I want to apologize to all the people who have been waiting on the next chapter. I've had a few things come up and was not able to write until now. So thank you all who have posted all the lovely comments, this is for you guys! Hopefully all goes as planned and I will have a steady income of chapters until I finish the story. Once again THANK YOU and I hope you enjoy (even though it's kind of a slow chapter... promise more in the next one).
Laxus: Get on with it already.
Lucy: Don't get your panties in a twist it's coming.
Laxus: Sh-shut up, Blondie.
Me: Lucy could you please.
Lucy: thepinkphantom does not own Fairy Tail.
As dawn broke, the sun's early rays crept through the slightly open curtains. A cool breeze rushed in when the door opened to let a tall figure walk in... well more like limp in. Laxus walked up to the small girl sprawled across his bed, smile eminent on his face, and noticed how she shivered. Gently, he lifted the covers and tucked the blonde in a bit tighter into the blankets. Then turned to leave.
"L-Laxus?", his body visibly tensed, but he didn't make a move to turn around. How was it that the sound of her voice had his heart pounding? Or the mere sound of his name from her lips had his very being frozen in place? "L-Laxus? What happened?"
'Come on Laxus, put your big boy pants on and stop being a damn coward!' He mentally scolded himself. Putting on the best annoyed, bored face he could muster, he turned to face the girl currently on his bed. "Ya passed out Blondie. Had to carry you all the way here. And let me tell you, you're not as light as you look." He finally responded, smirk plastered on his face.
"I didn't ask you to carry me, 'kay jerk? And you're blonde too!"
"Would you rather I left to spend the night in that alley?" He completely ignored her last statement.
The memories of the previous night came flooding back to her. "N-no, but it was the least you could do after I saved your sorry ass! Plus I'm not that heavy so, don't exaggerate!" She humphed as she turned her head to the side slightly pouting.
A slight blush crawled its way to Laxus' cheeks, but he quickly forced it down. 'Oh dear Mavis, why does she have to be so cute?' He cleared his throat and fell back into his usual arrogant facade. "For your information, I had everything under control. So don't go getting a big head now."
"Yeah, I could totally see that." She rolled her eyes. "You lying unconscious on the ground, while some guy has a sword pointed at your chest really does yell 'I've got this'." She laughed sarcastically.
"Don't push your luck, Blondie." He growled.
"Whatever, I'll get going now, wouldn't want to overstay my welcome, now would I?" She swung her legs off the bed and stood up.
"Where are you headed?" He asked, his heart slightly constricting at the thought of never seeing her again.
"Not sure, think I've spent enough time here. So, I might catch the next train out, head to the next closest town." She shrugged, picked up her bag from next to the bed and started for the door.
"What do you mean you don't know. Where's your team? Aren't you on a mission?"
"Look," She started, her eyes filled with pain, anger, and what he could only assume, sadness. "I'm weak and they finally realized. They did what any rational person in their position would have done, so they kicked me out. Can't blame them really. I've been on the road for about a month now."
"W-what?!" His mood suddenly turned sour, anger and rage filled his veins in a way he couldn't quite understand. I thought they were all about that nakamura shit! I've seen her fight before, she is no where near weak. She beat Bixlow, twice, for crying out loud. "Did you tell Gramps about this? Maybe he could have-"
"He's the one who removed the stamp and told me to leave." She cut him off and lifted her hand to show him her now stampless hand.
"L-Lucy, I-I would've never guessed-"
"Hey, hey, hey don't you dare go all soft on me now, Sparky." She crossed her arms under her chest and gave him her best smirk.
"Watch it, Blondie. Don't forget who you're talking to." He chuckled, smirk matching her's. Meanwhile his heart was racing, this is exactly why Laxus had fallen for the blonde. She was the only person who has stared right at him and shown no fear. A feat not even his own team had accomplished. In her eyes, he was just a person not some big scary bad guy.
"You're not so bad, you know that, Sparky." She gave him one of her famous 100 watt smiles and he had to bite down on the inside of his cheek to keep his blush down. What am I, a fuckin pansy?! How the fuck is she doing this to me?! "Maybe I'll see you around. Later, Sparky." As she walked past him she pat his arm, but before she could even reach the door he grabbed her arm, successfully stopping her from going any further.
"..."
"..."
"Umm, Sparky this is the part where you tell me why you stopped me." She turned around and looked up to face the man that still held her arm.
"Y-Yeah, sorry." When he realized he was still holding her, he quickly let her go. "You know, I've been on my own for a while too..."
Her giggles stopped his train of thought. He turned and shot a sharp glare at the small blonde in front of him him. "Never thought I'd see the big bad Laxus Dreyar asking to join me."
"I'm not. All I was trying to say is that maybe it would be better if we stuck together." He growled.
"Aww, is Lightning Pants lonely?" She said playfully looking up at him while fluttering her eyelashes. How does he do it? Why am I acting like this now when I can't even remember the last time I had the urge to smile.
"You know what blondie, forget it." He crossed his arms and turned away from her.
"Okay, okay I'm sorry. I was just teasing. I-I actually w-wouldn't mind teaming up with you." She turned her head hiding her blushing cheeks.
That was how the odd team of two started. Two abandoned souls with no where else to turn found each other. "So are you going to tell me why you're here? I mean I did tell you my reasons. Why were you in some ally getting your ass handed to you?" She added the last part with a smirk.
"I was drunk and caught off guard." He growled out in slight irritation. "Same as you, Blondie. I was exiled so I've been travelling." He shrugged at the end of his explanation.
"What?" She gasped in mock surprise. "You mean to tell me that this wonderful place we're in is not your home?" A glint of amusement in her eyes.
"No, this is temporary. I move a lot, though I do have a home in Magnolia."
"Well, that's more than me. When I was forced to leave Fairy Tail, I left my apartment. So even if I do ever go back, which I doubt I will, I won't have a place to stay." She whispered so low that he had to strain in order to hear it. "Anyway, enough with the sob stories. I need to find a place to do some of my regular routines then it's time to hit the road."
"There's a clearing not to far from here. I'm sure that will work. What kind of 'routines' do you do anyway?"
"Just some basic exercises then I practice what I can with my magic."
"Now that you mention it, what kind of magic were you using last night? I thought you used those spirits of yours." He asked.
"I do use celestial spirit magic, I just don't like relying on it so I've been practicing and have figured out how to use some kind of maker type magic. But I'm not too sure what it is exactly or how it works, yet." She answered scratching the back of her head.
"So that sword you used-" He started, but she cut him off before he could continue.
"Yeah. Actually that was the biggest weapon I've made so far, so it took a lot out of me. Normally I can't make anything more than a small dagger." She said as a blush crept its way to her cheeks.
"Heh, that's impressive Blondie. Not many can say they went from holder magic to caster magic. Actually, I'm not sure anyone but you can say that." He smirked while messing up her hair.
"Sh-shut up, Sparky. And stop calling me Blondie 'cuz you're blonde too." She pouted while crossing her arms over her chest. "So where's this great training area you were talking about, anyway?"
Without answering Laxus walked out of the house leaving a very confused if not slightly annoyed blonde in his wake. "W-where do you think you're going?! You can't just leave in the middle of a conversation!" Yelling, Lucy ran to catch up to the irritating, tall man, but stopped short when she finally made it outside. "Wow."
Tall trees, greener than she'd ever seen before filled her vision. The sky a shade of blue that could have only been imagined. She took a few steps forward and breathed in the fresh, crisp morning air. She decided then that it must have been the cleanest air she'd ever breathed. "Come on Blondie, we're not there yet." He chuckled and walked toward a clearing a couple yards from the small cottage. After taking one last look at the scenery, Lucy jogged to catch up to Laxus.
"So this is where you workout?" She asked while doing some quick stretches.
"Yeah, I come out here most mornings."
"Alrighty then, what are you going to teach me first!?" She hopped up and down excitedly while looking up at Laxus with a huge smile on her face.
"What the hell are you talking abou, Blondie?" He quirked an eyebrow down at her.
"Duh, isn't it obvious? You're going to train me." She looked up at him as though it were the most evident thing in the world.
"No." His only response. Why in the world would she want me to train her? Honestly I would like nothing more than to help her, but what could I, of people, possibly offer her. I mean I didn't actually think she would accept my offer of joining me, but she did. He looked down at the girl standing right in front of him, she was perfect. The way the sun's light reflected off of her hair. Her large chocolate brown eyes that shone with love. Most of all her forgiving personality that somehow drew in everyone around her. How could someone not like her? Plus with that body of hers, she had every man around her on their knees.
"But Laxuusss," she whined childishly. "You have to help me. How else will I get strong?" She batted her eyelashes up at him. "I mean you are the strongest guy I know."
"Ughh, fine. Just don't complain when I don't go easy on you." She really does have me wrapped around her little finger. "Now take a lap and no stopping or walking or I'll electrocute you."
"Geez, no need to be rude." She wiggled her butt at him laughing playfully and took off jogging around the fairly large clearing.
"If only you knew what you're doing to me, Blondie." He groaned.
The next few days consisted of primarily physical training, much to Lucy's displeasure. "When are we going to work on my magic? I think we've done enough working out, if we don't start on my magic soon I'm pretty sure I'm going to lose it." She finally asked one night as they ate dinner. Ever since that night they agreed they would stay in the cottage for a few more days then move on, as they were both accustomed to doing. And ever since Laxus agreed to train Lucy they had been working on nothing but physical training, no magic.
"The stronger you are physically, the stronger your magic will be. It's common sense, Blondie." He stated bluntly and continued to eat his meal. He eats a lot, but at least he's not a pig like Natsu. No Lucy, stop thinking about them. They don't want you, so why should you spare them any thought. She mentally scolded herself for her rouge thoughts and quickly caught herself again.
"B-but, I want to work on my magic already." She pouted, picking up her plate and taking it over to the sink to be washed. She had taken up some of the chores since staying. She would wash dishes and cook while Laxus bought the food and helped clean up after themselves. Surprisingly they worked really well together. They never questioned or argued on who would do what, they just did. They were quite the team.
"Tomorrow." He stated also picking up his plate and walking it over to the sink.
"Really?! Thank you!" She jumped up and hugged him in her excitement. He froze at the unexpected contact. When she finally realized what she had done she hastily let go. "Sorry, I-I...I'm sorry." She mumbled blushing redder than a tomato.
Still he didn't say anything, internally he was freaking out. His heart was going a mile a minute and was just about to burst out of his chest. The girl of his fantasies had hugged him. She had felt warm and soft and the subtle scent of vanilla and strawberries overwhelmed his senses. The awkward silence still hung in the air though, so he did what any rational man in his position would have done. "Tch." He might as well have snorted and walked away from her as quickly as he could.
"What was that about? Did the hug upset him?" She solemnly wondered after he left. Maybe we're not as close as I thought we were. Well it has only been, what three days since that night in the alley. She waved his reaction as it being too early for them and walked off the room she had been occupying for the last few days. "Tomorrow, tomorrow will be great." She yawned sleepily and crawled into bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow she was out like a light.
Special Shoutout to GeorgiaTime. You were the reason for the update today, can't leave my girl hangin' *winky face*
Hope you liked it. Like always, please tell me you thoughts, comments, concerns.
Until later gentlepeople,
your friendly neighborhood writer