"Ow! Ow! Ow…"
Watching Alter wince was heartbreaking for Aries as she and Erza tried to bandage him while Lucy wasn't sure if she should ask the injured, shirtless, good-looking inspector about the spirit he had. She did try to think on what to ask, but for a rather lanky man who could be confused as more skin than bones, he had a nice amount of muscle. He was strong and had some scars that had the white haired man and sheep girl blushing.
"Hold still." Erza told him and applied pressure, "You're lucky to have stopped the scythe before it got your lungs, otherwise you wouldn't be this noisy."
He managed to give her a grin, a pained one, though, "Please don't break my poor heart, Erza-chan. It's not like I asked to fight the guy. He was certainly stronger than that shadow guy. I bet even you would have a tough time with him." He tried not to grin wider as he noticed Natsu tensing, "I was able to go unharmed for a good part, but then he actually got to me and I only had the strength to get cute little Aries' help."
"Y-You… You should've summoned me sooner!" the sheep girl tried to sound serious and scold him, but she only managed to make her worry and affection for him that much more obvious. She had helped him get his clothes off and was holding his bloodied shirt and coat tightly along his scarf. Lucy had managed to grab his hat when they went to look for him.
Waving a hand, he tried to keep his carefree act, "I'll do, please trust me! I just wasn't prepared, so I beg you, give me a chance to breathe properly before I make it up to you, alright? How's lunch sound?"
Lucy didn't know why—she did narrow her eyes at the sheep girl and the smiling inspector—but she stepped forward, "A-Alter!" she froze when all looked at her for her outburst, but quickly thought of what to say, "You should tell us why you have a spirit with you! Not only that, but such a rare key like Aries… Why do you have her with you?"
He sighed and grunted when Erza tightened the bandages she was wrapping around his sides, "Ugh… You—Ouch, kinder!"
"Sorry." Erza said as she started undoing some of her wrappings, "I'm not used to this."
"As I wanted to say…" he started, his face softening, "You remember that the first Spirit mage I met wasn't the best kind, right?"
Lucy nodded slowly, eyeing him carefully for any change in his expressions, "You told me she used one of her spirits as…"
When she trailed off and turned to Aries, Alter continued, "Yes, that is her. When that lady died, Aries was left alone and defenseless. I was lucky to be told to talk to her master, since that lady was too stubborn to listen to reason. Sadly, well, she couldn't summon a spirit because she had gone too far with Aries, so one rebelled against her and kept her from using her keys. At least that's what I've been told."
Aries nodded, looking down, "Leo-san did it for my sake, but in the end…"
Lucy felt her heart sink when seeing the shy spirit's eyes fill with tears, "But that's awful!" she exclaimed, shocking Aries and even surprising Alter, "I get it, your friend tried to help you and that got a woman killed, but from what Alter said I can't help but feel sorrier for you than her!" she held a tightened fist to her chest, "She used you, didn't she? Like you were a tool. If I was Leo, I'd have done the same as him!"
Resisting the urge to whistle at the blonde girl's outburst, Alter pondered on what he was seeing, Definitely better than that rotten woman. I could say I feel sorry that cat man left her to die, but I'd be a liar. He stared at Lucy and asked, "Lucy-chan, did you guess why I wanted to see you in action?"
Lucy looked at him quizzically, "You wanted to assess me, didn't you?"
He gave her a pained grin, for Erza was reapplying the bandages, "And to see what a good partner you could be for your spirits."
Aries and Lucy turned to each other in surprise before looking at the shirtless blond again, "You mean…"
"Pretty much." He answered and bit back a groan as Erza made sure his wound wasn't bleeding with more pressure, "I didn't get to see you in action, but I got to see you have the attitude."
Widening her eyes in shock, Aries spoke, "So does that mean this girl will be my new—"
"No!" he yelled, mostly from the pain when Erza got a little rougher, "Ow! Softer, please!"
"Sorry…" she gave him an apologetic nod and continued.
He sighed and continued, "As I said, no."
"What, but why?" Lucy was curious, there was no hint of anger in her voice.
"Yeah, I thought you wanted her because of her kindness…" Aries added.
Shaking his head, he explained, "Attitude doesn't equal skills." He looked at Lucy seriously, "Sorry, but I can't give you Aries like that unless I know you can not only handle her, but keep her safe. It might be cruel to tell this to a Spirit mage when I'm not one, but I don't want to trust her to anyone just like that. After all she went through serving as some wicked woman's slave, I want the best for her."
Looking at him, Lucy tightened her fists and gave him a determined look, "Then what should I do? If you want to trust me, I want to prove I'm at least good enough to help."
"You can probably guess, but I wanted to see you in action." He explained, "If you are respected by your spirits and they do a good job at fighting, I will consider giving you Aries-chan's key. Should you not be up to being in a guild, rookie or not, I will start looking for better candidates." Then he gave her a grin, "Though, to be honest, I'd like to see what you're capable of. After hearing about spirits, I always wanted to see what a mage that could use all twelve of the golden keys is like. If you were such a mage, I'd give you Aries-chan's key, no doubt."
Lucy nodded, "Then I'll do my best to prove myself."
Alter gave her a one-eyed smile, "Goodie." Then he turned to Erza, "So, about that date…"
Erza chuckled through her nose and gave him a small smile, "Fine, I will make it up to you for enduring my medical care and helping us so much."
And both Aries and Lucy's cheeks puffed up adorably as the redhead helped the inspector stand up.
In a completely different world, in a fancy throne room that Panther Lily never felt comfortable in, was an old king. A long white beard, his expensive robe, and the mad look in his eyes made him the average crazy old king. Panther Lily had been around the man enough to see that his mind was a pool of hatred and selfishness. Should one not agree with him, it'd be treated like a crime, even if it could be the man's own family.
Thus, the Exceed knight had to swallow his pride and anger and keep appearances, especially when he was bowing to the king to inform the man of an arrival, "Your Majesty, please forgive this sudden intrusion, an important matter has occurred. Allow me to present to you the Exceed queen's butler and bodyguard, Haruto Uzumaki."
Faust was old as dirt, but he wasn't senile enough to ignore the threat the young blond presented, "I was curious about your visit, Sir Uzumaki. Not once did I think someone of your caliber would be so forward."
Noticing how the king forced himself to act cordially, the butler replied in the same way, "I fear I'm wasting your time, Your Highness." He adjusted his monocle with a hand, taking that brief pause to see the subtle twitches that showed Faust get slightly angrier, "Do forgive my bluntness, I implore you. The reason for my visit is important to me, if you understand my meaning."
Stepping up for the king, Knightwalker addressed the inexpressive young man, "Get to the point, butler." She gripped her spear tightly, fearing he was onto them.
Putting his hands behind his back, Haruto gave her a single nod, "As you may have figured out, the queen's been absent from the public eye. True, she's held meetings with the Exceed nobility, but it's because her duties demand so. Now I must be clear here. No, she is not ill, threatened, or even worried about anything. I make sure of that. I just worry that she's… bored."
Faust gripped his throne's armrest tightly, but controlled himself before an outburst, What?! This damn brat… Is he toying with me? That face of his makes me sick, always keeping that attitude because he's with a furry tart. He breathed deeply to calm himself and reply, "Explain yourself, because your reasoning is… really trying my patience."
"My apologies." The butler bowed his head a few degrees forward to be formal, "I meant to say the queen's life has been too dull. As her butler, there is nothing more I worry over than her happiness and health. A little reassurance is all I need. Your magic reserves seem to be running low, which is why I need to ask when will the next batch come. I'd like to take the queen to one of your theme parks to let her enjoy herself."
"What manner of insult is this?!" Faust asked loudly, but saw the foxy blond man's eyes narrow slightly, so he quickly fixed his mistake, "Taking a woman who is a deity to have fun among us lowly mortals?! Butler, do you know what you're saying?! She belongs with her people, and while I… admire your concern for her, you're asking for us to let her in here like she's one of us!"
Haruto didn't look fazed, I know you say that line of her not being like you because you think too highly of yourself, however, I have to keep playing. His perfect poker face remained as he elaborated, "I admit that I am too blunt for my own good. However, I will accept any punishment you see fit for saying I won't apologize for my desire. To see her enjoy herself is what I think she needs."
"Enough!" Faust roared, "I won't hear your… tomfoolery any further!" he raised a hand to halt his next words, "You dare disgrace us… her… the Exceed… by bringing the Exceed queen herself to our playgrounds! I should have you apprehended, but I am a just man!" he stood up and walked to the butler, "Return to your queen and tell her of your foolishness, then ask for her forgiveness! She should never come here!"
Panther Lily put a hand on Haruto's shoulder, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, I didn't know this was his plan. I shall lead him out."
"Do so please, Panther Lily." The king said as he turned and fumed back to his throne.
And as soon as they were away from any ears or eyes, Panther Lily turned to the blond, "Was your plan a success?"
"And an insight on how desperate he's getting." The blond commented as he and Panther Lily turned around a corner… to find another butler, "Is everything in order?"
Panther Lily sighed as he watched the copy disappear in a cloud of smoke, "I'm never going to get used to that."
"It works for what is needed." The real butler said as he grabbed a piece of paper where the clone had stood on, "And what we need is a good key."
"You never cease to surprise me." the taller knight said, "Getting those blueprints without anyone noticing shouldn't have been an easy task."
Turning his head to the large Exceed, the butler replied, "Having no emotions to cloud my judgment helps me to focus and think more rationally and logically."
"You could use a better sense of humor." Panther Lily said bluntly.
"That is a work in progress." Was the blond man's answer.