A/N: Fairy Tail does not belong to me in any way, shape, or form. Thank you.

She'd been pulled down next to him, but she allowed it, nibbling on her breakfast as the two stared each other down. Yahanna was apparently willing to wait, but Erik could ignore someone like no one she's ever seen. A quick pinch to her side alerted her that the comment wasn't appreciated, but she edged away from sharp nails. "So, Yahanna-san was telling me about how she assisted with finding people years ago," Lucy spoke, swallowing down a bite of pancake and looking at her roommate expectantly.

Erik, for his part, looked across the room, quirking a brow—the only communication he'd allow? Well, going at his own pace wasn't a bad idea. There was a lot to deal with.

"I did, but that was years ago. Decades, maybe. My range isn't quite what it used to be," Yahanna said, something sad in her eyes. "And, you? Erik?"

"I make do." Lucy wondered if her morning was going to be watching this train wreck. Erik snorted behind her, leaning to settle more comfortably on the couch. "Blondie, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I literally found out I had family last week." He tilted his chin up, to appraise the elderly woman across from them. "So, forgive me if I'm not exactly jumping for joy."

"She's your grandmother, I just think you should be a bit more welcoming, honestly. She came all this way to see you," Lucy muttered, side-eyeing him crossly. He shrugged, picking up part of his breakfast and chewing thoughtfully. "Did I have everything?"

"Coulda done with more hemlock," he complained, a corner of his lips twitching up into a smirk. "But I made due with nightshade and hellbore."

"Well, excuse me for not planting that garden for your dietary needs sooner. I'll get right on that, I'm sure the landlady would love it." He grinned, canines flashing. "Honestly, it's hard enough finding those without going into sketchy shops. I don't need it, so why don't you bring it with you?" She crossed her arms, tilting her head to look up at him. He shrugged and she sighed. "Well, at-least Natsu stopped raiding my fridge."

"See? I've been incredibly useful."

"Hmm. I think it was more when he saw me pouring bleach into a pitcher and mixing it with pokeweed and holly that he realized it was now a danger to his health. He questioned the strawberries, can you believe that?"

"I wouldn't expect Salamander to realize it's bitter and the fruits add a nice flavor," Erik stated, biting into a rather large green splotch. Lucy hummed, looking back over at Yahanna, who was watching the two of them with wide eyes. Lucy blinked.

"Yahanna-san?"

"Forgive me, but are you eating poison?"

Ah. She'd forgotten about that. Whoops.

"I was experimented on," Erik declared boldly, watching his grandmother with a half-lidded eye. "This is the result. My magic is warped because of it. So, yeah. Half my food is toxic on purpose." Yahanna stared for a moment longer, before she took in a breath, straightening up, hands trembling. Erik watched on, bored apparently. Lucy wondered if it was too late to teach him manners. "Yep." Well. Saved her the trouble then. "You can leave anytime. I wouldn't hold it against you—you're a stranger, what do you matter to me? You can't do anything to 'fix' what happened, and trying to get to know me isn't going to change anything."

She bowed her head, taking in another deep breath. "Lucy dear, please step aside." Erik's arm shot from his side, blocking the blonde's torso, violet narrowed on gold. "I mean her no harm, Erik, I merely wish to know more and for that, she cannot be within my circle."

"Like hell you're casting a—Lucy, for the love of God, don't even think about it," he turned, staring her down, and she calmly patted his hand, pushing it down to her lap lightly. "Don't."

"Let her help, Erik. Who knows? Maybe it'll work both ways?" he stared at her, mouth pulling into a frown, before he grunted, form tense. "Would this be the magic you told me about, Yahanna-san? The one where you find another?" The older woman wasn't smiling, staring hard at her grandson before she gave a firm nod. "All right." She took Erik's hand in both of hers, squeezing for a moment, before rising. He tightened his grip before he let go, form tensing up as he stared hard across at the elder before him. Lucy retreated back several feet, and then gold flared to life beneath their feet, magic swirling around the room as Yahanna glowed.

"So me all, Erik. Let me hear it."

"Fine. Have fun." Lucy watched on as images flared to life in her living room, Erik just as surprised by their appearance. "Thought projections?" Lucy saw the tower, smaller versions of Crime Sorciere and those who guarded the Tower with faces hidden by masks, heard screams and sobbing, laughter as skin met whips. She stepped back, a hand rising to cover her motuh, determined not to make a sound as she watched, refusing to look away from his past as faces blurred to life and sound filled the room, voices of men long dead. She couldn't look away, as this was Cobra, just as it was Erik.

She watched as Brain appeared and the Tower was replaced by a building not much better, but freedom granted. Watched as years passed and scars healed and they aged—watched death by his hands.

Lucy knew he wasn't a saint, knew he had killed. Knew it'd been a big part of his life. There was nothing she could do about that now, but accept him.

He looked away from his elder to watch her, watched the scene change to a dream she'd had long ago, of white, light, and a happiness she hadn't felt in a long time. Her cheeks bloomed red. "Y-you saw that?" she whispered, mortified at what her sleeping mind could conjure. She could have been mistaken, but she thought she saw red flash on his own, before he stood abruptly, leaping the couch to step out of the magic circle.

"Enough, Granny. I don't like people poking around in my head." The gold faded back to Lucy's apartment and the circle shrank down before disappearing. Yahanna slumped in her chair, eyes closed, before she nodded.

"I have what I need, anyway. Thank you, for your trust." She struggled to sit up and Lucy stepped forward, a hand on her back to assist. "Thank you, my dear." Yahanna patted Lucy's hand in gratitude. "I believe a trip to my old work will be in order." She shuffled up further, opening her eyes and smiling. "It seems I need to come out of retirement briefly." She cracked her back, a series of concerning pops alerting them that probably wasn't the best choice. "But I think I should take my leave now." She nodded firmly, then looked to her grandson with tears in her withered eyes. "But I will not desert you, not again. For you are my blood and I will accept that. How I wish we could have met differently, but this is what fate has decreed, and so I will accept." She nodded again. "I'll be by again. Thank you, Lucy dear, for having me. I'll be sure to message next time when I wish to visit again."

"Ah, sure thing, Yahanna-san," Lucy said, watching the elder stand slowly. "Your, old work? Yahanna-san?"

"Oh? Ah, when I was a practicing mage. I was kept adept, as I told you, at tracking down people. Souls, you understand, rarely change their melodies. Perhaps with emotions, but the base stays the same." Yahanna smiled up at her and Lucy nodded in understanding. "So the Council rather liked that I could track down outlaws. Because of Erik's agreement, I heard their souls—" Yahanna's smile darkened, eyes glowing, "—as I hear them now. Older, aged, but some I still hear. No doubt they'll dislike my interference, but I cannot allow such men to live." The darkness settled over her and Lucy could only stare before looking at her roommate, who was dumbfounded. "I'll be off then. Take care," she waved, making for the door.

"W-wait, Yahanna-san, you were part of the—wait, you're going to do what?" On the one hand, Lucy agreed, on the other…

"Let her go, Luce. This sounds like fun. Teach me sometime, Granny." Lucy looked back, astounded at the joy in his tone. Well, not joy—excitement? Satisfaction? He was grinning, violet glowing as his canines flashed in the light. She stared at him, then to the older mage in her apartment.

"Ah? Well, I'd be happy to! It's not difficult, but it takes getting the hang of. Tell me about this lacrima of yours next time then, Erik, hm?" His head tilted as his smirk grew and Yahanna's smile warmed, nodding again before she ambled out of the door. "Take care now!"

"Ohmygod," Lucy slumped to the couch, staring at the closed door while Erik laughed, a loud sound that she ignored. "It's genetic. You get it from her. Jeez." She had to let this sink in.

Erik continued laughing, drooping over the couch and she leaned back, staring up at the ceiling.

*quietly slinks away*