Curse

Chapter 4

Lucy slowly made her way through Magnolia, doing everything she could to try and keep her mind on putting one foot in front of the other. However, the emotions that were warring within her was making it hard to do.

Ever since she had ended the call with Cobra, her emotions had been a whirlwind combined of her hurt, sadness, and uncertainty with Cobra's agitation, anger, and determination. She had managed to stay with her friends for a few hours, but the strange mix of emotions had started getting the best of her. It felt like she wasn't even in control of her body, she felt lightheaded and confused since at some points she couldn't even sense where Cobra's emotions started or her's ended.

Honestly she was still surprised that the link was still active, since she figured that the girls would have been back from shopping by this time. It was close to sunset, and if she wasn't in such a conflicting state of being, she would be enjoying the sky as the first stars began to appear.

Releasing a deep breath, she steadied herself and frowned as a deep feeling of satisfaction flooded her. Not only was this feeling obviously from Cobra, and confused the hell out of her, it was also much stronger than any of the others. Why would this feeling be so much more powerful than the others?

Juvia had mentioned that Meredy had explained her magic to her before, and had told Lucy as much as she could to try and help the situation. If she recalled correctly, emotions should only feel stronger when the souls that are linked together are closer together in distance. Surely just the fact that her walking from Fairy Tail to her house wouldn't cause this much of an impact. If that was the case then she might need to turn around and camp out at the guild for a while instead.

Thinking about it for a moment, she shook her head. No, what she wanted right now more than anything was a long hot soak in her tub. While she could soak at the guild, she wouldn't exactly have the amount of privacy of her own home. Continuing forward, she blinked as she felt Cobra's emotions suddenly start to ease. Looking down, she half expected to see the mark fading or already gone, but frowned when she saw that it was still there with no change. It was strange, to having felt such strong emotions to suddenly...Nothing. Or at least, little to nothing.

If she concentrated, she could still detect small bits of his emotions, and at the moment he seemed to be...waiting for something. Shaking her head and pulling back into her own emotions she silently reprimanded herself. She shouldn't be seeking Cobra's emotions out, it wasn't right to invade his privacy, even if it couldn't be helped. She had no right to look for his emotions, especially since he hadn't wanted it in the first place.

Looking forward, she focused on getting home and finally felt her tension began to ease as she started up the steps that would lead to her room. Finally releasing a deep breath as she opened her door and stepped inside. Leaning against the closed door for a moment, she kicked off her shoes and then began the task of gathering the supplies she wanted for her soak. Bypassing her couch with merely a nod to the man that was sitting there in a relaxed state.

Once she reached her bedroom, she opened her closet to fetch her pajamas, and turned to go to the bathroom. Only to pause when something finally clicked within her mind, just as concern and surprise filtered through the link.

Dropping her clothes, she ran back into the living room and nearly tumbled over the back of the couch as she looked down at the man now stretched out across it. Cobra's sole magenta eye stared at her with a curious expression, just as amusement filtered through the link into her.

"So, do you just accept the presence of strangers often?"

Cobra found it amusing as hell to both see and feel the emotions that were fluttering through the blonde before him. Confusion at his presence, indignation at his question, and even a sliver of hopefulness at his being there. Giving a smirk, he sat up as she continued to flounder a bit, no doubt trying to find some form of smart remark.

"Before you decide to kick me out, allow me to explain. There's...a lot that we've got mixed up." He watched as she blinked, her mind and emotions going so quiet that he actually became mildly worried that he may have broken her without meaning to. Only to relax as acceptance filtered through the link as she gave a nod and slid onto the cushion beside him.

"To start with, I haven't been angry over the fact that I was connected to your soul or emotions. All my anger was toward myself for acting like a coward, and at Meredy for pulling this brilliant-but childish-prank just because I called her stupid. The reason I kept pulling my emotions back, was because I'm a negative bastard that has little to no positive feelings. Even when I'm among the group, it's full of nothing but agitation and annoyance. You don't need to experience that when you're around your friends. Finally, I don't know why you would think I would dislike you or anything, even when I was being a huge prick to you and your friends, you forgave everything and even helped get us all cleared. Is that cleared up?"

He waited as she digested all of that in, her eyes slightly wide and her emotions still quiet. After a few minutes of her just staring at him, he finally looked away and grit his teeth as he felt heat beginning to bloom on his face. Why the hell did he think that this would be a good idea? Surely she thought him even insaner than he already was!

"Cobra. If...If you don't dislike me, then what was the question that Meredy asked?"

"Hmm? Oh she asked me who I greatly respect and would be willing to give my life for." The words were a mumble since he was still trying to figure out why he thought coming here in person to explain would fix anything.

It wasn't until a strange, nearly inhuman sound left the woman beside him that he finally looked back at her in concern. Blinking in surprise to see that she was nearly as red as Titania's hair, and he finally realized the question that she had voiced and how honestly he had answered. His own eye widened slightly, before darting around in an attempt to find a quick exit, but froze when Lucy suddenly brought her knees to her chest and curled onto the couch. Suddenly worried about the blonde woman, he scratched the back of his head, and focused on the link.

Shock, uncertainty, confusion filtered through first. Then, a large wave of blissful happiness rushed through him, nearly making his feel high and with enough power to actually have him grabbing onto the couch to remain sitting upright. She was that happy just from that little bit of meaning!? Pulling back from her emotions, he breathed slowly until he was back from the blissful fog of mind that her happiness had put him in, and looked down at the woman beside him.

"Um...Bright Eyes?"

He couldn't stop the smile that stretched his lips as she gave a little squeak and curled up tighter, her head moving side to side and she pushed her face into her hands. It seemed that she wasn't truly believing what he had said, even though it made her so happy. Swallowing around the lump in his throat, he leaned back against the couch and closed his eyes. Allowing his emotions that he kept locked away about the blonde finally flow free, and couldn't help but clench at the fabric of the cushions as fear and doubt mixed with them.

Finally peeking his eye open as she tensed beside him, no doubt feeling each and every emotion that he had for her. When she slowly removed her hands from her flushed face to meet his gaze, he couldn't help but to tense at the wonder and awe that lit her eyes. Only to give a grunt as she quickly unfurled herself and suddenly found himself wrapped in one of her warm hugs.

"But..I don't...When?"

"Since the first time we met. I'll admit, it was my dragon side wanting to claim you at first. Back then I tried to do everything I could to ignore all of the 'dragon's' instincts within me. But, when we met again during the whole Clock fiasco, I couldn't help but fall for you myself. You weren't like anyone else I had met. When you tried to persuade us to take a different route, you weren't doing it to try and save your own skin, you were honestly trying to help us. After that...You even managed to help us, even though we've done so much not to deserve that help." He slowly wrapped his arms around her waist, surprised by how relaxed she was within his hold, but wasn't about to waste the opportunity. Closing his eye, he nuzzled his nose into her neck, slowly inhaling her soothing scent while listening to her melodic soul, and amazed emotion.

"But...Did you really think that you don't deserve happiness? Did you think I would refuse you?"

"I don't deserve happiness, at least not with you. Not with someone so pure, and forgiving. I've got to much baggage to drop on someone like you. You need someone better than me."

"I pretty sure you're not the one to decide that last part." Her words weren't a reprimand, in fact she sounded damn amused by his words. He merely gave a grunt as he wrapped his arms tighter around her. Wishing that this hold would last forever, because he truly didn't want this warmth he was finally feeling to ever leave!

"Besides, did you ever think that maybe...Just maybe I was meant to deal with your baggage? I mean, your dragon instincts did choose me as a possible mate." His hands tightened on her hips lightly, his eye snapping open as he let out a controlled breath as said instincts rushed to the surface. It sounded...It sounded almost like she approved! That she would be willing to be his...That couldn't be, could it?

"Cobra. Why did you come here? Why take the effort, the time to explain all of this?" He allowed her to lean back, and met her gaze as she stared at him. Swallowing, he opened his mouth, only to close it and swallow again. After repeating the motions a few more times, he finally found the words.

"Because, I've fallen hard for you. I know you don't have it in you to hate anyone, but I just wanted to make certain that you wouldn't eventually come to hate me because of this. Even though I have very little of your time or attention, those few fleeting seconds that I gain on missions now and again...One could say I'm practically living for those moments." He watched as her eyes glazed with tears for a moment, and his heart stalled a second before beating a rapid pattern against his chest when she beamed at him. Only to feel the air rush from his lungs as he felt a warm sensation flow through the link, settle in his chest and grow until he felt like he was floating with the woman before him.

"Cobra, you're an idiot. I always thought you'd figure it out, but I've fallen for you too. It took me a while to figure it out, but it's been years since I fell for you. I never cared about your past, because the man that you became...he's everything and more to me. I never approached because I didn't think you found any interest in a damaged, and hot tempered woman like me."

Cobra was truly stunned, and could only stare at the goddess before him. Until finally sincerity filtered through the link, and he felt his eye widen as his hands eased their hold on her.

"What?"