Chapter Text
If you haven't gone to a Fairytail Guild party you were severely missing out. Yup, the number one guild in the kingdom knew how to throw a rager. It was loud and crazy and Lucy absolutely loved the chaos and the energy it filled her with.
Her team had gotten home from a job and had split up to drop off their things at home before meeting back up at the guild – the party was only just starting with Jet and Droy wrapping the members around them; into the fun. Pulling unsuspecting members into dancing and drinking. Sounds of cheers and people yelling over each other, each having their own conversations. Then Cana started passing out drinks and Mira, humoring the card mage, helped her.
Most people only got tipsy, the people who knew it was only Tuesday and that they were most likely going to take a job in the morning, but a few were having the time of their lives.
Partial correction; team Natsu was having the time of their lives.
Lucy wasn't a heavy drinker, much to Cana's dismay, but when she is handed jello shot after jello shot she stops minding the bitter taste of the regular stuff. Natsu and Gray had gotten into some sort of argument that ended up with them shot gunning three beers back to back, and Erza sat back and watched them make fools of themself while sipping down her second bottle of wine.
Yeah, Team Natsu had gotten absolutely sloshed.
It was two in the morning and both Lucy and Natsu were on top of a table, dancing to music that Mira was actively trying to turn off. Most of the guild were already gone, just leaving the younger folk who didn't give a damn about the morning hangover. Well, Lucy would probably curse at the stars for it in the morning, but right now, swaying her hips and not giving a single damn about looking stupid, she'd probably take another shot if it was given to her.
“Okay, the party's over! I have to close the bar,” Mira yelled as the music finally cut.
“Boo!” Cana chided as she was slumped on her bar stool. Even though Cana undoubtedly drank the most she was only a little tipsy. Just enough that she would need a chaperone to walk her home.
“Yeah, boo!” Natsu called as well as he stumbled off the table, almost falling completely on his face. It made Lucy giggle at him. She wasn't going to be able to get down as fast as he did. She had worn three inch kitten heels and her feet were tingling. She did not want to crack her head open on the guild hall floor. Who knows what has been on it.
She almost rolls her ankle as she tries to step down but Gray has her by the waist and is setting her down gently on the ground. She giggled at the thought of Juvia seeing it, she would be fuming. She leans into Gray as people move around them, now that things have calmed and there's no music to hide the pounding in her head she definitely was ready to go home.
“Easy, don't throw up on me,” He mumbled in her hair as he sat them down at the table. She was feeling a little woozy.
“Thats gross,” Lucy grumbled, leaning her head deep into Gray's shoulder, "You're so strong.”
“Yeah, I know,” he said.
“You're supposed to compliment me back!” He laughs at her and she grumbles again. Natsu moves to sit on the other side of her and she turns to lift her legs over his. Her head was in Gray's lap while her legs rested across Natsu's. “Its the gentlemanly thing to do.”
“Well, I wouldn't call myself a gentleman.”
“No, guess not,” Lucy lazily lifts her hand and pokes Gray's chin, Natsu snickers at her antics, "You're more of a tease.”
“Shut up,” He rolled his eyes and moved her hand away. She puts it right back.
“You so are,” then Lucy yelps and giggles as Gray pretends to shove her off of him, holding her tight to make sure she didn't actually fall off the bench. Lucy kicks off her shoes while she giggles and Erza cuts in to tell them that she was going to sleep in one of the spare beds upstairs. They say their farewells and continue to goof around and tease each other.
“Lucy’s kinda right though,” Natsu grumbled, his head tilted back to get fresh air. The guild was mostly cleared out and the air was cooling down.
“About which thing?” She joked.
“About Gray being a tease,” He said. It wasn't meant as an insult of anything, just him pointing it out. “I mean, Juvia's been all over you man.” Lucy looks up at Gray and he takes her hair tie out and ruffles her hair. She feels the pressure in her head loosen a bit and hums. The ice mage sits and thinks for a moment.
“I mean she's nice.”
“She wants to rip my head off because she thinks we're an item, or something,” Lucy inputs, “she thinks we're rivals.”
“Yeah..” Gray said, “It just.. I don't know.”
“Like, you're not into her?” Natsu asked.
“I mean she's hot, I guess, it's just,” His thoughts seem to keep up with him, “I think I want a more laid back person.” Lucy hums it understanding.
“I thought you liked the wild type, You dated Cana a while back.” The three mages jumped as Bickslow sat on the other side of the table, the card mage and Elfman following after.
“That was forever ago,” Cana said, “And don't remind me of that, it's embarrassing.”
“Wait, you guys dated?” Lucy popped up, Cana and Gray groaned and Bickslow had the most shit eating grin on his face as he took off his helm.
“We were like,” Gray pauses to actually think of the number, “Fourteen or something.”
“Yeah, or something.” Cana snarked.
“She stressed me out too much.”
“Ahh,” Lucy drawled out, “That makes sense.”
“So you won't get with Juvia because she's too much like Cana?” Natsu asked.
“Nah, he won't date her because she'd be on his back 24/7.” Elfman cut in, "She'd be a helicopter girlfriend.”
“Dont be mean,” Gray said, “But yeah.”
“I wonder how much rain we'd get if you started dating a chick,” Bickslow chimed.
“Do you think it’d be more or less if he started dating a dude?” Natsu jested, getting a kick in the thigh from Lucy.
“You guys are ass holes,” she said.
“You act like Juvia would cause a tsunami if Gray doesn't date her.” Cana said, giving her own look to the guys.
“She might,” Elfman muttered under his breath, Mira swats him with a towel as she comes over.
“Ok, I'm done closing, all of you got to go,” Mira had her hands on her hips and was giving them her best ‘hit the road’ glare. They all groan and start to shuffle about, getting ready to leave. Lucy has her shoes in her hands and is about to stand but is stopped as Natsu starts throwing up all over the floor.
“Eww Natsu!” she yelped. Followed by groans from the others around them.
“Ugg, I feel better,” Natsu said as he wiped his mouth.
“Good, because you're staying to clean it up,” Mira said as she hauled him up. Lucy felt her stomach twisting as well, after watching Natsu upchuck her stomach wanted to follow suit. Luckily Mira is a seasoned barmaid, “Bickslow, make sure Lucy gets home safe for me?”
“I can take her home,” Gray cut in before Cana slammed her palm over his mouth.
“No Gray you can hardly stand straight, you can sleep on my pull out tonight,” She rushed out.
“Im fine.”
“You're turning green! Hurry up, get out the door!” Cana pulled him up and shoved him out of the guild before he could even say another word.
“That was weird,” Bickslow said under his breath. Lucy hums and goes to lay back down on the bench. It wasn't as comfy without her teammates cushioning it, but it made her head stop spinning. “Ah ah ah, cmon, Lets get you home,” Bickslow walked around the table and reached his hands out to her to pull her up. Lucy only groans.
“Cmon, dont make me carry you.” Lucy grounds again but slaps her hands into his and is heaved up. “You want your shoes on?”
“My feet hurt,” she groans out. Bickslow chuckles and gets her standing and walking out the door, carrying her heels in one hand.
“See you tomorrow, Elfman!”
“See you man!” Lucy groans at them yelling and Bickslow guides her with a hand on her lower back. They walk in silence as they get deeper into town. It was mostly dark, except for the few villagers who had to be up early for work.
“My feet hurt,” Lucy grumbled, “and Gray stole my hair tie.” She grumbles, slowly leaning farther into Bickslow as they walk.
“Well you are barefoot.”
“Shhhh,” She pushes away from him and his logic. He just chuckles at her. Lucy wasn't so drunk that she couldn't walk straight. She was walking pretty fine, but it was more or less her brain moving in slow motion. Though, Bickslow still tried to stay within arms reach of her just in case she were to trip. They get to the long strip of the canal by her apartment and without thinking Lucy hops onto the lip of it. Walking heel to toe with her arms out.
“Whoa! Lucy careful,” Bickslow said as he reached an arm out. Her left hand is his right as they walk side by side. “Get down, you'll fall in.”
“Im fine, always worried,” Lucy mumbled under her breath.
“Please?” He called. Lucy thought about it, letting the decision swim in her brain. The canal's pavement was better maintained than the road, softer on her feet. She shook her head and kept walking. “Lucy, I don't want to have to jump in after you.”
“Then don't."
“Lucy,” His voice dropped a bit and it made Lucy's heart speed up. She glanced at him, his wild blue hair that was usually hidden and the face tattoo that took up most of his skin.
“My feet hurt,” she muttered. Bickslow sighs and gives her a smile. He guides the hand he is holding onto to his shoulder and turns his back to her.
“I'll carry you, Just point where I need to go.” Lucy grumbled before getting on and letting her arm drape over him and her head into the junction where his neck met his shoulder. He was warm. “Let me know if you're gonna spew, ‘kay?” Lucy just nods her head and lets out a sigh. It only takes a few short moments of Lucy sitting in silence for her to get bored. She grumbles and kicks her legs lightly, getting a chuckle out of Bickslow. She looks up a bit and lets out a sigh. Bickslow's shoulders tense lightly from her breath hitting his skin, but he doesn't stop moving. She can feel his hair tickling her cheek and a sly smile spread on her lips.
“You good?” Lucy hums at his question as she threads her fingers into the hair at the base of his skull, twirling the blue locks and scratching at his scalp. She kicks her legs again and gives a soft blow to his ear. She didn't know if she was just bugging him to bug him or if she was trying to get something out of it. Maybe she wanted something out of it.
“It's the pink one,” Lucy whispers to him. She feels him shiver under her and she smiles more. Her whole hand is tangled in his hair at this point. And she's giggling to herself. She's somewhat giddy to be carried by him. She didn't really know why but she is. He gets to her building and enters the hall. There were four different apartments, two on the main floor and two upstairs. Hers was upstairs to the right. She whispers it to Bickslow and he quietly climbs the stairs. He didn't want to cause trouble for Lucy by waking up her neighbors. He tried to open her door only for it to be locked.
“Lucy, where's your key?” he asks her.
“I have a lot of keys,” she giggles to him, her second hand trailing the collar of his shirt.
“Yes, I know but we need your apartment key, Lucy, your doors locked,” she nods her head into his shoulder, not answering his question. “Lucy?”
“Mmm, the windows open.”
“Do you not have your key?”
“I dunno,” she slurred out.
“It's like you're getting drunker,” he grumbles. Then he's moving to set Lucy down and she lets out her own grown and a whine of ‘noooo’. “Your windows unlocked?” she nods her head and hums. He sets her heels down next to her and she slides down her door, leaning against it. “Stay put.” Lucy gives him a lazy thumbs up as he makes his way down the stairs.
“Dont put your shoes on my bed,” She called before he could fully leave the building. She didn't get a response but that was fine. Lucy sags against the cold door, pressing the back of her head to hit. She stretched her legs in front of her and just sat and waited.
She falls backward when Bickslow unlocks and opens her door. He chuckled when she didn't move to get and and just laid there, looking at him from the ground.
“Cmon, lets get you to bed,” Bickslow said as he reached down and wrangled her into his arms. She giggles and wraps her legs around his torso. Then he's placing her on the bed but she doesn't let go. Lucy interlocks her feet and he couldn't get her off even as he tried to pull her.
“Lucy,” He pulled her arms off and away from his neck and laughed at her antics. She only giggled and pulled him closer with her legs. Lucy was laid back on her bed and her and Bickslow's faces were only a few inches apart from each other. Sharing the air as they laughed. Lucy didn't stop her eyes from trailing his face, looking at the ink that covered his skin. She couldn't stop her eyes from trailing over his lips, they sat in a soft grin. Her eyes don't leave his mouth as she moves her hand to pet his cheek. “Lucy,” He said in a soft whisper.
“I like your face,” She said.
“Yours isn't all too bad either,” Bickslow seemed just as lost in her as she was in him. But as Lucy moved to lean in, he moved back. Her legs had gone loose and Bickslow unraveled them, "Where's your pjs?”
“Closet,” She let her disappointment leak into her tone. She didn't get why he would pull away. She felt like she was getting signs but just didn't know what to do with them. “Thats a dresser.”
“It's a tall dresser then,” he joked to her. Lucy kept most of her dresses in there, but the drawers were mostly full of keepsakes and stuff. “Good to know where you keep your costumes though, cosplayer.”
“Huh?” She lifts her head to look and see what he was doing to see him holding the maid outfit she wore to her first job with Natsu. “Put that away!” She winned, flopping down onto her bed.
“Ok, ok, I’ll save it for some other time,” he put the dress back and asked Lucy where her closet was. It was a small walkway and absolutely full of clothes. He stands for a good thirty seconds trying to pick out something for Lucy to sleep in.
“Mm, no pants,” she wined.
“Got it,” he grumbled. He pulled a deep purple button up sleep shirt that looked a good two sizes too big for her. When he turns back to the room Lucy is already slipping her tank to off and is about to take off her denim skirt. “Woah, pause.”
“Mmm what?” she winned and flopped back onto her bed, huffing.
“Just, here,” He said, thrusting the shirt at her and turning around. He hears her shuffling and tossing her clothes on the ground. She glances and takes in the view of the seith mages back. She slips her bra off and starts to button up her sleep top, the hem landing midway to her thigh. Then, she slinks over to Bickslow and wraps her arms around his waist.
“Are you shy?” She asked him. His back stiffens and he holds her hands against his torso. She hums and traces her fingers against his muscular abdomen, "Don't see why, you didn't mind staring at me before.” he could feel her chest against him and it felt like his brain had fogged over.
“Lucy,” he groaned.
“Can you stay?” her voice was slurred and tired, but there was something deeper in it. She wanted something and Bickslow knew it was off the table.
“You're drunk,” he starts to pull away.
“Not even!” she pulls him back to her. He sighs before turning around and lifting her up. Her hands land on his neck, her eyes not leaving his and her fingers reaching to twirl in some of his hair. She giggles and he sets her on her bed. He throws her covers over her and tells her he'll be right back before heading to the kitchen.
Lucy is deep asleep by the time he comes back.
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Lucy woke up feeling like shit. It was well past noon and her head felt full of cotton. God, who let her drink so much last night? Her hair was knotted and her nightshirt was drenched in sweat. She was hungry yet felt like throwing up all at the same time.
There was a note on her bed side table.
Leaning up against a glass of water and two pills was a folded up note. Lucy reaches over and flips the paper open.
‘hey cosplayer
you went a little crazy last night but i made sure you got home safe and sound
take the meds when you wake up they should help with the hangover
Bickslow’
Oh. Lucy thought. That's… that's so sweet. She takes the pills and reads the note again. She gets up and makes herself breakfast and reads the note again. She takes a shower and rushes out in her robe to read the words Bicklow had written to her.
“Why didn't you call me last night?” Lucy just about jumped out of her skin. There was Loke lounging against her kitchen table reading her note.
“Why don't you mind your business?” Lucy fired back. The lion spirit rolls his eyes and waves the note at her.
“I could have taken you home,” He said.
“I know that,” She takes the note from him, “He was already at the guild,” Lucy flips the note open and skims the words. The handwriting was a bit scratchy but it wasn't illegible. She didn't see Loke raise a brow as her stupid smile.
“I don't trust that guy.”
“It's fine, Loke, he just walked me home,” she walks to her closet and tries to figure out what she was going to wear today. Maybe she'll try that new coffee place with Levy. Is Levy even in town?
“Mmm, he probably had some other motive,” Lucy gives a dramatic sigh and picks out an olive green tank top and a pair of denim shorts. “Listen, I've known him longer than you, he's an ass.”
“What is with everyone going all ‘guard dog’ on me,” Loke physically reeled back, “I'm fine, I'm an adult who can make adult decisions."
“First, I'm not a dog, I'm a proud feline. Second, I'm just saying that you don't know him like everyone else in the guild might.” she gives him a look as she slips her shirt on. “I'm not saying you don't know what you're doing, just–”
“That I don't know what I'm doing.”
“No, that you don't have all the information.” Lucy puts her shorts on and moves to her desk to pull her hair into a high ponytail.
“Then what is all the information?” Loke huffs as her.
“Well, you never saw him with his team.”
“I see him with Freed and Evergreen all the time.”
“Not with Laxus though.” Lucy ties a thin green ribbon into her hair and looks at Loke.
“Is this about the battle stuff?”
“Yes, it's about the battle stuff,” He huffed. Lucy just shakes her head and opens a drawer to pull out some of her makeup.
“I don't care about that–”
“I care, Lucy.” His tone caused Lucy to pause, “He was going to seriously hurt you. Forcibly take over the guild, your guild.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Did he even say sorry for all that stuff?” They talked over each other. They hold eye contact and Lucy huffs. “I just want you to be careful, Lucy.”
“I don't need to be treated like a child,” She grumbled.
“Im not–”
“Yes, you are.”
“Ok!”
“Just, I'm not stupid. If he's bothering me, I'll take care of it. If I need help I'll go to you and Natsu,” She said. She turns in her chair and looks at her spirit, really looking at him, “You just need to trust me, alright?”
“Yeah, alright,” he adjusts his glasses, “I just want you to be safe.”
“I am safe, I promise.”
They talk for a little longer, chatting about everything and nothing. Loke was still re-adjusting to the Celestial Spirit World and the time difference. Lucy chatted about her latest writing project, she was going for a gothic thriller type of story but it just wasn't coming out right. Loke went on home and Lucy headed to the guild hall, meeting with Levy and having the day together.
And Lucy thought about her note every second of the day.