Chapter Text
They were due back any moment, any second now she was going to hear that train bellowing down the track signalling they had returned. Her stomach was doing flips while also producing a stream of butterflies. The nerves were starting to get to her, every second feeling like an eon, dragging on to increase her dread. She'd agreed to their idea of telling their team first, had been actually incredibly excited about it. But time had allowed her imagination to go into overdrive. Twitsing her friends out of character and into harsher versions of themselves, playing nightmare scenerios where they denounced and abandoned her.
Before she could properly spiral into doubting herself and her friends she felt two hands hold her own, sending her silent support. She looked up to smile at the pair, Loke on her left and Aries on her right as they stood on the station platform. She tightened her grip on them, allowing them to be her anchor.
“Thank you both, I really need this”
“It’s alright Lucy love, we know how you panic, though there’s no need”
“L-Leo’s right lo-” Aries cut herself off with a flush, still not completely used to calling others by terms of endearment. Instead she moved herself closer, cuddling her arm. “They’re nice people, they’re our friends, they’ll be happy for you, for us”
That was right, they would be, so why was she acting like this was the end of the world? She felt more frayed looking for her team's approval than facing down monsters, it just spoke of how highly she placed their opinion, how important it was to her that they approved.
A loud whistle made her jump, startling the poor sheep spirit and causing apologies to tumble from her mouth. Steam puffed as the loud chugging of a train filled the station, slowing down as it came ever closer to the platform before coming to a halt in front of them.
She took in a deep breath before letting them go and stepping forward, slipping on a smile. Despite her nerves, it had been a week since she’d last seen them, it couldn’t dampen the genuine joy she felt at seeing them again.
The carriage doors opened and there they were, beaming and victorious from a no doubtedly easily won job. The moment they realised she was waiting for them they seemed to lit up even brighter, eagerly speeding over to her and crowding around her.
“Lucy we’re back! You missed an exciting fight, I got real fired up!”
“But hey never stood a chance against us”
Their exhilaration was infectious, Natsu and Happy leading the charge but the others weren’t far behind. She wasn’t surprised that Gray got even more excited the moment he noticed Loke was with her. In fact, the feeling was clearly mutual as they slung an arm around each other.
“Hey buddy, how have you been? Haven’t seen you in a while”
“I’ve had the most perfect day, you wouldn’t believe it. You might be seeing me in the guild more often in fact!”
If she thought their grins couldn’t get wider, she’d clearly been wrong. Loke might as well have told the ice mage they were both now billionaires for the way his body started twitching with obvious excitement. These two were really brothers for life, it was actually kinda cute.
“Really? Awesome dude, we should work on a job together or something like old times”
“Absolutely! Watch out Earthland, the Dynamic Duo are back!”
“I wonder what a three way brawl between us would be like?”
“It’d end with me as the victor that’s for sure”
“I think you’ve spent too long away from the guild lion boy, it’s messing with your head”
As the three hotheads started their rather predictable fight over who was the strongest, she couldn’t help shaking her head incredulously. She spotted Erza standing by her and smiling knowingly. She tilted her head in a question that filled the atmosphere between them, not quite vocalised but still there. She felt herself misstep, freeze solid, as her mind tried to figure out how to answer her.
“Aries is here too you know!” Carla huffed at them, ignoring the way they jumped, apparently annoyed that she’d been overlooked. Well, she was a mother figure type to softer souls, maybe she felt it was her duty to include everyone. “How are you doing?”
“Ah, yes, how are you doing Aries?!”
Wendy followed her Exceed's lead, bowing slightly to Aries in greeting. It was supposed to be a polite gesture, but it just succeeded in overwhelming her and causing the unsure spirit to bow lower to overcompensate for her anxiety. She wanted to answer the burning question Erza had for her, but she needed to break up their awkward little dance routine first.
“Thank you for caring for Aries Carla” She moved to Aries, gently convincing her to stand straighter and holding her hand. “We’ve shared a nice week together, just us three, it’s been fun”
“Y-yeah, really fun...thank you for asking”
“That’s great, I was worried you’d be a little lonely with all of us going out without you. I know you chose to stay but…”
She hummed in the positive, her hand twitching in Aries’s grip as she sought comfort. If she wanted to she could move this conversation toward what needed to be said, or she could hold on a little bit longer. It would be a little cowardly she could admit but it would save her from the threat of growing panic and stress.
Unfortunately the choice was taken from her as Erza took control of the conversation and the direction it was going in.
“Well she had something important she needed to do, didn’t you Lucy? Did everything go well?”
At least she was being vague enough so that a negative answer wouldn’t lead to her pouring her heart out in the street. Though that was the type of blunt yet considerate respect you get from Erza. It was also an out, she could just shake her head, they’d cheer her up and then they’d all go on with their lives. But that wasn’t fair, not to Loke, not to Aries, she was proud of being with them, she needed them to know that. To turn away could give them the wrong idea or hurt them. Besides, she would not lie to or hide away from her friends.
Plucking up all her courage she gently tugged Aries closer to her before reaching out for Loke. He came to her easily the moment she needed him, shrugging off the others to hold her hand and stand as close as he could, side up against hers. She stood proudly between them, a grin fueled by her love bursting onto her face.
“It went perfectly Erza, I got everything I’ve ever wanted”
There was a small squeak beside her as Aries hid her face into her shoulder, hiding the small thank you spoken into her skin. It made its way to her heart easily and helped keep her standing strong now that the truth was out there for them to see. Meanwhile her other side was bombarded with the much more obvious lovey dovey sunshine that was her boyfriend, he was actively holding back from kissing her and she absently wondered how long he’d last. Understanding dawned on Erza’s face as her gaze darted between the three of them, a satisfied smile curved her lips as she nodded in approval.
“So it was them that you were talking about?”
“Yeah...sorry for not telling you that I meant two of my spirits, but it seemed complicated enough already to be honest”
“It’s fine Lucy, I understand. As long as all three of you are happy together then I am satisfied. I’m proud you were brave enough to confess your true feelings, it no doubt took a lot of courage”
Her cheeks flamed up under the praise and it took everything in her to not look away, but she needed to look her friend in the eye as she thanked her. Hoping deep down that she understood how much weight she’d taken away from her this past week, how she’d given her the first step and allowed her to fly. She wasn’t sure she’d have ever confessed without that support, the knowledge that someone accepted that part of her, even if just for a little while.
“Wait a sec! Together? As in…”
“Yes Natsu, we’re all in a relationship with each other”
A small gasp from Wendy, before and encouraging smile spread across her face. She looked eager to congralute them, though probably also didn't want to interrupt the ongoing conversation. She not so subtly slid over to Aries to whisper her support. Her gaze turned back to Natsu, a frown had appeared on his face as he crossed his arms.
“How does that work? There’s three of you right?”
A huff behind her as Loke moved to be in between her and Aries, slugging an arm around them both. His cheerful disposition seemed a little forced as he responded.
“Why, it’s easy. I’m in love with Aries and Lucy.” He paused to give them both a kiss on the cheek, as if to emphasize his point. “Lucy is in love with me and Aries. Aries is in love with me and Lucy. So we’re all in love with each other and are happy together.”
He didn’t need to be so insulted. She could understand the confusion but Natsu wouldn’t be so blunt out of malice, rather out of ignorance, a need to understand. Proving her point, he beamed widely at them, hands resting on his hips.
“Ah! I get it! That’s great!”
There was a snort as Gray got a little closer, looking them over. Any worries that he disagreed were dispelled by the mischievous gleam in his eyes.
“I think someone just got incredibly lucky, right buddy?”
“Don’t I know it, I still think I’m about to wake up from some amazing dream. Though it sounds like maybe you’re jealous?”
“Jealous?!”
“Yup, not that I can blame you. They are the most brilliant ladies around”
The ice mage finally made eye contact with her, before facing Aries then sighing.
“You know you’ve made him unbearable now right?”
“He was already unbearable with his flirting, might as well give him a good reason to”
“S-sorry if he’s too much, we’ll keep an eye on him…”
She held back a groan. Her sweet nature was so lovely, but worries of her being manipulated came back to haunt her. She'd have to nip this in the bud as fast as she could.
“Don’t apologise on his behalf Aries. It is an important rule in a relationship, that we’re here to support each other. But that doesn’t mean taking all the slack for him. Or constantly apologising for him, he can say sorry on his own”
“R-right so-”
“It’s fine, it’s ok. We’ll deal with each separate situation as it comes. Even the ones his idiocy will no doubt drop us into.”
She can say that, but they both knew they enjoyed his ridiculous over the top gestures, it definitely kept their lives interesting.
“Well as long as you’re willing to take responsibility for this idiot then it’s all fine”
“Excuse me?”
“We’ll do our best, right Aries?”
“Right...If he’s too naughty we can just put him in time out or something”
“Oh, we could go out on a date together while we leave him in the Celestial world?”
“Yeah…”
There was a pause before she received the most gentle kiss on her cheek she’d ever gotten. Aries retreated a little ways from her, the clear perpetrator of that viscous attack, her own cheeks a blazing red. Her heart soared for her, that had been so brave! To kiss her in front of her friends! Aries was the absolute cutest, no question!
An arm tightened around her waist as she was suddenly pulled into a familiar chest, alongside Aries. She almost rolled her eyes at his antics, he’s never one to be excluded was he?
“Excuse me, I’m still here you know?”
“S-so?”
“Yeah? We don’t get your point”
“Could you please stop encouraging Aries to tease me the way you do? You vile vixen”
“Never”
There was a small growl by her ear, almost causing a shudder to run through her, but she would never give him the satisfaction. Instead she laughed at his stupid behaviour, encouraged by his so called best friend’s snickering. His growl turned to whining at the savage betrayal as Team Natsu pitched in to tease him, easily rolling with the new conversation and change.
Why had she been so scared? Why had she expeected a negative outcome from all this? Expectations had laid heavily on her as a child, the fear of never meeting them had kept her obedient, kept pushing her to always try and be perfect, perhaps it still did. A part of her mind feared the day she messed up so badly her friends stopped accepting her. They weren’t so shallow as to abandon her for who her heart chose, she knew that, but it was so uplifting to hear it.
Also, it had been obvious to her spirits that they would accept them, Loke and Aries entering this staion with much more ease than she did. Thinking about it, knowing some certain members of Fairytail their relationship would probably be heavily encouraged. Still.. She’d never be able to express the gratitude she felt, the lightness of her shoulders as the dread was lifted off of her. She would be able to announce her love to Fairytail incredibly confident in herself and her choice, now that she knew those closest to her still loved her. Tears threatened to join her laughter, relief and freedom mixed in with her pure elation.
“Come, let’s go celebrate this new relationship, this new step in your life”
It was Erza who saved her from making a fool of herself, like she always did. Though the others were quick to back her up.
“Yeah! Let’s go tell everyone at Fairytail then grab some food! A large meal to celebrate!”
“Aye! Let’s fill our stomachs!”
“I know some quieter places if that’s what you’d prefer too!”
“Right, I want to spend today with all of you, wherever it is that we go. You can tell me all about your journey”
“And you can tell us how your weeks went. I’m interested to know how my best bud finally stopped moping about you two and confessed”
Now that was a surprise, definitely some new information that the lion in question would have never given them.
“...He moped about us?”
“Leo was sad about us...I’m sorry for never noticing”
“You don’t need to apologise my sweet little lamb. After all I never noticed your feelings for me, which is a crime I deeply regret and hope to make up to you. Gray, on the other hand, is treading on thin ice”
“Oh no man, this is payback, I don’t owe you a thing”
“...Why do I get the feeling I’m going to be healing a lot of wounds tonight?”
“Wendy, if they’re stupid enough to fight and hurt themselves just leave them in a ditch”
“Carla!”
They moved as a group, leaving the station and laughing together. Loke’s arms unravelled from them so he could tap their hands. After a moment’s deliberation, they let him in, allowing him to hold onto the both of them and give them both affection. Despite teasing about being overly needy from Gray, he stood proudly between them and he knew that they were also happy to stand alongside him. Now that those closest to them knew and accepted them, their future was looking brighter and more open than before. She was ready now, no panic, no second doubts to hold her back, to continue moving forward and growing with her two celestial lovers at her side.
Her new life filled with love was only just beginning.