A Dragon to Light the Way
Chapter 7
Lucy giggled as she, Levy, and Yukino each sank into the warm bath water in the Sabertooth's springs. She gave a sigh, and leaned back as they all relaxed for a bit, but knew that they would want to know why she had dragged them away from the others.
"Lucy. Don't get me wrong or anything, but why did you suddenly drag me away from the others?" Levy asked, causing her to smile as she looked at her best friend.
"Also, why did you drag me along?" Yukino added, shifting closer and Lucy smiled brighter. Sliding further into the water before blushing slightly.
"I want to ask you two, what is it like being mated to Dragon Slayers?" She asked, watching as they both blinked and looked at each other before looking back toward her.
"Does this has something to do with Natsu, and how he treated you?" Levy asked, and she shook her head. Biting her bottom lip as she closed her eyes.
"I'm more interested in the whole courtship thing. What to expect from that." She stated, watching as Yukino gasped and covered her mouth. Only to lower it a moment later with a large smile on her face.
"This has to do with Sting, doesn't it?" She asked, causing a blush to cover her face, and she slid under the water in embarrassment as she nodded.
"Lucy! Isn't it a bit to soon? I mean, you just got out of an abusive relationship the other day." Levy stated, and she eased back up, keeping her gaze down.
"Well, from what Rogue has told me about Dragon Slayer's mates, it doesn't matter about the timing. If they both have feelings for each other, then nothing will stop them from being together. It was more romantic how Rogue explained it." Yukino stated, and Lucy glanced at Levy when she sighed and nodded.
"Yeah. I recall Gajeel saying the same thing. It's just that, I don't want you rushing into something you're unsure of." Levy stated, moving to sit beside her in the spring, Yukino taking her other side.
"That's why I wanted to speak to my two best friends. Both of you are mated, so I figured that you could help me through this." She stated, watching as they shared a smile and shook their heads.
"Lucy. This isn't like a normal relationship, something that is a hit or miss. This is something that you have to risk everything for. Heart, soul, and body. You have to give him your absolute trust, and hope that you have his in return." Yukino stated, and Lucy bit her bottom lip as she thought about it. Could she trust Sting with her heart, soul, and body? Hell, did he even have feelings for her?
"Take a look at me and Gajeel. He attacked me when we first met, and sure I was afraid of him at the beginning, but after he saved me a few times, I saw another side to him. That under all that powerful steel and iron, was a softer part that a lot of people overlooked." Levy stated, causing Lucy to blink and give a smile. It was obvious that they loved each other, just by listening to her talk about him. Not to mention, she saw it with her own eyes at the guild as well. She sighed and leaned back as she thought about what they had said. This mating business sounded like a huge risk, and she wasn't sure if she could handle it. Especially since she wasn't so sure this wasn't a one sided thing.
"Has anything happened between you and Sting yet?" Levy asked, and she went wide eyed and felt her face heat as the memory of their kiss that morning came to the forefront of her mind. She covered her face when both of them leaned forward, eager for the details about what had happened.
"We..uh...we kissed this morning. Also, I've kinda..moved..into his room." She stated, holding her breath as silence surrounded her for a moment, and then both girls squealed.
"Oh Lucy! He's definitely the one for you!" Levy shouted, wrapping her in a hug that she didn't return. She peeked up when they both stopped squealing and just looked at her in concern.
"I'm sorry, it's just that...A good kiss doesn't exactly mean anything. Neither does moving into the same room as someone." She stated, giving a pointed look to Levy, making her recall that she had moved in with Natsu and had been kissed by him plenty of times. Admittedly, his didn't make her melt, forget to breath, or become one mass of raging hormones...Damn, now that she thought about it, Natsu had been a lousy kisser.
"You have a point there. Although, from your expression, I can tell that you do feel something for Sting." Levy countered, causing Yukino to nod in agreement. She sighed and gave a nod.
"I do like him, a lot to be honest. I'm just...What if he doesn't even like me that way? What if the only reason he is doing this is because he feels sorry for me?" She stated, watching as they both looked at her for a moment and then Levy sighed as she looked away. Knowing that her friend had a good point, but Yukino shook her head.
"I may not have known Sting for long, but he doesn't pity people. He's the type he is rather going to agitate you enough to start a fight, or get you so pumped up you'll think you are an unstoppable force. He doesn't do pity parties. I will admit, he is somewhat of a playboy, but even I have seen a change in that since you appeared. Lucy, he truly cares for you. You're not some conquest for him, I can see it in his eyes." Yukino stated, causing her to give the woman a thankful smile. Maybe everything wouldn't turn out bad, but then again, she had been fulled once into thinking that she was a Dragon Slayer's mate.
"Still Yukino. I'm not saying anything bad about Sting, but Lucy has already 'suppose' to have been Natsu's mate. He hurt her really bad, and you should know the saying. Once bitten twice shy." Levy stated, seeming to have read Lucy's mind. She looked between the two women, and blinked when Yukino's eyes suddenly lit up.
"The carnival!" She declared, causing Lucy and Levy to look at her in confusion.
"There is a carnival in town, we should go on a triple date and let Lucy test things out with Sting." Yukino stated, causing Lucy to go wide eyed as Levy gasped with excitement.
"That would be perfect! This way Lucy can see what type of person Sting really is! Get to know him on a more personal level, especially if we ditch them so they could be alone together." Levy stated, causing Yukino to give a little shrill of delight before pressing her fingertip to Levy's.
"That's brilliant." She declared, and Lucy finally shook her head as she snapped out of her daze.
"No way! That would be cruel to Sting. It could really hurt his feelings if he found out about it." She stated, causing the other girls to laugh.
"He'd understand if he ever found out. Besides, this way you can really test your compatibility with him." Yukino urged, causing Lucy to look between the two and realize that they weren't going to give up on the idea. Giving a sigh, she slumped into the water and nodded her head. Causing the women to cheer again, but she wasn't about to join in. She still feared that Sting would be upset with her after he found out, and hoped that she would be able to handle it. Although, the thought of just the two of them being alone at the carnival did make her heart flutter in a good way. Who knows, maybe he would even kiss her again?
A few hours later and the girls were mindlessly talking in Lucy's old room, figuring they needed somewhere private to go. Lucy was leaning up against the headboard, Levy was stretched out on the bed, and Yukino was sitting on the edge.
"So, how are we going to convince the boys on taking us out?" Yukino asked, causing Lucy to shrug and glance over at Levy who smiled.
"Simple, we dress to the hilt and then tell them where we are going. They'll have no choice but to come along." She stated, causing Yukino to giggle and Lucy to shake her head.
"You two are cruel to them." She muttered, smiling when they both started to laugh, it was Yukino who collected herself first.
"But it is so much fun, Lucy. There is just something about being able to make them mind. They act all big and bad, but all it takes from a mate is a slight pout and suddenly your wish is there desire." Yukino stated, causing Lucy to think about it for a moment. She just couldn't picture Sting dropping everything to do something just for her, even though she figured that he would. In truth, she didn't want him to do that either. She didn't want to control his every move, that wasn't something to base a relationship on.
"No worries Lucy, we don't turn them into mindless slaves. If anything, it just ensures us that we know we can depend on them for anything. No matter how small and trivial the matter is." Levy stated, easily reading the concerned look on her friend's face. Lucy smiled at her before giving a sigh and closing her eyes.
"I don't know. I just don't want to trick him into going without telling him why. Then again, I don't want to insult him by telling him why I want to go with him." She stated, hating how confused she was over the entire situation.
"No worries Lucy. If he looks displeased, we'll have Rogue and Gajeel step in to calm him down while we take you elsewhere." Yukino stated, and Lucy looked between the two women. Seeing no way out of it, she finally decided to cave in.
"Fine. If we're going to do this, might as well start getting ready since it starting to get late." She muttered, but then blinked as something came to mind.
"What is it Lucy?" Levy asked, having caught on first. Lucy smiled apologetically and rubbed the back of her head.
"Sorry to say it, but I don't really have anything dressy but sensible enough to wear to a carnival." She stated, blinking when Levy gave a groan and dropped her head. It looked like she hadn't planned for that either, and both looked over when Yukino gave a laugh.
"No worries, I have some clothes you can wear Lucy. Also, one of the others girls here at the guild is about your build Levy, so we can ask her. I'm sure she'll be happy to help." Yukino stated, standing up and motioning them to follow. They quickly left the room, and returned a few minutes later with new clothing in hand, having decided to get ready in the empty room where they were positive that no one would interrupt them.
They helped each other with hair, make-up, and jewelry choices, and soon each were ready to go. Levy was wearing a yellow sundress, with a small sweater over it, complete with matching platform shoes, and a small pair of diamond earrings. Yukino was wearing black tights with a white skirt over top of them, black leather boots, a white shirt with a low neck line, and a necklace that Rogue had given to her. Both looked divine, and Lucy stared at herself in the mirror, slightly self conscious. She was wearing a short baby blue skirt, like one of the many she owned, and a matching top that was outlined in gold fabric that also emphasized her breasts and small waist line. Finished off with white and gold boots, and a baby blue choker.
She did admit, she did look good, but she was still slightly worried about the ever so visible bruises on her body. Sure, other people wouldn't notice them unless they were inches away from the bruises themselves, but she still noticed them.
"Lucy, no one will notice them, so stop worrying." Levy stated, placing a hand on her shoulder. She smiled and gave a nod, but knew that it wasn't going to make a difference, because she knew that Sting would be close enough to see. Which meant there was a chance that he would be focusing on the bruises and not her.
"Anyway, lets go down and surprise them already. The carnival is about to start, and I don't want to miss a thing." Yukino stated, causing Lucy to smile when Levy laughed.
"Honestly Yukino. If I didn't know any better, I say you'd suggested going to the carnival for your own selfish reasons." Levy teased, causing the woman to smile and laugh herself.
"What can I say, two birds with one stone." She replied, and this time Lucy allowed herself to laugh along with the other two. She looked in the mirror one last time, inhaled slightly, and then followed them out of the room.