December 24th, x777
Balsam Village
12:00 PM
It has been roughly two months since Gemini joined the duo on their journey, and the adventure was beginning to take a toll on Lucy and Sting. From the endless searches that led to fruitless dead-ends to the infinite train rides and Sting's motion sickness, it was needless to say they were at the end of their wits. It was It's true that they became a lot closer with every day and sparring match, but the mission was dragging out longer than either expected. With how easily Virgo and Taurus appeared before them, it made sense to assume the rest would do the same. Sagittarius wasn't straightforward, but Lucy had an idea of where he might be. Albeit he was being held against his will, the Celestial Wizard was able to free him. As for Loke and Pisces, Crux wasn't having much luck in pinpointing either one's location. He reassured his master that both were in Fiore, but the specifics were still unclear. With the holiday season reaching its peak as Christmas Eve is today, they voted to settle down at Balsam Village and relax for the next few days.
"Ya know you can call me the grinch," Sting glanced around the small spa village and commented on the decoration hanging. "but I'm not really in the whole Christmas spirit this year."
"I get it," Lucy sighed heavily. "With Loke and Pisces still missing and training every other day, I kinda forgot about the holidays. We really didn't do anything for Thanksgiving."
"Yet you were hell-bent on dressing up for Halloween," He let out a dry chuckle. "I didn't think you were still into cartoons."
Slightly offending by the dragonslayer's comment, Lucy puffed her cheek as she folded her arms. "It's not like I can dress up as a princess every day. Besides, it's not like you turn down the thief costume."
"Honestly, I thought ya look kind of cute your's," The Light mage casually mentioned before entering the inn. Lucy's face turned a light crimson once she realizes what he had said. "And your Star Dresses aren't too bad either."
"Will you stop that," She lightly pushed him aside before going up to the reception desk. "Hello, we're here under a reservation for Rebecca and Wiess."
The receptionist smiled for a moment before confirming their reservation and handing the room key to Lucy. "Your room will be on the first floor and the fifth door to your left. Our apologies for any disturbance that might occur during your stay."
"...What do you mean?" Lucy was almost scared to take the key when the receptionist said that...although they did pay beforehand, so leaving might be a waste of time. "Are there fireworks for Christmas Eve?"
"Not precisely, Fairy Tail will be spending their Christmas here since Magnolia is about a mile west of this spa resort." The employee hesitantly answered. Lucy could only blind twice before her brain went into overdrive trying to comprehend how she overlooked such an important detail. "The guild has a reputation of being rowdy, so some of the other reservations were canceled as a result. Rest assure, we contacted the master and reminded him that any damage will be billed to them, in regards to the building itself, staff, and patrons."
"Then, we got a day before they come?" Sting raised an eyebrow to which the receptionist shook his head. Before the employee could give a real answer, the dragonslayer left him hanging with an indifferent shrug. "I guess it doesn't matter. It will be a nice change of pace. Right, Rebecca...Rebecca?"
The Light Mage snapped his fingers in her face as an attempt to snap her out the daze but quickly realized that method wouldn't get him far. Sting grabbed the key out of Lucy's hand and carrying her to the room for the sake of privacy. The dragonslayer slid the door open with his foot. The room was more spacious than he originally thought. Aside from the bathroom to the left of him, there wasn't much in the room. The floor had wooden tiles evenly divided by a long black line. There were two pastel-colored futons prepares for the duo, a small fridge filled what he presumed was alcohol and a small table with a couple of cushions in the center of the room. Two robes were folded on top of the table for them to change into. There was no real back wall since there was another sliding door with a small lock on the inside.
Sliding the door closed, Sting placed his companion near the table and walked to the bathroom. He found two glass cups and filled them with the water from the sink. Before exiting the bathroom, he tossed a towel over his shoulder. The dragonslayer casually drank from one of the glasses. Once he finished his drink, the tiger placed the empty cup on the top of the fridge and splashed Lucy with the other one. Quickly covering his ears, the dragonslayer managed to muffle out the bulk of Lucy's scream before she tackled him to the floor.
"Why did you that?!" She shrieked with a hellish fury in her voice.
"You were out of it for like fifteen minutes!" He countered. "I tried snapping, and that didn't work!"
"So you jumped to throwing water in my face?! Do you know how expensive this was?!"
"It ain't like I can punch you! I'm not spending fucking Christmas in jail for domestic violence!"
"There were other methods!"
Lucy's screaming pierced his eardrum which annoyed the dragonslayer. After effortlessly tossing the Fairy off his waist, he threw the towel at her face to give her a chance to cool off and clean up a little. After a quiet moment passed, Lucy managed to collect her thought properly. "I think we need to leave before my guild comes."
"Like hell," Sting frowned. "We got this place booked until January 2nd."
"But Freed and Evergreen probably told Master about my guild mark. So if they see us here, they're gonna start asking questions." She clutched her head once another major realization hit her. "Dear Mavis, Master might kill me if he thinks I'm impersonating a Fairy Tail member. Natsu almost killed Bora for committing that crime. What if Master Makarov tries to fight us? We can't win against a Wizard Saint!"
"I doubt it," He sweatdropped. Makarov might be upset, but the dragonslayer doubted the old man would kill them. It ain't like they were tarnishing the guild's name. "Look, we just gotta be a little bit more careful about when we leave the room. They're kids right, so there are certain areas that are off-limits. Besides, if it comes down to a fight, I know we can kick all their asses."
"Is this your way of rematching Natsu?" She sweatdropped at his last comment.
Although, there might be some merit to what the dragonslayer was saying. They were hiding from the present-day Fairy Tail, not the one fourteen years in the future. So, her team hadn't reached their potential yet. Lucy wasn't entirely sure that Erza and Mira were S-Class Wizards at this point. Laxus was a possibility, and she was certain Guildarts. But, Cana's father rarely was in Magnolia, so they might avoid a fight with him entirely. A chill went down her spine when she thought about fighting that Behemoth.
"Nah, but I might steal some of his fire," The Sabertooth mage sneered with a hint of excitement in his voice. "How does the 'Holy-Flame Dragonslayer' sound?"
"You'll just burn your tongue." Lucy waved the idea off as walked into the bathroom for a quick shower. "And, there's nothing in the Spirit World that can help ya with that."
December 24th, x777
Balsam Village's Inn
1:00 PM
Lucy finished tying the customary robe around her figure. The shower gave her a chance to rethink the situation with a sense of clarity, and she leaning more towards stay through New Years'. She based this conclusion on two crucial pieces of evidence. For one, Freed and Evergreen discovered Lucy's guild mark months ago. And yet, no one came after them. None of the light guilds attacked either of them. There were no signs of a bounty on for their capture, and no one tried to bring them to justice.
And two, there wasn't a refunding option.
Exiting the bathroom, Lucy found that Sting had changed out of his usual clothes and into the robe provided...well half-dressed. The dragonslayer tied the robed around his waist but left his upper body exposed. He sat at the small table placed between the futons with a bottle of sake in his hand. "Isn't it a bit early to be drinking?"
"It ain't like we can go Christmas shopping. All the stores are packed," He shrugged indifferently. "Besides, I built my tolerance up. Want some?"
"I probably shouldn't. The last time I drank...I sorta blacked out." Lucy was a tad hesitant with her answer. "I can't hold my liquor like Cana."
"There's a handful of people who can drink that girl under a table, and I know I ain't one of them," Sting sneered to himself before taking another shot. "Orga or Lady Minerva might have a chance. Rufus can do it if wine's involved."
"I didn't take you all to be the type to drink, especially Minerva," She raised an eyebrow out of curiosity and took a seat on a nearby cushion.
The Sabertooth mage let out a hearty laugh before pouring two drinks. "Oh please, our master's a tyranny, and everyone's trying to one-up each other. It's not like we're alcoholics. We're just trying to forget about our lives sometimes."
"Hey Sting... when all this is said and done, do you want to join Fairy Tail?" She asked and received a curious brow from the dragonslayer. "I know that's kind of a loaded question, but if you're unhappy in Sabertooth, then Fairy Tail might be a better fit for you."
"I can't." He responded before downing his drink. Sting tightly gripped the glass but barely restrained himself from crushing it. "I've done too much shit to become a Fairy. There are some things that can't be forgiven."
"There's noth-"
"I killed my guild master,"
"What?"
Lucy stared at Sting with disbelief in her heart. The Holy Dragonslayer grimaced at her reaction and silently poured a third drink for himself. From what Yukino and Sting said, Jiemma sounded like a dictator in every way possible. The air in the room thickened with uncomfortable silence. The sabertooth mage continued on, slowly becoming indifferent about her reaction. Lucy saw the light draining from his eyes with each shot. Watching Sting drink felt different than when she watched Cana down barrels. It was almost surreal. The pain in his heart clear, but there was only one thing she could manage to say.
"Why?"
"What?" Sting lowered his glass from his lip.
"Why...Why did you do it?" She repeated with more emphasis on needed an explanation. While her mind couldn't comprehend, Lucy knew to speak from her heart. "I might not know you as well as Lector or Rogue, but I know you wouldn't willingly kill someone. There has to be a reason."
"Are you sure wanna know..." He hesitated with his words.
Although he couldn't put his finger on it, there was something about Lucy that draws him in. Something that compelled him to tell the truth. Was it her natural compassion? Did he fuck up and fell for the Fairy? Or did the alcohol drop his inhibitions? Whatever it was, he can deal with the consequences later. "Fuck...After we lost to Natsu, Jiemma laid into us. I got it worse because I lost on the second day, and Lector, fucking Lector, tried to defend me. He knew that Jiemma was a man to fear, but Lector had my back. And, Jiemma vaporized him for it. I don't have to fill in the rest right? You're a smart girl."
"Oh Sting... I'm sorry."
"Meh, it's fine. Minerva saved him before Jiemma finished the job." Underneath his breath, he bitterly mentioned the part about her holding him hostage. "I got him right before the world fucking ended. I can't catch a break. I still don't know what Imma gonna do about that?"
Lucy asked another question as she eyed the half-empty bottle. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"When we get to our time, are we suppose to make sure everything that happens actually happens? Like is Raven Tail supposed to get suspended on the third day? Should Minerva do what she did? Should...Should I kill Master Jiemma again?"
"I... I think we should try our best to change the future into a better one." Lucy answered, but ultimately avoided his question. Master Jiemma was a horrible guild master, yet was that enough for her to say yes? Albeit she never met the man, Natsu and Sting didn't exactly paint him as a good person. "We might be able to change his way of thinking,"
"Leave it to the Fairy to suggest that." Sting rolled his eyes as he pushed a shot glass in front of Lucy. "Now, drink. I ain't finishing this bottle alone."
The Celestial Wizard stared intensely at the glass while weighing her option. "I'm going to regret this."
She tried to knock the drink back with tasting the bitterness too much. Even though the glass in her hand was cold to the touch, Lucy felt a wave of warmth begin to spread across her face and slowly dissipate through her body. Her throat burned once the drink finally reached her stomach. She let out a couple of coughs to Sting's enjoyment.
"Not bad Hearts," He playfully jeered while drinking from his glass. "You didn't pass out from the first drink."
"Hearts, huh?" For a moment, Lucy tapped her finger on her chin as she weighed how she felt about the nickname. "It's cute. I like it."
The dragonslayer's lip curled upwards a little at the compliment. "How ya feeling? Do you want another one?"
"Sure, why not?" She shrugged indifferently before passing the glass back to her partner. What's the harm of drinking a little? Who cares if she was a tad tipsy afterward. It was the holiday season, so everyone would have a drink tonight, right. There was nothing with dropping her inhibition a little. "I got nothing to lose."
Sting smiled goofily as he watched Lucy begin to sway a little in her seat. He was curious about what was her limit, so the dragonslayer poured her a second drink. Of course, he wouldn't let the girl get blackout drunk, just drunk to have an idea of what kind of drunk she was. "That's the spirit!"
"Hey Sting, can I ask a question?" The Fairy asked after gulping down the refill. Lucy noticed this drink didn't burn as badly as the first. A rosy blush crept onto her cheeks as her mind wandered. Novel ideas and past memories flooded her mind until she thought of a familiar name. "What am I doing wrong?"
"Whatcha mean?" He traced his finger around the glass's rim.
"I mean with Natsu." She let out a depressed sigh. "I tried everything to get his attention, and nothing works. He treats me like family, but I want more. I...want his love."
"Then, you just gotta make him jealous. What dragonslayer would want to see their girlfriend with another man?" Sting jokingly said before taking another sip. He glanced up at Lucy and noticed the way she stared at him. There was a hidden desire buried in her eyes. "Er, Hearts?"
"Neh Sting," She spoke in a sultry tone while slowly crawling towards him. "Can you help me with that? I know you want this too..."
The dragonslayer turned his head away when he noticed how lowcut her robe was. Her, um, assets weren't on full display, but a blush did grow on his face when he caught an accidental eyeful. Honestly, six months he would've jumped at the chance at banging Natsu's girl. But now...he couldn't think about it without grimacing. Fuck, did he grow a conscience? Turning his focus away from Hearts, Sting closed the bottle and started to clean a little. "Ooookay, you had enough for today."
The Sabertooth mage managed to wipe the glasses before he heard a light sobbing coming from behind him. Sting groans softly under his breath before he turns back to Lucy. The poor girl had curled herself in a ball on the floor and was crying her heart out. Sting sits down next to his partner and places a cold water bottle from the fridge in front of the lightweight. "Come on, what's wrong Hearts?"
"What?" Lucy hiccups whilst trying desperately to wipe the tears away. "The fact I got rejected by the self-obsessive pervert! The fact that I'm going to die alone!"
Sting rolls his eyes and ignores the blatant insult. "I wasn't about to advantage of you when you're like this,"
"Oh please," Lucy scoffs as she tries to sit upright. The Fairy sways a little before she leans on her partner for support. "You're not that chivalrous. You joke about my looks just to get a reaction of out me."
"If I wasn't a gentleman, you'd be screaming my name right 'bout now." He confessed. "Besides, I'm not lying about what I said earlier. You got everything a man could ever want. Natsu has to be one dumb motherfucker for him to friendzone someone as beautiful as you."
"Aw, you do care!"
"Now finish this water bottle, or you'll be dehydrated," Sting suggested as he left to prepare a cold shower. He knew it will be a while before all the alcohol her system so that a second shower might wake her up a little, the colder, the better. Once he decided the water was cold enough, the dragonslayer came out the bathroom tossed a fresh towel at the girl. "Do you think you handle showering alone, or do I need to get Virgo?"
Lucy let out an offended huff as she stood up. She managed to hit her knee against the table, but she could someway stand on her feet. "Hey, I think can handle something as small as taking a shower. I'm not a child."
"Alright, who comes when I say 'Open! Gate of the Twins!"
"Taurus!"
"What about 'Open! Gate of the Golden Bull!"
"Cancer!"
"How about the Crab?"
"Sagittarius!"
"Hmm, what about the Archer?"
"Easy Capricorn!"
"Yep, I'm getting Virgo," Sting decided as he approached Lucy. He got halfway before the maiden appeared on her own. Before the spirit could ask for punishment, the dragonslayer spoke first. "Do you mind helping her take a shower? I'm gonna step out for a minute and get us some food."
"Very well, Master Sting," Virgo bows before leading her true master into the bathroom. The maiden closed the door, so Lucy can change in peace."And, thank you. I know Princess appreciates what you did for her."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," He waved it off whilst exiting the suite. "Had I gone through with it, I'm sure Aquarius would've drowned me. I'll be back."
Key Obtained: Cancer, Aquarius, Capricorn, Crux, Virgo, Taurus, Sagittarius, Aries, Libra, and Gemini
Key Needed: Leo, Pisces, and Scorpio
A/N: Lowkey, I'm debating on how I want to do the GMG. I know that I want to change up some of the matches because we were robbed. I would've taken Gray v. Lyon over Rufus v. Eve any day of the week, but I don't want to spend all my time choreographing fights when the focus should be on Sting and Lucy. I know that I'll figure something out, but y'all have a match you want to see happen, write it in a review. I'll try to add it to the roster.
