'A Reviewer,'
Re: Your Review to The Peacekeeper, Quickly Before I Break.
Subject: Mary Sue? I don't think so.
Okay, so for any confusion, this is NOT a self-insert fic. If it was, I wouldn't have made Gray marry Juvia, I would have made him marry Lucy. So, you're wrong in that aspect. Also, with your other comment "she's not self-conscious." Uh, that's part of the story actually. There IS a reason she's not as vain as she usually is, though I shouldn't have to tell you, because it has already been stated that Lucy lost her self-worth as a human, she doesn't value herself anymore, looks or otherwise. But seeing as you didn't pick that up, I thought I'd tell you, just so there's no confusion.
Also, you said, the boys are 'out of character' then you said, 'I wouldn't know it was them if it wasn't for obvious character traits.' So in the same sentence, you managed to contradict yourself, I'm impressed. When you've figured out what you intended to say, let me know. In addition, it was stated at the start of the story (though indirectly) that mating season basically stuffs up the way they would usually act. Only two out of the possible three candidates left, actually care for Lucy, the other is just acting this way because of mating season.
Oh, and I do take my writing very seriously, and if you don't like it you don't even have to read it. So, how dare you criticise something and don't even have the balls (or lady balls) to sign in as yourself so I can look at YOUR writing, because, dear friend, I highly doubt that your writing is flawless with perfect character analysis. So there.
Whew. On a lighter note, hi! Haven't seen (wrote) to you guys in a while. What's new? HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS!
YAYE to my Neechan for getting a job!
Oh, and no, Natsu did NOT claim/mark Lucy, he just made her able to hear his thoughts. Marking must take place on the neck. :)
-Natsu-
I bow my head and curl up next to her, almost touching, but not quite. My hair. My pink hair, white. Gone. One of the things that made me... Me. I didn't even know if I'd get it back. Lucy's scowling at my hair and she reaches out to touch it. Her touch sends sparks across my cheeks and a flame blooming across my chest.
I jerk away from her touch, in case I feel the need to jump her again. She is injured after all. I can wait. What's that look for?
"It sorta looks good."
It's horrible! How can you say that?
"What's the big deal? It's just hair."
Would you like it if I cut and dyed your hair?
"I don't care." She shrugs.
Fine then.
I stick my tongue out at her and duck my head again. We sit for a moment, and I'm just content with her being near me, awake. After a while though, my neck begins to ache and before I can stop myself, I shift my head to lay in her lap. Almost automatically, her hand moves to stroke my cheek. A familiar sensation pools in my stomach and I shift, but I'm not entirely convinced that I have to move.
She brushes the bangs out of my eyes and her fingers trail down my cheek, as light as a breath of wind. Her fingers absentmindedly trace patterns on my face. She draws the Fairy Tail insignia, followed by Blue Pegasus and Lamia scale. She traces the outline of Caitshelter's old insignia and then move on to depict the Sabertooth emblem. After she's finished her hand tangles in my hair and she combs my hair gently while the other rests on my side. The sensation grows and my chest burns with ache.
Take her.
I haven't had a hair cut in ages, so my hair is a fair bit longer than it used to be, it covers my ears and Lucy's threatened more than once to braid my hair. Her fingers slow to a pace you might use when attempting to lull baby to sleep. It works a little. My mind slows and the burning sensation grows.
Take her now.
I lift my head and look at her. Her hand is in mid-air, extended as though to caress my face. Kneeling, I take her hand in both of mine and kiss each fingertip before kissing her wrist. Her face remains expressionless, but her eyes betray her surprise. I take her hair in my hand and kiss it.
Slowly or she will be frightened.
I caress her cheek and lean in. I kiss her forehead and her nose and trail a line of kisses down her jaw.
Today is the day you mark and claim her.
I kiss her lips and the fire in my chest explodes making me feel more awake than ever. Her hand cups my face and her touch, her scent, intoxicates me. When did that happen? When did she become dangerous to my sanity?
Lucy belongs to you.
I grin into the kiss, but something makes me pull back abruptly. There was no passion from her. Her touch and scent was driving me crazy, but she…
Natsu? She calls in my mind.
I slide off the bed and close my mind to her. I touch my hair, in the same place where she had first set my body on fire. She didn't feel anything when I kissed her. She didn't… Have I lost to Rogue? I can't… But, there was nothing, no love in her kiss, her touch was automatic, robotic even, no compassion, she was unfeeling.
I walk away from the bed and she doesn't call me back or apologise like she usually did. I throw open the door, suddenly finding it impossible to breathe and I stumble down the hall.
I fall to my knees and cover my face in my hands. I see a flash of blue, but I don't acknowledge it. For once, I'm going to do something Lucy always tells me to. I'm going to organise my thoughts.
"Natsu?" Happy touches my leg. "Lucy's okay isn't she?"
I nod. No point in worrying Happy. Lucy hasn't chosen me, but she hasn't chosen Rogue either. Sting held no real love for Lucy, it was obvious. But in the time that Rogue had gotten to know Lucy, he'd fallen in love with her. Anger bubbles in the pit of my stomach. How dare he! In a week, he's decided that he's going to mark her and make her his. In a week. 7 days… But, A voice in my head says. You too, fell for her in seven days.
Did I? In seven days…. In seven days she became a person whose existence I could not erase.
Day One: She became a part of my life.
Day Two: She became part of my Guild.
Day Three: She became my friend.
Day Four: She became part of my team.
Day Five: She became my best friend.
Day Six: She became someone who I would risk my life for.
Day Seven: She became irrevocably etched into my heart.
sAnd so, I fell. With each passing day, she snuck closer to my heart. Everyday, her existence became more vital to me. Her life, intertwined with mine, gradually took over my body and soul. We formed an attachment, a bond. I felt an overwhelming need to be close to her. I did everything I could to be near her. I broke into her house, I followed her everywhere or demanded that she accompany me places. I slept in her bed, embracing her while she slept, caressing her hair, her cheek. I hungered for her touch, an accidental brush of her hand was enough to make my head spin. I grabbed her hand when I could, whined when she pulled away, and growled when others got too close. Lucy became precious. Her smile was infectious. Her laughter warmed me from the inside. Her tears became unbearable.
I did whatever I could to interact with her, whether it meant her yelling or laughing. I became whatever she wanted me to be. I would be her friend, her teammate, her confident, her buddy, her ally, her neighbor, her roommate, her protector and if she would allow me now, I was determined to become her lover.
And in return, she became so much for me. She became the spark that started my flame and the desire to protect her became the fuel.
Unknowingly, she had carved herself into my heart. By the time I truly realised I loved her, I was too far gone. I had fallen so far and so deep, it was impossible to save myself. And truthfully, I found myself unwilling.
"Natsu?" Happy taps my leg.
Lucy… I… I figured it all out. It took a while. But I figured it out. I am in love with Lucy Heartfilla.
-Mira-
I set the now empty tray on the wooden counter and lean on my elbows. I hope Lucy's doing okay. Maybe I should send someone to check on her. The poor thing, surrounded by all those boys.
"MY STRAWBERRY CAKE!" I shake my head and refocus in time to see Elfman step on Erza's cake. Again. I sigh and dig through the fridge in search of Strawberries and Icing.
Erza throws a punch and the Guild cringes as Elfman hits the wall behind him with a sickening thud. I sigh again and spread the icing on the cake I'd baked earlier this morning and top it with strawberries. She requips into her Giant armor, welding a sword that looked new. It didn't have blood on it at any rate.
"Here Erza." I call, her head turns and when she sees the cake, her eyes light up with gratitude. "On the house." I add cheerfully. She walks over, amor clanking and takes the cake from me reverently.
"Thank you Mira."
"Mira! Another beer if you don't mind!" Macao calls from across the Guild Hall.
When I come back from the floor, I see Juvia sitting beside Erza, a crease of worry between her eyebrows. And without asking, I know the cause.
"Levy's still in bed?"
"Yes. Levy-chan is lying in bed, very weak. Juvia had to move books to make room for a sick bucket and to make a clear path to the bathroom. Romeo-kun has gone to find Porlyusica-san but Juvia is not sure Porlyusica-san will be able to do much. Levy-chan is very sick and Juvia did not want to leave her but Bisca-san said she will keep an eye on her while Juvia finds some medicine. Do you have medicine?"
"I have a little. But I don't think it'll help her much." I say.
"Juvia will try anything."
"It's lucky you didn't wake early today Juvia, or we might not have found her until later in the day." Erza says. I notice she's put the remainder of her cake to the side.
"What's wrong with Levy?" Gray slides into the seat beside Juvia.
"Ah! Gray-sama it's awful!"
"What happened? And don't call me sama."
"This morning, Juvia was tired so Juvia did not wake until later. Juvia was about to go to the Guild when Juvia noticed that Levy-chan's shoes were still at the front door. Thinking this peculiar, Juvia went to Levy-chan's room and knocked. There was no answer so Juvia opened the door and saw that Levy-chan's bathroom door was open. So Juvia went inside and found Levy-chan covered in sweat, shaking, lying in a pool of vomit on the bathroom floor, apparently having coughed up blood. Levy-chan was white as sheet and cold to touch. Juvia panicked and cried out for help, only Evergreen-san was available to help Juvia and Juvia was lucky that Evergreen-san knows first aid."
Gray shakes his head. "Poor Levy. Is she going to be okay?"
Juvia trembles and breaks down into tears. "Juvia doesn't know! Juvia is scared that Levy-chan may be dying! Levy-chan was unconscious when Juvia left, but Juvia is worried for Levy-chan!"
Gray rubs rhythmic circles on Juvia's back soothingly. "What about Gajeel?"
"What about Gajeel?" Demands Cana, apparently deciding this conversation was worth her time.
"They're mates right? What happens if she does die?"
"We can't do anything right now Gray. If, when she arrives, Porlyusica decides Levy's life is in danger, we'll have to think about telling Gajeel. But right now, our hands are tied, we can't tell him because he'll come marching back home and that would put the whole mission in jeopardy."
"Right. The mission. The one where I'm not allowed to know anything?"
I nod. "Precisely."
"Oi! Mira! The usual thanks!"
"I have to get back to work. Juvia, Lucy has a better stocked first aid kit than me, she only had to look after Natsu and Gray rather than a whole Guild. Here's the key to her house. Gray can show you where it is." I press the key into her trembling hand. She nods shakily and Gray pulls her off the stool and towards the Guild's front door.
-Levy-
My stomach convulses and I throw up into the bucket Juvia had thoughtfully placed there a while ago. The sudden purge of my stomach is followed by a coughing fit. I can't stop coughing and blood sprinkles the pillowcase and, being unable to move unaided, the blood trickles back down my throat and I begin to choke on it.
"Whoa, take it easy Levy." Bisca's gentle but strong hands guide me into a sitting position. I cough and blood spurts out of my mouth, missing Bisca by an inch. I try to apologise, but all that comes out is a croaking noise that I can't even identify.
"Don't try to do anything Levy. Porlyusica will be here soon and then you'll be fine."
My stomach feels strange. I want to tell her. And my head feels funny.
"Did you do anything different? Did you eat something bad?"
I shake my head, or try to, and she seems to understand. Ascua, who was reading my collection of picture books, looks up.
"Her tummy hurts." She informs her mother.
"Yes, sweetheart." Bisca says absentmindedly, she's sitting on the edge of my bed and stroking my hair softly, the way she did to Ascua when she had a fever.
"And her head feels funny."
I look at Ascua. How did you know? I think to myself.
Ascua frowns. "You told me."
"What's that darling?" Bisca asks.
"Levy's talking to me."
"She can't talk darling, she's too sick."
Ascua's frown deepens. "But she just told me."
"Did she?" Bisca's eyebrows knit together. "Oh, you've been playing with Warren again haven't you?"
"Uh huh!" Ascua cheers.
"Will you go and get a towel from the cupboard for mummy?"
"Okie."
She picks herself up off the ground and toddles out the door.
"And there you have it. My baby girl is a wizard."
^U^ YAYE! ALL DONE! I like pancakes. And Ice cream and sugar and stuff but most of all I like reviews!