"Are you sure that's him?" Lucy asked gesturing to a man lying in the sand only slightly out of ear shot of them. Natsu placed his hand on Lucy's shoulder. "There's only one way to find out." Before she could protest he shoved her in the man's direction. She stood only a few feet from the man and tried to back away without being noticed. He looked up at her and she must have blushed because a smile slid across his face.
"Hey" He said as he stood up from his small set up in the sand. "I'm Wayli and what might your name be?" He asked extending an arm to her. She lifted her hand and placed in his with an almost blank expression as she tried to remember how to respond to such a statement.
"Oh...Uh, I'm Lucy." She said shaking his hand and trying to think clearly. He slid his hand down hers and caressed her fingertips, pulling her hand to his lips. "Well Lucy..." He started, dropping her hand slowly as he stood up straight. He was about a half a foot taller than her and he had rough features. His eyes were a deep green with black speckles that reminded Lucy of an expensive gem. His nose was of a medium size and came to a rounded point. His lips were thin and sat just above a patch of stubble on his chin.
"What do you say?"
"Huh?" Lucy asked as she realized he had been talking this whole time. "I said would it be okay if I bought you something to drink? It's really hot out and you look thirsty."
"Uh..yea I am kind of thirsty."
"Great!" The man said placing a hand on the small of her back and leading her to a small cart at the far side of the beach. As they walked Lucy giggled loudly and Natsu wondered what it was that he was saying that made her laugh so much. He followed a few yards behind waiting for Lucy to finish talking to him.
"I think we're being followed." Wayli whispered to her as he moved his arm so it was around her and he gripped her shoulder gently. She craned her head slightly as to not leave his embrace. She looked at the pink haired boy and remembered way she was with this man. 'Oh right, the job. But this guy doesn't seem all that despicable.'
"So what brings you to the beach?" He asked her as she repositioned her neck so her eyes leveled with his lips. She inspected his face for any signs of scheming. "I'm in town on a job." She said simply sipping a fruity iced drink from a straw. He lifted the sunglasses from her face pushing them onto the top of her head. He smiled wider as he reviled her shining hazel eyes.
"What kind of job? Or is that classified?" He asked flirtatiously. She giggled. "I'm more curious as to what it is you do?" She smiled, happy that she was back on track.
"I'm between jobs at the moment. It's kind of lonely but I have these to keep me company." He lifted a key ring with several silver keys dangling from it. 'Let's be smart Lucy. If he really is as the man described then letting him know I have all but 2 of the zodiac keys would probably not be the best of ideas'
"What do those keys go to?" She asked as if it was a ring of keys to a house. She tried to act as though she had no connection to the celestial world or any of its inhabitants. "These aren't just normal keys, they are gate keys to the celestial world." He explained. "Would you like to see one?" He asked gesturing to the keys in his hand.
"Sure how about..." Lucy looked through the keys naming off each one in her head. She saw one with a small cross over a sunflower. 'Heribus'
"This one." She pointed to the floral patterned key. He looked at it and grinned. "Oh, that's the newest addition to collection, the Wilting Aide." He unclipped the key from the ring and placed the rest of the keys on his belt loop. He swiped the key through the air and Lucy could tell he added a little extra movements to impress her. He chanted a few words that Lucy had said a thousand times and she tried her best to look interested by the summoning.
Soon a small girl appeared in front of them and he clipped the key back onto his belt. She had short dirty blond hair and pail glowing skin. She wore and short pale blue dress and a white headband. Her eyes wear a light blue that nearly matched her dresses shade. She stared at her feet which stood with the toes facing inward slightly. She glanced up at Wayli with a gloomy expression.
"What can i do for you sir?" She asked shyly. "Just showing off my new toy to this beautiful lady here." He gestured to Lucy who was interested by the new spirit. She had always heard of the Wilting Aide, mostly from Loke who occasionally mentioned that she should look out for her key.
"Hello miss, I am the spirit of the Heribus key."
"Hi I'm Lucy." Wayli watched in confusion as Lucy extended her arm to the spirit. 'She's treating her like a person? That's weird, I guess she wouldn't know any better if she didn't even know what my keys were' Wayli thought.
"Lucy?" the sprit asked as she shook her hand. "Lucy Heartfelia?" She continued. 'Heartfelia?' Wayli thought for a moment trying to remember where he knew that name from.
"No eh...no not Heartfelia. I'm Lucy..emm." Lucy glanced around catching a glimpse of Natsu in the corner of her eye. "Dragneel..." She said unsure. "Oh I'm sorry, I mistook you for someone else." She bowed in apology. "It's okay really."
"I am curious though, where do you know that name from?"
"Oh well..." The spirit started. "Well Lucy what do you think?" Wayli asked interrupting the conversation. "This shinny penny is a healing spirit. It's very rare for being a silver key." He continued.
"Wow." Lucy said in her best surprised voice. The girl disappeared and he stepped into Lucy's line of view. "So Lucy...what do you say we go get some dinner?"
"Oh well I um" Lucy struggled to talk her way out of going on a date with this man even though his charm alone made her want to do whatever he asked. She stepped backwards in attempt to pull him down the beach. She hoped it looked playful and changed the subject quickly.
She took a few steps back and felt a sharp pain in her foot as she stepped on a broken shell. She fell to the ground hitting her back hard on the warm sand. She heard ringing and realized her Keys had fallen off her belt.
"Are you okay?" He asked rushing down to her. "Yea i just stepped on something." She gestured to her foot. While he was inspecting her wound she tried to discreetly reach for her keys but they were just barely to far away to reach without shifting her whole body. He looked up and saw her reaching for something. "Is this yours?" He asked and grabbed it. He quickly realized that they were keys and started analyzing them.
"These are Zodiac keys." He said still flipping through them. "Cancer, Aquarius, Leo!?" He listed. He looked up at her in confusion and then gripped the keys tightly. "You're a wizard?" Lucy smiled slightly and sat up. She grabbed the keys from him, slightly fighting his grip.
"Yes, I told you I was in town for work."
"I see." He said. He examined this new Lucy. Her red bikini shinned in the sun light and her Brown belt more prominent around her waist now that the golden keys hung from it. Her golden hair was pulled back into two pig tails that framed her face. On her face was a nervous expression and she started to slowly scoot away from Wayli.
"Lucy Dragneel..." He started. "You sly minx. You know...A cleaver girl is a sexy girl in my book." he said extending his arm across her and placing it in the sand next to her. She leaned back so that it didn't touch her and leaned closer.
'Crap! What is happening right now? Is he going to kiss me?' While he was charming, Lucy got a bad feeling from him. Especially now that he knew she had such keys.
"You know I've never been with another celestial wizard before." He said leaning in so close Lucy could feel his dark soft hair brushing against her forehead.
"Well I'm sorry to tell you but you won't be with one today either." Said a voice as a shadow covered them. Natsu stood next to them giving Wayli a glare that Lucy see's him give Gray quit often.
"And you are?" The man asked only giving A few inches between him and Lucy. "I'm Lucy's nakama." He said like it was obvious. He extended an arm to Lucy. She reached for it and he pulled her to her feet.
Wayli stood up and stepped closer to Natsu. "Listen, me and Lucy are having a great time-"
"Were..." Natsu corrected. "You two were having a great time but now its time for Lucy and I to leave."
"I don't know who you are but you do not want to mess with me."
"My name is Natsu Dragneel and I would love to pick a fight with a douche bag like you." Natsu said condescendingly.
"Dragneel? This guys your brother?" Wayli asked. "Okay well i promise I'm a perfect gentleman when it comes to ladies. You don't have to worry about your sister." He said as he reached his hand out. "Wayli Grubbing, it's nice to meet you." Natsu looked at Lucy in confusion and she jumped at the opportunity.
"Thanks for looking out for me Natsu but i think me and Wayli have dinner plans." She grabbed Wayli's hand intertwining thier fingers with a smile. He looked at her and then started to lead her away. Lucy looked back at the confused Natsu and pressed a finger to her lips. 'Um what just happened?'
"Natsu look I got us ice cream!" Happy said, flying over to him. "What's wrong? Where's Lucy?"
"I think she's getting the key..." Natsu trailed off in thought.
"So your brothers really protective of you huh?"
"I guess so."
"Well it's for the best."
"How do you mean?"
"A beautiful lady like yourself without anyone to protect her? Who knows what might happen" Lucy blushed slightly at that. "Well I can take care of myself." Wayli raised an eyebrow. "What?" she asked looking down at her plate. "It's just I still can't believe you have those keys. So that whole 'What door does this key open' thing was all an act?"
"Well yea I guess it was." she admitted. "Why'd you lie?" he asked somehow flirtatiously. "I had my reasons." She said plainly. She picked at her food with her fork, pushing a mushroom to the far side of her plate. Wayli watched her and then raised his hand in the air signaling to the waiter to bring them the check. "What do you say we get out of here?" Lucy looked up at him and smiled widely. Wayli stood up and walked around the table. He pulled the chair out for Lucy. As they walked down the street he placed his jacket around Lucy's shoulders.
"So what kind of work is it your in town for?" He asked reaching to intertwine their fingers. "I just do odd jobs, you know...around." He lifted her hand and looked at the symbol. "You're a member of a guild?" He inspected closer, "The Fairy Tail guild."
"Oh yea um..." She trailed trying to think of how to explain her tattoo.
"That's where i know you from! You are Lucy from the wizard competition. The girl with the 10 Zodiac keys." They stopped and he looked down at the uncomfortable Lucy. "The only thing is...Her name was Heatfelia."
"Umm..." Lucy tried to think of a way out but as he put the pieces together his grip on Lucy tightened. She pulled away and threw his jacket on the ground in front of him. He stepped closer and reached for her again. "Calm down Lucy." The way he spoke was somehow comforting and she let him wrap his arms around her.
"Why'd you lie?" He asked wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. "You can trust me." He stated. He pressed his forehead against hers and she could feel his breath on her.
"I know I can..." She said in a whisper. He slid his hand to the small of her back and pulled her closer so her whole body pressed against his. He leaned in to her and she turned her head rejecting his kiss. He took this action another way and started kissing Lucy's neck.
She tried to remember why she had agreed to go out with him. 'He is a terrible man. He has her and that man needs her.' She looked up at the sky to see an almost full moon. 'Oh crap!' She looked back at the man who was still covering her in kisses. He saw her glance his way and took it as an invitation.
He pressed his lips to hers first gently and then more fierce. He hand was on his side now and she felt his belt. She ran her fingers along it until she found the loop that held his keys. She felt through them trying to distinguish one from another.
She felt something that might be a flower and ran her thumb across the surface. There was no doubt in her mind this was her. She unhooked the key slowly as to not alarm him. This task was difficult because he was kissing her hard and forcefully and grabbing at her. She wanted to push him away but she thought this might be her only shot she had. Once the key was off the hook she quickly shoved it in her pocket and shoved him off her.
"What?" He asked stepping closer and grabbing at her again. "Lucy I-"
"Stop!" she said shoving him again. "Stop what?" His tone started to get an angry tone to it.
"Stop groping at me." She said sternly. "I took you to dinner, and i showed you plenty of chivalry. I think i deserve a little bite of you in return."
"A little bite of me?" Lucy asked in disgust. He grabbed her arm tightly and turned her around pulling her down into an ally. He pushed her against a wall and blocked off any way of escape. "Now listen Blondie, you're gonna do as i say before you regret it." He said forcefully. He leaned closer kissing her neck. She tried to fight but it was no use, he was by far stronger then her and he was now pinning her to the brick wall.
She used her one free hand and fumbled for her keys. She gripped the first one her hand made contact to and ran her thumb across the surface. She felt an almost horse shoe shaped symbol with a circle at the end. 'Loke!'
She mumbled a few words that Wayli didn't understand but he just continued. Wayli had started to unbutton Lucy shirt when he was throw to the ground by a hard punch to the head.
'What the hell?" He looked up at Lucy who was almost in tears. She stood behind a man with fire orange hair and dark glasses. "What the hell do you think you're doing to my beautiful Lucy?" Loke asked stepping toward the man angrily.
"You're Lucy? We're on a date here pal and you're kind of interrupting."
"It looks like I got here just in time to kick your ass!" Loke said as he kicked Wayli hard in the side. Wayli grabbed at his keys and swiped one through the air. "Open gate of the Black Blade. Kurohano." He chanted and a long black sword appeared in his hands. He stood up and faced Loki and smile slide across his face. He looked at Lucy's hand and saw the golden key shin in the moon light.
"Nice to meet you Leo! I would love to add you to my collection."
"Like hell! You're not touching Lucy or my key ever."
"So this is the power of a Fairy Tail celestial wizard? How pitiful..." Wayli grinned at the Lion and pointed his sword at him. "Bring it on kitty cat!"