BROKEN AND BRUISED
CHAPTER 17
Lucy froze.
She didn't know what to do. Her body became rigid and her mind went blank. Lahar was kissing her and this brought back the memory of the night she went out on a date, but the thing that happened back then was agreed to never happen again. So why was he kissing her? And the more important question, why was she not stopping him?
Her body simply didn't listen to her demands, she remained stiff throughout the whole kiss which made Lahar stop. He realized his mistake when he saw her widened eyes and confused expression.
"I truly am sorry Lucy-san, I-…" he kept quiet when he saw her blink back to reality.
A few seconds pass before she looked away from him shyly and whispered. "We agreed that the first time it happened would be the last."
He grit his teeth. "I do remember Lucy-san, but my feelings for you are genuine. Just why won't you consider giving me a chance?"
Lucy simply didn't reciprocate his feelings. She just didn't know how to tell him that, she thought that by the last time it was clear that his feelings weren't mutual. She took a deep breath before answering his question. "Lahar-san, you have been an amazing friend throughout all these years, a lot of things wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for you. That's why you have a special place in my heart, but as a dear friend only."
His face showed no emotion whatsoever, but his eyes caught the sight of Laxus looking at them, and he deduced that her refusal has something to do with the man who brought her all the misfortune in the world. He knew about him the minute he saw him being put as the father of the triplets.
"Lucy-san, does this has anything to do with Laxus-san?" the blonde widened her eyes at the mention of Laxus' name but Lahar continued. "I know something happened between the two you, I just want to make sure that you are alright. Is this something you truly want or something you're being forced into?"
"Lahar-san –"
"Lucy-san I know it's not my place to say anything, but I truly only want what's best for you because I care for you deeply." Concern was evident on his face, but to Lucy he still crossed a line. Because she isn't being forced into this, and for him to assume that offended her.
"Lahar-san –"
"So please if there is anything I can do to help just tell me and I will try my best-"
"Lahar!" she called out sternly. He stopped talking and looked at her, at that instant his breath was stolen away. It was the first time Lucy ever looked at him like that, her brows furrowed, her eyes sharp and her mouth set in a frown.
Her voice was steady when she spoke. "I do what I want to do. No one forces me into anything and no one tells me what to do. So I'll say this one last time, I don't have feelings for you, I only see you as a friend and that won't change." Her expression turned gentler and the Lucy he knew came back before him. "I know you are saying this out of concern, but I am fine Lahar-san. I am also happy, and half of this happiness wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for you. So thank you, but I can take care of myself." She outstretches her hand for a handshake, and a few minutes pass before he clasps his hand in hers and shake it.
He now understands that she will never look at him the same way he looks at her, and he knows how stupid it was of him to kiss her. She was just too beautiful that he couldn't resist her, he also wishes he could erase the first kiss but alas, time travel isn't something he is capable of.
"I will handle the matter about the other guild and the money, we'll stay in touch." He says abruptly and leaves, his face shadowed by his hair.
"Thank you Lahar-san." Lucy softly whispers as she watches his retreating figure.
INSIDE THE GUILD HALL 10 MINUTES BEFORE LAHAR LEFT…
Cobra was drinking his beer when he felt a sudden rage from the second floor. He looked at Gajeel to see him looking at the second floor, not only him but the rest of the dragon slayers.
"This can't be good." Cobra muttered before he and Gajeel sprint up the stairs catching the attention of the others. Natsu and Wendy follow suit with the Raijinshuu and former members of the Oracion Seis with Jellal, Meredy and Ultear.
Cobra passes by a window and stops abruptly. "What the fuck?!" he exclaims loud enough catching the attention of the others. They all reach the window and the scene that was unfolding caught them off guard.
"Are you fucking kidding me?! Now?! Here?!" Gajeel snarled at the sight of Lahar kissing his sister.
But what was more alarming was the beast at the end of the hall. Fume was practically seen floating off of him, they all turned their eyes to see his canines extended, his pupils dilated and his breathing ragged.
"Oh Fuck." Jellal cursed.
That wasn't the end of it.
The dragon slayers heard every bit of words the two outside exchanged, and when Lahar mentioned Laxus' name and if Lucy was forced into this, all the dragon slayers had to restrain Laxus from shredding the guy to scraps. Not only them, but also Lucy' family, the Raijinshuu and Lucy' former teammates.
This was not Laxus in control and they all knew that, it was the beast in him that wouldn't calm down unless it had Lahar' body in his hands. There was no spell of restriction that wasn't being used, no dragon slayer that wasn't holding Laxus tightly to keep him in place. But even with all of that, they knew that somewhere inside Laxus was still there, because he didn't use any bit of magic to hurt them or push them away from him. This was him, accepting the help that was being offered.
They saw Lahar leave and relief washed over them when they saw Laxus returning back to normal. He didn't say a word, he just turned around and left.
"Is it alright to let him go like this?" Ultear asked as she wiped the sweat off her forehead.
Natsu looked at the empty place where Laxus was just a minute ago. "It's not easy seeing what he did. If this was my mate I would've done the same thing. We should really leave soon. But Laxus, he'll be fine." He eyed Gajeel and Cobra who nodded their heads.
"Does Wendy have to leave as well?" Erza inquired.
Gajeel shook his head no. "She's still too young to feel anything like the pull."
Erza and Gray nodded their heads then turned to Wendy and patted hers.
…
Lucy returned back inside the guild to see all her family looking at her with questioning eyes, which could only mean one thing, they saw what happened outside. She took a deep breath and called out to them. "How about we all go back home? You need to prepare for your travels and I have some things I wish to explain."
They all nodded their heads and set off after they brought the kids with them.
The train ride back was to say awkward. Gajeel accompanied them home and the Raijinshuu were coming later, but throughout the whole ride, every single one of her family was sneaking peeks at her which made her realize how bad the situation is.
Once they arrived back at the mansion, she did a quick tour to Gajeel, showered her kids then let them take a nap. They all gathered around in the living room and waited for her to tell them about what happened.
She took a deep breath but before she could even open her mouth to start off explaining, Cobra cut in. "Before we get in to this, what did you mean when u said that you both agreed that the first time would be the last time?"
Lucy took another deep breath then started. "That night I went out on a date, what you know is that I spent it in jail and I told you all about how my night in jail was, but I didn't tell you what happened before, all I told you was that I got into a bar fight."
She waited for them to let that sink in, they did but a yell stopped her from continuing.
"JAIL?! YOU WENT TO JAIL!?" Gajeel asked with a surprised look on his face.
Lucy giggled and nodded her head. "Yeah I went to jail… the thing is, that night he kissed me when he came to arrest me-"
"Hold up!" everyone turned to Macbeth. "Can you please tell us what happened that night first, if you wish."
Lucy snickered and shook her head. "You won't believe me even if I told you, but I will."
She poured a glass of whiskey for herself and everyone poured themselves cups of what they like. They settled back in their chairs and waited till Lucy did.
She cleared her throat and began her story. "It was my first date as you all know after six and a half years of not seeing anyone like that. I went with your recommendations and dressed up then left. I reached the bar half an hour early and waited. I didn't know that it was going to be…him."
"Who him?" Sorano asked in wonder.
"Did you already know the man I set you up with Lu?" Richard asked.
She tilts her head backwards and sighs. "He's the guy Gaj-nii made a forest of."
A pregnant silence fell in the room before Cobra burst out laughing. "Oh I can already see where this is going, carry on, tell us what happened next." He sat excited wanting to know the rest of the story like a little kid.
Lucy looked at his expression and wanted to smack him on the face, she sighed in exasperation then continued. "He recognized me, and the thing is because I arrived early and was nervous since this was my first date you know, I…" she fell quiet.
"Started drinking the minute I arrived at the bar? Is that what you're going to say?" Jellal asked with an amused smirk.
Lucy turned away with a small frown. "Yes."
"Nee-san… why did you do?" Meredy inquired with a raised eyebrow and a teasing tone.
At the moment, Lucy is hating on every single one of her family. She took a sip of her glass then twirled it in her hands, a habit she developed after becoming a whiskey lover. "He panicked, started looking around him wondering if this was a prank or if Gaj-nii was going to end him right then and there. I told him he needn't worry, that nothing was going to happen, but again the thing is I was nervous and I was drinking so…"
"So you were drunk." Ultear deduced.
"Tipsy." Lucy tried to save some face.
"Drunk as hell." Sawyer interjected.
Alas, it was futile. "I was drunk as hell." Lucy admitted. "When he was going to escape, I caught his arm because he forgot his wallet. He started screaming that I was out to kidnap him and that caught some attention, I was hella drunk, his loud voice was very annoying to me, so I slapped him on the cheek to make him shut up, I didn't know that it made him pass out. And then, I full on looked like someone who's out to kidnap him, the bartender called the council, Lahar-san was nearby and he came to check on the situation."
"And you meet." Sorano whispered.
"And we did. He was surprised, shocked even… but more so at the fact that I'm on a date than the fact that I'm drunk and made someone pass out. He told me that I need to spend the night in jail because it's what the man requested, he wasn't going to press charges or anything, he was happy if I did just that. So I said okay…" she whispered something at the end with a blush on her face.
The others didn't hear her but Gajeel and Cobra did, they looked at her like she lost her damn mind.
"I was drunk." She said in defense.
"Who in their right mind tells it to him like that?" Cobra asked bewildered.
"I was drunk!" she groaned.
"What did she say?" Macbeth asked.
Both Gajeel and Cobra yelled back to him at the same time. "Handcuff me my general."
The others widened their eyes at the words that the slayers said, one by one they turned to Lucy and with each new pair of eyes landing on her, her blush intensified.
"Just how many drinks did you have?" Ultear inquired.
Lucy avoided eye contact with her. "Half…"
"Half… a drink?" Ultear pressed her on.
"Half… a bottle." Lucy admitted.
Ultear sighed and continued questioning her. "What happened next?"
Lucy closed her eyes and leaned back. "I was on the wall and he was kissing me, I remember at first that I kissed him back but then I pushed him away. We talked back then and I told him that this was the last time. He took me to jail and that was it, in the morning he let me go and I came back home."
No one said anything after she was done with the story, but one was curious about how her night in jail was. "What happened that night in jail?" Gajeel with furrowed eyebrows asked.
Everyone started either snickering or laughing while looking at Lucy, she stared back while glaring before huffing and looking away.
"What didn't? She got into a fist fight with one of the girls." Meredy started.
"Slipped in piss while she was walking out of the cell." Sawyer continued.
"Slammed in a door while walking in the cell." Jellal finished. "Plenty more, but we don't have much time. We need to talk about something serious Lu."
Lucy quirked an eyebrow. "About what?"
Ultear looked at the rest and they all nodded their heads. "Laxus saw you two kiss."
Lucy jumped from her seat. "What?!"
"And you know what next week is…" Cobra said solemnly.
Horror sunk into Lucy after hearing what happened and of what could have happened if her family wasn't there.
"Ugh I'm such an idiot!" she slumped in her chair. "I should have been more careful, should have reacted faster but my body wouldn't listen!"
Ultear came next to her and caressed her head. "Don't worry about it Lu, everything went well after that, and that's all that matters honestly."
They heard tiny footsteps running down the hall. Three little monkeys came running into the room crashing straight into Gajeel.
"Uncle Gaj! You're still here!" exclaimed Red in wonder with a huge smile.
"Of course I'm here, I promised you all that I'd be didn't I?" he smirked as he ruffled their hair.
"Come on let's go I want to show you our room." They started dragging him out of the door causing Lucy to giggle.
"Be careful with your uncle kids."
"Hai mommy!" they all saluted and continued pushing him out of the door.
Lucy smiled at the sight, her smile turned into a frown as she thought about Laxus and about what she caused him of trouble. A pinch of her nose brought her out of her deep thoughts and worried red eyes met hers. "Don't think about it too much Lu, we already told you that it's fine." Macbeth kissed her forehead before he left the room.
Looking now, Lucy noticed that the room is empty. It appears everyone left to do their own business. She sighed deeply then got up, she noticed three figures walking towards the main entrance from the window and ran to the door to welcome them.
Now that the Raijinshuu are here, she could start making dinner so they could all have dinner together as a family. They had a lot of fun and talked about all sorts of things, she knew from Freed that Laxus was better and that he was leaving tomorrow at noon. She felt better with that information, but still guilt never let her mind rest throughout the dinner.
When the clock struck midnight, almost everyone was asleep but her. Gajeel and the Raijinshuu slept here as well in the guest bedrooms.
She was watching the stars on the balcony when she called out her trusted maid.
"Good evening Hime-sama, punishment time?" asked Virgo while bowing.
Lucy smiled at her. "Good evening Virgo, and no, no punishment. I need your help with something."
Lucy and Virgo took to the kitchen and worked the whole night.
At the crack of dawn, precisely six in the morning, Lucy finished preparing everything. She turned to her maid and thanked her before sending her back to rest. The blonde looked at the bags of food prepared for each traveling slayer, Gajeel, Cobra and finally Laxus.
She hoped that it would help them, this bag was a magical bag that can fit far more than it appears, Virgo got it from the celestial spirit realm. She spent the whole night making food that can last them for two weeks so they wouldn't be worried about that matter and can focus on training and controlling their dragon. She wiped the sweat off her forehead and took a deep breath, only one thing left to do.
She put the bag on her back and got out of the mansion. The first rays of sun started appearing on the horizon casting the green land with its soft glow. Lucy took a deep breath before she called out the charioteer.
He greeted his lady and they set off. Lucy watched the passing trees as her mind wondered about everything that has happened recently, a sigh escaped her lips as she shut her eyes to enjoy the soft breeze. She was in desperate need of a break, and she was going to take it when the slayers left because then she could think about the question that popped up in her mind the second she saw Laxus and the one that has been haunting her ever since.
What now?
Two words that have been driving her crazy.
She wants the best for Laxus and she wants him to move on from this incident, but in doing so what will happen to them? Does she want a relationship with him? She is his mate, they share three kids with each other, does she want to be with him?
Lucy doesn't like being forced into anything, and she can't help but feel that she is in this situation.
Auriga turned to see his lady deeply thinking about something and through their link he could sense her distress, and he immediately figured out the cause of it. He spoke softly as to not bother her. "Lucy-sama, sometimes all we can do is sit back and watch things unveil itself to us. We cannot control everything, so why try to?"
Lucy' head swiveled to her faithful spirit, he was giving her a soft smile, one that meant he understood her train of thoughts completely.
"I wish it was this easy Auriga."
He chuckled as he laid his eyes back on the road. "No one said it is Lucy-sama, but I know you can do it. Also, if you didn't want to, we wouldn't be going on this little trip this early in the morning."
He chuckled at her red face then laughed when he felt her small pinch on his arm. "Don't do me like this Auriga." She said with a smile adorning her face. That smile disappeared when those two words circled back in her mind. "What should I do now?"
"Like I said, sit back and watch and without knowing it, after some time of course, you would have your answer crystal clear. Don't chase after things that are so far ahead of you when in fact you should look at what's right next to you. Take it one step at a time." Auriga finished and silence fell in the carriage.
They arrived in front of a path in the woods. Auriga stopped the carriage then got off and opened its door, Lucy took the bag and with the help of Auriga got off. She turned to her spirit and smiled brightly. "Thank you Auriga."
He bowed his head. "You are most welcome Lucy-sama. Shall I wait for you here?"
Lucy shook her head. "No you can go back, I feel like walking for a bit."
He nodded and in a puff of smoke disappeared back into his world. The blonde watched him return with nothing but gratefulness in her heart. She turned her head towards the path and started walking.
After a while she reached his house and was awestruck by its beauty. The walls were of white and black paint with multicolored windows. At the front was a nice porch with a swing facing the pond that was right next to his house. It looked so modern and had a homey feeling to it.
Lucy smiled as she took a step forward before a barrier appeared in front of her. "Only the Raijinshuu and Laxus are able to pass, the rest can't unless they were accompanied by the master of the house or were permissioned to go inside." She read on the walls.
A flashback hit her, the one where she was being carried by Loke and they couldn't leave until they brought Evergreen.
Her hands started sweating, her breaths turning shallow as her heart started slamming in her chest. Back then, she couldn't see how beautiful this place really was, but now what she saw was nothing but the beginning of her misery at the time.
"I need to calm down." she said to herself but her heartbeat didn't listen, and her mind didn't let her rest. It brought back memory after memory, breaking the blonde and turning her into a hyperventilating mess.
She put the bag slowly on the side and ran away from the house with tears in her eyes. Her hair swished with the wind and branches struck her face but she didn't care about anything other than getting away from this place.
She continued running till she slammed into something and fell on the ground. She quickly looked up in fear that it was Laxus when it was none other than Corvus looking down at her with sadness in his eyes.
He sat next to her and brought her in his lap then used his wings to cover her and shield her. "How many times have I told you not to push yourself?" he soothingly rubbed circles on her back.
"I didn't know this was going to happen." She quickly said, her heart calming down and her breathing returning to normal when she nuzzled her head in his embrace.
"Princess, you stayed all your life away from this place after the incident. It is nothing surprising that this happens to you. So please be careful."
She sat up with a frustrated look on her face. "I thought I was over this! I was able to face him but how the fuck was I not able to face the place where it occurred?!" tears started running down her face once again.
He brought her to him then whispered in her ear. "Princess, with him you were able to forgive but not forget. This place will not let you too, that's all there is to it."
He got up with her still in his arms. "Come on, let's get you away from here."
He spread his wings and took to the sky, knowing fully well that they weren't alone.
…
Laxus was coming back from his morning hike when the scent of vanilla and strawberry hit him full force. He quickly dashed back to his place and followed the smell to where it was the strongest.
He was walking next to the barrier when a black item caught his eye. He took hold of it and was surprised to see that it was a bag. Laxus opened it only to see that it was full of sandwiches, bentos and much more. Not only was he surprised by the amount of food there was, but also about how this small bag could fit all of this.
A folded paper caught his eye, he fished it out of the bag and opened it.
Have fun and be careful on your trip. I hope this helps you.
-Lucy H.
He kept staring at the letter not knowing how to react and confused about why the blonde was trying so hard with him. He fully knows that he isn't worth it so why is she still trying?
Though, he hoped she would continue to. Because he knows from the way his heart just fluttered when he was reading that letter that he wants to be worth it. For her and for the kids.
The wind softly blew by, carrying with it the scent of the blonde. He took a big whiff of it and it was then he noticed another smell. Salt… which meant tears.
He put the bag in his house and started running in the woods in search of the blonde, he feared that something might have happened to her since a lot of monsters lurk in these woods. One of the reasons he chose this place to build his house in, he could use it for training as well.
He didn't expect he would run into the blonde talking with what he assumed was her spirit, though he looked different from the spirits he knew. He quietly jumped on a tree and waited.
As each word was spilled from the blonde' mouth, Laxus' heart squeezed tighter and tighter. It was true, this was the place where he brought her the first time. It was no wonder that she reacted this way.
When they took flight, he watched them from the tree he was hiding in. He got down and laid his back on the tree, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This place was filled with the blonde's scent. The blonde that cared enough to prepare for him, and the blonde that left his house crying because of what she remembered.
He wondered if he didn't fuck up then, what would have happened? Would they have gotten closer, dated, and then eventually gotten married? Would they have kids like they do now, but this time he would have been there from the start?
He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. He still has time to make things right and he was going to, and the first step in doing so was to sell this cursed place and buy a new house.
He will get to that when he returns back from his trip.
…
"You stayed up the whole night making food for us Bunny? Are you insane? We could hunt!" Gajeel closed his eyes to reel in his temper, she shouldn't have troubled herself with this.
"Sunshine, thank you for the bag. But every single time I tell you to not trouble yourself with this." Cobra sighs as he looks at the bags under the blonde's eyes.
She smiled brightly at them both. "I'm fine, I'm fine. I got help so don't worry about it. Now both of you, I wish you a safe trip. Be careful." She kisses them on their cheeks before waving them goodbye.
She watched them as they disappeared from her view. Her eyes were then drawn to her kids that were playing with the fish in the pond. She gazed at them lovingly from afar, she couldn't help but adore how Red and Justin protect her little girl, and how they were helping her with Red holding her hand as to not stumble and Justin tying her hair back so it won't bother her.
"Shouldn't you go rest now?"
Lucy smiles. "In a bit Ultear, I want to watch them more."
Ultear sides next to her. "They're heartwarming to watch eh?"
Lucy nodded and Ultear continued. "Makes you forget all the things on your mind and just enjoy their laughter."
Lucy froze then let out a sigh. "That obvious?"
Ultear nods.
They both sit on the grass that was still wet from the morning dew. Lucy leans her head on Ultear' shoulder and Ultear leans her head on hers.
Lucy mumbles softly. "Aren't you going to ask me what happened?"
Ultear lets out a small chuckle. "No, we're just going to enjoy the soft rays of sun and watch your kids having fun."
The blonde' eyes slowly close. "I see."
Ultear continued with a whisper. "That's what you need right now after all."
She noticed the way the blonde slumped on her and deduced that she was sleeping. She laid the blonde's head on her lap and caressed her hair.
Never in a million years Ultear saw herself doing this to anyone, but then Meredy came in and now Lucy.
"Why do you always push yourself Lu?" she asked the sleeping blonde as she continued running her fingers in her hair.
"What are you girls doing?" Jellal walked to the women then slowed down when he noticed that Lucy was asleep.
He came and sat next to Ultear, his eyes transfixed on the kids.
"What were you doing?" The time mage asked.
"Watching the kids." He turns to Lucy' sleeping figure. "Is she alright?"
Ultear looked down at the peaceful sleeping blonde. "She will be."
Their gaze returned to the kids.
"Do you ever wonder what would have happened to us if she didn't come into our lives?" Jellal suddenly asks.
"No, that thought… scares me." Ultear with all honesty replies.
"Yeah… I know how you feel." Jellal admits.
This day, even though for Lucy it started wrongly, but surrounded by her family, she couldn't help but feel when she was feeling asleep, that everything was going to be alright. That her family will stay with her and together they would solve every problem that comes their way.
…
"But reality is often disappointing eh?" whispers Lucy clad in all black with the rain pouring on her.
The grave in front of her looming at her and the name engraved on it haunting her.
Hello lovelies, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Thank you so much for your support on this story. Also, my apologies for any grammar mistakes, English is not my first language nor is it my second. I find myself a lot of times wondering if I used the right tense or not so… apologies for that.
Signing out, KAWAIINECKO.
