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: And here is the next chapter! Things really hit off here and we'll see where it takes us! Let me know what you think of it and what you want to see happen!
Disclaimer: I, in no way, own Fairy Tail!
Previously: Laxus stood quickly, pulling his coat from his shoulder and dropping it over her, the fur almost like a crown upon her golden hair. There was a pause as he stretched, his cheeks slightly flushed.
"And with that said… " He looked down at the pair, his muscles tensing as he jumped up to the level above, "Get cleaned up and go help Mira get dinner ready for the crew. You need to pull your weight around here too."
And then he was gone.
Chapter 6: Contracted Part 2
Trepidation. The feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen.
It was the perfect word to describe how she felt as she saw the estate loom in the distance. One of the mages that had met them on shore had the ability to bring his paintings to life, and she was thankful for how easy it had made the trip. It allowed her to come to peace with what her immediate future held for her. It was only when a hand gently rubbed her cheek that she realised she was crying and she turned to the other occupants of the carriage.
Loke was staring at her, his gaze soft as he took in her tear stained cheeks. Laxus brooded in the corner, his eyes narrowed while he watched her out of the corner of his eye. And Erza watched her carefully, a small dagger in her hand in case they were ambushed on the way to their destination.
"Princess. Are you alright?" Loke wrapped an arm around her shoulders and ignoring the way Laxus tensed, it was only Lucy's broken sigh that had him staying in his seat.
"I'm just… grateful for everything you've all done. But… also regretful…" She whispered, quickly glancing back outside, "You've shown me a freedom and happiness I've never experience. Even if it was only for a few days, it will make today that much more bearable." She smiled softly, a heaviness in the air.
"Lucy? What do you mean?" Erza leant forward, knuckles white.
Lucy shook her head, facing the red head properly, brown clashing with brown, "I'm not naïve Erza. Everlue wants my keys. Once the contract is signed, the only way for him to get them would be for me to either hand them over or for him to kill me. And considering I wouldn't leave any spirit in his hands willingly, once I'm his he'll get rid of me. He'd kill me tonight if he could. But he would wait until the business plans were finalised before he did anything. Knowing my father, there would also be no chance of escape, most likely by Phantoms' hand." Her head dropped, resting on Loke's shoulder, "No matter what you do, you don't know what nobility are like and what they can and will do. My father will stop at nothing to make sure the business grows. Even if it means my-"
"You aren't dying today. Or dying any day soon either Blondie." Laxus huffed, resting his elbows on his knees so he could rest his head on his hands. Cobalt eyes glared back at her, "We told you we wouldn't let anything happen to you and that we'd get your keys back. It's as simple as that."
Lucy let out a humourless laugh, her eyes dull, "You shouldn't make promises like that to a Celestial Mage." Loke's arm tightened around her and she could feel his jaw tense as it rested atop her head.
"And you should have faith in others Lucy. For what you've done for the Spirits in your possession… They would do anything to protect you. And you have the power to let them do it." His words were soft, and the cocooned her like a warm blanket.
She pressed herself closer to the spirit, her old dress hanging in tatters around her. For theatrical effect, Laxus had demanded she dress up the way she had been found and had refused to let Wendy heal her any more than removing the infection from her body. They had even gone to the effort of messing up her hair and smearing mud across her skin, even going as far as having her smack herself so that her cheek would bruise.
"Thank you Loke." She whispered, her hands fisting in her lap.
"Enough." Laxus grunted, leaning forward with a length of rope in his hands, "We have to tie you up. It's gonna be tight, and it'll hurt, but they'll know the second we're faking if we don't do it properly."
Dread pooled in her stomach and she bit her lip to stop the tears the made her eyes prick. Memories of capture and torture rushed through her head and she took in deep breaths to keep calm, doing her best to separate the present from the past. She looked at the floor the second Loke grabbed her hands and placed them behind her. Panic clawed at her throat, a whimper leaving her lips when the rope dug into her flesh. Band after band of rope were wrapped around her, immobilising her upper body, rough cords biting into her skin. Her shoulders ached with the odd angle they sat at and she knelt on the floor, hair concealing her face which had changed to a deathly pallor.
"We're here…" Loke whispered in her ear seconds before an explosion echoed through the area, jolting their carriage and sending the poor blonde woman into the door. She groaned, allowing Erza to sit her upright again.
"We want to see the father of Lucy Heartfillia! You have 5 minutes or we burn her alive."
Natsu's voice boomed, entering their ears and shocking them with how serious he sounded. But he had already claimed Lucy as a friend, and nothing would affect him more than someone threatening someone he claimed.
Shouts sounded from the grounds surrounding the vehicle, the horses at the front of it whining and stamping their feet.
It wasn't long before she heard the voice that gave her nightmares, "Bunny girl ain't getting away this time Salamander!" Screeching metal and the rush of flame made Lucy shiver and she screamed when an arm banded around her upper arm and pushed her out the door. She hit the gravel road with a thud and she groaned, feeling the small pricks she received from her landing.
"That's what you think Gajeel." Laxus laughed while he stepped out of the carriage and heaved Lucy up and pressed her against his chest. She couldn't hold back her tears, the pressure in her shoulder building to the point it felt like her arms were about to pop out of their sockets, "Now where is her father!"
Gajeel hesitated for only a second before Laxus whistled and Natsu shot a ball of flame towards the blondes. It landed mere millimetres from their feet and Gajeel growled, his arms returning to normal.
A distant rumble travelled through the sky and Lucy looked up, watching the dark clouds gather. The irony wasn't lost on her either when she saw the statue for her mother to the side of the road. The grand estate sprawled out before them, the front garden trimmed to perfection and everything glistened, even on such a dark day.
Some employees had run out to see what the commotion was, and the tears fell harder when she heard them calling out to her.
"Lady Lucy!"
"Princess! Let her go you beasts!"
"Mistress!"
"Spetto… Bero… Ribbon…" She sobbed, collapsing against the beast of a man behind her and would have fallen if it wasn't for his hold on her arms.
"Let my daughter go." The voice resonated within her and Lucy's eyes snapped up, brown orbs wide. Her father stood at the foot of the stairs to the garden, only a large fountain separating them. And behind him, was the rotund trash known as Everlue. There was a great contrast between the two and Lucy shivered. Her father, a proud man with broad shoulders, a permanent scowl and receding hairline, was still her father and his presence demanded authority. And then there was Everlue, the slime that made her shiver in disgust. He was the typical corrupt politician that flaunted his wealth and looked down on those he deemed ugly. Which included herself. Everything was a tool for him.
"I think you should remove your hands from my fiancé you beast. My… you're ugly." Laxus baulked at the man, his eyes wide at the shock of Everlue's words.
"You're annoying." His answering growl was quickly followed by a bolt of lightning, but the attack was blocked by a giant of a maid in an outfit that barely fit.
"Virgo!" Lucy watched as the Spirit took the hit, barely even flinching from the blow.
The maid didn't respond, but didn't approach them any further, standing beside Everlue, her face grave while Everlue gushed over her, "Now this is beauty. Unlike you."
"Everlue! You are to marry my daughter! Don't speak to her in such a way!" Warmth flared through Lucy's body at her father's words until she caught sight of the scrunched up paper in his hands, "And until she signs this form that is no way to speak to her."
'Until you sign me away…' A single tear fell and she felt Laxus tense, his entire body vibrating with his magic. It sparked through the air, arching between them and making her skin tingle.
"There won't be any contract signing today Mr. Heartfillia." Makarovs' voice pierced the air, his once tiny form now giant, utilising his magic to tower over everyone, "We cannot condone the actions and crimes committed against your daughter, so we have taken it upon ourselves to free her of your control over her."
Jude turned red, the veins in his throat and forehead prominent as he lurched forward, rage radiating through him.
"She is my daughter! I will do as I please!" Jude laughed, putting up his hand with the contract in his hand falling open. Those of the crew with them that were Dragon Slayers, or so she had been told they were, growled.
"You're despicable." To Lucy's surprise it was Gajeel who spoke up and he spun on his heels, marching straight up to her. She tried to move, to get away from the man that had tortured her, but Laxus held her firmly in place. Gajeel stared down at her, watching her scream and thrash in her attempts to escape him, "Would a man that cared for his daughter at all, even if it's just to get her back, hire a dark guild to get her? Would he allow this to happen?"
Without pause Gajeel grabbed her tattered skirt and pulled, ripping the fabric easily. Only a small amount protected her modesty and her scar was visible for all to see. Few people had actually been told of what she went through and having it exposed had her face flaming with shame. More so because it was the person that had done the deed that revealed it.
"Lucy- You! You fiend! You did that to her!" Jude took another step forward, only to be held back by the staff as Natsu shot a stream of fire at him.
"Gajeel was just following orders. Orders to expose Phantom." Makarov shrunk down and turned to Laxus, a giant grin on his face, "Now then Laxus, I think it's time we wrapped this all up."
The blonde man smirked, wrapping one arm around Lucys' waist while the other came around the front of them, letting the paper he held in his hands fall open, "Blondies mine now old man. And there's nothing you can do about it."
His words sent the Celestial mage into shock, everything going numb when she spotted the two signatures through the paper. Her cursive was distinct next to his rough scrawl and she went weak. Her writing was unmistakable.
"Impossible!" She vaguely heard her father shouting at the crew, and arms wrapped around her waist, "Lucy! What of your keys? You know the deal we made!"
His words struck a chord in her and she struggled, rage flooding her and making her see red, "Our deal? We didn't make a deal!"
Golden light surrounded her, brown eyes sparkling with her magic. The crew all took a step back except Loke and Laxus, the former stood firmly by his master's side. An invisible wind picked up, blowing her hair this way and that, making her seem like a demon as she stalked forward, away from the two men. The magic kept building, transparent figures appearing behind her.
"My spirits are not things to be bartered with!" Her gaze narrowed on Everlue and the man shrunk back, "Nor are any spirits simply tools to be used however you see fit." She hissed, seething between the two parties.
"Virgo." Lokes' voice was level and calm, but his eyes were just as fierce as his Masters, "Everlue has committed crimes against Lucy Heartfilia. His actions have placed a Celestial Mage in danger and his future plans are a violation of a Celestial Spirits contract."
The gorilla sized maid disappeared in a cloud of smoke and once the wind had swept it away, it revealed a short, pink haired maid, "And as such I am freed of my contract to Everlue and have the power to choose a new master." Virgo approached, making sure she was before the blonde before she bowed, her hands extended. In one hand was a single golden key. In the other, was a brown leather pouch.
"Virgo…" The blonde woman gently took in the sight of the golden key, her eyes tracing the symbols carved into it before Virgo hugged her, placing the pouch and key in her bound hands, "We can make a contract later. I also don't have the words to describe how grateful I am to you for getting my friends back."
"K-keys? How the hell did you get the keys from me?" Everlue waved his hands about, his face as red as a tomato.
"Jude gave the keys to you and you didn't want to hold them after they refused to answer to you and so you gave them to me." Virgo smirked slightly, the show of emotion pulling at her pale skin, "So it was quite easy actually."
Everlue started turning purple, his eyes bulging, "Y-you! And you ugly beast! Y-"
"Everlue!" Jude stamped his foot, his own face tinted red, his eyes burning holes in the politician's head, "What do they mean about placing Lucy in danger?"
Anger instantly evaporated from Everlue's face, eyes still wide, "Ah well… about that…"
"He was going to make her sign the contract and then kill her is what he means to say. Not that you care asshole." Laxus chuckled, approaching the blonde woman with an air of ease to him, but even he was wary of the woman's magic.
The sound of rocks breaking drew everyone's attention to see a hole in the ground were Everlue had been standing. Ignoring it all, Jude stormed up to his daughter, grabbing hold of her wrist in a painful grip, jerking her tied arms painfully "Now that that's over we have things to attend to Lucy. You're next suitor will be here within the week-"
His own words died off when Laxus wrapped his hand around the man's forearm, "I don't know if you're deaf or just plain stupid old man. But Lucy Heartfillia is officially contracted to me. You can't lay a hand on her."
Small sparks of magic jumped between the men, lightning singeing Jude's suit until he let go of his daughters arm. The blonde woman shuffled behind Laxus with Virgo and Loke on either side of her.
"But… Lucy…" Jude tried to plead with his daughter, his eyes begging her to listen to him. But she just shook her head, refusing to look at the man that had put her in her position.
"No father. I won't be a tool in your power game. I don't care for it or the money." Loke and Virgo wrapped their Princess in their arms and lead her away, leaving Laxus with Jude.
"Now you listen here. She is mine. Our contract is legitimate. And if you ever, ever, do or plan anything that hurts her, or my guild in any way, I will come after you."
It was a threat the haunted Jude for the rest of his life.
xXx Contracted xXx
And things have really kicked off now! Let me know what you want to happen next! And tell me how you think they got Lucy's signature!
Thank you to the following people for reviewing the last chapter:
RosesMcKellar
CoSmO333
Desna
An Amber Pen
xoxi
Numinous-Alqua
love crimson red ray88
switchwatch
kurahieiritr JIO
EnchantedNightowl
saskiarosee