Charpter 18: A rumble of earth

                                    

                                          
I don't know how long I was in the tub but it was enough for my skin to get wrinkly.
"Hey Lulu your door was opened so I just came in, are you okay in there?" Laxus called as he knocked on the door, startling me a little.
"Yeah I'm fine, I'll be out soon" I called back before I got out of the bath and started to dry myself off being careful of my legs that had finally stopped bleeding. I got dressed in my sleepwear which was a singlet and a short pair of pants seeing as it was still fairly hot at night if I didn't have my apartment opened up of a day time and also because then the pants wouldn't annoy the bandages.
"Hey Lucy want some-" Laxus started to ask but stopped when he saw my legs.
"What happened?" He demanded with a glare but I could tell it wasn't towards me. It was towards whoever hurt my legs.
"I got attacked by an angry, hungry fish woman but Aquarius showed up and saved me" I smiled at him and he sighed and hugged me.
"Did you get Mizu's key?" Laxus questioned.
"Yeah I'll summon her tomorrow, tonight is just for us" I smiled, making him kiss my forehead as we sat on the couch. Laxus insisted that I should take it easy and wouldn't let me get up. I wasn't going to tell Laxus but seeing him fuss over me, making me dinner and tucking me into his side made me feel wonderful. In a way it was the first time someone was fussing over me since my mother died.
"Come on I'll put you to bed" Laxus decided once our fourth movie finished.
"Will you stay with me?" I asked before I realised what I had just said.
"Just to sleep, I mean I like you and you're handsome but I'm not ready for anything like that I mean I just" I stuttered out and Laxus threw his head back and laughed.
"It's fine Lulu I don't think either of us are ready for that step yet but if you want me to cuddle you during the night well it's in your right to ask since we're dating" Laxus chuckled.
"Just be careful" I said, still blushing as he sat me on the bed and took his coat off before laying next to me and hugged me close.
"Night" I whispered.
"Good night Lulu" Laxus returned before gently kissing me which I returned. 
                          
The next morning when I woke up I pressed my face closer to Laxus's chest and inhaled his scent not wanting to get up.
"Keep doing that and I might just be tempted to keep you here forever" Laxus rumbled as he hugged me tight kissing my head.
"As tempting as that is, you'll have to hold yourself back since I have a spirit to befriend and you promised Master you would help him with his paperwork" I grinned up at him before kissing him. Pulling back I went to get up but Laxus pulled me back down for another kiss. 
                          
Half an hour later we finally got out of bed before we did something we would regret. After a shower my blush had thankfully died down a little but I still had flushed cheeks.
"I'll see you later?" Laxus asked as he was at the door.
"Yeah see you at the guild" I said waving him off. After a quick snack I grabbed Mizu's key out and stared at it. I wasn't sure if I had proven myself to her after all Phian had come once I showed I was worthy and then Sora appeared on her own saying I was worthy so I hadn't really summoned them the first time.
"You seem rather worried" a voice chimed and I looked up in shock to see a beautiful woman in front of me. The woman had flowing blue hair to her waist that seemed to be moving like actual water, her eyes were a stormy grey and the flowing dress was pink, orange and yellow like coral.
"You must be Mizu, I was a little confused on how to prove myself to you" I explained my worry to her.
"You proved yourself to me when swimming down to find me. You were attacked by a mermaid and yet even when injured you didn't kill her. It shows that you have a heart of gold that most humans no longer possess" Mizu explained.
"I never even thought of taking her life after all I was trespassing" I said and she smiled but it then turned grave.
"I'm sure my siblings have warned you but are you sure you want to continue and find Chiki's key?" Mizu asked seriously.
"I've faced danger before and I'll admit it terrifies me but I know that my guild will always have my back and I have my spirits so I'll never be alone. Even if the celestial king himself came after me I would still stand by collecting the elemental keys. You four have been punished long enough you deserve to be happy and be together" I told her and she teared up.
"Thank you Lucy Heartfielia, as you know I can help you control water, breath underwater and when paired with my siblings, we each have different abilities but now I'm going to give you the riddle to find Chiki. In a forest I wait alone, so sad I seem to cry but no tears are shed, good luck Lucy" Mizu smiled before she left. This riddle much like the others made no sense but for now I would just have to look at the closest forest. Maybe I could get Aquila to see which forest I needed to go to the guild.