Of Fire and Ice

C.2

It is very uncomfortable to have a roomful of people staring at you. I tried to walk back to Mirajane, but a hand caught my wrist and turned me back. I was now face to face with the pink haired dude.

"You're like me? How?" He narrowed his eyes. "I don't know! Ari, what were you talking about?" I looked over my shoulder to the small dragon, no bigger than a house cat.

"He's like you! I can sense it! He has dragon magic in him." Ari said proudly. The pink dude and I stared at each other.

"You're a dragon slayer?" He asked incrediously. "Eh, I don't like the term 'slayer' being as my best friend is a dragon. I prefer 'tamer'." I shrugged. "Fair enough." He nodded and my other wrist was grabbed and I looked over to see Mirajane.

"Sorry, Natsu, I've got to get her a member now." She said and pulled me away. I was pulled back to the bar and Mirajane took out a stamp thing and ink. "What's your name? Full name?" Mirajane asked.

"Henley Targaryen." I answered and she pressed the stamp into ink. "Where do you want this?" She asked and I rolled up my sleeve to show the inside of my right elbow. "How about there?" I hummed and she pressed it down.

"And you're Ari?" Mirajane asked Ari. "Ari is short for Ariadne. Henley gave me that name." She said proudly. "It is a beautiful name. Ah-ree-ahd-knee." She sounded it out carefully.

"You're a dragon slayer?!" Pink dude said again. "Tamer!" I corrected him. "I challenge you to a fight! We can use our magic against each other and see what happens!" He grinned.

"Sorry, no thanks." I smiled kindly. "But Henley! You could so kick his ass!" Ari said in my ear. "No, Ari." I hissed. "Why not?" Pink dude pouted. "Because I don't fight much. I mean, I prefer to watch others fight, but I don't do much fighting myself."

"But your magic is made for fighting!" He gasped. "Well I use it for protection!" I narrowed my eyes at him. "But it's made for fighting!" "It's my magic, I'll do what I want with it. If I don't want to fight, I don't have to." I snapped and he fell quiet.

"Natsu, can you hold yourself back from starting fights, or is that just impossible?" A redhead came up and pushed him away. He fell with a loud thud.

"Natsu, huh?" I smirked over at him. "My name is Erza. I just have to ask, if not fighting, then what do you use your magic for?" She hummed and I smiled. "Well, protection, mostly. But I also make sights for people." I shrugged.

"Sights? Would you mind showing me?" She asked and I nodded and stepped back a bit. Ariadne positioned herself on my shoulder to get a better view. I closed my eyes and concentrated on an image, then cupped my hands over my mouth, and exhaled deeply, feeling warmth leave me.

I opened my eyes to see the fire take the form I imagined, a large dragons' neck and head. It opened its mouth and roared, but no sound came out.

"Ari?" I hummed and she nodded. She flew up in spirals around the neck and head, swallowing up the flames. She flew back down and landed at my feet, giving a tiny burp of smoke.

"Good one, Ari." I smirked and patted her head. "So Natsu, can you do that?" A blonde girl asked. "Shut up, Lucy!" Natsu snapped.

"Very impressive." Erza nodded. "Thanks." I smiled. Soon the crowd broke up and Erza lead me to the bar with Ari to sit down. "What do you drink?" Erza asked. "Dunno." I shrugged.

"How do you not know?" Erza asked. "We've never really had enough money for a drink." Ari spoke up and I tried to shush her. I looked away from Erza, hiding my blush and embarrassment.

"Two beers, please, Mirajane." Erza said and I looked up with wide eyes. "So Henley, where are you staying now?" Erza asked. "Hotel." I said. "Those can get pretty expensive. You don't have a house?" She asked. "Not yet." I hummed.

"You can room with me." The blonde, Lucy, spoke up. I looked over at her in confusion. "Huh?" "Hey, I live in a big house, and it's only me. I can help you get jobs until you can pay rent with me. It's not much, really." Lucy shrugged and I smiled widely.

"Are you serious?!" "Yeah." She nodded. "Well, I would love to room with you. What about you, Ari?" I turned to the dragon, who was now sniffing my beer. "I take what I can get." She hummed.

"Then it's settled. Drink up so I can show you the house." Lucy said and I nodded, taking taking a breath abound drinking about half the glass in two gulps, then finishing it off in about thirty seconds.

"Okay, let's go. Oh, and thank you so very much, Erza. I can pay you back when I get enough money." I swore and ran out with Lucy, Ariadne flying by my side.

First we went to the hotel to get our things and check out. Then Lucy dragged us to her...our place and get settled in.

Finally have a home.