Cooper POV
After leaving the office where Lucy's father had been, we headed to what I could only assume was her room, where she then changed her clothes, though while doing so, I observed the photo of an older, or I should say, mature version of Lucy. 'Is she Lucy's mom? They look almost identical… Her breasts are just smaller.' While looking at the photo, I heard the door to the closet open from behind, prompting me to turn around and glance at Lucy, who exited, wearing her usual attire rather than that formal dress. "You look much better in those clothes." "I feel much better in them as well." Said Lucy with a faint smile as she pulled her shirt while approaching me, before glancing at the photo in my hand.
"You know, my Mom was also a Celestial Mage before me; she was the previous owner of Aquarius." "Hmm, is she as weak as you?" "Hmph, no, she wasn't big bro… She was much stronger." Snatching the photo out of my hands, Lucy gave me side-eye before shifting her gaze to her mother with a longing expression, causing me to frown. "You're mother is dead, right? Why do you still write to her?" Tilting my head, I gazed at Lucy in confusion while she gently placed the photo back onto the nightstand. "Yes… I just like to share all of my experiences with my Mom… It's sort of my way to connect with her even after her passing." Said Lucy softly as she glanced at me, causing me to lightly nod while I approached the window.
"So, since you're not leaving Fairy Tail, as if I'd let you, let's get going." Smirking at Lucy, I opened the window and leaped out of the mansion's second story before landing on the ground, only to hear rapid footsteps. Gazing up, I saw Lucy jump out of the window before landing in the bushes to my left, prompting me to pull her onto two feet. Without wasting time, Lucy and I sprinted away from the mansion before slowing down to a steady walk as we headed to the front of the estate, where I had left a certain drunkard.
"Hmm, now that you've cut ties with your father, will you change your last name? You can use mine if you want." Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I glanced down at Lucy, who raised an eyebrow before shaking her head. "No, Heartfilia is my Mother's given name, not my father's… Also, do you even have a last name, big bro? I've only ever heard people address you as Cooper." Given how Lucy's father seemed like some wealthy bigshot, I was a bit surprised to know he had changed his last name, but I suppose, given that Lucy's mother was a mage, the law of the strong still reigned supreme.
"Nope… I don't have a last name." "Eh, you really don't have a last name? Are you the son of a slave, big bro? I know slavery is illegal in Ishgar, but people always break the law." Chuckling, I shook my head while rubbing her hair into a mess, causing her to pout. "Nah, that didn't happen to me. I was just born in a tiny, no-name village with fewer than 100 residents. No one had a last name, well, maybe except for that stupid old man, but who knows?" Shrugging my shoulders, I couldn't help but frown as I thought back to earlier years, only to shake my head while approaching the gate to the estate.
"Hmm, I'm curious, big bro, but what was your childhood like?" Asked Lucy as I felt her eyes gaze at me with curiosity, though instead of responding, I changed the topic to the drunkard sprawled against the gate. "C'mon, let's go get Cana." Opening the gate, Lucy and I stood over the drunkard, who had nothing but a bottle of liquor in her hand. "What is she doing here, big bro?" "She's the one who tracked you all the way here; it would've been a pain in the ass to find you by myself." Yawning, I glanced at Lucy before reaching down and lifting Cana onto her feet, causing her to stumble. "B-Big bro? H-How did you get here? I-Is it just me, or are you s-sexier than usual?" "Hehe, I don't know, big bro did look pretty hot when he crashed into the mansion like a prince in shining armor." Rolling my eyes at Lucy's teasing, I flicked her forehead before downing the liquor bottle, causing Cana to groan, though I ignored her.
"C'mon, let's get going, you drunkard." "W-Who are you, c-calling a, d-drunkard?" "How much did she drink?" "Haa, who freaking knows." Shaking my head with a sigh, I tossed Cana over my shoulder and walked beside Lucy as we headed toward the nearby train station, only for her to suddenly stop. "Oh, wait, I want to visit my mom's grave. I'll be back in ten minutes." Said Lucy urgently as she stopped me before running back into the estate, leaving me alone with Cana, who was rather eager to continue drinking. "H-How much for some beer, big bro? I-I'm willing to s-sell my body."
Grabbing the bridge of my nose, I pinched her inner thigh, causing her to welp in pain, while I leaned against a nearby tree. "Hey, big bro. Have you heard the news regarding Jose Porla?" "What news?" "During transportation, he was killed… Apparently, there were traces of battle, but not only that, his head had been brutally ripped off his body." "Huh, is that so? I should give whoever did that a kiss." "It was you, wasn't it, big bro?" "Tch, why don't you just remain silent and stop spouting nonsense, you drunkard." Slapping Cana's butt, I closed my eyes and ignored her while we waited nearly fifteen minutes before Lucy finally returned.
"Sorry for taking so long… I'm ready." Said Lucy with a faint smile as she stood beside me, causing me to nod as I set Cana down since she's most sober now. "We returned home?" "Yep. I was in a hurry, so I didn't have time to acquire a job." "Can I pick the job this time, big bro?" "Sure, fine by me… S-class jobs aren't challenging for me, so it makes no difference." At my words, Lucy, for some reason, gave me a skeptical gaze, causing me to tilt my head in confusion. "You sure, big bro? You nearly died during the one S-class mission with Gray." "Tsk, that's different… That should've been classified as a 10-year quest, not some damn S-class mission." Scoffing at Lucy, who continued to give me a suspicious look, Cana suddenly began to laugh, slightly confusing me.
"Hahaha, so I guess it's true… Big bro does spoil you, Lucy. I thought Reedus was spouting nonsense, but I think he's right. Fufu, did you fall for her charms, big bro? I mean, I would too, look at how big these things are!" Said Cana with a mischievous grin as she grabbed Lucy's shoulders while glancing at me before snaking her arms around and grabbing Lucy's breasts, causing me to roll my eyes. "Eh, C-Cana, s-stop!" "Ugh, they're so heavy!" "C-CANA!" Chuckling, I shook my head, ignored their antics, and led us to the train station. 'They are indeed heavy.'
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Since we took our time, it took two days to return home by train, though by then, the new guild was looking close to completion; however, instead of returning with a happy and chaotic atmosphere, I sensed an abundant magic power. "This magic power… Laxus." Muttered Cana with a slight frown as we stood in front of the guild, though something neither Cana nor Lucy could sense, thanks to Laxus's overwhelming magic power, was that Erza's was hidden within it. 'This bastard, is he fighting Erza!?' Furrowing my brows, I leaped over the guild hall and landed in the backyard, where everyone was gathered until the guild construction was finished.
Instantly spotting Erza, who was donning her adamantine armor, yet I could sense traces of Laxus's magic power on it. "Huh, who do you think you are to order me around, Erza!? I should've helped? Why the fuck would I help avenge a bunch of pathetic weaklings." Stated Laxus angrily while glaring at Erza, who gritted her teeth. "Because they're you're family, Laxus!" "Tsk, family? I'm not the family of such weak bastards. Let me show you instead if you don't believe me." Just as Laxus raised his fist, accumulating a massive amount of lightning into his fist, Erza shielded herself. However, before the attack hit her, I landed in front of her and outstretched my hand, blocking Laxus's attack while swatting it to the sky.
"Oi, Laxus, you better have a good fucking reason for attacking Erza!" Narrowing my eyes at Laxus, I ignored everyone who cheered at my arrival as I approached Laxus, who scoffed. "A reason? It's because she's weak, that's why." "Hmph, do you want me to remind you that you're not invincible?" Standing before Laxus, I stared into his eyes while unleashing my magic power, matching his own, and causing him to faintly grin. "Be my guest, 'Beast'." Without hesitating, Laxus clenched his fist and funneled it with lightning, prompting me to do something similar as I partially enhanced my arm. Reeling our arms back, we swung with force, punching each other and creating an explosion of magic power from our fists colliding.