Iron in the Stars
AN: Story is my idea, but I do not own anything Fairy Tail.
Chapter 17: Lightning
"This is fucking ridiculous! He is a damn dragon slayer. He can take a little pain!" I understood Laxus' frustration. We were all on edge with Sting being held prisoner here. He had tried destroying his small prison multiple times and it has only been about a day.
"Laxus, we can't do anything too drastic. It's not like he is doing this on purpose. He is being controlled." He has suggested just knocking him out a few times, but I didn't want to just keep him out for a few hours. I wanted to get information. We needed to get information. He was right though, this was becoming completely useless, and not taking action is just wasting time. Where was our guild? I mean, we always jumped in head first without even thinking about the consequences. Why are we playing it safe now? "We need to find a safer way to get information from him."
"It's not working as planned Lucy, I would have to agree with these two." Lily! Lily was on their side. How is that possible? He always had reason on his side. Maybe Gajeel paid him off with some kiwis. Bastard. He knew Lily's weaknesses too well. In all honesty, him and Happy were pretty easy to pay off. Even Carla was, but she would never admit it. Her weakness was Happy. As much as she hates that she does, but she cares for him an awful lot. I see them disappear all the time. I had to scold myself, I was getting off of topic. Back to Sting.
"I don't like the idea of hurting him to get some information. It's barbaric. We can do something else." I frowned when I had two glares directed towards me. "Both of you better wipe those right off your face before I take care of it for you!" Gajeel smirked at me while Laxus gave me a genuine smile. It was too sweet though. It instantly made me nervous. "What are you doing?" He raised his arm making it seem like he was going to stretch, but then shot lightning at me. It hit me dead on. Granted, it was more of a shock and didn't hurt, but I was still pissed off at him. Fucker had no right to shoot lightning at me.
"I'm going to kill you!" I screeched at him and started to run towards him for my attack. Unfortunately, I didn't make it too far because I was intercepted by my strong dragon slayer. "Put me down!" He lifted me up and wrapped his arms around me tight so I couldn't get away.
"I don't think so Bunny. I don't want to bury you today." Gajeel kissed the top of my head and growled at him for holding me back. I relaxed in his arms though. I did love being in them. I sense of security would wash over me anytime I was with him. I could feel his love around me, wait, did he love me? We haven't been seeing each other that long. Did I love him? I cared deeply for him, but I don't know if love is the right word yet. I thought back to how I felt when he got hurt. How I knew I would do anything to make sure he was okay. Shit! I loved him. I looked at him shocked at my inner emission. Would it scare him away if I told him?
"Oi! Rusty! Control your woman next time, eh?" Just like that he dropped me. I'm sitting on my ass on the ground while my boyfriend jumps in the air ready to pounce on fucking Sparkplug! He didn't even get too far. As soon as Sparky saw what he was doing he shot lightning at him successfully knocking his ass out.
"Seriously? Was that fucking necessary!" He smiled over at me.
"What? Should I have let him hit me? That would have hurt, I didn't want that!" The look of fake innocence on his face was priceless. Even Lily was laughing at Gajeel. Poor guy!
"Yes you should have. He doesn't own me for one and for two you would have deserved it! Lily feel free to take him home. I'm going to go have some girl time with Cana and Levy. Let me know if anything changes with Sting." Lily looked at me like I was on drugs. He looked back at Gajeel and then sighed. I knew that it would be straining to get him home, but that was his problem. I giggled as I walked out of the door.
"Levy, Cana! We need to talk, now!" They both looked over at me. Cana had a shit-eating grin on her face, probably because she was tipsy and Levy was looking at Jet as if to ask permission. Geez. These women, I loved them, but we needed to talk and they were wasting time. "Come on ladies, hop hop. It's important." They finally got up and started to follow me out the door.
"Where are we going Lu-Chan?" Levy finally caught up to me, but I didn't think that Cana ever would. I looked at her and had to laugh as she basically dragged herself down the road. I stopped for a moment to give her some time to catch up.
"I figured we would go to the baths at Fairy Hills. Does that sound okay? I can use a good soak and I didn't want the guys to overhear us."
"So it's man related! Perfect, because I have some shit to tell you Lu-bitch! Oh you're going to flip!" Cana's enthusiasm doubled as she started to briskly walk towards Fairy Hills. We even almost made it.
"Luce! Sting is talking!" Natsu dropped to the ground while Happy landed in his arms panting. Poor cat was always hauling Natsu's ass around.
"What do you mean? We were just there and he wasn't talking! I mean it hasn't even been fifteen minutes since I left."
"I know, I'm sorry. Laxus did something to –"
"If you tell me the Spark Plug zapped him until he started to talk I swear to Mavis I am going to kick his ass!" Natsu looked sheepish for a moment for he grinned. "I'm going to kill him. Not only did he do something I told him he shouldn't, but he also interrupted our girl time. I was really looking forward to a nice relaxing soak." I went to follow Natsu back towards the guild when Cana grabbed my arm.
"Lu-Lu, that's not fair! We want to spend some time with you. I haven't seen you in like two weeks!" I looked between Natsu and Cana. I was truly needed there, but I wanted to be there. I was torn with what to do.
"Gajeel was the one who asked me to get you if that helps." It really did. If it were Gajeel who was asking for me I would want to be there more. Damnit. I looked at Cana with a sad smile.
"Damnit! He has a damn tight ass leash on you doesn't he! I guess I can compete with his dick."
"Cana!" Levy's face was bright red and Natsu looked utterly disgusted. I had to smirk at her. Honestly, she was right. He would always win.
"Whatever, run along, Lu-Bitch. I still love you. Actually, I'll go with. I have a bone to pick with him anyway. How about we do breakfast tomorrow? We can meet at that one café, what was its name?" I shrugged not sure what place she was talking about. We both looked at Levy hoping she remembered.
"Are you talking about Crave? That place was super yummy and not too far from here. Is that where you guys want to go tomorrow?" We both nodded. "Alright, then how about ten thirty?"
"I want food Luce!" Natsu was starting to drool. Unfortunately for Happy Natsu's mouth was above him. He was blissfully unaware of the actions taking place until his head was wet.
"Ahh! What is this?" His eyes got large while his little hands wiped the drool off. "Eww, Lushie it's sticky. Why is it sticky?" Cana nearly lost it.
"That's what she said!" Even Levy started to laugh at the actions. Natsu looked completely confused.
"Lushie, I think he's trying to eat me. Save me! Save me!" He jumped up into my arms and started to wipe his hands and head on my chest.
"Ugh! Happy! That's disgusting! Damnit Natsu. You have ten seconds to disappear before I kill you." He shrieked and ran away as Cana and Levy were holding their stomachs from laughter. "You too Happy! You better leave. I smell like Natsu drool because of you." He jumped out of my arms and started to fly as fast as he could away. I could hear him screaming as he went.
"Natsu! Wait for me! She is going to cook me and eat me!"
"Okay ladies, let's go to the guild." I was fuming. I didn't even want to go there anymore. I wanted to go back home and take a damn bath.
As soon as we got to the guild Levy went to Jet and Cana followed me up the stairs to the slayers. I was more concerned when I heard yelling. It sounded like Sting and it sounded like he was in pain. I ran into the room and was completely shocked with what I was seeing.
Sting was trapped to the bed with Gajeel's iron bars and Laxus was shocking him in steady spurts. That's where the pained cries were coming from. However, Wendy was there too. She was standing over his head healing. "I hate to say this, but big brother please add a little more power." She looked like she was in pain. Emotionally, I'm sure. She, like me surely didn't like seeing him in pain. "I'm so sorry Sting!" She had tears streaming down her face while her hands touched his head. He was screaming louder, I could see the breaths coming in short bursts and there was blood starting to leak out of his mouth and nose. They were going to kill him.
"Stop!" Gajeel grabbed my arms and blocked my view.
"I'm sorry Bunny, but we have to get the information so we can go after these people. She thinks that she can get through the mind control, but his brain has to be otherwise occupied so unless someone wants to hop on and ride him pain is our only option." I could tell he didn't want to hurt his friend either and that he thought he was doing what was right, but it wasn't. This wasn't right. They needed to stop!
"You need to stop! You guys are going to kill him!"
"Lucy, I love you, you're my little sister, my kin, but if you can't handle this please leave. I'm not going to stop. Ready Wendy?" I could feel the fury in me start swirling. I was losing focus and felt the magic in my swell. They couldn't be doing this.
"Gajeel, stop this. Laxus, fucking back down!" I screamed at them. My anger flared. This was not a way to treat a friend, a comrade!
"Gajeel, get her out of here." He looked at me with sadness in his eyes. I know he wasn't happy and didn't want to force me out of the room, nor would he, but he could try. Try he did to. He tried guiding me to the door. I felt the magic take form in my hands. I sent a regulas blast his way slamming him not just into the wall, but also through the wall. I heard a grunt as he hit the ground outside. I looked at Laxus who looked at me in complete surprise.
"Laxus, stop." I noticed the blood getting thicker. Their plan may work, but it may cost Sting his life in the process. I heard him growl in warning. He's told me about being his kin, so I knew he couldn't physically hurt me. "Last warning Laxus! I will do the same to you that I did with Gajeel." Wendy was pushing harder seeing the blood coming out thicker.
"I think she is right big brother, we are putting too much-" Wendy got interrupted by our teams running into the room. As soon as Natsu saw Sting he instantly went into flames.
"What the fuck happened here!" The anger was swirling around Natsu as well me. Laxus cut off his magic and stepped away with his hands in front of him in defeat. Bickslow looked over at Sting. He looked horrified.
"What were you guys trying to even accomplish? Did Sting attack?" Bickslow looked over at Laxus alternating looking between everyone. "His soul was starting to diminish. He was close to losing his life Laxus, what exactly did you think would happen?" I was right; he would have lost his life in the process. Laxus looked ashamed and Wendy was crying harder.
"We were trying to get the mind control to stop." Wendy answered Bickslow's question. A thought struck me as odd though.
"Wait! Wendy, I thought you couldn't heal him?" That's why he was healing on his own anyway.
"When Laxus started to hit him with lightning to get him to talk he started to scream. I could feel a barrier disappear around him though so I wanted to try. When it worked I thought that maybe I could get rid of it completely. I think I got some of it. It definitely not as strong as it was, but it is still there." Before I could say anything else a very angry Gajeel came in the room.
"What the fuck Lucy!" Damn, it's my name now. He must be really angry. I looked down and stepped back a little. I didn't want to hurt him and I truly didn't want to slam him into a wall. I didn't want him to get hurt. Just a little stunned. I felt like I was going to cry. There was so much emotion swirling inside of me. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself in check. I backed up a little further. I felt my back hit a wall.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want you guys to hurt him. I acted on action. I'm sorry for you getting hurt in the process, but I'm not sorry it happened. If you guys would have continued he wouldn't be alive right now." He looked back at Wendy, who was still healing him somehow with questioning eyes. She sadly nodded and he sighed.
"Still fucking hurt! How are you able to still take care of him squirt? His mind isn't being distracted."
"Apparently, we got enough of the control out. I can heal him now, but I can still feel barriers on barriers, whoever put the mind control in him is certainly strong." That was discouraging.
"We should let him rest. After you heal him Wendy you should go ahead and go. Rogue is coming by tomorrow with the exceeds and they wont want to see him beat up like this." I felt like a scolding mother, but I was not happy with them right now. They meant well, but they were fucking stupid. Everyone started walking out of the room looking back at me with fear. I heard Wendy start sniffling.
"When you are done Wendy, we will go get some ice cream okay. Thank you for healing him." She looked at me with hope in her eyes. I couldn't be angry with her. She was healing him after all. It's not like they were trying to kill him. Plus she was still young she was doing what she was told by her older brothers. Dumbass brothers. I glared at Laxus. I know this was his idea. He should have known better!
"Lucy?" Laxus looked at me sad knowing full well that I was upset. I heard him whimper a little when I walked over to him. I looked over at Cana really quickly, whose remained quiet thought all of this her eyes noticed my hand twitching and I hoped to Mavis as one of my best friends she would forgive me for this. I didn't know if she did or not because she walked out of the room. I heard Laxus whimper again. The two women he didn't want to want to upset were clearly mad at him. I walked up to him looking him dead in the eye. His eyes closed in shame. I lifted my hand gently decided if I wanted to do this. I looked at Sting who was looking a thousand times better than when I walked. He hurt him for at least ten minutes. He allowed him to scream in pain. He allowed him to bleed out from pain. He deserved this. I made sure there was no magic lingering in my hand. I didn't want my fury to take control of my magic again. I turned a little and swung my hand with a fair amount of force. As soon as I heard the smack of skin I looked away. I didn't think I could look him in the eye. Not for my guilt, for his. I didn't want him to see how mad I was at him.
As soon as my hand was away from his face I turned away from him and walked out of the room. "I'm sorry Lucy." I heard Laxus' unsteady voice call out to me, but I didn't listen. I walked down the stairs and decided I was going to go home for the night.
It took me two hours to calm down. I considered if I overreacted, but I don't think I did. The boys deserved much more punishment in all honesty. They almost took a life. Even if he was being controlled, he was still good. I knew I owed Wendy ice cream and I hope she isn't too upset that I left instead. I will take her out tomorrow instead. As I was getting out of the bathtub, I heard a knock on the door. I was sure it was Gajeel. I honestly didn't know if I wanted to see him right now.
"Bunny, please. Please let me in. I want to talk to you. I can't have you upset with me. It's killing me inside, please!" I've never heard him desperate before. It didn't sound good on him. I grabbed my robe, putting it on, and walked over to the door to let him in.
"Gajeel." It was a mere whisper, but I knew he heard it loud and clear. It was full of emotion though. I don't know if he understood the extent of my anger over his part in the situation though.
"I'm so sorry Bunny. Please forgive me." I felt his arms wrap around me and his face go into my hair. I sighed. This was going to be a long night.
"Do you understand why I am unsure with you right now?" He pulled back with a frightened look in his eyes.
"You're not ending our relationship, are you? Please Lucy, I know we fucked up. I swear to you, I know we shouldn't have done it." He was pleading with me.
"You've conflicted me twice today, do you know that?" I motioned for him to sit down. He sat down and shook his head no. "Gajeel, you helped torture a comrade. I thought you two were past that." He went to say something and stopped him. "Let me finish and then you can say what you want." He nodded again and let me continue. "I've forgiven both of you for your past actions and we moved past that. I believe people make mistakes and learn from them. They grow from their mistakes. At least I had thought you guys learned from them, clearly you didn't. I don't know how I feel about this?" I finally looked at him and could see the devastation written on his face. "What do you have to say for your actions?"
"We were fucking morons Bunny! I swear to Mavis we were just trying to save him from the mind control. We didn't want it to get as far as it did, but at that point we had crossed a line that we couldn't stop. We were making progress. Look at the progress we did make!" He spoke fast clearly worried that I wouldn't let him talk.
"Gajeel, relax, I am going to listen to you. I want to understand what was running through your heads. I'm not going to let you leave until I know what our next step is going to be." He looked shocked and slightly pleased at this, which hurt. He thought I wouldn't let him talk? "What was running through your head?"
"Okay, let me say what I need to. Please don't interrupt if you want my honest answer. I honestly didn't want to tell you this way. I wanted it to be much more romantic, but if it helps me keep you at my side then I am going to tell you everything." He paused and motioned to the armchair across from him. I sat down giving him the time to tell me what he needed to.
"You. You were the only thing running in my head. You were my motivation to do what we did. I love you more than anything Lucy. You are my life now. You are everything to me. There is a new threat. I've let it consume me once and could have killed you. I will not allow that to happen again. If this person or these people are trying to take over dragon slayers than they mean business. If they get us and put those stones in us to amp our power we can annihilate the whole magic community. We will be too powerful for you guys to take us down, plus, I don't think most of you would have it in you to do it. Look at how you reacted at the guild. You wouldn't be able to kill me even if I was trying to kill you." He stopped and grabbed my hands.
"I don't ever want to hurt you. I know we fucked up, big time, but I also know Laxus was thinking along the same lines as me. We don't want you guys to get hurt. We went too far with Sting, but in the end he is okay. Thank you for stepping in, even if you did give me a massive headache. Lucy, I know you know about kins to a dragon and I know that Laxus has told you very little about mates, but I will do everything in my power to make you my mate. I will not force you into it by any means and I will wait until you are one hundred percent ready for it, but you are my life. My heart is in your hands to do whatever you wish with it. You are the reason my life means anything. I am here to be there for you, to love you, to protect you, to shelter you, to give you everything you have ever wanted. Even if you decided to be with someone else I would never stop loving you. I will watch you and make sure you were always safe. That is my job now and I take it happily. I would do anything for you." I felt tears collect in my eyes. That was a really good answer. Looking at it in his eyes and Laxus' I know that they weren't exactly in the wrong. They did it for good reason.
"I love you too Gajeel." I looked at him with a small smile. His eyes widened as he looked up at me. His face was originally full of fear. He probably thought I was going to tell him goodbye. Sure I was upset, but he still meant everything to me too. "Granted I'm not ready for that, no, we're not ready for being mates and I would like you to tell me more about it, but one day we will be ready. You are everything to me too." He came out of his seat to crush me into a hug.
"Fuck Bunny, I love you so damn much! I was so afraid that you weren't going to accept what I said! I'm so happy that you did." I giggled as I felt his face nuzzle my neck his nose dragging across my jawline.
AN: Alrighty folks! Next chapter will be more Gajeel and Lucy in Gaj's POV of course plus more Sting and Rogue is coming YAY! I have to admit I love all of the reviews. They make me super happy. They motivate me to type faster. During the week when I'm at work I come home all meh and don't want to type which is why it gets done on the weekends usually, but yesterday and today I was getting a good chunk of reviews and instead of shrugging off of the story this weekend I decided, nope I wanna make people read I hope you like it!