Lucy leaned on the railing of the hovership, looking out over the bioluminescent Sea that stretched as far as the eye could see in every direction. The sun had just set, the sea flaring all of it's gorgeous colors and Lucy was absolutely in love with it. Leaning on the rail at the front of the small ship that was carrying her and her new Guildmaster toward the town of Cellis and the Academe Celestine, she was unable to tear her eyes from the beauty all around her.
The heady smell of the Sea, lush with floral and spice scents, the colors, the plants, the birds and exotic creatures that moved out of the boats path as it flew, all of it had Lucys eyes wide, a faint smile on her face as she tried to take it all in, let it imprint on her minds eye so she would never forget it.
A short distance away her new guildmaster watched her, gently navigating her elated thoughts. He was endlessly impressed by Lucy, in the couple of days he'd now spent in her company she had proven an endless fountain of brilliant thoughts, observations, calculations, her mind worked on multiple levels at once though right now, it was wholly focused on the beauty of the Sea before her. Her ability to leave her stress, worries, sadness and immerse herself in something she appreciated...that impressed him almost more than anything else, it was a way of thinking, of having hope and faith in the world that very few people had.
It gave him a chance to invade her privacy a little too and see if he could navigate in and pinpoint just where the sadness, the worst of it, was coming from. His magic made him uniquely well equipped for his position, his people couldn't lie to him, couldn't hide things from him, he always got to the truth, always found the roots of problems so they could be fixed.
His magic made him uniquely well suited to his role as a Guildmaster and now that Lucy was officially his mage under his guidance and protection, he meant to see her free of the things holding her back.
He knew grief when he saw it, depression, it was often hidden under smiles and forced happy thoughts. Lucy chose to immerse herself in positive things, try to stay focused on them while she held her pain inside.
It was a brave thing to do, but as a mage, foolhardy. Dark mages became dark because they did things like that, held in too much darkness trying to smother it with light. Light didn't work that way, light didn't cover things, it revealed them, laid them bare. People who thought they could hide darkness with light only layered their problems and made them harder to handle..
He saw a beautiful truly engaging woman buried among the sadness, grief and pain. He just had to get Lucy to stop shoving the misery aside, bring it out, pull it to the surface and cleanse it away. There were many ways to do that, the easiest of which of course being intimacy, it was why the Boscan government long ago had embraced their beliefs that the light revealed all, so, hiding something as basic, primal and powerful as sex drive was borderline insanity.
Instead, it was brought up, kept open, free, honest and all of it's forms were embraced, pleasure was pleasure. Sharing it was expected, it was healthy, in the throws of pleasure a person could purge negativity, release tension, sate their body so it relaxed and they could breathe, think, rest and find better clarity. Repressing passion, making sex into something hidden and "dirty" was something only fools embraced. Bosco had realized it long ago, after a war caused by such things had left their people scattered.
He thanked the Gods often he was Boscan, raised in a loving home by a brilliant, loving father who had taught him to embrace things, to feel, to be true to himself, honest and honorable. So many in this world never got that chance. Lucy wanted it, wanted that freedom, to be happy, to be herself, to feel free, but she'd been hurt so much trying to stretch her arms around the world around her, she had started retreating into herself out of self preservation.
Kaleb leaned against the rail to Lucys left behind her, breathing in the scents of the sea, letting the lights wash over him, and carefully moving through Lucys mind. He tread lightly, not wanting to disturb her peaceful and content enjoyment of the view, also not wanting to clue her in to his invasion.
Lucy stood up straight and he had to back out fast, smiling faintly when he realized she was thinking of him, wondering where he was and how long she'd been staring at the sea.
Not long, enjoy it, it's a beauty unlike any other on this world, and I've travelled a good bit having two Ambassadors in the family, I can say that with some confidence. The Grass Sea is why all Boscans appreciate rare beauty, we know the heart of our country is such a thing. Rare beauty is to be sought, appreciated and protected. He told her.
She sucked in a breath and turned, eyes finding him,the lights from the sea danced over the white he always wore and his silvery blonde hair that was pushed into motion by the steady breeze off the sea.
She was struck again by how ethereal he looked, masculine beauty had a definition and it's name was Kaleb Pradesh.
He smiled raising both brows at her and she wanted to smack her own head.
No need for violence. Just remember, surface thoughts, the sudden things that fly through your head are like spoken words to me. And it's Kaleb Suraday Pradesh, if I'm to embody something my full name should be used. He mentally chuckled and Lucy sighed, smiling at him.
"Suraday? I've never heard that one before." She said out loud, wanting to keep her wayward thoughts out of conversation.
Kaleb smiled knowingly "There is a holiday here, it celebrates the brilliance and art of thought. When my father found me as a child he learned immediately what kind of magic I had. Kinsura Day he always said was my holiday, and he even put it into what he named me."
Lucys eyes widened, warmed. "That's...beautiful." She said softly. She had learned from Bickslow most of his siblings and the seith mage himself had been adopted by Arman. Only Farron was his actual son by birth. Kaleb was the second oldest of the family, and Bickslow had said, he owed his life to him.
"He found me...when I was a little boy a dark guild killed my family and threw me into a cell, to this day I don't know why they tossed me in there beyond it had something to do with my magic, I just know they steadily killed the other prisoners around me, or they died of starvation or illness. I couldn't really even lift my head anymore when I heard this silky voice in my head calling to me, asking where I was. I didn't know it but the voice was kaleb, he'd sensed I was down there and dying and came running down to save me, he was all of 7 and I was 6 and the guard with him wanted to leave me to die because he saw this…" Bickslow pointed to the figure on his face.
"Kaleb stood between me and that guard and kept him from hurting me until Dad reached us. Then I get picked up by this man in this amazing silk suit and he doesn't even care i'm all filthy and boney and dying, he just...held me, and the whole time Kaleb was telling me it was his Dad and that he could be my Dad too I just had to live, survive. I wanted it, I wanted a Dad again, a family, I wanted to live, so I fought, and I lived, and my Dad adopted me and it was because Kaleb found me, if not for him...I would have died in that cell…"
Lucy had been in the Seiths arms in an instant, hugging him, telling him she was so glad he'd fought and lived because he was precious to her.
Kaleb was looking away out over the sea and she bit her lip.
"Wayward thoughts are kind of my thing." Lucy admitted.
He smiled, looking at her "I haven't thought about that day in a long time...I didn't know Bix remembered it so well, kind of hoped he didn't...he was so far gone when Dad carried him out of there… Bixy has a mind much like yours...active, agile, brilliant, there was no way I could miss him, even there he shined like a star and I had to find him." Kaleb said.
Lucy held on to the rail to keep from going over to him, her impulse was always to touch, to hug, she was just a very tactile person.
"I'm so glad you did...he's a good friend, a great person." She said firmly.
Kaleb smiled, eyes back on her. "He is also likely to be as much of a pain in my ass as my baby brother with his pranks and mischief, Gods you know he once glued my hair to my pillow?" He groaned and Lucy laughed, a light musical sound.
"He mentioned that as one of the reasons he won't call you "Master"" She chuckled and Kaleb rolled his eyes, bracing his arms on the rail and leaning back against it.
"I shouldn't be surprised, but he will, he'll call me "Master" at some point even if I have to control his damn brain and force him to." He vowed.
"Your family is amazing, I adore your father, Arman is one of the sweetest men I've ever met." She declared and kaleb smiled again.
"He is, very much so. But Cristoff tells me you're part of the family now, he already claimed you as kin, rare for him...he's very very choosy about who he bestows that on. Until you, it was only his siblings, Father, Laxus, Evergreen and Freed." Kaleb told her.
"I was surprised, I mean, the poor guy came out to bring me a smoothie and I ended up crying all over him, most people would have run away from a sobbing woman." She said ruefully. It was the truth though, Cristoffs reaction had been the total opposite of what she knew most men would do, even Gray and Natsu would recoil when she got weepy, both more prone to go looking for who they needed to beat up for making her cry than staying to hold her and listen to her rant.
"Cristoff is like that, always has been, his Dragon chose him for it, felt the depth of his love for others even when he was still a tiny child,that, and Nurem thought he had cool eyes." He chuckled.
Lucy smiled "He DOES, like the sky at night, I've never seen dark blue eyes like his. He makes me feel...safe...you do too Master." She admitted and Kaleb looked out over the Sea again, his smile soft.
"You're his kin now, Cristoff will watch out for you, never abandon you, it's what being Kin to a Dragon Slayer means. Laxus has claimed you too, did you know that? He's a little unsure as to whether or not he did but, I can sense those kinds of connections. So that's two Dragon Slayers who have claimed you, very uncommon." He said, and Lucy blinked a little wide eyed at that, shaking her head.
"He has, before you came here it seems, he knew you were suffering in Magnolia and sought you out with Bickslow, you may not have known it, but you have a great friend in him as well." Kaleb told her.
She frowned, if that were all true, if being kin meant the slayer didn't abandon you, then why had Natsu left her? Why had Gajeel? She couldn't understand it, Natsu was irresponsible, immature and absent minded, though his abandonment hurt her more than Gajeels by far, still, Gajeels hurt because he'd taken Levy with him.
Kaleb skimmed through all of Lucys sudden unhappy thoughts and pushed off the rail, moving to her and lifting her chin, startled at his sudden touch she looked up at him. His gaze was firm, warm.
"I can't speak for Natsu, what I know of him...well, it doesn't surprise me, if anything you expecting more surprises me with him. The other slayer? If your friend Levy was precious to him, and there was sadness and misery all around, he likely focused on her, especially if that strong feeling was related to her being a potential mate for him. His instinct to protect and comfort a potential mate would far override that to look after kin. After all your guild went through it's very likely he just didn't realize you were hurting so much because he was hurting too and could only get past his own pain for your friend." Kaleb said.
He'd paid attention to Nurem, had gotten to sit and talk with the ancient Dragon Queen many times over the years she lived on their property. He believed firmly he was as strong a mindbender as he'd become because much of his exercises, had come from Nurem and she had been one of his sparring partners too, it was no small thing trying to get into a an ancient dragons mind. Those years had made him strong, quick, ingenius because he'd had to be, Nurem wasn't always kind about failures or mistakes, some errors she made you pay for, even if you were only a child.
Lucy had to look away, if she kept meeting Kalebs mesmerizing eyes she'd do something embarrassing and she knew it. Already she'd found herself daydreaming about him, not JUST him, Cristoff, Vander...Gods, Bickslows brothers were just...Cana wouldn't have been good around them, not at all.
So she looked down, unable to hold Kalebs gaze and struggling to keep her thoughts away from those daydreams. Two days living in the Guildmasters suite, watching him come and go, sharing meals with him and the others. She'd come out of her room, one evening and tiptoed to the bath, hoping to get some time alone in the soothing waters and found him there, stretched out in one of the reclined seats beneath the water, his platinum hair spilled over the edge of the walkway behind him, eyes closed and she'd been unable to turn away, her eyes running down his naked body.
She knew had he seen her he wouldn't have been upset or embarrassed by her entrance, he'd likely have invited her to join him in the water, she understood Boscans lacked that sort of modesty and shyness, none of them were ashamed or unhappy with their bodies, they were raised in a society that simply didn't put emphasis on size,shape, or any of that, they found beauty in other things.
She'd once called Bickslow out on that when he'd reminded her he was Boscan and didn't care, he'd said Risley from Mermaid Heel was sexy and she'd doubted he meant it. He'd insisted he had, that her spitfire attitude and confidence was attractive.
"If you care so little about the shape of a body why do you work out like you do then?" She demanded and Bickslow had frowned at her.
"Because a physically strong body can handle magic better Cosplayer, and I need to stay agile, flexible and fast because I fly on the babies and do a lot of ranged fighting. I have brothers who can bench as much as Laxus and none of them do it for how it makes them look, they do it to enhance their magic, so they're stronger. The whole cosmetic beauty is all that matters thing? Yeah...that's Fioran, Stellan, Sevenese and Pergrandian thinking, but not Boscan. In Bosco they seek rare beauty, and the rarest kinds are usually not visible." He'd replied.
It was the last time Lucy ever thought the Seith was just a goofball pervert and realized the man had real depth to him.
Knowing it though she'd still been unable to let Kaleb know she had come in and found him in the bath, there was no way she could share the space with a naked man, and she knew perfectly well she needed to get over that, she was in Bosco, was in a Boscan guild, soon, because of joining White Sea, she would gain citizenship in Bosco, Thane had already had her sign her papers applying for it.
But she, Lucy, as she was right now, knew knowing wasn't going to prevent her from blushing redder than a tomato or stammering or, and she KNEW she would, staring at his cock, because damn if her eyes didn't go right down that gorgeous body to where that cut "V' led and lock right on it.
Because she had looked down, she didn't see Kaleb losing his composure as her thoughts ran rampant. He honestly hadn't known she'd walked in on him the last night they were at the Guild in Pelerno, he'd fallen asleep in the bath, he did that now and then, it was why Thane always checked on him before going to bed himself, to make sure Kaleb didn't accidentally spend the night sleeping in the bath and drown himself or something.
He valiantly tried not to laugh as Lucy imagined herself in the main bathouse of the guild hall staring at mens dicks while she introduced herself and tripping and falling into the water and killing herself cracking her head on the ledge or something because of her insane eye fixation caused by, well, never seeing very many naked men.
She could count them on one hand, Gray, Natsu, Gregory who she shuddered remembering her drunken time with that one, and that was it, all the cocks she'd ever seen in her 21 years of life, 3. She figured that was why she couldn't NOT look at them, they just fascinated her, how did men walk with them there? Gods how did they sit down with their balls there? She saw men in tight pants, Kaleb was wearing some right now and she could make out the outline of his "package" very nicely and wondered if it was uncomfortable having it so snugly contained in that white leather?
"No...not at all, I wear silk underwear, it breathes well." He snickered, completely unable to contain his humor any longer and laughing out loud then.
Lucys eyes flew wide and she did in fact blush as red as a tomato.
Oh Gods, my new Guildmaster just caught me staring at his dick! He can hear me! Fucking hell Lucy get a grip on your pervy brain! She screamed at herself which just made Kaleb laugh harder.
"I...I am so sorry...Oh God...I'm just making it worse!" She stammered trying to look at the sky, the sea, anything, but him because every time she did her eyes shot right down his body to his crotch.
Kaleb had to grip the rail he was laughing so hard, and he really couldn't remember the last time he had but he got himself under control fairly quickly, grinning at Lucy who had turned away from him and buried her face in her hands hiding from him.
Lucy, you really have nothing to be embarrassed about except maybe...being embarrassed in the first place. Gods you're a healthy young woman, a mans body SHOULD draw your eye. You've not seen many, you will now and in time I'm sure you'll adjust and not look twice, but for now? Stare all you want, Boscan men will only find it flattering, I know I do. He said right into her head, doubting with the blood rushing to her face she'd hear him.
They'll think I want to have sex, that I'm a perv! She replied.
I do NOT think you're a "perv" Lucy, nor do I think just because you like my body that you want to have sex with me….I only think that you want to have sex with me because you've daydreamed about it… He couldn't resist, yes, he was her Guildmaster, and yes he should be respectful and ease his shy mages insecurities, but damn it, he was also a Pradesh, and messing with people was built into him too.
Lucy gasped and started to bolt but he caught her as soon as the idea formed in her head, grabbing her arm and pulling her back to wrap his arms around her.
"It's fine, it's all fine, stop worrying, stop being afraid and embarrassed." It was a command, one he drove into her, used his magic to make his command happen inside her mind, he dulled her embarrassment, soothed her worry, swept aside the fear all as he spoke.
Lucy found herself meeting his humor filled eyes smiling then, a giggle escaping her as she saw it from his point of view, then she was leaning into him laughing so hard tears filled her eyes. Kaleb felt it then, when the humor lost ground, when the crying became an unintentional outlet for the pent up sadness that needed so badly to get out and he tightened his hold on her as the mirth gave way and Lucy cried, having no idea why she was crying but unable to stop herself. The man holding her knew though, and Kaleb stroked her hair, held her firmly against her and let her cry until she subconsciously dammed up the whole thing again. He frowned slightly, not pleased that was her coping mechanism, to hide her pain, wall it up inside her, he'd have to talk with Bickslow, get him to have a deep look at his new Celestial Mages soul, he knew Celestial Spirit mages had bright souls, they had to in order to center the gates they opened to the spirit realm on themselves.
It would wait though, for now, he needed Lucy to be ok for her evaluations with Dean Kalperden at the Academe Celestine.
"You're really ok with me perving out on you?" She demanded and Kaleb shrugged, smiling at her.
"To me, it's not perverted Lucy, it's natural, I may order you to use the public baths every night until you're over it." He winked at her and she grinned.
"Ordered to enjoy hot baths? Best Guild master ever." She declared and Kaleb loosened his hold on her, she was still shaky, emotionally raw, but he expected that and now...now he had his "in" with her. Humor, joking, kidding around with her, he didn't do it with his mages usually, kept his handling of them strictly professional, he almost never accepted any of their invitations so he could maintain his distance and authority but Lucy was a special mage.
His brother Bickslow considered her a friend, Cristoff had claimed her as Kin, so had Laxus and apparently a third Dragon Slayer named Gajeel, he knew Dragon Souls were not easy to win over for that sort of thing, he himself was kin to three Dragon Slayers and a real Dragon Queen so he was familiar with it, knew what that special link magically felt like and how the formation of it changed the Dragon Slayers view of the person instantly once it fell into place. It had happened when Laxus had claimed his as Kin during his exile from Fairy Tail.
Lucy needed him, his attention, and a close relationship with him, she was hungry for that, needed to feel accepted, wanted, and protected, she needed to feel like White Sea, and him as it's Guildmaster, would never cast her aside like Makerov had done to his mages.
Now, Kaleb, because he kept up a good relationship with Makerov, happened to know where the old Guildmaster was and why he had done what he did, he also knew it had been phenomenally hard for him to do, he'd broken down in tears when Kaleb had contacted him and told him his grandson, Bickslow, Freed and Lucy were safe in Bosco and now members of White Sea under Kalebs watch.
He hadn't been entirely kind at first when he'd told the man either, angry at the state Lucy and Laxus were both in because of Makerov abandoning them. Angry his own brother had called him and openly sobbed over the com about Fairy Tail falling apart and he and his team being too sick to do anything about it but watch it happen. His brother had almost died, Laxus had risked his life more than once, they had put everything out for Fairy Tail and the guild repaid them by kicking them to the curb. Lucy had sacrificed something huge, he still didn't know what, Cristoff stubbornly wouldn't tell him the details, just warned him she'd suffered a huge loss for the sake of her guild, and, like his own Grandsons sacrifices, Makarov had swept it all aside in favor of a mission others could have taken. Good reasons or not, he'd hurt all of them badly, possibly beyond repair, and Kaleb had been blunt.
"I don't intend to give them back when you return." He'd snapped. Makarov had sighed.
"I'd think less of you if you did. I know I have no right to ask, but, please, could you send me progress reports on them, all four of them...I don't know if Fairy Tail will ever come back together again, but...I honestly do consider them like my children, I've had your brother since he was 15." The wizard saint reminded him.
"I know that, which makes this harder to accept. I'll keep you updated on one condition." He said firmly. Makarov had quirked a brow.
"You will not ask them to rejoin Fairy Tail if you reform it, they are my mages now, White Sea doesn't disband just because there's a mission I have to go on, this guild has endured for centuries and will live on for centuries more, they deserve that stability, that certainty, they all need it and if I can mend what you have broken in them, I don't want you tearing them apart again." Kaleb had said flatly.
Makarov didn't hesitate. "Fair deal, I can not promise their friends wont ask if the guild reforms, but I will say, I have no intention of putting it back together at this time, if it is reformed, I will not be the one who does it. I'm old Kaleb, old and tired, I've tried to retire for years. Fairy Tail was a beautiful thing, but...my children have scattered to the winds since Tartaros, I don't believe they will ever come together again, I just want to know...my Grandson and his closest friends are ok…" He said quietly and kaleb had nodded.
"Then I'll keep you informed on their progress, but Makarov? If you're so old and tired, why do this? There are others who could have done what you're doing, you weren't the only one invited." He said.
"No...but I'm the only one who was in a position to leave without suspicion...Fairy Tails disbandment made sense Kaleb, my strongest wizards vanished after the battle with Tartaros, too many of them gone for the guild to recover. I promise...I did not do this lightly nor on a whim." Makarov said firmly.
"I can't say I understand...you did something I would never consider. I am going to see my brother and his friends back to full strength, myself, my guild, my family, we'll be there for them, help them heal, but make no mistake, the physical wounds of Tartaros aren't the worst ones they're dealing with Makarov, and once I heal those, I will protect them with all the power I have at my disposal from being subjected to that sort of thing again." He knew better, it was a veiled threat and they both knew it, they both also knew, Kaleb meant every word and Makarov smiled.
"You have no idea how grateful I am you feel that way. I must be going, thank you for contacting me Master Kaleb." He said and the com went dark.
Kaleb had Thane set up sending Makarov encrypted reports, nothing too detailed, just the basics, how Cristoff had cleared away their illness, healed their injuries fully, Freed and Laxus were both pending evaluations for level assignments and Lucy was going with him to the Academe Celestine for hers.
Lucy stepped out of his arms, wiping her tears away and turning toward the two lounges pushed together. She and Kaleb had to share the small area at the front of the small cargo ship. Liners weren't allowed near Cellestine and airships never flew over it because of its proximity to the Stargazer mountains so the only way there was to book passage on one of the supply ships that made the trip out once a week from Pelerno.
This one had no cabins, just a large cargo hold and the captains control room, where the captain slept on a cot. It did have a small cramped bathroom she was grateful of, but they'd had to agree to share the small area at the front of the ship under the upper control deck. Kaleb was unperturbed, he'd made the trip before a couple of years ago with another Celestial Spirit mage named Hestor who was living at White Sea proper.
Lucy was hoping to meet the man, loving being in a guild that had other Celestial Spirit mages even if White Sea only had a total of three counting her.
She would have slept on a bed of nails for the chance to go to the Academe though, so she gratefully had accepted the conditions of their overnight trip.
Virgo appeared when summoned with a basket full of food and several fluffy blankets, happily setting up the makeshift bed while Lucy and Kaleb had a little picnic on the bow of the ship.
"You make amazing stew Virgo." Kaleb told the maid, who smiled faintly and bowed.
"Thank you Master Kaleb, Princess, if you're both through I will happily clean up, you pajamas are laid out on you and the Masters bed." She said and Lucy looked a little startled, realizing suddenly that of course, she was sharing the makeshift bed with her Guild Master. Glancing toward Kaleb though she forced herself not to freak out over it, this was not her Pervy old Guildmaster.
No, this is a super hot ultra sexy panty dropper you would just love to test out Canas claim sex wasn't painful after the first time with….Her pervy brain responded.
Kaleb choked on his wine and Lucy slapped her hands over her face...Gods help her...she really...badly...needed to find a way to control her thoughts around him…
"Please don't...I haven't had this much fun in a while." He chuckled, snatching up a napkin before Virgo could clear it away to wipe the wine off his white leather pants.
"I...yeah...I'm gonna be apologizing a lot...really…" She said out loud behind her hands.
Kaleb stood tapping one of her wrists to get her to remove her hands from her face so he could help her to her feet. The look he gave her wasn't just humorous this time, there was heat in it.
"I meant what I said in my office when you joined my guild Lucy. For now though, get ready for bed, we should get all the sleep we can tonight, the Dean will want us to tour Cellis and the school grounds with him, tomorrow will be a busy day." He said and she nodded, getting her pajamas off the foot of the bed and hurrying to the little bathroom.
Once she'd managed to use the tiny shower she dressed and was brushing out her damp hair trying to remember what he'd said in his office and then she remembered.
She'd thought something embarrassing, that he'd think she meant to ask him to have sex with her, and…. "I'd say yes…" had been his mental reply,smooth as silk in her mind. She had to splash cold water on her face to fight the blushing she was doing.
Gods, one question and she could spend the night writhing all over that bed with her sexy new Guildmaster? The idea made her knees weak. She shook her head, splashing more water on her face. No...no...it was wrong, wasn't it? She wasn't sure, this was Bosco, not Fiore…
Now you're getting it. No, it is not wrong, I would say yes, but not tonight, I meant what I said about needing rest and Lucy? If you ask and we share pleasure some time? You won't sleep the night we do…. She felt her face flush all over again and whimpered. Well...shit...now her panties were ruined…
A rich laugh from outside carried in to her and Lucy closed her eyes, not sure which Gods she needed to pray to but all of them seemed to be throwing too much at her lately so she was just going to silence her pervy brain by going to sleep because damn it, she couldn't seem to control it around Kaleb.
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