Hello everyone! I am finally back with a new chapter! Posts will be more frequent with at least one post for whichever book at the end of each month! So without further ado, here you guys go!
All right's go to Hiro Mashima, the creator and lord of Fairy Tail.
A creeping chill ran down her spine as a set of eyes lingered on her. That should've been enough of a sign to book it out of the She-demon's line of vision and run for the nearest safe zone - preferably the town over or the mission board to let whatever unholy thoughts pass by with time. It was the only correct response when the resident barmaid had thoughts of a new paring that would positively cloud her mind to make the couple produce them - no matter if they were friends or foes (Lucy still couldn't believe how adamant Mira was about how Dan and her would make the most angel-eyed, red-haired babies that she tried locking them in the guilds safe house), that Lucy's body automatically made a Mira-trigger to avoid repeating such incidents. But this time, to Lucy's oblivious self as she continued to idly sip at her strawberry milkshake, she forgone the warning her body sent her.
Instead, her mind was off wandering about other things, or rather memories that seemed to be driving her to a hazed version of herself.
Her day had started like any other day she ever had since joining the guild, minus a blanket-hogging Natsu and Happy who specifically would knead at her face with his claws, with the sun peaking through her pink curtains and her mind alluding to the real world as her bladder forced her up. Except this time it wasn't all that normal. She awoke to the smell of breakfast being made, the crisp yet savory scent of bacon and sweetness that could only be pancakes wafting in the air had made her mind stir. After being wary that someone had broken in and was raiding her pantry, she quietly made her way out of bed and peeked into the kitchen to find an expectant Levy awaiting her. It didn't take long for the short girl to notice that Lucy was awake now, as she was forced to sit down at the table across from her friend.
"So, Lu," Levy began as she made her way back over to the kitchen counter. "Where were you last night?"
"Last night?" Lucy nervously repeated, her face flushing at the thought. Last night was … something. It was definitely something. But what the something meant was where she didn't know.
Lucy could almost hear the eye roll Levy gave her as she watched the petite girl plate the food. "Yes, last night. So spit it out," Levy ordered with a point of the spatula.
With a groan, Lucy shoved her face into her hands. She didn't even know how to process her feelings, no less what she said and did, so how was she supposed to tell her best friend about it? It wasn't like this was normal for Lucy, it was beyond her imaginative mind to even cope with how romantic it was. The mere thought had Lucy squirming in her seat, a whine leaving her as she heard a plate set before her. "I don't know where to begin…"
"Start with eating, then tell me. It'll give you time to think about it," Levy advised as she began to cut into her pancakes. Lucy followed suit, a bit lackluster compared to her friend, but still ate in a relatively peaceful silence. If it wasn't for how heavenly the food was - who knew Levy was such a great cook? - then she would've been in the whirlwind that was her mind.
After finishing her last piece of bacon, and taking a sip of coffee to wash it all down, was where she looked up to see Levy staring at her. The glint in her eyes had made Lucy know there was no getting out of this, no matter how much she wanted to avoid talking about it. "Well … Gray showed up last night." Levy nodded, so Lucy continued to fumble for words. "I didn't really think anything of it, at least until he dragged me across Magnolia to learn how to ice skate".
Levy quirked up an intrigued eyebrow but gestured for her to continue. Lucy licked her parched lips nervously before she blurted out the rest, "He was so sweet about it, and normally Gray is so nonchalant and edgy but last night he was so …," Lucy waved a hand around, snapping her fingers before the word dawned on her, "charming! It was as if he let me see the real him as we skated around town. We even went to the top of the guild's rooftop and just talked. It felt so personal that when he went to drop me off he gave me a gift."
"You mean this?" Levy teased, her hand opening to reveal the key Gray had given her. Lucy nodded dumbly, her eyes wide. It only served to make her face brighten up.
"Yes," she gingerly took the key from her friend's hand. "He said he was only a call away, just like my spirits…" Lucy sighed dreamily, bringing the key close to her chest as Levy softly frowned.
Just the mere memory of his words drifting through her head had her face rivaling Erza's hair.
Just what had made him change so much? Or was that the real Gray and he was showing her a side to him only a few got to see?! Now that made her sound crazy!
She ducked down further, sipping more at the milkshake to cool her heated cheeks. Damn it Lucy, get yourself together! This is your friend that you are thinking about, nakama for Mavis's sake!
But she couldn't help it. Not when her friend acted so differently. How soft his normally hard eyes were, the way his smile tilted up as she stared in amazement at the ice-key, he wasn't the usual aloof Gray that she was used to. Sure, he was a subtle flirt at times, he even asked for her panties when they first met, but this time felt different. He showed her a side that she had only seen glimpses of at his weakest moments, the fear, the worry, the care that he held for her and everyone in the guild. The sheer intensity of the emotions that swirled in his eyes was intense to take in, the mix of the not-so-normal midnight and gold swirling together to reveal to her secrets that his words never did. It stole her breath as she felt taken by the sight, it felt too personal, too virtuous to see the truth behind the normally guarded eyes. The way he had not only used his actions to speak to her, but his magic as well with the key that she had safely hidden now still left her reeling in confusion.
It sparked dangerous thoughts in her head. Ones that would lead her to an immediate and painful death in the hands of Juvia and Mira's matchmaking schemes going to new heights at the potentially dangerous information if her thoughts became out loud. The thought alone would have shut down any thoughts of romance in fear of becoming Mira's victim of the week, yet this time there was no shutting it out. There was no silencing the questions that demanded answers, and it only led to her mulling it over the entirety of her morning.
The only part that wasn't so flustering to think about was the eye dilemma, which she had brought up as she and Levy cleaned up the dishes together. How the same breathtaking midnight blue and brilliant gold shone in Gray's eyes and a multitude of times at that. That along with his odd behavior had Levy's interest being piqued. It led to them both agreeing that it needed to be investigated even sooner than before, as it wasn't only a dragon slayer trait, but affecting regular mages as well. Both had left her apartment with a promise to search for books that would give them any possible leads and to regroup once they had any semblance of an answer.
It left her where she was now, idly sipping at the fruity concoction as her mind wandered to possible causes of why this was happening. It could be a type of eye magic, or a spell being cast on specific mages of Fairy Tail? That had her fiddling with the straw, she would have to call Yuniko and Hibiki to see if any cases of the dreamy eyes were happening in their own respective guilds. Her mind was pondering over how she would get in contact with the other light guilds, she could always ask Cana about Quatro Cerberus and Erza for Mermaid Heel, when she then missed a second chill creeping up her spine.
Mira, who she thought was busy with preparing their Master's breakfast, was watching her with a gleam in her eyes as she whipped knowingly at the ever-pristine mugs.
Still, Lucy who was normally perceptive to the respective gleam was still in an ignorant mull, more so now as a subtle heat flared on her hip. A soft smile lifted her lips at the familiar feeling. She knew her spirits could tell how she was feeling, especially as most admitted to watching over her life in their past time, and through their connection that led her to whisper a soft "thank you" to her keys. As if they were there with her, she could see Loke's flirtatious self sliding up to her with his soothing but lecherous reassurance, Plue's shaking form sitting on the countertop with his awkward smile, even Cygnus's gruff annoyance directed at her then to Loke that would quickly escalate into them brawling. She wouldn't blame them for being so easily irritable, not when there was still no news on the Spirit King's next decision as the Celestial Realm was still in a state of confusion. It didn't help that there was a (hopefully friendly) competition on who Capricorn would choose for her next stardress, one that was amongst her silver keys. It only left her feeling more stressed than before. As if feeling her stress, another flare of heat came from her keys. It was as if their constant presence had cooled over her head in a cool wave, letting her finally back into reality.
A coo above her had made her jolt in surprise. Lucy's startled brown eyes met leering blue ones that were no doubt Mira's. Panic settled in her as her body froze at the luring gleam.
"Luccyy~! Ooohh Earth to Lucy!" Her voice cooed, tinted with the demons that Lucy knew were enjoying Lucy's predicament. "There you are, Lucy! Back with the present finally! I've been trying to get your attention for five minutes now!"
Lucy gulped at the pout Mira gave her. It was never a good sign when Mira acted so cutesy.
"Hai," Lucy gulped, her finger twiddling with the handle of her mug, "I'm sorry, Mira. I didn't get the best of sleep last night," Lucy could only internally shake herself as the words flew out of her mouth, her white lie only making Mira's smile turn dark.
"Is that so?" Mira hummed, placing the abused mug and rag down on the counter before leaning closer to Lucy, propping her arms onto it to steady herself. Her smile turned wicked at Lucy's panicked look around. Lucy knew her fate was sealed at the amused words the barmaid all but purred out, "Oooh Lucy~, I know so many things, and yet here I am still disappointed." Mira's hand reached out to twiddle with a strand of her blond hair as she now pouted, leaving Lucy to sit in a silent fear that only Mira could instill. "Why do you think my demons and I are disappointed, ne, Lucy?"
With a braver front than Lucy knew she was capable of, she shakily gave out a response that only amused Mira more. "I don't understand, Mira. I haven't done anything that would possibly disappoint either you or your very lovely demon souls."
Lucy tried her hardest to act casual, even attempting to drink out of her now empty mug to ease some of the tension that built up in her, only to feel a small tug on her bang that Mira was once twirling. "You know I don't like liars, Lucy. Siri especially doesn't like them."
This, at the very least, Lucy knew was a bluff. A celestial mage could never lie due to how their contracts with their spirits are set up, something that Mira knew of very well due to how much they talked about her magic. Instead, as she learned over the years of being a guild mage, finding a creative way around the truth was the closest way they could "lie" when it came to half-truths. Word games became essential when the situation was life or death, and as she went through her rounds of kidnappings and evil plots, most villains loved reassurances, whether it was about their plans or just stroking their egos. Such as Master Jose from Phantom Lord, who searched for an ego boost in anyone who he thought was weak-minded, and in her case it was when she was high in the tower that he all but demanded she obey him. Lucy had to stop herself from snorting at the memory. She quickly taught the man not to mess with the limits of a celestial mage, that was for sure. No less she had made it a point over the years as a Fairy Tail mage to always instill this moral into every action and promise she made, so seeing the teasing glint in Mira's eyes had Lucy seeing the truth that Mira couldn't help but show.
So with a confidence she never had before when it came to Mira's will, she questioned the curious woman with a cross of her arms, "Uh huh, Mira. What is this really about?"
The sweet smile her friend was known for curled once again, her blue eyes turning into practical hearts as she all but blurted, "When were you going to tell me about your teaming with three remarkably attractive guildmates?!"
Choking on the small amount of saliva that was in her mouth, Lucy had to thump her chest to feel the air in her lungs again at the pitiful outraged cry Mira had made. With teary eyes and a silent prayer that somehow she was imagining this, Lucy knew it was all for naught at the sight before her. She watched in a stupor as her friend went from being inches away from her face to spinning around, hearts surrounding her as she began her known baby-rants, all but gushing about how adorable her make-believe children would be with all three potential suitors. All at once at that, it only served to make Lucy flush at the lewd ideas Mira was spurting out.
It wasn't enough to still the cry of disbelief that escaped her lips. "W-what?! Oh god- no Mira - I didn't even know I was going on a mission with them until last night!"
Mira halted, her face craning to face her. It was eerie seeing just how angled her head could go. "That wasn't a denial…" Her face lit up at the thought. "Finally! I finally get an actual possibility of God babies!" She cheered, clasping her hands together as she inched to be eye to eye again with Lucy. "So you must have been planning on making my future God babies with one of them! It must've been a surprise for me! - No worries, I'll act surprised when you make the announcement to the guild! Just tell me - who is it!?"
Lucy steered back, panic now finally settling in. She should've listened to her gut the first time, and now karma was biting her in the ass as she looked around for a possible escape. Her usual go-tos were out of the question, not when Mira already had her sights on her.
As her eyes went from person to person, desperate for a willing soul to help her out, she found her hope faltering as each ducked out of sight or quickly shifted their attention to anything closest to them to avoid her pleading eyes. Then, unluckily enough for her, she caught Levys's once worried gaze who then quickly squeaked and ducked even further into her tome, before shifting to watch Cana who simply gave her a sympathetic shrug and went back to chugging her newest barrel at an alarming rate to finally then land on Gray who froze like a deer in headlights before hightailing out of the guild at speeds she knew Jet would be jealous of.
It didn't help the panic that swelled in her at seeing Gray escape so quickly. She couldn't blame him though, not when both of them knew the consequences of word getting out about the previous night, especially to a matchmaker like Mira. The news would be spread at alarming speeds, from the guild to the city's streets, and Lucy's impending doom at the hands of Juvia would come like hell on wheels before she could even think of finding an escape. Lucy involuntarily shivered at the thought. Her death was looming, she could feel it, especially as Mira's gaze hadn't shifted from her yet.
So for both of their sakes, more for hers than anything, she shifted to directly face Mira with a more stern gaze. This caused a surprised look on the barmaid's face before it shifted back to the happy sinister one that she dotted beforehand. Lucy, for once, held a backbone as she knew there was no escaping the demon's clutches. "Isn't Evergreen also going to be there? This is purely a mission, Mira." Lucy tried to soothe, trying to abide by the woman's crazed ideas, before cringing when she could almost hear the demon souls cackling at her mistake.
"Oh, she doesn't count! She has my brother - or at least I think so …" Mira dismissed in a mumble, rubbing her chin thought before her face lifted even higher as a new idea formed in her head. "Orrrr maybe you and Evergreen and Elfman can start a -"
"No!" Lucy cried out, her hands leaving the mug to tangle into her hair at the outrageous idea. She didn't need to be killed by two people! One was enough for her, thank you very much!
Lucy could already feel the almost curious stares from her guildmates, embarrassment wafting into her from her rather public denial. "Mira, that is your brother! And our friend! I couldn't do that to them!"
Instead of actual words, Mira continued mumbling to herself in a language Lucy knew had to be demonic from how multiple pitches seemed to be responding to one another. It was a lost cause, and Lucy knew it. With an exhausted sigh, Lucy slumped onto the counter to rub at her temple, already knowing a headache was going to come. Defeat was inevitable, and it was better to just take whatever Mira dished out than leave.
Or so she thought as the clanging sound of metal armor came closer to them in screeching stomps. Lucy wanted to slam her head into the counter once it was right next to her, already knowing what was about to happen as a gauntlet hand slammed into the bar counter.
"Mira." Erza snapped, drawing the demon from her inner demons. "No one, and I mean no one will be violating Lucy's honor!" The woman declared, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "Do I make myself clear?"
Mira's face dropped, then twisted into a dangerous snarl. "You will not get in the way of my precious god babies, Erza."
Lucy leaned back in fear when Erza growled, her teammates's usually stern look turning deadly at the challenge. Lucy, tugging her legs closer to herself on the stool, began praying as both women inched closer to one another in huffs of anger.
"There will be no god babies involving Lucy. It would violate the contract." Erza smugly said, or Lucy thought so from how triumphant her friend sounded as she continued. "I will not allow anyone to breach the contract to impeach Lucy's purity."
Lucy felt her earlier embarrassment come back tenfold as now everyone was watching the display. If Lucy could, she would cry from seeing everyone giving her either sympathetic or amused looks. Maybe escaping was a good idea, she could deal with Mira's fury later so long as she could escape whatever this conversation was. Just as Lucy inched an inch off her seat, Erza's gloved hand grabbed a hold of her shoulder, now holding her in place. A squeak was all she could manage to let out in protest. This was it, she was going to die of embarrassment. There would be no more adventures, no more gaining new celestial keys, no more worrying about rent - her face lifted a little at that.
That sounds nice … Lucy thought, her own creepy smile on her face. No more worrying about my stupid landlady or rent or Natsu destroying my apartment …
Off in her own world, Lucy missed as Mira hissed at Erza, her demon soul starting to come out as magic swirled around her. "What did you do?! What is in the contract?" Her face darkened at Erza's proud smirk. "Nothing should stop Lucy from baring my precious god babies!"
With a hand held out, Erza used her magic to requip the contract before slamming it onto the bar. Everyone watched as Mira greedily took hold of the contract, flipping through the pages before landing on the bookmarked page that Erza already knew was what the barmaid wanted, and watched as her face dropped.
Erza pointed out the highlighted text, reading it out loud for everyone to hear. "No one is to defy Lucy's honor, or else goes punished."
Lucy would have kissed Erza for straying Mira away if it wasn't for her still being in the rent-free daze. Finally, an excuse that could actively make Mira think twice before making another Dan-warehouse situation. Lucy could only muster out an "ah" as Mira finally broke out of her shock.
The guild stilled as a sniffle escaped the barmaid, tensing at what was to come. Some, like Gajeel who was watching the entire scene in mere curiosity, chose to escape with relative ease of their magic or planned escape routes while Cana and the more daring were too invested in the drama to leave.
The singular sniffle had Lucy coming out of her daydream, her body back in fight or flight mode as magic now began cackling widely around them. Then, tears began pouring out of the demon at Juvia-competing speeds, causing guild-wide panic.
"B-bu-but my ships!" Mira cried in a wail, her once-forgotten rag now clutched to her chest. In a hushed whisper, as if talking to herself, she began her outraged rant, "No lalu?! What about Bixlu? Or even my precious Evlflu?!" She turned towards Erza, her Satan Soul: Siri now fully out, as she snarled, "You can't take away my sweet Frelu!"
Erza only sighed, releasing her bone-breaking hold on Lucy to scold Mira. "You cannot let your shipping nonsense get in the way of protecting Lucy's honor."
Lucy only sighed in relief once Mira set her burning gaze that had strayed towards her back to Erza, and knew this was her moment. With another glance around the guild, she spied Evergreen waving at her, a knowing look on the fairy mage's face. With an almost eager slide off her barstool, she crept away from the two women until she was a good distance away before all but running up the steps to the Raijinshuu table.
As she finally found refuge from the mages, she missed Erza finally taking notice of her disappearance. She had turned to where Lucy was once sitting, beginning another rant as her words died out, "Lu-" her gloved hand only met air, causing her to turn to the vacant barstool, "-cy?"
Once she spotted Lucy's blond head peaking from the rafters, she set her gaze disapprovingly at Mira again. "Look what you have done with your crazed ships. Lucy is now petrified and hiding!"
Mira in turn gave an offended gasp, "How is this my fault?! She only left once you came in here with that stupid contract!"
"Stupid?" Erza repeated slowly, as if in shock. Her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "Lucy's honor is not 'stupid'!"
Lucy only sighed from her spot on the second floor as the two began going at it, and she could only shiver as magic began swirling even more furiously around the two. She couldn't imagine how bad they were as kids if they were this bad now. Still, she was going to take advantage of the opportunity that Evergreen had given her and get to know the now-awaiting team behind her.
Ignoring their amused looks, she sat in the only free spot at the table in between Laxus and Bickslow, not even noticing the tired sigh that escaped her. She should've known better than to think she escaped the pestering questions that would come with the scene that just happened.
"So Lucy, I'm assuming Mira conjured up a new ship for you?" Evergreen asked, an amused hilt in her tone as she fluttered her fan at Lucy's despaired grumble. "Do tell. I'm morally curious at what the She-Demon thought of this time."
"I would rather not," Lucy huffed, blowing at her bangs to rid of them from her sight. She slumped further into her seat, another huff following, "I don't know how she has so much energy to worry about everyone else love life but hers."
Lucy couldn't stop the pout that her lips formed. Nor could she stop the chuckles that sprouted from the table at her comment.
A shocking, but gentle pat to her head had her looking up in shock. Laxus was looking down at her with an understanding look. "Don't worry 'bout it, Blondie. That's just how Mira is."
Lucy looked bashfully away, still grumbling out of embarrassment, "I would get it if it was only suggestions, but she's putting me up as if I'm a piece of meat when it comes to her match-making schemes!"
The table in collective leaned closer to the blond, curiosity swarming them.
Evergreen couldn't stop the excited waving of her fan at the gossip she knew was about to be spilled from the abused girl. So with a curious smile, she asked, "Match-making schemes? Do tell!"
Lucy couldn't stop the blanch that overtook her face. She knew Evergreen wasn't going to relent or back down, not when the fairy mage was notorious for being as bad of a gossip as Mira. So, with another dejected sigh spilling out of her, she relented. After all, she did want to get closer to team Raijinshuu, and with Evergreens excited bounce at Lucy's look of defeat, maybe they would see her effort and meet her halfway.
With the thought in mind, Lucy answered in a soft tone, "Mira has always been invested in my love life since I joined the guild. But ever since I started going on these team-up missions it's as if Mira suddenly became a bloodhound for any hint of romance in my life! She was never this bad until today."
At this her pout deepened, a thoughtful hum leaving her. She never realized just how desperate Mira was for some romantic action in her life. With her current bickering with Erza which is still ongoing to the shipping betting pools that Cana had made with Mira's influence, which Lucy only found out due to Levy's forewarning from their walk to the guild, Lucy knew her luck was bound to run out when it came to holding back the crazed barmaid from her schemes. Not when the whole guild was partaking in the betting now. She couldn't hold back the shiver of fear at the thought, a sense of dread filling her as her eyes honed in on the woman in question. Still arguing, her satan soul's tail swished around in a cat-like manner when a subtle but noticeable shift of anger washed over her, but no less still fully distracted by Erza's requip of her Heaven Wheel Armor and the swords now surrounding the two of them.
Her attention drifted back to the table at Evergreen's snort. With a tut and a snap of her fan, Evergreen spoke with a low voice, "Sounds like Mirajane. I can't understand her craze for such …"
"Ludicrous?" Freed supplied, his gaze lingering from his tome. Lucy held back a giggle as Evergreen nodded at Freed in approval.
"Yes, that's the right word. Ludicrous ideas of 'pairings' that have no chance of happening," Evergreen snaps. Lucy could only sympathetically nod along at her friend's frustration.
"Sure Ever, like the idea of you and Elfman going into the storage room and making babies is totally- Ack!" Bickslow grunts, waving away the fan that Evergreen whacked him with. He sends her a half-hearted glare only to get smacked again over the head with the wooden end of it this time. "Ouch! Alright, alright, I surrender! Mercy Ever!"
Evergreen gives him a cocky grin, settling back into her seat as her teammates roll their eyes at the sight.
Lucy heard a sneaky "Crazy woman…" from her side, sneaking a glance to see Bickslow warily looking at Evergreen. Lucy tried not to smile at how cute it was to see Bickslow pouting.
Turning the attention away from her abuse of Bickslow, Evergreen turned back towards Lucy and asked, "Besides my troubles with the demon, why has she been so hooked on you? It seems like that's all she talks about anymore!" At Lucy's helpless shrug, Evergreen cocked an eyebrow at Lucy's dismissal. "It's unnatural for her to stick to just one person when there's everyone else in the guild. Especially as you have said, a lack of romance happening."
At this, Lucy gave a nervous chuckle. "I'm not sure myself. It's not like I go out on dates or anything."
The table turned eerily silent, their confused eyes set on her.
Evergreen held back her laughter, her uncontained snickers filling the boy's silence, "Seriously?! I thought you were trying to seduce a harem, or at least that's what I heard!"
Lucy's squawk was drowned out by Bickslow's totems repeating after Evergreen, a chorus of "Seduce!" And "Harem!" being shouted out.
"What- No! Where did this come from?!" Lucy cried out, her face flushed as another round of embarrassment overtook her face. It seemed like coming to the guild was a bad idea if this was what she had to deal with!
Laxus snorted, leaning back into his chair to lazily lean in closer to her as he pulled his sound pods from his ears to rest on his shoulders. "You had no clue of the rumors about you?"
Lucy shook her head hastily. As if she could even obtain a harem! She can't even get one guy to actually like her!
Now Laxus looked uncomfortable, shifting his eyes away from her as he tried to reassure her in his own, but awkward way, "They aren't anything worthwhile, trust me. Just dumb ass rumors that probably Mira made."
Lucy couldn't shake the uneasy feeling she got from Laxus's cryptic words. Not when Mira's fantasies were in other words bat shit crazy, and from just how terrifying her journal was of her ship's potential babies, that woman's mind could lead to more trouble than Lucy could wish for.
Evergreen thwacked Laxus on the head with her fan, turning to lecture him. "A lady should know what the gossip says about her, Laxus. It's not like Lucy wants people thinking her to be a harlot."
"A harlot?!" Lucy repeated, her face heating up even more. Just how much trouble was she really in?
"Yeah, Cosplayer! Rumors say you get around with the stripper and fire-warpath!" Bickslow cackled, trying to stifle his excitement by covering his mouth with his hand. "Such a shame too. You could have easily come to me instead!"
Laxus shot his friend a deadly glare over Lucy's head, with Freed who was back to reading his tome now lifting his head to give Bicksloe a disapproving look.
As Bickslows laughter continued to ring out, Freed shut his book before slamming it onto the table. "Miss Heartfilled is the heir to the Heartfilia dynasty and fortune, I doubt someone from her background and caliber would go around being a floozy," Freed couldn't hold back his scolding tone, his frown deepening at the quiet rumbles from Laxus.
Lucy didn't see how Laxus sent one last dark look towards Bickslow, turning his attention to the forgotten beer mug to cool his anger with the alcohol.
Noticing the now uncomfortable tension in the air, while subtly renumbering to harass her teammates out of Lucy's presence, Evergreen smacked Bickslow's leg with a look that screamed 'do something'!
With a wave of his hands in surrender, Bickslow groaned, "Jeez dude, it's no big deal. Right, Cosplayer?"
For good measure, he gave her a pleading look for her to play along, one that left Lucy amused and giving him a subtle nod. How could she deny the cute and childish pout he gave her?
Evergreen sighed at his childishness, and Lucy couldn't stop the giggle from leaving her lips at how exasperated the team was at Bickslow's antics. Lucy looked around the table as she tried to take their ire off of the desperate seith mage, "It's okay guys, really. I'm not surprised by the rumors honestly, especially since Mira is an insider source for Jason these days." Lucy paused at her words, her mind going back to the exact rumor that they were talking about. No wonder everyone thought she was trying to get a harem when Mira had a say in the magazine's gossip section. While the rumor itself was ridiculous on the many levels of her nonexistent romantic life - she froze as her mind shot back to her time with Gray the night before, quickly shaking away the memories to rid of the feelings that brewed up at even trying to dispeher what it all meant - only Mira could be as invested in something that was so lackluster. Still, she did want to know the true extent of what the team before thought of her, so she continued on as she spoke truthfully, "Besides, I'm not trying to date right now. Well - unless it happens naturally."
Laxus shifted as subtly as he could to pay more attention to the blond mage, his face masked to look as uninstered as he could be as his ears perked up. On the other side of him, Freed took a sip of his tea with a curious hum as Bickslow was actually completely silent, his babies hovering around him as if awaiting what was to be said next.
Evergreen, ever the one to let her inner gossip out, asked with an eager wave of her free hand, "What do you mean Lucy?" She looked to be choosing her words carefully, speaking much more slowly, "I thought you were all about romance from those romance novels you and Levy talk about. I thought you wanted a boyfriend?"
Lucy wished she could control her face as it flushed. She really needed to work on her poker face when it came to being called out. Anxiously, she bit her lip, letting her words be a quiet mumble in fear of anyone in the guild overhearing. "I wouldn't mind one, but it wouldn't make sense. With everything going on in my life it wouldn't be the wisest idea to drag someone into my problems."
"Then why not find someone who fits our lifestyle? Like a guildmate?" Evergreen suggested in haste, her eyes watching the boy's reactions as they too watched the back and forth. "That way it's not a problem since everyone is nakama, and you would have someone who would be understanding to your problem in the ways only a mage could."
Lucy was taken aback at the idea. It wasn't terrible, in reality, it made perfect sense. Her nakama were the only ones who knew of her situation, and through the time she had been a Fairy Tail mage, they had seen her highs and lows in the countless trails and wars they shared. Then again, did she have the right to drag any more people into her mess, to deal with the hardships of her trying to focus on being stronger? She wouldn't be able to prioritize them, or she would only embarrass herself as she tried to keep up with her potential partner. Everyone in the guild was so strong, so ahead of her, and here she was trying to catch up, so it just didnt make sense to her when she needed to prioritize her strength. As her celestial magic is still being expanded to lengths she aims to push it to, so does the mayhem in the celestial realm, another problem that wouldn't be right to drag any of her friends into.
How could one understand the dread of the Celestial King being absent, or how her spirit friends were in a panicked frenzy trying to fix their home?
While Evergreen's idea wasn't bad, it wasn't the right time. She had no right to bring more chaos into her friends' lives, especially not after the past year of trying to recover from being stuck on Tenrou island for seven years. Maybe in the future, but right now wasn't the time, and that only dampened Lucy's mood more so. Lucy said with a sulking tone, "That's not a bad idea, but right now isn't the best time for me to be thinking about dating. Maybe in the future, but I think letting it happen naturally is safer than taking up Mira on her blind dates."
The entire table shivered at the mention of Mira's blind date schemes. It was an experience each member had to go through at least once as a Fairy Tail mage, one that was a collective traumatic experience that left so many wanting to remain single.
Trying to lighten the mood, Bickslow nudged her with a charming grin. "Well Cosplayer, don't be so sure to turn down Mira on her blind dates. Who knows, maybe she would set us up on one!" He cackled at her gasp, his grin becoming more mischievous, "I wouldn't mind if Mira set us-" Fire scorched all around them, a flaming body slamming into the mage with enough force to make both of them fly back into the wall. "What the fuck!"
In the next second, or what seemed like only a second in her mind, the table was set ablaze, with their mugs and plates being thrown into the air as each member tried protecting themselves from the fiery intrusion. Before she could think to block herself, or to pull out a key, or to even breathe in a breath of smoky air, her body tingled before all she could see was white before she would've become Natsu's collateral.
As fast as she could blink, one moment she felt as if every part of her body was lit up in the most nonpainful way she could think of to becoming whole again, chest to chest with Laxus as he looked down at her. Meeting his gaze, she was met with the perplexing but enchanting midnight blue that had gold swirling around as if a body of water, sparkling as he leaned in closer to her. With his head leaning into where his mouth met her ear, he huskily asked, "Did I succeed in sweeping you off your feet?"
Lucy felt her body freeze, her mind racing. It was happening again!
All she could do was gape at him, her face feeling like it would never return to her normal shade as she blushed. Just when did Laxus become so bold, or was he always like this?!
Just when she thought it couldn't get more embarrassing, he leaned back to face her again, a look of confusion on his as his normal stormy eyes looked down at her in question. Then, with s a startled blink of his eyes, he took in their position and a faint hue of a blush heated his cheeks as he looked away with an awkward cough. "Sorry 'bout that," he mumbled in apology, helping her stand up on her own so he could take a step back.
Lucy couldn't stop the giggle from escaping her lips at just how fast the change-up was. Not when she never had seen shy Laxus before, who was trying to look anywhere but at her. She quite liked it as she tried appeasing his worries with a friendly smile. "Why are you sorry?" She asked with a tilt of her head, "You saved me from becoming Natsu's daily guild collateral!"
At this Laxus let out a small chuckle, his tense shoulders easing before they heard Evergreen's shrill voice screech out. Both blonds turned over to see both Freed and Evergreen towering over Natsu's hunched body, who looked even more childish with his arms crossed and a sneer on his face as both mages sent death glares towards the dragon slayer.
"Just what were you thinking?!" Evergreen let out another screech, her eyes narrowing as Natsu turned his attention away from her. She fixed that quickly by thwacking him with her fan over his head, making him yell out a "Hey!" as he turned to give his own glare to her. "You're not even allowed up here and yet you thought destroying our table and the second floor was a great idea?!"
Before Natsu could speak, Freed's chilling words rang in the air, "I have to agree with Evergreen, Natsu. What you did today was a threat to the Raijinshuu when you almost crashed into Laxus. Not only would you have hit Laxus, but also Lucy."
Natsu looked passed the two to see Lucy watching the scene in mild amusement. She waved at him, letting him get his dues in by the dou. It would be a lot worse once Master Makarov found out.
"Forget about Laxus! Look what he did to my dress!" Evergreen growled, pointing at the bottom hem of her dress that was slightly singed. "He could've burnt off my clothes in front of the entire guild!"
Freed only nodded, his disapproving gaze set on Natsu.
"It's not like I meant to," Natsu said with an uncomfortable shrug, "Not like anyone wants to see your clothes burnt off."
Lucy winced at the shriek Evergreen let out as she lunged for the dragon slayer. Natsu was only saved as both Freed and Bickslow held the fairy mage back from her fan attacks, her shrieks ringing out through the guild as her outrage built on Natsu's confused look.
Bickslow groaned as Ever tried shoving him away, her pointed elbow against his cheek as he huffed, "Not cool man." He winced as she shoved her elbow more onto him. "Chill Ever, kid doesn't know what he's talking about."
Lucy decided it was time to end the fight when she saw Natsu's jaw tick. She knew her best friend, and as happy-go-lucky as he was, he didnt back down from a challenge. So with a quick jog up to the still fuming woman, she put a hand on her shoulder and sighed, "He's right Ever. Natsu is a bit clueless at times and most likely didn't mean any harm, right Natsu?"
This time everyone sent a pointed look towards him, and thank the stars he finally got the hint as he slowly nodded. "Yeah. I didn't mean to hurt you."
Evergreen huffed, backing off from him causing both her teammates to let go of her with sighs of relief. She crossed her arms as she sent him one last withering glare, "Fine, I'll take your apology. But I swear if you-"
"He won't," Lucy reassured, "I'll make sure of it."
At this Evergreen finally backed down, sending Lucy a thankful nod before going down the stairs to head to the bar, all but titering about needing a refreshing drink after dealing with Team Natsu.
Lucy almost missed the totem that whacked Natsu over the head with a delighted giggle.
"Oi!" Natsu snarled, his face twisting towards Bickslow. "What was that for?!"
Bickslow, for once, wasn't smiling. Instead, he looked irritated, "For being an idiot. You know you almost crushed your teammate, right?"
This had Natsu finally looking around at the damage he had done, seeing the walls a bit charred, the railing completely gone and the imprint of his and Bickslow's body colliding with the wall. There, somehow, still standing was Lucy's now abandoned chair. Natsu for once looked guilty as his eyes strayed back towards her. "I'm sorry, Luce."
Lucy couldn't stop the helpless smile that came at his apology. She knew his tendency to be wild, and from looking back down the rafters to see Elfman quickly sneak away out the back door, she already knew that it was the guild brawl and Elfman's beast arm that had him barreling up towards their table. So, going up to him and squatting to be at his level, she hugged him as she whispered to him, "Baka, it's okay. But you need to be more careful next time." She grinned as her next words all but creepily etched into his mind. "Imagine if I was Erza?"
Lucy felt validated at the terrified shriek her best friend let out. That would hold him off from destroying anything until she got back from her next mission. Itching back to stand up, she dusted herself off before looking back down at Natsu, a cheeky grin lighting up her features as she cooed playfully, "Now, let's get going before Erza finds out about the damage done to the guild, yeah?"
Natsu couldn't have gotten up any faster than he did as he snatched her hand and made it for the second-floor window. Lucy had to hold back a laugh as she followed him, not deterred as she followed along in jumping out. After all