A/N: Almost 2 years. When I realized it's been that long since I've updated this, I cried. But, I do that a lot lately so I'm kinda used to it lol. For those of you who follow my other stories or follow on tumblr know about the issues I've had that has affected my writing. So, I won't beg for forgiveness or promise that I will have the next updated by next week. Writing is still very hard for me and I ask for your patience and understanding.

With that said…

This chapter is dedicated to Musicera.

Thank you so much for reaching out to me when you did. Thank you for the tears and the reminder that I'm not as awful as I feel. Your words and encouragement became a beacon of light for me in a very dark time where my writing is concerned. I will never be able to express just how much your support and friendship means.

And as always, a huge thank you to my triplet sister from another mister… Leoslady4ever. Thank you for assuring me that this doesn't suck as much as I fear. And I promise we'll get back there. I've got faith and I love you.

Chapter 10 - FWB

A stream of bright light falling across her eyes pulled Lucy from sleep and with a grimace, she tried to raise an arm to block it. Only it didn't budge, her entire left side was pinned to the bed. It was then that she became acutely aware of the soft sound of a gentle snore beside her, the heat radiating from skin pressed flush to her side. A heavy weight laid over her legs and stomach. Panic flashed and disappeared as quickly as it had come. She didn't have to open her eyes to know just whose face she'd see there next to her. But she couldn't resist looking anyway.

With a turn of her head, her eyelids fluttered open and she was greeted by one blonde Adonis. Laxus Dreyar. Grandson of Fairy Tail's Guild Master, leader and team proclaimed deity of the Raijinshou, Sorcerer Weekly's x791's Sexiest Man Alive, playboy extraordinaire. And my sorta kinda boyfr… No. Fuck Buddy? Gods, that just sounds vulgar. Just go with FWB, Lucy. For Pete's sake.

Friends with benefits. It really was the only label to give him, even if she wasn't necessarily sure if she could call him friend just yet. Four weeks had passed since they'd agreed to their strange relationship. She had anticipated it to be much like it had started. He'd call or show up when either of them wanted a piece, they'd have mind-numbing sex and he'd leave. And it had been that way at first.

The first week had been adventurous but definitely just sex as it happened at odd times snuck in at the guild. The keg cellar, the library, the third-floor broom closet, his newly acquired office. His desk was surprisingly the perfect height and she had no doubts that he most likely had it crafted that way. In any case, it was truly a grab-n-go type of affair with no rhyme or reason to their meetings. It was just sex, hard and fast as though they were simply scratching an itch.

The second week had moved into somewhat more normal territory with him meeting her at her house at night after missions or the daily grind. There might have been one quick grab at the guild one morning. Lucy had shown up to meet Erza and Wendy for a quick mission. They were late and Laxus was early for meeting with Makarov. They'd merely exchanged morning pleasantries before it digressed into him dragging her into the kitchen pantry. Word had yet to get out on whether their broken shelf had been discovered yet.

The third week brought about going out to public places. Bars, dinner outings with his team, game night up at the guild with other nakama. That always led to the two of them leaving with a little bit of a buzz and going back to her place. There wasn't a surface in her apartment that hadn't been used or visited in their escapades. And it always ended with him leaving out before sleep set in.

But that had all changed in the last week.

Saturday night, she'd met him up at Sticks and Suds for a few games of billiards and a couple of drinks. It had been the closest they'd had to a date since they'd started. Just the two of them, enjoying time together. They'd laughed, jammed to music - she'd discovered he preferred rock, classic rock being his ultimate go to. He, through his own interest, learned more about her magic, her spirits. That night had been different and it marked a shift in what it was they were doing. Later, after a healthy (maybe borderline not so healthy) round of sex that had begun against the door and ended in her bed, he'd stayed.

She'd woken up that next morning to find him where he was now.

Every night since, whether they went out or met up at her place after their own missions. They would come together physically. It would go until the point of exhaustion, until they both fell on the bed gasping for air and without an ounce of strength to do much more than lay there. She'd fall asleep to the sound his breathing leveling back out only to wake to the sight of him beside her. And she was struggling with exactly how to feel about that.

Part of Lucy liked it, liked having him there.

Things were comfortable with him. She didn't have to hide who she was inside. If it came to mind, she could just say it and he wouldn't even blink. If a perverse thought crossed her mind, there was no issue in just saying it without any judgments. If she had a horrible thought about someone who irked her, she could tell him and he'd laugh along with her. She didn't have to be the perfect team or guildmate. There was no pressure to make others happy or plaster a fake smile to keep the peace.

She definitely didn't have to hide the little imperfections she saw when she looked in the mirror. His desire didn't wane when her shirt and bra came off to reveal the faded stretch marks on the sides of her boobs. He paid no mind nor hesitated when his fingers found their way under her skirt and skirted over the lines she knew were on her hips. Despite her best attempts, she wasn't always able to match her bra to her panties and it never once kept him from diving into the sea of sexual pleasures. Not one thing phased him and he kept coming back for more.

Hell. It wasn't like any relationship she'd ever been in. There was no pressure to impress each other at all. Countless times he'd come over while she was already in comfy lounging clothes. A few times she'd looked an absolute wreck thanks to Natsu's not so great control out on a mission. Singed hair and soot smudges were not overly sexy but that didn't dissuade Laxus. He still had looked at her like she was a tall drink of water after being stranded in a desert.

She was still unsure why.

Laxus was fucking gorgeous. She'd always thought so but up close and personal, she got extremely familiar with just how beautiful he was. His body was like that of Bernini's David or Rodin's Thinker, only better. His face was so perfectly molded. Everything from his heavy brow to the perfect line of his nose to the impeccable cheekbones and jawline. Even his scar, the biggest imperfection according to him, was so well suited to his features. It made him sexier, if that were even possible. The tattoos, hands, legs, ass… there wasn't a single part of him that she didn't drool over.

And having someone to sleep next to was kinda nice as well. She didn't have to worry about leaving the window open now like she had once Natsu stopped coming by unexpectedly. If a cool wind came down off of the mountains, she didn't have to worry about getting a chill. Laxus was like an electric blanket without the hassle of a cord and no outlet needed. His side was perfectly molded so that she fit just so next to him.

Therein laid all of her problems. Sex aside, it was feeling like a relationship. Dates, sleeping over… monogamy. Yes, they had agreed to companionship but it was supposed to be open. No emotions, no attachments. If she got too comfortable next to him, if he kept treating her like she was the only one - She'd get attached. Already, she could feel herself warming to him. She could see it in the way even now she pressed herself closer and allowed his warmth to pull her back in.

This wasn't what they'd agreed to and yet, she couldn't bring herself to remind him of that. Maybe Cana was right. The thought soured her mood and she carefully began the process of extracting herself from the cocoon of his embrace. Gently, not to disturb him, she managed to lift his arm and shimmy her way out from under his leg. Already she felt chilled and wanted to rush back but she resisted as she rolled off the bed.

Damn her friends for having no faith and damn her for having no backbone. Had the last two months not been enough proof for her to stay the course? Had she already forgotten the pain she felt when Natsu went to Gray and not her? Had she already forgotten the pain she'd caused a dear friend? She could still see the hurt, the betrayal on Eve's face. No, she had not forgotten but it could be so easy to lose herself.

This was supposed to be different. This was supposed to be just sex. No love, no mushy romance crap. If she didn't pull her head out of her ass, it could go south really quick. And Laxus was not the one to fuck up with. He could and would hurt her. She knew that, as surely as her own name, he would crush her if things got complicated. She'd find herself in pain again, in pain and all alone. She couldn't risk that.

Quietly, Lucy crossed her room to fetch undergarments from the dresser and closed herself in the bathroom. Her muscles ached from the workout the night before and sweat had left what felt like a layer of grime on her skin. A shower was calling her name and she was definitely going to answer. Turning on the water and hitting the power button on the small radio, her mind wandered while she waited for it to heat up. The music did little to distract her and as much as she tried to keep it away, it wandered to the man in her bed.

She did have to give it to him where skill was concerned. He was by far the best lover she'd ever had. Nearly every day for the last month, often multiple times during said days, he'd brought her to and over the edge of orgasmic bliss. There was never any telling him what she liked, it was as though he knew. His touch was always in the right spots, his fingers always just tight enough, his hand perfectly firm. His lips, teeth, and tongue seemed to know her body better than she knew it herself. So many times he gave her exactly what she was craving before she even knew she wanted it.

Looking around her bathroom, she chuckled. She'd never given much thought to its size as it had always just been her. The tub was just right, the shower head at the perfect height. The solitary sink was no issue and the small vanity was perfect. Until they'd made their way in during one of their sexual pursuits. They'd both just barely fit into the tub and had opted for the shower only find it was too low. The vanity had not given out when he'd sat her on it but the groaning it made did give way to her mentally noting to never try that again.

I wonder just how big his bathroom is…

The thought gave way to a frown as she stepped into the shower and let the liquid warmth wash over her. It had not occurred to her until then that not once had he invited her back to his place. She wasn't even sure where it was even located. Was it inside the city or out? Was it an apartment or a house? Did he live with one of the guys or alone? It didn't seem very fair that they always used her place and never his. But then… Maybe that's how he's keeping his distance?

It was definitely something she'd question, but it could wait. She'd made a commitment to herself to do everything differently, to be different. Having a mushy relationship with expectations, allowing the others in the guild to be right, to repeat the same mistakes - that wasn't making a change. It was living in the footsteps of someone she wanted to forget… Herself.

"I'm gonna love you… Like I'm gonna lose you…"

Laxus shot up in the bed, sleep still fogging his mind and aiding the rising panic. Those words…

The sound of water running, the shower he finally discerned and music finally registered. It helped to quell some of the fear that had rocked his dream state like a 10 point earthquake. But there was no use in lying, it had scared the shit out of him. To be completely honest, it still did. His heart was still pounding, his chest still heaving as he worked to get his breathing back under control.

All because she had to go singing in the fucking shower.

One good sniff at the air, a quick look around and his fingers came up to pinch the bridge of his nose. He'd gone and done it again. Another night, spent in the bed of one Lucy Heartfilia. It was not supposed to be this fucking complicated. It was only supposed to be a piece of ass but he'd gone and made it something more. All against his better judgment, and now he was paying for it.

She was in there singing some kind of sappy ass love song, and he was having none of that shit. He quickly rolled out of bed and started searching for his clothes. That quickly proved to be a daunting, and probably dangerous, task as he stubbed his toe on the leg of the bed. Then he tripped over his own boot, nearly taking out the divider that separated her bedroom space from that of the rest of her studio apartment. He'd only just caught himself before crashing into it. Then he'd stepped on an earring. Only biting his lip to the point of bleeding kept him from shouting a string of curses that would make a sailor blush.

He finally found the trail of clothes they'd left behind from the door and through the sitting area to the bedroom. His t-shirt with hers laid over it, he could smell her as he pulled the garment over his head. His jeans were laid over the knocked over lamp, and his boxer briefs were hanging from the corner of her dresser. A sock was on one side of the bed while the other was found peeking out from under the other side.

What the fuck are you doing, Dreyar?

His own question gave him reason for pause, and it ended his frantic search as he plopped down on the side of her bed. Head in hands, his fingers curled into his hair before pulling them down over his face. He was making shit worse was what he was doing. Sleeping in her bed? He didn't do that shit, and yet there he was. Before her, he didn't do relationships either and again, there he was.

He just couldn't understand why. Sure, she was fucking good in bed. If he dropped out of asshole warp for more than three seconds, he'd even admit that she was by far the best sex partner he'd ever had. She was open and gave just as good as she got, sometimes even better. No one else before had managed to curl his toes or make him lose control the way she did. And a month of contemplating it, getting to know her, he still wasn't any closer to the elusive why.

At first, it had been her anger and oh how he loved her when she was angry.

The day she'd stood up in the guild to those gossip-mongering, busy-bodied whores. It was just like when she stood up to him, only sexier. He was able to sit on the sidelines and watch as her hair lifted with the flames of hell igniting in her eyes. He'd never been one for nuclear women but when she went apocalyptic, it got him. So much so that it blinded him to sanity. He could only think about taming her inner devil, bending her over and fucking her into submission.

Just thinking about it now, mixing in the heady smell of sex that lingered in her bed and the natural aroma that was all her billowing from the bathroom; he was already hard and raring to go again. And that was part of the problem, part of the reason he needed to get the fuck out of there. She'd come out, it would be awkward, he'd want to throw her down and fuck her again as though he owned her. And part of him wanted to own her.

He quickly finished pulling on his clothes and boots. He did a final check, grabbing his wallet and keys from the nightstand to shove in his pockets. There was no more reason to delay, and he quickly made for the door. But as he passed the bathroom door, his steps faltered to a stop, and he found himself looking at the closed barrier. Steam drifted from under the bottom, and he could hear her still singing inside.

It was a different song, not one he knew nor was it one he really cared about. It was some jazzy little tune that really didn't leave a mark, but her singing did. Without even realizing what he was doing, he leaned in against the frame and let the sound her voice wash over him like a wave. It was soothing in a way he didn't expect. Familiar in a way he couldn't explain, but he knew he'd never heard it before.

He reached for the knob and just as his fingertips met the cool surface of metal, he snapped back to his senses. His hand drew back with all of the quickness of someone who'd been burned and he glared at the door as though it had personally offended him. Like her singing? Are you fucking kidding me, Dreyar? God, you're so fucking whipped you stupid puss ass motherfucker.

Teeth gnashing so hard together it hurt, Laxus stormed off towards the door and made his hasty exit. He was allowing her to affect him. She wasn't a real girlfriend, this wasn't a real relationship, and he needed to remind himself of that fact. He needed to remember she was nothing more than a steady piece of ass. He quickly flew down the stairs and was just reaching for the door when a voice called out to him.

"Oh! Mr. Dreyar!"

He internally cringed at the familiar, high pitched voice of Lucy's landlady, Agnes. His day was only getting worse by the minute. At the rate it was going, a full-on zombie apocalypse would be spreading across Fiore by lunchtime, and he'd be part of the walking dead by nightfall. He didn't have time for this shit, but the woman knew his grandfather.

Forcing a calm, jovial expression on his face, he turned to offer the woman a kind smile. "Mrs. Agnes, how are you this fine morning?"

The older woman practically beamed up at him, flashing him a smile that was full of lipstick coated teeth. "I'm doing just fine," she said. "Thank you for asking. Are you here to collect our Lucy?"

Does she seriously not own a fucking mirror?

The silk house robe the woman wore was way too thin, outlining her dreadfully sagging chest among other unattractive sights. It was only made worse by the fuzzy, heeled slippers that her swollen feet were practically crammed into. He was pretty sure the purple shade of her toes had nothing to do with healthy blood flow or nail polish. Rollers adorned her gray hair and the makeup job looked like perhaps little Asuka had played a part in applying it.

But he had to be nice, and he only just managed to keep his friendly smile. "I was, but she didn't answer. I thought I heard the shower running."

"That girl," Agnes chuckled. "She'll be late to her own funeral, and she takes more baths than anyone I know. But I must thank you for looking after her the way you do. I've noticed you coming and going from the building a lot nowadays."

Nosy, old bitch!

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. Her snooping really shouldn't concern him but it did. What business was it of hers who Lucy fucked? What business was it of hers when he came and went from Lucy's apartment? "Well, as my girlfriend, it's my job to take care of her."

Shock registered on the old woman's face before she giddily clapped. "Oh my, that's wonderful news! I'm so happy you two are dating. Your grandfather must be so happy."

He was barely able to contain his reaction to her useless response. His grandfather didn't know, and it wasn't any of his damn business. He wasn't even sure why he felt the need to tell her other than to get her off his back. This was all just more trouble than it was worth, and yet there he was digging himself deeper. You need to run. "Actually, I need to get going. He's expecting me up there to help him with some stuff at the guild."

"Such a good boy," Anges smiled. "Please tell him hello for me but would you like me to give Lucy a note or message that you stopped by?"

Laxus felt the ticking in his jaw as the voice in his head went on a serious fucking rampage.A note? A motherfucking note? Fuck Buddies don't leave fucking notes and there you go again with all the fucks. FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, FUCKETY FUCK FUCK FUCKS! Fuck you and your notes, you goddamn old hag! Crawl back into the damn caldron that spit you out!

"No ma'am," he managed to grit out between clenched teeth and fake smile. "I slipped one under her door."

The old woman nodded and gave him a smile. "Very well. Have a good day, Mr. Dreyar."

"You too, Mrs. Agnes."

It took everything he had to calmly turn and walk from the building instead of running from the damn thing like it was on fire. Notes. Lucy. Nosey old ladies. Laxus wasn't sure how much of this he could actually take. He'd left her a note once, and he was still unsure why he'd felt obligated to even then. Perhaps it was that she was nakama, but it didn't matter now. They had set rules; she knew the perimeters of their relationship.

No. He didn't have to go leaving her any damn notes.

Although, if he did, he wasn't exactly sure what he'd even write. Thanks for the fuck? The idea made him chuckle a bit as he hurried along the street. That would actually be kinda funny if the thought of doing it didn't give him a case of the hives. He shouldn't be sleeping over every fucking night of the week for this to even be an issue. That was something he needed to rectify and quick. But even still, he didn't feel the need to leave any notes.

This wasn't a touchy, feely relationship. They were fuck buddies who fucked other people. Then why haven't you fucked anyone else? The thought struck and he instantly stopped in his tracks. It was true. That was supposed to be part of the deal, an open relationship. He'd allowed his hunger for her drive this for too long, and it was taking them in a direction he didn't want to go.

But that was going to stop.

He started moving again off towards the clearing of the park where he could use his lightning port without waking half the town with its thunder. He hadn't really felt the need to look at other women the past few weeks, but he knew he had to make himself do it. If this was going to work, it was time he put their little deal into motion. Tonight...

Lucy took a bite of her bacon and lazily chewed as she studied the paper in front of her. It was her third attempt now in as many weeks. Her conscience, as much as she wanted to forgo all that she was, just wouldn't allow her to avoid it. A letter of an apology, or something of the like, to Eve. He deserved some sort of explanation but she hadn't a clue what to say.

She could tell him the truth but then she wasn't even sure what that was at the moment. And what she did know was just a series of lame excuses and dumbass decisions strung together to make one colossal fuckup. She regretted it, regretted hurting him. He was and always had been a friend. That wasn't how one repaid someone for their kindness and concern.

"No one should be thinkin' that hard in the mornin'."

Lifting her head, Lucy looked up to find Gajeel taking a seat across from her and she shrugged. "Just trying to write a letter and the words are failing me."

"Words," he smirked. "Failin' you? That's like Shrimp not havin' a book to read."

Unable to resist, she laughed at the spot on analogy. For someone who all too often kept to himself, Gajeel knew more about people than they realized. She had to wager that he might just be more in the know on people than Mira. And that was saying something. "Unfortunately," she grimaced. "It's a letter to Eve."

Gajeel's pierced brows raised, and he gave a hum. "Speaking of, so… You and Lightning Rod?"

She should've known that was coming. He'd not said much to her since their return from the games, and that was out of character. They usually talked daily, even if she was out on a mission with the team. He was her go to when she needed an honest opinion or real advice. But, like everyone else, she really didn't want his disapproval and knew exactly what was coming. She intended to stop it before it began. "So," she replied. "You and Cobra?"

The Slayer grinned as he reached across the table to steal a piece of bacon from her plate. "Point taken."

A twinge of guilt pulled at her strings, and she let out a heavy sigh. If there was anyone in the guild who wasn't judgmental, it was Gajeel Redfox. It was why she could talk to him about anything and trusted him with secrets she couldn't even tell Levy, Cana or Erza. He also didn't need to be the catch-all for her frustration where Laxus was concerned.

The only good thing about her morning was that he'd been gone when she got out of the had been a saving grace because she'd fretted over the awkward goodbye she knew would've come had he still been there. Every morning, it was strained as they dressed together, and she'd see him out with a weird, uncomfortable hug. Just recalling it made her shudder. "I'm just not ready to talk about it yet."

"Bunny," he said before pushing up from the table. "You ain't gotta explain shit to me. You know I'm here if ya need me and I get it."

Her brows furrowed in confusion. "Get what?"

He gave a nod towards the back of the guild, and she turned to see that Cobra had slipped in and was sitting at Gajeel's usual table. "It's somethin' different, and maybe we both just needed out of the ordinary."

She turned and flashed an appreciative smile. "You know…"

"If I wasn't gay," he chuckled. "I know. Stay out of trouble and just don't think so hard about the letter. Say how ya feel and let it be."

And that was why she adored the hell out of the ornery, metal-eating Slayer. He always had a knack for knowing exactly what to say and when. She watched as he strode off across the guild to take a seat at his table. His usual someone pissed in my cheerios scowl was settled firmly back in place, but it was there in the depths of his crimson eyes. When he looked at the maroon-haired Slayer sitting across from him, there was something. Not quite love, but she knew he was definitely falling in like.

Happy he might have found something worth keeping, she turned to face her own issue. The godforsaken letter. Lucy picked up her pen and tapped it against her lips as though it was going to magically pull the words from her brain. Say how ya feel and let it be. Perhaps she was just overthinking it. She'd already hurt him so there was really no reason to fear there. The damage was done so explaining it and offering the apology would just be good enough.

She gave a nod, putting the pen to paper and began to write. Only it wasn't meant to be when two hands came crashing down on the table, shaking it and making the pen slide mid-stroke across the page. Daring to look up, she had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing. Any anger she might have had for being so rudely interrupted fled as she took in the tall, Blond's appearance.

Laxus, for the first time since she'd met him oh so long ago, stood there looking like he was scared. Terrified really. Eyes wide, hair unnaturally out of place and the look of sheer dread filling those beautiful electric blue pools. It shocked her, to say the least, and she started to say something when he cut her off before she began.

"I'm not leaving your ass any damn notes so don't even fucking go there."

Okay, because that's not random…

Lucy blinked and reached up to scratch at her head, at a complete loss as to what he was referring too. She couldn't really recall asking him for a letter or note. "I'm sorry," she started calmly. "Have I missed something? Perhaps a diabolical scheme to take over the world through the use of… Notes, was it?"

It took everything she had to not crack a smile, much less laugh, when Laxus thinned his lips and narrowed his eyes. She knew what was coming and she began the mental countdown. One, two, three, four, fi-

"Smart Ass," he grumbled before taking a seat across the table from her. "I know it's only a matter of time before you start demanding I leave notes when I sneak out of your place."

Wha-Ohhhhh. Seriously?

The only help he provided in her plight to not laugh in his face was the fact that she could tell he was completely serious. The tick in his temple from clenching his jaw, the look of terror, the way his fingers curled anxiously into his fists. And the truth of the matter was she knew a girlfriend would do just that.

In her past life, she might have even done it herself. No. She absolutely knew she would. Her desire to have love, to appear normal and accepted was so strong that it had blinded her. Her little shower pep talk had reminded her that was exactly what she didn't want. Until she knew herself and found what she wanted in life, that was the furthest thing from her mind. It would only keep her in the same vicious cycle.

"Laxus, you don't have to leave me any notes."

"I don't need your fucking permission," he growled. "I already said it wasn't going to fucking happen."

Don't laugh, Lucy. "Good."

"Good."

An awkward silence fell over the table and she stared at him, waiting for the big dumb ass to get up and leave. Surely he had no intentions of staying. Why would he? She just knew he had bigger, better things to do and would get up at any moment. But he didn't. Instead, he sat there and looked around as though he was looking for someone before turning back to her.

"So, what are you doing?"

She blinked and pursed her lips. Wrong again. "Just writing."

"Mhm," he hummed and reached out to grab the book before she could stop him. "Dear Eve…"

There was no stopping the way she shrunk just a little under the glare he leveled in her direction. If looks could kill, well… She wouldn't be dead but she'd definitely be more akin to a human pin cushion. It was jealousy, pure and simple. All hidden under that cocky, devil may care exterior and in a really fucked up way, she actually found her body responding to it. She'd have to change her panties. Again. Lucy. Pull your damn head out of your ass. "Yes?"

"Why are you writing a fucking letter to him?"

She gave a shrug of her shoulder. "I owe him an apology."

"The fuck you do," Laxus growled. "You gave him a chance. It didn't work out, end of story."

"Laxus-"

"No," he stated to cut her off. "It's all part of the rules. He had his one ride and we don't do repeats."

Lucy's stared, her jaw dropping in shock. She wasn't sure if it was more because he was going overboard on his jealousy or if it was because he forbade her from doing something. That shit wasn't going to fly. She yanked the notebook out of his hands and flipped it closed, her anger tainting her vision red. "Laxus," she sneered between gritted teeth. "When your name appears on the father line of my damn birth certificate, then you can tell me what I can and can't do. Until then, go fuck yourself."

"Blondie."

She threw the pad and her pen into her bag and moved to get up but found herself held in place. Looking down, she found his large hand wrapped around her wrist, and she shot him a look as if to ask if he'd lost his mind. "Do you want me to make a scene?"

He quickly let go and threw his hands up, that cocky barely there smirk he always wore plastered on his handsome fucking face. "I'm not telling you what to do, just reminding you of the rules we both agreed to."

"And I'm not writing him to ask him to fuck me!"

The guild hall fell silent, and she looked around to find everyone staring at her. Again. She was becoming her very own soap opera, airing every day at Eleven A.M. on Fairy Television. She gave an awkward but apologetic smile before turning her attention back to the subject of all of her woes. And pleasure, don't forget that shit. "I'm not asking him to fuck me," she repeated in a more hushed tone. "You already know how that went, but he was a friend. I owe him an apology for being an absolute dick."

The Slayer's eyes narrowed at her and she could see his hesitation before he responded. "I don't think he deserves it, but as long as it's just an apology."

And that was when it clicked.

The jealousy, the territorial attitude, the demand that she not contact him. Laxus actually feared the kid in a way. It wasn't the jealousy over an ex but more being scared that she might actually go back to that. He's self-conscious… The thought hit her like a brick wall after going ninety miles an hour. The Dragon Slayer was a mortal man and not the god that everyone proclaimed him to be.

Seeing a flaw, knowing a small part of him feared losing her to something more stable did something to her. Something seemed to snap in her chest and she did her dead level best to push it down. Now it was her turn to be afraid. Seeing him as something real, as something as messed up as she was, that could be dangerous. Emotions were built off of less. I need to get out of here. Now. "I'm gonna go; I've got laundry and stuff to do."

Again, she made to move to get up but he stopped her short. "What are you doing later?"

Getting drunk and breaking out every vibrator I own to keep my ass from calling you.

"Nothing," she weakly replied. "Just cleaning."

Laxus stood and gave a shake of his head. "Nah, I'm coming to get ya for seven."

Noooooo! Be strong, Lucy. You will NOT see him tonight!

Despite the screaming in her head, she blinked and gave a shrug. "What's the plan?"

"Clubbing," he said before turning and walking away.

She watched him climb the stairs, taking them two at a time. It was only when he was completely gone from sight that she dared to breathe. What on earth had she just done? She was supposed to remind him of their open relationship. She was supposed to not go out with him for the night. It would only end with him back at her place, in her bed.

Sure, her damn snatch was all for it. Even now she could feel it practically weeping in its excitement. But seriously? God, you're such a fucking slut. For him…

Again, thank you so much for reading and I ask that you have a little patience. I am working on my stories but it's slow at the moment.

Thank you for the love and encouragement.

Until next time, love and hugs~

Princess Nana