Chapter 33: High Tides
Levy stretched her arms over her head in an attempt to wake herself, enjoying the pleasant tingling sensation that came with the motion. It wasn't her fault she was sleepy. After a week of running on adrenaline, anyone would be tired. Now that she was relatively safe and among friends, exhaustion hit her like a ton of bricks. The time didn't help matters; normal people would be asleep in the middle of the night. Levy mentally justified her sudden yawn by telling herself she wasn't the only one fighting sleep as she glanced across the deck.
Nearby Lucy lay in one of the chairs struggling hard against the sandman. The other girl's eyes would droop low, only to snap open as she jolted herself awake. As expected, the poor blonde was more run-down then the rest of them. Looking particularly puny with her shaved head and bruises, Levy had taken pity on the girl earlier by offering to help her find a bed aboard the ship, but those Heartfilia genes stood firm. Her stubborn, best friend decided she wasn't going to sleep until everyone else did. At first, Lucy tried to help, giving aid to the youngest vicitms, but as her energy depleted she sat, observing, or in her words, "Making sure everyone was doing what they were s'pose to do."
Natsu had taken upon himself to jokingly call Lucy, "Walking-Wounded," a nickname that brought a snort from Gajeel, and a whole bunch of annoyance from Lucy. The blonde puffed out her cheeks in exasperation before whining at the pink haired man for being an inconsiderate ass, yet Levy saw what the other girl did not. Natsu kept observing Lucy out of the corner of his eye. His humor was an obvious mask covering his own anxiety for her well-being.
A few of the women milled around. Some searched for food in the mess hall, handing it out first to the starving kids and then to the older girls. The little ones' hands shook when reaching, overwhelmed with the sense of joy at being free. Something that didn't escape Levy's notice as she joined to help serve. Levy glanced around the area, brown eyes raking over the rather glum atmosphere around the people. Everyone besides Natsu and Lucy had a muted, depressed expression.
Anger swelled up inside of her as her own stomach lurched from hunger. Ignoring her own needs, she kept giving out food. The moments of happiness in other people's faces, making her feel satisfied. They all need time to heal from the ordeal. She only hoped that everyone could grow stronger. Of course, her black mood didn't stick, and bluenette snickered when she heard the two love birds arguing like an old married couple. The two quickly averting their faces when Levy laughed at them.
Natsu and Lucy were in plain sight, but Levy was unsure where Gajeel was. He and Natsu placed the Tartaros crew in the same cells the women had been kept in earlier. The ladies were only too happy to stand guard. Role reversal was such a lovely thing, as the captors became the captive, and Gajeel had disappeared some time after. He wasn't the only one. Jellal and Erza were gone to collect Sting and potentially Cobra on shore. Plus they planned to search the area for more girls and Tartaros members as well.
The group would sail to the Port of Hargeon on the next tide.
Levy groaned internally. She had never been on a ship before this, wishing she had a better experience. Her whole dream of romantically sailing the seas like Sinbad was ruined now. Unlike Lucy who had hopped from one continent to another in escaping her father, Levy could only dream of places to travel like in her books. She thought Lucy to be very brave. Uproot her perfect life at the first opportunity. Journey to a new country to a family she had never met. Having never stepped a foot out of Alvarez, the bluenette often wondered what the rest of the world was like. It would be quite fun to explore the ship even though she didn't know a thing about galleons beyond her general readings.
As a child, she often wanted to know, and would often resort to asking her parents a zillion questions that they couldn't answer. Instead they started buying her books since they felt like that would be more help. It started with dime novels and later after her teacher learned her love of reading, it was through ordering from the school. It had been obvious to everyone that her parents had wanted a boy and not a girl. So they always thought that if they got her books instead of thinking up new questions, she would read. She was a little girl who wanted a friend and found it in her books. When the position of librarian had opened in the neighboring town, she jumped at the chance. It has been a bit of a drive for her dad to take her until she took up board at Love and Lucky with her newfound friend Lucy. Her parents were still around and would visit her sometimes. And she would likewise visit them, but it had become harder since the feud.
Finally, she handed out the last helping of food, wiping away her empty hands. The lanterns hanging from the helm and posts were dim; one of them was about to go out and kept flickering, giving the area a creepy aura. It seemed like a night anything could happen. The bluenette didn't move, instead continued to watch the women, stifling a second yawn, feeling bit bored when most girls anticlimactically wandered off to the stern, instead of talking. While Lucy seem to finally curl up to get some much needed rest.
When Natsu noted the sleeping girl, his face softened in an affectionate manner at her form. Levy hid her smile when Natsu strolled to over to pick Lucy up. Gently, he carried her bridal style toward what Levy thought was the captain's quarters. He must have been waiting for her to fall asleep so he could put her in the fancy canopy bed. Who knew that the rowdy ranger could be a sweetheart?
A bit lonely and still bored, Levy then turned to stare at the moon. Hopefully, Jellal and Erza found Sting and Cobra soon so they could leave.
"Get back to work, Shrimp!"
Levy bristled at the sound of the sharp comment.
"What about you? You're not doing anything? Didn't find any more stowaways?" She asked with her nose in the air.
"They would have to be smaller than you to hide from me." He grinned cheekily as she dismissed him with a turn of her head.
Gajeel poked her ribs. "Don't be such a stranger. You were all nice earlier."
"Stop picking on me? Can't you see that I'm brooding?"
"What is your deal?"
"You seem nice and helped us out, but I'm sitting here, minding my own business." She wanted to say that he could reassure her that everything would be ok by wrapping his arms around her, but she quickly closed her mouth before she expressed that thought. "You insult me by continuously calling me shrimp? That's so rude."
"It's not an insult." He said quietly after a moment. "If I didn't like you, I would not try talking to you. You just seemed lonely by yourself, but I get it, some people like being alone."
Levy felt a bit of guilt as Gajeel stomped away. What girl wanted to be compared to a shrimp anyway? She thought up an apology but decided to wait until he cooled down some.
"You're hurting my arm."
"I highly doubt that." Jellal sighed at his redhead companion. He twisted around, swallowing heavily, letting go of her arm. She crossed her arms, giving him a clear scowl even through the dark.
"You're one of the most durable females I know."
"You didn't have to drag me." The redhead snapped, causing him to raise an eyebrow before she added quietly, "It was only a brushrat. Try to contain your nerves, Jellal."
"I'm sorry." Earlier, Jellal had detected movement and tackled her to the side. It had only been a small, woodland critter, but that didn't stop him from being cautious.
"You should be." She said in voice he didn't quite recognize. Jellal would have thought Erza was pouting if he didn't know her better. Her attitude seem to border on being annoyed at him and aggravated at herself.
"But rats can be dangerous, too." He said in quip. She turned without replying, but he knew she tried to hide her amusement. He saw the quirk at the corner of her lips. He felt slightly better, never liking the idea that he had hurt her. How had his life changed so dramatically? He who once had sat at the top of Midian's underground mafia. Jellal would bleed informants dry then sell Alvarezian secrets to top bidders, no matter the repercussion. Nothing could touch his heart but now thinking of hurting Erza made his stomach drop.
They moved onwards at a slow pace with the lights of the village and moon as their only guide. Currently, the two were aiming toward the town, through an unused path tangled with vines. With the redhead beside him, his senses were on high alert, realizing less men had been captured on the ship then were in the village earlier. He didn't want the remaining men surprising him. She thought he was overreacting, but he didn't know what he would do if she was hurt.
"Why are you so jumpy? It's not like we haven't tracked enemies in the night before." Erza question as she moved away from him. He followed slower, but shot ahead to hold the branches away from her.
"Such a gentleman." She brushed him aside, but he knew she was thanking him even if Erza acted indifferent. Somehow he always knew what she was thinking, even when she didn't know herself.
"Erza, why are you here?" He asked her as he bent to traced the marshy soil with his fingers, looking for any sign as to where the missing men might be - hoofprints, disturbances, tracks. They weren't using lanterns as they moved along - instead relying completely on the moon to guide them. He knew there was little hope of following any footprints in the dark, but he still checked. Jellal's philosophy was not to rely on eyesight alone and use everything around him with his other senses - touch, smell, hearing. Any sign from flatten grass or a broken twig could show him the direction the perpetrators took.
"To find Eric." She answered, observing his movements.
Standing, Jellal paused long enough to take her hand and guide her into thicker brush around the blind spot of a building. A route that was darken, not easily visible from any windows. At least, he hoped. Erza's hair, while beautifully contrasting to the blackness around them, made it almost impossible to blend into the surroundings.
He waited until they were crouched outside of what looked to be the masonry before dropping his own voice in whisper, "No. Why did you come? To this place? You didn't even know the about the girls?"
"I wanted to help Lucy and Levy." She replied. The stillness of the night carried her words.
"Why?" Finally, he was going to get the answers he needed to why she was acting strange.
"What do you mean why?" She twitched at his question, narrowing her gaze on his face. They were so close on each other's faces now. He waited but she didn't answer. He leaned closer, turning his ear toward her mouth. Warm puffs of breath escaped to touch his cheek, making his skin shiver in delight.
"You try your best to get the Dreyars kicked out of their home." He started, wanting to stay focused on the mission. "Why would you help them? Especially when we came to you for help, you didn't speak up on our behalf or go against your mother. Does Irene even know you and Cobra are even here?"
Erza shook her head, "No, she doesn't."
And just like that they were moving again. The couple crept into the town undetected and darted through the streets, growing more and more frustrated by the minute after not finding anybody. That was oddly peculiar because none of the gang should have known they had captured the galleon.
Jellal didn't think Sting would have gotten himself captured. The kid could be immature but he wasn't stupid to draw unnecessary attention to himself. Plus they would have heard gunshots offshore if there had been a fight.
Erza finally admitted, "She might know we are here but we didn't tell her."
"What do you mean?" Jellal had to remind himself that whenever he was with Erza, the best policy was to keep asking questions.
Erza turned back to him, wearing a shy smile, and heavy eyes before they glanced away. "Because she's Irene."
He fought the wide grin that formed on his lips. "Now I know where you get it from."
She snickered before saying, "Tartaros main business currently is with God Serena but before that they worked heavily with Acnologia. So my mom probably knew about this operation before we did. As she's one of Acnologia's closest confidants."
"Wait, what?"
"That's why Gajeel hadn't made it to Phantom S yet. You must realize it. I don't know the particulars but he's here with Tartaros for a reason. I can only assume Acnologia sent him. What do you think?"
"I have no idea. I don't even know Gajeel." His eyes shifted uneasily.
"Don't lie to me, Jellal."
"Maybe I will stop lying when you start telling the truth."
They glared at each other even though the darkness, both too stubborn and lost in their own ways. Jellal wanted to bring back her smile, but still he pressed his interrogation. "There's something that you aren't telling me."
"I will tell you mine if you tell me yours."
"You think I would stick my nose in one of Acnologia's venues?"
"When my mother is working for him? Yes."
"I believe you didn't know this was connected to Acnologia's original pursuit of land. He wants to own the seas as well as land. My guess is that he wants to put a railroad to Hargeon and control the shipping industries similar to how he is buying up the railroad. He wanted to use Tartaros the same way he's using Phantom S. Put pressure on traders then buy up their ships real cheap. That's how he's been buying up Phantom S's competitors."
"That's brilliant." Her eyes widened before she glanced away "That's pretty close to what Eric and I suspect as well."
Erza reached out. Her hand was hesitant before it finally touched his face. She sadly said, "I don't want to put you in danger, but you know this knowledge will hurt you."
Jellal calmed his racing mind. Erza's felt ministrations along his cheek, his breath stuttering with each inhale. She whispered his name, and the man shivered in turn, something heavy curling in his stomach at the way Erza smiled at him.
He grabbed her hand, fighting the temptation to be petted like a cat, "You can't distract me, Erza. What else do you know?"
Gone was her tender look as her eyes narrowed and she snatched her hand back.
"Territory. It also has to deal with competition. We heard rumors that…."
They heard a second shot, a second too late. Both dropped with Jellal's gun pointed toward the threat, and his back against Erza. All the noises around him stopped, even his own breathing, the instant his eyes detected movement to his side. He aimed his gun toward the person, surprised that he had been so focused on arguing with Erza that he had been unaware for a moment. He silently cursed himself of his careless he and been. His shoulders eased when he recognized Cobra smiling crookedly at them, cradling a person in his arms.
Erza tensed up beside him before withdrawing her gun which had magically appeared in her own hand, aimed at the intruders head.
"Didn't mean interrupt the sex talk, you two." That was the redhead man's tongue in cheek reply.
"Eric!" Erza growled in warning but her brother just chuckled.
Jellal cocked his head inspecting Cobra. The man wouldn't have been able to shoot since his hands were full. "Was that your gun that went off just now?"
"No that wasn't me, but it sounded like it came from where Sting and the sheriff just ran to."
"Sheriff?"
"Yes; I don't know him but apparently he's friendly to Love. You might need to go check cuz from what I have seen, most people that were here, loaded up in the wagons and left about 30 minutes ago."
Quickly dropping any further conversation, the couple raced in the direction Cobra pointed.
They found Sting alone in a clearing, somewhat unaware, staring in the distance as if in a dream. Jellal blinked a couple of times, confused by the situation, expecting more of a threat. The blonde stood with his gun cradled in his hands, as if he wasn't standing in the midst of danger. An ominous chill ran over Jellal's back, his eyes scanned the terrain then wrinkled his nose in disgust at the carnage next to Sting before making his face relax into his normal stoic expression.
Close by the boy was a man crumpled bloody on the ground. The body, Jellal noted, had severe wounds around the face and neck. Like he had been mauled by a dog. It wasn't nearly as bad mutilated as the corpse they had found while searching for the girls in the Wilds, the teeth marking here were less clean cut though. Jellal wondered what had bit the poor man.
Nobody else was around, but the blonde was clearly agitated as the two approached him. He swung his gun around once he took note of their presence. Jellal raised his hands in a placid gesture, slowing his footsteps, when the barrel faced him. Erza stopped to his side.
"Give me the gun Sting."' Jellal was worried what he would do next.
"He was going to die anyway, I swear!" The blonde shouted.
"It's alright, Sting."
"No, you're trying to trick me. I had to do it." Sting turned his gun to Erza but Jellal shot forward, bending low and swooping up under Sting's arm, pushing it away from the female before twisting it in to releasing the gun:
"Stand down, Sting." Jellal ordered as he held the boy in an arm lock. The boy struggled before slumping with a sigh.
"I never really killed anyone before. Shot people. Just wounded though. Fought people, but they punch back. This was different. It made me feel powerful."
Jellal glanced at Erza who was checking the pulse, while Sting babbled. Her gentle shake and sad eyes told him The man was indeed dead.
"I'm sure you had good reason, but now isn't the time. We have to go." Jellal gripped the boy, who took a stumbling step forward as Erza walked over with a question.
"Should we bury him? Or cover his body so animals don't get it?"
"Tartaros could come back. We need to go."
Sting's sapphire gaze was gravity in those words; his eyes were full of a severity that made Jellal mentally prepare himself for what the boy was about to say next. Taking a deep breath, Sting spoke softly," Mirajane lost her sister because of this guy. The one on the ground. He kidnapped people - women and children - doing awful things to them. When that monster jumped him, biting and tearing into him. I had a choice, carefully aim to shoot the rabid servant and save this guy, or shoot this guy and put him out of his mystery. I aimed and shot not truly caring which I hit. At the last second, he turned."
He quieted, clenched his jaw before hardening his eyes, "Mira and Elfman are kind hearted people who didn't deserve to have their sister taken. If I'm a little happy that I killed him, does that make me a monster?"
Then the strangest thing happened when Sting asked that question.
Erza hugged him.
The blonde sighed, before moving into the hug. Jellal nodded, emotional moments weren't really his forte, sometimes a little human comfort was the best. Sting squeezed her shoulder in gratitude, earning a small smile. He was glad someone that understood emotions could help. Erza didn't remove her hand; instead, she moved it to his hand tugging him behind her as Jellal brought up the rear.
The shadows of the night were long and thin on the grass, as the three started off. They collected Erza's brother and his friend in town before heading to the beach, trying to keep hidden in the brush as much as they could. But this hindered them. The stars guided them as they pushed off in the small boat, squeezing together tightly to fit, making their way through the slightly turbulent waves.
None spoke until they reached the ship. It had to be close to midnight when they finally climbed onto the boat. Cobra woke the girl up and placed her on Jellal's back. Her arms clamped around his neck as he helped Erza boost up on the rope ladder. Her boots had mud caked to their soles, making it difficult to climb, she slipped a bit as she started up. Jellal followed as Sting and Eric busily tied the boat on a pulled latch to be hauled aboard. Jellal's grip tightened on the on the ladder, determined not to slip with the added weight on his back.
They were welcomed back to the ship with enthusiasm. Even Lucy woke up from her slumber to come outside and give Sting a giant hug.
"This adventure of ours has taken a bit longer than expected," Lucy smiled, staring up at her cousin who didn't seem his normal light hearted self.
"Yes." The blonde male breathed as they moved away from the others to whisper together. Natsu watched, face pinched in annoyance before grumbling, "Sure, she gives him the excited hug while I save her ass."
Gajeel huffed quietly "Shrimp was the same way when she saw that tattooed blueberry over there. Squealed and practically danced into his arms. And then she yelled at me. Women." He hissed the last word as if warding off some bad omen.
"No I didn't." Levy smirked poking Gajeel before adding," but I can now." She wandered over to Jellal and Erza before grabbing the man's hand, hugging it tightly to her chest as she drew him away from the redhead and towards Sting and Lucy. The short girl flashed Gajeel a challenging look.
The two in jealousy watched the girls chat excitedly to the other males who smiled.
"Oh? Is somebody jealous?" Cobra smirked, walking up behind them. They both shot him hostel glares as he punched them on the shoulder.
Gajeel folded his arms, his face scowled unpleasantly at the intrusion "Look what stray they brought back with them, Salamander?"
"I ain't no stray, Black Steele. Any stays would be you two pieces of Dragneel crap."
Ignoring the comment, Natsu spoke "Lucy is a bit like my arm. And seeing another man steal her away make think someone is grabbing my arm."
"Da fuck?" Gajeel asked, clearly at loss.
"I mean it's like…. Lucy is a part of me. And it's like watching someone take a part of me."
"Then why didn't you say that in the beginning Salamander!" Gajeel yelled, "Da fuck are you getting philosophical for? It's just damn confusing trying to follow your train of thought."
While Cobra groaned "That's sooo sappy it makes me want to puke. I can't even stand close to the two of you"
AN: Hey guys! So I had this whole thing typed on my google docs. Then I couldn't copy and paste on my computer. Tried to edit on my phone but that just sucked. And then when I went to move the document on here... It would not work plus I could still not copy and paste. So had to rewrite this by hand like three times. Anyway! Enough complaints. Thanks for you fantastic reviews. Gives me motivation. And did you notice? A ton of old Nalu fanfictions got updated these last three weeks... I was like "I got to update mind, getting behind." Anyway. Trying to get my computer fix. Hope the next chapter won't take so long. Loves! Stay safe. Can't wait for FT anime! This chapter was initially two separate chapters... You probably could tell. One following Jerza who come across Sting, Sorano, and Cobra. The other about Levy and Gajeel taking care of Sorano. Some of that got cut and changed. I still tried to include some Levy POV. And here is Sorano in a side story.
Sorano was barely consious.
Her face hurt.
Her body hurt.
She remembered taking a beating after protecting one of the girls. Lacerations seem to cover most of her body. The man, Torafusar, really did a nymber on her. She could still feel the memory of him standing over her with a bottle, telling her he would kill her to make an example in front of the other prisoners.
She also remembered being saved from the pain.
Another guy had pulled Torafuzar away, threatening him to stop abusing the merchandise.
It had been Subzero. Dark headed with tattoos that lined half his body, he looked so hardcore, but his hands had been really sweet, not perverted at all, when he checked her for broken ribs and wounds. She remembered him calling one of the other girls over to tend to her.
At some point later while she was healing, the two fought again and Torafusar came to take her away, Subzero broke his neck, telling her to run away and hide in the forest, but Sorano had not been able to run so he had carried her.
Until the blonde man had blocked his path.
The blonde man who she had seen before.
A man from Laxus's trial.
His brother.
Sting Dreyar.
Then SubZero had handed her over to even though she tried begging him not to. Sting would kill her. She had been the reason his brother had went to jail. She had gloated when she found such an easy target to set up for the murder of her husband. She had been glad to leave that abusive, shamble marriage. Dan had abused not just her, but her sister Yukino too.
Of course, she had felt a bit guilty when she learned that Laxus had married and had a pregant wife, that she had been responsible for taking him away from.
So much so that she had planned to leave the area: her and Yukino. They were going to go to Ishgar, where brighter future would await them. But then they couldn't find cheap passage until someone offered them a job on a boat. Too bad the boat had been a bunch of slave traders. She felt so stupid for falling for that one. But she had been desperate.
She supposed it was divine retribution that she ended up being sold into slavery and losing the one person she loved. She didn't even know where Yukino was. Luckily Sorano had provided her sister an escape the first night by sleeping with one of their guards. She just hoped Yukino was taking care of herself, if she knew that her sister was safe, she would gladly die.
Sorano hadn't meant to kiss the man with the red hair, but he just was so kind to her. And he had reminded her that she didn't really want to die at the moment now that she felt safe for the first time in a long time. And it finally felt comforting to fall asleep while she knew nobody would mess with her. She only hoped that tomorrow did start with her waking and this had all been a dream.
"Look at what I found, Lucy!" A lighthearted, but unrecognizable voice called out.
"Fuck! Who gave Salamander dynamite? Throw him off the ship," shouted another man's voice, much grumpier than the other one. Sorano blinked open her heavy eyes at the chaos unfolding around her. Two men wrestling a third man who was laughing manically.
Maybe everything was just a dream?