if he was really going to lash out like his stance said he was going to.
"Yes- uh sorry about that. Let's go…" she turned to leave once Natsu let her go. "Bye Sting I'll see you soon!"
Sting's attention snapped back to Lucy and he smiled back at her as she turned and walked away.
Natsu stood there a moment, scowling as he studied the two Sabertooth mages before following his partner.
The pyro mage began teasing her and subtly rubbing the naive blonde's face with his shirt sleeve as she yelled at him annoyed.
————
Rouge studied Sting carefully as he watched the busty blonde leave with Salamander. His eyes were cloudy and in a daze. A stupid grin plastered on his face.
Frowning Rouge recalled how he had woken up his fellow dragon slayer and his 'mate' that morning. Cuddling on a hospital bed like lovesick fools. Rouge had been glad Sting was able to lower their target's guard enough to share the same bed with him. However, he didn't like the hazy look in Sting's usually sharp eyes.
The group disappeared from view but Sting still had that creepy smile on his face.
"You're really getting into this part huh?" Rouge studied Sting's body language. Sting blinked out of his daydream and replaced his smile with a cocky grin.
"Yeah, it looks like that? Guess I'm a better actor than I thought." Sting shoved his hands in his pocket shrugging off Rouge's scrutinizing glare.
"Remember Lucy will be spending 3 weeks with us at Sabertooth before you spend 3 weeks at Fairtail." Rouge went over the agreement the two guilds came to. "In the meantime you need to get Lucy to trust you- fall in love whatever. I'll be gone a few of those weeks to get what we need."
Sting didn't look at Rouge seemingly bored.
"Yeah yeah I know. Man what a pain." He scratched his blond hair. "Still don't understand why we can't just take what we need from the Fairy."
Rouge frowned at Sting's attitude. Sting was good at hiding it but not from Rouge. The two were like brothers and knew each other as well as genuine blood related twins.
Sting was agitated… or perhaps he was trying to hide something…
"Because She's not our only target." Rouge said as he watched Sting turn away from him and head back to inside the building. "Keep doing what you're doing. We'll handle the rest. You know what's at stake here."
Sting didn't look back but gave a short wave of his hand.
————
Natsu walked quietly next to Lucy, stealing glances at her. They were in the back of the group. Master Makarov had stayed behind in the city to settle what was left of the negotiations.
Grey glanced back at the two and thankfully convinced Erza to give them some space. Wendy carried a sleepy Happy as Carla followed close behind.
The morning streets were quite, people slow to wake up. The city birds sang merrily as the sun continued to rise lazily.
Lucy was deep in thought. Natsu wasn't sure what she was thinking about. Their argument maybe? He mulled over what he should say to get the conversation started. The fire mage clenched and unclenched his fists subconsciously, nerves rocking his uneasiness. He didn't do well with these kinds of talks… what should he say?
"Look Lucy-"
"Natsu I'm sor-"
Natsu left out a laugh, his tense shoulders relaxing.
Lucy smiled before laughing with him.
"I'm glad you don't seem to hate me at least…" Natsu grinned at the blonde.
"I could never hate you Natsu." Lucy nudged her partner. Natsu's heart jumped a little.
"Good cuz we're a team and we're stuck with each other." He gave a dramatic nod, hand holding chin, pretending to be deep in thought.
Lucy's smile faltered.
"I hope so…" Lucy watched her feet as they walked. Concerned Natsu gave her head a quick pat earning a soft smile.
"Look Lucy…" he hesitated "I don't regret hitting Sting."
Lucy snapped her attention back at him frowning.
"Hey!" She smacked him.
"Yep. Jackass had it coming." He blocked another smack chuckling.
"How could you do that?!" She huffed pouting "beating up someone weaker than you."
There's that look, Mavis I've missed seeing that
"Well I wouldn't exactly call him weak- the guy tore up a whole damn city" Natsu said teasingly before he offered an apologetic smile.
"I do feel bad about making you cry though…" Blinking Lucy's big brown eyes locked with his own. Surprise flickering across them before they became shy.
"You do..?"
"Hell yeah. Look, you're my best friend..." Rubbing the back of his neck, natsu felt antsy. "And you know that I'd never mean to-well, I'd never want to..."
Scowling Natsu scratched up his face and let out a growl.
Lucy giggled at his frustration.
"I know you didn't mean to make me cry Natsu." She stopped walking and gently touched his shoulder. Natsu stopped walking as well, he felt his spirit lighten at her reassuring touch. butterflies fluttered in his chest as his heart began to pound quickly. Those warm brown eyes...he could get lost in them.
Lucy knew what he was trying to say, she knew him so well. Natsu sheepishly put his hands behind his head looking away from the pretty brown eyed girl. It was difficult to hide his feelings at times like these, those eyes were gonna kill him one day.
"Thanks Luce…" he let out a short laugh, unable to stop the grin spreading across his face. his cheeks felt warmer than usual.
Lucy smiled warmly at her friend. And they continued walking. The morning sun cozied the air, and the day felt brighter, hopeful.
"But Natsu… I gotta ask." Her eyebrows knitted together concerned "why'd you do it? Hit him? The Natsu I know wouldn't beat up someone in a hospital bed…" Lucy closed her eyes for a second before grimacing "wait actually he would never mind."
"Hey!" The fighting manic nudged her making Lucy laugh at his offended look.
Then again that's exactly what he did… so he shouldn't be too upset...
Natsu turned his expression serious as he watched the rest of the team walking ahead of them. Thinking of what to say.
The streets were getting busier and people were starting to mill past them. They were almost to the train station.
"There's something about those Sabertooth guys…" he scowled. "I dunno something in my gut, I don't trust them. It's hard to explain…"
Lucy watched him a moment, her eyes sparked with an idea. Her cheeks became flushed a moment before frowning in disappointment and shaking her head. Natsu laughed at the wide range of emotions flashing across her face.
She was too damn cute sometimes...
"What?" She settled on a pout, cheeks red with embarrassment.
Hella cute.
Natsu resisted the urge to pinch her puffed out cheeks.
"You're such a werido Luce." He sheepishly grinned at her. Lucy 'hmmft' at him and began to walk quicker.
"Idiot." She mumbled before yelling "Come on or we'll miss the train!"
Natsu groaned feeling queasy just at the thought of riding that shaking contraption. But then again he didn't want to deal with a pissed off Erza and began running after Lucy.