Nobody's asked for a Gajeel/Levy companion piece, but I think I'll write it anyway. Now that I've actually made it to the Alvarez arc, it's given me some additional insight as to their relationship, and I'm going to have fun with it. To be honest, I wrote this fic whilst I was still going through the Tartaros arc, so the Wiki was really helpful, but it doesn't give you everything.
The chapters do start to get longer after this one, so we get to have fun with that. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and the next one will be out Wednesday night Australian time.
Lucy blearily opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling, slowly blinking away the mental fog. This isn't my apartment. She thought, and a small frown crossed her face. The memory of the day flooded back to her, and her eyes widened. Did I pass out? This is the infirmary. Shifting, she started looking around the room to find Wendy and Erza watching her, and Carla sitting on the end of the bed.
"It wasn't a dream, was it?" She asked in resignation, closing her eyes again.
"Sorry, Lucy." Wendy whispered, clasping her hands together. Lucy made a distressed noise, and pulled the covers up to her nose.
"Levy is ready to create a barrier around your apartment to prevent them from entering." Erza told her, a smile tugging at her lips as the blonde turned hopeful eyes to her friends.
"We thought you might enjoy the privacy." The redhead continued, satisfied that colour was flowing back into Lucy's face.
"Thanks, you guys." Lucy smiled, although it was thin, strained. "I should probably get home." She sat up, pushing the covers off, and swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"You really should have something to eat. It is lunchtime, after all." Carla commented, jumping down from the bed. Lucy looked down at the Exceed, and nodded.
"Alright, I'll have something quick at the bar. If Levy's still here, I'll walk with her back home." She agreed, missing the relief in Wendy's eyes. The door opened, and the group looked up, Erza half out of her seat with a sword suddenly in hand. Her concern was for naught, and she relaxed as Makarov entered, sharp eyes assessing the room.
"How are you feeling, child?" He rumbled.
"Much better, thanks Gramps." Lucy replied, standing up. Erza quickly produced the boots the blonde had been wearing earlier and handed them over.
"Can I ask you for a favour, Lucy?" The old man asked. At her nod, he continued.
"Could I borrow one or both of your sleeves? Both Natsu and Laxus need to know what they're dealing with before they see you, and I don't want to put you in any danger." His eyebrows furrowed, and a troubled look passed over his face. Lucy blinked at her guild master a few times, looked at her detachable sleeves, then shrugged.
"Sure." She replied simply, and unbuckled the fabric from her arms.
"Would you mind placing them in my office? I don't want to muddy the scent." He added, and the blonde nodded, following him out of the room.
A few minutes later found Lucy at the bar, ordering lunch from Kinana. The purple-haired woman smiled brightly at her, and Lucy had retreated with her lunch to a table near an open door away from the main entrance, in case she needed a quick escape. She was quickly joined by her team, Wendy quietly bullying Gray out of his seat so she could sit next to her sister. There was little conversation as she ate, and they barely noticed the front doors quietly opening and shutting.
The commotion at the entrance to the guild was the first indication something was wrong. There was shouting, a chair was flung across the room, and then Master Makarov was five times his usual size, shouting at everyone to settle down.
"Brats, we have visitors! I won't tolerate foolish nonsense, now let's give our guests a Fairy Tail welcome!" He thundered, and the guild erupted in cheers. Looking up to see who they were, Lucy's eyes met guilty brown, and Yukino mouthed an apology to her from across the room. A cross-wind blew in from the door behind her, blonde hair ruffling in the breeze, and the twin dragon slayers of Sabertooth flanking her fellow celestial wizard turned as one to look in her direction. Matching smiles slowly spread across their faces, sharp and hungry, and even at distance, she could tell their eyes were gleaming. Lucy's eyes widened, and she knew then that she was utterly, utterly screwed. They're here. There're all here. I won't be able to get out of this one. She thought, clamping down on the bubbling hysteria, and her hands tightened on her cutlery.
Before they could move more than a step or two, they were waylaid by Makarov, who called them over to the bar for a drink, leaving Yukino and an appraising Rufus staring in Lucy's direction. As the white-haired celestial mage rushed over, the blond memory-make mage smirked at her before heading over to the bar himself, and Gray made a derisive noise.
"Is he trying to get his ass kicked again?" He commented, and Erza hummed her assent.
"Lucy, I'm so sorry, please forgive me." Yukino stressed in a low voice as she reached the table. Her brown eyes held guilt and worry, and she glanced over her shoulder at the bar. Rogue was watching them. Yukino squeaked, and he looked amused.
"For what… Okay, time to get out of here." Lucy muttered, standing up abruptly as she eyed the bar. The table got up with her, and she looked down at Wendy.
"Can you please tell Levy and Gajeel we're leaving?" She pleaded, relief washing through her as Wendy nodded, and darted away from the table, Carla trailing behind the bluenette.
The remainder of the group made a swift exit through the side door, and quickly made their way to Strawberry Street, Gray with his arms loose by his side, and Erza scanning for threats, a formidable expression in her eyes. Yukino walked silently beside Lucy, shoulders slightly hunched.
Making it to Lucy's apartment without incident, the blonde stopped dead at the sight of the cupcakes on her dining table. They looked good, golden brown where she could see cake, and the purple frosting was swirled to perfection. There was a scrap of paper beside them, and she moved towards the table, blood rushing in her ears. Numb fingers picked up the note, and she let out a hysterical bark of laughter, wondering if she'd pass out for the second time that day.
"Lucy, what is it?" Erza asked, moving forward. Lucy handed her the note, and Erza's eyes widened. The lettering was shaky and a little childish, as if the writer was unused to putting pen to paper, but still far more legible than her own, not that she'd ever admit that out loud. Sorry for scaring you at the guild. – Erik. Her eyes travelled from the cupcakes back to her teammate.
"He made you apology cupcakes?" She asked faintly, setting the note back to the table. Yukino tilted her head in question, eyes flicking back and forth between the Fairy Tail mages.
"Who made you cupcakes?" She prompted, and Lucy swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Cobra. His real name is Erik." The blonde replied shakily, and moved to sit in her favourite armchair. Yukino frowned. So all the dragon slayers are in Magnolia. This will be more difficult than I thought. She moved further into the room, and sat on the small couch opposite Lucy.
Before she could open her mouth to ask why cupcakes, the door slammed open, Erza raising a freshly re-quipped sword for defence. Wendy bounced into the room, followed quickly by Levy and Gajeel.
"Lu, everything okay?" Levy called out to her friend, and Lucy twisted in her seat to give the bluenette a thumbs up.
"Cobra brought Lucy cupcakes." Erza told her, amusement seeping into her tone, and Levy's eyebrows skyrocketed. Gajeel's eyes zeroed in on the treats, and he picked one up, sniffing it.
"Smells okay." He reported, then took a bite. His eyes closed in bliss as he chewed, opening them again to pin Lucy with a ruby stare.
"You should have one, Bunny-girl, they're damn good. I guess that's one point in sulphur-breath's favour, dude clearly knows his way around a kitchen, gihi." He chuckled, stuffing the rest of the cupcake in his mouth, eyeing the kitchenette against the far wall.
"Hey, I know how to cook!" She protested, waving her arms at him. He grinned at her around a mouthful of cake, and she grimaced in distaste.
"Lucy's a great cook." Gray agreed, and Erza caught him by his ear.
"Put your pants back on." She hissed at the ice mage, and his eyes widened comically, glancing down at himself before lunging out of Erza's iron grip for the pants on Lucy's dresser. Yukino blushed and averted her eyes as he dressed himself quickly, the Fairy Tail mages far too used to Gray unconsciously losing his clothes to do much more than roll their eyes.
"I agree with you, Gray, but it's important for everyone to learn how to cook and clean. If Lucy doesn't have to do it all, that's a point in her suitor's favour." The redhead continued as if she hadn't just tried to rip off her teammate's ear, tapping her chin thoughtfully. The room considered her point, and generally they nodded in agreement.
"Alright, let's get started. Wendy, Gaj, you might want to leave, because I'm not as good as Freed, and making exceptions will take too long. Lu needs protection yesterday." Levy pulled out a textbook and a pen from her bag, wandered over to the window, and began reading, muttering to herself.
"Do I have to?" Wendy whined, looking around the room. Gajeel leaned over and patted her on the head.
"C'mon Squirt, Shrimp can write in an exception for you tomorrow." He told her, and the bluenette's eyes brightened. She bounced over to Lucy and hugged her, getting a good sniff in for the road before waving to the others on their way out the door. Lucy turned back around in her armchair, and studied her fellow celestial mage with suspicion.
The Sabertooth dragon slayers have made their appearance, Cobra's started making his play with the best cupcakes Lucy's ever eaten, and Gray loses his pants! Yukino's interrogation is up next in 'Lucy and the Dragon Slayers'! Please review, and maybe I'll make some cupcakes. See you next time!