Disclaimer: Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail and all its awesomeness
*Lisanna's P.O.V*
"I'm done." The cold tone in the usually bubbly girls voice caused everyone to go silent, again. "Good bye Natsu."
I stared in disbelief as Lucy, lead Laxus out of the guild by the hand, those parting words ringing in my head. I'd never seen, nor heard, her be so cold to someone before...well maybe when she spoke to enemies to put them in their place, but never to a guild member. She must have been hurt beyond believe to have gone so cold. I mean who wouldn't have been stony after that scenario though. Natsu had brought this upon himself, but the pink haired slayer looked utterly shell shocked. Almost as if he hadn't thought there would be consequences to his actions. I lifted my hand to rub the back of my head in disbelief, and amazement at just how dumb the pyro was being lately.
"Damn." Bixlow chuckled from my side. "That was colder than Gray's magic."
"Maybe we have a new Ice wizard in the making." I giggled, noticing how everyone was starting to disperse and go back to their previous business from before 'The Natsu Episode' began. Nothing really phased our members for long.
"Who's taking my title huh?" Speak of the devil.
"The cheerleader." Bixlow laughed turning to face the Ice make mage. "Did you hear her parting line?"
"I did." Gray replied with a hint of pride in his voice. "Lucy's always had a scary side to her, not that she shows it often enough, but I'm glad she used it to put that pyro maniac in his place."
"Well said Gray darling." Juvia smiled appearing from behind him. "Natsu-san deserved those harsh words! How dare he think of harming Lucy-san in such a cruel way."
"The sad thing is," I sighed, I didn't want to defend the guy but..."I don't think he intended it maliciously."
"Nah me either." Gray mumbled in agreement. "Guys an idiot but he doesn't have a malicious bone in his body...sure he can be mischievious, conniving and a prankster. But I've never known him to think of something that would actively break someones heart."
"So he geniunely thought his plan was something that would be a good thing?" Bixlow tilted his head to the side in confusion.
"Yes." Me and Gray replied at once. Though all that had ended up happening was that Lucy's poor heart had once again gotten shattered into pieces. On the other hand she had left with Laxus, so who knew if maybe that shattered heart was going to slowly get put back together. Wait...
"Bix, can you use your magic to see whats happening far away threw the eyes of your dolls?" I sprang forward feeling my eyes light up with stars in them. If he could, this would be great, I just had to find out what was going on with those two gorgeous blondes.
"Erm..." My boyfriend seemed to be sweating quite profusely as the implication of what I was asking sank in. "I mean I can have them relay information too me, or can fit a recording lacrima to one and can rewatch the footage later."
"Oh," I felt my excitement die as quickly as it had welled up. Guess it would have to be good old fashioned spying after all. Crap, it was at times like these that I wished I had dragon slayer senses...
*Laxus' P.O.V*
We'd walked quietly through town until we'd come to a small little cafe near the outskirts. It wasn't somewhere I'd usually frequent but I could see why it would appeal to Lucy. It was..what was the word...Charming? Quaint? Quiet?
"Laxus?"
The sound of her voice drew me out of my inner musings and forced me back to the here and now. I hated having my thoughts interupted but when ever it was because of the small blonde beside me, I didn't mind at all.
"Hmmm." I replied turning my attention to her and noticing that she was still holding my hand in her own.
"Is it okay if we eat here? The food is great but if you'd prefer we can go somewhere else." She smiled up at me with what looked like a small bit of concern etched onto her face. To be honest I didn't care where we ate or even what we ate, all that I was bothered about was spending as much time as I could with the celestial mage.
"Here's fine." I nodded and felt relieved to see all the concern melt from her face and her usual warm bubbly smile replace it. That was the face I loved to see the most, happy Lucy, nothing could beat it.
"Awesome," She beamed and tugged on my arm once more to lead me inside where we swiftly went, to what I assumed was her regular table. The only down side to this was that once we arrived she let go of my hand to sit down across the table from me. The loss of her touch startled me, I did not like the sensation that settled in the pit of my stomach with the disappearance of her warmth.
"Why?" Huh? had I spaced out and missed some key information?
"Why what?" I cocked my head slightly to the side as I observed the woman in front of me. Why did I always sound so dumb around her? It was like my brain just short circuited whenever she spoke to me directly.
"Why did you say that in the guild hall?" Her voice was wavering with confusion and curiosity. It was extremely cute, and I felt my usually stoic heart flutter the smallest bit. No way in hell would it ever skip a beat, I still had a reputation to uphold! It seemed to me though that she was out for answers about my outburst earlier, so I guess telling her the truth wouldn't hurt.
"Because it's the truth." No point beating about the bush, I knew she must have overheard my bold declaration and I didn't want to play games either. Lucy had suffered enough heartbreak, she deserved some honesty after today.
"But I'm nothing special." Her eyes cast downwards and she fidgeted in her seat. Her lack of confidence in her own ability and herself was astounding, and something that needed to be worked on. Why couldn't she see how amazing she was?!
"You think you're weak yet you have the power to stand up for your friends and family. How many times have you stared evil in the eye and kept fighting for those you love?" I saw her eyes widen in surprise as my words registered. "Your smile brightens up even the darkest situations. Not once have you ever backed down from something you believe to be right. But most of all you changed my view on the world."
I didn't care if I sounded corny or cliche, I just wanted to tell this wonderful woman my honest option about how I felt for her. I didn't expect or want anything from this encounter, merely to voice my opinion to her and hopefully settle her mind somewhat. I did not want another repeat of her tears from before...I might just go back and finish that pink idiot off for good if that happened.
"How did I do that?" She whispered her cheeks colouring with a dusky pink colour. Damn I just wanted to reach across the table pull her to me and kiss her. Must resist urge! Focus on the conversation Laxus, this is not the time for those kinds of thoughts. You were literally just telling yourself you didn't want anything like that from this situation!
"I always thought that the most important thing in this world was to have physical power," I dropped my head to avoid her eyes, my past actions against her and the guild causing a wave of guilt to crash over me. I'd been so misguided back then. "But you helped show me that true strength is the ability to to over come your own limits to protect those you hold dear. You can't be truly powerful unless you have a heart that cares for others."
"Oh."
I looked up to see tears swimming in her beautiful chocolate eyes. Oh shit! What did I do? I didn't mean to make her cry! Urg see this is why emotions are too much of a pain to deal with! Have I mentioned that I hate tears? Well I do, I never know what to do or say to stop them, though apparently I'm very good at causing them. Damn and I couldn't even blame Natsu for this bout.
"Would you like to order?" Oh thank god, saved by the waiter!
"Erm yes." I nodded trying to hide how awkward I was feeling at the moment.
"The usual miss?" The waiter looked over at Lucy who was blinking rapidly to hide the tears. Ah so my earlier suspisions were correct, this is a her regular joint.
"Yes please." She smiled then turned to me "Do you know what you'd like Laxus?
"Hmm," I glanced quickly at the menu on the table. "Just a cheeseburger and fries with a coffee." Greesy food was needed, the after effect of the previous night were still hounding me.
"Coming right up." He smiled and quickly left us to fall into and uncomfortable silence. Crap what did I say now? I didn't want to put my foot in it and upset her again.
"Um..Laxus."
"Yes," My eyes snapped straight back to her own, less teary ones. Oh thank god they dried up.
"Thank you." She gave me the most wonderful smile, that made my heart clench in my chest. This woman was a danger to society, that smile of hers was a lethal weapon I'm telling you. "Hearing you defend me, hearing your thoughts about me, knowing how much you care for me, thank you it means a lot to me."
"It's...no problem." I coughed to try and hide my embrassement and to conceal the feelings running rampent over seeing her look so dazzling.
"But would it be okay if I took some time to answer your feelings," She moved her hands to the table and started fiddling with the napkin under her cutlery. "I don't want to answer now while my head is still such a mess and possibly hurt you."
"Take all the time you need." My hand instinctively reach out across the small table and layed over her own fidgetty ones. Even though her own heart was breaking and her head was a mess, she was still worried about others. How could she be so kind and selfless? Ah shit, it just made me love her even more!
"But...would it be okay..if maybe, we could hang out some times and get to know each other better?" She turned doubtful eyes to me this time. "Or is that too selfish?"
"Nah," I grinned and decided to try and lighten the mood. "Mean who wouldn't want to hang out with me, I'm such a fine specimen after all."
Her laughter made my nausiating comment worth it and caused a true smile to grace my own face. It'd been a long time since I'd ever just broken out smiling that this, usually it was just a smirk or a sly grin. After that we fell into quiet conversations and simply enjoyed our food. Even if she never returned my feelings, I was okay as long as we got to be together like this from time to time.
*Lisanna's P.O.V*
"That seemed to go well." I chuckled as I walked back to Bixlow's apartment after we'd finished our spying mission. "Also that gadget of yours is extremely handy."
"I aim to please," Bix chuckled his tongue doing its usual thing...Damn I really needed to find out what that thing could do. Mind out of the gutter Lis, dear god why did this man make me so thirsty?
"That you do." I giggled, taking hold of his hand and continue on our walk. The conversation between the two blondes had go smoothly and I think it was a sign of great things to come.
"It was nice to see her soul back to the usual colour." Bix sighed as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Wait what?
"What do you mean?" I was honestly confused. Did souls have colours?
"Well usually hers is a brilliant shiny pink colour. "He explained. "But it had gone all dull and murky after last night. She's had a lot to deal with mentally."
"Oh." I felt so guilty hearing that, most of what had caused my friend such pain was because of my selfish actions. I should have had Freed drop the rune they got caught in last night instead of letting it play out. What hurt the most though was that poor Lucy had been struggling all day emotionally and she hadn't confided in me. She'd probably not wanted to ruin the happy buzz from the party last night but still! She could still have talked to me! Why did she always feel like sharing her hurt burdened people?
"It's not your fault you know." Bix stopped me and pulled me into a giant bear hug. His warmth helped a little but my eyes still prickled with tears.
"Then why do I feel so guilty?" Suddenly my own damn of tears broke and I just sobbed into his chest. My friend had gotten hurt because of my obsession with setting her up, so how wasn't it my fault?
"You were only trying to help Lis," He stroked my back and placed a kiss on my forhead. "You didn't mean for the Cheerleader to get hurt, it wasn't like you set out to break her heart."
"But it still happened, because I wouldn't fully let go of that damn plan I'd concucted." I nuzzled into his chest, trying to wipe my tears away. "I should have stuck to my guns after that night in the bar and never let her fall into that stupid trap last night."
"I'm just as much to blame for that." That was such a stupid thing to say, he'd never have gotten involved in this whole thing if I hadn't dragged him into it.
"No you're not, this is all on me." I felt my shoulders sag in defeat. I should stop this whole plan, I'd caused enough damage.
"Yes I am," He pushed me back and stared into my eyes. "When we asked Freed to set that one, I'd planned to use it on you. But then you were having so much fun dancing and helping give the others a push, that I didn't have the heart to pull you away to use it and before I knew it everything happened with Natsu and Lucy. So I am just as much to blame."
I just stared at him, as his revelation settled into my brain. He'd planned to use it on me? Why? He didn't need to set a rune to get me to kiss him passionately, I did that all the time. To be honest I'd do it 24/7 if I was allowed too.
"I'd had a plan of my own for last night, you see." His cheeks dusted with a small blush. "I'd wanted to tell you something, but then everything went pear shaped."
"But you don't need Freed's runes to tell me anything," I slipped my hand up to cup his cheek. What could he possibly wanted to tell me to have needed help with?
My heart was hammering a mile a minute at this news, it didn't feel like he'd wanted to tell me anything bad. Looking at him and seeing him so vulnerable in this moment, it dawned on me, just how truly and deeply I'd fallen for him. What had started as a desparate plea to avoid a bad situation, had turned into a crush and then bloomed into something way more.
"I love you." I blurted the words out without realising what I was doing. But I didn't care, I had nothing to be afraid of with him. Knew he'd never hurt me or reject those words. After all he'd been showing me his feelings every day, even before we got together.
"You beat me to it." He laughed before pulling me back and kissing me gently. "I love you Lisanna Strauss."
A/N: Hey guys, back again with a new chapter, tell me what you think? I had a lot of fun writing this one...anything romancy and fluffy is my favourite thing to write, so I always have fun with the couples in this story. Feel free to suggest a fluffy situation you'd like to see written into the next chapter and I'll see what I can do with it. ^^