A/N: Ok folks, I'm sorry for the extended delay, with the holidays and life just happening, and getting kicked in the head with a cold that knocked me down in out for about a week, I'm finally back, and some of you may have already read the update from Desna, but here's chapter 4 for me, so we're all caught up, working on the next chapter now, with hopefully an update soon
Lucy groaned, head on the cool surface of the bar and Mira frowned, touching her friend's forehead and looking at Cristoff. The Lunar Slayer stood, he and Natsu coming to Lucy.
"Luce…Luce…hey come on weirdo…drink some of that would ya? It's melting everywhere." Natsu prompted, running a hand over her forehead, pushing the dull blonde hair back, forcing the worry from his face to grin at her. "Erza got those Strawberries from the Hakobe area, you know, the super sweet ones, that shits right out of her stash…" He watched his mates hands light, saw Cristoffs brow furrow and lip curl in frustration.
Lucy forced a weak smile to her lips. "Not right now Natsu…have Mira put it in the freezer for me, maybe later huh?" She offered.
She hurt, she hurt everywhere. She couldn't figure it out, she'd accepted it, he wasn't coming back, he didn't want her. She wasn't even upset about it anymore, she should have known. She was nothing, nobody, just a Celestial mage, another blonde with a set of tits among the masses. She wasn't exotic or unique, had no real talents. She could sort of play the piano, her mother had given her lessons, and she danced pretty well, even the King of Archipelago thought so.
Still nothing special, she had so little to offer, she had next to nothing in the bank, had a tiny apartment, even with Cristoff adding oompf to Team Natsu and keeping Natsu in line better than she or Erza had ever been able to, she still didn't exactly shine in their company.
She'd been so happy, so excited, all she'd been able to think about for the first few weeks was when he came back, all that would happen. She would be a Dragon Slayers mate, spend days, maybe weeks wrapped in his arms as they mated and built the foundations of their bond.
After a year of nothing but her own attention her body would know passion again in the arms of her own personal angel and Dragon Slayer. She'd dreamed about being wrapped in those long black wings, kissing that mouth, feeling those hands on her skin and at first it had been glorious, she almost enjoyed the anticipation, knowing when he came back she'd probably tackle him to the ground and start tearing off his clothes.
She'd even teased Mira and Cana about her finally getting laid and not just by anyone but by a tall sexy Dragon Slayer, described him to the two dreamy eyed whimpering jealous women in detail right down to how good his firm rounded ass had felt in her hands.
But the jokes hadn't lasted, the anticipation had turned into doubt, then sadness, pain…loneliness returning in a flood.
Why didn't he come back…why wasn't she good enough?
She knew she'd lost weight, but food had no flavor, she was sure the treat Natsu was pushing toward Mira to put back in the freezer was wonderful but it would have been like dust on her tongue, hard to choke down and flavorless.
Her usually smooth cheeks had hollowed some, she knew there were dark circles under her eyes, but she couldn't bring herself to care.
Her dreams had come to her, one of her biggest ones, to be swept into the arms of someone who would love her, be loyal, committed, devoted to her, who wouldn't leave her, to never be alone again, to be loved like she saw all her friends around her were.
She wasn't good enough, even a man who shouldn't be able to leave her had left her. She'd struggled hard to get out of bed that morning, had slapped away Kaleb and Cobras concerned hands as they tried to help her stagger to the guild.
She'd walked in like always, a tiny shred of hope he would be there, he would sweep her into those arms of his, kiss her lips and neck like he had that day she had finally met him. The hope shattered, again, she didn't want to feel it anymore, she wanted to stop hurting, stop crying whenever she was strong enough to manage it.
She pushed from the stool and wavered, Natsu catching her. "Easy Luce! Hey, where you going?" He asked.
"Home…I'm tired…I'm just gonna go home." She sighed, trying to shrug off his hands.
They exchanged looks. Lucy hadn't gone on any missions, too weak and depressed, Kaleb and Cristoff had stepped in though, paying her rent so she wouldn't lose her apartment but she'd spent so much time at Kaleb and Cobras the place was dusty, cold and devoid of food or drinks.
"Luce….come on…you need to eat…" Natsu pleaded.
"NO! I don't want anything right now! Just…leave me alone…" She whimpered the last word, her whole destiny seemed wrapped in it.
None of them noticed the guild doors at the head of the hall open, but Kaleb did, snapping his head up wide eyed as for the first time in months there he was, his older brother came in, eyes scanning the hall then locking on the bar, pain filling his features and quickening his steps.
"That's him." Cobra growled but his mate grabbed his arm.
"No she needs him, he has to go to her…we'll get to talk to him later…" Kaleb said, giving Vander who had also started to stand a stern look.
Bickslows eyes were wide watching Zen walk past their table, he didn't spare them all a glance, eyes only on the blonde at the bar.
It was Cristoff who got the only word in, stepping between Zen and Lucy and ignoring his older brothers menacing growl.
"You fix this…mate…now…she's too fucking weak now to wait longer." He growled back and saw Zen close his eyes a moment in pain, before his gaze returned to Lucy who was still leaning on Natsu, facing the floor.
Zen reached for her and Natsu growled but let him take her, tip her chin up so her dull eyes met his. Anguish and remorse about took him to his knees seeing her, he'd done this, in a fit of jealous over protective rage, he'd done this to his mate.
"Z…Zen?" Lucy blinked, trying to clear her spotty vision, Gods what was she feeling….warmth, soothing comfort, deep remorse coupled with a strong powerful need. It wasn't the ache, the sickening dark despair, this was the primal, basic, lustful need again.
Her weakened body, as bad as it was, warmed with it. She must have died…or was dying, her fading mind and spirit bringing her the image of what she wanted most. Warm arms slid around her and she was pulled into a tall hard body, the wonderful scent of cinnamon, fire and stardust surrounded her.
Warm familiar lips were kissing her face, her neck, teasing her ear.
"Lucy…I'm so sorry…I…where does she live…?" He looked at Cristoff who was still glaring daggers into him but the Lunar Slayer drew a breath .
"Pick her up, follow me." He snapped, heading for the side door from the guild, sending Natsu a quelling look when his mate bristled at him letting Zen take Lucy.
Zen swept Lucy up and pulled her in tight against him, she groaned but pushed in close, burying her face in his neck, hand curling in his shirt.
"It's you….where have you been?" She whimpered.
"Too far away for far too long…hold on I'm going to make this right…" He breathed, following Cristoff. Once outside the Lunar slayer clamped a hand bruisingly on his brothers shoulder and Zen closed his eyes against the sudden brilliant light of Cristoffs Lunar shift.
An instant later they were standing outside a modest building by a canal in the city. Cristoff pulled Lucys key from her pocket and led Zen up the stairs, opening the door to Lucys apartment and standing aside so he could carry her in.
"I'll bring food, drinks, medicine to help her, don't wait, you've fucked that bond all to hell you need to start repairing it so she can regain her strength." He snapped.
Zen looked at him wide eyed. "She's so weak…how do I…" He trailed off Cristoff shook his head.
"Figure it the fuck out Zen, this doesn't happen, there's no precedence for this, you're so fucking unique even in your damn screw ups it seems. You make this right, you'll die within seconds after her if you waste time." Cristoff said roughly, then his face softened at his brothers anguished look. "Be gentle, give me a few minutes I'll bring some things to help you with this, get her to the bed, hold her, kiss her, every bit of contact will help, skin against skin. I'll be back as soon as I can…" Turning and closing and locking the door, leaving Zen with Lucy.
Drawing a breath he took her to the bed, almost staggering when he felt her dry lips brushing his neck, kissing him.
"Why?" She breathed.
"Because I was an idiot...I'm so sorry Lucy, I, I was raised in a special place up there where time moved like it does here, it didn't occur to me when I went after Loke we were in the regular realm…" He smoothed her hair, kissed her softly as she settled on the bed and he sat beside her.
He was like the sun to her, warmth, life, air to breathe after she had been suffocating for months, the more she touched him, skin against skin, the better it felt. Like taking deep breaths.
Her hands were shaky though, she was so weak, she slid one into his hair, pulled him lightly and he came right to her kissing her more, lips nibbling gently at hers while he held her. Once she had his mouth her hands slid down to his chest, shoving the familiar black vest back from his arms so it fell to the floor when he removed his arms from her to let it.
He trembled slightly under her hands as they slid over his skin, overwhelmed by his need for her, by the pain of what he'd done to her, she was the most precious gift he would ever get and he'd done just what he'd sneered at his father and Draco he'd never do, succumbed to Dragon drives and in doing, nearly killed them both.
"You left me...I thought you didn't want me...that you changed your mind…" Tears stung her eyes, she was almost amazed by them, she'd cried so much the last three months she'd thought she had none left, that she'd gone so numb she couldn't cry anymore.
Zen wouldn't let them get down her cheeks, kissing them away, nuzzling into her with a pained groan.
"Never again...I do want you, more than anything else in this world Lucy...I'm so sorry I put you through this...forgive me…" He whispered shakily. Taking in the weight she'd lost as his hands slid over her. Her once shining hair dull, her sparking fiery eyes almost lifeless but for the fire building now.
Her hands slid over his cheeks wiping away tears he didn't even realize had fallen before traveling to his body smoothing over his skin, his chest, his sides, she knew instinctively though it wasn't enough. "Will you still make me yours? Even though I'm not very pretty now?" She asked.
"You're beautiful...my gorgeous, wonderful mate...if you let me...I will make us one." He breathed, amazed, shocked really by how much her shaky touch was affecting him. His blood was starting to race in his veins and his heart was pounding as her fingers lightly traced over the contours of his upper body, intermittently pulling him to her for another long hungry kiss.
He let her set the pace and make the choices, only glancing over briefly when Cristoff appeared again carrying a couple of bags and containers.
Lucy didn't look at him at all, eyes transfixed on Zen, fingers sliding over the Eagle tattoos on his right pectoral and side.
Cristoff started placing some things on the night stand. "Oils from the flowers on Angeal Reata, rub them into her skin, everything else is labeled or obvious. I brought a container of her favorite pasta and ice cream from the guild, get her to eat as soon as you can. Gentle...but..." Cristoffs glowing hand hovered over Lucys forehead and he smiled faintly.
"Already stronger than she was when I left, strong enough to mate...call if you need anything, I'll bring more food and supplies later." His brother said and vanished in a brief flash of silver light.
"Cristoff is sweet...you know your brother Kaleb feels a little like you…" She said softly and Zen smiled.
"He and I are the same height, almost the same weight though I'm about 10lbs lighter than him...I think it's the hair…" He smiled and Lucy chuckled, the sound making his chest tighten and warm.
She kissed him again and this time he fully responded, Cristoff had come and gone, no more interruptions.
He laid her on the bed and started pulling his clothes off, more than a little shocked when she started helping him, hunger filling her eyes, she was yanking his belt out of the way and roughly undoing his jeans, whimpering with impatience.
He eased her back farther onto the bed, following her, shedding the last of his clothes and freeing her of hers, letting his eyes take in her greyed palor, that some of her ribs showed, all of it. Noting with satisfaction her eyes hungrily devouring his own body. Genetics had given him the deep caramel skin tone of Boscans, made richer by time spent endlessly in the sun in the celestial realm.
A lifetime of heavy hard physical training had built his body powerfully with nearly as much muscle as Cristoff and Kaleb. Broad shoulders, a wide well muscled chest tapering down washboard abs to a trim wait and hips, a hard muscled well defined v led down to thick heavy cock resting between powerful thighs and Lucy licked her lips as she took it all in.
He rubbed the oil in his hands and started smoothing it over her while she stared at him, watched his muscles bunch and stretch under his tan skin. He worked quietly, kneading into her depleted flesh, working tense spots, he started at her feet and worked his way up her legs.
She caught how his eyes lingered at the apex of her legs, his gaze making her blood burn in her veins and she smiled faintly, seeing his member hardening as his hands moved again and he drew in deep breathes likely flooded with her arousal. Deliberately she rubbed her thighs together and sighed, noting how his breathing hitched and he closed his eyes for a moment.
That she excited him made warmth spread through her of another kind, but seeing his body react, that thick heavy length firming, the thought of it within her made her sex clench and he seemed to notice because he growled.
He continued with the oils though, knowing they would ease aches, give her energy he was about to tax so he slid his hands firmly upward over her hips and sides until he was gently rubbing the oil into her shoulders and over her collarbone until she lunged up, burying her hands in his hair and started kissing him, whimpering with need.
"P…please…I…I need you…" Lucy whimpered. She was just too far gone to be proud, this was him, her mate, Gods above she could feel strength coming into her from his nearness, could feel the darkness on the edges, the cold nothingness that had been stalking her for weeks now being pushed back and when his lips sealed over hers she moaned, fingers greedily pushing farther into his thick hair.
He pressed into her, lips and teeth teasing her skin, tugging at her ear lobe. "I need you Lucy, forgive me...I'll spend...our lives...making this up to you...I will Never. Leave. Again!" He breathed against her skin. His hands slid over her feverishly, one closing over a breast, the other drawing her body more tightly against his as he kissed her.
He was the air she needed to breathe, her strength, her vigor it was all tied up in him, without him she was empty and now, his hands gliding over her body it was like his touch was wiping away the pain, leaving only heat and need and lust in their wake. This gaping hole inside of her needed him to fill it.
Zen gave himself over, let his dragon just take full control, trusting his magic, his instincts more than himself.
Kissing her everywhere, touching her everywhere because he knew she needed him to, pushing his magic, letting it surround them in a faint golden haze so every breath she took, every inch of her body would feel his magic converting any pain to something so much better.
Her hands started moving over him and he reached between her legs, he could smell her powerful arousal, it was driving him mad, but was worried in her depleted state she wouldn't be able to do this comfortably, prepared to do anything he needed to in order to make it all work.
The magic was ancient, older than Earthland itself, and did its work thoroughly though, his fingers were bathed in wet heat and she was arching her body into him desperately, whimpering and mewling as his lips played over her throat, collar bone, between her heavy breasts then finally capturing a peak. Writhing she tugged at his hair, desperation from waiting far too long tearing at them both.
"Lucy…" Zen breathed, moving himself, gently pushing her thighs wider apart before grasping her hips and lifting them, lining himself up before pushing into her with a deep rumbling growl.
She cried out, the cry melting into a long moan of pleasure as he filled her and Lucy was coming more and more alive, the feel of him plunging into her body, stretching her center almost painfully was like a fire lit under her sluggish soul.
"Oh…Gods….Lucy…so…tight…" He gasped out and she gripped at his shoulder, bracing her feet and thrusting herself against him greedy, hungry, desperate for him to start moving.
"Give it to me…please…Zen…ah…you feel so good…please, please don't make me wait anymore." She begged and he growled, the sound coming from deep within him and sending shudders through Lucy as he started rocking himself in and out of her. A hand sliding up behind her head, the other gripping her beneath her ass, pulling her hard and firm into each long wonderful thrust of his hips. The contact, the union of their bodies, it breathed life into her, made her heart beat wildly, her breaths come deep and cleansing, his skin against hers like in her dreams, in her imaginings, starting to dampen in sweat as he moved, his weight felt so perfect, every part of him, everything she touched, felt, saw, was life for her.
"My mate…my beautiful mate…" he purred by her ear, his hand leaving her hair roaming her body, seeking out the erogenous spots he knew she would have, needing to learn them, deeply driven to find every single way he could pleasure her. He had so much to make up for, so much to mend. Anything, anything she wanted of him he would give, he was desperate to pour his strength into her, his soul, everything he was he wanted her to have.
"I…I thought you didn't want me…" She breathed out and Zen clenched his teeth against the remembered pain, driving into her, keeping his pace where she could match it.
"I want you…NEED you…oh Lucy….Gods...forgive me." He said, each word spilling as he drove into her.
"I..forgive you...Zen...just...love me...make me...yours...make us...forever…" She gasped out and he groaned as she pressed into him, meeting his movements, her eyes so full of hope and need and forgiveness he knew he didn't deserve.
"Never…I'll never…leave…again…" He breathed out and her nails raked down his back and she ground up into him. He matched her pace, kept himself where she needed him, where her body could handle him right now and his dragon was actually good about it.
"Wings...I want your wings…" Lucy moaned and he smiled faintly, chaneling magic into the deep black tattoo like marking across his shoulders that had been there since his birth. Long black wings spread then folded in, curling around then and Lucy gripped the ridged top of one with a hand, the feathers soft under her hand and Zen groaned. He felt those wings like arms and her fingers curling into one were like them digging into his skin. He loved it.
"Gods...so good..harder...Zen!" She gasped and he responded.
He had lost the right to drag this out, to savor it and make it truly amazing for them both. The oils made their bodies slide over each other wonderfully and tasted sweet when he licked over her skin. He held nothing back though, did not seek to prolong it, knowing the bond had to be sealed, completed as soon as possible.
They would have the rest of their lives for him to worship her body properly.
He snapped his hips into her, his thick length slamming in deep with every thrust until he felt her walls start to tighten and flutter on him then as she cried out, his name spilling from her in the midst of a moan he felt her get taken in ecstasy and as she tore him along with her he sank his fangs into her, pushing his magic into her and praying it wouldn't kill her in her weakened state.
He groaned against her neck as he drank her in, taking in her magic as he rocked into her, making sure the bliss of the orgasm would carry her through the pain of the sealing. The light of his Archangel magic flowing in with Draconic, raw, ancient and powerful.
Her breath caught and her body went rigid as that magic seared through her body, sent her magic containers shuddering, lit every magical nerve ending she had and his arms closed around her, holding her tight against him as she rode out the mating, the orgasms deep pleasure softening the intense searing pain of taking in Zens magic, two kinds pumped into her and he couldn't stop how it hit her.
"Be strong Lucy...let it in...Gods...I will love you, forever…" He whispered as she grit her teeth against the waves of pain. Her eyes opened and his magic flared, taking them both by surprise, golden flames licking over them both, pulsing through them deeper and deeper into the centers of their beings and Zen felt it, his need, to give all he was to her and it rended him, tore a piece of him away and pushed it into her through the fire. His very soul, for her.
Lucy couldn't even gasp, she felt it, saw it, he was inside of her, deeply buried within her, his seed filling her, then the fire enveloping her as his fangs pierced her skin, golden fire that coursed all through her then, more of him, the hole inside of her, all that was missing, was filled, she took him in, the pain and sadness didn't matter, she wanted him, all of him, would love him with all she was without reservation and she took it all in, everything he offered.
If she couldn't take it, if it took her, he'd die in seconds right behind her but this hadn't been avoidable, there was no way to prepare or strengthen for it. But her breathing came back, her chest heaving as he rolled to his back, holding her on top of him, letting her suck in needed air and get herself back under control. Even if she were fully healthy, this was risky because of what he was.
"G…Gods…nobody said anything about that part…" she panted.
"Nobody knew….I'm not just a Dragon Slayer remember, you just took in Dragon and Archangel magic put a part of my soul into you, nobody else had to go through that…" He said, kissing her, brushing her sweaty hair from her face.
"So…that's…are we…?" She didn't know what to say, her brain was short circuited, her body was just jelly, she felt just bone deep sated and was enjoying the fact he was still buried inside of her, semi hard still. He rolled to his back with her, letting her lay on top of him so she could breathe deep.
He smiled up at her, hissing in a breath when she spread her legs and he was drawn deeper into her.
"Yes…we're mated…you're mine now and I am definitely, completely...yours." He said softly.
She closed her eyes, felt his strength, felt it flowing between them balancing her out, she felt better than she had in...a very long time.
Lucy pressed down on him making him growl. "And you...are never running off again" She smirked lazily. Where her energy was coming from she wasn't sure, she hadn't had any in a long time, she hadn't slept much, hadn't even been eating enough to really survive.
His hands gripped her naughty hips. "One more of those and we're heading into round two ready or not woman." He warned. Lucy smirked again and rotated her hips; he groaned closing his eyes and she squealed as she was flipped to her back and he was suddenly snapping his hips into her. Oh what had she done…she could barely feel her legs!
He stilled though, hands smoothing down her sides. "If you need to rest…" He offered, he could probably last a week, but she was frail right now, her color was returning, and that made him happy, but she was thin, needed to eat maybe if he could get her to.
Moaning she pressed up into him, bucking up into him greedily, she may be exhausted, but looking up into wicked eyes like a sunset, she drove harder against him, exhausted fine, she sure wasn't dead, and she'd have to be not to tear right into the delectable man in her arms. She had him, he was hers, he'd even said he would love her, love her! She was too happy to not want, no, need more.
He was a gentle with her, rolled to his back and let her ride him until she couldn't handle the movement anymore and he gripped her hips and helped her finish them both.
They napped, sleeping for a few hours before Lucy needed him again, woke him with hungry kisses and he gladly gave her all she wanted, making her stop after they came, sitting on the couch making her eat her pasta before he would let her touch him or kiss him again, at her pouting he relented some, kisses between bites, touches, full on bone melting fucking when she finished the whole bowl.
It became a game, if she ate, he had to do anything she wanted. She popped the last bite of baked chicken he'd made into her mouth and eyed him up and down. In nothing but his boxer briefs he was just mouthwatering.
"Anything I want.." She said, twirling the fork in her fingers and he smirked, placing his hands on the table behind her, caging her between his arms then leaning in, the muscles of his arms and chest flexing deliciously under his tan skin but his searing kiss make her eyes flutter shut so she couldn't stare.
"Anything." He purred and she smiled, blushing at the idea that came into her head and he grinned.
"Oh whatever you just thought of I so want to do…" He said huskily, a wave of arousal wafting up from her and making him sink to his knees in front of her.
Lucy reached out, her hand sliding into his hair as she chewed her lip uncertainly. "Well...I've never had...um...no guy has ever…" Fuck how did she say no man had ever gone down on her without sounding like a perv? Zen caught on though, purple eyes flashing, a wicked smirk curling his lips as he reached forward and pushed the little robe she was wearing open before sliding his hands down to her knees and pushing them apart.
Lucys eyes widened in alarm but he tilted her chair back against the table as he leaned in, hands gripping her butt cheeks and pulling her forward on the seat of the chair as his mouth descended between her thighs. Her gasp of pleasure when his tongue took it's first languid trip up her center made him smile, her taste perfect, her scent heavy and making him lightheaded and hungry for her. Lucy learned then her mate was as skilled with his tongue as he was his fingers. And, that she really, very much liked oral sex.
She'd heard mixed things, some mates were done in a day or two, some longer some shorter, but Zen and Lucy were still writhing against each other days later. Cristoff was good for his word and had brought food, it just showed up, the fridge and pantry fully stocked, a note scrawled on the fridge.
"Congratulations, come to the guild when you're ready- Everyone." That had to have been delivered by Vander, nobody else could have gotten in and out silent and swift like that man could.
At one point Cana had come and knocked at the door and Lucy had answered wrapped in a sheet, hair all over and Cana had gotten a glimpse of a tall tanned body stretched out on Lucys bed. She'd tried to crane her neck to see more but Lucy blocked her, thanked her for coming by and closed and locked the door.
Loud cries and moans and the sound of the bed banging against the wall had Cana cackling before she reached the bottom of the steps and she paused under the window she knew they were near.
"You fuck that sexy thing Lucy!" She screamed up, ignoring the shocked looks from the people on the street and turning and heading back to the guild.
The mark on her neck was dark and filled in completely and still they alternated who was insatiable, who needed just one more time. Nearly two weeks after Zen had carried Lucy from the guild and they finally, after taking yet another shower that had degraded into Lucy pinned against the wall screaming as Zen fucked her, they put on clothes and went to the guild.
Lucy needed a strawberry milkshake, and probably a steak, baked potato, and hamburger with everything on it, fries, fry sauce…some pie…she was starving. They had eaten, cooking with Zen proving to be a whole new delight for her, but they had also been banging each others brains out for two weeks, only occasionally taking time to sleep, cuddle, talk and no matter what they did it seemed to end up in sex.
Regardless, she had put on some of the weight she'd lost because of their game and was back to glowing golden locks and bright mischievous eyes before the end of the first week.
Lucy had no complaints at all. After a year of nothing but her own fingers and a B.O.B the feel of her mate, his lips, his hands, his whole body was just incredible. He was a passionate, attentive, lover too, she'd been with men who just didn't get her there, took their own and left her just…disappointed, but Zen, every time, every single time, she got at least one if not two bone deep world rocking orgasms that he was very good at prolonging.
The bond left him wide open for her too, she could feel what he did, when he was uncertain, happy, and delighted in finding that when they wanted each other, that conveyed very well through the bond too.
Love though, that flowed powerfully. Zen seemed almost like a fountain of it, his love for her ran deep and strong and she felt it, all through her very being she knew, felt how much she meant to him, how much he regretted what he'd put her through, and in true Lucy fashion, she let her hurt, her anger, go.
It served no purpose, got in the way of enjoying being the happiest she had ever been, with a mate, a lover, someone who just adored her and all she was, accepted every quirk. He had his own, he was a doer, the type of person who got things done, not the leap in blind with your ass hanging out like Natsu, but he didn't rethink plans, he acted on them.
He loved chocolate and preferred scotch to vodka, wine to beer. Shared her love of pasta which had made making spaghetti with him one night amazing fun because he was as enthusiastic about it as she was. He was fine sitting on the couch with her using him as a pillow watching movies or TV while she read, was great at jenga, decent enough at cards they both got naked at enough of an equal rate the decision to abandon the game and just fuck on the coffee table was mutual.
So when they walked to the guild she was leaning happily against him, comfortable, sure everything would work out, they were together and Gods above she was in love, what could be better? She still needed to deal with Loke, have a serious talk with him, and had gotten Zen to agree, very quickly and a little sheepishly too, that he wouldn't interfere or chase after Loke, ever again.
He had a lot to face himself, his family, Draco, even the guild who had watched their light dim and fade, shrink into misery because of him. But she would stand right next to him, would only let it go so far, ultimately, she had forgiven him, and it was her who had suffered, so her friends, her guild family, had to accept that, had to accept Zen, he was part of her now, rejecting him would be rejecting her and she knew she needed to make that clear.
When they entered the guild hall the din and activity was normal for a Friday evening. Cana looked up as they approached the bar grinning, eyes travelling up and down the tall man beside Lucy, seeming oblivious to the fact his hand was clasped tightly in Lucys.
"Ok, now I can see why you had no interest in leaving the bed to talk to me last week…damn girl." She smirked and Lucy rolled her eyes, Zen wasn't really paying attention, he'd already met Cristoffs gaze and his family was looking at him expectantly from across the guild hall.
What he was going to say was already struggling to come together in his head. So he didn't even see Cana slip off her barstool and walk near him but he definitely felt her hand clench down on his ass. His surprised look was nothing compared to Lucys, who hauled off and decked Cana to the floor.
"Uh uh…no, that's a line even you aren't crossing right now Cana, I love you, but don't you touch him, he's MINE." Lucy snarled and Cana held a hand up laughing, having the grace to blush a little.
"Ok, ok, sorry honey just, way too many fine asses are off the market now, I forgot myself…" She said.
"He was never ON the market in the first place. I just got him back, just mated so don't push my buttons yet, hear me?"
Natsu was sitting beside Cristoff wide eyed, and smiled "Guess we should uh, probably not be too hard on Zen huh? I mean…Luce will kick our asses." He observed. Scary Lucy was nothing anyone wanted to tangle with.
Kaleb was grinning. "They're ok…I guess maybe we just leave it all to Lucy, it's their business…as long as they're ok, Lucy sure looks a ton better." He agreed.
Cobra heaved a sigh, he heard a lot of what Kaleb did just in a slightly different way, Lucy was happy, elated even, her light was back and she really, badly just wanted to enjoy the evening at the guild, maybe show off the decidedly dark mating mark on her neck. He smirked and nudged Kaleb who nodded knowingly, attention directed by his mate to Lucys neck.
"Well, we know what they've been doing, that's for sure." He chuckled.
"Bunnys been fucking like her names sake." Gajeel chuckled, ignoring Levys sharp look. "What? Only way a mating mark fills in that dark in two weeks is if the couple are going at it like crazy shrimp…you should know…" He winked at her and she blushed, Bickslow snickering and kissing her shoulder.
Zen and Lucy approached and Cristoff stood, stepped around the table and crushed his older brother into a hug.
"She looks worlds better. Congratulations." He said into Zens ear before stepping back so Kaleb could claim him.
To his utter shock, Zen and Lucy were greeted with open arms, he suspected Lucys display with Cana might have played a part, but the fact his brothers and sisters were smiling at him instead of glaring took a huge weight off of him.
Ultimately, they were all just thrilled to finally have him with them, they had all been forced to deal with Zen growing up apart from the family because of his magic and the intense demands of training him to use and control it.
They ate there, surrounded by their family and friends and Lucy was quick to
squirm into Zens lap, something he didn't even blink over that she had wanted for a long while now.
To sit in the guild, the arms of someone who loved her around her, able to steal kisses, make him stiffen and suck in a breath when she would sneak in a more brazen touch here and there and gasping herself when he did it back. She had honestly dreamed of this very scenario she didn't even know how many times and here she was, finally living it.
Reaching up she brushed a heavy lock of sunbleached hair back from Zens face as he was talking with Kaleb, the world slowing a bit for her while she watched him, felt him, the bond was strong, so much stronger than it had ever been, real and firm and suddenly the center of her heart. She could face anything now, as long as she had these arms to run into when it was done.
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Draco stared into the pool narrowing critical eyes. "He did it, got to her in time, and she was strong enough for the bond to work, did you tell his father?" The massive being beside the dragon asked.
Draco nodded. "I did, the day after he reached her and we knew the mating took and she was going to be ok. Arman would hunt me down if I hadn't kept him updated…"
The Spirit king chuckled. "Indeed, they've all found each other, now we wait."
Draco smirked. "Zen will protect her, we couldn't have made him stronger and kept him mortal and if we'd tipped the balance she wouldn't have survived the mating. She's smart enough…strong enough for him…for all of this." Draco said, almost as if convincing himself.
The Spirit King frowned at him. "Of course she is, the only concern was whether or not we could get Zen to her quickly enough. Leo will need to mend his relationship with her….won't you old friend?"
The Lion spirit sighed, nodding
"Yes your majesty…I have a lot of apologizing to do."