Chapter Sixteen
Erza and Gray slowly approached the door of the shop. It was laying on the street and they could hear arguing. Erza pulled her sword up in front of her and Gray clenched his right fist and ice erupted along his arm like spikes.
"Please! I'm a Fire Dragis. I've got this. Got this my ass!"
"Come on Luce!"
"It's Lucy to you! You salmon headed moron!" Erza and Gray raced in and stared in confusion. Natsu was sitting on the counter; bandages on his face, neck and torso and Lucy was throwing Shadowcrawler shurikens at him. Her face was bright with anger and she had one lone scratch on her right cheek.
"Uh…what happened?" Gray asked and Lucy spun on her heel.
"That idiot is what happened!"
"Sounds about right for Natsu." Gray dodged as Natsu threw a box of some deteriorated items at him. "Can you be more specific."
"He took on thirteen Draconics on his own. That's what."
"Suicidal much?" Erza asked and looked at the male. He didn't look capable of taking that many on. She had witnessed Gray taking on two at a time and handling it. But a third always ended up with him in trouble. Natsu shrugged and Gray looked from his fellow Dragis to Lucy and back.
"And the scratch on your cheek?"
"Fireshooter claw." She said and hitched her thumb at Natsu. "He got himself knocked unconscious after taking out five of the thirteen so I had to wade into the melee and save his ass."
"Ohhh…I can't wait to watch that footage." Gray laughed, doubling over and Natsu's ears darkened and the scales on his face turned a brighter shade of red. Erza stared at Lucy and didn't know if she wanted to congratulate her for taking on the remaining eight or not.
"How did you take on eight?"
"I didn't. I like breathing." She crossed her arms under her chest. "I picked up some discarded shurikens and threw them at the Silverbacks and the Fireshooters and watched them turn on each other. The remaining Draconics started fighting and left the area."
"Nice strategy." Gray said straightening. Lucy stormed over to Erza and grabbed her arm. "Come on, the boxes are in the Magi-Hover. Gray can help Natsu clean up the mess in there."
"Hey I didn't…" Gray started to object and Lucy turned around and marched up to him and snarled in his face.
"Did I ask what you wanted to do?"
"No ma'am! I'll help Natsu clean up in here!" He jerked back and Lucy spun on her heel and dragged Erza out. Erza giggled the entire way to the Magi-Hover.
"What is so funny?"
"I've never seen you so angry. And both Dragis just cowered like newborn babies. Oh that was priceless." Lucy's lip quirked as she gently tapped on the hidden panel of the Magi-Hover. The door slid open and Erza watched.
"How did you know it was there? I can't see them."
"I marked the ground outside the door." She said and pointed down. Erza glanced down and saw a small square with a circle overlaying it.
"Nice trick." Lucy came out with the boxes and they headed back to the store. The door was now propped up against the wall. Erza started to cackle as Gray and Natsu bumped into each other as they fought over the one broom they'd found.
Lucy and Erza chose to ignore them and started going along the shelves. Gray and Natsu ended up standing outside the door, growling to one another. When Lucy and Erza filled up a box they left it by the door and one of the guys would cart it off. After about two hours they'd gone through the entire store and the back storage area. Lucy climbed behind the counter and and Erza looked over at her.
"What are you looking for?"
"A key."
"A key to what?"
"That door right there." Lucy said and pointed at the door opposite the counter. Erza realized she hadn't noticed it. Two shelves blocked the view of it for the most part.
"Don't bother. I got this." She walked over and pulled a knife out of a sheath on her waist and wiggled it near the door handle. She stepped back and kicked, shoving the blade through the latch. The door swung in. Natsu and Gray were immediately there; and while the girls wanted to balk they let the Dragis go in first.
"Looks like an office and a set of stairs." Gray said and Lucy looked around and then to Erza.
"Want to see what's up there?"
"Might as well." Erza said and she took the lead with Lucy right on her tail. Natsu and Gray followed quickly. At the top of the stairs was an unlocked door. Erza pushed through and they stopped and stared.
"Whoa." Lucy and Erza gasped in unison.
"What is all this?" Gray asked and tapped on something.
"Drug den." Lucy said and Gray looked at her. "Humans cook chemicals together that alter their mental state."
"Why?"
"Fun, escape, pain management, depression, survival. Take your pick." Lucy turned to step around a table and screamed and spun around, burying her face into Natsu's chest. He wrapped his arms around her and spun her away, in case there was danger. Gray stepped forward and looked and then jerked back. Erza stepped forward but he stopped her.
"Some things shouldn't be seen." She swallowed and nodded.
"I don't think we need anything here." Erza stated but Lucy caught her wrist. "I'm all for repurposing but…"
"Lighters. Fuel. There may be some things worth salvaging. Then when we leave, we blow this up. I don't want Raiders finding this."
"That is something I can get behind." Erza agreed and stared looking around the room. Gray and Natsu watched as the two females worked efficiently and they ended up carrying down two boxes of random bits and pieces that they deemed worth saving.
"Natsu…you heard Lucy. Blow it up. But keep it small enough that you don't take out the entire block."
"Spoil sport." Natsu nodded and watched as Lucy climbed into the Magi-Hover. Gray punched his shoulder and he nodded and turned back to the building.
"Is Lucy going to be okay?" Gray asked as he plotted a course back to the library. Erza was seated on his bench as she cleaned her sword and knives and daggers. She was a monster when she started fighting. He hadn't been able to keep her in the Magi-Hover and after witnessing her fighting; he decided he never wanted to go up against her in a fight. She'd cut through Draconic after Draconic like it was a game.
"Since I don't know what she saw, I can't say for sure. But overall, I'm sure she will. She just may have nightmares for a few nights."
"Nightmares?"
"Bad dreams." Erza stated and laid the blades out on the bench to dry. She swung her feet over and set them on the floor. Gray's Magi-Hover was different than Natsu's. Natsu's was stark and barren but Gray's had a blue tone to the walls and even the bench cushion was blue. On the cabinets and drawers were paintings and drawings he'd picked up from abandoned homes. Not all of them were from earth. Their textures, colors and subjects too different to be from this planet.
"I see." He sighed. "I wish she hadn't seen that."
"What was it?"
"Dead body." He sighed again and Erza tilted her head. "He'd been burnt and partially cut apart. Not Draconic."
"Oh." She gagged a little and shook her head. "Probably pissed off his boss. Drug dealers weren't known for being civil."
"Tell me Erza, what was your role before the Draconic invasion?" Erza tilted her head back and thought about it. She'd already picked up how Gray didn't know much about Earth culture.
"I was a student." He looked at her and she smiled. "I had an ROTC scholarship—pre-military training."
"Pre-military?"
"Yeah, to help show teenagers what they'd have to look forward to if they enlisted." She said and leaned back on her arms. "I'm an orphan. Grew up in orphanages, never adopted. ROTC and fencing were the only way I could afford the tuition of Magnolia University. I planned on enlisting into either the Army or the Marines. Serve my country."
"Instead you were enlisted to fight Draconics." Gray sounded remorseful.
"I might not have been able to save the whole country. But I could help keep the girls I lived with safe. That was worthwhile." Erza said and sighed. "Not all of them. We were so naive at the start. The screams of those we couldn't save will haunt us the rest of our lives."
"The screams and the scent of death is something we can't escape either." Gray looked at his hands. Erza nodded. She understood. They sat in silence for a while.
"So," Erza rolled her head on her shoulders. "What about you?"
"I was also orphaned." He said and looked down at his hands, flexing his hands so his claws came out. "A demon destroyed my village up in the mountains. A Dragis merchant found me and took me in. She raised me until…"
"The Draconics."
"Exactly." He nodded. "Been with the Guild Station ever sense. Working to save as many people as possible."
"Guess no matter how different some people might be, what worlds they come from; pain is the same."
"Seems that way." Erza licked her lips and he stood up and opened a cabinet. Handed her a bottle of water and sat down with one of his own. "Do you trust us a little more?"
"Yeah. You all have proven you can be trusted." Erza smiled and he relaxed a little. "Were you worried?"
"Of course I was worried. I saw you take on the Draconics like a pissed off Grankwik. I don't want to be on your bad side."
"I don't know what that is, but okay." She smiled a little and he grinned.
"Why is Lucy mad at Natsu?"
"He tried to take on thirteen Draconics singlehandedly." Erza stated in amusement.
"Ooof." Levy winced as Lucy spun around on a step and kicked Natsu who stumbled backwards. She stormed up the stairs as he wheezed and followed her with his eyes. Cana walked over and held out half of her chocolate bar. He shook his head and she raised an eyebrow.
"I don't share chocolate lightly."
"I haven't earned chocolate." Natsu sighed heavily. Laxus walked over tapping on his universal communicator.
"How many did you take out?"
"Five before a Launcher Silverback head butted me."
"That poor Silverback." Lisanna murmured and he whipped his head around but she was focusing intently on whatever Laxus was projecting from his communicator. Cana, Levy and Elfman chuckled at his expense.
"Check it out. Natsu took out two Shadowcrawlers with one wing attack." Sting was excited as he watched the video. Sure enough the two Shadowcrawlers who hadn't managed to get out of the way didn't survive the fire attack.
"And that Fireshooter got his left thigh." Laxus said and Wendy immediately was by Natsu's side.
"But he got him back with a talon slash." Rouge pointed out.
"He did well, but that Launcher…he was watching. Waiting."
"Draconics aren't that smart. They run off of baser instincts. That's why they're so dangerous." Sting said and Laxus frowned.
"Mard was probably controlling that one." Gajeel said and they all looked over at him. He lifted his head and they frowned. "We know he can. We learned that on the planet Hakobe."
"I was hoping that was a one off." Laxus snarled and his fangs lengthened. Wendy growled softly and he shook himself. "I'll report that to the old man in person."
"Look at Lucy!" Yukino murmured and they turned back to the projection. Lucy appeared in the frame, leaping from something high and bringing her pipe-shuriken weapon down; slicing the throat of a Fireshooter as it prepared to spit flames. Blood and a lava-like liquid spilled out, bubbling on the concrete. Lucy rolled, coming up and swinging the weapon like a ball bat, knocking a Shadowcrawler on its side. She shook Natsu who didn't move.
Laxus zoomed in on her face and they saw the panic and tears as she watched the Draconics circling. Then a calmness took over her and she stood up. The suit shimmered and covered her face into a helmet with horns twisting to the back of her head, and it turned a red color. She twirled her weapon and feinted left as a Silverback leapt at her right. She barreled into the side of the Launcher that had head butted Natsu and it tell over onto a Shadowcrawler who snapped its jaws onto its throat. Lucy had then spun around and whirled her weapon, shredding the wings of an advancing Shadowcrawler; its shurikens fell out onto the ground, coated in its blood. It roared backwards, starling the other Dracoics. Lucy scooped up several shurikens and threw them at the other Draconics. They turned on each other and she raced to Natsu. She pulled him up onto her back and started running for the Magi-Hover.
The Launcher appeared, half its throat missing. It swung its poisoned tail at her and she pushed Natsu's limp form away and jumped up, barely missing the barbed tail. The Launcher moved her head butt her, but she turned at the last moment and shoved her weapon into the gaping wound on its throat and jerked. The rest of the tendons and muscles were sliced clean and its head rolled away and its body fell backwards. Lucy dropped to her knees, breathing hard. The helmet receded and her sweaty face was in view as she gasped for air.
"That's for Natsu you bastard." She grunted as she got to her feet and stumbled over to him. "Natsu…I could really use you waking up now please."
Natsu flinched watching as she struggled to wake up him but his limp form didn't move. She'd wrapped his arms around her neck, her suit making straps over his arms and waist to help her hold him as she carried her weapon in her hands and carried him towards his Magi-Hover. Right as they got within feet of it; a Fireshooter appeared.
"Really? I've already got one stupid fire idiot to deal with. Now you gotta pop up?" She asked breathlessly. She turned and the suit dropped Natsu who leaned against the Magi-Hover and was lost out of sight. Lucy faced off with the Fireshooter. The Scalut turned a brighter red as the Fireshooter lopped a fireball at her.
Everyone gasped as Lucy was lost from view, but then she appeared; helmet on; and the flames receding into the suit. Lucy charged and made to leap but at the last second slid under its belly. Its claw turned, scraping the helmet and her weapon tore open its softer underbelly. Suddenly an Aerial Silverback shot down, grabbing it and flying off. Lucy fell backwards as the clap of the wings sent air ramming into her. She rolled out of the way as it's barbed tail nearly got her.
The last of the video was her walking towards Natsu and the Scalut's helmet; with a jagged slash on the right cheek, melted down her neck and showed the blood running down her cheek.
"Natsu…You'd better not die or I'm bringing you back and killing you myself for putting me through this."
"I think you owe her more than an apology." Gajeel said and whistled as the video stopped playing. Natsu's shoulders slumped and he clenched his eyes shut tight. Wendy patted his shoulder.
'I'll go check on her. Maybe you should go wash in your Magi-Hover."
"And clean it." He looked at Cana. "After you wash, clean whatever you use to wash. And before you talk to Lucy; let her wash. Girls calm down after a bath or a shower."
"But make sure she knows how to use." Levy interrupted. "Nothing is more annoying than not knowing how to work a strange shower's knobs."
"Fair point." Cana nodded and Natsu ran his hands over his face. Wendy growled and he responded and then got off of the floor and dragged himself out of the library.
"I feel bad for him."
"Oh yeah, I second that Kinana." Yuikno shook her head as she watched him walk out. "But did you see Lucy? That was some Kill Bill kinda stuff."
"For real. I thought Zaza was the only one who could do that kinda stuff."
"Hey, Lucy is the only one who took me up on training in the last two years." Erza defended herself.
"What is Kill Bill?" Rouge asked and Yukino giggled.
"It's a movie based off of a comic book."
"Graphic novel." One of the other girls corrected and Yuikno nodded.
"What, what, what?" Sting asked giving voice to the Dragis confusion.
"Movies, are kinda like what Laxus just showed us. But they are filmed at one point at time and edited and then shown in theaters or you could stream them at home." Yukino smiled widely.
"Comics are small paper books but their stories are more pictures than words." Levy explained and they nodded. "Graphic novels are typically large than comics and have more of a book vibe. Comics are for quick reading."
"Interesting." Rouge said and rubbed his chin.
"This library has a good selection of both. I'll bring some over." The girl who had pointed out the difference was, offered. She disappeared out of view and Levy watched as Wendy came down the stairs.
"She wouldn't let me near her." The young Dragis deflated and looked at her hands. Levy patted her shoulder.
"It's not personal. She's angry. And she doesn't want to say or do anything that she'll regret. Especially to you since you weren't involved."
"I'll go talk to her." Laxus said and started up the stairs but Erza caught his arm and shook her head. "We can't have tension when we need to work together."
"Let me explain human women." Erza said calmly. "You tell us to calm down…we will get angrier. You tell us it's all in our heads. We will get angrier. You tell us to let it go, we will get angrier. You tell us to grow up…"
"You will get angrier?" Laxus asked wearily.
"Exactly. And right now, Lucy is beyond angry. You push her over the edge and she might do bodily harm. And I don't want Wendy having to wear herself out; when it can be avoided by you letting Lucy have her space."
"Fine." He sat down at one of the tables and crossed his arms over his chest. Mira giggled softly and he glared at her.
"I think Levy is right, you are basically Lucy's big brother. Your giving her the space she needs even when you don't want to. It's sweet."
"I'm not sweet woman." Laxus snarled and Mira just giggled and shook her head. Some time passed in silence. Rouge, Sting, Gajeel, Gray and Wendy were introduced to comics and graphic novels by the girls while Laxus spoke with Mira, Cana and Erza. He straightened when Natsu slowly walked by everyone and headed up the stairs. Even freshly cleaned he looked somber and downcast.
"He looks like a puppy who got yelled at." Levy murmured and Cana nodded.
"Wonder if Lucy is gonna give in to the puppy-dragon eyes?"
"Depends if she's calmed down or not." Erza said and shook her head. "He's got a chance though. She did save his life."
Natsu stopped and stared. Lucy was curled up in a chair, a book slipping from her fingers as her head rested against the corner she'd pushed the chair into. Her eyes were closed, her mouth had fallen open every so slightly and she was breathing evenly. He knelt in front of her, then sat back on his heels. The scratch on her cheek was still there; meaning she'd refused Wendy's offer to heal her. He winced.
It was rare for any attack to get through a Scalut. Usually it meant the wearer was wavering in their thoughts. What had gone through her head that she'd lose focus? He'd replayed the video in his Magi-Hover; trying to figure out what had caused it. But it wasn't anything external. At least not that he could see.
"Hmmmh." Lucy's breathing picked up and her eyes danced under her lashes. He frowned. Her lips quivered and her entire body tightened. "No!"
She jerked up, the book falling towards the floor and her eyes shooting open as she moved instinctually. He caught the book and watched as her gaze landed on him. He watched as emotions flittered across her face; fear, anger, then something he couldn't name. Before he could offer her the book; she launched herself at him. He fell back on his back, her arms around his neck and her body half across his; and he felt her breathing warm on his chin and cheek.
"Luce?"
"I'm still angry at you." She squeezed tighter onto his neck. He hesitated for a few seconds before wrapping his arms around her and ran his hands up and down her back.
"Do you…want to bathe?" He asked after her breathing slowed down and her arms relaxed a bit. She lifted her head and looked down at him. "Levy and Cana said you'd probably like to and might calm down some."
He felt his cheeks burn a little as she stared at him and when she lowered her head back to the crook of his neck he released the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He turned his head and put his chin on her head. He closed his eyes and focused on her breathing. The breaths were still slightly faster than he would like; but she'd seen him fall in battle; she'd been attacked, she'd been startled by the dead body in the attic room, and she was no doubt still tired. Her rest hadn't been the best since they met.
"I'd like to clean up." Her voice was small. He lifted his chin and started to sit up. When they were both sitting upright she dropped her arms and he sighed. She looked at him through her lashes and he grabbed her hands and lifted them and held them to his chest.
"I'm sorry."
"You should be."
"I should have waited for Gray to arrive before fighting them."
"Or had me helping from the start."
"Or had you helping from the start." He conceded. "I just don't want you in danger."
"So you never intended to ask that I be able to come back down and help with the rest of the extractions?"
"No, I meant that." He shook his head. She tried to pull free but he held tight. "I meant that. Its…"
"You don't get to have your cake and eat it too."
"What cake?" He looked around and she snickered. He looked back at her, his head tilted in question.
"It's a phrase here. It means you don't get to have something your way and expect people to just go along with it if they don't agree with you."
"Oh…okay." He looked confused and his brows drew together. He shook his head. "Ummm…."
"You don't get to say I can help you; but then lock me in the shuttle."
"Magi-Hover."
"You know what I mean." She pushed against him in annoyance. "Either you let me help, and really let me; or I might as well stay on the Guild Station and be useful."
"But Luce…"
"You still haven't earned the right to use a nickname right now." She shook her head. "And I don't care if you don't like it. Do you think I liked watching you try and take on thirteen Draconics alone? Do you think I liked watching you get hurt?"
"No but…"
"But what? I'm human and too weak? Because I hate to point it out…but I wasn't the one who was knocked out. No…even if we take that off the table…I got away with one scratch. You got hurt worse."
"I understand but…"
"But nothing." Lucy's voice wavered and he looked up at her eyes. There was a fire in them; even as tears escaped at the corners of her eyes. "Either you treat me as an equal or you and I…aren't going to be anything."
"What do you mean by that?" His voice was hoarse, his throat dry and his heart clenched.
"Either you treat me like you do Gray and Wendy; or I'll give you back your Scalut and when we get to the Guild Station; we'll part ways. For good."
Natsu swallowed hard. His breathing was picking up. He felt her fingers clench, scratching his chest. She tried to pull free but his hands were holding her still. His mind went blank.
"N…"
"As…"
"Flm…" Sounds were swirling through his mind but he couldn't make them out. Suddenly he felt something cool and darkness started to creep in at the corners of his mind. He blinked and watched as darkness started to creep in on Lucy. Lucy whose eyes were wide with concern as the Scalut was removing the helmet it had formed at some point. The last thing he saw was a tear tracking down her face as she leaned closer even as he seemed to fall away from her.
"What in the name of Mavis happened?" Laxus snarled as Gajeel and Gray carted Natsu out to his Magi-Hover. Lucy was sitting where she'd been with Natsu on the floor. All around her was scorched carpet and flooring. Her face was smudged with ash and tears and she was staring forward in a froze position. "What happened Blondie?"
She jerked and looked up at him and he immediately deflated as her lip quivered. The girls were all standing on the stairs; Elfman, Sting and Rouge preventing them from moving forward. Wendy was kneeling close to Lucy but wasn't trying to touch her.
"I don't know…We were talking and then he stiffened up and suddenly there was fire all around." She shook her head. Erza clenched her jaw.
"Natsu hasn't lost control of his fire since he was a hatchling. What were you all talking about?"
"That's personal." She started to stand up but her legs shook too much and she plopped back down. Laxus snarled and she looked at him as he squatted beside her.
"I understand that, but I need to know what to use to try and keep him from losing control again. We can't have a Dragis losing control of their elements."
"What happens if they do?" She asked and Laxus looked away and Wendy murmured and Lucy grabbed his forearm. "What happens if they do? If they can't control it for some reason?"
"They're put down." Sting murmured and Lucy's mouth dropped open. "They're a danger to themselves and others; and it's for the greater good."
"What were you all talking about?" Laxus asked again, softer this time. Lucy looked around and bit her lip. Wendy sighed and looked at Laxus.
"Take her to your Magi-Hover. Let her bathe there and maybe she'll talk in private."
"Come on Blondie." He scooped her up in his arms and carried her down the stairs. Everyone watched as she was carted out. With her gone, Cana and Levy got past Sting and Rouge and they walked around the edges of the burn flooring. Levy looked up, her mouth hanging open.
"He scorched the ceiling. That's got to be like twenty feet up since this is the third floor."
"I hope no one saw that sudden eruption or we're going to be in trouble." A voice from the staircase bemoaned.
"Shut it! There's more important things to worry about than if we're forced to flee or fight." Cana scolded and the girl in question shrank back. She pulled out her Tarot cards, shuffled and flipped one up. "The Three of Swords."
"Cana?" Yukino asked softly.
"Emotional upheaval."
"So something they were talking about really hit Natsu hard?" Levy murmured; then her eyes widened. She turned to Wendy and pulled her close. "If Lucy threatened to remove the Scalut and cut ties with him…would…"
"Oh my Grandeeney!" She covered her mouth with her hands. "That would definitely cause him, or any Dragis to lose control."
"What would?" Cana asked and both of the bluenettes fell silent and bit their lips. Sting and Rouge shared a look before jumping over the railing and away from Cana and Erza who were starting to give off darker auras.
"What would?" Erza asked and Wendy shook her head and before they could stop her, she'd spun around and jumped; air swirling and scattering books and paper and she too disappeared over the railing.
"That's cheating!" Erza shouted as she leaned over the railing and watched her land and run out of sight.
"Levy." Cana's voice was firm and she looked at the girl she'd spent two years with.
"It's not my place to say." Levy pressed her forefingers together and flexed back and forth.
"What the hell?" Erza swore and shook her head. Mira put her hand on the girl's shoulder and the red head looked at her.
"I know it's frustrating and scary. But the suit protected Lucy. And everyone is okay. I'm sure they'll explain it eventually."
"Fine. Let's start packing. Just in case." Erza said and everyone headed downstairs. Levy walked over, the last one on the third floor and looked around. She thought she saw someone standing by a bookcase but when she turned fully to look no one was there. She decided she was probably seeing things.