It was cold...it was always fucking cold, too fucking cold. He wasn't dressed for it that was for fucking sure. He ached everywhere, was exhausted, too drained. He felt an end now he hadn't felt though if he was honest with himself he had known it was looming.
His magic was struggling to return, not like ethernano was heavily present in the underworld. Thank the Gods metal was at least present in some things, even if the only real Iron he got was from the blood he drained out of a small Dracolich he'd managed to defeat. It was something, had restored him enough to keep him going.
The "water" was disgusting and he'd had to get pretty inventive to figure out how he could safely consume it, it would be just his fucking luck to die of some bacterial infection here instead of in battle with the endless parade of dead evil shit that existed here.
He tugged at his stiff filthy shirt as he filtered water through the hide of the Dracolich, when it had gone down it had ignited a lot of shit and the fires had burned for days, long enough he'd been able to find fuel to keep some going, that fire boiled water for him and the porous hide of the beast served as a decent enough filter, he had found a beasts skull, cleaned it, baked it and used it to hold the water.
He wasn't sure he'd win the next fight that came his way but damn it all if he hadn't given survival a damn serious effort.
He wasn't sure why, he could have let the beast he was living off of finish him, end his suffering, but that just wasn't like him, giving up. He knew there was no way out of where he was, fuck Bloodman to the deepest depths of hell for dragging him this far with the sorry bastard. He'd kill the shit a million times over if he could for this.
He sighed, glaring out into the murky dark, wishing for about the millionth time he'd told Levy how he felt sooner. At least then they would have had some time to...love. He could have spoiled the hell out of her like she deserved, kissed her for days...held her, showed her how much he loved her, that the man she'd taught so many precious things to...had learned and taken those things to heart.
Killing the Dracolich had apparently made a statement to the things all around that he wasn't weak, and they had stayed at a distance, he still barely slept, catching minutes, sometimes an hour or two here and there. Nothing seemed to want to come anywhere near the things corpse so he slept on top of it when he slept. It was disgusting, using a dead Lich as a bed, but he had no choice. He'd learned there was dead…then there was destroyed. If something died here…he wasn't sure where it went from this point, and it was something he'd given some thought to.
He wondered, when he died, if his soul would stay here,Gods he hoped not...he hoped he'd somehow repented enough to earn a ticket out of this place, he'd seen the wandering souls…watched things hunt then…kill them over and over until the escaped or something bigger and meaner came and took them. This place was a wasteland of suffering and he really didn't want this to be his eternity, but even if his mortal death didn't get him out...well...he'd gotten here defending those he loved, even if he was faced with an eternity in Hell...it was worth it.
Those thoughts kept him from going insane surrounded by death and suffering, his shadowmagic provided him with escape, and he'd used it to beat the Dracolich the second day he was here. He doubted he had the strength to take another one on, and the one he had was about gone now. He figured he'd hold up for maybe a few more days before something big and ugly came in on him, he'd go down fighting, even though he was almost too tired to walk at this point.
When he needed to calm he thought of Levy...Lily...it always worked, he smiled faintly, Gajeel wasn't an overly sentimental man, but damn if he didn't love those two. He had been serious about every word he'd said to her too as he'd been ripped away into the underworld.
Getting pulled through that rift, watching Lily keep Levy from him, telling her he'd have happily walked by her side forever, that she had gotten him thinking about things he'd never dreamed of before, happiness, a future, a family, that he, the great Badass Black Steel Gajeel would consider life as a respectable adult, a father...a mate to a good woman…
Levy had done that in him..he loved her, and damn if he didn't desperately want to see her again...hold her...he could feel her, alive, mourning him and it hurt she was suffering, but he knew she would survive, get past it. Gods he had wanted to be the man she settled with though, he wanted to be the one to father her babies, push a ring onto her slender finger and spend a lifetime making her happy.
He could too, he knew he could, believed it now though he'd doubted himself so much it had taken this to make him see it all, get over his damn doubts and self loathing enough to see Levy really did want that with him, him of all people that little blue haired angel wanted.
"It's not fucking fair…" He sighed and stood, glaring into the dark, feeling dead things approaching, his sword was slow to form, his magic was sluggish but at least it was there as the things, dead people this time, maybe he'd survive them...they were better than those fucking worm things…
He plowed into them and spotted one wielding a rusty sword, oh he fucking needed that, eating that would help him a great deal, he almost invited the corpse to drive it into his leg, his body so desperate for metal it almost felt good cutting into his flesh.
His enthusiasm about his opponents though was short lived, there were a lot of them...too many...and he felt his blood spilling too much, he was taking too many hits, getting pressed from too many directions and he wasn't going to make it through this fight to enjoy munching the damn sword.
He threw them off, snarling viciously, pissed as hell he was going to go down to a pack of fucking dead zombie people instead of to a Dracolich or something badass.
He looked up and saw light moving toward him, his lip curled into a sneer, ok...maybe he'd get something badass after all. What emerged from the murky dark though shocked the fuck out of him. A tall man with gold streaked dark brown hair, long black wings and glowing golden eyes and his aura was far from evil.
"Please tell me…" the man said, plowing into his opponents, a gleaming delicious looking longsword cleaving through the corpses like they were made of paper , light radiated from the man and the things hated it, hissing and shrieking at them a few retreating completely. He was a big guy, as tall as Laxus, maybe taller, broad shouldered, heavily muscled…his skin was tanned and Gajeel didn't miss the skill…the practiced ease that the man fought with as he helped Gajeel fight off the undead creatures before reaching a point he could finish what he was saying.
"...that your name is Gajeel." He finally said, a long wing slamming the last of the things to pieces he reached toward Gajeel who met those glowing eyes in shock "Yeah...I'm Gajeel…" he replied and when the mans hand closed on his shoulder he almost cried as he felt healing magic surge through him. His legs sagged, and the man gripped his other arm, holding him up as that magic…that wonderful amazing magic flowed through him restoring…healing…Gajeel clung to the guy, unable to do anything else but drink the feeling in.
"I'm Zen Pradesh, you know my brother Bickslow, we're here, a group from your guild, to get you out of here." He said and Gajeels eyes that had closed in deep relief as all of his injuries, new and old, including a few that were festering, were eased and he felt the first relief he'd felt since he'd gotten here..
"You...you...fuck...explain later...I want to go home!" Gajeel said. The big mage smiled at him
"Levys going to be very happy to see you." He said and Gajeel froze
"Levys here?!" He demanded and the man nodded
"Levy, Laxus, Bickslow, Freed, Loke, Lucy and Cana from your guild, oh and Lily." He added smiling and Gajeel grinned
"Shit...where are they? You can find your way around in this shit?" He asked waving a hand.
"Mostly, I...I use someone like a beacon and have been circling to the end of where I can still easily feel and find them…" Zen said. He hadn't told anyone that was what he was doing, using Lucy as his beacon in this nightmare. He could feel her, if he turned toward her he could even pick out the tiny dot of light in the dark that was her, that he could feel, sense, as real and strong as his own hand in front of his face.
"Ok...lead the way…" Gajeel said eagerly, he was exhausted, uncertain of his ability to walk, but damn it, to get to Levy he'd fucking run if it was asked, he'd find the strength.
Zen smiled at him "You're healed, but I doubt you've had 10 hours of sleep total in all the time you've been here, so how bout we fly?" He asked, wings moving, handing Gajeel his canteen. The Iron Slayer grinned, taking it and opening it, almost moaning at the sweet scent of clean water he downed it greedily.
"Fly? You think you can carry me?" He asked, he was certain he'd lost weight since he'd been here, but he was still an Iron Mage, heavier than normal. Zen smirked, taking the canteen and refilling it before handing it back to the Iron mage who gave him a grateful smile and downed more.
"I can carry you, walking will take too long, lets get back to the group and get the fuck out of here." Zen smiled and Gajeel nodded eagerly, wiping his mouth and not giving a single fuck that the taller mage stepped around behind him and had to wrap his arms around him, he'd fucking kiss the guy if it got him back to Levy.
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They weren't moving very fast, getting through the bog wasn't fun, Lucy wondered if she would ever be dry again, ever know what it felt like to be clean again. Gods she felt horrible and glancing back toward Levy she didn't doubt her shorter friend felt it worse, at least Lucy wasn't sinking up to her chest in places like Levy was. Bickslow and Loke were there, helping them along and they paused when they reached a patch of "land" that was really just thick nasty mud that wasn't submerged in the murky foul smelling water.
The last three times they had stopped Zen hadn't been able to find them rocks to climb on within easy range of them, so...they had slept in the mud and all of them were covered in it.
They could sort of rinse off when they stopped to rinse, Cristoff and Zen supplying clean water, Cana managing a prayer fountain that had helped alot. Their magic was slow to rebuild though and the spell was a big drain so she couldn't do it often. Cristoff had even covered them in a soft mint scented mist last time that had been a deeply welcome break from the endless stench, but their clothes had all long since become saturated, grey from the mud and murky water. Stiff and smelling horrible.
They were all reaching the ends of their endurance, pushed to their limits, it was a testament to all their stamina, and to the loyalty of Bickslows brothers that nobody, not one person, had suggested yet they give up and go back. It wasn't that Bickslow brothers liked this at all either, Vander was still just shy of hostile toward her and she'd caught disgusted angry looks from Bickslow a few times too.
None of them were willing to do it yet, tired and beaten as they all were, not a one was at that point. Lucy had even thought briefly about having Zen open a gate and take them back just to rest, but then she'd shoved the idea away, Gajeel wasn't getting that rest, they wouldn't abandon him down in this horrible place.
Levy was gratefully drinking from Cristoffs canteen when she suddenly froze, Lily whipping his head around too both looking up and from the darkness, Zen appeared...carrying a very alive, broadly grinning Gajeel.
"Gaj…" Levy could barely squeak a sound out, hardly letting Zen land before she jumped into the Iron Slayers arms, Zen stepped clear as everyone rushed in, huge smiles on every face, tears in every eye. Gajeel greeted them all but held Levy tightly to him, burying his face in the crook of her neck while Levy gripped his matted filthy mane of hair and sobbed.
Zen was already starting his cast, grabbing onto the point he'd left from as Loke had taught him, the point that over the last week he'd kept pinned clearly in his mind, that Balcony to the room Kaleb and White Sea would be watching.
Lucy moved from Gajeel once she'd gotten her hug, letting Levy and Lily have him, she turned back to Zen. Seeing him already casting the gate spell to get them back home. His magic flared and the gate opened. Laxus ushered Gajeel, carrying Levy and Lily through it and everyone else followed, Zen coming through last and sealing it off, closing it abruptly.
There was a rush of activity that happened. Kaleb had someone watching the room, sitting looking bored as hell and that mage snapped out their com and within minutes there were mages everywhere. Gajeel was ushered into a room, food was ordered, light mages went over each of them, with the only exceptions being Cristoff and Zen, making sure nothing had come through with them.
Even Bickslows babies had to endure scrutiny, though they likely left some bruises on the poor light mage who had to go over them.
As soon as the cart of fresh food was left and the door was locked Gajeel was holding Levy again, sitting heavily on the chair by the food cart, cupping her face and staring into her watery hazel eyes.
"You're all I thought about…" He whispered and Levy bit her lip, "I love you too stupid Gajeel...what the hell was that...waiting until that happened to tell me…" She chastised and he smirked at her
"Couldn't go out without you knowing...I meant every damn word too." He said firmly and Levy hiccupped, trying so hard not to burst into tears again, she felt like she'd cried a dozen lakes full of tears at this point.
She touched his hair and smiled wrinkling her nose, he rolled his eyes "Yeah ok, you spend Gods know how long in Hell and see how good you look after...come to think of it...your hair wasn't mud gray and chunky last time I saw you…" He teased and Levy batted at his chest,
"go...you take the first shower, that way you can eat while I take mine…" She said and he shook his head "I'm thinking I don't want you out of my sight for a while shrimp...how bout we just share?"
She blushed, but he only got to see part of it through all the mud caked on her face, it didn't stop him from kissing her though, something he'd been wanting to do for way too long. And after a few moments, her lips moving softly on his, the feel of her in his arms making his whole being sing, he stood. He'd written this off, so certain he was going to die in that place, he was still in shock they had found a way to reach him, to rescue him, he'd have to ask how they did it...but later, right now he needed the woman in his arms, needed to wash away the smell of death from them both and then, then he was going to show her just how much he'd really meant every word he had said.
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Lucy stood silently in her room, contemplating the cart of food left for her and Levy, knowing Levy wasn't likely leaving Gajeels room any time soon, maybe not for days if the way the two were holding each other was any indication. She was so happy, so relieved, so grateful they had found him, alive.
Lily emerged from the bathroom, a hand towel wrapped around his little body he smiled up at her. He was sharing her room with her since nobody doubted one bit Levy would be staying with Gajeel tonight.
It was late afternoon when they came through. Lucy was grateful of the company, watching Zen leave with his brothers had been painful. She understood though, he had cupped her face, "I need to think...clean up...rest...we'll talk later." He'd said softly, but Lucy hadn't missed the hard looks from his brothers, how they had pulled him away from her, especially Farron.
She missed him, ached for him, but she had no right to insist he stay, so she had nodded and let him go, and now she smiled at Lily
"Well, dig in, I didn't want to eat anything...or even touch anything until I got cleaned up!" She said, trying to keep her tone bright.
"I see Kiwis, someone is getting a kiss from me later…" Lily said, eagerly climbing into a chair and starting to fill a plate while Lucy padded into the bathroom.
Virgo appeared, the sweet silent maid said nothing, just helped Lucy clean up, washed her hair for her, took the reeking clothes away and brought fresh clean ones. Cancer was even waiting for her when she emerged from the bathroom and she hugged the spirit, so grateful she could see her spirits friendly faces again, not being able to call them for a week had been awful.
"He'll come around Lucy." Lily said around a mouthful of Kiwi tart. Lucy smiled at him, Cancer was sifting through her hair, freeing it of all the knots before settling it in a loose braid down her back.
"Call me if your friends need help, that Dragon Slayer always has a heck of a thick mess of hair...I like the challenge." Cancer said and Lucy and Lily both chuckled "When I see Gajeel again I'll ask Cancer...thank you!" She said and the spirit bowed before disappearing.
"Thank you Lily...I...I just hope he doesn't...hate me. I wouldn't blame him if he did." She said softly. Lily shook his head "He doesn't Lucy, I could see that much even while we were in the underworld, he never once looked at you like he hated you, I just saw a lot of...confusion, frustration…" He fell off and Lucy smiled wryly "Disappointment, I saw that in those eyes of his...I never thought I would ever do something like that, never...it's just, with the war, with losing so many people, seeing Levy, you...suffering so much and I missed Gajeel too...I wanted him back safe too, there WAS time though, I could have talked to him, I should have talked to him before I bound him." She said, so angry with herself. Gajeel was safe, probably making Levy very very happy right that moment, and Lucy was so grateful of that, but now, they were back, and she was sitting with Lily while the man she had bound to her by force...who she had mated with, also…by her own choice and by force, in order to make rescuing Gajeel possible, was across the street instead of with later she honestly couldn't say had been needed…except by the completely blinding overwhelming need she had felt at the time…the power…power that had always been just outside her reach, that she had seen in her friends, the lack of which had seen her kidnapped, beaten, hurt in so many ways through her life, that power had been there for the taking and she had forgotten everything, even herself and her own beliefs…in the face of the being able to get it. So… He deserved the time to think...she just...wanted him near, wanted to tell him again how sorry she was it had all happened like it had.
In the end there was time to talk to Zen, she could have done it, should have done it, Zen had said...more than once...he would have said yes...and that he wished she'd given him that chance.
He hadn't had a choice, to take Lucy as his mate instead of keep her at a distance just as his bound charge. He had helped…he had found Gajeel and brought the man back to them…not once in all the time they were there had he or his brothers complained either. It was clear he would have helped had he been asked…had he been given a choice. Maybe if that choice had been there…maybe he even would have wanted the rest…would have been open to it…felt for her what she felt for him.
The odd possessiveness she'd felt, the yearning for him, the trust and almost instant bond she had felt with him all made sense now. Her magic wanted his, her soul wanted his...two weeks she'd slept in his arms and struggled to make it to Crocus, then almost a week literally in Hell with him, and...her heart wanted him. She yearned for him...her heart, she was sure her very soul wanted to be in those arms, feel him again, pressed against her, lips on hers. She was out of her depth with the power of her own feelings.
She had never been one to let grievances fester, if there was something bad, some misunderstanding or argument, she always had to set things right. She believed in forgiveness, that everyone deserved it, yet now she wasn't sure how Zen could forgive her for this.
After it was done he could have hurt her…right? She frowned…unsure if he honestly could have…what kindnesses she'd taken comfort in the last few days had been him…and which had been the magic between them compelling him? She didn't know and that…stung. Maybe he couldn't hurt her even if he wanted to, she didn't know, he'd been angry enough to.
That he hadn't, that his anger after the fact had been tampered by his compassionate nature and understanding why Lucy had made the choices she had, it spoke a great deal about Zen as a person. She'd known he was a good man, and he had proven it. He'd gone with them into Hell itself, not complained once while there, fought and in the end, been the one to find Gajeel and bring him to them, open the gate to get them back home too. She kept returning to that…to those facts…and all it all proved was…what she had done had been wrong the way she had done it…and she felt terrible.
She ate some, not much even though she'd eaten next to nothing for nearly a week, in the stench of that place food really had little appeal and all they'd had were cold tac, sandwiches, dried fruit, jerky and nuts. The steaming fresh stew, warm bread and fresh fruit and even apple pie should have had her belly rumbling, but she had little appetite with Zen so far away.
Lily noticed, he knew Lucy was usually robust in so many things including her love of food, so not eating was a sign she was unhappy, but, he was exhausted, she was too, the dark circles under her eyes said so.
"Ok...a soft warm bed is too much to stay away from anymore…" She said firmly rising and collecting Lily to carry him with her to the bed. Lily happily curled up on the pillow, smiling as he made a spot for himself by Lucys head, knowing he would soon again be burying himself under Gajeels heavy hair and breathing in the smell of sun warmed iron that he'd come to associate with...home, once again soon, and that it would likely include the scent of ink and roses because if Gajeel was smart...Levy would not sleep anywhere but with them from this night forward. He hoped his friend was smart enough to stick with all he'd said, and to be honest with Levy about his feelings for her. Levy certainly loved Gajeel, that had been painfully made clear.
Lucy laid still in the bed, listening to Lilys breathing even out. Inside she ached, again at a loss with what to do with the deep feelings inside of her, they were new...foreign, centered all on the man who wasn't here. She wanted to tangle her fingers in dark hair streaked with gold, wanted to slide her body against tanned skin and hard muscle, wanted to feel those warm lips on hers, taste that silky tongue and feel it move with hers, feel him fill her body until she felt ready to cry with the pleasure of it. More than anything in the world though…she wanted him to forgive her…so she could forgive herself.
"Zen…" she breathed, turning her face into her pillow so it caught her tears, what was she going to do now? They were back, and while there was still a war, still so much chaos all around them, all she could think about was him, and how she was going to ever make amends for what she had done to him..
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Levy whimpered, arching her back up from the bed as Gajeels lips played over her neck, his hands held her hips as he pressed his into her. Neither one could wait, both were exhausted beyond endurance but waiting until they had slept wasn't something either wanted. Playing in the shower, caressing, kissing, teasing had led to Gajeel stumbling to the bed with Levy wrapped around him kissing him about senseless, both of them still damp from the shower but not caring.
"Levy...I love you Levy…" He breathed against her ear...Gods she felt so good too, her legs wrapped around his body, her tight heat gripping him as he took deep languid trusts into her. Her hands were drifting over his sides, they had been all over him in the shower and he'd wanted nothing more, feeling her slender fingers curving over each muscle, tracing every scar, circling his studs, playing with his hair while his had found every inch of her skin, sought out every spot that made her react more to his touch.
Gajeel had been with women before, he was far from a virgin, and he'd been as gentle as he could manage with Levy, since she had been one until a little while ago, now he was buried inside of her, she was his…
"I love you Gajeel...I missed you…" She whimpered and he kissed her again, as if he could kiss the pain away, he wished he could, right now all he could do was worship his little blue haired beauty, wish his body were less exhausted so he could make this first time really amazing for her, but he knew...feeling her small hands glide over his back, her nails rake his skin as she met another slow thrust of his hips, neither one would think this first time together was anything short of incredible.
"I want you Levy...need to make you...mine…" He said huskily and Levy shuddered, knowing what he meant, what he was asking for, she stretched her chin up, baring her neck to him, feeling him smile against her skin as he rocked their bodies together.
"Yes...Gajeel...yes...I..ah...need to be...yours…" She managed, he was so deep, stretching her so much, she'd never had sex before and knew Gajeel was likely a big man in more than just how well muscled and tall he was, add in the studs that ran up the length of his rather impressive cock and she was sure she had dived into the deep end of the losing ones virginity pool but he felt so good, his body was just...incredible, there wasn't a soft spot anywhere on the man, just solid hard muscle everywhere and her hands had now explored most of it.
She dug her nails into the firm rounded muscle of his ass and she bucked her hips up into his next thrust making him growl. "Easy shrimp...your dragons tired but not fucking dead...I'm trying to be...gentle…" He warned.
Levy raked her nails over his skin and bit down on his shoulder. "Take me Gajeel...make me a dragons mate…" She growled against his skin and he snarled at her but his thrusts became faster, harder, jarring and Levy pressed into him as hard as she could, eager for it all, her end now careening toward her with each rough thrust of his length until finally her breath caught, pleasure exploding through her body and Gajeel gasped as her already tight chanel clamped down on him ripping him over the edge with her he sank his fangs into her neck and pushed his magic into her as her blood bathed his tongue.
Long minutes passed as it happened, as the Dragon Magic pulsed through them both, the burning pain in Gajeels center as his soul gave way, followed by the flood of relief as Levys mended it, the two merging and Gajeel collapsed, managing to do so fully beside Levy, not wanting to crush his new mate beneath his heavy bulk.
"Yer mine now shrimp...Gods I love you woman…" He said, pulling her against him greedily, as tired as he was he had to have her in his arms, they were safe, in a warm soft bed, his mark was setting into her porcelain skin on her neck and sleep was now coming for them both.
"I love you Gajeel...so much…" She whispered before he felt her slip under, he didn't resist it anymore, had no reason to...all he'd ever wanted in the world was right here in his arms...finally.
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"Where are you going? You need to fucking sleep!" Farron stood as Zen suddenly came down the stairs and started crossing the tavern, clad only in some sleep pants and his duster coat. Zen turned to Farron, amethyst eyes narrowing "I know Farron, and I can't...because...she's too far away." He snapped.
He loved his brothers, every one of them, he and Farron were pretty close, though he tended to get along best with Cristoff because of his younger brothers soothing calm personality. Right now though…his magic was like ants under his skin pushing him to be closer to Lucy. He resented it…was angry about it…felt entirely pissed off, but it didn't fucking matter right now. He was tired…exhausted…he hadn't slept more than a handful of hours in days and the…damned bond wouldn't let him rest unless he was at his masters fucking feet it seemed. He wouldn't say that though to his brothers…they were already livid over what had happened and were simmering…he had to keep things calm.
"Zen, some distance is better so you can think things through." Farron objected. Zen narrowed his eyes "To what end Farron? She bound me to her and We're mated, bound, not like that can be reversed, weakened, it's permanent. I belong to Lucy,...forever." He said and Farron glared toward the door.
"You spent half your life as a fucking slave, with no choices over who did what with you...you deserve at least some time to think, to decide if being with her is what you actually want!" He said angrily and Zen glared right back at his older brother. It wasn't like these very same thoughts weren't crashing around in his own fucking head. He was just…stretched thin and had never had a great temper…years as a gladiator did that to you, he had barely been able to eat any of the delicious food that had been brought for him, had flatly refused the beautiful barmaid who had been told (Likely by Vander) that he could use some feminine company and when he'd laid down to sleep all he could do was stare at the ceiling because he felt every foot of the distance between him and Lucy and Lucy was feeling guilty and miserable and he fucking FELT that and while it pissed him off, because her feelings were intruding on him to the point he couldn't rest, couldn't do the thinking Farron was right about him needing to do, it didn't make a difference.
He'd explained, in detail now, all he knew about what had happened to his brothers and the only one who accepted it was Cristoff, who had taken his side arguing with his brothers about it. "It's no different than a Dragon Slayers mate, he can't just walk away from her! Sending him to Minstrel to be with Dad is NOT going to fucking help!" Cristoff had said, adding his support to Zens position. Zen did NOT want to go to Minstrel, he adored his father…but that wasn't where he needed to be right now.
So, when Farron had suggested Zen head for Minstrel, that maybe distance would help, maybe he could lessen the hold there was on him that way and that one of them should be watching over their father Zen had scoffed. "Bullshit, he has Emzadi with him, she could burn a hole in the sun, Dad's fine, you just want me to get distance from Lucy and I'm telling you no, I'm staying, in this war and by her side!"
"She's a good person...you guys...seriously this is fucking bullshit, Gajeel is a good person, a close friend to her, so is the woman that man is in love with, Levy is a doll, and so in love with Gajeel she was fucking dying of grief because she'd lost him. They are my friends! I know them! Lucy is the Light of Fairy Tail, forgiving, kind, brave and a great friend, she wanted to talk it over with Zen first but got talked out of waiting because Levy was so...desperate...to save Gajeel, and there really wasn't time to spend days thinking it over ya know? Zen...tell them…" Bickslow said, joining the argument.
He had come over to the Honeybone following his family, knowing they were likely to jump on Zen to find out what all happened. While Zen was showering Bickslow had told their brothers everything he knew and Cristoff had been there, understood right away, but the others were reluctant.
The family as a whole had fought hard to get Zen back after too many years of believing he was dead. The struggles Zen had gone through after returning had been terrible, they all remembered that.
"He wouldn't have lasted another day, we barely made it to him and it was a miracle he'd lasted as long as he had, but I did make a choice Farron, I chose to not be just a dick about this…I'm MAD, fuck I'm pissed as hell, I can't believe she did this to me but fighting…now…with a War going on, with people we all know and care about dying all around us…the world is in turmoil and being angry…being horrible to her won't change what's been done!, all it's going to do is make a fucked up situation worse! Yes, I could go to Minstrel…IF I had only bonded with her but we went all the way Farron, we're mated! I feel every fucking inch of the distance between she and I right now and all I want to do is go over there, crawl into bed with her so I can fucking sleep!" He growled.
"Zen...sleep." Cristoff said then and his brother crumpled, Kaleb catching him.
"Thanks Cris...he just needs some time, some sleep and food so he can get some perspective. Whatever he decides...I'm with him, I just want him making the decisions rested and with a full stomach." Farron said as Kaleb and Cristoff hefted their large brother and carried him back upstairs to his room.
"If he choses Cosplayer?" Bickslow demanded, Farron narrowed his eyes on his younger brother "Than I'll support the decision. I understand he's bound to her, I get it, I even understand that he won't be able to live a life away from her, but maybe some independence could be worked out somehow if he wants it. The bottom line? I don't think he can think clearly about it while he's with her, and definitely not after almost a week of no sleep and little food or rest literally in Hell. Speaking of which...YOU have a date with your pillow too Bixy." Farron said firmly "Or do I need Cristoff to make sure you go there?"
Bickslow rolled his eyes, but couldn't argue anymore, he was bone tired and even the walk back to the Inn across the fucking street felt like a big distance. When he got to his room he showered again, swearing he could still smell some of that horrible smell, didn't even bother with clothes of any kind, just collapsed into the bed, pulled the blankets around him and passed the hell out.
Two doors down from him, Lucy lay silently crying, unable to sleep as tired as she was, guilt, the deep powerful need to be by Zen, and thinking about all she had taken from him and from herself with her choice leaving her...devastated.
Across the street, pushed into a deep sleep by his brothers magic, Zen slept, but his dreams were filled with a brown eyed blonde, of holding her, kissing her, watching her laugh then seeing her cry, feeling it, her sadness, her guilt. In his dream she was on her knees begging forgiveness and he was unable to go to her, hold her, comfort her and tell her they would work it out even though he desperately wanted to. She was far away, out of reach somehow, but he heard every sob, could smell every tear, and in his dreams, he still stood, as badly as he wanted to go to her, he stood and didn't, watched her cry though every tear hurt him. He did nothing, because he couldn't trust anything.
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A/N Thank you to those leaving reviews and sending me PMs I'm so glad you're enjoying this!