I almost can't believe I came out with this chapter so fast. I feel like I need to spend more time on all my updates to make sure they are as perfect as I can make them for all you wonderful readers.
Thank you for all the reviews, follows, and favorites! I read every review, and I know I don't always have the time to respond to them all, but know that I'm truly grateful to all of you! Hearing that you enjoy my story keeps my inspiration up and continuing to write! Seriously, I didn't put my computer down when working on this chapter, and now I have a headache... but that isn't what's important here!
Disclaimer: I own nada
I hope you all enjoy this next installment of Lightning Storms and Rolling Thunder!
Time seemed to slow down as multiple things happened at once. Natsu burst into flames and started to charge, Erza requiped her Heaven's Wheel Armor along with dozens of swords that instantly came for Laxus, and lastly Gray conjured up his frozen ice sword and ran along with Natsu to remove Laxus from their Lucy. There was determination and anger shining in their eyes as they all centered in on the lightning mage.
Right as they were starting to get close, time sped up again and a loud crack was heard throughout the building. Upon closer review, each mage that was charging came to a grinding halt and all had red slashes across their stomachs. None of them were bleeding but the shock from being hit was enough to stop their attacks.
The now silent guild looked around to see who and what could have done such a thing only to discover Lucy standing in front of a wide-eyed Laxus holding her whip out to her side, no one had even seen her move. She had her head down so no one could see her expression, but everyone could see the small tremors traveling up and down her body and they thought she might have been crying. But they couldn't have been more wrong.
They watched as Lucy suddenly snapped her head up with a burning rage evidently coursing deep within her. With the extreme amount of anger she was feeling her magic reacted, coming forth and made her hair whip around her face with the wind it generated and a soft golden glow to shine through her skin.
Lucy stood there hurt. Confused. Furious. She was beside Laxus with his arm wrapped around her comfortingly when the door was opened. She had taken her first step forward the moment she saw Natsu's eyes and flames dancing around his body. Her second step was when the light glinted off Erza's swords. Her third and final step was when she felt the temperature drop when Gray summoned his magic. The moment they started towards Laxus was the moment she brought her Fleuve d'étoiles out and quickly whipped it out to graze their stomachs. She didn't want to injure her teammates, just jolt them out of their attacks. She had bent her head down and was staring at everyone through her bangs so no one could see her eyes. She knew her body trembling from all the emotions surging through her frame and saw that her reserves were releasing bits of her magic around her.
How could her team think to attack Laxus like this? She knew- she knew people still held mixed feelings about the lightning mage. But to take it this far? To attack him without knowing what was going on? He brought her to the guild for goodness sake! Her team didn't find them in the forest where it could look suspicious, they didn't somehow find Laxus' house and see Lucy wearing his clothes earlier, heck she was in the opening to her guild clearly not hurt! Laxus was posing no threatening image other than his regular scowl. So why did they attack? Did Natsu hype them up so much that all intelligence decided to leave their minds?
She brought her head up and looked into the confused eyes of her best friends. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper from her trying to hold back an enraged yell, but it was loud enough for the guild to hear, "how could you? All of you. Why did you try to attack Laxus?" She wanted to know, no, she needed to know what their reasons were. This was borderline unforgivable for her team to do. No one else tried to threaten Laxus, but she saw other faces in the guild hall that told her even more people wanted to stand beside her team and try to attack him.
Behind her she felt that Laxus was still a little shocked. When Laxus didn't believe that it could be bad, she was there to correct him and tell him that it could always be a lot worse when it came to her team being involved. But not even she thought it would be this bad. Laxus was a guild mate, sure he had a rough past, but nonetheless you do not attack a guild mate unless he is a danger. Obviously the lightning mage did not fit that description so he deserved no punishment.
So why?
"Luce, I-" Natsu started, only to cut off when Lucy's hard glare focus solely on him. Her magic hadn't diminished in the least and to everyone she offered the image of a dangerous and powerful mage ready to lash out at anyone who didn't do as she pleased. The people of the guild stood frozen in their spots, never having witnessed their loveable celestial mage in this state. Audibly gulping, Natsu tried again, "Lucy, I went to your house last night and you weren't home and didn't come back all night. You didn't tell any of us where you were and you weren't with any of the girls of the guild or had told Mira you were going on a mission, so I thought something bad could have happened to you." By this point Natsu had doused his flames, Erza requiped into her regular Heart Kreuz Armor and Gray let go of his magic resulting in his sword disappearing.
Lucy finally felt her magic dissipating back into her body and she slowly straightened from her defensive stance in front of Laxus, who chose this time to come out of his shock.
"Lucy, it doesn't matter. I should have expected this." Laxus said in a harsh tone.
Lucy could have cried at that point, even without looking she could tell that Laxus had receded behind the walls she believed were gone, or were at least in the process of crumbling, and that his eyes turned into a cold stormy grey. She thought that perhaps some of the walls she had gotten rid of for good, she had wished for it to be so. He was in such a good mood this morning, but now it seemed like that was dashed too. Instead of allowing herself to be sad, she let it fuel her anger.
Turning to face the lightning mage she stared into his eyes with a defiant expression, "this is my team. You will not tell me what matters or not. To you, this may seem unimportant, but I will not let them get off that easily for trying to hurt you just because they were worried about me. They are about to learn what you mean to me now and who I am to you. They also need to learn that I am a grown woman who can leave her house and not return for a night without telling everyone where I am going." Lucy's entire stance challenged Laxus to try to fight her on this, and if he did then he wouldn't be coming out victorious.
Laxus took in Lucy at this point, really looking at her.
He had been surprised, not expecting the barrage of attacks to come his way when everyone saw him with Lucy. He knew that there could have been some yelling, some questioning, but not any real threats. But the moment Team Natsu came towards him he put on his façade and hid his hurt behind the uncaring form of Laxus Dreyar, arrogant Lightning Dragon Slayer of Fairy Tail and grandson of Wizard Saint Makarov. He would not let everyone see that this turn of events bothered him, but that he was ready to take on every mage who wanted to fight him for being seen standing next to Lucy. But of course that turned out to be unneeded when Lucy stepped up and professionally stopped her team from finishing their attacks. He felt the anger pouring off of her in waves, and was genuinely surprised when her magic reacted so vehemently. In the back of his mind he had noted how beautiful she was in that moment with her skin glowing, and he had wished he saw her face when he knew she looked like an avenging angel.
Now he looked down at her small form, back to normal other than the glare she still wore. And he really looked. He saw her hurt and confusion. At first he didn't understand this until he read into her expression more and saw that she was hurt that her own team would attack him. She never truly experienced the way the guild regarded him head on, so to see it happen right before her eyes, with her own team nonetheless, must have been a cold wake up call. Confused because he had done nothing to warrant such abuse from the people she loved, the people she knew to be all about family and nakama zero in on one of their own an accuse him for actions he had not done just because he once posed as a major threat to the guild. It probably would have made sense if he had not been working hard for months to get back in the good graces of each mage in the guild. Lucy's mind just couldn't fully comprehend how her family could have such a cold shoulder towards Laxus and he knew he should have warned Lucy more about just how much he was still an outcast.
Though it warmed his heart and put cracks in the walls he had brought up again to see her stick up for him. He didn't even see it as a blow to his pride when he allowed her to stand up for him and speak on his behalf because he saw just how much she wanted to ensure him that she was still there for him. Behind the anger and fury she was looking at him with what he saw as the same analyzing gaze he was giving her and how she was saddened when she watched him put the façade back up.
Laxus had wanted to soothe her and tell her that when he was only around her he would drop everything and allow her to see what was inside him. But here at the guild, after such a spectacle, he couldn't let himself be vulnerable. The guild who was supposed to be family couldn't be allowed to see what was inside if they still felt so threatened by him even when he did nothing wrong. Their jumping to conclusions and accusations would only bring out the over confident man Laxus chose to be, who had a snarky comeback to every situation and who didn't give a damn what others thought of him. They wouldn't be allowed to see who Lucy saw yesterday and that morning. Right now only she was given the right to see that side of him, only she gave him the forgiveness he'd been working for, only she recognized how hard he was working for redemption, and only she saw him fit to give it to him. Since no one else would look past his mistakes yet, he wouldn't let them see past his façade.
He heard the conviction in her voice when she told him that he couldn't tell her what to do. And she was right. This was her team. He would back out for now, but if they did anything threatening towards her or hurt her in any way for defending him, then he was butting in and taking her away so he could protect her.
"Tch. Whatever, Blondie." Laxus crossed his arms and leaned against the wall behind him, but let a small smirk cross his features that had a little warmth to it to calm Lucy down. It was too small for anyone far away to see, but with Lucy so close she would see it clearly and he watched as her muscles let some of their tension go. She flashed him a small smile in response, but didn't let the hurt fade from her eyes because she still knew that what her team had done was not right in any way.
Lucy turned back around once she was sure Laxus wouldn't interfere and dropped the smile. The glare that had everyone frozen to their spots came back and had her team flinching from its power. "Natsu explained, what about you, Erza? Gray?"
"Lucy I apologize for-"
Right as Erza started, Lucy cut in, "I shouldn't be the one you are apologizing to." All three mages in front of her flinched again.
"Right, but Natsu came into the guild saying you were missing and when I saw Laxus with you I couldn't control myself." She turned to Laxus and did a short bow, "I apologize, Laxus, you didn't deserve me trying to attack you." Laxus only grunted in response.
Next Lucy focused on Gray who gulped before speaking, "Flame Brain over there," a small whine of protest left Natsu before Lucy flicking her eyes back to him had the sound cutting off instantly, "made everyone think that something terrible happened and got everyone hyped up, so when the doors opened to you and Laxus, I couldn't help but attack along with Natsu and Erza." He looked behind Lucy to Laxus and narrowed his eyes a bit, "I'm sorry," he bit out between clenched teeth, but one careful crack of a whip in front of his feet had him jumping back with wide eyes. Looking at Lucy again he saw her glare turn even colder.
"He did nothing," she hissed. Lucy scanned her friend's faces, and then looked all throughout the guild. Everyone had expressions ranging from angry, to confusion, to wary, to shocked. Master Makarov had his face carefully smooth, taking in everything with a critical eye, and she saw Happy on a table only staring with wide eyes. She was glad the exceed wasn't reacting like her other friends were, she could always trust the cat to be more level headed in these types of situations even if he was a bit eccentric at times.
Speaking loud enough so everyone could hear she started again, "no one has the right to attack a guild member when they did nothing wrong. Laxus may have done some bad things in the past, but everyone can agree that he has changed." She turned to her team again, "I can leave when I want without telling you all where I am going. You should all know that if I were to truly leave and not expect to come back for more than a few days then I would have told someone where I was going, but if I plan to be gone for only one night then I shouldn't have to inform someone where I'm going." Lucy relaxed more, and her eyes lost their anger, turning instead to pleading, "I understand that you care for me, that you wish to protect me, but attacking someone you see with me just because you were worried is not a reasonable excuse for your actions. You are offending Laxus by thinking he would harm me. He has proved that he is willing to protect this guild and everyone in it by now and I expect all of you to be sincerely sorry for what you have done." As she talked, Lucy saw everyone realize their mistakes and start looking guilty. "Now, you will apologize to my boyfriend and leave him alone after that." As one, the guild sucked in a surprised gasp.
"BOYFRIEND!?"
The scream had everyone looking at Mira who now had a dazed expression on her face.
Lucy ignored her for now, but knew she was going to get an earful of questions later from the barmaid and inwardly groaned at her fate, but she did bring it upon herself. She knew that the fact that Laxus was her boyfriend would make her team even guiltier and feel bad about even thinking about attacking him. Also, in a roundabout way, they would realize that they offended her too by not trusting her choice of company. It was almost a dirty trick using this type of logic to get them feeling bad, but at this moment Lucy didn't care. Anything to make them see their mistakes, she would use to her advantage.
Laxus grunted from his spot behind Lucy and shifted a little when many people looked at him after Lucy dropped the bomb that he was her boyfriend. Feeling a little weird, he reached forward and yanked Lucy back into his chest, silently laughing at her surprised squeak. He boldly wrapped his arms around her waist and let his lips twitch into a smirk at some jealous expressions throughout the guild. "That's right, she's mine now." His expression turned cocky and he chuckled when Lucy elbowed him in the gut for that comment. He was being possessive now and wanted to let everyone know that she was off limits. Also, having her in front of him acted as a shield against everyone. He didn't want to completely hide inside himself and cause Lucy to look at him with that hurt expression again, it tore at him to know that now she saw the caring person he was, who only wanted people to look at him without fear, she expected him to be more open about it. It was harder than she thought for him to do so because he had the façade for so long now. But he didn't want Lucy to look at him with that saddened honey brown gaze of hers, so he was going to do his best to keep only a few up for her sake.
And using her as a shield was, in a small way, helping him from turning completely arrogant and his care from flying out the window with the rest of his feelings. She probably even realized what he was doing when she allowed her body to sag against his, tilting her head back to rest on his chest and her arms to lay where his did around her waist in her own way of silent comfort. And he relished in it, letting it soothe the ache in his chest that held the part of him that harbored the pain and sorrow he felt for not being able to be accepted in the guild like everyone else was.
He will act the possessive boyfriend with other males around because he knew many thought Lucy was a catch. The fact that he was the one to actually get her probably had most males thinking murderous plans toward the lightning mage. Even with the hurt he was feeling from almost being attacked by his guild mates he had to inwardly laugh. Before yesterday he wasn't sure a person was alive that could look at him normally. To his surprise it turned out to be Lucy, the Light of the guild, though he should have guessed that she would be the first to completely forgive him by her reputation alone. Now he had made her his, and nobody could do a thing about it or steal her away. He would now take on the role of her personal protector and will do it with a passion that not even her best friend, Natsu, could conjure. She was his.
After the initial shock went away, Team Natsu lined up and all bowed respectfully, much to every one's surprise.
Natsu straightened first and scratched the back of his head in his regular embarrassed habit. "Sorry, Laxus. I should have trusted you with Lucy," as soon as he said that, his regular face splitting grin lit up his face, "but now that that's over with you have to fight me! I have to make sure you're strong enough to protect Luce!" Many people face palmed, including Lucy, but right when Natsu was about to charge in for his second attack, this one being friendly, a hand shot forward and grabbed the scarf around his neck.
"Now is not the time for that Natsu," Erza said in her commanding tone and proceeded to throw Natsu behind her then turn back to Lucy and Laxus as if nothing happened, "I said it once, but I will apologize again, I was in the wrong for trying to attack you, you may hit me in retribution." She bowed her head again and closed her eyes.
"Uh, no it's fine," Laxus said quickly and tightened his hold on Lucy when he felt her shake slightly from trying to hold in her giggling.
Last to stand was Gray, who quickly flashed his eyes to Lucy then back to Laxus. Sighing he looked away and unconsciously started to peel of his shirt, "sorry, man. We were all in the wrong for what we did," suddenly he turned back to glare at Laxus, "but if I hear one word about you hurting Lucy in any way, shape, or form, I can promise you now that you can do nothing to avoid us coming for you. And nothing will be able to stop us that time."
Laxus was amused by now. With the threat being gone and the guild knowing he wasn't there to hurt Lucy, he could find the situation a little hilarious that it was blown so out of proportion. "It's fine, I won't hurt Blondie here." He put his hands on Lucy's hips and spun her around to face him, "those apologies good enough for you?" He asked with an amused smile on his face.
Lucy huffed and crossed her arms, "as long as you're okay with them then fine, but I think you should look at your team, I don't believe they have taken one breathe since I announced that you were my boyfriend, Freed looks like he might have even died a little." Both of them glanced over her shoulder to the second story balcony where his team was standing and all of them had their mouths hanging open and empty gazes fixed on the two blondes. And just as she said, Freed stood there with a hand clutching his chest where his heart lay and the other outstretched towards his leader, whether it was from complete shock, or something else, they didn't know.
The guild unfroze and many people started to conjure up regular conversations again, and now that Team Natsu wasn't withering under Lucy's gaze, they all shuffled dejectedly to a table, knowing that Lucy would probably be upset with them for a little while longer.
Laxus groaned out loud at his team and Lucy turned back to him with a small smile on her face. "Come on, Sparky, you have to go face them at some point in time, and I think a good shock from you will get them back to normal." She looked at the team again, "and sooner would probably be better than later, I seriously don't think they have breathed." To Laxus and Lucy's horror, their faces started turning purple.
Laxus pointed a finger up to them and shot three short bursts of lightning and hit them all in one leg, effectively waking them up and making them take a gasping gulp of air. He could see that Freed was about to yell something and that Bickslow had his perverted grin back on his face, so before his team could embarrass him he yelled, "don't say a thing!" His following glare had them all shutting up and they went to sit back at their table, but with determination in their eyes while they continued to stare at him and Laxus knew that Lucy was right when she said that he would have to face them soon. But that didn't mean he wanted to. He could only image the new kinds of attacks he would face with them, these being verbal and very, very annoying.
A laugh spilled from Lucy when she watched Laxus go from guarded to downright annoyed when his team broke from their shock. She was so going to be there when they all dragged him down with questions and comments. Before she could start making fun of Laxus a chant had her mind going blank as she slowly turned back around to face the direction of the bar where she knew Laxus was already looking towards.
There stood Mira, with her matchmaking aura surrounding her, saying over and over again "blonde hair, blue eyed babies, blonde hair brown eyed babies," next to her sat Master on the bar with an odd gleam in his eye that Lucy couldn't decipher.
Apparently Laxus knew that expression though and the color drained form his face, "Gramps, don't even say it! I won't forgive you!" One arm stayed wrapped around Lucy's waist as he pointed in his grandfather's direction.
"Bu-but, I want great-grand babies," Makarov mumbled while he looked down, he looked up again with tearful eyes, "My Laxus is finally growing up," them the odd gleam returned to his eyes again, "now, my boy, time to have new little Dreyar's running around the guild for me to spoil! Get on it!" The guild, now back to its normal rambunctious state, roared with laughter when everyone saw Laxus' cheeks turn an almost unnoticeable pink and Lucy turn into a human version of a tomato. There was also a suspicious cry of indignation that came from the second story and a now unconscious Freed laying on the floor.
Lucy heard Laxus groan behind her and turned to look at him even though she was beyond embarrassed. "I think Mira has influenced him too much and got him on the baby making train with her. They both are going to try to get every couple to have babies now." Lucy groaned and buried her face in Laxus' chest. "I can't wait to see what kind of situations they put us in to try and further their demented plans," her voice came out mumbled from the fabric of his shirt muffling her.
Even though Laxus was partly mortified his gramps would yell such a thing for all the guild to hear and was now being laughed at, he couldn't help but laugh lightly at the girl in his arms. But he had to agree with her. They were in for some messed up plans. If he knew his grandfather as much as he did then he knew the old man could be very creative when he put his mind to it. Pair him with the matchmaking demon from hell, and they were almost a force that was to be avoided at all cost.
He looked up once more to now see his grandfather and Mira huddled in a corner near the bar with a paper between them and writing something down. He wasn't sure if he was more curious to see what was on it, or if he wanted to just try and disintegrate it and hope they forgot what they wrote down in the first place. Whatever that paper held could possibly be the start of a long and drawn out plan to get him and Lucy in private as much as possible. They only just started going out for goodness sake! These people were crazy!
"And honestly, what in the world is up with Freed?" Lucy asked, while eyeing the mage as if he was some odd entity. He was just now waking up and was being helped back in his chair by Evergreen and Bickslow's babies. His face was completely pale and it almost looked like he was breaking out in a cold sweat. If Lucy wasn't so weirded out by him right now, she would probably go check on his health too, or get Wendy to see if he was fine, but the situation called for her to stay right where she was, in Laxus' arms.
Laxus studied his mentioned team member and sighed while rubbing a hand down his face and closed his eyes, "he has this weird way of being part of my body guard group. I wish they would all act normal but they continue to see themselves as my body guards. Freed is the supposed leader and has a strict way of 'watching over me.' He's probably shocked that I have you as a girlfriend. Hell, he is probably shocked I have a girlfriend at all. And to hear Mira and Gramps talk about babies so soon is frying his brain, that's why he passed out. I have never been able to correctly figure out his mind, but if I had to guess, then he is now trying to think up a way to restore my image and honor from being embarrassed by them shouting what they did in front of the guild. And if there was anything else going on in that mind, he is trying to think of every attribute you have and seeing if they match mine enough to see if you're a good enough match for me."
Lucy looked up to Laxus astonished, "I knew they acted as your body guards in a way, but they seriously take it that far, especially Freed? I always saw him as the calmest and collected." From learning this, Lucy could only wonder why they didn't seem to be able to break through Laxus' shell he built for himself. When she observed Laxus in the guild before, she had never seen him let his guard down, only ever so slightly with his team, and they were the closest friends the lightning mage had.
Laxus looked down at her and slowly nodded his head, "yeah, it can be downright infuriating, but you eventually get used to it. I've learned that if I allow Freed to believe that he is protecting my 'damaged honor' that he will leave me alone enough." He turned back and saw Evergreen and Bickslow looking at him all the more fiercely, practically demanding him to go up there so he could answer their questions. A shiver travelled up his spine when a new and refreshed Freed added his gaze to the bunch. What he saw in his eyes had him wanting to flee back to his house with Lucy for some quiet time.
Dropping his voice so no one else could hear him but Lucy, he whispered, "So you ready to come up with me to my team and face them head on?"
In his arms Lucy giggled, "you think I would miss such a thing, Sparky? This is something I wouldn't miss for anything in the world. Based off of Freed's reaction this has got to be good," in her mind she could see Freed standing above a cowering Laxus, ranting and raving about what he needed to do to restore his image in the guild. That alone brought Lucy to a full-belly laugh that only doubled when Laxus looked at her as if she was crazy.
Finally getting herself under control, she wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye and stood with confidence in her stance, "alright, I'm ready for this, let's go." She watched as Laxus grumbled about his fate being unfair before tugging her hand towards the stairs. They walked around tables and ignored the still shocked expressions some of the guild members wore from the revelation that they were a couple. Lucy could see how it was kind of surprising, she and Laxus hadn't really been all buddy-buddy before this day. She couldn't help but allow a small laugh to escape her and to squeeze Laxus' hand a little tighter. His answering squeeze made her smile that much brighter.
She saw that Laxus only softened his expression when he was looking at her. He also did it when looking at his team, or his grandfather, but at that point it wasn't as noticeable unless you knew how to read someone's gaze like Lucy did. She wished that she could completely open him for others to see how wonderful he could be, but she knew that it would still be some time yet before he was at that point and comfortable enough to be so vulnerable in front of other people. It made her want to work that much harder to bring Laxus the happiness she knew he deserved.
Right as they reached the top step, his team pounced like a pack of wolves on their prey, pushing, pulling, and dragging them till they were both sitting in chairs while they sat across the table staring at them with stern expressions. Bickslow had his babies land right in front of them on the table with all their faces pointed towards them too. It almost unnerved Lucy to be under such scrutinizing gazes, but felt herself regain the confidence when Laxus squeezed her hand again under the table.
Freed turned to Laxus first, coughing and clearing his throat in a closed fist, "explain."
Laxus rolled his eyes, "what is there to explain? Lucy is my girl now and that's that." He leaned back in his chair and pulled the hand out of Lucy's so he could lay his arm across the back of her chair while resting his hand on her shoulder instead.
Freed made a strained sound in the back of his throat and turned to Lucy, knowing that he could probably get more information out of her, "Lucy can you tell us how this came to be?"
Lucy couldn't help the small laugh that bubbled up from her throat, the confusion all three members had in their eyes was just too funny, "Fine, fine. I'll tell you a little. Sparky here," she ignored the three stunned gasps she heard as a result of her nickname for Laxus, and continued, "well, he found me during the storm last night on a roof and we sort of connected. That's pretty much all that happened, he never really asked me to be his girlfriend," at this she turned to shoot a glare at the lightning mage, but it held no heat, "but we kind of came to the conclusion that we would be together now and get to know each other better." She turned back to his team with her famous bright smile, "and there you go. Sparky," more stunned gasps were heard, "and I are now together."
Freed turned back to Laxus with wide eyes, "Laxus-"
Laxus cut him off, "don't even ask why she calls me," he made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat, "Sparky. I don't even know why Blondie here calls me it."
Lucy huffed and crossed her arms, "he just gave you the reason, he calls me Blondie. He's blonde too, so until he gets it right and calls me by my name then he will have to live with being called Sparky. It's a done deal and nothing will stop me unless he correctly uses my name." Her face set into one of resolve and all at the table knew that there was no convincing the girl to rethink her decision.
Laxus chuckled at his girlfriend, "sorry Blondie, but that ain't happening. You're forever Blondie in my books."
"Then get ready to forever be called Sparky, Sparky." Lucy stuck her tongue out at him, only for him to catch it between his thumb and forefinger. She squawked in indignation and tried to pull away.
"I would be careful where you point that tongue, Blondie, unless you plan to use it any time soon." Laxus let out a booming laugh when Lucy's faced turned completely red and she tried with new vigor to try and get her tongue away from him. "Relax, Blondie! I was only kidding!" He finally released her tongue and watched as she slapped him lightly in the chest as punishment.
"Jerk." She mumbled before turning back to the mages they had briefly forgot about, only to find them staring at her and Laxus with wide eyes again and open mouths.
Bickslow couldn't seem to hold himself back any longer, he let his perverted grin light up his face and his long tongue loll out of his mouth, "so, Natsu said earlier that you weren't home Cosplayer, where you two all night long?" His babies flew up at this point and started bobbing up and down around everyone's head chanting and laughing 'where, where.' If the comment came from any other mage, it could probably be taken as innocent, but when it was paired with Bickslow's grin and the underlying innuendo he added, Lucy could only flush in embarrassment.
"Nowhere! I fell asleep and Laxus let me sleep in his bed, okay?! Nothing happened!" She shouted, waving her hands in front of her face. There was a distinct feminine yell of 'babies!' from downstairs where the bar was located, and Master's voice could be heard yelling back 'that's my boy!' Lucy could only groan from mortification and bury her face in her hands.
"Oh-ho! In his bed you say? Laxus, I can't believe your boldness!" Bickslow cackled manically along with his totems and kept his tongue outside of his mouth.
"Bickslow!" Freed yelled, "you know Laxus is better than that!"
Evergreen just tsked and opened her fan to hide half of her face, glancing back and forth between the blondes.
Laxus chuckled lightly, Bickslow was one of the best men he knew, and was used to him adding innuendo's to almost everything he said. It was a lost cause trying to get the man to be serious unless he wished to be, and Laxus could only be grateful that he would make a possibly humorless conversation into something comical, if not a little embarrassing for Lucy. He looked to the girl beside him to see her curled in a complete fetal position on the chair. Okay, maybe a very embarrassing situation for her.
He squeezed the poor girls shoulder to comfort her, "relax, Lucy, he's just trying to get a rise out of us. If you keep reacting to it than he is going to do it all the more." Lucy's head popped up at that and everyone could see how her face was still red.
She turned mortified eyes to Laxus and leaned up to his ear, "you mean he won't stop with that one?" She whispered, her hand coming up to bridge the gap between her mouth and Laxus' cheek so the people across the table couldn't hear.
Another loud laugh escaped Laxus. He leaned back so he could look straight into Lucy's eyes, "trust me, you will never hear the end of it." He turned back to his team, only to take in Freed incredulous expression, "what is it?"
Freed gulped and looked between him and how close Lucy was to him, "are you feeling alright Laxus?"
Now Laxus was confused, he was feeling fine? He faced Lucy, silently asking her if she knew what the Dark Écriture mage was talking about, but only received a shrug in response, he turned back to the green haired man, "feeling fine, why do you ask?"
Freed appeared to blanch at this, "you mean you haven't been drinking or anything?"
Now irritation started to seep into Laxus' expression, the odd thing being that this seemed to relax the man sitting across him. What the hell? Laxus thought in his mind. "I haven't had one drop today. Now tell me, why are you asking?" He growled out, he was done with Freed avoiding his question.
Evergreen chose this point to cut in, snapping her fan shut to tap it on the side of her cheek, her bluntness revealing what she and the two men beside her were thinking, "you are laughing and smiling. It's not like you." She opened her fan again and fluttered it in front of her face.
Laxus scowled at this. Of course they wouldn't understand and think he had to be intoxicated to act like this. He couldn't exactly blame his team mates since he didn't even relax completely around them like he was doing now, but at the same time they didn't have to think that it wasn't like him. He should be allowed to smile and laugh like everyone else if he wanted to.
Lucy watched as Laxus scowled at this comment and thought to herself that that wouldn't do. Not allowing the man anytime to dwindle on the blunt comment from Evergreen, she poked him in the side and waited for his now stern face to look directly at her. He glared at her, and on the inside she felt her heart break a little at the fact that one comment like Evergreen's could make Laxus recede back again, but on the outside she glared right back at him. "Don't you dare," she hissed softly for only him to hear.
When Laxus turned to face Lucy, he didn't let up the new closed off expression he wore, but froze when Lucy matched it to the point. Then he saw the hurt flash across her eyes. Crap. He had told himself just earlier that he would work to stay more open, but he let one comment from Evergreen get to him and closed himself off again. And now he inadvertently hurt Lucy because of it. Well, shit. He knew it was going to take a long time to get to the goal Lucy already has set for him, but he never thought it would be so hard trying to keep himself open when someone pointed out his 'weird' behavior.
Laxus sighed and relaxed his expression, pulling Lucy to his side in the process to give her a half hug and use her as a partial shield again. He knew she forgave him once she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him back. He looked across the table and lightly growled at Evergreen, who looked off to the side, then to Freed whose constant resurfacing shocked expression was getting on his nerves, but didn't glare at Bickslow who still had his pervy grin on his face. "I can act any damn way I want, so get used to it." He heard Lucy giggle slightly at his brash way of trying to cover up his hurt but also not allowing himself close up again, and could only grin when she rewarded him with a kiss on this cheek.
But he wasn't going to allow her to get out of it that easily. He wasn't going to appear whipped so soon without getting something out of it. He reached and grabbed ahold of Lucy's chin, angling it up and sealing his lips to hers. Her surprised squeak was muffled with his mouth and he couldn't help the rumbling chuckle to sound in his chest. Laxus slid his tongue along the seam of his lips, only to bite her bottom lip in retribution when Lucy tried to pull away. He smoothed his tongue over it a moment later when she stropped struggling and finally melted into the kiss, yielding her mouth over to his ministrations, and moaned softly when his tongue delved between her lips.
They had ignored Bickslow's loud laughter until a sharp cry of 'babies' pierced their ears and had them breaking apart to turn towards the tops of the stairs. They found Mira standing there with her hands clasped in front of her chest and her expression glazed over, starting up her chant about what their babies would look like again.
Lucy groaned, she had blissfully forgotten they were in a guild filled with crazy people when Laxus decided to take her breath away with his kiss. Seriously. The man was way too good of a kisser for his own good. Such a talent could probably bring a woman to her knees, and Lucy knew she had to be careful when it came to Laxus kissing her. He could probably ask her to do anything after he took her breath away and in her haze induced mind she wouldn't be able to say no to him. Way too damn good, and way too damn dangerous, she thought.
She turned her focus back to the Take-Over mage, "Mira!" Her yell effectively brought the woman out of her inner ramblings, "was there something you needed?" The moment she finished her question she regretted voicing it. Mira's eyes became determined and stared straight at Lucy with a slightly predatory grin lifting her mouth. Her stalking stride brought her up to the table and she planted her hands firmly in front of Lucy.
Leaning forward so their faces were only a couple inches apart, she spoke, "there is a strawberry smoothie down at the bar with your name on it Lucy. I suggest you come back down with me before it melts too much." The tone of Mira's voice made it clear that this was no mere suggestion, but a demand that promised punishment if Lucy decided not to follow through.
Lucy gulped and looked up to her boyfriend, she laughed sheepishly and asked, "what do you say, Laxus? Want to come downstairs with me to the bar?"
Mira spoke again before Laxus could, "oh no, Lucy dear, I only fixed you a drink, and Laxus is needed up here with his team." Mira flicked her gaze to Laxus and narrowed her eyes into a glare, daring him to go against her.
Laxus just chuckled and pulled his arm from around Lucy, "your own your own, Blondie. You heard the woman, only one drink is down there for you. Besides, I doubt my team is done with me so soon."
Mira squealed happily and pulled Lucy up from her chair and started dragging her to the stairs, ignoring the way the blonde dug her heels into the wood of the floor.
Right as they reached the steps Lucy spotted the bar, and saw a congregation of girls surrounding it. She whipped her head around to Laxus to give him her fiercest glare, "you traitor!" The glare didn't have its desired effect when her boyfriend only laughed out loud at her predicament. "I'll get you for this later, that's a promise." That shut the man up quickly, but by this time Lucy submitted herself to her fate and let the demon matchmaker drag her down the stairs. Lucy walked scared. Resigned. Prepared. Or at least she hoped she was.
So? How's the progress of this story going for all of you? Is it meeting everyone's expectations? Should I work more to make each chapter better? Do you like the events going on in the story? Anything I need to work on to get better at? Leave a review and tell me! Anything you have to say helps me write better for you next time.
I know the guild confrontation is kind of a big deal in this part of story, so I want to know if you all think I did a passing job on writing the scene. And there is obviously more to come! Poor Lucy, being left to face the girls alone by Laxus. She was at least nice enough to come to his aid when he went to see his team, even though it kind of backfired on her a bit when Bickslow embarrassed her...
Until next time my lovely readers!