Sorry for the long hiatus. I've had some personal stuff come up, but really wanted to get a chapter up for everyone. I will do my best to update a couple times a week, but there still may be times where I am away for extended periods of time. I've also had lots of people questioning the whole LaLu pairing, but believe me it's coming and there is a reason for the wait, even though Laxus has already identified Lucy as his mate.
On a side note, Pradesh week is T minus 3 weeks away! Anyone else super stoked for this week because I definitely am!
Lucy woke up alone and in Cristoff's room, slightly confused as to why she was there. She didn't remember much of what had happened the night before besides getting their tattoos and some strange men blocking their route home. Deciding a shower would be the best way to relax and try to remember what happened Lucy went back to her own room, grabbed some new clothes and hopped into the warmth of the waterfall. She tried her best to recollect whatever transpired but was still drawing a blank. The blonde rested her head against the cool tile at the back of the shower and breathed in the steamy air, smiling while doing so.
She was exceptionally happy with how her powers had progressed, prior to being captured. She was a bit behind now and was sure that the moment she chose what to do with her life now Capricorn would be on her ass, hounding her to get back to practicing and exercising. The bond she had with all of her spirits was quite strong, but there was still a painful gaping hole where Aquarius should be. The whole Tartaros event still brought on nightmares, but they were less frequent since her capture. Now she also dreamt of being raped and strange men trying to take her away from her family. Lucy could admit that she had a few cracks that would need to be repaired, but she refused to let it hold her back. There was too much good in the world and too many people she wanted to help to let herself play the victim forever.
Flashes of the scrawny man grabbing her wrist and her new sisters defending her started to come forth. It was almost as if Lucy was having an out of body experience as she watched everything from the previous night unfold. She hugged herself tight as it continued until all she could feel was the darkness calling her, but with a few steady breaths she calmed herself down. Ugh, no wonder I freaked out and collapsed. Mavis, I feel pathetic now. I should probably ask someone what happened after I blacked out. Lucy looked at her wrist and realized that Cristoff must have healed her at some point.
Lucy shut the water off and stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around her form then making her way out to the room to find some clothes for the day. As she got dressed her minded wandered to how Evergreen was acting yesterday but realized that she probably felt excluded. Well, I will just have to make that up to her then! Lucy started to brush her long blonde locks while pondering everything that Farron had told her about Freed's past, which didn't sound like it was much different than her own. She was interested in getting to know the green haired mage better over the course of her stay in Bosco, however long that might be. Bickslow had the goofy older brother job all locked up in her mind, but behind his mask, you could tell there was some pain there. Maybe one day she could help him heal like his amazing family was helping her.
Then there was Laxus. A blush immediately rose high on her cheeks thinking about the tall muscular blonde slayer. She'd have to be dead not to notice how drop dead gorgeous the man was and the crush she'd developed back in Fairy Tail was borderline obsession now. He was never a talkative guy, but they got along well enough when they did interact. Not that she did very often with his keen sense of smell, he'd be able to tell just how hot and bothered he really made her. Now that they were in Bosco he seemed to be avoiding her, and that wasn't sitting right with her at all. She was starting over, yet again, and she'd be damned if she'd let this man slip her clutches if she could help it. She may have to ask for some help from the Thunder Legion and her two new dragon slayer siblings. Oh, let the fun begin!
Laxus had just finished sparring with Cristoff on the beach and was currently stripping down to go for a swim in cool water of the sea, with Cristoff on his heels. The two large men began to swim leisurely towards a rock roughly a mile from shore. Cristoff got started to get ahead of the lightning slayer and with a smirk in place decided that this challenge couldn't be left unanswered. Laxus focused on his breathing and using powerful body launched into butterfly strokes, with both arms moving symmetrically, accompanied by the butterfly kick he was gaining ground on the lunar slayer. He ended up touching the rock seconds before Cristoff did, a shit eating grin on his face.
"I haven't had someone beat me at swimming in a long ass time," Cristoff stated with a smile of his own. "Definitely want a rematch."
"Whenever, wherever you're on!" The two men shook on it while treading water.
"You know," Cristoff started off slowly while taking in the calm demeanor of his kin, "You've been dodging Lucy a lot lately. You should probably just man up and tell her already."
"What the hell are you talkn' about?" Laxus glared at the mage.
"Tell her that she's your mate, and maybe your dragon wouldn't be as huge of an ass hole."
"I can't," Laxus grumbled under his breath.
"Why the hell not?" Cristoff looked bewildered and personally couldn't understand why Laxus was refusing to do so. "If Lucy was my mate I wouldn't hesitate to tell her what's going on and fill her in on the details. It's not like you have to fuck her the minute you tell her."
"We're too different and I have enough baggage that I don't need her pulled in with all that shit."
"Ever think that you'd be able to help each other? It's not like she doesn't have her own issues, especially with what happened last night," Cristoff stated trying to make a point and get the dense man on the right track.
"What happened last night?" Laxus all but growled at the now nervous mage before him. "Cristoff!"
"Oh, would you look at the time. Lunch will probably be served soon." Cristoff moon jumped away before Laxus could sink his fangs into this skin and landed in his empty room. I could have sworn that Lucy was here when I left. FUCK! Laxus will kill me if I've lost her, but at least I know where to start with that blockhead. Cristoff ran down to the dining room, hoping that Lucy went to get food after she woke up. Then again . . . if Laxus finds her before he did then he'd have to explain why he was looking for her.
"What's with the creepy ass smirk, Cris?" Bickslow asked from the table where Farron, Freed, and Arman were sitting.
"Oh nothing, but if Laxus comes thundering in here I didn't do anything!" He moon beamed out of the room and left three very confused mages to eat their breakfast.
"Where the hell did that fucker disappear too?" thundered in Laxus with sparks jumping off of his body.
"Easy there sparks-a-lot," Cobra uttered walking into the dining room. "He mentioned checking Tink's room for her since she was MIA from his room this morning." Cobra could practically see the gears screeching to a halt and smoke starting to billow out of his ears, thoroughly enjoying the chaos he may have just created. He watched the retreating back of the big blonde and sat down at the table.
"That was not very nice of you Erik," Freed spoke from behind the paper he was currently reading.
"Whatever you say, Kermit. All I know is that he needs to man the fuck up and deal with this because his dragon will just drive him insane and drag us all along for that less than joyful ride." Cobra shrugged his shoulders and reached for the sugar to put in his coffee. "Besides, Tink is beginning to wonder why he's so distant."
"And how do you know this?" Farron questioned with an amused smile already forming an idea.
"I eavesdropped on her internal monologue after I found Loony's room empty."
"Should I start planning some funerals?" cackled Bickslow to the amusement of his family and Cobra.
"I highly doubt Laxus would go down so easily," Freed confidently spoke about his leader.
"Oh I'm not referring to that," grinned Bickslow. "I mean when Lucy finds out what has been going on she'll be less than thrilled. Lucy kicks everywhere!" Freed and Cobra shuddered thinking about the petite woman's powerful kicks. "Pray that you never have to encounter one or you'll end of through a wall. Personal experience."
"Do I want to know what you did to that poor girl?" Arman asked with one eyebrow raised.
"Poor Lucy? What about poor Bickslow?"
"I'm sure you deserved it," chuckled Farron who dodged the roll that Bickslow threw at this head.
"Are you referring to the incident where you grabbed her boobs while intoxicated to see test how soft they were or the time that you grab . . ."
"Freeeeeeed! Man, whose side are you on?" whined Bickslow who was shielding himself from his father's glare.
"The side of truth," Freed stated while flipping the page of his paper. "If I remember correctly she removed herself from your person before Lucy kicking you through the guilds newly erected cement wall. After that, we made the walls thicker." Everyone broke out in laughter and resumed their meal, leaving the two male slayers in the hands of their celestial mage.
Lucy had just finished dressing when her bedroom door was ripped off its hinges and tossed to the side by Laxus. The dragon slayer had a wild look about him with his eyes ablaze and muscles tense like he was waiting for a fight. Lucy was quickly sidetracked by the fact that Laxus was only standing there in a pair of swimming trunks, showing off his muscular form. His strong, broad shoulders to his chiseled chest where his sculpted V was showing itself above his shorts - this was the stuff that wet dreams were made of, Lucy was positive. He would be the image she'd use from here on out whenever she felt the need to masturbate.
"Laxus . . . Is everything alright?" Lucy knew better than to toy with a slayer that was relying heavily on its senses. His normal bluish grey eyes locked with hers and Lucy sucked in a breath at the mesmerizing steel grey they had become. Laxus walked up to her and pulled her flush against his body, burying his nose in his hair and inhaling deeply. She had gotten used to this with Natsu and knew that her scent was a way to calm his nerves whenever something had happened to her in the past.
"Laxus?" Lucy tried to get his attention again and felt a rumble in his chest through her own body. She pushed gently against his large form to try to look at his face, but he just held her closer. Mentally sighing in defeat she decided it'd be best if she just waited this out and then she could ask him what the hell was going on. She took a deep breath to calm herself and realized that he smelled that fresh rain after a storm. Smiling, Lucy placed a kiss on his pectoral and hugged the large man back. Everything about him right now was soothing any and all worries that she previously had, but she wasn't sure why. It never happened with Natsu or Cristoff, so why would happen with Laxus of all people?
"Lucy?" Laxus came out of his daze and almost jumped away from the celestial mage, only to realize that his hands were tangled in her long hair.
"Hey, Laxus. You alright?" Lucy asked looking into his normal colored eyes. "You ripped the door off its hinges and stormed into the room looking for me."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that or this with you," Laxus looked her confused faced and turned to leave. "I'll see you around Blondie."
"You can't just change in here like you did and leave without and explanation, Laxus!" Lucy demanded with her hands on her hips, fully prepared to stop him if necessary.
"My dragon took over after Cris said you were hurt and I came looking for you. End of story," he grumbled and left the room.
"LAXUS! That is not a sufficient answer." Lucy followed him out into the hallway and to the main hall where Bickslow, Farron, Freed, Arman, Cobra, and Evergreen were gathered. "You've barely said two words to me since I've been back and now you're choosing to ignore me. Just talk to me Laxus."
"I'm not good for you." He said over his shoulder with a pained look then teleported away. Lucy looked at the peanut gallery then back to where Laxus once stood.
"I don't understand. What did I do?"