What's this? A chapter? Surprising, isn't it?
Once again, I am incredibly sorry for the long wait on this. My priorities have been all over the place lately and writing really hadn't been something I've wanted to - so I haven't. Tonight, after deciding to step away from some projects (and some 'friends') that have taken up too much of my time, I finally got back to something I actually enjoyed and missed, and sure enough, that was writing. I missed it, you guys. There's nothing like people fucking you over to remind you of what you truly enjoy.
Anyway, this chapter was a long time coming, and the final product doesn't really do my original plan for it any justice. It's also extremely unedited, and since I'm off my medication right now and my mind isn't really working, I'm not even going to attempt to proof read this. Deal with it.
By the end of the night, Lucy had eaten so much food that she didn't even have the energy to get up off the lounge where she'd collapsed after eating the small bowl of fruit cake and custard for dessert. Alexander and his family had left just after dessert, Felix and Idelle had bid everyone else goodnight around the same time while mumbling about needing to sleep for the next week, and around the same time, Bickslow had disappeared upstairs to put Scarlett to bed as well. If Lucy'd had the energy to care about being left downstairs by herself, then she would've. But she just didn't have the energy to do anything but stare up at the ceiling in the living room, and wonder if Bickslow's parents would mind if she just slept down there that night.
"Are you dead?"
She smiled tired up at Bickslow as he came to stand at the end of the lounge, peering down at her. "You know what? I think I am."
"Mm-hmm, okay. Anyway, come on, get up."
Lucy groaned, trying to roll towards the back of the lounge and failing. She didn't even have the energy to do that. "Didn't you hear? I'm dead. I can't get up."
"Guess I'm into necrophilia then," Bickslow mumbled.
"Wow. Kinky."
"Yeah, what's new? But seriously, time to get up," he said again. As much as Lucy probably wanted to stay down there, Bickslow just couldn't let that happen. He had other plans. Plans that involved Lucy actually getting her ass off the lounge and going upstairs.
"Nooo, why?" Lucy whined. Why couldn't he just let her stay there, damn it. She was comfortable and it wasn't even that hot downstairs. "I don't wanna get up. I can't be bothered getting up anyway."
That just wasn't going to do. So nodding to himself, Bickslow stepped around to the front of the lounge to bend down and pick Lucy up. And really, it wasn't that easy considering she was being extremely uncooperative, but he managed eventually. "God, stop squirming before I drop you," he complained. He didn't think Lucy would appreciate that.
Lucy accepted her defeat and only proceeded to pout as she let Bickslow carry her upstairs - not that she really had much choice in it anyway. Still, she couldn't help but wonder how he even had the energy to do anything himself. He'd eaten twice as much as he had, yet he still had the energy to carry her up the stairs. "How do you not want to die right now anyway?" she asked. "I mean… You ate so much food…"
He shrugged as best he could. "My stomach is a bottomless pit," he answered. That being said, if he had eaten any more, then he really might've been feeling like Lucy was right then. If he was honest though, he had found it amusing seeing Lucy eat as much as she had. She'd made sure to try a little of everything, and considering Felix had been in the kitchen most of the day and even the night before getting things ready, there'd been a lot of different foods and salads.
"Clearly," Lucy muttered. "It's a mystery you don't weigh like two-hundred kilos…"
"Good genes, I guess. And, contrary to popular belief, I do actually like to stay somewhat in shape." Or at least, he used to care about it. Those days he was just interested in sleeping and eating. That, and looking after his kid. But that was fine. Staying in shape required energy, and that was something he was severely lacking those days.
Lucy only groaned into his shoulder as he finally reached the top of the stairs and began to walk on a flat surface again. She had to admit that it was somewhat nice being carried all the way to bed (or at least that was where she hoped Bickslow was taking her, because she didn't have the energy to do anything but lay down), even if actually going up the stairs had almost made her want to throw up on him. Still though, it was the first time she'd been upstairs since she'd grabbed a loose dress to put on over her swimsuit, and even having only been up there for a few moments, Lucy knew that it was far warmer up there than it was downstairs. "It's so hot up here…" she complained.
"Come on, it's not that bad."
"It's at least ten degrees cooler downstairs."
"Oh, it is not." It was only a couple of degrees at most. But still, it wasn't that bad.
"Why couldn't you just leave me down there?" Lucy whined. She might've tried to slip out of his hold if she'd had the energy. "I was comfy…"
"Uh, well… Do you promise not to laugh at me?"
"Bix, I always laugh at you."
Fair point. But that was usually because he was being an idiot. Then again, right then was no different. Grimacing, he pushed his bedroom door open with his shoulder and slowly walked in. "Well, uh… I know you haven't exactly been having the best time here, and that's mostly my fault, I guess…" he mumbled, coming to a stop by his bed and then letting Lucy down to her feet. "And, um, I guess you're in a better mood today, which is like super fucking great, honestly…"
Lucy shrugged. "I like Christmas."
He figured it was that, but still, he'd take anything over her ignoring him and probably wanting to murder him. The fact she'd actually been happy that day was a bonus. "Anyway… I still know that you don't, you know, like it here, which is still my fault and all. And, uh… I just kind of wanted to do something nice for you to help you try and relax or something maybe, and, uh…" He rubbed the back of his neck and made a point of looking away as he rested one hand on the door for the bathroom. I'm an idiot. What was I thinking? Holy fuck, this is dumb. "I think I remember you saying something about loving baths, and I just thought… Maybe… You'd like it…"
Lucy let herself in as Bickslow continued to ramble. The room smelled like roses and lavender, with just a touch of vanilla from what Lucy assumed to be the pillar candles flickering around the room. The room was dim and the ceiling fan overhead (the one that Lucy had been surprised to find in every bathroom in the house) was moving just enough to feel it. On the other side of the tiled room, the large bath was filled to the brim with mountains of bubbles almost spilling over the edge.
"God, I'm sorry," Bickslow groaned as he dragged a hand down his face, pushing off from the wall before he followed Lucy into the room a moment later. "This is stupid. I don't know what I was thinking, honestly. Just… Just forget about it. You can just go to bed or—wait… What are you doing?"
"What do you think I'm doing?" Lucy mumbled, giving him an odd look over her shoulder as she dropped her dress down onto the floor. "You don't wear clothes in the bath, Bix."
"I… I know that…"
Granted, maybe having a warm bath wasn't the smartest idea since it was still well above twenty degrees inside and outside the house, but Lucy could never say no to a bath. She really did love them, especially when she was tired. With her bikini joining her dress on the bathroom floor, Lucy stepped forward so she could carefully step into the warm water. For once, she was glad that it wasn't too hot, because her skin was already a little raw from an afternoon in the sun, but it was still fine.
Settling into the bath and spilling just a tiny bit of the water and the bubbles, Lucy couldn't help but laugh at the dazed look on Bickslow's face. He's so cute like that. "Are you joining me?" she asked. There was plenty of room for him, since she was sure that tub was even bigger than the one he had in his own bathroom back home.
"What? Oh, uh… No, no…" Bickslow shook his head quickly. "This is… This is for you. I'm not… I'm just gonna go and—"
"Bickslow."
He knew that smile. He didn't like it. "I don't have a choice, do I?"
"Nope."
Bickslow sighed as he accepted his defeat and began to undress. It wasn't like he had to worry about Scarlett since she was fast asleep (and he was so glad for it), but he'd still been planning on just giving Lucy her space. Even if she had been a good mood that day, Bickslow knew how annoying his family could be, and not even he could handle them for long at the best of times. He really had just thought Lucy would enjoy the peace and quiet before passing out for the night.
But, well… If she wanted his company, then who was he to say no?
With Lucy at one end, Bickslow slid down at the other end and rolled his eyes when Lucy stretched her legs out and pressed her feet against his stomach. "Was that necessary?"
"Completely," she giggled. That was what he got for dragging her off the lounge where she was comfortable. Besides, she knew Bickslow didn't even care. So she merely made herself as comfortable as she could in the warm bath, resting her feet on the Seith mage and scooping up a handful of bubbles by her chin to blow them towards him. "This is always a nice way to end the day."
"I guess…" Bickslow mumbled. Honestly though, he'd much rather have his nose in a book, or even just be in bed. That being said, there really were worse ways to end a day.
In the silence that followed, Lucy found her mind wandering to the conversation she'd had with Anya earlier in the day, and she didn't even try and stop it. She couldn't help but be curious, and she already knew that Bickslow had no issues with talking about how things could've been between them had things gone differently, so Lucy didn't see the harm in actually talking to him about it again. If anything, it'd prove to be entertaining, and it might keep her awake for a little while longer.
"If we'd been married," she began, "I'd have moved here, right?"
Bickslow shrugged. Surprisingly, it wasn't something he'd thought about - not that he'd ever had a reason to think about it. He was just a little surprised that it was something Lucy was thinking about, though. "I imagine so. Wouldn't really make sense for me to move to Acalypha since I'd be the head of the company and I'd need to be here anyway," he answered. "Why?"
"Oh… You know… I was just talking to Anya earlier, and she said that she's kind of living my life… And it just got me thinking, that's all."
"Right…" He'd never really seen it that way, but he supposed it made sense.
"I think I would've liked it here, though," Lucy continued, looking around at the tiled room and taking in all the little details that she could see - not that there were many at all since it was just a bathroom. Still, it was just as neat as the rest of the house, and Lucy was beginning to really like it there. Well, mostly, at least. The weather wasn't the greatest, but she couldn't do much about that. "This place is growing on me."
"Well, I'm glad you like it here," Bickslow murmured. The more she liked it, the more chance he had of convincing her to stay for a little while longer.
"Would we have lived here, with your family?"
Bickslow shook his head. "Nah. We'd probably have ended up where my brother lives now."
"Where's that?"
"In town. We would've gone past it on our way here."
Now that she thought about it, Lucy was sure she had seen something with Redfarrow on it when they'd been going through town. She'd really only seen some iron gates, though, not any kind of house. "Is it a house like this?" she decided to ask. She hadn't seen much of town from the short journey through it so she wasn't sure what the architecture was like.
"It's more like my house," he answered. He'd been fifteen when his parents had bought the house in town, so he'd at least seen a little bit of it. Back then though, it had been empty, just waiting for him to come of age and take his place at the head of the company. The last time he'd seen it, Bickslow hadn't exactly been able to picture to newly painted rooms and sparse gardens as his home, and he certainly hadn't been able to picture it as his future home. In any case, he'd seen how his brother and sister-in-law had decorated it, and it was far more like his own home than it was the house he'd grown up in. It was just a little more charming, and cosy, too, and that was what Bickslow had always liked about his home back in Magnolia. It had everything he needed, even if it was feeling a little too empty those days since the rest of his team had moved out.
"I like your house," Lucy murmured. She loved his kitchen, but Lucy didn't think she'd have found anything to complain about if she'd lived in something similar. Perhaps she was a little biased at that point, though.
"Mm, so I've noticed."
Bringing her knees up, Lucy turned in the tub so she could slide back and settle against Bickslow's chest, reaching at the same time to pull his arm off the side of the tub and wrap it around her stomach, resting her hand on top of his. The sigh he let out gave away the eye roll that went with it, and Lucy couldn't quite keep the smirk off her face.
"You good there?" Bickslow mumbled.
"Mm-hmm. I am now." Sure, she was a little warm, but she was comfortable, and that was clearly all that mattered. Leaning back into Bickslow's shoulder, Lucy's attention was drawn to the small tattoo on the inside of his other arm. She supposed it was her favourite of the three, but it wasn't really like she had much to choose from; it was really the only normal one he had. Still, with all that had been brought up over the last couple of days, and even with what they were talking about then, Lucy couldn't help but start thinking about something she really wished she wouldn't. "What do you think would've happened if we had been together?" she decided to ask, pushing the bubbles back and forth across the top of the water with her free hand.
"Seriously, what's with the questions?"
"I don't know… I'm just curious."
Bickslow supposed he liked her curiosity, but he couldn't deny that it was still all a little odd. But, it was just odd enough that he decided to indulge her. "I don't know," he sighed. "Depends what you mean."
"Well… What about kids?" Lucy said.
"Didn't we already talk about this?"
"W-Well, yeah… But… But that's not what I meant." She remembered their last bathtub conversation well, and how they'd joked about surnames and how it was decided that they most definitely would've had a girl. "I meant what would've happened when we found out I can't even have children… Like, what would your parents think?"
"Seriously? That's what you're thinking about right now?" Bickslow said.
"I guess…" she mumbled. She wished she wasn't thinking about it, but now it was stuck in her head and it had no chance of leaving her alone. "I mean, having kids was the entire point, wasn't it?"
"Well, I wouldn't say that it was the entire point."
"It's not like there would've been anything else," Lucy pointed out. "But I mean it. What would've happened? Would your parents have made you marry again? Or… Or would they have given the company to your brother instead?"
"Jesus, Cosplayer. I don't fucking know." It really wasn't something he'd ever thought about, nor was it something he'd intended on thinking about. But now he was, and Bickslow would be lying if he said it didn't make him all kinds of uncomfortable. There were just a few things he really wished he didn't know right then. It would've made things so much easier. "Do I actually have to answer that?"
She considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. Yes, you do."
Walked right into that one. "Of course I do…" he muttered under his breath, letting out a sigh. The fact that he was inclined to think Lucy was worrying about nothing wasn't something he wanted to bring up right then. It wasn't even something he wanted to think about, but considering the conversation topic, it was a little difficult to avoid it. "Well… It's not like my parents would've cared. If they did, well… Well they're shittier than I thought. And, really, I doubt it would've been a big deal at all if we didn't have kids."
"But who would've taken over the company after you?" Lucy asked.
"Lex, most likely. Or Lex's kid, because he would've been married at some point anyway." Now that he thought about it, Bickslow was sure his parents would've loved to have his brother running the family business with him, or at the very least Bickslow knew his mother would've loved it. And if it wasn't his child that took the helm after him, then it would be his brother's.
"So no kids then?"
"I don't know…" he mumbled. He wasn't really capable of saying no right then for whatever reason, even if it would've made things far less awkward. "Would've been up to you, I guess…"
Lucy tipped her head back to look back at him. "Up to me? What do you mean?"
"Well… I mean, we could've always adopted or something… If you'd wanted to, at least."
"What about your parents?"
"What about them?"
"Well… Would they have, you know, accepted that?"
"Of course they would've," Bickslow scoffed. He really didn't know where Lucy was getting the idea that his parents were total fucking dicks. Perhaps he was a little biased, but he liked to think he'd gotten lucky with how accepting his parents actually were. "Why do you say that?"
Lucy gave a small shrug as she looked back down embarrassedly. "I don't know…" Lucy murmured. "I guess I just thought they'd prefer to make sure the family is pure, or something…"
Bickslow couldn't help but laugh at that, snorting a little. "Oh, come on. That kind of shit means fuck all. I mean, Dad's a fucking Boscan and I'm a bloody Seith mage. There's nothing pure about my family anymore."
"Oh… Right…" She supposed adoption would've hypothetically been an option. She knew her father wouldn't have liked it, but at least she would've had something to do if they'd adopted. Lucy didn't think she'd have enjoyed being stuck at home with absolutely nothing to do, and she had a feeling she wouldn't have been allowed to do much else other than be a parent, since that was what she was supposed to be doing anyway. Even then, Lucy wasn't sure what Bickslow's magic had to do with anything. "What about us, though?" she asked then.
"Hm?"
"You know, what do you think things would've been like between us? Would we have gotten along, or… Or would we have been more like your brother and Anya?"
Somehow, that was the question that surprised Bickslow the most. He already knew things would've been exactly the same as they were right then, but he couldn't quite tell if that was because he knew what Lucy was to him, or if it was wishful thinking. He was inclined to think it was a little of both at that point. "We get along now, don't we? Why would it be any different?"
Lucy gave a small shrug. "I don't know. I haven't really thought about it," she said. "So you think things would've been okay with us?"
"Everything would've been fine," Bickslow said softly. He knew that for a fact. "My parents would've adored you just as much as they already do now, your dad probably would've realised that making you marry me was a complete fucking mistake, and you would still hate me as much as you do right now."
"I don't hate you."
"Come on, you do so. Just a little bit," he teased.
"Only when you're annoying like this," Lucy grumbled, although she couldn't even keep up with that when Bickslow squeezed her middle and smothered her cheek with kisses until she managed to wriggle far enough away. "Like right now!" she squealed. It was like he lived to annoy her sometimes. She really wouldn't put it past him at that point.
Bickslow chuckled as he leant back again, letting Lucy settle herself again while doing her best to pout and sulk. Still, no matter how much Lucy sulked, Bickslow knew better. He always knew better. "Oh, come on. You love it when I annoy you."
"I do not."
"Mm-hmm, you do," he insisted. "I'm pretty sure I annoyed you into liking me." For the most part, Bickslow wasn't even sure why he'd always loved annoying her so much. Considering the circumstances though, he was inclined to think all the horribly inappropriate jokes and comments he'd aimed at her over the years had been totally worth it.
Perhaps he was enjoying things just a little too much.
Lucy didn't particularly want to agree, but she could see that Bickslow did have a point. It just happened to be a horribly annoying point. She had no intentions of admitting out loud that she'd never really minded Bickslow annoying her. She'd always just found it mildly amusing.
In any case, as much as Lucy loved to keep pouting and perhaps ignore the stupid Seith mage until he gave up and apologised for being a menace, it was just way too hot to stay in the bath. And it was a shame, too, because she really did love her baths, especially when they smelled like flowers and had bubbles and apparently involved human pillows… But Lucy had other plans. Plans that involved getting out of the bath.
"Alright. Come on," Lucy sighed, patting Bickslow's arm before she carefully climbed out of the tub. "Too warm in here."
Bickslow only sighed before he pulled himself out of the tub as well, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his hips before pulling the plug in the bath and letting the water spiral down the drain. He had to admit that getting out of it was relieving. He'd inwardly been regretting letting Lucy convince him to get in with her. Sure, baths were nice and all, but he was almost tempted to either jump straight into the pool or a cold shower to cool himself down again. The only problem was that Bickslow couldn't particularly be bothered to do either of those things.
He only glanced towards Lucy already reclined on the bed as he walked out of the bathroom. He didn't notice her watching him intently until he reached the dresser and she asked, "What are you doing?"
"Uh… Getting dressed?" Bickslow answered.
"Huh. Well…" Lucy looked down at herself as she reached to slowly unwrap the towel. "I guess that means I should get dressed too?"
"I, um… I mean…"
Lucy didn't give Bickslow the chance to come up with an answer before she beckoned him over to the bed, a smile playing on her lips. "Come here."
Bickslow obliged, of course, gently climbing onto the mattress once he was near enough. She pulled him down with a hand on the back of his neck just to kiss him, and he let himself melt into it for a moment before sliding off to the side and propping himself up on an arm. "Weren't you complaining about being dead not that long ago?" he asked, doing his best to ignore Lucy's delicate fingers that continued to wander down his abdomen. It was a miracle he wasn't already squirming.
She shrugged into the pillow. "Perhaps I found some energy," she said. "Are you saying no?"
"W-Well, no." Sure, he was exhausted and hot, but he wasn't that tired. Besides, it was pretty hard to turn her down when she was lying naked right in front of him. "I just… I didn't think you'd be interested. But me? I'm totally game. Don't worry about me."
"Relax then," Lucy laughed quietly, pressing herself to him as her lips found his and her hand tugged at the towel. Truth be told, she could've easily just gone and found some clothes and actually gone to bed, but that wasn't any fun. Besides, she still had to thank the guy for his Christmas present. Her empty photo album was far too inadequate, and Lucy knew she had to make up for that.
Tongues slipped together as she continued to stroke his cock and feel him harden in her hand. Bickslow's hands wandered down her side, pushing the rest of the towel out of the way before taking hold of her thigh and pulling it up over his hip. Lucy couldn't help but squeal, although it was muffled by Bickslow's mouth still on hers. She pulled her hand back up when Bickslow worked his own between them, dipping between her legs to tease her folds while his lips sought out her neck.
Lucy moaned quietly as she ground down on his hand. She knew it hadn't been that long since they'd been together - just a couple of weeks, really - but it always felt like it had been too long with him. But Lucy didn't think that it was a bad thing. There were worse people to be addicted to.
Bickslow's patience waned faster than he would've liked, and he pulled his hand back up just to grip her waist instead and pull her up slightly. Lucy was right above him, and all he had to do was reach down and adjust his dick to be inside her, but Lucy sat up abruptly right before he could, and he couldn't help but whine a little in his disappointment. So close.
"Wait," she said. She shifted back off to the side, looking elsewhere as Bickslow turned with her. "I wanted to try something."
"What? Like anal or something?" He wasn't opposed if that was what she was planning, although he did have to say he was surprised.
"N-No!" Lucy shrieked. "Not… Not that…" In hindsight, Lucy supposed she should've seen that one coming. Perhaps her choice of words hadn't been the best. And thinking about it, ignoring the near scorching heat on her cheeks as Bickslow only laughed at her, Lucy figured saying it wouldn't work at all. So she kissed him instead, softly at first until she touched his shoulder and gave him the hint to move with her. Her fingers threaded through his hair and her leg around his hip. She really wasn't used to being the one in that position, but it already wasn't quite as horrible as she remembered. "I meant… I meant like this," she said, pushing back on Bickslow's chest just to get a word in.
Bickslow didn't know if he was just too tired to understand what Lucy was trying to say, or if she was just being incredibly vague. He supposed it was both.
Lucy rolled her eyes at him. "God, forget about it," she muttered. "Doesn't matter." It was all stupid anyway. I shouldn't have said anything at all. Now she was stuck there under the stupid Seith mage who wouldn't stop laughing at her.
"Oh, come on. Don't be like that. Tell me what you mean."
"No, because you'll just laugh at me like you already are!"
Bickslow had to take a deep breath to stop laughing. Even then, he was finding it hard not to chuckle at the pout on her lips, but he was smart enough to realise that him laughing hadn't helped at all. "Alright, fine. I'm sorry. No more laughing." Although, he did have to wonder just what the fuck Lucy wanted if she was worried about him laughing even more. His arms were hurting already though so he shifted slightly, just enough to take the weight off them and instead put it on Lucy instead. She didn't object to it, not unless her rolling her eyes again counted, but he wasn't allowed to laugh any more so he only kissed her cheek as she turned away stubbornly. "Now, tell me what you want. I promise I won't laugh," he said softly.
Lucy knew she wasn't going to get him to drop it now. And as much as he laughed at her, Lucy didn't think she had much to worry about when it came to telling Bickslow anything. She'd told him more embarrassing things already. "I just… I just meant that we could, you know, do it like this." Once more, Lucy did her best to ignore the searing heat on her cheeks and the odd look Bickslow was giving her as she gestured vaguely to them both with her hands. "I mean the way we are now."
Admittedly, it took Bickslow a moment to figure it out. Lucy really hadn't made it easy, but he supposed he could blame her for being so damn vague. At that point though, Bickslow was more interested in talking to her than anything else. He was too curious for his own good. But, that didn't stop him from shifting slightly just to lean on his elbow and drag his other hand down Lucy's side, just to dip between her legs and brush against her core.
"Why do you hate it so much anyway?" he asked. He had always wondered just what it was that made Lucy so adamantly against being on her back, but it wasn't something he'd ever bothered thinking about for more than three seconds. Bickslow really just didn't give a shit how he got laid most of the time, as long as he did.
"It's stupid," Lucy mumbled.
"I doubt it."
"Do you promise not to laugh at me?"
"I mean… I can try not to…" Apparently that turned out to be the wrong thing to say when Lucy dug her hand into his side, and he rolled his eyes as he groaned from the dull pain. "Jeez, Cosplayer. I'm kidding. Relax," he said lightly.
Relaxing was easier said than done right then, but she could at least try. Lucy already knew that Bickslow was just going to say she was making a big deal out of nothing, because that was how she already felt about it. It was just a matter of actually believing that. Bickslow's fingers weren't quite as distracting as she'd like, but it was enough to almost make her want to squirm and Lucy supposed that was a good thing right then. Still, even with the way they were right then, Lucy still refused to actually face Bickslow when she finally let out a sigh and began quietly, "My first time was like this - I mean, in this… In this… position."
Bickslow tilted his head, watching her for a moment carefully. "I mean, if it was shitty, then pretty much everyone's first time is shitty. You don't even wanna know what mine was like."
"I… I know that…" Lucy mumbled. "And, it was bad, but…" She sighed again, wishing she could just bury her face in the pillow beside her. "It's just… The guy I was with kept saying that, you know, only couples do it that way… Because it's classified as like, making love then… And then people can see you, and it's embarrassing, because… Because everyone - especially me, apparently - looks stupid when they actually, you know, finish…"
He knew Lucy had told him not to laugh, but damn it, Bickslow was having a hard time keeping a straight face. If Lucy hadn't looked so horribly uncomfortable then he might've actually laughed, but he had enough common sense to know that laughing would just hurt her, and, well… Then we wouldn't get laid. And he really, really didn't want to just go finish himself off in his bathroom. There was no fun in that.
Of course, there was nothing fun about hurting Lucy's feelings at all either, no matter how ridiculous he found the situation. So no laughing was allowed.
"Lucy, baby, come on. That's fucking stupid. You know that, right?"
She only gave a small shrug. Strangely, Lucy did know how stupid it sounded. But that hadn't stopped it from being stuck at the back of her head for years.
"It's just sex, Cosplayer. Doesn't matter what you call it, it's always going to be the same," he said, pulling his hand back up from between Lucy's legs. "Also, need I remind you that I've seen you when you cum?"
So, she might've failed to realise that, and it made Lucy want to hide all the more. "I… I mean…"
"Lucy, you're fine. You're more than fine. I assure you," Bickslow sighed. He almost couldn't believe that Lucy had let something so stupid like that get to her. But the fact was that it had, and Bickslow couldn't really change that. "That guy sounds like a dick, though. You shouldn't worry about what some asshole like that has to say."
"Does that mean I shouldn't listen to you either?" Lucy quipped.
Bickslow might've been offended had he not been staring right at the smirk planted firmly on her lips. "You definitely shouldn't listen to me." Listening to anything he had to say was likely the stupidest thing anyone could ever do. Well, that was what his team always said anyway. "You know we don't have to do anything if you don't want to," he said quietly after a long pause.
"No, no… I… I still want to." She was more nervous than she cared to admit (why, she didn't quite know), and she was a little too uncomfortable for her liking, but that still wasn't enough to completely turn her off. "Now come on, hurry up before I change my mind."
"Wow, pushy," Bickslow mumbled. He pulled himself up again, hovering over her as he guided her legs far enough apart that he could fit between them. A hand on her thigh told him more than he liked, and he frowned down at her as he sat back on his knees. She was way too tense. "You gotta relax, Cosplayer. Otherwise this isn't happening."
Funnily enough, being told she needed to relax did nothing to help the matter. She really hoped Bickslow was aware of that. "I know…" Lucy muttered, shifting slightly just in an attempt to get more comfortable. She supposed she might've had more luck had she not felt so utterly embarrassed like that, or if being like that didn't just make her hips and lower back ache. How people found it comfortable to lie like that, Lucy had no clue. "It's just… embarrassing. But I'm fine, I promise."
Bickslow doubted it, but he figured that pressing the issue would just make it work. So he gave Lucy the benefit of the doubt, even if he had a voice at the back of his head telling him he was a fucking idiot for doing so and that he was just going to feel awful afterwards, and inched forward just enough that his knuckles just barely brushed against pussy each time he stroked his cock.
For once, he might actually need to be patient. It certainly wasn't his style, but he already guessed that Lucy wasn't really into any of it right then, and he really didn't want to make Lucy any more comfortable than she already was. That was the last thing he wanted to do. Bickslow felt the odd need to make up for some other jackass's idiocy, not that he'd ever admit it out loud. He was never one for cleaning up other people's messes, but that time, he would. He didn't think he had anything to lose by trying to show Lucy she didn't really have anything to worry about anyway.
Sitting up just slightly, he held onto her hip as he slowly eased into her. She winced just slightly. Bickslow made sure to be as gentle as he could, taking his time to avoid making her more uncomfortable necessary. It was easy to watch her face when she was making a point of looking away, and it was a little difficult to not notice that she really wasn't enjoying it, even if she did whimper slightly when he sunk into her.
"Lucy, I mean it," Bickslow said softly, pausing as he looked down at her worriedly. "I can stop. If you're not into this the—"
"No, god, I… I am," Lucy sighed. Why, why does he keep asking me that? Lucy didn't understand it for the life of her. If she hated it, then she really would've said so. She'd had worse. Far worse. It just… wasn't the most comfortable situation, is all. That was fine. She still hadn't changed her mind on it, though, and if Bickslow asked her if she wanted to stop one more time, then she really was just going to get dressed and go back to the guest room. "I just… I feel like I don't know where to put my arms, okay? And… And it's awkward and… And stop looking at me like that!"
Bickslow had promised not to laugh, but he was really trying hard not to burst out laughing right then. Lucy pouting at him wasn't helping the matter either. "Really? That's what you're worried about? You don't know where to put your arms?" Sometimes Bickslow wasn't sure how anyone could hate Lucy. It was hard not to adore her when she was so stupid. "Alright, just…" He couldn't help but sigh as he carefully leant down, holding himself up above her on his arms by her head. "Just put them like this, alright?" he said, slowly pulling Lucy's arm up to drape behind his shoulder.
Lucy took another moment to try and get herself comfortable. She supposed it was slightly better, but now it was hard to look away from Bickslow then and she couldn't really help but find it annoyingly painful to keep laying like that. So she decided to try shifting again, wrapping her legs loosely around Bickslow's hips.
"You good now?" Bickslow asked.
She nodded quickly. Bickslow only waited another second before he began moving again, keeping his pace slow and steady. Lucy couldn't keep herself from letting out a gasp and biting her lip when she felt him slip just that little bit deeper inside her. With each thrust he'd roll his hips against her and rub against her clit. Lucy was almost inclined to think she'd been missing out by refusing to be caught on her back, but of course, he silenced that annoying thought before she actually had a chance to believe it.
"Faster," Lucy said, the breathlessness in her voice surprising even her as she continued to to cling to the Seith's shoulders.
"No," he replied instantly. His answer had come mostly without thinking. He supposed he could oblige her - which, at the back of his head sounded like a better idea anyway since he was trying to please her anyway - but he just really didn't want to. "Not tonight." It was fine the way it was. It certainly didn't help he didn't actually have the energy to do much more - he'd probably throw up if he started moving too much and he was fairly certain that Lucy wouldn't appreciate being thrown up on.
And the fact that Bickslow actually had said no only had Lucy blinking up at him surprise, catching the telltale smirk he had on his lips. Her surprise didn't last long before Bickslow angled his hips just right and she gasped again, not being able to help the quiet moan that followed.
Their skin grew slick with sweat as their bodies rubbed together. Lucy's hips moved in time with Bickslow's, doing her best to grind down on his cock with each forward thrust. She didn't particularly care whether she came or not - and she knew she wouldn't, not that time - but she could tell Bickslow was close from his breathing and the way he faltered in his steady movements just every so often. Bickslow certainly hadn't been trying to pace himself that much either. Considering his track record when it came to sex and his favourite cosplayer, Bickslow was convinced Scarlett was going to start crying any second and he wouldn't get to finish yet again. And as little as Bickslow wanted to admit it, he'd really, really needed to get laid again. He'd also really needed to cum again, but that was something he was very close to achieving.
The only problem was that Lucy wasn't. Which sucked, honestly, especially since he was trying to please her and all anyway. He sat up just enough to wedge the hand he'd had on her hip between them, barely having a chance to press his thumb against her clit before Lucy ripped his hand away. "Don't, please," she said, shaking her head slightly.
Bickslow looked down with an eyebrow arched. "But you haven't cum yet."
"I… I know…" Lucy murmured. The fact that Bickslow knew that was just a little embarrassing to her. No one else she'd been with had been able to tell, not that she'd been with that many guys or anything. In any case, Bickslow being right just didn't matter. "But it's fine. You don't have to... You know… I'm fine." And Bickslow's hesitation to actually believe her was as clear as day, so she grabbed him to quickly pull him down to her lips, holding his face between her hands. "Bickslow, I promise you, I'm fine. I don't need it."
Bickslow didn't like it. He didn't like it at all. But it didn't seem like the time or the place to argue with her about it. He'd just have to make up for it another time, and that was something Bickslow had no problems with. So he took Lucy's hint to continue, focusing on his own release instead.
It didn't take him long; his only warning to Lucy a few rough thrusts and a poorly suppressed moan into the pillow beside her head. Lucy's hand trailing along his side sent a shiver up his spine, and he couldn't help the quiet whimper that followed as his entire body tensed again. He was still catching his breath when he finally began to lift himself up, but he didn't get very far before Lucy was pulling him back down for another kiss. "You sure you're good?" he asked softly.
Lucy gave a small nod, a gentle smile on her lips and a warmth on her cheeks still. "I am." It could've been far worse. And that… That she wouldn't be opposed to doing again. Not anymore, at least.
When Lucy unwound her legs from his waist, Bickslow finally pulled himself away to collapse down onto the mattress beside her. He felt like he needed a shower. That, or he needed to go and jump into the pool to cool himself down. He didn't particularly want to sleep when he was still sticky with sweat, but he was honestly too tired to really do anything about it. I'll just have a shower in the morning. Yeah. That'll work. He preferred them in the morning anyway.
Lucy got up slowly after another moment, loosely wrapping the towel she'd been laying on around herself as she headed towards the bathroom. All she wanted to do was get some sleep as well, but she had no intentions of sleeping naked, and seeing her clothes from earlier still on the bathroom floor just reminded her that she still had all of her belongings in one of the guest rooms. And, really, the last thing Lucy wanted to be doing right then was sneaking out into the hall while she still had cum trickling down the inside of her leg. Oh no.
"Bix? Can you do me a favour?" she decided to ask, sticking her head around the corner of the door frame.
"Maybe."
"Can you please go into the guest room I was in and bring me back something to sleep in?"
Why it was necessary, Bickslow didn't know. But he didn't have the energy to argue, and he figured he'd be better off if he just did it. "Yeah, alright…" he groaned, heaving himself up from the bed and quickly pulling on some boxer shorts. He supposed it would be a good time to check on Scarlett, too, since he was up and all. Peering into the bassinet, he found her sound asleep with the babies spread around her, just as he'd left her, and he couldn't help but smile a little. Bickslow liked those moments, the ones where everything was quiet and reasonably perfect. He liked those moments a lot.
Lucy had apparently made it easy for him, though. Everything she'd brought with her to Astrantia was still tucked away in or on top of her bag. Had he had a bit more energy, he might've actually questioned it, but right then, Bickslow just didn't care to think about it. Bickslow didn't particularly care to rifle through her things either, so instead he just picked up the whole thing to take it back to his room. Really, he didn't know why Lucy had bothered making a point of staying in another room anyway.
When he returned to his room, Bickslow only dumped the bag on the chest by the end of his bed before flinging himself back onto the mattress with a groan. He missed his bed back home. It was like sleeping on a cloud - a cloud that was all warm and soft and smelled amazing. And all the pillows and extra blankets he had piled on top of it all the time just made him feel all cosy and safe. His bed in Astrantia didn't smell like jasmine flowers, and it wasn't as soft and comfy. And as much as he liked being warm, there was such a thing as too warm, and Bickslow was always way too hot to sleep at that time of year. Whenever he visited, he couldn't help but wonder how the fuck he'd ever gotten a good night's sleep while living there.
Lucy emerged from the bathroom a few moments later, only ridding herself of the towel to quickly dress. She wondered if Bickslow had already passed out by the time she finally made it back to the bed, but as soon as she climbed up onto the edge, he rolled back over with a tired sigh and reached out to switch off the lamp beside him. Lucy didn't hesitate to go right to his side once she was on the bed, resting her head on his shoulder and making herself just a little too comfortable.
So she was a cuddler, even when it was way too hot to be near another human. Either way, Bickslow didn't seem to care.
"So did you at least enjoy yourself today?" he decided to ask. He was already sure she had, but it wouldn't hurt to make sure.
"I did," Lucy answered. "Very much so. I'm really glad I came."
"Well, for what it's worth, I think my parents are glad you're here, too. Not so much Lex, but he's a pretentious dick and doesn't really like anyone, so he doesn't count anyway."
Lucy laughed softly. "I'm happy then." It had been so long since she'd celebrated a holiday with a proper family. She still adored the guild and was certain she'd always view everyone in it as part of her family, but spending Christmas with Bickslow's family and being able to be part of their Christmas traditions had been special to Lucy.
But being part of that all for the last few days had just made Lucy miss having a proper family of her own. She hadn't had that since her mother had died. And as much as she loved the guild, it just wasn't really the same. And as much as she hated to admit it, Bickslow and Scarlett were the closest thing she'd had to a real family for a long time. Natsu had been right.
And with all they'd been talking about for the last few days, and with how Lucy felt there, there was still that one thing at the back of her mind, and if she didn't get it out then, then it would surely eat at her conscience and she'd blurt it out at the worst possible time imaginable. Right then seemed a good as time as any, anyway. Or at least that was what she hoped.
"Can I tell you something?" she asked quietly.
"Of course. Always."
"Remember before when we were both sick, and… And you thought that I was pregnant, but of course I couldn't be because I was told I couldn't have kids?" Lucy paused, though not to give Bickslow a chance to actually say anything. He didn't need to."I… I was. Technically," she mumbled. "I guess it was early enough that it didn't really count… And I wouldn't have known unless I'd gone to the doctor anyway… And, uh… I just thought you should know…"
If he was honest, Bickslow was surprised Lucy was even saying any of it. He hadn't expected to ever be having that conversation with her. And that hadn't really bothered him. Sure, he would've liked to talk to her about it, but he'd been able to respect that talking just hadn't been what Lucy had wanted to do, so he'd just let Lucy handle it the way she'd wanted to. It had seemed like the right thing to do, after all.
Still, Bickslow knew he would've been perfectly fine had Lucy never told him herself. He hadn't needed it.
In any case, as much as Bickslow wanted to be able to sit there and pretend that he was shocked to be hearing what Lucy was telling him, he just couldn't, even if he knew that was probably the right thing to do.
"I know," he said softly.
"You… You knew?" Lucy whispered. "How?"
"I knew when you were supposed to go back in to see your doctor again, and I knew that something wasn't right when you came over afterwards. I figured you hadn't gotten the news you'd expected."
"Oh… I see…" There she'd been, thinking that Bickslow had been none the wiser to her little secret the entire time. Lucy couldn't help but feel stupid. Still, there was a part of her that was grateful Bickslow hadn't said anything. Perhaps he was better at keeping secrets than she thought.
It was another moment where Bickslow was sure Lucy wasn't interested in talking to him about it. She hadn't been back then, and she wasn't right then either, and that was fine. He figured all Lucy wanted to do right then was sleep, and that was something Bickslow could get behind himself. Turning his head slightly, he pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head before whispering, "I'll always be here for you, Cosplayer. Whenever you need."
Lucy smiled softly to herself for a second. "I know," she whispered.
Feeling the mattress shake for what he was sure the twentieth time in the last five minutes, Bickslow groaned into his pillow. "Stop moving so much," he grumbled. Granted, it wasn't like he'd been much better, tossing and turning every few minutes to try and get comfortable. It was just that he'd just run out of energy to even do that.
"I'm sorry," Lucy whined. She turned one final time, flopping herself back down onto the mattress and accidentally slapping the Seith mage beside her in the process.
"Damn it, Lucy." Bickslow couldn't even mad at her, even if being back-handed across the face sucked. He was too tired to care. Plus, Lucy laughing about it in her sleep-deprived state was slightly cute. But it was the middle of the fucking night, and he was trying to sleep, damn it. He couldn't very well do that when Lucy was flailing around as much as she was.
"It's just so hot," Lucy complained.
"I know." It was disgustingly hot. He was surprised Scarlett was sleeping as well as she was. He'd expected his trip to be a back home a nightmare when it came to her sleeping schedule. Perhaps she was more Astrantian than Magnolian, although that really just meant she was taking more after him than her mother, and Bickslow was inclined to think that was a good thing. Still, the fact that his daughter was sleeping didn't help with the fact that he just couldn't get to sleep that night, and apparently neither could Lucy. There was only so long that Bickslow could put up with the restless turning of the mage next to him, and he'd definitely reached his limit. So, with an arm blindly reaching out for the lamp beside him, Bickslow switched on the lamp and sluggishly pulled himself of his far too warm bed. "Alright, that's it."
He was tired, he was hot, and he was going for a fucking swim.
"What? Where are you going?" Lucy asked tiredly, rubbing her eyes as she pulled herself up.
Bickslow ducked into the bathroom to return with two fresh towels, throwing one of them at Lucy as he passed. "Going downstairs for a swim in the pool. Come on."
A swim sounds amazing right about now… It sure beat having a cold shower in the middle of the night, which, admittedly, she'd been tempted to do. She'd thought she was getting accustomed to the heat there until that night; Lucy honestly had no idea how Bickslow had lived through that for so many years. She still couldn't even wrap her head around what summer was like there.
After changing into a swimsuit, Lucy went to join Bickslow down by the pool. She barely made it downstairs before she was running into him in the hall and spinning to watch him rush the direction she'd just come from. "Wha—"
"Forgot something," Bickslow said quickly. "I'll be down in a sec."
Blinking back in surprise, Lucy merely shrugged before continuing on her way. Back in the bedroom, Bickslow cast a glance over his shoulder just to make sure Lucy hadn't followed him before he began his search for what he'd set out to find. He'd been having trouble finding a proper Christmas present for Lucy up until a few days prior. The stars had merely been a place holder, but even then, Bickslow didn't think very highly of that gift, and he wasn't quite sure why Lucy did. Still, it was the stars themselves that had reminded Bickslow of his second gift, the one he eventually found hidden in a drawer at his bedside.
Quickly and carefully as to not tangle the delicate chain, Bickslow pulled the necklace from its box and wrapped it around his knuckles on the way out of the room. He hadn't been quite sure about the gift when he'd bought it, and he still wasn't completely certain about it as he finally reached the pool outside. Little late to back out now.
Lucy was already in the pool, her eyes closed as she breathed slowly and contentedly, floating on her back. Even with her ears below the water, she'd been able to make out the sound of the Seith mage slipping into the pool from the splash he'd made. "You know, this might be the best idea you've ever had," she mused. Perhaps living in Astrantia wouldn't have been so bad after all, as long as she'd had a pool to make use of. Whenever she was so hot that she couldn't sleep, she just resorted to a cool shower or even a bath, but being able to just go for a quick dip in a pool was so much nicer.
"I'm glad you think that," Bickslow chuckled. He waded out to where Lucy floated to carefully reach out and touch her arm then the small of her back below the water to guide her back to the edge of the pool. "But come here, I wanted to give you something."
The water was just deep enough that she couldn't stand, so Lucy held onto the edge of the pool with one arm to conserve energy as she watched Bickslow carefully, seeing the chain unravel from his hand before he held it out to her for inspection. "For me?" she asked quickly.
Bickslow nodded. "I know it's probably a little inappropriate or something for me to buy you this and all, but, uh… I wanted to get you something nice for Christmas, and… And I saw this, and it made me think of you and…" He shook his head then, a nervous chuckle escaping as he averted his gaze for a moment. "And now I'm rambling, so I'll just shut up."
Lucy didn't know what to say as she looked between the small small tear-shaped pendant hanging in front of her and Bickslow. It was beautiful, that much was for sure. It was possibly the most beautiful piece of jewellery she'd ever seen, if she was honest, with the way the opaque stone glittered and shone in the moonlight, with just a hint of a rainbow reflecting within, but if how pretty it was had anything to do with how much it had cost, then Lucy wasn't sure she wanted to know how much it had been. "Bix, I… It's gorgeous. This is too much. I can't… I can't accept this."
"You can," he insisted, "because I bought it for you. No take-backs. That's the rule."
Accepting defeat, Lucy smiled and turned to allow Bickslow to do the clasp up at the back of her neck. No one had bought her jewellery before. She held the pendant carefully in her palm to admire it once more as she turned back around in the water. "Then thank you," she whispered. She pulled herself up slightly just to quickly press a kiss to his lips. "I love it. Although now I feel terrible… All I got you was that stupid scrapbook and you got me a star and this and—"
"Hey, are you kidding me? You've given me way more than some stupid scrapbook - not that it's stupid or anything."
"You don't need to try and make me feel better, it's fine," Lucy mumbled.
"Cosplayer, I mean it." Bickslow was convinced it was the best present anyone had ever given him. She'd actually put some thought into it, and that was something he adored. Cupping Lucy's cheek, he continued, "You've given me memories. I wouldn't have kept Scout if you hadn't believed in me. I wouldn't have gotten to be a dad, and god, do I love that. I really do. I wouldn't have any of this if it weren't for you."
Bickslow wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to make it up to Lucy, or ever really convey just how important all if it was to him. For now though, that would have to do.
"I think you're underestimating how much you're capable of doing on your own, but I guess that's why you keep me around," Lucy teased. Bickslow only rolled his eyes at her and she couldn't help but giggle quietly to herself. She knew full well that Bickslow didn't keep her around just because she was a good babysitter. "But really," she continued softly, "I'm just glad I get to be part of it all."
With silence falling over them, Bickslow turned his attention up to the night sky. Perhaps the thing he'd always loved the most about travelling between towns on foot, other than spending time with his team, was that he'd get to just lay there under the stars every night, falling asleep as he tried to count each and every one of them. It was no different right then either, although Bickslow couldn't tell if it was because of the stars or the fact that he was finally cool again that his lids were growing heavy.
Lucy scoffing beside him drew him out of his trance though, and he turned with an eyebrow raised just to see her shake her head. "What?"
"Nothing," Lucy muttered. "It's stupid."
"Come on, it can't be that stupid. Tell me."
Lucy cast a wary glance in Bickslow's direction as she continued to wave her fingers across the surface of the water. Maybe I shouldn't… But Bickslow was persistent and persuasive, and… "It's just… I was seeing if there were any constellations I could see from up here, and I remembered how Laxus took me to the observatory for our first date," she admitted quietly.
"Oh…" Bickslow almost wished he hadn't asked.
She knew all too well how Bickslow got when it came to her dating Laxus, so she wasn't that surprised when he pulled himself up and out of the pool to sit on the edge and make a point of looking away. He already knew the story about that date and how horrible it had been though, so Lucy had to admit she was just a little curious to find out why he was acting like it was the first time she'd ever brought it up.
"I don't even know why he took me there, to be honest," she said. "I guess I just find it funny now."
"He took you there because I told him to." Never thought I'd be saying that out loud. He was surprised they were talking about it at all. Maybe that was just the way it would always be, though; maybe there would always be something that reminded Lucy of her days with his dear old friend. "So I guess that's on me," he mumbled.
"What? No way. That was your idea?"
Bickslow shrugged. He glanced back down as Lucy turned to fold her arms on the edge, resting her chin on top as she looked back up in shock. "He didn't know what to do, so he asked me and I sent him to that." Still, Bickslow knew it hadn't been the date itself that Lucy had ever hated. It was just who had chaperoned her. "I might've hated you two together, but I wasn't actively out to ruin it. Laxus was capable of doing that on his own."
Lucy rolled her eyes as she splashed water at him. She knew all too well that he hadn't been the biggest fan of her and Laxus, but that was fine. It was all in the past now, and for a good reason. "How'd you even know about it anyway?" she asked, just the hint of a devilish smirk set on her lips. Bickslow was keeping something from her, and she wanted to get it out of him. "I'm sure it wasn't just a coincidence that the night Laxus takes me to the observatory is the same night they have their annual party."
"Uh-um… Well…"
"Bix… Come on. What aren't you telling me?" she purred. It took a lot to make the Seith mage blush, that much Lucy had figured out, and unless the moonlight was playing tricks on her eyes, Bickslow's cheeks were definitely pink. "How'd you know about the event?"
Fuck it. He wasn't getting out of that one. If he was going to be made a fool of, he might as well do it on his own terms. So with a sigh and an obvious glance elsewhere, he admitted quickly and quietly, "I knew about it because I'd been planning on telling you about it myself."
"Well, duh," Lucy giggled. "But why?"
"Because I wanted to go with you, alright?" Now I've done it. It had been embarrassing back then when he'd been thinking about it, and it was embarrassing now that he has actually having to admit it. And Lucy laughing at him really wasn't making it any better. He was supposed to be the one that teased her, damn it. "What, am I not allowed to have interests or something?" he muttered. He'd liked the stars before he'd even met Lucy, thank you very much.
Lucy was sure her favourite pastime was learning all of Bickslow's deepest, darkest, and most surprising little secrets. Sometimes though, Lucy just wished she knew them all already - or at the very least, she'd learned them at a better time.
"Maybe we should go together when we get back to Magnolia then," she suggested.
"Huh?"
"What, are you saying you don't want to go with me anymore?"
"N-No! No, I…" Bickslow laughed pitifully at himself for a second. Oh, if only his parents could see him then. He was sure his mother would be having a field day. "I'd like that. I… I mean, if you want to."
"I would," Lucy said, smiling up at him softly. "It's a date."
There was supposed to be more to this chapter... But I liked this ending. Anyway, bad smut aside, I hope you enjoyed it! Reviews are always highly appreciated (and might help me get back into the swing of things a little sooner).
Until next time!