Contracted
Summary: Times were rough when Lords sold their daughters for money and power. A contract was none negotiable once both parties signed. So what happens when Lucy finds herself amongst a group that will do anything for their beliefs? LaLu and other couples.
Authors note: I know this chapter is a little short but we've finally gotten to a turning point! Let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I, in no way, own Fairy Tail!
Chapter 3: Raise your Fist
The cold was biting and her lungs burned. Anger at her foolishness ached in her chest as she kicked, legs tangled in the tatters of her dress. Even under water she could hear the sound of something heavy drop into the water near here. But her limps were heavy, the salt water stinging the wound on her leg. Her lungs gave up the battle and she could only watch as the air escaped her, throat working on autopilot to get air, only to swallow mouthful after mouthful of water.
She convulsed, fighting her body, trying to avoid taking in more water. Her senses blurred, the cold numbing her outside while her insides burned. Something slammed into her back, the last remnants of her oxygen leaving her.
Dots spotted her vision, begging her to give in when her head broke the surface. Her body instantly reacted, body curling with the force of her coughing. Tears burned her cheeks, bleary eyes barely taking in the white tunic in front of her eyes.
"Damn it Blondie!" A solid arm banded around her stomach as she could vaguely feel herself moving, water cradling her skin. Icy rivets flowed down her neck and shocked her.
She gasped, taking in large amounts of air, adrenalin taking hold and shaking away the shackles of unconsciousness.
"Easy! Hey!" Almost immediately she was pushed back, her chest instantly cold again, "Calm down."
Brown clashed with blue and Lucy felt her breath catch. HIs heat pierced through her, the intensity of his gaze lighting her on fire. Everything slowed down around them, the magic in the air dancing around the pair.
"look out!" The shout drew the pairs attention and they looked up. Laxus kicked, propelling them away from where Gajeel had aimed for. A giant rod of metal slammed into the water, creating waves that smashed into them relentlessly, "Laxus!"
"Damn it! I can't use my magic." He growled, holding tight onto Lucy. But it seemed Lucy did all the effort for him. She wrapped herself around him in a white knuckled grip, her thighs squeezing his waist tight.
"Please don't let me go." Lucy blinked away tears, lungs clenching at the thought of sinking in the water, "I can't swim."
His head snapped to look at her, eyes wide with disbelief, "You can't swim?"
Lucy shook her head before looking up, a scream leaving her lips. The metal beam slammed straight between them, a sickening snap echoing through their ears. Their eyes connect moments before they sunk beneath the waves. Pain radiated through the captain's arm, red tinting the water around him. But despite it, he desperately searched for Lucy under water, ignoring the sting of the salt.
He didn't have to look for long though, a bright light suddenly glowing from somewhere below him. The current picked up and a whirlpool sucked him in, dragging him further into the depths of the sea and no matter how hard he kicked, he couldn't get any closer to the surface. But when he finally slowed, he realised he could actually breath and was shocked when he felt something tap his shoulder.
A shout left him, air bubbles flying from his mouth.
"Relax. I think this belongs to you." A woman with blue hair floated before him, her tail swishing back and forth to keep her level with him. Lucy, who had been held under the mermaid's arm, was suddenly shoved at him and he barely managed to grab her, holding her unconscious form to his chest, "And tell her to get a boyfriend already. It might get her father off her back."
The mermaid swam up, the current dragging him and the unconscious woman with her. The surface approached quickly and Laxus tensed, doing his best to shield the blonde woman. The oxygen burned in his lungs, greedily taking in as much as he could.
They broke the surface of the water quickly, the air cold and biting. Laxus gasped for the air his body had lacked, the strange magic that had taken hold of him vanishing and leaving him to cough up the salt water in his lungs. But what worried him most was how limp Lucy was in his arms. He struggled to get her head on his shoulder, head tilted so that the water could escape her.
His arm throbbed, and he had to grit his teeth as he held on to her, "Something isn't right here. Who the hell are you?" He choked when a wave slammed into his face, the water around him churning.
"Watch that mouth of yours boy." The mermaid glared at him, an urn in her arms glowing gold, "And as for what's going on, you can ask her once you get to shore."
"Shore? We're in the middle of the ocean-" His words were cut short as the swell picked up, collecting him, Lucy, and the other crew members that were in the ocean too.
The mermaid gave a shout and placed the urn on her shoulder, "Have a safe trip!"
The smirk on the mermaid's face was the last thing he saw before the water swallowed him whole. The current pulled him through the ocean, salt stinging his eyes as he kept a tight hold on the blonde in his arms. His ears couldn't hear past the dull roar of rushing water, and his heart skipped a beat when the echo of Lucys heart rate slowed.
His only thoughts were to break the surface, his lungs burning with the effort to hold on to the last bit of oxygen. Despite his efforts however, the current slammed him into a sand bank, the force driving the air from his lungs. Everything went numb when his arms dragged through the sand, pain taking control and he could feel his grip on Lucy slip. The blonde women was swept up in the current, but her couldn't do a thing to get to her.
A flash of light drew his attention and he squinted to see through the murky water. A great rush of bubbles swarmed him, cocooning him. Slim arms circled his waist and he moved, his body cradled by the person saving him. If he had the strength, he would have cursed himself for being so weak.
It took an eternity to hit the shore the mermaid had told them about, the water somehow allowing him to breath. The air was sweet when his face broke the surface, the light on the horizon blinding. They had drifted through the ocean for a whole night.
"What?" His throat was raw from inhaling the water, his body sluggish from fatigue and pain, "Where are we now?"
His vision was filled with the sight of small feet and a voice to familiar to ignore, "It's about time you came him. Makarov will be happy."
Laxus groaned, biting down on the inside of his cheek when he saw the awkward angle his arm was bent at. Bile rose in his throat and it was only the gentle hands on his back the kept his dinner down.
"As for you Miss Heartfilia, I think you need to rest." And just like that, the hands on his back slipped off and Lucy fell to the sand beside him, sweat and salt water clinging to her, a single golden key resting on her chest.
"What was that?" Laxus couldn't wrap his head around it, the woman they had rescued (kidnapped) had somehow saved them by the looks of it. But it didn't make sense to his tired mind.
"That is something for another time. I think you should get some rest too Laxus. Wendy will tend to your wounds in the meantime and then we can all get our answers."
Laxus scoffed, his vision spotting as he looked up at the girl smiling at him, "Whatever Mavis. I wasn't planning on doing anything else."
And just like that, his body gave in and he knew no more.
xXx Contracted xXx
I'm so glad you all like the story so far! I do plan on continuing (and finishing this story). I plan to update every week (sometimes every fortnight). Life gets in the way. In any case, updates will be on Fridays (Thursday for some – I live in Australia).
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