Lucy walked over to her bed, making it and getting a clean uniform on and applying her lipstick. After being in bed for a whole day, it felt good to stretch her legs and get on a change of clothes.
Why didn't I lie? It would of been so much more simple... Why did I tell the truth to someone who would use it as a weakness?
There was a soft knock on the door. Lucy went to get it.
"Hello!" a cheerful bluenette was standing there with a tray. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Levy, and I work in the kitchens."
Lucy smiled, relieved to see a lighthearted soul in a such a place.
"My name is Lucy." She replied wearily.
"Well, I brought you food that the Master ordered. He must have a soft spot for you, ya know."
Levy handed Lucy the tray, and Lucy was surprised at how heavy it was. She looked weakly at the lavish contents of the tray- there was a Belgian waffle with strawberries and cream, two pieces of toast with butter and jam, eggs done sunny side up, oatmeal, a short stack of buttermilk pancakes with syrup and finally, a glass of orange juice.
"I-I can't eat all t-this!" she cried, breaking off a fourth of the waffle and handing it to Levy. "Here, let me share it with you."
"Well..." Levy looked uncertain. "Don't you want it all?"
Lucy couldn't imagine how a small girl like Levy could manage to carry such a heavy tray. Her arms were shaking under the weight. Levy looked at her with a nervous gaze, still holding the waffle fourth.
"No, I want to share it with the others in the kitchens.
She took a step out the doorway, and shut the door behind her. Levy took a bite of the waffle, and her eyes sparkled.
"Okay!" She said. "I'll take you there."
They walked up a few staircases, and turned right into a door.
"Hey, open up. It's me." Levy said in a flat tone.
A guy with orange hair opened the door, and Lucy saw that at a large wooden table the other maids were eating breakfast. Or, at least some of the other maids.
"Where are the other maids?" Lucy asked.
"Waiting on the Master's guest." Levy said. "But never mind that."
They sat down, and a stoic-looking maid with purple hair greeted them.
"I have heard you are the transfer. I am Virgo, the lead maid." She said.
"I'm Lisanna!" a pretty girl with lavender hair chimed.
"My name's Cana."
A young woman with dark brown hair shook her hand.
"Mirajane, but call me Mira."
"I'm Erza. Nice to meet you."
After everyone at the table had introduced themselves, Lucy set the tray down at the table. The other maids looked a bit envious.
"Go on." Lucy urged. "I can't eat it all."
Finally, Lisanna burst out.
"Who's house did you transfer from, Lucy?"
"L-Loke-sama's."
They looked surprised, but definitely not irritated by that fact. Softened by this act of kindness, everyone dug in to Lucy's meal.
"It really is good." Mirajane said shyly. "Thank you."
All the maids at the table looked upbeat and happy.
"Why are they so surprised by this?" Lucy whispered to Levy.
"It's not often that a transfer from Loke-sama's house comes. He's known for his kindness, and in turn, his servants become more kind and forgiving." She answered with a smile. "Mirajane's from there, but she came a while ago."
"Oh."
In a minute, the food was gone, and everyone satisfied.
"Thank you, Lucy." Erza said formally.
"You're very welcome! I didn't need that much food, anyways!"
Suddenly, a bell attached to the wall rang.
"Oh!" Levy exclaimed. "It seems the Master wants his food early! Why... why don't you take it to him, Lucy. Impressions are important!"
Lucy nodded. After a few simple directions and a posture correction, she got sent out the door with a tray of food.
She went up two flights of stairs, and knocked on a oak door softly with a flick of her wrist, and Levy had told her to do. Natsu opened the door, wearing a loose tee-shirt and cargo jeans, which was very unlike him. She cast her gaze down.
Never look him in the eyes.
"Lu-" He caught himself before saying her name. "On the nightstand."
Once the food was on the small table, Lucy turned to leave.
"Wait."
Natsu grabbed her wrist gently, but with enough force to tell her to stay. Then, he brought her chin up with two fingers to meet his gaze.
"You're pretty." He said quietly. "What did Loke call you?"
Lucy flushed in embarrassment at the thought of that.
"P-Pet."
"Sounds like him." Natsu snickered. "What did you do for him?"
"Anything he asked for, Master."
"Anything?"
"Yes, Master."
He paused.
"Don't be so stoic. I like you better when you're relaxed."
Lucy allowed herself to breathe, and her blank face slipped a bit.
"Yes... Master."
"Sharing your food was nice of you."
Lucy frowned.
"You saw that?"
"I was watching you when that blue-haired girl brought it to your room."
"Her name's Levy." Lucy replied. "And, I would've gotten fat eating all of that!"
"Touche."
Natsu gave her a small smile. Lucy realized that this was the person he really was- not at all as cold as he acted. She couldn't understand why he didn't let this out all the time, or why he was letting her, of all people, see this side of him. He had seemed so apathetic and far off when she had first come.
"Well, you better be off, pet." Natsu said teasingly. Lucy blushed.
"A-alright. " She corrected herself. "Anything else you'd like, Master?"
"I'm good."
Lucy left, closing the door behind her slowly. This is why she hadn't lied. There was no reason to. Her secret was with a person who would never tell.
"How'd it go?" Levy asked as Lucy returned to the kitchens. "You were gone a long time."
"Great!" Lucy replied with a smile. The other maids looked impressed with such an attitude. "What? He's not a fire-breathing dragon or anything."
Now they were looking at her like she was crazy. Then Lucy remembered that to them, Natsu was basically an emotionless and cold-blooded... well, dragon.
"Okay, awesome." Levy said. "Hey Jet, our esteemed guest would like another sherry temple."
"Comin' right up!" the orange haired man, apparently named Jet, called.
"Who is here, anyways?" Lucy wondered aloud.
"An angel who really likes cake and sherry temples."
"An angel?"
"Yes. Mavis Vermillion... an angel."
"Oh."
Lucy was learning more and more every day.
Lucy woke up the next morning at six am sharp, and sore all over. She had mopped the entire entrance hall yesterday afternoon in preparation for a party that was planned for tonight. It was because of the Master's whim, according to the other maids. Hopefully, Loke-sama would be there.
Lucy got up, and immediately sat down again. She abruptly felt sick and dizzy.
I've got to get up... Levy was right. Impressions count...
Lucy tried again, stumbling to the dresser and getting her uniform on, brushing her teeth, getting lipstick on, and doing her hair into a messy braid. Someone knocked on the door.
"Y-yes?" Lucy called weakly.
"You don't sound so good. Are you alright?"
Levy was on the other side of the door, a worried look on her face.
"I... I'm fine."
"Alright..."
Lucy could tell Levy didn't believe her. But, she made it out the door, and slowly they made their way to the kitchens.
"We've got a lot to prepare for, you know... Lu? Lucy! Are you okay?"
Lucy snapped out of the daze she was in.
"Yeah, i'm fine. Sorry, go on."
"Oh, i'm done."
They walked into the kitchens, where surprisingly, the serving maids were helping with the cooking for once. Mirajane seemed especially happy about this new job. She was whistling happily.
"Hi, Luc- oh, are you okay? You don't look well." Lisanna said, juggling a few bowls.
"Yeah."
There was a sudden knock at the door, and Lucy went to get it.
"Inspection! Please line up, okay?"
Virgo came in, and all the maids dropped what they were doing and lined up. Lucy started feelingreally bad. Virgo came closer to her.
"Are you sick?" She asked. Lucy passed out.
"She didn't look well this morning." Levy said as she picked up Lucy. Levy was surprisingly strong for her size. "The Master will not take this news well, though... I think he was looking forwards to seeing Lu more freely at the party."
"I'll tell him." Lisanna said, walking out the door.
"I'll get Lucy to her room." Levy carried Lucy out the door.
"Mirajane, get back on the cooking. Erza and Cana, inspect the ballroom and take the drink order that arrived this morning inside." Virgo ordered.
They all dispensed to do their assigned tasks. Levy opened the door to Lucy's room and laid her down on the bed. Then, she got a cloth from the bathroom, wet it under the sink faucet, and laid it on Lucy's head.
"Just take an off day, okay? You'll be fine. Don't worry."
Lucy woke up in her bed, her head hazy. She felt much better, but knew that she still wouldn't be allowed to go upstairs. The clock read 5:27pm.
"Oh..." She whispered. The party had started at 5:15pm.
There was a glass of water at the side of her bed, which she drank down greedily and sat up. There was nothing to do but watch the time, and think of the party upstairs. In 18 minutes(5:45pm), a soft, swift rap on the door told Lucy that Levy was there.
"Y...yes?"
Her voice felt hoarse.
"Lucy!"
Levy came in the room.
"I thought you might be up... just a hunch. I-If you'd like to take a peek... at the party, you know... I could get in trouble but... if you're feeling better... to see, you know..." She said slowly.
"That would be nice, but i'd hate you to get in trouble just because i'd like to see someone."
The door had been left open.
"Mmm... Who is it that you'd want to see?"
Levy and Lucy turned their heads in surprise.
"L-Loke-sama..." She said quietly.
"I heard you got sick, so Mirajane gave me your room." He replied. "And, technically i'm not you're owner anymore. Just call me Loke, okay?"
Levy smiled brightly, her good posture returning as instinct in such company. Lucy gave him a small grin.
"You know everyone's name..." She said.
"I'm sorry I got sick. I-I didn't mean too." Lucy looked into the bottom of her empty water glass.
Loke laughed warmly.
"No one means to get sick. It's not your fault."
"Yes, it is. I need to take better care of myself."
Levy took Lucy's hands into hers.
"I'll leave you two." she said, and got up off the bed. "And, he's right. It's not you're fault you got sick today."
Loke made room for Levy to get out of the doorway and stepped in, taking Levy's place on the bed.
"How is it here?" He asked kindly, moving her hair out of her face.
"Fine." Lucy said lightly. "You know how it is."
"Is Natsu treating you alright?"
Lucy smiled shyly.
"Yes... better than the others, I can tell."
Loke breathed a sigh of relief.
"You still wear the lipstick I got you. It looks good." He said finally.
"I wouldn't think of not putting it on everyday... It was a gift from you, Loke...sama." It felt too weird neglecting the proper honorific that she had used for so many years. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"It feels... not right calling you just... Loke. . . . sama." Lucy said.
"Why apologize?"
"Sorry."
"For what?"
"I'm sorry for saying sorry..."
"Not... never mind. I guess saying sorry is a good skill to have when you're a maid." Loke said casually. "You're beautiful, Pet. You shouldn't have to work as a maid. You could've been off doing whatever you wanted years ago."
"I want to do this." Lucy answered. "It's the only life i've known other than running away, living on the streets. I have no skills in other fields. And plus... I still get to see you."
Loke ruffled Lucy's hair fondly.
"You were always my favorite. Skilled, willing, kind, and attractive."
"Hey! That's... too nice!"
Lucy's laugh turned into a yawn.
"Oh? Well, get better, Pet. I'm going to go back upstairs, okay? I'll see you soon!"
"Yes, Loke-sama..." Lucy laid down. "Thank you... sorry..."
Loke didn't even bother to ask "For what?" this time. Lucy heard him shut the door.
"Thank you." She whispered again.