Soul Ties

Yes

A/N: This boutta be a long one guys 😮‍💨. The ~~~ symbol is to represent a flashback.

Lucy lay awake in bed that night thinking about the day. He hadn't let go of her for so long, maybe even hours, but she didn't mind it. They had just stood holding one another until the sun began to set across the river.

She wondered if it hadn't been for a concerned Happy, coming to look for Natsu, if they would've stayed that way all night. The blonde had been trying to sleep for ages now but every time she closed her eyes, she pictured his face, beaming at her.

It's not that she hadn't considered a relationship with her partner before, in fact she had thought of it upon multiple occasions. But it was Natsu. The most insensible, unobservant man she had ever met. She had always pushed her feelings down bacause she knew that if she allowed them to resurface, it would only end in her being hurt.

But tonight had made her rethink. He only began to act upset after she spent time with Sting, was he really jealous? and he had pleaded for her to stay beside him, why? So many questions were spiralling in Lucy's mind leading to a sleep deprived, and extremely confused mindset the next morning.

A nock at the echoed throughout the apartment. She rolled over and reluctantly walked towards the door. Rubbing her eyes she heaved it open, "Natsu it's 8AM on a saturday what are you doing he-" She looked up and stopped herself realising that it was not Natsu who stood in the doorway but

"Sting?"

"Morning Lucy, can we talk?"
"Oh uh sure! Gimme a minute i'll go change." She rushed towards her room pulling out the first things she saw and rushing to change. Why was Dting in her apartment so early on a weekend? She had felt bad for not going back to him yesterday but she had assumed he went home after it went dark.

Lucy stumbled back into the main room still tying up her hair into a ponytail. "So what's up?"
"Do you- uh do you remember that night i came to that place?" She had almost forgotten it all, coming back to the guild had let the memories of those 3 years slip her mind.

~~~

It was dingy and dark in the basement where she slept. Although anything was an upgrade from the literal prison cell she had been in previously. Her hands and face were dirty with ashes and mud and her body was covered in small scars and bruises. She had almost gotten used to the cold cobbled floor she rested on.

"Heartfilia! Get yer lazy ass up here, the boss says somebody's here to see ya." A raspy, distorted voice yelled through the speaker that had been hooked up in her "room". To see her? What could that be about?

Had one of her guildmates finally found her? She picked herself up and rushed up the spiral staircase. She bent over, catching her breath and the finally lifted her head to see the blonde haired boy. "Oh my god.." She was stunned and confused, but mostly glad to see someone she recognised. "Lucy, I'm here to help." He didn't specify as they were both aware that the enemies were listening to them. "Thank you." She was idling back tears. The hell she had gone through was going to be over.

"I can't get you out..I'm sorry, but the council sent me to steal their spell books." He whispered in her ear. Her face fell in disappointment. Of course. What had she expected. The council had told her that she would be saved when the time was right. This clearly wasn't that time.

After that interaction the pair had been placed together into the basement and given a time limit of 2 hours. "Your visitor and you will be closely monitored, so don't think about trying to do anything stupid." A tall man with thin, moon-rimmed glasses stated, eyeing them up and down. "How's it been?" Sting asked. "Rough. I miss everyone so much. I just want to talk to them one more time, to tell them I'll be back soon." Lucy began to sob. He looked around, unsure of what to do.

Going with his gut he pulled her into a tight hug. "I know." He whispered into her ear. "You'll see them again. You have my word." At first Lucy was surprised at this hug but finding comfort in it, she squeezed him back.

That afternoon she spent most of the hours telling him about everything. The deal she has made with the council, the guilds intentions and how much she missed her friends. He didn't talk much himself. Just sat and listened, responding with reassurance when he thought it was necessary.

"I wanna see Natsu again. I miss his smile, I miss his chaotic personality, I miss him." Sting didn't know how to react to this. He had presumed that the two had more of a sibling dynamic, but hearing her describe him this way.. it made him jealous of their relationship he had to admit.

Finally it came to about 5 minutes before the dragon slayer had to leave. "This is sick. The council is gonna pay for doing this to one of my friends." He said pain and anger filled his voice.

"Making friends are we?" The same raspy voice from earlier found its way around the corner in the form of a muscular man, that towered over the both of them. "Leave us alone Tero." Lucy said sternly narrowing her eyes. "What did the little puppy say to me?" He snapped his fingers and Sting watched in horror as Lucy screamed in anguish, curling up into a ball.

"THATS IT. DAMN YOU MAGIC COUNCIL!" He screamed as he punched Tero and grabbed Lucy bridal style running toward the door. "Council?" The large man questioned in a hoarse voice. Just as the duo were about to leave, before their eyes appeared a short man in a long blue robe, an irate expression across his face. "On account of miss Heartfilia, she is banned from leaving the premises by order of the magic council until decreed otherwise." His voice was nasaly and Lucy watched as Sting grew more irritated by the second "THE HELL YOU MEAN OLD GEEZER?"

"Sting Eucliffe, you are standing in the way of the council's mission. If you refuse to co-operate we will be forced to disband your guild and take you into custody." His eyes widened at this and his grip on Lucy slackened. "Sting, it's ok. Please don't sacrifice your guild for me." She said weakly staring up at him.

Tears welled in his eyes as he dropped her onto her feet. "I'm so sorry." He whispered, eyes dark. "We will create a cover story for this roughians mistakes, and as for you." The council member turned to Sting. "You are forbidden from mentioning this to anybody until Miss Heartfilia is released.

~~~

"Lucy?" He waved his hand in front of her face. She blinked up at him. "So, uh would you be willing to..date me?" Her eyes widened at him. He was.. so forward? It was a nice change. Natsu's face flashed in her mind briefly. Was she really gonna wait around for that idiot to finally make a change? After a few moments of silence, she responded.

"Yes."