A/N I am so glad to hear everyone is enjoying this! It's being updated as I'm posting it and I am listening to the reviews and to all the PMs I'm getting so thank you to each of you taking the time to leave those, they really do help. Without further ado...
DESNA
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Larcade was arrogant, and he was often overconfident, but he was also greedy and this mage hadn't been easy to get off his feet so he didn't waste time, he rushed forward and was on the man, taking him to the ground, pressing him facedown in the dirt and getting a knee between his legs as he did.
He made a mistake though, letting up on his magical assault and the moment the flood of pleasure stopped sending his senses haywire Vander wrenched them into the voids again and then immediately back out, dropping Larcade from the ceiling of the cavern some 90 feet up then vanishing himself and emerging on the ground gasping for air on his hands and knees as Larcade fell and crashed to the ground, groaning and Vander rolled his eyes, the fall would have snapped bones and done hefty damage to a normal mage "Fucking demon…" he grumbled, dark eyes glinting with that merlot color as he looked over the other…noting the man moving…noting none of the limbs looked heavily damaged from the fall.
Vander was about to vanish again, possibly leave Larcade in the catacombs, hope the mage couldn't get out easily because he wasn't sure how much more of the guys seriously fucking body wrenching magic he could take. He was panting, body just so sensitive now it was a wonder he hadn't already lost control of himself. He had years of sudehpah training to thank for it, a lifetime of hard fought for self control that meant he knew every muscle, every sinew in his body and how to move it, he trained harder than any mage in White Sea and not sickness, injury, none of it stopped him, he trained through broken bones, he trained through illness, he HAD to, the nature of his magic demanded he had control of himself on a level way above a normal mage, all of that, followed by years of being...honestly? A seriously dedicated man whore had him still holding on, he found release from stress in physical pleasures, comfort, there was nothing that compared to bringing someone to completion, to letting himself go inside someone else or with someone else inside of him, connected to him as thoroughly as physically possible. So…since he was old enough to even get an erection..he'd been sexually active on a high level and his body was damned well trained in physical pleasures because…it was his hobby, his escape, his way of coping and handling the magic he lived with and commanded.
He was hit then just as he had regained his feet and started gathering his magic and staggered, falling against a large rock, Larcade on him again, bending him over the rock, ripping at his armor and Vander felt it, the other man's desperate need, his body, his hard arousal pressing against Vanders thigh and he smirked, one thing Vander knew, was how to work a lover, and once a man was as hard as Larcade was…well, being led by the dick was a thing, he just had to figure this man out, wielding pleasure as a weapon…that was something he'd not fought before, had never even considered, so this…it was new for him, but his confidence didn't falter because pleasure was in his wheelhouse and never had it ever let him down, so he worked at pulling shadows to himself to bring strength back, letting Larcade try futility to get his clothes off.
His clothes were crafted by his magic, so it wasn't cloth or leather or even real metal Larcade was trying to rip free, they were shadows, molded to Vanders needs. He smirked, pressing back against the other man and twisting so Larcades hardness slid between Vanders thighs and the shadow mage moved rhythmically then, drawing a low moan from Larcade that dissolved into an angry snarl. When he faltered, Vander bucked, jerking his head back and cracking Larcade in the face.
The demon staggered back, clutching at his bleeding nose and narrowly managed to jump back as the black swords flashed back into Vanders hands that had vanished before and he took a swing with them a little wildly, trying to get his opponent to give him enough space to recollect his senses so he could either attack him better or fucking jump to the voids and ditch his ass.
His sword's needle fine tip did contact, and a line of little beads of blood appeared across Larcade's exposed left pectoral. The demon touched the fine wound, glaring at the blood on his hand from his nose. "I won't be gentle with you…" He said darkly.
Vander smirked, pulling shadows in, feeling them feed him strength "Don't you worry, I like it rough." he sneered. Larcades eyes flared almost red and Vanders breath was ripped from him as pleasure flooded him again, he staggered, but didn't lose his feet and swung, not accurately, both swords when Larcade tried to rush him, this time rending the Kasaya robe the man wore. Larcade pressed in though, dodging and maintaining the flow of his attack so the shadowquip couldn't recover.
He kicked the taller man's ankle as he staggered under the onslaught of Larcades magic and finally the leather clad mage fell back against the rock again. Larcade was immediately on top of him, again yanking at his armor trying to get it off. His glowing eyes moved over the mans trembling body, the tight padded leather had no openings he could find and was stronger than most metal armor, he was sure of that because his claws could get through most metal armor but not this.
Larcade took a fistful of Vanders hair, wrenching his head back, sending another pulse of his magic through the shadowquip's already overstimulated body. "No zippers, no clasps, how does it come off of your beautiful body...tell me and I'll give you real pleasure, not just magical." Larcade breathed in his ear and Vanders eyes almost rolled back in his head. He had no preferences at all, male or female, and while this man was an enemy, Gods above was this one of the most intense experiences sexually he'd ever fucking had, and for Vander, that was saying something.
Figures it's a demon and a damn Alvarez piece of shit…KALEB! Fuck please hear me…
Geographically, he was less than a mile from the Honeybone, knew Kaleb was there because...well...he'd snuck out and seen him. He was tired of behaving himself and had gone out looking to have some fun, get laid as many times as possible before his brother caught on he wasn't in his room anymore and called him back. He rarely called out to Kaleb, but knew how to do it, good thing too…
Vander! You little shit, where the hell are you?! Lucy and Zen just had a run in with a Spriggan! Kaleb snarled in his head.
He opened his eyes, head still wrenched back, Larcade smiled, orange eyes aglow as he leaned in closer, his lips brushing Vanders as he spoke. "Let me have you, you won't last much longer, if you let me take you...and you satisfy me...I'll let you live, continue to deny me and I'll let you die to this.." he said, another lesser wave of pleasure flooding Vanders body that he sent right through the link to Kaleb along with everything else.
FUCK! Van...what the fuck?! Came Kalebs reply
Got a Spriggan here, in the catacombs...I'm gonna stall, pray I can get this bastard off or you guys won't reach me in time, no moonlight here so Cris can't teleport...he told Kaleb.
His mind blanked then under Larcade's next push of magic through him, his hand slid back, outlining the hard length pushing against the inside of his thigh through the man's black pants. The guy was good sized and hard as a rock, much like he knew he himself was, stroking the man he felt the pressure let up as Larcade made an approving noise.
"Fuck I love a good pick up line...let me fuck you or I'll kill you...shit that's hot…" Vander managed to gasp out and Larcade yanked his hair hard, pressing a fierce kiss to his mouth as pleasure shot through him again and he couldn't stop the groan that flew out of him. He wasn't breaking…he wasn't, no he'd just wallow in this…this was his relaxation, this was his oasis, pleasure was where he went for his mind to clear and he held onto that and it did give him some clarity, did give him control and kept his thoughts moving…kept him in possession of himself.
"Give yourself to me…" Larcade purred and Vander managed to twist, turning so his back bent over the rock and he was facing Larcade, the white mage immediately ramming a knee between his legs, a hand sliding over Vanders groin, the shadowquip shadows thickening coverage there, protecting him but it didn't help much, no…trying to prevent pleasure really wasn't something Vander had much experience in. He felt desperation clawing at the edges of his tight grip on his control.
"I get you off...you let me live.." Vander whispered against the insistent lips and Larcade smiled "Nobody ever has...but yes...do we have a deal?" He demanded and Vander met the glowing orange eyes with his own heavy with lust and mischief so much so Larcade actually blinked at the expression presented to him, those wine colored eyes held…no fear, none, just confidence and lust and nobody, ever, in Larcades considerable lifespan and the literally thousands of mages and humans and even demons he had destroyed with his magic, never once had anyone after he'd attacked them on this level, looked at him like this, with this much presence of mind, this much sheer confidence, even swirling in the inevitable lust and within the demon…there was a sudden flutter of shock, surprise, only Zaref could stop him, only Zaref could defeat him…this wasn't possible.
Vander's mind was racing, clinging to Kaleb who was honestly trying to help him even as he rushed to reach him, to bring help, Kaleb's mind was calm, a lifeline…but Vander felt that desperation, that thrilling morbid rush…he knew it, had felt it before…that rush that came when death started to flirt with body was spent, overstimulated to the point he could barely control his own magic and there was a tremor in his legs he couldn't stop, he needed to ground himself, sex had always worked before, he had to believe, even with this demon using it as a weapon, that it still would, and demons usually honored deals at least enough he could damn well stall for time, especially cocky fucks like this one.
"Deal.."Vander breathed, gripping the Spriggans hair and forcing his mouth against his again, this time pressing to deepen the kiss as he wrenched the sash holding the mans pants open, let them drop while he shoved the robe down the arm it covered, his own clothes melting away as he dismissed them bit by bit, drawing it out as long as he could, Larcades hands greedily following where his skin was left bare and Vander moaned, the demon knew how to touch, that was for sure, but this wasn't a test for the demon...he was the one who had to prolong this, get the fucker off if he could.
It was a thrill, maybe someone else wouldn't see it that way but Vander did...a challenge he'd never had before. He let Larcade shove one of his legs aside, grip the back of his knee and lift it but before the man could press forward, Vander slithered his foot still on the ground behind the man's ankle and shoved, twisting himself to fall with Larcade, the man hit the dirt on his back with a grunt, Vander taking the opportunity to dive down his body.
The long thick cock that greeted him didn't phase him, he'd seen others as well hung as this demon was, he licked over the head and Larcade gasped then chuckled "Oh little mage...I've not had anyone try this with me in ages...nnngh! Ah….yes!" He laughed out as Vander started working him.
He'd never, not ever, even with seasoned Sudehpah with a fucking inhibitor ring around their cock, never had he been unable to get a guy off with his mouth, and he knew he was good at it, better than most Sudehpah were, took the demon all the way in, worked his throat around him and Larcade moaned, gripping his hair and thrusting up into his mouth.
If anyone had told him when he'd snuck out of the Honeybone that he'd end up sucking a demon's cock while his brothers tried to get to him and help him beat the damn thing he maybe wouldn't have snuck out. Not that he minded sucking cock, he rather enjoyed it, he tended to stick to women to sate his needs but sometimes he got the urge and just wanted some good dick, who could blame him? The male anatomy was as glorious as the female and Vander loved both about equally.
Gripping Larcade's ass he worked over the man's lower body with his hands, seeking erogenous spots and grateful he was able to find some and work them. The demon was writhing, breathing hard and fucking the hell out of Vanders mouth but there was a plateau and Vander felt it start to settle in place and cursed it. His training told him when those started he had to change tactics, modify his approach and position.
It didn't surprise him when the demon gripped his hair and pulled him off of him. "Good as you are...and you are by far the best I've ever had with your mouth, I need to have you...all of you...nothing less will do…" He said smoothly the whole while pushing Vander to his knees and then pulling him to the rock again "Not a tree...but it will do…" Larcade said, and pushed hard on the back of Vanders neck, using his magic to steal more of the mages strength and Vander was pushed down, bent over the rock again.
He really...did not want to get fucked by a demon…
Kaleb,don't let me die to pleasure, it ain't right...tell me you guys are close! He whined mentally as Larcade lifted one of Vanders legs and forced him to press his cheek to the rock, ass in the air.
Almost, just take deep breaths little brother, we had to get Lucy to show us the way, she's been in these catacombs before...hang on Van… Kaleb responded and Vander had a moment of relief realizing his brother felt closer, his words came through more clearly, there wasn't as much distance between them as there had been.
Are you seriously telling me to take deep breaths so I can get fucked? Seriously? Sex advice Kaleb?! How bout you run faster?! He shot back
How bout your ass doesn't sneak out and get into shit like this? I hope he's got a huge fat dick and it hurts, you little shit, Cris can heal you just stay the fuck alive! Kaleb snarled back but Vander sensed the alarm and worry in his brother's reply.
The moment was cut off though when Larcade thrust into him, no warning, no prep, just a hard thrust and even Vander was driven to cry out in pain. The Demon laughed, grabbing his hips and taking up a brutal pace that Vander had to be quick to match or Cristoff would have a heck of a fun time healing, literally, his ass.
Maybe the demon knew pleasure, had this magic control over it, but Vander knew how to work with a partner, how not to just be fucked in this position and he moved, gritting his teeth and gripping the rock with all he had so he had leverage against the beast hammering into him. Power bottom…he knew how, and he was going to show this demon just how that worked…
It wasn't the first time he'd had this sort of thing happen, he was a Bloodhunter, there had been times he'd been deliberately sent into places just so he could work as too tempting bait, he was good looking, had a great body and a quick wit under pressure, able to usually talk his way through most clutch situations…or fuck his way through…whatever worked if he wasn't supposed to just outright kill had been times plans had gone wrong and he'd been captured. He'd spent a week in a Joyan slave center getting juiced up on succubus venoms and fucked so much he'd stayed away from sex for a few weeks after being rescued and getting back home. He'd had the King of Pergrande pin him down and fuck him senseless while they had been busting Zen out, and had a Xillian prince chain him up and let his guards have him for days when he caught him sneaking documents out of his palace.
Well, actually, that prince hadn't ever found the documents Vander had taken, he had managed to get those back to Bosco and complete that mission because a guard wanted a piece of him and had been stupid enough to remove the cuffs suppressing Vanders magic.
The bottom line was, he knew how to use his body to get what he needed out of a situation, and he'd been with big powerful partners before, Larcade wasn't physically a big man in stature, he was endowed for sure, but not as big as some Vander had been with, so he handled it ok once he had his leverage and had adjusted to the pace.
Larcade on the other hand wasn't handling things as well, not that he'd show it, but Vander was unsettling him. First, he'd damn near cum during that blowjob, holy hell the mage was good with his tongue, now, the mans body, he was muscular, tanned, had tattoos running down his side that were like art, Larcade loved tribal tattoos had a couple of his own and Vander had clanwork all down his side. His thick silky black and red hair, the way he responded so completely, no reservations, no fear, even though Larcade was certain he had this mage near death, that one big push of his magic would end him, Vander was keeping up, even driving Larcade on, lusty in his movements, still touching him, making delicious sounds of pleasure that were so uninhibited…
Always, it was shame, embarrassment…shock that killed the people he did this to, his magic was so much more than a human being could take, people never accepted physical pleasures on this scale, always their minds resisted and always that was their undoing. Larcade had…no experience at all dealing with anyone who just…drank it in, loved it…uninhibited, lusty, wide open responses were just outside his experience…
He didn't even sense the mages closing in, he was consumed by the man he had pinned to the rock, his body losing control, climbing that steady climb to an edge he'd seen thousands thrown over with his skill and magic in the many many years of his existence, but this? This was pleasure, lust, and it was at a level Larcade himself was losing himself to as the shadow mage thrust back into him, matching his movements, twisting himself for altered angles and Larcade screamed out when the orgasm took him, as much from surprise as anything else. He knew orgasmic bliss vicariously through his victims, but had never experienced it himself until that moment and he collapsed forward onto the exhausted mage as it rocked through him.
It was then he heard...too late...the approaching mages, and when he turned half lidded eyes to see who had come, he met dark blue eyes that looked like a midnight sky. "Sleep!" He heard and then he collapsed, consciousness fleeing him.
Vander clung to the rock as the Spriggan fell off of him, groaning when the man pulled out of him in his collapse.
"Shit...too late guys...I feel like I was just fucked by a demon...oh wait.." Vander chuckled a little light headed as Cristoff stepped over the unconscious Spriggan to get his hands on his little brother.
"Damn…" Cristoff breathed as he worked, there was damage everywhere, lungs, heart, blown blood vessels that would have killed Vander quickly if Cristoff hadn't been able to come down there, Zen was a good healer, but intricate work like rebuilding a damaged blood vessel in someone's heart was out of his league. Fortunately, Cristoff was well experienced, and his misty magic flowing over Vanders overstimulated skin felt divinely soothing, calming everything back down to normal quickly. Vander sagged on the rock, catching his breath and smiling back at Cristoff "I need a bath…" he chuckled as he felt strength returning to him, he was drinking in the shadows all around them, the blackness flowing toward him like water from all around.
"I'll clean you up some…get all the..uh…cum and blood at least…" Cris grimaced as glittering water formed in his hands, he used it to wash vanders back and legs, his magic helping his brothers shadows restore him.
Lucy stood by Zen, trying to not look at the naked shadowquip who had rolled to his back against the rock as Cristoffs glowing hands healed the damage the demon had done and washed off the aftermath. Laxus looked at her "You have magic canceling rope right? Think you could get Virgo to bind this fucker up good?" He asked and Lucy nodded, hand sliding to her keys, Virgo emerging bowing before her.
"Punishment Princess?" She asked ever hopeful and eyed her mistress' tall mate beside her with a faint smile, she and Lucy's other spirits were still very happy their Princess had an Archangel mage at her side now. They had watched as his instincts had kicked in at that store, seen how fast he responded to a threat and all of them had been very happy with how he'd handled it all. That his ego hadn't driven him to chase the threat down, instead staying with Lucy and getting her to safety? It was hugely better than her team had been, had it been Natsu he would have dragged their Princess right into danger or left her behind while he chased it.
"No Virgo, not today, could you restrain this mage? He's very dangerous, strong, so magic canceling and very very secure." She said, emphasizing things knowing if she didn't Virgo tended to follow the letter of what Lucy asked and not always follow her intentions.
The maid bowed again, the familiar shimmering magical rope appearing in the spirit's hands. While she set to work Kaleb watched Cristoff work on Vander, his younger brother having enough magic control again to have restored his snug black leather pants and boots, Cristoff had a hand pressed to Vanders chest at the moment, Vander making a face because whatever Cris was doing wasn't entirely comfortable but there was no healer on Earthland Kaleb trusted more than his younger brother so he turned to Laxus.
"So this would be Larcade Dragneel...his thoughts were a bit...distracted when we were approaching but his guard was down so I got a good bit from him...none of it good. He's a demon, though he doesn't see himself that way, one of the Black Wizards creations. Brandish, Jacob Lessio, Irene Belsarion, that's 4 of what are 12 Spriggan, they call themselves the Emperor's shield, his personal guard. From Larcade I got other names and vague hints of magic, Neinart with some sort of historium magic, we'll have to look that up and find out what the hell it is, Ajeel Ramal, a sand mage, August, and elder mage whose magic wasn't identified in this ones distracted memory, Bloodman we know Gajeel took out, Dimaria Yesta who uses time magic, Invel Yura, who uses ice magic, Wall Ehto, a Mechias that uses machinery and of course...God Serena, who I think...other than me, is the last living designated Wizard Saint. This one, Larcade, is ranked higher than most of the others, so capturing him is actually a really good thing, Bickslow and i can likely get some hefty information out of him if we can keep him contained, if not, I recommend killing him before we lose control of him." He said and Laxus listened, drinking in the information and letting it sink in.
"We can counter them...we just need to know what they look like and…" He trailed off as Kaleb smirked and images of the mages, the information from Larcades memory flowed into the Lightning Slayers mind, his electric blue eyes widening at the precision and smooth ease of how it just settled into his head. He stared at Kaleb, mouth hanging open a little in amazement.
Zen clapped Laxus on the back as Cristoff and Vander came up. "You get used to it." He chuckled, reaching out to ruffle his younger brother's red streaked mass of black hair and having his hand batted away, narrowed red eyes glaring at him.
Getting the two mages out didn't prove too hard, Laxus shouldered Larcade and Cristoff and Zen flanked Vander making sure he was walking ok. The Shadow mage swatting away the occasional steadying hand when he'd stumble a bit. "I'm fine...fucked by a demon is new but I can add it to my resume when we return to Bosco and I take over the Sudehpah order." He said lightly.
"Take it over? Like they'd accept your leadership over the Grand Dame Bellamee." Zen snorted.
"You could put in a good word for me, she seemed to like giving you those private assessments during your studies, so out of the ordinary having a virile 21 year old go through training, you wore those instructors right the fuck out, I was so proud…" Vander returned and Zen gave him a hard look, shaking his head. He was used to Vander's teasing and knew the more he responded…the worse Vander tended to get, like Bickslow…
"The assessments were just so she knew which instructors to send next." Zen said in a grumble, he wasn't entirely proud of the fact the Grand Dame herself had taken a liking to him and had personally overseen his training when he'd returned to Bosco. At 21 he was 6'5" and was built just like the powerhouse of an ex-gladiator that he was, Sudehpah usually worked with youth, not grown men and since 15 was the legal age for drinking and most adulthood privileges across Earthland it stood to reason the Sudehpah who came to teach Zen to hone his skills in the sensual arts had often been a little overwhelmed by him. Zen had no shyness, no reservations in spite of his ordeals, he was lusty, and enthusiastic in sex like he was in a lot of things when he had first regained his freedom and had an actual future before him.
Freshly home, restored to his loving family, in school, he was all about becoming the best at anything his father set out before him. He'd have sudehpah tapping out, cumming before him when they weren't supposed to cum at all, sometimes before he'd even warmed up. So, the Grand Dame herself, leader of the Sudehpah order had come to assess him herself and Zen, being young and eager to prove himself, had enthusiastically proven himself, she lined up more instructors, he wore them out, she came back, had him again and assigned more.
His education was done and done very well, he'd gotten confident and comfortable with sex where he'd about hated it before, but he still, with all of his brothers around, had sex with the Grand Dame Bellamee. Vander had been with her second in command and had he gone into the order as planned he would have been with the Grand dame at least once since he was considered a prodigy, but that hadn't happened, he'd become a Bloodhunter instead.
"Yeah and the old lady liked fucking hot young men too." Vander snorted, groaning when Zen tagged him nicely because he was too exhausted to dodge effectively.
Cristoff caught the shadowquip when he staggered from Zen's smack, smiling faintly when Vander opted to walk on the other side of him instead of between him and Zen.
The brothers turned into a rolling comedy act from that point, Vander was exhausted and couldn't seem to shut his mouth, the fact he also couldn't dodge like he normally did seemed to keep his brothers invested too. They didn't mind tripping him and smacking him around, though they caught him, never let him actually fall, and backed off for little stretches even though Vander certainly didn't back off himself, letting their younger brother regain his strength.
"Oh I did NOT, I never shared pleasure Thessaly, she's got that little team of hers, they seem to keep her plenty happy." Cristoff was saying after Vander accused him of screwing a girl on Kalebs office desk.
Kaleb narrowed his eyes on them "NOBODY had better have fucked anyone on my damn desk...that's for my use." He smirked.
"Some brother you are, it's just the right height too, fuck your damn wards, had the twins ready to have some seriously good fun in there, planned it for days and then bam, Kaleb changes his damn wards and I couldn't get in." Vander sighed, throwing his hands in the air.
"Which twins?" Zen asked with mild interest.
"Prim and Zera, they're freaks too, really like watching each other." Vander replied.
Zen made a face "Always thought Kelly and Fera were better." He said and they all seemed to agree, making mild affirmative comments. Lucy watched and listened and was just...amazed. She'd never listened in much on "guy talk", had never really had the opportunity honestly. Zen and his brothers didn't seem to filter or care one bit she was there either. The only issue really was learning about her mates experience with sex was a little...unsettling.
"The Rilet triplets...even better." Cristoff grinned and Vander groaned "I hate that you've had them and I haven't...I really hate that." He said.
"He's not the only one that's had them…" Zen commented and Vander gave him a gaping glare. "No...no...nuh uh, that's unfair, you were with the triplets? When?!" He demanded.
"Halloween party, they pulled me into their booth, I was there most of the night…" Zen smirked and Vander made a whining noise, moving and hugging Lucy from behind "Promise me you'll make him suffer later, I'll owe you especially if you give me details I can use later against him." He said.
Lucy laughed, trying to escape his grasp "I don't know what I'd do with you owing me Vander." She admitted.
"Oh all sorts of things, I'm tons of fun you know." He smirked at her, trailing a finger down her cheek as he walked beside her with an arm around her.
"That's about enough hanging on Lucy little brother." Zen said tightly, grabbing his brother by the back of his tunic and yanking him to the side back to Cristoff who caught the staggering shadowquip with a chuckle.
"Hey! Who's to say she doesn't want a little three way? I'm all sorts of fun in those you know, happy to be the support and keep her on you...mostly" He grinned wickedly and Lucy almost tripped as her overactive imagination took that and ran with it.
"That's up to her, but I'll tell you now it probably won't be for a while, we both need to settle into our…" He hesitated, just not sure what the right word was for what he and Lucy actually had "...relationship.. better so quit making her blush or I'll kick that sore ass of yours." Zen snapped. Lucy spent most of the remainder of the walk out of the catacombs staring at the floor trying to rein in her blushing, Vanders comment had triggered all sorts of wicked ideas and then Zen actually sounding open to it…"That's up to her" as if he were being asked what color curtains a window needed, not talking about being involved in a three way with her between him and his honestly very attractive younger brother.
Gods, she'd only ever had sex three times, and that rushed mess with Zen...it had been... good, better than the awkward disasters her first two times had been. She nibbled her lip as she walked, she didn't know if it was the magic, how attracted she'd been to him for the weeks they had been traveling to Crocus or maybe a combination of all of those things but dear Gods had that been amazing, she'd never, not with Hibiki in the bathroom while visiting Blue Pegasus, nor with Eve two days later in the garden…and not in all her little fun times in her bathtub, never had she felt anything rivaling THAT. She understood why Cana was so addicted to it now, the "itch" that the Card mage said she needed to scratch was something Lucy had been feeling a lot through the day, even as crazy and hectic as the day had been, what with finding Sting and Rogue, shopping, then rushing to the catacombs to rescue Vander.
She just...wished she knew where she stood with him, she was so...lost when it came to Zen. She hadn't been ready to be bound to someone, essentially married...to a stranger. She found herself hoping, praying that somehow she would get things right going forward and not screw things up worse. It wasn't what she'd wanted…looking at it…it was no better than an arranged marriage, well…worse…because one of them really hadn't had a say in things. She barely had her own life under control...didn't really, Tartaros, the guild break up, followed by a year of struggling, then everyone coming back together, just starting to get their feet under them and...the Alvarez Empire happens. They just find out where their Master had been and...lose him.
Then as the Empire is invading, Irene's spell shattered the world they knew and sent everything into chaos and...in the middle of it all, she meets Zen Pradesh, he saved her life, stopping Brandish from choking her to death, helps her and Cana get to Crocus and she repays that by...binding him to her for the rest of his life.
Her, Lucy Heartfilia, runaway daughter and goofy clumsy mage extraordinaire, the woman who had never had a boyfriend long, who struggled with dating and bills and life in general, who had no idea what she was even doing from one week to the next. She had stuck him with her...and she had no clue what to do now. All she knew was...she really liked Zen, a lot, and she wanted him to trust her, wanted to make up for what she had done and prove to him he wasn't mated to a ditzy bitch that let her friends push her around...even though that was exactly what she had shown him she was so far.
Walking a little ways behind her, Kaleb narrowed his eyes as his brothers kept joking around, hearing every thought going through the little blondes very active bright and intelligent mind. He debated interrupting her, reassuring her that Zen really didn't hate her, Gods he and Zen's brothers had from the moment they had found out what Lucy had done, been livid and had resented her, and Zen had defended her to them.
But Cristoff and Vander had come back from rescuing Gajeel and said...they liked Lucy, had stood with Zen against himself and Farron who had wanted to try and find a way to break Zen free of the Celestial Mage, even if it meant harm to Lucy, they only cared about Zen, he was their brother and he'd been through enough, been a slave through his entire youth and sure as hell didn't need to be bound to some selfish bitch so she could save somebody's boyfriend.
Listening to her now, knowing she had no idea he was or even could do what he was doing, he came to some conclusions. First…there was a lot in the pretty blondes mind, in her concerns that focused on how she felt, how she herself couldn't let how he felt continue because it hurt her, made her feel miserable. There was a lot of concern for her feelings, admittedly, she had a strong desire for Zen to be happy, and she did care about him, he heard that in her inner dialogue and musings, it was immaturity, but innocent. What troubled him was, her spirits made no effort to shield her mind and he knew spirits DID that, Hestor's kept him from even getting glimpses into White Seas senior Celestial Mages mind. But Lucy's didn't, and he heard some of their contributions to her inner dialogue, little nudges and pushes about what she deserved…and then…the possessiveness, the need…it was powerful…to have Zen, to strengthen their bond thoroughly.
Kaleb glanced at Zen, who was teasing Vander with Cristoff about how good the Rilet triplets were, making the Shadoquip glare at them both. Zen wanted to love Lucy, wanted Lucy as a complete package, he really did, he was just trying to work through his loss, what had been stollen from him, and come to terms with the fact that the person he was now stuck with being with for the rest of his life, had literally stolen his freedom and raped him during the process.
Zen and Lucy had to build a relationship from…Lucy enslaving Zen and it wasn't going to be some flowery cake walk. Zen was open to it, he was…and Zen believed he hid his feelings well, and he did, nobody Kaleb knew could wall themselves off as well as Zen did, but Kaleb could see through it, his magic gave him that…and he knew. Zen wasn't just fighting the situation, he was bitter, he resented Lucy, resented having his choice taken from him and…while Lucy remembered their mating as pleasurable…the only thing Zen remembered…was being raped and not being able to do anything about it, not being able to stop her while she had ridden his body, while their magics had forced his body to comply and even pushed him through a climax to seal the mating.
Lucy remembered it being pleasure…Zen only remembered it as…pain.
He kept his comments to himself though, letting Lucy puzzle over what to do, smiling at some of the vivid images Vander and Zen had sent through her head...she was creative, brilliant, her mind active and sharp, he found himself liking her and hoping she could find a way in with Zen, a way to repair the damage she had done. He'd be supporting her, his new sister, and Zen's relationship with her, resolved to be good to them both and support them from that moment on. They needed no more difficulties...they had enough. He just hoped Lucy realized…before it was too late…that her urges, her needs, weren't just her own libido, her magic was pushing her, and…the magic was forcing her feelings and needs on Zen and forcing him to respond to them…something he knew just made Zen angry…and it wouldn't help them…Lucy had to find it though, had to see it, come to terms with it, and get past how hurt she was that Zen wasn't opening up to her. It had only been a couple of weeks since the mating…most of that time spent rescuing Gajeel…she had to get more…aware…of herself, her magic and how it was influencing Zen.
When they got above ground Laxus and Cristoff teleported them to the roof of the Blue Moon inn, deciding it was too dangerous to try and carry Larcade through the city, if anyone saw the Alvarez empire seal on the man's shoulder all hell would break loose.
With nervous city patrols wandering the city it wasn't worth the risk of trouble.
"Laxus, Mira, Lisanna and Elfman are here!" Bickslow called out as soon as he saw them come down the stairs. Laxus smiled, Kaleb turning to him and holding his arms out to take the unconscious Spriggan "I'll get him secured, send Freed over to maybe add some extra restraints, you see to your people." He said and Laxus gave him a grateful look, handing over Larcade before hurrying down to the tavern.
Sure enough Mira was happily hugging everyone, Lisanna was looking a little lost and, Laxus smirked, Evergreen had Elfman pinned to the back of a booth kissing the big man senseless.
Lucy shot past him, almost bowling Lisanna over "Lis! Oh my Gods I'm so happy to see you and Mira! Elfman!" She cried and Lisanna was grinning. The women were relatively quick to huddle, catching up had to be done. Mira and her siblings had ended up near where Hargeon used to be and had gotten stuck behind enemy lines for a little bit, but they had finally made their way north, hearing Crocus was now against the northern mountain range.
"Gods...so we have the Boscan guild here working with us? Thank Mavis for that." Mira said softly looking over at where Cristoff and Zen were talking with Bickslow and a somewhat ragged looking Cobra, who had found Mira and her siblings along the way and made the journey with them. Cristoff was, not surprisingly, healing some injuries Cobra had been carrying for a while.
"I'm glad, they look strong...easy on the eyes all around really." Lisanna smirked and Mira gaped at her sister, slapping her arm "Lisanna! This is hardly the time to be man hunting." She chided then smirked "I wouldn't mind the one with the lighter hair…" She said eyes roving over Zen's tall frame.
"Hah! Better back off Demon Bitch, that's Lucy's man." Cana cackled as she slid into the booth with them, pushing drinks at everyone. Lucy was immediately under all eyes.
"Lucy?! Really? You started something with one of the Boscans?!" Mira beamed Lucy started to open her mouth, hoping to do some damage control before Mira went into full Mira mode and her babies were being planned. She knew things were shaky with Zen at best and just hadn't had time yet to work on that. The last thing she needed was her well intentioned friends getting pushy with the already…unhappy man.
"Start hell, they're mated Mira, Lucy has already started riding that tall sexy beast." Cana slurred, clearly well into her daily overindulgence in alcohol. Miras eyes flew wide, Lisanna's mouth fell open, both women now staring openly at the tall Boscan by the bar now.
"You..OMG he's so handsome! The babies! Blonde hair, tall, what color are his eyes?…" Mira breathed.
"Ok, so he's taken, congrats Lucy, nice choice, what about tall dark and sexy next to Cobra?" Lisanna asked. Cana shook her head "Bickslows brothers are all high up on the hotness scale ladies, fully and deliciously fuckable and, they're Boscan, you just have to ask…" Cana grinned, getting wide eyed looks.
Lucy was about to jump in and defend the Pradesh men when Lisanna bit her lip and eeped, turning she saw Zen walk to their table. He slid in beside Lucy without a second thought it seemed, delighting Mira and Lisanna both.
"Cobra says you encountered one of the Spriggan on your way, which one was it?" He asked, the man not there to be social, he had serious things on his mind.
"Neinhart he called himself...if Cobra hadn't been with us...he really did a number on us and Cobra had to fight him pretty much alone...his magic is terrible..he uses the dead, your past...against you." Mira said, frowning.
Zen nodded, "Lucy and I apparently had a brush with Jacob Lassio...Laxus said he was the one responsible for Master Makarov's ultimate downfall. God Serena is the one who helped Princess Kurino destroy White Sea, and Irene Belsarion is the one who cast the spell that shattered Earthlands countries. Larcade Dragneel we just captured and Lucy had a close call with one named Brandish who I ran through with my sword but she fled so we'll assume she survived. That's only 6 we've encountered, there are supposed to be 12." He said thoughtfully.
He looked at Lucy then "Larcade is who hurt Sting and Rogue so badly." he said quietly.
"Sting and Rogue are here? We...we saw them on the crosses…" Mira said quietly "How are they?"
"They'll be fine, Cristoff and I got them healed back up so no more broken bones, they just need a few days rest and should be back to full health physically." Zen said, physical health seemed easy to him, it was the mental scars and the ordeal the men had been through that could take years to begin to heal. He drew a breath, being smiled at expectantly didn't escape him, so he managed a smile "I'm Zen by the way, Zen Pradesh, Archangel mage from White Sea, you're Mira and Lisanna yes?" He asked and both women smiled back at him nodding.
"I'm sorry, Gods my manners…" Lucy blushed.
"It's ok Lulu, you were busy drooling, totally understand, Zen here's hot as hell." Cana grinned, patting Zen's arm as she started to leave but stopped when she touched him, squeezing the large bicep that was stretching the material of his sleeve. "Yep...hot as hell. If you ever feel like sharing Lulu…." She looked at Zen seriously "Do you Angels do that? Could you handle two women at once?" She asked and Zen narrowed his eyes "I don't even know the answer to the first part, as for the second? I can, I have many times before and it would be up to Lucy, her feelings on the matter would be the deciding factor, I'm Boscan, pleasure is pleasure." He shrugged, his eyes hardening as his jaw tightened, feeling very much like a piece of meat.
Cana looked at Lucy who glared at her friend, with friends like these...First she spilled everything about Zen to Mira before Lucy could say anything now she's hitting on Zen…
"No Cana, you should ask Vander, he's always willing." She said lightly, Zen snorted at that and she smiled, proud she'd actually gotten a response out of the man.
Cana sauntered off and Mira looked at Zen "So, you and Lucy are mated?" She asked with a sly smile and Lucy wanted to slide down under the table and hide. Zen , managed a tight smile at the silver haired beauty, glancing toward his brothers and drawing a breath, there was no reason to make this ugly or to humiliate Lucy, not yet, he'd give her time to explain things to everyone. "Yes, just recently." He replied simply, keeping an eye on Lucy out of the corner of his eye, wondering how she was going to handle breaking this to all of her friends. She needed to, she needed to own up to it, be honest with everyone, so that he and she could get past the horrible circumstances that had brought them together and bound them to each other.
"So how did you meet?" Lisanna asked. Lucy wanted to hide…wanted to hurry from the inn…wanted anything but to tell her friends how she and Zen had come to be mated. She knew Zen was watching her too, and that if she lied…his magic would punish her for it and beyond that…he'd be mad if she tried to make light of it or didn't come clean about it all. Not that she wanted to lie…she just didn't want the truth to be so…horrible.
"Zen and Kaleb saved Cana and I from Brandish, one of the Spriggan." Lucy said and kept her answers short, vague, but within the truth. Zen listening, his eyes hardening more and more as she skirted the issue…yes, things were bad, yes they were all under a lot of stress, but avoiding a problem…never made it better.
The questions didn't get easier from there and when Mira asked Zen "How many babies do you think you'll have?" Lucy wanted to crawl under a rock. Zen smiled coldly, just feeling his anger welling, and this time, he let it through, watching Lucy stiffen when she felt it, that he was angry, bitter about what they were discussing, about how she was handling it. He didn't say he was, he met Mira's eager eyes, wishing as he did that Lucy would just…speak up, admit what had happened, so he didn't have to play at some romantic bullshit that wasn't there. Her tension though, her balk and silence, made the magic between them tighten its hold on him, he could not upset her…he could not make her unhappier than she was…it wouldn't let him.
"When I gained my freedom, I wanted to fall in love and have a good sized family. At least two children, I love children and I've wanted to be a father." He replied and Mira squealed in ecstasy, hearts filling her eyes as she fell over. Lisanna, wide eyed, barely managed to keep her older sister from crashing to the floor beneath the table, giving Zen an apologetic look as he looked over a little wide eyed...he really hadn't been expecting that reaction at all.
"It's ok, this is normal...she's fine really." Lisanna assured him when he'd started to stand to offer more direct aid. Lucy was sure she wasn't far behind Mira, for different reasons though, and her blush certainly wasn't a happy one, she was filled with shame, guilt…and looked at him with pleading apologetic eyes, meeting…cold hard amethyst in return that almost caused her physical pain to see. He'd said it though, babies...he wanted babies...oh sweet Mavis… Mira was going to come to and start planning baby showers and weddings in the middle of a war and at some point…Zen wasn't going to be nice with his answers anymore…she could see that promise in those icy hard eyes. She had to talk to her friends…she had to…because if she didn't…Zen would…and it wouldn't be pretty.
"I...I think I need to get some sleep, Lis did somebody already get you guys a room?" She asked, having totally forgotten Sting and Rogue were occupying Zen's at the Honeybone and that her mate was going to be sleeping with her from now on but that thought crashed right into her when the big mage stood and stretched, she didn't even hear Lisanna telling her that yes, Freed had already given them a room and they were looking forward to baths and sleeping in real beds.
Holy sweet Mavis, when Zen stretched out his body, feeling the exhaustion of a terribly busy day seeping through him, Lucy could forget how cold and unwelcoming his gaze had just been and jump on him.
How tired she was from so little sleep just flew out the window as the man stretched his hands up behind his head, his eyes closed as muscles flexed, stretching the snug thermal silk shirt he wore deliciously over his sculpted torso and arms...Gods she loved a well defined chest...abs...those pecs…her eyes hazed just a bit with a heady feeling…he was hers…that body was hers…all hers…she could tap his power…tap HIM, any time she wanted and she needed to…she so needed to… She blinked a few times then, shaking her head unsure where that had come from.
Lisanna's voice had drifted off, her own eyes wide going over the big mage...yeah...she might hate Lucy just a little bit knowing the blonde was about to share a bed with that.
"We should turn in, I don't think either of us has had decent sleep in weeks." He said firmly and Lucy nodded, he was right, she'd barely slept during the rescue mission or last night...spending it alternating between crying and pining over Zen not being there and then the nightmare when she finally had drifted off. She needed time with him, she had to make this right…she needed that time.
Zen reached a hand out to her and she took it, letting him pull her to her feet. He smiled at Lisanna "It was a pleasure meeting you and your sister...you're sure she's ok?" He asked one last time and Lisanna laughed "Oh yes, she does this all the time, it's fine." She assured him.
As they climbed the stairs Lucy's heart was in her throat. She didn't know what to do, how to get what she needed without harming what she knew was a fragile situation with Zen. She wanted him, not just to hold her either, but she still firmly believed, was certain, she had no right to ask for a damn , intimacy, sharing that…it would help wouldn't it? She wanted that to be true because she felt a deep need to make a real connection with Zen.
Memories of how bad her night had been last night had her steps faltering but Zen's hand on her back sent warmth through her, hope. He was right there, and he wasn't going to leave tonight.
Once inside she quietly went to the bags they had hastily left from their earlier shopping trip, dropping them off to get to the Honeybone so they could deliver the clothes they had gotten for Sting and Rogue, which had been gratefully received. Both men vowing they would pay Zen back. The Archangel had waved a hand "Guild expense, we're hoping to lure you to join one of the guilds." He joked, tossing bags to each man "Join a guild and get free underwear." They had all laughed at that, but Lucy had seen Sting and Rogue exchange some serious looks when Zen had said it.
Now she was putting away the jeans, hanging the gorgeous cloak and smiling at the shirt and sweater he'd bought her that she hadn't even seen him pick out. She held up the peek a boo shoulder deep red bell sleeved shirt and raised an eyebrow at him. He shrugged, sitting in the chair and looking over the fresh tray of food that had been left for them while he pulled his boots off. "That color suits you." He said, popping a grape in his mouth before pouring himself a hefty glass of wine and sitting back.
Lucy smiled, turning to put the shirt away but not before tossing the shirt she'd picked out for him at him, he snatched it out of the air. "Hmm, guess I should probably unpack my things, glad I never had time to do it and it's all still in quip storage." He observed, taking a deep drink of his wine.
"I wish I could do something like that, I would love to be able to store my keys so people couldn't steal them from me when I'm sleeping and such." Lucy sighed.
"I can teach you re-quip, it's not hard to learn at all, certainly wasn't part of my magic set until I was taught as a knight so I could use it for my armor and weapons. Vander uses it for poisons and such, Cristoff does all these herbs as well as his armor and spare clothes. You could use it to re-quip your Celestial keys, then you'd never have to carry them out where someone could grab them. In fact...really...you should learn it for that, seriously." He said, frowning, through their shopping trip he'd gotten her to tell him about her team, one of her teammates was a re-quip mage, why hadn't it ever occured to any of them to teach that to Lucy to help her stay safer by assuring her keys were always with her and safe?
She looked at him wide eyed then nodded vigorously "Please...I would...Love that." She said earnestly. He nodded "We'll start tomorrow, magic works best when you're rested, and fed, come eat something." He prompted and she smiled, moving to join him, dropping down into the wingchair across the tiny table from him.
They ate and he explained some of the basics of re-quip magic to her, which she eagerly absorbed. He went to put his things away and she hurried to the shower, taking some soft cotton sleep pants and a loose shirt with her, emerging in just a towel would be...too much.
When she came out rubbing her hair dry in a towel he smiled, and went in for his own shower, leaving her to anxiously get her hair combed out and, nibbling her lip, climb into the only bed, it was king sized, there was a reason Laxus prefered this inn to the Honeybone, the beds and bathrooms were much bigger to accommodate his size. Since the Blue Moon had become Fairy Tails home for the time being it was a good choice, especially with Mages Elfman's size, though she felt bad for the tall Pradesh brothers, White Sea was stuck in the more party or group sized rooms with little bathrooms the Honeybone had, many were meant for 6 people with 6 sort of small twin beds in a room, two rooms like that sharing a bathroom.
Settled on the side of the bed by the window she frowned, and slid to the other side. She'd had to share with Laxus once and he'd glared at her. "Door side, if anyone comes through the window, which is more likely than a rune sealed door, I want them reaching ME first." He had snapped.
They had argued over it, not that Lucy cared which side of the bed she slept on, just the insinuation she couldn't handle an intruder set her off and she was bitchy about that. Figuring Zen, with his drive to protect her might be the same way, she slid over so there wouldn't be an issue, the less she gave him reason to doubt her, the better.
He emerged from the bathroom then and Lucy dropped the book she'd barely opened, her fingers, brain...body, unable to function suddenly.
6'4" of tanned muscle came out in nothing but a towel, the offensive bit of terry cloth hung low on those hips too. Tanned, he had this deep golden tan, she knew Bickslow had it too, so did all of the Boscans, it was their genetics. Smooth skin over hard muscle and a lot of it. She saw the intricate clan tattoos running down his right side, the wheeling black eagle over his right pec, the one over his abs and the one on the front of his hip which she'd only ever caught glimpses of before.
She'd wanted to see him, see the body she'd only felt under shaking hands the day they had mated. His hair was loose, hanging damp around broad shoulders and there when he pulled open a drawer in the dresser and pulled out sleep pants, giving her an apologetic look. "Forgot I'd put everything away." He chuckled. Those dark green sleep pants were the only thing he grabbed too, no underwear, no shirt, and he stepped back into the bathroom emerging a moment later in the pants.
They rode low like the towel though, Lucy wasn't unhappy about that. As he worked a towel down his hair. He kept his body neat, His chest bare of hair, though from his navel down there was a line of trimmed dark hair that disappeared under the waistline of his pants and Lucy had the sudden serious desire to run her tongue down it to where she knew it led, he filled out the front of those loose sleep pants. There was a feeling that was foreign to her…a possessiveness, and a hard need to confirm that possession, they had mated…he was hers…her magic wanted that deepened, wanted intimacy, wanted the pleasure he could provide, the comfort and affection…deep within her…a whispering voice she knew had to be one of her spirits, telling her…he was hers…she deserved him and she had the right to have what was hers. He wouldn't deny her…she only had to reach for what was hers.
Zen didn't miss her staring, or the fact she'd dropped her book and her mouth had fallen open when he'd come out of the bathroom. He sure didn't miss the need, the powerful desire that was traveling to him through their bond. It drove a desire into him to satisfy her, to give her all she wanted and he had to bite it back…because it was NOT him, it wasn't his will or his desire. Yes she was beautiful, yes before it had happened he'd thought of asking her to share pleasure with him, but this? This wasn't him, it wasn't what he wanted. He wanted talk, discussion, working out where they would live, what guild they would be with, Gods he didn't even know if she had parents he should meet, he wanted her to meet his father…it was all things they badly needed to talk about but he was TIRED, the sleep he'd had the night before wasn't good, forced on him by his brothers magic.
Still…he wouldn't tease her about her desires, she was entitled to them, they were just part of being a healthy young woman…and…their magic was ramping up those natural he teased her about staring at him he'd make things awkward and it would be hard to get the talking done they needed to. He didn't mind anyway, not really. He'd already decided he wouldn't turn her away if she wanted sex, he needed it too.
Instead of teasing her, he smiled faintly, unable to prevent that, got his hair under control and tossed the towel over the back of one of the chairs before heading to the bed. When he slid under the covers Lucy was unnaturally still and it was all he could do not to laugh.
"Breathe Lucy." He said softly. "Sleep, we both need it badly. We'll talk in the morning over breakfast…we really need to, but right now I'm exhausted and I'm sure you are too." he added. He was exhausted, stretched thin, if she asked? He'd happily strip her out of those pajamas and just…pleasure her until she passed out if that was what she needed. He hoped it wasn't but If her mind didn't quiet, as close as he was to her right now there was no way he would sleep.
Lucy nodded, setting the book aside and turning out the light. She had worried for a few moments that there was no way she would sleep with Zen laying beside her…but she was wrong. Sound asleep in moments feeling warm…safe…and he was there, her magic wasn't reaching for him, he was there and sleep came easily for the first time in a while.
Zen lay beside her, eyes on where the curtains parted, moonlight coming through that little part. He felt threats…danger…and felt it more keenly than he had before mating. The book wasn't wrong, his senses were better, his magic was stronger…his drive to fight had a new edge to it. He'd never shied from a fight in his life…had grown up fighting everything from mages to berserkers, undead, vampires, shifters and all manner of magical and mundane beast, whatever his owner had thought would impress the crowds of Skysreach, entertain the jaded twisted people who came there every day. He was a killer, he told his family he had no idea how many people he had killed but he knew many…he remembered them. Every fight, every time that thumb turned down and it was kill or be overwhelmed by guards and raped for the crowds while his opponent was raped and dragged away to die to a different Gladiator another day. He was looking forward to the fighting now…eager for blood, to release some of his anger, frustration, visit his pain on the invaders who had caused a person like Lucy to enslave him. He would make them pay, but tonight…he would finally sleep without that fucking magical bond driving him into nightmares because he wasn't where he was supposed to be.
"Zen?" He stilled and smiled faintly, eyes closed at the voice in his head. Kaleb didn't intrude usually…Hestor had to have really pushed hard..
"Hestor." He responded.
"Kaleb says you are with her…please tell me I have interrupted something." Hestor said.
He struggled not to laugh, smiling more and resting his arm over his eyes, Hestor was The Keeper…his magic since he had gotten the full set of the 7 had been like a fresh breath of air touching Zen, the man had become a magical oasis, where Zen's magic was calm, easy for him to manage and nothing intruded on him. He had also become Zen's closest friend.
"No, she's asleep. I don't think she slept much, if at all, last night and we didn't sleep much on the mission." He responded.
"I'm trying to find out if it can be…reversed, or weakened so you can have a life apart from her, not need to be close to her. Unfortunately, until I do…you will do best if you stay near her." Hestor said and his bitterness made Zen grin…it mirrored his own.
"I've figured that out. It was a ritual, Hes, all of her spirits came out, Leo the Lion guided her and a friend of hers pressured her so that I could open a gate to Hell to save her boyfriend." Zen said, not hiding his bitterness, his anger, letting Hestor hear it because He really needed someone to know…how unhappy he really was.
"I hope he and the manipulative bitch who egged your mate on have thanked you. I plan to slap the woman hard enough that maybe she'll rethink enslaving others as a rescue plan." Hestor growled.
"He thanked me. She…has not. Lucy isn't happy with her, and regrets what she's done." Zen responded.
"But you don't give a shit if she regrets it, fuck regrets, they pave the road to the Hell you opened for them and helped them through, you need her to make it up to you, prove she won't let some sad unhappy friend talk her into using you against your will again." Hestor surmised and Zen let out a breath, smiling at Hestor's accuracy.
"Exactly, though I don't know if I'd call Levy unhappy anymore, she has what she was after." He agreed.
"I plan to slap your mate…hard…I don't want you stopping me, I won't brutalize her and you know it, but someone needs to just…slap the taste out of her damned mouth. She deserves to have her heart ripped out for doing what she's done, she doesn't deserve YOU." Hestor said harshly and Zen slid from the bed, pulling on a jacket and stepping from the room onto the balcony, closing the door. He was still close, she wouldn't wake, and he needed to be able to relax and talk with his friend. He'd thank Kaleb later for this.
"Maybe, maybe not. I don't have a lot of options right now. I won't stop you from slapping her, but if you try to fight her…you'll be fighting me too." Zen pointed out.
"I am aware…and I also know how to put you on your ass enough I could probably kick her ass, but…that wouldn't help anything. I can't claim you as a mate, the Keeper can not cause harm to an Archangel Mage, and kicking your mates ass would cause you harm." Hestor sighed.
"I'm sorry this happened Zen, I am so angry and…I just wanted you safe, wanted to watch you fall in love and be happy, you deserve that. I'd have killed her…without an instant of hesitation, I'd have killed her and her damned friend and Kaleb who I KNOW is listening could kiss my ass and so could Farron, fuck if I caused guilds to fight each other during a war…fuck everything and everybody…I'd have stopped her." Hestor said angrily.
"He's a good man, the man we saved. I haven't seen him since I saved him, since we got out of there, he's a Dragonslayer named Gajeel. Bickslow said he did some terrible shit years ago and turned his life around..he and Lucy's friend, they were in love and just hadn't confessed to each other until he was getting dragged off to hell by one of the Spriggan…they've mated now. So…what we did…and saving him…it was a good thing." Zen said "But I know you would have."
The big man sagged on the balcony then, ignoring the icy wind…the snow that had started to fall getting caught in his hair. Grief hit him then…breaking through the anger and bitterness. He grieved the loss of his freedom, freedom he'd held for such a short time.
"I…wanted to be free, I never wanted to feel like property ever again Hes…and I feel like that…I feel like a piece of fucking meat. Her friends today…they had no idea the circumstances and they talked about me like I was…nothing more than property. I was Lucy's man, I didn't want to feel this way ever again in my life and I fucking DO! I'm strong enough to cut a fucking elephant in half and I couldn't protect myself…and now I've lost it…I've lost everything…my hopes, my dreams…they're gone. I am the property of someone…I don't belong to myself anymore. The minute she starts thinking about…sex…I do, she wants me I instantly want her too, I have no control over myself and I hate it."
He looked at the sky, eyes bright with tears he would never shed…too many years taught to hold them in. "I wish you'd been there Hes…I wish you could have fucking stopped her."
Inside the room, standing by Lucy who still slept peacefully. Leo watched the Archangel on the balcony. He couldn't hear anything but knew something…some conversation was happening…the man's older brother was a Mindbender.
He had hoped Zen would be showing some affection tonight…the magic compelled him to comfort his mate…but while he hadn't been rude or mean…he hadn't been forthcoming with much of what Lucy really needed. She needed reassurance from Zen, needed him to appreciate her, forgive her, move forward. There was a war, it was going to be a bad one, and Lucy needed Zen to be her mate. He'd been there in the tavern, heard the conversation between Mira, Lisanna and the others. His guildmates too…he loved Fairy Tail, had loved it before Lucy had come along. His loyalty to Lucy was absolute too. He wouldn't let even Zen's feelings get in the way of Lucy being happy. No…he'd make him a female spirit stood…Lucy had trialed for and won her key just about two months before the war had broken out. Cassiopeia. She was who he could thank for this, for Lucy's chance to become the greatest Celestial Summoner of her era. And Lucy would live a long time now…mated to Zen she shared in his agelessness, a boon of his magic…she could live for centuries now, truly make a difference in the world, and Leo, his friends in the Golden Zodiac…they wouldn't have to go through losing a keyholder who was good to them…run the risks of abusive holders getting their keys. He would go to great lengths to protect that…and Zen wouldn't stand in his way…nobody would, this was too important to too many people and spirits.
He narrowed his eyes watching the man look at the sky, pain clear on his face. Archangels were…power. He had been one of the spirits of another Heartfilia…centuries ago…who had taken an Archangel as a mate, and that had produced the bloodline Lucy came from. A line rich in the best of Celestial magics.
"He will come around…we just have to give him some…pushes." Cassiopeia said softly and Leo nodded. Zen Pradesh would be a good mate to his keyholder…Lucy deserved it…and no matter what he had to do…Leo would make certain that happened. Lucy was all that mattered, Zen was…a tool, and it was time the man started doing what he was meant to do….