Rated M.
M is for MATURE people.
If I can pretend to be, then you can too.
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING! *sob* However sometimes I wonder if Mashima-sama used to follow me around and take character ideas from my friends and I.
At least let a girl dream!
Irish coffee with a mountain whip cream sprinkled with chocolate chips... heaven.
Chapter 11
Jingling Keys?
Shit... Candle Muncher is gonna melt this cube in a matter of seconds if I don't keep the chill on...
"Now." Gray walked up to the cube bigger than an elephant, "use those dragon ears for once and listen!"
Juvia walked past him, "Juvia knows Gray-sama must keep them frozen, let Juvia speak to them." She smiled back at him before placing herself between the beasts and Gray, putting on her best game face.
"Gray-sama never ASKED Love Rival. Love Rival asked him. If Love Rival wants a piece of Gray-sama, then it is JUVIA'S fight, not some dragon's quarrel! And furthermore, If Natsu thinks for even one moment that Juvia wouldn't-"
"Oh Juvia!" Mirajane sung out to her from the other side of the Dragsicle, "You're getting a little off topic!"
"Ehhh..." Juvia sighed, huffed and continued, "Natsu must ask himself a simple question. Does Natsu love Love Rival. If the answer is ANYTHING other than no, then Natsu must start listening to his guildmates. Now, can Natsu be unfrozen?"
Gray sighed in relief at the cue to stop buffering his spell. They watched the fire wizard warily for ten seconds until Natsu broke free with an impressive roar. "DAMNIT GRAY! You really piss me off!"
Gajeel looked very annoyed that Natsu was the first to break free.
Gray returned to his fighting stance, but Natsu just planted himself on the ground, crisscrossed and puffed out cheeks. Mirajane came and knelt next to him, offering him some tea. First he turned away, ever the stubborn dragon, but Mirajane and that sweet smile placed it right under his nose again and he snatched it from her and drank it down.
At least she knows how to make a good, spicy tea.
"So I'm listening. What now." There was no question in his voice.
"Nothing." Juvia said. The way she stood, the expression on her face dared him to challenge her on this. "Natsu will do nothing. Natsu will not visit Love Rival, Natsu will not speak to Love Rival. Natsu is JUVIA's date."
Natsu stared at her, wide eyed and blinking. When did Juvia become so scary..?
^.^
Happy had flown in with Natsu when he'd burst through the guild doors. He had hid behind Lisanna when he attacked Gray. Now Lisanna held him protectively as Juvia reprimanded their long time friend. Lisanna looked beside her as another wizard stepped through the newly renovated guild exit and folded his arms while watching the scene before them. Lisanna quickly looked away from him as he began.
"That Natsu sure is somethin!" Bickslow laughed.
"Sure is somethin, sure is somethin!" His souls repeated.
"Yes." Lisanna murmured, giving Happy a tighter squeeze.
Bickslow looked down at Lisanna, unable to see anything but the top of her hair. "Looks like your sister has got the whole guild buzzin! I love it! Keeps Fairytail on it's toes huh?"
"Yea toes! Yea toes!" cried out his eternal echo.
Lisanna looked up at him then, thinking about how different this Bickslow was from the one she knew in Edolas. Maybe if she just took a leap of faith, then another catastrophe like what was happening out here could be avoided. She blushed furiously... it was for the good of the guild! "Bickslow?"
"Yea, what's up?" Bickslow's souls floated around him, quiet for a change.
"Umm," She looked down again, burying her face in Happy's soft fur, "I was wondering if you'd like to come with me to Sister's Ball..."
Lisanna and Happy squeaked as suddenly Bickslow lifted her up and twirled her around in a circle, causing Happy to manifest his wings and fly before he was dropped.
Bickslow laughed as he twirled her, "I thought you'd never ask! Way to show that strength Baby! Of course I will!" Matching runes appeared on their wrists mid twirl.
"He will! He will!" The souls danced happily
Happy covered his mouth, but couldn't help himself. "He liiiiiiikes her!"
^.^
Gajeel broke through the ice with a rumbling growl. "That was a low blow Popsicle." He glared at Gray for a while then looked down at Natsu and smirked. "So you're stuck goin' to Devil girl's party with Juvia huh? Geheh!"
Natsu glared at Gajeel from over Mirajane, "You still wanna fight, Ice Pick Prick?! I'm all fired uuu-" suddenly the fire wizard's face went slack and he tilted... sloooowly... and collapsed to the ground. Mirajane giggled.
"What happened to him...?" Gray cocked a brow.
"Oh..." Mirajane smiled, "I may have slipped a little something in his tea..."
"GeHAH!" laughed Gajeel.
"Gajeel?" Mirajane sweetly called out his name. "would you be a dear and bring Natsu to the infirmary for me?"
Gajeel was about to comply, then stopped and barked at her, "You think you can trick me into walkin' in there?! NO! I ain't goin' in that building til this whole mess is over!"
Mirajane sweatdropped, "Oh well, thought I'd try!"
Several Fairytail wizards enjoyed a good laugh from the attempt.
^.^
Lucy stood in her bathroom brushing her wet hair. Her soak had been refreshing and had taken the worst of her hangover away, and now as she stood staring at her own reflection; she could not muster up a smile. The girl lifted her wrist and stared at the rune stuck to her wrist. She had no idea when she'd gotten it. Frankly, she was terrified to learn what may or may not have transpired in the process of getting it. Her mind kept running around in circles, hoping to find an answer to all the gaps in her memory from last night.
She stared at her reflection stubbornly. "Ok...
"One. I went to the festival and stayed with Cana's card reading booth.
"Two. Thanks to Gray's ass, it was freezing cold, so I finally enjoyed some drinks with her.
"Three. …..Three..." She looked up to the ceiling, a finger on her lips. "What the hell is three?" After a bit of thinking, a smile finally graced those lips. "Natsu... hehe, Natsu was in the dunking booth!"
Lucy stared into the mirror more, recalling how silly he seemed sitting up on the plank. How he'd ignited his body so the little girl who dunked him would see something more spectacular than just a soaked dragonslayer. She giggled at the memory. The more she tried to recall other memories from that night, that seemed to be the only thing she could remember after drinking with Cana. How did she get home? WHEN did she get home? Did she turn into a burden, or stay an asset? Lucy bit her lip, becoming worried again.
A jingle was heard from her room.
Curiously, Lucy peeked her head out of her bathroom. Nothing seemed amiss. Then is happened again! She walked into her bedroom and looked toward her dresser. The sound may have come from there...
Then it happened again, the jingle made the satchel she kept her keys in to rumble.
It's one of my... keys?
Lucy grabbed the pouch and pulled out the keys, staring curiously. Then it happened again.
AQUARIUS?! Oh shit! What does she want?! She's never... um... called me before? Is that what this is? She's calling me? CRAP! She's pissed I just know it! What do I do?!
She couldn't very well ignore it... that would most likely be the WORST thing to do. Lucy set her keys down CARE-FULLY and started digging in her dresser drawers for a swimming suit. Locating her old red and black striped bikini first, she stripped from the towel she was in and slipped it on. She then grabbed a red belt and buckled it around her waist with her keys firmly secured on it. The blonde then grabbed her boots from yesterday and slipped them over her bare feet. She then started to head out and paused.
It's October... and I'm leaving my house in a bikini? I don't think so! She ran back to her closet and grabbed a black strapped dress, tossed it over her head as she hurried down the stairs to get out of her house. Aquarius is not a patient spirit! She had to get to water fast—and not the river across the street... the last thing she needed was her neighbors seeing a pissed off mermaid girl bitching at her as loud as possible. Lucy started to sweat... What does she WANT?!
^.^
A fire dragonslayer sat disconsolately at his and Happy's fishing spot. Happy was cuddled up in a ball right next to him, snoring away. Natsu was holding his fishing pole, wringing his hands on it, possibly imagining it being the neck of a certain ice-make wizard. When he woke, Juvia, Lisanna and Mirajane all told him he needed to go do something relaxing. Lisanna promised that everything would work out, and once he's nice and calm, to come back to get his measurements.
Measurements for what?! They just don't get it. I finally figured out that I wanted Luce for my mate, but I'm supposed to be OKAY with her choosing that Ice freak? They don't GET IT!
Dragons.
Don't.
Share!
Natsu started grinding his teeth and suddenly the wooden pole broke apart in his grip. He frowned and abandoned the remaining wood to the river with a sigh.
I hate him. Fuck! I hate her too! Everything sux, DAMNIT but she has nice hair...
For some reason, thinking of her calmed him a little, only a little. He wanted to be mad, but if he closed his eyes, he could smell her. Strawberries and vanilla. The smell was intoxicating, with nothing in his hands anymore he clutched his knees and ground his teeth again, various levels of aggravation, agitation, exasperation plaguing his face. Why could he remember her scent like she was right there in front of him?!
Way off in the distance, he heard footsteps. Running, heavy breathing.
Holy shit, I wasn't imagining her scent. She's here! Well, over there... Natsu suddenly felt very calm as his eyes trailed the direction he knew she was going. He wanted to go hunting again. Dragonslayer glanced at cat. He'll be fine right? Nah, better wake him up.
He nudged Happy. The kitty kitty murmured something incoherent about fish, so Natsu nudged harder.
"Aye sir?" The exceed sat up rubbing a sleepy eye.
Natsu grinned at his friend, "Time to go home Happy. Thanks for staying with me."
Happy let out a big yawn, "I wanna go back to the guild. Carla might be there now, it's almost dinnertime."
"Sure! I'll meet up with you there."
Happy narrowed his eyes at him, "No more going after Gray...?"
Natsu raised his hands innocently, "I'm cool Happy! Besides, Gray's over at the guild, I'm gonna stay here for a little bit longer." His face turned to another direction and became serious, "I'll be there soon."
"I think you're being weird Natsu... but okay." Happy raised himself up into the air. He hadn't seen Carla all day, so Natsu couldn't blame him for leaving so quickly. Mirajane had tasked Happy to stay by his side like a babysitter. Making him want to leave hadn't even been an effort. Natsu grinned to himself proudly, then took off down the river.
Running through the trees again was liberating. He barely made contact with the ground as he ran, each step landing as to never break a twig or any other kind of noise. Lucy was farther off than he had anticipated. Why was she so far out? What could possibly be the reason for her to be all the way out here? Soon, he took to the trees so that she would not spot him. He was under strict orders not to search her out.
To hell with that, they're not the boss of me! …Besides! She could be in danger all the way out here by herself.
His excuses aside, he wanted to see her. Needed to. He hadn't gone this long from seeing her in quite a while now and never before realized how important those visits had been to him. Natsu halted when he came to a fork in the river. There she was, dressed in a short black dress and boots. Not hiking clothes for sure. He all but fell out of his tree at what she did next.
Lucy grabbed the bottom of her dress and lifted it. Lifted it all the way up! Over her head it went and she tossed it aside in one fluid motion.
Whaaaaaaa? She's, she's... swimsuit?! This was a time our fire wizard struggled with his self control. He was not used to these emotions—and what he WAS used to was doing what he felt like. Like fishing. He went fishing whenever he wanted! Missions... he went on missions whenever he wanted. Why should this be different? There she was, his prey. Wading in the water...there's no reason on this planet he shouldn't be able to jump down and make his presence known. Ask her to play with him more.
Oooh but that would be fun...
"Open! Gate of the water bearer! Aquarius!" Lucy cried, pointing her key right at the water in front of her.
Out stretched Aquarius, who lounged in the water much as we would on a couch. Her relaxed posture did not match her angry eyes.
"Umm..." Lucy spoke, probably feeling very vulnerable in the water with her, "You... rang?"
"I did." the water spirit quirked an annoyed eyebrow at her summoner. "And should I ever do it again, I'd expect a more speedy answer!"
Lucy squeaked, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Aquarius languidly placed her hands behind her head as she laid down in the water and sighed, "I suppose you have NO idea why I called you?"
"...No... ma'am.." Lucy was obviously very nervous. Natsu couldn't help but grin. She was so cute when nervous. Shit! Did I really just think that?! Get it together man! You're furious with her remember!
Aquarius gave her a sidelong look to match the frown on her face. "I called you to tell you that you are a fool."
Lucy looked up at her with a frown of her own, "Now wait a minute! I-"
She was hushed by nothing more than her spirit raising a finger. "I call you a fool and I will NOT retract it. You are a disgrace when you drink. Either learn to hold your liquor or STOP DRINKING!" Her voice boomed in such a way that Natsu started to understand why Lucy came all the way out here. Damn but that swim suit looked good on her! The water glistened on her skin, so shiny...
Lucy piped up to speak again, clearly offended, but Aquarius sat up and spoke over her. "Do you have any idea the mess you caused today? I mean honestly, I think it's pretty funny how wound up Leo is, but my Scorpio is watching your pitiful little life like it's some kinda of SITCOM!" She put a hand to her temple as though she had a headache, "honestly, little summoner. You keep refusing to see what is right in front of you and I may make you seriously regret next time you summon me. I mean, really, do you HAVE to act the part of a dumb blonde? I know you have at least some degree of intelligence, why don't you try using it?"
This was pissing Natsu off. The object of his desire was down there being ridiculed. He jumped down to go to her aid, but yelped as softly as he could manage when the back of his vest was caught barely after his feet left the branch. He hung in the air, and turned blue when he saw what kept him adrift.
Mirajane herself had come to get him. In full on She-demon form, she stood in the tree with a very disapproving scowl. She continued to hold him like that and flew above the forest's canopy. Then she switched her grip to hold the front of his vest and hold him high, perhaps to shake him a little bit... "Shame on you Natsu! Eavesdropping? I know Igneel raised you better than that!"
"I wasn't! Er, I didn't mean to! I mean, I was hunting! Please stop shaking meeee!" His motion sickness was starting to come on.
"We are going back to the guild, and if you ralph on me so help me I'll make sure you wish you'd never been born!" That statement was with her full demon voice. Natsu would have cringed if he hadn't been fighting his motion sickness.
^.^
By the time Aquarius returned to her world, the sun had set and Lucy was trudging her way back to town in near dark. Her spirit had bitched, mocked and laughed at her, but ultimately gave her some much needed information. Lucy couldn't hold it against her, it was just Aquarius' way. She struck her as the kind of girl that typically didn't get on well with other girls. In her own way though, she had helped Lucy with exactly what she'd been struggling with before she'd called. Turn's out... she'd asked Gray to go with her to the Ball.
Juvia is going to KILL me! Damnit how could I have done that to Gray? I'm the worst. She'd mentioned something about a mess I'd made... I wonder if Juvia came home and raised a huge raucous when she found out? Lucy stopped. Is it even safe to go home? I wouldn't put it past her to plan some nasty revenge on me... oh Mavis! What am I gonna do?
She missed Natsu. The spirit summoner hadn't seen him all day, and that was odd. It seemed that if he had of come while she was sleeping that he would have waited for her to wake. Typically that's what he did. But...
But now I have a date with Gray... GRAY! Maybe he feels left out now and is looking for a date of his own. She giggled at that, imagining Natsu kneeling like a gentleman and asking some fair lady to join him for a Ball. The scene in her head was so funny she started laughing. A couple passing her on the street glanced at the girl who just started laughing for no reason and rushed past her slightly faster than they normally would have.
It's just a dumb party. Fairytail throws lots of them! Juvia wouldn't do anything... too drastic, right? That's what she told herself when she arrived at her front door. The spirit summoner was clearly paranoid from the way she gingerly opened her door, checking the ceiling and floor. The coast looked clear, yet she still tip toed to check every nook and cranny of her home before declaring it safe.
Safe... Lucy's eyes started to water. Either way, my behavior yesterday, one way or the other, stirred up some sort of trouble. There I go again, causing trouble for my guild. A few of her tears fell down her cheeks as she bit her lip. She snatched up her mysterious red dragon plushie and got into her bed not caring about her dry but river-logged bikini and dress.
The star maiden curled herself into a ball, clutching her dragon tightly, and coaxed herself to sleep.
As an Aquarius, I am tickled PINK to control this specific version of Aquarius. I JUST LOVE HER SO MUCH!
ALRIGHT guys, I'm getting a little sick of my laptop. XD Gonna go stretch my legs before I start on chappy 12. Hope you guys enjoyed! Take care and plz review. Tell me what you think! PLZ! Your reviews are what feeds my insomnia helps me pop out the chappys. Seriously, just tap the review button and type out sassafras... or sumthin. I'm sure my twisted little mind will make something positive from it!
Much love
Stay naughty
Seri!