It had been a week now, Salamander hadn't lashed out at me again and I hadn't provoked him. I had been thinking about what he said. Sabertooth wasn't cowardly for leaving...they were following the code and my orders. They were just waiting for the right time to strike. I was brought out of my thoughts by Happy clearing his throat. I looked down at the game board and realized it was my turn.
"Oh sorry." I said, rolling the dice and moving my piece.
"You know...I know you're the Captain of Sabertooth and all...but you're not really that evil." He said and I furrowed my brows, not sure how to take that and he shook his head quickly.
"I mean, everyone always talks about how everyone on Sabertooth is heartless and you're filled with darkness...but really...you're really nice and you can be funny sometimes...even if you are a little weird." I decided to ignore the last comment and gave him half a smile, having realized earlier in the week getting compliments from the blue exceed was rather difficult, I opened my mouth to say something but he continued. "Don't get me wrong I miss Lisanna...but that wasn't you who killed her...even if it was your orders...I mean Natsu killed Yukino and it wasn't on purpose but it still happened. So I guess you were just doing it out of hurt? I'm sorry about Yukino...and Lisanna." He said quietly and I looked at him with wide, silent eyes for a moment before I picked him up, hugging him to my chest. He hugged back and I nuzzled my nose against his head. I had been low key toying with him all week, trying to find information out about where my keys and sword was but he had always somehow changed the topic.
"I'm sorry Happy...when I get back to my ship I'll talk to Sting, maybe not be allies with you guys but we won't fight with you to kill." I said gently and he looked up at me, a slight smile on his face as if he knew this was one of the few genuine things that came from my mouth. He opened his mouth to say something but there was an awkward cough. We both turned and looked to the side to see Salamander standing there. Happy climbed off of me, only a tad bit guilty as he jumped and sprouted wings, floating over to the pink haired devil.
"Hey Natsu!" He said excitedly and Natsu gave him a lingering look before looking at me.
"Come on." He said gruffly. He hadn't been in here since he punched me and there wa clearly some tension around. I shrugged and got up. I had tried to warn him.
"Are we there…? I thought we had a few more days…" I trailed off, bringing my hand up to brush my fingers against the gold material of my mask and he held the door open.
"We do...I've decided to let you walk around a little bit and got you out of the room. You won't try and leave without your keys." He said and I narrowed my eyes under my mask, slowly getting up and walking towards him. I passed him slowly and wearily, ready to spring away from him at the first sign of aggression. I was an excellent fighter, quick, smart, light weight, tons of stamina and with a sword or gun extremely deadly. But when it came to brute strength I was at the shallow end of the dream pool compared to him. He watched me closely, his onyx eyes staring at me as if he could see right towards my soul. Too bad it seemed to have ran away many years ago.
I stepped out of the room and the first thing I noticed was the slap of cold air. The hairs on my neck and arms stood on end as I barely held back a shiver. I had left my coat inside but my pride kept me from going back to get it. The huge climate change was just proof of how far we had come, how close we were to Fiore. It wasn't snowing but another day at this rate I felt that I would see the terrible frozen water coming from the sky.
"Stay around the helm, if you go to where Gray can't see you you'll be punished." Salamander threatened and my lip twitched, not used to taking orders anymore. I had gone about a year without listening to anyone, and having everyone scramble to listen to mine instead. The sudden shift of power shook me a little.
"Who's Gray?" I asked and a shirtless man jogged up the stairs, a blue Fairy Tail symbol on his chest. The ice mage, that explained why he was shirtless. He looked at me, an impassive, conservative look on his face as his eyes settled into mine. I held my head high, not backing down from any of them.
"That would be me...your name is Princess Lucy right?" He asked and I licked my lips.
"Captain Lucille ." I said, emphasizing the word 'Captain'. He chuckled slightly and looked at Salamander.
"I see what you meant." He said and a tick mark appeared on my forehead but instead of saying something I looked at Happy.
"Come on I wanna explore." I said and he giggled, flying a little higher, holding up one of his paws in a fist.
"Aye Sir!" He yelled and I grinned, letting him pick me up by the back of my corset and lifting me quickly. Natsu let out a yell of surprise and warning but he cut himself off as we landed on the deck easily. I grinned at Happy and walked around him, ignoring Salamanders orders.
"You guys have a pretty nice ship." I said, looking around and Happy came up from the fish he was eating.
"Yeah, but our headquarters is even better." He said and I looked at him curiously, my eyes glistening over in interests. So they did still have a headquarters...I'll have to remember that, try and find out where it is. It might be helpful. I thought.
"You have a headquarters?" I asked and he seemed to realize his mistake. He scratched his head, nervously laughing at my look.
"Yeah...we're a dark guild since they're illegal...but that's where our master is. He's super powerful and scary so don't tell anyone about it otherwise he'll get me- I mean you and you don't want that." He said, trying to act serious and I pursed my lips.
"Oh is that right?" I mused and he nodded shyly. I laughed but stopped once I saw Gray jogging up to me franticly.
"There you are! You're not supposed to leave my sight!" He exclaimed, but he didn't seem mad. I could tell his magic was nearly as strong as Salamanders but something told me he wouldn't attack me. And having seen him fight I knew if it was just physical with no magic then I could probably best him. I scoffed.
"I spent over half my life losing security guards and sneaking out, old habits die hard." I said and he narrowed his eyes, the air around us seemed to be getting a bit colder.
"Well then maybe you should break those habits, Princess." He said and my lip twitched. Happy had flown off and was messing with a white exceed.
"Well maybe this Captain isn't going to take orders from a low pirate. Besides you're more of a Princess than I'll ever be." I snarled and I was up against the wall suddenly, being held up by an angry Gray. I didn't tense, didn't fight back, just smirked at him. I could see it in his face, he wouldn't really hurt me. He just wanted to show that between us he was in charge and he had power. I did enjoy his body against mine though, holding me up. He wasn't ice cold like I expected and offered a bit of warmth. Maybe if I become friends with this guy...or even flirt with him just enough then I'll convince him to help me out of here when we dock in Fiore...
"Do it. Hurt me. I dare you. No, no I beg of you." I said with almost no emotions, just bearing my gaze down into his harsh glare, challenging him. His eyes narrowed slightly before he put me down, starting to laugh. I raised my brow and he glanced at me, covering his mouth and laughing a bit more. I rolled eyes and turned, starting to walk away when I felt his hand on my shoulder, turning me around. He chuckled and shook his head.
"No no, I'm sorry it's just. Normally if I do that to a girl outside of the crew they're all over me. I can see why Natsu likes you." He said and it was my turn to start laughing, and not just a chuckle, I was bent over, my face turning red as I tried to gasp for air but only laughed harder, falling over onto the deck and holding my stomach, tears coming from my eyes.
"Hahhahahaha girls- hahahahahaha fall for- hehehehe that?! Hahahaha!" He frowned slightly and I gasped for air. "And then-hahahaha, Salamander?! BWAHAHAHAHA!" I gurgled out and he crossed his arms, almost like he was pouting. A few minutes later I slowly stopped laughing, clinging to my sore sides as I slowly got up, holding onto Gray's arm to steady myself as I wobbled a little and only a few giggles coming out here and there. I looked at the tick mark on his head and giggled once more before silencing myself for a moment, taking a breath. I let my thumb trace his skin ever so slightly, feeling his arm flex a bit. I held back my smirk and pulled my hand away.
"Sorry, it just took me off guard. But ehm, I'm pretty sure you must be blind. Salamander doesn't like me. He has a hatred for me...a very passionate one." I said and Gray shrugged.
"Well, a lot of us don't like you, can't really blame us though, just like I'm sure your crew doesn't like any of us." He said and I licked my lips.
"I'm over it for the most part now and much of my crew is as well...they just want a reason to be angry. But that doesn't mean we weren't excited to attack you. But I guess that's just the ways of a pirate? The way I see it...we both lost someone. An eye for an eye. Why lose anyone else?" I lied easily, turning and starting to walk back to the helm and ignoring the surprised look on his face. He jogged after me, staying by my side. It's working.
"You know, I take you more as a heat girl." He said, glancing at me from the corner of his eyes.
"Excuse me?" I asked, a bit offended.
"You know, you'd rather be hot than cold." He said and I felt like there was a deeper meaning to what he had said however I wouldn't let this chance pass me up.
"Is that so? Because I take you as more of a Captain, not some guard dog who takes orders." I replied, my hips swinging as usual, only now my waist coat wasn't hiding them. A chuckle escaped his lips and he moved a bit closer to me as we started to scale the stairs.
"I see why you're a Captain," he said quietly, crossing his arms and leaning against the door, looking me up and down but not in a pervy way, more like examining me. "I can't really see you in frilly dresses." He said and I put my hands on my hips, smirking at the handsome man in front of me. I was dedicated to Sting, but I was going to do what I had to do. I stepped closer to him.
"I'm sure you can imagine taking them off though...why don't you find out how much of the cold I can take...ice mage?" His eyes snapped to mine, narrowing as he assessed me.
"I won't deny it. But I feel like I wouldn't get the chance too. You'd probably rip it off in disgust. You strike me as a person who keeps fighting...you haven't run yet but you haven't given up. I can see it." He laughed slightly, a twinkle in his dark eyes. "So pretty, yet so deadly. Mm it's a sad fact you wouldn't be nearly as friendly if you had your gate keys or a sword..." He said and I moved closer, pressing my chest against his and tilted my chin up to where our faces were close. His hands snaked around my waist but it was far from an intimate gesture.
"I'm actually quite a sweetheart. But stories are stories. I live in reality, which is where if you just happen to slip into the bed next to me tonight...I may not scream...for help that is." I chuckled slightly, feeling his grip on my waist tighten slightly. My voice dropped suddenly, still having a seductive lure to it but now with a dangerous edge to it. "I pick and choose my battles, fight when I need to fight and run when I need to run. Fairy Tales don't work in real life Gray. Princes don't save Princesses. I had my Fairy Tale ending or so I thought, but your Captain had to come in with an ironic dagger and shove it into my heart. I keep fighting, and you're right. I haven't given up just yet. But again...if you show up late at night...I might take a break." I said and Gray sucked in a sharp breath. I pulled away, giving him a smirk and not acknowledging Salamander that had a serious yet shocked look on his face, having seen and heard the whole thing. I barely paid attention as Gray licked his lips and looked at Salamander and shoved his hands in his pockets, walking away rather quickly.
I opened the door to the Captain's cabin and walked in, closing the door and allowing myself to start shaking and shivering. I grabbed my waist coat quickly and pulled it around me, trying to warm up and calm myself down. How long could I keep this up? I can only act brave for so long. I fell onto the bed, grabbing a small blanket and wrapping it around my shoulders, trying to get comfort and warmth as I scooted back, leaning my back against the wall, bringing my back to the wall, my knees to my chest as I put my forehead on them. I couldn't go hug on Sting or call Loke over for a cuddle session if Sting was in a fowl mood. I wondered if June had made it back. I hope they're all safe.
I took comfort in the fact that they were together, whether angry, sad or happy. They were together. I was alone. Surrounded by people who hated me, heading straight for the man that took everything from me and I had spent the last two years running from. I let out a sob, my shoulders shaking, tears I hadn't realized escaped fell from my chin. They thought they were getting paid to bring me back to a perfect life, that I was some snobby brat that was the reason their friend was dead. Well what about my friend? Sting wasn't supposed to kill Lisanna, it was just him fighting her off, then he saw Yukino go down, Salamanders sword through her and it was him reacting to it. But I'm the Captain. So I was responsible for both of them dying. I reached up with a shaky hand and touched the mask on my face.
"Mama...please help me...don't let me go back..." I whispered into the silent air, squeezing my eyes tight, more tears coming down.
-edited version-