The First Sin
Summary: "It's what you want my dear Dragon." She paused as she sat down, only letting his hand go once he stood in front of her, "I can give it to you. Everything you ever wished for." She rested her hand on his bare stomach, his mind barely registering that his shirt was gone as she licked her lips, "And so, so much more." – Sent during the Guilds disbandment. LaLu and other couples.
Authors note: Next chapter right here! A little earlier than expected but I'll be away till Sunday evening! This chapter is a little jumpy in terms of time but we start digging' deep and the next chapter will take us straight into the action! Enjoy and let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I in no way own Fairy Tail! I do however own my own characters.
Arc: Lust
Chapter 3: A Fairies Plan
"Ok Blondie. This is what I know-" He shoved a book across the table at her, their booth shielding them from view. The rest of the guild had been shocked when she had arrived, dragon slayer in toe, but Master Bob had welcomed them with open arms; After yelling at Laxus for worrying him with the way he had left and for having stayed away for so long.
"The bitch we found, her name is Luxuria. She uses manipulation magic according to Freed. Only affects male, which we found out the hard way. She's the youngest of the guilds elite. We caught her outside of Crocus... But she knew we were coming. She had the lesser guild members waiting in the trees. But she'd somehow already taken control of me and virtually shut off my sense of smell. Eventually all my senses were dulled down just before the attack. Ever... if Freed hadn't broken out of her control... Ever would have been..." His throat tightened and Lucy paled, understanding instantly what he was implying. The self-dubbed Fairy Queen was like a sister to him, and to watch her go through something like that... Lucy shivered at the thought.
"The main thing is, is that it didn't happen. Freed stopped it. Now our focus is to find her again. How did you find her last time?"
"Her smell. She would lead the attacks on villages, and the women that had their men taken... if they lived they wished they didn't. Most of them were sick. Begging for something no one knew about. We searched and questioned people for two days after we accepted the mission and it was enough to last me a life time. But at every scene there was this sweet smell, it was smooth and rich, I guess if Wendy had been there she would have said it was thick. Heavy almost like when it gets really humid in Magnolia. Ever said it made her dizzy if she stayed too long around it."
Lucy's brows pulled together, glaring unseeingly at the words on the map, a crude design drawn at the bottom, "So someone with a normal sense of smell knew it was there. And it was sweet. Was it only this town that was attacked at the time?" Lucy pointed to a cluster of crosses just outside Crocus.
"No, there were reports, a lot more, around the coast. Mostly around Hargeon. But after the attack and Master Bob banning me from missions with my team, I went back to Crocus and looked around. I hit a dead end almost immediately... I lost it and started drinking… Then you found me in the alley." He sighed. It had been a week since she had found him, and forced him to stay until her spirit, a copy of Wendy anyway, could heal him completely, "I may have failed the mission, but the council still thinks I'm assigned to it, which means I can keep working on it."
"Which means you can get the Rune Knights to help when you need them." Lucy nodded tapped her chin, lost in thought, "So, a sweet smell always hung around the scene, a smell that normal people can smell. It made Ever dizzy. And most attacks have been happening around Hargeon... What's there that would make it so important?"
Laxus glanced at the page before looking back at her, "I'd say we take a trip to Hargeon and find out." He smirked, excitement bubbling in his gut. He felt a little guilty for excluding his team, but he technically wasn't meant to do the mission in the first place. And if he got in trouble, then that was on him.
"To Hargeon." She shared a smile with him before getting up, stretching out and grabbing the book from the desk.
"Meet me at the bus station in an hour, got it?" Laxus said, stalking past her to open the door, but holding it open for her instead of passing through it like she expected.
"Men~! So polite. So-" Ichiya groaned as the door slammed in his face, neither blondes on the other side wanting to deal with him.
xXx The First Sin xXx
"Blondie." Laxus chuckled as Lucy jumped in her seat, her book landing on the bench with a loud thump. She glared at him, a hand on her heart. He could hear her blood pumping, the adrenaline forcing her to alertness, "No need to be so jumpy."
He bent down, revealing the duffel he had slung over his back, and grabbed her book, brushing off the cover with his shirt, before holding it out for her to take.
"Yeah, well sometimes being alone backs you jumpy." She bit out, taking her book back quickly before looking away, a faint blush marring her cheeks, "Sorry. I didn't mean it to sound like that-"
"Blondie." He smirked when she whirled on him, "Relax. I know what you meant. It's not the same without them around. I get that." The sincerity in his voice ate away at her agitation and she sighed, standing from her seat so she could face him.
"Are you ready?" She asked, looking at him expectantly.
"Yeah, yeah. But we aren't taking the damn bus." He grumbled, grabbing her hand and pulled her across the road and towards the tree line surrounded the town.
"Hey. Hey! What are you doing?" Lucy dug her feet into the ground, straining against his hold.
"We're going to Onibus and taking the damned train from there. So deal with it." He cursed when she struggled and he spun on his heel, using the arm the held her to pull her closer before holding her to his chest, "You better hold on."
Lightning danced around them and the tell-tale boom of his lightning had Lucy's hair standing on end. The sparks that danced over her skin tickled and a strange warmth filled her before the forest disappeared. Everything was yellow and gold and moved in a blend of shades. It made her stomach churn but the thrill of the lightning and being so close to a dangerous element had her blood pumping.
And before she knew it, they landed and her legs buckled, but Laxus' arm held her up. She was panting, a thin sheen was sweat coating her skin as she looked around, her brain struggling to piece the scenery together with the words in her head.
"Oi, Blondie. You ok?" Laxus shook her gently, dropping his bag in favour of lowering her to the ground.
"Y-yeah. Just... yeah." Her incoherent thoughts made themselves apparent and Laxus chuckled. A sharp sting entered her thigh where his hand was resting and she yelped, her thoughts snapping into place instantly, "What was that for?"
Her shriek had him groaning, "Well it worked, didn't it?" He didn't wait for her as he stood and grabbed his bag from where he had dropped it in favour of grabbing her. The train station was before them and they had a job to get done.
"Hey! Wait a minute!" Lucy bolted after him, hitting him with her book but only just grazing the top of his shoulder. She grumbled under her breath as he purchased their tickets and they boarded the train. He quickly found seats and sat down, his sound pods on and his arms crossed as he glared out the window.
The train whistle blew and he paled, visibly tensing to Lucys' amusement. She grabbed a small bottle from her pant pocket and held it out to him, waiting until her looked at her to speak.
"These are tablets that will help with your motion sickness." She frowned when he glared at her and shoved the small container into her hand, pressing the glass into his elbow so it wouldn't fall, "Don't glare at me like a child. You're a Dragon Slayer. Doesn't matter whether you're a first generation or not. It affects you guys all the same." Lucy grabbed the bottle that was sticking out of his bag and passed it to him, only to sigh and place it on the seat between them.
She turned to her book, ignoring the muffled gag that came from her partner.
The sound of the glass bottle opening and the pills shake was quickly followed by sloshing water and Lucy did a small cheer in her head at her little victory.
The rest of the ride was done in silence and Lucy could only think about how they had gotten into the situation they were in.
Week prior
"I said you could help me. I never said you were coming with me." Laxus followed the blonde through her small apartment, groaned when she shoved a hand full of clothes into his chest.
"Too bad. You need my help out there on the mission. Just not working through communication lacrima. So now you have to deal with me." She huffed as she tore open a bag and started dumping her belongings into it. The clothes he had held vanished within seconds and he watched in fascination as she worked, systematically pulling things from their places and popping them into her bag.
"How do you think you can help me on the field when my own team couldn't?" He growled, his anger getting the better of him. He didn't register the way she froze or the suddenly tense atmosphere in the room. The only thing he could think about was his failure on the mission and the injuries his team had come home with.
"You don't change. And you're just like all the others." Her whisper was sharp, the venom in her voice shocking him, "I'm not some innocent damsel. I can carry my own weight and I can damn well help you find the bitch that hurt you and your team in the first place!"
Her fist collided with his cheek before he could react and he hit the floor. He laid prone as she stood over him, her chest heaving.
"You were banned from taking missions with a guild mate. But the mission was a council summons, right? Which means that you can't go on a mission with them in any case. But no one ever said you couldn't get another mage to assist you. Which means I'm your best bet. And considering the trouble you've already had, I'm also your best choice." Lucy took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she continued, "Besides. If we're going to find this woman, you're also going to need another female considering Evergreen was the only one in your team not affected by her magic. So… let's get your notes from your guild and get moving."
She left no room for argument. And so, considering he still wasn't completely healed, she had banned him from using his teleportation.
Present
So, it had taken a little under a week to reach Blue Pegasus and they really began their adventure.
"What are you thinkn' about Blondie?" Laxus's voice broke through her train of though and Lucy blinked up at him, barely registering that he was leaning over her.
"Hmm?" She hummed, not too sure what he meant.
"You've been staring at the page for nearly half an hour. Somethings going on in that brain of yours." His observation stunned her for a moment before she sighed and closed her book.
"I have a lot of things on my mind. The woman that beat you and your team," He growled and she rolled her eyes before continuing, "The fact that we have no idea who or what is behind the attacks or why they're doing what they're doing. You can only assume they act on behalf of Zeref; But you have no proof. There's also the fact that the last time I fought I..." Lucy cleared her throat, turning away from the slayer to stare at the keys on her belt, "The last time I fought was against Tartorus."
"The last time you fought you not only saved everyone, but you went against two of those demons on your own and gave us all a fighting chance. That's not something to look down upon. You're stronger than before. No matter how much of an arse I am, even I can see that."
Lucy shrugged, one thought flying through her head, 'I couldn't save everyone.'
"Hey…" Laxus nudged her with his elbow and drew her attention, only took look out the window as he spoke, "If there is anyone that could help me right now, it's you. You're smart, and you know your way around things. Plus, you've got a unique magic that can help you when you need it. Those are all things that count." His cheeks flushed a pale pink and Lucy held her breath, "Well, shit. I'm not good at this stuff. But you're alright Lucy. I'm sorry for all the crap I've given you since you joined the guild. And... ah. Thanks. For that medicine. It really helped."
Lucy giggled, making the blonde hulk of a man to glare at her, "I forgave you a long time ago Laxus." She rested her hand on his arm and leant in close, "We're nakama after all."
"Yeah." He nodded, eyes wide as he stared at her, "Nakama to the end."
xXx The First Sin xXx
Hargeon was busy. From the harbour, all the way to the surrounding woods. People were getting ready to sell their harvest. Winter was approaching and all the outlying villages wanted their share of the profits. The smell of fish was thick and it made Laxus cringe while Lucy covered her mouth in a bid to avoid the tinge of salt on her tongue.
They tried to make their way through the markets as quickly as possible while also trying to find the sweet smell that had remained at the attack site against the Thunder Legion and other crime scenes.
"This is useless!" Laxus punched the wall of the alley they had stepped into, "We've been here for a week and still nothing."
Lucy rolled her eyes, "Relax Laxus. The notes pointed us in this direction. It's the only lead we have-"
"It's not a lead if it's a dead end!" His voice drowned her out and Lucy flinched away, cautious of the sparks that danced across his skin. His eyes were sunken, testament to his efforts in trying to track down the ever elusive Luxuria.
Silence fell between them, only the rumble of buyers and sellers disturbing them.
"I... I know this is frustrating. But I'm sure it's Hargeon where she has to be. Because..." Lucy paused before she straightened, rushing out of the alley way without looking to see if Laxus had followed her.
"Lucy!" The blonde man charged after her, being mindful of the people swarming through the streets. The only think that helped him follow her was the fact that she had on a pink singlet and white jacket which made her stand out.
They ran through town, people giving them a wide birth as they stormed through the markets Despite his size and strength, Lucy was simply faster than him and he barely kept up with her. She had a destination in mind and she was set on getting there.
It was only a few minutes later when they arrived at the actual docks of the harbour, panting and tired. But it was the fierce look on Lucy's face that stopped the complaint from slipping off his tongue.
"Here. The smell has to be coming from somewhere around here." She huffed, straightening her clothes and hair as she looked around, eyes sharp.
"What's here? Don't tell me you want to fish will tell us where she is. They can't talk." Laxus gladly accepted the elbow to his stomach as the blonde woman rounded on him, her eyes shining with an emotion he couldn't place.
"You said you couldn't smell anything sweet. Not anything aside from the normal sweet things anyway." She lifted a finger to point to the town centre, "And the smell of fish in Hargeon Market is too strong even for your nose."
"Well, yeah. The only sweet thing I could smell in there was you." He noted the way a blush decorated her cheeks before clearing his throat, "And the sweet smell I remember was different. Thicker than most air. I'm sure if Wendy had smelt it she would have notice."
"Wendy would have been in a near instant state of delirium with her nose and inhaling the stuff." Lucy nodded, lifting a second finger, "The smell was thick. And incredibly sweet. Sweeter than even strawberries and other fruits that you smelled. Which leaves us with one answer. And the main reason we're here in Hargeon."
Laxus stared at the woman, unsure of whether the pressure had made her a little crazy, "And what, exactly, would we be here for."
"Opium." The word was so simple and slid off her tongue so easily that he baulked at her.
"Opium?" He didn't have the slightest idea what she was on about but he felt that if she was this confident, she had to be right.
"Here, Opium is an illegal substance. That's why we're here. Because Hargeon is rumoured to have a smuggling ring importing illicit items. Opium being one of them," She took a breath, her excitement making her light headed, "Opium is an extract of a flower, which people nicknamed that 'Happy Drug'. No one really knows what it does except for the fact that people with chronic pain and depression benefit greatly from it. That, and it carries a very sweet smell when burned. My guess is that Luxuria either works at or owns an Opium den here at Hargeon. And considering the fact that she potentially owns it, she would reek of the stuff no matter where she went."
Laxus digested her words slowly, taking into account any faults and variants in what she was saying. It was only when he grinned and grabbed Lucy by the shoulders that he spoke, "You're a genius Lucy! I've never even heard of the stuff before."
Lucy blushed, "Well, it used to only be the rich that could afford to smuggle it in. So… I could be wrong..."
"Don't say that. Now, where would an Opium Den be around here?" He looked around, noticing only the rotting wood and dank concrete of the buildings along it.
"It'll be hidden. And likely underground. But fresh air would need to be ventilated into it to make sure people didn't overdose quickly." Lucy hummed as they started down one of the docks, peering into the buildings through grimy windows, "You should be able to catch a whiff of it eventually."
And so, they walked between all the buildings and through the dank alleys till the sun started setting. They were about to give up when Laxus stopped, noticing Lucy sway the further they walked towards the abandoned section of the docks where only the skeletal remains of boats bobbed in the water.
"Blondie? Oi!" She staggered, teetered, and would have hit the ground if Laxus hadn't grabbed her, "Lucy!"
xXx The First Sin xXx
And there you have chapter 3! I hope you liked it. This wasn't edited so I hope it wasn't too bad. Please let me know what you think!
And a huge shout out to everyone that has review already:
Tiernank, Mewhee89, Jade, Flamey Owl, Desna, LaluHeart777, Laxus x Lucy Lover, saskiarosee and both guest reviews! It means a lot that you guys took the effort to tell me you liked the fic!