A/N: I have no excuses. Accept this gift as an apology.
Disclaimer: Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail, I do not.
Chapter Four: The Promise
Rufus just stared at the blonde-haired beauty sitting next to him. Lucy Heartfilia was smiling brightly at him. He glanced around at the others at the table to see if any of them were as startled as he was. Sting had a dumb look on his face. Yukino looked surprised. Orga was trying to cover his shit-eating grin with his hand and Rogue looked at both blondes bemusedly.
"So…what do you say Rufus?" Lucy asked.
"Don't bother with him Blondie," Sting interjected with his award-winning smile as he slung an arm around Lucy's shoulders, "I don't mind Yukino and you sharing me."
Rufus felt something in him stir at the lewd comment Sting made. He was about to attack Sting for his provocative comment when Lucy pushed Sting's arm off her shoulders. "I'll pass." She looked at Rufus raising her eyebrows. "I offered you to come because I thought you could use the vacation."
"If you are worried about the paperwork not being completed or about the guild not being taken care of, I can stay. I have no interest in going to a resort for a vacation." Orga interjected.
Rogue nodded his head in agreement. "I agree with Orga, Rufus. Orga and I can take care of the guild while you and Sting go with the girls."
Rufus sighed. He was about to refuse, but when he looked into Lucy's shining large chocolate eyes he found it difficult to refuse her. I will be a fool to not go with an extremely beautiful woman. Now, since I am thinking about it, I think it would be a good idea for me to get out and go on a little vacation, he thought. Rufus sighed again and looked at the blonde Celestial mage. "Fine," he relented. "It sounds like a good opportunity to relax."
So much for trying to get rid of Sting, he thought.
Lucy beamed at him warmly causing the Memory Make mage smile back in return.
"Aw, come on man! I wanted them all to myself!" whined Sting.
Rufus and Lucy rolled their eyes while Yukino smacked Sting upside the head.
While Yukino was busy reprimanding Sting for his inappropriate behavior, Rufus curiously asked, "Why did you invite me to come with you?"
Lucy shrugged. "I thought you might want a break from taking care of the guild." She saw Rufus's raised eyebrow and clarified. "I mean I got to know Orga, Rogue, and Sting because they attended the many parties Fairy Tail had thrown that you never came to," Lucy said honestly while looking at him. Rufus knew that she was absolutely correct. He had always stayed back to keep an eye on the guild and do the paperwork for Sting while he was away. Rufus did it, not only out of duty, but because he couldn't remember a time that he did anything but take care of the guild. He never came to the parties Fairy Tail threw for the guilds. Parties were not for him. In fact, I don't remember any good memories of a good party, he thought.
"Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt for me to go on vacation." He looked over to Orga and Rogue who were conversing with Frosch. "I am certain that Sabertooth will be in good, capable hands." Rufus looked back to the paperwork and frowned. He picked up a packet and began to scanning over the paper. He heard a rustling of paper and glanced sideways at the young woman flipping and scanning through the papers. They continued reading through the stacks of paper in companionable silence.
"If you do not mind me asking you Miss Lucy, there are plenty of renowned resorts in Fiore, so why did you pick the Akane Resort?" he asked her curiously.
"Well, the last time I went to the Akane Resort was with Team Natsu before Erza got captured to put the Tower of Heaven back in action," she said thoughtfully.
"Erza was a slave of the Tower of Heaven?" asked Sting surprised.
"You didn't know that?" asked Lucy surprised turning towards Sabertooth's clueless Guild Master. "Millianna from Mermaid Heel was also a slave of the Tower of Heaven. In fact, Erza and Millianna befriended each other while they were slaves of the Tower of Heaven."
"I am assuming you must have really liked Akane Resort that you want to go back," Rufus interjected.
"Ah, yes. The hotel was wonderful. The beach and casino were a lot of fun as well. It is too bad we didn't get to spend a lot of time there because Natsu, Gray, Juvia, and I left to rescue Erza."
"This would be your second time?" asked Rufus.
Lucy nodded her head.
"When are you thinking about going?" asked Rufus.
Lucy hummed in thought. "To be honest, I wanted to spend some time in Sabertooth because I want to see how you guys run things and then I was hoping to take a vacation."
Rufus turned sideways on the bench to face her as he continued to read the packet. "Is there a reason why you are on this vacation? Could it be Team Natsu?"
"Nothing seems to escape you," Lucy said. "You are quite perceptive Mr. Lore."
Rufus's lips quirked up into a small smirk. "I pride myself on being perceptive."
Lucy grinned back at him. "Well, Natsu decided to blow away half of the town. Apparently, every person with a destructive mindset in Fairy Tail always seem to follow Plan T to the letter."
"Plan T?"
"Take them by Storm."
Rufus chuckled quietly.
"Of course, it could only mean mass destruction which wiped away my rent money. So, I decided that I needed a break. Luckily, when my father past away, he gave me the rest of his money to use in times of severe need."
"Well," Rufus said looking into her big brown eyes," we are all very happy that you are here to visit our beloved Yukino." He leaned towards her conspiratorially. "Yukino would never admit this to you, but we all admired Fairy Tail when we were younger. Yukino's idol was you." Lucy's eyes widened in surprise. Rufus chuckled and winked at her. "Don't tell her I told you that. She will be extremely embarrassed if she knew you know."
Lucy smiled. "My lips are sealed."
"Is that a promise? Considering Celestial mages don't go back on their word."
Lucy smirked and leaned towards him slightly. "I never break my promises."
Rufus smile grew wider as he leaned towards her. "That is a very good thing to know Miss Heartfilia."
He. Is. Gorgeous. Lucy thought. Lucy never had a major crush on anyone in Fairy Tail, and when she did, it was only temporary. She had a minor crush on Natsu until she saw him dancing like Plue. She remembered the Rufus from the Games and she studied the Rufus sitting right next to her and decided she liked this Rufus much more. Lucy decided she liked his hair up in a high ponytail instead of it hanging low and tied at the end. She liked his new style. It was different. Sexier. Damn.
"You know," she started. "I was hoping to go on a mission."
"Really? With who?"
" I was thinking about asking Yukino."
"Ask me what?
Rufus chuckled. "Speak of the devil and he shall appear."
Yukino looked between both blondes curiously. "What did you want to ask me Lucy?"
"I would like to go on a mission with you."
Yukino laughed. "It's a great thing I planned ahead. Sting gave me clearance to go on a mission."
"What kind of mission?"
"Well, I picked one that would take the shortest amount of time. And almost all of the missions on the board are long ones."
Lucy grimaced. "Well, I would happily kick bandits or rogue mage ass any day but I am on vacation."
Yukino laughed. "It's a fairly simple one but the pay is high."
Interested, Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"It's a delivery. Specifically, highly classified information. And we are sending the information to an extremely powerful person."
"Princess Hisui?"
"I will tell you when we are on our way."
"When?"
"Now."
Lucy sighed and got up. She gave Yukino a mock stern look. "Well, this better be good."
Yukino smiled. "Don't worry. It will be."
Lucy turned towards the long-haired male sitting sideways in his seat. "It was a pleasure to meet you Mr. Lore."
Rufus got up and gave her a jaw-dropping smile. "It was my pleasure to meet you, Miss Heartfilia. Shall I walk you ladies back home or to the door?"
"You can walk us home if you wish to," Lucy interrupted before Yukino could refuse his offer.
Rufus walked up and took Lucy's hand and tucked it into his left arm. I will not blush Lucy chanted in her head. Yukino took Rufus's other arm when he offered it to her to take.
"I am taking these two lovely ladies back to their apartment."
Orga gave a backhand wave from the bar and Sting and Rogue nodded their heads in acknowledgement to the trio as they left the guild. Lucy couldn't help but admire the gentleman in Rufus. In Fairy Tail, most of the men would not be considered gentleman. Elfman is too…manly. Manners is a little too much for Gajeel and Natsu to comprehend. Master Makarov and Gildarts are perverts. And doing older men isn't Lucy's thing. Freed is Team Laxus all the way. Those lewd dolls of Bickslow comment on her breasts a little too much for her liking. And Gray…if only she didn't mind drowning. The guys in Fairy Tail were more like family than anything else. Lucy glanced sideways at the handsome man right beside her. Rufus…was different. He was polite and composed. Not to mention he is hot as hell. Lucy was so lost in thought; she didn't notice that she was standing at Yukino's apartment door. Lucy and Yukino removed their arms from Rufus's arms. He smiled charmingly at both women.
"Well, ladies have a good rest of your day," Rufus said slightly bowing. Lucy and Yukino smiled and said their goodbyes to the tall flaxen-haired man. Yukino pulled out her keys to the apartment to unlock the door. Both women entered and Yukino closed and locked the door behind her.
"Alright, then. Do you think you will be ready to go in about thirty minutes Lucy?" asked Yukino.
"Sure."
Lucy pulled out her suitcase and began packing. I wonder what the mission could be about? I mean it is a delivery. I would have believed it wouldn't have been so important, but apparently, the delivery has been labeled a high importance, Lucy thought. She tossed in her suitcase shampoo and soap. She looked around the guest room she was staying in for things she might need. She grabbed a book that she was borrowing from Levi and tossed it into her pink suitcase. At one point, Yukino ran in with a bundle of clothing in her arms and asked Lucy what she was wearing to meet their employer tomorrow. When Lucy showed her, Yukino's face turned bright red. She shoved the clothes at Lucy and adamantly requested Lucy wear the blouse and pants. Unsure of what exactly what was going on, but deciding to appease the innocent, sweet woman, she complied.
"You ready to go yet Lucy?" Yukino, for the second time that day, came into the room.
"Yes," she called back to Yukino. Lucy zipped her suitcase closed and rushed out of the room to meet Yukino at the front door. The two girls made their way quickly towards the train station. Lucy waited as Yukino hurried to buy two train tickets. The two girls waited as the train stopped at the train station and waited as the conductor waved people on board. Lucy followed Yukino as the white-haired mage made her way to a private compartment. The two girls settled down. Lucy looked out the window as the train began to move. Lucy glanced at the young woman sitting across from her reading a book and decided to ask her the question that has been nagging at her for most of the day.
"Yukino?"
"Mmm?"
"Can you tell me about Rufus?"
"What do you want to know?"
Lucy shrugged. "Anything you might know about him."
Yukino looked up from her book and smiled. "I see a certain Fairy Tail mage is interested in calm, composed Rufus."
Lucy flushed causing Yukino to smile wider. Ah, I see. I deserve it for teasing her about her crush on Sting, Lucy thought. "I am just curious about him Yukino."
Lucy didn't think it was impossible for Yukino's grin to grow any wider than it did then.
"Sure thing Lucy. Whatever you say," Yukino giggled. She closed her book and set it on her lap. Lucy watched the girl lean back in thought. "To be perfectly honest, I really don't know Rufus as well as I know Sting and Rogue because Rufus wasn't on Sting's and Rogue's team. However, what I do know is the Rufus you saw at the Games is not the real Rufus." Yukino looked Lucy straight in the eyes. "That was a façade Rufus put up because any sign of weakness, you were excommunicated."
"Was he scared of being humiliated by being excommunicated?" asked Lucy quietly. She realized that this was a touchy subject for Yukino. I wonder if this is a touchy subject for everyone in Sabertooth.
Yukino lowered her eyes to her lap. "I think that was a part of it, but I think there is more to why he put up this tough façade. And now I think about it, for him, it was never a façade for Rufus. I believe that is how he always have been, because he had a lonely childhood. Ever since Jiemma and Minerva had gone into hiding, I think I have gotten to see a better side of Rufus. I think it would do him good to have friends outside of Sabertooth." She paused. "And to be honest, he never really spoke that much to anyone before you." Yukino smiled over to the surprised Celestial mage sitting across from her. Lucy stared at Yukino as the white-haired mage picked up the book she was reading and resumed reading.
Laying her head against the window, Lucy slightly smiled.
I want to see the unmasked you.
A/N: Please review, follow, and favorite! Thank you so much for the people who have supported me! You guys are awesome! Thank you to the people who have read this story so far.
Always remember:
Be kind and have courage.
Lady Serai
