[Re-Written 05.01.23]
Happy Saturday!
Another long one ahead. This one clocks in at 11000 words.
And I must say, this might be one of my favourite (non-action) chapters yet.
Hopefully you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
~Onward!
34
-I Love You-
A disembodied voice filtered into Lucy's subconscious with child-like demands for her to wake up!
Mavis, her subconscious reminded her.
The voice was distant, yelling at her somewhere from the edges of her mind, a voice she'd prefer to ignore in favour of sleeping just a little longer, but it was annoyingly persistent. Pressing upon her like a task long forgotten that relentlessly nagged at the mind.
Why did it feel like there was something important she should be doing?
With a start, Lucy woke, shooting up to a seated position with a gasp. Confusion settled on her immediately when she found herself surrounded by beach, and not her room. It was empty, she was alone.
What happened... How had she gotten here... Where was—had she been here with someone else?
Lucy's attention dropped to her legs, half-buried in a thick layer of sand. "What the..." she mumbled to herself, still uselessly grasping for clarity. She pressed herself up with more effort than it should have taken, and her muscles and joints complained at the simple movements. The blonde stretched her arms overhead, rolled her spine, and enjoyed the satisfying pops in her joints. She was stiffer than she'd ever experienced but couldn't pinpoint a reason as to why.
Absently, Lucy combed the sand from her hair with her fingers while she began to stumble down the shoreline on clumsy steps, muscles refusing to work effectively. Pausing, she glanced at the vibrant blue skies above, noting the warmth of the sun on her skin. It was idyllic, paradise really... Gorgeous white sand stretched out for miles before her and the ocean waters sparkled even further. A scene that should instil a sensation of peace and relaxation, but Lucy felt anything but. A deep anxiety spread through her gut, and something had her spinning around with a sharp inhale.
She held a hand over her heart as she forced her breathing to calm and reassured herself that there was no threat to her here, now. Not anymore.
Not anymore?
A patch of red caught the stellar mage's eye as she explored the beach, and she ran toward it, tripping through the disorientation that still had its claws in her. She dropped to her knees and immediately began digging at the sand, as the identity of the redhead solidified itself in her mind. "Erza!" she called frantically. Suddenly, flickering images of their guild's battle with the Apocalypse Dragon settled back to the forefront of Lucy's memory. Though the beach around them belied no signs of the devastating battle that was slowly registering and returning her clarity. She turned her friend over, placing two fingers at her throat and was relieved beyond words to feel a steady pulse beneath them.
It took awhile longer to shake the other woman from the coma-like sleep, and longer still to guide her through the same disorientation Lucy had faced. Gradually, some of their other guildmates had begun waking and pulling themselves from their own blankets of sand with various soft sounds of confusion. They didn't have the time to process what was happening or to ponder how the events of the previous night had led to their current circumstances because they were immediately reminded of the grave injuries some of their comrades sported. Most notably, their master, who had bled through his bandages and was in and out of consciousness, the stress of confusion only aggravating his condition.
Erza left some requipped medical supplies with Wendy, Lucy and Mira while she and Gray went to search the beach for their unaccounted guildmates. It had taken most of Wendy's magic to re-close Makarov's wounds again, but Lucy knew it was still critical that they get off the island as soon as possible. Easier said than done with their ship destroyed—a ship that was nowhere to be seen—at the very least its broken hull should still litter the beach. There was nothing, not the smallest fractured chunk of wood.
Nothing made sense.
"Mavis? Mavis, are you there? What happened?" Lucy asked internally. Not even a ripple of the first master's presence answered.
Unfortunately they had no way to contact the world outside Tenrou Island for help. No ships on which to escape, no one wielding spatial magic to teleport out of here, and no working lacrima comms.
No telepathy either... Makarov was in no shape to help, and they hadn't found Haru...
No Haru. No Natsu.
By late afternoon they'd managed to find and reunite the entire group that had been on the island for the S Class trials... Everyone except the Twin Dragons.
And before they knew it, two days had passed.
Lucy and Mira had scoured the entire island in search of the guys while the rest of their comrades that were physically capable, worked on building a large raft to try to get back to Hargeon. They didn't end up needing it though, because on the morning of the third day of being stranded, Blue Pegasus arrived unexpectedly. The fairies had just been preparing to give their precarious sea vessel a try on the ocean when the Christina appeared on the horizon.
Now they were all settled inside Blue Pegasus' magic bomber, being shuttled back to the outskirts of Magnolia, and Lucy found herself staring out the window at the glittering ocean below. Wondering why Natsu and Haru hadn't been there when they'd all woken. Wondering if it was stupid to leave the island without searching more, despite not finding a shred of evidence that they might find answers to the guys' whereabouts.
That question gained a potential answer when the conversation her friends were in engaged in caught her attention. Erza was talking to Mira, both girls sitting across from her, though the redhead's attention was on Ichiya and the Trimens with a deep level of consideration. "Do they all look different to you? Like... a little older?" Erza asked speculatively, if a little hesitantly, "or am I losing it?"
Hibiki appeared before them before Mira could respond, a strange grin on his face. "And you all haven't aged a day, how is that possible?" he asked excitedly, "my Archive can't find a single plausible answer."
Lucy and her companions all stared back blankly, all three at a collective loss for what the man was eluding to. He cocked his head in further curiosity. Then some understanding dawned in his eyes, and that smile faltered a bit. "You don't know..." he murmured to himself.
"Know what?" Lucy growled, her growing anxiety adding a little more bite to her words than she'd meant, "just tell us."
Lips working silently as he searched for his next words carefully, Hibiki shifted uncomfortably until the Trimen's leader joined them. "You all vanished over two years ago," Ichiya told them bluntly but sympathetically. "Some of us searched for awhile, along with the rest of your guild... But most gave up a long time ago... It was a massive spike in magic a couple days ago that brought us here now."
"Likely the breaking of a powerful spell," Hibiki added softly, his eyebrows furrowed together as his eyes skipped over the girls to their badly injured Master across the room. "What on Earthland happened to you all?" he whispered as though knowing the truth might be dangerous. There wasn't much that boasted power enough to harm Fairy Tail so greatly, least of all the mages that were currently gathered in the air ship.
Erza shook her head, "Honestly, we aren't really sure ourselves," she said deflecting. None of them wanted to talk about it, Lucy knew. Hibiki nodded in understanding, and turned to pull the shorter man away with him to give the girls space to process the news.
Lucy said nothing, her vision blurred a little as tears began building in her eyes and she turned her gaze back to the window, not wanting to talk about the new light that had been shed just yet, even with her friends. Fairy Sphere had left them in suspended time... Saved them, but stole two years. That meant Natsu and Haru had likely already returned to Fairy Tail, believing, like the rest of the world, that they'd all perished in some unknown attack... But the Twin Dragons would have shouldered the truth of the attack's terrifying source. Would they have shared that knowledge with the rest of Fairy Tail? With Fiore?
The guilt they must have felt, the loss. Just the thought of their pain threatened to shatter Lucy's heart.
Two years.
Two. Years.
Life had just continued on without them, and what did that mean for them?
Fairy Tail
The Trial participants had been home for a little over a week, and nearly every member was present in the guildhall chatting in groups. The members who'd stayed with Fairy Tail during its darkest times were still eagerly catching up the returning members on everything that had happened in Fiore and beyond over the last two years. No one was really taking jobs, even if they were all facing major debt, Fairy Tail's reputation had taken a substantial hit with all of their strongest members presumed dead. The requests had stopped coming in, so the job pickings were sparse, and the accompanying rewards, dismal.
Makarov had held up in his office as soon as he had recovered enough to stay conscious for even a few hours, much to Mira's dismay. She'd tried to get the elderly man to relax and take more time while she combed through Fairy Tail's book keeping, but he'd stubbornly refused. At least Macao was helping him get everything caught up, he'd been doing his best to keep the guild financially stable so their missing members would have a home to return to.
It had surprised Makarov that the remaining members had managed to maintain the expenses associated with the guild hall and property at all, considering their location right at Magnolia's heart was not cheap. Macao had explained that just a month after the disappearance of Tenrou Island, anonymous donations had begun showing up regularly at the guild. In addition, when the Guild's vulnerability inevitably got out, guilds like Twilight Ogre and Phantom Lord had begun moving in on Magnolia and threatening them. Somehow the threats always seemed to dissipate quickly, someone had even gone and eradicated all of Phantom Lord's satellite branches around Fiore. The Fairy Tail members had always speculated that it was one of their closest allied guilds, like Lamia Scale helping them out, but remaining anonymous to avoid attracting the eye of the Council due to interguild conflicts being outlawed.
Lucy sighed in boredom as she watched her guildmates. She sat stretched out in a booth with both legs up on the cushions as she observed the rather subdued energy that had remained in place since their return. Sure, there had been some level of partying when the Tenrou team first returned, their guildmates who'd been left behind were just so relieved to have them back. They'd never given up hope, even when everyone else (some ex Fairy Tail members included) did. But when both groups realized that the other hadn't heard from their Twin Dragons over the past two years, the news hung over them heavily.
The question no one dared voice out loud, but remained unspoken none the less: had they ended up sacrificing themselves in Acnologia's attack to save them?
Mira approached from the bar where she had grabbed a couple drinks for herself and Lucy from Kinana. The takeover mage slid into the booth across from Lucy, handing her a milkshake as she did so. "How are you doing Lucy?" she asked.
The blonde shrugged and thanked Mira for the shake before taking a long sip. "As well as can be expected, I suppose," she replied, eyes sliding across the guildhall again. Their comrades were still as noisy as ever, but no brawls had broken out since they'd gotten back, and Lucy found herself considering tossing a beer glass into someone's head just to see what would happen.
She was clearly losing it.
"And how are you doing Mira?" Lucy asked instead, shifting in the booth to fully face her friend.
Mira gave her a small smile, one that didn't reach the rest of her expression. "Just taking each day as it comes," she replied softly. Pausing, she visibly collected her thoughts until blue eyes refocused on Lucy again. "You know, it all seems so silly now. I knew how Haru felt for years, but I wanted to push him until he made the first move. It was a challenge, it was fun to push him." She dropped her head on to a propped hand and released a sigh, "if I had just told him sooner instead of playing my games, we could have had years together... And now?"
The stellar mage scoffed outright at the statement. "Mira, you and Haru had one of the strongest bonds in the guild. Anyone not completely oblivious saw that."
Mira's eyes widened, tears shimmering and threatening to fall. Lucy moved to her side of the booth and pulled her into a hug, and the pair allowed themselves to share in a moment of grief. A moment to feel the pain that came with the not knowing. Their guildmates gave them the courtesy of pretending they weren't seeing the private moment and continued to move about their activities. Lucy ran a hand up and down her friend's arm, letting her thoughts ponder the guys' fates as well. She hadn't cried for a few days now, she just couldn't anymore. The grief of it all was as heavy as ever, but the tears just didn't come.
In one fell swoop, they'd all learned that over two years had gone by without them, and the Twin Dragons were missing. Yes, missing. Lucy refused to believe they were gone, but she also hadn't voiced that aloud to anyone yet. In addition to the love of her life and her best friend both vanishing without a trace, her keys and thus, all of her spirits, were missing as well. To say she was hurting would be an exponential understatement.
"Mira, I have to tell you something," Lucy whispered quietly. The thought had been sticking in her head since she first learned that Fairy Tail hadn't heard from the guys, demanded expression. She wasn't sure if it was denial, or something else. Mira listened quietly, waiting for her to continue. "Someone has been paying my rent the entire two years we've been away…" she trailed off, not elaborating on the information, but Mira's eyes widened anyway.
"You think it was Natsu and Haru?"
"Well, yeah... I could maybe see one of our allies or a noble who appreciated Fairy Tail's help paying the guild's costs, but not my apartment. I think the guys have been the ones protecting Fairy Tail too… I think they're out there."
"If that's true, it does beg the question of why they never came home... Or at least contacted the guild properly," Mira pointed out, and Lucy sagged a bit, preemptively assuming her friend didn't share in her flimsy theory. Maybe it really was denial. But the takeover mage wasn't finished, "that said, we've both seen those idiots pull off the impossible before, and grief can do strange things to people's choice of actions. So they must have their reasons for staying away..."
Lucy stared back in mute awe for a moment. "Wait, so you think it's possible too? That they're still out there somewhere?" the blonde blurted.
Giggling, Mira nodded back, "Your theory isn't so farfetched Lucy, and Gods know I'm not ready to believe we'll never see them again." She smiled, genuinely this time, "and besides, we both know they are way too stubborn to be done in by their magic's namesake!"
Lucy joined in her friend's laughter this time. It felt good to laugh again, truly laugh, and she felt an undeniable swell of gratitude for the white-haired mage. The two had leaned on each other heavily since their return. They understood each other's feelings like no one else could, and apparently shared in a belief that the guys were still out there somewhere. To be fair, Lucy thought it was an unspoken belief held by a lot of the guild, Dragon Soul in particular, a shared refusal to accept that some of their own might be gone.
Many of the fairies kept their ears open for rumours concerning their missing friends and until they heard or saw definitive proof that the two had perished, no one would be giving up hope completely. Anyone implying otherwise resulted in a less than friendly altercation, usually instigated by a member of Dragon Soul. So, they all tried to stay positive, and keep the spirit of Fairy Tail alive for their eventual return.
Erza wandered over to join the girls then and the three chatted away into the evening. Among the other harsh blows of suspended time, Erza herself was grappling with the news that over the two years, the NMC had had Jellal assisting with any missions concerning Zeref's black magic as part of his reparations. He'd been integral in reconnaissance quests seeking information regarding the largely mysterious branch of the Balam Alliance, Tartaros, which was rumoured to be made up entirely of the Demons of the Books of Zeref. Due to his critical contributions and 'good behaviour,' the Council agreed to Makarov's request to release the ex-criminal into Fairy Tail's custody.
Jellal was still working with the NMC to finish up a couple more missions under the sharp eye of Commander Lehar, but the next month or so would see the blue-haired mage joining Fairy Tail on a kind of probation. It was a bittersweet revelation to be sure. Since Natsu had used his Purifying Flames on the man, he'd been completely freed from the demonic presence that had been manipulating him, but he was still the man that had destroyed so many lives.
Fairy Tail always strived to see the best potential in almost anyone though, and after some conversation with the man in question, Makarov was self-assured that he was reformed enough to put the guild's reputation on the line. This would be Jellal's second chance.
Lucy knew that if the Twin Dragons were here, they'd have thrown their support behind the Master's decision, so they'd all welcome their new guild member with open arms when he arrived. After a small bite to eat and some goodbyes, Lucy announced that she was going to head out for the night. "Happy! I'm heading home for the evening, are you coming?"
"Aye sir!" the blue cat cheered, zipping over to her and landing on her shoulder. He'd been staying with her since their return, both appreciating the company to keep the loneliness at bay during the nights. "Can we have fish tonight Lucy?" the cat begged as they made their way, balancing precariously on the edge of the canal.
"You just ate!" the blonde snapped back incredulously.
"Yeah, but—"
A blinding light flashed a few feet to their left, cutting Happy's words off immediately and had Lucy flinching and stumbling to the side as she lost her footing. With a startled yelp and a frantic waving of her arms, she almost slipped into the waters below, but a hand shot forward to close around her wrist. She was pulled back to safe ground and released once she'd found her center of gravity again.
With a gasp of relief at the close recovery, Lucy turned, squinting her eyes as the light died down to assess the source. She gawked, "LEO?"
She blinked at the lion spirit numbly for a minute, wondering if her eyes or her mind were playing tricks. Her jaw working for words that she failed to verbalize, so instead, she just leapt forward, throwing herself into his arms. Leo jerked with the addition of her sudden weight causing them both to tumble to the ground as Happy hovered in the air above them.
"Where'd you come from? How are you here? Are the others okay? Oh my gosh—Leo, I lost all your keys—I'm so sorry! I promised to always protect them and I failed!" Now she could feel the tears that had been at bay for days, welling in her eyes again. Leo simply pulled her back into a comforting embrace and murmured reassurances to her.
Then he pressed her back to hold her at arm's length so he could talk to her properly, "Lucy, I can't stay long, it's draining a lot of my power to be here, so far from my key."
"—Do you know where your key is?" Lucy interrupted.
He smiled, releasing her shoulders to lean back on his hands, "Natsu has all of our keys."
Somewhere in Ishgar
A dark-haired man sat on the cliff looking out over the ocean, it was early afternoon, and the sky was overcast, though a few rays of sun pierced the dark clouds. It was beautiful and unpredictable at the same time, or maybe it was beautiful because of its unpredictability. The sun could break through the cloud cover, or the skies could open into a down pour at any minute, but it was beautiful all the same.
The man leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, his legs dangling precariously over the cliff edge. He watched as the choppy waters sent waves crashing into the jagged rock bed below. Sitting up straighter, he shifted an outstretched arm back and forth in a wave like motion. The waters below swelled in larger and larger waves that followed in time with his gestures, until a wave the height of the cliff crashed down into the waters. He continued doing this for a while, just manipulating the ocean and sending large waves across the regular ebb and flow of the ocean's current until a breathless voice called over the winds and broke his concentration. The wave he controlled broke too early, sending a large spray up over the cliff, drenching him completely. His eye twitched at the interruption as he peeled back the long bangs that now glued themselves to his face with the moisture. Shaking the water out of his hair, he turned to look dryly at his companion who was running toward him waving something over his head.
"Haru! You've gotta check this out!" his partner called; he shoved a copy of the most recent edition of Sorcerer's Weekly into his hands. The other man grinned widely, pushing unruly pink bangs out of his own eyes as he watched Haru expectantly. His hair had taken on a wilder appearance over the last couple years; though, living away from society and on a constant move had left them both with a more rugged look. Occasionally they'd made a point of stopping to get cleaned up if they were passing through a town but for the most part it was just the two of them, so their appearances weren't high on their list of priorities. Pulling his usual trick, steam raised off the pink locks as the fire mage ran a heated hand through his messy hair to style it back. An eyebrow lifted in curiosity, finally noticing Haru's appearance, "Why are you soaked?" he asked flatly.
A snap of irritation flew through the water mage as he growled, "Because some flame-brained moron broke my concentration!" Not seeing an ounce of remorse on his friend's face, Haru huffed and glanced back at the magazine in his hand. He opened it to the marked pages, expecting to find a new lead on the Etherious or if they were very lucky, maybe even Acnologia. The Apocalypse Dragon hadn't been seen since that fateful day and the vast majority of Ishgar remained blissfully unaware of the existence of dragons or the real threat they posed. Haru was completely unprepared for the article his friend had actually uncovered, and his eyes crawled over the headline and the accompanying photo, not quite believing what was in front of him. "Natsu… is this confirmed?" he asked with a slight edge marring his tone.
A painful memory forced itself through his mind.
Over two years had passed since the conclusion of the S Class trial.
Two years since he and Natsu had poured everything they had into their Dragon Slayer magic for its intended purpose. Two years since they'd watched helplessly as the Apocalypse Dragon had obliterated Tenrou island and their beloved family along with it. After that cataclysmic spell, it hadn't taken Acnologia much effort to deliver final blows, sending them both crashing down into the ocean.
With their loved ones presumably gone, the fuel behind the Twin Dragon's true power, their reason for fighting, was gone in the blink of an eye.
Two years had passed since they'd failed.
2 Years Ago
"It's gone..." Haru breathed, transfixed on the foamy ocean waters that remained stirred by Acnologia's devastating breath attack.
Acnologia let out a loud roar with the undertones of triumph and then he beat his wings, shooting upward before diving in a tail spin. The wind whipped by Haru's ears as he suddenly found himself falling toward the ocean in a daze. Haru blinked and found nothing but blue. Blue sky, blue ocean, just blue, and then he glimpsed pink. They hit the ocean hard, breaking its surface in a large flowering spray of water. His arms and legs flailed against the undertow of the ocean, trying to find whatever way was up through his disorientation. Instead, he saw pink again. Natsu.
Haru dived down, chasing after his partner who was sinking deeper, swimming as fast as he could. Catching Natsu under one arm, Haru quickly manipulated the waters around them to get them back to the surface. "Natsu," Haru pleaded. He treaded water as he checked the fire mage's pulse and was briefly relieved to find a faint beat against the pads of his fingers. Acnologia's distant roar startled him, and a renewed wave of fear had his gaze snapping in the direction of the black dragon. He was flying away from them, shrinking into the distance against the horizon. Heart clenching as his eyes returned to the missing island, Haru had to wonder if his and Natsu's survival escaping Acnologia's attention was a blessing or a curse...
He glanced at Natsu, whose head was lulled against his shoulder in his unconsciousness. "Well... I guess fate isn't done with us just yet..." Haru said quietly with no one to hear but the empty ocean all around. Exhaustion was getting the best of him too, their battle with Acnologia and their fresh loss was finally catching up now that adrenaline was fading. Haru summoned his Water Dragon's Lair around himself and Natsu and once safe in the water sealed pocket of air, he finally let himself succumb to unconsciousness too.
. . .
The bright sun high overhead forced Haru to squint when he first opened his eyes. His head ached as he rolled it to the side, looking down a far stretch of sandy beach. "Nat..su.." he groaned, pushing himself up to search the shore. The pink-haired dragon slayer lay on his belly a few meters ahead, the waters lapping at his ankles. Knowing they were both, somehow, miraculously safe, Haru let himself drop back against the sand in exhaustion again.
How long had he been out?
Hours, days, he couldn't have possibly said. Overwhelming grief settled an unrelenting weight on his chest and just minutes later, his partner's roar, half fury, half agony, tore through the silence.
After washing up on the shore, they spent days sporadically going between being each other's greatest support and being at each other's throats when the hopeless feeling of rage temporarily replaced the grief. They clung to a shred of hope that Makarov's plan, whatever he'd sent Lucy after, Fairy Sphere, or whatever, had somehow succeeded in saving them. Even if they'd found no evidence to suggest it.
It had taken some time, but after days of going around in circles and accomplishing nothing, the boys found themselves sitting on the beach and staring out over the empty ocean with the silence pressing down on them.
"We're the Twin Dragons of Fairy Tail, for fuck's sake," Natsu said suddenly, not turning to look at him.
"Yeah, and we failed to protect the most important people in our lives," Haru pointed out pessimistically.
"They're out there. Somehow. By the time they return, I want to be strong enough to know we'll never lose them again."
Haru turned to look at his partner who had already shifted back onto one hand and was now watching him intently to gauge his thoughts. Reading him like a book, like he'd been able to do since the day they'd met. Right now, it annoyed Haru to no end. "I don't know what else to do, but I know we can't keep dwelling... They wouldn't want us to lose ourselves in their loss. So, however long it takes, we'll find them. Bring them back."
Natsu thought of Lucy, when she'd pressed his face between her hands almost a full year ago. 'We'll always be together,' she'd promised, but she was gone now. The shine of tears glistened in his eyes and he turned and scrubbed the heel of his hand across his eyes. 'I will always believe in you,' he could almost hear her saying.
Haru had nodded slowly in agreement. He was tired of being at the mercy of his grief and anger as well and if nothing else, turning those emotions into a more constructive outlet would provide a good distraction. They could continue the search for their missing family while fighting for the people who were still there, fight for Fiore's future. "Well, we better get to work then Natsu, Acnologia fought us back as if we were mere inconveniences. As it stands, we are no match. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to change that and wipe that fucking dragon from existence."
Present
"It's time to go home," Natsu said, the giant toothy grin that Haru had seen only on rare occasions over the past few years was splitting his face in barely contained excitement.
Energy was racing through Haru as well now, but it seemed too good to be true, like this would turn out to be a cruel joke. No trace of their comrades had been found in over two years, despite their near constant efforts. He and Natsu had driven themselves to the utmost ends of their strength, magically, mentally and physically. They'd been through so much these past years and yet they hadn't been able to find their family.
Natsu dropped into a lazy cross-legged posture beside him and joined him in looking at the magazine in his lap. 'FAIRY TAIL RETURNS? TENROU MIRACLE!' The bright full coloured picture showed a bustling image of their guildhall: Erza off to the side of the image with Makarov. Gray in just his boxers with Juvia hanging off him at a table with Wendy and Gajeel across from them. Happy and Carla sitting on the table. Laxus with Freed and Bixlow at the bar in the back… It was hard to make out all their friends, but Haru thought he could kind of make out heads of blonde and white hair at a table on the edge, the hulking form of Elfman obscuring the view.
Fairy Tail's core members found alive in miraculous turn of events—
Tenrou Island reappears from the middle of the ocean, experts baffled—
Titania, Erza Scarlett: "We are understandably stunned to learn of the time we lost—
"We would appreciate privacy at this time to process everything we have endured—
Fairy Tail's members decline to answer on any theories behind their disappearance—
Or rumours on the Twin Dragons' current whereabouts—
The question on everyone's minds now…
Where are Fairy Tail's Twin Dragons?
Skimming the article for the second time already, the hope settling over Haru spiked. This was a recent image and their guildmate's quotes were exactly the sorts of things he'd expect them to say… This wasn't a hoax. Sorcerer's Weekly was a fairly reliable source to begin with, but Haru still hadn't wanted to get his hopes up prematurely. Now he let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding while reading the feature spread.
He dropped his head, bangs hiding his face momentarily and let his thoughts wander to Mira. The image didn't make it clear if she too, had returned, but if the rest of their family was back, then she had to be as well, right?
"Let's go home, Natsu."
Fairy Tail
After Leo's unexpected visit a few days ago, Lucy had spun on her heel and dashed back to the guild immediately with a desperate need to share the new developments with Mira and the rest of the guild as soon as possible. Since that evening, the guild had doubled down in their efforts to track down information on their missing comrades, and Makarov had sent a few teams out on scouting and recon missions. Erza, Gray and Gajeel among them.
Lucy was pacing back and forth irritably, her impatience at a boiling point. She hated sitting around the guildhall even if she couldn't deny the logic of the master's decision. With her past experience in freelance journalism, she was the best choice to help Levy comb through all the random leads that they'd gathered. Most of them were entirely useless though, and that was more than a little frustrating. Pivoting, Lucy stalked back across the hall for the umpteenth time in her restless energy, but a grip snagged her wrist to prevent further steps.
"Lucy, you are wearing on my calm."
The stellar mage hinged slightly, releasing a drawn-out exhale before facing Mira. Wendy was sitting on a bar stool next to her with Carla in her arms, wearing an apologetic smile but nodding in agreement none the less. "Right, sorry..." Lucy mumbled.
Mira released her wrist and patted her shoulder instead, "We'll find something soon enough, and head out to track them down when we do. You just have to be patient."
"I found something!" Levy announced, literally causing Mira's jaw to drop at the timing, "but it's over a year old." The girls joined the bluenette as she slapped the old newspaper article down on the bar-top between them. In shared curiosity Lucy, Mira and Wendy glanced over Levy's shoulders at the paper appraisingly. The article sported a very grainy image of what looked to be a large demon amidst a town, the headline read: 'DEMON LULLABY'S TERROR ENDED.'
"Do you think this is what they've been up to? Why they've stayed away from Fairy Tail?" Levy asked.
Lucy didn't respond, skimming the paragraph to pick out the details. A few of the townspeople swore they witnessed just two mages taking down the giant demon. According to one local, the pair wielded devastating fire and water magics and looked somewhat demonic themselves. They eliminated the demon with relative ease and vanished just as suddenly as they'd appeared, without seeking a reward.
Analyzing the image didn't provide much additional information. It was too dark and blurry to really make out any details but there was a speck of a person in the air over the demon's head, lit up by what could be fire, and another appeared to be running up Lullaby's arm. It had been years since Jellal had released the demons from three of Zeref's books, Lullaby included, back at the tower. At the time, Haru had sworn he'd destroy them all one day so no one would suffer the same losses he had, and of course Natsu had thrown his support behind him without hesitation.
Knowing that, Levy's theory had genuine merit.
"So maybe if we change up our tactics to seek any recent articles or news about Zeref or demonic activity…" Lucy trailed off in thought.
Happy had dropped onto her head at some point, and was peering down at the article as well. He had been mumbling Natsu's name repetitively, until he asked more clearly, "We're gonna find them, right Lucy?"
Lucy's eyes trailed up to the tips of the blue ears that she could see peeking out over the top of her head. She reached up to snatch him off his perch and hugged the cat to her chest, "'Course we will Happy, what kind of silly question is that?"
"Erza and Gray are due back tomorrow," Mira began slowly, seemingly spinning an idea in her head even as she gave it voice. "How about we team up with them and head to Era? If we can get the Council to let us meet with Jellal, he might be able to provide us with information. After all, he's been searching out anything related to Zeref for the past two years. If we're lucky, maybe the Council will even agree to releasing him to Fairy Tail's custody early."
Nodding absently at first, the idea made increasing sense the more Lucy considered it. She turned back toward Mira with a determined grin, "Yeah, I like it," she said with another sharp nod as though confirming the plan to herself. Lucy immediately felt better just having a purpose that would at least let her do something with all her nervous energy. It was infuriating that Leo hadn't been able to tell her where the guys were before he'd vanished and he hadn't been back since, much to her increasing disappointment.
"I'll discuss the details with Master," Mira told her softly, breaking into her thoughts. The white-haired mage tilted her head as she took in Lucy's apparent exhaustion, "why don't you go home for the night? Go treat yourself to a hot bath and a good sleep. We'll be on the road tomorrow until we find our idiots and bring them home." With waves of gratitude hitting her at the mere suggestion and Happy's enthusiastic cheers, Lucy felt the tension she'd been carrying around since waking on the island, ease a bit.
She subconsciously hugged the blue cat tighter and agreed without argument. "Thanks Mira, I will see you tomorrow then," she promised as she moved toward the guild's doors. Exiting into the warm late afternoon, Lucy was actually content to have a peaceful evening at home for a change, having spent nearly all her free hours at the guild recently. She hadn't even realized how desperately she needed some self-care until Mira had recommended it.
Heading straight home, Lucy hummed to herself as she made her way to her bathroom with a little more bounce in her step than what had been there in a long while. Turning the taps with the intention to fill her bathtub to the brim with steaming hot water and essential oils to soothe her muscles, Lucy pulled her hair up into a high bun and ran a cool cloth over her face. She paused a moment to take in her reflection staring back at her, "Soon Lucy," she told herself with conviction, "we will find Natsu and Haru, soon."
With a small smile she turned back and stepped into her tub, sinking down into the waters with an audible sigh. Happy curled up and passed out on a pile of plush towels on the countertop, not that she minded. He never liked to be far from her side with the guys' absence looming over him, being alone reminded him that his favourite people in the world were gone without a trace.
But there was a trace now, Lucy reminded herself with a shake of her head before easing deeper into the water.
. . .
Lucy had needed that. Gods, how she had needed that. She would be sure to thank Mira for looking out for her, even when she wasn't aware of her own needs. At that thought, Lucy hoped her friend was also taking time away from the guild after proposing their plan to Makarov. After all, they would be on the road for what could be weeks by tomorrow afternoon. Lucy felt momentarily guilty for planning to drag Erza and Gray back out when they'd only just be returning, but she also knew it wasn't likely she could convince them to stay even if she'd wanted to. Dragon Soul was fractured without the guys, and her teammates were just as desperate to find them as she and Mira were. Lucy wrapped a towel around her body and pulled the tie from her hair to let her hair tumble back down around her shoulders before exiting the bathroom.
"Yo Luce!"
"WHAT THE HELL?!" she screeched, stumbling back into the door frame in shock.
Stretched out over her bed and looking more than a little travel-worn, Natsu flashed a giant grin at her and in her lounge chair to the side, Haru had slung himself across the cushions with a leg kicked over the arm. "It is so good to see you Lucy," he told her as he sipped on what she assumed was tea they had helped themselves to as though they'd never been gone at all.
Natsu was bounding toward her as her head was still reeling with the impossible reality of the situation, wondering if she'd slipped and hit her head getting out of the bath. But then Natsu's hands were framing her face, his familiar warmth melting into her body at every point of contact as his eyes searched hers with the barest of smiles. As though he was also trying to confirm his reality.
"Three years..." he whispered then, so quietly she wasn't sure he'd said it at all. Three? She wondered distantly, had she heard that right? She didn't clarify though, the shocking turn of events rendered her completely speechless. Her lips stayed parted in mute awe but then he was wrapping his body around her and his lips were on hers with all the passion she remembered. Lucy moaned into the kiss, already feeling the sting of tears in her eyes as she wound her fingers into his messy pink hair. When he pulled away after a moment that stretched forever and seemed gone in a fleeting instant all at the same time, his familiar toothy grin was firmly in place even as unshed tears shone in his eyes. Lucy could feel her own tears streaming down her face now, but he brushed them away with the pad of his thumb. "Gods I missed you..." he told her, drawing her back in for another hug.
"Lushy...?" Happy's sleep addled voice came from the bathroom, he emerged, rubbing a paw over his eyes. As soon as he laid eyes on Lucy, and subsequently Natsu, he froze, blinking up at the sight and then he was bawling.
"Hey li'l buddy!" Natsu greeted happily. Happy leapt at him, and Natsu released Lucy in order to catch the blue cat who latched himself to his neck and wailed incoherently.
Giggling softly as Natsu cringed at the assault on his ears, Lucy turned her attention to her best friend. Haru stood and folded her into his own embrace, "Missed you Lucy," he told her.
Lucy returned the hug with gusto, "Bet you missed Mira more…" she said cheekily, turning a sly grin on him before she slapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh Gods, Mira! And the rest of the guild! –Have you guys been by the guild yet? Everyone has been so worried, there are still teams out searching for you!" she asked in a rush of words.
With Happy still firmly attached to his head, Natsu joined them and dropped his chin onto her shoulder from behind, threading his arms around her waist again. "Yours was the first place we came. We just want one quiet night with you and Mira and Happy… Before the inevitable crazy the guild drops on our heads," Natsu mumbled into the side of her neck. He nipped gently at the skin there as Happy finally leapt from Natsu's head and crashed into Haru's chest to continue his blubbering. The Water Slayer chuckled and patted the cat's head reassuringly.
"But Mira doesn't even know you idiots are back," Lucy drawled, torn between swatting Natsu away and relishing his small touches to continuously remind her that this wasn't some desperate dream her brain was feeding her.
Shifting his posture a bit to accommodate Happy and see them, Haru explained, "Yeah, we came here because your place is easy to sneak in and out of without being seen. But we're going to head home—"
Natsu cut in then, "And you're going to go grab Mira, and come join us, pronto!" he announced with a gleeful tone before eyeing his partner with a cheeky smile. "Haru will start dinner!"
"With what?! It's been over a year since we last stopped home, Flame-Brain!" Haru paused as another fact dawned on him, "—and don't volunteer me for things!"
Lucy nodded dumbly, not really hearing Haru's objections and pointed at her fridge, "Jus grab what you need…" she said absently. Haru rolled his eyes and resigned himself to his fate before making his way to her kitchen to see what he could turn into a quick meal for five.
"I want fish!"
"You know… after the past years, I actually missed hearing your statements of the obvious, Happy."
"Missed it enough to get me fish?"
"Yeah… It's going to get old again, really fast."
Turning in Natsu's arms, Lucy looped her arms around his neck and met his gaze again, "I really don't want you to go so soon."
Natsu snorted, "Come on Luce, it won't even be an hour, if you're quick," he told her with a wink. Though he did completely understand the anxiety washing over her. Three years of separation had him wanting to cling to her desperately and not let her out of his sights, but he wasn't about to admit that particularly unpractical desire.
He drew her back into his arms and rested his cheek on the top of her head, he'd gotten a little taller Lucy noted vaguely, among other changes. Her eyes crawled over a new scar curving over the swell of muscle on his left shoulder, the unruly pink hair that nearly reached his shoulders now, and most curiously, spiralling mixes of flame markings and rune symbols that curled down most of his right arm from a point just below his guild mark. He'd been gone so long— No, she corrected herself, she'd been gone so long. What all had happened to them? A few weeks not knowing what fate had had of them had almost recked her, she could only imagine how Natsu and Haru had managed the past two years.
"I'm here Lucy, I'm not going anywhere."
She pressed him back to look up at him again and he seemed to read her thoughts as clearly as if she had spoken. She'd always been able to read him as well, and she realized for all his confident words, he needed the reassurance as surly as she did. He smiled brightly, "We'll always be together. You told me that once, remember?"
Blinking fresh tears away again Lucy nodded quickly, "Y-yeah!"
The Twin Dragons' Home
"Royal flush."
"What the hell?!" the group shouted in random variations, gaping at the smug look on Haru's face. His fingertips still rested on the cards he'd just laid down, lounging on his side with an elbow propped under him.
Natsu's eyes narrowed, "You must be cheating, that's like the fourth round in a row."
"Face it Natsu, you and Lucy have terrible poker faces, and Mira just has terrible luck!"
With a gasp, Mira glared playfully and stuck her tongue out at him, but everyone else conceded and dropped their cards on the carpet between them.
"We shoulda played strip poker!" Happy cheered in attempts to fluster his favourite people.
"For the hundredth time, Happy, NOT HAPPENING!" Lucy barked to the collective laughter of her guildmates. Happy and the four mages had been playing various card games for a couple hours now, sitting or lounging on the floor sprawled out over scattered cushions.
Lucy had managed to snag Mira and made it across Magnolia and through the forest in record time. The worn path that led to the small house tucked back in the cover of the forest was more moss and weeds than path now, but she'd found it none the less. She hadn't offered Mira any details in explanation, despite her friend complaining about wanting a hot bath herself and that whatever Lucy wanted to show her could wait until tomorrow. Only Lucy's unrestrained excitement had convinced the takeover mage to follow without any real resistance, curious to see what potential lead she'd found.
So, when the blonde led Mira through the door of the Twin Dragons' home to find the ridiculously mundane scene of Haru tending a couple pots on the stove and Natsu and Happy at the kitchen table chatting with him as though the last two years had never happened… Well, Mira's response had been even more dramatic than her own had been an hour earlier.
Upon hearing Mira's scream that subsequently broke into various yells, half ecstatic and half furious ranting, both dragon slayers had flinched and slapped their hands over their ears at the unexpected sharp noises. Lucy had only smirked and giggled at the predictable reaction, until Mira rounded on her, pointing rapidly between the two men who still hadn't shifted and had only just cautiously dropped their hands again.
"You couldn't have TOLD ME?!"
Haru had said something that was lost in her rambling, and her head had whipped in his direction, breaking off her rant. He had been drying his hands on a towel as he approached her, but she'd thrown herself across the room and bowled them both to the ground in a heap before he'd ever reached her.
"10 points!" Happy had cheered when Haru coughed out a lung of air upon hitting the floor hard.
When he'd recovered from the shock of her unexpected action, he had sat up with her locked against him, looking more than a little dumbfounded at her action. They had remained on the floor with Mira's face buried in Haru's shirt and her arms wound tightly around his neck as he ran a hand through her hair soothingly.
Lucy had crossed the room and dropped into the chair next to Natsu as the two watched their friends' reunion. "You know," Lucy had started, meeting Natsu's eyes, "I feel like our respective reunions are backwards… I totally would have expected the more soft, subtly loving, reunion from them," she'd told him with a snicker, jabbing a thumb in their direction.
Natsu had smirked back, "If you'd tackled me to the floor, Haru would have had to leave the room," he'd retorted with a devious look and Lucy had blushed despite being more than a little familiar with his particular brand of flirting. He'd chuckled and shrugged a shoulder, eyes going back to the pair still on the floor, "I'll give you your passionate reunion later. That's a promise…" he'd trailed off with his lopsided grin, a canine glinting. That statement had sent a heated anticipation right to her core and she'd torn her eyes away from him, biting off a groan. She'd retreated to calm herself down, getting up to check on whatever it was Haru had been cooking to attempt to distract herself.
. . .
It was near midnight by this point, but none of them had wanted to call it a night too early. The near entirety of Fairy Tail would be reunited tomorrow, and Lucy was perfectly content to keep the guys all to herself for awhile longer. Happy hadn't lasted though, the excitement wearing on the little guy who was now peacefully curled up and purring loudly in his sleep on a couch cushion. The foursome's own conversations were punctuated with more yawns than words by now as well, but they had remained stubborn.
They had abandoned the card games after Haru had one a fifth straight round and just enjoyed each other's company instead. Natsu had Lucy tucked between his legs against his chest, while he lounged against the couch behind them. His cheek had been warm against hers in their cozy proximity, but now his breath was ghosting over her ear as he began to whisper exactly what he'd been wanting to do with her since their reunion. Lucy blushed, feeling the fire that usually fueled his statements settle at her core. She could hear his extended inhale, "You smell amazing... irresistible," he whispered.
Their companions hadn't been paying them any mind, but now Haru was looking their way, one eye brow raised with a knowing smirk. Embarrassed, Lucy cursed dragon enhanced hearing. "Well," Natsu announced boisterously, "I've got a promise to keep!"
Mira looked at them curiously, and Lucy was shocked the heat in her cheeks hadn't given them away. She was sure her blush rivalled Erza's hair.
"Promised Luce I'd—"
"That's private!" Lucy yelped, slapping a hand over the fire mage's mouth as she shot up to her feet. Apparently even after two years, Natsu was as open and unfiltered as ever. Haru and Mira laughed as she forcibly dragged Natsu to his feet which only succeeded in sending him into a fit of laughter as well. "I uh... We'll see you in the morning!" Lucy said in a flurry of words as she spun on her heel and wrenched Natsu toward his bedroom.
"Do us a favour... and keep your noise to a minimum!" Haru called teasingly as they retreated.
Lucy was fully aware he'd said it to get a reaction from her, but she shoved Natsu into the room and gave Haru the middle finger salute anyway. At the same time, Natsu retorted, "No promises!" just as she slammed the door shut behind them.
. . .
Natsu was staring at her when she turned away from the door, his expression unreadable. His eyes clear, not half-lidded in lust like she would have expected. He reached out and tucked a couple loose strands of hair behind her ear and used that same hand to tip her head back so he could steal her lips in a loving kiss. He walked her backward until her back pressed against the door as he snuck his tongue into her mouth, deepening their kiss. Still, his hands didn't roam, one at the crook of her neck, and the other resting on her hip. Her own hands wouldn't be so content to remain still. She pulled impatiently at the hem of the black top he wore and he took a step back to pull the shirt off, dropping it on the floor where he stood. Lucy swallowed thickly as she let her gaze freely roam the newly exposed skin.
Whatever training he'd been up to over the last two years, it was doing wonders for his already densely muscled physique. Her eyes flicked back up to his face, she was reminded that he was technically a few years older than her now. "I've got something for you Luce," he said, breaking her from her ogling. He took her hand and guided her to his bed.
She would have guessed he was making some cheeky joke about his hard-on, if he hadn't said it so seriously. She sat down beside him, as he pulled a small box from his requip space and presented it to her. Lucy quirked a curious brow as he pressed the small box into her hands, it was rectangular, maybe a necklace, she thought idly as her eyes moved from the box back up to his.
"Just a small gift I've been hanging on to for a year..." he told her quietly, "because I always knew, I'd find you." His eyes were intense, all the emotion Lucy found there, gave her pause as her fingers brushed over the ribbon decorating the box. "I missed you so much Lucy, you'll never know."
Lucy's mouth dropped open a little, the loss and heartbreak from the last two years seemed to swell beneath the surface of his outward calm now. She reached forward to cup his jaw in her hand. Leaning in, she gave him a gentle kiss, with none of the aggressive need their kisses often held, but with all the same unspoken passion. "Hey, we found each other again," she told him earnestly, "we'll always find each other again, right?"
"Yeah." He nodded, as if confirming it to himself before snagging both her hands and holding them up in between them, "I love you Lucy."
She blinked slowly, gaping again, "S-say that again…" she pleaded with a hint of desperation.
"I love you Lucy," he repeated without hesitation. "With every fibre of my being, with every flame burning inside me. I never gave up hope I'd find you again."
Lucy flung herself into his lap, wrapping her arms around him tightly and cried again. She'd been crying far too much recently, but at least there'd been more happy tears than sad lately. "I love you too, Natsu!"
That toothy grin she loved appeared and she traced her fingers along his bottom lip, memorizing the details of that grin for the hundredth or thousandth time since the first time she'd seen it so long ago in Hargeon. "Open your gift," Natsu commanded, excitement replacing the sentimentality. Shifting in his lap a bit, Lucy retrieved the box she'd dropped on the bed at his confession and pulled the ribbon loose. She lifted the lid and gazed at the glittering silver nestled within.
Her fingers skimmed over the warm metal, feeling the light pull of magic. "Natsu, how did you..." she breathed, stunned, "Thank you."
He smiled brightly, as she finally lifted the key from the box. Canis Minor, it wasn't a powerful key, or even a particularly rare key, but Lucy's mom had had one under contract that Lucy used to play with growing up in that big empty mansion. Unbeknownst to Lucy, Layla Heartfilia had left this particular key in Hisui's possession after the young princess had become inspired to become a celestial spirit mage after seeing Layla open the Gate all those years before. After spending long weeks working closely with the King and his daughter on a mission involving the Eclipse Gate, Hisui had entrusted the key to Natsu after learning he was searching for Layla's daughter. She'd said the key belonged with Lucy, and to let it be his reminder to never abandon his search.
Natsu would be eternally grateful.
Lucy stared at the key in wonder, there were a multitude of keys to gates of Canis Minor in the world, but this particular one had been her mother's. She could still feel the residual magic signature that clung to the key. Of all the keys he could have found, how had Natsu found this one? It couldn't possibly be a fluke.
"Natsu, how—"
Natsu cut her off with a firm kiss this time, taking the key and the box from her hands and placed it on the nightstand next to the leather pouch containing the rest of her keys that had found a home on his belt the past year. Lucy let herself drop back onto the mattress and he followed her down, hovering over her form and shook his head apologetically. "A lot happened while you were gone and I will tell you every story in time, but not tonight. Tonight, I just want to hold you, to touch you, to be with you..."
He punctuated the last statement with another deep kiss, his hands finally exploring her body with a slight desperation now, seeking the warm skin hidden beneath her clothing. She let out a content sigh and realized she didn't need to hear the 'whys and hows' behind everything at that moment either, nor did she want to just then.
She simply wanted to be with him too.
. . .
The morning sun lent a dull light to the room through the dense forest outside the window. Natsu grumbled at the sun, shifting slightly as his consciousness dragged him from the pleasant dream he'd been having, its resulting sensations still affecting his body. His eyes raked over his ceiling and the furnishings of his simple room as awareness slowly returned to him that he was, in fact, back in his house. That Lucy, Happy and the rest of their Fairy Tail family were, in fact, back from their apparent suspended time-lapse. Then the pressure of a hand on his inner thigh guiding his legs apart reminded him that Lucy was, in fact, in his bed right now. His eyes flew open, and all semblance of sleep-muddled confusion were gone in an instant. He threw back the blankets just in time to see the blonde take his cock into her mouth. She had one of his legs draped over her shoulder and her forearm across his hips firmly pinning him in place.
Her eyes swam with mischief as he choked on her name and fell back against the pillows, reaching a hand out behind him for purchase on the headboard, just for something to anchor him to this reality.
The pleasure he had granted himself with over the past few years on occasion, with his hand and fleeting thoughts of his beautiful missing girlfriend, paled in comparison to physically waking up to her attentions. He'd been so mesmerized with finally having her back in his arms the previous night, that he'd taken it as a personal challenge to taste every inch of her and so he hadn't allowed himself to indulge in her explorations of his body as much.
But fuck, did she know how to return a favour.
Natsu was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of Happy screaming incoherently. The slamming of a door followed and then the resulting pause of the blonde's efforts. She looked up at him, eyebrows knitted together in confusion and soft pink lips still firmly latched around him. But he was so close, right at the edge of bliss and he just couldn't bring himself to care. He found himself begging her in a voice that came out with an embarrassingly desperate quality, "Please… Luce, please don't stop…"
She hummed around him in reassurance, sending pleasant vibrations coursing through him as she reached up with her free hand to fondle his balls. Redoubling her efforts, she dragged his willing body to the edge and pushed him over, his eyes rolled back to the ceiling as he panted for breath through the waves of his release.
Lucy freed herself from the tangle of his legs and crawled up his body, placing kisses over his abs, another on his pec, and a third at the angle of his jaw before finally sealing her lips over his. "G' Morning," she purred, watching him through dark lashes. He gave her a lazy, satiated smile as she rolled out of bed and informed him that she was going to have a shower. Natsu watched as she shed the only scraps of clothing she was wearing, one of his shirts, and a pair of panties, Lucy flashed him a coy smile before disappearing into his bathroom.
"Tease..." he mumbled out loud to the now vacant room as he stared at the closed door. Sighing, Natsu pulled his spent body from the bed, resolving to check out what had Happy all worked up earlier. Pulling on a pair of black boxer briefs and not bothering with anything else, Natsu followed the smell of coffee to find Haru with his back to him in the kitchen. Haru was clothed in just his usual charcoal grey pants, having also forgone a shirt, and was in the middle of pulling some mugs from the cabinets.
"Coffee, Natsu?" he asked without turning to look.
"Gods—yes," Natsu whined. He may have spent a few too many hours last night getting reacquainted with the blonde and was feeling the resulting fatigue strongly. He padded over to drop into a chair at the table and glanced at Happy who was curled in on himself and watching Haru with narrowed eyes. "What got you all upset buddy? –Did you lose your fish privileges again?"
That comment finally earned his partner's undivided attention, Haru glanced over his shoulder with a pointed expression at the cat that Natsu didn't miss. Happy looked between the two dragon slayers before jabbing an accusing finger at the water mage, "Haru and Mira were trying to make kittens!" he yelled dramatically before grumbling again, "I am scarred for life."
Haru tipped his head back with an exaggerated eye roll before joining Natsu at the table, he handed him a mug of coffee and sat down across from him. "And whose fault would that be Happy? Closed doors aren't an invitation to come barrelling in unannounced."
The cat pouted and stuck his tongue out as Natsu just grinned expectantly at Haru. "You know it took Happy a full week to get over walking in on me 'n' Luce."
"Yes, I recall."
Happy glowered, "Gee, thanks for the reminder Natsu."
Natsu shrugged a shoulder dismissively and tipped his mug back for a long sip of coffee as Haru informed nonchalantly, "He didn't even see anything… We were just getting out of the shower."
"Showers hmm?" Natsu said, interest peaked. He leaned across the table a bit, asking in a hushed tone, "so, was it worth the wait?"
Haru was much more polite, and much less overt than Natsu, so he didn't respond and Natsu hadn't expected him to, but the smug look on his best friend's face said everything. Chuckling, Natsu leaned back into his chair, eyes flicking passed the other man to the new presence in the room. "Well it's about time!" he said teasingly.
"Right? Only took disappearing for two years to get this guy to make his move," Mira announced, wandering up behind Haru. She slid her arms down over his chest as she bent to press a kiss to his temple.
Haru turned to look up at her with a dismissive smile and left her remark alone. "There's more coffee, if you're interested," he told her instead. With a delighted sound, Mira gave him a peck on the lips and spun toward the kitchen to pour herself a mug.
"Finally!" Natsu said with increased emphasis in response to the interaction between the new couple. He was still amusing himself with the new development when Lucy emerged from his room with her hair tied up in a damp messy bun and wearing the robe that she'd left at his place months—years—ago. She sauntered over and dropped onto his lap. He wordlessly wrapped an arm around her waist as she snatched his coffee from his hand and downed the last swallows. She only smirked when he gaped indignantly and growled about getting her own, if she'd wanted some so badly.
She ignored him, asking, "So what was Happ—"
"Oh, don't get him started again!"
Lucy blinked at the three all groaning a variation of the same statement before giggling at them. "Okay, so that topic is off limits I see…" Haru rolled his eyes again in response and she changed the subject, "are we still getting breakfast at the guild?"
Being the only one actually dressed, Mira fixed them each with an incredulous expression, "That's the notion, if the three of you could bother putting on some socially acceptable clothing."
Haru gestured across the table, "Hey, I'm more dressed than those two."
"Oh please, all three of you could give Gray a run for his money right now."
In a surprising turn of events, Lucy just smiled coyly at the takeover mage. "Oh come on, you don't appreciate the morning eye candy?" she asked innocently. "—'Cause these two can walk around half naked all the time, as far as I'm concerned…"
Natsu burst out laughing, it wasn't often that the blonde was the one objectifying him! Through his amusement he added, "Here for your viewing pleasure…" Haru's laughter joined his and Mira blushed uncharacteristically and adverted her eyes.
Taking that as a good cue to start the day, Natsu stood with Lucy still in his arms and the pair retreated to his room to get dressed so they could all make an appearance at the guild.
A/N. Okay, okay, I know this chapter leaves all sorts of unexplained questions. The two/three year discrepancy, Jellal's coming back on scene after a lengthy hiatus, the Eclipse Gate is back in play, Natsu's sporting some unknown rune tattoo... I promise they'll all be answered fairly quickly ;)
All my love to Valerioux, TheBicycle, SuperSayajin4Vegeta, TheOldIronKing, Joker D. Zero, EternalFIame and a bunch of Guests for being the motivation behind my pen to paper!
Catch ya all next week!
R&R
~LokaMuse