Thunder Lucy Week begins! I do not have this whole week written so the later chapters will be late. Sorry This week will be interconnected. Today's chapter is rated T. For, you know, language and shit. Enjoy!
Fairy Tail is Hiro Madhima's masterpiece. I'm just playing with it.
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She was done. Done, done, done. She was cursing her team three ways to Sunday as she stomped toward the guildhall. Normally when shit went sideways on a mission she would head home to clean up first. Today however she was heading straight to the guild. If any of her teammates dropped in on her without witnesses they might never be seen again. Anyone who mocked her current state could just suck it. Her shoe that was, because she would cram it so far up their ass they would be able to taste the crap on the bottom of it. Lucy turned the last corner to the guild and slammed straight into a wall that shouldn't have been there.
"Bloody fucking hell!" She held her already broken nose and groaned. "I will tear your liver out and use it to paint your face, so help me-" She broke off choking as she saw the tall blond she had crashed into. "Ssshit. Hi, Laxus."
"Didn't know you knew how to cuss, Blondie."
"Well I do. And I've had a pretty sucky day."
"No shit, Cosplayer." Lucy blinked, noticing the rest of Laxus's team staring at her in shock. "What the hell happened to you?" *what the hell, look like hell, so terrible. She sighed.
"My team."
"Job go south?" She wanted to slap that sarcastic smirk right off the slayer's face.
"No. The job went relatively well. It was on the way back that everything went horribly wrong. Natsu and Gray decided to fight over who caught the most bandits. They have a habit of completely forgetting that I am neither fireproof or a champion ice skater. I didn't get out of the way fast enough, hence the broken nose, strained shoulder, and loss of the hair on the right side of my head. That's also what caused most of the damage to my cloths, which caused me to get leered at, which caused Erza to beat up a man on the road, who happened to be the son of the mayor of the town we were passing through at the time, causing us to have to pay repairations of an amount almost equal to our reward, which was already not enough to cover the damage they caused to my apartment this month, including but not limited to smoke and fire damage, busted pipes, water damage, and a shattered door and door frame, and that's not even counting my rent which is due in two weeks!"
She hadn't noticed she was escalating until the end of her rant found her screaming in near hysteria. All four of the wizards in front of her appeared to be frozen in a state somewhere between pissed enough to combust and shocked horror. Laxus was emitting sparks. What could be seen of Bickslow's face was tight, as if he was holding in words. Freed's eyes were wide and she noticed a tic at the corner of his mouth. Evergreen looked like she was going to cry, or slap someone, or both.
"Lucy, I mean no offence to you when I ask this, but if your team put you in this state why are they still your team?"
"When I don't want to kill them they are my friends. Also..." Normally she didn't even admit this to herself let alone say it out loud. Today sucked though. "You guys know celestial magic is rare and also used in all sorts of dark spells, right?"
"That is indubitable. Celestial magic possesses the ability to manipulate both time and space as well as open interdimensional portals."
"It does what?!" Laxus was looking between her and Freed as if they had both sprouted additional limbs.
"I took the liberty of investigating Miss Lucy's magic after hearing of her Urano Metria spell. The potential capabilities of-"
"Freed! Lucy was trying to answer my question. Remember?"
"My apologies ladies. Please continue."
"Don't know if Ever really counts as a lady." *not really, doesn't count, is Cosplayer a lady even, not Evergreen.
"Shut up, Bickslow!"
"Anyway. My team is the only one powerful enough to deal with that kind of thing and also willing to put up with me, so..." Lucy shrugged. She cared about her friends, but it really was a fact that they had to pull her out of all kinds of scrapes a normal team just couldn't have handled.
The Thunder Legion stared at her for a long moment before Evergreen's fan snapped out to slap Laxus across his chest. He scowled at her and she raised a single eyebrow. They continued staring at each other until Bickslow punched his shoulder from the other side. He growled threateningly but Bickslow just shrugged. Freed then tugged on the sleeve of his jacket. He only glared at Freed for a second before grunting a single word.
"Fine." The others all looked extremely pleased with themselves at that.
"Now that we have that sorted out. Miss Lucy would you allow us to escort you to Miss Wendy?"
"Weren't you guys going in the other direction?"
"Not as long as you're sporting the zombie apocalypse look. A little tweaking and that would make a badass Halloween costume."
"Is me in costume all you ever think about? Because obsession is unhealthy, Bickslow."
"Well since you asked, I also think about you out of costume. I mean who wouldn't? However I happen to very much dislike you losing your clothes the way you did today."
"I'm...not sure how to respond to that."
"Then ignore the big idiot." Evergreen hooked arm in Lucy's uninjured one and the group began herding her toward the guild. "You need a vacation from your team. We intend to give you one."
"But- I- My rent-" They couldn't be serious. Was this what they were not arguing about?
"Pish. We'll just take you on a job this week. With Laxus around we can take the big S-class ones. And unlike Team Natsu the Thunder Legion knows how to work together and bring home the whole reward."
"At least the majority of the time. Laxus is a very powerful dragon slayer after all and has been know to become... Agitated." Laxus growled at Freed, who ignored him. "However such instances are rare."
"You guys can't be serious. I'm just... I'll cramp your style."
"Nonsense, Miss Lucy."
"Don't be silly."
"Ain't no cramping here. You're just adding some sexy to the mix." Lucy snorted at the trio and grumbled under her breath.
"Pretty sure you guys are plenty sexy without me." The smug chuckle from behind her reminded her that just because Natsu wasn't around did not mean she was free from dragon slayer senses. She also recognised why Laxus didn't bother actually arguing with his teamteam once they ganged up on him. She took a page from his book and sighed. "Fine.
Entering the guild was an experience. Laxus vanished into Gramp's office as soon as they entered. The other three had all but teleported her up to the balcony where they spent most of their time. Of course Mira, Levy, Wendy, and Cana were appalled at Lucy's condition. Gajeel grew even more grouchy than usual while he eavesdropped on the retelling of her day. Wendy had just finished healing her very abused nose and gone back downstairs with the other girls when Laxus reappeared and plopped onto the bench next to her.
"Ya know, Blondie, you really should have mentioned to us how bad your team was." She gave him a dramatically skeptical look. "Well, not us specifically, but Mira at least. By not saying anything you were protecting and encouraging them. That's not Good for the guild or for them. And it's obviously not good for you." He waved a hand at her current hair style. She didn't have to look at the people around them to know they agreed.
"Fine. Point made." She reached for her keys, finding the one she wanted almost instantly by touch alone. "Open, gate of the Giant Crab. Cancer."
"Hey baby. Baby! What have you done to your hair?"
"It was an accident, Cancer. I'm sorry. Could you help me fix it up? Remember that thing we talked about the other day? It was a joke then, but could we do that?"
"Absolutely baby." A flurry of scissors later she was sporting a brand new do. "Stylin' baby."
"Thanks Cancer."
"Damn, Blondie."
"I know you are, but what am I?" That set Bickslow off. As in he laughed so hard he fell off his chair. She caught a glimpse of a smirk on Freeds face before he schooled his expression.
"Lucy, that's beautiful!"
"It's not to much?" She ran her fingers through long hair that was now a dusky purple color. There was a single bright pink streak on one side.
"It looks kinda like a sunset! I like it."
"I actually came up with the idea after I saw a comet at dusk a while back." The guild door slammed open and she jerked around to glare at the person who entered. Poor Macao glanced around nervously trying to locate the source of the rage he had been subjected to. Lucy sighed and shook her head. "Thought it was my team."
"Lucy, honey, you are on vacation from them. They aren't your team right now, they are Team Natsu. You just need to relax and let the Thunder Legion take care of you." Evergreen stood and slapped her hands onto the table. "Speaking of which. We need to do something about your cloths."
"Virgo can get me some. I'll just go down to-" Evergreen was dragging her back towards the offices before she could finish her statement. "Wait! But-"
"Laxus, we are borrowing your office."
"Whatever." Just before the door closed behind them Lucy saw Freed draw his rapier and begin casting runes along the balcony banister. She had seen him do that before, reflective barriers during brawls or sound canceling ones when Laxus seemed especially irritable. He had locked Bickslow in a box once for his own safety when he had pranked Mira one to many times.
"Now I don't care what Bix says, zombie is not your look, Lucy. Call Virgo. Let's fix you up all cute and sexy!"
"Are you saying I don't make a sexy zombie, Evergreen?" Lucy grinned to make sure Evergreen knew she was joking.
"None of this Evergreen stuff. Just Ever. Yes you are sexy, but unless you wanna flash your boob to the whole guild we need something new." Lucy was blushing red as she pulled her keys out.
"Open. Gate of the maiden. Virgo!"
"Punishment, Princess?"
"No, Virgo. But I could use some fresh cloths if you don't mind. Evergreen says we need cute and sexy. Maybe pink to match my new hairstyle." Virgo disappeared for a few seconds and reappeared with a little pink halter top and jean shorts, along with navy fishnets and heeled pink knee boots. The top left her belly bare and was hemmed with fringe and tiny gold coins. "Thank you, Virgo."
"I live to serve you, Princess." Once Virgo was gone Lucy glared at the fishnets and tossed them toward the trash can. Evergreen snatched them out of the air and slapped her hand with her fan.
"Sexy, Lucy. Be bold."
"Are you sure? I mean... They are kinda suggestive."
"And sexy. They give the whole outfit an edge to it."
"Fine." She pulled the fishnets on. "But I reserve the right to strangle Bickslow with them if he gets to be to much of an ass."
"I'll hold him down so you can. Us girls have to stick together." Lucy couldn't contain her grin.
"Thanks, Ever." She stomped into her boots and wrapped the fairy mage in a tight hug. "You're a doll." Evergreen was blushing when she pulled away.
"I- umm- Of course! Let's go. Who knows what the boys are doing without us there to take care of them."
"Won't Freed keep them in line?"
"I'll let you in on a secret, Lucy. Freed follows the rules, yes, but by their letter only. He's sneaky and sly. You watch him. Laxus, Bickslow, and I might be loud and flashy, but... Well let's put it this way. Laxus might strike them with lightning, but Freed is the one Team Natsu should be afraid of."
"But... Why would either of them go after my- Team Natsu?" Evergreen scowled at her.
"Because they hurt you. None of us did anything about the way they treated you before because it wasn't our business. But you are one of us now, at least for the time being, and the Thunder Legion takes care of their own."
"I- thanks." Evergreen grabbed her hand and pulled her back to their table, seating them both on a bench with their backs to the rest of the guild. The barrier Freed put up must have been defensive because the guild sounded as loud as it ever did.
"Damn, Cosplayer. Lookin tasty."
"Why thank you, Bix. I think."
"Please forgive Bickslow, Miss Lucy. He does not possess the capability to censor his words before he speaks them." Remembering what Evergreen had said Lucy studied Freed more closely than she had in the past. There was indeed a gleam in his eye she had never noticed before.
"As long as he doesn't try to lick me I can forgive his indiscretion."
"I wouldn't do that! Not without your permission anyway. I'd be all over that in a minute if you asked." Lucy's fingers twitched near the handle of her whip.
"Bickslow, do attempt to reign in your cultural peculiarities before they get you killed." Freed's voice was calm. Like the silence in the eye of a storm. "Miss Lucy is Fiorian aristocracy, and as such is even less accustomed to your Boscan boldness than most." Bickslow eyed Freed nervously.
"No offense ment, Cosplayer."
"You're... Boscan?" Lucy tilted her head to the side and studied what little she could see of the man.
"Well yeah."
"Why did I not know that?" She failed to catch that she had muttered her thoughts aloud. Surely that was something she should have noticed. She closed her eyes to concentrate and ran back over her interactions with the man. She froze her mental slideshow on a scene from last summer. Normally she tried to avoid staring at the half naked men at the guild pool. She saw more than enough of that being teamed up with Gray and even Natsu. "Wolves. Luprene. Fuck me, he is Boscan. I'm an ever loving moron." She blinked her eyes open to find all four of her table companions staring at her. "What?"
"Was that an invitation or are you just talking to yourself?" Bickslow grinned and she slapped her hands over her mouth.
"You are not a moron, Miss Lucy. The fact that you identified his clan with only the memory of his tattoos proves that."
"You make a habit of doing your thinking out loud, Blondie?" She smirked and pointed at Laxus.
"You are the only blond person in this entire guild big guy." He just rolled his eyes at her and huffed.
"No, Bix, that is not an invitation. If I change my mind I'll let you know, but unless that happens don't ask. You try to remember that and I'll try to overlook your... Cultural peculiarities. Deal?" Was it just her or did his smile look a little more genuine then usual?
"Deal." The guild had grown increasingly noisy behind her. She started to turn and see what on earth they were up to, but stopped when Freed spoke up.
"Miss Lucy, when was the last time you partook of a sustenance?"
"I had time to eat breakfast before our mission today."
"In that case would you like to join us for our evening meal?"
"I- yes. Yes I would. Beats going home, that's for sure."
"Why on earth would you want to avoid going home?" Evergreen snapped her fan open. Lucy found it adorable that she tried to hide her pout.
"It's not that I don't want to hang out with you guys. I do. Avoiding my house is just a plus. I have no doubt my team my team is there right now destroying my stuff and eating all my food." Bickslow grinned and started to make a comment only to yelp and glare at Freed. Judging by the hand that started rubbing his leg under the table Freed had kicked him. There was a smug look on Laxus's face and Freed was looking exceedingly pleased with himself despite trying to hide it. "What are you guys up to?"
"I didn't do it. And that's the truth this time. I'm completely innocent of doing anything at all. In fact, I'm so innocent I'm going to go get us all some dinner from Mira." Bickslow scurried off.
"Ever?"
"I have no clue. He might be innocent. He might not. I'd say they are all in it together."
"In what though?"
"Your guess is as good as mine." Bickslow was back way to soon to have gone all the way to the bar.
"What happened to dinner, Mr Innocent?"
"Just because I'm innocent doesn't mean I'm safe. We may have to get creative." Lucy raised a brow at Evergreen and they turned as one to look at the guild.
"Oh my Mavis."
"You said it, Lucy. I told you." The guild was a wreck. There were weapons and ice all along the other side of the rune barrier and scorch marks everywhere. Gray and Erza were sitting at their usual table glaring daggers and ice at where she sat. As she watched Natsu flung himself at the barrier spouting flame only to be bounced right off. She knew he was yelling, but she couldn't hear him, nor could she hear the sounds she knew his attack made. Lisanna was there when he hit the ground.
"Please stop... It won't do any good. You and ... Already tried everything. Just wait. She will come out eventually." Erza stood up seeing that Lucy had noticed them and began shouting. Oddly enough while she could hear Lisanna perfectly, barring the gaps in her speach, Erza's rant was silent.
"What on..." She stood up and brushed her fingertips over the purple runes, reading the details of Freed's enchantment aloud. "The bodies, magics, voices, names, and all things pertaining to those beings that are part of Team Natsu shall not pass this barrier." That explained the gaps in Lisanna's speach and why she hadn't heard Team Natsu show up and halfway destroy the guild while she sat with the Thunder Legion. "Freed..." He looked a little nervous when she glanced back at him. "You are an absolute genius. His shoulders relaxed just the faintest bit. " Mira!"
"Yes, Lucy?"
"Could one of you bring us some dinner up? We would really rather stay up here in peace for a while." She watched in pleased silence as her old team renewed their fit throwing and assaulted Freed's barrier anew.
"Sure thing! You want your usual shake with that?"
"Please. Is this thing putting strain on your magic, Freed? They are hitting it awefully hard."
"I can keep it up for a couple more hours and still have the magic to cast several more spells." She gave him her brightest smile.
"Good." She sighed in contentment as she settled back down beside Evergreen with her back to the chaos.
"Lucy... I- since your place is... I mean it sometimes gets... Overrun... Would you like to come stay with me for a while?"
"In Fairy Hills? Next door to Erza?"
"No! Gracious. I just bought a house actually, and I haven't got used to the quiet and the space yet. And Freed wrote a rune barrier for me and anchored it to a lacrima so only the Thunder Legion can come in my house without my permission. It would keep your- I mean Team Natsu out. Freed could adjust the runes to let you in."
"No need. Until further notice Blondie is officially part of the Thunder Legion. Gramps and I already changed the paperwork." The cries of panic from the guild behind Lucy said her old team was beyond unhappy to hear that. She smiled at her temporary new team.
"I would love to stay with you for a while, Evergreen." Even Laxus seemed pleased with her response.
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To be continued