Sorry, sorry, sorry for the long wait! I know, almost one month is quite too much. I promise I'll be better from now on, okay? XD Thank you all for the wonderful reviews!
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Disclaimer: FT belongs to Mashima Hiro-sensei.
Beneath The Southern Cross
Chapter IV – Tenrou Island
Lucy spent the whole ship trip watching the ocean and thanking the stars for the time away from both Natsu and Sting. Wendy claimed there were too many Dragon Slayers for her to cast Troia on, so the five boys ended up in a hidden corner, to throw up away from normal people.
Once again, it was indeed very hot, but she didn't even bother with it this time, so lost she was in her thoughts.
"So, you're Lucy-san?" Lecter came flying in her direction.
She tried to smile at him, but was quite aware it would probably just seem very fake.
"Yes, that's right. And you're Lecter. It's very nice to meet you. Sting talked a lot about you."
She saw happiness shine on his eyes, and she couldn't help but smile genuinely.
"I just came to say hello. I should get back to Sting-kun now. Of course he is the least affected by motion sickness, but he still needs my help."
Lucy laughed and nodded.
"Sure, of course. You go back to him."
As soon as Lecter was gone, Happy came flying, his eyes filled up with tears.
"Luuucy!" he shouted while hugging her.
"What's wrong, Happy? Why are you crying?"
"Now that you're dating Sting, does it mean you like his boring exceed more than me?"
"No! No way, Happy! You'll always be my favourite exceed, okay? Don't ever forget that."
Sobbing, he wiped a bit of his tears.
"O-okay."
Lucy was heartbroken. She missed his company a lot, even though she usually complained so much about him and his mania of saying she was fat.
"You know, Happy, you can go visit me even without Natsu. There'll be plenty of fish for you, as usual."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. I wish Natsu could get it, but I can't force it down his throat, but that doesn't mean we are not friends anymore."
Smiling, he hugged her again.
"It's good to have you back, Lucy!" he laughed, then, in a mischievous way. "Have you already told Aquarius about your boyfriend?"
"He is not exactly my boyfriend yet, stupid cat. And Aquarius doesn't deserve to know anything."
Happy smirked and flew away, back to Natsu's side.
By this time, the Island was already visible on the horizon. It wouldn't be long before they were on the shore.
"What's wrong with you, Lu-chan?" Levy asked, finding her best friend sitting on the sand with her feet on the sea water. "You seem gloomy ever since we got on the ship."
Lucy sighed.
"Were you always certain you loved Gajeel and no one else? Do you think you would be able to love someone else?"
Levy considered the question as she sat beside Lucy.
"Finding out I was in love was quite difficult, since it was the first time I felt it. I think I would be able to love someone else, but only if Gajeel didn't love me back. Since he does, I don't really think I'll ever be able to let go of this feeling. We broke up once, he drives me mad sometimes, but I can't help what I feel. I love him, and he loves me too."
For a moment, Lucy dived into her words. Was that her answer? If Natsu loved her back, her feelings for Sting would simply disappear?
"Why are you asking me that, Lu-chan?"
"Natsu kissed me."
Levy's yellowish eyes widened in pure shock.
"He… what?!"
"When I went to his house to force him to come… I cried and he kissed me."
"What did you do?"
"I pushed him and asked him why he did that. He answered I don't know. That made me even sadder, Levy-chan, and angry. He had no right! Not after everything I went through with him! I've been loving him for years, but he never made one single move. Now, that I'm happy with Sting he comes with this pathetic I don't know stuff? I'm not that strong! I won't be able to take all this."
"Lu-chan, Natsu is a difficult guy, you know that."
"I do, I really do. I know he has no space for this in his life. I know the only thing he wants is to find his father."
"Did he tell you that?"
Lucy raised an eyebrow.
"We all know it's like that, Levy-chan."
Levy sighed and rested her head on the sand. Her blue locks circulated her face like delicate halos of pale moon light. Her eyes focused on the limpid blue sky above them, shining like liquid gold with the sun light.
"We all assume that, Lu-chan, but no one ever troubled to ask him what he really wants. Of course, he wants to find his father, but is it really his only goal? Well, maybe Lisanna knows better, but the rest of us are clueless, really."
"What are you saying? That I should try to have a relationship with Natsu?"
"No. I'm saying you have to decide which feeling is the real one, Lu-chan. Come on, you write novels! You know how it is when the main character can't decide between two guys. It's the kind of story we girls like the most, isn't it?"
"Yes, but is much easier when is only on literature. Real life is tougher."
"And that is exactly why we prefer books, silly. We can feel all kinds of emotions along with our favourite characters, but we know we are safe, because they are not really us."
"I'm too confused. I can't decide. I've been in love with Natsu for too long, but I really feel like I'm falling for Sting now. However, when that stupid boy kissed me, it was like everything was back, you know?"
Levy smiled.
"No, not really. I've always loved one guy."
"I'm hating you right now, really."
They laughed together as Lucy let herself fall on the sand too, mimicking her best friend's previous actions.
"Only you can decide which one you really want."
"I want to scream in frustration, really."
"Why so?"
The sudden appearance of the voice's owner almost made her jump.
"Sting, you scared me to death."
His laugh managed to relax her heart in a way she didn't really expected.
Levy smiled and got up. Rogue was standing still, next to his friend.
"Where are the other Dragons?" the Script Mage asked.
"Makarov-sama asked us to stop the search earlier, since they were going into Fairy Tail's sacred territory."
"I see. Well, I'm leaving you two alone, would you care to join me, Rogue-san?"
Rogue was ready to decline, but the vision of her bright smile dissuaded him, making him nod in agreement.
Sting sat on the sand, smirking as the other two started to disappear through the line of the ocean.
"Told you he had a thing for her."
Lucy smiled to him.
"What a pity. She is completely in love with Gajeel."
"Well, nothing can be perfect, right?"
And with that, he was suddenly very serious.
"For example, what is going on with you?"
"Am I really looking that bad? I can't seem to fool anyone."
Sting opened a small smile.
"Guess I'm starting to know you well enough."
"That's dangerous, huh?"
She smiled while he ran his hand on her cheeks.
"Really, what's going on?"
Lucy sighed. How could she possibly tell him that?
"Natsu kissed me."
Sting felt his blood boil in his veins. He clenched his hands in fists and tried to conceal it, even though he knew he was failing miserably. Who cared Natsu was now in Fairy Tail's sacred soil? He could still go and punch his life out of him.
"So, that's when you tell me our initial plan worked?"
She could feel the pain in his eyes and it killed her. His usual cold blue eyes were stained with it.
"No. I didn't say that."
He chuckled.
"Well, you should. Wasn't it what you wanted? He finally noticed you."
"No, Sting, that wasn't what I wanted. I agreed to have sex with you because you promised to make me forget him."
"Since you're so troubled by one kiss, I certainly didn't, did I?"
She could seriously fall into tears after that. She should have seen that reaction coming. It was Sting, after all.
"I'm confused, please, don't make this harder. You knew since the beginning, I never lied to you."
He took a deep breath, trying to cool down.
"I know, I'm sorry. I just… want to beat the crap out of him."
Lucy got closer to him, placing her head on his chest.
"Sting… What are we?"
Sting brought her chin up, making her eyes meet his.
"Well, I would like to say you are my girl, and mine only. But that's really up to you."
"Would you really be able to put up with me? Even after what I told you?"
He sighed.
"Well, if it was really him who you wanted, we wouldn't be having this conversation, would we?"
She smiled brightly to him.
"That's very mature of you, Sting."
"Blame it on that old man that your Master made us swallow as our Master."
Lucy laughed as his smirk got wider. She, then, kissed him softly on the lips.
"Well, if you really want it, for now on, I'm your girl."
It was his time to laugh.
"Of course you are. You've been mine since the very first time I kissed you."
"You know, Lecter has spoiled you too much."
"Weird, Rogue tells me that quite often."
"Are you sure you want to let him see you with me?" Rogue suddenly asked Levy, when the sun started to dive into the depths of blue of the shining ocean.
"He has to learn how to deal with certain things. And you would think he was used to seeing me with male friends."
His inquisitive eyes told her to keep talking.
"I have two teammates, Jet and Droy. We've been a team since we were little children, and Gajeel knew that since the very beginning, he is quite unreasonable with his jealously."
"Jealously is unreasonable by definition, Levy-san."
She laughed.
"Yes, I guess you're right. Even so, is annoying, really."
"Aren't you jealous of him?"
She blushed at his question.
"Well, that was one time, yes. But Gajeel doesn't have many friends, and the few ones are from the guild. I simply can't be jealous of Lu-chan, or Erza, or Juvia-chan. It's impossible, really."
"And what happened in the one time?"
Her face got as red as Erza's hair.
"It was back here, in Tenrou Island. For you, lots of years ago, for me… Not that much." She laughed. "It was silly, really. Erza was wearing a nurse outfit, playfully. The boys immediately formed a line to be cared by her. More recently he told me he was accidentally pushed to the line, but on the time I was so angry."
Rogue raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry, but I don't really see the reason."
As impossible as it might sound, Levy's face got even redder.
"I apologize if I am embarrassing you." He said, finally noticing the abnormal red tone of her cheeks.
"No, it's alright. Well… Erza is… quite gifted in places I'm not."
Unconsciously, she raised her arms to her chest, trying to hide herself. Rogue almost got as red as her when he understood what she meant. He quickly turned his face away.
"Well, I think this concern of yours is pure nonsense."
"You tell that because you didn't grow up in the environment I did. Mirajane, Erza, Cana. And after that came Lucy and Juvia. A girl like me can believe no one will ever notice her."
"Nonsense, still. Looks hardly matter."
She smiled, her face getting least flushed.
"Thank you, Rogue-san, is nice hearing it from a guy like you."
Rogue only nodded. He could only think how lucky Gajeel was to have a girl like her. She was so delicate, yet very strong in her own way. He was truly amazed to see her decode the strange language that kept them from the map of their client's treasure. He almost regretted not saying anything to her when they were trapped under the lake, like Sting had done to his Lucy.
He never saw his best friend like that. Ever. Sting had a few affairs on their travelling times, but no girl had him under the spell Lucy Heartfiliia had casted on him. Rogue was amused and chocked, at the same time. It was good that his friend was in love, right?
Looking up, he saw the small figure of Makarov getting out of the forest along with the Fairies Dragon Slayers. The last thing he wanted was to put Levy on any kind of trouble, even if it was only with his irritating boyfriend.
"Guess I should go now. Thank you for the walk, Levy-san."
Before she could say anything to him, Rogue was already far from her voice's reach.
"Hey, book worm." Gajeel approached her, messing up her hair.
She so wished she could really get furious with him!
"Did you find anything?" she asked instead, offering him a soft smile.
Her reaction puzzled him. He was expecting her to yell at him for both the nickname and the hair messing.
"No, not really. The bastard left no traces on the Island."
"That's reassuring. I certainly wouldn't want a second encounter between us."
"Yeah, no one would." He was still puzzled, but decided to let go. "Come on, let's go. Mirajane has already made dinner for us all."
She nodded and entwined her arm on his. As much as she found Rogue fascinating, there was no one she loved more than Gajee Redfox.