Chapter 13
"I like you," Laxus had confessed.
"You do realize that this is not the appropriate time for this," Lucy had pointed out, gesturing towards the very much unconscious Mr. Ivan Dreyar lying on a bed a few spaces across from them.
Laxus was silent for a moment, his eyes roaming and landing on the sleeping figure of his father. "You're right. This is not the time for this," he had agreed.
Lucy felt relief wash over her. She sighed but this moment was just that…a moment. Laxus, who stood towering over her, once again cast that intense gaze upon her.
"But when is?" he had asked rhetorically, shooting her with a smirk as if to dare her to refute his logic.
'This man!' Lucy had cried internally.
Try as she may deny it, Laxus had a point. While this room with a bedridden person was not the ideal place to have such a personal conversation, Lucy also knew that avoiding the inevitable will just lead to nothing more than a pointless chase…a chase that would surely just land her back to where she started.
Lucy wanted to run away and avoid all of these. She really did. But she also knew that running away does not solve an issue. Communication does. Running away from Laxus would just spur his need - and probably his primal, more draconic instinct - to chase after her, and press her for more.
'Running away is pointless,' she had reminded herself, but the more immature side of her just wanted to bust open that door and run as fast as she could. 'Calm down, me,' she had restrained herself, and successfully at that. She had stood her ground, and stared down this 600 - probably more - pounds of a human skyscraper capable of frying the ever-loving shit out of her.
Besides, she had already done more than enough running away to last her a lifetime. What did that get her? Last time, it was a guild war instigated by Phantom Lord against Fairy Tail. Last time it led to her cutting off her ties with her own father, which sadly resulted in them unable to reconcile before her father died.
'No more of that,' she had decided. Lucy already learned her lesson. What goes around comes around, life is quite funny that way.
"I need time to think," Lucy had said, rubbing her fingers against her temples, fighting off the growing headache. "Would you be able to wait," she had said, sitting down on the sofa seat.
Silence ensued, and Lucy had the sense to glance back at Laxus. He was still standing, his eyes lost for a moment as if he was processing whatever she had said.
"Laxus," Lucy had probed. "Are you okay?"
Then, his eyes found hers, and a big, boyish, beaming smile spread across his face. It eventually morphed into his cocky expression. "Ha! I knew you wouldn't be able to resist me, Heartfilia!"
Lucy had wanted to smack him to the ground, but reined it in. "Laxusss!" she had hollered before realizing that they were, in fact, in a hospital. "I haven't said yes to anything yet," she hissed.
"Calm ya ti-" Laxus had begun to say, before clearing his throat. "Calm ya self, Blondie. Need I remind you that you haven't said 'no' either," he had ribbed.
"I-I.." She had been rendered speechless.
"Shhh, Blondie," he had shushed her. "No need to worry. This man will charm the pants outta ya, that you'd be the one begging to marry me by the end."
"Laxus," Lucy had warned in a tone that would have scared Natsu, Gray, and Happy into submission.
"Fine, fine," Laxus had relented with the jokes but still kept that god-awful, arrogant expression. "Now, to celebrate this day when you finally had the honor of dating The Great Thunder God Laxus Dreyar, I will let you choose where we shall dine tonight," he had said with a dramatic bow, offering his hand for her to reach and stand up.
Lucy had taken his hand, and she realized how they were large compared to hers. "Gee, I can just feel myself swooning already," she remarked dryly.
"That's part of the charm. Don't go falling in love just yet," Laxus had guffawed, leading them to exit the room.
'Oh well,' Lucy had sighed contentedly. 'It's a start.'
Crocus truly lives up to its reputation as the Flower Blooming Capital, its streets are splashes of vibrant colors, thanks to an endless array of flowers. Every corner boasts flowerbeds, and garlands of blooms are coveted mementos. Nowhere is this floral splendor more evident than in The Crocus Gardens. Here, buildings adorned with vibrant facades and towering, sharply pointed roofs line the cobblestone streets. Some structures are modest, while others are adorned with intricate circular mosaics crafted from smooth stones, depicting lush floral scenes and other natural motifs.
Lucy inhaled in the fresh fragrance of the place as the gentle breeze caressed her skin. She looked up towards the man walking beside her and smiled.
The wind also blew Laxus' hair and clothes, his coat flapping lightly. She caught his attention, and he cocked his eyebrow in question.
"What?" he asked after a few seconds.
Lucy merely shook her head with a small smile budding in her lips, continuing to walk in comfortable silence. They passed by a glowing Lacrima lamp post near a wooden bench, and she felt the sudden need to sit down for a moment. They were walking for a while, after all.
"Come on," she said, leading the way to the bench before she sat down.
Laxus followed her, sitting by her left side while tentatively placing his arms over the backrest where she leaned on. He cleared his throat a few times as he stared at a far distance, his eyes refusing to meet hers.
Lucy narrowed her eyes at him, noticing how - though his face may not be visible from this angle - it was obvious from his ears that the man was likely flustered as well. This emboldened Lucy, so much so that she wanted to tease him a bit.
"Are you really sure that the Marinated Beef Skewers are enough for dinner?" Laxus began to ask, his voice skeptical.
Lucy pondered it for a moment. While it is true that Laxus did somewhat ask her out on an informal date, Lucy did not really feel the need to go and eat out at a restaurant especially since this man's father was still in the hospital. It seems wrong. It would also just leave a bad taste in her mouth. And although Laxus still insisted on dining at a suspiciously-looking five-star restaurant, by that time, she was already craving some skewers.
"Pretty sure," Lucy shrugged. "Those beef skewers were amazing," she added, finding herself to crave some more. She made a mental note to make some, once she returned home. She may even treat her team for an impromptu Beef Skewer-Sleepover Party.
Laxus sighed, finally relenting. "Fine, but that ain't what I had in mind," he added. "You would have swooned right then and there if we ate at that restaurant."
Lucy giggled. "So, that was your evil plan all along," she gasped jokingly.
"Yeah, Blondie," he responded, looking at her with a very confident expression. "I would have tempted you like a sin."
Lucy was momentarily silenced by such a bold declaration. "Bold of you, my good Sir, to think that a Five-Star Restaurant is enough to tempt this radiant, cultured and dignified me," she replied with a smirk of her own.
"Whoa!" Laxus responded in such mocking bewilderment. "And here I thought that I'm the overconfident one!" he laughed.
Lucy soon joined in with the laughter, wiping the tears from her eyes before she turned her attention towards the sky. The night was a blanket of darkness punctuated by the twinkling of the stars. She began to survey if some constellations were visible. There was the Orion, the Ursa Major, and the Taurus. The last one made her remember the early days of her adventure when ran away from home. Her Celestial Spirit of the Golden Bull, Taurus, was the very first Golden Celestial Spirit Gate Key that she found on her own since Aquarius and Cancer were something she inherited from her mother.
The chirping rhythm caused by the stridulation of crickets brought her back from her reminiscing. The wind blew again, bringing a harsher cold that instinctively made her shiver.
She heard a rustling motion by her side, seeing Laxus taking off his coat and placing it upon her shoulders. Lucy felt warmth bloom in her cheeks. "Thanks," she smiled at the man.
"Ha! Told ya, I'mma seduce the knickers outta ya!" Laxus barked in laughter.
"Why do you have to ruin it," Lucy whined in protest, eventually laughing as well.
The Gardens was relatively empty for this time of the day. Usually, a large number of people would crowd this place since it is one of the most famous landmarks of Crocus. The few people who were present right now were walking comfortably, some by their lonesome, some in groups, and some, perhaps, on a date. They were frolicking about, eating, or taking some pictures using their Miniature Communication Lacrima.
"Damn. I haven't had this much peace since I joined Fairy Tail," Laxus pointed in a sardonic voice but it was obvious from the tone that it also held affection. "And that's saying a whole fucking lot!"
Try as she might,she could not control the giggle that escaped her lips at that remark.
"Ah, peace," Laxus sat back in a more laid back manner, gazing at the sky.
"You know, you really shouldn't say that," Lucy said with a smile.
"Why not?" he said without looking at her.
"Oooh! What do we have here? A couple wearing matching clothes," a taunting voice approached them.
"That's why," Lucy remarked, deflated.
"Fucking tempting fate!" Laxus exclaimed.
Lucy can only nod in agreement.
There were about three men that approached them in a menacing manner, the one in the center closest to them. The other two behind flanked their leader on both sides. Predictably, all of them were shrouded in an all-black ensemble, complete with a burglar mask with holes for the eyes and the mouth. The man in front was holding a folding pocket knife. "Give us your money or-"
"Or else, what?" Laxus stood up, stepping forward in such an intimidating gait that the three would-be thieves inched backwards. Laxus' voice betrayed no emotion. It was cold, professional and dangerous.
"Or else, this!" The man lunged forward, striking with his right hand holding the knife.
Laxus sidestepped and grabbed the man's arm and twisted it. The burglar howled in pain, as a soft crack was heard.
"Arghhh!" The man gnashed his teeth.
Lucy stayed seated, waiting for Laxus to have his version of fun before she felt two sets of blades press her neck. She sighed. Sometimes, Lucy found herself surprised at how she had already predicted that she would be taken as a hostage.
'This is getting tiring,' she mused to herself. This has got to be a very tiring cliche by this point.
"Give us your money or your girlfriend gets it!" the man on her left said as a threat.
"Oh. No," Lucy spoke in a robotic manner, making sure that her tone drips with so much obvious sarcasm. "My. Darling. I. Have. Been. Taken. As. A. Hostage. Whatever. Shall. I. Do?"
"Quiet, you!" the man on her right spat.
"Oh. Help. Me. Please," she repeated the same tone. "I. Am. Scared."
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Laxus' boisterous and barking laugh resonated across the whole open place, garnering the attention of the several onlookers.
"Shut your mouth, fucker!' the man on her tight shouted, inching the distance of the blade to her skin.
Laxus stopped laughing and resumed his earlier cold expression. He gripped the burglar's arms tighter, and Lucy saw a small spark from his fingertips. The spark traveled along the burglar's arms. The man twitched and crumpled, before dropping with a dull thud on the ground. Laxus walked over the unconscious body towards them.
"Don't move!" one of the men cried out in panic, as Lucy felt the blades grazing her skin. "Don't come any closer or…or…we'll kill her!"
"Spica Lock," a familiar female voice echoed from behind Lucy, followed by the rumbling sound of rocks being unearthed and converging on its targets.
"Wha-" came the startled voice of the two men, before being cut off by a soft thud.
Behind her, the two men encased in their separate prison boulders were rendered unconscious. Virgo stood behind them. "Were you hurt, Hime? If so, may I be punished?"
"I'm fine, Virgo," Lucy answered with a sigh. "No punishments today."
"May I tie the bandits?" The Celestial Spirit of the Maiden asked for permission. Lucy nodded her answer.
"Ya know, Blondie," Laxus approached them, stroking his chin as if he was so lost in thought. Then he grinned at her. "Whenever I see this Spirit, I keep on being reminded how she basically bondage-tied you after your fight with that Kyria chick."
Lucy buried her face in her palms. "Nooo…"
Laxus once again erupted in laughter, and Lucy felt her temper flare a little. She needs to make it even.
"Oh, I see," Lucy lowered her voice register to the point that she seemed to be whispering. "So, this is how the Great Laxus asks women on dates. Take one girl, and talk about another," she looked up at him, raising her eyebrow in a challenge.
"I-I…uh," Laxus sputtered, his expression transforming into mild panic.
"Hmmm," she hummed before standing up. She handed him his coat before walking away. She controlled her expression , fighting the urge to laugh at how this intimidating S-Class Mage becomes flustered.
"Lucy! Wait!" Laxus called out, taking long strides to catch up to her. "It's a joke!"
"So nothing about this is serious. I see," Lucy conveyed in a measured tone, still walking forward. She reined in the instinct to run. That would give it away that she was just messing with him.
"C'mon, Lucy. You know that that's not what I meant," Laxus still followed her, finally inching closer to her. "Please?"
Lucy bit her lip to hold in the chuckle, but as soon as she turned towards him, laughter escaped her lips.
Laxus' expression changed again as he understood what was going on. He joined in on the laughter. "I admit, Blondie. Ya got me! Of course you realize, this means war!"
"Now, now, Sparky," Lucy tutted. "Bold of you to assume that I'm already done!" she fired back.
"Well, I believe that," Laxus smiled, finally catching up to her. He matched her walking pace as he crossed his arms over his chest. "In any case, I think we should go. C'mon, I'll walk you back to the inn. I still need to talk with Dr. Medella to settle a few things since we're off to Magnolia tomorrow." Laxus then proceeded to lead her.
Lucy pondered this for a moment, humming. "Nah, let's just both go to the hospital, then to the inn. That's more efficient."
Laxus stared at her for a moment, then he shook his head, smiling. "As you wish, Ms. Heartfilia," he said in what appears to be a poorly imitated butler impression.
"Yeah! Yeah" Lucy brushed it off with a chuckle of her own. She then proceeded to look back towards Virgo. "Virgo, if you're done, you may return. Thank you," she hollered. The Celestial Spirit then dissolved in a shimmer of golden light.
WHISTLE!
"Hey! You two!" a male voice shouted from a distance. "Stay where you are! You are under arrest for Disturbance of Public Order!"
"Ah, shit!" Laxus cursed. "Not again," he said surly.
Suddenly, Lucy felt the wind being knocked out of her as she found herself nestled in Laxus arms in a bridal carry. She would have blushed right then and there, had Laxus not activated his Lightning Body Spell and they were flung thousands of feet into the air at hundreds of miles per hour.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Lucy screamed in abject horror.