Doubts and Detoxification
Max walked down the streets with Chinese takeout in one hand and a newspaper in the other, cursing at the weather forecast man, Hibiki, for the unsuspecting light rain suddenly turning heavy. "I knew I should've bought an umbrella! One of those days Hibiki is going to get it!"
The short sandy haired man spotted a familiar figure lying on the ground soaking wet in the rain. "Cana?"
Don't tell me she got wasted again. Max thought while going to her. Initially he was going to poke her with his muddy shoe, but stopped when he saw red liquid being washed away. Blood. That was the word registered in his mind once his eyes fell upon the red liquid.
"Oi, Cana!" Max dropped to the ground next to her. Holding the brunette in his arms, he pulled out his phone from his pocket and dialed Evergreen's number while checking for Cana's pulse. With her pulse faint and rapidly slowing with each beat, Max scooped Cana up into his arms and placed the phone in the nook of his shoulder and ear. Walking as fast as he could to the nearest clinic, which happened to be Evergreen's, Max didn't even pause for formalities when Evergreen finally answered. "Hey Evergreen, are you open?"
"About to close up, what do you need?" Max rounded the corner explaining, "I need medical help. Cana's losing blood from her chest. Luckily it missed her heart, but – damn it all! Can you operate on her?"
"Of course, gimmie a minute." In the background, Max heard Evergreen already yelling at people in the clinic to prepare a bed and other medical things that he couldn't quite hear. Once the sandy haired man arrived at the clinic's doors with the seriously injured woman, who immediately recieved medical attention, Max dialed Mirajane to report Cana's situation.
"Okay. You saved her life, Max. Yeah I got it. Bye." Mirajane snapped her phone shut while waiting anxiously for the elevator to reach the floor that she wanted to wreak havoc on. Once she heard the ring of the elevator, the doors flew open and storming in the Demon went while wearing a crisp white blouse, a pair of long black pants, and an unbuttoned grey jacket. Slamming her clenched fists onto the nurse's table, the white haired woman snarled, "WHERE IS SHE? I KNOW DAMN WELL A PERSON IN A COMA CAN'T JUST WALK OUT OF A HOSPITAL AND INTO THE COLD RAIN! I DEMAND TO SEE YOUR HEAD OF SECURITY ABOUT LAST NIGHT'S SECURITY!"
"Please calm down, ma'am, he'll be here soon!" squeaked out the panicked nurse at the front desk as the other nurses joined to help pacify the raging sister who was swearing to tear the hospital brick by brick to find her sister and sue if the call she had received half an hour ago was a prank. She saw the panicked faces of nurses turn to relief as a tall shadow loomed over her, Mirajane twisted around trying to calm herself down knowing full well that if she let her rage consume her… the results wouldn't be pretty. The tall white haired woman took a deep breath then exhaled.
The head of security was a bald headed man with a potato shaped face and a long beard wearing a standard blue guard uniform. "I am the head of security, Jura Neekis. I understand that you're angry right now, Miss Mirajane, but I assure you we'll have her safely back here. Now could you come with me? I understand that you requested the security tapes of last night."
Mirajane nodded keeping her tone professional and calm despite her anxiousness, "Lead the way, Jura-san."
She followed him to a room at the end of the hall labeled on the door was the words 'Security Personnel Only' in big bolded letters. Jura took out a key and inserted into the lock on the door with a satisfying click the duo went in. Her blue crystalline eyes scanned the room seeing three office chairs that had wheels attached on the bottom, a table with a box of donuts and playing cards, a grey book shelf filled with tapes, and on the opposite wall there was a huge screen that had been divided into twelve screens displaying the halls and corners of the hospitals, flicking from one hall to another.
Jura took out a tape from what Mirajane suspected, was from last night. Inserting the tape into the video recorder below the television screens, Jura pointed to the screen that was above the video recorder. Mirajane leaned forward to get a better look while Jura fast forwarded the tape to the time that Lisanna had gone missing. "Stop the tape."
She couldn't believe her eyes as a black haired man, a white haired woman, and a very familiar grey haired elderly man walked down the hall. "No… Him?! That bastard!"
"Is there something wrong?" asked Jura before the white haired woman replied, her tone clipped, "May I have a copy?"
Jura handed over a copy of the tape in the form of a CD before Mirajane bolted out of the security room in shock, rage, and disbelief. Master Hades, Makarov's teacher. How could he? No. I need to go back to Laxus then decide on the next course of action.
After Natsu left, I walked upstairs to check my email to see if Cana had sent me her analysis. Luckily she did, and I waited for it to print out. The doorbell rang and I quickly went downstairs, and found an Exceed carrier at the door with a twelve by eight inch package. He handed me an electronic pad to sign for the package and handed me the package bidding me a nice day. Opening the package, I found a listening gadget the size of a bottle cap from Freed, and a set of instructions on how to activate it and what it does.
The device was a simple thing, all I had to do was press the big red circular button and it triggers a satellite. that was the Agency's, to hone in on a specific place like the park or a house and radioactively listen in on all phone call conversations going in and out. Scary, but useful in my opinion. I mean what if these gadgets were used to spy on civilians? Luckily the government only gave these things out to licensed agencies like mine. I pocketed the device into my purse before steadily going upstairs once more.
Entering my room, I saw that the pages had already printed out. I viewed it while sitting cross-legged on the bed with a cup of coffee next to me. Blinking after I reached the last page, I turned back to the first page and read it over again. It wasn't like I didn't understand Cana's report; I just couldn't believe the results of Erza's medication. Metyrapone, the pill used by army personnel to suppress painful memories. High amounts too. I got up from the bed and raced over with my purse to Erza's house, only to halt in my tracks half way to her door.
Wait, what the heck do I say to her? Erza please stop taking those pills because I think your husband might be hiding from the agency that I'm a part of because you're one of us? No. No. No. She'd think I'm crazy. Maybe I should swipe the pills, no she'd go to whoever is supplying her with the pills and ask for more. Ah screw it! I'll just-
"Lucy?" My eyes closed and opened several times, I saw the scarlet haired woman. "Erza…"
"Are you okay, Lucy? You look a little pale. Come inside, I have some cake if you want some." Nodding numbly before going in, she gestured to the couch and I sat down. "What's on your mind?"
"Um…. I was wondering about the medicine that you had to take at my house." I said nervously, knowing that I should just get straight to the point while eating some of the strawberry shortcake Erza had placed on the table next to use. She must really love strawberries. Does she have a strawberry garden or something? I thought vaguely while reminding myself of what I came here to do. Erza seemed to ponder for a moment as I scolded myself before responding, "It's something that my doctor prescribed me to take a couple of years back, since I've been having bad nightmares. Gory ones."
"Erza… Do you remember anything before you met Jellal?" Curiously I asked, knowing I would add this conversation into my report.
"Kind of," she replied while fiddling with her hands, "I tried to recall my past a couple of times, but after a while it was hopeless."
"Have you ever wondered if those nightmares could be what you're searching for?" Seeing as how Erza stiffened, I knew I had hit a nerve.
"Well, I never thought of that…"She looked doubtful for a moment while glancing towards me for a minute or two. I pressed on, hoping that my suggestion would be helpful and convincing to her, "Maybe you should try and go a day without your medication. If you want, we could go to a spa tomorrow. After that I'll take you to someone."
"…I'll think about it." I nodded. At least Erza's not rejecting the idea. Getting up from my seat I said, "I better go, I have to type up something for my job."
"Of course." She didn't walk with me back to her front door which was understandable. I mean after talking with Erza about that, she had to have some time to really think about what I said. At that moment I decided that this was a good time to slip in the listening device somewhere. Digging through my purse I found the gadget and pressed the big red button that covered most of the circular device's face, and slid it to the space between their third floral couch and the wooden floor on my way out.
When I went back inside to my bedroom, I opened up a Word Document on my computer and started to type my monthly report. After completing the report on Erza and Jellal, I sent my report along with Cana's analysis to Mirajane and a suggestion that Erza should meet Mirajane to see if anything triggers in the scarlet haired woman's conscious before leaning back into my chair complementing about what I should do next. Try and gather evidence against Jellal? It would hurt Erza, but that's my job. Damn it. I've gotten too close. Okay, once Erza meets Mirajane I've completed my mission and I can tell Natsu that we can do to repair or at least identify what are relationship clearly is, friends, co-workers, or a fell fledged couple? Standing up from my chair and deemed myself worthy of a nice hot shower wanting to relieve myself of my troubles even if it was just for thirty minutes.
Erza shifted and laid down on the soft floral couch, wrapping herself in her thoughts. The scarlet haired woman honestly didn't know what to do with her current situation. Trust her husband? Or trust a person that she's only known for two months? What Lucy did say could be possible. Her memories were so hazy every time the red head used the medication and whenever she tried to talk to Jellal about it he would always say, "The past isn't important now, what matters now is the present." Or something along those lines. Now that Erza thought about it, Jellal never told her how they got engaged, better yet how'd they met!
"Erza, I'm home!" Speak of the devil. Erza stood up and went over to her husband giving him a hug and a kiss on the lips like nothing had ever happened to her, "I have tonight's dinner in the oven, why don't you go and take a shower?"
"Good idea, what are we having?"
"Roast beef." Jellal chuckled, "My favorite. I'll be upstairs if you need me."
"Okay." Erza went into the kitchen with her impressionable thoughts. I need to find out. She thought, coming out of the kitchen with two plates while Jellal came into the dining room with a clean white shirt and a pair of boxers on. Their conversation started normally, Erza asked how his day was and Jellal would hesitate for a good minute before he would tell her his day. Nothing out of the ordinary between the two people who were happily married, or so it would seem to her husband. "Jellal?"
"Hm?" The blue haired man took a bite out of his roast beef, wondering what his wife would say next. Nervously, Ezra gathered her nerves, and said with her head held high and her eyes filled with resolution, "Why don't you tell me anything?"
"What do you mean? I did just tell you how my day went," Jellal said as Erza frowned while thinking; perhaps I was a little vague with that question. So the scarlet haired woman added, "Why won't you tell me anything about my past with you? I can barely remember anything. I don't know any past friends, or family."
"Well," Jellal paused unsure of how to react to the sudden question. Erza did mention this many times, I guess my answer wasn't enough to pacify her thoughts, or that empty hole that should have been filled with happy memories. The tattooed man glanced back to Erza, her desperate eyes begging for answers. "Isn't the memories you have now good enough?"
"No," Erza immediately said, noting his hurt reaction but continued like she had never seen it her voice no longer nice, "I feel blank, empty, sometimes I can't tell whether or not you're just playing house with me or you've just been lying to me the whole time, and what if you're not really my husband-"
"Erza!" bursted out Jellal, his cheeks turning red with fury, "How can you even think that?!"
"So you're not denying it?" That silenced all his anger and turned that into uncertainty. "Well…No this isn't the time to tell you everything, Erza… Maybe one day, but that's not today."
Erza stood up throwing her crumpled napkin onto her plate, "That's all I need to know… I'm sleeping alone tonight."
Without another word to him, the red head stormed to their bedroom and locked the door from the inside. Even though he could have followed her and opened the door using the key to the door that she knew he had in his pocket, Jellal didn't. Erza knew that her 'husband' would respect her wishes, and leave her alone. Grabbing her phone, the confused wife dialed Lucy's number with a curt greeting before she said, "I'd like to go to the spa with you, Lucy."
The two women made the arrangements and Erza placed her phone onto the night table beside her bed, then silently curled up under the plush blanket and quickly fell asleep with tears dripping down her face.
Meanwhile Jellal, who was in front of their bedroom, rested his hand on the door knob and the other hand in his pocket with the key to the bedroom door, but when he heard the sniffles of his wife it felt like he had been kicked in the stomach and the kick was from the overbearing guilt within him. He hated this, but he had to protect her from the world they once were in before that time, and the time when he would tell Erza everything would be never, Jellal prayed that he never would, there would be too many questions. Questions that involved that incident and the people that caused that massacre. If anything were to be said from him about that vile incident it would be that he had done it to protect her.
While in his thoughts Jellal's phone vibrated in his pocket, he turned away from the door and answered it knowing full well who the caller was, "Hello Zeref."
The very next day Erza and I went to Lamia Scale Oasis, the spa I had booked for today. It was a hefty price and I knew it would be worth it if the treatment I had requested put a smile on Erza's face. During the phone call I had with her, I could tell at that moment Erza needed to be cheered up. First, we went to the sauna rooms. There was a small sized room compared to the rest, but it fit the two of us quite well. Placing the hot coals where they were supposed to go, I gestured for Erza to pour the water onto them. Within a few seconds, a satisfying sigh came from our lips as the steam pressed against my skin. We did this process for two more times until I started sweating. Sweating was an easy way to detoxify a person on drugs, but I wasn't sure if it was enough to sweat out years of taking drugs.
We stayed there for a couple of minutes, then moved on to submerging in mud baths while hot rocks pressed against our backs, and after every one of them, Erza would go back to the sauna as if driven by some force to do so. Maybe it was the fact that I gave her a few hints earlier about the Metyrapone and its effects or the fact that as I went to pick her up, Erza didn't even spare one glance at her husband who looked regretful.
I could only deduce that they had gotten into a fight. Whatever they fought about it had to be stressful for the both of them. Erza refused to tell me about it saying that it would ruin this spa day that was supposed to be a relaxing time for the two of us. I couldn't disagree with her on that. Standing up from my spot in the hot sauna, I asked Erza, "Do you want anything to drink?"
"Some water would be nice." replied Erza with her eyes closed, taking in the heat admirably. Sliding the door open, I walked over to the vending machines down the hall from the sauna rooms. I inserted a couple of jewels into the vending machine and retrieved two water bottles from the bottom, figuring it would be a good break from the soda based drinking I had taken up ever since taking this mission. Opening one of the bottles, I took a swing of the water contained in there.
"I got you your water, Erza! But you'll have to drink it outside." I slide the door open to the sauna to find the said person dazed, the red haired woman with only a towel covering herself blinked a few times before noticing me like it was as if for the first time, "Lucy…"
Erza looked at my hands and reached out for a bottle, "Okay, and thanks for the water."
There was something I couldn't place about her at that moment. She wasn't the Erza I knew just a few minutes ago when I went to go fetch her some water. The way Erza carried herself as she walked out of that sauna, and seeing the aura that she released, I couldn't help ask out loud worriedly, "Erza? Are you okay? Did the heat get to you or something?"
The scarlet haired woman paused then turned so that her eyes looked back at me with a faint smile she said, "I'm fine, Lucy. Do you mind if we could leave now? I want to talk to my husband about something… something important, face to face."
Frowning at the sound of her voice so rough, it was a tone I knew well, a forced calmness, I hesitantly agreed, "O-Okay." On the way back, it was pretty quiet. Erza was silent and I didn't feel like putting on some music due to the tense atmosphere in car. Nervously trying to break the ice I asked, "So did you like it? The spa?"
"Hm? Oh yeah it's was refreshing. I love the mud baths. Thanks again for taking me here. I really needed that." I turned the corner before replying, "Any time, but Erza?"
"Yeah?" She tore her eyes away from the window to face me.
"…Erza, don't do anything you'll regret once we go back. I don't know what's been going on with you and Jellal, but you need to overcome that problem and talk to him. Also do you mind if we take a little detour?" Erza paused, thinking for a moment before nodding, "Okay. As long as we go back before five. I have to prepare dinner."
"It won't take long, we're almost there." Reassuring the person beside me, I pulled up to the Agency's headquarters while notifying Mirajane by a text that I was bringing in Erza through the front doors. Her reply came immediately.
Be there in 3 minutes.
The two of us slammed the car doors close and walked over to the tall office building, for a moment she stopped just before we were about to enter the building through the electronic automated doors. Glancing back at Erza, her face filled with confusion, I asked gently, not wanting to pry anything out of her forcefully, "Do you remember anything by any chance?"
There was a small frown before she said with a hand on her head, "I feel a little nostalgic about this place."
I smiled, "That's good isn't it? Maybe you worked here before."
"Hello Lucy," greeted Mirajane in a nice sleeved umber dress as we came through the front doors. My boss glanced towards Erza, her blue eyes flashed a brief moment of recognition before her face was quickly replaced with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes and Mirajane greeted Erza politely, "Hello, you must be Erza. Lucy tells me a lot of things about you. Will you follow me please?"
Erza glanced over to me before following Mirajane, and I did the same, curious as to what Mirajane had in store for the sleeping agent. My boss led Erza into a room before instructing me to go to the hearing room next to the room that Erza was placed in. Peering through a one way window, I saw Erza and Mirajane sitting in front of one another. I had tuned out of the small chit chat before Mirajane pulled out a small box from out under the table. I could clearly see parts of a semi-automatic pistol in the box. Mirajane asked Erza to put on the black cloth that the white haired woman placed on the table before chatting with the scarlet haired woman. Mirajane placed all those parts in front of Erza, and before I could even blink, a fully put together semi-automatic Glock was in Erza's hands.
Right now questions were bursting from my head, even though I knew all the answers to them. When Erza untied the blindfold from her eyes all those questions in my head were in her eyes. The scarlet haired woman (whom I had known for two whole months, but at the same time at that moment I felt like I didn't know her at all) looked at the gun in her hand to Mirajane before all that confusion was wiped off of her face and disbelief was filled in her voice, "Mira."
The said person gave Erza a faint smile and I could see the water in her eyes as Mirajane said, "Welcome back, Erza."
The reunion was met with hugs, tears, and I didn't want to intrude on the reunion so I exited the listening room for a brief moment and ran into Gray and Juvia, who were in a deep conversation with whispers, greeted me with a wave and smile before returning to their hushed discussion. I couldn't help but wonder what exactly what the two were talking about, but decided not to ask since they kept it so hush hush.
I turned around to see both Erza and Mirajane smiling as they walked out of the room, and talked me into coming with them to a board room to discuss a few things.
"Okay, so how do we get him here?" I asked pulling up a rolling office chair. Mirajane pointed to Erza who pointed to herself with an index finger and said simultaneously, "Her. / Me."
It was weirdly eerie on how they said that, as I nodded, "Okay. How are you going to do it, Erza?"
Her answer was simple, "I'll drag him here."
That earned a snort from Mirajane and a wide eyed look from me, and then I reconsidered. Well she did put together a semi-automatic pistol in a blink of an eye. Mirajane asked with a smirk, "Are you going to threaten him, again? It wouldn't be the first time. Remember? The National Agency Award Ball? Now that was hilarious. How did you do it again?"
"Oh that was easy. I told him that he would be sleeping on the couch if he didn't come." After a few more laughs from the two about that past I said, "So when you bring him in, it will be the end of it right?"
"Yep. You won't have to play house after this unless…. You want to continue for a bit while longer?" said Erza in a suggestive voice that I didn't like. I frowned, "What do you mean by that?"
"Oh please, Lucy. You know what I mean," nudged Erza as Mirajane smiled knowingly. When Mirajane smiled liked that I knew I was in for a load of teasing, "If you want an extended vacation, I'll allow it."
"I appreciate that, but there's nothing going on between me and Natsu!" My words feel short from their ears as the two women folded their arms and raised their eyebrows. I swear it was scary, seeing these two together and acting like identical twins. After being under their intense gazes for a minute or two I gave in exasperated sigh, "Okay, I like him!"
"No Lucy, you looooovvveeeee him!"
"So why are we talking about my love life right now? Of all times?" I whined
"Cause we're going to help you!" said Mirajane, who was obviously enjoying this way too much.
"With what? Fix my love life? No. I really don't have time for that now." I pointed out.
"Yes you do. After this operation is done, you don't have any plans for another right?" Mirajane said, knowing that I wouldn't have one planned unless I talked to Natsu about it.
"Well no, but-"
"So you have plenty of time." prompted Erza. They continue to pry me for more answers until I stood saying that Erza and I needed to go telling her that it was almost four. With that said Erza reluctantly went along and hugged Mirajane for one last time.
After returning back to the neighborhood with Erza, who was fully confident in subduing Jellal, I dropped her off at her house before parking the sleek red Mustang in the garage and going back upstairs to the master bedroom. I turned on my computer and went onto the Agency's protected satellite network using my starry code name and my birthday password. I looked through the recent calls coming from Erza's house and clicked on the most recent one, the phone call came from what I suspected was Jellal's phone.
I heard Jellal say, "Hello Zeref."
Zeref? Where have I heard that name before? Then another male voice than was lower than Jellal's so I had to strain my ears just to hear Zeref greet, "Jellal."
"What do you want?" asked Jellal
"Information on a neighbor of yours." replied Zeref smoothly.
"Who?"
"A certain Natsu Dragneel." A chill ran through my spine. NATSU? What the heck would Zeref want with Natsu? Apparently our cover hadn't blown over as Jellal replied, "Natsu Dragneel? What do you want with Natsu, Zeref?"
"Just a little problem that I need to clean up." My eyes widened knowing full well what the meaning was. This Zeref guy was going to try and assassinate Natsu. While in my thoughts I could vaguely hear the two men discussing on where to meet for the exchange, and I wouldn't let that happen. I grabbed a pen and paper and wrote down the address where Jellal and Zeref would be meeting the day after tomorrow. The conversation ended and I looked up and address which was a restaurant and made plans to intercept the two as a waitress.
No way in hell I'm going to sit this one out. I dialed for the weapon specialists, Jet and Droy for an information destruction kit which included a jammer, two Glocks, a makeup kit with colored contacts, and a wig. In return they asked me if I would talk to Levy about being with them versus being with Gajeel which to me was pretty futile after all Levy and Gajeel were together as a couple, I did say that I would think about it and told them I needed the kit by tomorrow. I dialed Erza's number and she answered on the second ring, "Hello? Lucy? What do you need?"
"Erza, can you hold off on taking Jellal in to the Agency?"
"...Yes, but why? The sooner the better."
"It's just that... he's going to be meeting someone the day after tomorrow, and I have to intercept them. Jellal's going to give information about Nat- I mean someone important to me to a guy named Zeref."
"Zeref? Hm... Okay I will. I'll tell Mirajane too. Do you need any back up?"
"No, I'm good. Plus this is personal."
"Lucy... No. Never mind."
"What?"
"Just don't get yourself caught... or worse." The unspoken word, dead.
"I won't," I promised before hanging up.
An hour later, Natsu came through the front doors while I was brushing my teeth and jogging up and down the stairs in a pair of grey and pink sweats. It was a weird but effective way to keep in shape since I had that strawberry shortcake from earlier. Normally Natsu would joke about my weird getting in shape ways, but strangely enough he didn't and that's when I knew something was bothering him much more than Lisanna. Taking the pink toothbrush from my mouth and walking back down the stairs I asked concerned, "Natsu? What's wrong? You're acting weird, you know?"
Turning his head, Natsu said monotonously, "I'll be on the couch if you need me."
"Wait!" I grabbed his wrist quickly. I refused to let him block me out again. If I had to put it in better terms- I was being pushed away for something I had yet to do, and by Natsu of all people! I couldn't comprehend what was going on in his turmoil mind when we started this operation and I still couldn't. The irritation of this really did get on my nerves, it really did and I was tired of this. I noticed that his eyes had somewhat lost its dark smoldering fire, and that wasn't good. I had seen this before, his eyes would always lose their excitement, their passion for everything that Natsu would normally have whenever someone very important to him had been hurt.
"Natsu. You haven't been home in twenty four hours. I was worried sick! Tell me. Open up to me. What the hell is going on? Did Gray say anything to you? Or do anything to you?" An ambitious spark relit at the sound of Gray's name like usual when they were fighting something trivial that faded soon after when he replied, "No…He just gave me some information on someone."
"Who?"
"Don't worry abou-" I grabbed him by his loose black tie and yanked him towards me, anger already spilling through my body, "Natsu Dragneel, don't you dare give me that bullshit. If I don't hear a name, I'm getting my Glock."
I jabbed my thumb upstairs when I said those last words in hopes of effectively getting Natsu to spill his worries out. Violence isn't the way, but when I have to deal with a hot head like him…. Desperate times calls for desperate measures. I demanded, "Who is it?"
Natsu looked down mumbling, "…re…f."
"What?" He looked back up to, his eyes now ablaze with anger that made my lips turn into a frown. Was he angry at me? I thought vaguely while hearing Natsu say, "Zeref. The man who killed my father, Igneel."
My entire body stiffened, I tried to relax, but Natsu caught my reaction and his voice still with holding anger which was abnormal for him, "Lucy, do you know anything about him?"
Remembering the conversation I heard an hour ago and the preparation I had already made, I knew I had to remain calm and not let anything that could lead Natsu to explode in front of me. I put my left index finger to my left cheek then as if remembering something, I lied, "I think I remember seeing his name somewhere in the Agency's archives."
His eyebrows furrowed and I nodded as if convincing myself of my weak lie. I continued, "Yep, I'm sure of it. I think it was in one of the file cabinets in the Agency's basement."
Natsu's tense shoulders sagged, and I had to withhold a sigh of relief. Thank go- My thoughts were cut off when I felt his warm muscular arms around my waist, and his head in between the crook of my neck and shoulder. My confusion fused his name, "Natsu?"
"Luce, after this mission is complete… I'm going after Zeref, and I probably might be killed." My eyes widened as I couldn't stop from voicing out my protest, "No!"
I pulled back gripping his shoulders tightly, the mere thought of him- Natsu dying? No, no. I refuse to him to even think that. To me that was like the world was going to end. I was terrified of the thought. Before I knew I heard myself saying, "Don't you dare say that, Natsu! I can't live without you!"
His eyes didn't widen like mine, no they burned with resolution and a smidge of remorse like this was going to be the worst regret in his life. "Luce, I have to do this. This is my personal vendetta. You could be killed in the process."
"No, I won't let you do this alone! This is my life I'm about to throw away. I get to choose what I do with it. And besides I love you." Natsu then decided to rest his forehead against mine, our noses touching to each other, I could barely say anything as he closed in the small gap between our lips and the kiss felt amazing, mind blowing even, but even with that passionate kiss, I felt one more emotion that stood out from the anger and sadness that he was filling with this long kiss. If I had to put it in words, it would be a carnal desire, but the lack of oxygen is what pulled us apart. While trying to regulate my breathing to normal, I said shakily, "Don't you dare think that kiss got you anywhere with leaving this house without me."
"Okay. Okay. You win, Lucy. Anyways, did anything good happen today?" I complemented everything that had happened in twelve hours and said, "Erza was the sleeper agent, and she regained her memories. I took her to Mirajane, and the three of us made plans to take Jellal back to the Agency for a little interrogation."
"It's almost over, huh?" Natsu turned to look at our surroundings as I did the same, "Yep... You know I'll miss this place."
"Me too… Hey, Luce?"
"Yeah?" I replied while dragging my eyes to his now flustered face as if trying to say something to me but just couldn't find the words. When he did finally say what he wanted to say, it was very unexpected.
"Will you marry me?"
Levy McGarden was known for being the smartest one in the pair that Mirajane so affectionately nicknamed them 'The Iron Book' felt dumb. Literally for the first time in her life, dumb. If Levy had any words to put, flabbergasted. Why? She had a living, breathing, not to mention wet, and notably almost naked (if weren't for the grey fluffy bath towel wrapped around his waist) Gajeel Redfox standing in front of her. A couple of days ago, she thought that he died, since it did happen to most people like them who were put out in the field by agencies like theirs. But he was right in front of her coming fresh out of a shower at her apartment.
While trying to maintain her strict composure, Levy demanded with her thin arms folded, "Okay spill. How'd you get out?"
Gajeel who was hoping to avoid this conversation from coming up but knew he had to answer her, "I ran into a few friends of mine."
"Who?" Levy knew he didn't have many friends excluding ones from the agency, well if he could call them friends.
"People." He crossed his arms still refusing to give her anymore information...not yet.
"Gajeel! Don't make me force you to sleep alone tonight!" threatened Levy
"Alright, alright! I get it!" He paused for a moment then said, "Phantom Lord. They saved me in exchange for something I have to do."
Levy frowned. She hadn't heard Gajeel say his old agency's name in years. "Go on, how'd they save you?"
Gajeel snorted, "They wreaked the car I was in."
"You were in a car? Going where?"
"How was I supposed to know? I was gagged and blindfolded, Levy you should know that."
"I'm not psychic or anything!"
"Could've fooled me." grunted Gajeel
"Well, I thought Phantom Lord was disbanded." pointed out Levy who had on a bathrobe and under it a long purple nightgown.
"Not anymore."
"What'd they ask you?"
"They want me and Juvia back."
"What? Why!?"
"Beats me, shrimp. Now move over I wanna sleep." Gajeel moved closer without any disregard for Levy's personal space as she turned red. "W-What? NO! This is my bed! Put on some clothes too!"
"What? It's not like you haven't see any of this." smirked Gajeel who was practically on top of her and Levy grabbed her pillow and put it in between them hoping that would somehow provide protection against Gajeel's daring actions.
"Gajeel!" Levy shouted, completely mortified now while trying to beat him with her pillow. The said man chuckled before placing a kiss on the bluenette's mouth then went into the bathroom. Levy sighed, "Baka Gajeel."
Happy NaLu Week!
Once more, I do apologize for the late chapter; First Love (A KHR fanfic of mine) took up most of my free writing time since May. Been writing like mad for that story and go up to almost seventeen thousand words total in the past three chapters. I plan to do the same with this story so expect more than two thousand words next time. Lots of romance and maybe some action.
Honestly the things in this chapter I came up with it at the last minute on July 4 while watching some of the fireworks in my neighborhood. I know you guys haven't seen Gajeel and Levy in while along with Gray and Juvia, I knew I had to add/conclude that part of this chapter for the sake of any curious reviewers. Their story aside from this will come up in the near future after I kind of conclude this one.
And I'm thinking of changing the story name once again, and have yet to come up with a good solid name that will stick. If you guys have any suggestions they are most that welcome. Also I was wondering whether you guys wanted the next chapter in Natsu's P.o.v or Lucy's again. I'm having a hard time deciding on which.
I want to say thanks for those who read these author notes that means a lot to me personally.