Chapter 3
A/N: So... I'd like to thank those who did review this story, I really needed that enthusiasm. Even though I didn't get 5 reviews for that chapter I have a total of 5 reviews for the whole thing. (Siac-nee, strawhat1227, Deathsembrace137, Dark-Otaku-One-Of-Many, H8rslovemecauseI'mawesome were my amazing reviewers) You clever people have found a loophole... eh, not really but I'm giving you guys a bone, so ENJOY it! By the way, I hope you enjoy the way the chapter ends because I was laughing my a** off when I was writing it. And NO she doesn't swing that way, I just thought it would be funny, AND I WAS RIGHT! Hahaha, poor Wendy. By the way the next chapter wont be in Lucy's point of view but in Gajeel's. Just thought I'd warn you beforehand.
I woke up in a hospital.
In certain situations, someone could have panicked at this knowledge. For example, they could have fumbled out of bed, not realizing they were only wearing a hospital gown-and that it was barely tied-ran down the hall, punching a nurse in the nose, breaking it-good thing she was already in a hospital-only to be tackled by the guy who saved you from a psychotic criminal before you could hurt the nurse's friend. All the while, you're trying to use your magic, but you forgot that its been temporarily locked away, which causes you to go into an even more frantic state.
So, yeah. Some people panic when they're in a hospital. Unfortunately, that "some people" just so happens to be me. The doctor said that the reason behind my behavior was because the painkillers were messing with my brain, and that it was normal to be disoriented when it starts to wear off. I say its because I have two dead parents who ended up in the hospital morgue, but nobody listens to the girl who's high on painkillers.
They moved my room to a more "private" wing to better suit my "situation". Basically they moved me to a concrete room with a bed welded to the wall-it even came with restraints-where Gajeel was sitting/leaning against the door with his eyes closed, while he waited for his boss to get here so I could be interrogated. I kept trying to ask who his boss was but he just said that I'd find out when he got here.
While we waited, I kept glancing at my wrist. Or more specifically, the runes that decorated my wrist. The drugs had diluted the pain to a dull throbbing, however, slivers of doubt kept shooting through my mind. What if I couldn't find a rune maker? What if this was permanent? What if-
"Oh King! I've been so stupid!" I ran over to Gajeel. "Can I borrow your phone?"
Without opening an eye he said, "No."
I was starting to tear up, I was so close to an answer to my problems. I tried again, "I need to call someone. Please, I need this."
He opened an eye, "Why?"
A lone tear went down my face, shamefully I turned away and held up my hand, showing my rune marked wrist. "I think I know someone who can help me get this off."
I turned back to face him when I heard him shuffling. He placed a slim, black flip phone in my hand. He closed his eyes again and went back in that meditative state from before. I felt a smile light up my face. "Thank you!" I said and kissed him on the cheek.
I turned around before he could see my blush. I'd never done something- no, anything, like that before, and to a perfect stranger! I blushed another shade of red as I dialed the number. He picked up on the fourth ring.
"Hello? Who is this?" A grumpy, masculine voice said.
"LAXUS! Thank the King! It's me, Lucy."
"Lucy!? Where are you? Everyone's been worried sick since you didn't show up to work or answer your phone. Gramps has been in his office making calls since he heard you couldn't be reached. He only left a little while ago. I went to your apartment, but the police wouldn't let me in, saying that it was a crime scene. Nobody's telling me anything! Where are you? I'll come get you."
I almost laughed at his display of overprotectiveness. It was so good to hear his voice. "I can't explain now, but I need you to pick up your friend, the one that does rune magic, Freed, I think, and come to the Cait Shelter Hospital."
"Jesus, Lucy. What happened?" His voice strained.
"I'll explain when you get here."
I heard him grumble, "Fine, I'll be there in a few minutes." He hung up. He'd probably hit every red light on the way here.
My heart was pounding. They're really coming.
I turned around to hand the phone back but ran into a solid wall of muscle. I looked up to see Gajeel's red eyes glaring down at me.
The room was suddenly 10 degrees warmer. I felt my face go a deep red. I gulped, "Here's your phone."
He glared another moment at me but then took the phone back. "Who'd you call?" He snapped as he sat back down again.
"My brother," I said, trying to hide my blush.
I went and sat on the bed, looking at anything but him.
He snorted, "Yeah? Would you care to elaborate on that answer."
I felt a twinge of irritation at his sarcasm but answered anyway. "Lazus Dreyar. He's the son of the man who pretty much adopted me after my dad died."
He looked confused for a second but regained his composure so fast I though I'd imagined it. He looked like he was about to say something, when there was a knock on the door.
I stood up as Gajeel opened to door. Gajeel blocked my view of the man, but between the few words they shared, I assumed that this was his boss.
Taking a deep breath, I readied myself for the questioning to begin. Only to lose that breath as Gajeel moved out of the way, and I saw his boss in a familiar suit and a stupidly, stripped hat.
I was too stunned to speak. My mind was running a million miles a second to try and process everything. Gajeel's boss was... Makarov. Makarov was Gajeel's boss. Gajeel was a Special Agent. Makarov and my Dad... They worked in the same department of government. Zeref wanted to know about Makarov's and my Dad's work, which I knew absolutely nothing about. Suddenly everything just clicked and made perfect sense. Oh, King.
I fell to my knees. This couldn't be happening. Not to me.
"...ucy? The important thing is that you need to remain calm." Makarov was trying to say. I didn't even realize he was talking. "Take a deep breath and I'll explain everything."
That made me angry; He was treating me like a stupid child about to do something dangerous. I was going to do something dangerous, but that didn't make me stupid.
I stood up and charged him. I took about three and a half steps before strong arms wrapped around my waist. I snarled, and banged on the studded arms. Gajeel was holding me back from the man who had allowed me to live with him and practically adopted me, without telling me the dangers.
Makarov didn't looked the slightest bit scared, just worried, which made me angrier. "If you'd just calm down, I will ex-"
I stopped fighting and laughed cruelly, "Explain what? That you and my father worked as special agents? That you both put away dangerous criminals for a living and neither of you deemed it fit to tell me! That I could be in danger! Like last night? You better thank the King that I can't use my magic or call my spirits right now, otherwise I wouldn't be holding anything back."
Makarov sighed. "I understand that you're angry-"
"Oh, I'm not angry. I'm furious. How could you keep something like this from me?" I was so angry that I actually bared my teeth at him and growled. In case it wasn't mentioned before, Heartfilias were famous for their tempers. Right now, just so happens to be one of the rare times I lose my cool. I started clawing at the muscled arm holding me back. I was pretty close to bitting it when a deep voice whispered in my ear, "You need to calm down."
Deep down, I wanted to disobey. I wanted to make Makarov regret not telling me the truth, but that voice... That voice was like a cool wave of water to the raging fires of my heart. I felt that rage, the same rage that was famously hard to tame, stop. Just like that, gone. I felt my body go slack in his arms as he lifted me up and took me to the bed. He tried to get me to lay down but I refused and just sat on the bed. After a moment he sat down next to me, his earthy scent wafting around me like a warm blanket. Taking a deep breath of his scent, I turned to Makarov.
He looked shocked beyond belief. He even had his mouth hanging open, his eyes darted between the both of us like he couldn't believe what he just saw. The sight would have been comical in a different situation. He quickly shook his head, and smiled broadly, like he knew something that we didn't. "Now that we're all calm, I can explain.
"It's true. Your father and I were Special Agents working together as partners for almost 20 years. We put international criminals in prison, escorted ambassadors to and fro countries and on rare occasions, take down crime bosses, like we did Zeref 18 years ago." He stopped letting that information sink in.
I couldn't help the streak of doubt in my voice. "Are you telling me, that my boring, conservative dad helped arrest Zeref? That's the most farfetched thing I've heard all evening, no, my life!"
He smiled, looking off into the distance, "I know, but it's true. However, he did more than that. He planned and executed Zeref's arrest single-handedly. He truly was incredible in his prime. His passing was truly devastating."
It still seemed unlikely, but it did somewhat explain why Zeref wanted my dad, but that didn't explain... "Why did he think my dad was still alive?"
Makarov just shrugged his shoulders and sighed, "I wish I knew." He walked over to the bed and grabbed my right hand. He touched the runes, "I truly am sorry, my dear. Jude's greatest wish was that you know nothing of his work life. When your mother died, he wanted to spend more time with you, so he took a desk job with the occasional field job. He wanted to quit altogether but the job kept pulling him back in, requiring more of his skills. Then the Zeref case came. He took it and within a month he had Zeref in cuffs. Zeref was sentenced to life but he vowed to escape and take his revenge on Jude.
"Now that he's escaped, he'll eventually find out that Jude is gone. However, he still has his sights on you, so now we need to move you to a more secure location. One where he can-"
"Wait," I interrupted. "You mean move? I can't move. I have work, an-and that new deal. I can't miss this, you know that." I pleaded.
Makarov chuckled, "I know, that's why you'll be staying with one of the agents living in the city and still go to work." He turned to Gajeel and smiled. "Special Agent Redfox, you are now on a temporary leave to look after Lucy."
He sprang up, already I missed his comforting earthy smell, his face red with anger, "What! Why am I on leave?"
Makarov gave him an exasperated look, "You know why. Even though I am incredibly grateful that you saved Lucy, you still disobeyed orders. You should have waited until there was backup."
Gajeel let loose a low, threatening growl. "If we had waited, Zeref would have escaped with her. I couldn't just let him take off with her, knowing that Hea-" He was stopped mid sentence by a suddenly large fist squeezing him.
Makarov had used his magic to allow himself to grow as tall the room would let him, effectively making himself taller than everyone in the room. His eyes sparked with white light as he glared down at Gajeel. In a thunderous voice he yelled, "We will discuss this later! Is that understood?"
Gajeel glared back at him and nodded.
And just like that, Makarov returned to his normal size and was all smiles again. Gajeel just growled and sat by me again, plopping down on the bed so hard, I bounced up a good two feet and practically landed on him. I felt my face turn a few shades of red as I tried to pull myself off of him. He too was trying in vain to untangle himself from me. The entire time, I could have sworn I heard laughing.
When we finally untangled ourselves, we were both red faced and avoiding eye contact. I looked up to see Makarov trying to hide his smile. So he was laughing!
"Now that your both done playing around, you can start to discuss your living arrangements. Lucy, I will speak to you again once you've settled down later."And with that, he turned toward the door. Right before he closed the door he turned back to me, "One more thing Lucy, Laxus knows about my current job as head of the DME, however, he doesn't know about my previous work for the DME. I'd appreciate it, if you could keep it that way."
I frowned at him, "You know that's not fair."
He nodded sadly, "I know."And with that he closed the door.
Silence filled the room until Gajeel spoke, "I have a spare room you can use."
"Great." I tried to sound enthusiastic but even that sounded false to my ears.
He sighed deeply and turned his entire body to face me. "Listen, I know that you don't want to live with me, but until this guy is caught, we have to keep you hidden."
I closed my eyes and nodded. Figured as much.
"When can I leave the hospital?"
He smiled, "As soon as you can stop attacking nurses."
I frowned, "Jerk! It was an accident. How was I suppose to know that she had a fragile nose?" In a sudden rage, I pushed him off the bed. He was caught off guard and tumbled off into a heap on the floor, landing on his face. I laughed so hard I felt tears in my eyes.
He jumped up from his fall and faced me. I had time to take notice of the crazed grin on his face right before he tackled me onto the bed. He had me straddled and pinned both of my hands above my head. I blushed brightly when I realized I had nothing more than a hospital gown on, but at the same time I didn't want him to move. He seemed to be thinking along the same lines because he gave a small smile and started to lean down.
We were too distracted by our... um, near-activity, that neither of us heard the door open until an angry voice rang out, "What the hell do you think your doing to my sister?"
A/N: I should end it here... HOWEVER... If I were to end it here, this chapter wouldn't reach my word quota, therefore, I shall elongate my word limit.
I whipped my head to look at the door. Laxus and another man with long, green hair that I recognized as Freed, stood in the doorway. Freed's face was probably as red as mine was and Laxus looked like he was ready to rip a new one. But before he could act, Gajeel leaped off of me and walked toward Laxus and Freed.
I couldn't see his expression as he said, "Who are you, and what are you doing in here?"
Laxus glared at him, "I believe I asked a question first."
Gajeel pulled something out of his pocket and showed it to Laxus. "And I believe I'm the one with the police badge. I'll say it again, 'Who are you and what are you doing in here?'"
Laxus looked dumbstruck as he stared at the badge, but then glared at Gajeel, "Well Special Agent Redfox, I am Lucy's adoptive brother, Laxus Dreyar. I am here because she went missing yesterday evening and I was worried about her."
I smiled at this and got up from the bed and gave him a hug. He gave me a tight, bear hug in return. Inside his embrace, I felt all the emotions that I had kept bottling up since yesterday burst open in a flood of tears. All that fear and confusion came rushing to the surface and I couldn't stop the story from coming out.
It took about 10 minutes to tell the entire story, during which, Laxus and I both ended up sitting on the floor. Gajeel was glaring at Laxus while Freed stood by the door. He gave me a shocked look when I talked about the magic block while Laxus only hugged me tighter.
"Are you telling me that you went through the magic block with minimal brain damage?" Freed asked, incredulous. "You'd have to be pretty powerful to avoid those symptoms."
"Sure," I sniffled. "I mean, I got a few cuts and bruises but other than... Wait," I said, fully understanding what he said, "Brain damage? What do you mean brain damage? And why would I have to be powerful?"
Freed looked uncomfortable, "Well... you see,... um..."
Gajeel stood up from the bed and glared at Freed, "Just spit it out already!"
Somewhere deep inside my frazzled head, a small part of me warmed up at Gajeel's display of concern, the rest of my head was thinking, BRAIN DAMAGE?!
Is it possible to be breathing fast, yet at the same time feel like your suffocating? That's basically what I felt was happening to me. Belatedly I realized that I was having a panic attack.
I struggled my way out of Laxus' arms and started pacing, my breath coming faster with each step. "Oh, King! What going to happen? Am I going to die? What will happen to the company? What if-" I stopped mid rant when I ran into a hard chest and heavy hands fell on my shoulders.
I looked up and saw Gajeel looking at me with a firm expression, "You do not have brain damage! The doctors would have found it when they gave you that check up when you came in. Plus you are acting like a fully functioning human being. Therefore there is nothing wrong with you."
Tears were in my eyes as I nodded. I bit my lip to keep from crying. Gajeel sighed and gave me a tight hug. King, I'm such an idiot. I felt fine so there couldn't be anything wrong with me. I hugged Gajeel a second longer then left his warm embrace to go sit on the bed, all the while trying to wipe the tears from my eyes. King, I've been crying a lot today.
I nodded to Freed to let him finish what he was saying before I had my panic attack. He cleared his throat, clearly looking uncomfortable, and continued, "Well, the magic block is a complex piece of magic. Thats why its illegal to use. For some reason, when its used on weak and often times average mages, it causes brain damage. They aren't able to fully function by themselves and they lose the ability to use their magic permanently. They become a sort of... shell, of their former selves. However," He rushed when he saw my fearful expression, "Stronger mages, like yourself, will experience no symptoms what so ever."
King, what did that man do to me? I immediately thought of that woman, Erza, and how she seemed perfectly fine even though she had the same runes as me. She must be pretty strong as well. "Will anything happen when its taken off?" I asked hesitantly.
He shifted his weight from his left foot to the right. Oh, I know what that means. I'd seen it before with Natsu and Gray when I asked if they'd finished shipments even though I knew they didn't and they were trying to think of an easy way to tell me. King, what more could happen?
"Well... it'll make you highly emotional for a few hours. So if you're seeing anyone, its best that you avoid them. People have been known to... give in to their urges afterwards and have no ability to stop it." He and Laxus both glanced at Gajeel, but I hardly noticed because I was too busy blushing like a madwoman.
Oh King, I can't believe I made him say that in front of him. I could care less about Laxus hearing it, but Gajeel? I won't be able to stop myself if my magic induced high does something I don't want to do. Well... Do I not want that? He's pretty hot, and to be honest not a bad guy even with his irritatingly loud mouth. But judging by our earlier activity- blush- he wanted it too, even if it was a heat of the moment thing.
I inhaled deeply, trying to calm my frantic heart. "Okay. Take the block off. Now. I want to be able to use my magic as soon as possible."
Laxus swung his head to me, worried, "Are you sure? I mean, don't you want to wait until you're home that way gramps and I can look out for you?"
I shook my head, "I'm not going home home with you. I'm staying with Gajeel."
He stood up, fury written all over his face, and yelled, "You mean you're staying with this guy? Why? You barely know him! You met him what, 7 hours ago? Who in the hell told you to stay with him?"
I looked away, suddenly having a hard time to form words. However, Gajeel apparently didn't have this problem, "My Captain did," He glared down at Laxus. "You might know him. I call him Captain Dreyar, but I believe you call him grandfather." He sneered.
I was about to snap at Gajeel for being rude, but before I could utter a word, Laxus had tackled Gajeel to the ground.
I stared, wide eyed, as Laxus punched Gajeel square in the temple. Gajeel just laughed and raised his fist. Just before it made contact, it flashed a grayish-silver. What was that?
Laxus was literally lifted off of Gajeel and sent flying across the room into the cement wall. He slumped to the ground and didn't move again. I let out a startled yelp as Freed and I ran to him.
Thank the King, he's still breathing! I gently laid his head down and turned to glare at Gajeel. "Why did you hit him so hard? Better yet, how did you?" I yelled.
He shrugged and raised the hand that he hit him with. At first, I didn't understand, but then I remembered what he'd said earlier.
Dragon Slayer.
"You turned your entire arm into iron? That could have killed him!" I yelled as I ran up and punched him.
He grabbed both of my hands before I could hit him again and spun me around so that my arms were crossed and useless. I didn't even try to get out. I just huffed and let my anger for him simmer. He leaned down next to my ear, "You knew that he wasn't going to let you take that block off. And I knew that he's an irrational and if angered, could be taken out temporarily. Now, if you'd like to get your magic back, I suggest you do it now while he finishes up his nap." And with that he let me go.
Begrudgingly, I knew that he was right and that this was my chance, but that didn't make his actions okay. I glared at him as we both sat on the bed. Freed was already waiting there, having heard our fight and left Laxus for a moment.
I held up my arm and he gently took it in his left hand while holding a rune pen in his right one. "Ready?" He asked.
I took a deep breathe and nodded. The pen touched my skin and started moving.
I yelped in pain. It felt as though there was fire entering my skin where the pen touched. My left hand shot out, searching for something, anything to distract me from the pain. Suddenly a hand gripped mine. It was hard and definitely bigger than mine, but it was comforting all the same. I squeezed with as much force as I could muster and it squeezed back.
After what felt like an eternity but was probably only a few minutes, the pain stopped and I felt a huge wave of something sweep over me. It was so overpowering that I let out a small, but loud gasp. King, what is that? The wave soon settled down into a familiar place in my chest. Smiling to myself, I realized it was my magic. You're back!
I giggled, suddenly happy. Ridiculously happy if I do say so myself. What a weird word: ridiculously. And just like that I started laughing.
I don't know how long I kept laughing but I stopped when I heard a hesitant, "Lucy?"
That one word made me realize that I wasn't alone in the room. I looked in the direction it came from and saw Gajeel looking a me. He seemed concerned. Aww, what a sweetie.
I smiled at him, "It's back. My magic, it's back!"
He smiled. It was a small smile, but still a smile. "That's great, but... How do you feel?"
Awww, he's concerned. How cute. "You're cute when you're worried. Did anyone tell you that?"
His eyes widened in shock for a moment. He turned to look at Freed, who was trying to lift Laxus up from the ground. He wasn't doing a very good job; Laxus was heavy.
Freed looked at me then back to Gajeel. "Don't worry, that's normal."
I was confused, "What's normal and why is your hair green? Are you some cosplayer or something? I'm not judging or anything, I'm just curious. Oh, and you're never going to be able to lift him up with those twigs you call arms. Hey! Why don't you help him?" I asked enthusiastically, turning to Gajeel. "Your arms are like freaking pythons. You'll have no trouble lifting him up. And- why are you holding my hand?" I said looking down at our entwined fingers. "Not that I'm complaining. Your hand is very nice."
Gajeel seemed to notice our hands and quickly pulled away and stood up. I stood up too and went to stand by the door. I didn't want to be the only one sitting.
Gajeel walked over to Freed and helped him pick Laxus up and move him onto the bed. After Laxus was situated both Gajeel and Freed turned to look at me. "How long will she be like this?" Gajeel asked.
Freed looked me up and down, "I'd say at least 4 hours, maybe 5. The stronger the mage, the longer it is, and if you felt the amount of magic being blocked, you'd be surprised it's not longer. However, if she starts doing... things, then I'm wrong and it will go on longer."
Gajeel narrowed his eyes, "What kind of things?"
"Well, um, her ho-horm-mones-"
Gajeel rolled his eyes and yelled, "Just spit it out already!"
However, before Freed could answer him, two things happened at the same time.
First, Laxus woke up. He slammed up from his position on the bed, cursing about some pain he was feeling in his head.
Second, a nurse walked in. She had blue hair and looked fairly young to be a nurse. "Good news!" She said, "You can go home! I just need you to sign a few things..."
I squealed, "Laxus woke up and I can leave!" I threw my arms around the nurse. "Thank you so much!" I said right before I kissed her.
When I pulled back a moment later, everyone was in different stages of shock. The nurse's face was a bright shade of pink, she just turned around and walked out of the room. Gajeel and Laxus were staring at me like they couldn't believe what they just saw. Freed had his hand to his forehead, as if he'd just slapped it. He grumbled, "That was what I was worried about. Her... female chemicals are on a maximum high right now, so she feels incredibly happy about everything. You can now expect this to last for a good 10 hours if she's in this kind of state."
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