#this is one of the later points in Bix’s story and the beginning of his recovery

[ouchie-central]

Whump Wheel Drabble #2: Missing

Thank you to @ofinkandstardust for the wheel and the inspiration!

CW: Amputee Character, (Magical Prosthetic) Non-Human Whumpee (Harpy) Cane use, Healing stitches, Cursing, Ignoring the severity of wounds, Loss of family.

Characters: Bixita “Bix” Meliaki, (he/him) Prince Tahir (he/him)

“They’re gone.”

Bix’s heart dropped to the pit of his stomach as soon as he set foot in his home. His siblings weren’t there, and as he frantically began looking around for any signs of them, it became more and more clear that they hadn’t been here for a long time.

The old silo had been abandoned when Bix found it standing alone at the edge of the city. All the grain long since picked clean by rats, and hardly anything but the roof, the floorboards and the door warranted calling it a home. But his siblings had been born in the nest he’d built into the silo’s catwalk. He’d told them stories of monsters and adventurers around the fire pit he’d dug into the ground. And the shelves lining the wall, built from nothing more than an abandoned cart Bix had run across on the road, still boasted the various knickknacks he’d acquired, found and stolen over the years.

But his siblings were nowhere to be seen. Everything was coated in layers of dust and cobwebs, and it was impossible to tell the last time the fire had been lit. Bix dropped his makeshift cane at the door and hobbled over to the nest on his leg that had barely healed, collapsing into it and sifting through the blankets, as if he’d find the three little harpies wrapped up in them.

But there was nothing.

Tahir, still frozen in the doorway, finally spoke. “Bix, I’m so sorry…”

“Shut up.” Bix snapped. He was clutching a blanket so hard it seemed like he was trying to strangle it. “You have nothing to be sorry for. This is my fault.” Bix swiped at the tears that were beginning to prick at the edges of his eyes and threw the blanket down, pushing himself up with great difficulty and dragging himself over to the stairs. Tahir picked up the other’s cane and shut the door behind him, following closely down the stairs.

“Bix, your stitches…”

“I don’t care!” He shouted, whipping around to give Tahir a piece of his mind. But his eyes were filled with tears. “My siblings are gone! I was supposed to protect them, I’m their big brother, and I was stupid enough to get arrested and leave them alone for three years! So my stitches, and my fucked-up leg, and my useless fucking wings don’t fucking matter because they’re probably-“ Bix froze, his eyes widening as the worst-case scenario fully dawned on him. And the grief that had been building up in his chest finally came out in wet, anguished sobs. His bad leg gave out, and with a split second to react, Tahir caught him and lowered him to the ground.

“Get the fuck off me!” Bix cried, pushing against the prince, who let go immediately. Tahir could only watch in sympathetic silence as Bix crumpled in on himself and cried, his sore wings only having enough mobility to partially wrap around himself in an attempt to hide. Eventually, he slowly uncrumpled and began to drag himself down the stairs, one step at a time. When he reached the bottom, he toppled over onto his side, his weak body still wracked with sobs.

The world seemed to stand still for a few moments. Bix’s world had crashed down around him, and Tahir didn’t know how to help. Eventually, the prince stood up and slowly walked down to the bottom floor of the house, setting the cane at the bottom of the steps but staying away from Bix as he’d requested. Instead, he wandered over to the shelves, observing the meager belongings of Bix’s family. An assortment of pots and pans, some folded-up fabric scraps and a basket full of sewing supplies, lots of pretty rocks, and a couple of toys: Some cobbled together, some that had once been nice but were now a bit past their prime. And between them all, there were some empty spaces, spots in the dust.

Some things were missing.

“Bix…?” Tahir asked cautiously from across the room. “What else used to be on this shelf?”

“What the hell are you talking about…?” Bix sniffled, his usual vulgarity having lost it’s edge. The harpy pushed himself off the ground, grabbing his cane and hauling himself to his one working foot to cross the room.

And as soon as his eyes finished scanning the shelves, he gasped.

“Their favorite toys are gone… And their bags, and my good cooking pot-!” Hope began to seep into Bix’s tone as a realization hit him. “They left…”

Tahir looked down at Bix, who was staring at the shelves in disbelief. “Do you know where they might have gone?”

Bix shook his head, trying to dry the tears that just kept coming. “No… But if they left then they’re out there. And I’m gonna find them.”

#whump #winged whumpee #wing whump #amputee whump #tw loss of family #whump writing #whump drabble #whump wheel #this is one of the later points in Bix’s story and the beginning of his recovery #and the first time he’s cried in front of Tahir #Bix will for sure be one of the biggest players on this blog just because he’s so fun to play with ;)

[celestialtitania]

A Day Away

Here is my entry for the Fairy Tail Reverse Big Bang! It was hosted by @ftguildevents and I was partnered with the amazing @crackheadart42 who made the most amazing artwork. Their artwork was what inspired this fic. You can check it out here! Be sure to check it out and give them the love they deserve! Thank you to @alittlebitweird4 for betaing and making this story even better!

Now you can read the story on AO3, FFN or right here under the cut! Hope you enjoy!

“Freed? What are you hanging out with Freed for?" Natsu remarked as he watched Lucy frantically move around her apartment, trying to find everything she was looking for. Lucy rolled her eyes.

"It's Freed and Levy-chan okay? And because I promised Natsu, what other reason are you looking for?"

"Tell them you forgot. Come back to bed," he beckoned to her. He was still lying in her bed, cocooned by the warm pink comforter, voice a little muffled by the pillows.

"I don't break my promises. You know that." Lucy ignored Natsu's unhappy whine, exclaiming in delight when she found the book she was looking for.

"You're taking a book? That means you'll take forever!"

"Natsu, I spend every single day with you. It would do us some good to spend some time apart. Why don't you go find Gray or something?"

"Who told you that nonsense?!" Natsu demanded fiercely. When Lucy tiredly turned to look at him, she found him sitting upright on the bed, looking towards her angrily. "We don't need time apart," he scoffed. "Because…" And here he looked her right in the eye. "Because it's more fun when we're together!"

Lucy flushed a bright pink. "Okay, yes it is, but Freed and Levy-chan are my friends and they are also people who I want to have fun with. So please Natsu. It's just one day," Lucy gave him a soft look. "Please?"

Natsu frowned but when he crossed his arms angrily, Lucy knew that it meant that he'd given in. Lucy walked towards him and hugged him tightly, from behind. "Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled before he pulled her down with him. Lucy yelped in surprise as she fell, before Natsu turned her around and kissed her softly. "I guess you can go. If you're sure." He kissed her cheek. Then the other cheek. He stopped to smile at her. Lucy smiled back in understanding, before she pushed him off of her and got up, fixing her rumpled clothes.

"Nice try." Natsu pouted at her but let her go, finally accepting defeat. Lucy grabbed her bag, ready to leave. "Bye Natsu. I'll see you later okay."

Natsu pouted harder but waved nonetheless. Lucy winked at him as she left the house, a wide grin on her face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Gajeel, I'm ready to leave," Levy was trying to say goodbye but Gajeel wasn't paying her any attention. He was too busy looking at his gears and levers.

"Gajeel." Levy tried again. Finally she couldn't take it anymore. "Gajeel!" Levy yelled, as loud as she could.

"Hmm?" He hummed distractedly. "You say something Shrimp?" He was barely glancing at her. Were his stupid machines really that much more important to him compared to her?

Levy felt irritation bubbling within her, as she clenched her fists around her bag's strap. For a moment, Levy imagined just how good it would feel to whack him on the head with her heavy, book-filled bag. But she shook her head and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "It's okay Levy. We'll just try again. You have to be patient, remember?"

"Gajeel?" Levy called out sweetly, but there was a dangerous note in her tone. This time Gajeel paid attention. He put his nuts and bolts down and slowly turned around on his stool, to look at her. "Yeah, Shrimp what is it?"

"I'm leaving," Levy told him calmly.

Gajeel froze, eyes widening. "Leaving?" He swallowed hard. "Why?"

"Why? Because I'm tired of waiting and you're not even paying attention to me. Also I'm getting late." Levy stared at him expectantly, but Gajeel was too shocked to move. With a sigh, she turned around.

"Wait!" Gajeel strangled out. Levy turned to peer at him, a tiny smile on her lips that fell immediately as she saw the panic on his face.

"Gajeel?" Levy reached out towards him but Gajeel stiffened and moved away from her.

"Don't," he whispered softly.

"Don't? Don't what?" Levy asked, her hand still hanging in the air, a hurt expression on her face.

"Don't le..." He paused to take a breath, while she stared at him in confusion. "Don't leave me," he gritted out.

"Leave you?" Levy scrunched up her face. "I'm not leaving you. What made you get that idea?"

His jaw dropped. "You just said you were leaving!" He yelled while pointing at her.

"Yeah, because I have plans with Lu-chan and Freed. I told you, remember?"

Gajeel paused for a moment, his complexion returning to normal. He laughed a little, "Huh guess you did. My bad."

Levy shook her head in annoyance but then she softened. Levy walked towards him and took his hands in hers. "I could never leave you." Levy promised, staring deep into Gajeel's eyes. "You're stuck with me."

She smiled at him tenderly, making Gajeel's cheeks tint pink. "Gihihi. That's right," he smirked a little. Levy grinned back at him brightly and pressed her forehead to his. "See you later Gajeel."

"Bye," he muttered, his smirk turning into a tiny smile. She reached up to hug him tightly before darting off. "Remember to make dinner okay?" Levy called back as she closed the door.

"Yeah, yeah," he dismissed her, turning back to his things. Then he stopped and looked up. "Did she say she was hanging out with Bunny Girl and Ponytail?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you sure you're alright Laxus? I don't have to go." Freed fretted over the blond man.

"Freed," Laxus interrupted before Freed could work himself up further. "I'm fine. I just said I'll be bored. Relax, I'll go see the old man or bug Bix for a bit. It's fine. You go have fun."

"Lucy and Levy only asked because they realized I'd read the book. They'll be fine without me," Freed said again, watching Laxus' face very carefully to see if he was hiding how he truly felt.

Laxus only gave him a flat look. "I really don't want you doing that. Seriously. The old man's been wanting me to go visit him anyways. Might as well now, otherwise I won't feel like it."

Freed's expression immediately turned disapproving. "Laxus, your grandfather loves you very much and he's always so kind and helpful to us. The least you can do is go visit him."

"That's what Erza's for," Laxus countered.

"He wants to see the both of you. You know that."

Laxus sighed. "Okay, okay. I said I'd go see him, didn't I?" Freed kept frowning. Laxus sighed harder. "Fine. I'll go see him today and then again with you. Now are we good?"

Freed gave him a bright smile.

"Get outta here," Laxus waved him off. Freed slowly slid off his chair. "At least let me make you breakfast first!"

"Freed I can handle it. I'm not a child." Freed must have still looked worried because Laxus motioned him to come towards him. Once he'd gotten close enough, Laxus brushed away a few strands of hair away and cupped his face. Quickly, he leant upwards and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"I'll be fine," Laxus whispered. "Don't worry."

Freed smiled. "I'll always worry," before softly kissing him on the lips this time. When he pulled away, Laxus whined.

"Laxus?"

"Just go," Laxus shook his head. Freed smiled shyly before kissing Laxus again, catching him by surprise. "I'll be home soon."

Laxus looked up at him, eyes dark and serious. "You'd better. Now go." With one last look behind him, Freed slipped out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lucy, Levy and Freed all met up outside the cafe at the same time. Levy was panting, having run most of the way, though Lucy and Freed didn't look much better. Collectively they all glanced towards the time, which was far past when they had initially agreed to meet.

"Oh thank goodness. I thought I was super late," Lucy laughed, breaking the silence. The other two murmured a similar sentiment. "Shall we head inside?" Freed suggested.

Once they'd gotten settled down at a table and ordered drinks and food, Lucy voiced the question on her mind. "Why were the two of you so late?"

"I, uh...that is..." Levy stammered around for a bit before turning the question back around to Lucy. "You were late too Lu-chan!"

"Natsu wouldn't let me leave," Lucy shrugged. She raised an eyebrow at Levy who sighed. "I just wanted to say bye to Gajeel first but you know what he's like. Never paying enough attention."

"Please Levy-chan, he just gets distracted. You know you're his number one priority." Levy smiled, appearing to get lost in some sort of memory. Lucy waved a hand in front of her face, snapping Levy out of it.

"Levy-chan?" Lucy asked, a little concerned. "No, you're absolutely right," Levy agreed happily, a large smile on her face.

They both turned towards Freed who flushed. He tried to get out of answering but neither Lucy nor Levy would allow him to do so. Before long Freed gave in "I was worried about Laxus."

Lucy and Levy exchanged glances. "Worried?" Levy began. "For Laxus?" Lucy stressed.

"What's wrong? Is he okay? Did he get hurt?" They were beginning to get a little worried.

"Freed, if you need to reschedule," Lucy began slowly, Levy nodding emphatically beside her.

Freed quickly shook his head. "No, no, he's fine. I just…" he trailed off.

"Let's just talk about the book." He pulled the book out of his bag and flashed it in their faces to distract them. It worked, Levy's eyes immediately brightened as she launched into a discussion of her favourite parts. Lucy kept glancing at Freed but before long she too was far more invested in the discussion than in prying answers out of Freed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Laxus stared at his fridge. How was it possible that it was filled with food yet he couldn't find a single thing he wanted to eat? He'd been the one to push Freed to go and have fun with Levy and Lucy too.

"Eggs maybe?" He mused out loud to himself. "Those are supposed to be easy to make right? Freed usually had them done in minutes. He took the carton out, leaving it on the shelf while he set the pan on the stove to heat up. He took out a bowl and tried to crack the egg open. Try being the operative word there.

The egg became completely smashed, little pieces of shell mixing in with the yolk. He set that one aside to try again. This time the egg cracked right and fell onto the floor. Laxus scowled, angrily turning off the stove.

"This is all Natsu's fault," he decided, giving up on cooking for himself. "The idiot knows how to cook. The least he can do is come over and help. Besides, the old man will just yell at me if I show up expecting food."

With that, Laxus grabbed the phone fully intent on forcing Natsu to come over and make him something. Not to mention, knowing his grandfather, instead of eating food they'd both just get drunk instead. Laxus had heard enough lectures from Freed about day-time drinking, and he wasn't interested in hearing any more.

Natsu picked up on the first ring. Laxus heard a yawn before he bothered to say hello.

"Get over here."

"Huh? Who?" Natsu asked, sounding confused.

"It's Laxus. Now get over here."

"Laxus? You want me to come over to your place? Really? Why? I mean you normally have to threaten me to stay away. Are you feeling alright?"

Laxus felt his eye twitch listening to Natsu ramble on. "Just get over here, got it?" He snapped before cutting the line. "The idiot had better show up quick," he growled to himself as he began to clean the mess he'd made. Laxus had just finished when the doorbell rang.

Laxus swung the door open, already beginning to speak. "Natsu, you'd better…" Laxus cut himself off. It wasn't Natsu at the door.

Gajeel stood there panting, hair a disheveled mess. Laxus stared at him. "What the hell? Did something run you over?"

Gajeel glared and angrily pointed at him. Laxus was in no mood to hear one of Gajeel's rants though, so before he could get started, Laxus tried to push the door close.

"Hey, wait!" Gajeel protested, wedging himself into the doorframe.

"I don't know what you want and I don't care."

"Can I at least come inside?"

"No." Laxus tried to push the door closed harder.

"Laxus? Gajeel? What're you two doing?" A voice asked. Laxus looked up to see Natsu staring at them, his expression showing that he was completely weirded out.

He opened the door, causing Gajeel to fall to the ground. Ignoring his protests, Laxus gestured for them to both come inside. Gajeel stood up glaring and stomped in. Natsu followed.

"What did you call me for? I was sleeping you know," Natsu complained.

"I don't care," Laxus pointed towards the kitchen. "Go on."

Natsu's eyes lit up. "You invited me here to eat?" He began to run towards the fridge.

"Not so fast," Laxus grabbed the back of his collar. "You have to make me food first. Then maybe I'll let you eat some of it."

"Y'know I'm not your personal chef right?" Natsu frowned.

"Yeah well, your girlfriend stole my boyfriend, so I don't care. Now make me food."

Gajeel cleared his throat angrily. Laxus shot him a dark look and he fell silent with a scowl. He turned back to Natsu. "Fine, I'll cook for you but I definitely get to eat some of it, okay?"

Laxus waved his hand and Natsu got to work. Laxus turned towards his other, unwanted guest.

"Now why are you here Gajeel?"

"You better make me some of that food too," Gajeel grumbled at Natsu. Laxus crossed his arms. "I don't recall inviting you."

"Well I'm here now aren't I?"

"You can leave," Natsu suggested.

"I don't want to leave," Gajeel shot back.

Before they could delve into a petty argument, Laxus intervened. "What did you show up here for?"

"Why is Book Boy hanging out with Shrimp?"

"Who?" Laxus asked blankly, not recognizing either name.

Gajeel made a frustrated noise, while flailing his arms. "I'm talking about Freed. Why is he with Levy?"

"What's your problem with it? Lucy's there too!" Natsu butted in. Laxus gestured towards Natsu, indicating that he had a point.

Gajeel shuddered. "Last time Shrimp and Ponytail hung out, they started talking in some dead language no one cares bout 'cept for them. Levy wouldn't stop at all, and refused to talk to me normally. Which fine I could deal with that for a bit, but no. She expects me to understand her when she does that."

"So?" Natsu asked, uncomprehendingly.

"So I don't understand her idiot! Then she just gets mad at me!"

"That's got nothing to do with Freed so it isn't my problem," Laxus shrugged, genuinely not caring. "Is breakfast ready? I have to go see the old man too."

"Almost and are you going to go see Gramps? Can I come?" Natsu asked excitedly.

"No."

"Aw come on! Why not?" Natsu whined.

"Listen to me," Gajeel roared furiously.

"Lucy is there too and old languages aren't her thing. Relax dude," Natsu shrugged and went back to bugging Laxus to let him go with him to see Makarov.

Gajeel felt his mouth open and close a few times before he slumped into a chair. "Ah whatever. Get me some food."

"Not your cook either."

"You're already cooking!"

"Natsu. Food. Now." Laxus commanded, rubbing his temples. Their arguing was giving him a headache.

"Yeah, yeah," Natsu shoved a plate with an omelette and toast into his hands. "Here. Where's the ketchup?"

Laxus went to scour the panty while Natsu handed a similar plate to Gajeel. "Juice is in the fridge," he called back.

"Got it," Gajeel called back. When Laxus turned back, the two were seated and waiting to eat. He tossed the ketchup at Natsu who quickly applied it. "Let's eat."

"Thank you for the food," they all muttered before digging in.

"So Gajeel and I are coming with you," Natsu announced.

Laxus choked as he ate, and began to cough. "What do you mean you're coming with me?"

"To see Gramps!"

"No!" Laxus refused again.

"We don't have anything better to do," Gajeel shrugged.

"I don't care. No way!"

"Too late," Natsu grinned irritatingly. "It's already been decided." Laxus closed his eyes trying to keep himself from reacting.

"Whatever, I'm done. Do the dishes." He figured he'd make them do it, otherwise Freed would immediately get started on washing. He hated a dirty sink.

"What!" Gajeel and Natsu both began to object but Laxus cut them off. "Do the dishes and I'll let you come with me." He sighed, the things he did for Freed.

"Deal!" Natsu grinned. Gajeel rolled his eyes but turned to help anyways.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I haven't seen Gramps in forever!" Natsu chattered happily, right in Laxus' ear.

"How much farther?" Gajeel asked moodily.

Laxus turned up the volume on his phone louder, trying to drown out their voices with his music. It wasn't working.

"Which way is this anyway?" Gajeel was complaining again. "I don't remember coming this way before."

"It's Erza's shortcut. She doesn't tell everyone about it," Natsu was bragging. Gajeel muttered something about her only telling Natsu because she was beating him up. That made Laxus laugh a little.

"Why you," Natsu took up a fighting stance and was ready to pounce on Gajeel but Laxus grabbed his scarf before he could. "Don't you dare," he warned. Natsu pouted but quieted down. Laxus was about to let go, when he caught a flash of green in one of the store windows.

"Laxus?" Natsu questioned while trying to get loose. Gajeel followed his gaze and made a sound of surprise. That made Natsu even more determined to escape and see just what was so interesting.

With a fierce tug, he wrenched away from Laxus and whirled around to check what they were looking at. Immediately, a huge grin overtook his face.

"Lucy!" Natsu cried out. He started to walk closer, yelling Lucy's name. Before he could catch her attention though, Laxus and Gajeel grabbed him from behind, Gajeel putting a hand over his mouth to muffle him.

"Be quiet!" Laxus ordered, as they moved closer to the window to get a better look.

"Mmph!" Natsu growled, trying to shake himself free again.

"We're trying to keep a low profile. So shut up!" Gajeel hissed. Then he pulled away from Natsu, groaning in disgust. "Ew! Did ya have to lick me?!"

Natsu grinned smugly and turned to Laxus without answering. "Why're we keeping quiet?" He demanded to know.

"I don't want to ruin it for them with your loud mouths," Laxus shrugged to Gajeel and Natsu's outrage.

"What are they even doing here? I thought they'd be at the library."

"Lucy did leave without eating. Probably because they'd always planned to meet at the cafe," Natsu said thoughtfully.

"Freed did the same," Laxus agreed. Both looked at Gajeel, a little accusatorily. "Pay more attention," Laxus ordered.

Gajeel glared. "Don't need to hear that from you," he sneered.

Laxus clenched his fists and took a deep breath. "For Freed," he muttered to himself, over and over again, trying to calm himself down. "For Freed."

"What's for Freed?" Natsu asked obliviously. "Listen, I'm bored and I wanna see Lucy. She'd be happy to see me."

"Levy wouldn't be," Gajeel frowned. Laxus pointed at Gajeel to show his agreement.

"Then let's go. What're we sticking around for? I'm hungry!"

"You're not going to the old man's house to eat his food!" Laxus snapped at Natsu, while Gajeel shook his head in disbelief.

"Why not? Gramps loves feeding me!"

"Wow. You really never pay attention to him, now do you?" Gajeel muttered incredulously.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means," Laxus cut in, "that you have no idea what's going on in the world. I'm telling you right now, you aren't making Gramps feed you. You literally just ate at my place!"

"Guess he can't help it," Gajeel threw in snidely. "He's too brainless to get his own food."

"Why you!" That was the last straw. Natsu pounced on Gajeel angrily, determined to make him pay for what he said.

"Would you two stop it!" Laxus pulled them apart. "Stop acting like children!"

"At least I can cook!" Natsu hollered, right in Laxus' ear.

He held them tightly for a moment, then sighed. "Screw it." He let Gajeel go, to punch Natsu in the gut. Gajeel began to laugh uproariously, in the most obnoxious way possible. Laxus turned to punch Gajeel too, who ended up falling a few feet away.

"Idiots," he sighed again looking down. That was his mistake. Natsu and Gajeel working together for once both ran up and punched him simultaneously.

Laxus felt his anger skyrocket, but before he could retaliate, an annoyed voice cleared their throat.

The three boys turned to see their respective significant other staring at them in displeasure.

"And just what are you three doing?" Lucy asked, her voice deceptively calm.

"L-Lucy!" Natsu stammered, easily recognizing the look in his girlfriend's eyes. "We were just...tell them what we were doing Gajeel!"

"Yes, Gajeel, go ahead. Tell us why you three are here while you're at it, as well," Levy frowned, her arms crossed over her chest.

Gajeel glared at Natsu for throwing him under the bus, before turning to look at Levy. "Good question Shrimp. I didn't even know you were here though. I mean Laxus was the one who brought us here!"

"Weren't you going to go visit Grandfather?" Freed, wonderful Freed, looked more worried than anything else.

"We were. These two idiots insisted on joining me though," Laxus shrugged.

"That was because you called me over to cook for you, because you're incapable of making eggs or anything else!" Natsu shouted immediately, making Laxus wince. He knew he should've hit Natsu harder. "I just wanted to go see Gramps since it's been so long since Erza's told us to visit."

"What?" Freed gasped. "Why didn't you say anything? I would've cooked for you before I left!"

"I was fine, Freed. Honest. Natsu doesn't know what he's talking about."

Natsu geared up to start fighting again, but Lucy silenced him with a single look. That was impressive. Laxus made a mental note to get the secret to shutting Natsu up from her later.

"That doesn't explain why you three were fighting outside," Levy cut in.

"How'd you even know we were here?" Gajeel shot back.

Lucy gestured to the giant window. "Also you three weren't exactly quiet."

"Sorry for ruining your day," Natsu said innocently. "I didn't want to disturb you guys at all." Laxus and Gajeel's jaws dropped, remembering how they were the ones who had kept Natsu from barging in at the first opportunity. Lucy ate it up too, smiling at Natsu sweetly, letting any lingering anger go at once.

"That is so sweet," Levy remarked, as Lucy gave Natsu a quick peck on the cheek for being so thoughtful. Laxus and Gajeel's jaws dropped further, their outrage clear.

Freed, noticing the looks on their faces bit back a laugh. "Well, we had finished discussing our book, so you didn't disturb us all that much. Why don't we all go see Grandfather together? He'll be happy to see all of us."

"It's always better for Gramps when we're all there," Levy agreed slowly, clearly side-eyeing Gajeel. He gave her a sheepish look, making her roll her eyes. She smiled back though, clearly unable to stay mad.

"Then it's settled! Let's go!" Freed smiled. They all began walking together, in a giant cluster towards Makarov's house. Levy and Lucy were walking side by side and made sure their boyfriends didn't start fighting again, by holding on to their respective boyfriend's arm. Trailing along, Laxus took a moment to look at Freed to apologize.

Freed shook his head though. "It's fine," he dismissed before Laxus could even say anything, smiling at him gently. Laxus smiled back and took one of Freed's hands in his own. Freed squeezed his hand back as they walked contentedly behind the others, their fingers laced together.

#ftrbb2020 #fairy tail reverse bang #fairy tail #natsu dragneel #lucy heartfilia #levy mcgarden #gajeel redfox #freed justine #laxus dreyar #nalu #gale #gajevy #fraxus #crackheadart42 #my writing

[thecomicsnexus]

Meet Captain America

CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1 MARCH 1941 BY JOE SIMON AND JACK KIRBY

SYNOPSIS (FROM MARVEL DATABASE)

A short prologue outlines the young men of America joining the army and the threat of the fifth columnists, the nazi spies hidden deep within the American forces. Two fifth columnists in American uniform blow up a local munitions factory that is supplying the local army camp.

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., two army generals visit president Franklin Delano Roosevelt and inform him of the threat. They note how every command he makes is sent back to Germany and nothing can be kept secret, even amongst his closest aides. The president asks them what they intend to do. He recommends sending a comic hero like the human torch into the army, and brings in a man named mister Grover, the head of the federal bureau of investigation, who has a plan.

The men all change into their civilian clothes and into a car, where they are taken to an old curio shop. An old woman greets them armed with a gun. She informs them that the formula has been found and it won't disappoint them this time. A man, dressed in lab clothes greets them and ushers them into the viewing gallery of a secret lab, where a frail young man is attached to a machine, and the old woman tears off her mask revealing x-13, one of the best agents. The young man is injected with a liquid and starts to grow until he is above the normal human physique. The doctor also notes that his intelligence and strength are being increased. The doctor christens him captain america and tells him that his duty is to protect the American shores from nazi spies and saboteurs.

Suddenly, one of the army officials, secretly working for the Gestapo, pulls out a gun and shoots the doctor, professor reinstein. A second shot then obliterates the serum that gave Captain America his powers, meaning no more super soldiers can be created. He lets out a third shot, hitting Grover, before cap bursts through the glass and beats him into submission. The barely conscious spy stumbles into a large electrical device, shocking him to death. Cap, now in uniform, is told to have been taking out all of the Nazi threats, while the newspapers wonder "Who is Captain America?".

Meanwhile at an army camp the mascot James Buchanan 'Bucky' Barnes shows a private named Steve Rogers a news report of caps latest victory, saying how he'd love to meet him. That night, he walks in on Steve changing into the Captain America suit, preparing for more exploits. Having made this discovery, Steve says Bucky must keep his identity secret and he asks if he would like to be his sidekick. They suit up and together run off to stop nazi threats.

Tickets are being sold for the performance of the psychics, Sando (Von Krantz) & Omar, for only ten cents each. On stage, Sando looks into the eyes of a dwarfed Omar. Sando asks Omar what he thinks is to come and his prediction of a terrible accident at Fort Bix is projected onto a crystal ball. At that very instant Fort Bix is shaken by a terrific blast. Meanwhile, Steve and Bucky are reading about the psychics in the newspaper. Bucky thinks they are phony and the two decide to visit the theater. Yet again, the weird performance is repeated while Steve and Bucky are in the audience. This time, Omar sees Hilltown bridge collapsing. Steve and Bucky rush to prevent the disaster but they are too late. The duo returns to the theater to found out how Sando & Omar knew about the disaster. Suddenly, a woman’s shrill cry for help causes Captain America to whirl about. He follows the scream to Sando’s dressing room. A couple of gun men are holding Betsy Ross captured. Sando reveals that he is Von Krantz and has plan a chain of disasters that will destroy the morale of the United States. Betsy Ross reveals that Omar is just a poor idiotic tool. As the battle begins, Von Krantz tries to bomb the place. However, Bucky throws out the bomb through a window. The duo wins and Betsy Ross wants to thank them, but Captain America only says goodnight and leaves.

In a secluded section of town, Rathcone approaches a chessboard with chess pieces that resemble real people. He announces to his agents that Admiral Perkins is giving a lecture tonight and tonight is the night that Admiral must die. Meanwhile, Steve convinces a reluctant Bucky to attend the lecture. As the curtains part at the lecture, the audience is witness to the Admiral’s dead body. A stunned Steve and Bucky change into their costumes to chase down the killer. When Bucky prowls through the darkened alleys, he is watched by a lurking killer, Number 5. As Number 5 and Bucky begin to fight, Captain America jumps in and saves Bucky. The agent refuses to talk but Captain America convinces him too. At that moment, a bullet hits the Nazi agent. Number 5 slumps in death as Captain America wards off a deadly hail of bullets. Cap notices three men, but they can’t catch up to them. The duo decides to go back to Camp Lehigh. Rathcone continues his chess game and plans for General Ellsworth death. That same evening, Mike Duffy tells Steve and Bucky that they are on special duty at the General’s hut. However, the duo finds him dead inside the hut. The next day newspapers announce to the America public another brutal killing in the ranks of the nation’s military command. Rathcone moves onto to his next victims, Captain America and Bucky, by sending out Strangler and Herr Kameleon after them. Later back at the camp, Strangler visits Bucky and fools him into thinking he could solve the killing. That night, Bucky quietly approaches a shabby building. He walks into a trap and sees Ratchone and the chessboard. Bucky tries to run but Rathcone trips him. He waits to kill Bucky because he wants to kill Cap and Bucky at the same time. Finding a note from Bucky, Captain America finds Rathcone’s hideout. A battle begins and Rathcone pulls a gun on him. The duo beats Rathcone and his gang. Captain America calls the F.B.I to report where the criminals are at. Major Fields tells Steve later that he wishes he knew who Captain America was.

A worried Steve and Bucky drop off Major Croy at his home, who has just received a card from the Red Skull. Major Croy believes there is no such person and quickly goes into his home. While reading, the Major gets a surprise visit from the Red Skull. With his wide hypnotic eyes, the Red Skull gazes deep into the Major’s eyes and tells him to “look until you see death.” Captain America hears the news and decides he wants to handle this case without Bucky. However, it’s Bucky who accidentally discovers the Red Skull’s headquarters. While standing out on the rooftops, one of the Red Skull’s henchmen, Slug, finds Bucky. Slug brings him to the Red Skull not knowing that it’s Captain America’s partner. Cap finds the headquarters himself and a fight breaks out. In the midst of the fray the Red Skull departs through a secret exit. The duo decides to return to Camp Lehigh.

The next day, George Maxon of the Maxon Aircraft Corporation comes in person to watch his new plane take an army test. The plane catches on fire while in the air and crashes, killing the men inside. Maxon is sadden by the plane’s crash, but Steve is only concerned about the men in the plane.

Later, General Charles Manor goes home and gets a package from the Red Skull. As the General opens the package, the Red Skull appears in the room and kills him. Mildred Manor hears the struggle and with a gun in her hand rushes into the room. As the Red Skull smacks her down, he hears footsteps and like an angry tornado Captain America bursts into the room. Cap knocks the Red Skull’s mask off and it shatters. It’s revealed that it’s George Maxon and he has been using hypodermic needles to kill his victims. Another fight breaks out and Maxon rolls over this own hypodermic needle. Bucky asks why Captain America didn’t stop Maxon from rolling over. Cap says he is not talking about it and he calls the F.B.I to tell them that Maxon committed suicide. The F.B.I finds a note that Maxon was working for Hitler.

REVIEW

If you look at this comic-book without looking at the context, you may think it’s just another Golden Age comic-book. But it has one main difference to the other books of the time. Jack Kirby.

While Kirby’s style wasn’t there yet, his dynamic layouts are already a thing. His characters are trying to escape the panels, the layouts are more flexible, this isn’t a comic-strip adapted to a page anymore, this is a different animal.

The issue contains several first appearances, but the stories are not exactly entertaining (from a modern point of view). Perhaps the main issue with these stories is that America wasn’t at war yet, and it is all about combating spies. A war would broaden the adventures a lot more.

Unlike Robin, Bucky is the sidekick of an enhanced soldier. This is more similar to the Shield’s sidekick, another boy without super-powers in the company of a super-hero. The similarities are too big between both properties, but I can believe that Bucky and the Shield’s sidekicks were conceived around the same time.

As usual, Marvel stories are a bit more aggressive in terms of patriotism than the other publishers, I can imagine this was the main attraction for kids.

I give this issue a score of 9

#joe simon #jack kirby #marvel comics #comics #review #1941 #world war ii #captain america #bucky #captain america comics #golden age #red skull

[star-trek-odyssey]

DS9- Unspoken 1

This story is inspired by my OC, her name is Nozria Bix, but there will be several POVs about every character that appears in this story and there will be many plots. I try to make this fanfiction very similar to an episode of DS9.

I hope it can entertain you.

Thank you if you decide to read this story, I put all my heart and soul to write it.

Chapter 1: A li(f)e I left behind

SISKO’S POV

Captain’s log, stardate 2372.

Since a few months Bajor has been hit by a mysterious plague. The Starfleet sent a scientist. She is in charge of leading the research and helping the scientists of Bajor to find a cure. I still haven’t got the chance to meet this new scientist, I only know, she is a young Trill. Her name is Nozria Bix. She should arrive at the station by midday.

.

Sisko was lost in his thoughts while he was observing the vast darkness out of his window. It was the space. His dear old space.

There was never a moment of boredom in the station, because new people came and other people left. Therefore, he didn’t have time to get bored, sometimes he didn’t even have time to think about himself. His life was so chaotic, surprising and so exciting. He would not have changed this life for anything in the world.

Sisko’s deep thoughts were interrupted by the click of the door, someone had entered his office: it was his old friend, Jadzia Dax.

In his opinion, Jadzia would be the most appropriate person to welcome their new guest. Because they were both Trills, so they would understand each other. Maybe his idea was a little simplistic and banal but every Trill was different from the other, especially when the mentioned Trill possessed a symbiont. It was always a surprise, so maybe he was the one who needed support.

Jadzia came in Sisko’s office, nodding, “Did you want to see me, Benjamin?“ Jadzia asked in her usual professional tone, her hands behind her back, her eyes always vigilant and curious.

"Yes, we have to welcome a new crew member. It’s a trill, you know?” he said, grabbing his baseball, and playing with it.

“Ah, interesting. So you’ve thought I could be the ideal guide for her, right? I supposed Major Kira would be the most appropriate guide since, it seems, this new officer will work on Bajor. For Bajor.” Dax replied, raising her eyebrow, her tone was calm, but it was a very human thing to feel safe around their same species so, thanks to her vast experience, she was able to understand why the Captain had formulated this particular thought.

Jadzia started observing the baseball in the Captain’s hands, how he was playing with it.

Like every human being, even Sisko was unable to hold his hands steady, as opposed to Jadzia, she always appeared calm and resolute even in front of the most dangerous monsters.

Sisko launched his baseball from his left hand to his right hand, and then observed his friend. “Kira is busy now, then you are the only Trill here, well, not anymore, but then she will know that she’s not alone. Her name is Nozria Bix, she is a doctor, she was chosen for a project at Bajor, she seems capable and it’s good to have another doctor, the medical staff is never enough.” he said, putting down his baseball and then he stood up, adjusting his uniform.

“How can she be alone in a station populated by more than one thousand inhabitants?” Dax commented, and then she followed the Captain out of the door.

“Well, you know what I mean, meeting another Trill could make her feel like home.” He said and then he headed to the dock where Nozria’s runabout would land.

.

NOZRIA BIX’S POV

The runabout sailed in the space of DS9, ready to reach the dock and land.

It had been a long, tedious and untroubled journey. After all, Nozria was used to these long journeys, this was her job, and space was so familiar to her by now, as if the galaxy itself was her office, her working place.

It was strange to see her job from this point of view, or she was only very tired and so she was not able to create rational and coherent thoughts. It must have been like that. Nozria had drunk too much coffees to keep herself awake, she didn’t like sleeping during journeys.

The Trill had spent the time reading dossiers, observing the space from the porthole, eating –other than drinking a few too many coffees- and chatting with the other passengers on board. Actually, she tried to have conversations with them but it was hard because the other guests could not be defined as friendly and talkative.

There were several species aboard: a Vulcan couple, they did not say a word throughout the entire trip, were certainly not the best interlocutors, then there was a Klingon warrior who had spent all his time polishing his weapon; he had cleaned it so much that she was surprised if it wasn’t ruined.

The other passengers slept or thought about their business, so there wasn’t a lot of entertainment. Fortunately, her boredom was about to end and she would soon arrive on DS9.

Nozria felt excited and curious, she hadn’t felt like this for a while and that made her impatient. Impatient to begin this new adventure, to meet her new colleagues and all the other people who lived in the station. She knew this would be a great beginning full of new possibilities and experience. The greatest aspiration of each Trill was a life full of experience. Her life was based on experience and so she was always looking for it. Always. As if, she never had enough.

Observing out of her window, she took a deep look at the Station and she was left stunned.

The station looked like a big spider, she had never seen a Cardassian’s structure before. It was majestic, threatening and sinister, just like Cardassians after all.

As the little ship got closer to that big mechanical spider, a feeling of confusion took possession of her brain as if it was a mystical fear. She never liked spiders. Her mind was navigating through memories she should have not recalled, she didn’t want to remember, then she turned her head in another direction.

Her imagination was vivid, she was tired and so her mind was making the world around her more absurd than what it really was.

The runabout finally landed on DS9 and all the passengers got out, she took her baggage and followed the crowd of people that was dispersing itself all over the station.

Nozria took a breath, she felt better, the big spider had devoured her but she was still alive. She was not going to be digested by it. Her mind was very cruel with her sometimes. So cruel.

.

“Welcome on DS9, Dr. Nozria. Bix,” said the Captain, showing one of his most friendly smiles.

“Greetings, it’s a pleasure.” Dax said, still in a professional tone.

“Oh, thank you very much. The pleasure is mine.” Bix replied, smiling.

They both looked like interesting people, Dax was famous on Trill and so Bix had already heard of her and her symbiont.

“I hope your trip was pleasant.” the Captain beckoned her to follow him, then all three of them walked down the corridor, “We’re glad to have you here with us, I heard you’re making research for Bajor.” Benjamin started speaking, “I have already read the report about your work, but I want to know more from you.”

“Yes, I read that there has been an epidemic lately.” Dax added, wading in front of her with her hands behind her back and her torso stiff.

“Exactly, it’s a very complicated case. I’ve already studied that virus in the past, that’s why they called me. It’s a virus that usually affects crops, in fact many of their fields have been infected, they’re unused now.” Bix continued to explain, “This is a very peculiar case because that virus should not be here, it is an alien species, should not be in this corner of the galaxy. This is not its natural environment but it found a fertile ground for its progeny, it became stronger and so it has started destroying the other weaker species. I suppose it was brought here somehow.” Even if Nozria still didn’t know how and who had brought this virus on Bajor but she was here to find it out.

“You seem to have a lot of experience, I’m sure you will help them to find a cure.” Sisko stopped, smiling, “Unfortunately, my work also calls. Have a good day and permanence on DS9.” Sisko said, nodding.

“Oh, I see. It was a pleasure. Thank you, Captain.” Nozria smiled politely.

“Can you take her to her quarters, old man?” Sisko asked to Dax.

Dax nodded in reply, “Sure, I’ll see you later, Ben.” Dax greeted her old friend and motioned Nozria to follow her.

.

The two Trills walked toward Bix’s quarters.

“I’m sure you’ll be fine here. The station is an interesting place, full of different species, there are many things to see and discover. It’s always a surprise.” Said Dax, showing a friendly smile.

"Oh, I see. I am sure it will be a stimulating experience. I have never visited this corner of the galaxy, so I certainly won’t be bored.” Nozria answered, hinting a smile.

“Oh, where did you work before, if I can ask?” Dax asked, curious.

“I was the medical officer of the Andromeda starship.” she answered, it was a short but concise reply.

That was a great job but it was part of the past, she was here now and therefore had no reason to think about the life she had left behind.

“Ah, interesting. Our official doctor will be very glad to meet you. Julian is a friendly person, he is one of the best doctors in the quadrants, but also a lovely person.” said Dax.

“Ah, I heard about him, I read many dossiers of his research.” Bix replied.

“He will have to be careful, you look very smart. He risks losing his job.” Dax said in her sarcastic tone that almost seemed serious.

“Ah, I have no intention but I never back down when there is a challenge. I am a little competitive, I admit.”, Bix giggled a little.

“It’s a good quality.” said Dax, “Oh, we’ve arrived to your quarters.”

Dax stood in front of Bix’s quarters, she did her guest’s job, and so Sisko should have been proud of her.

“Oh, good. Thank you.” Bix said.

"Enjoy your stay, have a good day. If you have hungry, I’d suggest you to go to Quakr’s. It’s a great place, the food tastes good and you can find interesting company there.” Dax said, giving some suggestion since the other woman didn’t know the station very well, it was a proper advice to give.

“Oh, I will take a look, thanks. Goodbye, Dax.” Nozria greeted Dax and entered in her quarters.

.

Her first day of work would be tomorrow. Nozria had the whole day off, so she was free to relax, take a shower and wander around the station in search of adventure. Looking for something to do because she had no desire to be alone. She didn’t even want to get bored. It would have been unbearable. Sometimes, thinking too much was unbearable…

Nozria dropped her bag on the floor, careless, and then this room was almost empty.

There were decorations, a couple of plants and furniture. Everything was minimal, she would have thought later to furnish it.

She caressed her hair, ruffling and brushing it with her fingers. Even her hairdo was ruined, her hair, before picked in a bun, was now messy, so she moved her head so she could let her hair down.

A few strands of hair fell in front of her dark blue eyes, tickling her nose and she almost sneezed. She blinked her eyes a couple of times, and knocked her hair off her large forehead. Her hair was brown, almost reddish, wavy and long. They were very feminine.

However, by now, she was used to this femininity, three years had passed since her union with Bix and therefore she didn’t see herself as strange as a girl. Three years were few compared to the hundred or even thirty hundred years when she had been a man. When Bix had been a man and had been hosted by male Trills.

Bix, the symbiont, believed that long hair was very beautiful, most of Bix’s women lovers had long hair. Maybe it was Bix’s way to remember them so Nozria kept her hair long.

Nozria headed to the bathroom, undressing and throwing her uniform on the sofa careless, it was already dirty and so she didn’t care about it. Then she had to change it anyway because that uniform was wrong, she still wore her old uniform, the ship’s uniform and so she had to take another one.

Nozria certainly didn’t have the delicacy of a girl, her manner was very spontaneous, someone would say masculine and rough. They were attitudes she had inherited from Bix’s old guests and could not change them. She couldn’t change herself. She liked to be like this.

She took a look out of her big quarters’ window and contemplated the endless and mysterious space.

This was a real beginning, a new chance, her chance.

Nobody would chase after her. Not this time.

Even in an endless universe like this, there were no places to hide. Nowhere to escape. Nobody to trust. Sometimes, people could not even trust themselves, not even their best friends and so everyone was alone. Lost in deep space. Lost in existence.

Bix lived too long to feel lost, but still didn’t learn anything of the world. Despite her experience should have made her wiser. Years only gave her more questions, doubts, anxiety.

Growing up didn’t mean becoming wiser, it only meant you had to accept that you would have never been wise enough for this life.

to be continued...

#star trek deep space nine #deep space 9 #deep space nine #star trek ds9 #ds9 #star trek fanfiction #fanfiction #star trek

[mistye-dawne]

Finding the Words

Summary: A chance meeting while taking a break from her team sends Lucy and Laxus into unfamiliar territory as Lucy tries to find balance between catering to her team and moving forward with her own life, while Laxus fights his demons and struggles to accept that he just might be good enough to have the girl of his dreams.

FF.net

Chapter 2: Rolling Thunder

Bickslow's babies were the first to reach the clearing, dancing above her head chanting 'Cosplayer' and she couldn't keep herself from laughing. Bickslow pulled Freed to stop and pointed at the sight before them. There, they saw Fairy Tail's celestial mage giggling at totems floating above her one moment and then the next she was looking down at the man whose head was in her lap, running her hands through his hair. A serene smile on her face. Bickslow snapped a photo, knowing Evergreen would kill for it.

When the two stepped out from the forest, Lucy pulled the map from her bag and showed the two where they currently were and how to get back to Clover Town. In response to their questioning looks, she informed them that she still needed to collect the Belladonna for her client. Freed offered to stay behind and return with her but Lucy wouldn't allow it, saying that they looked plenty exhausted themselves after having to chase down their idiot leader. Neither man disagreed but insisted that she call them if she needed anything.

The men had been gone for barely an hour when the storm hit. She ignored the light sprinkle that lasted all of ten minutes before the rain wall arrived. She rushed into the forest for cover to wait it out but there was no end. It was almost like Juvia's incessant crying when Gray and her team left for a mission. Hoping that she had gathered enough, Lucy called Virgo and asked the loyal spirit to visit Mathis ahead of her and inform him that she'd been caught in the storm.

The spirit disappeared and Lucy hiked back to the forest's edge where she was forced to wait. She hoped that Freed and Bix were okay since it took about three hours to get back to the town but quickly dismissed the thought when she reminded herself that it had taken that long because she hadn't been in a rush. Her clothes covered in mud, Lucy sat, watching the lightning paint the sky and then listened to it's thunderous roars that followed seconds later. The storm calmed her and she had to fight the urge to sleep.

It was near 8pm when she made back to the town, her hair damp still and boots caked in mud. There was a break in the clouds allowing the red and purple light of the setting sun to highlight the town but Lucy saw more clouds that would cover the town by dark.

Mathis smiled when he heard the front door open and saw Lucy standing very still as to keep the mud more on herself than risking it cracking and dirtying the floor. The man shook his head at her antics and waved her to the back still. He had been looking at what her spirit had delivered hours earlier and was pleased with the amount she had sent. His smile faded when she walked into the room and he saw her hands.

"Lucy, what happened to your hands?! Your spirit mentioned that ran into some trouble at the clearing. Are you hurt anywhere else?" Lucy looked down at her hands to find then scratched and blistered. On her right hand the blisters had opened, probably when tried to catch herself when she had fallen. She didn't notice anything while gathering the plant or even when she had fallen but now that she was aware, she felt them throb and burn.

"It must have been from collecting the plants. I didn't feel anything until now."

"Here, come sit," he said as he took her wrists and lead her to a chair. He walked to a cabinet to get some first aid supplies and returned with a wet cloth, some bandages, and a jar of what she assumed to be an ointment of some kind. Wiping her hands clean he spoke, "I noticed this morning that your hands were already slightly calloused. I thought the pulling and cutting wouldn't be a problem for you but I see now I should have said something. I'm very sorry Lucy."

"I'm fine really. After what happened at the clearing, I should be thankful of my current state."

"What happened in the clearing, Lucy?"

"Turns out that job you had mentioned, the one about the wyverns in the southern forest, was accepted by a few guildmates of mine. Long story short one of the beasts fled north and my friend tracked it to the clearing but he was ambushed by a second one there. My guess is that he was injured just after besting one of the wyverns." Mathis tied off the bandages and Lucy pulled her hands to her lap. "Will I be able to shower tonight?"

Mathis laughed, "You can bathe girl, just let that ointment sit for a couple hours. It's a disinfectant and pain reliever. Now back to your friend, is he all right?"

Lucy nodded. "I tended to his wound just before calling his team. They weren't far behind him and he would have been fine if he had just called for help first. He was unconscious when I sent them here and that was hours ago," she said solemnly. She wondered if he was still out. He had been pretty beat up and he looked drained of his magic. Wyverns were crafty beasts and probably led him in circles at times while he was following it.

"Well Lucy, I don't want to keep you from him any more than necessary. Here is the tincture I promised and your reward. Oh and keep that ointment. I don't know what condition your friend is in but it might help a bit with the pain."

"Thank you, Mathis. You've been very kind." She smiled and offered him a bandaged hand which he took in his and shook.

"I must say the same of you, Lucy. You collected more than enough for me to work with until next season. I might have to call on your guild again in the future."

"I'm sure my guildmaster would be happy to hear that.," she smiled.

"Get to your friend, now. I'm sure he'll be happy to that smile of yours." he called as she waved and turned from him, hiding the disheartened look in her eyes..

"That'd be something wouldn't it?"

Her feet pounded on wet cobblestone as she ran to the only proper hotel in town, figuring that would be where they would have gone. Not simply because it was the nicest place to stay, but it would also be the most comfortable and and private for the trio. Slowing down to catch her breath she walked into the lobby and up to the desk, missing the familiar figure coming down the stairs. Freed was on his way out to buy dinner for Bickslow and himself when he saw Lucy walk up to the front desk. Her hair was a tangled mess and one side of her body was covered in mud.

Assuming she was looking for either him or his teammate, he approached the celestial mage. When she felt a hand on her shoulder she turned and looked into a pair of emerald eyes and smiled, thanking her luck that Freed happened to be in the lobby when she entered the building.

"Freed! I was actually just coming to see you guys."

The rune mage noticed her hands and silently admonished himself for not noticing them earlier at the clearing. "Lucy, your hands, Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. They're just blistered from gathering the plants. Umm, I wanted to see how Laxus was doing. You guys didn't get caught in the storm did you?"

His shoulders slumped and he nodded. "We were about an hour outside of town when it hit. Fortunately we were able to find shelter not far from where we were and waited it out. Laxus is still unconscious. I fear he's coming down with a fever now."

"Oh, well my client gave me this," she said pulling the ointment from her pack and handing it to Freed. "It's a disinfectant with a pain reliever mixed in it. I figured you could use it to help Laxus." The rune mage stood stunned for several moments before he realized that he was staring. "Freed, are you okay?"

"Thank you, Lucy. You probably saved his life."

"You don't have to thank me, Freed. I'm just happy to have found him when I did."

"Me too."

The two spent a moment standing in silence before she closed Freed's hands around the medicine and started to back away. "I don't want to keep you and should probably get some rest myself. It's been a long day." Lucy smiled and turned to leave only to have Freed stop her.

"Do you have a place to stay yet, Lucy?"

She stopped. "I don't."

"Why don't you stay with us. You're more than welcome to the second bed," he offered.

She shoved her hands into her jacket. "Thanks for the offer, but you don't need to do all that. I know you guys like to have your space."

"You aren't imposing in any way, Lucy. Please it's the least we can do to thank you."

Lucy stood for a moment shaking her head. She could see in those emerald colored eyes of his that he wasn't going to just let her walk away. Watching her internal struggle, Freed offered the ointment back to the celestial mage and she snached it from him, her eyes narrowed.

"Fine, I'll stay with you guys tonight. On the condition that you let me pay for dinner and breakfast tomorrow. I mean it," she snapped before he could protest.

"Are you sure that I can't get you to reconsider?"

"Not a chance."

"Very well. I was just headed out to get something, shall we?"

"Please. I'm starving."

Thirty minutes later, Lucy and Freed got back to the hotel to find Bickslow, wearing only a pair of flannel pants, sitting on the couch talking to someone on the lacrima comm. He waved Freed over and Lucy took the chance to step into the bathroom to wash up before eating. When she saw her reflection she blanched. She really needed a bath and decided that she couldn't wait.

"Virgo," she called brushing her fingers over her key.

"Punishment, Princess?" the pink-haired maid asked.

"No punishment, Virgo. I hate to ask you for anything else today but I really need to wash off. Could you help me so I don't have to remove these bandages quite yet?" she asked while beginning to peel her muddy clothes.

"Of course, Princess. Please never hesitate to ask me, unless you rather Leo come of his own accord." Lucy froze and barely registered that Virgo had removed her remaining clothes until she was led over to the bath. Mindful of her keyholder's hands, Virgo took to washing and working out the tangles in Lucy hair. The celestial mage had let it grow so that the ends now fell past her hips.

It had been a minute since Lucy had allowed Virgo to do this for her and forgot how well her spirit took care of her. Massaging her coconut shampoo into the roots, she eased the forming headache then moved to condition and detangle the ends. She had also missed how the spirit's hands felt running over her tired muscles as she worked a generous lather then rinsed the strawberry suds from her skin. When Virgo felt satisfied, she drained the water and gently towel dried the woman before applying an unscented oil to moisturize her skin.

"You're amazing, Virgo. I feel a lot better." Lucy said while pulling on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt only to remove the shirt to put on a bra underneath it. Curse Freed and his insistence she thought sourly.

"I will take your and your companion's clothes to wash, Princess. Do not forget to remove the bandages and apply the ointment to your friend's wounds."

"I won't Virgo. Thank you again." The spirit disappeared and Lucy stepped out of the bathroom to join Freed and Bickslow at the table.

The three mages sat over chinese takeout and cheap wine as Lucy recounted what happened in the clearing. She learned that Freed and Bickslow had been following after Laxus for more than a day and had planned on calling the guild that evening if they hadn't found him. Something her team likely would not have done.

She tried to imagine it then, her team on that mission in their place. Each one of her teammates could easily take down a wyvern solo given the chance. Natsu and Gray, by some miracle, would probably take down a beast each and then would end up fighting each other. She thought that after a year of not seeing one another that they would grow up, just a little. Clearly she gave them too much credit. Erza would always play the part of the stoic warrior and take as much of the burden on herself. It was just how the woman operated. Really thinking about it, Lucy would likely be left out, her teammates viewing her as the little sister needing to be saved.

Of all her teammates, Gray was the worst offender. Since Natsu's return, there'd had been a rift between the fire slayer and celestial mage though neither had a mind to discuss it. Because Natsu wasn't glued to her side anymore, Gray decided it was his responsibility to look after Lucy and it annoyed her to no end. Now that she really thought about things, Gray was generally the only one to vocalize his disapproval of Lucy working solo. Natsu was uncannily quiet these days and all Erza did was make sure that she hadn't picked something where she would be in over her head.

Before her mind ran too rampant and Loke forced his gate open again, Lucy let herself get lost in good company and wine. She sat with them for hours as the two told their own tales of past jobs and the ridiculous amount of trouble they used to get in when their team first formed. It was almost midnight when they cleaned off the table and got ready to retire. After removing her own bandages, Lucy grabbed Mathis' ointment from her pack and went to the bedroom.

"I'm gonna remove Laxus' bandages and put some of this on the wound."

"I'll give you a hand," Bickslow offered.

"Thanks, Bix." she looked around him and at Freed who had settled on the couch for the night, "Goodnight Freed."

"Goodnight Lucy."

Lucy turned to the bed and climbed onto it leaning over the resting man. She took a closer look at his face and then up to Bickslow. "Could you get a damp cloth. He's starting to run a fever."

"Sure thing." While he stepped away, Lucy cut the bandages to expose the wound. "Wow, they really got him."

"They did. Lift him for me, please?" Bickslow lifted the man's torso and Lucy pulled the cut bandages from under Laxus before Bix set him back down.

The Seith mage sat back on the second bed and watched her waste no time taking care of his best friend. She looked at home right then, like she was caring for a lover rather than just a guildmate but he concluded that was just part of her personality, investing everything she had into the task at hand. Every so often she would take the damp cloth and wipe away the sweat from his brow before she turned her attention back to the wound.

Bickslow decided then to break his one rule and take a look into her soul. Behind his carefree and perverse mask, was a man that read people very easily. Partially due to his magic but also from years of being a bit of an outsider, watching those around him. While the three of them had been talking and joking earlier, he had noticed that the celestial mage and pulled away and retreated into herself. Though before he could ask her about it she was back and completely invested in the conversation. She was good was hiding her inner turmoils but he was better at seeing them.

He released only a trace amount of magic as not to alert her and saw a midnight blue light with indigo tendrils that seemed to stretch out around her and then pull back, almost like waves washing onto the beach. He also noted the flecks of gold within, the stars, her magic.

Bickslow thought the colors suited Lucy. She was the bold revolutionary, passionate and true, but hidden behind that was a mystic. Someone who could easily let themselves get lost in the intangibles of the world. That part of of her soul was much like own and he wasn't all that surprised since the two of them practiced magics that similar in certain ways.

The pitter patter of raindrops brought him out of his thoughts and he saw that she had since thrown away the used cloth and was moving to the large chair by the window. He grabbed a throw off the end of the bed he'd been on and walked over to drape it over her shoulders. She pulled it around her small frame and curled into the chair.

She leaned her head back and looked up into his eyes, smiling. "Thank you."

He shook his head in disbelief and moved to sit on the floor in front of the chair. "You're something else, Cosplayer."

She giggled lightly and he smiled. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He cocked his head back slightly, looking at her with one eye. "I'm the one who should be thanking you for taking care of Laxus."

She reached out and flicked the side of his head. "Enough of that. I happened upon a guildmate in trouble and I helped." They two looked outside after a flash of lightning followed by a deep rumble of thunder.

"You did, but that guildmate happen to be Laxus Dreyar. A man that most see as untouchable maybe even godlike. Not to mention he's the biggest asshole I've ever met."

"And here I thought you two were best friends," she scoffed.

"Don't get me wrong, Cosplayer. Laxus is my best friend but that doesn't mean I'm gonna bullshit myself about who he really is and he is an arrogant asshole." Bickslow took a deep breath and there was another flash of lightning. This time the thunder was much louder, closer. "You know it's partially a mask, right?"

"What is?"

"His arrogance. He uses it to keep himself from getting hurt but when you get beyond that fucking wall of his, he really is a good guy."

"You know, I envy you a little."

Bix was taken aback. "What? You're kidding right?"

She shook her head. "You're completely honest with yourself about your best friend."

"And you aren't?" he questioned.

"Lately I haven't been." Another flash of lightning as the rain started to beat on the window.

He turned around then and looked into her eyes. Her normally bright brown eyes were dull and tears threatened to fall. He'd seen Lucy cry before, everyone had at some point because the girl wore her heart on her sleeve but this was different.

"Mind if I ask you something, Cosplayer?"

"Shoot." She shrugged.

"What happened to you when your best friend left without so much as a goodbye?"

When the first tear fell he knew that he'd hit something sensitive. The two hadn't really ever sat down and talked, not like this anyhow so maybe it was a little inappropriate for him to ask but he did it anyway. He wasn't gonna force her to answer, he was just curious because anyone with eyes could see that there was distance between the fire dragon slayer and celestial mage where hadn't been before.

Lucy thought for a moment, avoiding the sieth mage's eyes because she knew that he'd see everything if she looked into them. It felt odd to have him ask that question and be so direct about it, like he knew something she didn't. While it felt odd, it wasn't uncomfortable for her. He was silent, just waiting to see if she would say something. So she did, not knowing exactly why since she had never spoken to anyone besides her spirits about what happened.

"I lost one of my spirits, Bickslow," she whispered with a trembling voice.

When she finally looked at him he saw it. Those golden specks of her soul were her spirits. They were a part of her and while there should have been fifteen, one was missing. Damn she hid things really well he thought and found his own breath stuttering. He wanted to say something but his mind was trying to wrap itself around the idea and it hurt, rendering him silent.

"It's okay that you can't say anything, Bix." He watched her wipe the tears away with the back of her hand. "It's okay because you're the only one who can imagine what it would feel like to lose a part of yourself. Those five souls of yours, they're a lot like my spirits, right?"

Finally he was able to speak. "Yeah, they are. They've got their own personalities and thoughts. Most people don't see it but they're still sentient beings and if I were to lose one of them, I don't know that I'd be able to come back from that. They were my first friends," he explained shakily.

"Aquarius was mine." She paused and thought back to when she read Natsu's letter, remembering that first wave of loneliness that had hit her. "I was hurt after losing her but when Natsu left me, I recognized the feeling of being left behind and alone. I broke, remembering how I lost my mother when I was little and then how my father had passed only a month before we returned from Tenrou. I made a decision then, to find solace in isolation."

"It wasn't total isolation though." Bickslow noted that the rain had settled and the thunder was growing distant.

"You're right. But you're the first person I've spoken to about all this. Shit, you're the only one who's asked."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd call you a liar." he joked. The two sat in silence for a moment before Bickslow asked one final question. "You're okay though, right?"

Lucy smiled at his concern. "Yeah. I'm okay now, Bix. Thank you." Bickslow sat with her until her breathing evened out and she had fallen asleep, or he thought she had. When he stood and reached down so he could move her to the bed she slapped his hands away. "I like the storms," she whispered, "You can have the bed."

He was tired from the last couple days and wasn't about to argue with the woman who seemed quite content where she was at so he padded over to the second bed and quickly passed out to the sound of soft breaths and rolling thunder in the distance.

#ftfanfics #ficsforvera #laxlu #Laxus Dreyar #lucy heartfilia #fairy tail fanfiction #fairy tail #mistye-writes #finding the words #multichapter