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Disclaimer: FT belongs to Hiro Mashima-sensei.
Beneath The Southern Cross
Chapter II – Hopes
Lucy was finishing up her make up when Natsu and Happy invaded her house. She was glad to see them there, even though they came in the worst time possible.
"Hey, Luce, how is your injury?"
"It's healed already, thank you." She raised her foot slightly, getting a better look into her black high heeled sandal.
Natsu took in her clothes, and the sweet smell of her perfume.
"Are you going out, Lucy?" it was Happy, however, who voiced his question. "We thought we could hang together, like old times."
Lucy sighed.
"Happy, you two were the ones who stopped coming here after I came back from my last job. It's been two weeks, you know, and you never showed."
Natsu grimaced.
"Who are you going out with tonight, Lucy?" he asked.
She was about to answer when someone knocked on her door. Sighing, she went to get it, figuring it would answer Natsu anyway. The sight of Sting, however, took her breath away. He had replaced his usual clothes for dark fitted jeans and dark grey t-shirt. He was also wearing a jacket with fur on the neck, just like the waistcoat he usually wore. But the worse was the ridiculous sexy smile he was exhibiting so proudly.
"Seriously?" Natsu voice came from the inside, quite pissed. "Lucy, his guild is our enemy."
Lucy just wanted to die right there.
"Hey, Natsu-san, I wasn't aware you would be joining us tonight."
Natsu practically growled at him.
"Hey, enough, you two." Lucy finally managed to say something. "Natsu, Happy, feel free to stay, just don't burn nor break anything, okay? Sting, let's go."
She pulled him quickly away from her home, shutting the door before Natsu had the chance to react.
"Is that normal?" Sting asked as soon as they were far enough from her house.
"Natsu on my house? Yes, it is. You would believe the guy didn't owe a home, but he actually does."
Sting raised an eyebrow.
"And he did not claim you yet?"
"Would you drop this claiming talk, please? I'm not anyone's possession."
Sting laughed and brought her closer to him, pressing her against the nearest wall.
"I beg to differ." He whispered into her neck.
"Come on, Sting." She whined. "I was intending to still look pretty until we reached wherever it's that you are taking me."
He laughed.
"Okay, okay. If you insist."
Lucy smiled as he passed his arm around her shoulders, keeping her close.
"I see your ankle is just fine, now."
"Yes, it is, thank you. How about Lecter?"
"He woke up yesterday."
"Yesterday?! And what are you doing here? You should be with him, I wouldn't mind!"
When Sting was taking her back to Magonlia, he told her about his friend coma. Minerva did save him, but it had been quite hard on his body. She returned him, but he never woke up. Not until quite recently.
"He told me to come. He said I had to, since it involved being better than Natsu-san."
Lucy couldn't help but notice the warm smile spreading across his face as he talked of his friend. All Dragon Slayers were very attached to their exceed.
"Well, you fooled the poor cat. I'm Natsu's nakama, and I'll keep being one, going out on dates with you or not. Fairy Tail is a family."
Sting chuckled.
"Yeah, right. That reaction back at your apartment? That was jealously, Lucy."
"You clearly don't know him enough. Natsu is incapable of such a feeling, believe me. He sees us all as his family and nothing else. Lisanna tried quite hard and it didn't happen for her."
"It's the second time you speak about this girl as if I'm supposed to know her or something."
Lucy laughed.
"I'm sorry, I'm just so used to talking to people who knows exactly the same people I do. Do you want to hear the explanation?"
"Thinking better now, don't. Just names are more than fine."
Lucy laughed.
"That's what I thought so."
He stop walking, placing himself in front of her, blocking her way.
"Aren't you afraid right now? You should be, considering you have no idea where I'm taking you." He opened a cruel smile just to prove his point.
Lucy smiled and sighed, taking in the beautiful sky and its silver stars.
"Honestly, Sting, you had plenty of opportunities to do whatever you wanted with me under the lake, but you didn't. Well, in fact you did, but that's not what I'm talking about."
Sting loved the sultry smile that appeared on her lips.
"And, I might not be as powerful as you monsters Dragon Slayers, but I still have my spirits to protect me. I'm pretty sure Loke can divert you long enough until I get to Natsu."
"Well, you do seem to have everything covered." He chuckled.
"What can I say? I like taking risks, as long as it's safe."
She laughed and he followed her.
"I don't want to hurt you." He said, this time very serious. "But if I ever do, know it was unintentional."
She smiled warmly to him, delicately placing her hands on his face.
"I believe you can care for people, Sting. I'm very glad you showed me this side of yours when we were at that mission. However, you must keep being, you know… you. You are cocky and irritating, I get it. So, there's no need for you to change that too, as long as you get rid of the cruelness."
He kissed her.
"Being like you fairies is tiresome, you know."
She laughed.
"Yeah, I've been one for a while now. And you are saying that because you never entered our guild hall."
"And I definitely don't want to do that."
"Unless you are looking for fights."
"I'm always looking for fights."
"Typical male Dragon Slayer behaviour, really, it's getting old."
He laughed and Lucy was glad to hear the sound. She felt… free beside him. It seemed like she could say anything and do anything she wanted when she was with him. It had been the same on the lake. She never thought she would one day want to have sex with a guy she just met, or in their case, a guy she thought she hated. But when he offered to help her forget, she was unable to take her eyes away from the icy coldness of his blue orbs. It seemed… right.
"Are we getting there anytime soon?" she asked at one point.
"We're almost there, relax."
They still walked a bit more before finally reaching their destination. Lucy's eyes sparkled when she saw the amusement park with all its infinite colours, lights and music.
"How come I didn't know of this place?" she asked in utter disbelief.
"Well, it's actually out of Magnolia, so..."
She grabbed him by the hand, rushing inside. She had the greatest time. They ran the rollercoaster, the fair wheel, the merry go round and every other attraction of the park. They also ate cotton candy and toffee apples and shared a milk-shake in the end. She would never thought she would have such a nice, naïve and romantic date with him.
However, sooner than she thought acceptable, she found herself on her steps, with Sting kissing her goodnight.
"I had a great night." She said.
"Great. That means I can keep on my plan and ask you on another date."
"It's your town too far from here?"
"No, not much. Just a few hours on the train."
Lucy smiled.
"But what about your motion sickness?"
"I forget you know other Dragon Slayers. It's fucked up, but I'm used to it already."
"Are you going to be fine, going alone at this time?"
"Yeah, of course." He rolled his eyes. "Are you worried about me, Lucy?" he asked in a mocking tone.
She blushed a little.
"Yes, I am. Problem?"
"None at all."
He kissed her again before heading back to the train station. He hoped he still had time to catch the last train.
Sighing, Lucy went inside. Luckily enough, Natsu and Happy were gone.
"Lucy Heartfilia, I need to talk to you, young lady!"
Master Makarov's voice was the first thing Lucy heard when she got into the guild, near lunch time. Gulping, she approached the bar, where he sat, drinking beer out of his mug.
"Y-yes, master?"
"I heard you are dating that Sting boy, from Sabertooth, is that true?" he asked very seriously.
"Well, we're not dating, dating. We went on one date, last week. I didn't hear much from him ever since."
His seriousness melted into a big smile.
"I'm proud of you, kid! It's very good that you managed to put the differences aside and gave the boy a chance. People like him need people like you, to heal the heart properly."
Lucy couldn't remember being more relieved in her entire life. She really thought she was in trouble once he asked about Sting.
"Really, master? You think that? Good."
"Are you happy?"
She hadn't stopped to think about that before, but now that he asked…
"Yes, master, in fact, I am."
"As long as you are, I'm fine with anyone you're with. But if he hurts you, that brat will be on big trouble."
Lucy smiled.
"Thank you, master."
Makarov grinned.
"If or when you think it's okay, you should bring him here, I would definitely like to meet him."
"O-okay. But are you sure it's okay? I mean, Natsu and Gajeel-"
"One more to join the fights, so what? It's not like we don't have them plus Gray and Elfman."
She laughed.
"Okay, master. Thank you. If he wants, I'll bring him in."
She stepped away from him, going to Mirajane to order her food.
"Did you just agree to bring Sting-kun here?" the eyes of the Strauss were sparkling.
Lucy sweat dropped.
"Well, yes, but it doesn't really mean anything, you know. He probably won't want to come, anyways."
"That's so fun!" she ignored Lucy's words completely. "I'm sad Natsu didn't see you first, but at least you have a boyfriend now!"
Lucy's face got three shades darker than Erza's hair.
"He is not my boyfriend, Mira! And stop it, you're behaving just like Aquarius, you know."
"Well, he is not yet." She blinked, cheerful.
Giving up, Lucy just got her food and went sitting with her friends.
"Are you really sure you want to be with a guy from Sabertooth, Lucy?"
"Not you too, Gray."
"Okay, sorry, just asking."
"He's very nice, okay? Ask Levy, she became friends with Rogue-san."
"Yeah, and Gajeel is about to commit his murder." The Fullbuster laughed.
"Well, it was his fault for being intolerant and breaking up with her."
"They are back together."
"Not the point."
"You girls sure are weird."
"I agree with Lucy." Erza decided to join the discussion.
Gray rolled his eyes.
"Of course you do, you're a girl."
They all laugh, and kept talking, but Natsu just watched quietly, not liking anything about that conversation.
"Are you alright, Natsu?" Lucy decided to ask once the other two got busy with other people.
He twitched his nose.
"You still smell like him. Not as much as the next day, but still."
Lucy eyed him carefully.
"Shouldn't it have faded already, Natsu?"
"I have good nose. It probably won't go away completely."
"And what's the matter? Why do you seem so upset about it?"
"He's from Sabertooh, Luce."
"I know he is. But Gajeel was from Phantom Lord and we accepted him anyways."
"It's different."
"Why? I don't like to bring this up, because what it's in the past it's in the past, but Gajeel hurt me and Levy very much. Physically. She was unconscious for hours, and we forgave him, because he made a huge effort to change. Sting didn't hurt me or any of my friends, and he's trying very hard too."
"You shouldn't trust him, he's probably just lying to you."
"He has no reason to lie to me. He had no reason to ask me on a date, on the first place."
"He's probably doing that just to piss me."
"Oh, yeah, he is. But it's not only for that, Natsu."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You know he does this to get to me and are fine with it?"
"Well, you would want to fight anyways, with me there or not. Honestly, Natsu, I don't want to get in the middle. You are one of my nakama and I love you, but I'm starting to care for him too, so, if you could at least accept it, it would be really great."
"Sorry, Lucy, but I can't do that."
It broke her heart to hear him say that, especially when he was the reason why she sought comfort with Sting. However, he wasn't the main reason any more. It might have started wrong, but now it was real. Well, for her at least it was. She truly believed Sting could help her forget Natsu, and the fact he didn't notice her as a woman.
"Don't worry, Lucy. He will come around." Erza smiled to her friend.
"I really hope so, Erza. I really do."