Snavej pointed out something glorious! WE ARE ALL LIKE SCORPIO! I love it! I can imagine us all sitting around with him munchin' on popcorn and laughing at Fairytail's shenanigans. He'd be a blast to enjoy a movie night with! …...so long as he left his girlfriend at home! XD
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 me and my friends.
At least let a girl dream!
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Chapter 12
Restraining Tactics
Come morning, it was Kinana's appointed task of escorting Natsu to the guild. Happy had been given STRICT instructions to inform the girls at Fairy Hills if he left his house prematurely. Natsu was sitting at the bar, feeling as though he had been placed under house arrest. The girls had been very upset with him eavesdropping on Lucy. Apparently, girls didn't want to know that guys watched them. It didn't make any since to him.
His face was buried under his arms when Lisanna stuck her head in from outside the guild, "Code Yellow! Code Yellow!"
What the fuck is she talkin' about?!
Suddenly Mira and Cana each grabbed one of Natsu's arms, "What the-" and hauled him upstairs and tossed him into Makarov's study. "HEY?! WHAT THE HELL GUYS?!" Natsu started banging on the door.
"Boy!" Makarov firmly called from where he sat at his desk. "If you can't pipe down, I'll see that you do."
The girls rushed back to their spots, and carried on as though everything was normal. Sure enough though, soon the door to Makarov's study started getting a second pounding, but it stopped pretty quickly. Lucy entered the guild a moment later.
"Oh hi Lucy! Are you hungry? Some breakfast maybe?" Mirajane waved to her from the bar.
The blonde smiled at her, glancing around the guild to see who was or wasn't there as she approached. Juvia sat with Kinana, Wendy and Carla drinking tea, Levy was reading a book at the same table that Jet and Droy ate breakfast, and Cana sat at the Thunder God's Tribe table—that was weird... Bisca and Alzack were sitting at a nearby table watching as Asuka stomped around pretending the be a mad dragon (it was adorable!), Bisca seemed a little nervous, and asked her baby girl to try and settle down.
Lucy smiled at the sight then turned her attentions back to Mirajane, "Some breakfast would be wonderful, thank you Mira."
"Of course Lucy! We're family. We take care of each other! It's rough when the board's all empty like that." She motioned towards the board with her chin, nothing but empty thumbtacks up there.
To anyone paying attention to the background, they'd see that Juvia was no longer at Wendy's table, but at a table quite a bit closer to the bar... where Lucy sat.
As if Mirajane had already prepared it, she set a steaming plate of eggs with biscuits and gravy in front of Lucy. Lucy found this a little odd, but didn't question it—Mirajane could be very sensitive when it came to the food she served.
"We missed you yesterday! You never came to the guild once! What were you up to?" Mirajane asked, watching Lucy from the corner of her eye.
Lucy leaned her head in her hand, an elbow on the counter as she fiddled with her eggs. "I was nursing a horrible hang over from the other night's carnival... I wasn't in any shape to go anywhere. Alas, one of my spirits called me up... so I had to trek over to the fork in the river to summon Aquarius, hang over or no."
"Oh you poor thing!" Mirajane started to shine a mug, then feigned shock when she looked to the rune on Lucy's wrist. "Oh my goodness! Lucy! You asked someone to the Ball?!" The She-devil set the mug aside and leaned in, if she had a tail it would have been wagging. "Tell me all about it!"
"Ugh... oh Mira..." Lucy bit her lip, willing her eyes not to water. "That night with Cana, I didn't watch how much I drank at all!" She turned to where Cana sat. Cana just grinned back at her as she reclined in her chair across from Laxus and raised a glass to Lucy. The blonde just grimaced and turned back around. She then scooted up and put her head in front of Mirajane's and whispered, "Apparently, I asked Gray to go with me!"
Mirajane straightened and placed a hand on her heart, she spoke in a hushed, dramatic whisper, "No!"
Juvia was behind her now... her eyes practically glowing red. She started raising her hands to grab at Lucy...
Lucy, still leaned in towards Mirajane, bit her lip, "I'm so scared that Juvia's going to kill me!"
Juvia suddenly hesitated, lowering her arms. Mirajane had sneaked a brief 'back the hell off' look—as if Juvia was paying attention to Mira!
"How... did Gray take it..?" Mirajane continued, concerned for the bluenette effecting the immediate health of their only celestial wizard.
"Well, I'd probably remember if he'd gotten pissed at me, so I guess it went over well..." Lucy muttered.
Suddenly Juvia went to attack mode again and lunged for Lucy, however, before Lucy ever had a chance of noticing any impending doom to her life, both Lisanna and Levy snatched up Juvia and raced her upstairs, tossing her in with Natsu.
*Flash of inside Makarov's office: where an increasingly infuriated Natsu and now also a very vexed Juvia sat chained to the chairs they sat in, their mouths duck taped shut. Makarov sat on the floor between them in his usual contemplative position.*
Mirajane chuckled nervously, "That's good! That's good!" She glanced upstairs where Levy took a deep breath, and Lisanna gave a proud thumbs up to her sister.
Off into the background again, you could see the Thunder God's Tribe table's reaction to the Juvia abduction. Cana and Bickslow were trying so hard not to laugh (SOOO hard!), while Laxus and Freed had sweatdrops on their heads, curious if they should be scared of these Fairytail girls and what they were capable of...
"Do you think the two of you might have fun together?" Mirajane continued.
Lucy frowned and pushed her plate away, only half eaten. "Honestly? I don't know. I can't even imagine what would have possessed me to ask him! I guess maybe on some subconscious level... maybe I like him...?"
Suddenly a loud thumping could be heard from upstairs.
"What in the world is that?" Lucy looked up to see Levy outside the master's study, and Lisanna hopping down the stairs.
"Oooohh.. you never know with Master!" Mirajane grinned, "perhaps he's trying to get in shape for the Ball...?"
Lucy and Mirajane stared at each other for a moment, then both started giggling.
Kinana rushed up to Mirajane and urgently whispered something in her ear. Mirajane thought for a moment, and shook her head. Kinana nodded and ran off just as quick as she'd appeared.
Lucy raised a brow, "Is everything okay...?"
"Oh yes! Of course! Just a lot of party planning going on!" Mirajane took Lucy's plate and put it away to be cleaned. "So.. we have a few more couples since yesterday. You and Gray are not the only one I've heard of."
"Woah," Lucy held her hands up, "Gray and I are NOT a couple."
^.^
"What the hell are you talkin about? What do you mean I can't go in?" Gray frowned at Kinana's bashful order.
"GeHAH!" Laughed Gajeel, leaning against the wall just as he'd done most of yesterday.
"Mirajane says it would be best if you didn't come in right now." Kinana tried to explain. "We are in the middle of a very... umm, covert operation, and you walking in would just... kinda ruin... it."
"No way, that's dumb! I'm goin in cuz this is MY guild. Mira's not in charge." Gray started walking towards the doors, but stopped as Cana and Laxus stepped out.
Cana placed a hand on her hip and pointed to Gray, "Alright Sparky, I'll discuss a few changes to our agreement if you'll keep him outta the way for a little while." She smiled at the ice-make wizard, "nothing personal there Gray, we're just not ready for Lucy to get distracted by your handsome face." She mock winked at him.
Laxus grinned as he stepped toward Gray.
*Flash of inside Makarov's office: where an incredibly irritated Natsu, a decidedly displeased Juvia, and a perfectly perplexed Gray sat chained to the chairs they sat in, their mouths duck taped shut. Makarov sat on the floor near them in his usual contemplative position.*
^.^
"Well, I know you're dying to tell me, so let me have it. Who are the couples so far?" Lucy couldn't help but grin, her personal worries about Gray shouldn't shove away all other conversation.
Mira grinned. Finally... "Well, There's Freed and I of course, there's Alzack and Bisca, Romeo asked Wendy last night! Oh it was so sweet! I know the guys weren't supposed to ask, but it was just sooo cute! Turns out Lisanna is going with Bickslow, and Juvia asked Natsu.
"Lisanna and Bicks—whaaat?" Lucy started coughing on nothing, "Juvia and Natsu?!"
Mirajane nodded sweetly. "Mmmhmm."
"Juvia, and Natsu."
"Yes Lucy." She-demon just kept her smile.
Lucy got very quite.
"Umm, is something wrong... Lucy?"
Lucy wasn't staring at Mirajane, she was staring past her. Not focusing on anything in particular, she just stared forward lost in some sort of deep thought.
All this quiet out of her must be torture for poor Natsu up there. She needs to say something. Mirajane thought to herself.
Lucy stood up, attempted to give Mirajane a cheerful smile, "I think I'll head home now. I'm feeling another headache coming on. Thank you for breakfast Mira," the star maiden turned, paused, then walked in a fast pace out of the guild hall.
Cana walked up to where Lucy had been and leaned her forearms against the bar. "Well, how do you think that went?"
Mirajane watched the doors close behind Lucy, she hadn't expected Lucy to react like that.
^.^
Erza found it humorous that Gajeel stood outside the guild as she approached. She stopped and greeted him and got a grunt in return. Riding his bad attitude off as his own version of a temper tantrum, she started reaching for the doors when they swung open to display her friend and partner Lucy.
"Hello Lucy! Leaving so soon? I had hoped we might be able to share some cake." Erza could tell Lucy was upset despite her attempts to hide it.
"Hey Erza!" Lucy glanced around, "no... I just need to get home. Thank you though." She started to continue down the path.
Erza folded her arms and spoke, "Then I shall come by later so we can catch up. I will bring cake."
"Ehh, It's fine Erza, I'll be back tomorrow..."
"Nonsense. I will be by later."
Lucy sighed, "Okay... I'll see you soon."
Erza looked over her shoulder as Lucy went on her way. Something was definitely not sitting well with her, and she wouldn't let her go it alone. Lucy suffers far too much in silence. I will learn of what troubles her.
With a final glance at Gajeel, Erza entered the guild. More curious still were the ladies congregated upstairs in front of Master's door. Mirajane noticed Erza's arrival first and smiled brightly. She scurried down the stairs and took Erza's hands in hers. "I am so glad your back! Where have you been? No one's seen you since the festival!"
The battle maiden smirked and showed her the rune embedded on her wrist. "I was out hunting."
Mirajane's lips started in the shape of an 'o' then slowly spread to the shape of a cresent. "You DIDN'T!" She looked back to the rune, "how did you get a rune on him? He was not a part of Freed's enchantment!"
Erza chuckled, "Come now Mirajane! We are not S-class wizards for nothing! I merely took a slice of his spell and applied it to Jellal before he knew what was happening."
Mirajane couldn't help but be impressed. "Well," she giggled, "don't tell Freed!"
"Aye," the red-head replied. "Now, what is going on up there?" she motioned to Levy, Lisanna and Kinana all upstairs, watching her and Mirajane talk.
"Well..." Mirajane started to form a sweatdrop, "that is something we could really use your help on. Let me fill you in..." She started talking veeeery softly, hoping that maybe, maybe the dragon slayer upstairs might not be able to hear.
^.^
"Alright!" Erza paced back and forth in front of the captured Natsu, Juvia, and Gray. "From what I can tell, your actions as of late have been disgraceful! Operation: Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder is a go, and all you three seem to want to do is ruin it!"
Erza stopped and pointed to Gray, "YOU need to steer clear of Lucy, if she starts looking forward to being with you, then I cannot be held responsible as to how hot it gets when a dragon flambes you." Gray glared at her, while Natsu's eyes were now filled with extreme joviality.
Erza then turned her finger to Juvia, "YOU! You are one of the masterminds of this plan! How could you try and piss it all away by attacking a guildmate while her back was turned?! This situation is not preferable to any of us, but we must play the hands we are dealt and move on." Juvia lowered her head in disgrace, tear streams dangling from her eyes.
"And YOU." Ezra turned on the dragon slayer who managed to jump, chair and all, fearful eyes taking place of his previous mirth. She glared at him for an insufferable amount of time before she spoke...
G...
L...
A…...
R…...
E…...
Suddenly Erza grasped her hands together and practically had stars in her eyes, "I can't believe you actually admitted about how you feel for her! I'm so excited and I cannot WAIT to start planning the wedding!"
The three girls in the room and all three of their captives formed sweatdrops from the fearsome battle maiden's unexpected glee. Makarov was the only one that seemed unsurprised, just a simple nod as he still sat crisscrossed on the floor with his eyes turned down.
"Ahem..." Erza gathered herself. "But what you lack, Natsu, will be your undoing." Pause for effect, "I fear that if you carry on down this path, that you will frighten her off. Lucy is not some creature you can simply take for your own. While I am positive that she feels deeply for you, those feelings must be brought to light. Mirajane and Juvia's first step in this is to make her realize how much she misses you, I believe it is a more than adequate battle plan."
Natsu's eyes furrowed, and Erza went on, "I understand that you do not wish to cause her pain, alas, when it comes to matters of the heart, sometimes it is unavoidable. I will keep her company today, and we will see that she is not lonely during this time. But understand this,,," Erza's eyes locked on Natsu's—a fire burned there that was more than strong enough to quell his.
"If you pull anymore stunts like yesterday's fiasco, I will be the one to retrieve you... and you will be begging for the She-demon by the time I am through with you."
Levy elbowed Lisanna with a snicker, "She must really be looking forward to a Fairytail wedding!"
Lisanna giggled back, "Who could blame her?"
^.^
Levy and Erza left the guild together, Erza held a beautiful strawberry cake, and Levy carried a couple bags that held drinks and munchies. They chatted lightly with each other, but of course, there was a noisy dragon slayer on constant patrol of the door.
Gajeel stood up straight, "Where are you heading off to Shrimp?" *AWW! HE'S LONELY!*
The two stopped and turned around to face him. Levy got a twinkle in her eye and folded her arms while saying, "The lawn gnome speaks!"
Gajeel frowned, "What the hell is a lawn gnome? You callin me short?"
Both the girls snickered as this, and Levy walked up to him and poked him in the chest. "No I'm not. I'm calling you a coward," poke, "who won't even once let himself be venerable," poke, "even to the guildmates he is supposed to be able to trust." Poke, "this Ball is supposed to be a fun way to let off some stress before the All Hallow's Eve Sacred Rite," poke, "where we all are going to have to be at our best and brightest for the people of Magnolia." Poke, "yet you stand around here," poke, "doing nothing and being a part of nothing!"
Every time the blunette poked him, Gajeel backed up the teeniest bit. Now he was damn near close to the wall again. His voice was louder, but somehow far less impressive, "I ain't a coward, and I AM a part of Fairytail!"
Levy put her fists on her hips and frowned at him. "So be a part of Fairytail and go in there!"
"And loose a part of my free will?" Gajeel barked at her, "NO WAY!"
"Well then that's your loss." Levy bit her lip, the slightest hint of sadness passing through her face. "I've got to go." Levy turned and rejoined Erza.
"Hey!" Gajeel yelled out, "you never said where you was goin'!"
Without turning around and as they headed down the path, Levy said, "Maybe I'm going out to find someone to take me to the Ball. My costume is too amazing to miss out on!"
"Indeed," Erza agreed.
Gajeel frowned, but stubbornly returned to his post against the wall. A growl escaping through his teeth.
^.^
Natsu was learning what 'measurements' meant. He was standing on a footstool with a supreme expression of indignation plastered all over his face. The girls had him sequestered in the infirmary. Kinana hummed while holding a thick golden sash she embroidered on, sitting in a chair that leaned against the only door leading out of the room—the chair's position told the story of a previous breakout attempt.
Mira stood around Natsu in many different ways holding a tape measure, saying numbers out loud while Lisanna sat on one of the beds, recording her sister's findings. After what seemed like forever to the fire wizard, Mira stood up straight, staring at Natsu with a thoughtful finger on her lips.
"I think the best course of action is mostly black, outlined in the same deep maroon."
"Finding the same exact same shade might be difficult." Lisanna frowned.
Mirajane giggled, "Not if we get Levy's help! I think it'll turn out to be breathtaking. You really are handsome Natsu, you're going to stop them dead."
Natsu blushed with an embarrassed open mouthed frown. How the hell did I get into this mess...
WOOOOOOOO! All done! I hope you guys enjoyed! Please review so I'll know if I suk or not! I guarantee that every review has a distinct chance of not only making me leap for joy and become a giddy little girl, but will also give me another strong urge to lick that smiling cheek of yours!
MORE AQUARIUS MERRIMENT COMING SOON! I just luvies her so much!
Much love
Stay naughty
Seri! ( or as Luv has so dubbed me: *Lick* yes, my Luv, it's growing one me! :p )