A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who has followed, favorited, and reviewed this story so far. This is the first I've done of this kind and I had no idea how it would be received. Your positive reviews motivated me to keep going, and here we have the results. I hope you enjoy!
After grabbing a bite to eat, the trio checked into a hotel room for the night. Although he was discreet about it, Natsu carefully selected a hotel as far from the circus tents as was physically possible, necessitating a small trek off the beaten path as they found a small bed and breakfast just off the main drag, nestled within the trees. Not for the first time, Lucy found herself wishing they could have happened upon Quraie during some other time, when they weren't about to be facing clowns. She might have been able to enjoy the beauty of the place then…
The bed and breakfast was made like an extra large log cabin, and was partially hidden amongst the pine trees that surrounded the town. The trees created homes for all kinds of wildlife as squirrels chattered at them as they passed and birds chirped happily. It was late summer, so the air was still warm, but it was cooler in the trees; a crispness to the air that signified the higher altitude. Once they made it inside, Lucy gasped and grabbed Natsu's arm in her awe. Just as it looked from the outside, the inside walls were constructed from logs, casting the interior in a homey, earthy glow that matched the wooden floors. The sitting room housed a sectional that dominated the space in a U-shape before the fireplace, which was unlit. A large coffee table sat in the empty space afforded by the sectional and several decks of cards and board games were stacked on the small shelf below it. A TV was mounted to the wall above the mantel of the fireplace, but it was also off. Several other recliners and chairs were arranged in the corners of the room, end tables beside them. One wall was dedicated to books; a bookshelf built into the wall that went from the floor to the ceiling and it was completely filled with novels of every type. The entire room was softly lit with wall sconces that flickered, almost like they were lit with candles, but large standing lamps also stood beside the chairs for reading.
Adjoining the sitting room was the dining room; the table heavily built of solid oak and stained a dark espresso. It could sit twelve, each chair high backed with armrests and soft cushions. A swinging door separated the dining room from what Lucy could only assume was the kitchen. Just before the dining room, a grand piano sat, shining in the light and begging to be played. Oh my! Levy would LOVE this place!
Natsu had appraised the place much faster than Lucy; his eyes darting around to make sure no enemies were around, before searching for the owner. He had more important things on his mind than the appearance of the place they would be staying. Nonetheless, Lucy's pleasant gasp and her soft grip on his arm made him smile. At least she seemed to like it.
They had been inside just a few moments before an older woman with graying hair and glasses came through the swinging door and greeted them. She was short, nearly as small as Levy, with slightly squinted eyes and a shuffled gait. She smiled the moment she saw them, easily making them feel welcome as she wiped her hands on her flour-dusted apron. One sniff told Natsu she had been making a pie, and even though he had just eaten and they had a very important mission to focus on, he found himself swallowing as he was suddenly salivating from the pleasant scent.
"Hello! Welcome to The Wandering Pine. My name is Shina. How may I help you?" she greeted, stepping forward to shake their hands warmly.
Lucy immediately liked her. Although she hadn't met her grandparents, this woman felt like her grandmother – she radiated comfort, warmth, and caring. She felt like she could unload all her cares and concerns and receive sound advice in return if she asked, or just a listening ear otherwise. "We'd like a room, please," Lucy answered, not sure what would come out of Natsu's mouth given the sudden hungry look in his eyes.
"Just one?" Shina asked, one gray eyebrow rising slightly to peek above the silver rim of her glasses. There was no judgment in her voice, just a hint of humor as her green eyes – green like the pines surrounding her place – moved from her to Natsu and back again. The corners of her lips tugged up into a gentle smile.
Blood warmed Lucy's cheeks as she averted her eyes. She should have expected this… "Yes. But we'll take two beds if you've got them."
Natsu shot her a look out of the corner of his eye but remained silent. The only one to notice was Happy, who scarcely suppressed a giggle behind his little blue paws.
Completely unaware of the silent interaction between the two before her, Shina turned to move behind the reception counter in the far left corner of the room. "I'm afraid I don't have many rooms with two beds," she started, flipping through a book Lucy assumed to be her logbook. "I don't have that many rooms and to be honest they aren't that big…"
"But you can't beat the location!" Natsu finally spoke, not wanting to risk somehow losing their potential place to stay. He didn't understand what the big deal was. He shared a bed with Lucy all the time, why should this be any different? Besides, it was just for one night…
Shina smiled at him after that, the lines surrounding her eyes crinkling. "Well aren't you just the sweetest thing!"
Natsu scoffed, his eyes catching Lucy's as she shook her head at him. She was smiling at his comment, even if she did roll her eyes at him for it as well. Regardless, the look warmed his heart as she stepped closer to the reception counter Shina stood behind.
"Ah! Here we are! I've got room 205 available." She smiled up at them, looking up from the book with her glasses flashing. "It's just got the one bed, but it's a king so there's plenty of room."
"We'll take it." Natsu didn't hesitate. Lucy looked at him with wide eyes, pink dusting her cheeks once more as she pressed her lips tightly together; but she said nothing. Instead, she clasped her hands in front of her and shuffled her feet. When she heard Happy snicker, she glared at him with such venom he immediately stopped, rightfully fearing for his life.
Shina looked up at Natsu, her smile changing into something he had some trouble reading but didn't find discomforting regardless. Without further question, she handed him the key. "Breakfast is between six and nine. I try to keep something warm so you can have it whenever you choose to get up. Dinner is normally at seven, but with the circus tonight…"
Mention of the circus brought three sets of eyes straight to hers. "Are you going?" Natsu asked, doing his best to keep his voice calm and neutral. Lucy glanced at him out of the corner of her eye before searching Shina's gaze.
Shina shrugged. "I thought about it. Practically the whole town is going." She smiled, a mischievous glint entering her eyes that made Lucy realize she must have been quite the character when she was younger. "Besides, I honestly only have you two for guests, so I could get away with it!"
"What?!" Lucy interrupted. "But what about the rooms?"
Shina giggled and waved Lucy's concern off. "Those particular rooms happen to be under renovation right now. I'm sorry, Dear."
Natsu wanted to say something about the circus. They had enough people to worry about, he didn't want to add this sweet old woman to that list – but he also didn't want to worry her unnecessarily either. He chose to be resourceful instead. "Are you normally so empty this time of year?" Surprised by Natsu's question, Lucy looked at him with a raised brow. Like him, she also was concerned about Shina's safety and didn't want her at the circus if it could be avoided, but they couldn't make her stay behind…
The old woman's face fell, her glasses hiding her eyes as she looked at her hands, resting on top of the book in front of her. Her shoulders stooped slightly as she sighed. "Not normally, no. The entire mountain hasn't been having as many visitors as usual. At least, that's what I've been hearing from the traders. No one knows why."
We know why… Lucy looked at Natsu, her eyes wide with concern. He looked back, his brow furrowed with matching concern but also anger. "We're wizards from Fairy Tail, and we're actually here looking into that," he announced, turning back to the older woman before them. She stood up straighter at that, cocking her head to the side in her confusion. "We'll be going to the circus tonight, and it would be best if you stayed home with the doors locked."
Shina's mouth fell open, her face surprisingly young-looking in her surprise. "What?" Her eyes darted between the three of them. "W-wizards? D-do you suspect something is wrong with the circus?"
Relieved they were filling the woman in on the details, Lucy nodded. "Yes."
Happy finally spoke, his eyes displaying his fear. "It's been terrorizing several other towns."
"What about all these people?" Shina shrieked, her withered hands flying to her mouth.
Natsu held his hands up. "We'll make sure nothing happens to them." Lucy looked at him sharply from the corner of her eye. Of course, that's what they were going to try to do, but could he really promise that?!
Her hands shaking, Shina held her hands out to the three before her. "Thank you, thank you?" she inflected, looking pointedly at them since they never introduced themselves.
"Oh! I'm Lucy! And this is Natsu and Happy," Lucy quickly introduced them, earning a fresh smile. "Please, stay in and keep the doors locked until we return," Lucy repeated Natsu's earlier request as she took the old woman's hand. Natsu took her other one, Happy placing his hand on her shoulder.
Nodding, Shina squeezed their hands. "I will."
Separating, Natsu tossed the key into the air and snatched it, the tense moment making him uncomfortable. "Let's get ready, Luce!"
Lucy smiled, as always, relieved by Natsu's enthusiasm. "Right!"
Happy flew into the air above them. "Aye, Sir!"
The circus was scheduled to start just after dark, which allotted them nearly an hour to get ready before the show would begin. As they made their way to their room, the stairs creaking softly under their feet, Lucy tried to focus on anything else, other than what was going to be inside the circus tents. She focused on the pictures adorning the walls – the mountain landscapes that looked hand-painted and the ink print tracks of various animals that roamed the mountainsides. She focused on the soft scent of pine that seemed to permeate the building – whether it was emanating from the walls of from outside she couldn't be sure. She focused on Natsu and Happy's calming presence, Natsu's strength as reassuring as ever as he remained focused and calm (which was rare for him). None of it really helped, and by the time she got to the room, her stomach was flipping nervously and her heart was pounding.
Natsu set the pack down and turned to look at Lucy. He'd heard her heart picking up speed as they ascended the stairs and she was breathing as fast as she would after running. The acrid scent of fear came from her, the scent so harsh it made him want to crinkle his nose. It was worse because it was coming from Lucy – he hated the smell on Lucy. It contradicted the way she normally smelled, the way she should smell. She usually smelled like vanilla and strawberries, sometimes coconut, and sometimes there was a hint of citrus. Fear didn't smell like her, and most importantly, it didn't belong with her. He wanted to tell her, again, that they didn't have to do the job, that it wasn't too late. But he knew what her reaction to that would be – she'd told him as much. Even worse than that, he knew it would hurt her. Giving her the option to back out again was like saying he didn't think she was strong enough to handle it, which simply wasn't true. He knew she could handle it. He just didn't want to see her go through it…
Still trying to distract herself, Lucy scanned their room. As Shina said, it wasn't large, but it was comfortable and quaint. The bed was large (thankfully) and plush, with a fireplace on the opposite wall. The bathroom was just inside the door, and a large patio window was along the far wall leading onto a private balcony overlooking the woods. Two bedside tables flanked the bed, a small lamp on each. Otherwise two small sconces on either side of the fireplace and one next to the patio door were the only artificial sources of light. There was also a skylight, the glass too opaque to allow too much light in and wake them should they be sleeping, but enough to faintly light the room and no doubt cast a soft glow of moonlight at night. Under other circumstances, it could be considered a very romantic room…
"What do you think the chances are that there's a hot tub?" Natsu asked, turning away from Lucy to press his face against the patio window. He had to do something to get her mind off the circus.
Natsu's question was so random, Lucy laughed. "What?!"
He heard her, but acted like he wasn't paying attention. "There! Look!" He stepped back, pointing, with a toothy grin. "What do you say, Luce? Later tonight, we'll relax in the hot tub!"
Moving to join him at the window, Lucy carefully held her hands in front of her. His distraction had worked as she peered out the window and beyond the balcony. Sure enough, surrounded by carefully shaped rocks, was a large hot tub settled into the ground so that it looked like a natural hot spring. Even from their distance, she could see the water gently bubbling, the steam rising into the cooling air and calling her. Smiling, she turned to her partner. "Deal!"
Although it didn't seem possible, Natsu's grin widened, his fangs visible as he cocked his head to the side. His movement drew Lucy's eyes to the guild emblem on his shoulder, something she loved. She hadn't been able to see it when they first met, otherwise she wouldn't have made such an ass out of herself talking about magic like he had no idea what it was. Now, it was rare when it wasn't showing. Even if he wore sleeves, often the right sleeve was missing. She'd never admit it, but she enjoyed that little quirk of his. Whether it was because he was a fire dragon slayer and found too much clothes too hot or constrictive, or because he wanted to show off his guild emblem with how proud he was of Fairy Tail, she didn't know. All she knew was the view of his toned arm (or arms depending on what he was wearing) was something she would never complain about.
Regardless, the sight of the guild emblem now struck a different idea in her mind. "Natsu, we might need to disguise that." She indicated the emblem on his shoulder, her eyes serious.
Natsu looked where she pointed, pulling his arm away from his body as he did so. "What? Why?"
She waited until he looked at her, Happy joining him from over his shoulder skeptically. "Think about it. These people are magicians. They might have heard of us. We don't want them suspicious if they see it."
Natsu's brow furrowed and she'd swear his lips turned down in a pout. Happy was the one to point out the obvious. "But Lucy, then you've got to cover yours too!" he exclaimed, pointing at her right hand.
Lucy looked down and sighed, running her left thumb across the pink emblem on the back of her right hand. She'd thought of that too and imagined Natsu felt the same about covering his as she felt about covering hers. It felt… wrong. "I know," she breathed, then raised her eyes to Natsu's, the emerald depths of his eyes pulling her in. "But it won't be for long." She wasn't sure who she was reassuring by saying that.
With a nod of his head in agreement, Lucy called on Virgo to bring them some clothes to wear as a disguise. Although at first Natsu tried to argue, Lucy insisted he cover his hair – salmon-colored locks tended to stand out. It was as she was situating the bandana over his head, carefully tucking as much of his hair under it as she could that he grunted, "You're being a little paranoid."
Still holding onto the bandana, Lucy leaned forward to peer at him from over his shoulder. They had both already changed, Lucy in a long green dress that came down to her knees. Its pattern was similar to the Celestial Spirit dress she wore when they partied with her spirits – resembling either fish or dragon scales depending on how you wanted to look at it. The halter-top accentuated her bust without showing too much cleavage and was embellished with a light blue bow. Most of her back was exposed, necessitating the use of a shawl, which was a matching color of light blue. Gloves of the same color would come halfway up her arms, easily concealing her guild emblem as well as aiding in keeping her warm. Her hair was pulled back into a different style than she usually wore it – a messy bun high on the back of her head with pieces framing her face. Her keys were strapped to her thigh, beneath the dress, using a special garter-like belt Virgo had fashioned for her. Putting the thing on had earned her an interesting look from Natsu… Natsu was wearing dark green pants – something she felt very weird seeing him in – and an opened black button-up shirt with a white shirt underneath. The bottom shirt was tight, hugging his toned chest and abdomen in a way that drew the eyes, forcing Lucy to concentrate on not staring, especially when she leaned over his shoulder and was presented with such an easy view. Little did she know he was facing the same issue with the neckline of her dress, her chest level with his eyes. "You can thank me later."
Natsu narrowed his eyes as he looked up at her, heat coming through in his gaze as he focused on meeting her brown orbs head on and not looking elsewhere. Her fingers held the bandana, but also his hair and could easily pull his head wherever she wanted should the urge arise. He wanted to say something smart back, but any retort he might have died on his tongue. He knew he could say or do something to aggravate her and successfully keep her mind further off the circus, but it wasn't worth the anger she would also experience. Besides, the sun was dangerously low on the horizon. They needed to get moving… Snorting, he turned his head away, ignoring the tug on his hair as he did so. "Whenever you're done playing dress up…"
Lucy stood up straight and looked up, out the patio window, realizing where Natsu's gaze had flickered. "Shit," she whispered.
Her curse drew his attention and he reached up to squeeze her arm. "It'll be fine," he murmured, keeping his eyes forward in an attempt to keep his face from growing warm.
His touch on her arm was gentle, warm, and firm. He lingered, gripping her arm until he felt the tension drain out of her before sliding his hand away. His rough fingertips grazed her soft skin as they left and made her shiver and slip her bottom lip between her teeth. However, it gave her the necessary focus to complete her task, and she finished organizing Natsu's hair and successfully tied the black bandana in place a moment later. Stepping back with a satisfied sigh, she spread her arms with a delicate smile. "Done! I wish everyone could see you now!"
Happy snickered, reaching into his pack and retrieving a photography lacrima. "I've got that covered!"
"Happy!" Natsu cried.
"Where did you get that?" Lucy asked.
Happy simply grinned, messing with some settings on the lacrima before flying between them. Natsu quickly threw his arm over Lucy's shoulder, pulling her to his side with a grin while she looked up at him with parted lips and wide, confused eyes. "Smile, Luce!" he cheered, turning to look at the lacrima and giving her a gentle squeeze.
Her cheeks burning, Lucy smiled and looked toward the lacrima just in time for the flash.
They made their way to the circus tents just before dark, arriving at the same time as many of the other guests. Happy had flown to purchase their tickets while they got dressed, and now Natsu held onto them, flapping them against his hand as he looked around. Two lines had formed outside the "big top". One line was for those who still needed to purchase tickets and was moving slower. The other was the line they were in, for those who had already paid for their tickets, and was moving much faster. Regardless, as they were waiting, none of them were idle, as their eyes continually scanned the crowd. It was relatively easy to pick out who was working the event versus enjoying it, but the sheer number of circus-folk "working" outside of the tents made Lucy uneasy.
"Looks like heavy security," she whispered so quietly no one but Natsu and Happy could hear.
Natsu nodded, his eyes on the burly men guarding the entrance. While they smiled and appeared pleasant, he could see the muscles bulging when they moved, and anyone who looked long enough could tell the smiles did not reach their eyes. "Makes me wonder how many they got inside," he murmured back, glancing in her direction.
Lucy was standing beside him – close but not close enough to touch. She nodded in response to his statement without saying anything. Happy hovered very close over her shoulder, his tail brushing her arm on occasion in a show of support. She was jumpy and didn't want to be touched otherwise. He didn't need to touch her to figure that out, but she seemed to appreciate his small show of encouragement otherwise. "It looks like the whole town is here."
Pulling his eyes from his partner, Natsu nodded. They were nearing the ticket agent and he smacked the tickets against his knuckles again. Being patient was so aggravating! It was hard not to tap his foot, but he tried, attempting to avoid any unwanted attention. No one else in line seemed flustered. Happy was the one to point out, "I don't see anyone coming in or out of the main tent, so either they are all already inside or they really don't want to be seen."
"I'm going to go with the second option," Lucy grumbled, her voice surprisingly harsh. "They probably don't want anyone to know how many of them there really are."
It was their turn to turn in their tickets, Natsu handing them over quickly and without ceremony. The guard took the three tickets and looked them over a moment, before looking at the Fairy Tail trio before him. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Natsu and Lucy slightly longer than he'd looked at anyone else – just long enough to make Lucy uncomfortable and take a small step closer to Natsu, who bristled inwardly at the unspoken threat before them. Little magical power emanated from him, but it was enough that he might be able to sense theirs. Thankfully, the guard didn't notice, and instead ripped the stub off the end of the tickets and handed them back. "Enjoy the show! Bring the stubs back tomorrow night for your free entry!"
Something in the man's tone didn't sit well with Natsu. Hell, the man's face didn't sit well with him. Not to mention, he clearly made Lucy uncomfortable. And the whole point of the second night is to terrorize everyone… Rather than make a scene, he said nothing and nodded, turning to lead the way inside.
The moment they stepped inside the flaps in the tent, the scent of the air changed. Not only did Lucy's scent change – the scent of fear clinging to her once more – but the entire atmosphere within the tent was different. When he turned to look at her, she stood rooted in place, her hands curled into tight fists at her sides, determined. Her eyes were wide as she looked around them, clearly searching for any signs of her deepest fear, but the unknown had her equally unnerved.
Before Natsu would proceed any further inside, he silently took Lucy's hand, squeezing it gently in his show of support. She looked up at him, startled, before she gently squeezed back, a small smile gracing her lips as her heart picked up its pace. Only then did he turn and lead the small group to find some seats.
As Natsu led them to find seating, Lucy's eyes fell to their joined hands. He'd grabbed her right hand – the hand he always seemed to grab when he had to, ever since the incident at the Grand Magic Games with her future self. It had taken her a while to figure it out, and actually Erza had pointed out the difference (she was ever the observant one), but now that she knew, she couldn't help but be touched by it. Even if she didn't completely understand why, she knew there was a reason for it or he wouldn't do it so consistently. Even now, the gentle way he took her hand and the not-so-subtle ways he kept trying to distract her from her source of fear, made her heart warm and constrict pleasantly. Natsu could be rash, stubborn, and pig-headed, sure, but he could also be the kindest and sweetest person she knew.
After a few moments, Natsu found seating for them about halfway up the stadium-style seats – close enough to easily observe the inner circle but far enough away to avoid detection. "Happy, you want to take a quick flight?" Natsu whispered, leaning close to the Exceed so no one would hear. He'd also chosen a rather barren part of the tent space, hoping their relative isolation might keep their true motives hidden – if it would stay that way.
His face grim, Happy nodded before taking to the air above them. Although he wanted to make the flight fast – zipping around the tent for reconnaissance, he did his best to keep the pace leisurely in an effort to avoid drawing undue attention to himself. Below, he could see Natsu and Lucy casually looking around before taking their seats, their heads tilted toward each other as they spoke quietly amongst themselves. From his elevated height, Happy could easily see the two front entrances to the tent, townspeople still filing in with excited smiles and looks of wonder on their faces as they looked around. Music began to fill the air, pumped into the tent through the large speakers situated on the ground of the arena. A few of the performers entered through a discrete entrance at the back – the opposite side from where the patrons were entering. They entered carrying supplies – coiled ropes and a whip, a large barrel, mirrors, equipment for horses, and some other items he couldn't identify. Then more performers entered, walking seductively, cartwheeling, or flipping across the sand-covered ground. The people in the tent began exclaiming excitedly, pointing and gasping, their hands to their mouths. Happy's eyes narrowed as he tried to look closer.
While several of the performers took up positions along the circle, encouraging the spectators to take their seats quickly, others were making last minute preparations. The remaining performers, dressed in tight white outfits that left little to the imagination, continued their acrobatics in the center, providing some entertainment while the final stragglers made their way inside. As the excitement within the tent reached a new level, Happy quickly turned and headed back to Lucy's side. He was nearing his friends when he noticed men and women, clearly with the circus, stationed periodically throughout the stadium-style seating. Although they tried to blend in, their military-like posture and fierce attentiveness made them stand out as their eyes roamed the crowd. What are they looking for?
"See anything?" Lucy whispered, her hands clasped tightly together in her lap and pressed between her thighs.
Happy shrugged, leaning forward so he could see Natsu around Lucy. They had agreed to flank her earlier. "Just the back entrance where they were bringing stuff in." He lowered his voice and leaned closer, practically crawling into Lucy's lap. "And they have guards throughout the seats, just watching." Lucy gasped and Natsu's brows drew down. "They look serious."
"What would they be doing that for?" Lucy whispered, turning to look at Natsu.
Natsu's eyes were distant as he wondered the same thing. They still had no idea how many people were involved with the circus… "We better be careful," he whispered right back, his gaze lingering on Lucy before looking back at Happy. "Thanks, Happy."
Happy nodded just as the lights dimmed, the music getting louder as the last of the show goers took their seats. Three sets of eyes were drawn to the middle of the arena, where a thick smoke was being pumped along the ground, partially concealing the performers that had been down there. They had stopped moving, dropping to one knee and bowing low, as though addressing royalty. The smoke thickened, and Lucy pressed her knees together tighter, squeezing her hands between them in nervous anticipation for what could be coming through the smoke.
They didn't have to wait long, as the heavy music reached a resounding crescendo and a lone figure could be seen making their way through the smoke – at first appearing as just a shadow. Every person in attendance was leaning forward, their collective breath held, as the figure raised their arms up to the sides and turned in a circle before finally becoming visible out of the smoke.
"Hello!" the man cried, holding a microphone up in one hand to his smiling lips. "And welcome!" Cheers erupted, although he had scarcely said a thing. Natsu, Lucy, and Happy didn't react beyond searching the man's face, trying to decipher if they recognized him. Although he had dark blue hair held back in a high ponytail and what appeared to be eyes as red as Gajeel's, there was nothing else distinguishing about him. He was tall and thin; wearing boots that came up to his knees, blue pants that practically matched his hair, a white shirt, and a black long-tailed jacket. His smile appeared genuine, but something about the way his eyes flashed made Lucy shiver. "My name is Estobar, and you might say I run this show." He paused, flashing a smile that no doubt usually made women swoon as he turned in a full circle so he could address everyone in attendance. "We've got a packed show planned for y'all tonight, so I hope you are ready for some fun!" More screams and cheers erupted from around them. "But first!" he paused, "Let's kick this off with a bang!" He extended his right hand, the hand not holding the microphone, with his palm facing up. Not a moment later, brilliant sparks shot from his palm and up toward the top of the tent, exploding into balls of light and color like fireworks that quickly rained down harmlessly among the spectators.
The mini explosions made Lucy jump, her nerves already on edge. She pulled her hands from between her thighs, her fingers curled into fists as her heart jumped into her throat. Fireworks?!
Natsu felt Lucy jump beside him as well as heard her sharp intake of breath. Her heart was pounding and he could only guess what had her suddenly so freaked out. Not sure how she would react, he reached over without looking at her, his own heart picking up speed at what he was about to do, and squeezed her hand. "It's all right, Luce," he whispered, his voice lost in the 'Ooohs and aaahs' resounding from the stands as Estobar turned to make way for the first act.
Natsu's rough but gentle hand on her own immediately settled Lucy's racing heart, and she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye as her cheeks immediately warmed. She smiled softly at him, squeezing his hand gently in return, and was filled with immeasurable relief when he didn't release her. Although he wasn't looking at her, his eyes trained on the circular arena in front of them, his hand tethered them together and kept her grounded, lending her his presence and his strength just when she needed it most. "Thank you, Natsu," she breathed, so softly even Happy couldn't hear her, as her eyes returned to the arena before them and the oncoming act. Natsu heard her, and he simply squeezed her hand once more in acknowledgement, a soft smile playing with his lips.
The act immediately following Estobar was like a warm up. Some acrobats rode around on the backs of very large, white horses, balancing themselves in impossible positions as the horses cantered around the arena. The smallest woman was a contortionist, able to bend herself backwards and brace her forearms on the horses rump with her feet still planted before lifting them from the horse's bark, her own back bent at an impossible angle with her legs straight and her feet along either side of the horse's neck. The other rider stood atop the back of the horse on only one foot, holding the other leg straight up along her head in a split that would be hard to do on solid ground, let alone the moving surface of a horse. When she was done with that, she leaned forward and planted both hands on the horse's shoulders, performing a flawless handstand, despite her moving base. After a few trips around the arena, both riders stood on the backs of their horses, and when the horses crossed paths, they jumped from horse to horse or tossed knives to each other, causing the audience to gasp each time the blade was in the air.
They left the arena nearly as soon as they arrived and were immediately replaced by a man in a tux with slicked back white hair. He walked with a purpose, his back straight and tall, as he retrieved the whip that had been shoved into the ground by the crew earlier. Once it was in his hand, he cracked it above his head, making Natsu grind his teeth. As if on cue, a lion, a tiger, and a bear came forth from the back entrance, each led on a thick chain attached to a wide collar. Mini platforms were set up as the animals were paraded around the circle, the man with the whip following them with narrowed eyes until they were situated on top of the platforms. Once they were all in position, their chains were removed and his assistants left. Estobar reappeared a moment later.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to introduce our very own beast tamer, Linkin!" The crowd went wild except for the trio from Fairy Tail. "Linkin has been working with these three since they were cubs, raising them together. He eats with them and even sleeps with them, so he trusts them with his life."
"Then why were they led out on chains?" Natsu grumbled, earning him a sharp look from Lucy.
"He will show you just how much trust and training he has put into these beasts now. But please, do not attempt any of what you are about to see at home."
Without further ado, Linkin turned to the tiger first, which happened to be bigger than the male lion, and cracked the whip over its head. The tiger didn't so much as flinch, but instead sat primly on its haunches, its amber eyes fixed on the trainer before it. When Linkin raised his right hand, the tiger raised its left paw. When Linken raised his left hand, the tiger then raised its right, so that both front feet were in the air and it was in the perfect begging posture. Linkin uttered a low whistle, and the tiger tossed its head back, uttering a low growl before placing its feet back down with a flick of its tail. Next, Linkin cracked the whip over the head of the lion, who had been watching the tiger. His attention was immediately drawn to the trainer, but Natsu could see its eyes were fixated on the whip in its master's hand. This time, Linkin moved one hand palm-down, toward the ground and the lion immediately laid down, its tail and front feet dangling off the edges of the platform.
When Linkin spoke for the first time, uttering a quiet, "Speak," Lucy was shocked by the gentleness of his voice that seemed to reverberate through her soul. Even Happy appeared afflicted, his eyes wide and shining with stars. The three beasts in the arena had eyes only for their master, but the lion was quick to follow his command and threw his head back, closing his eyes, and loosing a roar that made the hair stand up on the back of her neck.
The crowd went wild, whooping and clapping at Linkin's show of control. He bowed politely, his eyes still on his beasts, and clicked his tongue. This apparently released the lion, for he sat up into a more comfortable position, his tail sweeping back and forth. Linkin then moved on to the bear.
The bear was the largest of the three, and perhaps the most formidable in appearance. Standing well over a foot taller than the lion and the tiger, with a large hump at the shoulders, and feet as big as one's head, it was intimidating. Its platform was the largest, but still creaked under the animal's weight as it shifted periodically, its eyes constantly following the movements of its master. Linkin moved to stand before it, his eyes boring into those of the bear, and for a moment all was dead silent. Then the bear rumbled, a sound emanating from deep within its throat as it shifted its weight anxiously. Linkin immediately cracked the whip above its head.
"This here is Bruce. Bruce has been Linkin's most challenging yet," Estobar explained, looking at the bear with a smile, "as you may have noticed." The crowd chuckled with an edge of nervousness to it. "Linkin found Bruce abandoned in a ditch as a cub, nearly dead…"
"He's lying," Natsu ground out, his eyes flashing with barely hidden rage.
Lucy turned to look at him. "What? How? How can you tell?"
"It's in his voice." His lip curled up in disgust. "And the bear." His eyes found Happy's. "If he'd rescued that bear, it wouldn't have that look in its eye."
Sucking in a breath, Lucy turned back to the spectacle before her, paying closer attention to the bear. Not sure what she was even looking for, she watched how the bear shifted under Linkin's gaze, and how his lip curled much like Natsus' as the whip cracked above his head. "You think… You think it will attack?"
Natsu snorted. "He wouldn't risk performing with it if that were a risk."
Swallowing, Lucy found herself squeezing Natsu's hand without realizing it, her body tensing for an expected altercation.
Linkin whistled again, a longer, more drawn out whistle; and this time the bear jumped down off the platform with a deep grunt and walked toward his master with lumbering steps. His head swung lazily back and forth as he approached, its massive paws creating dust clouds of sand in his wake. The trainer held his position and lifted up both his arms, flicking his fingers toward the sky as he did so. Bruce immediately stopped, throwing himself back onto his hind legs, standing well over eight feet tall. "Speak," Linkin muttered.
Bruce spoke, releasing a roar that made Natsu cringe with its deafening volume. Even Lucy grimaced, turning slightly away from the bear in the process. Many in the audience were doing the same.
Even while the roar was still echoing in their ears, Linkin began taking steps back, Bruce following while still on his hind legs. This lasted for only a few steps before he fell forward, now on all fours. Linkin smirked – the first time he'd shown any emotion – and turned slightly to the side, flicking his whip so that it cracked just to the left of Bruce. He flinched and moved forward, charging his master with eerie silence. Estobar remained quiet as he watched – as did the audience. Linkin waited until Bruce was nearly upon him before he fully turned to the side and jumped, lithely leaping over his lumbering beast and cracking the whip above his head as he came to land on his feet behind the animal.
"Bruce!" he shouted. Although his voice was loud, there was little emotion in it. Upon hearing its name, Bruce stopped and turned, casting wary eyes on his master for a moment before looking up at his comrades – the lion and tiger still sitting on their platforms. They were watching avidly, with tails flicking side-to-side and their ears pressed forward. Bruce chuffed, his flews puffing as he did so, and suddenly the lion and tiger also sprung into motion.
"I-is this part of the show?!" several people in the crowd cried. Many parents grabbed their children protectively.
"What is this?" Lucy whispered, her heart racing. She wasn't scared for Linkin – he seemed like an ass. She was more concerned about what might become of the poor animals he "trained".
"I don't like it," Natsu growled.
"Aye," Happy whimpered.
Estobar had retreated to high ground, still keeping his mouth shut, as the lion, tiger, and bear surrounded their master. They were eerily silent as they crept forward, crouched low and ready to pounce. Linkin didn't appear the least bit concerned as he turned to look at each of them, his eyes narrowed and serious. His lips were moving as though he was talking, but no one could hear him. Not even Natsu could make out exactly what he was saying. It wasn't until the three animals crouched low, preparing to lunge, that he moved. With a shout, he launched himself into the air, a brilliant white light coming from the whip he cracked toward his beasts as he flipped over and away from them. The light surrounded the three, and they let loose wild cries before whirling to where he landed.
Linkin's entire demeanor changed. The moment his feet landed, he snapped his fingers above his head, drawing the attention of his animals once more. Before the light had even completely died down from around him, his beasts were upon him, surrounding him entirely and obscuring him from sight in a flurry of jaws and paws. Snarls and growls ripped across the tent as more than one person screamed in horror. Ordinarily, Team Natsu would have jumped into action, but Natsu knew better and held his ground. The whip sounded again, shooting up from between the faces of the three would-be-maulers, and illuminating the entire tent in the same brilliant white light. It was so bright, many had to look away or shield their eyes with their hands. Linkin appeared a moment later, launching into the sky with strength and speed that was reminiscent of the strongest fighters in Fairy Tail. His smile was wide as he swung the whip around his head before cracking it again, the sound bringing goose bumps to Lucy's skin. When the light finally died down, the chains had reappeared on the beasts and they were calmed once more.
"What?!" Lucy and Natsu cried out at the same time, their eyes wide in shock.
"Guess we found one of the wizards," Natsu grumbled, his free hand curling into a fist. There was definitely something off about Linkin.
Grinning, Estobar came down from his place of safety while Linkin picked up the chains for his "pets". "Well, there you have it! Sometimes they misbehave! Good thing Linkin is good with magic, am I right?!" The crowd went wild, cheering and clapping and whistling while Linkin held the chains up high and bowed dramatically before turning to exit. "Would you like to see some more?" It didn't seem possible, but the crowd got even rowdier. "We'll need a volunteer!"
Lucy's mouth went dry. Out of everyone, it made the most sense for one of them to volunteer – they would be the safest. But would that give them away?
"Luce," Natsu started, reading her thoughts clearly from the drawn look on her face.
Lucy's eyes rose to his. Not for the first time, his emerald gaze drew her in, comforting her in the stark concern reflected from their depths and from Natsu's mere presence. "We should do it, Natsu," she breathed.
"You don't know what he's asking for," he immediately argued.
Her eyebrow rose. "Do you?" He frowned. "We know nothing sketchy is supposed to happen tonight. It's our chance to learn something without risk." Or so she hoped.
"I don't like it." His eyes fell to where their hands were still joined. He'd forgotten he was still holding onto her. How long had they been like this? He couldn't remember, but he knew he didn't want to let her go now. Around them, a few hesitant volunteers had raised their hands – among them many young kids eagerly waving their hands despite their parents' disapproving faces.
"For this next act, we'll need a brave volunteer," Estobar emphasized, his red eyes flashing. "And while I try not to discriminate," he smiled and turned to look over his shoulder at the performers entering behind him, "these guys do prefer a pretty young lady."
Natsu's teeth audibly gnashed together as his eyes snapped to Lucy's. "Luce," he started, his hand on hers tightening; but she was already raising her hand. Shit!
Lucy's hand was trembling slightly as she raised it, her eyes ever wary for any sign of what she feared most. Not seeing any sign of them, at least for now, she figured it was her best shot. Natsu couldn't be the volunteer – Estobar had all but said as much himself. Her hand was no sooner up than Estobar zeroed in on her. "I think we have a winner!" he shouted as he pointed at her. "Young lady in the green and blue, please join us!"
Loosing her hand from Natsu's, Lucy couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze, even though she could feel it burning into her back. "I'm sorry, Natsu," she breathed as she rose to her feet and made her way to the arena.
A/N: Well, this story is turning into something longer than I originally thought it would be, which I hope isn't a bad thing. I'm still creating some of the atmosphere before we get to the serious stuff... but that's definitely coming soon. I hope you enjoy the update and I didn't butcher the circus - I can't remember the last time I've been to one (if ever) and I honestly don't support them so that may come across in how things are presented, but I'll try to keep it focused on how things need to be in relation to the story & not how I feel about them. As always, comments and reviews are most welcome! Thank you for reading!