*Lick!* Ahahahaha! I got you!
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!
Chapter 19
It's a Beautiful Life
"M-m-m-mmmirajane...?" Freed leapt out of his bed when he'd woke and found a companion there. The platinum haired mage was sleeping peacefully. They were both still in their costumes from last night, and Freed was close to having a panic attack from having a center fold model right there in his bed.
Mirajane yawned and slowly opened her eyes. She smiled when she saw the look on her bashful gentleman's face. The She-demon sat up and waited for Freed to collect himself, then stood up and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. She knew it would make him fidgety again, he was too sweet-to let himself get so flustered so easily! "Good morning Freed! Last night was so wonderful, don't you think?"
"Wh, wha, errm, yes, the Ball was," gulp, "lovely Miss Mirajane.."
This caused the girl a giggle and she released him, giving him a quick kiss on the nose. She then glanced around his room, "You have a lovely room, Freed. So well kept."
"Yes, well... it would have been neater had I known I would have guests."
Mirajane giggled, "Let's go find Cana," she started to pull him out of the room.
"...Cana's here?" Was that a squeak in his voice? He's just too cute!
She emerged from his room and followed a hall to the smell of toast. Pulling Freed along with her, the end of the hall opened up into a living room that they went past to get to where she saw Cana sitting at a table munching on fresh toast while fiddling with her Laxus card. Laxus himself stood with his shirtless back to them, turned toward an oven where he continued to toast bread.
"Good morning Cana! Did you sleep well?" Mirajane asked as she finally released Freed and sat next to her.
Cana looked to her with a cocked brow, "Yea actually, too good. I didn't know you were here."
Mirajane smiled sweetly, "Yes... well, the transportation spell we cast last night... had a little tweak to it!"
A chuckle was growing inside Cana's voice as she replied, "Such as...?"
Laxus turned to face to two girls and the red faced Freed who stood behind them.
"Well..." Mirajane appeared a little nervous at having to confess, "Think of it kind of like a two way train ticket... When the party ended, the spell put everyone to sleep and send them home to their beds."
She looked to Laxus and Cana who still just stared at her with one brow raised, so she sighed and continued. "Or in the case of matching rune partners... we would wake in the male partner's home..."
Laxus chuckled, but Cana reeled her head back in laughter, "Damnit girl! You had me thinkin my Laxus card had reacted all weird from the magic in that place! You knew the whole time we'd end up here? Oh that's too great!"
Freed took a seat at the table and gripped his head, what was he getting into with this 'sweet' Mirajane who'd asked him to join her for a Ball?
"If that's the case," Laxus turned and gave a piece of toast to the take-over mage. She nodded in thanks. "We may need to hurry and open up the guild, because I'm sure we'll have a certain dragon around with very ruffled feathers soon."
"HAH!" Cana's laugh made Mirajane jump, "Little Natsu's gonna wake up next to JUVIA! Oh man this is priceless!"
"Oh dear..." Mirajane sweatdropped. She noticed Cana was not in her gypsy dress from last night. "Umm, Cana? Did you... already have a change of clothes here?"
Laxus left the kitchen, stating that he was going to get dressed.
"Heh... Yea, about that.." There was no blush on Cana's face as she smiled, "things may have gotten a little heated when we came here the other night to discuss amendments to our deal."
"Oh my..."
^.^
Her pale skin reflected the morning light coming from the window. He admired the hand that rested on his pillow while still wrapped in the fog of sleep. It had been a very peaceful sleep and he found himself curious as to how he had gotten home. Last he knew, they had been in the forest... drinking and laughing. This caused more questions to brew in his head and his eyes locked on the feminine hand resting on his pillow. His eyes trailed the arm and was met with blanket. He sat up and noticed he still had his costume on. More questions bubbled in his head.
He took the blanket covering his guest and began to sweat a little when he saw a head full of golden hair gleaming in the morning haze.
...Lucy?
The girl turned onto her back and slept with a soft smile on her face. She still wore Natsu's coat from last night, but the ice-make wizard was not noticing that. The dress she wore was ripped-right in the middle of her neckline. Gray could see everything she had to offer through a lacy black bra she wore under the tattered dress. He had no idea how she'd gotten here—or himself for that matter. Last he knew he was trying to get Natsu and Gajeel to keep it down because Juvia had fallen asleep.
"Ahh... Lucy?" Gray sweated.
Lucy murmured happily and turned onto Gray's side of his bed and snuggled a pillow contentedly.
Gray wasn't sure what to do! Why was this happening? This had to be a trick. If it was, it sure as hell wasn't funny! He was just a man, and there was a girl in his bed showing off more than just cleavage. "Hey! Lucy!"
Lucy casually opened an eye, "Mmm?" Her smile was genuine.
Gray pointed at her nervously, "Uh... b, boobs...!"
Her eyes widened, registering Gray's face and voice, "EEEEEK! GRAY!" She scrambled for all the blanket that she could hold, covering herself as quick as she could and looked around her surroundings. "What the hell am I doing HERE?"
Gray scratched his head and caught a glimpse of his wrist, the rune was gone. "I'm not sure, but it smells like one of Mirajane's master plans..."
Lucy's eyes widened, "Oh Mavis... Gray! We gotta go!"
"Well, yea... but what's the rush?"
The blonde frowned and crooked an eyebrow at him. "If I woke up here... where do you think Juvia woke... hmm?"
"Ah shit!"
^.^
As Lucy and Gray raced to Natsu's cottage, they knew they were in for some trouble. They could hear the commotion before the house came into view. High pitched yells and accusations were followed by violent bangs and clashes. When they arrived at the front of the house, Natsu was blasted out of his front window by a jet of water. He landed face first in the mud as more and more water poured over him.
"Natsu!" Lucy cried, rushing up to him and trying to help him up. All she ended up doing though was getting good and soaked right along with him.
"Ice-make DOME!" Gray cast a half sphere of ice around his guildmates to shield them from the water's barrage.
The ice wizard walked up toward the house and opened the front door and a massive amount of water came through it. He had never been so glad he stood behind a door. When the water receded, he walked into the cottage, "Juvia?"
"Gray-sama...?" Juvia peeked around a corner, "GRAY-SAMA!" She rushed into his arms and started to cry, "Oh Gray-sama, it was awful! Juvia woke in Natsu's stinky bed! Juvia fears the beast did HORRIBLE things to Juvia! What happened? Why did Gray-sama leave Juvia!"
"Hey, hey," Gray stroked her hair, "It's alright. This has Mirajane written all over it. Stop crying Juvia, I'm pretty sure Flamebreath doesn't even know what to do with a woman, he didn't do anything. Everything is gonna be okay."
He let her cry in his arms for a bit. He couldn't blame her. It was probably pretty traumatic to wake up next to that guy.
^.^
Natsu sputtered out a face full of mud when the ice wizard placed the dome over him. Lucy was pulling him up, but he slipped on the mud and suddenly they were both on the ground again.
"Natsu, are you okay?" Lucy panted, crawling off of him and trying to shake some mud from her hands.
"She's crazy! Why the hell would that crazy lady sneak into my bed and start accusing me of all sorts of shit!" Natsu suddenly looked to Lucy pleadingly, "Luce! I swear! Nothing happened!"
The Celestial mage smiled at him. "I know Natsu. I trust you."
Natsu granted her a relieved smile, but the smile started to slip upside down as he looked her over. Lucy was wearing a pair of black baggy pants that were far too big for her, tied sloppily in the front; as well as a over sized white shirt, knotted up at the middle of her torso. Thanks to that soaked white shirt, he could clearly see the black bra he'd met with last night. "Uh... Luce?" His voice squeaked a little, "What, umm, what are you wearing?"
Lucy blinked at him, frozen, considering something that was not the full truth, "Ummm..."
Natsu lifted up to all fours and sniffed the girl sitting in front of him, his eyes narrowed, "Those are... Gray's clothes? Luce!"
Lucy sweatdropped, "Well, ummm..."
The fire wizard stood up and punched a fist full of fire into the dome, shattering half of it into millions of pieces. Lucy yelped and shielded her head.
"DAMNIT GRAY!" Natsu raced to his door—it wouldn't open, frozen shut. He went to the window and crashed his head right into a sheet of ice. "DAMNIT ICE PRINCESS! This is MY HOUSE!"
"So calm down and I'll let you in!"
"Natsu!" Lucy had run up to him and grabbed his hand, tugging him back, "You tore my dress remember?" She blushed, "I HAD to get different clothes on!"
"Wait... so you're saying that you woke up with Gray, like I woke up with Juvia?
"YES," Gray said from inside, and Lucy from behind him.
"Damnit you dirty pervert of a Snowman!" Natsu growled, "GET OUT HERE!"
The door burst away from the house by a jet of steaming hot water. Juvia walked out with her eyebrow twitching. "Gray-sama is inside Natsu-kun. Make him pay for his disloyalty!"
Lucy frantically started pulling at Natsu's arm as Juvia started walking away.
"Oh yea, I'm all fired up!" Natsu turned around and picked up Lucy just to sit her down on the ground. "I'll be right back."
"Natsu no! What are you gonna-"
Natsu ran off into the cottage and more clashes and bangs and curses were heard. Lucy sat there with a blank face and a sweatdrop as smoke and ice protruded the windows.
^.^
Happy flew into Fairytail as fast as he could, "Help, help!" He cried, "Juvia's gone nuts! She flooding our home and trying to kill Natsu!"
Laxus started laughing and Mirajane smiled nervously, "Oh dear, that can't be good..." She looked over at Cana, "Hey Cana, will you mind watching the bar for a while? I suppose I have a problem I should fix..."
"Will I?" Cana rose from her table and swung her legs over the bar in a quick graceful fashion, "Free drinks for the bartender right? Take your time!"
"Uhh... maybe I should ask Freed."
"Nope! Too late now! Besides! That guy wouldn't know what he's doing! Off with ya now!" Cana cheerfully made shooing motions.
Mirajane looked over to Happy, "Alright, let's go!"
They took off towards Natsu's place, Mirajane was surprised to come across a very mad, but calm Juvia. "Juvia! What's happening!"
The rain woman stopped, her lips trembling, "Oh Mirajane! It was awful! Gray-sama woke with Love Rival!"
"How... how do you know that..?" The She-demon asked cautiously.
"Juvia cannot say more, the pain is too much! Natsu-kun is making him pay!"
"...Ooooh dear.." Mirajane sighed, bowed to Juvia politely and kept running after Happy.
The She-demon and exceed came to a scene of fire and ice. Both were being wielded without abandon outside Natsu's wrecked cottage. She looked to her left and saw that Lucy was standing somewhat behind a tree shaking her fist at the two wizards and yelling for them to stop. Mirajane ran up to her. "What's going on Lucy?"
The blonde looked Mirajane with relief as Happy landed in her arms, "Mira! I'm so glad you're here! They are both crazy mad because Juvia and I slept in their beds! I can't understand how this happened!"
"Umm... yes well," Mirajane sweatdropped as a nervous grin came on her face, "that one would be my fault.. sort of." She looked to the fire and ice masters and morphed into her demon form.
Mirajane spoke in her demon voice, "I will stop them."
Natsu and Gray were both colliding together for another attack when suddenly a She-demon came between them, grabbing hold of both their faces and holding them above the ground. "Would you two GIVE IT A REST?"
She tossed them both to the ground in front of her, and continued to speak strong and powerful, "The transportation spell I used to take us to the forest last night is what brought all of you home. Every couple with matching runes were sent away together. Now, if you two want to continue to register a complaint..." The She-demon parted her legs in a ready stance and narrowed her eyes, an S-class Fairytail mage ready to do what she must. "I am the one you should take it up with."
Gray and Natsu turned blue.
"Well?"
"No! No!" Both the men responded at once.
"We get it Mira!" Natsu trembled.
"Thanks for telling us Mira!" Gray shivered
"We're sorry Mira!" Both the wizards said at once.
The She-demon smiled, then morphed back into herself, "Good. Now let's all just calm down, and go back to the guild for some coffee."
The boys' faces stayed toward the take-over mage while their eyes moved to give each other sidelong glances, "Ehhh..."
^.^
The guild did not get many visitors that day. Natsu, Gray and Lucy were filled in on the whole transportation spell uninterrupted. Gray sighed after Mirajane's heartfelt apology and muttered something about finding Juvia. Lucy gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder as he left. Lucy and Mirajane chatted for a while, while Natsu feasted on his lunch. Eventually, Lucy was ready to go. She missed her apartment and wanted to get out of Gray's very muddy clothes.
Lucy bid farewell to her guildmates and headed to her home. She hadn't even made it half way there when Natsu caught up to her. She was balancing on the curb like always when Natsu slowed down ungracefully once he made it to her.
"Hey Luce!" Natsu smiled at her.
"Hey. What, did you run out of Gray to fight?"Lucy muttered, watching her footing.
Natsu stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked to the ground, "Yea... sorry about that Luce. I kinda went a little nuts."
"Yea you did." Lucy frowned.
Natsu looked forward, a frown on his own face as well, "I got mad when I imagined you in that Snow-mo's bed." He narrowed his eyes, still watching the road ahead of him, "I mean, you looked smokin' hot yesterday, and I missed out on seeing you this morning because of him."
"No Natsu," Lucy said sadly, glad that she had a reason to watch her feet. "It wasn't Gray's fault, it was mine." She sighed and hopped down the curb and looked at him. He stopped and turned around to look back at her. "I wish you'd stop blaming Gray. Everyone, including Gray have been super sweet to me even though I just know they're ready to strangle some sense into me." She sighed and walked up to Natsu to stare him straight in the eyes. "Any way you look at it, all of this happened because I got drunk, and thought it would be best to take a friend to a couple's Ball."
The dragonslayer held her gaze, unmoving, not even blinking.
Lucy bit her lip and kept her tears at bay, "I was too scared to invite you to go with me. I didn't want things to get weird, and to be honest..." she looked down, away from his piercing eyes, "things between us started to get a little weird since I fell into the river." She motioned over to the curb she had just been balancing on. She sighed when Natsu still didn't speak. He still hadn't even moved a muscle. Lucy looked back over at him, held her breath, took a chance and kissed his cheek. "I understand if you don't want to see me right now. I kinda get the feeling I wouldn't want to in your shoes..." She then started walking past him, cursing herself for being so close to tears.
An extremely warm hand grabbed her wrist, and tugged her back in front of him. Natsu pulled her into a hug and grasped her tightly. Lucy's breath hitched at the tight embrace, then laid her head against his shoulder. He felt so warm.
"You think too much." He spoke lightly at her ear.
Lucy chuckled inwardly at his simple statement.
"I meant it last night when I said I loved you Luce. So I guess that means I'm gonna get mad about stupid stuff that maybe can't be helped. I dunno, it's dumb I know. I don't think I'm really ever gonna be the kind of guy to act rationally about those kinds of things." He took her shoulders and pulled her away far enough to look at her, grinning. "Besides. Gray really, really bugs me. If it hadn't been you, I'm sure I would have found another reason to kick his ass!"
His lady laughed a little at that.
"Come on Luce." The soft smile he wore melted Lucy's heart all over again, "Let's get you home."
This time as they walked, Natsu kept an arm around her shoulders. The afternoon air had a chill to it that had Lucy content that he was willing to share his gift so freely with her. They were silent for the rest of the walk, it didn't seem like anymore words were needed. She felt so comfortable walking down the street with him like this. Natsu, well Natsu was happy that with his arm around her shoulders like this, he knew she was safe.
When they arrived at her door, she fished her keys out of Gray's abnormally big pockets and unlocked the door. Lucy walked in and turned to Natsu. She started to say something, but Natsu spoke up first.
"Hey Luce?"
"Yes Natsu?"
"Can I... still steal kisses?" He watched her eyes widen while he stepped in and shut the door. Not waiting for an answer (after all, it wouldn't be stealing if he waited for permission) and snatched her by the waist and melded his lips to hers. He pushed her forward and to the side a little to pin her against a wall so she wouldn't go anywhere and lifted a hand to bury it into her hair. His tongue was granted access past her lips and he tasted her again. She was still just as sweet as she was yesterday.
He growled as he moved closer to her, pressing his chest into hers. So soft... he could do this all day! His hand on her waist started to lower down to her hip when Lucy broke their kiss.
"Natsu!"
Again, Natsu simply moved to her neck with sweet nibbles and kisses as he purred, "Yeess?"
Lucy started batting at him, "Would you get offa me! I have dried mud all over me!"
"S'ok Luce, just makes ya more... rustic!" She shivered as he scraped his teeth along her neck.
She pushed him away and he did whimper, albeit quietly. Lucy glared at him. "Both of us are muddy as hell and you don't get to sit on any of my furniture until you wash up!"
"Aww Luce!"
"No!"
She started marching upstairs before he would see the smile that was threatening to overwhelm her face. Before even five seconds past, she heard him scrambling up the stairs after her. "So we both have to take a shower?"
"We have to wash, yes." Lucy entered her bedroom with a dragon close behind. She sat at her desk and began unbraiding braid number one.
Natsu frowned. "What are you doing?"
"Getting all this stuff out of my hair. I can't wash it like this."
"How long will that take?"
"Umm, I dunno why?"
Natsu shrugged, eyeing the bathroom, "I thought we were gonna wash up."
And here Lucy thought she might make it a day without blushing! "Natsu! Go home to shower! I'm just going to take a bath after I get done. You won't miss anything!"
"Aww Luce!" Natsu sat next to her on the floor and placed his hands on her thigh, looking up at her pleadingly. "My house is wrecked! There's ice everywhere! It'll take forever to repair and thaw out! Can't I just stay here with you?"
Lucy looked down at him and saw his puppy face. This could possibly be the first time he'd actually asked to stay over! "You've been really moody today... promise you won't wreck anything?"
"I'll be good!"
The blonde frowned at her partner. How the hell could she say no when he looked at her like that? What was she supposed to do if he tried something like he did last night? What if—Ugh! Damn him! Why does he have to look at me like that? "Alright Natsu... shower's all yours."
Lucy started another braid, then looked back down at him curiously still there on the floor looking up at her. Except now he looked serious—in an incredibly handsome way. "Wh, what?"
"Cone with me."
"What? To the shower?"
"Yea! We'll be done twice as fast!"
Somehow I doubt that... Lucy thought to herself.
"Natsu..." She nudged her leg to send him rolling, "just get in the shower all ready!"
The fire wizard stood up and walked over to her and kissed the top of her head. "Fine. I thought it'd be fun is all."
Lucy was red all over by the time her depressed little slayer went to the bathroom all by his lonesome.
When she finished undoing her last braid, she heard the water turn off. She was putting the feathers away when Natsu stepped out. He only wore a towel around his waist and his skin was still delightfully moist. Her dragonslayer heard her change in breathing and smirked, "My clothes are muddy."
"Umm.." What's wrong with me? I cant even take my eyes off him! Oh Mavis! "There should be some stuff that Virgo brought for me and my teammates in the bottom drawer... over there." She hesitantly motioned her hand at the dresser near her bed without ever looking away from him.
Natsu stared at her, relishing the fact that her eyes appreciated what she saw. He walked over to her first, and kissed her chastely on her lips. "Okay Luce. Thanks." Teasing her was going to be fun.
He turned around to check out the contents of the drawer and Lucy stared at his backside. Her heart was beating so fast she thought she might die. What did this guy DO to me last night? I can't... I shouldn't! Oh Mavis how am I going to stay off of him tonight? I'm not that kind of girl! Lucy stood up, took a deep breath, and hauled ass to the bathroom as fast as her feet could carry her and slammed the door behind her.
Natsu turned to the door with a curious expression. "You okay Luce?"
Lucy was leaning against the bathroom door as she fished for the doorknob lock. "...Yea. Just... ready to get this dirt off of me! Ah ha ha..." I sound like such an idiot!
Natsu shook his head and fished through the drawer. He listened to the water she started running for her bath, reflecting on the sound of the waterfall from last night when he found his clothes. The spirit had left a pair of dark blue pants that were cut the way he liked, trimmed in red. He put them on and the matching one sleeved vest that went with it. Good old Virgo was figuring out what he liked! Why would she have had these here at Lucy's house though? Eh, ain't no tellin with her.
He looked back at the bathroom door and debated if she'd be mad if he went in there... probably. Natsu sighed, walked over to the door and sat down, leaning on it. He closed his eyes and listened to the light splashes and the breathing of his prey. He started to think about how he might be able to get her to just stay in with him the rest of the day. The dragonslayer didn't like the idea of her possibly wanting to go out. Not today. He'd had to share her far too much lately and he was unwilling to let anyone but him even look at her for the rest of the day.
She needed to stay with him, here. Surely he could come up with a way for her to want that too. He grinned as he came up with a few options. Gotta watch out for those dragons...
I know I know! I'm such a tease! Imagine how my husband feels! XD ! I hope you guys enjoyed! We'll see ya in Chapter 20! I LOVE YOU ALL AND I WILL LICK YOU LATER!
Much love
Stay naughty
Always say please! Pretty please may work better ;D
Seri aka Lick