To all my faithful fans, the new chapter is here! I was totally bummed when I realized there was no new fairy tail chapter, then realized I've yet to put mine up either. I'm kind of a basket case at times. So here it is, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I toooooooooootally own the plot in this chapter…that's about it.
Chapter Six: The Skeletons We Bear
"So a little birdie told me that your birthday is in two days." Lucy paused at the unexpected statement, looking up at her smirking brunette friend.
"Cana, how did you find that out?"
"I'm not going to give my sources away." With a subtle wink, Cana smirked and leaned on the bar. "So, how old will our little Lucy be?"
"I'm turning twenty-three. But before you even think about it, I don't want any presents or giant parties." Seeing the obvious disappointment on Cana's face, Lucy laughed and shook her head. "Didn't we just have a dance party in my honor a week ago?"
"Five days, actually!" Looking over to the newcomer, Lucy smiled at the teenage girl who eagerly jumped up onto a barstool. With long blue pigtails that had adorned her head since she was young, Wendy Marvell was the sweetheart of Fairy Tail. Everyone considered Wendy a little sister, which was probably one of the reasons she had yet to snag a boyfriend. She didn't seem to mind everyone's protectiveness, even though it tended to make her shyer than most in the guild. Being surrounded by such big personalities, it was hard for the soft-spoken girl to stand out.
"You're out of your summer job pretty late; nobody was giving you a hard time, right?" At Cana's suspicious look, Wendy hesitantly smiled and shook her head.
"No, nothing like that! Since it's so close to the fourth of July, our shifts have been getting longer. But don't worry; Romeo gave me a ride home." Lucy smiled at the mention of the teenage boy. Romeo Conbolt was the son of Macao, a patron at Fairy Tail for years. The young boy was raised in the bar like many other kids, creating a strong devotion to Fairy Tail. For a reason Natsu could never really explain, Romeo had always followed the pink-haired man wherever he went. Even with the five year age gap, Natsu never saw Romeo as a kid. He treated Romeo with the same respect as he did with all the members of Fairy Tail. Feeling like a role model for the younger boy, Natsu made sure to help Macao raise his son on the right path. Natsu had been extremely helpful once Romeo entered his teenage years. Macao was too old to relate to the teenager's hormonal instability, and it created a wedge in their relationship. Romeo had lost his childish idealism of his father, and the innocent of youth gave way to an edgier young adult. His smiles were more scarce, and only seemed to appear when in the company of Natsu.
But, Lucy had noticed one other member Romeo was getting close to. Being the only two Fairy Tail members still in their teens, Romeo was one year older than Wendy. Even though they were in different grades, Romeo had never shunned the quiet girl at school. They were Fairy Tail members before anything else. On many occasions, Romeo and Wendy attended dances and school events together. She had been his date for his senior prom, and vice versa for her junior. It was a relief for the members of Fairy Tail. Wendy's sweet personality only enhanced her beautiful face. Because of this, Wendy was very popular with boys of all grades. Several times she came home with flowers and candies, all from secret admirers. Her popularity soon caused tension with the other girls of the school. It was the beginning of sophomore year when the teasing started. Playing on Wendy's non-aggressive nature, many of the upper class girls would taunt Wendy about her lack of 'development'. Wendy knew she was just a late bloomer, and many of the women in Fairy Tail had a late start with their own puberty. Cana, who was the closest thing to a sex symbol the bar had, was flat as a board for a lot of her teenage years. Even with her friend's backing, the teasing took a toll on her self-confidence. Not long after, Wendy started to dread going to school.
That was when Romeo stepped in. Even though he was a junior at the time, Romeo was extremely popular. Being a part of almost every sports club made him a heartthrob, even if he didn't enjoy the attention. Much sharper than his 'mentor', Romeo was quite aware of the girls that lingered outside of the gym during his basketball practice. He, unlike his name hinted, had no interest in the romance department. Especially with the superficial girls in his junior class. But what he did have interest in was how little Wendy smiled in school. It didn't take much investigation to realize the bullying going on behind his back. The thought made the normally composed boy see red. Natsu had always hated people that enjoyed hurting others' feelings, and Romeo was no different. It was from then on that Romeo sat with Wendy during lunch, as well as offered her rides to and from school. Spending her free time with Romeo left no room for her to get picked on, and Wendy soon regained her ability to smile. Romeo's fan club took a hit, not that he minded. He would rather have Wendy waiting for him after school anyways. And Wendy had until his very last day of high school.
"Where is the little munchkin?" Cana asked, placing her hand along her eyebrows while scanning the bar. Wendy giggled at the comment, though quickly stopped when she felt a forearm resting on her shoulder.
"What did the drunkard call me?" Cana quickly glared down at Romeo, who wasted no time returning the look. Ignoring the two's childish antics, Lucy focused on the reaction of her petite guild mate. She smiled at the soft blush that rushed under Wendy's cheeks, showing how easily Wendy was affected by Romeo's touch. Though he was leaning on her casually, like Natsu would do with Gray, Wendy looked like he had just encased her in an intimate embrace.
"I'm sorry; you must be this tall to insult the grown-ups." Cana left her hand a few inches above Romeo's head, snickering when Romeo flushed in anger. Her grin was bright when she dropped the hand to his head, messing his purple-tinted hair. "You are growing up into such a little heartthrob! If Wendy's not careful, you may just steal the heart right out of her chest."
"Ca-Cana!" Wendy squeaked out, the comment seeming too close for comfort. Romeo didn't seem affected by Cana's statement, letting out a slow sigh.
"Pick on me if you've got nothing better to do, but leave Wendy out of it."
"Someone sure is protective of your best friend." One of the many problematic personality traits of Scorpios was their lack of empathy for others. Ignoring the fact that Wendy was about to faint from embarrassment, Cana took a slow swig of her drink and honed in on her prey. "Maybe you really are following in Natsu's footsteps."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Both Lucy and Romeo were outraged by Cana's sly statement, the brunette seeming satisfied with their responses. She shrugged her shoulders, casually looking around the bar.
"I didn't say anything weird; whatever conclusions you two come up with are your own fault." Cana slowly hopped off the bar stool, stretching her arms over her head while walking away from her friends. "If I don't get to see you before Monday, happy birthday Lucy. Don't let the fool ruin it for you either. I promise he'll make it up to you in the end."
"That woman has completely lost her mind." Even as Romeo muttered the statement under his breath, Lucy felt a slight unease in her heart. What was Cana hinting at? Lucy knew that Cana was just as spiritual as her, and that her powers were no joke. When she said something was going to happen, it did. So what fool was she talking about, and what problems was he bringing on her birthday? Even though she wanted to go after Cana, her attention was dragged away by a Romeo's sturdy voice. "Wendy, did you ask her?"
"No, not yet."
"Do you two need something?" Lucy glanced to the clock, deciding it was still too early for the bar rush to come in. Pointing to the two seats in front of her, she waited until both of them were comfortable before continuing. "Nothing bad, I hope."
"Romeo was just wondering if the rumors about Natsu joining your clientele were true?"
"Well that's an odd question. Any reason why you want to know?" Despite the tough guy look Romeo tried to hold onto, Lucy could see a blush lining the tops of his cheeks.
"If Natsu's doing it, then I want to also!" Lucy smiled at the teenager, leaning forward to tap his nose. He instantly reeled back, glaring to Lucy while Wendy quietly giggled.
"Don't you think you're a little young to be going to a love matchmaker? You haven't even been out of high school for a month."
"So what? You saying age matters?"
"No, I suppose not. If you really want my help, I won't turn you away." He nodded and smirked, as if winning an imagined fight. The blonde then turned to Wendy in interest. "Does this mean you'll be joining too?"
"I really shouldn't. Any time I try to date someone, Natsu and Gajeel go crazy." Lucy knew from personal experience that Wendy wasn't exaggerating. Ever since the humble girl walked into Fairy Tail, Natsu and Gajeel both took it upon themselves to protect her. Natsu said she reminded him of a younger Lucy, while Gajeel's reasons remained a mystery. The blue-haired girl never minded, and bonded easily with the two brutes. She was the only one who could make the two docile without violence. But this tranquility always disappeared when a boy was brought into the picture. Any potential boyfriend who picked Wendy up at Fairy Tail quickly changed their minds once seeing the two 'demons' waiting at the doorway. Then again, who could blame them? Getting a "friendly talk" from either Natsu or Gajeel would send most men running. After the third attempt at a boyfriend, Wendy decided to hold off on dating for a little bit.
"If you ever change your mind, I'd be happy to help you. Just let me know his sign and I'll tell you if he's compatible. You're a Libra, right?" Wendy nodded happily at Lucy, though Romeo only rolled his eyes.
"Stop trying to pair Wendy off; she doesn't need a boyfriend."
"Why do you say that?" Lucy asked, Wendy's interest seeming to perk at the question. Romeo merely scoffed, giving a quick shake of his head before looking over Lucy's shoulder.
"I have my reasons." Lucy wanted to roll her eyes Romeo's avoidance. If there was one thing Romeo didn't get from Natsu, it was his emotional self-control. While Natsu could barely keep himself contained to one room, Romeo had never had a problem holding his emotions at bay. It wasn't that he was emotionless; Lucy knew there was a fire deep inside of Romeo that could come close to Natsu's own spirit. Romeo, for some reason, just never expressed it openly. The smoldering looks he gave were likely to give goose bumps, but he rarely lost his cool.
"One day, you Fairy Tail men will have to let Wendy grow up."
"But not until she finds the right guy," He defended, looking over to the blushing girl. Wendy's fingers were nervously combing through one of her pigtails, unable to look at the confident boy next to her. "Wendy doesn't need a loser who can't take care of her. If the guy can't even face Natsu and Gajeel, then he can't date Wendy."
"Don't you think that's a little harsh? Those two are pretty tough. I'm not sure any guy could ever beat them." Romeo's nose scrunched at Lucy's comment, as if angry with her observation.
"This is stupid; I'm leaving." Wendy's attention quickly returned to Romeo, who now shoved away from the bar and walked off. His hands were deep in his pockets, and Lucy could see the tenseness of his shoulders underneath his shirt.
"Wait, Romeo!" Despite Wendy's call, Romeo disappeared into the back of Fairy Tail. Without a second thought Wendy was on her feet, saying a quick 'goodbye' to Lucy before following her fellow Fairy Tail member. Lucy shook her head, leaning her elbows on the bar top while blowing out a puff of air.
"Why are the Earth boys always the hardest to talk to? First a Taurus, now I'm guessing a Capricorn..." She paused at her own question, letting a soft smile tickle her lips. "But he's sweet in his own way, I suppose."
"Is something wrong, Lucy?" She tilted her head toward Mira's voice, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Mira, you look amazing!" At the compliment, Mira giggled and placed her hand onto her own cheek. Though Lucy was used to seeing the barmaid in a dress, the black piece she wore was completely different. With a slit slipping up her pale leg, the flowing gown left little to the imagination. Accentuating Mira's natural curves, the silk of the dress hugged along her slim torso and voluptuous chest, only flaring out after the curve of her bottom. The halter top created a flattering dip, leaving her entire back bare. Though she kept her hair in its normal fashion, the woman looked like a goddess.
"Thank you, Lucy. I wouldn't want to look bad when representing Fairy Tail." Lucy slowly tilted her head, showing her confusion. Giving a cheerful smile, Mira smoothed out the front of her dress while speaking. "Laxus and I are going to a fundraiser that Master donates money to every year. It's a black-tie affair, and you know how little Master enjoys dressing up. He's orders Laxus to go every time, and I've been requested to accompany him again."
"Like a babysitter?" Lucy asked, Mira placing her finger to her lips with a wink.
"Don't say it like that, Laxus may hear you."
"Too late, Mirajane." The silver-haired girl turned toward Laxus, smiling despite the conversation they were caught in.
"Are you ready to go, Laxus?" He scoffed, yanking at the black coat he wore. Despite his obvious discomfort, Lucy was impressed with how nicely Laxus cleaned up. He pulled off the tux look easily, and she was almost embarrassed at how attractive she found him. She had always known Laxus was handsome, but this was completely different than his normal sex appeal.
"If Gramps wants to donate all that money, he should have to go to this stuffy party." Mira's eyes softened when she walked forwards, her heels gently clicking on the wood floor. Her hands easily rose to the tall man's shirt, fixing the crease of his collar. He continued to grumble, but his shoulders slouched to make Mira's job easier.
"With such a handsome grandson, Master knew your face would look much better in the charity photos. You do fit the suit quite well, Laxus. And despite your prickly outside, your natural leadership draws people towards you at social gatherings. It's quite hard to resist. " Lucy didn't miss the soft blush on Mira's cheeks, or the way her fingers almost lingered on his chest. A second later she quietly stepped back and clasped her hands in front of her. "Master has many reasons for making you go in his place."
"You'd defend the old man till the very end, wouldn't you?"
"I simply love Fairy Tail. Is that a crime?" At her innocent question, Laxus scowled and crossed his arms.
"Don't you have a personal life outside of Fairy Tail? Or is everything you hold dear stuck in these four walls?" Mira didn't answer Laxus, turning her neck to look back at Lucy.
"I'm leaving you with the bar on a Friday; it's not something I do with ease. But I trust that you'll do your best."
"Of course! Leave everything to me and enjoy your night!" Lucy was more than confident with her ability to bartend now that she had been working with Mira for so long. It had been nearly a month since she started working there. She was starting to memorize the normal's drinks, and her skills at the mixed beverages had improved substantially. She was able to balance her astrology with bartending much easier, and it was almost natural now.
"Just don't forget you have Natsu's first appointment tonight as well." Despite her best effort, Lucy felt her eye twitch at the reminder. Natsu had been bugging her for time to talk, and Lucy had been avoiding it. It had been ten days since Natsu asked to join 'Operation Layla' and yet Lucy still couldn't manage to put the right type of girl together for Natsu. Or, for that matter, one that didn't eerily resemble herself.
"You're really going to give the small fry a girlfriend?" Laxus rolled his eyes at his own question, slowly crossing his arms. "Don't be surprised if he tries to fight her on the first date."
"Laxus, have a little faith in your astrologist. If anyone can find Natsu a compatible match, it would be Lucy. She got you right on the money, remember?" Trying to ease the annoyed look on Laxus's face, Mira slipped her arm through his own and rested her hand on his bicep. As if her touch was magic, Laxus's defensive stance slacked, and he managed to uncross his arms.
"Because bringing up that particular memory doesn't piss me off." Mira only giggled at Laxus, looking to Lucy and giving her a confident smile.
"Just do your best, and you'll be fine. We all have faith in you, Lucy."
"Thanks, Mira." Lucy slowly waved to the odd couple who continued their private conversation while leaving Fairy Tail. Once Mira was out of the doorway, Lucy felt her smile drop the same time her hand did. Though she knew she was supposed to be thinking of matches for Natsu, her head continued to play back Mira's interaction with Laxus. It would have looked like nothing to anyone else, but Lucy was sure there was something Mira was hiding. Despite being extremely friendly, it was rare for Mira to ever touch a man in the bar. Many would catcall her and insist she come sit on their laps, but she would refuse. Even the ones who were not as forward were turned down by the polite woman. And yet in those few minutes, Mira initiated two separate forms of physical contact. Neither being exactly necessary.
That was the last rational thought Lucy was allowed before the Friday night rush came. Like mad dogs they prowled the bar, shouts of random drinks filling Lucy's ears. At first the whole scene was overwhelming, making Lucy wonder if she truly had the Friday night under control. She was a little flustered, and at one point was sure she wasn't going to make it out alive. When she hit that point, Lucy took a slow breath and calmed her racing thoughts. This was her chance to prove to Mira that she wouldn't let Fairy Tail down. Regaining her composure, Lucy's ability to serve drinks improved. The shouts of drinks didn't scare her, but encouraged her to move faster than she had before. Her hands were on auto-pilot, working on a drink before she even realized what had been called out. And after a grueling hour of pure madness, the bar was content.
But now Lucy was faced with another dilemma.
"It's about damn time! I've been waiting over a week for this." Natsu was slouched in the chair across from Lucy, his natural pout causing his eyebrows to furrow. Though his arms were crossed over his chest, Lucy could hear the tapping of his fingers against the inside of his arm. Lucy knew this moment would come. Even now she couldn't explain why she had avoided it for so long. He was her best friend; she should have wanted to find him someone.
"Really, I shouldn't leave the bar alone for too long." So why was she trying to run away again?
"Levy and Erza already told you they'd watch it. Stop making excuses," He said bluntly, making Lucy swallow.
"Bu-but neither one of them has run the bar at Fairy Tail before! And does Erza even have a bartending license?" Sensing her discomfort, Natsu's frown deepened.
"Am I really that hard to match?"
"No!" Lucy shouted, guilt now biting at her heart. How could her best friend cause so many emotions in her? "Sorry, Natsu; we can start now."
"Alright! Let's do this, Luce!" Despite her earlier nerves, Lucy felt herself smile at his enthusiasm. For some reason, she knew his energy had less to do with his result and more to do with his contribution to 'Operation Layla'. That thought made it easier for her to fall into her astrologist persona.
"Like I said before, I'm not going to start off with your sign. Our first step is to narrow down the types of personalities you prefer. So, why don't you tell me some of the women you feel more comfortable around in Fairy Tail?"
"I like everyone."
"Of course you do, but you wouldn't want to date them all, right?" At her question he shook his head, making Lucy nod. "So then I need to get an idea of which ones you consider attractive. A big part of chemistry is your level of comfort with the person. You can't expose your true self to someone you feel guarded around. So I need you to tell me who you feel most comfortable with."
"Besides you, right?"
"Of course, Natsu! I'm your matchmaker; we can't date. It'd be against some sort of rule!" She scolded, wiggling her finger to show her disproval. He scowled, glancing away from her to stare out the bar's window.
"So you're not an option for anyone?" Lucy nodded, placing her hand over her heart while holding the other up next to her head.
"It's my duty to match you up with who I feel is best for you. If I had feelings for one of my clients, then I'd be impaired. Therefore, I can't date anyone in the experiment."
"Is Loke in the experiment?" She tilted her head in thought before slowly shaking it.
"No, he's too busy with his photography. Loke really wanted to participate, but the only girl he texts is me. He was roaming the bar on Tuesday, saying something about going to the Bahamas this weekend. Even though I told him a thousand times it wasn't a big deal, he kept promising me he's be home for my birthday. Seriously, that guy—wait!" Lucy shook her head quickly, waving her hands in front of her to break off the train of thought. "How did we end up talking about me?"
"You kind of just went on a ramble. I'm pretty much used to it by now," Natsu replied cheekily, earning him a slap against the head.
"Focus!"
"I wasn't the one rambling!" He argued, Lucy ignoring him as she tried to trace her thought process back to the beginning of their conversation.
"Ruling myself out, which girl do you feel most comfortable with?"
"Definitely not Erza." He said it so bluntly that Lucy blinked in surprise. His look was serious as he glanced to the red head quietly chatting with Gray across the bar. After a moment of silence, Natsu's face cringed as if remembering something painful. "Any time I try one little prank around her, she tries to put my head in a wall. My whole body tenses when I'm too close to her."
"Okay, so Erza is a no. What other people do you talk to at Fairy Tail?" He rubbed his chin with his hand, making Lucy deadpan. She was asking about his friends, not the meaning of life.
"Cana's more likely to date a barrel of alcohol than an actual man. Then there's Levy, but she's dating metal brain. You already said no to yourself. Who else is there?"
"You've got to have other friends."
"I'm not dating a guy!" At the absurd comment, Lucy groaned and smacked her forehead. Placing her fingers to her temple, she rubbed the tender skin while scanning the noisy bar. Though she wanted to help, Lucy wasn't sure she could. Natsu wasn't forthcoming with answers, and Lucy's enthusiasm was lower than the first day Mira offered her the job. Was this really because of her friendly jealousy? Or was there something more to it? Feeling a sense of panic swell in her belly at the idea, Lucy quickened her scan of the area. There had to be one person besides Lucy that Natsu trusted. Someone he felt comfortable with! Without warning, her eyes stopped at the flash of short white hair that had just entered the Fairy Tail bar. How could she have forgotten? "Lisanna…"
"Eh?" Lucy's head snapped back to Natsu, who was now looking over to the girl in question. Her eyes lowered when she noticed the slight quirk of Natsu's lips when finally locating his childhood friend. Despite her best efforts, her heart thumped with unexplainable pain. "Well, I guess that's one person I'm pretty comfortable with."
"You think?" Lucy asked softly, biting her lower lip when Natsu nodded his head and laughed.
"I guess that's just what happens with the first girl you kiss."
"What?!" Lucy's hands slammed onto the table as she shot out of her seat, nearly knocking the chair off of its legs. If Natsu was surprised by her explosion of emotion, he hid it behind his bright smile.
"Our junior year of high school was when Lisanna was diagnosed with that unknown disease. Before she left the country, she told me she didn't want to die without ever knowing what a real kiss felt like." Natsu linked his hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling while leaning his chair on its back legs. "She was pretty optimistic during the whole battle, but that night before she moved Lisanna was scared. I guess I can understand the fear from being moved away from everyone you love and into a whole new country. And she kept saying all the things she hadn't done. I wanted to help her achieve one of her wishes. So I just kissed her."
"So you've…kissed Lisanna before."
"Yeah, we used to be best friends so it wasn't all that weird. We were both single, and it stopped her mental breakdown. We haven't talked that much since she came back, but I guess I don't feel uncomfortable with her." Lucy opened her mouth, which she assumed was to respond, but her mind went blank. What was she supposed to say? She knew that Virgo and Aries were really bad together, being quite different in many ways. The Aries was way too rambunctious for a romantic relationship with Virgo, while her obsession with perfection ruffled Aries to the max. But Lucy had said that she was going to go about Natsu's pairing differently, right? Even with her better judgment telling her no, Lucy gave Natsu a weak smile and nodded.
"Then it's settled."
"Huh?"
"I've decided your first match is Lisanna." He blinked once, seeming confused by her decision. It was enough to make Lucy's eyes roll. Did he not just admit that he felt comfortable with his childhood friend? And they had even…kissed. A strange ache formed in her stomach at the reminder. Lucy had hugged the fiery boy several times, but a kiss had never come into the picture. She shook her head to dismiss the strange thought. Why did it matter if they kissed before? They were just friends! She hadn't kissed Gray or Loke either. And Natsu said it was for a specific reason, right? It wasn't like he wanted to kiss her…
Right?
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Oh." She sighed at his dumbfounded look, seeming unsure of what to do with the information. Did she have to spell everything out for him?
"So your first step would be to ask her out on a date. Virgos really prefer to be asked straight out on a date, so don't beat around the bush. I guess I shouldn't worry with you, since you don't even know what the word shy means!" She continued to ramble, watching Natsu attempt to remember all the information she was telling him. Despite the smile of her face, the ache in her stomach only grew. She just wanted this appointment to be over. "Virgos aren't into showy types of dates, so don't do anything too huge. Make sure that you two can have a quiet conversation; Virgos have a preference for communication. You could take her to a museum—"
"That's so boring!" Lucy huffed when Natsu whined, though she should have expected that reaction. Aries liked dates that got their adrenaline going. Showing off to their dates was a huge turn on for them. That was just another problem with the Virgo-Aries relationship. While he had a need to prove how amazing he was, she didn't want that. What Virgos desired was compatible communication. Lucy scanned her brain, thinking of a date that would somehow please both of them.
"Well…I guess you could take her out to eat." Knowing that Natsu always enjoyed eating, she knew the date was heading toward the right direction. "Try taking her out for a late lunch at a restaurant by the pier. That way the two of you can go for a walk on the beach afterwards. It'll give you plenty of time to talk, while still keeping you active. It's been pretty warm the past few days, so you may be able to get a sunset swim in too."
"Well, that's better than a museum." She laughed at his hang up over her first suggestion, nodding.
"So then it's settled. You'll take Lisanna out on a…date, and then you'll let me know how it went afterwards. If it goes well, then I guess my job is done."
"Thanks, Luce! I'll see if she's free tomorrow."
"To-Tomorrow? Isn't that a little…fast?" Lucy asked, Natsu shaking his head while pushing out of his chair.
"The sooner the better right?"
"I…guess, but—" Lucy didn't get the rest of her sentence out. Natsu was gone in an instant, heading in the direction of Lisanna. It didn't take long for her to be found, and Natsu's loud voice let Lucy know he hadn't hesitated to answer. Though she knew she shouldn't be watching, Lucy couldn't keep her eyes off the two. It wasn't until she saw Lisanna's sweet smile and nod of her head that Lucy finally tore her eyes from the scene, moving back toward the bar.
"I see your appointment went well." Lucy hesitantly smiled at her red headed friend, hoping they couldn't see how hollow it was.
"It was pretty obvious, right? Who else would I pair Natsu up with?" Lucy asked, starting to move to the entrance of the bar. Levy was quick to stop her, pointing over Lucy's shoulder.
"Wait Lu-chan!"
"Huh? What is it?"
"You have a visitor," Erza answered, turning the girl back around. "He came after you started your appointment with Natsu."
"A visitor?"
"Lucy." A chill shot through her body at the voice she hadn't heard in four years. Eyes wide in fear, Lucy slowly turned to face the blonde man standing mere feet away from her. His business suit had people eyeing him suspiciously, but none of her guild mates said a word to the foreign man. His face was twisted in a look of disgust, but she wasn't sure if it was aimed at the bar or her. This wasn't the first time she had seen the sour look on Jude Heartfilia's face. "It's taken far too long to locate you."
"What are you doing here?" She whispered, her fear growing at the attention their conversation was getting. From the corner of her eye she could see Gray moving closer to Natsu, their protective nature of the bartender coming into play. Jude was a stranger, and both boys were very attentive of any man who approached her. She watched Gray's mouth move, and she knew he was asking Natsu who the mystery man was. It was only a matter of time until the two of them came over. If they did, she was sure the connection would be made.
"I would have never expected to see someone of your stature located in such a filthy place," Her father said. Despite Erza's comforting hand on her shoulder, Lucy felt her hands trembling by her side. She had to get him out of Fairy Tail.
"I don't want to talk to you here; can we discuss whatever your business is with me back at my apartment? I'll be free tomorrow afternoon." Though she was trying to keep herself polite, Lucy wasn't able to shake defiant look in her eyes. Her father smugly smiled at her before shaking his head.
"I think it's best to conduct this conversation here. I have nothing to hide from your…friends." She hated her father's emphasis on the word. She took a step toward him, but stopped when Erza's back appeared in front of her.
"Who are you, and why are you here?" Erza's voice was calm, but left no room for him to argue with her. The older man let out a bitter laugh, Lucy wincing at his reply.
"You never told them who I was? How amusing it is that you were the one ashamed of me."
"I don't want to do this here," Lucy whispered, looking over to Natsu in fear. The boy was making his way toward her, sending a narrow glare to Jude once reaching Lucy's side. Instantly Lucy grasped his hand, as if scared he would disappear on her. He said nothing about the hold, but kept his angered gaze on her father's face.
"Lucy, is this guy bothering you?" Gray moved to her right, Lucy feeling warmth swelling in her chest. Even though they didn't have to, Natsu, Gray, and Erza stood by her side. She lowered her head slightly, not sure if she deserved their loyalty. Especially now, with the skeleton she had been desperately hiding standing in front of them.
"I'm okay." Once hearing her answer, Gray nodded and turned back to Jude.
"Fairy Tail has open doors for anyone, so long as they don't cause problems for the employees who work here. So you can either explain what you want with Lucy or leave"
"You work here? At this pathetic bar?" His repulsion was palpable.
"There's nothing wrong with Fairy Tail!" Lucy shouted, refusing to let this man insult her safe haven. The bar was there for her for everything he wasn't, and she would die before letting someone run its name through the mud.
"You were brought up better than this."
"How would you know?" You were never there. The urge to say it was strong, but she knew the conversation was getting closer to the truth than she wanted.
"I raised—"
"I raised myself!" Placing her free hand into her chest, Lucy shook her head at his disapproving glare. "When my mother died, I was always alone. I pushed myself through school, and grew up by myself. Everything a parent was supposed to be there for, I did on my own. When I was nineteen, I made my own path. I cried, I fought, I suffered, and then I pushed on. Nothing is given to me anymore, but I'm okay with that. I have friends, a place to call home, and a bright future at whatever I want to be. This is the life I've decided to walk, and I'm proud to be a Fairy Tail member! I'm making my own way in this world, and I'm truly happy. Shouldn't that make you happy too?"
"Why would that childish answer ever satisfy me?" She winced at his reply, hating how he made her feel. It was like she was nineteen all over again. His disproval weighed heavy on her heart, despite her pride in her friends. Every word he said cut into her. Even if she disowned her father, there was a part of her that was still his daughter. The little girl who just wanted her father to spend time with her. The young woman who wanted him to comfort her after her mother died. "Four years I've spent searching for you. I've hired private investigators to look in several cities for you. Countless amounts of dollars were spent with no results. Then one day I stumble upon some drunkard on the street who knew your first name. He told me you were still in Magnolia all along; across the bridge I never thought to cross. Lucy of Fairy Tail."
"Hey." Natsu's voice rumbled with a growl, tightening his hold on Lucy's hand. Jude stilled, though it was more likely the fierce look in Natsu's eyes that stopped him. "You're upsetting Lucy . You need to leave."
"Are you her boyfriend?"
"What's that got to do with you?!" The fierceness in Natsu's voice was scary, and Lucy held onto his hand tighter. If Natsu got too worked up, he could do some serious damage to Jude. She wasn't trying to protect her father as much as keep Natsu out of legal trouble. Her father had always been influential, and could easily get Natsu in hot water if he touched him. Lucy refused to let any of her friends get hurt because of her.
"Wouldn't you like to know the woman you're protecting?" Even though Natsu didn't respond, the anger on his face showed his growing irritation with Jude. Jude glanced around the now silent bar, not being intimidated by people he considered 'beneath' him. "My name is Jude Heartfilia, of Heartfilia corporation."
"That's you?" Gray seemed surprised by the comment, catching the attention of Natsu.
"Should we know the name?"
"It's one of the biggest businesses in the city. I've heard stories of this guy at my job; he's an aristocrat if I ever met one. He's made it big by buying out smaller businesses that can't compete against him. If they don't sign over the deed to the business, he'll run them down to bankruptcy. That company won't deal with anyone they consider inferior. It's no surprise we've never seen him around here before."
"That's horrible," Erza said, glaring at the businessman.
"It put my name on the map. Those businesses were small sacrifices to make Heartfilia corporation the business it is today."
"Who cares about your success if it came at the misery of other people? Of people who were trying to support their families? You didn't need to destroy them; you could have worked with them." To Gray, family was more important than anything else. To have Jude belittle the hardworking families in Magnolia was unacceptable.
"My corporation is not in question here; but rather my business with Lucy."
"She would never befriend someone like you!" Natsu shouted, stepping toward Jude. Lucy quickly yanked him back, pressing her body into his tense arm. He glanced over to her when he felt her trembling against him. "Lucy…"
"I'm not her friend, you imbecile; I'm her father. Beside you is Lucy Heartfilia, the heir to Heartfilia corporation. The heir to the corporation you all despise."
Silence filled the bar at Jude's revelation. Lucy was too scared to look up at her friends, closing her eyes tightly to try and erase Jude's words. The disgust that Natsu and Erza had when discovering what her father's business did was the reason she never used her last name. At school, she made sure all of her files including her last name were kept confidential. When filling out paperwork around her friends, she would simply put an "H" where her last name would go, filling in the information once alone. In one instant, Jude had destroyed Lucy's four year balancing act.
Finally, Natsu's loud roar broke the silence.
"Lucy is whoever she wants to be!" Natsu shouted, completely rejecting the accusation Jude made. The blonde girl looked up at her friend, who continued to speak. "The only Lucy I know is Lucy of Fairy Tail; nothing else matters to me!"
"We at Fairy Tail would never turn our backs on a fellow guild member. Lucy is our family." Erza spoke with conviction, her eyes never swaying from Jude's distorted face.
"No matter where she came from, Lucy is her own person. Your actions don't change our opinions of her. And now I think it's time for you to leave," Gray said, the loud cheering from the bar customers showing their distaste for Jude. Lucy's eyes were wide from the support of her friends. How could they stay by her side even after discovering her dirty secret? Even at finding out who her father was, Natsu's hand never left hers. Erza never moved from her stance in front of Lucy, and Gray was confident standing by her side. Her bottom lip shaking as tears started to fill her eyes, Lucy could barely keep herself from sobbing. How could they still accept her?
"Lucy doesn't belong with you hooligans, remember that. One day, she'll return to where she's meant to be. And maybe when she does, she'll take over this slum bar too." After his heavy warning, Jude turned from the group and never looked back. He ignored the heckling from Cana and the others, Elfman slamming the door shut behind him. As if the loud noise signaled the bar to quiet down, silence again swept throughout the group. The only thing that could be heard was Lucy, whose tears now poured down her cheeks. Instantly Erza was there, rubbing her back while leading her to her to a seat. Natsu frowned while Gray crossed his arms, both physically upset by Lucy's tears.
"Why are you crying?" Natsu asked quietly, unsure of how to comfort the sobbing girl.
"I'm sorry he came here; I never thought he'd find me. I never wanted him to find Fairy Tail. I should have stayed alone, or just left with him tonight. He's going to cause problems, but I love Fairy Tail too much to leave now! Fairy Tail is my family!" Her crying increased after her answer, but it caused a smile on her friend's faces. The only one who couldn't bring himself to smile was Natsu, focusing silently on her tears.
"Why would you think this was your fault? Fairy Tail wouldn't be the same now without you," Erza said, trying to calm her upset friend.
"You're a part of Fairy Tail; we don't want you to leave either." Gray's words of comfort were heard by Lucy, and he wasn't the only one to speak.
"Next time that guy comes in, I'll show him what a man really looks like!"
"I wanted to throw my beer at him, but that's alcohol abuse."
"I couldn't see you owning a business anyways, Bunny girl."
"Fairy Tail is your home, Lu-chan!"
"Luce." Realizing that Lucy's tears only grew with their words of encouragement, Natsu sighed and clapped his hands over her cheeks. The slight sting startled her, making her tears stop. Lucy looked up, surprised to see the irritated face on Natsu.
"Natsu…"
"Stop being stupid! Don't forget I'm here with you. So is everyone else! No matter what your dad does, you're still Lucy of Fairy Tail. That's the only Lucy I care about! Fairy Tail will never give you up without a fight. So stop with the tears already." Like magic, Lucy felt her tears starting to disappear at Natsu's order. Once he confirmed that her tears were gone, Natsu sent her a smile that warmed her heart. "Don't give up on Fairy Tail, Luce. We'll never give up on you."
"Thank you, everyone."
"No problem! Now I need another beer, that whole thing sobered me up too much." At Cana's loud shout, the whole bar burst into laughter. The bustle of Fairy Tail quickly returned to normal, Natsu easily getting dragged into an argument with Gray about something pointless. Soon Elfman and Gajeel got involved, and a full fledge fight started in the bar. Erza rolled her sleeves up while walking toward the brawl, the look of irritation showing she was not going to go easy on them. Lucy looked around the bar, her body filled with the love her fellow members gave her. They fought and argued like every family, which caused more headaches for Lucy than she could count. But when the time came for them to band together, nothing could beat the power of family. A bunch of misfits that the world had rejected created a bond that nothing in this world could touch.
And Lucy felt blessed for every day she got to call Fairy Tail home.
"Who knew bunny girl was so rich?" Levy let out a long sigh at her walking companion, shaking her head despite knowing nothing would change.
"Why do you always call her that?" Gajeel shrugged, looking down at the short girl.
"Remember when she lost that bet with Cana and had to wear the bunny costume for a day? It just stuck after that. You gonna lecture me about it, shrimp?" This guy sure liked handing out insults. Levy looked up at the night sky, her irritation disappearing when seeing the starlight shining down. Though Magnolia was a big city, the skies were still clear of smog. Having such a beautiful scenery when walking home was always relaxing to her. She paused in her walk when she pointed up at the sky, her excitement visible in her voice.
"Look, Gajeel! You can see the little dipper!" She heard his boots scuff the ground at his abrupt stop, Levy glancing over to him and smiling. His hands were shoved in his pockets, his eyes boringly looking up at the sky above them.
"All I see is a bunch of stars." She scowled at his lack of enthusiasm, Levy moving to his side before pointing up to the sky.
"Here, watch my finger. I'll trace it out for you."
"It's hard to watch someone so short. You can't even reach over my head." He snickered at his own joke, though regretted it when Levy frowned and looked toward her feet. He glanced down at her upset face, Gajeel letting out a long groan before lowering himself into a crouch. With the movement, Gajeel's head rested along the same line as Levy's torso. He reached up slowly, pushing her chin with the back of his knuckles to face the night sky again. "Alright, show me this dipper thing so we can keep walking."
"You've never been taught about the constellations?" At the concern in Levy's voice, Gajeel scoffed.
"Should I have asked my depressed mother or alcoholic father? My parents weren't exactly the best around. And the guys in the gang were even less educated than me." He looked away from her, staring up at the jumbled stars over their head. Knowing she was staring at him again, Gajeel pointed to the sky. "Is it that line right there?"
"That's part of it." Levy stepped closer to him, her hand resting on his shoulder while she used her finger to re-trace the constellation. Gajeel glanced over to her body, slightly blushing when the fabric of her dress skimmed his cheek. Knowing his mind would go down a bad path fast, he returned his concentration on what she was explaining. "You see how it trails down to that group of four stars? Well, if you connect all of those stars it makes up the Ursa Minor. Or, as most people known it as, the little dipper."
"So then I'm assuming there's a bigger one somewhere, right?" She nodded and looked back down at him, Gajeel noticing the sparkle in her eyes.
"Yup, that's the Ursa Major! And depending on the month, you can see all of the zodiac constellations too. Then there's Draco, Hercules, Orion's belt—"
"So you're an astronomy nerd, too?" Levy blushed at Gajeel's interruption, making him bark out a laugh. "That's what you've been spending all your time reading?"
"Not just that you jerk!" He pushed up on his thighs, returning to his natural height.
"Then what else do you read about?" Levy's hand balled up on his shoulder, reminding the taller guy how close they were. The proximity hadn't hit the librarian, still wrapped up in their conversation. Though Gajeel generally disliked having people in his personal space, the little bookworm was different. He had noticed that during their walks, he never minded her arm brushing along his. Sometimes he found himself purposefully saying something that would cause her to push him or smack his arm. And now, with her chest merely centimeters from him, he still felt comfortable.
"I read about all sorts of things. If something catches my interest, I tend to try and look up more information about it to try and understand it better."
"You really are a nerd." An instant later she was pounding on his chest, making the taller man laugh. Though he didn't dismiss the girl's mental abilities, she seriously lacked in the muscle department.
"You are so rude, Gajeel!" She finally pushed away from him, her pout animated enough to make Gajeel laugh. She sharply turned on her heel, starting to stomp down the street. Gajeel moved after her, making sure to keep her within his eyesight. Though he hadn't had trouble with his old gang yet, there was no saying when they would come out.
"Calm down, shrimp." She glared over her shoulder at him before turning forward again, Gajeel scratching the side of his temple with his finger. "Fine, I'll make it up to you."
"Oh yeah, how are you planning on doing that?" She turned the corner to her street, not slowing her pace despite her curiosity.
"Let me think, woman." For a few moments, the only noise came from their shoes scraping the cobblestone of the road. As her apartment steps came into sight, Levy slowed her pace to hear Gajeel's proposition. She turned to face him, her hands resting on her hips to show some of her leftover irritation.
"Well?"
"You got plans Tuesday?"
"Tuesday?" Gajeel had his hands shoved in his pockets and was looking at the sign above her head. Why was he acting so nervous? It wasn't like he was asking her on a…"Oh!"
"Are you free or not?" He snapped out, trying to hide his heated cheeks from the streetlight above them. Levy face was beet red, her voice stumbling over an answer for him.
"I-I work until seven, but I'm free in the evening."
"Fine." There was a pause before he looked down to Levy, a determined stare overriding his reddened cheeks. "Be at Fairy Tail by eight. And wear pants."
"Pants?"
"Pants." From his definitive answer, Levy was sure he wasn't going to give her any other information. But the statement still confused her. What the heck was he planning to do that required pants?
"O-Okay…" There was an awkward silence between the two, Levy unsure on how to continue the conversation. In her wildest imagination, she never thought Gajeel would ask her to formally hang out. How was she supposed to think of it? Was it really a—
"So are you going to get inside? I'm not standing out here for my own health." Levy squeaked at his gruff voice, Levy nodding several times as she scampered up her stairs. He felt himself smirk at how flustered Levy had become, a part of him knowing it was because of him.
"Right. Okay, I'll…I'll see you tomorrow. And Tuesday too, I'll see you. I'll just see you!"
"Whatever." Though he acted like the situation didn't faze him, Gajeel stayed stationary while watching Levy unlock her door. He waited until the girl was safely in her home before walking toward his apartment. Searching his jean pocket, Gajeel fished out his cell phone before flipping it open. Searching the extremely short list of contacts, Gajeel dialed a familiar number while running his hand through his unkempt hair.
"Juvia's phone, this is Juvia speaking!" He was probably going to regret this.
"Woman, do you need to answer the phone that way?"
"Hello, grumpy Gajeel. How did Gajeel's night walk with Levy go?" It was irritating to know that Juvia could predict his movements without even telling her, but he wasn't surprised. Juvia was a people watcher by nature, and tended to memorize people's everyday lives without much effort.
"Stop being nosey."
"Juvia thinks Gajeel enjoys the walks more than he wants to admit." Juvia was also the only person Gajeel allowed to tease him and still breathe afterwards. He scoffed at her accusation, but didn't deny it. There was no point lying to Juvia; she would think what she wanted to either way.
"I've got a deal for you. You said you needed my help tomorrow, right?" Focusing on the reason he called, Gajeel jogged up the stairs of his apartment while listening to Juvia squeal.
"Does this mean Gajeel will help Gray-sama with Juvia's request?"
"I'd rather do it without Mr. Perfect."
"Juvia and Levy think it's a two person job. Gajeel knows Natsu won't cooperate willingly." Gajeel dropped his keys on his end table, flicking the lights on to his apartment. He didn't bother to change as he dropped onto his bed, letting out a slow groan. Small movement at the edge of his bed caught his eye, and Gajeel grinned at the ball of black fur. Pantherlily always lifted Gajeel's mood, even after a long day at work. The alley cat had shown up at his doorstep one rainy night, a bloody scar surrounding his left eye. Gajeel, who had never owned a pet his entire life, felt an instant connection with the battle-scarred feline. Within days the two adjusted to the other's presence, and had formed a strong bond ever since.
"Alright, fine. I'll help with the pain in the ass if you help me out Tuesday."
"Tuesday? What does Juvia need to do on Tuesday?" For a moment, Gajeel thought about what he was going to ask. Though Juvia had earned his respect and trust throughout the years, the situation was still more uncomfortable than Gajeel liked. Never being one to enjoy new experiences, Gajeel avoided change with a passion. He was sure that if he told Juvia what he needed, it would very well change a chunk of his life. And Gajeel was quite content with how his life was now.
Without permission, Levy's smile came to Gajeel's mind. The image made his heart thud loudly, and Gajeel swore under his breath at the meaning.
"Gajeel?" Steeling his nerves, Gajeel pressed the palm of his hand to his eye and spoke.
"You better write this down, Juvia, cause I ain't repeating it after tonight."
So much action! So much drama! So much Gajeel being grumpy! I hope that you enjoyed this chapter, because the next one is going to be even better. So, what will happen on Natsu's date with Lisanna? What's going on with Mira and Laxus? Will Lucy's birthday be ruined by 'the fool'? What plans do the girls have involving Natsu? Will Lucy's father leave Fairy Tail alone? And just what does Gajeel have up his grouchy sleeve? You'll have to wait until next time and find out!
Chapter Seven: Lucy's Fairy Tail