Time Changes Everything

Re-union

   Their dinner was wonderful, not many people were out this late and the two found themselves alone in the small diner. They chatted amongst themselves for the entirety of the dinner, something Gajeel found rather comforting. Lucy couldn't remember a time where she was happier. Spending time with Gajeel made her heart hurt just a little less, yet she knew that as soon as she went to the guild tomorrow all her happiness would fall into the background. Cobra was still being distant and she couldn't find out why. It was putting her in a sour mood.

   Gajeel noticed. He heard her stop talking, looking up from his burgers to see Lucy frowning down at her salad.

   "Come on Bunny, it's not so bad. Maybe when ya' get there you'll find something that will make you smile. Or maybe he had finally grown up and he won't be actin' so rough towards ya'." Gajeel's form of comfort was rather simple, but it did the trick in pulling her attention back towards him.

   She smiled at him before they both stood up from the table to pay for the meal and head back home. At the door, Lucy and Gajeel parted ways, not before hugging one another and muttering soft apologies and promises to see one another again. Lucy found her heart in the clouds even as she collapsed into bed, a smile still on her face as she slept.

   The next morning, Lucy found her mood in the dumps. She had dug around her house in a panic for food, not realizing that the night before that she didn't have any groceries. Slapping herself in the face for her stupidity, she reminded herself to stop by the marketplace on the way home to grab food before she showered and readied herself for the day. She knew that the second she was within range of the many other slayers at the guild that she would have to be on edge, she wasn't sure how they would take to her sleeping with Gajeel. Throwing on a pair of short shorts and a crop top, she slipped into her boots and clipped her belt to her waist before she hopped out of her apartment and locked the door behind her to make her way to the guildhall.

   Humming to herself, she summoned out Plue and Viper to accompany her on her way to the guild. Smiling down at the dancing snowman, she pulled a lollipop out of her pocket and handed it to the small spirit. She giggled as he snatched it from her hand and stuck it into his mouth before he began dancing again. Lucy scratched at Viper's scales, smiling as she heard the snake hiss softly, settling further against her neck as she hopped onto the railing.

   "Be careful Miss Lucy!" One of the fisherman called from his boat, waving to the blonde as she greeted him.

   The sound of pandemonium got her attention. She looked from the fisherman towards the guildhall that had just come into view. She could hear the screams and voices of many of her guildmates inside even from across town. Picking up her pace, she broke out into a sprint, forgetting all about her nerves for the moment.

   Slamming the doors open, she froze as her eye landed on Gajeel. He was pinned to the wall, a frown on his face as Cobra snarled at him. The poison slayer looked absolutely terrifying. His lip was curled into a snarl, revealing his canine as it dripped poison onto Gajeel's cheek. The iron slayer flinched as it hit his skin, the sound of sizzling pulling Lucy from her trance. Growling, Lucy rushed forward, grabbing the slayer off of her friend. She dragged him backwards, watching carefully as Gajeel slumped to the ground, his hand coming up to wipe away at the liquid on his face. A nasty burn was left behind and began to sting his hand as he frantically wiped it off on his pants. 

   Cobra could smell Gajeel all over her and it only made him angrier. Turning back to the man on the ground, he opened his mouth to poison the bastard but was cut off when Lucy pressed her lips into his. His eye widened marginally, feeling her grip around his arms weaken as she moved to wrap them around his neck. He moaned into her mouth, his eye fluttering closed as Lucy pushed him backwards until his knees hit a chair and he fell over, Lucy on top of him.