Chapter 5

Natsu woke up in a bed that was far too nice to be his own. He lifted the blanket to see his nude self and the equally as nude girl laying beside him. As he sat up, her hand rubbed over his chest. "You stayed over night." Ginger hummed through a tired yawn, and propped her head up on her hand. "This feels almost romantic."

The pink-haired boy turned to the nightstand, seeing the time was still way earlier than school would begin. He was quick to sit at the edge of the bed, picking up his thrown underwer and pants.

His short-haired lover possessively wrapped her arms around his tough abs. "Oh stay, I didn't mean to scare you away." She mumbled into his warm, muscular back. "I'll go down on you one more time before school."

"I'm leaving." He said without much emotion as he stood up, buttoning his pants right beneath his pelvic bones. "Thanks for the bed."

Mattan licked her grinning lips at that gorgeous back, "Anytime." She sat up, letting the blankets fall under her breasts. "Are you coming around again?"

Natsu didn't respond right away. Rather, he put on his tank top and then his jacket he'd been wearing as he house/pussy hopped the last three days. And picked up his phone. In fact, he didn't respond to the question at all, rather just said, "Don't leave it so damn cold in here every night." Her popped up his collar and looked back at her, "You'll get sick."

Mattan rolled her eyes with a soft giggle, "Y'know, if you want to attract platonic hook-ups, you should watch how caring you act toward them."

"Not in my nature." Natsu walked toward her and lightly kissed her cheek, whilst buckling his belt.

"But it is in your nature to act so loving afterwards?" Mattan lifted her brows.

"Loving?" Natsu scoffed a laugh, brushing back his, long messy locks. "I think it's just in your nature to misinterpret involuntary behavior for voluntary motive."

"Invol-o-who?" Ginger rolled onto her back with a sigh, "What words are you pulling out of your ass?"

"Exactly." He typed Gajeel's number into his phone, "You should expect as much from me as I do you. Which isn't much."

Ginger furrowed her brows angrily and lifted herself up to face him but, he disappeared. Just like that. She slammed her head into her pillow with a loud groan.

. . .

Lucy was invited to the infamous bleachers.

Like, invited, invited.

Not like she was going to walk by and be bullied like every other time someone tricked her into walking over there.

But welcomed to join sort of invited.

The blonde waited, staring at the bleachers, unable to actually walk toward them. It was half way through lunch already and all she did was freeze in position and stand there.

No matter how much affirmation Levy gave her, she always felt as though she was an annoyance. An unnecessary addition that Levy was forcing onto them.

"Did you forget how to use your legs?" A deep voice spoke from behind her.

With a very dramatic jump, Lucy turned defensively and looked up to see Gajeel with three soda cans in hand. He lifted a brow at her gaze of total fear.

"Did you forget how to use your voice too?" He tapped her forehead with a cold can and watched her face scrunch up silently in shock. He snickered a bit at the action and walked past her, "C'mon bunny girl. Nobody's gonna bite you."

Lucy opened a single eye and saw him walking away slowly, his eyes still turned to look at her. He gestured his head toward the bleachers encouragingly. "I'm not as patient as shrimp is."

The blonde nodded in a swallow and awkwardly ran behind him, following his trail.

As soon as they peered around and met with the group, Levy's eyes grew fifty shades brighter. "There she is!" The bluenette launched for Lucy's hand and pulled her into her, Cana, and Erza's little chat group. "Okay so, now you can ask her instead of me." Levy nodded at Erza.

The crimson-haired girl chuckled a bit and for some reason, Lucy felt a great deal more comfortable. "So, last time," She spoke as though she were choosing her words carefully, "You brought a thing of whiskey right?"

"Bring it again." Cana said bluntly before Lucy had time to process a response. "That shit was good. Lisanna was goin around saying she got it but, Levy says it was yours."

"It's not mine." Lucy twiddled her fingers nervously, "It's daddy's."

"Daddy?" Cana couldn't help but belt a laugh. "You got some rich old dude as a bang boy?"

"No." Levy hissed at the brunette serpent. "And if you continue making fun of her, what reason does she have to do you a favor?"

"My apologies Miss Guardian." Cana bowed sarcastically and looked back to the very shy blonde. "People are just talkin already that weirdo here's gonna make an appearance. Might benefit us all if she at least comes with good booze."

Levy immediately wrapped a protective arm around Lucy's tall shoulders, "For someone who gets so fucked up she masturbated on Laxus's coffee table, you sure sound worried about your reputation."

Erza snorted immediately and Lucy was still trying to understand the word "masturbate." The red head pushed Cana back before she could blow a fuse, "It's just a question, don't do it if it's too risky." Erza said, though not without a bit of pressured teasing in her voice. "It'd just be cool, that's all."

"Don't let them use you for top shelf whiskey." Levy whispered into Lucy's ear turning her body so they could both face Gajeel, Natsu, Gray, and Juvia's conversation.

"Here." Gajeel tossed a can to Lucy, of which she dropped. He shook his head at the pathetic attempt of a catch and spoke as she picked it up, "Natsu didn't want it."

"Are you bringing anyone with you?" Gray continued their previous topic, handing off his cig to Natsu who didn't look like he had anything on him at all.

"No." The salmonette took a good inhale and held it as he spoke, "I'm getting a ride with Laxus," He exhaled, "So I can buy him beer."

"Oh shit, let me tag along." Gray intertwined his fingers with Juvia's as his arm hung around her neck. "Loke's shit parties aren't fun unless you're wasted before you step through the door."

Juvia hit his chest, "I thought we were gonna go get dinner before?"

Gray clenched his jaw guiltly and looked to his friends for some escape. Natsu snickered, placing the cig between his lips as he made a lashing movement, "Whapush."

Gajeel sniggered loud next to Natsu, rubbing his shoulder as they both chuckled at the whipped boyfriend.

Lucy was still examining the soda can, however.

It said orange soda on it.

She never had soda before.

Always water. And sometimes smoothies. And recently, milkshakes!

Never soda.

The blonde stared at it intensely as though she were about to pop some foreign pill.

Levy lifted a brow as she noticed Lucy's strange behavior and reached over, opening it for her. Lucy bounced at the sudden "Pop!" Which, in turn, caused the attention to focus on her.

"I've never had soda." Lucy looked to Levy for guidance.

"You never had soda?" Gajeel dimmered his snickering a bit with a doubtful grin. "Never?"

Lucy shook her head lightly, smelling the small hole. It did, in fact, smell like oranges. "Why is it orange?"

Gajeel and Natsu both exchanged a grinning glance at the obliviousness.

"Flavor." Levy seemed to be the only one taking this dilemma seriously, "Taste it."

Lucy nodded almost with determination and sipped it. Immediately, her lips pucked and her whole face scrunched up. She swallowed and exhaled loud, "That's weird!" She moved her tongue around, "Why does it attack my mouth?"

"It's the carbonation." Natsu tapped the ash off of the cigarette. "What kind of kid never drank soda?"

"Me." Lucy blinked with all seriousness.

"I see that." Natsu chuckled, looking away and back to Gray.

Levy stole the sugary drink, "You're better off without it." She sipped it, "Anyway, what time should I pick you up tonight?"

Lucy's eyes widened a bit, "… I have to choose?"

Levy laughed, "Does 8 work?"

"I have to be home by 12." Lucy stared intently at Levy, "Please."

"Okay, sure." Levy peeked up to Gajeel who shrugged, "Choose something less colorful to wear this time though." She nudged her with a wink, "Loke's pretty psyched that you're coming y'know."

"Why?" Lucy sucked in a breath, nervously.

Levy licked her grinning lips and looked up again at Gajeel who just shrugged once again. "Cause you're pretty." She moved a strand of hair that was stuck in Lucy's bandaid. "And he's not blind."

Lucy's eyes sparkled a bit bashfully at such a compliment. She touched the hair of which Levy moved, "O-okay…" She said quietly, "No color."

"What if…" Levy said a bit cautiously, "I just come over and help?"

Lucy immediately backed up.

Gajeel was even shocked by the behavior.

"Uhm…" Lucy panicked, realizing how obvious her reaction was. "No… No thank you."

"Are you sure?" Levy drank the rest of the can. "I promise I won't dirty your rich people things with my less rich fingers."

"Daddy doesn't like guests." Lucy looked at the ground with a whispering voice. "I'm sorry."

"Oh." Levy shrugged a bit, "Yeah, I remember you mentioning he's pretty anal."

"I'll ask Macao for help." Lucy nodded triumphantly, "He can do anything."

"Macao… who?" Levy reached for a last name.

"He's my butler." Lucy hummed.

"Riight." Levy nodded slow, "Okay, well, I hope Mr. Butler has a better sense for color than you."

Lucy squinted into a pout, "You're so mean."

"You're too cute to not tease." Levy pinched the cheek without an injury. This week, at least. "So 8pm it is." The bell rang, "See you then."

8pm.

Right.

Wrong.

8pm came way too fast.

Lucy looked in the mirror with Macao proudly standing behind her. "M-Macao…" She whimpered, "This is a night gown."

"Ah yes," He nodded at the nearly see-through fabric, "I'm afraid you own no colorless clothing."

Lucy turned to him with mortified eyes, "… She's going to hate me."

"Hate?" Macao followed the incredibly worrisome girl into her enormous closet. "Do you mean to say you've chosen friends who value your clothing more than your own presence?"

Lucy pulled out overall shorts that were a bright red color. She swallowed at the cute embroidery that was of even flashier color schemes. "What do I do?" Lucy looked to the father clock in the corner of her walk-in wardrobe. "It's 8, Macao!" Her eyes welled up desperately, "She… I can't go. Can you tell her I can't go?"

"I quite like these overalls." Macao took them from her hand, "You used to wear them all the time."

Tears swept from her eyes and she rubbed them pink, "Everyone is going to hate me. Everyone is. Macao I don't wanna go."

Macao bent down at the blubbering teen and moved a strand of hair from her beautifully wrecked face. "Now, you must keep this a secret." Macao pulled out a huge, huge bottle of tequila from behind his back. "If I remember anything from my years as a teen, I do believe this brought me friends effortlessly."

Lucy looked at the alcohol with watery eyes, "Is this okay?"

"No." Macao tilted his head a bit, "However, I do think it is okay for you to have fun." He placed it in her tiny hands, "And I do think those overalls will look rather nice."

Ding! Dong!
The blonde flinched and held the tequila close to her chest with desperate eyes looking up at her butler. "… Macao…"

"I will answer the door but it would be poor manners to reject her invitation after she has made the effort to even come here." Macao turned around, fixing his cuffs, "Your father should be too busy to bother for a while, so I do suggest you hurry."

Lucy nodded shakily and looked at the red clothing that would no doubt be a lot smaller on her now than it used to be.

Levy tapped her foot as Cana honked the horn behind the bluenette impatiently. She turned around to flip her drunk ass off just as Macao opened the door. "Evening." He said politely despite the profane finger she was waving proudly.

"Oh, shit." Levy turned around, eyebrows raised at the very fancy man. "Hey, I'm looking for the princess."

"Princess?" Macao lifted his brow, "Do you mean Miss Lucy?"

"Yes." She snickered, "Miss Lucy."

Cana honked the horn louder making both Levy and Macao flinch. The butler looked around, knowing they were surely disturbing the neighbors. Levy turned around with a nasty glare, "Hey bitch!" She shouted louder than the horn, "If you don't quit it I'm leaving your ass here."

"What a punishment!" She leaned out the window with a nearly empty beer in her hand. Then her eyes narrowed on the proper butler man, "Hello there," She saluted him weakly with a belting laugh, "Sir."

Levy rolled her eyes, "Anyway," She looked up to the uncomfortable man, "Lucy?"

Macao looked behind him to see her whereabouts, only to find she was hiding right behind him. "These…" He whispered lightly as Levy awkwardly shifted in place, "Are your friends?"

Lucy nodded, peeking out to Levy. As soon as the short girl noticed, she forced the door open a big more with a large smile, "There you are-" Her eyes stopped on the blonde's very, very colorful outfit. She licked her lips to block a laugh but could not stop her grin. "That's… cute."

Lucy looked down to her pretty… scattered outfit. Bright red short overalls that were a bit too short so she wore pink, striped leggings underneath. And to top it all off, a yellow t shirt underneath, that clearly looked way too big. Macao slapped his forehead. The girl had always had lousy coordination.

"I shouldn't go." She held the tequila as though it was a teddy bear. "I don't want to… to. Anymore."

"I don't believe that." Levy said as she stared at the ridiculously expensive brand of alcohol she had just casually in her arms. "Besides, if you squint really hard, you look great."

Lucy frowned deeply at that response, "Jerk."

Levy and Macao both lifted their brows at such… swearing. "My, my, apologies mister butler." Levy dramatically spoke, "I have no idea where she's picked up this language."

"I do have an idea." Macao responded at the teasing teen.

Levy laughed, pulling Lucy forehead. "Anyway," She pushed the blonde toward the car as Cana made a song with the honking. "I'll have her home by 12."

"I'm sure." Macao said doubtfully as he closed the door.

The two girls approached the car and Levy opened the back door for Lucy. Cana turned to see the bright red that accompanied miss freaksville. "Just what in fuck is she wearing?" Cana laughed drunkily at Levy.

Lucy stared at the bluenette pleadingly and Levy gestured that Lucy had the stage. The blonde swallowed, "Um…" She watched Levy walk toward the driver's seat, "I don't… know." She muttered, quickly scooting into the back seat. Which, to her surprise, was also occupied by another.

A man. He looked older. He had tattooes on his face and jet black hair pulled perfectly into a bun. "Hey." He stared at the weird blob of color with anything but sober eyes, "Bacchus." He held out his hand with wobbly movement.

Lucy stared at it and then him, unsure if she should take his hand.

Bacchus lifted his brows and then threw up his hands, accidentally spilling beer on himself and a bit onto Lucy, "Alright, good talk."

"Oh shut up." Levy pressed the gas and exited onto the neighborhood street. "What conversation are you gonna have that you'll remember?"

"Hey, hey." He leaned forward without a seat belt on as Lucy fastened hers. Matter of fact, she noticed literally nobody had their seat belts on. "I remember everything when I'm sober. Or-" He belted a laugh which made him spill more beer onto Levy's shoulder, "I mean when I'm drunk but when I'm sober after."

"Cana," Levy growled at the equally as intoxicated female, "If you don't get a grip on your boyfriend, I'm ditching you both on the curb."

"Boyfriend?" Cana was loud but Lucy assumed that was the point. She wanted him to hear, "Pfft. Yeah right."

"Alright." Levy stared at Lucy through the rearview mirror, seeing the blonde was just bunched in the corner. "Bacchus shut up and sit down. Lucy, I'm sorry I picked them up last minute. I wasn't sure if you were bringing booze or not so I just planned ahead and got Bacchus to buy some."

"She brought some though." Bacchus burped, turning to the big alcohol baby cradled in her arms. "Holy shit." He leaned closer, making Lucy dig deeper into the car door. "Where the hell did you swipe this from?"

"Daddy." Cana mimicked with a hiccup, "Right, rich girl?"

Lucy nodded silently, feeling every part of her anxiety manifest itself into a very nauseous feeling. Bacchus aggressively pried it from her and held it up to the street lights. "God damn," He leaned forward to show Cana who whistled, "It's beautiful."

The brunette pet it and hiccupped once more. "Pretty cool, blondie."

Lucy's eyes brightened at such praise and she turned to hide her small smile. But Levy saw it.

"Is this," Bacchus burped even louder this time, shoving the alcohol back onto Lucy, "Is this the chick Loke's talkin about?"

Lucy whimpered a bit, aching from impact of the heavy glass. Levy shimmied her shoulder excitedly, "Why yes it is." She turned her squeaking car into a busy street. "She's got a name."

"I tried to introduce myself." Bacchus yawned, "What's yer name?" He turned to Lucy who was like a newly bought puppy that was scared to death and pinning itself against the edge of its cage. "You good? She good?" He looked back to Levy.

Levy looked in the rearview but it was only for a moment as she spun the car rather violently into the next street. "Uh," She cursed beneath her breath as she calmed the old car down, "Yeah, she's fine. Her name's Lucy."

"Lucy." He nodded slow. He shut his eyes and slouched deeper into the car seat. "You should listen to Gajeel and get this piece of shit fixed."

"Right?" Cana laughed, tapping her bare feet on the dashboard.

"Yeah? Who's gonna pay for it? You two?" Levy turned the wheel again. "As long as she's still kickin, then I'm not paying."

"Kickin? She does a slight trot at best." Cana chuckled.

The brakes squealed loudly as they slowed into a roll. "Feel free to trot out then." Levy unlocked the door, "We're here."

Lucy looked out the window to a fairly average suburban house that didn't look as though there was a party at all. Well, at least compared to the one she'd been brought to before.

"Damn," Cana snickered as her and Bacchus open their respective doors, "Looks dead."

Levy let out an impatient sigh as they slammed their doors and Lucy sat in the back, bewildered as to what they were supposed to be doing. "You can follow them in if you want." The blue-haired girl turned around to face the vibrant female, "I gotta park this old lady."

"I'll stay." Lucy squeezed the glass of her bottle, "Please."

"Nooo problem." She exhaled, turning back around and moving the car into a U-turn as she gracefully slid behind a familiar red truck. "And look, I know we said kickback. Intimate get together, whatever." Levy put the car in park and dug into the floor of her car for less than holy items. "Loke invited a few more people than I expected. It should still be pretty mellow." Levy moved her mirror down, reapplying some chap-stick, "You'll be meeting the closer group today." Levy smiled at Lucy through the mirror, "You might make some more friends."

"Friends…" Lucy nodded slowly, "… I see."

The chauffer wrapped her bag of weed essentials around her shoulders and held a pack of beer in each hand as she exited the vehicle. Lucy obediently followed, holding onto the heavy bottle as though it was an infant.

The two girls approached the house whose door was wide open and the closer they got, the louder the music got. And the more they started to enter an abyss of smoke. Lucy slightly stuffed her nose into her shoulder as they entered the foggy atmosphere and dollowed the trail of music.

Lucy moved slowly, seeing random people along the walls. It wasn't a lot. A pair here, one person there, and the conversation wasn't very loud.

"Will I…" Lucy walked closely behind Levy, whispering in her ear, "Will this smoke make me high?"

Levy moved into a door in which led to a very brightly-lit kitchen. "Hey!" The bluenette immediately launched out to hug someone. "And," She turned to Lucy, "No. Second-hand high is a thing… but… not exactly a thing. Y'know?"

"N-No." Lucy honestly answered but had understood she wouldn't get much of a better explanation.

The boy that hugged her moved to hug Lucy but then realized, they did not know each other and went for a handshake. Awkwardly, the blonde looked down to her occupied hands and then back up to the raven-haired boy, "You're…" He retracted his gesture, giving a friendly smile instead. "Lacy? Right?"

"L-L-L…" She choked as her whole body tensed, "Lucy. Lucy. N-Not… yeah… Lucy."

The boy ran his black-painted nails through his hair and looked around in an attempt to find something that would make the atmosphere a bit less… awkward. "I'm Rogue." He shifted his hands into his black pants. Everything about this boy was very black. "Sting told me about you. Or I guess I knew of you but, he said you two met."

Lucy nodded, unable to make any sort of eye contact with him.

"Yeahh…" He scratched the back of his head, "I'm not as good at conversation like Sting. I think it'd help if you contributed a little…?" He laughed quite kindly.

"Oh… I'm sorry…" Lucy looked everywhere but his face, "… Who is… Sting?"

"Sting?" He lifted his brows with almost blissful relief that they had a topic, "He's blonde. A little lighter than yours. Yours is way more beautiful." He hummed without much charm, just observation. "Usually wears a single earring? Very charming?"

Lucy's eyes flashed with realization and finally Rogue was able to see her eyes. "Oh!" She almost seemed excited. "I remember."

Rogue licked his lips into a smile, "Yeah?" He laughed at the girl who was quick to look away again. "Well," He lightly touched her shoulder, watching her bounce an impressive height. "You should relax. The fact Levy brought you is enough proof to everyone you're pretty cool."

Lucy meekly looked up to him and nodded quietly, "… O-okay."

Rogue smiled at her round cheeks, "I like your outfit." He started to scoot past her, "It's very unique."

Lucy looked down to her bundle of colors and smiled a little bit.

He liked it?

Really?

"Hey." Levy's voice chimed in, "Here she is."

Lucy looked up to see her caretaker brought forth the ginger boy from the other day. He pushed up his glasses with a suggestive grin, "Hello there." He purred, holding a glass cup full of whiskey, "What's that you have there?"

It took Lucy a couple seconds to realize he wasn't talking about her outfit but rather the bottle. She, dangerously, held it out as though he was mugging her. "You can have it."

"I'm good." He held his hands innocently with a laugh, "That's pretty pricey stuff to just hand away."

"I want…" She looked down to it as she slowly retracted her hands back into her chest, "… I want it to make me friends."

"That's a pretty solid plan then." Loke lifted a joint into his mouth and blew it into her face, "Like the place?"

"The place?" Lucy looked up in confusion, "What place?"

Loke coughed his smoky exhale into a laugh, "My place." He coughed once more into his arm. "My house."

"Oh." She nervously looked around, for she had neglected to do so. She didn't know she was supposed to prepare a review, "Um," Her finger pointed to the cooking books above his fridge, "Those aren't in order but the color scheme is nice."

Loke blinked at such a serious response. He looked behind him to Levy who was too busy with Gajeel and Erza to even share this bizarre moment with him. "Alright…" He snickered a bit as she waited patiently for another question, "I just sort of meant, are you comfortable?"

"Um…" Lucy's heart palpitated. She messed up. Of course he wasn't asking her seriously. And even if he was… why did she insult it? "… I'm never… comfortable."

"Oh." He scratched the back of his head, "Have you taken a shot yet?"

"No… I don't like guns." She swallowed nervously, "I don't think they benefit anyone…"

Loke snorted immediately, unable to detain how ridiculous he found her words to be. "No… no. Not like that." He licked his bottom lip, boldly touching her tequila. She tensed as soon as he even got near her. It was… almost impossibly cute. "A shot is a pretty good amount of alcohol in a single swallow."

"Why would…" She felt her taste buds reject even the idea of such a bitter thing, "… Why would you do that?"

"You're funny." He laughed, trailing his finger down to her hand. He watched her step back immediately. But really, it was simply an excuse to see her chest. Which, to his dismay, was covered to her neck with a baggy t-shirt. "How did you bring such expensive stuff but not know what to do with it?"

Lucy's lips quivered. "U-uhm. Daddy… buys it. And… I know what it is." She shrugged, shying her eyes away, "I don't like it though."

"That's cause you need a chaser." Loke stepped closer to her, "Did I hear daddy? Do you have a man that I don't know about?" He passed his joint to a passing female and hovered over her with pressuring dominance.

"Daddy… is a man… Um…" Lucy started to shrink the closer he moved his face to her, "He's my biological… dad."

"Oh." Loke lifted his eyebrows, tilting his chin up, to Lucy's relief, to scarf down the rest of his booze. "So… you're single then."

Lucy looked up witht hose same wide brown eyes full of just absolute confusion. "… I am a single person yes."

"You…" Loke backed up a bit to a counter where he began pouring more of his brown poison, "… Are really cute."

Lucy choked mid-swallow in shock. She bent over as she hacked and Loke watched, kind of amused but also slightly disturbed. "Sorry…" She spoke with a hoarse voice as she belted a final cough, "… I'm sorry."

"You're good." He looked around the room, "Wanna move somewhere more quiet?"

Lucy sucked in a breath and searched for Levy, "Where's… Levy?"

"Uh…" Loke turned his head around, pretending to give a good search, "Not sure. It's a small house though, if she needs to find you she will."

"I'm okay… um…" Lucy licked her already completely chapped lips, "I'm okay here. I don't think it's loud."

Loke nodded slowly, tapping his foot a bit impatiently, "Alright, alright." He looked around to the good number of people around them, "It's just…" He got closer to her and she was quick to bob her head back, "… It's just I feel like I can't get to know you. I've got bad ears. Hard to hear."

"Oh." The blonde nodded, "O-okay… Are you okay?"

"Me?" He laughed at her even more wrecked self, "I'm fine. C'mon," He put his hand on her shoulder and turned her toward the hallway and lightly pushed her forward, "Let's just get away from the people."

Lucy found that sentence to be quite nice.

Perhaps people made him nervous too.

The orange-haired king of the castle, however, made far too much small talk with passing people for her to hold onto that theory for very long.

Their footsteps took them up a flight of stairs and into a bedroom that was void of any of the music or talking. As Loke shut the door, she sat quite blissfully on the bed and let out a relieved sigh. "I like it quiet." She closed her eyes a bit, imagining she was at home, in her room, safe, "… Thank you."

Loke pushed the play button on a stereo that made a very quiet amount of noise. It was a rather nice song, Lucy thought, but nothing like Levy would play in the car. Far more mellow. "You're welcome." He strode toward her, sitting directly next to her with no space in between. "So, Lucy," He turned to her, taking a sip of his glass, "Tell me about you."

Lucy shamelessly scooted over. "Me?" She looked up at him, "Why?"

"Well," He laughed into his cup, "Because I like you. I think you're cute. I just wanna know you."

"You like me…" Lucy tilted her head bewildered, "But you don't know me?"

Loke popped his lips together, "Well," He turned away and thought for a response, "I guess I think we click well. I don't meet a lot of fellow zodiac worshippers."

"Click." Lucy looked down to her lap where she was spinning her bottle of tequila. "Why do you like the zodiacs?"

"I believe it gives me insight to people." Loke slyly leaned his arm behind her but not too close that she'd notice. "Doesn't it?"

"Maybe." Lucy shrugged a little, "I don't think you can know anyone really. Not even if they tell you. Cause we leave stuff out unconsciously or sometimes voluntarily. You just have to… experience them" She spoke in actual full sentences which seemed to boost Loke's confidence. "I think zodiacs are better for yourself. I think you should get to know people directly instead of through their signs."

Loke looked into his cup, "Okaay…" He nodded slow, "You think a lot about this."

"I think a lot about people." Lucy picked at her nails that were already nearly picked to bleed. "I just… observe a lot."

"That is clear." He leaned forward onto his knees and seemed to be impatiently fast with the topic change, "How about we play a question game?"

"Um…" Lucy looked up to him a bit bravely, "Okay… I am okay with that."

"Cool." He leaned back and stared at the ceiling as if he didn't have an entire set up list of questions in his head, "What's your favorite color?"

"Um…" Lucy looked around the cluttered room, "I like pink and blue. But… I don't think I have a real favorite."

Loke nodded, "Okay… now you."

"Oh." She jumped a bit, "Then…" She stared at the band aids on her fingers, "Where are your parents?"

"Parents?" He bobbed his head back at such a mood-killing topic. "Out of town. My grandpa has dementia so they're moving him into a home."

Lucy immediately looked up at him with extremely sad eyes, "I'm sorry." She scooted closer to him a bit awkwardly, "Are you close to him?"

Loke peeked down at her and saw she was actually staring at him for more than 5 seconds. Then he took another swig of his drink and didn't match her gaze, "Not really." He brushed off the topic, "My turn." He exhaled as the alcohol burned his throat. "Why do you think I brought you up here?"

Lucy swallowed a bit, 'Um…" She saw his demeanor was a bit less friendly now, "To get to know each other."

"In what way?" He looked to her with sparkly and very drunk eyes.

"It's my turn." She pouted a bit.

Loke rolled his eyes and sighed, waving his glass, "Okay."

"Why don't you want to talk about your grandpa?" Lucy said again with a much clearer voice than he'd ever thought he would hear from her.

Loke laughed a bit, "Well, I don't really know you." He finished the last of his cup, "Plus, I just don't want to. It's not a crazy concept."

"It is." Lucy said quick. "You wouldn't have brought the detail up if it wasn't on your mind."

"Yeah? You a mind reader?" Loke stood up with a wobble and placed his empty glass on his dresser beside the stereo. "Didn't think so."

"People lie to themselves so even if I was," Lucy watched his back as he changed the music, "I still don't think you'd be honest."

"That's some deep shit." He said with a hiccup. Then he turned around, "You're a lot of words in a quiet body y'know."

"I know." Lucy looked down, "Can we go back down?"

"Ah, but I haven't asked my question yet." He chuckled, kneeling down in front of her. "Do you know what head is?"

"Yes?" Lucy tilted exactly what she thought it was.

"Good." He put his hands on her leggings and immediately, Lucy involuntarily kicked him in the face. He shouted as he was thrown back and Lucy within two minutes started to panic.

"I'm sorry." She flew up from the bed and kneeled beside him with tears prepping to fall down her face. "I'm so sorry… I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

Loke touched his nose where blood was seeping out, "That's a hell of a kick." He laughed as he tilted his face upwards. "I think I'm really drunk."

Lucy froze in place, shaking. Should she call 911? Did she break his nose? Would he tell his parents? Would his parents tell her dad? "I'm sorry…" She whimpered as her nose and eye turned extremely pink and tears started wailing from her eyes, "… I'm really, really sorry. I'm so sorry. What do I do? Please don't tell…"

"Tell who?" Loke closed his eyes and laid on the ground.

Lucy covered her face and shut her eyes as she felt two tears fun down her fingers as she tried to block the sound of her crying. "Please don't tell, please don't tell…" She voicelessly screamed into her hand.

Creak.

"Lisanna, no." A deep voice spoke.

Lucy's completely red and glistening face looked up to see a familiar one. But not necessarily a safe one. Natsu stood in the doorway, being pushed in by his female companion, until pausing as Lisanna stopped in her tracks at the sight of Lucy and her runny face. And then Natsu turned and looked down to Loke's unconacious body and bloody face.

"Help…" Lucy squeaked as she wept uncontrollably.

Natsu looked to Lisanna who was pulling him in another direction, "Give me a sec." He pulled his arm from her and opened the door fully.

"Oh for fucksake." She hissed, walking into the room and then stopping to bend over Loke. "What the hell happened?"

Lucy's whole body was in tremors. She held onto her arms as Lisanna unempathetically scoped the room to cop something valuable while the host was out cold. Natsu bent down and removed the cig relaxing in the corner of his mouth. "He's just drunk y'know." He looked up to the shivering, wet mess of a girl. "Did he do something to you?"

"I-I did it." She pulled at her bottom lip with hands that could barely stay still. "I kicked him… please don't tell anyone… please."

Natsu scratched the top of his head and looked down to the dumbass ginger and kicked his corpse to its side. "He's not gonna remember." Natsu stood up, putting the weed back between his lips. "Keep him like that so he doesn't choke on his throw up." He snapped his fingers, "Lisanna."

The white-haired, beautiful girl strolled past Lucy and then paused seeing a gnarly glass of vodka on the bed. "Jackpot." She laughed taking it and then looking down to Lucy, "Is this yours?"

"N-No…" Lucy said without an ounce of consciousness to her words.

"You won't tell Mira you saw us right?" Lisanna bent down with a kind smile of which only made Lucy back up further into the bed. "Right?"

Lucy looked up to Natsu who was just silently staring at the interaction. "An eye for an eye." He said, turning Loke's stereo off.

Lucy didn't respond. She didn't move. "Can…" She pulled her knees to her chest, "Can you… stay?"

Lisanna lifted a brow and looked at Natsu, expecting him to have a negative expression. But it seemed like he was going to say something she would not agree to. "Well," Lisanna clicked her tongue, "We are a little busy. But if you take a couple swigs of this, you'll be totally good."

"Get Levy." Natsu said to Lisanna. The white-haired girl looked up to him with annoyance, "Bring her up here."

"What?" Lisanna stood up, "Why?"

Natsu's onyx eyes that lacked any sympathy for Lisanna's protest, met the silver-haired seductress's eyes. "She's downstairs." He said, blowing his smoke at her.

Lisanna swallowed and nodded, "Okay. Jeez." She shoved the tequila into his chest, "Why are you being such a hero for the rabbit weirdo?" She shot a glare at Lucy of which the blonde was too busy crying into her knees to notice and left.

Natsu shut the door on her exit and stood, smoking the rest of his joint before diminishing on the metal desk. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and silently slid down to a sit beside the shivering girl. He stared at the ceiling dully, "What's your favorite movie?"

Lucy sniffled and looked up with a leaking face, "…What?" She barely managed to say.

"Movie?" He said, bending his knees to rest his elbows on them. "What is it?"

Lucy got a grip on her hyperventilating breaths and swallowed a load of snot in order to clear a path for her voice. "Ummm…." Her voice shook as she spoke, tempting her quivering lips to bend into another cry. "… It's called… I-It's… called… Edolas."

Natsu pulled a pack of cigs from his leather jacket, "What's it about?" He pulled out one of the sticks.

"Uh…" Lucy fought the burning in her chest and wiped her soaking cheeks, "It's a fictional movie… it's about… um…" She took a bigger breath to stop another tear from falling, "It has magicians and dragons. A-And they're fighting against… the non-magicians who are oppressing them. A…And they try to take away their magic."

Natsu flickered a flame from his lighter and delicately lit the head of the cig between his lips, "Sounds nerdy." He inhaled and then exhaled, looking at her with those intense eyes. "Why is it your favorite?"

"Because," Lucy sat up a bit and sniffed away the rest of her running nose, "It's really exciting. And…" She stared at the ground, loosening her tight grip on her knees, "It takes place in an alternate reality. And I like to think about that. The alternate realities."

"Are you into a lot of nerdy stuff like that?" Natsu blew the smoke opposite of her body and held the cig away.

"Yeah." She nodded, swallowing the rest of her mucus, "I like magic and superheroes."

"And stars?" He lifted a brow at her.

Lucy cracked a sweet smile and nodded with a sniffle, "Yes."

Natsu gave a small grin as well. "That's pretty cool."

"Really?" Lucy leaned her cheek on her knee and stared up at him. He stared down at her and again, he wouldn't look away. And Lucy found she wouldn't either. And it wasn't like she couldn't like she thought before… she simply did not want to. "What's your favorite movie?"

"Mine?" He tapped the ash onto the floor, "I've never seen one I liked."

Lucy rubbed her eye as she still rested her head on her knee. "Why not?"

"I don't have a tv. So it's never my choice." He took another inhale, looking back, directly into her eyes. Unfearing. So unfearing it nearly made Lucy feel unfearing. Or… perhaps… just safe.

"What do you do then?" Lucy asked.

"Nothing." Natsu said quite dimly, "My life's pretty boring."

"You do it a lot, don't you?" Lucy asked, making Natsu's eyebrows lift.

He couldn't help a light snicker, "Yeah, I do." He offered her the cig, "It's a family trait."

"No thank you." Lucy lightly shooed him away, "I don't like cigarettes."

"Right." Natsu let it rest between his lips and tapped the back of his neck, "I can see why."

Lucy went silent and her breaths shortened. Her hand went to the back of her neck and she stared at him, nearly horrified, "How… did you…"

Natsu pulled up his sleeve and showed her his wrist where there was a scar. It was a cigarette burn scar, several of them. And Lucy just stared at it, rubbing her own bumpy skin on the back of her neck. "Did it hurt?" She reached out her other hand and lightly pet the scars. He just watched her pale fingers, surprisingly cold, softly graze against his tan skin.

"What do you think?" He snickered quietly.

Creak.

Lucy lifted her fingers as her and Natsu turned their heads to the door. He pulled down his sleeve as Lisanna and Levy entered. "Oh my god." Levy got to her knees and hugged Lucy, staring at Natsu as he silently stood up. "Are you okay?" She cupped Lucy still red face, "What happened?"

Lucy looked up to Natsu who wrapped his arm around Lisanna and gave her a quick glance. He put his finger on his lips and winked, walking out of the room. "He got really drunk." Lucy didn't look her in the eye.

"Did he do something to you?" Levy moved her hand down Lucy body as if she were a security guard patting for weapons.

"No…" Lucy rubbed the rest of the tears from her eyes, "I'm okay."

"I'm such a shitty friend." Levy deflated a bit, rubbing her forehead, "I just get caught up and I'm not used to having you around yet. I knew Loke was interested but I didn't think you'd panic over it."

"We just talked." Lucy shrugged, "When he… passed out I really freaked out." The blonde moved a strand of hair behind her ear, "Natsu really helped me though."

Levy lifted her eyebrows doubtfully as though Natsu's help was dangerous, "I was shocked when Lisanna of all people came to find me."

"Yeah." Lucy nodded quietly, "They were just… hanging out and stuff."

"And stuff." Levy mocked, "It's fine I won't tell." The bluenette pet Lucy's pretty little chin, "I have to reward Lisanna's good behavior. That was very out of character for her to come flying to the rescue."

"Yeah." Lucy nodded slow.

"Maybe she's changing?" Levy shrugged, helping Lucy up to a stand, "Anyway, let's get out of here, yeah?"

Lucy nodded and looked around for the alcohol of which was no longer in her presence. "What time… is it?" The blonde scratched the back of her head.

"Only about 1030." Levy said, opening the door, "You must've made Loke real nervous if he got this fucked up this early."

Lucy rubbed her upper arm, "I don't want to go home." She said softly.

Levy bobbed her head back, "Really?" She leaned against the door, "Alright, well, you're a mess." She leaned her head out of the doorway, "MIRA!" She screamed louder than the music.

But it worked.

The silver-haired fox was present within minutes, not without Erza though. "Oh my." Mira softened her gaze at Lucy's red eyes, "What happened?"

"Loke got so wasted he passed out." Levy pointed to the evidence, "And Lucy had a panic attack."

"I'm glad you're still here though." Mira neared the blonde as Erza bent down to fuck with the unconscious body. "Let's just put some make up on you and have some girl time, yeah?"

"Leeeevs." Gajeel came into the room and paused at the scene. "Oh what did I miss?"

"Nothing." Levy pushed him out, "Pussy party only."

"What about Loke?" Gajeel shouted from behind the door but got no response.

The three girls led Lucy into Loke's bathroom, sitting her on the toilet. Levy hopped onto the counter as Erza made herself cozy inside of the bathtub. While Mira searched her purse, Levy pulled out a contraption of which Lucy had never seen before.

"What is that?" Lucy asked without a single stutter.

"This?" Levy held it up. "A bong." She held it out to Lucy, "Want to try it?"

"What does it do?" Lucy stared at the bottom circular part where there was a bit of dirty water.

"It's another thing to smoke weed from." Levy demonstrated by lighting the bowl and sucking in till the clear glass was white and then pulling the bowl out, clearing the smoke. As she exhaled, Lucy was amazed with how much cloud left the bluenette's lips. "I'll help you so you don't take in too much. You should build your tolerance."

"Tolerance." Lucy repeated, "Will I be high?"

"Yeah." Erza laughed as though that was an obvious question, which, it was. "Really high."

"I don't want to be really high." Lucy looked to Levy with emotionally-exhausted eyes, "Only a little high."

Levy passed the bong to Erza as Mira put several cosmetics onto the counter. "You don't have to keep up." The blue-haired girl smiled, "Just take one hit. Whatever it takes for you to be good. It's your experience, not everyone else's."

"It'd be cooler if you could keep up though." Erza made sure to point out before taking a rip.

"Paranoia is common to those with panic disorder." Mira spoke with a motherly and informative tone as she started to pat delicately around Lucy's bandages. "So getting too high actually does the opposite of making you chill out. Overdoing it is actually less cool. So a puff or two should do it." Mira shrugged with a beautiful smile, "You would get on well with Rogue, y'know."

"I met him." Lucy's looked up as Mira dabbed some pale foundation underneath her eyes, "I don't think he likes me."

"Ha." Levy scoffed, grabbing the bong. "When you disappeared with Loke, all he wanted to do was find you."

Lucy looked to Levy with disbelieving eyes, "What?"

"Want a hit?" Levy bounced off the counter, "And don't worry, he's not after your panties like Loke."

"Why would he want my panties?" Lucy took the chemistry contraption into her hands, "Do men also wear panties?"

All three of the girls exchanged glances and bent over with muffled laughter. Lucy looked at them with first confusion, then embarrassment, then slight irritation. "What?" She pouted.

"Nothing." Mira shushed Levy before the bluenette could speak, "It means Loke was interested in you… like he had a crush on you."

Immediately, Lucy's entire face turned a heavy shade of red. She looked down to the floor, "What?" She shook her head at such a ridiculous suggestion. They were probably just teasing her. "He doesn't know me."

"Insightful." Levy bent down with a lighter to the bong's level. "Boys are pigs sometimes. And they become infatuated with ideas of people which are usually just the physical example of a person." She flicked the flame on, "Put your mouth in and just inhale."

Lucy nodded and did as told. Levy lit it and as quick as she lit it, she lifted it and Lucy cleared the bowl. The blonde held it in and Levy launched out, "Breath out." She said almost worried.

Lucy exhaled and only felt a little burn.

It hurt a little.

But not nearly as bad as the first time.

"Good." Levy smiled like a proud parent. "Sorry, I don't want you to have a bad trip again. So I'll watch your intake until you learn it all by yourself."

Lucy nodded, swallowing. She liked the taste of weed. It was weird… it was necessarily delicious or anything. But… perhaps just something that calmed her. Or made her feel like… she was doing something, with people. Because, well, she was?

It made sense in some obscure way.

"Can I take this off?" Mira scratched at the enormous bandage taking up 98% of her left cheek.

Lucy nodded softly, "It's gross."

"That's okay." Mira started peeling it and couldn't detain a bit of a gasp. "Oh my god, Lucy, what did you do?"

Levy added to the room of building smoke and peered over to see what exactly Mira was reacting to. And then Levy lifted her brows, hopping off of the sink again. Even Erza closed in, "That is nasty." Erza got closer, "Were you beat up?"

The wound was really deep. There was already a scab but it looked as though it had been re-opened and nearly infected. The bruise around it was a very ugly color as well.

"What?" Lucy furrowed her brows, "No." She squeezed her eyes, feeling a pressure build up behind her eyes. "Why would you say that?"

"Well, because, dude," Levy stepped away from it, "That looks really bad."

Lucy covered it timidly, "I'm sorry."

"No I'm sorry." Mira flicked away Lucy's hand, "I shouldn't have taken it off. But, I'm kind of glad I did." The silver-haired girl immediately dived into her purse, "You need to be attentive with an injury that deep."

"How'd you get it?" Erza took the bong back from Levy and settled into the bathtub once more.

Lucy rubbed her eyes, feeling her body becoming a lot more comfortable despite her seat being hard porcelain. "Glass." She immediately yelped as Mira began rubbing ointment on it, "From a mirror."

"Jeez." Erza sucked in the bong.

"No kidding." Levy watched Mira lightly cover it in a gel and Lucy flinching and squinting, "You gotta be more careful. Really, Lucy. That's not good. Someone's gonna think you're being bullied or abused."

Lucy shrugged awkwardly, "I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" Erza exhaled with a laugh, "We're the ones prying into your business."

"That's okay." Lucy's eyes became lazier and she felt her body become a little less attached to her mind. "I want us to know each other."

Mira's smile grew a lot at such a sweet sentence, "Well the feeling is mutual." She put a cleaner and far more new bandage onto the attended wound. "But speaking of being in your business," Mira poked at Lucy's chest, "Levy has told us you have a dilemma."

"Yeah, what bra cup are you again?" Erza blissfully rested her arms and head on the edge of the tub. "32C?"

"34E." Levy put aside the bong, the room completely hot-boxed.

Mira and Erza both whistled in unison. "You are bigger than Mira and I both." Erza shook her head, leaning her fingers out and flicking her flat, baggy chest, "Where the fuck do you hide it all?"

Lucy pulled down her shirt a bit and Mira and Erza both covered their mouths to block a laugh. "God, Levs, you're right." Erza chuckled into her arms, "That is an old ass bra."

"Oh stop." Mira tried to stop both Erza and Levy's snickering but hardly could hide her own.

Lucy pulled her shirt back up and frowned deeply, "You're being really mean."

"Sorry," Levy exhaled to stop her laughing, "I just thought Mira and Erza could help you with the situation more than I could. Cause I have actually no tits." She flattened her palms on her chest, "None."

"Fat ass though." Erza purred.

"I think you're good now." Mira backed up from Lucy who was very visibly enjoying her high. "But anyway, how about you come with me and Erza to go shopping for something better fitting."

Lucy pressed the back of her head against the wall behind. Mira slid onto the floor, next to the tub, and Levy handed her what was left of the bowl. "Papa won't let it ever happen." She shook her head back and forth, "Never ever."
Mira and Erza both looked to Levy at that extremely weird rule and Levy just shrugged for she had no clue either. "Why?" Erza ran her long nails through Mira's beautiful, white locks. "You know, if you keep them that restricted, it's really bad for blood flow. You need proper support. Not like a push-up bra, just like, not a sports bra meant for training bra stages."

Lucy rolled her cheek onto her shoulder and let out a calm exhale, "I'll look too much like Mom." The blonde opened her squinty eyes, "Daddy won't like it."

"Where's your mom?" Mira tilted her head in which Levy was quick to try and get the silverette to shut up with silent gestures.

"Dead." Lucy dropped the word quite fast and quite casually. "Daddy has a hard time coping with it. So… it's okay. If I can do this much for him… I'm okay with that."

The girls were silent for a moment, unsure as to what they could possibly respond with. But Mira spoke anyway, "It's good to do things for people but, if you are putting your own health at the expense… girl…" Mira crossed her legs, "You're giving a temporary solution in exchange for a permanent problem."

Lucy moved her dry tongue around and then looked down to her flattened chest and then moved her hands over it, "It hurts." The blonde said, "But don't tell anyone I said that, okay?"

"Okay?" Erza lifted her brows with a chuckle. "Take it from one big tittied girl to another, your boobs are your asset. So don't be abusing them like that." She pushed her own set of bountiful goods up, "And don't be abusing your face either. You're like a walking self-harm machine."

"Yeah." Lucy laughed lightly, leaning her body forward to match the pressure flowing through her mind. "Macao said it'd be okay."

Mira and Erza both looked up to Levy with confusion and the bunny owner mouthed 'Butler' which caused them to nod with great understanding.

But before they could continue their talk, they were interrupted with a disturbing, SLAM! Followed by some muffled protests.

They all looked at each other as all these noises were ultimately followed by some bed squeaking.

And then they all started grinning mischievously, putting their ears to the door. But, Lucy sat there, dazed and most definitely confused.

"What?" Lucy asked, causing her mouth to immediately get slammed over with Levy's palm. The blue-haired girl brought Lucy closer to the door to join them but the blonde couldn't hear whatever it was they were so thrilled over.

She just heard some squeaking, some shifting, and slurping?

It was really weird.

"Who do you think it is?" Erza whispered quietly to the girls.

Levy pressed her ear firm against the door and a few seconds went by and then her face drained of color and her wide eyes immediately looked at Mira. "Oh, fuck." She covered her mouth, covering a bit of laughter.

Mira stared at Levy's mischeviously shocked face, "What?" She furrowed her brows as Erza immediately made the same face when she cracked the door slightly open.

"Oh no." Erza crawled behind Lucy, locking the skinny blonde in her arms, "Prepare for war."

Lucy melted in the warmth of the red head that she could hardly pay attention to the situation. Her hands went up and hugged Erza's trapping arms as Mira slowly peeped through the door crack. And not even a couple seconds went by for the silver-haired girl to slam the door open.

Erza leaned Lucy and her own body forward as the three remaining girls peeked outside of the bathroom door, far too entertained by the events that were about to take place.

Lucy gasped seeing Lisanna and Natsu. The younger sister was topless and on her knees while Natsu was sat on the bed with a cigarette in his mouth. And Mira was fuming at them both. Lisanna immediately covered up as Natsu calmly stood and buttoned up his pants.

"You're fucking joking." Mira slammed her finger into Natsu's chest as he merely just took a hit from the nicotine. "You are fucking joking."

"Mira!" Lisanna stood up, putting her shirt back on, "Would you cut the shit already?"

"Me?" Mira lifted her brows, "You know tonight he's gonna be on another girl's ass and you're gonna be tripping balls at home, waiting for him to come around again."

"So?" Lisanna hissed at the eldest, "That's how our relationship works. You and everyone else have no right to always be fucking involved."

"Actually," Erza spoke from the bathroom, giving away their audience, "It's you that gets everyone else involved."

"Exactly." Mira slapped her hand onto Natsu's chest as the boy tried to stroll right past her. "Make a decision. Date her or drop her."

"No!" Lisanna slapped Mira across the face. All three of the viewing party dropped their jaws. "You don't get to dictate my life. Fuck off."

Mira lifted her brows and licked her lips. Erza backed herself and her entrapped bunny up a bit, "Oh shit."

"The next time you go on a bend because of him," Mira closed the distance between her and Lisanna, "I'm not helping you. If you ruin your life over a guy who clearly only wants to get head from you, you'll have nobody left to vouch for you," She extended her hand to him, "He didn't even have his shirt off!"

"Is the lecture over?" Lisanna folded her arms, "I don't think I ever asked you to pick up my scraps. I can handle shit on my own."

Mira lifted her brows with a scoff, "Sure." She turned to Natsu who was sitting on the bed patiently. "What do you want from her?"

"Mira!" Lisanna growled low.

"No." Mira pointed violently at her, "I want to know. You can leave for all I care."

Lisanna looked at Mira and then Natsu who wasn't looking at either sister. Then, she did exactly that, she left. Mira shook her head, "I knew she would." The silverette stood up straight, "You're ruining her life."

"I'm out." Natsu held up his hands, looking up to the girl without an ounce of respect but a hell of a lot of honesty, "I'll back off, Mira."

"Yeah?" She folded her arms, "Why? Cause Mattan is the only girl who's allowed you to sleep on her couch as long as Lisanna has?"

"Pretty much." He leaned back, extending his cigarette to her, "I'm done doin this with you."

Mira looked down to the attempted truce and rolled her eyes, "We'll see." She swiped it from his hand and walked toward the bathroom, "You should just go home Natsu." She grabbed her bag and stepped over the hurdle of spectators. "Or get your own place. That way you can just fuck girls instead of using them too." She handed him the cigarette back.

And then left.

Levy and Erza stared at each other, silently exiting the room as Lucy willingly stayed behind. She stared at Natsu who was quiet and seemed rather solemn, though, he was hard to read. The only expression he ever had was quite empty. But she supposed that's why he attracted so many people. He was a mysterious guy and everyone was very curious. Or overconfident that they could pry him open.

She crawled out silently and sat underneath him, the soft of the bed covers against her back being the most blissful thing. Natsu didn't acknowledge her but didn't move either. The two sat silently for what Lucy felt like was hours but in actuality, only a few seconds. And then she spoke, "What's… your favorite movie out of all the ones you didn't like?"

Natsu's chest rose with the deep absorption of nictotine and on exhale, he stood up. Then, he turned, bending in front of her. The bunny's eyes were a lot higher than when they had last talked. "Are you trying to comfort me?" He held the cigarette dangerously close to dropping ash on her leggings.

"Were you trying to comfort me before?" Lucy tilted her head down, mocking how intimidating he was.

Natsu lifted his brows at the attempt to tease him, "You're getting brave." He watched the ash dropped right between her legs, "Don't go into rooms alone with guys." Natsu looked to Loke's still wrecked body, "They're gonna be dicks."

"But we are alone." Lucy pulled her knees to her chest, rolling her cheek to her shoulder.

"Exactly." Natsu looked at her and then his gaze spanned down and then, he just stood up.

"I think I want to be your friend." Lucy said as he turned around. "Is that okay?"

Natsu walked toward the door, "Probably not." He flicked his cig onto Loke's body and shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. Then without another word, left.

Lucy watched him leave and then stared at the wall in front of her.

That wasn't… a no?

"Hey, yo." Levy popped her head back into the bedroom with her sights settling onto the calm blonde. The bluenette softened her expression warmly and decided to join her unusually chill companion. She sat down with no space left between them, and interlaced her pinkie with Lucy's. "Mira left."

"Is she okay?" Lucy kept her eyes closed, leaning the back of her head on the bed's corner.

"She'll be fine." Levy rested her own slumped head onto Lucy's shoulder, "This party was real lame."

"I had fun." Lucy said with a blissful exhale, "I think I made friends."

"You did." Levy's cheek vibrated with the small force of her chuckles. "On another note… What did you and Loke do?"

"We talked." Lucy leaned her cheek on top of Levy's resting head. "And we played a question game."

"A question game, huh?" Levy snickered at the shitty fuckboy plan, "What questions?"

"They were kind of boring and I don't think he really wanted to play." Lucy yawned large, "He even asked me if I knew what a head was."

Levy immediately sat up, "Do you mean what head is?"

"A head." Lucy opened her squinting eyes at the blue-haired teaser, "Yeah."

"No, no." Levy palmed her forehead lightly, laughing. "Head and a head are different. A head is that." She poked Lucy's sweet little face, "Head," She pointed to Lucy's nether regions, "Has to do with that."

"My pee?" Lucy tilted her head, a little more focused now.

"Lucy…" Levy shook her head, bobbing her head back a little bit, "Do you think all you use that for is peeing?"

"No." Lucy pouted a bit at such a patronizing question, "You can do it too."

"Alright…" Levy nodded slow, "Well head is sort of like it. But you do it with your mouth."

"Like a kiss?" Lucy rubbed her eyes, a bit frustrated at the weird riddle.

"Kind of but instead of kissing his lips, you kiss," Levy pointed a bit mischievously back down to her groin, "That."

"Okay…" Lucy nodded without a shade of pink on her face. "Head is kissing your pee area?"

Levy couldn't help a gut wrenching laugh as she patted Lucy's legs, "Kind of." The bluenette squeezed Lucy's tiny, white legs, "It's called a vagina or a penis if you're giving him head."

"I know that." Lucy folded her arms accusingly, "Macao says I can't say things like that."

"People are afraid of sex." Levy shrugged, "You can't even talk about it. But I think that's denial and I don't think you should deny yourself of a natural and healthy conversation."

"I see." Lucy started playing with Levy's fingers, "Sex is healthy?"

"Of course it is. But," Levy scooted closer, interlacing her fingers with Lucy's, "Masturbation serves just the same. So if you're gonna do it with someone else, know that it's more of a psychological experience than physical." Levy rubbed her cheek against Lucy's, "And I know you have a scary brain. So, don't worry about that stuff till you want to."

"Okay…" Lucy nodded slowly.

Masturbation.

What was that?

She didn't want to ask anymore questions.

She felt like she looked dumb.

"Thank you for teaching me." Lucy rolled around her dry tongue, "Thank you for being friends with me."

Levy looked up at the blonde, "Of course." She smiled lightly, "Thank you for being mine."

"Everyone wants to be your friend." Lucy felt very tired now, "I remember ever since elementary school, you've always been really popular."

"Mmm…" Levy hummed without disagreement, "You're popular too."

"Not like you." Lucy swallowed, trying to re-wet her mouth, "People really don't like me."

Levy exhaled long and loudly as she searched for words. She couldn't argue with that statement. It was a shock to even her that Levy had stuck to this little side-quest this long. But, she was pretty much obsessed with the school's little freak. She had the same thoughts as everyone else and if somebody asked her a month ago her thoughts on Lucy, well she probably would've egged on the bullying.

But…

Well…

"It's weird." Levy chuckled to herself a bit, "Cause I can't remember why I never wanted to talk to you in the first place." She turned to Lucy, "But now it's like I can't believe I can actually say I'm your friend. Like… dude you're so cool." Levy leaned forward a bit to get a full view of Lucy's face, "You're like the misfit of misfits. The extra unique of a bunch of uniques. I feel kind of special that I'm like the only one in the whole school who was able to get this close to you."

Lucy blinked her eyes open a bit, "Really?" She looked down softly, "I'm… I haven't ever… I don't think I've ever been this happy."

"She says with puffy eyes." Levy snickered, seeing the foundation beginning ware under her eyes, "I'm glad. I haven't met anyone like you. Like so many people act like they've got issues but… you have them for real. And I feel like being around you has made me a better person."

"I think I'm a better me around you too." Lucy smiled sweetly, "I feel… better about myself."

Levy bit her bottom lip and caressed Lucy's bandaged cheek, "Good." She tilted her head tenderly, "Because you know, no bullshit, you're really pretty Lucy. And you're super nice to everyone even bitches like Cana and Lisanna. And you're smart and interesting. You just got so many qualities that it never gets old being around you."

Lucy's smile grew wider involuntarily and she giggled a bit, "Do you think I can be cool like you and your friends?"

"Maybe." Levy snickered, "But don't strive for anything but a better you. Cool is just what comes with confidence. And confidence is unique to the person."

Lucy gently inhaled, "I want to be… confident."

"Well, you're already saying more words than our first interaction." Levy chuckled, hopping into a lively stand. "C'mon, let's go say bye to a few people and get a midnight shake."

Lucy nodded quite enthusiastically, "Yeah." She stood up with more bounce than Levy thought the timid rabbit had in her. "I'm really hungry."

"And then home." Levy pointed at her, "Cause I promised Mr. Butler."

Lucy nodded with a big grin, "Yes."

The grin was contagious.

Lucy was contagious.

Levy felt like everyday she was being pulled into Lucy and she just grew more and more addicted every time.

She wondered what Lucy would be like even a year from now.

It'd been almost a month and the blonde was already giving her big and genuine smiles.

She was going to be a killer when she developed confidence.

When Lucy finally shed the last of her guard.

And Levy would sit their cockily, watching her golden child spring from the ashes.

Well, maybe not exactly that dramatically.

But.

Lucy…

Yeah she was gonna be a pretty big deal.

Not that Levy would brag or anything but,

She had an eye for these things.