-Chapter 2-
Lucy stood back as she watched a very high yet relatively narrow portion of the mountain suddenly drop a good 100 feet then fall back toward the center collapsing in on itself. There really was very little damage outside the designated destruction zone Virgo and she had indicated on the map. They'd left a sizable distance from anything that looked man made as a buffer zone. All in all a very satisfying win if the monster stayed in his well-made grave.
It had been so hard and tedious weakening the cave itself so at the end of the day the cave would collapse and kill not just trap the problem all without getting caught by the wyvern in the process. Virgo popped up from the ground bowing. "It has been finished Princess."
"Thank you Virgo, you can go back. Let me know what you decide on for your punishment." Lucy smiled at her most helpful spirit when Virgo actually giggled and returned to the spirit world. "Hey Laxus, you need me to go digging for the body to confirm the kill or are we done here?" Lucy yelled to nowhere in particular as she shifted back into the super tight purple number Virgo had brought her earlier when her original outfit had been burnt almost completely off. It reminded her of what she wore during the whole Eclipse Gate fiasco.
"You're good Blondie. You done for today or you want the next one?" Laxus' voice echoed now in the empty enormous chamber built deep underneath the guild hall. Some mages from Bosco helped make it especially for this training simulator reinforcing the containment magic to prevent accidental damage to the city. The empty cavern reminded Lucy of the Abyss Palace that sat under Crocus and she shivered at the memory.
"Oh, I know my limits, I'm done for today," she said back and a door opened with Laxus leaning on the frame.
"That's good. You'd have lost some serious marks if you'd of tried to go on any longer," the lightening mage said as he stepped aside while Lucy dragged her exhausted self into the little control room and crumpled in the seat Laxus had just been sitting in completely missing the fact that there were 2 other people in the little room. "You really impressed me with your performance in there. Over six hours straight; I look forward to seeing what you can do in the future after you start your initial training program."
"Aww that was down-right tender and sweet there Spark Plug," Lucy relayed with a lazy smile that made her eyes sparkle even in the dim light. She heard faint sniggers coming from the corner behind her but was too tired to turn around just yet.
"Hey, show some respect!" Laxus reprimanded.
"Sorry, Master Spark Plug." Lucy shrugged her shoulders as her smile went a bit more devious. "It's only been 2 days since I've been back and it's taking some getting used to." Hearing an actual snort, a full-blown Cheshire cat grin over-took her face.
He smirked back shaking his head. "Now that's better."
"Question." a tenor voice came from behind that Lucy didn't recognize. She turned as the lights in the small room got brighter so see could see the man about 2-3 inches shorter than Bickslow, the second mystery person now identified with better light, walking toward her. His black hair looked bleached from the sun creating burgundy highlights that matched his wine-colored eyes. He was obviously well muscled judging by his bare arms. His tight fitted leather jerkin and pants hugged him from his firm thighs to his carved torso leaving very little to the imagination. She raised an eyebrow at his presence, holding judgement on this beautiful example of a man until after he spoke.
"And you are?" she questioned.
He grinned in response not missing her subtle calculating glance over his body. There was very little he missed when around people trained as he was. "Vander." At her still questioning look he elaborated, "I'm Bickslow's youngest and most attractive brother. It's nice to meet you Princess." He mock bowed grabbing her hand and lightly kissing it.
She snorted and rolled her eyes. "Well I'd have to see all of the brothers to comment on that one but you definitely flirt like Bickslow." Vander glanced back to see his brother smile widely then back to Lucy. "You had a question?" she reminded.
"Well Princess," he stressed loving the nickname her spirits gave her, "it's really a two-part question." At the wave of her fairy tailed marked hand he continued. "How often do your clothes get ruined on missions and what do I have to do to become one of your spirits?" The first question at least was mostly serious although not completely but he'd managed to maintain a serious expression the whole time. Fighting his smirk he thoroughly enjoyed the light blush gracing her cheeks.
Internally sighing she was a little disappointed that Vander seemed like another playboy type. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the head rest thinking she might as well answer if it kept her sitting in the comfortable chair longer. "Well, with my old team around I think it's safe to say every damn time we went on a job I lost at least one outfit, sometimes multiple times during the same mission." She smiled then grimaced as a particular memory pushed forward given the outfit she was now wearing. "Once I was facing a dragon that picked me up to eat me but decided he didn't like the taste of clothes so he used his creepy magic on me and proof I was naked. I mean seriously, that's the kind of power some horn-dog of a pervert would come up with. The worse part of that fiasco was when Wendy and Mira started attacking him to rescue me before I got eaten. He ended up accidentally throwing me over the entire city of Crocus when they landed a particularly good hit. You've not known humiliation until you've been thrown, naked, high over a city and then somehow hit Natsu who was fighting on the back of another dragon in the middle of the air. Then, if that wasn't enough, landing in an upturned bell where you are smashed together with said mage with very grabby hands. Natsu's had his face in places I wish I didn't remember," she groaned.
All three men in the room were thinking the same thing. 'Lucky Bastard.'
"As far as your other question goes, you'd have to ask Loke. He'd know if it were possible," she added with a slight smirk at his ridiculous question.
"You called Gorgeous?" Loke popped in with a flourish of golden light in his traditional black fitted suit and blue shades on one knee holding Lucy's hand not a second after she'd said his name.
Bickslow threw an arm over his brother's shoulders and pulled him in saying quietly, "The guy probably rivals you and Cristoff put together on the amount of ladies after him and she's immune. I've yet to see any man successfully even buy her a drink without injury," commiserated Bickslow. Every man in the guild at one time or another had lusted after their stellar mage but none had even been able to catch her eye.
"Forced gate close!" They heard screamed shrilly in the same room drawing their attention back to the blond who was now standing with one of her keys raised looking absolutely livid. "Stupid perverted lion! Every freaking time!" she seethed.
"Question," Vander asked again and received probably the darkest glare ever seen on a woman directed at him. Not the least bit concerned he continued, "Have you ever thought about learning how to requip your keys?" He was all seriousness now. Sexy, fiery and smart she may be but he knew a lost cause when he saw one, for him at least. Unless a man was thinking relationship, Lucy was way beyond their reach and he was so far from wanting any actual relationship beyond an occasional fuck he cut his losses. Too many people approached him with what he wanted willingly as it was - no need to try to hunt one down until she begged him for sex and nothing else. Plus, the guild would probably hunt my ass down after.
"Ummm," Lucy blinked at what was a very quick change in thought process.
"Since you rely heavily on your keys and whip for protection, a smart choice in weapon might I add for your body type and abilities, losing either or both is your greatest weakness. Given you already use spatial magic, learning to requip your weapons and maybe some extra clothes should be relatively easy…That and the martial arts training geared for your shorter frame the simulation suggests," he hummed the last part as an after-thought.
Lucy blinked again then smiled brilliantly once everything he said had finally sunk in. She walked forward and wrapped her arms around his waist pressing her entire body to his, her head didn't even reach his shoulders. "Thank you," she breathed out laying her head on his chest. "You have no idea how much I constantly worry about my keys and how often I've been powerless once they've been stolen from me," her voiced cracked with emotion when she spoke. Vander wrapped his arms around the petite blond and looked at both his brother and Laxus. This was not the reaction he'd expected from Lucy given all that Laxus and Bicks had said about her or her performance he'd just witnessed. Then again, they looked just as surprised as he felt. "Just…thank you!"
"Damn, I hadn't thought of teaching her some requip," Laxus spoke into the quiet room and nodded his thanks to the shadowquip magic on loan from his guild White Sea in Bosco. This is exactly why he agreed having Vander, no matter how much trouble the guy liked to stir up, sent here to stay for a while after the other mages that came to install the new training and ranking system at Fairy Tail left. He just had plain more experience in training with so many different types of mages. White Sea had thousands of mages in multiple locations all across Bosco and regular military training since all guild mages in Bosco were part of the military.
"You know Cosplayer," Bickslow inserted causing Lucy to chuckle at the nick-name she'd lost all hope of denying when she learned how to use her Star Dresses. She tightened her arms once more around Vander then took a step back to focus on her guild mate. "Amazon'd have you probably requiping in no time if you asked her but I know the best place to get some enchanted clothing." He paused briefly before adding, "I wouldn't go so far as armor, it'd be a waste of jewel since you mostly fight with those other dresses on. It would still be nice for you to have a little extra protection when that's not necessary and to help you conserve your magic. They cost a bit more to have made but they'd be sturdier and hold up longer. Probably save you jewel overall…" Bickslow was cut off from his train of thought as the blond now collided with him. She chuckled as the seith mage stumbled a bit from the force of her enthusiasm over the idea of shopping for new clothes. New clothes that Natsu hopefully could not destroy.
"I'd love for you to show me where to get some enchanted clothes." Lucy leaned back so she could look at Bickslow's face without straining her neck as much. "Although, please tell me this shop has other styles because I'd rather be naked than look as ridiculous as you." She tried so hard to keep her face serious but at Bickslow's mock gasp - it was a close thing.
"Please, you don't have to lie to yourself. You know I look damn sexy in this." His pose completely shattered her false seriousness leaving her in a fit of giggles.
"Right… but let's be serious for a minute here. It would be a crime against humanity to cover this luscious figure up from head to toe in bulky clothing like that." She returned with a seductive pose of her own.
Bickslow grinned widely. This was the first time Lucy actually teased back instead of just shutting him down and hitting him whenever he started flirting.
"Besides," Laxus entered the fray, "she's a princess not some ridiculous looking knight."
"That's harsh Boss-man. You're just jealous 'cuz all the ladies love a man in uniform!" he came back with his tongue hanging out of his mouth to laughs all around.
"Whatever man, I've got more important things to do." He handed Lucy a pink communication lacrima with the Fairy Tail insignia on it. "Keep this with you at all times. You swipe it in front of the new request board and it will bring up either solo or group jobs with suggested teammates for the highest chance of success when needed. Your training plan is also stored on it for your reference. If you need help with training you come to one of us first," he pointed around the room. "And make sure you check in everyday with Mira if you're out on a job, got it?"
"Yes Master Spark plug sir," she exaggeratingly saluted and looked up to find him already leaving the room. "Rude!" she yelled out after him then turned to Bickslow. "When are you free to show me that shop?"
Bickslow looked over at the space where Vander had been only a moment ago to see it was just Lucy and he left standing there. "Well, I'm leaving on a job tomorrow but should be back by Friday. Anything after 2 on Saturday works for me."
"Great I'll meet you up by the bar at 3pm this Saturday?"
"Works for me."
"It's a date!" she said as she flounced out of the room.
Bickslow looked wistfully after her, "Yeah, if only." The seith mage had spent most of his life wanting a relationship with someone like Lucy but every time they found out about his magic, they left him. He'd mostly accepted women like her were out of his league so he stuck with his chance encounters and one night stands. He shook his head clearing his depressed thoughts and slapped a grin on his face, his go to mask, to face the guild.
Vander stepped out of the shadows looking after his older brother. "Don't sell yourself short," he said softly after his brother left the room. Bickslow was probably the only one of the Pradesh siblings looking for an actual relationship and Lucy's the kind of girl that would look past his so-called "creepy-scary" magic and truly love the guy if Vander had taken her measure correctly. As one of the best spy's for the Boscan government it was fair to say he had. If only Bicks let her see the man under all the armor and crude jokes. It was the real him that earned a hug and got a date, well shopping date, with the buxom blond. 'I might need to see if I can change the programming in the system just a little to throw the two of them together more often,' he thought and turned towards the system's main console. 'Dad would be so proud of me right now.'
-DTRE-
"This is the best place for me to get enchanted clothes?" the celestial mage gave a side glance at the tall overdressed man next to her, 'Does he go anywhere without that helmet?' Looking back at the men's clothing store her shoulders drooped a bit. She always loved shopping for clothes and had been excited to buy 3-4 cute new outfits that could last past one mild tussle. The profits from her published novel weren't a ton but they eased her need to meet her monthly rent which meant most of her reward from the 100-year job her team had just finished was available to splurge on things like this. Most of it she was saving to hopefully repurchase the Heartfilia estate. But what could she possibly get at a men's clothing store, enchanted or not, that would even fit regardless of style?
"Chill Cosplayer, my man's the owner and tailor of this store and can make your cute little self whatever you want," Bickslow said as he opened the door waiting for Lucy to join him. Still looking questionably at her guild-mate she entered the store and made her way back toward a sign that offered tailor services. "Dom!" Bickslow's rough voice shouted over the counter. "You back there man?"
"Bicksy baby! How can I help your fabulous self this beautiful day?" A short very thin man walked out from behind a curtain hanging in the doorway looking, for lack of a better word, fierce. He was wearing a beautifully tailored 3-piece suit that highlighted the gray flecks in his brown eyes while the shirt and tie managed to make his light mocha skin glow. His short perfectly coiffed dark purple almost black tresses, because calling it hair wasn't good enough, rippled like gentle waves. A bright smile over-took his angular face as he stepped out from behind the counter. "Oh, is this beauty all for me? It's not even my birthday!" he said pulling the shocked blond into a hug with a knowing wink at his friend. Moving her to his side yet still keeping her effectively trapped against his body he lead them both to a back room to some comfortable armchairs, "Now you know that I love blonds, but was there a particular reason she's here or do we just get to enjoy ourselves?" he asked gently caressing her cheek.
Lucy flushed, her mind still reeling over why she didn't immediately Lucy kick the crap out of the man she didn't even know who was still hugging her. 'Maybe because we're about the same size?' she thought, 'Or is it because he's gay… He could be gay and just teasing me…' Lost in her thoughts she tried to organize her world again so it made sense and she could cope. When she looked up seeing his heated eyes as he gently cupped her face had her flush darkening. He was certainly friendly and had no concept of personal boundaries but then neither did Cana and Cana wasn't especially into women. Bickslow laughed so hard but managed to respond just the same.
"Dom, this is Lucy. She's the girl I was telling you about earlier this week."
Dom's eyes lit again like a child's on Christmas morning. "I get to actually dress her up in one of my creations?" Dom said as he bodily turned Lucy around getting a better look at all he had to work with in a different sense. He looked up catching Bickslow's nod then promptly lifted her into the air and spun her around like she weighted nothing with a huge grin plastered on his face.
"S...St...Strong," was the only word Lucy had managed to form as she was spun around by a man who even though was a little taller than her she most definitely out-weighed; he was so thin. He looked so full of joy she couldn't muster being irritated by the continual man-handling especially since he'd not tried to touch her inappropriately even once.
Bickslow just sat back and watched one of his oldest friends chatter with his guild-mate excitedly over sketches, fabric swatches and lists of magical enhancements that could be placed on the different fabrics for the best results. The seith mage basked in the brightened glows of happiness in the souls before him. It had been so long since he saw true joy twinkle in Dom's pale green soul. He'd not been the same after everything that happened and having to pick-up and move away from his home back in Bosco. It had been 5 years now and the dark mage stalking his friend still hadn't been found. When he'd gotten back from Tenrou Island two and a-half years back Dom's soul had such darkness weaving through it, it made him almost sick. He'd had his work out for him purging the festering darkness form Dom's soul then helping his friend setup this shop to help him start living again. Even had Freed go to town with some serious runes around the whole building so his friend had at least one place he could feel safe.
Giggling brought Bickslow out of his internal reflections and back to the scene before him - a smiling Lucy posing and twirling in one of the sample dresses Dom must have mocked up from Bickslow's rough description before he left on his job. He wasn't surprised, Dom had been one of the best tailors Elluris employed and the premiere men's clothing store only worked with the best.
-DTRE-
"Again!" the tall scarlet haired woman ordered from across the training field behind the Fairy Tail guild hall.
Lucy gritted her teeth and wiped the sweat from her forehead as she got back on her feet. Erza lunged at her again as Lucy started to dodge. She should have known when see had asked for Erza's help to learn how to requip her keys and new outfits that that wouldn't be the end of it. Instead of being pleased by Lucy managing to requip each of her keys by the end of the first lesson, Erza continue to drill her in a second lesson so she was faster and could pull multiple keys as well as call a star dress simultaneously. Exhausting but it had been very helpful and she was incredibly thankful, but by the third session, Lucy had to full-out spar with the requip mage transitioning through each of her spirits, combinations and dresses. How Erza was able to contact her spirits and get them to agree with being summoned during these training sessions outside of some of their contracts was beyond Lucy, but nothing stopped Erza. Well, Taurus' axe had just now. "I need to protect Miss Lucy's hot booooooody!" was his battle cry as he pushed Erza back giving Lucy precious seconds to get behind him and close her eyes.
Lucy requipped into her Gemini dress as Loke's Regulus Brilliance flashed temporarily blinding everyone caught unaware. Without missing a beat, Taurus swung his giant axe at Erza again while her eyes had closed giving Lucy a chance to finally initiate her plan. She'd realized after her second sparring session with Erza that they were not going to stop unless she'd at least disarmed her friend. These lessons with Erza were elective and on top of the hand to hand combat training she hand with Vander and acrobatic work she was doing with Bickslow per her training plan had outlined she had very little free time but you couldn't just tell Titania no.
Erza blinked to clear her eyes of the few sun spots Loke's surprise flash had caused as she dusted the dirt off of her blue skirt. It was a decent tactic to have Taurus attack like he did when her eyes closed instinctively, but her reflexes kicked in and she dodged just in time. Looking around and circling the training field with the two spirits still out, Erza could not find any sign of Lucy. This was very much outside what the blond typically did. There was no way Lucy would leave her spirits to fight and not be right next to them. Checking the crowds that had gathered around excited to see them spar still keeping track of her opponents Erza confirmed by their confused expressions as they looked around that they hadn't seen where Lucy went either.
Something wasn't right, she could feel the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. She needed to send Loke and Taurus back quickly so she could address this new threat wherever it was. Launching in to attack them she met with nothing but colored smoke and sparkles as their gates were forced closed. Narrowing her eyes, Erza focused all her senses scanning the crowd when suddenly the ground dropped out beneath her. "Kyah!" she squeaked as she fell and found herself tied-up quicker than she could think in magic cancelling rope. Firm yet delicate arms caught her still falling body and suddenly she was going back up.
"Virgo," she sighed out. She'd forgotten that Virgo hadn't been called at all today and wasn't watching for an attack from below. The maid spirit set down her incapacitated form and bowed toward the crowd.
"Punishment princess?"
Confused, everyone followed Virgo's eyes and saw her staring at a slim purple-haired man. The man stepped forward with a huge grin in place and executed a pose that would have made Ichiya or the Trimens from Blue Pegasus proud even without sparkles floating around him. A very familiar giggle escaped his lips as there was a small poof and flash leaving an equally pleased yet very tired and dirty Lucy in his place.
Confusion turned to understanding turned to laughter as Erza and the crowd finally understood what Lucy had done.
"Thank you Virgo, we'll see. You can go back now," she said as she walked over to her friend and started untying the ropes.
"That was a very impressive strategy Lucy." Erza nodded her head then an evil glimmer entered her eyes as the last of the rope was pulled away. "Now we start lessons on how to requip clothing."
Lucy slowly backed away from her friend. Requipping her new clothing would definitely be good for battle but nothing good could come from that aura and she didn't want to stick around to wait for what would happen. As she turned to make a break for it she slammed right into something that hadn't been there before. 'Someone,' she corrected as arms wrapped around her waist so she didn't fall.
"You know Cosplayer, I just came out here to see if you'd join me on a job but if I'd of known you were just going to throw yourself at me I would have come sooner. I'm sure the job can wait a day or two…or five." Bickslow's silly tongue-lollying grin let Lucy know he was just teasing so she relaxed in his arms and looked up with a smile.
"Oh, I don't think you could handle me even given a week so let's take a look at the job you mentioned," she stepped back still looking up with a wicked smirk. Him arms dropped and face looked blank by her teasing back. Sure she'd done it a couple times now but never so publicly or without smacking in some way. Grabbing his hand Lucy started to lead the stunned seith mage away. "Thanks for the save Bicks," she added quietly, "that was a serious evil look in her eye."
Coming out of his stupor, Bickslow sped up and dropped her hand only to wrap his arm around her shoulders. "It's all good!" he said with a smile back in place. "When and why did you copy Dom of all people?" Earlier when he noticed his friend's sudden appearance in the crowd he thought that maybe Dom had finished another outfit for Lucy and had come so he could do a final fitting so dismissed his presence until after the sparring was over. Imagine his surprise when he transformed into a she.
"I stopped by his shop last night for another fitting and to pick up my first completed outfit. If you're lucky I'll wear it on the mission." She winked then continued, "When I was trying on the mockup for the second outfit he helped me come up with the plan and offered his services as the unknown bystander, although I don't think he understood that the copying was more than just his looks." Her grin turned thoughtful. "He's a really nice guy. I hope they find that creep!" Bickslow held her a little tighter to his side for a moment as they shared an understanding look. They didn't say anything, didn't need to. Both were probably the only people that actually understood everything Dom had gone through. "So, tell me about this job," she continued as if nothing had happened the moment they entered the guild.
