Hello again! I hope that you're still sticking to this story, since it's been a little while longer than I wanted to. Damn this thing called life! Anyways, I hope that you enjoy this chapter and let me know =)
Disclaimer: I do not own Natsu or Lucy or Mira or Juvia or Gray or…you get the point.
Chapter Three: The Past Meets Present
Working at Fairy Tail the past week had been a whirlwind for Lucy. If she wasn't serving food or beer, she was serving advice to the hopeless members of Fairy Tail. Despite her best efforts with Erza, the red-head refused to even talk about the word 'love'. Cana was always too drunk to fully explain what she wanted to Lucy, and Juvia couldn't concentrate on Lucy's advice whenever Gray was within 500 feet. Evergreen still kept the façade that she wasn't dating Elfman, but Lucy knew it was only a matter of time until the Scorpio wanted to publicly claim her territory. Elfman was not the most handsome of the Fairy Tail crew, but his personality attracted more people than Evergreen would allow for long.
And then there was Levy McGarden. Lucy hadn't even gotten her friend to look at her astrology table. The librarian was avoiding the astrologist's love advice like the plague, though Lucy couldn't figure out why. Any time Lucy offered to pair up her best friend, Levy would get embarrassed and scurry down to the archives. The funny part of it was that the Gemini would be one of her easier cases to match. Levy's outgoing personality and charming individuality would make any normal man hot under the collar. The Gemini sign was a chameleon, and able to bend much easier than an Earth or Fire sign. If anything, it would be hard to find someone who specifically pleased her needs. That was why Lucy needed to observe her closer.
Unfortunately, her best friend was still on the run.
"So Droy and Jet really cried when they said goodbye to you?" Lucy laughed when Levy nodded, helping Lucy clean off one of the last tables in the room. Fairy Tail was closing up for the night, but Levy had yet to leave. Jet and Droy had won a paid vacation from a radio show, but almost declined when realizing there were only two tickets. The two had been attached to her hip ever since the attack, and had been hesitant to let Levy near Gajeel. While they admired his strength for the bar, both boys struggled to accept his past. Not wanting to leave Levy alone with Gajeel lurking, they were forced by the small girl to enjoy their trip. They only conceded when Levy threatened to never talk to them again. They duo had left to catch their flight earlier that night, leaving Levy to fend for herself.
"I don't get why they're so attached to me; back when we were little they used to think I was nothing but a bother." Levy huffed at the memory, though Lucy could only giggle. It was obvious to anyone in the guild that both boys were madly in love with Levy, even if she didn't notice. Despite being best friends, they constantly fought for Levy's love. Lucy hated to burst their bubble, but neither boy would have what it took to really capture Levy's heart. Sure, Levy would be their ideal girl, but Levy would not get satisfaction from either man's relationship. Levy was headstrong and very airy; and would need a man confident enough in himself to date such a bombshell. Jet and Droy would fold under Levy's personality like a card, which wasn't what her best friend needed. She needed someone to keep her grounded while still letting her creativity flow.
"Let's just say it's not their fault. You have a really attractive personality, Levy." At Lucy's compliment the girl blushed, scrubbing harder at a stain on the table. It made Lucy laugh, shaking her head. "Will you be lonely without them around?"
"I think I'll be okay. I've got a new book to read any night I'm lonely. I'm a little worried about going home though…Jet and Droy always walk me home when it gets dark. Now that they'll be gone for a week, I guess I'm a little nervous of something happening." Lucy instantly knew what Levy was referring to. Hell, one of the guys who caused her friend's fear worked at the bar. Looking over to Gajeel, Lucy noticed that his cleaning of the bar glasses had slowed a bit. He was looking the other way, but Lucy had the sneaky suspicion that he was listening. It wouldn't surprise her; she had noticed Gajeel's interest in her friend a while ago.
"So why don't you ask one of the guys in Fairy Tail to walk you home?"
"I don't want to be a bother," Levy mumbled, sliding her hair behind her ear.
"Nobody finds you bothersome, Levy. This mark—" Lucy held up her hand, showing the pink tattoo on her hand. It was identical to the white tattoo that Levy had on her left shoulder blade. Anyone who became a permanent member of Fairy Tail had the emblem tattooed on them as a sign of dedication. Fairy Tail wasn't just a club or bar; it was a community. "Means that we are family. We're all here for you!"
"I know…" But from the way Levy frowned while throwing the paper towels away, Lucy knew she didn't believe her. Lucy couldn't stop herself from sighing. Levy gave her a headache without doing anything. Movement to her side caught her attention, and she watched Gajeel toss his broom to the closet. Lucy almost pouted when she realized that Gajeel was already done with his work. Then again, she had been focusing more on talking to Levy than actually cleaning. Finishing the table she had been cleaning, Lucy watched the short girl yanked her bag over her shoulder and send a slight smile her way. "But I guess I'll have to do it on my own tonight."
"If you want to wait for me, I'll walk with you." Levy shook her head at Lucy's offer, trying to put on a brave face.
"You live the opposite way, and isn't Natsu meeting you here?" Damn, she had forgotten about that. She looked to her phone, knowing it was too late to cancel on Natsu. Similar to Lucy's concern over Levy, Natsu didn't like the idea of Lucy walking home alone so late. So, even if he wasn't at the bar, Natsu would come back to walk her home. Lucy was sure it was just to sleep in her bed, but he wouldn't admit it.
"I'm sorry; I wish I had known you were walking home alone. I would have made Erza stay. At least she lives in the same apartment complex." Lucy didn't like the worried look Levy gave out the window, knowing Levy was regretting getting back so late. Levy had walked the two boys to the shuttle that would bring them to their plane, and had just made it back to Fairy Tail before the sun set. Now that it was so dark out, Lucy knew that Levy shouldn't be walking alone. Two in the morning on a deserted street was all too convenient for the creeps to come out.
"It's okay, I'll just—"
"I'll take ya, shrimp." Both girls looked up at Gajeel, who finally showed his interest in the conversation. Lucy took a moment to take in the rebel, admiring his strong features. He was solid with muscle, and his face held little emotion as he stared at her best friend. His hair was pulled back with a brown bandana, which he always wore when he worked. The rest of his mane flowed down his back, rivaling most of the girl's lengths in the club. With a few tattoos to match his studded eyebrows, ears, lips, and nose, Gajeel's outside looked tough enough to scare anyone away. Lucy may have been a little more afraid if not for the black Fairy Tail tattoo branded into Gajeel's shoulder. So long as he wore that, she knew he would never hurt a Fairy Tail member again. Lucy knew about his bad past; everyone had skeletons they wished would go away. But Gajeel, according to even Natsu, had changed. He may still have been a rebellious soul, but he wasn't a bad guy.
"Ga-Gajeel…" Levy whispered, unsure of how to take his offer.
"Take it or leave it, I don't care either way," His snapped out, crossing his arms. Before she could formulate a thought, Lucy pushed Levy closer to Gajeel and nodded.
"This is perfect! Gajeel's scary enough to freak out any type of creep who comes after you. He can be your fill in body guard until the two boys come back." Despite the positive tone in her voice, Lucy knew that Levy wasn't quite as happy with the plan.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean, bunny girl?" Lucy ignored him as she pushed Levy toward the door.
"Just make sure to text me when you get home, okay? And Gajeel, please don't let anything happen to Levy. I'm trusting you!" Levy wanted to protest, or put up at least some sort of fight. But by the time she got the words into her head, Lucy was slamming the Fairy Tail door in both her and Gajeel's face.
"You have a weird friend." Levy tensed Gajeel's comment, slowly laughing while turning toward her path home.
"I know." That was the last thing said between the two before silence took the place of conversation. Their feet shuffled against the cobblestone, Levy occasionally glancing up at Gajeel. His eyes continued to scan the area, as if taking Lucy's request seriously. That confused Levy more than his offer. Gajeel had apologized all those years ago, and their few weeks in the archives had been quite nice. She had wanted to continuing talking to him, but Jet and Droy still had issues with the ex-Phantom Lord. So from afar Levy watched the changes in Gajeel's personality. If she wanted to be honest with herself, she probably noticed more so than anyone else in the guild. Gajeel lost some of his snarky tone, and his attitude of 'I'm only here because of Makarov' had slightly disappeared. She had even seen him crack a few smiles during his private conversations with Juvia.
But it still didn't quite explain his random act of kindness tonight. She turned down another street, her thoughts breaking when she heard a snickering coming from her watchgdog.
"What's so funny?" She asked, earning her a mischievous smirk.
"This was my old stomping ground when I was a Phantom Lord." Levy blinked, looking at the huge street in front of her. She lived in one of the biggest blocks of Magnolia. Just how much power did Gajeel give up when coming to Fairy Tail?
"You had specific territory?" Levy asked, feeling uneasy with the topic. Whenever Gajeel's past was brought up, it made Levy re-think her attack. Gajeel, not seeming to notice her nerves, nodded.
"Depending on your rank, you got a piece of Magnolia to watch. Anyone who fucked with your territory was your problem to deal with. I was the unlucky one that had Erza and Cana stumble into my region, and now I'm stuck dealing with the morons at the bar."
"If you think like that, then why do you continue to work there? Your debt must be paid off by now." Gajeel glanced over to her, his eyes lingering on her face before he looked up at the night sky.
"It's not like I have other options. My old gang is a bunch of losers who aren't worth my time. I could probably kick every one of their asses without breaking a sweat. Hell, they even make Natsu look kind of strong."
"What about your family?" Levy asked, letting her curiosity get the better of her. Gajeel shrugged in indifference, throwing his hands up to lock behind his head as they walked.
"My mom committed suicide when I was a kid, and my dad abandoned me on the streets when I was fifteen. Piece of shit gave me five hundred dollars to never go looking for him, not like I would bother. At the rate he drank, I'm sure his liver's given out by now. I don't have any siblings, thankfully. I've never really known what a family was."
"I'm sorry," Levy whispered, amazed at how emotionally stable Gajeel was. Though he talked about his grisly past like it was nothing, Levy was sure it had played a part in his decision to join Phantom Lords. A teenager with that much pain and resentment had to get rid of it somehow. What better way than making other people hurt too? If Gajeel thought any of that, he didn't say it. His face remained passive while he ignored her apology.
"Makarov pays well enough for me to keep a decent apartment and then some. He gives me time off for my second job at the car garage without complaint. I don't see the bar going out of business any time soon, so why leave a constant income?" At the new information, Levy paused. Gajeel worked somewhere else too? From all the hours he put into Fairy Tail, she didn't know how it was possible. Did Gajeel even have a social life? Or any friends? If so, what were they like? There were so many questions she wanted to ask the mysterious man, but she refrained. As it was, she already felt like a nuisance. Her last question had probably been more than annoying for him. Putting her nosiness to the side, Levy focused on their main conversation.
"So you don't hate Fairy Tail."
"I have a high opinion of Makarov. That barmaid has a demonic side that I have to respect. The way she ropes all those monkeys in without lifting a fist is impressive. And I guess I don't dislike Erza, even if she got me in this mess to begin with."
"I've seen you hang out with some of the guys, too. You were playing cards with Laxus and Elfman the other day weren't you? And ever since Lucy started working at the bar, you and Natsu have talked more." At that Gajeel snorted, rolling his eyes.
"Laxus is an ass, but it's sort of refreshing in the hero-filled bar. He's the only other guy who doesn't mind telling people how it is. Elfman's just a giant kid, beating on his chest and shouting about his manliness. All his shouting and he still gets bossed around by Evergreen. I don't even want to get into the moronics of Natsu; just hearing his name makes my eye twitch." Even though Gajeel was making fun of her friends, Levy couldn't help but laugh. He sent her a look, but she only continued in her giggling. "What's with you?"
"Nothing." This was definitely not the rough guy that had entered the bar all those years ago. If last week someone had told her she'd be enjoying her walk home with Gajeel, she wouldn't believe them. But here, seeing the almost pout of his face from her lack of information, Levy was almost glad Lucy had suggested the idea. She looked up when a familiar sign passed over their heads, her feet slowing to a stop. "Well, this is my apartment."
"Really?" He stared up at it, scrunching his nose. "Would've thought someone like you would live in something bigger."
"It's not much, but it's enough for one person." At that she turned to him, sending him a soft smile. "I'm sorry that Lucy dragged you into this."
"I'm just mad that none of my old gang came out; there's quite a few that I owe a good beat down." At Gajeel's comment, Levy scowled.
"Is that why you brought me home?" He barked out a short laugh before stretching his arms over his head.
"It would have definitely made it worth the walk," He replied, missing the puffed out cheeks on his shorter counterpart. Levy huffed loudly, turning away from Gajeel and storming up her stairs. She ignored his call of 'shrimp' as she shuffled through her keys, trying to find the one to her apartment.
"Well I'm sorry that I wasn't able to lure out your old friends. Next time, I'll make sure to make myself more vulnerable." She had just gotten the key in the lock when a large hand pressed to her door. The shadow he casted over her body made her shiver, but she refused to look back at him.
"Don't be getting all worked up, shrimp." She closed her eyes when his free hand rested on her head, though not in a condescending manner. Even though his rough tone didn't change, the volume softened. "There are other reasons, too. Stop jumping to conclusions."
"What other conclusions are there?" She asked, annoyed with his height reference. She knew she was short, and it was even more obvious when she was around him. Why did he have to call her that?
"…I'll walk you home until the two weaklings get back. So stop worrying about getting attacked. I'll protect you." She turned to yell at him for avoiding her question, but Gajeel was already walking down the stairs.
"Gajeel!" She called out, trying to get him to come back. He didn't turn, lifting his arm over his head to wave goodbye. She fumed, stomping her foot on the ground several times before she turned back to her door and yanked it open. When the air passed over her face, Levy's eyes widened when she realized how warm her cheeks were. Pressing pale fingers to her red cheeks, Levy felt the breath leave her lungs. Was she really blushing? She shook her head, refusing to believe it as she moved into her apartment. This was Gajeel, afterall! There was no way she'd like him, right? But as she slowly got ready for bed, Levy couldn't get his words out of her head. From his past to his declaration of protecting her, Gajeel kept invading her thoughts. Why? Plenty of times, Droy and Jet and made similar promises. Why did it feel so different with Gajeel? Feeling overwhelmed, and a bit vulnerable, Levy dropped down on her bed and called the only person she knew would still be up.
"Levy? Are you okay?" Hearing Lucy's voice on the other line made her bite her lip. She knew she was going to regret this, but every logical explanation was failing her. For the first time, Levy was going to try the unexplainable.
"Lu-chan…can you tell me more about my sign?"
Lucy hated grocery shopping. It took a chunk out of her day, and half the time she forgot something she would only remember after coming home. The lines were long, and people always seemed so much crabbier there. Food was expensive, and it always made her feel so much more broke afterwards. Having Happy as a semi-permanent resident in her house didn't help her wallet much. She always reminded herself to ask Natsu to start pitching in for the cat, only to forget the next day. Grocery shopping was the devil.
"These mangos look yummy!" But today, not even grocery shopping would deter her happy mood. She hummed while tossing the food she needed into the basket on her arm, feeling quite satisfied with her choice. No matter what happened, nothing was going to ruin Lucy's mood. And why was that? Because, at three in the morning, she got a phone call from her best friend. Not just a phone call, but one asking for her astrological help. Though Levy refused to admit it was because of her walk home with Gajeel, Lucy was sure that something had happened between the two. Feeling absolutely giddy over the breakthrough with Levy, Lucy was sure this was going to be a good day. It had only eight days, but her astrology business was going very well. Several of the people in Fairy Tail were opening up to her, and she had started to draft up compatible matches. Her success with Evergreen was good, and Juvia had been able to have a "normal" conversation with Gray. Gray had even started a conversation through text, which led to a late night talk on the phone. This was a feat that had never been accomplished in the two years Juvia had known him. Now Levy was on board too. Having a new client made everything so much sweeter.
She was struggling with Erza, which was frustrating. Still, Lucy didn't want to force it with her fellow Cancer. They were very emotional, and a push in the wrong direction could ruin the red-head. Lucy just had to be satisfied with her accomplishment with the other people in Fairy Tail.
So lost in her daydreaming, Lucy completely missed the man turning into her aisle. Within seconds she walked straight into him, knocking all of her stuff out of her basket. She gasped as she looked down, blushing when realizing how much attention she had attracted with the crash. Giggles were heard from a group of older women passing by and Lucy quickly hid her face with her bangs while hurrying to pick up her stuff. She lifted her head when she noticed the man she had bumped to had also stopped, kneeling down to assist her.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention," Lucy said, looking up and sending an apologetic smile at the stranger. A second later, her smile gave way to awe as she stared at a familiar face. Though she had never met the person in real life, Lucy's hand trembled on the can of soup she was holding. "Y-You're Agent Seigrain!"
"I guess my name is known even around here." His voice was smooth, matching the kind look in his eyes.
"Of course! You're the retired F.B.I agent that led the investigation on the Edolas drug ring. You're famous!" Or at least to Lucy he was. Lucy had done a research project for her criminal justice class in which she was assigned to research the recent Edolas drug bust. All over the information was this man's name. At the age of twenty, Agent Seigrain started an investigation on a small drug ring in Edolas. Three years later, he was able to stop the Edolas cartel as well as arrest the main players involved in the trafficking of drugs. Hundreds of narcotics were taken off the black market. Then, as quick as he came, Agent Seigrain then disappeared off the face of the earth. Lucy was sure that most people in Magnolia would never guess the man in front of her was the F.B.I agent. Edolas was thousands of miles away, and the drug bust wasn't big enough to attract international news. While many people would probably recognize him in Edolas, Lucy was sure she was a part of the rare few who would know him in Magnolia. She guessed his transfer was to keep his identity safe from those who would try to hurt him after the bust. The Edolas cartel were not friendly people.
"I don't suppose I could ask you not to tell other people who I am? Most from this town know me by a different name." Seeing her shock at his information, he smiled and looked up at the aisle they were in. "Agent Seigrain was a name I was given for the Edolas case. My birth name is Jellal Fernandez. I'm actually from Magnolia."
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Jellal. My name's Lucy." Lucy slowly pushed herself up to her feet, holding out her hand to him. His glance went down to her hand, his eyes widening slightly at the appearance of her pink tattoo.
"You're part of Fairy Tail?" She was surprised that he knew the name, but he did say he was from around here. She nodded slowly, though regretted it at the troubled look on his face.
"I've been a member for a few years. I'm sorry if this is rude, but I've never heard anyone speak of a Jellal Fernandez being a member."
"No, I wasn't. I just…knew someone who was." Now that was a painful look if Lucy ever saw one. In the few pictures she had seen of the agent, not once did his face show any feelings. But yet here, in a little grocery shop talking to a nobody, Lucy had already seen a wide range of emotion from him. Hope, confusion, sadness and pain were now so easy to read on his face.
"What's the name? I could let you know if they're still around." He looked at her hesitantly, and Lucy offered a kind smile to help ease his tension. "I have a feeling you'd prefer to be in a more private setting to talk about this. I'm done shopping, but I'd be happy to invite you over for some tea if you'd like. It's a little walk away, if you don't mind."
"I don't mean to impose."
"Try sleeping over every night and hogging the sheets like Natsu; that's what I consider imposing."
"You're a friend of Natsu's?" She nodded while the two walked toward the registers, Lucy putting her groceries on the conveyor belt.
"He's the one who brought me into Fairy Tail. Is he the one you're wondering about?" Jellal shook his head, and Lucy tried to think of other members who had been around for a while. Really, it could be anyone. Lucy had been around for a while, but some had been there for decades. Natsu himself had been under Makarov's watch since he was a child. Then there was Gray, or Levy. So many of the Fairy Tail members had been brought into the club at young ages. Makarov never let them partake in the adult parts of the bar, but made many of the extra rooms kid-acceptable. Fairy Tail was a haven for any age.
"Let me carry some of your bags," Jellal offered, taking some of the heavier groceries once out of the store. Lucy was grateful for his help, unaware of how much stuff she brought. The two walked along the street, Lucy waving again to the boatmen paddling in the river. Really, Lucy was starting to wonder if they ever went home. She looked back at Jellal, who had a much too serious face on for her liking.
"Will you tell me who you're looking for now?" At her question, he snapped out of his own thoughts and glanced over to her. Despite the shake of his head, Lucy could tell from the blush on his face that he was eager to know about the mystery Fairy Tail member.
"I haven't been looking for her."
"I knew it was a woman; no man would make you have such a cute expression." She knew that he was probably capable of killing her within a blink of an eye, but she couldn't stop herself from teasing him. Maybe it was because she spent more time with Mira, or because it involved one of her Fairy Tail friends. Either way, Lucy enjoyed seeing such a composed man get so embarrassed. "So who is she?"
"Her name is Erza Scarlet." Lucy tried to hide her shock at the revelation. No wonder Erza was having such a hard time matching up with anyone in Fairy Tail! She had a hunk like this shoved in her memories. Though he had never said they were anything more than 'friends', Lucy was not naïve. A man did not get that kind of look for a simple friend. There was more to this story than the mysterious man was letting on.
"Yeah, I know her. She's still at Fairy Tail too, if you're wondering."
"How is she?"
"She's good; though most of the members are a little frightened by her." If the information surprised him, he didn't show it. Then again, Lucy had a feeling he knew her for a long time. If anyone had the chance to hang out with Erza for more than a week, they knew of her strength. It was more than skin deep, too. Erza's character in general was stronger than most Lucy had met.
"Is she still working on becoming a teacher?"
"She's got an internship with an elementary class this year. She'll be graduating in the fall, and hopefully they'll hire her full time," Lucy answered, Jellal letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
"I'm glad she continued to pursue her dream. Erza was always good with children." Now she knew they were closer than friends. Very few people in Fairy Tail knew about Erza's infatuation with kids. In fact, Lucy had only just discovered it through their appointments. Erza had said it was a secret of hers, which not even Natsu knew. So the fact that Jellal spoke of it like common knowledge let Lucy know Jellal was something important to Erza.
"Erza is doing really well; she's actually a client of mine." Lucy made sure to slip in the last part to catch Jellal's attention. Though he didn't know her ability, Lucy had already started to analyze just who he was. She had decided he was no fire or earth sign, and was sure he was a fixed sign. It only left the options of Scorpio and Aquarius, both signs very similar in their ways. But there were a few differences between the two signs. Like their duality.
In the world of zodiac, six signs hold masculine energy while the other six hold feminine energy. To some, it may sound sexist or offensive. But to those who knew what it actually meant, it was just another indicator of the sign's personality. Masculine signs, like Aquarius, think of strength through action. It didn't surprise Lucy that Natsu and Elfman's signs were both masculine. The two of them tended to jump into physical action before anyone even finished their sentence. The feminine signs, which controlled Scorpio, relied more on self-containment and inner reserves. Mira and Erza's signs both had feminine energy, which allowed them a little more reserve than the first two. It didn't, however, mean they could not be pulled into a fight. Erza was provoked many times by Natsu into battle, though it was extremely rare that the serene woman would start one up.
It was this observation that made Lucy go down the path of Scorpio for this reserved man.
"A client?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you? I'm Fairy Tail's astrologist. I was hired by Master Makarov and Mira to find compatible matches for my friends." They moved onto her street, Lucy shifting the bags in her hands in order to get her key ready.
"Ah, I see." He was quiet for a moment, and Lucy waited patiently for the question she was sure he would ask. Scorpios were jealous creatures by nature. "Has Erza been able to reap the benefits from your advice?"
"No, she's quite terrible with the subject." Lucy laughed as she remembered Erza's bright red face, knowing Erza could never actually seek out love. It was something she was now sure had to come to Erza naturally. In a way, it was the same for Lucy. Cancers wanted natural love that came to them, and not the other way around. It was rare that the crab would make the first move on someone. That was another reason Lucy wasn't pushing her friend. She stopped outside of her door, starting to fiddle with the lock. "I don't think she's fully into the experience anyways."
"Why not?"
"I think she's probably hung up on her past love. Us Cancers hold onto that fairy tale ending longer than almost any other sign." She gave him a look that made him glance away in discomfort.
"Thank you for inviting me over for tea." Well that wasn't an obvious change of subject. Despite her slight frustration with his avoidance, Lucy smiled and walked up the stairs with him.
"No problem! After all, anyone who is a friend of Fairy Tail is a friend of mine."
"You use the word 'friend' too liberally in my case." She laughed at his caution, Lucy pushing her door open to her house.
"Just put the groceries on the floor and I'll start some tea." They two moved into the kitchen, Jellal following her order while Lucy started to search for her kettle. It had been a while since she entertained guests. Remembering she had stored it in her bedroom closet, Lucy pointed to one of the chairs at the table. "Please sit; I've just got to go to my room for a second."
"Lucy!" At the loud call from her room, Lucy rolled her eyes and turned toward the entrance of her kitchen. She missed the sudden tenseness of her guest, who now took a step away from her.
"Did you just climb through the window again?!"
"I told you that it's more fun to—" The noisy man stopped talking when he appeared in the entrance, his eyes darting past Lucy and toward Jellal. A moment of silence went between the two, and Lucy barely blinked before Natsu had lunged across the kitchen and punched Jellal across the face. Jellal stumbled back, Natsu wasting no time grabbing his shirt and shoving him into the kitchen wall. The deadly look in Natsu's eyes snapped Lucy out of her stupor. She quickly moved across the room, grabbing Natsu's arm and trying to yank him away from Jellal.
"Natsu what are you doing?! Let go of him!"
"You filthy piece of shit!" Lucy winced as Natsu slammed Jellal against the wall again, tightening her hold on his arm to try and stop him. "You bastard! What are you doing in Lucy's apartment?!"
"I invited him over. Now stop hurting him!" Finally Lucy ducked under the arm, pushing herself between the two guys. Though she was slightly embarrassed from her back pressing so intimately into Jellal's chest (she did just meet the guy an hour ago!), Lucy glared at her livid friend and shoved hard on his chest. The motion knocked his grip off Jellal's shift, Natsu taking a few steps back before fisting his hands at his sides.
"Move, Lucy. I've waited too many years to beat the shit out of this guy." Though she could tell he was pissed, he didn't raise his voice toward her. Lucy shook her head, putting her arm out in front of the silent Jellal.
"You're not going to attack someone at my house, especially if they're my guest. If you can't be civil, you have to leave."
"Do you know what this guy did to Erza?! How many times she cried over him?" Lucy's eyes widened at the new information that came pouring through Natsu's mouth. He glared over her shoulder, and she knew his next words were directed toward Jellal. "Erza should have kicked your ass as soon as you told her the truth. But I guess I'll just do it for her!"
"I never meant to lie to her." It was the first time Jellal had spoken since Natsu entered the room. Lucy glanced back at him, watching a million emotions pass over his face.
"Bullshit!" Natsu, too blind in his rage, was unable to hear the sincerity in Jellal's tone. Looking back at Natsu, Lucy yelped when his fist went over Lucy's head to hit Jellal again. The older man didn't try to defend himself, the punch sideswiping him into the cabinets. Lucy gasped when seeing blood trickle from Jellal's mouth, looking back to Natsu in anger.
"Get out, Natsu!" Before he had time to react, Lucy grabbed Natsu's arm and yanked him out of the kitchen. She threw open her front door, shoving him through it. He stumbled, but caught himself before falling down the stairs. Turning back toward his blond friend, Natsu pointed at himself in shock.
"You're mad at me?"
"You can't just come in my house and beat people up," She answered, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Luce, this guy isn't a good person. That's the guy that Erza was engaged to!" Well, that explained why she got the 'more than friends' vibe from him. Seeing Natsu yank at his own hair, the boy paced back in forth in the hallway while speaking. "If Erza finds out he's come back, she'll fall apart again. But if she finds out I know and didn't tell her, she'll kill me too."
"What happened with the engagement?" She tried to focus the scatterbrain, but she was starting to feel a bit nervous herself. She had seen Erza angry before, and it was never a pretty sight. If she was really as pissed off at Jellal as Natsu said, Lucy would have to move to another country to avoid her wrath.
"He told her there was another woman and ended their engagement. Then he just disappeared from the face of the earth for years. She never heard from him again. This bastard broke Erza's heart, Lucy! And I'm going to beat the shit out of him for every tear he made her cry."
"Not at my house you won't." Lucy exchanged glares with him, Lucy's hand tightening on her door. "I don't know what happened back then, but beating him up until he can't speak won't solve anything."
"Yes it will!"
"If you can't act like a civilized human, you're not welcome at my house. Now go away!" Before he could response, Lucy shut the door on him. Huffing in annoyance, Lucy walked back into the kitchen while trying to calm her anger down. Natsu was always trying to fight first, talk later. It never worked out for him, and it always got Lucy into hot water with someone. This time, she was doing things her way. Her angered simmered when she saw Jellal at the sink, swishing water in his mouth before spitting it out. It was evident he was trying to clean the blood from his mouth. Lucy was more concerned with the purple bruise that was starting to form on his cheek. Walking over to the fridge, she pulled out an ice pack and held it up to him. "Here, put this on your cheek. I'll grab a towel to wrap it in."
"You don't need to help me." But even as he said it, Lucy was ushering him to a seat before grabbing a dishtowel from the cabinet. She wrapped it tight around the icepack, pressing it slowly to Jellal's face while she scowled.
"I'm sorry about Natsu; I didn't think he'd act out so much. I already kicked him out, so don't worry about him coming back."
"It's fine; Natsu had every right to punch me. I deserved it after all the trouble I caused him and…" he trailed off, but both knew the woman he was implying. Trying her best to stay objective, Lucy leaned back a bit and sighed.
"Why don't you tell me what actually happened?" Jellal looked up at her in confusion, slowly shaking his head.
"It's just as Natsu said; I cheated on Erza and left her."
"I don't believe that anymore than I did when Natsu said it," She said, meeting his surprised gaze head on.
"Wh-what?"
"I told you I was an astrologist, right? It means I can predict patterns of behavior from certain people. In your case, it means that I know you lied to Erza about the other woman."
"You've only known me for an hour." She only smiled at his defense.
"Doesn't make a difference in my profession. In the end you're still a Scorpio; which means you don't cheat. You may lie or manipulate people to do and think what you want them to, but you don't cheat. You only have so much love; you don't have time to share it with multiple people. This means that, since I know you probably still love Erza, you never had another woman. It was always Erza for you. Am I right?" He stared at her silently, Lucy refusing to give up on her theory. She had seen the happiness he felt by talking about Erza. There was never another woman in this man's heart. But it left the question of why he told Erza the lie in the first place. Was it just too hard to tell her the truth? Or was something else holding him back? "So tell me what's really going on here."
"…Erza and I started our relationship in high school. I was intending to marry her once we were both twenty-two. She had her dream of becoming a school teacher, and I planned on doing something with the police. I was almost twenty-one when the F.B.I asked me to perform a specific mission for them. My father had been a well known agent, and my exceptional skill led me to the F.B.I a year before that. I had been a desk worker, filing paperwork and typing out report summaries. It was my youth that allowed me access to the Edolas case. Though the media believes I was the one who called the shots of the operation, I was actually the agent in the field. Because it was a young group running the show, the F.B.I knew anyone older would set off alarms. They wanted someone who was young enough to fly under their radar. The mission had me going straight into the hornet's nest, and they weren't positive I'd make it out alive if my cover was blown.
"I knew I would be spending several years in Edolas for the job. I wouldn't be able to contact anyone from my actual life, or else they would be put in danger. If I told Erza about the mission, she would have wanted to move with me. I couldn't take the chance of her getting hurt because of my mission. I knew that if I told her not to come, she'd disregard my order and follow me anyways. I had to make up something to keep her away from me. So, I told her I was moving away to be with another woman. My lie would destroy my future with her and hurt her deeply. But I was willing to take that option rather than see her killed. I left the next week for Edolas, became Seigrain, and took down the drug ring. It took my team several years, but we succeeded."
"And now?" Lucy asked, seeming to catch the depressed man off guard. "You're done with the F.B.I and you're back in Magnolia. The charade of Seigrain is over. You're Jellal again. So will you go to Erza? Will you tell her the truth?"
"It would only hurt her more to know I lied. If I came back into her life, I could hurt her again." His pain almost spoke to Lucy, who refused to take his fear as an answer.
"But you won't know for sure until you talk to her. The Erza I know is a very forgiving person. She'll be hurt by your lies, but I know she's still waiting for you to return." He looked out the kitchen window, seeming to struggle with her reasoning. Lucy knew he was debating the two sides. He didn't want to cause Erza any more pain. She could understand that if Erza was over him. But Lucy had seen the lost look Erza sometimes got when Lucy asked her about what she wanted in a man. Before she met Jellal, she never could figure out where this expression came from. Now, looking at the face of the man who held Erza's heart frozen, Lucy understood.
"I wouldn't know where to begin with her." Lucy softly smiled at him, reaching out to place her tattooed hand over his.
"You start by agreeing not to give up on Erza a second time."
"And then?"
"Then you let me help you two fall in love again." The hand that rested on his tightened as Lucy's smile disappeared, giving a somber look toward the blue-haired man. "So long as you promise not to disappear again."
"If I did, I have a feeling you'd let Natsu come after me." Lucy laughed at his answer, Lucy nodding quickly.
"If Erza didn't get to you first." At the reply the temperature in the room warmed, then suddenly exploded when Lucy realized how late it was. She was supposed to be at work in a half hour! Trying to be a good hostess, Lucy made sure Jellal's bruising was under control before he left. They exchanged numbers, Lucy promising to contact him within the next week. Once he was gone, Lucy went into frenzy mode. Cramming her groceries into her fridge while yanking her hair into pigtails, Lucy barely had both of her boots on when she hopped out of the apartment. She almost locked the door when she remembered Happy, breaking back into her apartment to feed the very vocal cat. Giving him extra fish as an apology, Lucy pat the "famished" cat before running back out the door. Nearly bumping into three different people, Lucy gasped as she threw the Fairy Tail doors open.
Though the place was pretty crowded, it was not nearly as bad as the other nights she had worked. She waved to her group of friends, her smile dropping when her eyes made contact with Natsu's. The two glared at each other, Lucy sticking her nose in the air before she stomped over to the bar. Mira was there, pouring another beer for the biggest drunk of the bar. You wouldn't be able to tell from her slim stomach, but Cana Alberona drank beer like water. The pretty brunette was wearing a black bikini top, "modestly" covered with a small white jacket. It was matched with brown knee-length pants, showing off any skin she could get away with. She sent a flirtatious wink toward a group of boys at a table to the side, making them nearly pant in anticipation. She turned back toward the bar while Lucy tied her apron around her hips, Cana's eyes lighting up at the sight of the blonde.
"Lucy! How the hell are you doing, my little celestial friend?" Lucy laughed at Cana's question, washing her hands in the sink behind the bar.
"I'm okay, I suppose. You got any good predictions for my night?" Lucy asked, watching her favorite tarot card reader spread her cards. Cana and Lucy bonded quickly once Cana heard about her affinity with the zodiac. Since tarot card reading fell under the same mystic umbrella, Cana supported her friend's new occupation. Cana had even been a little impressed with Lucy's evaluations, seeming to enjoy watching the blonde work.
"Sure, why not? Got anything specific you're wondering about?" Lucy watched Cana shuffle the cards, holding back the urge to talk about Jellal. It would spread like wildfire if either Cana or Mira found out, and she didn't want Erza to find out that way.
"Nothing in particular. Maybe work?" Cana nodded, spreading her cards out in an arch on the bar.
"Okay, work it is. Now choose a card." Lucy picked one of the cards, distracted by her name being called down the bar. She smiled at Macao, knowing exactly what beer he wanted. She handed the card back to Cana, starting to get the drink ready. She only paused when Cana let out a low whistle. "The Chariot."
"What about it?" Lucy walked down the bar, sliding the beer into Macao's hand. She turned back to Cana, knowing full well the older man was admiring the bare legs her skirt revealed for him.
"It means that you'll soon be given a challenge you're not sure you can accomplish. You will be forced to face your fears. If you can control your emotions and learn to go with your instincts, you'll make it out of this challenge just fine. Believe in yourself, and your ability, and you will show those who oppose you just how amazing you are. I'll leave you with this; the chariot card is directly connected to the zodiac sign Cancer."
"Wow," Lucy said, feeling amazed at the drunken girl's prediction. Though she had her own skill, seeing Cana perform her tarot reading was a real treat for her. Even if it was implying she was going to have a troubling night.
"Amazing again, Cana. Do you have anything else?" Mira also seemed to enjoy the show, boosting Cana's ego. Mira started to pile the mugs of alcohol onto her serving tray as Cana spoke.
"Let's see what else we have for you…" Cana yanked out one card, flipping it to show "the fool" card. "Well, it seems like you got into a fight with Natsu? And not the normal kind of bickering; you seem really mad at him."
"Well that's a rarity," Mira said, leaving the back of the bar and moving toward the college boys. They were still drooling over Cana, but she didn't notice. Lucy huffed at the reminder of Natsu, starting to make a drink for another patron at the bar.
"Natsu and I are not on speaking terms right now."
"Did he go through your panty drawer or something?" Lucy nearly over poured the drink at Cana's dirty mind, sending her cheeky friend a look.
"No, he didn't. I don't think Natsu even thinks of me as girl half the time."
"Natsu spaced out for a week after he walked in on you naked. Trust me, you've made it clear you're a girl," Cana said, taking another swig of her beer while Lucy's face lit up.
"Either way, this isn't about that! When he wants to act like an adult and apologize for what he did, then we'll be fine."
"So my beautiful princess is free from her dragon captor after work?" The compliment came out as a purr from the sexy man who now sat next to Cana. With wildly spiked hair, shades that hid his hazel eyes, and handsome face, the sly man gave Lucy a once-over and lazily smiled. "Good evening, Lucy."
"Loke! When did you get back in town?" Lucy smiled at her friend, truly happy to see his face. Loke tended to sporadically disappear for a few weeks at a time, not that it was his fault. Being a freelance photographer had him travelling all over the world. The man had a knack for capturing the most beautiful scenes in the world without breaking a sweat. His trips were always paid for, magazines knowing just how great he was at his job. Lucy would have been jealous, if not for the fact that he asked her to join on every trip he took. She refused, knowing real life wouldn't let her. Still, the offer was tempting.
"This afternoon. I guess I picked the perfect night. I would hate for you to be alone during a fight with Natsu. My little astrologist and I have some things to discuss. Like how to make our signs much more compatible. The Cancer and Leo couple can be quite a force to reckon with."
"You like astrology?" Cana asked, seeming surprised when Loke nodded.
"Both of my parents were very deep into astrology. My middle name is Leo, after all."
"How come you never told us?" Lucy asked, jumping when Loke casually grabbed Lucy's hand and pulled it to his lips.
"If I had known it would catch your eye, I would have done it sooner," he mumbled against the top of her hand, kissing it softly. Cana let out a low whistle, making Lucy blush.
"Should I call you two the Cosmic couple?" Lucy shook her head at Cana's teasing, pulling her hand back.
"No way! Loke's just being his normal flirty self. Besides, Cancers are too emotional to be with a Leo. We need someone who will bathe us in love, while the Leo needs someone who will gush over his power."
"You wound me with your lack of faith, Lucy." Loke placed his hand over his heart dramatically, making both girls laugh. Lucy knew that Loke was a great guy, and that she was lucky he was so infatuated with her. Loke had his head on his shoulders, and a great future ahead of him. He was charismatic, intelligent and smooth. Lucy caught him looking at her, the seductive wink making her heart skip. Even if she was content being his friend, she had to admit the Leo was tempting. Probably too tempting, especially knowing their worlds would never mesh. Sometimes she worried her way of life would never match another's the way she wanted it too.
The good mood between the three was cut short when a booming voice overtook the conversation.
"You sure like to throw this astrology bullshit around the guild." Lucy looked up at the tall blond, instantly feeling nervous. The man was built and fierce, dark eyes piercing anything he looked at. It was hard not to notice him in the room. Loke gave the man an uninterested look, his smile from earlier gone. Laxus was not one of his favorite people, disliking the bad mood he caused when crabby. Cana scowled at the man, sighing loudly and leaning against the bar.
"Don't be such a grouch, Laxus. We're all just having a good time; something you should try."
"Gramps wasting money on something so fake makes it impossible to have a good time. One of us has to look out for what's best for the bar." Laxus Dreyar was the Master's grandson, and a force to reckon with. He was one of two men who could probably equal Erza's fear in the guild, though Laxus seemed to enjoy it much more than the redhead.
"She does bartend, you know." Loke replied, making Laxus mockingly laugh. It made both Loke and Cana grimace, though Lucy tried to busy herself by drying the washed beer mugs.
"We have Mirajane; who needs another bartender? She's done her job perfectly since we hired her."
"Well maybe Mira's tired of doing so much work alone. Don't you think she deserves a break?" Cana asked, not liking how Laxus was speaking.
"Of course. Maybe you should get behind the bar once in a while instead of drinking this place to the ground." He smirked as Cana growled, Loke placing a hand on her leg to calm her. He knew that Laxus was just trying to get under everyone's skin, and was doing a great job at it. Within minutes he had Lucy doubting her position and Cana ready to brawl.
"Are you here to cause trouble, Laxus?" At the sweet voice of Mira, Laxus seemed to lose some of his edge. He glanced over to the smiling barmaid, giving a weak roll of the eyes.
"Good evening, Mirajane."
"Same to you. I see you're talking about the astrology again. Did you do as your grandfather requested?" Whatever Mira was talking about, it seemed to put Laxus on the defensive. It was rare to see him that way, but it reminded Lucy that everyone had a weakness. To Laxus, it was the kindness of the barmaid.
"I was just coming over here to do it, stop rushing me." He turned his attention back to Lucy, who tensed quickly at the attention. "So, you're the great astrologist?"
"U-Uh…I mean, I'm not the best—"
"Lucy is amazing! The best anyone has ever seen!" Cana's loud declaration of Lucy's skill started to catch the attention of the other members of the guild. Lucy tried to get her to stop, but Cana jumped up to her feet with a confident smirk. "I bet Lucy's so good, she could guess your sign without you saying a word."
"I find it interesting how much confidence you have in your friend when she's shaking like a leaf," Laxus said bluntly, Cana looking back to the petrified Lucy. "But alright, I'll take your bet. Let's see how great Lucy is."
"H-Huh?" Lucy watched as Laxus walked toward the middle of the floor, now drawing everyone's attention to him. His voice echoed in the spacey ceiling, the club falling silent as he spoke.
"Come on out Lucy, we'll settle this now in front of everyone. If you can guess my sign without me saying a word, then I'll completely support the astrology bullshit. Hell, I'll become one of your clients."
"It's not bullshit!" Cana yelled, though Laxus refused to look at her. Instead, his dark eyes focused on the pale astrologist in front of her. His next sentence even caught Cana off guard.
"But if you guess wrong, you quit."
And the plot thickens! Did anyone think that was going to happen? I hope that it was a surprise to most! So, what will our beautiful astrologist do? Can she save Erza's love life? Or her friendship with Natsu? Will she be able to take on the bet from Laxus? Can she guess the big man's sign? Can you? Let me know what you think it is! Oh, and review of course!
Chapter Four: Caring for You