Title: A Koibito Reality

Wordcount: 7,807

Summary: Lucy proceeds to finish the ridiculously easy job as a tag-along, made difficult by Evergreen in a good mood. Once home, though, she's got bigger problems. What is she supposed to do now that she's realized her own feelings for the lightning dragon-slayer who saved her rent-less butt?

Here it is, solid, substantial proof that I actually read my reviews. The sequel to a one-shot that was supposed to be a standalone, filled so much with obvious LaxLu-ness that I'm surprised it's not gushing out of your computer screen into your lap. Have at thee!

Disclaimer: Really, at this point, Lucy would've gotten kissed by now if I owned Fairy Tail. If not by Natsu, then at least by somebody, even as a joke.

Lucy opened her eyes the next morning feeling remarkably relaxed for someone who had speed-walked straight through a tourist-trap of a town and a forest until dark, and then stayed awake, joking with her...friends. She stumbled over the word in her mind, but it was true. These bundles scattered around the clearing had become her friends. A small smile graced her face.

She'd somehow ended on top of her sleeping bag, but it was wonderful outside and dappled sun was shining down on her skin, making her feel pleasantly warm and lazy. The young blond stretched her limbs like a cat-

"Well, apparently someone's a morning person," Laxus grumbled from the other side of the campfire, his voice still rough with sleep. She started losing her good mood, but snatched it back quickly. It doesn't matter, Lucy thought forcefully. The sun is shining, it's not too hot or too cold, and everything is fine. Right?

Wrong. The world must have a sense of humor, she thought wryly as Laxus stood up, the second awake of the group, and dragged a large hand through his messy hair, highlighting carved arm muscles. He'd shed his shirt sometime during the night.

Lucy hid her face with her hair, staring determinedly at her pillow. His lack of clothing brought the tail-end of her conversation with Evergreen to the front of her mind, when she'd been trying to shove it out.

"You're not stupid, and I'm not stupid. Laxus has grown fond of you, and seeing the change in you today, can you honestly say you don't like him that way? As more than family?"

Lucy stole a peek at Laxus, and found him looking at her, one eyebrow higher than the other. Lucy made a strangled noise in her throat and looked down again. A furious blush graced her cheeks, and she started cursing her own traitorous feelings under her breath.

She wasn't embarrassed; she was resisting. Lucy had to fight to keep her head down and not stare at the chiseled muscles of his abs or the inky black of his guild mark and tattoo. She had the sudden urge to get up and go over to him. What is wrong with me?

It made an appealing picture, him standing there in front of her, shirtless and barefoot, with tousled hair and the sunlight piercing through the trees, making soft patterns of light and dark on his skin. Were those sparkles in his eyes, and roses in the background, or was that just her?

Not good, not good! Yesterday she was scared stiff of the lightning dragon-slayer, and one train ride, one meal, and a long walk had her shamelessly ogling him? Do I want to give myself a heart attack?, Lucy panicked.

A hand started patting her head, and she froze, thinking Laxus had come over. Which was sweet of him, but she really needed him to stay on that side of the campfire remains. She'd stay on the other side, thank you very much, because she didn't have the fortitude to deal with this rush of thoughts right then.

However, she discovered she didn't need to freak out, because Laxus's hands were in no way that delicate. Evergreen was patting her head. Lucy stole another glance at her current misery. He was facing away from them, talking to Fried and Bixlow, who'd just awakened.

'I'm going to murder you!' she mouthed frantically, glaring at the woman who had put this idea in her head she couldn't get rid of.

The other female of the group smiled, resembling her haughtier self, took one look at Laxus, another at Lucy, and covered her mouth with both hands. If she expressed amusement right now, the dragon-slayer would've gotten suspicious and Lucy might really have been inclined to try and kill her.

Calming down, she mouthed back, 'He looks nice today, doesn't he?' Lucy repeated the words silently, making sure that she hadn't gotten it wrong. She breathed deeply. A good, solid, Lucy Kick would alert the others that something was going on. So she slapped Evergreen upside the head instead, getting a glare and making the men laugh. They were being watched.

Lucy mustered all her strength to look Laxus in the face and said, "Breakfast?" Her voice was steady, but quiet. She wanted to cheer for not stuttering like a small girl talking to her first crush.

"Fish from last night," he told her, nodding at the campfire. Lucy stole her prize and started eating, careful to do it politely and attractively. She paused with a bite (a small one, of course) in her mouth, hideously aware that if she didn't have feelings for Laxus, she wouldn't be so focused on eating in such a lady-like way. She certainly hadn't worried about it last night as she joked with the team, taking giant mouthfuls and turning food into projectile weapons. Lucy vaguely remembered getting Evergreen square in the face, and giggled at the mental image before remembering that she was distressed.

The real fairy mage looked at her strangely, and grabbed her own meal. No one seemed to want to talk much, but none of them really seemed like morning people, either, so she couldn't blame them. She took another bite of fish, trying not to be especially lady-like about it.

"So, where is this bracelet thingy?" Lucy asked, wondering how far they were going to have to walk. She'd directed the question at Fried, but it was Laxus who answered.

"Not far. We'll be returning it by around noon, and then we'll go home. You're paying your own ticket, this time. Not like you won't be able to afford it," he pointed out smugly.

"Oh, thanks for paying for me, before." The older man looked at her strangely.

"I didn't pay for it, Fried did." Very good, Lucy complimented in her head. If she wasn't absolutely sure, there would have been be no way to tell that he was lying. His demeanor didn't change, but because she knew to look for it, he'd cocked his head slightly to his left. That must be his tell, Lucy smiled. Good to know.

"Liar." Laxus choked a bit and stared at her. Bixlow grinned.

"That's pretty good, Lucy! Most people can't catch him. Ever and I still can't. What gave it away?" he asked eagerly, leaning forward in her direction. Last night she'd managed to use his face as a fish net, when she got tired of the constant cosplay references. He'd started calling her by name after the first few. She smiled mysteriously, glancing at Laxus again – Why did she keep looking at him? He was still staring at her like he'd never seen her before in his life. His eyes on her made her a little nervous.

"I'm not going to tell you that if Fried hasn't already." Bixlow sighed in disappointment.

"That's exactly what Fried says when asked, except he names Makarov," Evergreen commented, smiling behind the remnants of her fish. Fried smiled.

"I will say," Lucy said, smiling at the way Bixlow perked up like a puppy that heard the word 'treat', "that you shouldn't set the ticket on fire if you want to hide yourself, Laxus." The others looked between her and their team leader, trying to hide their expressions.

Laxus glared at an innocent tree and frowned, a slight pink tinge on his cheeks. "I didn't set it on fire, it just smoldered a little. Is it my fault the guy was an idiot?" At this, they all gave up and laughed, Bixlow actually falling off his log, until the mage mumbled, "Shut up, don't we have to go look for the trinket?" in an effort to change the subject. It worked. The others eventually quieted down and scattered the remains of the campfire. They all got dressed – Lucy sighed with relief – and Fried led the way to the missing bracelet.

The job was exactly as easy as Laxus had explained it would be the night before. Fried had already triangulated the location of the bracelet. Lucy, in a rare moment of wisdom, didn't ask a single question and decided to talk to Evergreen at the back of the pack, the only other female in the group. Lucy was desperately in need of a girl talk. They spoke in hushed whispers so the man with the super-hearing, towards the front, wouldn't eavesdrop.

"This is your fault, you know," Lucy hissed at the elder mage. "I can't look at him now without-"

"Wanting to jump him?" Ever cut in, smiling innocently. She was in a good mood this morning. Lucy blushed a brilliant shade of red.

"I don't want- that's not what- Argh!" Lucy babbled incoherently, trying to explain herself without sounding...well, sounding like she wanted to jump him. Which, she was realizing to her growing horror, I kind of want to do. Her eyes drifted in front of her, and landed on Laxus's back, still covered by his trademark cloak. Next to her, Evergreen nodded sagely and smirked. Lucy saw it out of the corner of her eye and swung her head around to shoot eye-daggers. The other female raised her hands in mock surrender.

"I know you said as much last night, but I'm sure he doesn't like me that way," Lucy played with the ends of her hair, saddened now that she'd said it out loud, the reason she didn't want to believe she liked him, let alone fallen in love so quickly. Besides, love at first sight doesn't exist, right?

She didn't realize she'd said the last part of her thoughts aloud again until Evergreen answered her thoughtfully.

"Well, it wasn't first sight, was it? He told us he saw a big-boobed newbie in the guild right before you and your little team went off on that S-Class quest. Mentioned it while we were discussing who to keep in the guild after the takeover, I think..." She had a knowing air about her that Lucy really didn't like.

"My team is not little, it's the strongest in the guild," Lucy defended.

"Lucy, you're with the strongest team in the guild right now," Evergreen said arrogantly. Privately, Lucy wondered if she was right, that these four weren't at least on par with her own team. There were a lot of similarities. One S-Class, and three more that ended up on Tenroujima anyway, either as a candidate or the partner of one. What more did she and the others have in common with the Raijinshuu and their leader?

Outwardly, she rolled her eyes at the other mage's cockiness, and it was silent for a few minutes while she considered the woman's earlier question.

"No. No, it wasn't love at first sight. I thought he was an arrogant prick, to be honest." Evergreen noted with some fascination that calling Laxus an arrogant prick made Lucy's face soften and a small smile come to her face.

"Oh, you've got it bad," Evergreen cackled, snapping Lucy back to the present.

"What?"

"Your face. If you look like that when remembering the absolute ass he was, you don't have a chance in hell now." Lucy blushed and bopped Ever's head with her fists for her comment, embarrassed.

"Geez, Ever, you're so mean!" Lucy whined. The fairy mage just laughed harder, and a male voice cut across their bickering.

"What are you doing back there?" Both mages looked up to see the men had stopped to stare at them. Laxus was looking particularly annoyed, a frown etched deep in his face.

Evergreen glanced at Lucy. The poor girl looked like she was about to faint, her face was so red. Steam was practically coming out of her ears. Evergreen was about to faint, too, but from lack of air. She clutched her ribs and gasped until the men shook their heads and kept walking, deciding not to get involved.

Lucy had never been on such a stressful, well-paying job. And yet, it had been so easy, technically. Even if a job like this came once a year, she'd never have to worry about her rent again. Of course, that depended on her becoming S-Class (yeah, right, she snorted), or teaming up with an S-Class mage more often. Her eyes automatically landed on Laxus, and she threw a small tantrum, stomping her feet. Erza is S-Class too! She thought in defiance of her own eyes. I'll go with her! Then she drooped and dragged her feet, ignoring the strange looks she was getting from the mages around her. Somehow, S-Class missions with Erza just didn't hold the same appeal.

Their client was actually on the outskirts of Koibito with his mistress, so Lucy, Laxus and Ever went to go put on a good show while Fried and Bixlow wandered into a bar, unneeded. Lucy envied them. They didn't have to go let a pervert mentally undress them for cash. It was going to be miserable, especially in the cold that had descended on the town with the sunset, so different from the warm sun that had greeted her that morning.

Lucy ventured into the heart-themed lion's den alone, finding it amusing that the rest had flat-out refused to be bombarded by love songs and confetti rain any more than absolutely necessary. She found a beautiful red dress that clung to her curves and was lower-cut than she would have liked, but it was modest by Koibito standards. A lover's town wasn't known for propriety.

When she returned, shaking confetti out of her hair, she saw that Ever had tugged her hair down and flipped it, putting on the haughtiest, snobbiest look she was capable of. The effect was rather terrifying, but it was nothing compared to Laxus, whose cloak and murderous look were such an intimidating combination that if Lucy hadn't been head over heels, she would have run screaming.

Since she was head over heels, and still smart enough to know the hatred on his face was probably directed at the confetti and not anyone specific, she found it strangely endearing. She also kept him in her vision on the way to the client's house, hoping she hadn't sustained some severe head trauma last night that she wasn't aware of. I feel like Juvia, the spirit mage sighed. Evergreen smirked at her, and she shoved the fairy's shoulder in retaliation, too stressed for teasing.

"Enough games," Laxus growled at the pair, clearly in a bad mood as well. "Time to go get our pay." He stopped at the door to an exceptionally gaudy house, filled with fake jewels and painted a disgusting shade of puce. The man paused, and looked at Lucy, frowning. What's wrong with him? Lucy wondered. He looks odd.

"Ready, Lucy?" he asked softly; there was no trace of his earlier irritation. She blushed red at the sound of her name rolling off his lips, but locked her eyes with his and managed to nod before she got sidetracked by the bright blue. He looked away and knocked as she she let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding. This is insane. You're a grown woman, Lucy; you need to get a hold of yourself! she thought darkly.

Lucy honestly couldn't remember much about the client. Grubby fingers, disgustingly frilly clothes made for females over sixty. He kept them on the doorstep the entire time, probably asserting his authority or some other rich person nonsense that Lucy had escaped by running away from home. The two womanly mages played their part perfectly, laying it on thick and hiding their repulsion for the sake of the cash.

Evergreen gave the rich pervert a mighty sneer; he was unworthy to be dirt under her shoe. Lucy pouted and crossed her arms under her chest, showing as much cleavage as possible and playing the simpering, doting blond. She was at war with herself, her absent-minded smile threatening to curl into a disgusted sneer, and producing a semi-grimace. in Raised in a high-class family, the stellar spirit mage had rather good personal taste. The house offended her a little, and the man made her want to screech.

Ew, is that food in his mustache? She cringed as it twitched over the pervert's naughty little grin. Oh, god, get me out of here. Lucy inched slightly closer to the man beside her, trying not to be obvious about it. A tiny smirk lifted the dragon-slayer's lips, but she couldn't glare at him without risking her bonus. Instead, she rested her left hand in the crook of Laxus's right elbow, the better to play the clingy airhead she was pretending to be. His arm broke out in goosebumps, and she couldn't blame him – her hands were probably blocks of ice by now. His face didn't even twitch, though.

Finally, after an eternity, the client dropped a pile of money in Laxus's hands and closed the door in his face. She regretted not paying a little more attention to the transaction and less on the warmth of the man beside her, but at least one side of her body wasn't numb. Lucy reluctantly dropped her hand to leave it at her side, resenting the cold that swept away all memory of heat. She moped for about two seconds before she remembered she just got paid.

Laxus laughed at the excited look on her face, counted out a few bills, and handed them to her. She grinned up at him, her breath fogging. It was definitely snowing by then; big, soft flakes shining in the light of the magic lamps, drifting gently to the cobblestones below, sticking to clothes and hair.

"Thank you!" She jumped around happily, sticking out her tongue to taste the flakes, until Ever started reprimanding her, saying a fairy shouldn't be so obsessed with money. In response, Lucy kicked her, and the two started fighting playfully until Fried told them to knock it off (he'd been hiding behind the house with Bixlow). Lucy obeyed immediately, surprised and happy that she was comfortable enough with Evergreen to fight with her, just like Natsu and Gray every day back at the guild. Laxus split up the jewels among the others, stuffing the final wad of bills in his pocket along with his hands, and started walking, his stance and the features of his face screaming a barely-controlled annoyance.

Oh, that's right, Lucy remembered. We have to go through Koibito to get home. She led the way this time, walking quickly up a side street perpendicular to Laxus's direction. The Raijinshuu shared glances at each other, and then looked in the direction of her back.

"That's not the way to the train station, cosplay-queen!" Bixlow yelled after her, uncertain.

"I told you not to ca-call me that! Do you n-need another f-fish to the face to remind you?" Lucy shouted back over her shoulder. The effect was ruined when her teeth chattered from the cold. She stopped in the middle of the narrow alleyway, and looked back at them, rubbing her arms for warmth and saying "Do you g-guys really want t-to go through all the c-confetti hearts ag-gain?" They shared another glance, and then jogged to catch up, Laxus in the lead.

As he drew level with her, he sloughed off his coat and dumped it on her head. The look in his eyes warned her not to comment or argue, at least not this time, so she accepted it gratefully, pulling it closer around her shoulders. It was delightfully warm from his body heat, and it didn't reek of sweat like she'd expected. Being discreet as possible, she brought the fur to her nose, inhaled, and nearly stumbled. Laxus's coat smelled of forest and a summer rain and something spicy she couldn't place. The first was normal; they'd spent the night in the forest. But the other scents...she couldn't stop herself from wondering, is this how Laxus smells all the time? She looked at him, and saw that he watched her warily.

"Do you know where you're going, princess?" Lucy looked ahead of her, getting her bearings, and nodded. So she was back to princess again. Maybe it's for the best, Lucy laughed at herself. If he says my name all the time, I'll never be able to concentrate...

"Oh, ye of little faith," Lucy teased, considerably warmer. "I've been here before."

Laxus stared at her, and then drew back, his face going blank. She looked at him curiously. That wasn't the reaction she'd expected; that face didn't even make sense. What had she said? Hesitantly, she explained herself, not believing what her mind was telling her. No way...

"I used to work here, before Natsu found me." She checked his face, but his mask stayed in place. So she kept going, feeling defensive. "What?! It was good pay for a single, good-looking poor girl!" His face cracked and splintered, relaxing into a smile, and Lucy breathed a sigh of relief. Was he really jealous? Not a chance, the spirit mage reassured herself.

"Have a high opinion of yourself, don't you?" Laxus taunted, the start of a smirk lifting his mouth.

"Leave the poor girl alone, or I'll have to pity her." A voice startled both of them, though Laxus only showed it with a slight widening of his eyes. Lucy was not so subtle. She jumped, swung around and kicked at the speaker's head. Ever dodged and kept walking. Lucy growled and picked up speed. Laxus matched her, and the Raijinshuu trailed behind them, unseen and unnoticed. Eventually the group came to an alleyway directly across from the train station.

"Ready?" Lucy asked, not looking behind her. Everyone else groaned or made faces at her back.

"One," Fried started, wanting to get it over with.

"Two," Bixlow cringed. Impulsively, Lucy grabbed Laxus's hand. He stared at her, wide-eyed, but allowed it, his face coloring red.

"Three!" That was Evergreen. They all took off like a shot for the train station, the two blonds hand-in-hand, ducking and weaving in between all the couples, fast as possible. The makeshift team bolted through the train's doors just as they closed with a snap – Lucy had timed it perfectly.

All five mages collapsed in a heap just inside the door. The train rumbled and took off as they began disentangling themselves, gasping for air. Lucy managed to get out from under Fried and pulled Laxus out, breathless. He came hurtling towards her and Lucy cried out, trying not to get squished, and stumbled backwards until her back hit the wall, cushioned by the cloak still on her shoulders. He caught himself with his palms flat on the wall on either side of her.

Caged in by the dragon-slayer's massive arms, and actually his entire body, she realized belatedly that she'd used too much force in pulling him out of the heap on the floor. He stared at her now, his face inches from hers. She stared back, very aware of his legs on either side of hers, his hands planted on the wall, so close to her face she could feel the warmth. Then, so slow she could barely sense it, his body began to lean more into hers, his face came closer, and-

Fried, Bixlow and Evergreen rolled into their legs, still tangled. Laxus's knees bent and he fell over them backwards, landing hard on his back before he could dodge. Evergreen tugged Lucy's calf in a desperate attempt to free herself, and instead ended up dragging her fellow female mage back into the fray. Laxus seemed to be the calmest out of all of them.

"I'll have your head for that, Minty! I was free!"

"Who are you calling Minty, you graceless summoner?!"

"Laxus, get off me!"

"Damnit, I'm not the one who rolled into you, Fried!"

"Well, get off my leg anyway!"

"Graceless? I'll show you graceless, you clunker of a fairy!"

"I'm not on your leg!"

"That would be me."

"Bixlow, get off me, then! You're heavy!"

"How dare you?! I'm the best, strongest fairy there is!"

"I can't move 'till Ever moves!"

"Doesn't seem that way, since I can beat you like I was beating you earlier!"

"Bring it on! You're weak without your precious keys!"

"Bixlow, lose some weight, would you?!"

"Now, that's just mean! Cosplay-queen started it!"

"Started it! Started it!" When did Bixlow's dolls get into this? Lucy thought, momentarily distracted. Wait, did Ever just...she did!

"Oh, now you've done it, you insufferable snob of a fairy! Don't you call me weak!"

"Lucy, stop fighting and get off me first?"

"Ah, sorry Laxus."

Now, this is more like it, Lucy grinned through the blush that appeared when she realized she was basically straddling Laxus to get into a better position to throttle Evergreen. He used her name again! How I missed you, sweet, sweet chaos!

After the unlikely team had spent half the journey on the floor between train cars, arguing to their heart's content, the mages settled into a comfortable silence, draped haphazardly over their seats. Lucy and Laxus had claimed the window seats before anyone else could, leaving the rest to sit where they found room. The others didn't utter a single complaint, though Ever looked like she wanted to, sandwiched between Lucy and Bixlow.

Lucy relaxed, her forehead resting on the cold window, after watching first Laxus, then Fried, and finally Bixlow fall asleep to the tempo of Evergreen's impatient foot-tapping. She'd never felt so content. It could have been the absence of her constant rent worries. It could have been the quiet that she'd thought was so unnerving just yesterday. Heck, it could even have been the view of a gently sleeping Laxus across from her, his face and side slumped against the wall, his warm breath steaming the glass of the window.

Drinking in that sight with her eyes, the blond stellar spirit mage was comforted by the rocking of the train, the soft taptap of Ever's foot, and the quiet heavy breathing of her sleeping friends. The confusion that had tangled her brain concerning the man across from her all day was only a vague worry of unrequited feelings, a shadow in the back of her mind. She curled up in her seat, dozing off. On the edge of sleep, Lucy thought she saw Laxus's eyes open, and his lips twitch into a tender smile at her, but she was out before she could be sure.

"I'm home!" Lucy cried joyfully, bursting through while surrounded by her temporary teammates. They chuckled at her, enjoying the young woman's enthusiasm. She'd dragged them all the way there, pulling at wrists and telling them to pick up the pace as she bounced her way to the guild. Lucy shoved the nearest shoulder – Laxus's, of course – and walked to the middle of the hall, beaming, before she realized something was wrong.

"No 'Welcome back'? No 'hello, Lucy?'" She asked, embarrassed at the amount of shocked faces turned in her direction. "What are you staring at?" She checked for stains on her clothes as her hands went to smooth her hair nervously.

"Oh, Lucy! Welcome home." Natsu's bar stool squeaked loudly in the quiet, bringing him around to face her. He braced himself on his elbows against the bar behind him, his grin visible even across the room. Lucy bounded over to hug him lightly, grateful for a distraction from the weird tension.

"Hey, Natsu. Where are Gray and Happy and Erza?" He waved a careless hand at her.

"Erza said something about needing them for a job. I tried to ask why she'd need Happy, but her armor is really hard..." Lucy giggled at him as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. Then he stiffened, and the grin turned slightly menacing as he stared over her shoulder. "Oi, Laxus, fight me!"

Lucy turned to see Laxus behind her, and was hit with an odd sense of deja vu as she did, but this time the man rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. She could see the other Raijinshuu had taken seats at the bar on either side and ordered drinks from Mira already.

"No." Lucy rolled her eyes back at him at the arrogant mask and answer, behavior she hadn't even acknowledged before the job. But then, she hadn't known it was a mask.

Either way, he smirked at her in response, and they locked eyes, both ignoring the rather loud fit Natsu was throwing next to them.

"How was the job, Lucy?" Mirajane said, cutting across Natsu with a simple question but without raising her voice. Natsu fell into a slump, depressed that he was getting ignored. She has got to teach me how to do that, Lucy admired.

"Ah, it was great, Mira, no problems at all. I'm not doomed anymore!" Mira smiled back at her and Laxus.

"That's good! Laxus, why don't you take the seat on the other side of Lucy? You guys can tell me all about it," the barmaid suggested, sliding over two mugs of hot chocolate. The man shrugged and obliged, perching on a stool and picking up his cup to take a sip. The younger blond giggled at him: he just looked so...domestic, holding a mug and leaning his elbows on the bar after a long day. He raised his eyebrows at her.

"Where do I start?" Lucy wondered aloud. How could I explain all that? The nerve-wracking train ride and mystery ticket were only the beginning; should she even try to convince Mira that the powerful, proud Laxus Dreyar and his mighty Raijinshuu had gone to Koibito willingly, and were all beaten by heart-shaped confetti? She felt like that night by the fire was something she should keep to herself, like talking about it would cheapen it, somehow.

"Well," Mira started, her voice full of mischief that made both mages look up at her, "you could start by explaining why you're wearing Laxus's coat over a beautiful red dress I don't remember you owning," she finished with a grin and a gesture at Lucy's attire. All three of them looked down – Mira was right. Lucy and Laxus caught each other's eyes, panic shining in both chocolate brown and bright blue. The beatiful Strauss sibling laughed lightly as they tried to explain themselves.

"The client, he was a pervert, and-"

"She was shivering so hard it was getting annoying!" Lucy gasped at the man in indignation.

"You didn't have to give me your cloak!"

"I should have given it to you earlier," Laxus growled, his face intense, all his usual arrogance absent for the moment. Lucy blinked at him, confused.

"If I'd had the cloak on earlier, then what was the point of the dress? The client wouldn't have been able to ogle me with his disgusting mustache and he wouldn't have forked over the bonus!"

"Mustache?" Mirajane interjected quietly, trying not to break what she suspected was happening there. Both of them waved her away carelessly and she uncharacteristically smirked. Apparently Lucy had picked up some of Laxus's habits while in his company.

"That's the point!" the man retorted, grinding his teeth.

"You couldn't do anything about that, I wouldn't have gotten paid! That was the whole point of taking me on the job, wasn't it?!" Lucy snapped at him, angry. What was wrong with him?

Natsu chose that moment to get up and leave, trying to avoid notice. He didn't know why Lucy was angry, or why she was messing with Laxus, or why the lightning dragon-slayer was even fighting her when he'd refused to fight the salmon-haired man not two minutes ago. What Natsu did know was Lucy's current tone of voice; that was the cue to hide. A furious Lucy was a scary Lucy, after all.

Being semi-drunk on special fire drinks, Natsu tripped and fell towards Lucy when he tried to sneak away. One second later, Natsu was on the floor, confused. Lucy's glare never lightened, unaware that Laxus had just tugged her barstool closer to his; she was safely out of the way when he answered her.

"The point of taking you on the job was so that I didn't have to listen to your whining!" Laxus said, jaw clenched. Lucy stared, shocked and hurt. After a few seconds, the hurt drained away, and she stared at him again, her face blank. "What?" he asked, defensive.

"Liar. You actually wanted to help me, didn't you?" Lucy whispered, scanning his face.

Abruptly, he pushed back against the bar, scraping his stool on the floor, the sound echoing in the quiet of the guild; most of their fellow nakama had stopped talking to eavesdrop. He stomped down the center aisle, intending to leave.

"Oi, Laxus, I'm not done with you!" she called after him. Mirajane had made herself scarce, but popped up now to snicker and refill Lucy's hot chocolate. Clearly the young mage had picked up more than one of the older man's mannerisms. She'd never used 'oi' before that job, preferring the more polite 'hey'. Laxus waved his hand as he walked out. Lucy took that as a sign he wasn't really angry, and turned back to her barmaid friend. Who was giggling. And blushing. And...

"Damnit, Mira..." Lucy slumped over the bar table, delicious hot chocolate forgotten.

"Does this mean I'm allowed to say it now?" The demon mage asked hopefully. Lucy waved a hand at her in response. "Yes! Oh, Lucy, I think you and Laxus would make a great couple!" she grinned, eyes sparkling. Lucy and Laxus, Fairy Tail's newest couple! She held back the urge to squeal at the thought.

"We're not a couple!" Lucy protested, shaking her head energetically. The cloak wrapped around her started to slide, and she scrambled to catch it and yank the material back around her like a blanket before it hit the floor. Mira looked at her knowingly. What is with people and knowing looks lately? Lucy thought, frustrated. Why does everyone seem to know something I don't?

Because they do, a tiny voice whispered in the back of her head. Or at least, they're willing to acknowledge it. She rubbed her eyes with her hands. Voices in her head that didn't agree with her. Now, that's normal, she sighed.

"Lucy, you're in a fancy dress and you're wearing his coat. He never gives up his coat, not since the day he got it. I would know," Mira said gently, patting her friend's shoulders.

"She's right, Lucy. Fried, Bixlow and I almost keeled over when we saw." Evergreen had sauntered over to sit in Laxus's seat. "And I've never seen him so energetic or relaxed in public before, unless he was fighting. Have you?" She directed this last question at Mirajane, who tapped her chin with an elegant finger and frowned as she answered.

"No. He was in a really good mood. I haven't seen him like that in a long time." At this point, the two men came to stand with their backs against the bar near the girls.

"I haven't either, by the way," Fried said, staring across the guild hall at the doors. Bixlow shook his head in agreement.

"So, you're saying...he likes me?" Lucy asked softly, also turning to stare at the doors. Her heart started doing strange things at the possibility, and her face turned pink. Not yet, she thought sternly, don't start hoping yet.

"Probably," the men said simultaneously.

"I told you so!" Ever and Mira exclaimed, and then looked at each other, surprised. "You too?" They asked each other and smiled.

Lucy felt like she was floating, and looked around at her friends. They were serious. There wasn't a single trace of mockery or joking among their faces. Laxus liked her. She stood up, spun around, and took off fast as lightning in her red dress and a fur-lined cloak, intending to catch up to the dragon-slayer.

And slammed into solid wall of muscle two seconds later. Well, not too solid, Lucy thought, sprawled out horizontally. She sat up carefully and looked down.

Laxus was laughing at her, softly, as she sat on his stomach, half-kneeling, and gingerly rested her hands on his chest. His own hands were on her legs, a thoughtless reaction to help her keep her balance, and Lucy could tell without looking that he'd brought his knees up behind her.

Lucy blushed magnificently, Laxus's face nearly matching hers. She was acutely aware that her dress had ridden up and there was no barrier between his rough hands and the skin of her thighs, even if he was being exceedingly gentle. The woman decided that she couldn't play games anymore. The stress alone would kill her.

"Laxus?" She asked, tentatively.

"I wanted to give you my coat because I didn't want that pervert staring at you," Laxus said, voice rumbling and deep. She doubted anyone could hear him but her. "I barely noticed you were cold."

Time to come clean, Lucy steeled herself. She took a deep breath, and dove in, saying, "You gave me a heart attack when I saw you this morning without a shirt." He chuckled.

"Oh, now it makes sense. Evergreen knew, I'm guessing." Distantly the pair heard a soft, feminine laugh, but ignored it.

"And you were jealous, before."

"I hate Koibito," Laxus muttered and turned his head to the side, too close to pouting for comfort. "Idiot couples and over-the-top mushiness." She noticed he never answered her directly, but what he did say was answer enough for her. She'd made him jealous.

"I'm sorry," she said honestly as he pulled himself up, resting on his elbows.

"I'm sorry," he echoed, staring into her face. His jaw was clenched, and his hands were fisted as he said it.

"It's okay," Lucy said, and she meant it. She accepted that his apology wasn't only for knocking her over. It was for everything he did, and that was probably the only one he'd ever say.

They stared at each other, and then Laxus couldn't take it anymore. In one fluid motion, he threw one arm around her, sat up, grabbed her chin, and dragged his mouth to hers.

Lucy moved her mouth desperately, clutching at his back and shoulders to try and get him closer as he tangled his hands in her hair. They sank to the floor and Lucy felt flames – no, lightning. Small lightning bolts were playing over her skin, and she couldn't tell if she was imagining them or Laxus's magic was leaking. Either way, it felt amazing. Every inch of her was pressed to him and he didn't seem to want to let her go anytime soon, which was absolutely fine with her. Until-

"Hey, get a room!"

"Kissing is man!"

"You can't do that in here!"

"Yeah, Macao, tell them! You wouldn't let Bisca and I do that, and we were married when we tried!"

"Laxus, get your dirty hands off Lucy-chan! She's too good for you!"

"Oi, Laxus! Get off my teammate and fight me!" Laxus broke the kiss and the grin on his face, blissfully content, made her gasp. The grin widened and he hugged her closer.

"Go to hell, Natsu," he said simply, not taking his eyes off the woman on top of him. Lucy smacked him lightly. He placed his lips on hers again and again, slow and sweet until he could feel her trembling.

"Oh, that's so...!" Mirajane couldn't even finish. She was on cloud nine, stars in her eyes. When she'd said she liked watching the guild members react, she'd never in her dreams expected something so adorable. Evergreen handed her a tissue and she dabbed her eyes with it, ignoring her brother in the background.

The fairy mage herself took a leaf out of Laxus's book, went up to Lucy, and patted her shoulder softly, nodding. Lucy waved her away, smiling into another kiss. Ever grinned and stepped back.

Fried approached next, with Bixlow behind. He stood near Laxus's head and bent down, hands on his knees. "I approve," he said seriously. Laxus nodded.

"Approved, approved!" That was Bixlow's 'babies', and Lucy blushed under all the attention.

Suddenly, the crowd that had gathered around the happy pair parted, to reveal Makarov. Behind him were Erza, Gray, and Happy, back from their mysterious mission. Erza took one look at the two on the floor, drew her sword, and pointed at Laxus's neck. His eyes widened. He might even have gulped a little, but even Lucy didn't hear if he did.

"Step away from her, Laxus! If she is harmed, you can expect to die!" The famed Titania looked ready for a very messy murder. She thinks he's attacking me and going after the guild again, Lucy realized, half-horrified, half-amused.

"No, Erza, stop!" The red-haired mage looked at Lucy, badly confused.

"Lucy, he is attacking you and-" she began.

"He's not attacking me, he's kissing me!" Lucy cut her off, exasperated. A small smile curved Laxus's mouth despite the sword at his throat and he kissed her again, quickly. Erza sheathed her sword.

"Oh, okay then." Lucy stared at her in disbelief. That's all it takes? Gray shrugged knowingly and went to pick a fight with Natsu. He glanced back at her before throwing the first punch and winked at her. Lucy smiled back, knowing that he was keeping her teammate occupied. Once the fire dragon-slayer was focused on kicking his friend's ass, he couldn't issue constant challenges to his fellow slayer. Gray wouldn't let him get a word out.

"Old man..." Laxus said, and sat up with her still in his lap. He put her hands on her waist and lifted her, turning her around so she could sit comfortably, his arms wrapped around her and his chin resting on her head.

"...You're not using me for a human shield, are you?" Lucy leaned back against him, trying to lighten the tension. Her only answer was the feeling of his arms tightening around her.

Makarov walked up to them, and studied them for a long moment. No one but Lucy noticed that his grandson's hands were shaking, almost imperceptibly, but Laxus's stare was steady. He looked about ready to spirit her away if his grandfather and guild master didn't approve.

Makarov grinned. "I expect a Fairy Tail wedding and great-grandchildren!" Laxus beamed, causing several mages alarm at the unfamiliar expression, and spun Lucy around to trap her in a fierce kiss.

Mirajane fainted at the very idea of Fairy Tail babies. Natsu and Gray threw a table at Elfman, who'd started bawling that "Weddings are MAN!" Evergreen told him to stop crying, a soaked tissue in her hand. Bixlow called his teammate a hypocrite. Macao and Wakaba, gone unnoticed until now, started fighting about who was going to carry Mira. Erza told them all to calm down, and then all these small battles merged together in a way only Fairy Tail battles could. They became an all-out, old-fashioned brawl.

In the center of it all, a small circle of peace around the chaos, Lucy and Laxus smiled at each other. Their grins turned evil, and Laxus stood up, pulling Lucy with him. The pair's eyes locked for another moment, bright blue and soft brown. Then, in an instant, they went back to back, grasped hands, and threw themselves into the free-for-all with thier friends.

Because they had to end with a good fight! It's Fairy Tail. Yes, it's much less articulate than the first half. Yes, there are probably tons of grammar problems. Massive mood swings and less description abound. I struggled a lot, first with the train ride (god, it took me an hour to edit that to the point where I didn't want to bash it over its metaphorical head) and then when Lucy came back to to the guild. It doesn't help that I was watching the Firefly reunion for the whole confession scene and onwards.

Review, as always. Even it seems to me like another author wrote it, it was so different, I'm still kind of proud.