Fairy Tail: This Little Chickie

Fairy Tail Is The Best

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail® by Mashima Hiro

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The next day was not as long and agonizing as the one before, but it was just as uncomfortable. Lucy awoke with a stiff neck and aching back from a night of roughing it, and a headache from all of the stress she'd endured over the last couple of days. She was not looking forward to the remainder of the trip, but the thought of leaving the Duke, returning to magnolia with her handsome reward, and not having to be around Laxus again made her practically leap from her futon.

She eyed Duke Sawarr suspiciously, but he remained motionless except for his wheezy breathing. She glanced at Laxus who was staring off into space. She knew he was very much aware of her there and was simply ignoring her. She sighed and nodded; she was glad, she didn't want to talk to him at that moment, despite her kinder thoughts about him the night before.

After making sure that Laxus' fur coat was wrapped tightly around her body, Lucy snatched up some now dry clothes that she had brought with her from home (the dress had shrunk from getting wet) and dashed behind the carriage to change, praying all of the men remained where they were.

Laxus was tempted to follow her, but decided against it. He had heard some of the guards talking before going to sleep about a slapping sound they had heard while returning to camp from the raft. They were discussing what could have made the noise, but had not come to the conclusion that maybe Lucy had gotten angry at someone. Laxus was unwilling to solve their questions by being slapped again.

Besides, Laxus was in a bad enough mood after staying up all night and lacked faith in his self-control should she smack him again. He might just snap and take it out on his employer, which wouldn't be a smart move. Laxus wanted to be paid. Honestly though, the Duke was asking to be pummeled practically. All night Laxus had to watch him to make sure he didn't try anything while Lucy was sleeping. Fifteen times Laxus caught the little toad man sneaking toward her sleeping form, short and creepy giggle escaping from his pudgy face. A sharp glare from the powerful mage put a quick, though temporary, end to the advances, and it wasn't long before the Duke tried again. Laxus' patience was running extremely thin when the Duke finally gave up completely and started snoring with short, wheezing breaths. After that, he relaxed slightly and let his attention focus on the girl next to him. She looked rather angelic as she slept and he felt incredibly calm watching her breathing softly. He spent the rest of the night staring at her face, watching as she would stir and turn over slightly. He watched until she awoke moments before dawn, when he turned his head away and pretended to be ignoring. He heard her jump up after a moment and scuttle around camp, collecting a change of clothes before moving to change behind the carriage. He still loved the fact that she had been practically naked under his coat.

The sun was just starting to rise, the sky lighting up slightly with every passing moment as Lucy quickly changed behind the fancy box on wheels. Lucy preferred to travel by train or by foot, probably because that was how she and her friends normally traveled. She quickly stripped off the coat and the undergarments before pulling on a fresh pair of panties and a bra. She didn't slow her frantic movements to get dressed until she had secured a loose sky blue T-shirt with a cute bunny on it and navy Capri pants onto her body. She attached her keys to her belt loop and slid into her sandals before tying her hair into its usual style with it mostly down except a small ponytail at the side. Content that she looked decent yet nothing special, Lucy gathered up the fancy underclothes and folded them. With them tucked under her arm, she gathered up Laxus' coat; carefully examining it for dirt or anything that could mar it. Smiling at how smooth and silky it still was despite a day on a dusty road, getting wet, breaking her fall, then enduring her using it as a blanket. It had to be charmed. She wouldn't be surprised considering how it had remained almost completely dry when everyone else was soaked by Aquarius' wave.