Chapter 2: An Unexpected visit.
Sitting at her vanity the blonde finished her hair, glancing at the reflection of her boyfriend impatiently pacing her room, waiting for her. Smiling softly she called out to the slayer. "You know you don't have to wait for me." She informed him, giggling at the expression on his face before turning to her own reflection, checking her appearance once more before standing from her seat, laughing as his arms wound around her and he began to nuzzle her neck.
"Luce" He whimpered.
She ruffled his hair affectionately. "We can go now Natsu." The slayer tightened his hold onto her, pressing his face against her. "Is something wrong?"
"Can we stay here today?" Lucy glanced down at her boyfriend, puzzled by his sudden desire to stay inside.
"Are you feeling okay?" He nodded his head.
"I'm not sick." He mumbled out. "I just think it'd be better if we stayed at your apartment. Something feels off."
Shifting in his hold she tried to get a better view of his face, wondering what was on his mind. "Natsu I – I want to say yes" She began. "But Levy is expecting me for our book discussion and you know later I'm having company for a while." He whined in response, pulling her closer to him. "Besides didn't you promise you'd take Happy on a fishing trip today?"
"Yeah" He admitted grudgingly.
The stellar mage giggled pressing a kiss to the top of his head. "Come on you goof." She patted his hands, and he released his hold on her allowing her to finish getting ready, smiling sweetly at him as he took hold of her hand. Locking up her apartment the couple made their way through Magnolia and to their guild.
Upon arrival Lucy went directly to the bar for her usual drink, curious about Natsu remaining by her side. She had expected him to immediately start a fight with Gray or one of their other guild mates. Taking a seat the blonde greeted the barmaid cheerfully, ordering a strawberry smoothie. As she waited for her drink she frowned as Natsu wrapped his arms around her once more, resting his head atop hers. "Are you sure you're okay?" Lucy asked worriedly, sighing as he nuzzled his cheek against the top of her head.
"Natsu!" She whined. "Come on, don't mess up my hair!" She chastised, he grumbled.
"Come sit beside me at our table." Lucy looked at the fire mage over her shoulder, studying his face.
"Only for a short while and as long as you stop messing up my hair" He nodded his head, and she stood up from the barstool, thanking Mira for the smoothie as she delivered it and following her partner over to their usual table, curious as he sat, right beside her, his arm going around her. "Natsu" Lucy called softly. "What's –"
"I need a hug." He mumbled out, and the celestial mage laughed quietly. She shifted in her seat, wrapping her arms around him.
"Is there something going on?" She whispered as lowly as she could manage. He shook his head, his arms squeezing her. "Natsu I'm worried about you. Will you talk to me?"
"I told you this morning. I wanted to stay at your apartment."
Lucy pressed a kiss to his temple. "I know, but you have a best friend that's going to be here soon and you two are supposed to be going fishing."
"Can't you come with us?"
Lucy giggled in response. "I promise to go on your next fishing trip. You know I've got stuff going on."
"I know." He groused, before burying his face into her neck. Lucy let out a light laugh, running her fingers through his hair, pressing kiss to his temple. Natsu sat up and she turned back to her strawberry smoothie, taking several long drinks, a smile coming to her face as he laid his head on her shoulder.
The stellar mage glanced down at him, concern filling her upon seeing the expression on his face. "Hey Natsu" She called softly. "I know you told me this morning and since we couldn't stay at the apartment, how about I make it up to you later?" She jumped as the slayer suddenly sat up a grin on his face.
"Go on a date with me." Lucy giggled.
"Okay." He pressed a kiss to her cheek and her eyes followed him as he suddenly stood up enthusiastically greeting his exceed partner before the two left for their trip. Lucy hummed in thought, before rising from her seat and making her way over to the table where her friend and fellow book lover sat. "Good morning Levy." The celestial mage greeted.
"Good morning Lucy." The bluenette greeted with a smile. "So I've got a few notes on your latest chapters." Lucy nodded as she took a seat next to her, taking the chapters from Levy, skimming over the notes she had jotted down. "I'd like to start with your protagonist he – he's kind of coming off as one dimensional. I mean there's some minor development but not enough. Your second primary character is also coming across as stereotypical…" Levy trailed off.
Lucy listened as the solid script mage continued with her critique, observing that her writing had been taking a decline as of late and she briefly pondered if she was teetering on the edge of a block. Her work generally suffered just before the sudden lack of ability to write. It wasn't often that she'd hit a writer's block considering she had an enormous supply of inspiration in the form of her fellow mages but the moment it struck her she'd strain to put her pen to paper, forcing the words resulting in the most grotesque piece of rubbish.
"Lucy?" Pulling herself out of her deliberations the stellar mage looked at her friend.
"I think I'm going to rewrite it." Brown eyes stared into her own, before Levy nodded in understanding.
"Let me know when you want to go over it again."
"I will and I – I'm sorry." Lucy sighed heavily, reaching out for her glass, clenching her hand in a fist upon seeing her hand trembling, pulling it back to her side.
"For what?" Levy asked perplexed by her sudden apology.
"For my writing. I don't know what's going on lately. I –I can't seem to focus enough to write much of anything."
"Lucy" The bluenette began. "I wanted to ask you something." Turning to her friend she nodded. "Is everything going alright with Natsu?" The stellar mage raised a brow inquisitively. "I just meant that this morning he was scent marking you a lot and I'm just worried about him."
The blonde let out a sigh, lifting her shoulders in a shrug. "Honestly, I don't know. I thought it was a little odd but I didn't question it."
"Does he do that a lot?" Lucy shook her head.
"No – I mean he'll do it before we go to sleep but it's also while were cuddling so it's more of just a passive gesture. This is the first time he's acted like this and I'm worried. He –"Lucy leaned closer to Levy. "He didn't even want to leave my apartment this morning." She whispered, struggling not to send a quick glance in Gajeel's direction. "Truthfully things have felt a little weird between us but I – I haven't put too much stock into it, this is new territory so I've been trying to not worry so much."
"What do you mean weird?" She chewed on her lip hesitant to reveal anything. "Lucy, it's okay." The solid script mage placed her hand over Lucy's.
"It's hard to explain. It's not something overt like today." Lucy glanced up at Levy. "It's more of a –"
"You sense something is off." Gajeel's soft graveled words cut into her heart. She nodded timidly; fear ebbing its way in as he confirmed what she had hoped was merely relationship nerves. "You're probably just overreacting."
Blinking the stellar mage looked up at the iron slayer, her lips lifting at upon seeing the assurance in his eyes. "I probably am. Natsu's just being Natsu." He nodded his agreement before turning back to his plate of scraps. "I'm going to go get a fresh smoothie." She stood from her seat, picking up her glass and made her way to the bar.
Sitting upon one of the barstools, her head falling into her hands, wishing her claim were accurate. A simple overreaction to Natsu's oddities, something she had done before they even started dating, would be ideal at this point. Unfortunately for her, this wasn't so easy to dismiss as it had to do with her. Folding her arms she laid her head upon them she considered talking to Gajeel about this but second guessed the thought as she was sure he wouldn't be too keen on relationship discussion – even if it was more or less dragon related.
Suppressing a groan of frustration she sat up, thanking Mira for her strawberry smoothie. Returning to the table she sat with Levy and Gajeel, chatting about books and random topics until the couple had to leave to take care of some errands before they were to head out on a job. Lucy eventually found her way back to the bar with a book placed in front of her periodically brushing her hand against Horologium's key to check the time as she downed her fifth smoothie of the day.
Shifting in her seat to find some semblance of comfort while she continued to wait, jumping as she felt a something tap her shoulder, followed by a soft giggle. Turning the blonde grinned brightly at her fellow celestial mage, her arms wrapping around her in a tight hug. "Yukino!" She squealed in excitement. "You're finally here!"
Yukino laughed. "Yes, I'm sorry it took me a little longer to get here I had some… unexpected company." Lucy turned to look in the direction the light blue haired young woman glanced in, surprise crossing her features upon seeing Sting and Rogue.
"I want to ask so many questions." She mumbled, turning her brown eyes to the other woman. "For now" Lucy turned to the eldest takeover mage. "Hey Mira, can we get some drinks?" She inquired, receiving a nod from the barmaid, hopping down from her barstool and dragging Yukino over to her table to sit and talk, eager to catch up. "Since I have to wait until we're away from prying ears to ask all the questions I want to I'd like to go ahead and start with, how are you Yukino?"
She giggled, smiling brightly. "Overall I think I've been well Lucy."
Lucy nodded, thanking Mira when she bought them their drinks. "Good, good. How have your jobs been? Anything interesting?"
Yukino shrugged. "There's been a variety lately. Some have been pretty easy, some difficult and a few…" She trailed off as she took a drink from her glass. "Interesting to say the least"
"Yeah, we've gotten some unique requests ourselves, and I don't just mean the jobs. Some of the requestors are quite eccentric if I do say so myself."
"Right? I had this one ad that seemed like it would be super easy for a decent amount of money and when I got there?" The celestial mage shook her head. "It was like a rainbow vomited out some horrific nightmare." The disturbed look on her face suggested something truly gruesome. "I mean his mansion was the most ungodly color combinations any one individual could think of, his outfits were the most garish brightly colored hell." Yukino shuddered. "I felt so bad for his servants; they looked so miserable in their gaudy attire."
"You look seriously disturbed by what you've seen." Lucy chuckled out.
The Sabertooth mage shook her head. "I had nightmares for days about that place. I was just grateful that the pay was almost worth the visit." Her brown eyes turned to the blonde. "How have your jobs been?"
Lucy sighed heavily, catching the two visiting slayers taking a seat at their table in her peripherals. She paused in answering as she noticed the white dragon slayer subtly sitting closer to Yukino. Her lips twitched, turning to her friend. "Just like any job I take with my team." Her shoulders dropped. "It's a never ending nightmare. The destruction alone and just –"Lucy sniffled. "The money!" She wailed. "So much money lost Yukino! Every. Single. Fucking. Job!" She seethed.
"Lucy I –"
"Do you know how much money we've lost?" Yukino shook her head. "Cause I do. I calculated just how much money we've lost on these jobs since the beginning and let me tell you – I could have retired long ago Yukino. I could be relaxing on a beach somewhere with Plue by my side sipping on mojitos or something but instead I'm stuck in– this!" She motioned to nothing in particular.
"Here Lucy" The celestial mage offered her a drink Mira had brought over. "Have another drink." Lucy took the proffered cup drinking half the contents before sighing.
"Sorry for the rant." Yukino shook her head, patting the blonde's hand. "Anyways" The blonde finished off her glass, waving to Mira for another. "Have you gained any new keys?"
"No, I've been looking through magic shops during my travels but I haven't come across any new. How about you?"
"No, not yet. I was hoping to find something but every time I contact a shop it's the same answer." Lucy pouted. "There are eighty-eight keys. You'd think we'd be able to come across more than what we have especially the silver keys."
"I'm sure we will in due time."
"Probably. Thanks Mira." She smiled brightly at the older woman, lifting the cup to her lips. "By the way." Lucy glanced around the young woman next to her. "I've been meaning to ask, where is your luggage?"
"Oh, it's at your place. I hope you don't mind."
"Of course not, but you could have called me that way you could get settled in."
"I know but I was a little excited to see you. It's been a while since we hung out and I wanted to catch up with you."
Lucy nodded in concession. "It has been a while since we last hung out, between jobs, our guilds and everything else thrown our way we've had very little time to meet up." The blonde threw her arms around the other celestial mage. "I really have missed you Yuki!"
Several hours later found the pair of celestial mages staggering their way to the blonde's apartment. Lucy fumbled with her keys for several moments as Yukino hugged her tightly, giggling at nothing. When she had finally found the key she unlocked her door and the two stumbled in over top each other, laughing as they collapsed on the ground.
Once she had managed to untangle herself from Yukino, the blonde stellar mage helped her companion onto her feet and the duo finally settled themselves on her little couch. She had been eager to ask the numerous questions that came to mind in the guild but she didn't know which to start with. Leaning on the back of the couch a soft sigh escaped her as she stared at her inebriated friend. "Yukino" She called for the other mage, a lopsided smile coming to her face. "I have a confession."
"About what Lucy?"
She hummed. "I'm dating Natsu!" She sung out, grinning.
The sabertooth mage giggled, tapping Lucy on the nose. "I'm dating Sting!" Lucy sat up, her smile widening.
"What?! Since when?" She squealed out in excitement.
"We've been together for several months now." She replied quietly. "In fact, he – he recently told me that I'm his mate."
Lucy shrieked in excitement, pouncing on her friend in a hug. "I can't believe it! I'm so happy for you!"
Yukino nodded solemnly. "Thank you." Pulling back the blonde looked at her friend, bewildered by the sound of her voice and further by the expression on her face.
"Yukino, you should be happy. Why aren't you?"
She shifted in her seat, lifting her shoulders. "We haven't done anything official." She admitted. "Sting refuses to."
"Refuses?" She asked taken aback by the notion. "Wh –"
"I think – I think Sting is worried about Rogue." She confided. "According to Sting, Rogue has been acting unusual lately."
"Did he say why?" Yukino shook her head.
"I'm not sure, but once when Sting was drunk he confessed that it had to do with his mate."
Lucy winced having recalled what her best friend had told her. "Has he not found his mate yet?" She inquired softly. "Natsu explained to me that it gets… difficult for dragons when they don't find their mate."
"I don't know. I tried to ask Sting but he refuses to give me any more information." The moment the blonde saw tears in her friend's eyes she pulled in her for a hug. "I'm so worried about Sting." She sniffled.
"It'll be okay Yukino, I promise." She cooed, running her fingers through her light blue hair. "Everything will turn out." She mumbled. Lucy held onto her friend, hoping with everything that she would be right. "Come on Yuki." She whispered. "Let's get to bed and get some rest, hm?"
The blonde stellar mage assisted her back to her room, the pair changing into their night clothes before crawling into her bed, Lucy holding her fellow celestial mage close, wishing there was something she could do for her friend.
The next day had Yukino at ease, though apologizing several times when they awoke that morning for burdening her friend with her worries. Lucy brushed it off, simply reminding her that as a friend she was allowed to. They had spent the first part of the day relaxing in the blonde's apartment, chatting about random nonsense before making their way to the guild for some fun, although the Fairy Tail mage was sure that Yukino was going purely to see Sting. She would have to pry more information about how they got together from the girl later.
The two celestial mages sat chatting and drinking, enjoying the additional companionship from the other girls in the guild, gossiping about the latest things in fashion, ongoing scandals and current relationships. During it Lucy had noticed stolen glances Yukino had shared with Sting and it had made her miss her own boyfriend, only momentarily though as the scenario played through her head and he likely wouldn't fully understand her subtle glances. The joys of dating Natsu Dragneel.
"Luce!" Blinking at the sound of her best friend and partner's voice.
"Speak of the devil and he shall appear." She mumbled as she turned smiling brightly as he came bounding in, wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. Her brows furrowed momentarily at his unusual display of affection. Forgoing that line of questioning she focused on his trip.
"Welcome back Natsu." She greeted. "Did you enjoy your fishing trip with Happy?"
"Of course! You should have seen all the size of the fish we caught!" He exclaimed waving his hands in an exaggerated motion to give her an idea of the size of the fish. Lucy smiled as he continued to ramble on for several moments about his trip, sending an apologetic glance to Yukino after several moments. The Sabertooth mage simply giggled, motioning that she was stepping away for a few moments. Turning her attention back to her chattering boyfriend, waiting for him to finish telling her about their adventure, curious as he paused to sit beside her, grinning sheepishly. "Sorry, I was rambling wasn't I?"
Lucy laughed. "It's fine Natsu. I'm really glad you had fun. You seemed a bit out of sorts lately."
He nodded. "Yeah, I guess I was." He admitted uncertainly. "Anyways, what are Sting and Rogue doing here?"
"They kind of tagged along with Yukino."
Natsu shrugged, pulling Lucy in for a quick hug. "I'm going to go kick Sting's ass. Wish me luck" He grinned before rushing off to start a fight with said man.
Lucy shook her head in disapproval. "I swear; he doesn't know how to go five minutes without starting a guild brawl while we're here." Yukino giggled as she sat down beside her, leaning close.
"Don't tell anyone I told you but Sting likes to start up brawls too." She whispered conspiratorially. The girls promptly burst into laughter.
"Should I go get us some more drinks?" The blonde inquired.
Receiving a nod she stood from her seat and carefully maneuvered through the tables, ducking as furniture was sent flying across the guild, nearly making it to the bar without incident, flinching at the brief look of irritation on the shadow slayer's face when she had ran into him.
"I'm so sorry Rogue, I hadn't – here let me get you some paper towels." Reaching over the bar she grabbed the roll, unwinding it to provide him several. "I'm so sorry about your clothes."
"It's fine Lucy." He replied plainly, patting his kimono.
"Still I – I can pay for your dry cleaning if you'd like?" She offered.
"It's nothing that won't easily wash out."
"But I – at least let me buy you another drink?"
"I'm fine, thank –"
"Mira!" She called, as she leaned over the counter to return the towels, catching the barmaid's attention. "Could I get two Mai Tai's and whatever it is you just gave Rogue?!" She received a nod of affirmation and Lucy sat at the bar to wait for their drinks, turning to the shadow slayer. "Sorry again about your drink."
His visible red eye shifted in her direction. "There's nothing to apologize about."
"R-Right." She shot a quick look in the direction of the Takeover mage working the bar checking the progress of their drinks. "So, what did you come all the way to Magnolia for? Something fun I hope." Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, nervously. "Unless you decided to follow Sting because he can be a little… rambunctious? I often have to travel with Natsu for the same reason, just to err on the side of caution. You know?" She chuckled awkwardly.
"Lucy I –"
"Sorry for the wait! Here you are!" Mira chirped, unknowingly cutting off the slayer as she placed their drinks before them.
"It's okay, thanks Mira." Lucy smiled as she reached out for the glasses, jolting as her hand brushed against the slayer's. Clearing her throat she smiled up at him. "Have a good night." Turning on her heel the blonde made her way back over to Yukino, ignoring the tingling sensation she felt in her hand.