Wendy was sitting at the picturesque pond at the back of the Pradesh home. The gentle flow of the water trickling in the fountain and the birds chirping had put her mind at ease. She'd felt restless since Lucy had slammed the door open to her room, startling the young woman from her sleep. It had been nine am but Wendy was enjoying her dream with Grandine and her sitting in a field of tulips. Angry tear stains were running down Lucy's cheeks as she threw herself on the bed beside Wendy. It had taken them several days to rebuild the broken parts of the guild and get everything up and running, so when it was all said and done Laxus had officially asked Lucy on their date for tonight. She was a tad excited to see the least, however, Laxus had been sent on a time-sensitive mission with Vander, Kaleb, and Cristoff and Thane was handling the guild in their Master's absence.
Lucy had been frustrated, needing someone to talk too and Wendy was always willing to listen. Now that she had a moment to ponder everything and listen to her gut feelings they were screaming at something being wrong. She knew it had nothing to do with Hestor since Kaleb, Cobra, and Bickslow had picked apart every secret known. The dark celestial mage was harbouring feelings of hatred towards Kaleb for kicking him out and wanted revenge. He had amassed a large following of mages who wanted to harm the Pradesh family of White Sea and had attacked with everything they had. In the end, White Sea was much more formidable than it had been a couple years ago when he had left. They did find out a bit about the fact that Wendy and Lucy have been wanted by Joya, no surprise there. High Warqueen Sydelle wanted Lucy in her ranks for reasons unknown and her second in command, Warqueen Carina, was after Wendy because she wanted her to mate with her second born son. Apparently, Queen Sydelle had changed some laws within that last couple of years in regards to their perception on men in the hierarchy, but the details were unknown.
Wendy started to blush when she remembered the way Kaleb's glowing eyes landed on her, taking her in before she was promptly taken from the room by her favourite shadowy mage. She expressed her concerns to dealing with random men after being captured as a slave, especially after realizing that in some countries her virginity was something to be treasured but it other it was seen as a commodity. Wendy discreetly asked Vander to help her after they had talked for a couple hours about her insecurities. She had overheard enough conversations at Fairy Tail to know what was supposedly good and bad, had heard partners fucking each other, and could smell who had been with who. That had worked well to her advantage when it came to who was screwing who in the guild bets, so she might have gained a small fortune due to her dragon sense of smell.
Vander was on board to help her and so far they had sat down and discussed the physical elements of men and women, erogenous zones, queues to listen too, and what she knew she liked. Wendy had only been in Bosco for a short while but Emzadi had been her greatest champion when it came to everything and anything sexually related. Wendy chuckled while remembering how red Charle was after Emzadi had emptied a large shopping bag of toys for Wendy to use on herself. In the solar slayer's words "knowing how to love yourself will help you to show any potential partners what you're looking for." She'd explained how each toy worked, what to use first, and where to work her way up from there. Needless to say, Wendy had been experimenting, which Vander had been more than pleased to hear.
She still had a difficult time not turning red when the topic was about her masturbating but it wasn't as bad as before. They were supposed to start physical lessons next week but Vander had left the decision of whether she wanted a male or female partner. In Fiore, it was all about male/female relations but in Bosco, it was whatever turned your crank, which she was beginning to appreciate more and more. She had also been on the fence about that, so she was trying to distract herself from the nagging feeling by going over the pros and cons of a male vs female partner. The only problem was whenever she thought of a male partner her mind ALWAYS wandered to her guild master. Her dragon perked up every time he was around but hadn't so much as said anything to her, granted she hadn't been alone in the same room as him since he had inducted her and even then there were three others. Wendy sighed, this was getting her nowhere fast. Maybe she'd head to the training grounds to see if anyone wanted to spar with her.
"Hey Wendy," Beck waived at her when she entered the room. "You feeling ok?" Wendy smiled at the beast master and walked up to him. Of course, he'd pick up on her since he had been around Nurem while she resided here. She had heard rumours that she was one of the very first magical creatures he had been able to communicate with and that Nurem had given him a tooth to place on his ever-growing necklace.
"Yea. Feeling a little on edge today, but I have no idea why. Figured I'd come here to see if there was anyone who'd be willing to spar."
"I'm free if you'd like try and throw some punches at me," the smirk on Beck's face matched to teasing glint in his eyes.
"I'm going to do more than try." Wendy flipped her long hair over her shoulders as she threw off her baggy shirt and sweatpants. She had been wearing a modest dark blue sports bra that showed some cleavage and spandex shorts. She had been thinking about going swimming today but sparring seemed to fit her mood. "Don't cry to Master when he finds out how badly I beat you."
Juvia had been following Xally around a Non-For-Profit medical clinic all morning. The smallest Pradesh sibling had been working with her on healing using her water mage. It was definitely a trying morning but Juvia had been able to successfully heal several internal bleeding injuries with Xally's encouragement. She'd been able to heal minor cuts and bruises for a while now but Cristoff had made the suggestion to see if Xally would be willing to help expand her knowledge since their magic was so similar. Juvia had mulled it over before she gathered the courage to ask Xally. They didn't know each other very well and Juvia didn't want to impose but the benefits heavily outweighed her nerves.
They were currently sitting a small outdoor café a block from the clinic eating some amazing pasta dishes that Juvia had no hope of pronouncing. Xally was flirting away with the tall orange haired waiter, complimenting him on how well he wore his bow tie causing Juvia to hide her smile in her napkin. This café was known for shirtless waiters, black bow ties, and boxer briefs that left little to the imagination. The man was definitely attractive but he wasn't Cristoff. Juvia froze at her thoughts and internal shook her head. She had only seen Cristoff with his shirt off, purely by accident, and had become an instant puddle. She hadn't been that attracted to anyone in a very long time.
"Earth to Juvia?" Xally waived her hand in front of the other water mage's face.
"Juvia is sorry. Was Xally saying something to Juvia?"
"You head in the clouds? Or perhaps on the moon?" The cheshire grin that broke out on Xally's lips had Juvia turning red at being caught thinking about Cristoff. "I'm glad Cristoff has found a mate as amazing as you. You'll be able to love him as deep as any ocean and be just as fierce when warranted."
"Mate? Xally thinks that Juvia is the mate of Cristoff?" Juvia's wide blue eyes stared into Xally's even wider aquamarine ones. Xally slapped a hand to her forehead and groaned while slinking into her seat a bit.
"Sorry, Juvia. Cristoff wanted to tell you when he got back. He was going to take you on a romantic date and everything but I just had to go and blab." Juvia let Xally express how sorry she was as her mind went off in a hundred different directions. Cristoff knew that she was his mate? Who else knew about this? Why would his dragon pick her? What actually happened during a mating? "Juvia?"
"Sorry, it's just Juvia is very surprised by Xally's statement."
"I know, I totally blew that surprise."
"Maybe not. Perhaps Xally could help Juvia to find a fun way to also surprise Cristoff when he is back?" Xally's eyes lit up with excitement. "Maybe Emzadi would help Juvia as well? She'd like to spend some time getting to know the rest of the family."
"Need my help with what?" Emzadi plopped her bags in the spare chair causing both girls to scream at her sudden appearance before they all broke into a fit of laughter.
"I accidentally told Juvia about the whole mate thing . . ."
"Xal-ly! Way to ruin this for Cris and Juvia. So help me you better not have told dad!"
"No way!" Xally animatedly shook her head no while waving her hands. "I try my damndest to not think about that at all when we are in the same vicinity."
"Anyways . . . you said you wanted help with something?"
"Yes. Juvia would like to find a way to agree to Cristoff's proposal, a sexy way. Granted Juvia doesn't know anything about mates or mating." She chewed on her bottom lip after her admitting that small part. "Juvia is comfortable with sex just not how to pull it off in a sexy manner."
"Oh girl, you stick with us and we'll have to make sure he's the one in a puddle." Emzadi rubbed her hands together as a plan began to develop in her mind. "So here's what you'll want to do."
Lucy had been wandering around aimlessly all morning before she found herself back at Arman's house. She stood outside the doors trying to decide what to do about her pent-up anger, anxiety, and excitement. Anger over the fact that Laxus had to leave late the night before their date for a high priority mission, excited over the fact that HE wanted to go on a date and had asked her himself, and anxious over . . . well, she wasn't quite sure yet. She huffed causing her bangs to blow out of her eyes as she finally opened the doors.
Mrs. Elan waived at Lucy as she walked by with a basket of fresh linens followed by a woman carrying freshly pressed towels. She had spoken briefly with the older woman on a few occasions but she was usually far too busy attending to the house to stay for more than ten minutes, unlike Mr. Elan. That man enjoyed the company while cooking, especially when Lucy was helping him make some Fioran dishes to add to supper on occasion. It was usually something she was craving or missing from home that she'd help him make, after all, she did spend a hell of a lot of time in the kitchen at the konzern escaping her lessons or her father.
However, today she wasn't in the mood to bake and chat. She needed someone to girl talk with and eventually apologize to Wendy for coming unglued on her as she did. Lucy still felt guilty for waking the poor sky maiden up from her sleep. Maybe they'd head out to the Grass Sea tonight with some others and splash around under the clear night sky of the new moon. The more she thought about it the more she was excited about going. A cute bathing suit, star gazing, spending time with her new family and guild, sounded like old times.
"Stop thinking so loud Tink," Cobra yelled from somewhere. Lucy spun around looking for the maroon-haired man only to yelp when he jumped from the balcony to land centimetres in front of her. "What's got you all in a tizzy? Your soul is literally everywhere, all of it, one giant black hole."
"Ha ha ha, you ass." Lucy stepped around him and went to sit in the large chair in the corner of the living room. "Too many emotions and not enough ways to express them."
"Do I hear gossip time?" Evergreen made her way into the room, pulling Lucy's legs up to sit down and letting them rest on her thighs. "Tell doctor Evergreen everything." Lucy giggled while Cobra snorted. "If you're not going to be useful, leave. Otherwise, plop your firm ass in the seat beside me and let me rest against you too." Cobra rolled his eye but did as the fairy mage asked. Evergreen slid right into his side as he threw an arm across her bare shoulder, getting comfortable because he knew they'd be here for a while.
"I'm sorry, but did hell freeze over? Pretty sure you had muttered that one day." Lucy looked from Cobra to Evergreen back to Cobra.
"People are still dying so I'd say the doors to hell are still functioning." Evergreen rolled her eyes and looked at Lucy who was still staring intently at them, clearly waiting for answers. "I told her we were mates last night when I tricked her into going on a date with me. We bumped uglies, confessed our love for one another, and boom here we are." Evergreen swatted him with her fan that seemed to just materialize, as Lucy hid her giggle behind a hand.
"You make it sound so awful and the only part of the story that's true is the part where he tricked me into a date. Told me he had heard of a new fairy line Elluris was coming out with and took me to a small restaurant on the outskirts of the city." Evergreen's cheeks reddened but the smile could be seen from a mile away.
"Figured I should explain how mating works, give her a chance to flee before all the happily ever after bullshit."
"Always the hopeless romantic Erik."
"Damn straight, Tink. Now that you have the jist, how about you spill why your soul isn't all rainbows and sunshine." She raised an eyebrow at him before sighing, knowing he meant that she wasn't her usual perky self.
"I'm angry over the fact that Laxus had to go, which I know is super childish but we were finally making headway!" Lucy started and the more she thought and talked about it the more her feelings starting to pour out. "I know I'm his mate, he mumbled it while he was sleeping one night, which makes sooo much sense with how shitty his attitude has been and why he's been more on edge with me around. Good to know I'm not losing my marbles."
"Not any more than usual."
"Hey pot," Lucy threw a random piece of paper from her pocket at Cobra's head. "He left me a note, Erik. A fucking NOTE! He's gone to play big bad dragon slayer on some random mission I know nothing about, which isn't helping with my nerves. He's with an amazing group of guys so I'm not too worried but it just seems that our plans never go the way either of us wants. Sometimes I think Mavis hates us." Cobra snorted at that.
"Yes, the undead founder of the fairies is after the Light of Fairy Tail." He pointedly looked at her but knew she wasn't finished.
"I was so excited. I had an outfit picked out, was going to spend some extra time getting dolled up and Cancer was going to come out and do my hair. The butterflies still flutter in my stomach when I think about our date, that'll now have to be postponed."
"And you're nervous?" Evergreen starting rubbing Lucy's legs in a soothing manner. "I'm sure when you do go on your first date with Laxus that it'll be amazing."
"Not nervous about the date. There's something big about to happen, I can FEEL it with my entire being. Like the stars are trying to tell me something and I have no idea how to decode it. Something isn't right." That had probably set Lucy on edge the most out of everything else. "You learn to appreciate these warning after being kidnapped or part of evil plots so often."
"What do you want to do Lucy?" The blonde looked at Evergreen, concern written across her face.
"I was hoping we could hit the beach at dusk. It's supposed to be a clear sky tonight so I'd like to star gaze and play in the warm waters."
"That sounds like an amazing idea! Why don't you go have a nap and I'll come to get you for supper in a couple hours."
"Thanks Ever." Lucy gave each mage a kiss on the cheek before she wandered to her room. Once Lucy was out of the room Cobra pulled Evergreen fully into his lap and just held her as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"What's got you freaking the fuck out?"
"I was in Fairy Tail with Lucy for years and now we're in White Sea, one of the safest guilds in the planet."
"But . . ."
"But, I know better than to not heed a Lucy warning. I talked with Bickslow this morning and Thane hasn't heard from Kaleb yet and they've almost been gone for just over twelve hours. No mental links to any of his siblings or calls on the coms. Either this is an extremely covert operation or something is wrong."
"I heard Little Blue's soul today too. She was just as concerned as Lucy is and went to the training grounds to try to relax."
"Well if you call taking a strip off Beck a way of relaxing then she accomplished that. She wasn't in any better shape though and the healer was chastising both of them for being too rough." Evergreen lifted her head off Cobra's broad shoulder to look into her deep purple eye. When he kissed her, warmth spread throughout Evergreen's entire body as she started to become addicted to his kisses. They had shared a couple here and there but nothing like this one that was lighting her soul on fire. These kisses were becoming her salvation and her torment, lusty, sexy images filled her mind and knew that he'd hear them. She lived to tease him in this fashion and she'd forever have the memory of his lips on hers. The fairy mage knew they should probably stop before they ruined the sofa they were on but couldn't bring herself to stop the kiss. She could easily lose herself within this man but they had decided to take things slow, she still had things to work through after Elfman left her and Cobra was hiding something. It was deep or dark but it had something to do with sex, of that she was positive. He had steered her away from every conversation about sex between the two of them and for now, it was ok. For now, he could keep his secrets. She'd eventually get him to talk, or better yet show her what he was keeping under wraps. For now, she'd enjoy his kisses and light touches, revel in the way he made her feel.