Chapter Twenty-Two

Lucy moaned as she woke up. She felt stiff. Like she hadn't moved all night. As her eyes opened, she realized why she was so stiff. Natsu was wrapped around her and holding her immobile. She sighed and tried to pull free. He only held her tighter and nuzzled into the back of her neck.

"Natsu?" He growled lowly and she shivered. His arms tightened yet again. She patted his arms but he didn't let go. She closed her eyes. Levy was kidnapped, Natsu was on the constant edge of another mental stasis, she had no idea what to think or do, and she was sure that everyone who had just gotten to the Guild Station were freaking out.

A memory from her childhood suddenly sprang to mind. Her and her mother sitting on her bed as her mother brushed her hair. Lucy had asked her if she thought daddy was her soulmate. Her mother had stopped brushing her hair. With gentle hands she'd spun Lucy around to look at her.

"Lucy, soulmates are…"

"Not real?" Lucy had guessed and her mother had looked saddened.

"Common. I was going to say not common." Her mother stroked her cheek. "But I do believe in them."

"But daddy isn't your soulmate?"

"Your father is the man I love most. But you, are the love of my life." Lucy had gotten confused at that. And her mother had noticed. "Lucy. Soulmates are rare because sometimes, you can grow to love someone more than the person you thought was your one and only. But I believe that real soulmates; never lose the love. They just make more for other people."

"I don't understand."

"If a soulmate had to choose between their soulmate and their child; they'd never be able to choose. But as your mother, I would save you over your father."

"Why not save both?" Lucy had asked her mother had leaned back surprised.

"What do you mean?"

"Save your soulmate and your child. You always said there is no impossible solutions, just improbable calculations. So figure out a way to save both. Then everyone is still together."

You never cease to amaze me with the way you think Lucy. Never stop thinking like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you do."

"If I stopped thinking like me, wouldn't I be dead?" Her mother had laughed and laughed until her father had appeared. Now Lucy realized what her mother had meant. At some point, probably after her first broken heart; she'd stopped thinking like she had as a child. She'd turned more cynical. She opened her eyes and looked around.

Child-Lucy would have been so amazed by the Magi-Hover, the Dragis and heir magic. A smile turned up the corners of her lips. She'd always wanted magic of her own as a child. She had also wanted to find her soulmate. Natsu snored softly behind her. She wrapped her hands around his forearm. She needed to find Levy and Gajeel. She needed to really think about what she wanted; especially with Natsu.

But right now, more than anything, she needed to get up and use the bathroom. She tugged and thrashed until Natsu woke up and released her looking sheepish. She held up her hand as he started to speak and she left the room.

"I'm an idiot." Natsu sighed and shook his head. He'd planned on resting on the bench out in the main part of the Magi-Hover but had felt the need to check up on her. And she'd been restless. He stood up slowly and stepped out of the room. Lucy was stepping out of the bathing room and he smiled at her. Her hair was a mess, and she had a mark from the blankets on her cheek, but she looked so pretty.

"I don't look pretty right now, there's a mirror in there you know." She blushed and he cringed.

"I said that out loud?"

"Uh huh." Lucy nodded and looked at the floor.

"Great." He drew out the word and shook his head. She giggled and walked over to him and rested her head on his shoulder. He stiffened and looked down at her head. She slowly wrapped her arms around his waist and he kept standing there.

"Natsu?"

"Yeah?"

"Hug me."

"Right!" He wrapped his arms around her and sighed, leaning down and inhaling her scent. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Yes. No. Maybe?" She shook her head. She pulled back in the circle of his arms. "We need to get looking for Levy and Gajeel. My head and its issues are not the top priority."

"Okay." She offered him a soft smile.

"I promise, we'll talk about this. I just…"

"Need to focus on Levy. I understand." He sympathized and she looked at him with an expression he couldn't name on her face.

"You do. And I appreciate that. Now let's get going."

"Yes ma'am." He saluted and she shook her head. They departed from the Magi-Hover after she had grabbed her weapon and her backpack. As they headed across the street she felt uneasy. There were no sounds of marchers. No sign of militants around. It looked like even the blood from the draconic attack had been cleaned up. She bit her lip. She felt very uneasy.

"Sir…they're back." A man said and his superior turned around. The man nodded slowly and sighed.

"Let us go!" Levy shouted and strained against the ropes that held her tied the brick wall behind her. Gajeel was slumped against the wall too far from her; for her to check if he had a pulse. They'd brought him in like that yesterday afternoon; shortly before the screaming had started. She'd watched as the man everyone answered to just stood at the window. Something about him was off. She didn't trust him at all.

"Don't make us gag you." One of the men muttered and glared at her.

"Your smell already is." Levy snipped. The man at the window grinned slightly and watched as the man who had muttered neared her. Levy inhaled and held her breath as the man leaned in. His scent was bad but when he opened his mouth; the smell made her eyes water. He reached up towards her and she pulled back into the wall as far as she could. Before she could register what he was doing, he slapped her.

Pain blossomed along her cheek and the edge of her lower lip stung sharply. Heat raced around her face like a whirlpool before settling where his hand had landed the longest. Several men snickered, and the man who had struck her leaned in again. The leader was staring hard. Levy lifted her head and glared at her abuser. She sneered and when he cupped her face she turned and bit down. He screamed.

"Let go you bit…"

There was a shing sound and he was thrown backwards. Levy released his hand as the tugging on her teeth warned her she was close to losing them. She spat out blood. The man was sprawled against the far wall, and his head at a weird angle. Levy looked down and saw a long black battering ram sticking out of Gajeel's arm. His head rolled on his shoulders as she snarled at the limp form of the man across the room on the floor.

"You don't…harm…the Shorty."

"What the hell is he growling?" One of the men asked and Levy smirked even as she flailed her legs.

"He said if you don't release us, he'll do worse!"

"What is he?" One of the men asked as he mulled over Levy's translation. Gajeel tried to stand up but he was chained to the wall same as her. He looked at the chains around his waist and looked up where Levy was suspended by a chain hanging from the top of the wall, splitting into two that were then wrapped around her wrists. Two more chains came up from the floor to keep her held in a spread eagle form.

"I'm going to be your doom if you don't let her down!" Gajeel roared and the room shook. Levy watched as the men cowered.

"He said he's your doom if you don't free us."

"Boss?" One of the men looked at their leader who stepped forward. He was a tall man with a hooked nose. He looked better groomed than his henchmen and his goatee looked recently shaved and shaped.

"She doesn't know what he's saying any more than we do." The man was calm as he kept walking closer. "She's just trying to scare us."

"Touch her and I'm going to cut off the hand that does it."

"He said if you touch me, he's going to cut off the hand that does." Levy stated and glared at him. The man chuffed in annoyance and looked around.

"Cut off the hand that touches you? Why are you making him out to be your personal bodyguard?"

"I promised her friend I'd bring her back safe and sound." Gajeel snarled again. Levy swallowed hard.

"He made a promise I'd be safe."

"So he is your bodyguard. Explains how such a small and…insignificant slip of a girl like you could have survived for two years out here."

"I'm not insignificant." Levy choked out, trying to keep the pain at bay. He'd hit a nerve she'd tried hard to bury. Despite Lucy's reassurance that her knowledge of gardening was useful, she hadn't felt like she'd done as much as Erza, Cana or Lucy.

"Please…with your stature I doubt you'll be able to give birth to more than one child."

"What?" Levy gasped.

"Boss?" One of the men asked and the man waved his hand over the length of her.

"She's short and her entire body is narrow. She might manage one birth but it would probably break her body. She's not a good breeder."

"Breeder? What are you talking about?" Levy gasped in horror. Gajeel was glaring at the men around the room.

"Guess you're right." The men agreed slowly.

"Then what are we gonna do with her?"

"She might not make a good breeder, but she'll be a good bed warmer and servant."

"I'd rather die." Levy swore and struggled against her bindings. Gajeel started to snarl and everyone was eying him carefully.

"That can always be easily arranged. Don't tempt me little girl."

"Boss…" One of the men whined and he turned and glared until the man looked down at the ground. The man turned back to look back at Levy.

"So…what is your body guard? Some hybrid-Dragonoid-human mix that the government made in secret after the invasion?"

"He's dangerous and angry." Levy stated as Gajeel kept shifting around. Everyone watched wearily; wondering if the chains could hold him. "Now let us go and I'll make sure he only hurts you all and doesn't kill anyone."

"Your attitude needs beaten out of you." The leader said and Levy felt fear surge in her. But she sneered the best she could.

"Don't say I didn't warn you. Gajeel is going to make you all rue the day you decided to mess with us."

"Your going to be my favorite toy when you finally heal from your training and reprogramming."

"You ain't touching her!" Gajeel yelled and before they realized it; he was on his feet. The chains attached to him and he moved forward; ripping then from the wall. His skin had a metallic sheen and when they tried to shoot him or hit him with injuries; they bounced off. Levy struggled against the chains while watching.

"Gajeel duck!" She yelled when one of the men swung a lead pipe at his head. He turned, opening his mouth wide and caught it. He snapped his jaw shut and the pipe broke in half and he quickly chewed the piece in his mouth.

"He ate the pipe!" One of the men yelled in horror.

"But he can't eat a bullet!" The leader shouted and Levy screamed as the gun went off. Gajeel's head jerked back but then he stood up straight.

"That was…spicy." He shook his head and clenched his fist as he advanced on the leader.

"Ivan, run!" One of the men yelled while he leapt at Gajeel. It was all the distraction the leader needed before he disappeared. Gajeel grabbed the man who had leapt on him by the throat and threw him backwards. He turned around and grabbed onto the chains that held her ankles. He popped them loose and then reached up and grabbed the bands on her wrists.

"Are you okay Levy?"

"Yeah?" She nodded and looked around. Several men were laying on the floor; several with their heads at impossible angles. She turned and looked up at him. She saw blood on his neck. She reached up and gently touched the back of his head and he snarled. "They really got you good huh?"

"I'm fine. Let's get ya outta here. Blondie ain't happy right now." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and headed for the door. He sniffed the air and motioned with his chin for her to go to the left. At the end of the hall was a set of stairs going up. They made their way slowly but didn't run into anyone. There was a door at the top but it was locked. Gajeel snarled and Levy shook her head.

He tried to break it open but his energy was sapped; and Levy didn't have any way to open it either. He rested his head against it and snarled. He looked down at Levy and his eyes narrowed at the bruise on her face that was darkening by the minute. He forced his hearing to improve and closed his eyes to focus. He didn't hear anyone coming up the stairs. Then he heard something on the other side of the door. He leaned back and Levy grabbed onto his arm from behind him. She glanced up as he looked down.

"I ain't gonna let anything happen to ya Shorty. Trust that."

"Okay." She nodded slowly. They tensed as the door made a groaning sound. As Gajeel lowered himself into a squat to block any attack; the door was ripped off of the hinges. Levy blinked repeatedly as she stared into the bright light of day.

"You two look cozy." Lucy said and Levy sagged against Gajeel shaking her head as she giggled. Natsu grinned and winked at the two inside.

"Come on. Those Draconics are eventually going to best the militia and I don't want Luce to have to fight today."

"Very considerate of you." Lucy snorted and rolled her eyes. She looked at Levy and Gajeel who were hurrying up the stairs. "Who did that to you?"

"Gajeel took care of him." Levy said as she stepped onto the roof. She looked around and inhaled deeply as the fresh air washed over them. Lucy wrapped her in a tight hug and mouthed a thank you to Gajeel. Natsu nodded at his friend and urged the others towards the Magi-Hover. Once they were inside he turned on the tracker for Gajeel's Magi-Hover.

Lucy and Levy disappeared into the bathing room and left the Dragis alone. Natsu and Gajeel both sat down and sighed as the Magi-Hover headed the handful of of streets to the other vehicle.

"You good Gajeel?"

"I don't need yer pity."

"It isn't pity." Natsu rolled his eyes and Gajeel nodded solemnly. He crossed his arms over his chest and sighed.

"I don't know what they hit me with but it knocked me out good. They chained me to the wall. While I was out but starting to come to; one of the males hit the Shrimp. I managed to get my arm free when he tried to hit her a second time. She got her own revenge. Bit him pretty good."

"The females of this world are not shy to defend themselves." Natsu murmured with admiration.

"Definitely not." Gajeel growled softly and closed his eyes as his head tilted towards the ceiling.

"Do you want me to get some medicine for your cheek?"

"It's a bruise." Levy shook her head as she wrapped a throw blanket around her body. Lucy handed her her backpack and Levy held it to her chest. "I thought this was lost forever."

"Found it on the ground…probably close to where they grabbed you."

"Your still angry huh?"

"You know it. Erza too."

"She knows?"

"Uh huh." Lucy nodded slowly and the bluenette dropped her head and felt sweat pop up all over her face and neck. She pulled on her spare change of clothes from her backpack and wrapped the blanket around herself again. Lucy hugged her and rested her head on Levy's damp hair. "Don't scare me like that."

"I'm so sorry." Levy cried softly and curled into her friend's embrace.

"I know. I know. You're safe now and that's all that matters."

"They were talking about other women."

"What?"

"They called them Breeders…and those that can't give birth multiple times are slaves and 'bed warmers'."

"I see." Lucy sneered and looked around the room. "We'll address it with the Guild Station. For now, try not to focus on that."

"Ok." Lucy hugged Levy again and stepped outside so her friend could get dressed in private. She leaned against the wall and sighed heavily. Natsu and Gajeel looked over at her and raised brows. She shook her head and looked up at the ceiling. The door slid open and Levy stepped out and looked around and sighed. Lucy put her arm around her friend and they walked up to the front.

"Can we get seats?" Lucy asked and Natsu nodded and pushed some symbols. The Magi-Hover widened and two seats came up from the back. Levy and Lucy sat down and the silence echoed around.

"We should hit my Magi-Hover in about a sckowlink." Gajeel murmured.

"Ok." Levy nodded and looked at him. "How's the head?"

"Fine." He frowned and looked around. He glanced at Natsu. "You got any metal I can eat?"

"No, unfortunately I don't." Natsu shrugged with a grin and Gajeel narrowed his eyes on him. Lucy pushed back from the console and her seat took her to the bench. They all three looked over their shoulders at her. She reached into her backpack and grabbed something and came back up. She held out her hand. In her palm was a metallic cube. Gajeel stared at it and she shrugged.

"Paperweight. Figured it would make a decent weapon in a pinch. Or a snack for you."

"What is a paperweight?" He asked as he took it and sniffed. He took a bite out of it. He sniffed and shoved the whole thing in his mouth.

"Paperweights are things that are created from multiple materials that are used to hold loose papers on someone's desk. Decoration with a purpose." Levy explained as she watched him eat it.

"Dontcha know it's rude to stare at someone when they eat?" He asked and she blushed.

"Sorry. I've just never seen anyone eat metal before. You made it look like it was soft like butter to bite through."

"My magic makes metal softer, and my teeth and fangs harder so it's easier to bite, and the magic also makes it easier to absorb."

"So…does your magic make fire cooler in order to eat?" Lucy asked looking over at Natsu. He shrugged and scrunched up his face. "You don't even think about it. You just eat it."

"That is Natsu for you." Gajeel chortled and the pinkette glared at him. Lucy shook her head with a soft laugh. She rested her elbows on the console and sighed, rubbing her eyes.

"You okay Luce?"

"Yes and no." She shook her head. She lifted her head and, putting her chin on her closed fists. "Thinking about what Levy mentioned hearing while held captive. Thinking about the fact that Mard Geer is on Earth and we don't know why. Trying to prepare for going to the Guild Station; and the fact going into Space has never been something I thought I'd do in my life. Worrying. Thinking."

"Life has definitely been insane recently." Levy agreed softly. She rested her head on Lucy's shoulder. The Magi-Hover gave a beep that they had come to know was the landing signal. Gajeel stood up and his chair returned to the back of the vehicle. He grabbed Levy's collar and hoisted her over his shoulder. Her mouth fell open and and Lucy's eyes crinkled as her lips quirked.

"Put me down stupid Gajeel!" She shouted and swung her arms and looked at Lucy. "Don't you laugh at this Lu-chan!"

"Wouldn't dream of it." She laughed out loud and waved goodbye as Levy cursed her and Gajeel in the same breath. As the panel to the Magi-Hover slid closed she stopped laughing and shook her head.

"Why did he take her?" Natsu asked and Lucy looked at him and rolled her eyes. "What?"

"You are so…dense." She muttered and he frowned and crossed his arms over his chest and pouted. She shook her head and tapped a few symbols and the Magi-Hover took off.