Levy emerged from the bathtub wrapped in a fluffy towel and was trying to get her unruly blue curls to cooperate about drying out when strong hands took the towel from her and started gently doing the work for her. Turning she looked right at a wall of tanned skin stretched over well defined muscle and smiled.
Gajeel tossed the towel aside, pulling his little mate into his arms, wicked grin curling his lips up before they started working over her already somewhat marked up neck...he just liked the taste of her, and he loved leaving evidence that she was his, that he had made love to her, had access to all of that porcelain skin and left his mark...everywhere.
"The Drunk brought a big bunch of food up for us...you hungry?" He asked, against her skin and Levy hummed, pressing into him happily. He was here, alive, a little thinner but he'd regain his weight quickly with Cana bringing up huge plates mounded high with bacon, baskets of fresh rolls and all sorts of other delicious things for them.
"I really am, we didn't have much to eat while we were searching for you...I know you had…" she trailed off and he kissed her "Nothing i want to think about, bacon looks like sliced heaven to me right now so lets eat...then...I'm gonna give you a reason to take another bath…" He smirked at her, pulling the cart over by the bed where they had a makeshift picnic.
"Ok, give shrimp, how the fuck did you guys get to the underworld? How did you find a mage that could do what Zen can do?" He demanded, already knowing the answer, but wanting to hear it from Levy herself, smiling as she made him a solid script iron piece...complete with the heart in the center of the "o".
Levy drew a breath, frowning slightly, she had been hoping to put this conversation off a little more, knew Gajeel wasn't going to like what they had done.
"I felt you weren't dead...knew though if you had survived you were running out of time…" She said and he nodded, munching contentedly on her iron. "Yeah, not a nice place, seriously, how did you find Zen though? I mean, I didn't even know anyone could open gates through to other plains like that." He admitted with a shrug, hell he'd never heard of anyone doing something like that. Portals, gates...those took huge numbers of mages doing complex ceremonies to do and the spells were dangerous as fuck to play with and if you fucked up everyone involved pretty much died some horrible death so finding a mage like Zen who just...opened them...shit.
"Well…" Levy sighed, launching into the tale covering how Irene's spell had shattered Fiore and several other countries, how Lucy and Cana had been found and escorted to Crocus by Zen and his older brother Kaleb, White Sea, the Boscan Princess and her treachery and finally...how Loke had told Lucy with Levy there, about how special Archangel mages were, that Zen was the first in almost a thousand years, and...how he could be bound.
"Wait...so, his magic expands, but for that to happen he has to be...bound to another mage?" Gajeel frowned and Levy nodded "specific kinds can expand their magic, they are free to mate with any kind of mage and to pick who they want to mate with, it's not like Dragon Slayers, their mates aren't pre-determined or fated. If they want to expand their magic though, become more, they have to use magic of a Celestial nature, but for it to happen, a bond has to be put in place,and because Lucy is a Celestial Spirit mage who opens gates, binding Zen to her would open that magic to him on a broader scale, he doesn't summon things through gates he opens, he just opens gates...and an Archangel, because their magic came from the Kingdom Plain of Heaven, can open a gate into and out of...hell." She explained.
"What's this "bind" thing? What do you mean "binding" him to her…?" He prompted, looking at her steadily and Levy pressed her lips together choosing her words carefully.
"Zen gave Lucy one of the feathers from his wings, Loke said it was like giving her a key into him, so, she held it, called Zen, and her spirits performed a binding spell on him… and Lucy, I guess it was pushed further, did more than just bind him, they mated completely,pulling out a piece of his soul and putting it into Lucys...binding him to her for life. They only needed to do the binding to unlock the magic...when her magic mixed with his...it made it possible for him to open gates, the kind we needed to get to you…but it went all the way." She said.
Gajeel stilled. "He was ok with that? A lifetime bond to Bunny Girl? You said they had just met and I mean, two weeks together fighting and trying to stay alive through the shit that's out there can bring ya close to someone but...Bunny really wanted to do it? I...I can hardly believe anyone would do something that….huge...to save somebody...I mean...Zen didn't know me at all…"
"Well...we didn't tell him...Lucy just...took him...we couldn't risk him saying no, we had to hurry and get to you!" Levy said, voice rising when she saw Gajeels eyes narrow.
"You're tellin me you and Bunny Girl just...decided to basically enslave a good man so you could rescue me? What she did wasn't temporary Levy, lifetime you said!" He pointed out and Levy bit her lip, shaking her head.
"Gajeel...you were facing death...there was no other way to save you!" She said. He shook his head.
"Levy...the old me really wouldn't give a shit, but the old me nailed women to trees remember? You and Bunny didn't give this guy a choice?! I know you were saving me...and I'm glad I'm alive but...the price...it was the freedom of a good man and Bunny too! Neither one of them are free to just fall in love now are they? They're stuck with each other and the whole selection process was just that Zen could open a gate to hell if Lucy enslaved him?! That's what they have to base a lifetime together on?! How could you even LET her do that?!" He demanded.
Levy blanched, then shook her head, no, this wasn't how she wanted this to go, he would have died! She'd done the right thing pushing Lucy like she had, it was the right decision not to tell Zen, they couldn't risk him taking time to think it over or saying no!
"It's not slavery! Zen got to chose, he chose to um…some part of it…I don't know the specifics…but he was involved, he and Lucy are full soulmates now, their souls were compatible, and they accepted each other, Zen's not her slave he's her MATE Gajeel, just like I'm yours and you're mine now. Soulmates work very similar to how Dragon Slayer mates do." Levy defended and Gajeel stared at her like he didn't know who she was.
"So...they're mated, so they really can't ever fall in love with whoever they want, find anyone else...be free to make those choices for themselves...they BOTH gave up all of that...so Zen could open gates and you could rescue me...Fuck shrimp…" He breathed, and the horrified, unhappy look in his eyes made Levy shake.
"Gajeel, it was for you...we couldn't let you just...die out there. So many good people have died...we couldn't let it happen. Lucy agreed, and all of us know you'd do anything to save any of us." She said.
"I wouldn't enslave someone...for the rest of their life, wouldn't take away the freedom to fall in love with whoever they wanted...you did and...I...I don't know what to say Levy...I don't think I would have done it...I'd lay down and die to save any one of you FROM that." He said firmly.
Tears stung Levy's eyes looking at him and Gajeel softened "I love you, Levy...you're my mate now and forever, and I'll love you always, but...what you and Bunny did...rescuing me, that it saved my life...didn't make it justified or right. I learned that...from YOU." He said. He laid back then, and Levy hesitated, but finally climbed over him.
He cupped her face with one hand, smiling up at her faintly and she shook her head at him, tears in her eyes "I love you so much...I wanted to die...I was dying...I didn't want to live a life without you...I couldn't" Levy whispered and he pulled her down to him, kissing her. He loved her far too much to hold this against her, and the time spent thinking he'd never see her again had driven into him hard and deep that she mattered more than anything in the world...he'd have to talk with Zen...thank him for saving him...because if anyone had given a lot to save him...it was Zen most of all, who had given up a great deal to save a stranger for some people he barely knew. Well…not given…the man had had his freedom ripped out of his hands…he'd had no choice in the whole things at all, so if someone had lost a lot…yeah…he would need to thank him…and apologize too, because what Levy had done…was wrong.
He and Levy would have to talk about all of this, he couldn't let this just go, he loved her, and was grateful beyond words to be in her arms, for this chance to be all he wanted to be with her. They would work this out, because he didn't approve of what she and Lucy had done, even though it had saved his life, but that would come later...
Right now though...his body was screaming to have his mate again, they were working up their own bond, and he needed to show her he still wanted that…
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Crocus was crowded, people were everywhere, most trying to figure out what to do, where to go, how to get their lives back. Princess Hisui had taken over Fiore, her father….dead. The exact cause nobody knew though rumors flew like mad. Lucy was standing with Zen at a clothing store of all places when they heard someone talking about it.
Zen had let her pick most of the clothes they had bought for Sting and Rogue and tried to explain how his healing magic made it so he knew their underwear sizes, Lucy not passing the opportunity to tease him and see how he reacted.
"So you checked their underwear...interesting, I didn't see you do it...you're quick." She said calmly putting a black tunic into the cart they had.
"Didn't check, it's my magic, I pick up their weight, muscle mass, that sort of thing, it all calculates so I can measure how the magic flows." He replied.
"If you like guys I sure can't blame you, I mean...I definitely do and Sting and Rogue are both pretty hot." Lucy said lightly, watching through the corner of her eye to see how he reacted.
His eyes narrowed, his lips curving into a wicked smile that sent a shiver through her.
A moment later his lips were by her ear "I've fucked my share of both, the men…not willingly, I've always prefered women. Those two boys back there couldn't handle me…" He growled and she almost fell over, her knees just went to jelly at the husky seductive depth of his voice and she leaned back into him, one of his arms sliding around her, holding her against him as his lips played along the edge of her ear.
"Tease me more...see what happens…" He whispered and she moaned, couldn't even hope to prevent it, tried to bite it back but instead found herself leaning back more, turning her face toward him and catching his smiling lips.
He broke the kiss moments later, denying her the depth she wanted and she whined when he did it. "Sorry…but you started it." He said lightly as he moved away and Lucy pursed her lips…she had…she wanted to reach some sort of comfort level with him instead of this…uncomfortable…tension she was feeling. Zen…just got some distance…unnerved by how hard his magic was pushing him to just…be lovey dovey, to act outside of his own damn character and it seemed to come with whatever whim struck Lucy and she had an active mind…so her whims came quickly and some were strong enough he had to steel himself hard not to act.
"So I know their sizes, and it's not because I give a rats ass about having sex with either of them or checking out their dicks...that shit is trust based with me, plain and simple... So, lets get them these things and maybe get you some things too. I know you lost everything and you bought a little bit today, but I keep seeing you lacking warm things to wear…" He observed, needing her attention to focus on something else so he could think, starting to guide her toward the women's section. They were in the Crocus Elluris store, Zen had insisted Sting and Rogue both could use some quality things and he refused to get them anything that wasn't on par with the quality of what they had been in, which, though it was battered, torn, and burned, had still held up on the pair through extensive torture and fighting.
Lucy was on unstable ground with Zen and she was trying to think through it but it was hard. She had hurt him, betrayed his trust, and while he said he wanted no more apologies, he'd also cut her to the bone by observing he didn't believe she would think of him before her friends, and what made that sting most was...she knew he was right.
She barely knew him, and, powerfully drawn to him as she was, linked to him as she was, all of that, it was so new and so outside her experience she didn't know how to deal with it. She had gone from a somewhat frustrated 20 something hoping to find a nice guy to date, to mated, soulbound to a tall sexy mage who was older and vastly more experienced than her.
Zen was her ideal man, and she knew it, watching him walk ahead of her her eyes slid down that tall body from the broad shoulders to the well muscled arms and back, trim hips to the fine ass, hard muscled thighs...his dark reddish brown hair hanging to just short of the base of his shoulders, the top pulled back into a high set tail, the rest loose and she knew that it was thick and soft between her fingers, handsome face, amethyst eyes with golden flecks in them...even the ruby he wore in one ear, all of it came together so that physically, any woman would want him, he was stunning.
Personality wise, Zen was pragmatic, sensible, rational, but also playful, had a rough but present sense of humor and his compassion, willingness to sacrifice for others...all of that made her want him so much more, he was a good man and, he treated her well even though most people, including her, would have been furious over what she'd done, could have hated her for it..but not Zen. Lucy swallowed on a tightness in her throat, he was forgiving, maybe as much or more than she was. With her at least, and she just wasn't sure how to act.
She felt flustered, lost, teasing him made him tease back, and because she was younger and less experienced than him, he was better at it. She lifted her chin slightly, maybe she needed to up her game, he wanted her to earn his trust back, she would do it. She wanted all of him...as he had said, now, they were each other's only choice where love was concerned and all her life she had wanted it, dreamed of it, of being loved by a good man.
Well, she had one now, she just had to earn what she knew he had to give her, and since she had taken his ability to trust her away, to rely on her and have faith in her, she would open herself up to him, earn it all by giving it all. It was the only thing she knew how to do.
She would win him by being herself, and not hurting him again, by leaving herself wide open for him to hurt her, trusting that he wouldn't.
"Zen…" She called, spotting a rich purple long sleeve mock turtleneck in a soft fabric that felt amazing under her fingers, Sting, Rogue, even herself forgotten she pulled it from the rack in the size she thought would fit, it was stretchy material and, Gods, would it look good stretching over him.
When he turned his eyes questioning for a moment then he smiled. "We aren't shopping for me and that's far too big for you, Rogue or Sting." He observed. "I want to see you in it...the color…" She hummed, holding it up to his chest and looking up into those eyes of his. She grinned and reached forward, putting it in the cart. He smiled
"Like that huh?" He asked and she nodded "Just like that. You wanted to shop...I'm shopping." She said and walked past him to head for the women's section, almost eager now to see what he might like to see her in.
Zens smile turned predatory as the blonde slid ahead of him down the isle,head high. Oh he liked her sass, he really did. He'd given up his room to Sting and Rogue now, it was the right thing to do, Kaleb wouldn't object...much, to White Sea paying for the two Sabertooth mages to have a roof over their heads and Zen hadn't meant to sleep there anymore anyway. No...his place was in Lucy's bed now and he meant to take it. He had no intention of suffering another night, he wanted peaceful sleep and if this magical bond they now had demanded he…be at his owners feet in order to rest? Fuck it…he'd do what he had to. She was trying, he could see she was, and he was willing to give her the chance, he'd live a damn horrible life if he didn't figure out how to at least…like…the woman he was bound to.
He also…wasn't going to deny himself. It was cold…it was, but he was a healthy Boscan man and he enjoyed sex. Lucy was a beautiful woman, and he wouldn't refuse her if she kept acting like she wanted him…kept feeling she wanted him through their bond…no…he'd fuck her until her legs turned to jelly. Pleasure was pleasure, it didn't mean a damn thing. Not to him. He'd been raped more times than he could count…in fact…he'd been raped by Lucy. He wouldn't force himself on her, but he wouldn't turn her away either. He'd get something out of this fucked up situation, find some sort of pleasure in it.
Laxus' interruption had been timely, and while he'd suffered for it, regretting his snug jeans for a while, her reaction of frustration hadn't gotten past him. She wanted him, and he meant to play with that, tease her, for as long as his own endurance lasted resisting the very real aching need he himself felt to be close to her, to please her...pleasure her. That was another thing...his own desire…wasn't entirely his anymore. It was driven now by the magic that wanted the bond to work, and by Lucy, and…he resented that. His resentment…was making him…have some mean and hard thoughts and he was trying not to, he really was. He meant what he'd said, he didn't want to be horrible about this, but the more she played, the more she acted cute and tried to just sweet her way past what she'd done…the more those mean thoughts came up.
Watching her his eyes narrowed but he felt nothing…his whole life a slave…forced to hide well how he felt and what he was thinking lest it bring pain to him he didn't want…he could damn well keep how he felt shut off…that was his goal. She would feel nothing from him, not a fucking thing, until she proved she gave a damn about him and would live up to her promises.
Her tentative teasing wasn't welcome, he didn't want to play with her, he wanted to rip her heart out and show it to her, let her see what she'd taken from him. But he'd die too, that was what the bond did, he was her protector now, her comfort…he was more of what he'd fought not to be as a slave in Pergrand…than he'd been while he'd lived in chains with a collar around his neck.
No, she wouldn't have any part of him that mattered to him until he was certain she wasn't just some power hungry bitch who played sweet well. He felt her guilt, her remorse…he DID feel that, knew it was real…but what of that came from anything she felt for HIM and what of that was her realizing what she had given up herself by doing what she'd done to him.
All of that played through his head as he moved, he'd keep his heart and feelings to himself, but he couldn't resist teasing back and upping the intensity with her, he wanted to see how much fire his blonde mate had inside of her, he'd seen glimpses of a lot of it, he wanted...needed...to feel it, fan it, get set ablaze by it. If she did? He'd fuck her. That was all it was too, sex. He'd give it to her and make her scream his damned name…but it wouldn't be anything more than physical pleasure.
Watching her walk ahead of him wasn't wise though, she looked far too good and he wanted her entirely too much,the damned magic made sure of it, so his eyes turned to the clothes, he found quickly though he had to be careful with that because then he was imagining her in them, and that led him to checking how clasps, buttons and zippers worked and thoughts of the ease of removing those clothes quickly while she was writhing beneath him.
Hardly helpful.
Still, he found a beautiful womens cloak in a lush deep dark maroon with ivory fur lining and trim and as soon as he touched it he knew Lucy would look amazing in it and it would be warm and had already been enchanted to be waterproof and wind resistant. So he pulled it from the rack and turned to find her.
She was a little ways away, looking at some jeans, Elluris made the best, butter soft and durable. Expensive, like everything they made, but for wizards, no other clothing maker supplied clothes that held up to mage work like Elluris did.
There was a tall man in a tight purple shirt, black blazer and pants decidedly watching her from a couple of racks away, the mans small eyes were calculating, ringed with dark circles, and the little skull tattoo on his forehead set off more alarms in Zen than he was willing to hold still for. He grabbed the cloak and headed for Lucy, keeping his senses locked on the man while his eyes were on her, an easy smile on his face hiding his tension. It was an effort to keep his wings in, his magic in check, everything in him screamed the man was a threat.
"I was thinking this would look amazing on you." He called to get Lucys attention off the rack in front of her. She smiled then her eyes widened, delight flooding the chocolaty depths that normally would have thrilled him because that delight ran right through him because of the bond, but right now, his attention was focused on the man nearby that was glancing up at he and Lucy both now, the small eyes scanning over Zen, calculating.
Zen just couldn't imagine that man had cause to be shopping for womens dress slacks, which was what he was looking through when not looking at them.
Lucy started wrapping herself in the gorgeous cloak and drew his attention to her, he couldn't help it, she was smiling and her eyes were shining and damn if she didn't just brighten the world around her when she did that.
When he checked back for the man in black...he was gone. Clenching his teeth he went ahead and fully looked around, even spread out his senses using his magic, even Vander had to dive deep to evade him when he focused and tried to see the sneaky shit, He spotted the man...using some sort of distortion magic that hid him from view, hurrying out but glancing back at them, little eyes widening when he squarely met Zens glowing golden eyes narrowed firmly directly on him. That's right you son of a bitch, I can see you...he thought before turning back to Lucy once the man was out the door.
Zen?! What's wrong, who do you see?! Kalebs voice came…the intensity of Zens mental snarl reaching the family link and Zen narrowed his eyes pushing the image of the man into that link.
Spriggan, we have a picture of him. That's Jacob Lassio, Zen, get out of there, he's an assassin on par with Vander. Kaleb warned.
Fuck him, I can kick Vanders ass, I can kick this guys ass, he was stalking Lucy. Zen growled
Think Zen, think, you fight there in the city people will get hurt, just get Lucy out of there, this is the bond talking not you…it's driving up your need to protect and making you close to irrationally aggressive. Kaleb countered.
Zen grit his teeth, knowing his brother wasn't wrong.
He locked that presence, the feel of the man's magic away, if the man got close again...Zen would sense it no matter how much distortion magic he used. It was part of Zen's Archangel arsenal that he saw through lies, illusions, distortions and sleaths, he could hone in on threats, especially on one toward Lucy it seemed, since he hadn't noticed the man at all and then suddenly his whole body was humming and ready for battle.
Vanders friend Presca, who was an energy mage and could hunt someone down by their magic signature across great distances once he had a beat on them, had likened Zens abilities to his own, a variation of it, though Zens didn't work unless someone posed a threat to someone he felt the need to protect. Even now he felt the man getting farther away but, if he wanted to, if it didn't mean leaving Lucy alone, which was not an option now that he'd sensed a threat to her, he could hunt the man down, follow him, no matter what he did.
Lucy saw his eyes shift, and the dangerous edge creep into his expression when he looked toward the door. "Zen? What is it?" She asked uncertainly. He looked down at her, eyes softening immediately.
"Did you see the man in the purple shirt and black sports jacket over there a few moments ago?" He asked softly, standing close to her, unable to stop himself from reaching out to brush her bangs from her eyes, she frowned, looking suddenly, eyes widening when she couldn't find the man who had been nearby looking through a rack, he'd have had to walk past them to get out of the store but she hadn't seen him do that…
"He...where did he go?" She asked. Zens hand cupped her cheek, pulling her full focus back to him, his touch almost making her sigh. If his eyes weren't so serious she'd have stepped right into him, she wanted to, suddenly wanting to be held and not sure why.
"He was a threat to you, he used some sort of distortion magic to hide himself and left when he saw me coming to you." He said softly and his free arm did pull her in, slid around her as she frowned, alarm starting to rise in her.
The Spriggan 12 were still out there...Brandish hadn't died that they knew of and had sworn she'd kill Lucy. "A threat...Zen...how?" She was confused as much as alarmed, how would he know?
"I'm a guardian Lucy, specifically...I am your Guardian, you claimed me, bound me to you. My magic has always been about protection, every facet of it helps me do that, even the healing side of it is all about protecting and keeping my charges safe and alive. I...I've never felt it so keen or easy as I did just then but...that man...he meant you harm. He's gone…" He paused, eyes clouding, getting distant as he reached out and found the man again, he was nearly to the edge of the city now but...he could still feel him, sense him...easily too.
"He's almost out of the city already, moving away from us, took off when I made eye contact with him through his distortion. He uses some sort of stealth magic, different from Vander...but I can see through it." He said firmly.
"Who was he?...Gods...should we go after him?" Lucy asked, looking toward the door. Zen shook his head "No, let's finish up here and get back to the others, talk with everyone,Kaleb says he's one of the Spriggan, maybe someone knows more about him…" He said "Maybe Sting or Rogue, since they were captives of the Empire for a while." He said.
"But if he gets away...we need information so badly…" Lucy said and he nodded, gathering everything they had selected, including the jeans Lucy had been considering and ushering her toward the cashier. "I won't risk you on a maybe Lucy. Kaleb can link Vander and Presca into what I saw and how the mans magic felt. Combined I firmly believe my little brother and his friend are the deadliest Bloodhunters Bosco has ever seen, if it's decided to track the man down, sending mages who wield magic he can't counter is the best idea." He said gently and Lucy realized he had her hand, and she could feel his anger and not being able to take the man down right there in the store.
"You want to take him down yourself…" She said and he looked sharply at her in surprise.
"I'm your guardian Lucy, you made me that before we mated, like I said, it's the foundation of my magic, everything I weild is based on protecting, defending what I am bound to protect...he was a threat, he meant you harm, I felt it as sure as I feel your hand in mine right now...I was born to take down threats like him...he was...dark...his magic was...evil, and I can still feel it...how he meant to hurt you...was there to...kill you." He said.
They made their purchases and Zen insisted they return to the inn, no delay, no stops, the streets were crowded, and he now, because now he was tuned in for them, he could feel other threats, dangers, darkness, close...and closing in.
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"Well, is she dead Jacob? I doubt she'd fit in your damn pocket…" The impatient words made Jacob look up ahead of him as he reached the small meadow. Brandish eyed him blandly "You said you'd kill her for me...I'm tired of the Celestial mage, but she really should be dead by now." The woman said.
Jacob rolled his small eyes "Yes and it was your task to end her Brandish, think the Emperor will overlook your inability to do so? Gods, woman...clothe yourself already, you think I want to look at that?" He snarled when Brandish turned to face him and her skimpy strapless whatever it was trying to cling to her large breasts had slid down showing some nipple.
She glanced down, tugging the clothing back into place "You can't tell me how to dress Jacob, and if you haven't killed her, you're no better off when the Emperor arrives than I am." She pointed out.
"Quit your bickering, the unrest doesn't serve us." Another voice joined them, the tall and elegant blonde eyeing them and smiling faintly. "So...what happened Jacob?" He asked and Jacob turned toward the beautiful man. "She wasn't alone and none of the Fairies were with her, there was a mage...a big one...never felt his kind of magic before...holy, light and...something more...something...powerful. I couldn't risk taking him on and he was with her, broad daylight in a crowded part of the city with the guilds all around the location, I could beat the girl, but I wasn't certain about him, and the fight until I figured out how to kill him would have taken too much time." Jacob said.
"Larcade, maybe you should try if he's a light wielder...you had fun with the Light Dragon Slayer." Brandish observed and Larcade smiled at her, his orange eyes full of affection. "Indeed I did. Yes...perhaps I should investigate this new mage while I eliminate the Heartfilia girl, the Emperor wants her dead, it will weaken E.N.D. to lose her, he covets her." He said.
He looked past Jacob toward the city smiling faintly. "I've heard there are a few light wielders, the guild from Bosco has some of the knights...they were...delicious good fun...Gods I do love Boscans...such sensual people. I might go into town and have a look around." He said.
"We aren't supposed to move on the city until Irene gets here. So just a little subtle fun Larcade." Brandish reminded him.
Larcade grinned, smoothing his Kasaya and walking past Jacob. "Don't wait up for me..I plan to indulge a little in some tasty Boscan pleasures." He called with a grin Brandish turned back to what she had been doing and Jacob headed for his tent, leaving Larcade to follow his whims.
The walk to town he took at a leisurely pace, enjoying the crisp winter air, Alvarez was a warm place, this was an interesting change. He smiled softly at the refugees he passed, bowing his head. In his Kasaya with the cross on his back and the one on his forehead, he looked every bit the holy man and got warm smiles from the people. He was handsome, beautifully elegant in his lithe tall build, with his blonde hair and orange eyes. He wasn't sure why his lord favored E.N.D. so much when he was so much prettier and could lavish pleasures on the Emperor like none other. If he would let him of course. But his Emperor would not, and Larcade was immensely loyal to his lords wishes, powerfully driven to see his will done.
He wanted this Lucy girl dead so it would break down E.N.D., so be it, since Brandish had been unable and Jacob had been disconcerted by the mage accompanying the girl, he'd do it himself. He rather liked the idea of standing against an unidentified kind of magic, especially if it were light based, he very much loved crushing other light users.
His stroll took him into the edge of the city where there was an encampment of refugees. Hearing some people grumbling about "Filthy Boscans." He smiled faintly, quietly passing them when his magic tipped up, sounds came to him he knew so very well, using the magics he used, moans and mewls of pleasure muffled in a thickly overgrown section of the gardens.
"Yes...oh Gods yes! More! Please!" A woman begged and Larcade felt the pleasure rolling off of her in waves, it made him smile, made his magic tingle through him. Whoever her lover was...was good. He moved subtly, silently, careful to stay at a distance but moving so he could see a young woman gripping a tree, her skirt shoved up to her waist, her top pulled down beneath her decently large breasts that were bouncing wildly as a tall man with long black hair streaked with red snapped his hips expertly, his hands teasing those breasts, one dipping between her legs to tease the bundle of nerves there as he worked the woman into a frenzy.
"Still think...Boscans are so bad?" He asked, the man was stunning, his cocky smile, the way his wine colored eyes were so full of humor and wicked mischief made Larcade's own body warm looking at him. He wore a tight black leather jerkin over a dark red long sleeved silk shirt, tight black leather pants hugged gorgeously toned muscular thighs, tall black leather boots that bore intricate narrow scabbards for golden hilted daggers adorned each boot that came up over his knees, three even strapped around his thigh. His pants were open just enough so he could fuck the woman he held, the leather still clung to a sculpted muscular ass that dimpled as he took his rapid thrusts into the moaning woman.
He was spectacular. Larcade had never seen his equal and his mouth watered sensing the man had magic, he was a mage...a powerful one too by the feel of it. He pressed his hands together, giving silent thanks for this gift before him. He was Boscan, that was obvious, lusty and very skilled, watching him work the woman through two jarring orgasms, the second one making her crumple bonelessly to the grass, he was almost lightheaded off all the pleasure the man had created.
"You're...amazing…" She gasped as the Boscan knelt above her, closing his pants. "And I am Boscan, pretty lady, we are not, as a people, your country's enemy, the Boscans in Crocus are here helping you fight this war...I'm one of them." He said lightly, barely even winded. Larcade moved closer, unable to stay at a distance any longer. The man stilled, turning and those wine colored eyes were suddenly squarely on Larcade, wary but the man's slight smirk remained in place.
"Darling lady, you should go back to your friends, I don't think this man wants to talk with you." The leather clad mage said, not taking his eyes off of Larcade. Those sharp eyes moved over him, lingering on his bare shoulder and Larcade smirked when recognition lit the beautiful red depths of those eyes.
Oh he was going to love taking this Boscan to his knees, turning pleasure into a weapon against someone who used it so masterfully, it was almost a dream for Larcade finding someone like this man.
The woman scrambled to her feet, eyes wide with alarm as Larcade stepped into the small thicket, clutching her clothes to her she ran and he let her, he had no interest in her, only this tall stunning Boscan.
"I'm Vander…" The man said, smiling, standing to put himself between Larcade and the fleeing woman. When Larcade took another step Vander countered it, positioning himself clearly offensively. "Nice tattoo there...Alvarez empire seal." He nodded toward Larcades shoulder and Larcade grinned.
"Indeed...I am Larcade Dragneel." He said, bowing slightly, taking a step and delighting when Vander countered it before his foot had even settled in the grass. This was going to be delightful, it really was.
"Vander Pradesh...nice to meet you...you defecting? I'll buy you your first celebratory drink if you are." The man offered lightly, his tone full of carefree humor that Larcade found himself loving.
"No..decidedly not defecting. You have betrayed your Crown Princess by being here." He pointed out. Vander smirked.
"You know, I never really liked her much, something about a woman who is so far into S&M she almost doesn't allow physical pleasure anymore with her partners...then there's the whole she betrayed my King and blew up a city killing hundreds of thousands…makes loyalty too much of a stretch for me." He shrugged lightly and larcades eyes stayed on his lips, they were soft looking, and he had perfect white teeth, his tongue slid over his lower lip as Larcade watched and it sent a thrill through the light mage he wasn't expecting.
"So, if you're not defecting, and your on team Psycho Princess, I'm wondering why you stopped? Just a little voyeurism do something for ya?" He asked and Larcade smirked.
"You have skills, you pleased her immensely." He observed. Vander bowed, eyes locked with Larcades.
"Flattery will get you everywhere with me...you wanted a turn holding the tree?" He asked and Larcade narrowed his eyes smiling, magic flaring "No...I want you holding it…" He said and Vander gasped, head flying back, body going taut and eyes slamming shut as pleasure ripped through his body, through every part of him, jarring, deep...utterly exquisite.
Larcade's mouth almost fell open when the leather clad mage didn't go to his knees, everyone dropped to the ground writhing with that spell and he'd pushed extra strength into it because he wanted to drive home the idea he was going to take this man down, use him, take him, drown him in pleasure until he expired from it.
But Vander didn't drop, didn't even go to a knee, though his arms flew out to his sides long black katanas formed and shadows churned from all around them coming to their master, altering the leather he wore, making it thicker, hard black metal forming in key places and when the black clad mage faced Larcade again, a black sash covered his eyes but they glowed red right through it, making it clear he could see as he countered Larcade's next step, the Katanas angling in his hands.
"Fuck I love good foreplay…" Vander breathed out, measuring his breaths, letting the pleasure crash through him, not resisting it but keeping tight rein on his reaction, a wicked smirk curling his mouth.
"I hope you can deliver on the promise you just laid down blondie...that got me hard again." He taunted and Larcade grinned, sweet Lord Spriggan this man was perfection...his magic flared again and Vander groaned, lips parting, his sculpted body tensing but he remained on his feet and charged Larcade.
The light mage was about to parry, side step the wild attack when the mage vanished, clean from Larcades sight, senses...everything..and a moment later, just as his eyes were darting around, alarm touching him, the tall Boscan was behind him, wrenching the cross from his back and tossing it aside deftly, the weapon lodged into a rock but Larcade whirled, catching Vanders wrist, pulling him forward and their lips met in a searing kiss, pleasure coursing through the shadowquip until he moaned then Larcade sent a hard punch into Vanders stomach and he staggered back as Larcade danced from his reach.
Before he could get to his weapon though Vander vanished again and Larcade tried hard to pinpoint him, Jacob could not do this with him, he always could trace the man's movements but with this mage it was like he stepped out of existence entirely when he disappeared.
When Vander appeared again he grabbed Larcade, seeing people running toward them, people who had no magic, who he knew an Alvarez mage would use to their advantage, hostages, shields, even just out and out kill them to distract Vander, he had to get them away from this crowded area.
So, he yanked the mage to him and ripped him into the voids, hoping being within it would disorient the man enough to give Vander the seconds he needed to find a safer place to fight him, and...to get him distanced from his weapon.
It sort of worked, but Larcade stunned him, he shined, and the void shades usually so repulsed by light rushed toward this, he saw then...in the truth the voids always revealed, the man he was holding wasn't a man at all, he was a demon...he had to be one of the Emperors personal guard...the Spriggan 12 he thought he'd heard Laxus call them.
He couldn't fight off the void shade AND Larcade so he leaped out, tossing Larcade from him so the man tumbled through the dirt. They were in the catacombs beneath Crocus, and Vander was grateful they had all been moved with the city because the deep shadows answered his call here, there was no light but the Spriggan he was fighting, and he could see as well as if they were outside in the daylight here, he hoped his opponent was not so well off in this location.
Larcade stood, orange eyes glowing "You're just full of surprises...I'm going to have you...I'll enjoy taking you, making you scream until your throat bleeds, cum until your heart fails…" He purred.
Vander smiled at him, dark red eyes narrowing, hard and cold even with his wicked smile there "Oh baby, talk dirty to me...I love it…" he said in his own deep silky purr. Larcade smiled, his magic building and this time when he hit the Shadowquip, Vander went to his knees.