~~LoLu~~

Chapter 17

~~LoLu~~

"Shona," Loke acknowledged, with a level of reserve that truthfully surprised Lucy.

She was tentatively encouraged by it, however, she couldn't deny that. I'll simply stay quiet and let him handle this... and watch just how he does it.

Unaware of how closely he was being scrutinized, the lion stared at the beautiful woman that had been revealed as one of Gaults' agents - and there was no denying she was absolutely gorgeous - his eyes narrowing just the tiniest bit. He didn't like the fact that she'd dismissed his mistress as though she were completely unimportant - it always offended him when someone did that. And with her overt sensuality and pushy, superior manner she reminded him of Karen – which was a definite turn-off.

That wasn't even mentioning that he was no longer in the market for any other woman besides his princess, anyway. She was what he wanted, and like a hunting lion fixed on his prey, he had no need nor room for distractions like Shona Seravien anymore.

So he gave a polite, rather aloof smile and continued, "It's nice to meet you." Then he turned deliberately to Leffler, who was watching his team member cynically, and spoke. "We've seen your boss, and gotten all the information he had. Do you have anything to update what he told us?"

Both agents stared at him in surprise, his standoffish manner with the woman clearly not expected by either. Leffler recovered first, looking on him with a tad more approval than he had to begin with, but Shona just looked more determined once she'd regained her equilibrium.

"So you're going to play hard to get, hm?" she laughed knowingly. "I'm not worried. Sooner or later you'll give, handsome. They always do. Well, almost," the woman admitted huskily, then rolled her eyes. "Not counting Leffler here, but I'm beginning to think he's just asexual."

"I simply have no attraction to overly used goods," the silver-haired mage sniffed immediately, then glanced at a so-far silent Lucy before returning his gaze to Shona, whose eyes were now spitting poison at him. "I much prefer someone with class, like Lady Heartfilia. Someone like you has nothing that I want."

Lucy blushed and peeked between the two uncertainly, while Loke's eyes narrowed even further, his stance tensing. While he definitely agreed with the agent, that the blonde's charms were much more attractive to anyone with any intelligence than the black-eyed woman's, it was rather obvious the man standing before them was quite drawn to his mistress, and he didn't like that at all.

But after a few seconds he relaxed and grinned inwardly with a smug sense of satisfaction as he realized that it wasn't likely the guy would get anywhere serious with the young woman that owned him, heart and soul. She was no longer human, and didn't live in this world anymore. It would be kind of hard to have a relationship with someone that lived on a separate plane of existence, where time moved much slower. They didn't even have any bonds such as he and Lucy had, as spirit and mistress – bonds that were now even tighter than they had been before. Leffler would be dead and gone within a year for them, while he and the blonde would live forever.

So he casually cut across the imminent argument between the man and Shona, prompting Leffler to answer his previous question. After one final, frosty glare at his partner, he stiffly returned his attention to the matter at hand.

"No. Everything is the same as what it was when we last reported to Gaults, which was yesterday morning."

"Then if that's the case, all agents - including you two - are to return to Garnet. Lucy and I will be taking it from here, and you'll only be in the way if you stick around."

Both Leffler and Shona frowned at that command.

"And what gives you the authority to give us orders?" the silver-haired man questioned tensely. "We don't work for you."

"The fact that we were called in because humans couldn't take care of the problem," Loke answered evenly. "There's no doubt that once we get inside and things start to unravel for Vashton and his cohorts, some of them are going to run. If they find any of you, you'll be facing off against people using a magic you can't fight. That's the exact reason we were asked to take this job, since Marionette can't harm us as seirei."

Leffler frowned at that, but was unable to deny it. "What did Gaults have to say about this, or did you even consult him?"

Finally Lucy, who hadn't spoken for several minutes while she watched Loke's reactions to Shona covertly, broke in. "We talked to him before heading here, and he agreed. We don't want any of you getting caught by something so dangerous." She looked away for a moment, her eyes troubled as she thought about what she'd been told of her own brush with that foul magic, and everything this whole situation had cost her. "Believe me, you don't want that, either."

At her strained statement the male agent looked sympathetic, although little Miss Seravien didn't even glance at Lucy, let alone with any understanding of what she'd been through, Loke noted cynically. She quite obviously cared for little but herself and her own wants – again, just like Karen. His burgeoning dislike flared higher even as she eyed him up like some kind of meal.

"We were briefed by Gaults on the basics of what happened to you," Leffler told Lucy solemnly. "I commiserate with you on the difficulties of the situation you have found yourself in because of what you were subjected to."

"Umm, thanks," the blonde replied, beginning to look a little shaky at the direction the discussion was taking. She just wasn't ready to pull the whole thing out at once and really look at it. It was still too soon.

That expression on her pretty face caused the lion to interrupt what there was of the conversation between the two. He didn't want her upset all over again, or thinking too much on said 'situation' at all, let alone at this particular time. She didn't need the pain, or the distraction from their mission it would cause.

"If that's all, you two should be heading out. Don't forget your other people in the field, either. We don't want anyone around this place when everything starts to go down."

"And what if some of those bastards do run - right towards town?" Shona asked him, far too flirtatiously for his liking – or Lucy's.

He exchanged a glance with his mistress, then replied, "We don't intend to let them get that far," grimly.

"Oh, and just you two are supposed to stop all the mages and Vashton by yourselves?" Leffler asked skeptically. "No offense, Lady Heartfilia," he murmured directly after.

She shook her head and sighed, "It's okay," with somewhat strained patience at the same time Leo growled, "We aren't the only seirei, you know," rather sarcastically.

"Oh?" the man returned coolly as he glanced around with heavy irony. "So where are these other spirits, then?"

Rapidly becoming irritated at his continued questioning of her partner - and his attitude towards him, as well - Lucy spoke up once more. "We'll call on them as needed," she said with an edge to her voice. "Now, if we could get on with it instead of sitting around sniping at each other, I'd be grateful. I just want to get this over with."

Immediately looking contrite, Loke nodded. "Of course, Princess. I'm sorry."

His apology was echoed by Leffler's, but he took it one step further, taking the blonde's hand and bowing over it, then kissing it – to the lion's major displeasure. "It is regrettable that we met under these complicated circumstances, Lady Heartfilia. Perhaps once this is all over we'll meet again."

Looking nothing so much as uncomfortable now, she only murmured, "Perhaps," in response, then gently freed her hand from the man's hold and glanced at Shona for a moment. "It was nice to meet you, Miss Seravien," she added politely - but untruthfully, if she were being strictly honest. She really didn't like the amount of hunger showing in the other woman's eyes as she watched Loke quite openly. It was a good thing they weren't having to actually work with her, or she was sure she'd end up choking on the aggravation the woman's single-minded pursuit of her lion would cause.

"Likewise," the female agent tossed off indifferently and just as falsely, her eyes still pinned to Leo. "And you, handsome... later," she purred seductively.

Lucy had to really try not to scowl at the woman.

At that point, Loke decided to be a little more blunt with the agent, since she didn't seem to want to take the easy let-down. "I doubt we'll meet again after this is over. Lucy and I will be returning to our world, and I don't know when we'll return. But when we do, it'll be to the guild, so there's no reason we would run into each other after that, as you aren't a member of Fairy Tail," he returned distantly and rather coolly.

Shona didn't look at all put out by his continuing brush-offs. She simply favored him with a vixenish smile. "You never know, Leo. I have the feeling we'll be seeing each other again. And when we do, you'll cave. For now though, I'll say my goodbyes."

And good riddance, too. Stars, I've never met a more persistent, heavy-handed woman. I'm so glad we won't have to see her again for long, he sighed to himself. They would have to turn over Vashton and the other mages to the agents, and she'd definitely be there. But that should be the last time, and with everything that would be going on during the exchange, she shouldn't have time for attempting to seduce him. He hoped. If she caused him to lose any ground with Lucy because she refused to accept that he didn't want her, though, he was going to have a fit with her. She'd end up wishing him to perdition, but he really couldn't care less if he tried.

It had been very clear throughout their short encounter that Leffler really didn't care too much for him, but apparently he disliked Shona far more; he couldn't quite hide the spiteful glee in his eyes at Loke's continuing rejection of her despite her refusal to accept it.

"Come along, Seravien," he ordered coolly before she could serve up any other come-ons, despite his amusement at the situation. "I'd like to get back to Garnet as soon as possible so I no longer have to be stuck out here with you."

"Likewise, Leffler," she spat as they vanished from sight, and both Loke and Lucy breathed sighs of relief once they were gone, then grinned at each other ruefully at the combined sound.

"Boy, am I glad that's over," the blonde chuckled, said relief lighting her features. She shook her head. "How does Gaults put up with it?" In reality, she sort of felt for Leffler a little bit – though she'd never admit it aloud – for being stuck with that woman, despite the fact that he'd made her feel uneasy with his compliments to her, and annoyed with his snarky attitude towards Loke. But between the two, she'd much rather deal with him than his partner, that was for sure.

Leo chuckled. "Dunno, but all I can say is I'm glad I'm not him," he returned wryly.

In the end Lucy was glad they'd met the two, though – it had given her a chance to see Loke directly interacting with another woman. And even better, it had been one who had been more than receptive to a dalliance with him, and open with it. His reaction to the outright offer had been all she could have hoped for, his non-interest in the more beautiful woman perfectly clear. That was probably the first time he'd ever turned down such a gorgeous woman, especially so emphatically, and it raised her hopes quite a bit.

Since they had some time to kill before they could head into the pit of vipers awaiting them, she decided to just ask Loke why he'd acted that way towards Shona and see where such a question got her. (It would be a while before all the agents surrounding The Ranch could get clear, and they wanted them good and gone before they and the other spirits moved in on the renegade mages housed there.)

"You didn't have to apologize earlier, you know."

Loke blinked. "What?" he queried blankly.

Lucy giggled at his obvious confusion as she chose a patch of grass to sit down on, and said, "Earlier, when I made the comment about wanting to get on with it, and the sniping at each other thing... I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about those two. I was beginning to get pretty aggravated with it-" she smiled at him and then looked down at the grass with a small blush, "-as well as how he was speaking to you."

The sentiment didn't surprise him too much; after all, way back when this had all begun, she'd gotten quite icy with her lawyer for speaking rudely to him. What did surprise him was the smile, blush, and her manner – which was shy and innocently sweet. She'd dropped her guard, which she'd always had up to some degree or other since they'd met – admittedly, that she'd had it up at all had been his fault, and he knew it. But was she finally ready to give him a chance and let him in? He couldn't help the excitement that surged up at the hopeful thought.

So he smiled softly in return and sat down across from her so he could see her face as they talked. "He was rather irritating, but I could deal with that. What I most disliked was that he was making you uncomfortable. To be honest, if I hadn't been so busy trying to fend Seravien off – and worried that doing so might offend you - I would have punched that guy with just a tiny bit more provocation." That was a rather telling admittance, and he wondered how she would respond.

He wasn't expecting what he did get, that was for sure. Lucy scowled and huffed, folding her arms across her chest and glaring at the grass at her feet. He watched her cautiously, wondering what had made her angry so suddenly. He hoped it wasn't something he'd said, though he couldn't think of anything in his words that would have caused this reaction.

"That woman," Lucy gritted her teeth, even thinking about Shona Seravien raising her ire. "Don't feel bad for wanting to punch Leffler, because I wanted to do the same to his partner," she owned up, then paused and looked up at him speculatively. "But to be honest... I'm surprised you were so cold to her. I mean, I kind of thought you'd like her as soon as we saw her. She's a beautiful woman, and she obviously liked you," she added a little sourly as she rolled her eyes.

Loke sighed ruefully, hearing the question – and hesitation - in her voice. Damn me and my womanizing. If I hadn't been such a player when we met, she might have opened up to me a lot sooner. If I could go back in time, I'd Regulus punch myself right in the face.

"I didn't like her the moment she opened her mouth," he finally chose to say. "She reminded me very much of Karen, for one thing, and you know how I feel about her. And I don't find women who are that... what's the word I'm looking for here, mmm... aggressive very attractive. Don't get me wrong, I don't want a doormat, but there's just a limit, and she pushed all of them. Mostly, though, I didn't like her for the way she treated you, as though you were completely unimportant. I tend to get very angry when people do that to you. It's insulting." He shook his head. "She may have a beautiful exterior, but the interior definitely doesn't match."

Eyes wide, Lucy stared at the handsome man whose copper locks were being set afire by the warming sunlight. He was so offended on my behalf? She was very surprised by that, so surprised that only one thing popped out of her mouth, despite all the questions piling up in the back of her throat.

"Oh."

Despite himself, Loke started laughing. "Is that all you have to say? Just... oh? Dear stars, Lucy, you are amazing. Even under the worst circumstances, you always manage to lighten my mood." He calmed himself, then looked at her and shook his head with a bright smile. "I'll say this, love – you aren't like her at all, you're much more beautiful, and the interior definitely matches the exterior. Why would any man with even an ounce of brains choose her over you?"

The young woman had no idea what to say to that confidence; in the end she blushed fiercely and denied it. "I'm not beautiful," she mumbled under her breath and looked down, wishing she could stop the red in her face from spreading. "I'm pretty enough, I suppose, but definitely not in her league." She wasn't quite sure what to make of his last statement, though, nor his scoff at hers. Did he mean that he'd... chosen her? As a... romantic interest? And that he really and truly thought she was just as beautiful as the other woman?

While her rather flustered (and hopeful) thoughts ran off in that direction, Loke glanced at the position of the sun, and estimated that they had no more than another half hour or so before they needed to make their way onto Vashton's compound. As time ran down to the coming confrontation, he found that he was becoming more and more reluctant to take his mistress into any sort of dangerous situation, her new immortality notwithstanding.

It was a bit silly, and he knew that. It didn't seem to matter, though. He grimaced, frustrated with himself and the entire situation.

"... Loke? Hey, Loke? Are you okay?"

He came back to himself to find a hand being waved in his face and an expression of concern on Lucy's finely-drawn features. How long had he been lost in dark thoughts? It couldn't have been more than a few minutes or so... He shook his head and shot her a belated smile.

"I'm fine, just thinking. Didn't mean to ignore you."

Looking relieved, if still a little concerned, the blonde sat back down and smiled prettily at him in return. "No, it's okay. I was just overreacting, I guess. I'm getting kinda nervous, you know? I feel like I'll be more hindrance than help." She flushed and turned her face away, unable to hold his gaze as she admitted to something she found shameful. "I don't even know what I can do now. I mean, how do I use my power as Eridanus to help you fight? There's been no time to really learn anything about being a celestial spirit, and now we're going into a huge battle, and I'm afraid that I'll fail you."

Fail me? Loke wondered blankly. I don't... is she really worried about something like that? He shook his head and reached over, brushing the back of his hand against her cheek.

"Lucy, fight the way you always have. Don't think of this as any different than before, because it isn't. And besides... everything Eridanus can do is hard-wired inside you now. Just like earlier, when you realized that you didn't really need our keys anymore, I think you'll find that what you want to know about your powers and skills will come to you as you need it."

That's... that's not good enough... how can he be so blasé about basically leaving this all to chance? How can he just... trust me like that? The thought of failing everyone, but most especially him, sat like a lead weight beneath her breast, and she shook her head, a troubled look in her eyes as she met his smiling ones. I wish I could be so sure.

But she didn't want to add to the worry she could see beneath the encouragement, worry that she knew was on her behalf. So she put on a weak smile and nodded at him, though she didn't say anything, not sure she could trust her voice not to wobble. She glanced at the position of the sun to give herself a moment, but dread only curled beneath her heart at what that look told her.

It was pretty much time to get on with things.

It seemed Loke was keeping as close a watch on time; before she could say anything he stood up and held out a hand to help her to her feet. She took it, shivering a little at the soft touch of his flesh against her own.

"Are you ready? It's about time, so you should go ahead and call Virgo so she has the chance to set the trap around the compound."

Lucy nodded but didn't say anything, and the lion smiled at her and sighed. Taking a chance, he tugged on her hand and pulled her into his embrace. He pressed her head to his chest and leaned his chin atop her crown, his feelings for her surging dangerously as she came into his arms unhesitatingly and wrapped her own around his waist. He tightened his hold on her and when she reciprocated again, his smile stretched into a grin, though she couldn't see it. Now he really couldn't wait for this mess to be over, because once it was, they were going to be having a long, very serious discussion about their future.

Their future together.

"No more doubts, love. It'll all work out, you'll see. I believe in you, and I believe in us. We're a great team! Vashton and his buddies won't know what hit them."

Again the blonde nodded without saying anything, her throat too choked up with hope and fear, love and uncertainty to really speak. After one final squeeze Loke released her, and she reluctantly stepped away, a small blush coloring her cheeks at the look he sent her.

"Go on, beautiful," he encouraged softly, and with a deeply drawn breath, and then a heavy release of all the air in her lungs as well as the fear in her heart, she grinned with determination and a raised, clenched fist.

"Well, here we go," she said. "First shot in this battle is about to be fired."

Loke winked at her, just so proud of his mistress that he almost felt as though his chest would burst. This was exactly why he believed in her so deeply. She was unconquerable – she never gave up, never let her doubts keep her down. She had an unbeatable will when it came right down to it; no matter how bad it got, she always fought back.

He watched with admiration as she murmured a few words under her breath and opened the gate between realms, Virgo sparkling into sight with a very small power surge, considering that she was a golden key, and thus usually took more power to summon.

At the virgin constellation's query, Lucy stepped back and motioned to Loke, letting him explain the circumstances and what they needed from her, and just that quick, the maiden began digging a narrow, rather deep trench around the property, covering it over as she went with whatever detritus was available to hide it.

Step one, underway. If any of those mages did try to get away, they wouldn't find it as easy as they would probably be expecting.

Now... on with the rest. The two exchanged solemn glances, then nodded and moved out as one.