Trust

Unexpected Friendship | 意外な友情

Of course, she wasn't going to tell her everything.

Some things, maybe. Like how she joined the guild, about the world there, how different everything is and about dragons. But she wasn't going to explain everything.

Her magic, for example, was something she wanted to keep secret. It was her only bargaining chip with Kouen and if he was somehow watching her, even now, she didn't want to lose the only leverage she had by telling it to Morgiana. Even if no one was watching her, her Spirits were her last resort for an escape method, telling someone else about them would make it harder for her if she, once again, decides to leave.

They would know where she had gone and how she had left. Since she still doesn't know much about this world, they could very well have other silver keys she wasn't aware of that could bring them to the spirit world or information about it she didn't have.

Lucy really doesn't want to risk it.

Besides, she never told Morgiana what she would tell her, just that she would tell her some things. She wouldn't even know that Lucy never told her about them.

"What do you want to hear about first?" She asked. Lucy didn't actually know where to start her explanation so she decided to tell her only what she asks. There's no point in her spilling unnecessary information because she thinks Morgiana might be interested in it. That would defeat the whole purpose of her withholding some information.

Morgiana paused in thought, seriously thinking about it. While she was curious about Lucy, she actually would have accepted keeping her secret if she declined. She only wanted to test her luck and see if she could learn something but she wasn't expecting Lucy to actually agree. But now that she has, Morgiana needs to think of something to make it seem like she had something prepared before Lucy backs out.

After all, she doesn't know if she'll ever get another chance to ask Lucy about where she came from and who she is.

Deciding to start with something simple, she simply asked, "is your name actually Lucy Heartfilia?"

Lucy, seemingly shocked with how simple the question was, nodded to affirm it. "Yes, it is."

Since she eased into it with such an easy question, Morgiana decided to ask something she was more curious about. "Then, where did you come from? You appeared so suddenly out of basically nowhere so I'm curious as to how."

Okay, this was something she was expecting. She could probably explain how without mentioning her Spirits and would only need to briefly mention the guild. Really, Lucy realized, she could specifically omit certain points that she doesn't want to talk about while still having it be mostly the truth, Morgiana being none the wiser.

- - - - -

After a while, Morgiana was properly satisfied with everything she learned about Lucy and 'Earthland' and she no longer had any questions, she once again confirmed to Lucy that yes, she would keep her secrets and will not tell anyone.

Lucy, still not ready to trust her even after her repeated assurances, begrudgingly accepted that there is nothing else she could do to confirm her words. And since she had finished stuffing her face with food, Lucy was going to start heading back to Kouen's chambers.

Since, only after she was no longer hungry did she realize she still never told him she was leaving and if he returned before she did, Lucy wasn't sure how he would react to it. As he already was providing her with a place to stay because she still doesn't know much about this world, she doesn't want to test how allowed she is to wander around. As long as he thinks she is staying in his room instead of sneaking around, she thinks she should be fine.

"Ah, okay, well, sorry for eating your food again, it was really good but I should be going now."

Morgiana nodded, not asking where she was staying. She may have asked about her entire life story but she would still not ask about some things. Lucy still deserved to have some secrets she should be allowed to keep (not knowing about all the things she was still hiding) so she wasn't going to ask.

"It's alright, I'm glad you were able to enjoy it."

Believing the conversation was over, Lucy perched atop the windowsill, going back to the same way she came. There's no point in her trying to find a new route when her old one works so well, all those lazy guards making it incredibly easy for her to get by.

Scanning the garden to see if the guards moved from the posts she remembers them at, Lucy prepared to jump when Morgiana spoke up again.

"Um, Lucy," Lucy paused and turned back to face her.

"Yes?"

"Would you mind if," she stopped herself, eyes shifting all around the room nervously. "If we could... possibly... become friends?" Even now, Morgiana still didn't have that many friends outside of Aladdin and Alibaba so, since the opportunity presented itself for her to make a new friend, she was going to take it. Especially since it is someone who is similar to her in some ways.

Lucy wasn't sure what she was expecting Morgiana to ask her but it wasn't that. Although, if she really thinks about it, it would not be that bad. Becoming friends with Morgiana, that is.

She already knows a lot about her, more than she wanted anyone to know about her, but since she has sworn her to secrecy, maybe she could become friends with her—of course, while still making sure she keeps her promise. While she doesn't know if she could be anything like people from Fairy Tail, she could at least try to befriend her. After all, she did come here to have a fresh start, so she might as well agree.

"Yeah, we should," she smiled. "Let's be friends."

——
A/N: this took longer than I expected because I had gone to Paris and barely even touched any of my devices while I was there. Did end up finishing it though, at school, because I had nothing better to do. I will try to get the next one out faster—no promises though.