Fifth and Sixth Save:
She let out a heavy sigh as she stood in front of the board, folding her arms across her chest, her eyes skimming the board as she took in the jobs. Her nose wrinkled slightly feeling annoyed with the flyers for not giving her what she wanted. The reality of it was that if she wasn't so particular about which job she took and didn't try her hardest to keep away from jobs that involved fighting, or even kept it to a minimum, then she'd most likely be raking in numerous amounts of jewels but as it stood the celestial mage detested solo jobs that involved fighting. She got enough of that when she went on a job with her team mates.
Speaking of, she glanced around the guild wondering where they had disappeared to. Turning to the board she sighed, dropping her arms to her side as she gave up her staring contest with it and made her way to the bar to order a smoothie. She'd look again later. Plopping herself at the bar she propped her arm up, head in hand as she waited for Mira, ordering her usual strawberry smoothie when the barmaid inquired.
"Everything okay Lucy?" The woman questioned when she delivered the drink
Nodding her head, the blonde took a drink of the sweet concoction, sighing happily. "Hey Mira, do you know where the rest of Team Natsu went?"
Mira frowned slightly before responding. "Lucy, they left for a job a couple nights ago."
"Oh." She frowned trying to recall why she hadn't gone along with the others.
"You decided that you didn't want to go out on the job so they took Lisanna with them." Mira informed her, still speaking slowly, her tone suggesting that the blonde should already know.
Tilting her head the stellar mage struggled to recall all of this happening, frowning as she remembered that a few nights ago she and Cana had gone out drinking and she had been utterly smashed. Maybe that was what it was. Shaking her head she gave Mira a smile upon seeing the barmaid giving her a concerned expression. "It slipped my mind. Thanks for reminding me."
"Lucy –"Mira began but the stellar mage cut her off.
"Nothing to worry about" She assured the S-class mage before standing up from her stool. "I'm going to go scan the board and see if there's a job I'm willing to take." Turning the celestial mage made her way to the board once again to look over the jobs, a frown slowly making its way onto her face once again as she couldn't find a job she was even willing to really tolerate doing. Huffing she looked over them once more, jumping upon hearing a low voice hum in her ear.
"What's with the face cheerleader?" Sighing heavily, she glanced to the man beside her, a blush working its way onto her face. "The board, do something to upset you?
"Hey, Bickslow" She greeted in return, frowning slightly at his silly question. "No, I'm just…" She trailed off to skim at the rest of the flyers. "Looking" Sighing her irritation grew as she still couldn't just pick one.
"Need to go on a job?" She nodded slightly still reading the jobs.
"Yeah, rent is due soon, but I just –"She cut herself off as she felt herself being turned away from the board, soon looking up at a grinning seith mage.
"Go on a job with me and the rest of the thunder legion." She glanced toward the table where his teammates usually sat at, slightly hesitant but nodded her head in agreement and giving him a smile.
He sat at the table, shifting in his seat as he lifted his mug before setting it back down, barely hearing the conversation going on around him at the moment. His mind refused to move past that night he had saved Lucy from falling into the canal – for a second time. Her words kept playing in his head and the kiss – he had not expected that and it made him think about Evergreen's advice, feeling the desire to take it but then… His eyes moved from the table he was staring at to the celestial mage standing at the job board, looking at it rather intensely.
Every time he laid eyes on her he would lose any confidence and his heart would hold him back, questioning the blonde's words and actions. She had been very drunk when it happened and since that day she hadn't approached him and it made him wonder if she even remembered kissing him. Pushing those thoughts aside he lifted up his mug of alcohol and drained the rest of it in one go, perking up at the word job coming from Laxus. That was definitely what he needed right now, a good distraction from his thoughts.
"We'll meet at the train station tomorrow morning around…" Laxus voice faded to the back of his mind when he saw the stellar mage move away from the board, a look of annoyance and hidden distress on her face. He watched her head over to the bar for a few minutes and he wondered if she needed to go out on a job. He could recall that she often complained about her rent maybe he could help her out? Perhaps he could talk to her and just maybe – catching himself the seith mage startled slightly. What the hell was he even thinking?
He attempted to push those ideas out of his head, a single thought still lingering. He could help her out with her rent couldn't he? Looking to his leader sitting across from him, he opened his mouth to call out the man's name but closed it just as quickly, feeling hesitant. Even if Laxus had found out about why he had seemed so differently lately – and promptly burst into laughter – it still didn't mean the slayer would agree to her tagging along for the job.
He thought for a moment longer figuring if the lightning mage didn't agree to it then maybe he'd just skip out on going on a job with his team and take the celestial mage on one instead. Before he could second guess his train of thought he called out to the lightning slayer. The S-class mage looked at him, his brow raising just the slightest to signal he was listening.
"Do you mind if cheerleader tags along?" His question brought the attention of the rest of his team mates to him and he couldn't find it in himself to be nervous about the situation even when Laxus pulled his headphones off of him, an amused smirk playing on his lips.
"You wanna bring the princess?" Bickslow gave a nod of his head and the slayer's smirk widened slightly before he slid his headphones back on. "Fine by me" The seith mage blinked in surprise at his words, not having expecting the response.
"Really?" Laxus nodded, that smirk back on his face.
"Anyone have any objections?" The slayer inquired and he received negatives from the other two at the table. Bickslow grinned happily before rising from his seat to go ask the stellar mage.
Making his way over he stood behind her, leaning forward to speak in her ear. "What's with the face cheerleader?" He inquired, hearing her sigh heavily before glancing at him, a blush suddenly appearing on her face. "The board, do something to upset you?" He asked teasing her.
"Hey, Bickslow" She greeted in return, frowning slightly. "No, I'm just…" She trailed off turning back to the board. "Looking" Another sigh escaped her, this one seeming irritated. She must be frustrated about the job choices.
"Need to go on a job?" He asked, tempted to smack himself for asking such an obvious question, grateful she was distracted and only gave him a slight nod. His hand twitched as it rose, reaching out to grab her wrist, carefully.
"Yeah, rent is due soon, but I just –"She cut herself off as he turned her away from the board and to himself, giving her a wide grin.
"Go on a job with me and the rest of the thunder legion." He suggested, watching as she glanced toward the table where the rest of the thunder legion sat and he worried she'd reject the idea with the look that crossed her eyes but instead he was given a nod before she gave him a smile that had him grinning in return. "We're meeting at the train station tomorrow morning around seven." She nodded her head.
"Okay, Is Laxus alright with this?" He nodded.
"Yeah"
"Then I'll see you tomorrow. Thank you."
"Yeah, see you tomorrow cheerleader." She smiled before heading off toward the bar and he returned to his seat feeling happy.
The night ended as it usually did before they went on a job, however this time Bickslow hadn't stopped by her street and went straight home, determined to get a decent night's rest for their job.
-x-
When morning came he began his usual routine, eating a quick breakfast before calling for his babies and grabbing his bag. Locking up his apartment he made his way to the train station, knowing he'd arrive a little earlier than the others. On a normal basis he was the last one there but today he couldn't help his excitement. Though it wasn't just the two of them he was still taking the cosplaying cheerleader on a job.
Reaching the station he entered and purchased his ticket before making his way over to sit on a bench to wait for the others. Shifting in his seat he looked up at his babies as they floated above him, smiling before becoming distracted with his leader, greeting the man.
"Morning" The slayer grumbled slightly in response before taking a seat next to him and he turned to scan the area for Freed figuring the rune mage was getting tickets for the two. Spotting the green haired man he smiled, soon catching sight of Evergreen walking toward the booth to buy hers, suppressing a yawn. He continued his search for the last person to join them, frowning slightly upon not seeing her.
His eyes scanned the area once again, looking toward the entrance to the station slightly worried that she may not make it on time – though maybe they should have decided to take the eight o'clock train instead. She probably wasn't used to getting up as early as they did for a job. Turning his attention back to his team mates he could see the duo talking as they approached the bench he and Laxus sat at before making another attempt at finding the blonde.
"See something interesting?" Blinking the seith mage turned himself around frowning in confusion. He could have sworn he hadn't seen her come in.
"Cheerleader" He greeted, unable to suppress the surprise that slipped into his tone. "When did you get here?"
She tilted her head slightly before giving a shrug. "I think a quarter 'til, maybe a bit earlier." She sat down beside him, giving him a smile.
He frowned slightly. He had arrived fifteen minutes early himself but he couldn't recall seeing her. Opening his mouth to question her he was interrupted by the greetings of his team mates, the stellar mage giving them a bright smile and a warm greeting in return. Bickslow suppressed a chuckle at the sight of Evergreen's lips twitching in annoyance. The Fairy was definitely still not a morning person.
The group waited in silence for the train to arrive before boarding it, Laxus finding them a seat. After stowing their bags they sat down, he finding himself next to the window with the blonde celestial mage beside him, and Evergreen beside her, while Freed and Laxus sat across from them. Several minutes later the train took off and their long ride began.
Lucy shifted in her seat, suppressing a yawn and struggling to keep her eyes open, wishing she had gone to bed a bit earlier. It wasn't every day she woke up at six and she generally avoided getting up that early unless she had to. A soft sigh escaped the blonde as her lids began to droop, eventually giving up on the fight and allowing herself to fall asleep.
When she came to, she could hear the sounds of voices around her and though she wanted to demand silence and continue to snuggle into the warmth she was currently lying against, she knew she couldn't. Shifting her eyes slowly opened as it seemed the voices refused to silence themselves and based off of the odd position she was in she was most likely on the train for a job. Sighing heavily she slowly sat up, looking around blearily to see the thunder legion getting ready to get off the train.
Stretching slightly the stellar mage froze as she realized that she had been using Bickslow as a pillow. Turning to the man she gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry for using you as a pillow." His lips quirked and she felt her face heat before turning away. "I hope you weren't uncomfortable."
"You were fine cosplay queen." She nodded her head, soon standing with the group and taking her bag, following the group off the train and out of the station.
As they waited for Laxus to gather his composure, Lucy glanced around the area trying to recall the name of the town they were in before having to half jog to catch up to the group when they began walking. The walk for the most part was silent and after learning their job was to take out a dark guild and given warning that despite their size they did have strength, she spent her time occupied with thinking about what had happened a several nights ago, feeling embarrassed for having kissed the seith mage while drunk. She liked him and wanted to confess to him – at some point in the near future – but the kiss was – her face flushed as she recalled the feel of his soft lips and how she wished he had kissed her back.
She really should learn to be better behaved while drunk. Clearing her head she glanced in his direction, a smile coming to her face and considering the possibility of meeting up with him after their job and talking. Maybe she could apologize for the kiss – that she really wouldn't be sorry for – and let him know that she liked him. Nodding to herself she focused on the walk, Laxus letting them know that they were going to be making camp for the night and by the next day, they'd be at the guild.
Several hours later they made camp and after helping with setting up, followed by assisting Evergreen with dinner preparations, she sat relaxed as she ate her meal, helping with clean up duty before crawling into her tent, ready for some sleep.
They had arrived at the dark guild exactly as Laxus had predicted and of course he had followed the slayer's lead, soon inside the guild and fighting the enemy, grinning as he did so. It hadn't taken much to take out several of the mages and he didn't doubt Laxus had taken a decent amount out with that roar he heard only a few moments ago, which meant that he could sneak a glance at the stellar mage to make sure she was doing okay.
After finishing off another one he turned in her direction, a wide smile splitting his face as he watched her kick ass, handling her whip expertly and working perfectly with her spirits. He turned his attention to another mage coming up and took him out before looking back at the stellar mage his smile fading at the sight of a mage sneaking up behind her as she and Loke were distracted with another.
A curse slipped passed his lips as he took off in a run in her direction shoving her out of the way and taking the attack that had been meant for her. He groaned as his body met with the ground, cursing again as pain shot through him. He could hear her call his name repeatedly, asking if he was okay. Taking a moment, he suppressed the urge to let another groan escape him, opening his eyes and meeting with the wondrous sight of the blonde's bountiful chest.
"Bickslow are you okay?" His lips twitched as he pushed himself up, her voice sounded so concerned and it touched him that she felt that way. Leaning toward her he reached around grabbing a handful of her perfect ass, pushing her toward him and crashing his lips against hers in a rough kiss.
Pulling away he let out a chuckle. "I'm fantastic, baby." He grinned at her, truly enjoying her flushed face, watching her stand abruptly before giving him one of her Lucy kicks.
"Pervert!" She screamed, stomping away. At that moment, despite his pain, he could do nothing else but laugh.