A/N You guys… really! I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart! You don't know how your feedbacks made me happy. Though I'm not sure if I could keep up with most expectations… I'll still try my best! Big big thanks to Bareerah123 for this beta'd chapter, to the reviewers, to the silent readers, to those who listed this story to their alerts and fav's… *bows* Thank you so much! And wah, belated happy birthday to PurpleDiva888 (Purple-imuoto)…
Notice: All review responses are removed from this chapter. :)
Chapter 7: TWO CONDITIONS
"H-Heartfilia?" the man repeated, he thought for a moment. "Are you perhaps… Jude's daughter?"
Sting and Rogue's eyes widened at what they heard.
"Yes, sir. Do you know him?" Lucy retorted snugly, her eyes saddening at the sudden memory of her father.
The man got back to his two feet, brushing the dust that had clung to his pants. "Lucy?" a sudden recognition flashed on his face. "Yes, it is you. There's no mistaking it." He said in joy as he rushed towards the flabbergasted girl.
Lucy could only nod and smile awkwardly, "Yes, sir…"
"Don't you remember me? It's uncle Yun, Lucy…" he smiled hopefully, as he grabbed the blonde girl's hands, "My, you've grown as beautiful as Layla."
Lucy's eyes brightened as realization hit her, "Uncle Yun?" she squeezed the old man's hands, "It really is you!" she jumped happily.
Yun suddenly displayed an apologetic expression, "I heard what happened to your father, my condolences…"
The celestial spirit mage let out a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "It's only natural…"
Sting coughed, drawing the attention of the two emotional individuals who seemed like they just had a dramatic reunion. "Donel-san, I advise you to call for a mage that specializes in nullifying or reversing spells. We are going back to–"
"–I'll do it, uncle Yun!" Lucy put on a determined face and then raised a brow at Sting who was glaring daggers at her, "If you won't take the job, I'll take it." She declared returning his glare.
After an enormous argument between Sting and Lucy, Rogue couldn't help but stay in the background with the client and his butler listening to the two blondes as they bickered endlessly. While the midget tried to run after the two exceeds as soon as the threat of being cut in half was withdrawn by the shadow dragon slayer.
Strangely, Frosch was silently cheering for Lucy while Lector was at loss as to whom he would take side with as they run around.
Rogue could only smirk inwardly, it was certain the Fairy Tail mage had gotten into the good side of their two exceed partners.
"Sting," Rouge sighed, making the white dragon slayer pause. "Just… let it go."
Sting scowled, "What's gotten into you, Rogue? If she takes the job, we still have to stay!"
"Then, we stay." The shadow dragon slayer said casually.
Shock was written all over Lucy and Sting's faces. But as soon as Lucy realized that the shadow dragon slayer was on her side, a disdainful smile lined on her lips as she darted Sting a look that says, I had obviously won this round, so give it up… Sting-kun?
"Are you serious?" Sting hissed, visibly pissed.
Rogue shrugged, "It's not like we're the ones doing the job, Sting. She said she'll take it, so let her be."
"But the credits will go to Fairy Tail." Sting argued.
"I don't want to lower my level to that kind of mission if you ask me, so I won't mind. She took the job, so her guild deserves the credit." He retorted.
Sting clicked his tongue, Rogue made sense.
Lucy, however, mentally danced in glee. Take that, Eucliffe! She wanted to yell. "So, it's decided. Will you give the job to me, uncle Yun?"
Yun Donnell was at loss. He wanted the dragon slayer duo to take the job, but they turned it down. He hesitantly looked at Lucy, "Will you be able to handle it, Lucy-chan?"
Lucy gave him an assuring smile, as she raised her hand and gestured an 'okay' sign, "Trust me, uncle Yun! I'll do my best!"
"Let's talk outside, Rogue." Sting asserted as he walked towards the door.
Rogue stood up, he glanced at the two exceed as he proclaimed, "Stay with her."
The two exceeds nodded nervously, well aware of the tension sparking between the two dragon slayers.
As soon as the two dragon slayers were out of sight, Lucy sighed in relief, she placed one hand on her chest and let out an uneasy chuckle, "I thought they'll force me to leave again…" she jolted up at once as she imagined Sting throwing her again over his shoulder and taking her back to their guild.
Before Donnell could utter what was on his mind, Lucy immediately raised her hand in his face, a gesture that says, before you say anything, listen to me. "Uncle Yun, I'll come back later for the details, ne? I'll hide myself first from those two." She ran back to the window and climbed outside.
"Fairy-san," Lector yelled as he trailed after the blonde Fairy Tail mage, Frosch following him from behind. "Where are you going? Rogue-kun and Sting-kun, the strongest mages of Fiore will kill us if you…" he jumped and climbed through the window too, "…leave without us…"
Lucy ran without looking back, "Eucliffe will surely oppose the idea of me taking this mission so I have to hide myself and get back here later…" she said, frowning at the thought of Sting.
Yet, the two exceeds never gave up running after her.
"W-wait!" a voice made the three stop, they looked back to see a midget running after them. "Lord Yun said you could stay here, I'll bring you to your room Lady…" he panted as he ran, which looked pathetic with his short legs. "T-there's a passageway where the dragon slayers won't see you… and–" he looked sharply at the two exceeds, "–Pets are not allowed, but you two will be excused for now…"
"Hey! We are the partners of the strongest mages of Fiore, we are not pets… your brain is as tiny as you!" Lector charged as Frosch nodded in agreement, earning Lucy a sweat drop.
The midget gritted his teeth, still panting heavily, "How dare you make fun of my size?"
The instant the dragon slayer duo got out of the room, Sting faced Rogue, "What the hell's wrong with you?" the blonde hissed.
Rouge just shrugged boringly.
"Don't tell me you're serious?" Sting prompted, annoyance evident in his voice.
"Hm," Rogue murmured without looking at Sting, he folded his arms across his chest. "I don't want to take the job, so why not let her?"
For a moment, Sting thought he saw a glint on his partner's eyes. He stomped one foot on the ground irritably, "That's like me taking the mission too!" he protested.
Rogue looked at him, "But it's not you literally, right?"
Sting felt a vein pop out of his head, he kept wondering how he managed to keep up with Rogue until now, "Damn that blondie!"
A soft wind blew against their faces, probably because of the open window, "Besides… I didn't realize it until today. Heartfilia?" he mused loudly in a disturbingly serious voice, "I thought her name was familiar because we used to stalk Fairy Tail back then. Do you plan to tell her?"
Sting flinched, "No," he placed his hands at the back of his head as traces of annoyance disappeared on his features. "I'll tell her when the mark disappears. It's not like I care how she'd feel, but I can't afford to let her go when she still has my mark."
"I doubt the mark will not withdraw right away, considering she can't stand you." He mumbled, the wind rustled outside of the window.
Lucy crawled under the bed as she panted heavily, "What should I do? He'll skin me alive." she cried, keeping her voice as low as possible as she pulled her hair drastically.
"Why did you have to do that anyway?" Lector scolded, also panting.
"Ssshhh!" Lucy covered Lector's mouth with her hands, "Uncle Yun badly needs help… and he was my father's friend." She explained in a shushed voice.
Lector forcefully shoved the blonde girl's hand away from his mouth, "You interfered even before you remembered he was your father's friend, Fairy-san baka." The exceed proved his point.
Lucy however sweat dropped, as she tried to catch her breath. As soon as they heard that they could stay over at the manor, Lucy and the three exceeds didn't wait for the midget to reach them and instead, met him half-way. The midget looked like he was too tired that he said he couldn't escort them to the room itself, but he instructed them how to go to the second floor without going in the mansion. The exceeds and the midget seemed to hate each other as they never ceased throwing insults at each other, until the midget realized the cats were talking. He fainted.
Lucy summoned Virgo to take care of the midget and made their way inside. Very carefully, they tiptoed as they grasped that they had to pass through the window from the living room where the two dragon slayers were and as they successfully passed through, they immediately ran up the stairs in the backyard that lead them straight on the second floor. The manor was big so they still run around before they were able to reach the door the midget had described.
Not contented yet, Lucy insisted on hiding under the bed. The two exceeds panicking too at how Lucy was acting. She just wanted to make sure she'd be able to stay for the job. And she was certain… very certain she'd have to face her marker's wrath for interfering with the negotiations. She quickly changed the topic, "Why did you run with me anyway, you could fly, right?"
Lector felt all heat from his fury body rush up to his face as Frosch cocked his head to the side, his little tail popping out in the open. "Fro and Lector forgot…" Frosch said shyly.
"I-I did not! I just want to exercise my legs…" Lector yelled in defense.
Lucy clutched her stomach as she laughed out silently, it was days since she laughed this hard.
"Exercise your legs, huh?" a voice suddenly uttered, making the three bury their heads on their hands as if they'd magically disappear when they do that.
Sting hung his head upside down in between his feet, he was seated on the bed, smirking smugly as he watched the three tried to hide themselves.
Lucy slowly lifted her head, forgetting where she was at the moment and bumped her head on the bed, she winced, "Eeeep."
The white dragon slayer chortled sardonically, like a villain in some sort of movie, "Weirdo."
"I am not!" Lucy shrieked, crawling out cautiously, temporarily forgetting about her anxiousness. As soon as she got out, she sat down and stroked her head in circular motion. Sting and Rogue observed her. Feeling the four eyes glued on her, she slowly raised her head and let out an awkward laugh. "Oh," she waved one hand, "S-sorry about that… As you see, he was a family friend so I…" she rummaged her brains for logical reasons, but nothing seemed logical enough.
Sting let out an awkward cough, "Rogue, can you lend us a moment, I want to talk to her privately."
The two exceeds threw Lucy an apologetic look.
Rogue, with a blank expression written all over his face, snapped out and nodded, "Hnn." he signaled both the exceeds to follow him and walked towards the door. But before he stepped out, he glanced at the window situated at the right side of the room and then head out.
Lucy unconsciously hugged herself, one hand crawling on her keys, what is he planning to do? Tears started gathering at the corner of her eyes as she stared at Sting worriedly, "W-what do you want?" she stuttered, "I-I'm not that kind of girl… and I preserve all of me to the man I will one day marry… S-so…" her voice was betraying her, her face all red.
Sting darted a serious look on her, he stood up and sat down in a squat position, both hands resting on his knees, he leaned his face closer until she could feel the hotness of his breath. "What are you babbling about?"
Lucy cocked her head sideward, her blush darkening from the embarrassment. Did I assume things again? She pulled her face away, "Ah… I… uhm…"
Sting burst out laughing hysterically at the stammering blonde, he dropped his butt on the ground and almost rolled on the floor, one hand was tapping his leg. "You're weird!" he managed to say in between his laughs.
Lucy's face flushed the deepest shade of red, "A-anyway, I will take the job whether you agree or not!" she cried, trying to conceal the embarrassment of her assumptions earlier.
At the mention of the job, Sting tried to stop laughing. Catching his breath, he locked his eyes on the celestial spirit mage, "I'll let you take it under two conditions," he held two fingers up in front of her blushing face. "We're going together and you'll always remind yourself of your place."
Lucy fell into a pit of confusion. Sure she understood the first condition, but the second? What does he mean by reminding herself of her place? "Huh?" was all that came out of Lucy's mouth.
"What? Was it too hard to comprehend?" he mocked, a smirk forming on his lips which Lucy finds annoying, her color slowly turning back to normal.
"Make it clear, you idiot! It's not like I can read your mind." She rolled her eyes.
Sting leered, "A moment ago, you were running around trying to hide yourself from us and now, you were calling me foul names… how moody can you get, blondie?"
Lucy unconsciously clenched her jaws, "Why do you keep calling me names when I have my name! My name is Lucy! Lucy! Lucy!" she yelled, "Luuuucccyyyy~" she emphasized, as she flapped her arms on the sides.
The white dragon slayer crossed his legs, as he positioned himself more comfortably. He wouldn't admit it out loud but he finds her entertaining. "Bloooooondiiiiieeee~" he rolled his tongue, imitating the Fairy Tail mage's tone, "Doooooorrrrreeeeeeeiiiiii~" and again, "Is that okay?"
The Fairy Tail mage wanted to pull his hair but instead pulled her hair in utter annoyance. Damn! I never met anyone as annoying as him. He's even more annoying than Happy! She mentally yelled. "Explain your conditions clearly!" she sighed, she decided she won't stress herself further than this.
"Oh," Sting sneered, annoyingly sneered. "First, we're going togethe–"
"Skip that! I'm not as stupid as you think." She interrupted.
"Heh," his smile grew wider, "And second, know your place and remind yourself constantly that you are my slave and I am your master."
Lucy wasn't sure how she'd react with what she just heard, is he serious? She thought, her eyes and the corner of her lips twitching in infuriation. "You're really into it, huh?"
"Of course," Sting raised one knee and rested his hand on it, "When else would I get the chance to have a slave if not now… and the good part is, you're from Fairy Tail." He stated derisively.
Lucy displayed a straight face, there's no use arguing with him, she just waved one hand boringly and retorted, "Whatever, Sting-dono…"
A vein popped out of Sting's head, "I told you not to call me that!"
"Sting-kun?" she emphasized.
"Not that either!" he yelled, making Lucy smile a bit.
"Sting…" she said sweetly.
Sting almost blushed, there's something with the way she called him by his first name. He wondered, is that how she calls Natsu-san too? Feeling the heat rising up to his face, he stood and turned his heel, hiding his unusual reaction to the fairy tail mage. He walked straight to the door and opened it, without looking back, he remarked, "Much better… Call your guild, I know you're itching to do that since we took off."
A bright smile appeared on Lucy's face, "Oh, yeah." She grinned, "I totally forgot, I enjoyed watching you and Rogue-kun's motion sickness…" she laughed.
Rogue-kun? Since when did she start calling him that? He clenched his jaws, is she making fun of me? He turned to look at the blonde girl, "Oi, you can make fun of Rogue but not me!" he yelled in disbelief. Damn, a slave should be all respectful to her master, right? How did he get himself a rude slave? He continued on and slammed the door close. He heard Lucy laugh.
Lucy rummaged her bag for the handy lacrima orb Mai gave her before they took off for this mission. As soon as she got a hold of it, she instantly reached Fairy Tail. The first person to see her was Mira, who was really overjoyed to hear from her.
So they're back in Magnolia, huh? "Mira-san, how is Team Natsu doing?" Lucy asked, interrupting the barmaid's unending questions on how were the Sabertooth mages treating her, if she was doing good keeping a close distance with the rival guild's dragon slayers… of course, the takeover mage was providing her some happy happenings that had happened in the guild too from time to time.
"Ah… About that, Lucy?" she hesitated for a moment, "We lied to Natsu…"
Lucy's eyes widened in disbelief, "Eh? About me?"
The barmaid nodded with a guilty expression on, "As you know, Natsu might take it the wrong way and he might do something reckless when he hears what really happened to you. Right now, they're on their way back here at the guild with Master. I came back early because I was worried you might call the guild and you won't be able to talk to anyone… and you might be lonely…"
Tears started to gather at the corner of the blonde's eyes, "M-Mira…" she smiled, "Thank you…" Of course, she understood their reason for lying to Natsu, but won't it fuel the fire more? "B-but Mira… I think it's wrong to lie to Natsu…"
Mira sighed, "I know, Lucy… But right now, we don't really have a choice, do we?" the barmaid gave Lucy her signature smile, "We told him that you went to Joya with Erza… to meet your mother's relatives. And as for your rent, if it takes months, Gray would work for it."
Lucy was kind of surprised to realize that they had come up with that kind of lie and arrangements, but why with Erza, "Why am I with Erza? And please tell Gray, he doesn't have to. I can work for my rent."
A bright expression appeared on Mira's face, "That's nice, Lucy… So, we don't have to worry much about you?"
Lucy nodded, "Uhn~"
"About Erza," she chuckled, "You'll find out sooner or later."
.
to be continued...