Prompt 7: Space

When he woke up that morning he had been in a great mood and after getting ready for the day he made his way to the guild to hang out with his friends and team mates. Once at the guild he ordered his usual drink and as he stood waiting his brain finally caught up, realizing what today was. It was Friday and that meant tonight was his date with Lucy. He could remember the onslaught of nervousness that had overcome him but he was still excited nonetheless. He was grateful that his team had been spending more time apart so when it came up he had something to do that night no one questioned him.

Now he stood in his bedroom, tugging a pair of jeans on as he tried to remember where he had put that damn telescope. There weren't many places he could store the thing but so far his closet came up empty and his workshop as well which meant that that it was probably in the one place he didn't want it to be –his storage closet. He let out a sigh as he pulled on a black t-shirt regretting not having cleaned it out since the day he moved in. He had accumulated a lot of things and he was sure a decent amount was in there.

Making his way down the hall he stood before it unsure if he should open the door, an image of all the things he had in there falling out on top of him coming to mind before he shook the thought out of his head and tugged it open.

He stared at it for a few moments trying to figure out the best way to search for it without having to make a huge mess but that was proving to be quite difficult. Deciding to dive right in the seith mage began his search, pulling things out and setting them off to the side, struggling to get into the closet as he continued his search.

He let out a grunt sure he had been in the damn closet for at least twenty minutes and without any luck. His eyes searched the small space before he began pulling things out again catching sight of a box near the floor. Cursing, Bickslow moved things aside, reaching for the box he tugged on it, growling slightly when it barely moved. Trying again he gave a hard jerk before falling backwards and landing roughly onto his things, cringing in pain and hoping nothing broke. Glancing down at the box in his lap a grin made its way onto his face. He finally found it.

Sitting up he opened it making sure all the pieces were there before standing and beginning to clean up his mess, making a mental note to clean it out when he got back that night from his date – or in the very least the next few days. Once finished with cleaning up his mess he checked the time, relieved he still had a bit before he needed to pick up Lucy. Setting the box down near his door he finished getting ready slipping on his black leather jacket before slipping his visor on.

Picking up the telescope he locked up and made his way to the location he intended to take Lucy for their date and began setting everything up. Once everything was prepared he left, quelling his churning stomach with deep breaths as he slowly approached the stellar mage's apartment. Reaching a hand up he gave a firm knock on the door, waiting anxiously for the blonde to answer.

Lucy pulled open the door, giving him an apologetic smile that had him worried. Had she changed her mind? Did she not want to go anymore? "Hey Bicks, sorry I'm running a little behind." She stepped out of the doorway. "Please come in." He stepped over the entryway and into her apartment, hearing her close the door behind him. "I'll only be a few more minutes." She said as she walked off.

He felt relief flood him but his brain stall when she addressed him as Bicks. What was that about? His attention turned to her when she spoke.

"Sorry about making you wait. I got distracted with my bath and stayed in too long and then couldn't find the shoes to go with my dress." She shook her head as she walked into her kitchen. "I'm just really glad Cancer is quick when it comes to taking care of my hair otherwise you'd be stuck waiting who knows how long." She emerged with a basket on her arm, giving him a warm smile.

He let out a soft chuckle. "You're alright cheerleader. Ready?" He asked and she nodded, giving a once over to her apartment before following him out of the building. She sighed softly and he glanced down at her wondering if she was as nervous as he was. Clearing his head he took hold of her free hand and led her to the spot, hearing her gasp the second they arrived.

"Oh, Bickslow it's beautiful." She whispered and he smiled. She turned to him a soft smile on her face, raising the basket. "Shall we?" He nodded and the two made their way over.

"I haven't used this thing in a while so it may need some adjusting." He confessed and she smiled, setting the basket down.

"May I?" She inquired and he nodded. He watched the blonde as she closed one eye peeking into the eyepiece, her hand reaching up to adjust it for the briefest of moments before she pulled away, smiling. "Come look."

He stepped closer, bending down to look into the eyepiece, a smile making its way onto his face. Pulling back he glanced up at the sky, noticing a constellation he adjusted the telescope, glancing several times to make sure it was just right before turning looking at the blonde and motioning her over. She peeked in before pulling back to look up at the sky and then him before looking into the telescope once more.

"I almost forgot she was out this month." She mumbled as she looked at the star and he frowned noticing her sad tone.

"Yeah, I'd heard Freed mention once, that she's one of your keys." He watched the stellar mage tense, pulling away from the telescope.

"Was." She whispered softly.

"What?" His brows furrowed in confusion.

"I said she was." She turned to him. "During –"She paused, seeming hesitant to say anymore. "The war, against Tartaros, I – in order to help save everyone I had to summon the Celestial Spirit King." She admitted softly. "But the only way to do that was to sacrifice one of my zodiac keys." Bickslow felt a curse slip from his lips as he remembered hearing about Lucy destroying Cube but never knew how.

"I'm sorry I –"Lucy shook her head, smiling at him.

"I miss her a lot, and I haven't been able to see her but in some way I - I feel like I've been able to, after seeing her constellation." Nodding her head he watched her dry her eyes before turning to the telescope once more. "Let's see who else we can find." He smiled moving to her side as they began searching for other constellations.

The night continued on, the duo talking about the constellations and astronomy in general, laughing and having fun especially as Lucy told him about the spirits and what each one was in physical form and what magic they used. He let out a sigh as he and the celestial mage finally sat down to eat the picnic she brought, noticing her shiver. "You should have dressed warmly." He lightly chastised as he slipped off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders.

"My mind was kind of elsewhere." She mumbled and he chuckled shaking his head. He looked to the spread on the blanket Lucy had laid out noticing that all of their food was star shaped.

"Got any comets or asteroids in there?" He teased, ginning as she stuck her tongue out at him.

"No one said you had to eat it." She grumbled and he chuckled, grabbing a piece of star fruit and stuck it in his mouth.

"Didn't say I had a problem with it." She turned away and he smiled, glancing up at the sky.

The two ate silently, though Bickslow did compliment her on her cooking skills. After the meal, he watched the blonde lay back on the blanket, staring at the sky before turning his attention to it as well and eventually lying down next to her. Hearing her soft sigh he glanced over at her.

"I haven't – really gazed at the stars like this in a long time." She confessed softly. "Not since my mother passed." She shifted closer, her fingers brushing against his and he allowed his to entwine with hers. "I used to spend my nights with her lying on the ground and staring at the sky. We'd talk for countless hours about the constellations and I'd listen to her tell me about our friends." He soon felt her hand release his and she reached out to the sky. "After she –"Lucy cut herself off for a brief moment before speaking once more. "I used to pretend that if I tried really hard I could reach out and touch the stars, even though I've always known they were too far to actually do it." She giggled and he looked at her hand, lifting his he grasped it and pulled it back down between them.

"You should know better than anyone that the stars are never that far away." Their hands brushed against the pouch on her hip and Lucy turned, looking at him, her lips curving into a smile.

"Thank you Bickslow." She whispered and he chuckled, finding it funny that she was thanking him when she was the one who suggested their date. He felt the blonde scoot closer to him, her head resting on his shoulder. His hand released hers as he slipped it around her and pulled her closer to him the couple lying in content silence and it wasn't until the blonde let out a yawn did he even realize that it was probably late and the two should get home.

Turning slightly, he shifted his shoulder slightly to catch her attention. "We should probably get going." The blonde shook her head in response.

"I don't want to go yet."

Bickslow chuckled as he slowly sat up with her. "But we should, unless you want to turn into a popsicle." She sighed heavily nodding her head. He stood, helping the blonde to her feet. He waited as the stellar mage folded the blanket, tucking it neatly into the picnic basket before taking her hand and walking her home.

"I had a lot of tonight." Lucy said as she stood when they reached the front of her apartment building.

"Me too, although I felt bad about – you know." The celestial mage shook her head.

"Don't worry about it. I hadn't exactly told a lot of people about what happened and –"She sighed softly. "Honestly Bickslow, it really did make me feel better. Thank you for finding her."

"I'm sorry if it really didn't." She giggled softly at him, taking a step closer and grabbing his hand, their fingers immediately twining together.

"Thank you for the date. We should go out again sometime."

He chuckled, lifting his free hand to cup her face. "Are you ever going to let me ask you out on a date?" She smiled shrugging and he laughed softly in response before closing that small distance between them and giving her a soft kiss. "Good night cosplay queen." Releasing her hand he stepped away, giving her a smile and a small wave.

"Good night Bicks." The seith mage watched as she turned and entered the building, a grin slowly making its way onto his face.

Turning he began his walk back to get his telescope before heading home, wondering where he should take her for their second date.

Well that was my final prompt for BicksLu week which is sadly now over. It's been fun, thank you to all who've read my prompts and I hope you enjoyed it.