AUTHORS NOTE: I'd just like to thank everyone for their lovely reviews and comments, and for showing your support and telling me your opinions about my fanfic! I know it might look like a LaLu so far, but here comes a curve ball! ;) Please don't hate me! :) Thank you again! xx
Lucy's POV
I inhaled and ended up choking on my sandwich. Ever patted my back and glared at Laxus, who smirked at my hacking coughs as I suffocated on bread and bacon. I took a drink from my tea after I'd finished coughing, and took deep breaths to try and restore my body with oxygen, before looking up at the smug blonde.
'What?' I asked, my eyes wide in disbelief.
'Join the Thunder God Tribe. We take you on high paying missions, you get away from the two idiots. Sounds like a good deal to me.' He shrugged, taking a massive bite out of his sandwich and staring at me as he chewed.
'But I'm a part of Team Natsu! I can't just leave Erza behind, and I will go forgive them one day...' I finished in a mumble as I began to truly consider their offer.
'Fine. Don't join, just tag along on missions. I'm not officially part of the Raijinshuu, but I go on missions with them. You can just tag along till you decide if you want to become a permanent fixture.' He threw me a grin as he devoured another sandwich. I narrowed my eyes at him in consideration.
'Why me? I'm not all that strong, and I know Ever, Bickslow and Freed are strong. What if I hold them back?' I didn't allow my eyes to stray from his face as I awaited his answer.
'Hey cosplayer, don't say that crap. You're the one who knocked out two dragon slayers and an ice make mage today. Plus you kicked my face into the wall. You ain't weak for sure!' "Sure! Sure!" I smiled at Bickslows totems as they hovered in front of me.
'Lucy, I can assure you, you're far from weak. Please listen to me at least.' Freed smiled at me, before going and grabbing another book from my shelves, making me giggle.
'I hate to say it, but those two are right Lucy. At least come along on a mission with us, I need someone to have some interesting conversation with.' Ever said, throwing her arm across my shoulders and smiling.
I looked at Laxus to see him nodding in agreement as he munched on another sandwich. I sighed before grinning.
'Okay, I'll join you on missions, but I'm not joining you guys just yet, lets call it a trial run, okay?' Bickslow and Ever cheered, and Freed looked up and smiled from the book he held, before returning to reading.
'Great blondie. Now all we got to do is-' He was interrupted by a lacrima beeping, and I giggled as he pulled it out groaning.
Laxus's POV
'What do you want gramps?' I snapped, annoyed at him interrupting me speaking and my lunch.
'Laxus, where are you right now?' I raised an eyebrow before replying.
'What's it to you old man?' Gramps glared at me before I grinned and answered.
'I'm at blondies place with the Raijinshuu. What do you want?' I saw a twinkle enter his eye, similar to that Mira gets when she scents the potential for a new couple, and I growled at him, ignoring the questioning gazes of the people around me.
He chuckled from the end of the lacrima before grinning evilly at me.
'I've got some paperwork that needs doing Laxus, and it's on your desk.' I felt my eyes widen slightly before I managed to control my frustration. I loathed paperwork.
'Can't gramps. Going on a job with blondie and the Raijinshuu. Get Mira to help you.' I snapped. He knew I hated paperwork, and thanks to the two idiots on Team Natsu and an overly destructive requip mage, there were tonnes of requests to Fairy Tail for repair costs and compensation because of their over-zealous fights.
'Oh? I hadn't realised you'd taken a job already.' Gramps smirked sneakily from the lacrima and I glared at him, lightning beginning to crackle around my body. I took deep breathes, calming myself before I answered.
'That's because we just convinced blondie to come with us. We'll be at the guild in 5, so get rid of those two brats before blondie or one of us kills them.' Lucy stared at me, puzzled before looking away blushing when she realised I'd been watching her. I smirked before looking back at the lacrima.
'Ah well. I suppose I can deal with it.' He grumbled. I knew the old man hated paperwork as much as I did, and used any excuse possible to avoid doing it, meaning he foisted more off on me and guilt tripping me into doing it.
'Oh, can I talk to Lucy please?' I nodded and passed the lacrima across to Lucy, ensuring my fingers brushed against hers, and enjoying watching her blush. This was going to be amusing.
'H-Hello Master.' She stuttered, getting over my hand brushing hers probably. I smirked as I tore a chunk out of the last bacon sandwich.
'Lucy, I felt I should tell you that the guild knows why you're angry thanks to Erza explaining it to us. I thought you should know that Erza has taken them out on a job that should last for 4 months or so. We felt this would be best for you.' Blondie smiled at gramps and nodded.
'I truly am sorry about what they did Lucy, even though it was accidental, they should have been more careful. They are very sorry. Erza had to knock them out to stop them from coming to you. I know you'll forgive them, but don't worry about how long it'll take.' She laughed, though it was slightly strained, and I snatched the lacrima from her to try and prevent another tear fest. Jeez, I can deal with a lot of crap, but put a crying girl in front of me and I just don't know what to do.
'Anyway, in a bit gramps.' He nodded and winked at me, before I shut off the communication lacrima and popped the last bit of sandwich in my mouth.
I stood up and pulled my sound pod over my ears before walking towards the door, calling out over my shoulder.
'Better pack blondie, we're gonna be away for a few weeks.' I remembered a mission that had come in only that morning which was to take down a pack of wyverns and some forest vulcans that were causing disturbances around the Waas Forest. It would take us a week to travel there, plus a few days to track and eliminate all of the monsters, then another week to get home, maybe longer considering we'd have to make our own way past Clover Town where the train line ended. I mentally groaned at the thought of spending time on a train and cursed whoever decided it was a good idea to make all dragon slayers suffer from motion sickness. Thankfully, mine wasn't as bad as Natsu's, or he was a pussy. I'm going with the second option, because I pride myself in not showing how trains effect me, or cars. Or transport of any sort.
I felt heat rising under my coat just from the thought of it, and instead focused my mind on grabbing the mission before it was snagged by Elfman or Team Shadow Gear.
Lucy's POV
Okay, I guess we're going on a mission already.' I sighed, fingering one of my keys.
'Vigo!' I called out, immediately, there was a flash of gold light and Virgo stood before me, bowing slightly.
'Punishment Hime?' I frowned at her and was about to tell her no when Bickslows pervy laugh rang out.
'Wow Cosplayer Queen! You're more of a masochist than I thought!' I frowned and glared at him, before smiling evilly.
'Yes Virgo, punishment.' I nodded at her and watched as a look of pure happiness blended with evil flashed across her face before she bowed and grabbed Bickslow, pulling him into a head lock before practicing some other wrestling moves on him. Me and Ever laughed as he choked and spluttered, trying to call for his babies, but realised that they identified Virgo as part of the team, so wouldn't attack.
'Okay Virgo, thank you.' I giggled as she released Bickslow and left him on the floor, his clothes messed up and his mask halfway across the room, revealing his vivid and dark red eyes and the tattoo that spanned his face.
'Virgo, can you pack enough provisions to last us several weeks? That is, five of us.'
'Is Hime not going on a job with pink bastard and icicle butt?' Bickslow and Ever burst out laughing and Freed sniggered from behind another book at my spirit calling my team members by their new names.
'No Virgo, we're teaming up with these guys for a while, so do you mind taking care of my stuff?' I asked, pleading with her and smiling.
'Hime does not need to ask. I shall do anything for Hime-sama.' She bowed towards me once more, before facing the Raijinshuu.
'Do not hurt Hime-sama, or I will be angry.' She bowed to them before disappearing back to the celestial world.
'Sorry about that, she's over-protective. I think Loke's been influencing her.' I turned to face Bickslow and walked over, offering my hand to pull him up. I smiled as he looked slightly shocked as I stared into his eyes.
'That's why you gotta tone down the pervy-ness, okay Bix?' I said, laughing as he smirked up at me and winked.
Bickslow's POV
She looked at me. She looked at me. Not through my mask or with a single trace of nervousness or fear... only trust.
I pushed my hand through my hair and, noticing it was shaking slightly, clenched it into a tight fist.
Damn cosplayer. I thought, holding the mangled remnants of my metal grid mask.
Most people didn't like to look into my eyes without me wearing my mask due to the nature of my magic. I had complete control over it, but they still feared it. By wearing the mask, it gave them the illusion of security from me taking over their soul and controlling them.
They don't realise I hate doing it as much as they hate the idea of it. To me, it's like forcing myself into a pair or really tight shoes that have a million or so pins inside them. It hurt like hell, and was un-comfy.
But she just stared straight into my eyes and laughed, trusting me not to hurt her, trusting in my magic and control.
Even Ever and Freed were more wary around me with my mask off, the only person who seemed totally ok with it was Laxus.
I watched her as she argued with Freed about the foreshadowing the author of the book Freed currently held had used, and how it also has a hidden meaning regarding the representation of the authors own feelings towards their characters.
I listened and stared at her as Freed actually backed down in an argument about a book!
Me and Ever exchanged shocked looks before cracking up simultaneously.
'What? Why are you laughing?' Lucy asked, staring into my eyes once again. I felt my breath hitch, and disguised it as a cough, before answering her as Ever was too busy wiping away tears.
'No one's ever managed to get Freed to back down in an argument about a book! Not even Levy!' Fred blushed slightly and glared at me, before harrumphing and sticking his nose back into the book, using Lucy's gale force glasses to finish it in record time.
'Come along Bickslow, Evergreen, we still have to pack.' Freed said, reluctantly handing Lucy her glasses and the pile of books he'd been unable to finish.
'I can take these with me if you want Freed, you can read in the train.' I watched as my friends face lit up eagerly, before he reined in his happiness to thank her politely, before scurrying out of her apartment.
'I'll see you later Lucy. Laxus will thought project when we need to meet at the station, so see you there!' Ever waved, following Freed out to go pack the immense amount of luggage she carried everywhere.
I coughed awkwardly, looking at the floor.
'Bickslow, are you alright?' She asked. I didn't need to look up to know she was smiling at me.
'Yeah... um... thanks for doing that. For Freed. None of us are the bookworm type, so... thanks for that.' I scratched the back of my head nervously and started fiddling with my broken mask.
'You don't need to thank me. I have the same issue as Freed, but at least I can talk to Levy easily. I get the feeling Freed distances himself from people, so I'm happy to be inside his inner circle.' I was shocked she'd noticed this. Not many people realise it, but Freed is just as afraid of being rejected because of his magic as I am. I coughed again before sniffing and beginning to walk towards the door, my babies hovering silently behind me for once.
'Hey Bickslow.' She called after me, making me turn around to face her, seeing her smiling at me.
'You've got lovely eyes.' I froze, staring at her in shock and confusion, before turning away and walking to the door. I paused at the door and called over my shoulder.
'Hey cosplayer! Call me Bix!' I shouted, before hurriedly exiting her apartment to pack for the mission.