Thorn in his Side

Chapter 34 - Answers

"Mard, why does it smell weird here?" Lucy asked as he was giving her a tour of the castle.

"Sulfur, some rot and of course they are still trying to clean up the disaster the morons made while borrowing my home." He pursed his lips, "our home now."

"My king, we need to really sit down and discuss that." She said with a sigh.

"I know, look it's temporary and once I get things properly in order I can spend more time in Earth Land with you and spawnling."

"I....." Lucy's heart already broke but she didn't know how to tell him how she was really feeling about everything. It helped if she knew and it would really freaking help if she knew the difference between hormone and real emotions.

"You don't like it here. Makes your skin crawl and the creatures here leave you nervous." He said as he cupped her cheek. Lucy looked up into his eyes and that proved to be one of the bigger mistakes of her life.

Mard went from looking confident and happy to somewhat destroyed. His shoulders slumped just a bit and the corners of his mouth turned down. Lucy lightly touched his face and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear.

"It does, but I'm also new here. I just don't know...." Lucy nibbled her bottom lip, "in the abstract thinking of you really as a king was exciting but this...." What she couldn't tell him was that she was deeply uncomfortable knowing he was mass killing creatures. When she realized he wasn't exaggerating it started to bother her moral compass. Why she ever thought Mard would exaggerate such a thing was beyond her, he warned her many times.

"Once things get settled, I want you to try. It took me a while to adjust when Zeref first ordered me to start watching this plane. I somehow made it a home and kingdom."

"I will try but I don't think I'd ever see it as my home."

"It's all I can ask, Rosebud. You don't have to be here all the time, but," he put his hand over her baby bump, "our spawnling has a right to know both halves of us. Don't take that away from our daughter."

Lucy knew, she absolutely knew that if she asked Mard to leave all this behind he would. She also knew it would crush him and she just couldn't do that to him. Asking him to give up all of who he is and his world would only make her just as bad as Zeref and his damn books.

"Not true, but I get the sentiment." Lucy blinked several times and turning around she saw Zeref standing behind her. He didn't seem to acknowledge her but was solely fixated at talking over her head. "Mard, we need to chat and bring the Rune Mage."

"At some point Zeref you're going to realize I don't take orders from you. Especially not in my own damn kingdom." Mard said and Lucy was surprised, she'd never seen Mard just be so forthcoming with the dark mage.

"It's a valid line of thought, if you don't want answers I can always leave." He said with a sly smile.

That actually set off Lucy's temper and not thinking she glared at him. "You don't get to blackmail him like that. It also isn't a valid threat, if my king wants fucking answers he can always find them himself."

Zeref let out a soft chuckle, "Mavis was right, you two are perfect for each other."

"Rosebud, how about you check in with the team and Laxus. Let me handle this." Mard whispered, his breath tickling her neck.

"You sure? I mean you are dealing with quite a bit." Lucy asked, trying to help. She really didn't like that Zeref was here and his treatment. Then again it was because of him that they were here and together. So there's a bit of gratitude towards him.