Hot and Cold

Erza

~*****~

Once again, I wake up to the sound of someone eating chips in my bed. I grumble and flop onto my back to glare up at the pink hair in my vision. "Listen, if you're gonna crash here, you need to stop eating all my chips. I swear, I've restocked my pantry three times in the past day." I mention through a yawn.

Natsu laughed. "Yeah, then you should stop buying the good kind! 'Sides, you said I could help myself to anything, didn't you?"

I groan again. "I did, didn't I? Shit." I grumble again before sitting up and patting at my hair. "All right, new rule. If there's one bag left, leave it for me."

"You got it, buddy!" Natsu cheered. "Hurry up and get dressed, we gotta pick a new job soon, I'm runnin' out of food money!"

"If you're having trouble, I don't mind spotting you, you know." I mention as I grasp my overcoat and lug it over my shoulders.

"Speaking of which, why do you always offer to give me or Lucy money?" Natsu asks.

My brow raises and I tromp over to the large chest I have in my bedroom. "Take a look see." I mention as a small ring of ice magic lifts from the chests keyhole. The chest pops open, and mountains of gold and jewels spill out.

"What the-- Where'd you get all this?!" Natsu exclaimed as he dug his hands through it.

"Igneel didn't leave you any treasure?" I ask as I push my finger in my ear. "Everest made sure that if I were ever alone, I'd have enough money to live lavishly. Although, I don't really bother with it. Having Jewel is nice and all, but I'd rather earn wealth through life experience."

Natsu just stared at me. "Igneel sure raised me differently. Matter of fact, I never got nothing like this!"

I snort and begin to laugh before palming his hair. "Take some! Get yourself something to eat later on, it's no problem!"

Natsu shook his head and helped me pack it all back up. "No way, I gotta earn my own jewel! But at least promise me you'll treat Happy and I to a five course meal at one of those fancy restaurants in town!"

"Aye! One with lots of fish!" Happy cheers as he flies through the door.

I laugh again. "Sure, why not. Now get out, I gotta get some pants."

Natsu and Happy tromp out of my room with the bag of chips he'd temporarily forgotten.

~*****~

The talk of Jewel halted when we arrived at the guild hall. It was loud, and rowdy, but I did get a kick out of Wakaba hitting on Mira, even though he had a wife. Man, she could sure ruin the mood quickly.

"I guess we should probably find another job." Natsu mentioned, his head resting on the table as if he were peeved.

"Aye! You refused Aria's offer, so we're almost out of food money!" Happy mention.

"If we'd taken that two million jewel reward, we'd be sittin' pretty." Lucy added. "And I can't let myself forget that rent's gonna be due next week."

"Why not just buy the house?" I ask with a dismissive wave of my hand.

"Not everyone is blessed with a hoard of dragon treasure." Lucy murmured. She sighed again. "Guess I better find work, too."

I yawn tiredly. "Think anyone would mind if I dozed off here?" I ask.

Natsu shrugged. "I'll let you know if I find a decent job for us."

I wave him off. "Got it~" I chirp before leaning against the table.