A/N: To anyone following this, the latest update (10/4/17) is just some formatting - I noticed none of my ***** separations carried over and wanted to put them back. Hopefully a new chapter is coming soon - I AM working on it!
"Come see me at sunset for your punishment!" Master exclaimed. "I suggest you drink up before-hand."
Natsu and Lucy slowly looked at each other again, something in his words causing chills to creep down their spines. It was then that Lucy realized how Natsu was now holding her; how she was pressed against him in a way no friend should be pressed against a friend. Relaxing her grip, his cheek immediately came away from her chest, but she didn't try to get away. Instead hot blood flowed into her cheeks. He showed no signs of letting her go, but also no signs of seeing a problem with their positions. He's always had issues with the idea of a personal bubble, she told herself, trying to force the excited beating of her heart to a more calm pace and not read more into it than was in front of her. "I'm sorry, Natsu," she breathed, brushing some unruly hair behind her ear nervously.
Like Lucy, Natsu had only recently realized how he was holding her, how her hips were pressed into his, and how he was keeping her there. Heat rushed through him from head to toe without his will, but he liked the feeling. What am I doing? With a shrug, he decided to try and see how long he could keep her like this before she'd whack him in the head again. "It was a nice kick," he admitted with a smile.
The sudden heat and compliment brought a bright smile to Lucy's face and her arms tightened around him without realizing it. "I wasn't so sure you'd understand what I was trying to do," she admitted.
His brow furrowing, Natsu looked genuinely confused. He was. Her hands in his hair had told him exactly what she wanted. "Why wouldn't I understand?"
A snickering blue Exceed suddenly appeared over their shoulders and Natsu threw Lucy at him before Happy could say something he shouldn't, and before Lucy could notice the blood creeping into his cheeks. "Shut up Happy!" he shouted even though he hadn't said anything.
"Natsu! You idiot!" Lucy shouted as she came back up to the surface and whacked him.
Gajeel chuckled, his voice deep and grating in his chest. "Look at those two," he indicated Lucy and Natsu just as Lucy whacked him.
"Just kiss and get it over with already," Levy muttered under her breath, forgetting that dragon slayers had incredible hearing.
"What was that, Shorty?" Gajeel's red eyes were all but glowing when he looked down at her with a crooked smile.
"Oh!" she gasped, jumping in his arms in surprise. "Nothing!" she shoved herself out of his arms, falling unceremoniously into the water. She was grateful for the cold shock of the water compared to the heat of Gajeel's arms. She needed to get her thoughts back in order. "How 'bout that drink?" she asked to cover her nervousness. Her only reply was strong arms encompassing her once again, throwing her over his shoulder brusquely, and bolting for the shore. "Gajeel!" she shouted, beating at his back.
Gajeel chuckled. "You aren't getting out of this that easy, Short Stuff," he teased as he smacked her ass and ran for the shore.
"Juvia is sorry, Gray-sama," Juvia muttered quietly, unwilling to move from their spot. The hip deep water rocked them just enough with each wave to lull her into a sense of deep contentment. Gray was holding her hand! He wasn't fighting her, hadn't even needed to be coaxed to hold it. One minute she had collapsed into the water after Erza's kick, and the next his hand was around hers, cool and firm, tugging her to the surface, pulling her briefly to his chest as though to protect her, filling her head with the rich sound of his laughter, before setting her back on her feet, keeping her hand in his. His eyes had danced into hers then and her heart had felt lighter than ever before. He was trying to cheer her up!
"Don't be. I'm deathly afraid of Erza. With or without magic." His voice was soft and sweet; a tone she rarely had the opportunity to hear, but he stoically refused to look at her. She was fine with this.
"And now we will be punished," she muttered, her eyes falling to the refractions of light within the crystal clear water. She had no idea why everyone was so terrified of being punished by the master.
Beside her, Gray chuckled humorlessly. He knew exactly why they should be afraid. "At least we won't be alone!"
His words were meant to lighten her heart, not darken it. She told herself this even as her face fell. All she wanted was to be alone with her beloved Gray…
"Better not let them get too much of a head start," he offered, tugging her hand to pull her to shore. Juvia could only follow on numb legs, her heart pounding and her head spinning. Their hands would be out of the water in a moment, and he showed no signs of letting her go.
Lucy emerged from the water with a huff, straightening out her bikini top before adjusting the bottoms. Natsu had tackled her after she whacked him for throwing her. All thoughts of romance had been tossed out the window as effortlessly as he had tossed her at Happy. What the hell is wrong with him?! Better yet, what the hell is wrong with me?! She berated herself internally as she made her way to the shore. Even as each step brought the water lower and lower on her legs, her creative mind started churning and once more her cheeks darkened. Curse you, brain! Curse you! Stop it! But it was no use. All she could think of was the salmon-colored hair wizard coming up to her from behind, bringing her quickly and yet gently to the sand, and pressing his lips…Stop it! She nearly shouted the words out loud.
Natsu could see the darkness surrounding Lucy and wisely chose to avoid her for the time being, even if he couldn't take his eyes off of her.
Mira suddenly found herself surrounded with the six losers, their faces long and drawn. She smiled at each of them in turn, her heart fluttering for them in her excitement even if they weren't sitting the way she wanted them to. Gray and Juvia sat directly in front of her, sitting the closest together of the bunch. Juvia was trying to appear glum about the punishment, but couldn't hide her happiness at Gray's public affection. Gajeel sat next to Gray, Levy next to Juvia, Lucy next to Levy, and Natsu next to Gajeel. The two on each end looked more than mildly irritated; the girls furious and the boys frustrated. She chose her drinks carefully for them.
From their place in the now practically deserted water, Erza continued to watch the six wizards before her, four of whom were behaving extra stubbornly. While she had never taken as active of a role as matchmaker as Mira Jane, she could look at them all objectively (and sometimes not so objectively) and easily point out where the Satan Soul wizard's ideas came from. She would support them all as best as she could, her heart swelling for them and the possibility that they might find love in each other if they simply opened their eyes. With a sigh, she pulled her eyes from the six at the bar and let them travel over many of the remaining members of the guild. She had been with Fairy Tail for a long time, and had never really picked up on some of the finer details, the more intricate intimacies that were hidden just beneath the surface if one only looked. Their time on Tenrou Island had changed that. Now, they just needed the proper amount of nourishment in order to bloom.
Her arms tightened once more around Jellal as though she were suddenly reminded he was still there. She knew what her heart wanted; wanted but couldn't have. If she could keep any of her friends from experiencing the same pain, she would.
"You're quiet," Jellal commented, spinning around lazily so that her dangling legs dragged out behind them.
"I never thought you were much for words," she commented back.
Jellal tensed beneath her. "Come with me," he commanded, slipping her arms from his shoulders and making his way to the beach with a purpose.
Never much of a follower, Erza followed. She paused when Jellal paused by the bar, grabbing each of them another drink before continuing toward the rocky outcropping and crags that marked the end of the beach.
Moving carefully in their bare feet over the sharp crags, Jellal and Erza jumped down at the same moment, landing in sand so soft it felt like silk between their toes. Erza wiggled her toes in the sand with a smile before following Jellal a little further. When she turned over her shoulder, the crags completely blotted the beach party from view, the squeals and laughs and shouts that always accompanied Fairy Tail scarcely audible over the sound of the breaking waves to her left.
Jellal found what appeared to be a good spot and looked around, his eyes ever leery, before dropping to the ground and sitting cross-legged, facing the ocean. Erza cautiously sank to her knees beside him, kicking her legs out to the side as she sat on one hip. She watched with barely hidden interest as he removed Mystogan's mask, revealing his angular chin, his full lips, and the mark that surrounded his right eye. "Curse this thing," he grumbled, running a hand down his face and through his hair.
Erza smiled and scooted closer to him. "It really was a brilliant idea. Especially since the council did appear to buy it," she praised the use of Edo-Jellal's identity.
For the first time since they were kids, and perhaps ever, Erza noticed Jellal's ears darken as he dropped his eyes. "It was an idea born out of necessity. That strange magic we've felt at the games," he paused as though he didn't even need to finish the sentence. "It was the only way I could be close enough," to you, he finished only in his mind, as his voice darkened.
Allowing herself to feel her heart swell, Erza remembered the drinks they held and took several sips of hers. He had grabbed her a strawberry daiquiri. She loved strawberries. "We are fortunate such a disguise was so readily available."
Following her lead, Jellal took several sips of his beer. He hated the fact that he needed to drink, that his own courage would fail him at such a time, that the alcohol was necessary in order to stop his mind from working in overdrive. He didn't know what to say. He, a man that was once considered a wizard saint, a man that had once been a member of the magic council (although granted not working 100% with his own free will), didn't know what to say! When Erza seemed to sense this and move so she was sitting at his side, he forced his heart rate to calm down while looking out at the sea. The sun was hot and nearly merciless at their backs, but the breeze off the sea made it tolerable.
"I have to leave as soon as the photo shoot is over tomorrow," he stated quietly, not able to meet her gaze.
Erza allowed her shoulders to fall in the slightest. "I know." She didn't want to think of him leaving, of the length of time that would surely pass before they were likely to see each other again. Before darkness could completely settle over them, Erza tossed back the rest of her drink, shivering as the cold slush hit her belly, and rose to her feet. Without looking at the man beside her, she took off at a run, pulling her hair from its pins on top of her head and letting it flow in a scarlet wave behind her. Her feet hit the water, splashing her legs with its salty coolness, but she kept running until the water was up to her thighs. Then she dove in.
Jellal had watched Erza's dash to the water as though she were moving in slow motion. When her hair came loose, it cascaded down her back and swayed side to side with her movements, the breeze tossing it playfully. When she hit the water and refused to slow down, he could only imagine the kiss of the water against her skin. It was then that he ran after her.
When Erza came up from the water, arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. She was both surprised and not surprised as she allowed herself to be pulled into the circle of Jellal's waiting arms. Her head rested naturally in the crook of his shoulder, her arms easily wrapping around his neck and holding him just as tightly as he was holding her. They remained this way for several moments, their breaths slowing to match the others after their mad dash. The gentle waves rocked them as the water licked higher up their bellies with each rise. When Erza felt Jellal's hands move up her back, his fingers entangling themselves in her hair, her eyes closed. Her feet were no longer on the ground. He was carrying her, his feet taking them further out to sea. She pressed herself more firmly against his shoulder, her nose brushing against his neck, as the water quickly came up to her chest and then stopped. It was then that Jellal dropped his face to her shoulder and held her as though he were afraid she would disappear, his breath warm on her suddenly chilled flesh. She felt him suck in a breath before his grip on her hair tightened and he pulled her away from him ever so slightly. It was just far enough so his mouth could rest in the hollow of her neck at her shoulder, his breath now hot on her collarbone.
The proximity of Jellal's lips to her skin sent a pleasant shiver down Erza's spine. His grip on her hair was firm, and yet gentle. Her fingers entangled themselves in his blue locks, willing him to close the distance that he so obstinately maintained. "Jel-" she started before his lips were suddenly pressed into hers.
His lips on hers sucked her breath away as her heart cried out. The kiss was tender for only a moment, before intensifying as he pressed her to him and she pressed him to her. There was no moment of shyness, no waiting to see if the other would reciprocate, no holding back, as she immediately and fully kissed him back, her lips immediately parting to give him access, her body immediately pressing even more into him. Her legs wrapped around his waist, easily holding her up beneath the water as his hands instinctively fell to beneath her thighs, supporting her. When the kiss broke, it was only so Jellal could kiss the hollow of her neck, Erza tilting her head back to give him easier access. His mouth kissed a trail of fire down her neck, her eyes still closed, until he gently sucked on her skin, sending tingles down her leg. Biting her lip, she opened her eyes and cupped his cheeks in her palms. His eyes looked up into hers, mirroring her own love, passion, and yes, fear. She knew all she needed to know as her lips crashed into his, causing a surprised groan to come from Jellal's throat before his hands loosed her thighs to wrap around her waist possessively.
She tasted like strawberries, strawberries with only the slightest hint of rum. It made kissing her the best decision of his life, the relief at her returning passion so profound his chest ached. He had gone so long with no form of physical contact, not allowing himself to feel any pleasure, or even happiness, that having her in his arms, her skin against his, her lips now trailing to his ear, surreal. He lost all thought of the guild just over the crags, of the numerous people that could come upon them at any moment, even about the threat of the council still hunting him as a fugitive. His only thought was his hands on her, her hands on him, and suddenly their hands were everywhere at once.
Erza gasped pleasantly when his hand slid from her waist to her stomach, sliding upwards to where her bikini top was suddenly no longer touching. She scarcely had time to wonder when he untied it before his hand was on her breast. It was not in their nature to be pensive and shy. They knew this moment was to be taken or lost, and it showed in his boldness, in her brazenness. He pressed her flesh pleasantly, eliciting sighs of pleasure from her before his lips made a trail down her chest to meet his hand, his mouth covering her nipple with gentle warmth that made her moan softly.
Jellal couldn't help but smile at her reaction and took the moment their lips were apart to take her top off the rest of the way. She looked at him severely for a fraction of a second before her eyes caught the slight purple shimmer that surrounded them in a sphere. He didn't have to tell her to know what it was and she could only smile as he picked her up and carried her to the beach. No one would see them or hear them even if they stood only a few feet away.
The moment she was deposited on the sand, Erza reached up and pulled Jellal down with her, his body effortlessly covering hers and fitting in a way neither of them would have imagined. Her breasts, bared, pressed into his chest as his lips pressed into hers, their kiss growing deeper and more passionate as the urgency grew between them. They may have been pressed for time, yes, but deep down they were both more afraid they would lose their nerve.
It wasn't until Erza was untying his shorts that Jellal paused for a moment, resting his forehead against hers as they attempted to catch their breath. The eyes looking up at him were wide and open, hiding nothing from him as she nearly pleaded with him not to stop now. She could feel the gears turning, see him fighting the urge to pull away, and it made her chest hurt and a lump form in her throat. But she wouldn't speak. She wasn't going to contaminate the moment by uttering words that might betray her. By the way Jellal was pressing his lips tightly together, she knew he was thinking the same thing, and she all but ripped his shorts off.
A smile caught at the corner of his mouth at her show of determination and strength and he bent down to crush her lips with his, her surprised moan the only encouragement he needed as he did rip her bikini bottoms off. Her lips pulled away in just the slightest as she smiled and pressed her hips up to him as he pressed his to hers. The moment they joined, it was with such searing hot pleasure they both had to break off their kiss. Erza bit his shoulder as he pressed into her, her heart flying as her loins cried out for more. As her teeth bit into him, he thrust into her fully and completely, trembling as she surrounded him. His lips found hers once more before he started moving, not able to take it slow, not able to be gentle as her touch was just as rough as his, her movements just as forceful. With each move in and out, they both uttered small cries of ecstasy, Jellal reaching down to hitch one of Erza's knees up over his arm.
The change in position thrummed something in Erza and her fingernails dug into his shoulders as her back arched. She twisted her hips as he thrust and before she knew it, he was biting her to drown out his cry of pleasure. Her extremities were both numb and tingling, her toes curling as she lost all sense of anything except their bodies entwined as one. She could feel herself tightening beyond her control, her mind going blank as her body tensed. Just a moment later he thrust into her as hard and as far as he could, his mouth taking over hers in a kiss that took over everything.
When they could no longer breathe, their kiss ended, Jellal dropping his head into the nook of Erza's shoulder as her arms wrapped around him. He let her leg fall, but kept his hips where they were. She would have it no other way. Her senses slowly returning to her, Erza risked a peek to make sure Jellal's shield was still in place, death the only consolation if it wasn't. It was and she let out a pent up breath in relief.
Once their breathing had slowed, Jellal brought his lips to Erza's once more, this time the kiss soft and gentle, his palm cupping her flushed cheek. This kiss, so unlike their fierce lovemaking, spoke of his feelings for her, her feelings for him, what they wanted to say but couldn't. They separated reluctantly, the hairs tingling on the back of their necks, as they feared they might have been gone too long. Neither of them wanted the moment to end, but both knew it could not last forever. Both of them felt a pang in their chest when Jellal finally withdrew, turning to sit at Erza's side with his knees drawn up.
Rising to a sitting position beside him, Erza traced her fingers along the corded muscles of his shoulders. He trembled slightly but said nothing, even when she planted a tender kiss between his shoulder blades. His eyes were downcast, his bangs covering half of his face, as though the self-rebuke had already begun. Swallowing, Erza wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pressing herself softly into his back, and closing her eyes as she rested her cheek where she had just kissed. The tension ran out of him at her touch, she could feel it leave. His hand found hers and brought it gently to his lips before placing it gently against his chest, over his heart. I love you too, she breathed, closing her eyes and allowing herself to enjoy the moment just a little while longer.
"Hey! Where'd Erza and Tattoo-Face go?" Natsu clambered, his words slurred as he dragged his eyes away from Lucy.
Mira smiled at him from behind the bar. The sun was beginning to dip to the west of them. She resisted the urge to look to the crags, where she had seen Jellal lead Erza well over an hour before. "I wouldn't worry about them," she answered, her smile widening.
Around them, the party was turning. More of the guild was drunk than was sober. The exceptions were the young ones – Romeo, Wendy, and Asuka. Alzack and Bisca wisely avoided alcohol themselves, keeping a watchful eye on their daughter and the drunks they so loved as guild mates. They knew their comrades, however, and knew the direction the party was taking, and discretely disappeared, their daughter in tow, along with Romeo and Wendy.
"Come on, Dad!" Romeo cried as Macao and Wakaba accompanied them, somewhat reluctantly.
"Romeo, you aren't old enough," Macao corrected gently. He eyed his friend beside him and their minds were thinking the same thing, "And we're too old."
"Fight me!"
"No!"
"Fight me!" the voice bellowed persistently.
"Damn it, Natsu!" Laxus shouted, a dark aura surrounding him as he glared at the fire dragon slayer antagonizing him with flaming fists. Lightning crackled across Laxus's shoulders and down his arm as he punched, Natsu flying backward in his surprise.
"Ha ha ha!" Gray chortled, falling out of his chair.
"Gray!" Juvia shouted, crouching to help her fallen love. She lost her balance and they both went sprawling
"Grow up!" Lucy shouted, wishing she were close enough to kick the flaming idiot.
"I'll fight ya, Salamander!" Gajeel crowed, standing up so fast his stool was knocked over behind him.
"Gajeel!" Levy shouted, lithely standing on her stool in order to jump onto his shoulders, as though the effort could stop his attack.
Mira observed all of this with a smile on her face and excitement in her heart, even as Natsu loosed a roar of fire and lightning, catching both Levy and Gajeel in his strike and sending them both sprawling.
"No man hits a woman!" Elfman shouted, upper-cutting Natsu and sending him flat onto his back. Evergreen stood behind him shock-still, her eyes wide and her hands to her mouth.
"Elfman!" she shouted in alarm, just as Natsu responded with a kick that sent the giant flying clear into the water.
Gajeel and Levy continued to lie with their limbs spread in the sand, Levy groaning softly as her sarong smoked. Lucy looked at them as though they were a mile away before her eyes snapped up. "Natsuuuuuuu!" she shouted, finally loosing her whip and cracking him with it. Despite his drunkenness, he caught the whip, the crackling end wrapping around his forearm, and flexed his arm. He gripped it tightly, tugging on it as Lucy pulled back, trying to work it free. Her plan had backfired…
"Luce," he growled as he pulled her closer.
"Shall I punish him, Princess?" Virgo asked, appearing on her own with a bow (Lucy had mentally called her, not sure her plea would work).
Lucy smiled, not letting up on the whip in the slightest even as her feet were dragged through the sand. "Yes."
Without another word, Virgo spun, tunneling a hole under Natsu so that he immediately disappeared into the sand with a shout. Lucy's whip cracked as he let it go in surprise. Virgo's pink hair appeared on the outside of the hole with a smile. She bowed once more. "Thanks, Virgo!" Lucy called, and the celestial spirit disappeared with a poof.
"Team mate fighting team mate?" Elfman asked suddenly, his eyes confused as he looked from Lucy to the hole Natsu had just disappeared into. Evergreen was standing very close to him, one hand on his back.
"Gray and Natsu do it all the time. Why is it suddenly a problem when I do it?" Lucy retorted, flicking her whip in agitation.
Lisanna opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off by a shout.
"Damn it, Lucy!" Natsu roared, flames erupting from the hole Natsu had just been in. The hot fireball reached nearly a hundred feet into the sky, Natsu's voice thundering along with it. "Fire Dragon Wing Attack!" he shouted, spinning in the air as he fell from the sky.
"Lucy!" Happy shouted in alarm.
Lucy didn't move, even as everyone else dodged. Natsu hit the ground hard enough it shuddered, his flames whipping from both his hands like extensions of his body. They swirled around, licking and hot, on either side of her, but she was perfectly safe between them. She knew this. She knew he wouldn't hurt her. "Finished?" she asked with a quirked eyebrow as the flames died down. Her entire body glowed a soft pink from the heat but she was completely untouched.
Natsu's eyes were narrowed and hard as he looked at her from his crouch on the ground. She could all but hear his teeth gnashing together in frustration, but he said nothing, his chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. Her cheeks darkened even more when she realized she was staring at his chest…
"You idiot!" Gajeel shouted, his metal arm connecting with Natsu's face and sending him flying into the bar.
"Hey! That was a cheap shot!" Natsu roared, launching himself from the bar and immediately into a brawl with the iron dragon slayer.
"Here we go again," Levy muttered, burying her face in her hand from where she still sat in the sand.
"I got this," Gray boasted, blasting both of them and turning them into two separate blocks of ice.
The two mages were instantly frozen in place, Natsu's flames flickering for only a moment as his hand was pulled back, ready to launch an attack. Gajeel had been preparing to roar, his back arched as he sucked in a deep breath. Now he looked with narrowed eyes at Gray. It took them only moments to shatter their confines.
"Snowball!" the two shouted in unison as they turned to the ice-make wizard.
"Water slicer!" Juvia surprised them, throwing them both into the water. "You two need to cool off!"
The dragon slayers immediately started slinging curses. Gray simply cracked a crooked smile and threw his arm around Juvia's shoulders. "Thanks."
Everyone present fell shocked still, their eyes wide and their mouths open at Gray's open show of affection toward the woman he always seemed to be running away from; that, and the fact that he wasn't bothering to jump into the fray of the fighting dragon slayers. "Who are you and what have you done with Gray?" Lucy asked in surprise, even if she was happy for them. Gray only offered a cocky smile in return, turning back to the bar and releasing Juvia's shoulder.
Juvia looked at her with narrowed eyes that said, "See? He's mine." Lucy felt like screaming at her that she could have him for the millionth time, but kept her mouth shut.
Shouts from the water quickly drew her attention. Why do they always have to fight?! When her eyes fell on the two dragon slayers brawling a smile came to her lips nonetheless. This was what home felt like to her, and she loved it.
"Lucy, can you please calm Natsu down before he manages to destroy the whole beach?" Erza's commanding voice asked politely as she seemingly materialized from the back of the canopy.
Everyone was calm the moment she appeared (minus the two tearing up the beach), stunned into shocked silence at her sudden appearance and her calm, composed words. Although everyone noticed the change in her hair and swimsuit, no one thought anything of it – she did specialize in reequip magic, after all.
"Where?" the collective asked as one, eyes darting in confusion.
Erza simply smiled. Mira looked at her with slightly better hidden surprise, her eyes widened, before her face melted into a knowing smile when she witnessed Jellal discretely heading back to the hotel, Mystogan's mask once more concealing his features.
For a moment, Lucy wondered why Erza asked her to calm down Natsu, as her eyes returned to the water. She had time for nothing else. Gajeel was enveloped in flames when Lucy saw a flash of blue out of the corner of her eye. "Solid script, net!" the little bluette called, pointing at Natsu. His flames immediately ceased as he was caught up in a net, suddenly sputtering in the water.
"Levy!" Lucy shouted, running out to the water to save Natsu from drowning.
"Someone had to stop it," she answered, smiling with pink cheeks when Gajeel looked at her in surprise. Mira and Erza smiled widely in approval.
"I had it totally under control, Shrimp," Gajeel chastised as he came to the beach panting and wet, dropping a dripping arm across her head.
Levy smiled despite the cold water dripping on to her and simply handed him a drink. "You're welcome," she admonished.
He "Gihi'd" in reply, a smile at the corner of his mouth.
Jet and Droy drooped and buried their faces in their mugs.
"Natsu!" Lucy called, coming up to the sputtering dragon slayer just as the net disappeared with a poof. He immediately stopped flailing.
"Luce?" he asked, looking around in surprise that they were suddenly alone in the water.
"I couldn't let you drown," she answered his silent question, her cheeks growing warm. "I'm sorry I had Virgo drop you in a hole," she added after a moment of awkward silence.
Natsu was scratching the back of his neck, finding it hard to look at her in the growing darkness. "Ah, I'm sorry I attacked you."
Lucy shoved him with a gentle laugh. "You didn't attack me. I would have been burned if you did."
Suppressing the urge to grab her wrist when she shoved him, Natsu allowed himself to take a step back. Instead, he threw her over his shoulder and bolted to the shore. "Drinking contest!"
"Natsu!" she cried out indignantly.
"You're on!" Gajeel and Gray quickly accepted.
Cana, who had been surprisingly quiet through all of this, looked at them from over her barrel with hooded eyes. "You all are going to be so wasted," she slurred.
"When did Erza get here?" Natsu shouted as they approached the bar, easily sliding Lucy from his shoulder. She fell to the sand, landing roughly on her butt with an "Oompf" and a pout. All sounds of commotion stopped as he all but collapsed onto the bar, leaning heavily on his hands with smoke seeping from his mouth. "Erza!" he hollered, pushing himself up taller. "Fight me!"
Erza studiously ignored him, sipping on another drink. She was trying to talk to Juvia, but Juvia was too distracted watching Gray.
Gajeel grabbed another drink from the bar, not realizing or caring that it was Levy's, and downed it in one gulp. "Hey," she whined.
Without a word, Gray blasted Natsu with an ice hammer, hitting him so hard on the head he hiccupped fire before falling over. He was down only a fraction of a second before launching back to his feet and sucking in a deep breath for retaliation.
And so the cacophony continued as the sun continued to slink to the west. They drank and fought, then drank some more, laughing and carrying on the whole time. The heat of the day was slipping from their minds as a soft breeze picked up, dissipating the heat and kissing their skin with a gentle coolness. The agitation and frustration from earlier was quickly replaced with the good-natured fights and arguments Fairy Tail was well known for. Destruction was soon to follow.
"Hey Lucy, you're looking mighty fine in that tight little bikini," Loki suddenly muttered over Lucy's shoulder. He was already dressed for the beach in green swim trunks.
"Hey!" Lucy immediately shouted, covering herself up from his roaming eyes. "Where the hell did you come from?"
"Come with me. I'll show you a real good time."
Levy burst out laughing, all but spewing her drink all over Gajeel, who was watching with mild amusement.
Lucy's mouth fell open at his brazenness and for a moment she could do nothing as he grabbed her hand and attempted to pull her off the stool she was sitting on. Before she could react, he snatched her up into his arms, carrying her like a princess.
"Loki!" Natsu, Lucy, and Gray cried at the same time. Lucy's voice was full of shock. Natsu's voice was full of rage. Gray's was the only voice with happy surprise at seeing his friend.
"Go home, Loki!" Lucy commanded, her cheeks burning as she glared up at the celestial spirit.
"Don't have to," he corrected. "You didn't summon me." His final word was cut short, his back erupting in brilliant orange and yellow flames. The force propelled him forward and flashed both of them with incredible heat.
"Natsu!" Lucy cried as Loki lost his footing and fell, tumbling over her and landing sprawled on top of her. "Get off me!"
A finely controlled burst of fire hit Loki in the chest, knocking him off of Lucy and into the surf beyond. "Hands off, you stupid lion!" Natsu roared.
Lucy scarcely even had time to blush at Natsu's words. Before anyone knew what was happening, Loki pounced on Natsu, who retaliated and got Gajeel and Gray involved. The four tore across the beach and into the water. Fire, ice, iron, and light exploded around them as though they were attempting to put on some new kind of show.
A stray burst of fire made its way to the canopy of the bar, striking Erza in the back and making her drop her piece of cake into the sand. Her entire body stiffened, a vein pulsing in her forehead as a dark aura immediately began to emanate from her. Everyone at the bar wisely took a step back, Levy all but falling into Lucy's arms as she retreated.
"Natsu!" The command stopped him in mid-breath and he exhaled slowly, a trickle of a flame escaping and sparing the ice make wizard that was just rising to his feet from the surf. His chuckles immediately stopped when his name was called next. "Gray!" The two nearly leapt into each other's arms, their mouths gaping and their eyes wide, as Erza fixed them with her murderous glare. "Can it!" she finished.
"That's my cue," Loki muttered before wisely disappearing with a flash of light.
Gajeel, who was still in the water but was somehow spared her fury, "Gihi'd" at their misfortune. It was a mistake.
"And you!" Erza shouted, her aura darkening even more as her entire body seemed to enlarge. "That is enough!"
Everyone on the beach shriveled.
"I think you've all had enough to drink," Master Makarov suddenly spoke. His lips were pulled back into an evil smile, his hands rubbing together in front of him. "Now come for your punishment."
The collective six groaned and stumbled to do as bidden.
Disclaimer: The usual... I do not own Fairy Tail or any of the characters (unfortunately). They all belong to the genius that is Hiro Mashima. I just like to write about them. :) Hope you enjoy! I certainly enjoyed writing about the shenanigans Fairy Tail is known for!
