Hi all, hope you enjoyed the first chapter, because here's chapter 2! Despite the story being set after the year-long disbandment of Fairy Tail, I've kinda kept Wendy a little younger than what she should be here, mostly to fit the narrative, and because tiny Wendy is adorable Wendy.
Lucy was utterly dumbfounded. Wendy had walked in, and without saying a word, had stalked over to the bar, launched herself into Lucy's arms, and collapsed on her in a puddle of tears.
"It's okay, Wendy, you're okay." She soothed, running her hands up and down the bluenette's back. Cana had pulled herself up from behind the bar with a groan, and gave Lucy a look that screamed 'What on Earthland is going on?', and Lucy could only shrug helplessly.
"What's going on, Wendy? Who made you cry?" Erza demanded from the next chair, dark eyes scanning the guild hall. Wendy let out a sob, and finally pulled her face away from Lucy's neck.
"N-Nobody!" She wailed, and squeezed Lucy tighter. "I d-don't know what's going on, I-I'm so confused!" She dived back into Lucy's neck, and audibly sniffed, the scent relaxing her again.
"You smell so good, so much more than you normally do, and it makes me want to take you away from here and keep you safe, and I don't know why it's happening!" She mumbled into Lucy's neck, rubbing her face over what exposed skin she could reach. Lucy's eyes widened, and she stared down at the youngest dragon slayer in her arms. What? What did she just say? Oh, hell no! She thought, panic starting to course through her.
"Sky Maiden's right." A rough voice cut through the panic, and Lucy's eyes flashed up to meet Gajeel's.
"Gaj? What's going on?" Levy asked softly, tracing her fingers over his. He glanced down at her, gaze softening for a moment.
"Bunny's scent changed sometime in the last week, probably when she was on her job." He stopped, and discreetly sniffed the air. He could smell what Wendy could, and he was very glad the scent, while still utterly intoxicating, to him meant 'sister'.
"And?" Mira prompted, blue eyes on the gruff dragon slayer.
"It's a good thing Salamander wasn't around, or he might have marked you." Gajeel remarked, watching Wendy consider his words, and freeze. I don't know what that is, but I don't like it. She thought grimly, fierce brown eyes met his.
"Nobody is marking my big sister." Wendy hissed at him, and he nodded his approval at her.
"M-Marking? Should I be worried? I feel like I should be worried. Also, where is Natsu?" Lucy asked shakily, glancing back and forth between the two dragon slayers. Gajeel met her eyes again.
"It's a dragon thing. Let's take this upstairs, there's too many ears listening." He pushed back his stool and stood, glancing down at Levy.
"C'mon, Shrimp." A hint of a smile flitted across his face as the solid script mage beamed up at him, and she slipped off her stool as well. Mira shifted, and glanced to the side as Lisanna walked up to the group, cheerfully greeting them all.
"Morning Lisanna!" Mira replied, smiling at her sister. "Do you know where Natsu is? Lucy just got back." Lisanna glanced at Lucy for a moment, then turned back to her sister.
"He's gone fishing with Happy for the day. Do you need me to get him?" She asked, tapping a finger against her chin.
"No, that's okay. The Thunder Legion should be back at some point later today, or early tomorrow as well." Mira mused, taking the few steps to the coffee machine to begin the brew.
"Do we need to keep Lucy away from the dragon slayers, Gajeel?" Erza asked, eyebrows furrowing into a frown, taking Mira's questioning to the next logical step. Lisanna frowned, and Lucy carefully slipped from her stool, taking Wendy with her.
"What's going on?" The takeover mage asked, glancing between Lucy, Wendy who was still attached to Lucy, Gajeel, Erza, and her sister. When nobody answered, she huffed a sigh.
"I can't help if I don't know what's going on." She elaborated, turning speculative blue eyes on Lucy. The blonde gave her a sympathetic look.
"I don't even know what's going on, sorry." Lucy shrugged, and Lisanna frowned thoughtfully. Before she could say anything else, the doors swung open again, and the group automatically turned to see who had walked in.
The group were hooded and cloaked, but as soon as the doors shut behind them, hoods were thrown back, and everyone's eyes honed in on bright blue.
"Jellal." Erza breathed, rising to her feet, fingers dropping from her teacup. Wendy finally let go of Lucy as the redhead passed her, and turned towards the newcomers. Determined eyes searched them until they met a single, violet eye that was flicking back and forth between the bluenette and the blonde. Meredy had already started bouncing away from the group, having spotted Juvia, Richard and Sorano following. Sawyer smirked as he caught sight of Jet, and sauntered over. Cobra smirked, and glided forwards.
Erza faltered as she caught sight of Cobra, turning to see his line of sight, and frowned. Lucy. Of course. She turned back to Jellal and gave him an apologetic smile as she stepped back to the group of women at the bar. They were all standing now, some ready to move upstairs for a discussion, some, like Cana, ready to ask for another drink. Bisca had joined them at the bar, waiting for coffee, and struck up a conversation with the brunette.
Cobra threaded his way through them, intent on his prize. He'd heard Wendy's confusion, Gajeel's understanding, and a small part of him wished he'd been taught by a dragon, instead of relying on the lacrima that had been forcibly implanted in his chest. If he had, then maybe he'd understand better exactly what was going on, and exactly why his dragon was screaming at him to hunt down and bite the pretty blonde before fucking her into next week. He'd never been interested in women, or men, before, although he knew what it was like. He could hear it every time they got close to a town, and the giddy excitement of couples in love or infatuation irritated him beyond belief.
Finally, he was standing before her, and every breath drew in more of her delectable, intoxicating scent. She was confused, concerned, intimidated, and just the tiniest bit aroused. She could smell him, and to her, the scent was good. He could work with that. He smirked at her, and caught deft fingers just under her chin, gently forcing her to look him in the eye. Her eyes widened as she found the heat behind his gaze, as if he were ready to devour her. A light blush dusted across her cheeks, her lips parted, and he leaned in closer.
"Bright Eyes." He breathed, angling his face to hers. Her eyes darkened, and her gaze was heavy on his lips. His kiss never landed and he went flying, belatedly hearing the smallest dragon slayer letting out a roar at him. He crumpled at Jellal's feet, and looked up, snarling at the Sky dragon slayer, who was glaring back at him.
"I won't let you touch my big sister!" Her voice was high, shrill, and caught the attention of everyone in the guild hall. Lucy was staring back at him in mild horror, and he didn't need to hear her soul to know she was simultaneously walking back through exactly what happened, and analysing every faucet of the situation. Did he seriously just walk in like he owns the place and try to kiss me? Why? Why would he do something like that? Why did I want to let him kiss me? Oh man, I'm so confused. The blonde thought, and her hands shook from the adrenaline washing through her.
The group of women had turned back around to him, faces grim as he felt Midnight kneel at his side.
"Erik, we have to fall back. We're not going to win this one." The reflector mage murmured to his oldest friend, and Cobra had to agree. Wendy had taken point, ready to roar at him again. Flanking her was Erza, with that damnable hammer, and Bisca, whose rifle had come up, trained on them. He could hear her determination not to let her bullet be deflected like last time. Levy had her pen at the ready, magic pooling at her fingertips, and Cana had jumped off the bar, several cards in hand. Even Mira had jumped the bar and stood next to her sister, ready to change into her Satan's soul form and fling herself into battle if the need arose.
He could hear the murmurs of the men around the hall as they were surrounded, but it was the women in front of him, determined to protect one of their own, that made him fall back. He stood, solitary eye trained on Lucy, before he turned on his heel and made his way to the main door, Midnight at his side. He needed time to think, to plan, and he wouldn't get that if he flung himself into a fight.
The first dragon slayer to enter the arena is Cobra! Whatever will he do to earn Lucy's affection? Find out next time!