All Rights to Hiro Mashima

For Edo-Salandria who I bounced ideas off of for my other story 'Cinders.' She has just finished her first fic 'Sensory Overload' concluding a wonderfully fluffy Nalu fic. If you haven't checked it out…DO IT! Like…yesterday. Read it.

BEWARE! THE DOUCHBAG DOG DEMON!

Chapter 21: Peridot

Birthstone for the month of August, found first in 1500 BC on an island in the middle of the Red Sea and is now the National Gem of Egypt; known to the Ancient Egyptians as the 'Gem of the Sun' is was often used in shrines to the Sun God Ra; during the Crusades, knights brought back this gem to decorate their religious texts, usually ones depicting the coming Apocalypse; Peridot must always be worn on the right arm to dispel night terrors and bad dreams.

They ambled through the almost deserted halls of the Black Fortress, END slightly ahead of Lucy as was customary in these situations. At the moment, she did not hold her standing as a General, but more in the lines of a Lieutenant… and in Alvarez apparently, lower ranks didn't garner much respect, hence the staggering of their positions. This also gave the guard an uninterrupted view of their charge while being able to look around for ambushes.

Lucy knew that END could handle himself, they both knew it without a doubt, but as it was propriety to stand between your superior and the attack meant for them…Lucy had to act like she would sacrifice her very life to the Demon before her.

It occurred to her that it wasn't much of an act if she was completely truthful to herself. She would sacrifice herself for a comrade. But she didn't mention it. They already had one yelling match over that two days ago. Neither was satisfied with the outcome, but each vowed to have the others back.

That would have to be enough for now.

They turned a corner and almost ran right into two sentry guards obviously doing their rounds. On instinct, Lucy reached to her side to grasp the pommel of Natsu's sword, as was customary when she was startled.

Only to feel nothing but air. Suddenly realising she was without any sort of weapon she tried very hard to keep the blind panic off her face. Lucy felt so naked without being able to call on her light magic, a sword on her hip or her keys within reach – those had been placed in a discrete pocket on her hip under all the cumbersome clothing that END had stolen off a drunken member of his personal guard.

When the two men had turned a corner and were out of sight, Lucy carefully kept the blank look plastered on her face and addressed END as quietly as possible. "Pardon me Master END, I am without a weapon. I will do no good in protecting you if I cannot fight. Hand to hand combat will only go so far." She had been forced to leave her special bow and magical river whip behind as well opting to have Virgo take them for safe keeping until needed once again.

END's head tilted to the side slightly to show that he had heard her request and deviated their course from walking straight to his suite in the tower to the well-stocked armoury. He wanted to kick himself for not supplying her with a means to defend herself before they had even stepped inside the Fortress, but they were both too anxious to think about anything passed getting into the castle.

As they turned down a dimly lit corridor that connected two of the more expansive halls, End murmured in her ear, just loud enough for her to hear. "Call me Lord in this place. Master is too formal."

In reality, many Demons and humans alike in the army called him 'Master,' but from them, it sounded professional, a common courtesy, a respected name because of his high rank – second to that of the Emperor. But coming from Lucy…it made interesting thoughts flit through his mind. It didn't help much that she damn near purred the words in a huskier voice than normal. Either she was intentionally teasing him…or her anxiety changed the pitch of her voice to something entirely sultry and very distracting.

The name sounded too possessive to him and called to a dormant side of him that longed to dominate her and press his aching fangs against the back of her neck and make her submit. It was an odd feeling, and he had to push down that little pervert Demon inside of his mind until it was only a faint buzzing in the background.

END gestured towards a door that looked just like all the others and told her to pick out anything she wanted.

-ooo-

Five minutes later she had walked back out laden with war instruments and looking so much more like herself. A short sword rested on her right hip in a plain scabbard strapped to a black belt. He could see dangers peeking out of the tops of both her boots. When she nodded at him to tell him that she was ready to move on, he saw a sturdy bow made out of some monster's horn, a quiver full of arrows fluted with raven feathers, and a heavy looking broadsword underneath it all.

For such a tiny thing she sure did like to carry a lot. Although, it wasn't more than she usually used, as her sword usually manifested from her magic and her bow didn't need arrows to be of use, the bulky equipment seemed to drown her. She had opted to strap down her keys to her forearm with a length of silk fabric she found.

It wasn't ideal, but it would have to do for the moment. It was much better than having them on her thigh.

Lucy relished the reassuring sounds of her grieves on her shins as she walked while the feeling of a sword on her hip filled her with a sense of assurance. There was just something about the way the heavy metals and tangible weight of weapons seemed to melt away her anxiety. Now, if she were found out or attacked…or even if END was discovered to be working with the enemy, she wouldn't be entirely useless.

Half way through her mental pep talk about how she could do this and END was with her and if anything bad truly happened that her training would come out and save her as she was General Nova and a very skilled fighter that the Black Wizard was desperate to get her powerful keys and had put a bounty on her head, they had turned a blind corner and were suddenly confronted by a single Demon with terrifyingly deranged golden eyes.

Lucy almost snarled at him from sheer instinct, but only a held herself in check by force of will alone. How idiotic would she be if she ousted herself not even an hour into their undercover operation?

Laxus would never let her forget about her failure. So with that in mind, she left her face carefully blank and let the fire within her die out to a smouldering ember. She wouldn't allow herself to not hate this Demon on instinct. After the talk with END earlier when he told her who exactly had come in a razed Astralis to the ground…this particular sadistic bastard was one of the first ones that she would kill.

Instead of impaling him through the chest with her broadsword – which she really hoped she could attempt at a later date – she bowed her head in recognition, opting for the more formal greeting gambling on it being what he wanted. Hopefully, he had a massive ego that liked to be stroked. He was almost positive that he did.

"Master Jackal."

The canine Demon snickered at her half bow. "Straighten up. Gods, you're just like everyone else, aren't you? Fuck I hate humans." Jackal turned away from her without a hint of recognition in his gaze.

Lucy thanked her lucky stars that she was easily forgotten, as that was what she was aiming for if she had been too unique Jackal would have remembered her and asked more questions than needed. It was hard to keep a story straight under pressure, even if it was one that was very well crafted and practised until perfected.

"Where the hell did you find this little worm anyway? She looks so weak and fragile. She would never hold up in battle…Not even that pretty either…'cept for that massive chest."

END could smell the lies Jackal was using to save face. The dog Demon seemed a little too preoccupied with his partner's voluptuous curves than he was letting on. He let out a snarl that had Jackal's head bowing in mock submission a smirk pulling at his lips showing off teeth even sharper than his own. "I found her talents were being wasted underneath Jose. Phantom Lord didn't even know what they had until I wanted her."

He grinned, sharp canines flashing. "Layla here almost blew my head off with an arrow faster than I've ever seen when I startled her. Vigilance is something that I admire."

"What?! You didn't kill her for almost injuring you?"

"No why would I? I wasn't hurt…and I've never had to go to Hell's Core and visit Lamy unlike you constantly do. I think Layla here could even rival Nova if it came down to it." END flashed Lucy, a quick look of pride at that remark. He was proud of her, even if he had never said it out loud. She was one of the strongest people that he had ever met, the Black Wizard included. His gaze grew malicious. "Don't call one of my own worms Jackal. I'll send you back to regenerate faster than you ever thought possible. I've done it before. I know how much you hate it when that little rabbit experiments on your form."

"Shut the fuck up you asshole!"

"That's Lord Asshole to you Jackal."

Lucy had to swallow a small giggle at their banter. She could tell that they did truly detest each other, but that they also hated this "Lamy" more. Her thoughts turned towards the place called Hell's core…where the Demon's regenerated and a plan started to come together in her mind.

She was floating in her own thoughts for so long that she almost missed when END's verbal confrontation with Jackal turned physical. She dodged a blast of Hellfire and skirted around a well-placed bomb, popping up behind Jackal.

Whipping out a dagger as fast as possible and placing it at the base of Jackal's head where his spine connected to his skull, she waited until all movement ceased between the two. She couldn't see the look on Jackal's face, but if it mirrored END's, it would have been funny if not for the circumstances. That much shock on one person's face was really quite amusing.

Both she and Jackal knew that if she wanted to, she could kill him with a few pounds of pressure. Even though this death would be painless and quick – something that she would afford all her enemies, she wasn't sadistic and hated to see anyone suffering – and that he would end up regenerating and probably coming after her after this, she couldn't let anyone touch END. She had to stay in character, as his personal guard, and as a friend.

"I will not allow you to touch my Lord." Her voice was bland and seemingly disinterested, but the underlying threat was still there.

"Do you have any idea who you're talking to worm?"

Lucy slipped slightly at that moment and hissed in his ear. "I do…Jackal. We both know I could kill you right here."

"You don't have the guts. You're a worthless human that we use as cannon fodder. END only wants you for a quick fuck then he'll kill you. Just like we all do."

Blind rage overcame her features, but she stilled her hand witnessing the small head shake from END. She needed to reign in her emotions, or she was liable to make the wrong move here. She shook off her anger and slipped back into her blank persona. "Be that as it may Master Jackal. My contract is with END and not with you. I have been asked to protect him from all injury. This includes you." Lucy walked back to stand between END and the canine.

Jackal seethed. How had he been overpowered by a human? By a lowly worm that crawled in the dirt? And a female at that? He growled low in his throat. He would kill this woman right here for disrespecting him. And it would annoy END. Jackal had never seen a more amazing bonus before. "Worthless bitch. I'll kill you for this."

Before END could even step forward to rip the Demon's head off Lucy had whipped her dagger through the air at blinding speeds. They watched as it sunk tip first through Jackal's right eye, impaling the dog Demon through his brain.

A shiver passed through END as he watched Lucy walk up and crouch next to the almost dead Jackal, lying a pool of his own black blood. The smile she gave him was chilling, and it was certainly on the maniacal end of the spectrum. Nova was truly ruthless when she wanted to be. "Never insult a woman, Jackal. Especially when they're stronger than you are."

Jackal broke apart and dissipated in a cloud of black, ready to be collected in Hell's Core for revitalisation.

Lucy walked back to END and gestured for him to walk on and continue their journey towards his personal quarters.

They skirted the puddle of dark blood and marched on.

-ooo-

"What the hell were you thinking Luce? Jackal's going to gunning for your death as soon as he regenerates!" END kicked in his door and hustled his partner through the door as quick as possible. Was she always getting into so much trouble? Or was it just with him?

Lucy was already kicking herself for losing her temper so quickly. She knew that Jackal was baiting her and she fell right into his trap. But it had felt so very good to watch as the Demon who destroyed some of her home Kingdom crumpled and bled out on the ground. "How long do I have until he comes after me?"

"A week at the most. The damage you did to him was to his brain, and that is more complicated to reconstruct. It's a stroke of good luck that you decided to kill him that way instead of through his heart. It's a muscle and easy to regenerate. If that were the case, we would only have three days instead."

She sighed loudly and looked at him sheepishly. "I'm sorry END. I didn't mean to jeopardise this mission…I know everyone is counting on us, and I'm not usually like that I swear!" And she wasn't. She was usually stoic and strong. Never wavering and solid like an old oak tree. Her emotions didn't sway her, and she thought everything through at least three times. Lucy always made tactical decisions and for smart reasons. The way she was acting now…

…was more along the lines of what she used to act when she was younger. When it was just her with her two best friends. Wild and free, ruled by their emotions. Fought with all their strength and loved with everything they were. She had thought she had left that part of her behind, or perhaps she just locked it up inside her heart and END was bringing it out of her again.

She couldn't say that it was an unwelcome thing. She missed how carefree she was when she was a little girl. Able to laugh easily and be swept away in their adventures. After Natsu had died, she put a cage around her heart, locked it up tight and threw away the key.

Laxus had helped loosen those chains, as well as Erza and everyone else that she was close to. But she had a feeling that END, this Demon that was also possibly the resurrection of her Dragon, her Natsu, would break through those iron bars soon.

She was ready to be herself again. She was tired of only thinking about the war, of practising her magic and warcraft all the time, only speaking to Levy about strategies, only braiding Erza's hair when they were going into combat, only hugging Laxus when they received bad news.

Lucy was finally ready to let someone into her heart again, even if it was a stupid idiot of a Demon.

END watched as a myriad of emotions played across Lucy's face until it landed on something that was close to…acceptance. Or possibly even happiness.

He placed a hand atop her head and felt her lean into his touch. He didn't mind that Jackal was dead, but it did move their time table up a bit seeing as the bastard would obviously tattle on 'Layla' to the Emperor, and then he would send someone like Keyes or even Kyouka to torture her then make END kill her.

Which he would never ever do.

But they needed to do so many things in just a single week. "It's alright Luce. I know you're not really the impulsive type. If you hadn't killed him, I would have ripped his head off. So don't worry. We just have to get moving on our plan early."

Lucy nodded and finally looked around the room they were in, realising that END had inadvertently chosen Natsu's old room. Maybe the Demon really was her best friend. "You know…this used to be Natsu's room. I was brought here once by Happy when Igneel went missing. Although…the bedding was red, and there were fire paintings all over the place. Along with a lot of clutter, metal and weapons."

END scratched his head and opened one of the two doors in the room. One the bathroom complete with lion's foot bathtub and the other was the closet that he rarely used. He stuck his head inside and rifled around, only coming back out with a muffled exclamation. "You mean these?"

In his hands were at least ten, if not more, of Natsu's brilliantly wild paintings of red and orange flames.

"You kept these this whole time? Why didn't you throw them out or burn them?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Dunno. I just couldn't bring myself to do that for some reason, and I liked them, to be honest. The fire in these pictures…it's soothing. When I was younger, it made me feel more at home when I looked at these."

Lucy smiled wistfully as she brushed her fingertips over one, feeling the oil paints and canvas under her skin. "This was what Natsu's fire looked like when he used it. It was given to him when he was very young by Igneel, his adopted father."

She gave him back the frames, and he leant them against the wall. He didn't want them to back into the closet yet. END sat on the bed next to Lucy and smiled wanly at her. "I think we should get some sleep, Luce. Tomorrow we will start on our mission."

Lucy stood up and dusted her tunic off. "Where are my quarters?"

He looked at her weirdly. "Nu uh. I'm not letting you out of my sight Luce. You cause too much trouble to be on your own here."

She huffed and crossed her arms. "So what…I'm sleeping here with you?"

He grinned wolfishly. "Yeah." END pulled back the covers and sent her a look that beckoned her forward like curled fingers. "Hope in Luce."

Well,…she was very tired. And the bed was huge and comfy looking, and the pillows looked like clouds…

Her body moved on instinct, stripping off her outer layers placing her weapons, armour and helm off to the side neatly, shedding her tunic, trousers, and plated leggings and mail shirt next. She folded up each item carefully.

She was left with nothing but a thin, short sleeved shirt and a pair of training shorts that were no better than underwear. Tucking her keys into the band of the shorts, she turned towards the bed full of apprehension and a smidge of excitement. She had never actually slept in bed with a man – that she was aware of at least – and passing out next to Natsu as a child didn't count.

END kept his face carefully blank as he watched Lucy strip down layer after layer, his arousal spiking with each item of clothing removed. Nova was sinfully curvy, and he liked that he could see well-defined muscles in her legs and arms from training and wielding weapons.

As she turned towards him, he had to shift subtly under the light covers. She was beautiful, even if she didn't quite look like herself, the emotions in her eyes showed that Lucy was still Lucy even if her hair was black instead of gold.

She slipped under the blanket and turned towards him on the pillow sighing lightly at the comfort. "Goodnight."

"Night Luce." He tried to make his voice sound normal, but he thought that it sounded more strangled than usual. Luckily she didn't show any indication that she heard something off.

END watched her drift off into sleep, suddenly very thankful for her presence. He hated sleeping alone, and he never understood why. Maybe it was because she wasn't with him. Maybe it was because he was a social creature at heart. He didn't know.

He turned onto his back to watch the light of the moon on his ceiling as a wave of almost…jealousy washed through him. Natsu had slept in bed before with her. Natsu was her best friend in the whole world. Natsu made her feel at home. Natsu was her whole world. Natsu was the one she would always love, of that he had no doubts. He was essential jealous of a dead teenager which was ridiculous. And if the speculation from Lucy and Makarov was to be taken at face value and he was indeed the Demon formally known as Natsu and not just END…then he was actually jealous of himself.

Gods he was pathetic.

His gaze softened and his thoughts fell quiet as he watched his Lucy breathe deeply. She was here now, with him, in his bed sleeping without reservations. She was comfortable enough with him that she let down her defences and was vulnerable in his presence.

It was enough for now at least.

-ooo-

A silky soft voice woke END only a few hours after he had finally dropped off to sleep. He vaguely recognised it and couldn't help the shot of alarm he felt. "So this is where you were…"

Seilah.

He rolled his eyes ready to jump out of his bed to kick her out of his room. This damn Demon was always invading his privacy trying to entice him into something carnal in nature.

END suddenly blanched. If she was here then...

"I can't believe END would choose a lowly human over us, dear sister."

…Kyouka wasn't far behind.

Aware that they were standing at the end of the bed he cracked open his red eyes only to get a face full of black hair.

Oh. Right. Lucy was here too.

Lucy was here in his bed snuggled up to his chest with their legs entwined.

He wasn't wearing a shirt. Again. Maybe he was contracting a sort of stripping disease when it came to Lucy.

Half of his mind revelled in the softness of her exposed flesh pressed tightly against his own and the feeling of her breasts against the hard plane of his chest, while the other half warily eyed the two Demonesses. They were tricky ones.

He sat up on the bed and drew Lucy closer to him, forcing her to curl into his chest farther while completely sitting in his lap. His strong arms banded around her waist completely as he shielded her from Kyouka's piercing gaze.

"What the hell! Get the fuck out of my chambers. You know that you're not welcome here."

Seilah inclined her head in a respectful motion. "Forgive us END. We heard you were back and wondered if we couldn't persuade you to let off a little steam…it seems that we were too late and you found another to devour instead."

END hissed. "Fuck off Seilah. I know of your hate for humans, and I've seen the way you two use them for your own pleasure than either torture them to death," He pointed at Kyouka, "Or slit their throats." Seilah didn't look entirely pleased that END knew of her desire to see the look of pleasure immortalised on her lover's faces.

Killing them directly after they climax was satisfied her like no other, and she wouldn't change her ways.

Kyouka smirked with no remorse as she watched the woman in END's arms struggle weakly against his hold, waking up to the sound of their slightly raised voices. "I see that you have been watching my sister and me quite closely END. We will leave you now with your little…pet. But we will have you one day. Mark my words. But…"

She pointed towards the pair on the bed. Suddenly they were engulfed in heat, the friction and just the feeling of their skin touching setting off a chain reaction that engulfed their whole beings. She loved to toy with her food before eating and END would be no exception. She ramped up their pleasure with her curse tenfold and bowed low to the ground. "…I will leave you with this gift. It will wear off in an hour. Use your time wisely." The Demons sauntered out the door, shutting it behind them with a soft click.

END knew that this was something that Kyouka could do, but has never been a victim of hers before. This was more unbearable than anything he had ever felt. He burned. He was sweating, and he was so, so hot. All he could think about was the woman sitting in his lap and how close her lips were to his and the way she was panting against his neck.

"What…ohgods…what the hell is going on END? What did she do to us?" She moaned against his throat, her voice vibrating through his skin and straight down to his rigid length.

Lucy could feel her arousal spike for the man she was pressed against. She knew that she shouldn't want to lick a path from his chest to his lips, or delight in the feeling of his throbbing hard burning member pressed so close to her slick womanhood, but she couldn't help it. One minute she was asleep, then next she wanted END to ravage her, to devour her whole.

He growled, deep and low and gravely into her ear. "Shit…It was Kyouka…It's…It's…Gods…her curse. She can increase arousal or pain, or make you…not feel anything." He gave a tiny buck of his hips and almost unravelled at the friction between them. "Fuck! You feel…so…"

She couldn't take this tension anymore. Lucy gripped his horns in her hands and pulled his head towards her. "END…It hurts. It burns. Please…please…"

END couldn't resist. She smelled too good, too sweet, like sex and sweat and sin. So he closed the distance between them, crashing their lips together in a bruising kiss.

They both knew this was a bad idea. But neither of them cared enough to stop.