What Fairy Girls Want
by Ulquiorra9000
Chapter 30: give me what I want, baby
It was on December 6th when Natsu got the tenth rejection email from a potential employer. Damn.
"Going with another candidate. Whatever," Natsu grumbled as he checked the formulaic email on his phone's screen. There he was in line for the burger place in the MCC student union cafeteria, tummy grumbling, and now this.
"What's that?" Droy asked from right behind Natsu.
Natsu motioned with his phone as he made a sour expression. "I can't get a job at a gym to save my life! What's so lousy about me as a candidate? I'm all about the gym! I'd crush it!"
"Maybe the career counselor would know," Droy said with a shrug. "I have a few friends who tried it, including Max."
Natsu cocked his head. "Oh yeah? How'd it go?"
Droy grinned. "He said the counselor was a total babe."
"I ain't looking for a date," Natsu said, giving Droy's shoulder a playful shove. "Now I'm tempted to not get any fries to save what little cash I have left."
"Come on. You always get the fries here," Droy teased him. "Think about it: hot, salty fries dipped in ketchup to chase those meaty bites of burger, then a cold Cola to top it off..."
Natsu cracked a smile. "Well shit, fries it is."
"Seriously, just hang in there," Droy encouraged him. "Something's gotta work out eventually, right?"
"Right now, I've still got four more leads," Natsu noted. "One of them is a pretty big gym on 8th Street. They've got state-of-the-art rowing machines and a Jacuzzi!"
"Wow, nice. I hope you land that gig, Natsu."
"Thanks. Here's hoping." It was finally Natsu's turn to order, and he made sure to order an extra-large serving of fries.
Later, at the apartment...
"I'm down to three leads, dudes," Natsu said grimly as he burst into the apartment, shivering from the cold (he was much more of a summer man). "I got another rejection email this afternoon. At least this one was nice enough to say 'best regards' at the bottom. Sounds like something Levy would say."
"Oh, man. For real? That sucks," Elfman said, looking over his shoulder at Natsu while watching a beer commercial on the living room TV. "Hang in there!"
"Yeah, that's what Droy said. But damn, I won't have nothin' to hang on to at this rate," Natsu lamented.
Gray wandered in from the kitchen, a fresh yogurt in hand, a spoon in his mouth. "Whaf haffenf?" he asked.
Natsu rolled his eyes. "Dude."
Gray took out the spoon. "What happened?"
"I got two rejection emails today from some gyms I applied to recently," Natsu groaned. "This blows! I already applied to all gyms that are hiring. If the last few say no, which they will at this rate, then that's it."
Gray's expression softened. "That must feel terrible, my man."
"Sure does. Ugh."
"Maybe you need a treat to take your mind off things," Elfman put in.
"Couldn't hurt," Natsu agreed. "I'll be in my room. Maybe some funny dog videos will take my mind off things."
"Actually..." Elfman gave Gray a quick glance. "Why don't you take the living room, Natsu? I was pretty much done anyway. Let's put on a movie you like."
Natsu blinked. "Uh... sure. That's real swell of you." Funny, normally Elfman clung to that TV like his life depended on it. He once missed a class just to watch a filler episode of his favorite isekai show!
"Here." Elfman got up and motioned, so a vaguely bewildered Natsu took off his shoes and coat, then got comfy on that couch. Then, the unthinkable happened.
"Just your size," Elfman said happily as he opened the nearby closet door and withdrew a red and black checkered blanket, draping it over Natsu like a doting mom. "How's that feel?"
"Toasty," Natsu said with a grin. "Are you buttering me up for something?" Then he narrowed his eyes. "Did you eat that last slice of cake I was saving for tonight? Wouldn't be the first time!"
"You mean this slice?" A cheery Gray popped into the kitchen to retrieve the aforementioned dessert from the fridge, setting it on the coffee table in front of Natsu, fork and all.
"Okay, what's the catch?" Natsu asked as Elfman got busy setting up the DVD player.
"No catch, bud," Gray assured him. "You're having a tough time. This's what friends do for someone in need."
Natsu took a bite of cake. "Do tell. Not even my girlfriend went this far when I told her about my other rejection emails earlier this week."
"It's because of my girlfriend I'm now properly sensitive to the needs of others," Elfman said proudly, folding his thick arms over his chest. "I'm a changed man, Natsu! Do you remember our Crocus trip, how I almost ruined things with Evergreen?"
"Yeah."
"That's because, as you told me back then, I was too self-centered and dismissed the needs of others. No more!"
"Yeah. And my kind-of breakup with Juvia reminded me how important it is to take care of people who are hurting," Gray put in. "I made sure to comfort her after all that. And Juvia said Levy and all her other friends did the same thing. Everyone was there for her."
"And now it's my turn?" Natsu asked.
"It sure is," Elfman declared. He got the DVD in, and he took the liberty of pressing PLAY on Natsu's favorite action flick, the one where the tanktop-wearing hero jumps out of a flaming skyscraper wrestling an invisible alien hunter to protect mankind's future in the coming nuclear war.
Natsu stared at his two roommates, who usually screwed with him for sport and vice versa, taking a few seconds to absorb this. Then Natsu's smile returned, twice as bright as before.
"Thanks, guys. This hits the spot. Maybe things will turn out okay after all."
"That's the spirit!" Elfman roared, making Natsu and Gray jump.
"Say it, don't spray it," Gray quipped as he retrieved his yogurt and resumed eating it. "Your suff a fain in fee aff." Then he wandered off to finish eating in his room.
Yeah, Elfman could be such a pain in the ass sometimes, but not tonight, Natsu thought as he watched the movie's first scene where the UFO lands in the city while three hapless cops checked out. And back on the topic of girlfriends, Natsu wondered what Lucy was up to on this fine evening...
o*o*o*o*
Whew, what a night! The moment Bisca invited Lucy to an evening on the town with Evergreen, Levy, and Mirajane joining them, Lucy knew she was in for a good time. And was she ever! Between a trip to the bar, a visit to the local karaoke club, and a leisurely walk through the Magnolia Mall, Lucy got caught up on all the good gossip. The best update: Bisca and Alzack had truly found their rhythm living together, and they had everything that made them feel like a married couple!
By the time Lucy climbed out of the cab a little tipsy and buzzing with playful energy, she felt like she was in the mood to do anything. Nothin' was off limits! Tonight, Lucy was loose as a goose.
Five minutes later, as she watched her reflection gazing back at her in the bathroom mirror, Lucy felt the carefree energy start to recede. That left one nugget of an idea that had been bouncing around in her head for the last few weeks.
Call him on the phone.
Lucy sat on the edge of her bed, typing in the phone number she had memorized years ago into her smartphone, her heart suddenly beating hard with nerves. Was this a bad idea after all? What was even the point? Just to spit in his face?
Not if Lucy did this right.
Lucy pressed DIAL and put the phone to her ear.
"Hello?" came a familiar man's voice.
"Good evening, Dad," Lucy said, trying to sound casual. Did she sound OK? Did she sound nervous or mean? Oh my...
"It's been about three years, hasn't it?" came Jude Heartfilia's voice. "Have you been well, Lucy?"
"Yeah, I'm... I'm fine," Lucy said in a tight voice, suddenly wishing Natsu or Mirajane were here. She was half-tempted to hang up and chalk this up to the booze talking.
"Is that so?" Jude said.
Lucy took a deep breath. "No, I'm doing better than fine, Dad. I'm having the time of my life. I've become the girl I always wanted to be. And I did it all on my own."
Now it was out there, the defiant truth. Lucy had waited three years to tell her father that directly. She knew what was coming next...
"I'm proud of you, Lucy."
Oops. Lucy didn't know what had been coming next. What the...
"Classes are going well," Lucy babbled, "and I have a boyfriend, a really nice guy named Natsu who plays soccer and wants to work at a gym. And I made a video documentary to submit to a local media award competition. I've built the life I always wanted for myself, Dad, and I'm not giving it up."
"That all sounds wonderful," Jude said warmly. "Lucy, it's incredible what you've accomplished. My girl is all grown up."
"Maybe Magnolia City College isn't the university you wanted me to attend," Lucy said, "but it's my new home, Dad. I love it there. I love all my friends and my enriching classes. I couldn't live my life any other way."
"It's true MCC wasn't on my radar," Jude noted, "but if you're doing well there, Lucy, that's good enough for me, too. You're studying hard?"
"I get good grades. I know what I'm doing."
"Excellent. Keep it up, and remember that I'll always take such pride in how you turned out. I love you, Lucy. And I miss you."
Lucy hesitated, her phone trembling slightly as she gazed at her bedroom's far wall, her mind racing. What did she say now? She wanted to rub this independent success in her father's face and talk down his angry protests! Was Jude testing her? Was he trying to make Lucy lower her guard before swooping in to take control of her life again?
"Dad," Lucy said slowly, "what if I said I don't want to return home, and I want to stay in Magnolia with my friends and boyfriend? I don't need anything from you."
"Lucy, I..." Now it was Jude who paused, no doubt weighing his daughter's words. "I hardly know where to begin. The time apart gave me plenty of time to rethink things and take stock of what's truly important to me."
"What's most important? My success, or your role in it?" Lucy asked.
"I want my girl to be happy," Jude told her. "Lucy, I truly am sorry about my parenting for all those years. Losing your mother, it... it brought out the worst in me. All I could think about was, what if I lost you, too?"
"Yeah. And you made yourself feel better by never letting me feel better," Lucy shot back.
"I can't take back what I did. And I won't make excuses," Jude confessed. "Lucy, you deserved better, and if you're better off living your life without me, I understand. I will respect your wishes. But please don't forget, I truly do love you. You're the best thing that ever happened in my life. My Lucky Lucy."
"Oh come on, Dad," Lucy said through a tight throat. That childhood nickname...! It had felt so stupid back then. Now Lucy missed it, though feeling nostalgic about it had its rough parts, too.
"I'm glad you called me. I'm glad I got to hear your voice again," Jude said, his voice heavy with emotion. "If you like, we can talk it all out over time, and, well... try to be a real father and daughter. Would you like that?"
"I... I don't know, Dad. I have to think about it." Lucy had a hand to her racing heart.
"Okay. I'll give you all the space you need," Jude told her gently. "I hope to talk to you again, Lucy."
"We'll see, dad. Have a good night." Lucy hung up, then tossed her phone onto her bedspread.
Lucy took a moment, just sitting on the edge of her bed, gently kicking her legs up and down, trying to calm the torrent of mingled, confused thoughts in her head. Was that a good idea? What really made Lucy want to call her dad? No way could she blame the lingering effects of those shots and margaritas at the bar with the girls! It had to be something deeper.
Maybe... maybe it was because Lucy felt so proud of herself for having the guts to make and submit that video documentary for a prize she dearly hoped to win. And she was proud of herself for finding true love with a boy who absolutely loved and respected her more than anything ever.
Lucy wanted to hear her dad be proud of her, too, and she got it. Why didn't Lucy feel completely satisfied yet? Like half of her kept expecting Jude to explain the strings attached to his pride and love for her!
But then again, Lucy was certain she had heard some honesty in her father's voice, too. She couldn't deny how good it made her feel.
"Aaaaaaahhhhh... so complicated." Lucy casually lay flat on her bed, now watching the ceiling, an arm draped over her forehead. She didn't know how much time passed like that, but Lucy was definitely back up and at 'em by the time Cana swaggered back home, loudly boasting about the bar crawl she just returned from, one involving Kinana and Laki somehow doing shots out of each other's belly buttons... at the same time!
"You okay? You must have something on your mind," Cana said, still wheezing from laughter as she told the tale of the epic bar crawl.
Lucy smiled and shook her head. "Just thinking how lucky I am to live the life I've got, Cana. I've got it made!" She spread her arms wide.
"Haha. Lucky Lucy, the MCC princess," Cana joked. She tossed her brown hair and wandered into her bedroom.
Yes... Lucy was one lucky girl, all right.
o*o*o*o*
"Alzack, I never want this night to end," Bisca breathed as she and her boyfriend threw open their bedroom door one evening after a fine dinner and movie date. "Make love to me. Do whatever the fuck you want. I'm all yours."
"Well hot dog, babe," Alzack said with a cocky grin as he held his girlfriend tight, savoring her body's warmth. "You know what, before we get frisky, there was something I wanted to do."
"Later," Bisca moaned with anticipation. "I need you in me. Now."
"But..." Alzack was conscious of the hard lump in his pants (well, the other one), and wished he had done that at the restaurant after all! But that was such a public venue, and what if Bisca got all flustered for everyone to see?
"But what, cowboy?" Bisca demanded. "What could be more important than warming up the bed on this cold evening?"
"It's... it's nothin', babe," Alzack said as the power of boners and his girlfriend's limited patience took over. He grinned. "You said anything, right?"
"That's what I said. And now it's what you'll do." Bisca smiled and tapped Alack's nose.
Oh snap, it was so on.
"Bisca... I love you," Alzack panted as he resumed making out with his lady, all while undressing Bisca bit by bit, with Alzack's jeans growing taut with his raging erection. Good thing he had a few spare condoms ready to rock on top of the dresser!
"Aw... I love you too," Bisca said with a bashful smile, rolling her head to the side as Alzack kissed her exposed neck. "But seriously, talk dirty to me. Tear me apart! Let me have it!"
"Careful what you wish for, you foolish harlot," Alzack teased her. "You're all mine. All of you!" He doubled his pace, eagerly tearing off Bisca's clothes and tossing aside her flannel shirt. Ah, perfect: Bisca wore a gorgeous bra for the date tonight, a fancy pink, white, and black one with all kinds of lace, little flower thingies, and a black bow between the cups. Bisca was like a model!
Alzack tried to keep his hands steady as he reached around to undo Bisca's fancy bra, and he fumbled with the first hook. Dammit! He tried the other, and got it off. Funny how bras had simple hooks on them, but when guys like Alzack were consumed by lustful heat, even those simple little hooks felt like a puzzle keeping those boobs locked away. The irony!
The top hook came undone. Bisca's bra fell to the floor.
And two huge melons burst into view.
"Fuck yes." Alzack didn't hesitate; he leaned down and motorboated those breasts for all it was worth, holding them together as he went, savoring the warm, soft flesh in his face. Bisca's body was so damn beautiful. Alzack didn't deserve a goddess like her. He thanked every last decision he ever made in his life that led to him living together with this queen in a cozy apartment, knowing that only the special little something in his pocket could make his life any better than this.
"Oh!" Bisca yelped with playful surprise as Alzack gently threw her onto the bed, the topless Bisca blushing like an innocent maiden as her breasts flopped on her chest, her green hair going everywhere. She was now just in her jeans and socks as Alack mounted her, leaning down to let the lovemaking resume. Alzack caressed every square inch of Bisca's exposed body, his fingertips tingling with excitement as he went. Bisca was so savory, like dessert!
Then Alzack tore his shirt off and flexed those steely abs. Bisca moaned with renewed pleasure, her eyes fixed on her man's perfectly sculpted chest. She was panting like a dog, desperate for more.
And she got it.
"Alzack... my sweet...!" Bisca cried as Alzack tore into her, starting with slipping her jeans off her smooth legs, followed by those socks and finally, Bisca's charming pink panties, all flung to the carpeted floor. Alzack grabbed a few condoms from the dresser, then got to work, laying with his queen as he entered her, slowly at first, then with unspeakable vigor and carnal desire. Bisca threw back her head and wailed in pleasure as her boyfriend penetrated her deeper than ever, Alzack's abs flexing for all they were worth as Alzack kept thrusting, enveloping them both in a haze of steamy sweat and longing.
So yeah, it was pretty fucking great. Anytime Alzack felt like the studly guys on the covers of those ultra-trashy romance novels Mirajane and Levy kept throwing around, it was a fine night for Alzack and his maiden. And with his pants on the floor, Alzack almost forgot about it. By the time condom #5 came and went, he was too tired to even try it.
"Wow... our best yet," Bisca panted, lying next to her man in the post-coital cooldown period. "Oh my gosh. Having sex to warm up in winter is a real treat, isn't it?"
"I... whoa," was all Alzack could manage, wiping his brow, his chest aching and his weiner sore (totally worth it). He wasn't sure what to do next, because this evening was going more in the direction Bisca wanted. Maybe it was too late for the surprise part after all. Hmmmmmmmm...
Eventually, Bisca took a nice hot shower, and after Alzack took his turn, he tossed his clothes into the near-empty hamper. His pants went clunk as they landed in the stiff plastic container.
"Clunk?" Bisca wondered, cocking her head. "Alzack, it sounds like you left something in your pants."
"Yeah, I did." Alzack felt like he was moving in a distant haze, the whole moment feeling surreal as he knelt by the hamper and got a little black box out of the right pocket of today's pants. So this was it! You know what, this was the perfect evening after all. Even if it was all a little backwards.
"Bisca." Alzack knelt before his girlfriend, opening the box to reveal the sparkling diamond ring inside. "Will you marry me?"
"YES!" Bisca squealed, clapping her hands over her mouth, blushing bright red. "Yes, I will! Alzack...!"
They didn't even wait to get the ring on. Alzack leaped to his feet just in time for Bisca to pull him close in a tight hug, mashing her lips on his, her body nice and warm.
"After we graduate, right?" Bisca double-checked. "I mean, we still have classes and stuff."
"After we graduate. Can't wait," Alzack confirmed, and once the ring was firmly on Bisca's finger, the making out resumed. And darn it all, Bisca was guiding Alzack right back to that bed, ready to get sweaty and freaky all over again.
It was the hottest December night on record.