Here comes a new chapter! I didn't really have time to check for mistakes, so if you find any, please let me know!
I hope you guys enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: FT belongs to Mashima Hiro-sensei.
Beneath The Southern Cross
Chapter V – Night sea
The flames of the bonfire seemed to rise forever, lighting up the dark night sky. Erza watched with a smile on her lips the happy interaction of the couples. Sting had his arm firmly around Lucy, as if he was not willing to let her go. Levy was sitting on Gajeel's lap, looking at him with true adoration. Juvia and Gray were sat beside each other – he was still pretending he didn't have any feelings towards her, but he was already failing miserably. Erza was always so happy to see her treasured nakama with such beautiful smiles on their faces!
However, her happiness couldn't be whole, for there were others not handling life so well.
"Why the gloomy face, Natsu?" she asked lightly, sitting with the Fire Dragon Slayer placed quite close to the bonfire.
"I'm not gloomy." He retorted.
She chuckled.
"Yeah, right. I've known you for years, silly. This face is rare on you."
He hesitated, looked at her and then back to the bright flames.
"I just… Don't agree with her decision."
"You mean Sting and Lucy? And why is that, Natsu?"
"He is from Sabertooth. He has openly challenged me countless times. I don't like him."
"And that's it? You just don't like him?"
"It bugs me. I don't like to see her with him."
"But she is happy, can't you see? Look at her. Have you see her that happy before?"
"Yes, I have."
He could tell. There were times, when she looked at him, that her eyes lit up just like they were now. However, there were times those warm depths of chocolate brown were stained with a pain he never intended to cause her, but couldn't see how to undo it.
"What is she to you, Natsu?" Erza couldn't help but ask.
She had always known Lucy was in love with him. But a heart could only take so much.
"She… she is my best friend. After we lost Lisanna, I thought no one could ever mean so much to me. Until I met her."
"But is it really just friendship, Natsu? Are you sure?"
"I guess… I kissed her, before we got in the ship."
The piece of information was shocking to Erza. He had kissed Lucy?
"And what did you feel?"
"I don't know. What was I supposed to feel, Erza?"
Erza felt her face heat up, but knew she should answer his question properly, after all, she was talking to Natsu, and the fire Dragon Slayer was incapable of understanding something if not properly explained.
"You were supposed to feel like your world was finally right. Like… you couldn't keep on living without it ever again."
Natsu's eyebrows creased together, as he thought hardly about her answer.
"I didn't feel that."
"Then, Natsu, let her be happy. Try to accept her choice. She deserves it."
"I never said she didn't."
"Don't torture her, then. She really loves you, Natsu. She treasures your friendship. Don't throw that away."
He sighed.
"Guess you're right."
"Of course I am." She laughed, and his laugh echoed hers.
"I just… I don't want to see her hurt, you know? Like when Minerva got to her on the Daimatou Enbu."
"I one want that, Natsu. But he is different now, don't you see? The way his arms are wrapped around her body? He really likes her."
Natsu grimaced, and mumbled a silent "okay".
Silence fell between them for a while, until he was ready to change the subject.
"Hey, how are Mystogan and the other two?"
After the Daimatou Enbu, all Fairy Tail's mages got used to calling him Mystogan instead of Jellal, for security measures. And with the name came the family status.
"It's been a while since I heard from them. But he promised he would stop by after this mission they are on."
Natsu smiled.
"Nice. He still owes me a fight."
Erza laughed.
"Yes, but watch out. He is as strong as Laxus."
"I can defeat Laxus, I already did it."
"Yes, with Gajeel's help."
Erza laughed at the displeased look upon his face.
"I'm a different man now."
"Oh, of course."
He heard the mockery on her tone, but decided to let it go. It was rare to see Erza so light-hearted, so he was just glad she was that happy.
"Hey, you don't need to hold so tightly." Lucy whispered into Sting's neck.
A smirk crept on his face, as he pulled her even closer, into his lap.
"Yes, I do."
"I'm not going to run away, you know."
"Don't care. Even if you want to, I won't let you. It's that simple."
She smiled and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"Don't worry, Lucy-san." Rogue suddenly said. "He only gets crazier as the time passes."
Lucy laughed. Sting sent his friend a nasty look.
"Thanks for the warning, Rogue-kun."
"You're listening to Rogue? Rogue, of all people? No, no."
"Fro guarantees Rogue-kun is always right!" his exceed jumped into the conversation.
"That's not right! Sting-kun is never wrong!" Lecter retorted.
The two exceeds started to argue on the matter. Lucy watched in amusement, but Sting and Rogue only ignored them and their discussion.
"Want to walk with me?" she suddenly asked her boyfriend.
He shrugged.
"Yep. Why not?"
She got up and walked towards the sea, followed closely by him. When she finally stopped, the light of the fire seemed far away, as did the noises of the talking. A laugh could be heard from time to time, but nothing more.
"Wanted to get away?" he asked with a whisper, holding her strongly by the waist.
"Yes. The stars are beautiful tonight."
"Aren't they always? For you, at least?"
She laughed, and then smiled warmly at him.
"Good to know you know me that well. Yes, the stars are always beautiful, but here, we can see them much more clearly. The fire lacrymas on towns can make their lights less bright."
"I see."
She looked into the sky, and pointed out so he could follow her eyes.
"Can you see the Milky Way, right there?"
He only nodded, while watching closely the clear path on the night sky.
"Right there" she kept talking, "are the Bears, Helice and Cynosure. It's said it was Zeus, the Greek god, that placed them on the sky, after they so lovely took care of him when he was still a child."
Sting was fascinated by the glow on her dark eyes. She really did love the stars.
"Why did you decide to be a Celestial Mage?"
Lucy brought her eyes back to him and smiled.
"I grew up among the Spirits, since my mother had the keys of Cancer, Aquarius and Capricorn. There was no way I wouldn't love them, not when my mother also loved them so much."
He smiled tenderly to her, a smile that startled Lucy. She had never seen such a smile on his lips before. Most of the time he was smirking, sometimes she managed to catch a glimpse of a true smile, but that? It was the most heart-melting smile she had ever laid eyes upon.
"Do you think… One day you will be able to love me at least half of how much you love your spirits?"
She let out a breath she didn't notice she was holding.
"You, silly dragon. My Spirits are my beloved friends. You are more than this already."
"Good."
He kissed her hungrily, tangling his fingers on her soft hair.
"You know, there is no one seeing us right now." He whispered on her ear.
"You are kidding, right?" she laughed. "You can't mean what a think you meant."
His trademark smirk appeared on his face.
"Of course I do."
He took off his shirt and his short.
"Join me at the sea?"
She bit her lower lip nervously.
"I'm not sure, Sting. It's night time, the sea can be dangerous."
He laughed loudly.
"Please, you are with me."
Just after he said that, he run into the dark water and used his magic to light up a good area around him.
Lucy's eyes widened. Not only because of the magic, but also because Sting's muscles looked particularly delicious on that angle.
"That's unfair, you know." She complained.
"Just join me. It's not like someone will steal our clothes or something."
Hesitating a little bit, Lucy took the hem of her dress and pulled it away from her body.
Sting watched closely as the pink bikini she was wearing came into his view. He licked his lips in anticipation. He longed to feel all her body one more time. The day had already been stressful enough.
With her cheeks on the same tone of her bikini, Lucy undid the knots of the upper piece and let it fall to the sand. Looking around nervously, she also removed the bottom part.
"Don't worry, I'll sense if someone comes." He reassured her when she reached him.
"Are you sure?" she smiled in a sultry way. "Maybe you will be too busy to notice if someone comes near here."
"Let's wish this is the case."
He kissed her hungrily while his hands occupied themselves on feeling all the parts of her body. Her legs wrapped around his torso, and the water made her so light he didn't even need to hold her. Her boobs felt delicious under his hands, as did her thighs.
A soft moan escaped Lucy's lips.
"Missed you." He said in a low voice.
"You had me yesterday."
"Maybe, but you kissed Salamander after that."
She laughed.
"You are too jealous."
"Of course I am." He alternated the words with kisses. "With a girl like you is impossible not to."
"You are so silly." A moan followed her words.
"Yeah, and you seem to like it."
"Of course I do."
With no warn, she slowly slid him inside her, using her legs to pull him closer bit by bit. An animal groan left Sting's throat while she did so.
"Do you wanna kill me?"
She smiled to him.
"No, never, I actually like you know."
Grinning to her, he helped her pushing her hard against him. She moaned even louder. As they kept their pace, Lucy was sure she had travelled right into the stars.
Soon, they were panting hard, holding tightly to each other, as satisfied as a couple could after such mind-blowing sex.
"I… I think I love you, Lucy." He whispered into her ear.
The words filled her heart with a warm feeling, and suddenly, she was very certain.
"I think I love you too, Sting."
He smiled again.
"Good."
"Yes, good." She smiled back to him. "Will you join me at my tent tonight?"
"Absolutely."
They left the sea holding hands and quickly put their clothes back.
"Told you no one would see us."
"It was crazy nonetheless."
"Best crazy ever."
She laughed.
"Can't argue with that. However, our first time was still better."
"Well, the conditions were quite good at that time, but we can keep trying until we get that again."
"Not a bad idea."
"I never have bad ideas."
"So Lecter told me."
He grimaced.
"Lecter is…"
"Your fanboy! Better, your fancat!" she completed, laughing hard.
"Yes, like that."
"You guys are so cute. Lecter really loves you."
"I love him too."
"I know you do."
He grinned.
"Drop this and let's go to that tent of yours."
"We should take a shower first."
His smirk was filled up with sultriness.
"Right now."