Definition: the obligation or responsibility imposed on a person in whom confidence or authority is placed:
Example: a position of trust.
December 31, 791 – January 1, 792
Lucy stood there staring out the living rooms window, staring at the snow that was falling in slow, big flakes. The sounds of people talking coming in from all around her, as she let out a small sigh. Hating the fact that she was here at her father's Konzern for the New Year. When she'd rather be in the guild with the rest of its members having a rowdy time. But then again she had made the deal with her father to attend the functions he held. Letting a sigh out as she turned to see Ms. Spetto looking at her, with her maternal smile on her lips.
"Yes Ms. Spetto, is there something you need?" Lucy asked as she let a smile graced her lips.
With a small shake of her head, Ms. Spetto spoke up, "Just checking to see if you are alright. Your mind is with your guild right now huh?"
At that statement, Lucy let the smile fade away as she just turned the rest of the way and sat on the couch. Nodding her head to indicate that Ms. Spetto was correct as she felt a bit down. At once Lucy saw her friend and caretaker come forward and hug her. Something that made her feel a bit better, as she returned the hug. Letting out an over exaggerated breath.
"I made this agreement and I plan to keep true in helping my father. But these things have never ever been my thing, as I think they are boring. At least it is casual so I can wear what I want within reason." Lucy said, giving a small snigger of amusement.
When Ms. Spetto releases her from the hug, Lucy saw the glimmer of mischief in her dark eyes. It had been rather fun seeing her father's and his co-worker's reactions when she'd come down from upstairs of getting 'ready' for tonight. She put on a mid-thigh jean skirt that was decent enough in covering her, even if it was way too tight. Accompanying it with a hand knit white sweater that had a pink Fairy Tail emblem on the back, clearly stating that she was a Fairy Tail. While she put on her normal ankle-high brown boots.
For accessories, Lucy had chosen to wear her belt with keys, without her whip as this could be taken as a major insult. Lucy did her hair up in a messy bun with strands falling out of it here and there. No makeup or anything, deciding that if she would be drinking with the guest throughout the night, that messing up her makeup wasn't an option.
The looks and whispers she had gotten from the various people when they were not talking directly to her, had her mentally cataloging what she wanted to do to people. While outwards she just smiles and nodded like she was supposed to do. But after a while it had gotten to be a bit too much for her, so she had made her way to the window to watch the snowfall.
"I guess I should be getting back to mingling huh, Ms. Spetto?" she whispered, getting a small nod for the elderly woman.
With that Lucy pushed up from the couch, peeking at the clock and seeing it was pushing ten o'clock and the festivities would be starting soon. So Lucy found the nearest waiter and took a glass of red wine from it. Not quite ready to start making rounds again, she just wandered the room, until she saw someone very familiar. Someone she technically owed a thank you too from a few months before. Unaware of the small happy smile that was gracing her lips as she weaved her way around the outside edge of the room.
Upon reaching her target, she saw that he was once again near the bar, but only his attention was focused out the window he stood before. His face a blank mask as he appeared to be watching the snow fall. Tilting her head to the side, Lucy stood there watching him, until he let out an annoyed sigh and glanced over his shoulder at her. Making her flush darkly again at the silent reprimand in his eyes.
"It is rude to not announce yourself and stare at other Lady Heartfilia," he said in his normal mono-toned voice, empirical mask in place.
Feeling her face twitch as she frowned at him for using her title and last name. Lucy sniffed as she came to stand beside him, raising her glass of wine to her lips and sipping. Her gaze focused outside the window, but still watching Lahar via his reflection in the glass of the window. As he too went back to just staring outwards, letting silence blanket them. Which at the moment she was happy for as she tried to find a way to just tell him to thank you.
It was a simple two words and something she knew how to say in a variety of ways. But for some reason or another, Lucy was having a problem saying it to him. It had bothered later in the night when everything finally caught up to her and she realized that she hadn't told him to thank you. Instead, he had just left, leaving her staring like an idiot with a smile on her face. Which was not like her, since her mother had taught her that she should express her gratitude politely and quickly as the situation warrants it.
"You are making a lot of faces, what are you thinking about." Lahars softly spoke words broke into her train of thoughts, causing Lucy to squeak and look at his reflection.
There she saw a barely-there smile on his lips as his eyes seemed hooded by his own. Taking a few seconds to actually look at his facial features. Seeing the sharp angular planes of his face, that had a long slender nose set almost perfectly at its center. His lips were on the thin side, but it looked right in his oval-shaped face. While his eyes were slightly slanted and sharp, always taking in things around him. But the color of his orbs were what made Lucy grin, how they'd go from indigo to almost purple-black with his mood.
Again Lucy was brought from her thoughts when a soft whisper from Lahar was heard, "You're staring again. And are you going to answer my question?"
Having the decency to flush and look away from his now piercing gaze, Lucy lifted the glass of wine up to her lips and to a few deep gulps. Hoping that it would give her the liquid courage it did others. As she lowered the glass from her mouth, she smiled as a small light-headed sensation began at the base of her neck. With a small nod of her head, that only made the light-headed sensation more potent, Lucy looked at him via his reflection again.
"Thank you, Lahar," she stated simply as the heat continued to spread across her face in a very visible manner.
Wondering at how weak her tolerance to wine had become over the years, Lucy saw Lahar's eyes go wide at her words. Not sure if it was that she was showing her gratitude or the use of his name with no titles. Which was considered rather rude as they were barely acquainted with each other and more often than not butting heads about her guild? But to her seeing that wide-eyed look on his face was something she was going to file away as a special memory, just like the smile he showed her on Halloween.
When he placed his mask back on, Lucy shrugged her shoulders thinking she had offended him. The smile on her face shrank visibly as she readied herself to turn and walk away. Figuring it was time to go and mingle anyways since the new year was creeping closer and closer. Giving a small tilt of her head as she started to turn, she was stopped by Lahar's hand on her elbow. Making her go still for a second before she went back to standing beside him and staring at him in the window.
It took a few more seconds before he spoke, "You are welcome...Lucy."
At his admission, Lucy couldn't help herself as she let her natural smile spread across her face, lighting up her eyes as she looked at him in the window. A warm feeling that she was sure wasn't the wine she just slammed spread through her. It reminded her of the feeling of achieving something big. Which only seemed to grow as she saw him start to smile in return at her happiness. Causing her to blink at just how it changed him. Making his face soften, his eyes glint as if they were little jewels behind the lens of his glasses.
Again silence fell over them, but it was more companionable this time. Neither wanting to say anything that would possibly ruin the mood.
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As he stood there watching both Lucy in the windows reflection and the snow fall outside, Lahar didn't know what to say. Again this woman beside him had shown him a new side of herself to him. Leaving him feeling confused, happy and comfortable. He had heard verse and chapter from Doranbolt about how friendly she was and just how accepting she was of everything and everyone. On top of being polite, rational and logical.
And here she was standing by him a smile that was stunning on her face, directed at him. He wasn't sure just what was happening to him, but he was sure it wasn't a bad thing. Normally he'd of taken to avoiding her since he had issues with her guild and their destructive nature. But seeing her back in August and learning of the bet, left him irritated, even if she had enjoyed conversing with him. Thought he was surprised at what she was wearing at that time, how it fit her. Making her the ideal image of what a young noble heiress should look like.
Even after meeting her in a mini skirt and shirt that was so tight it could rip open, after the Nirvana event. Only to see her on Halloween in a well-tailored suit from a movie he actually enjoyed. Because he too agreed that Meryl Streep played her role well. At that time he hadn't been cognitive that it was Lucy he was staring at until the other two had come to find her. By that time he had gotten a rather impressive view of more than ample cleavage. But the fact remained that she had looked superb in that suit and heels.
Now as he continued to look at her in the window, Lahar was more than conscious of what she currently wearing. He had seen her come downstairs earlier with everyone else and felt amused at what she chooses to wear. While it was barely decent by the high society standards, it complimented her very well. Even if the skirt was too tight around her, showing off her small waist and well-rounded hips, drawing attention to her long, toned legs. While the white sweater with the pink Fairy Tail emblem on the back was loose enough that her chest was hidden, it brought out a soft glow of her pale skin. As the messy bun only drew one's attention to the graceful length of her neck to her heart-shaped face.
Lahar had to admit that Lucy Heartfillia was definitely one complex woman. Letting out a small sigh as he became very aware that she was watching him with open amusement at the fact that he was staring. While pressing her lips into a thin line to obviously keep from repeating his statement about staring. Unable to help it, Lahar smiled a bit wider, enjoying her reaction of awe at seeing him smile. Something his mother always told him was his best feature, making him a lady killer if he wanted.
As preposterous as that idea was, since being a skirt chaser was beneath him and his sensibilities. Lahar rose an eyebrow as he spoke, "I am glad that you are okay. My body reacted when I saw that man accosting a woman. Thought I didn't know it was you at the time."
His words made her face darken a bit as he watched her lift her glass to her lips and drain the last bit of the red wine. Her face flushed from what he assumed to be a mix of her emotions and the heady wine her father was fond of. Wanting to comment on it, Lahar decided that he would just remain silent to allow her time to come up with her own reply.
"Only because of your intervention Lahar. I didn't want to cause a scene by getting well, you know with the man. So I decided to try to be rational and logical about it. But when it didn't work and my anger got the better of me I smacked him." she said softly, twirling the glass back and forth in hands as she met his gaze in the window. "I know it doesn't' make us friends that you saved me. It was your sense of honor. But I can honestly tell you that I respect you greatly for it. And I do trust you."
He listened as she spoke, glad that he chooses to remain quiet so she could respond. But what she said had left him feeling as if she had jerked the carpet out from under his feet. The fact that she was so open about her thoughts and feelings was one thing, but again she tossed her honesty in his face. From admitting that she had made a mistake, to cutting the quick by stating that she knew they were not friends, right into saying she respected him for his actions and trust him.
Unsure as to why the fact her stating that she trusted him made him feel happy and even proud. While her saying that they weren't friends caused a bit of discomfort to him. Lahar tilted his head to the side while trying to put it all together. Only to have it dawn on him that he was becoming comfortable with her being around. After only two meetings on neutral like ground, he was comfortable with Lucy. Meaning that he accepted her presence in his life, which was a shock to him. Since he didn't let others in easily. Hell, it took almost five years before he opened up to Doranbolt.
Letting out a long drawn out breath, Lahar looked at Lucy to see that she was staring at him with a bit of worry in her brown eyes as she watched him. Causing him to blink a few times before giving a small shake of his head. She really was an open book when she wasn't wearing her polite mask. Even if her face was flushed from the wine, leaving her more open than normal, he guessed.
"Lahar?" came her voice in a soft whisper showing her concern.
Giving a small chuckle, Lahar turned to face her fully as he spoke, "I am fine. Just thinking about a few things. The most being your really a fascinating person, Lucy. And if you don't mind, I think we can become friends."
The look on her face as it lit up, again left him feeling a bit out of it. Her smile truly was a beautiful thing. And making her title 'The Light of Fairy Tail' all the more fitting. The soft peeling laugh that came from her was rather pleasant and stirred warm feelings in his own soul.
"I am honored Lahar, thank you," Lucy said in an excitedly.
Giving a nod to her, the sound of the countdown caused him to pause and look at the people gathered around them. Then with a quick glance at Lucy, who had turned to face the rest of the living room and was already counting down, Lahar decided to join in for the rest of the count.
"Five, Four, Three, Two, One!"
Looking at Lucy as the countdown finished, seeing her looking up at him a smile on her lips as they said in unison, "HAPPY NEW YEAR!