Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima
ACT VI: Reverberation Time – Gathering what's left
Approximately X793
~ o ~ O ~ o ~
Chapter 40: I'll cheer on that
Laxus got to hospital shortly after he had gotten a call from the doctor, who had informed him that Natsu had gained consciousness and was now currently relaxing with two of his friends. Of course the guild master knew who they were, since he was the one who had assigned them to go there on that specific date, but he was not prepared to see them all snuggled up on the bed, like they were a litter of kittens that was having the best moment in their lives.
Heck, if Lucy and Natsu started purring he wouldn't even be that surprised.
Laxus smirked warmly to himself before he was approached by doctor Astralis, who gave him the latest update, including the fact that it was highly possible that he would be discharged the next day.
"How sure are you that it will be tomorrow?" Laxus asked to be sure.
"Quite so, since he's already recovered this much. Besides I know you have a very capable healer at your guild if something should go wrong, so there's nothing currently preventing him from going home"
"That's good news" the blonde man nodded, inwardly feeling grateful that this happened now, because the guild could use some positive happening to boost their moral.
"Now I know you're not his caretaker as such, but I need to inform you that there are certain things you need to consider before we discharge the kid"
"Such as?" Laxus raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
"Well since his body is rather weak, he'll need someone to take care of him until his muscles have fully recovered. This shouldn't take that long especially if he follows a recovery program and if your healer assists, it could be quicker than even I dare to imagine"
"I see" the lightning mage nodded "Rest assured I'll make sure the right preparations are made"
"That's good to hear" Astralis smiled before petting the mage reassuringly on his back.
"Yeah..." Laxus answered in a low voice with a somewhat teasingly smirk on his lips.
Ohhh he had plans... a master plan some might say, the thought making him chuckle as took a moment to look at the sleeping figures.
"You'll thank me later kid..." he whispered to himself with a knowing look on his face "... if not I'll make sure to electrify that idiotic head of yours later"
"Did you say something?" the doctor asked, making Laxus shake his head.
"Naaaw... anyway, make sure to take care of them, give me a call tomorrow and I'll make sure to come and fetch him, kay?"
"Sure thing" Astralis answered "Talk to you later"
Laxus turned on his feet and waved with his huge hand as his way of seeing "later dude" without using any words.
It was time for the guild master to make his plans real and there was a lot of stuff that needed to be organised before that happened.
But hey, sometimes doing chores and being busy was part of the fun, since it gave him an excuse to order people around... which he kinda enjoyed... a lot...
~ o ~ O ~ o ~
Finally! Lucy thought to herself as the nurse finished helping Natsu into his regular clothes including his scarf that the celestial mage had brought along, after he had just finished taking a long bath. Sure the nurse had helped him with that too, which caused Lucy to blush fiercely because she couldn't prevent herself from having some indecent thoughts, which included imagining herself taking the role as the nurse.
Knowing what she was thinking Happy couldn't stop teasing her, which resulted in her chasing the cat outside, which kept her distracted long enough for the bath to eventually finish.
Natsu wasn't exactly in a good mood when they got back, because before the bath he had tried to convince them with evil stares and squeaks that he didn't need any help. The nurse ignored this though which eventually resulted in him trying to run away, which failed miserably because the minute he tried standing on his own, he started falling forwards but fortunately Happy was quick to catch his body before something bad happened.
So yeah, Natsu was rather sulky that he wasn't fit enough to do whatever he wanted to do or even voice his own opinion. Sure he would grunt and squeal, but that was it! He had tried yelling though when they rolled in a wheelchair they wanted him to use, but that ended up in him coughing loudly because his vocal chord wasn't prepared for him to be so loud.
After the fit of coughing was over with, the really grumpy Dragon Slayer sat staring daggers at the wheelchair, until they heard someone entering the room.
"Well, well, well..." Laxus smirked wickedly as he entered the room, before resting his back against a wall "That's a mighty fine wheelchair, huh? You know I could make it more interesting by turning it into an electric version"
As the lightning mage chuckled at his own joke, Lucy could have sworn she heard Natsu whispering something that sounded like "... sadistic idiot..." but she couldn't be sure.
"Now..." Laxus exhaled loudly "... if you guys are ready we should get going, there are a lot of work that needs to get done once we get back"
"Really?" the blonde girl wondered out loud "What kind of work?"
"You'll see..." Laxus said in a knowing voice, before he snatched Natsu and threw him into the wheelchair "... now let's go"
"Aye!" Happy agreed as he placed himself on Natsu's lap, because why fly when he had the perfect ride right there. So with that somewhat settled Lucy found herself suddenly pushing the moaning Dragon Slayer and Happy out of the hospital, after saying farewell to the staff of course.
It was sunny and really warm outside, which caused the celestial mage to smile brightly because it was the perfect weather to bring their friend back home.
"So what's gonna happen next?" the celestial mage asked Laxus who turned to send her a playful grin.
"Hard work, that'll make you sweat..." the lightning mage winked at her, which caused a huge imaginary question mark to spark from her head, because surely he didn't just do something so uncharacteristic as wink?
Feeling utterly confused and deep in thought, she was suddenly startled when they turned around the corner where a massive amount of people was gathered.
"Eh?" she blinked but quickly recognised her guildmates, that stood cheering and yelling when they spotted them.
"... mmm?" Natsu responded lazily, a small amount of drool dangling out of his mouth.
"I thought you had better manners than that" Erza stated stoically as she trotted in front of them, her eyes glistening in a red colour, that implied she had been insulted by his lack of enthusiasm.
"...!" a weird sort of squeal escaped his mouth in surprise but also pain when his head suddenly slammed against Erza's armoured chest.
"This is more like it, now come it's time to meet everyone" Erza decided and soon the poor Dragon Slayer was sent flying from one person to the next, where he received mixed greetings. Some hugged him, others chose to give him a highfive while one person... Gajeel... decided his sort of greeting should be a firm head butt, that resulted in Natsu wanting to fight, but failing by falling flat down on his face, where laid cursing for a few seconds.
After the loud greeting where people kept yelling and cheering occasionally, the group of people started their way towards the guild. For Natsu this meant he was being carried or getting dragged by Erza and Mirajane.
As Lucy watched this, she felt her stomach fluttering with happiness, because it was great to see the joy it evoked in her friends. It was a nice change to the gloomy faces people sometimes wore, as they thought back to the war. Sure most of them carried on and had a good daily routine, with work and occasional parties, but the pain and sorrow would always be there right underneath the surface, she could see it in their eyes. So for Lucy it was great seeing all of that vanish, making them all act like they had found something new to believe in. It was a hope for the future and that everything would get better.
Despite of that she couldn't prevent herself from feeling slightly sad. It was an emotion deprived from a selfish wish that she deep down wanted to have him for herself, even if it was just for a tiny bit. To look him in the eyes and confirm that he was there. A wish to tell him everything...
Lucy could feel her cheeks blush as a lot of images invaded her mind.
"You know standing by yourself and blushing is kinda weird" Gray chuckled knowingly, making her blush intensify in colour.
"I uhm..."
"The fact you're holding an empty wheelchair doesn't make it better"
"Oy!" Lucy fumed with anger.
"You know you should stop worrying so much" Gray smiled before placing a hand on her shoulder "You'll get him all to yourself soon enough"
"Th-that's not what I'm thinking about!" the celestial mage tried to deny, but deep down she knew it was impossible to fool him.
"Of course you weren't" he chuckled warmly before motioned with his head towards the wheelchair "Get in"
"What?"
"Go on, it'll be fun I promise"
"Uhm... okay?" not entirely sure why she followed his orders, Lucy placed herself in the chair.
"Let's go!" Gray cheered loudly before he started racing at an incredibly fast pace with Lucy screaming loudly in both fright but also joy. It didn't take more than a few seconds before they passed their guild mates, leaving them in a huge dust cloud as they kept their fast pace.
"The last one who reaches the guild, is gonna be the one who helps him to the bathroom!" Gray yelled towards the group, earning a few loud outbreaks and people who started racing as well.
Not that they could catch up with the duo, but for Lucy it was still delightful to see the determined and some horror struck faces as they ran as fast as they could.
She really loved her guild, Lucy thought to herself before a childish laughter escaped her mouth.
And today they would be reunited and celebrate that Natsu was alive. It was the last and final piece that they had left from the war where the odds in the beginning weren't in their favour, but in the end they came out victoriously with their friend back on his feet.
~ o ~ O ~ o ~
Laxus was right, she would have to work really hard to the point of her sweating bullets. Not that it was bad at all, no cuite on the contrary because the moment they got back they started one of the hugest parties ever! Seriously, Lucy didn't know when they last had such a huge party, where they had small games and tournaments. There were competitions in different games, dancing, eating and even a stripping one where they had to see who was willing to take off the most. Gray could have easily won that, but because of his habit of occasionally being naked he wasn't allowed to participate.
Since a lot of competitions called for physical activity, Natsu couldn't participate but he looked to be somewhat content in not being part of it, as he sat on a bench sipping on alcohol through a straw.
After some time of having fun, the majority of people started to get drunk or passing out in various places. The unfortunate ones that was sprawled out got punished by getting a few drawings on their faces, some more mature than others, that caused Lucy to shake her head because she dearly hoped no one would draw... well that perverted thing on her face.
"... childishss... peoples..." Lucy blurted out in a drunken voice, her eyes scanning the guild before spotting a certain pink haired boy.
Feeling giggly she skipped her way over to him before placing herself across from him.
"Eyy!" Lucy greeted loudly, making her opponent's eyes widen and looking mildly shocked.
"... ey..." he answered in a very low and raspy voice, a huge smile on his face.
"Ahhh..." the blonde stretched her arms above her head when she suddenly realised something "You juzzd spoke!"
"Is kay..." he managed to nod weakly to himself before taking a sip of his drink.
"But you shou-dent..." Lucy pointed her finger dramatically in a huge uneven circle "... nope!"
"... make... me..." Natsu raised an eyebrow challengingly.
"Ohhh, OH!" she smacked her hands hard against the table and got onto her feet "I'll... make you"
Leaping from her position she jumped over the table, her arms stretched out as her hands caught the Dragon Slayer's shoulders, the force being so strong that it made both of them tumble down on the ground with a huge crash.
"Nnngh..." Natsu groaned in pain, as he laid in a starfish position underneath Lucy, who was straddling his torso.
"Hahah!" Lucy laughed wickedly "I made you!"
"Tsch!" he snorted defiantly "... as if..."
The blonde girl's eyebrows twitched momentarily in annoyance, before she placed her hand above his mouth.
"Teheheh..." Lucy giggled "... now thatz should teach... EWW! Don't lick me!"
She quickly removed her hand, which made her stare down at her victim who was smiling wholeheartedly at her, his eyes glistening with amusement.
"Don't look... like that" she pouted.
"Bite me..." he wiggled his tongue teasingly, which irritated her at first, well until an idea suddenly struck her mind.
"If you say zo" she smiled teasingly, before placing her hands on each side of the pink haired boy and leaned down to bite him in his shoulder. Not hard, but it was enough to make him wince.
"Stupid Luce..." the Dragon Slayer whispered, clearly not impressed as he rolled with his eyes "I... can still..."
"Oy!" a male voice suddenly boomed before a tall blonde man was towering right beside them "I don't want naughty stuff in MY GUILD!"
"La-Laxus" Lucy stuttered her face turning so red she could blend in with a pile of tomatoes.
"... the fuck...?" Natsu wondered from the floor earning a stern look from the guild master.
"Exactly!" he pointed at the two in turn, with a playful grin on his face "And if you don't behave I'll never allow any of you to take the S-Class exam"
"WHAT?!" the fire mage roared which unfortunately send him into a coughing fit.
"You should know better than to shout with that throat of yours!" Laxus eyes twitched "Idiot!"
"Ey, you're the one... who provoked him!" Lucy defended in a more sober tone, as she stared angrily at the other blonde.
"Ohhh the kitten has claws" Laxus laughed teasingly "Meooow!"
Being drunk and annoyed, the celestial mage felt her blood boil with anger before she quickly found her keys and summoned her Taurus Star Dress. Once that was done she quickly launched herself into the air, where she moved her arm backwards to get more acceleration and power into the uppercut she delivered to Laxus a second later. The force behind it was so strong that it send the lightning mage flying into a wall.
"You failed in my class, now go back and study harder! Idiot!" Lucy threatened as she pointed at the shocked lightning mage, before she raised her chin high and turned to look the equally shocked fire mage, who laid with his mouth wide open.
"Let's go!" Lucy said, determined it was time to go.
"Ohh... ?" the Dragon Slayer mouthed weakly, sounding slightly frightened as Lucy placed one of his arms across her shoulders, while placing one of her own arms around his waist, thereby supporting him as they went outside and walked in her apartments direction. After a few minutes of walking somewhat in an even line, Natsu finally interrupted the silence.
"Uhm..."
"What is it?"
"Ehh..." he motioned downwards with his head, making her blink in confusion before looking down where she saw that his feet was dragging against the ground as they walked "... oh... I'm sorry!"
"Heh..." he shook his head, clearly not minding it that much.
"Ohh my gosh, I'm so... so sorry" Lucy started shaking because she felt so mad at herself for not noticing it earlier.
"Luce..?" his low voice was filled with concern, but she didn't hear him.
What now? She thought to herself.
Well you literally dragged him into this, you need to finish what you started!
"Yosh!" Lucy nodded to herself, her sadness vanishing immediately because of her determination.
"Mmm? Eh!" the Dragon Slayer squeaked in surprise, as Lucy somewhat manhandled him onto her back.
"Okay Lucy you can do this!" she said to herself before making her way down the streets, not listening to the small protests coming from her back. Admittedly it was kinda hard, because even though she was in her Taurus Star Dress she could still feel the strain in her muscles, but she ignored that which was partly due to her determination another one was her drunk state, that numbed her sense of pain.
So with that the girl, found herself making her way home with a baffled Dragon Slayer on her back.
~ o ~ O ~ o ~
After a while they finally managed to get to her apartment, where she rather roughly threw Natsu on her floor where he landed flat on his back, with an "ompf" coming out of his mouth.
Once that was over with she crashed right next to him on the floor, so they were both staring at the ceiling from the ground.
"Ohhh gosh..." Lucy each exhaled loudly "... I never thought we would make it..."
"... uh-huh..."
"... I'm so tired..."
"... mmm..." Natsu mumbled barely registering anything because he was already starting to drift off.
"Good... night..." Lucy muttered as she nuzzled herself into a better position on the ground.
"Night..." he muttered back, but before any of them fell completely asleep there was a slight pop like sound, followed by the sound of something very small running around the apartment. After a while Plue entered their field of vision, carrying some blankets and pillows he then very carefully placed over and under the half asleep duo, who managed to thank him in low voices.
"Pu-pun" the celestial being muttered to himself as the two humans fell asleep. Seeing that both of them was comfortable, the spirit vanished into the spirit world, leaving the two of them to sleep on the floor.
A/N: Slow and steady wins the race, right? ;) /H
