Flight was something Lucy had dreamed about, really who didn't? Daydreaming about being able to fly seemed like something almost anyone would do and Lucy had a vivid imagination so had thought about it for as long as she could remember. They had to find teleport jump points, Zen was the only mage they had who could fly and fly well and Lucy's spirits could mark points and help with her still up in the air.
To her amazement…it had been Hestors idea and Zen had agreed without much resistance.
"You need to work with him, you want to regain his friendship, his trust? Here's your chance. I've talked him into it, he's agreed, he doesn't trust you at all, and honestly if you try to grope him or something or push magic into him while he's flying he may just toss you off to your death but it's an opportunity right?" Hestor had offered almost smiling.
Lucy had scowled at the man which only seemed to amuse him. A slender Ermine came to her feet and Hestor had picked the spirit up, kissing its head. "This is Ermine, I've had him since I was a small child…he'll go with you, just to make sure nobody touches anyone like they shouldn't." he added and then the spirit was eyeing Lucy for a moment before it jumped to the ground and ran to where Zen stood nearby, Farron going over the lightweight armor the man was in and the rigging they had come up with for this mission.
Now, about a thousand feet up in the sky Lucy was as close as she imagined she would get and...she loved it.
It had taken her and Zen a little while to sort out which was the best way for her to fly with him. He didn't like holding her back to front against his chest. "An arrow or something shot upward could hit you...I don't want that, I can see them coming and better protect us both with my arms free anyway." He'd said and it had been Levy and Freed who had finally helped figure it out.
Using one of Lucy's key belts Freed put a strong holding Rune into the front buckle and they attached a small plate to a heavy leather harness Zen wore over his armor and across his back that slid over it securely, made by Gajeel that carried another Rune, creating a sort of magic magnet that attached Lucy to Zen securely and she could wrap her arms around him and lay on his back secure between his wings.
It made it so his wings added additional shielding for her while she flew with him and everyone liked that idea.
So, Wrapped in a gray cloak borrowed from Evergreen, and her warmest clothes, Lucy had stepped up behind Zen and hopped up, him grabbing her legs so she settled piggy back on him while she attached the belt to the plate on Zen's back.
"Ok, so you guys scout, once you find a good teleport jump point Zen, tell Kaleb so Cristoff me and the other teleport mages can start our jumps." Laxus said and Lucy grinned down at him, her heart was racing, so excited at the prospect of taking to skies with Zen, she was about beside herself. "I'll have a spirit waiting so you know you have the right spot when you jump." She said and Laxus nodded.
Zen had warned her he flew fast, and they would be up high so she needed to hold on and stay pressed tight against him to stay warm. Lucy always being one who hated getting cold in the first place, it wasn't going to be a hard thing to stick to.
None of their mages, because of the changes to the landscape, could safely do teleport jumps, so, the fastest way to get everyone to the new location of their guild hall, was having Zen scout ahead, find a good spot, mentally link with Kaleb who could put that spot into everyone's minds clearly and then they could jump, with one of Lucy's spirits at the location so they were certain they had reached the right point. Cristoff could handle up to 10 people over up to 25 miles without straining too badly, Laxus could get 5, the other teleportation mages could handle 5 a piece and their big ace…a Sevenese shifter mage, Kittar, who was a member of White Sea. The big Encan male had little cat ears atop his head and a sleek black cat tail, the only hints to his abilities. He…was a Displacer mage, and could move up to 50 people and inanimate objects at a time. So they could pretty much get everyone they had down there and once settled and comfortable with the location, the teleportation mages from White Sea would return to the Honeybone and Blue moon inns to bring any stragglers that showed up since word had been sent far and wide as best as possible that the guilds were in Crocus.
Masters Bob and Goldmine weren't thrilled with Fairy Tail and White Sea leaving the city, but both admitted, if they found out their guild hall had survived...they would rush to it themselves.
Once settled in place, her arms loosely wrapped around Zen, the long black wings unfurled and lifted on either side of her, it was an odd sensation, she felt the markings beneath his shirt and cloak warm slightly as they emerged and smiling faintly, trailing her fingers over the soft feathers of the wing to her right, Zen humming at her and turning his head to glance over his shoulder in her direction.
Ermine slapped her hand off the wing "No distracting him!." Hestor called lightly as the Ermine glared at her and Lucy pressed her lips together.
"Right…sorry." She muttered and Zen sighed.
"I'm willing to work with you Lucy…and this is…a test…of how well you can work with me, and not act on your impulses." he said and Lucy pressed her lips together, eyes hardening as she gripped his shoulders.
"I'm fine…I'm sorry, just…haven't really touched them before and…they looked soft." She managed.
Zen chuckled, shaking his head at the comment "Yeah…well…don't touch them if you can avoid it ok? I need to fly." Zen said.
Lucy nodded and realized Laxus…Kaleb…Hestor…about 15 people were staring at them waiting for them to sort this out.
Laxus rolled his eyes. "Get going." He growled and Zen's wings slammed down to propel them rapidly into the sky. Lucy grinned, holding back her hand with the middle finger up for Laxus who rolled his eyes, Lucy looked over Zen's shoulder, watching Crocus shrink and rapidly fall behind them, it was amazing, Zen wasn't joking, speed was definitely something he had in abundance on the wing.
It was exhilarating, and even better, she was pressed against a warm body so she was protected from the cold, she took a moment to just let herself feel flight, enjoying the hell out of the experience. Her eyes scanned the countryside beneath them. It was saddening to see all the destruction, alarming to see the fighting too, still going on. Minstrel joining the fight had helped tremendously, but people were scattered, getting everything organized again after Irenes spell wasn't easy.
Zen's body moved beneath hers and she pressed in against him, her cheek against his ear as they flew. Near the 25 mile mark he found a safe area and they landed, Zen connecting with Kaleb and within minutes Cristoff appeared with a large group of their mages. "Fuck...you guys just left like 30 minutes ago…" Gajeel commented right before a crack of Thunder heralded Laxus's arrival. Zen smirked at him as his wings lifted and he gripped Lucy's thighs "Yep, so don't get too comfortable." He said lightly, wings slamming down and Lucy laughing at the rush of wind and press of speed as they shot up into the air.
It took them most of the day, not because they had too vast a distance to cover, but because a couple of times Lucy tapped Zen's shoulder and pointed to Alvarez soldiers in smaller groups attacking people who clearly weren't set up to fight them. They helped some villagers that had lost their homes in the spell fight off a squad of Alvarez. Lucy handling it on her own with Loke and Sagittarius while Zen healed a few of the injured people. They gave the group a copy of the map, which the people were hugely grateful for, and were back to the skies but when Cristoff brought the group forward the next stop Kaleb came quickly wanting to know what had delayed them and when Laxus got there so did he.
"Might be good for you to pass out some maps along the way…" Farron said, pulling out a stack of them and he and Lucy rolled them each, tied them and stuffed them into her pack so she and Zen could do just that.
It did slow them, stopping for groups, for soldiers and passing the maps out, but it gave Fiore's people an edge they badly needed, and hope they could get to civilization, even just the news Crocus was in tact and the fighting continued was enough to reduce some people to tears of relief.
When they reached Magnolia Lucy stared in disbelief. The section she and Cana had been in when they had been yanked away by the spell had been reduced to rubble and they had believed the whole city had been but like Crocus, a section had survived, and now she saw, with the lake on one side to the north and the sea to the south, Magnolia...and the familiar Fairy Tail guild hall among many other landmarks still stood.
There were people, those who had been in the section saved had mostly been transported with it to its new location, and Lucy could have cried. Her apartment, several blocks from the guild...was even still there.
They flew to the guild hall though, it was the important thing, and landed just outside, Lucy quickly releasing the rune that held her to Zen so she could slide to her feet, the big mage smiled indulgently at her haste, following her through the doors.
She cried, tears running down her face at finding the Guild hall intact and largely unharmed, Macao, Romeo, Jet, Droy….Natsu and Gray with Juvia all looked up at her entrance. She ran to them trying to see through her tears of relief.
"Lucy! Fuck, Lucy!" Gray was holding her so tight she could barely breathe and when Natsu grabbed her she wondered if ribs might crack but she hugged the pinkette back fiercely.
Zen watched, saw she was clearly in safe hands and stepped back outside, eyes scanning the area just outside the guild doors so he had a strong image to send Kaleb and within minutes, Cristoff appeared and the Fairy Tail mages with him had pretty much the same reaction Lucy had, stumbling forward with happy relieved cries and rushing into the guild hall.
Laxus' face when he arrived was priceless, if ever the big man had come close to crying since his grandfather had passed, it was in that moment.
They all went into the guild and Zen waited on Hestor and Kaleb, walking in with them, Ermine hopping from Zens shoulder over to Hestor who caught the spirit and cuddled it some, crooning a bit and kissing its little head before it settled on his shoulder. Ermine had been his first key, he has teethed on that silver key as a child and while he showed affection toward others, Ermine was practically an extension of Hestor, the two very close and the little spirit moved between Hestor and Kaleb, rubbing it's head under Kalebs chin and making a little whirring sound when the big mage ran gentle fingers along it's back before it returned to Hestor.
Zen glanced at Bickslow who smiled at him then got distracted, beaming and rushing forward to yank a startled Laki into a hug.
He was going to go look around but Kaleb gripped his shoulder "I need you to go up, scout the city, see where borders are and find good defense positions to place wards, get your own down then I'd love it if you could take Levy to them, Freed too, he can fly, just don't outrun him because he's not quite as fast as you." He said and Zen nodded, seeing Lucy with her friends, so happy her eyes were watery made him smile a bit. Had things unfolded differently…he really did like the woman, and really…wanted to be able to reach a point where she looked at him with that level of joy…if it was possible, if the war didn't take them different ways…just so many…uncertainties. Lucy didn't look his way, she was just reuniting with her friends. Gods knew if he'd returned to find his own guild hall still standing he'd want to do the same. She deserved some time to reconnect and he was happy to help his brother and Guildmaster.
Nodding to Kaleb he fell in stride beside Freed and headed for the doors. "You set the pace, I'll pick the spots." He offered and Freed smiled "Sounds good."
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Lucy hadn't meant to leave the Guild Hall, part of the entire thing with her teaming up with Zen had included her helping him to get settled once they were there, possibly showing him around a little since he had not been there before and it wasn't like there were any accurate city maps to be had. They had discussed it before they had started the mission and she'd assured him she'd be there, it was a chance to share some of herself, her real self, with the man that she wanted to build a real relationship with. Showing him around her home if it was in tact, which it was…helping him get settled, maybe even park the big mage on her couch…or better still, in her own bed to settle in while everyone worked out what their next steps would be.
She wanted that chance, it was deeply important to her, and she'd proposed it to Zen with Kaleb, Hestor and Bickslow standing there, hoping he would accept her offer, give her time with him to show him she was more than just…a mage who couldn't say no to her friends, who would hurt him in favor of her friends because she WAS more than that, she was, their mating had been a terrible thing she had done to him and she wanted to show him she wasn't that person, that had been desperation and grief…she'd been grinning like a fool when he'd hesitantly agreed.
"Bickslow could handle it…I mean…helping us get settled, he knows Magnolia well." Zen had said and Lucy had nodded Yes, Bickslow could have handled that but Hestor had looked seriously at Lucy when he had suggested she team up with Zen for the scouting mission and she'd caught that hint…this was a chance she should take…an opportunity to mend things. Hestor had leaned near her ear.
"Use the time, talk to him…there are so few of us Summoners and only one of him…it would be good for you both if you could work things out, stay friends at least…and that he can see you're not…who you've acted like you are." The silver haired mage had said and Lucy had agreed.
She had smiled at Zen "I know your brother could show you around and help get you settled…I mean…his house is fine and all…but…mine is too and, I…well…please, Give me this chance? I'm not the horrible person I acted like, I'm not…let me show you?" She had asked hopefully and Zen had looked really unsure.
"Won't you want to…I don't know…reconnect, take a little time without…someone following you around?" He asked awkwardly, he didn't know how to say what he was thinking but he didn't want to get between Lucy and her friends unless she truly did want him with her.
"I want you with me, I want my friends to know you, I want…please Zen, give me a chance? If you want I'll just show you around and take you back to Bickslows…I don't even know what condition the city is in yet…it may be…tough, but you've always, since we met, made me feel safe, made it so I could be stronger and I want to show you…I can be that for you in a new place…" she'd asked and he'd nodded, looking at Kaleb and Hestor who had smiled encouragingly at him.
"It's alright, she's trying to tell you that you won't be an imposition." Hestor offered and Lucy nodded quickly.
"Not at all…I want you with me…" She insisted and Zen had smiled faintly and agreed.
She was thrilled to find Magnolia in tact..had been thinking of asking Zen to join her for coffee at her favorite cafe that she was overjoyed to see was still there too, like a date…a real date…yes in the middle of a fucking stupid war but this what all she had to work with. The problem was, almost the second she was there, and Natsu and Gray had their hands on her, she was being excitedly dragged from the guild hall by her friends while Zen was still helping secure things.
"So my house was obviously not part of what survived the spell, and neither was Grays so please don't be mad Luigi but we kinda had to stay at your place…" Natsu was saying as he pulled her along and Lucy's eyes flew wide, it had been weeks, WEEKS and Natsu and Gray had been living at her apartment?! Horrified she no longer needed to be dragged along, visions of her beautiful underwear, very very expensive sets of lingerie being rifled through, played with by Natsu and Happy going through her head. All of her clothes she had thought she'd lost...ruined by her partner instead of a disaster because Natsu was sort of a walking disaster himself.
"You better have stayed out of my things Natsu!" She growled in warning as they hurried down the street. "I mostly did, Happy needed a bed of his own so we emptied one of your drawers but we put it into another drawer we didn't leave the stuff sitting out or anything!" He said.
"I did my best to keep Natsu and the cat out of your underwear." Gray chuckled and Lucy gave the ice make mage a warm smile of thanks. They went up to the apartment and Lucy's eyes widened, then narrowed.
"Where is my table and chairs?!" She demanded
Gray cleared his throat "Uh, about that, see, Natsu got into some of your clothes while I was out picking up groceries and I got pissed, told him to put them back and…" He sighed.
"You two got into a fight and broke it...is that why my boxspring and mattress are on the fucking floor?!" She demanded, she'd had such a nice bed...now it was clearly scorched and the frame headboard and footboard were missing, Gods her couch was burned too!
As she started fuming more and more both Natsu and Gray were stammering to apologize and assuring her they would replace everything like they always promised to but almost NEVER actually did!
"We really would have found our own place Luce but housing is super hard to come by, we were even trying to get Bickslow's address since nobody knew where he was and everyone knew he had a place by the Market district and that whole section of town came through without a scratch!" He said.
"Macao and Romeo are even staying at Freed's since they knew where his house was and Romeo had been asked to water the plants so he had a key before it all happened!" Gray added. Lucy glared at them.
"I get it guys but not having anywhere to go doesn't mean you can destroy MY home MY things! I'm ok with you being here but not the way you just...ALWAYS disregard my space and my things!" She shouted.
Natsu pushed right into her, wrapping his arms around her "We had no idea where everyone was...we were so scared something terrible happened, we've been fighting off soldiers and Spriggan and Luce...I...I can almost FEEL Zeref…" Natsu said quietly and Lucy rapidly forgot all about destroyed furniture and hugged her best friend tightly.
"I was so worried about you guys too, Erza and Wendy are hunting for Irene right now...we tried to get word to them but Erza isn't answering her com lacrima…" She said quietly.
"I need to get Crux to look more into him…" She said then, gripping Crux's key and then she, Natsu and Gray were going over all of the information Crux had on the black wizard Zaref, The Emperor Spriggan who they knew WAS Zeref, and the E.N.D. he'd mentioned more than once.
She was exhausted, hungry, and as they sat and talked and Natsu and Gray told her all about all the things they had been doing while she was gone...she somehow drifted off to sleep while Gray was arguing with Natsu.
Natsu smiled, waving at Gray to shut up. "Ok...guess it's bedtime…" He chuckled,pulling Lucy against him to lay alongside him on the bed. Gray smiled
"It's so good to have her back...now we just need Wendy and Erza…" He said quietly. Juvia arrived, and Gray let her in, she was carrying groceries and take out and Gray chuckled "We'll just put some in the fridge for Luce." He said and they ate quietly, letting their teammate sleep wrapped up against Natsu's warm body like she had hundreds of times before and didn't think twice about it.
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Several hours later, at the guild hall, Zen sat back against the old sofa in the Masters office. "You sure you want to stay here? Macao said Lucy left with her teammates…and…" Laxus sighed shaking his head, a little ashamed of his Nakama at the moment, who had essentially ditched Zen after making a real show of asking him to stay with her and let her show him around when they got to Magnolia…it wasn't surprising? He knew Lucys team had been railroading her for years now, but…given her history with Zen and how much she insisted she wanted to be the one to see him around and how much she said she wanted time with him…running off while Zen had been helping everyone.. He offered the other man an apologetic smile, he damn well respected Zen, he'd been why they had Gajeel back…and he and his family…well…he was Bickslows brother and they had all been fighting and working so hard alongside Fairy Tail.. he was of half a mind to strangle Lucy himself when he saw her next.
"Lucy is with Natsu and Gray, she's safe, Natsu is a fucking walking wrecking ball but he'll protect her with his life, so would Gray and…they don't let her make decisions sometimes…sort of…railroad her..so I don't know when she'll be back." Laxus said. Zen sighed but managed a smile for Laxus.
"It's fine man, she doesn't owe me anything, the mating is gone, I'm still adjusting some…but it's alright...I'm not sure yet where all of us will be staying, Bix says he'll keep space for me at his place. Laki said Natsu and Gray lost their places so they've been staying at Lucy's but Bix said that is a small studio and...there's apparently a real shortage of might need to stay at Bickslows with me…I should wait and see." He shook his head, unsure how he felt about everything really, his had been a rough adjustment. The mating had literally crushed some of his free will, made him worry about Lucy, think about her, compulsively and just because it had been broken…well…his thoughts tended to keep circling back to her anyway. Hestor told him time would fix it, but…Hestor also told him Lucy was a strong summoner, and that the attraction he'd felt from the start…with his bands in place…well…some of that had been real, all him, all her…not just the magic. So he wanted to try and get to know her…if that was possible, given how she'd sort of disappeared on him…he was having more doubts.
It left Zen with a lot to think about. But right now, he was going to adjust to her not being across the street anymore where he could feel her magic brushing at the edge of his and know she was alright.
Laxus nodded frowning "Yeah look…just, give her a chance yeah? I know what she did was just…fucked up, but…I've done some pretty terrible things in my life and people like her have forgiven me…let me have second chances. Lucy is worth those chances man." He said a little awkwardly. He didn't like the idea of friends of his, like the Pradesh family, disliking Lucy or thinking badly of her, even if she was…not really helping that too well herself. He shook his head at Zen's raised brow.
"Yeah…well, there's a bunch of blankets in that closet, that sofa is more comfortable than it looks, I've slept on it myself plenty of times. I'm sure she'll be back, just come out and have a couple beers with everyone." Laxus said, hoping he was right, with Natsu and Gray dragging Lucy around...he honestly wasn't sure. It seemed odd Lucy hadn't thought to wait for Zen, to even just… say goodbye or to even just come back into the guild after going outside to help everyone else get there safely…
He knew she could get distracted but he also knew she was trying to show Zen he mattered to her...wasn't she? The mating was broken, but Hestor and Lucy had both said over the course of the last two weeks that Lucy was going to be making an effort to fix things between her and Zen, to at least be friends and make up for what she'd done. He refrained from frowning, he didn't understand Lucy well sometimes…why she put herself through what she did at times was beyond him, he gave Zen another smile and headed off, he was going to stay at Freeds. Macao and Romeo apparently had been staying there but Freed had 4 bedrooms so there was still plenty of room.
Bickslow looked up when Laxus came out of his office flanked by Zen and watched his best friend leave with Freed after giving everybody instructions. The spare rooms upstairs as well as the private rooms in the infirmary were being converted to provide housing and Kaleb had been negotiating with the three hotels in town trying to get rooms for his people with moderate success thanks to Farron getting on the com and adding his rather immense negotiating skills to the effort.
Bickslow had a spacious 5 bedroom home nobody had been staying in because he fucking warded the hell out of it with Freed's help and not many people in the guild knew exactly where he lived so nobody had found the place to try and break in.
Considering Natsu and Gray were some of the people displaced by the spell, he counted himself lucky. Cristoff frowned, his empathic skills weren't as good as their fathers were, but he knew Zen wasn't happy in spite of the man's blank expression.
"Lucy...she and these guys on her team...they've never been...in relationships or anything right?" Cristoff asked Bickslow. The Seith made a face "No, no, they're like brothers to her..LITTLE brothers man, seriously. No. I'm sure Cosplayer is just...beating their heads into a wall for fucking up her apartment, which I don't doubt they did ya know? She wouldn't...forget to say anything to Zen after spending a whole day with him, you've heard her, she wants to fix things there." He said the last quietly and uncomfortably, because when Natsu was involved...Lucy did tend to get into all manner of trouble and had forgotten everything not a body part at one point or another because her team mate just had that effect on her, he would steam roll her, run over her like a runaway train and leave the poor woman dazed and forgetting...everything.
He saw his older brother sit down by Levy and Gajeel, who were planning to head to Levys, Gajeels cabin had been destroyed, Fairy Hills was fine, and the rule about no men was gone considering the circumstances so people would be able to have roofs over their heads.
Gajeel narrowed his eyes "You should just go to Bickslow's. Bunny is safe with flame brain and the ice princess, Juvia's with them too according to Laki..look…she's a work in progress, I'm sure she meant to say something before she left." Gajeel said.
Levy frowned and pulled out her com but Zen pulled a pink com out of his pocket that was unmistakably Lucy's. "She dropped it over there when her friends were hugging her…" He said
Levy bit her lip, Gods she wanted to march over to Lucy's and slap her friend silly. How could she run off with Natsu and Gray without a word to Zen? Zen had agreed to working with her, they had been together all day and even Levy had seen a few smiles…it was an open door…Zen was giving her a chance, if she'd ditched him the moment they had gotten back without a word…that…wasn't really saying much about Lucy valuing Zen or that effort to mend that badly broken relationship.
Levy had sat with Lucy for hours…and Lucy had said repeatedly she wanted this…wanted to make things better, wanted to have a real friendship with Zen, that she wanted more than friendship even…Lucy had found in the big Boscan someone she felt a deep connection with…Gods they had talked for hours over it all, cried all over each other because Levy bitterly felt regret for being part of why things were so damaged between Lucy and Zen in the first place. Her friend was clearly…half in love with the man and Levy was happy for her…Zen was a GOOD man and she wanted to see the couple work things out…badly wanted to, because if they did? It meant that things would be ok…that she hadn't contributed a lot to ruining something that could be beautiful. Lucy had said she just needed openings, chances, to prove she wasn't the person she seemed to be through the bad decisions that had been made. It was understandable…her being overjoyed to see Natsu and Gray…but…to take off without so much as a single word…
"I don't know." Zen said quietly looking down. He wanted to believe everyone…he wanted to believe Lucy herself, and really it was just…a lack of manners forgetting to say anything to him before she left with her friends…but…it was one more thing…one more time she…didn't seem to give a shit about him and he was getting tired of being kicked aside and giving more chances…He wasn't some…piece of furniture…and this whole thing was starting to eat away at his own confidence in himself and he wasn't going to take it much longer…
Gajeel narrowed his eyes, he LIKED Zen, and understood the man.
"If she aint here when your brother heads out, you go with him, I'll personally hold Bunny down and spank her ass tomorrow for this shit...it's ridiculous, Natsu tends to run over Lucy like a fucking hurricane and makes her forget shit but you're not a damn suitcase, you're supposed to be her friend and she's supposed to be making a damned effort." He growled. "You want Lev and I can show you where her place is." He offered. Zen shrugged with another sigh, sipping the beer in his hand.
"I have the address and everyone says the city layout wasn't affected so i could probably find it but there's no guarantee that's where she is...I wasn't sure staying with her was the right choice anyway. Hestor said it should be fine and I should give Lucy some chances but…maybe this is best." Zen said
Levy stood with Gajeel "Ok...well..we had better go. Goodnight Zen, I'm sure she'll be here for you soon." She said but the moment she and Gajeel were out the door both of them headed right for Lucy's apartment without a word, both determined to find out what the hell was going on.
"I'm sure Natsu probably dragged her off." Levy said angrily
"Doesn't matter shrimp and you know it, that man is trying his damndest to fix shit with Bunny and bullshit like this is just showing him...she doesn't give a fuck about him." Gajeel replied.
"But she DOES, Gods...Lucy really likes Zen and she knows how important it is…" She defended her friend and Gajeel gave her a hard look
"What she thinks or intends doesn't mean shit when she does shit like this. She's always let her team run over her and drag her around, and it was fine when it was just her, but she's trying to fix a friendship she wrecked, trying to prove she's a good person and you heard Hestor…Sei Roo is watching, Lucy was on thin fucking ice with the broken promises…mending things with Zen matters in more ways than one for her and she fucking KNOWS it. Gods all day today they were together, and not so much as a fucking word…, I would be livid if I were in Zen's shoes and you let Jet and Droy drag you off and abandoned me. She didn't even introduce Zen to them!" He pointed out.
Levy frowned "I wouldn't do that Gajeel, I'd never let them push me around like that…" She said firmly.
Gajeel gave her a look and she rolled her eyes frowning and blushing "Ok, I see the point and I agree, damn it." She sighed as they reached Lucy's building and the lights were still on.
Gajeel wasn't kind to the door, banging on it so hard he almost took it off its hinges, ignoring Levy's hiss at him to quiet down.
Gray yanked the door open glaring then grinned "Gajeel! Levy!" He called and pulled them inside. Gajeel ignored his greeting, letting him sweep Levy into a hug, stormed across the room, ripped Natsu off the couch where he was laying next to a sleeping Lucy and kicked the couch over.
"The fuck Gajeel! She just fell asleep!" Natsu snarled as Lucy groaned and untangled herself from couch cushions before she looked up through bleary eyes at the glaring Dragon Slayer.
"You forget something, Bunny? Something a little over 6 feet tall?! You know…the partner you've been assigned to that you were with all fucking day…that you're supposed to be fucking thinking about?!" Gajeel demanded.
Lucy's eyes narrowed in confusion for a moment then flew wide and instantly filled with horrified tears when she saw the clock behind Gajeel. It had been hours, she had been gone from the guild for hours...Gods...and she hadn't said a thing, hadn't even been able to wait for Zen to come back inside from setting the wards...hadn't even told him where she was going...Fuck...
"What the hell are you on about Gajeel?" Gray demanded.
Juvia glared at her friend "Gajeel is acting like a crazy person, what's gotten into you?" She demanded and Gajeel pointed at Lucy whose hands flew to her face.
"You shits dragged her from the guild without a backward glance but she's been here for hours, plenty of time to tell you her ass bound a mage to her, took a piece of the man's soul into hers and mated with him, damn good guy too, laid his damn life on the line with several others to save my ass when one of the Spriggan ripped me into the underworld. He was the one who found me down there, brought me back to everybody and Bunny pretty much enslaved his ass without his consent...mated with him, Levy had a hand in it too, but Bunny made some promises to this guy, broke them…broke the mating…then made some MORE promises, like she was going to work to mend things, prove she wasn't who she seemed to be…she was going to help him get settled once we got here! She told him she was I fucking heard her, and she just left his ass without a backward glance the first fucking time you idiots got your hands on her!" Gajeel snarled.
"Mated?...You...like a Dragon Slayer?" Natsu breathed.
"Not exactly, the bond was different, but it's similar, it was supposed to be forever...Zen is an Archangel mage...the only one in more than 800 years...and...he's at the guild Lucy...trying hard to believe you didn't completely forget about him because of Gray and Natsu…Like you promised him you wouldn't do ever again…" Levy said quietly. Lucy had tears running down her face and staggered to her feet.
"I...I did just what he said I would...just what he said he was worried he couldn't trust me over…I was going to go back, I just...fell asleep." She whispered the last, there was no denying the hours that had passed.
"He's a smart guy...a really GOOD guy Bunny, and if you get your ass back to the guild you can maybe MAYBE convince him you didn't really let Natsu drag you away without a fucking word then forget all about him and take a nice nap. I won't say a thing, neither will Levy about finding you here sleeping like a fucking baby having done just what he's back there hoping you didn't." Gajeel growled.
"Well, actually...that ship's fucking sailed." A deep voice commented and everyone looked to the door.
Zen had gone out to find Lucy, it hadn't taken him long, he'd actually watched Gajeel and Levy enter the building and heard, through the open window and while standing in the still open doorway unnoticed by the group of mages, most of what had been said. He liked Gajeel, he really did.
He met Lucy's wide eyes, tried to manage a smile but just couldn't. Like she'd just said, she had done exactly what he was worried she would do, and in doing it, proved again through her deeds…he couldn't trust her. Why he kept coming back, why he kept…wanting to be near her, even now with the mating gone, he couldn't say, it made no sense, the woman acted for all the world like she didn't give a single damn about him.
"I know where I stand...I guess that's something. I'll be at Bickslow's. I'm glad you have your friends back Lucy…got everything you needed from me I guess…." He said, voice breaking and he hated that it did, he hated he was still so fucking emotionally invested in her when she clearly wasn't much concerned with him, hated that even with the damned bond gone, that attraction was still there, a connection that now? After everything? He didn't want to want it…yet…he did and it confused the hell out of him.
"Fuck you man, whoever the fuck you are…good riddance, don't talk to Lucy like that!" Natsu snarled and started toward Zen, angry Lucy was in tears, mating…broken mating, whatever the fuck had happened he didn't know this guy and he was upsetting Lucy so he needed to leave…he'd beat Gajeels ass next too for kicking the couch over.
"She made promises to Zen Natsu!" Levy cried and Natsu huffed, standing right in front of Zen glaring up at the man, maybe slightly impressed by the guys size…and that he didn't back up an inch when Natsu stormed up to him.
"Fuck them…fuck those promises, she made promises to me…that she would always be with me and always be my friend and those come first!" Natsu hissed.
"Stop it!...Stop it Natsu! Fuck! NO! I'm done…I'm fucking done!" Lucy screamed and all eyes turned to her as she ran to the door, grabbed Natsu by his vest and shoved him away from Zen.
"I made that promise when I was desperate…to get away from my father, to get into Fairy tail…to have a life and friends…freedom and to make my own choices and…" she looked up at the heavens "I made a mistake! I take them back! The promises I made then are destroying the woman I am now and I don't want that!" She pointed at Zen glaring at Natsu.
"He's a good man Natsu…honest and loyal and brave and he doesn't hurt people, he doesn't forget people…he doesn't destroy things because he…forgets to care! Look what you've done to me! Those promises I made dragged me along with you and I've taken on some of your…worst fucking traits! I hurt this man! I enslaved him Nastu…you even understand what that means? I…raped him…" Lucy choked on it…the truth…the stark horrific truth of what she'd done. She'd never said it out loud before…
Everyone stared at her…only Gajeel and Levy without disbelief.
"Luce…you…you wouldn't do something like that…" Natsu breathed shaking his head.
"Y…you raped him?" Juvia whispered looking at Zen then Lucy.
"I did…I was wrapped up in needing to save Gajeel…in helping my friends…and…I did terrible things to Zen so that…we could save Gajeel…and after that, after I hurt him, did that to him you know what he did?! He gave me a chance, he offered to try and make it all work out…I promised him I'd put him first, think of him…not let my…friends…make me do things to him…make me forget him again and I BROKE that promise, let my own fucking spirits hurt him! The mating was broken by Sei Roo, and I was told TOLD I had to try harder, I had to show I could make things right, I had to do better because loosing him…it…it was for the best that mating was broken but…nobody has ever made me feel like he does…safe and…strong and…I want to make it all right, i need to because I never should have done the things I did, to him…it was so fucking WRONG! And I asked him again to let me have some time with him…to give me another chance…and I've fucking done that again, hurt him AGAIN!…because you guys just can't slow down, just can't…listen…you haven't asked me once where I was…or what happened to me, but I know all about all you've done the last few weeks don't I?" Lucy pointed out. Natsu and Gray blinked.
"You…you fell asleep." Gray pointed out…not wanting to hurt his friend but…before they could really ask her about herself and the others..after yes they had filled her in on what had been happening with them…she'd fallen asleep and it had looked like she needed some good rest. She'd lost weight, clearly hadn't been sleeping well by the bags under her eyes…
"I know I…I'm…" She turned to Zen "Please don't give up on me." she said desperately and Zen let out a breath.
"I don't know who you are." Zen admitted "I…want to…but every time…" he trailed off shaking his head. Lucy met his eyes…tears running down her face, because if she couldn't make this work…even she was sure who she was anymore, if this man gave up…if she couldn't fix this…who was she? Even she didn't know…but she didn't want to be a manipulative, powerhungry woman who had enslaved a man and raped him for the power she needed to save one of her friends…then discarded him…she didn't want to be that…and if she couldn't fix things with Zen…she felt like that was all she'd ever be. Zen gripped the door frame…his own pain over all of it evident as he started to turn away.
"no...no...Zen please...don't go…" She whimpered, her whole being flooding with pain at the hurt in those amethyst eyes. She shouldn't have let Natsu and Gray lead her from the guild, shouldn't have given a damn about her stupid apartment, clothes and crap and gotten all wrapped up in that when there was a war going on and...she had a man she'd hurt that she was trying to make things right with…waiting and trying to believe she was a good person.
"Good night…" Zen said and turned, heading down the stairs. He needed to think, get some perspective, maybe Kaleb and Farron had been right, maybe he did need to just start…staying away from Lucy, needed distance so his head could clear.
Levy was the one to grab Lucy and rip her to her feet "Go after him! Catch him before he flies off!" She hissed, shoving her crying friend toward the door.
Natsu, seeing Lucy so hurt, was trying to rush out the window, he'd stop the big mage and MAKE him listen to Lucy, he didn't care who he was, he'd just made Lucy cry.
Gajeel though grabbed him, and Gray "You two have done enough, don't you fucking move, stay the fuck here and hopefully Zen will listen to Bunny." He growled at them both, ignoring their thunderous glares.
Lucy managed to get to the bottom of the stairs just as Zen's wings were unfolding and she lunged, flinging her arms around him with a desperate cry. "No..no Zen...please...I just fell asleep, I was going to come back!" She said through her tears.
He stilled, eyes on the night sky, seeking guidance maybe... he wasn't sure. All he knew was she had hurt him again...and that she hadn't meant to didn't matter as much as fact that she HAD.
"Why didn't you stop them? You didn't have to leave with them Lucy, you let them drag you off, and i don't understand why. Gods Lucy, your own guild mates, Gajeel, the man you bound me, mated with me for, you didn't even make them wait to see him, just...forgot everything because your friends were pulling you along…why do you DO that?! FUCK, you forget to be YOU, I've seen you're better than this, I have, I feel it! Maybe that's why I keep giving you chances, keep…letting you just hurt the shit out of me…I'm a fucking GLADIATOR! I've killed thousands of opponents, I have so much blood on my hands I'll NEVER get them clean, I didn't even think anyone COULD hurt me but here we are….and I keep letting you do that…like my own feelings, my own needs don't even matter to me anymore because I want you, feel this connection to you and You know what?" He was shouting now…his deep voice thundering up and down the street and he didn't care.
"I don't understand it! It's not making sense to me…why am I putting myself through this for you? All you've done is use me, hurt me! Do I look easy to fucking hurt?!" he snarled and Lucy bit her lip, biting back another sob. He sighed, looking down into her tear filled eyes, he was so torn, the mating had left him feeling so much for her and he wasn't sure anymore what was him…his own feelings…and what had been forced into him by the magic anymore. He'd come home and had wondered if he even could feel anything for anyone outside of his family…if that had been destroyed in him by the horrors he'd lived through. He wanted to believe that the feelings he had weren't….as fucked up as he was afraid they were, maybe he was too much of a mess to have a good relationship…maybe he kept giving her chances and letting her hurt him because that was all he could do…was live in pain. If he gave up…it was giving up on himself too…on his belief in his own feelings being healthy...if this was all wrong…then he couldn't trust himself…and that cut as deep as what Lucy had done.
"I don't want to give up on you Lucy…I don't, I want to feel like…I wasn't just taken by some thoughtless…bitch who would use me and throw me aside once she'd gotten all she needed from me…I want to believe that…I want to think what I was feeling before you did it was real…my own feelings and that those feelings weren't wrong…that it was real and we had something special that…was starting even if it was just friendship because I fucking liked you…I did…I even wanted you…you're so fun…strong…so sweet…but then shit like this keeps happening! Maybe we shouldn't be around each other, maybe Hestor is wrong and there was never anything there, it was all just the magic compulsions and not something deeper…" She was shaking her head at him so he stopped and Lucy choked down her desperation…the pain of seeing him hurting because of her…AGAIN and drew a breath.
"No...I don't want to be apart from you...I'm sorry, Zen, there's no excuse, you're right, I shouldn't have let Natsu and Gray drag me from the guild, I do let them push me around way too much and I need to stop, I need to stand up to them...but more than anything...I need YOU, I can't breathe right when you aren't with me, I can't sleep, I can't eat and that's since the mating was broken…there IS more, there is! I feel it and now I know you do too!…" She said desperately and Zen looked at her…pain still very clear in his eyes.
"You could have told them…" He said softly. "At any time…you could have stopped and asked them to wait for me to get back…had a drink at the guild and caught up there…"
"We wouldn't have listened." Lucy jerked her head to the side and saw Natsu had jumped out her window, Gajeel was hanging out it, holding his scarf in his hand glaring furiously at the pinkette.
Zen looked at him, narrowing his eyes and Natsu drew a breath…
"We would have ignored her...we do that alot, not just me...but Erza...Gray usually kind of tries to take her side but...we don't listen to her...we love her, want her with us...but...were you really her mate?" He asked.
Zen nodded slowly "I was...part of my soul was inside of hers...part of hers was in me…" He replied quietly. Natsu rubbed the back of his neck, he understood that…he understood what mates were…how special and precious that was…and he looked at Lucy in confusion…not sure how his friend could have let something like that…go.
"It's called a "One" You slayers call it a potential mate…it's more linear for Summoners. Because of our keys and the spirits we contract with it evolves for us…changes…but there is one…always a heart, a soul…that ours even with all of our contracts and spirits and faults and…" the slender silver haired Summoner was following Ermine down the street to them…keeping tabs on his very upset Archangel he had followed Zen at a distance to make sure he was alright. "Mental issues…whatever…any and all of our baggage as people fits well into the arms of…our "One." tell them Lucy." He smiled at Lucy who blinked…like a deer in headlights.
Hestor stared at her, looked to the heavens glaring and cursed in Stellan until Zen snorted,
"Gods and stars and…damn you don't know about your "One."?! nobody…" he trailed off at Lucy's nonplussed look pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Who the fuck are…hey! OW!" Natsu had started toward Hestor but Ermine leaped forward and…the small spirit latched onto the front of the man's pants and had the pinkette curled in a ball barely able to breathe within a moment holding his crotch.
Hestor looked at the man blandly, smiling as Ermine ran to him, picking the spirit up and stroking it fondly. "Nobody taught you…all Celestial Summoners have a "One" a person we can be with, share all we are with…including all the secrets our spirits weigh us down with, the things we can not say because of our magic…we can talk with our "One" about…we can…be all of who we are with them…relax…truly…deeply…love that one person and be loved in return." Hestor explained. At the confused looks…even from the pinkette on the ground holding his nuts Hestor sighed and rolled his eyes.
"The ONE magic…the greatest of all…is Love. It's why Venus is among the core deities and has a place, a name, in every pantheon…the Fates do not decide it…the Makers themselves have given the One Magic it's own paths, it's own completely unique place in creation and it is seated within every form of magic that exists…Gods above the fact all of you are mages and do not know this…" He gumbled.
He pointed at Zen holding Lucy's wide eyes. "Zen…is your "One" Lucy…that's why you both felt something deep and special before all of the bullshit happened…before you made this…collosal fucking mess this has become. He is that one person for you…Lucy Heartfilia. The only "One" you will ever have. It's why you don't sleep, don't want to eat…loosing your One is…a blow so deep, so terrible…it can shatter a Celestial Mage, we NEED them in order to be whole."
Natsu lay on the ground catching his breath. "How…how do you know?" He demanded, nobody could tell a Dragonslayer's potentials but the slayer themself..
Hestor raised a sculpted silver brow. "Because…I am the Keeper, and what magics touch MY Archangels…I know about…and Zen has felt the One magic…been touched by it…and still feels it…though he fights to trust it now…"
Zen stared, he did know about this…not that he was Lucy's One…but he knew about the concept…part of the things Hestor had been teaching him the last few years…
Leo appeared then with Cassiopeia "See! Yes! Yes…Princess…we knew…knew he was…it's why I…I wasn't worried, I was so sure everything would work…" Loke said starting toward Lucy and Zen until a large spirit in black appeared beside Zen…huge claymore on his shoulder…eyes narrowed.
"Ah…no…bad Lion…and fuck you Cassiopeia..you're a bitch." Hestor snapped moving now to join his spirit standing between Lucy and Zen and Leo and Cassiopeia.
"What you did? Still wrong, on every level." Hestor said.
"No…we were right, justified, there's a war…our keyholder needs her One and we were just…pushing that along…it had to happen and happen fast to save…um…him." Cassiopeia waved a hand toward Gajeel, she didn't care who.
"Gajeel." Gajeel growled from the apartment window above them "beginning to feel like even saving me was just some sort of excuse…" the slayer mumbled, Levy beside him nodded slowly, eyes narrowed sharply.
Hestor was glaring at Cassiopeia "You know you're mentioned…in a journal written by Nijeru…you remember him?" he asked and Cassiopeia's eyes flickered…a moment of anxiety in them before her smug cold expression settled back into place.
"No..I…" She choked…golden magic snapping hard through her, black fire licking at her limbs until she screeched for a moment…then it was gone and the spirit was on her knees. Leo staring wide eyed.
Hestor smiled coldly, reaching to touch Zens arm. "Oh how the truth magic of an Evening Star can sting hmm? Lest you forget, Cassiopeia…among the things the Archangel Mages were created for? Was handing out punishment and justice to the Celestial Spirits…because in those times…many had turned dark and were helping the demonic hordes…so Archangels were sent right into the Celestial realms…Kayliss, the first Evening Star…destroyed four different entire spirit groups that had gone dark…warped their mages…and were helping the forces of darkness on Earthland." Hestor said, eyes narrowing sharply on the spirit "Yes you're mentioned, Cassiopeia…as threatening the Archangel Galasfriel…Nijeru overheard it…outside his quarters once…centuries ago…and it struck him so much he wrote it down..you demanding Galasfriel take a mate…assuring him…you knew who he loved and once he took the mate you suspected he would…he would serve like his brethren…now, why would a Celestial spirit be threatening an Archangel Mage not even mated to their key holder?"
Cassiopeia just stared at him and then looked at Lucy, smiling softly "Our contract…is terminated. You broke a promise…it's within my rights to end it." She said…and Lucy gasped as that magic snapped, sinking to her knees as Cassiopeia vanished.
Hestor hissed…suspicion high in his blue gaze as he stroked Ermine.
"Well…that's somewhat…telling." he said.
"So…Lucy…is meant to be with Zen?" Juvia asked, unsure of what had just happened but catching that much, looking between her friend on the ground holding her chest and the large man standing by her.
Hestor nodded "She can be with anyone of course…but she will never know…love…real deep and true love…with anyone like she can with Zen." He replied
"We…don't want to hurt that…we would never want to hurt that." Gray said firmly "We didn't know when we took her from the guild."
"Yeah...we didn't give her a chance...nothing to do with you, just...we knew we'd messed shit up, broke some of her things...and knew she was gonna get mad so...when we know that we kinda just...don't let her talk, drag her where we want her and then...you know...let things work out…" Natsu said.
Zen narrowed his eyes on the man "You won't be doing that anymore." He said firmly "Not with me in the picture...and she still could have told you at some point over the last several hours, could have come back to the guild." He added…looking from them to Lucy
"She fell asleep, man...and...we really weren't listening to her much…" Gray admitted from the doorway to the staircase.
"I could have called you…" Lucy added, knowing it wasn't helping her but she felt she was already so far in trouble why not just put it all in the same fire.
Zen smiled at her and pulled her pink com from his pocket making her gasp. "No...you dropped this when they were hugging you. I knew you couldn't call, and I was willing to wait at the guild but I got the impression from what all the others were trying not to say, that Natsu and Gray were going to keep you away, not from me specifically, but from everyone tonight…" He sighed running a hand through his hair, heavy gold streaked locks falling over his eyes.
"Lucy…" He started and she shook her head at him, getting to her feet and taking her com she looked up into his eyes "No...please...Zen...please…don't give up on me, don't give up on what we could be together.." Lucy said softly..
He looked at Natsu, who was also seeming to plead with him. He just wasn't sure, he wanted so badly to be with Lucy, he believed in fate…believed in the One magic…he wanted that kind of love for himself and understood now why Lucy had caught him right from the beginning like she had…and it wasn't because of the compulsions of his magic…
Lucy then growled out a forceful "Fuck it…" and he was looking at her in surprise.
Lucy grabbed his shirt then "Zen...Gajeel was worth it...he was worth going against what I believe in, binding myself to you and fucking that up in a huge way...he was WORTH it. Seeing him hold Levy, seeing them yell at me upstairs because they love me, like this team for goodness...all of it...worth it. You know what makes it all work best for me though, so I don't just hate myself to the point I can't look at myself in a mirror?" She asked, her voice more stable than she'd even hoped for as she looked into wary amethyst eyes.
"Tell me." He prodded.
"You. I got you out of it. If we hadn't mated? If I hadn't been a complete fucking idiot and let Levy and Leo run over me like they did…you know what? I wouldn't have pursued you…you would have stayed with your brothers, we might have crossed paths some…but even feeling like I did from the moment I met you I wouldn't have trusted myself, my feelings…and I wouldn't have acted on them because….you're fucking gorgeous, you're handsome and sexy and strong and from an amazing family and I would have just…let you go without a fucking word because I'm Lucy Heartfilia…whose Dad tried to sell her to an old creep to be a wife for business and money…who never learned about her magic…who ran away from home and lets her friends run all over her because she won't risk standing up to them and making them mad at her…I can't even hardly pay rent…I wear used clothes I get at thrift shops because I can't fucking afford new…a man like you? I really wouldn't have listened to my heart…because I wouldn't have believed I had a chance with you." Lucy said in a rush…shaking her head and it was true…it was all true…Zens magic didn't touch her the whole time… "I should have thought of you…I didn't and that's a shitty thing I did…a mistake…not an intentional one. Gods touch Natsu, I've been freezing all day flying across Fiore and Natsu is like a breathing space heater." She said. She cast a hard but smiling look up at Gajeel then who was hanging out her window with Levy next to him.
"My friends love me but they love you too you know that? You've already inspired that in them and that's not a small thing. I think Gajeel and Levy were ready to kick my ass and when I first woke up all I could think was what it all looked like from your point of view...but...you're wrong Zen Pradesh. I didn't forget you, I fell asleep, yeah, that was fucking stupid but I can't sleep long without you close to me and that was never mating magic…it's because you're the most important person…in my life…" She pushed into him more, reached up and gripped his hair and pulled him down so she could brush her lips against his and he softened into that kiss, a hand sliding to her hip, he kissed her back…and her heart raced when he did.
"Was ready to, Bunny! Not sorry I kicked the couch over!" Gajeel called down and Lucy chuckled, shaking her head and looking up into Zen's eyes, delighted beyond words that they were warm, no trace of the anger and bitterness she'd seen way too much of…her whole heart just welled up then.
"I'm falling in love with you Zen Pradesh, you are my "One" and I'm proud of that, soon as I woke up which I promise wouldn't have been long with Natsu and Gray still talking over my head, I'd have come for you because I was dreaming about you...wanting you...like I always do…" She said softly, smiling then as his lips curled up.
"Falling for me huh?" He couldn't stop the smile pulling at his mouth. He knew she wasn't lying, wasn't trying to manipulate him…she couldn't…and he no longer believed she ever wanted to in the first place, he smiled and nipped at her lips then "I'm sorry then...for thinking the worst…" He said softly and she kissed him, hard, Gods…her "One" and…she had felt it, she really had…how precious he was to her…she felt it all through her like Hestor had said, like she could never be her true self with anyone else and he was the key…what would unlock that and let her be all she could be, so she kissed him, needing the contact, the intimacy with this man who was her future…and he seemed just fine with that. She wasn't influencing him, there was no magic pushing it, just two people who really did feel so much for each other.
"I'm a little ditzy at times, I won't deny it, but you...you are the best mistake I've ever made…" She said softly.
There was slow clapping, both Lucy and Zen looking at Hestor. "Good job…nicely done…now run along…work this shit out and stop making me run around on cobblestone streets in heels…honestly…" The man sniffed, twisting a bit to lift a foot and brush at a high heeled boot.
"Hestor! Damn it…Hestor…you ran off and we were in the middle of looking into that runic signature and we NEED the help of your spirits!" Kalebs voice reached them, the big blonde walking quickly toward them with Farron, both men looking frustrated.
Hestor narrowed his eyes as the pair reached him, snapping a finger in Kalebs face.
"Don't! Do not…when you pop wings you may order me around and you can have my attention but until then? Do NOT assume to tell me what to do!"
"I'm your guildmaster…" Kaleb growled
"Pfft…you see these mages scrambling around at Laxus' feet? No? Why would I scramble to yours? No…Kaleb Pradesh…you want me to listen more…grow wings." Hestor snapped, starting to walk back and Kaleb hissed, Farron blinking and following as Kaleb stalked after Hestor.
"We don't have wings Hestor…and wings shouldn't be what inspires you to fucking listen." Kaleb said as they walked. He was angry, angry because Hestor had just disappeared suddenly and…that had happened before, years ago…and Hestor had turned up kidnapped, tortured and almost dead by the time he and his team had found him. He'd killed a lot of dark mages that day…the truth was...he'd loved Hestor since they were children…years…and finding him missing had shaken Kaleb to his soul, he'd changed the way the guild ran after that…protecting their Celestial Mages with a ferocity that had raised some eyebrows and caused a few clashes between he and Hestor over the years.
It wouldn't ever stop Kaleb from protecting the man and the mages who held the same magic…even if Hestor had a "One" and it wasn't him…a thought he had come to terms with after years of tentatively approaching the man and being…pushed away. It didn't matter, he loved who he loved and was fine with that not being returned. He would keep Hestor safe, run White Sea and they would get to the other side of this fucking war.
"Oh wings don't make me listen Kaleb…" Hestor said lightly, smiling as he walked "Just…right now they would have helped. Zen has them…I helped him first."
"You alright?' Farron asked Zen, who was nodding, smiling, still holding Lucy. Farron nodded, hurrying after Hestor and Kaleb.
"Ok, lacking wings…just how do I get you to stay focused so we can get this done? I'm tired…I want sleep…" Kaleb said.
"About that…you have a nice room at Bickslows right?" Hestor asked and Kaleb narrowed his eyes as they walked "Yes…"
"Mine now. I want access to a decent kitchen, I refuse to eat take out every day. Let's go see about these runic signatures." Hestor smiled, patting Kalebs arm, twice, immune to the mans growl.
As they left, Zen lifted Lucy off her feet, hefting her and she squeaked when he shifted her so she was higher up, her face now even with his, her legs wrapped around his waist, hands settling on his shoulders she looked into his eyes smiling.
He grinned at her "Let your friends have the apartment...have Virgo gather up your clothes and bring them to Bixys...I want you to myself at night, we need to talk…work all of this out, we can best do that by not sharing a studio apartment with a bunch of people...nice as I'm sure they all are." He smiled past her at Natsu who grinned at him.
Lucy didn't hesitate, it was just an apartment, Natsu and Gray had already changed it too much anyway, it no longer had the feeling it was hers, they could share it...pay the rent on it...her home was wherever Zen was and she…felt so much better…it all fit…it all made sense…
"You…agree to this then? You're ok…being what you are to me and letting me…make it all up to you?" Lucy asked, heart fluttering at the way his eyes changed, a little more gold coming into the deep purple.
"Who would argue with the One Magic?" He tilted his head then rested his forehead against hers. "We have a lot of work to do…you…have a lot to prove…but I trust what Hestor said…and I believe in you." he whispered. It was enough…more than she'd hoped for.
"Ok. I'm leaving Natsu, see you guys at the guild tomorrow ok?" She called without taking her eyes off Zen's.
"Ok weirdo, see you tomorrow! You guys can explain the whole thing to us then." Natsu called back as Zen's wings shifted and his grip adjusted on Lucy as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Bye Gajeel, thank you for starting to kick my ass! Night Levy!" She called, then was tilting her head and leaning in to claim the smiling mouth of her "One", Zen humming, his long wings slamming down and taking them into the air swiftly.
Flying was one of his favorite things, and he could do it blindfolded, had in fact while he'd been training to master it after regaining his freedom. He hadn't really done a lot of flying while necking with a beautiful woman though. Lucy's tongue slid against his, she was aggressively taking over the kiss and he let her, trying his best not to fly them into the side of a building.
He'd assumed the worst, and was a little ashamed he had, but, they would mend what was broken, and be able to do it without the mating hanging there, preventing him from being able to think clearly or act true to himself….
On the roof of the nearby inn, two men watched the pair fly by.
"That's him…and that is her, send word we've a lock now on our target." One said quietly. The other man smiled faintly, pulling out a com and starting to send a message even as they raced over the rooftops following the Archangel mage, keeping pace and keeping hidden…it wasn't hard…the little blonde was nicely distracting the man, making their jobs immensely easier…