Finally a new chapter! I most say this one was one of the most annoying and hard chapter to write till now. That added to my busy life and here we're. Almost a year since I last updated. Sorry for that!
Anyway... Thank you all for your reviews!
And as always sorry for the bad grammar and such! Hope you enjoy!
Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail and I'm just playing with the characters.
A group of three made their way down the road. In front was a tall, but slender guy with a big cardboard box in his arms and six wooden totems floating around his head. There was this certain type of lightness in his steps that indicated that he was in a very good mood. It wouldn't have surprised anyone, if he had started to whistle some overly happy tune suddenly.
Behind the tall guy walked a shorter man and a woman. The two of them were staring their companion with wary eyes. It wasn't rare to see him so worry free, because that was what his character mostly was. Worry free clown, who enjoyed annoying people. That's why, if it had been on any other occasion, they would have simply ignored the guy. But since this wasn't 'any other occasion', they couldn't help but give their friend a funny if not worried look.
The woman of the trio flapped the fan in her hand open and covered her mouth with it as she leaned a bit closer to the shorter man walking beside her. "Freed," She started, getting the man's attention. "Is everything alright with Bickslow? Usually he would be sulking and kicking stones around after such a big fight with Laxus." She was sincerely concerned for their team mate's sanity, or what was left of it anyway.
Freed glanced at Evergreen, then returned his eyes to Bickslow. "...good question." He spoke after a short while. He had tried to come up with an answer to the exact same question for a while now. He didn't want to think about the possibility of Bickslow losing his mind, but since the guy had been a borderline case from the moment they met seeing him loose it for good shouldn't be too surprising. However, most likely - and hopefully - there was a much more logical reason for their team mate's odd behavior.
"Oh yeah!" Bickslow suddenly exclaimed as in remembering something. Completely oblivious to his two friends' whispers, he spun around and continued to walk backwards. "Guess who I met on my way to the shop?" He asked tongue hanging out of his mouth. 'Guess, guess' repeated his totems after him.
"Lucy!" He announced, not really giving any time for Freed and Evergreen to answer. 'Lucy, Lucy' his totems swirled exited around him.
Well, that explains it. Freed thought to himself. Their friend hadn't gone completely mad, he had just met his new favorite person. A small, almost unnoticeable smile visited his lips. He had to admit that Lucy was rather charming person. Not only was she well mannered, but well educated too. Those kind of people were in rare these days. And yet he had still acted so poorly toward her. Freed rarely regretted his choices, but drawing his sword and placing it against her neck yesterday was one of them.
Noticing that Freed wasn't going to say anything, being deep in thoughts, Evergreen closed her fan and instead asked herself. "Lucy? Why?" She didn't what to know why they met - because that was obviously by coincidence - but why had the girl been out and about so early. Had Laxus ended up kicking her out of the house, too? Or had the girl left willingly herself?
Bickslow knowing his team mate well knew immediately what she meant. "She was out buying some be- stuff." Better keep the beer-thing secret. "Anyway. She saved my ass big time. If not for her, I probably would never have found that shop. I'm still amazed that she was able to make even that much out of the map you gave me, Freed." He slide his visor hidden gaze at the man. "Dude, you seriously gotta upgrade your map drawing skills. One would get lost on their own backyard with those modern arts of yours." He cackled tongue out. And was that Evergreen's suppressed laugh he heard?
The corners of Freed's mouth turned upside down as his expression soured. "There is nothing wrong with my maps." He stated confidently. If there really had been a problem, it must have laid in something else than his map. He admits that his artistic skills aren't topnotch. But to say to that his maps were unreadable was just insulting. Just when he was about to say something more back to the insolent team mate of his, he felt a touch on his shoulder.
Evergreen gave Freed couple of comforting pats. "I'm sorry, Freed, but for once Bickslow isn't driveling. Your maps are nicely put horrible." She had hard time keeping her giggles at bay as she spoke. 'One could get lost on their own backyard'. Bickslow really nailed it this time.
Freed wrinkled his nose at the brunette. Not only Bickslow, but Evergreen too? Now he was seriously offended. He had done an enormous amount of work to find that thing in Bickslow's arms and to get it into Magnolia. And it wasn't just that one box. No. There was 47 more waiting them at the shop. This one was only a sample they were bringing to show Laxus - to prove to their leader that they weren't useless. He had done all this, and these two still had the audacity to mock him. Unbelievable.
Huffing annoyed and insulted, Freed picked up his speed and walked to the front of their small group. As he passed Bickslow, he flashed the guy a nasty glare. "Walk properly before you fall and brake that." He gave the box in the man's arm a meaningful glance. It wasn't only a very expensive but also a valuable item.
Cackling some more at the irritated Freed, Bickslow did as told and spun back facing forward. As he did so, the smile on his face brightened up even more. There, only couple house away, stood their leader's house.
The trio reached the house in no time and with the key Laxus had given them Freed lead them inside. Or he would have, if not for the clown of the team that almost pushed him over, while rushing inside past him. "Sup!" Bickslow shouted exited as his shoes were kicked in the corner. He couldn't have been more oblivious to the glare Freed was giving him.
With big grin splitting his face in half, Bickslow marched in to the living room expecting to find Lucy there. And so he did, but not in the manner he had expected. Frozen mid-step, Bickslow had to really take in what he was seeing.
There on the sofa, tangled with the sheets, was not only Lucy, but their dear leader too. While Lucy laid her back against the sofa with watery eyes, Laxus was on top of her, both hands holding the girl down and her legs around his waist. And as if that hadn't been bad enough, both blondes were short on breath, hairs messed up and as a cherry on top, Boss-man was missing a shirt.
The feeling that he had walked into something he wasn't supposed to see grew stronger with every second.
Laxus sat by his kitchen table with a dark expression and a bag of ice over his private parts. Putting some ice on his balls was the only idea that came to his mind, when he tried to think away to ease the burning pain between his legs. Cooling down an injury was such a common thing as a first-aid, so why wouldn't it work this time too? Thou... He was starting to have some doubts about the method. Not only were his privates still stinging like recently violated, but it felt like, if he kept the ice bag on his balls even a minute longer, his jewels would shrink out of existence.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, Laxus let out a displeased sound. He didn't remember the exact time he had risen from the breakfast table, but he estimated it was an hour or so ago. Since he had been sitting here almost half an hour now, it meant that he must have spent at least another half an hour on his living room's floor curled up in pain and forced to listen the disgustingly satisfied snoring of the blonde ball destroyer. It had been pure torture. Tortured that still continued. Without away to shut down his hearing, he was forced to listen the girl's happy snoring no matter which room he was in.
Laxus couldn't count anymore how many times he had considered to strike the sleeping beauty with a lightning bolt. The only thought that had kept him from doing so was the fact that it wouldn't give him enough satisfaction. No. To cool down this fury raging inside of him, he needed something worse to be done to the princess. Something that would liberate him from this overwhelming feeling of humiliation.
Yesterday had been humiliating enough, but he could have lived with it. Actually, he had been mostly impressed by the kick the princess had given him. Even if it was just a fluke - even he would have moments of weakness, when staring down at an ass that fie. A simple little flick to remind the girl about the difference between them would have been enough as an revenge. It would have been like telling the girl the reason why a fluke was called 'a fluke'.
But the this happened! Laxus could hear the ice cling against each other as his grip on the bag tightened. He was literally seeing red right now. To get kicked on the chin was one thing. To get punched on the fucking balls... It was unacceptable! Getting his jewels crushed was something that had never happened - he didn't count the time, when he was training his balance on a wooden pole as a brat and managed to fall down, the pole hitting right between his little legs - and it was something that should never have happened.
The fact that his black chin and blue balls were caused by the same person made things even worse. That this said person was no other than the daddy's little princess, who was happily snoozing off on his sofa right now didn't help either. Not only had his pride being damaged beyond repair, but it was an insult to his skills that someone like her, born with a silver spoon in her mouth, would be able to strike through his defense, not only once but twice. He was a god damn S-class mage and she was just snotty brat, who couldn't even be called a real mage! It didn't make a fucking sense! It was impossible-!
Laxus thoughts halted there. It really didn't make sense for someone of his level to get hit by some one of the girl's level. One time could be counted as a fluke, but for such a fluke to happen twice was basically impossible.
Furrowing his brows Laxus tried to wrap his head around this new realization. His eyes widened and pupils contracted as a possible answer came to him. What if the girl wasn't who she claimed to be? What if this innocent, harmless girl was just a facade? He ruminated the idea for a short moment, and the longer he did the more convinced he was that the person sleeping in his living room was not a daughter of a noble, but a higher class mage sent for him. It would explain the many things that had bothered him about the girl: why she hadn't just run away instead of this ridiculous plan, why did she chose him for that plan out of all the people, why was her scent so alluring, why did her looks match his taste so closely... It was all just to get close to him. But why? Why did the girl need to get close to him? To take him down? To get information? To use him for something?
Laxus' teeth grind against each other as he tried to hold on to the little sanity in him and not give in to the overflowing fury inside of him. Because what there was believing the sparks of lightning jumping over his bare skin, he was ready to explode any second. He didn't know why the girl had approached him, and in all truth he didn't really care. All that matter to him right now was that no one - no fucking one - made a fool out of Laxus Dreyar.
Laxus stood up slowly, then placed the half melted bag of ice on the table. Clenching his hands into fists, knuckles cracking, he took the direction toward the living room. The second the girl stood against him, she lost all privileges as a woman or a child. An enemy is an enemy and that's it. And what's the one thing he didn't give his enemies was mercy.
Lucy stared at the unfamiliar ceiling with sleep filled eyes from time to time blinking. It looked like she didn't quite comprehend what was going on. Then slowly lifting her arm up, she brought her hand above her head the backside of it facing her. Seeing the clear, flawless skin that obviously belonged to a lady of nobility, she let out a long if not melancholic sigh. Just moments ago, before she opened her eyes, there had been a pink Fairy Tail -mark decorating the back of her palm. Of course, it had to be a dream. Not that she actually believed that she could really win Laxus in a combat, earning a place in Fairy Tail that way. But there was always that 'what if'. The dream had felt so real, too...
Lowering her arm, Lucy let out a second sigh. Maybe one day she would really have a pink Fairy Tail -mark on her hand. All thou, she is sure she won't earn it by winning Laxus in a fight. Feeling silly for dreaming something like that, Lucy hummed amused. Well, before she could start seriously dream about joining Fairy Tail, she would have to get rid of her unwanted suitors and persuade Papa to let her join a guild. It, however, would probably be as impossible as winning Laxus in one-on-one battle.
Deciding to move the unpleasant thoughts for other time, Lucy sat up stretching both of her arm out with a yawn. A yawn that she didn't get to finish as she felt a gust of wind grazing her cheeks followed by an unpleasant jolt of the whole sofa.
Next thing she knew, she was trapped between two muscular arms and her sight was blocked by rock hard pecs, which she now recognized with ease. Still, it didn't prevent the blush that rose on her cheeks.
The sound of leather protesting under a pressure made Lucy glance up. As she did so the blush and all other colors on her face was drained away. The fierce glare that greeted her was the worst by so far. Those eyes - slit like pupils, irises the color of raging lighting - ware the ones of a beast calculating which part of the prey he should sink his teeth first. Laxus had yet to say a word, but she knew. She knew he wanted her hurt, like really hurt.
"So, did you enjoy it?" Laxus asked her, bearing his canines that seemed sharper than before. "I bet you did. Making a complete fool out of me."
Lucy's lower lip flickered. it was hard to tell was she trying to speak or was she just shaking out of pure fear, either way no words passed those petite lips. Only droplets of tears appeared on the corners of her eyes. She had no idea what the man was talking. Had she done something? But last thing she remembered, they had eaten breakfast in piece and then she had fallen a sleep on the sofa.
Laxus let out annoyed growl. Was she trying to play dumb? He had no patience for that kind of shit. Nor was he going to fall for those crocodile tears. But he must give her some recognition; she was one convincing actress. However, she could cry all she wants, he won't be affected. "What's your goal?"
"W-what?" The girl seemed to have finally found her voice. "I-I don't understand w-what your saying. Please stop!" It was more peeping than talking. So, the act still continues, Laxus snarled voicelessly. He slammed his hands against the sofa a second time making the sofa jolt and the girl flinch.
"The one who should stop now is you. I have seen through you already. Keep up with the act and I will hurt you more than necessary, and I will enjoy it. Now, answer the question!"
If the high society has ever thought her something, it was to recognize when one was telling a lie. Nobility, after all, was the masters of lying through one's teeth. And right now, she was more than hundred percent sure that Laxus wasn't lying. She would have to give him a satisfying answer or be ready to face the consequences. Unfortunately, she still had no idea what the man was saying. Her only chance was to try reason with him. "I-I seriously don't know what you're talking about. My goal? I have already told you my goal-"
"This is getting old now." Laxus snorted, his voice loathing. "If that question is too hard to answer, 'Lucy', why not start by telling who the hell are you exactly?"
Lucy blinked her teary eyes feeling one tear escaping from both eyes. "What?" She squeaked, the word feeling like it didn't want to leave her throat. With each new thing Laxus said, she got even more confused. But most of her body paralyzed by fear and the man seeming to be ready to sink his teeth in her, she didn't have the luxury - or time - to try figure this mess up. Her instincts were telling her that by answering without resisting was the safest road to proceed. "I-I'm Lucy, Lucy Heartfilia. The only daughter of Jude and Layla Heartfilia-"
"Hah!" Laxus barked out a mocking laugh, interrupting the girl at the same. "I had almost forgotten this. Mean daddy and dead mommy. What a coincidence. Or should I say, how convenient." How could that sob story have slipped his mind? On top all the things to have nearly identical backstory with his... The girl had really done her homework on him. Or who ever had employed her. Without knowing anything about her, he couldn't be sure was she working alone or for someone.
Laxus opened his mouth, the plan being to mock the girl a bit more, but Lucy beat him to it. "And I don't care what you say about me or my father, but I will never forgive you, if you speak ill of Mama." He was actually slightly taken back by the strong come back. He could still see and smell the fear on her, but mixed with it was something a kin to hate. Even those teary eyes were now staring him like saying "I dare you to speak more".
The silent threat actually made Laxus forget his anger for a second as it was replaced by the same excitement he had felt yesterday, when the girl had talked back at him. She was challenging him again. It was challenge he would gladly accept. "Are you talking about the oh-so-amazing Mama, who's only inheritance to her little girl was a pair of golden keys-"
Slap!
Eyes wide with shock Laxus' tried to comprehend what had just happened. He had been staring eye to eye with the girl, but now he was facing the wall. Like his brains had been lacking, he started to slowly feel a sting on his cheek that gradually grew stronger. Had he just been...slapped?! He run his tongue over his canines as the fury from before started to flow back. The slap had nicely brought him back to his senses, it seemed. However, now he had one more reason to resent the girl. No one fucking slaps his face!
Laxus rotated his head back toward the girl, sparks of lightning tickling his skin here and there. Then he felt something more solid against his pectorals. It was a pair of petite hands trying to push him away. "Move." The girl ordered whispering, her voice braking into sob at the end. She was now crying openly, tear after tear rolling down her cheeks. "Move!" The girl commanded with more strength in her voice.
But even thou she used all her strength, Lucy wasn't even able to make the man flinch. Frustrated she punched the boulder like body. Why couldn't he just move? She wanted him away from her! She wanted out of this house!
A sob escaped Lucy's lips. She couldn't believe what had just happened. That Laxus wasn't a nice guy in any meter was already as clear as the morning sun - yesterday was all the proof she needed for that - but she could never have believed that he could stoop so low. She had known that having a good relationship with Laxus was highly unlikely. Now, however, she wasn't sure could she have any kind of a relationship with him. To figure that out she needed some fresh air, some space away from Laxus.
Laxus watched silently as the girl kept pushing and punching him in clear attempt to get away from him. Was this her poor attempt to run away from him? As if he would let her. "No." he answered to the girl's new demand to move. This earned him a glare full of anger and hate. The intensity of those feelings in the girl usual so soft eyes was so strong it actually made his determination falter. What if he was...mistaken? What if she really was just a daddy's little princess?
The tiny second of lost concentration was enough for the girl to slip her hand in her belt pouch and pull out a golden key. Extending her arm straight, she shouted. "Open the Gate of the Golden Bull! Taurus!"
The chant was followed by blinding light. "Keh!" Laxus automatically shielded his eyes to protect them from the powerful illumination. He heard the sound of a door bell, followed by bovine's mooing and second later something hard slammed against his body sending him crashing against the wall separating the living room from the kitchen. However, thanks to his lightning fast reflexes, he had been able to block the attack and all it managed to do was move him from one point to another, and cause a small crack on the wall.
The growl that bubbled in his chest got stuck in his throat, when he saw his attacker. Beside the girl stood a bull taller than him, wearing nothing put tight speedos and boots, and on top of all this he was carrying a huge ass axe. What the fuck was that thing?!
"Moo! Lucy-san! Is this man giving trouble to your boobs?! The bull let out a steamy huff through his nostrils as he gave Laxus a glare, which the man in question returned.
"No, Taurus, he-" Lucy was about to correct the pervert bull, but with a heavy sigh stopped. She wasn't in the mood for this. "Just kick his ass." Or at least try, Lucy added silently knowing too well what were the odds of her bovine friend actually winning against Laxus in a fair combat: non existing. But miracles happen. She, after all, wasn't called the Lucky Lucy of Heartfilia for nothing.
"With pleasure! Moo!" Taurus grinned, then charged toward Laxus in full speed.
Not knowing what kind of a creature he was against, Laxus let the bull make the first move on purpose. If that last attack was all the bovine got, he wouldn't need to worry, but being now struck thrice by the same petite looking girl, he was bound to be a tap more careful than before. The bull had obviously a connection with Lucy, so it was hard to say what kind of tricks it could pull out of it's sleeve.
Laxus waited for the perfect moment to strike back. It was granted when the bull swung its' axe back readying it for the hit, but leaving himself completely open. With the speed of lightning bolt, he stood right beside the bull his fist already digging into the guts of the bovine. "Moooo!" The bull howled as it flew through the air. It's huge body slammed against the wall on the opposite side of the room and then vanished, leaving only behind a cloud of glistering dust.
"Taurus!" Lucy cried out as she watched her friend disappear. She knew that the chances had been basically zero, but... To be beaten so effortlessly...
Shaking her head, Lucy forced her thoughts away from Taurus. She would apologize to him later, but now she needed away to distract the monster of man enough for her to get away from him. Her eyes run over the room, desperately searching for something... Anything... Then her eyes landed on her bag.
The beer! Her eyes lit up. Aquarius would kill her for the thought alone to summon her through something like beer. But she would anytime choose facing Aquarius' wrath over Laxus'.
Like a cat, Lucy leaped toward the bag lying on the floor. A small hopeful smile visited her face, when she managed to open the bag up and pull the beer out. The smile turned into a pained grimace in matter of milliseconds, when a strong hand grabbed a hold on her upper arm and practically threw her back on the sofa. The sofa was soft, but not soft enough.
"Stealing beer, are we?" Laxus asked aggressively as he yanked the can from the girl. He had given the girl two simple rules: never enter the upstairs and never touch his beer. This just further proofed his suspicions about the girl to be true. What would she even do with the beer? Spike it up and drug him?
"No! Bickslow bought it for me!"
"And I'm the next king of Fiore." Laxus snorted. The girl was obviously starting to get desperate. "What were you gong to do with it?" He questioned, the tone of his voice cold.
"None of your business!" Lucy shot up from the sofa in attempt to take the can back. Attempt that was crushed with one lazy looking push from the man. She slammed against the backrest again with a small grimace visiting her face. Frustrated she cried out. "Give it back!"
"As if. And it is my fucking business, especially after that stunt you pulled with that thing. If that wasn't an open attack, then what is?"
"His name is Taurus! And you attacked me first!" Lucy hissed. She could hear her breathing spiking up, coming out in short puffs. She was starting to panic. Trapped on the sofa, under the man's heavy shadow, unable to do anything... She felt so hopeless. Gritting her teeth, she gave Laxus one last glare. With nothing to loose at this point, she pulled her leg back and with all her might tried to kick the man.
Laxus dodged the leg easily now that he wasn't distracted by anything. He would resign from being a mage, if he so much as lets the girl brush him again. Following the kick came a punch, which he avoided by grabbing the slender wrist of his attacker. This caused the girl to let out a frustrated cry, before she started to throw her legs and hand toward him in panic like manner without any kind of coordination.
Laxus watched the girl's pathetic struggling with degrading eyes. The sight was sad at best. Dodging the attacks was so effortless that he started to think that he must have dreamed both the kick and the punch. But the second he sensed an approaching danger, a feet, heading toward his still sore balls, he couldn't help his self-defense instincts kicking in. He slapped the girl's feet off it's course and pinned the girl against the sofa by the wrist he still hold in his hand. It was overreacting, but already wounded animal always bites more easily and more harder.
So, before he knew it, Laxus found himself a top off the girl, her legs awkwardly around her.
One very long moment the two stared each other with matching shock on their faces. Then like a new kind of a switch had been flipped on in Lucy's head, she went completely crazy. "Get off! Get off!" She screamed, while kicking the air and hitting the man. She wanted him off her right this second! After everything that had happened, being trapped under Laxus was the last place she wanted to be. She felt like a prey in beast's teeth.
"Oi!" Laxus tried to shield his face from the madly swinging hand of the girl. "Calm down!" He was sure that as much as she wanted him away from top of her, he wanted to get up just as badly. But he wouldn't be able to do so as long as the girl kept rampaging like a maniac.
"Never! Get off! Get off right this fucking second!" Lucy could feel her heart hammering against her rib-cage in panic.
"Seriously!" Laxus growled mostly to himself. He threw the can still in his hand away and grabbed the girl's free wrist. "Calm the fuck down!" He commanded, while slamming the wrist against the sofa above the girl's head, next to the other one that was already pinned there. He thanked every fucking god he could, when the girl finally went quiet. Well, expect for the heavy huffing of hers. He let out a sigh of relief only to notice that he too was slightly out of breath.
Lucy watched brows knitted together as Laxus gave her a look. It was a look that was telling her that he was going to let go and she should keep her calm for him to get off the sofa. As that was the single thing she wanted at the moment, she only answered the look with her own saying quite clearly "Get off!".
Laxus nodded as a sign that he was now letting go, but at the exact same second a shout come from the front door "Sup!". And moment later Bickslow marched in to the living room with his flying totems. As the guy saw the two of them, he froze.
Heavy silence filled the room as the three of them stared at each other.
And that was chapter 18! How did you like it? Or did you even like it? Hm? Heh! I hope you did!
Please leave a review! I always love to read them!
See you in next chapter (which hopefully comes out a bit sooner than this one...)!
