It was late afternoon in the beautiful town of Magnolia, that slow, peaceful warmth of a perfect Saturday hung in the air and seemed to envelop the whole town; making time itself feel like it had slowed down to a crawl- but in a good way.
On the edge of town where the streets started to crumble in neglect and where lush woods began sat the busted up wooden building of a almost ruined guild.
Almost...not quite.
Inside, the Fairy Tale guild was a bustling hive of energy and merriment, Wizards (the few that remain) drank and sung, fought and cheered their hearts out as they basked in their weekend, unwinding from their week's labours. Also, the news of their entrance into the upcoming Grand Magic Games surely helped raise everyones spirits a bit!
Mira smiled happily from behind the bar as she watched everyone enjoying their chosen free time. A cool, refreshing breeze swept it's way through the large open doors and she took a deep breath in, after 7 supposed years, it felt so great to be home again.
"You look way too happy..." Cana accused with a joyful smile, taking a large sip of the barrel under her arm.
"Not as happy as them." Mira grinned, her eyes focused on a cheerful group in particular. Cana twisted on her bar stool and followed her friends line of sight, her alcohol blurred vision landed on a cheerful group of young men, sitting at a table on the far end of the small guild hall.
Gray slammed his mug down hard on the table with a howl of laughter, causing droplets alcohol to splash the surface below. He shoved Natsu in appreciation of his joke and the pink haired man grinned back, his mouth still way overstuffed with food. Lorik, Natsu and Gray had decided to spent their Saturday afternoondrinking and catching up after their 7 year estrangement. Natsu had initially wanted (as usual) to have a huge 3 man fight with their S class wizard and friend in order to make up for their lost time and friendship. Luckily after some well worded coaxing and the offer of food, Lorik had managed to convince both men to have a drink with him instead.
And drink they had, Mira had lost track and Cana was impressed, the trio had now drunk enough to comfortably bask in each other's company without fear of an all out brawl (and that was saying something for Natsu and Gray) while still capable of intelligent conversation and joke storytelling.
"Here's to the best Guild and family in the land!" Lorik announced with a slur, clinking his mug with the others loudly.
"To Fairy Tail kicking ass at the Games!" Gray added and Natsu raised his own mug in agreement, all three took a huge gulp and sighed happily in unison.
"Congrats on getting on the team guys!" Lorik added happily.
"You coming to Crocus to cheer us on?" Natsu asked through bites of meat, Lorik nodded and leaned back in his chair, drink in hand.
"Of course, I've never really visited the 'Flower Blooming Capital' before, at least not for fun, it should be great. I heard the woman there all smell of roses and honeysuckle." He wiggled his eyebrows jokingly.
Gray laughed and shook his head at his friend. Lorik was no Loke when it came to the ladies, (let's be honest, no one was like Loke when it came to the ladies) but that isn't to say he didn't get attention, boy did he get attention. The guy was handsome to say the least.
With his sandy blond hair, warm honey coloured eyes and a killer white smile that could knock the wind right out of you. All that, added with his S Ranked status as a powerful Wizard and his kind and friendly personality, Gray often wondered WHY he didn't have a million girls lining up outside the guild each day. He guessed it was because he had a reputation as a man you just could not hang on too, he was a free spirit, with no time for relationships.
When it came down to it, Lorik was just a friendly, carefree dude with a huge interest in the spiritual side of life.
He was the Guild hippie, and a good friend to everyone.
"Oh please, a dirty hippie like you would be too busy picking flowers rather then "whooing' anybody." Natsu stated with a laugh, trying to rile his friend up.
"I'm not going to fight you, Natsu." He replied calmly from over his mug, knowing what he was trying to do.
"Damn it!" He moaned, faking disappointment and taking a drink.
Grey laughed.
"And excuse me, just because I happen to indulge in the carefree, no committed lifestyle of a non-violent mage. Doesn't meant I am incapable of 'whooing anybody'." He stated, quoting his friend with mock insult.
"Yeah right, how about you put your 'moves' to use and enter the Games instead." Natsu challenged with a smirk, signalling the bar for another round of drinks.
"No."
"Come on!"
"Nope."
"Please."
"Sorry." Lorik spoke disinterestedly into his mug finishing off his drink.
"Why not!?" Natsu demanded, leaning onto the table to enforce his enthusiasm about the subject.
"Because the games involve fighting man, you know I don't fight." He replied as Kinana came over with a tray of new drinks, a smile on her face.
"You don't fight, and yet you have never lost a battle in your life." She stated casually as she placed their drinks down for them.
"Still don't know how that works." Gray stated, taking his drink.
"I'm a Wizard, shhh." He replied jokingly.
"You suck."
With new alcohol to fuel them, they thanked her but before she walked away, Lorik took his drink and leaned back to address her causally.
"Hey Kinana?" He asked kindly, she smiled in response. He smirked briefly over at Natsu before looking back at her with kind eyes. "Natsu seems to believe that I'm incapable of 'Whooing' anybody in Crocus, what do you think. Because I personally believe I can 'Whoo' anyone, anytime." He winked and gave her his award winning smile.
Gray watched Kinana's cheeks flush at such a question. She seemed to consider her answer before finally replying.
"Yes, I believe you are more then capable, Mr Valin." With that, she walked off, more then happy to get back to work.
"HA see!" Lorik yelling in triumph, leaning in and taking a huge drink. "I totally should have joined Blue Pegasus! I'd fit right in!" He struck the most handsome pose he could.
Natsu laughed hard at the thought. "As if, you freaking Hippie!"
Gray finally sat back in his chair and raised his mug high, catching the others attention "Alright, since you and Flame Brain here can't seem to agree. I propose a small bet!"
They leaned in, interest suddenly dancing in their glassy eyes.
"A bet, what kind of bet?" Natsu asked, drinking deeply from his cup.
"I'm not getting naked, not for another 5 drinks!" Lorik added, remembering past experiences with Gray and their 'bets'. "I almost got arrested last time!"
Gray laughed at the memory. "I say we wager on Hippie boy's 'whooing' skills!" He finally stated. "Let's pick a target, and give him say...5 days? Since that's how long the Games are. And see if he can seal the deal."
Lorik raised a mocking eyebrow. "5 days...to sleep with them? I can do it in 3 or less!"
" So you accept the bet?" Gray confirmed.
"Depends, what's the stakes? Also you guys don't get to pick the target." He replied casually, looking at Natsu who looked truly disappointed this time.
"That sucks!" He moaned and Gray rubbed his chin.
"Ok, how about if you win...Natsu and I will...help you finish the renovations to your place AND pay for it." He propositioned much to Natsu's vocal displeasure.
"That's cool. And if I lose, I'll..." Lorik thought about this carfully. "I'll fight you both, for real, no holding back...AND take you on my next S Class job." He let his offer hang in the air.
"For real!?" Natsu yelled, almost jumping out of his seat and he nodded. "Like with REAL violence!?"
"Yep, it's not gonna happen because I'm gonna win, but sure."
"I'M SO FiRED UP!"
"It's a deal then." Gray confirmed. "You have to successfully sleep with the chosen target within 3 days."
"Deal!"
"Let's do this!"
Natsu looked around the Guild hall, scanning for a target. "How do we pick?" He asked, from over his shoulder. Gray took a long drink of his Ale and leaned back casually.
"Simple, we don't pick."
"Eh?"
Gray pointed to the large Guild doors. "Next person to walk through those doors, will be the target."
"That's a great idea, I hope you get Erza!" Natsu declared before suddenly laughing loudly. "Or Elfman! Aw man, can you imagine!"
"So it's a man of a woman?" Lorik inquired and received a nod from Gray. He shrugged and took a drink. "Fine by me, this will be easy."
Natsu suddenly slapped the table out of joy. "No wait! Forget Elfman, I want it to be Evergreen! Elfman would destroy you man!"
"Not if she kills you first." Gray added and laughed at Lorik's expression. "I hear life as a statue sucks man."
"Not likely guys, I saw Laxus and the Thunder God Tribe take a request this morning, guessing it's their first job together since he was welcomed back to Fairy Tail." The sandy blond mage interjected with relief. "And I would be an amazing statue, thank you very much." All three kept their eyes on those Guild doors as they continued to talk about possible targets. Neither knew what the others of their guild were up to today as they came to the bar straight after training all morning.
"Maybe it will be Gajeel...haha or maybe even Droy! I hope it's Gajeel though! What if it's Happy!? He's a cat man!" Natsu was so fired up, he couldn't wait. Why was it taking so long for someone to come in!?
"Maybe I'll get Lucy...or Juciy Juvia." Lorik stated with an eyebrow wiggle. "Or the lovely Lisanna!" He took a drink and was greeted with the same reaction from both men.
"Good luck with that!" They laughed, clinking their mugs together with a laugh.
"Lucy may not look it but she's way to prudish man, she will kick you in the face faster then you can blink." Natsu stated with a drink. "And Juvia is too weird about Gray." Gray nodded in agreement to his pink haired team mate. Natsu then leaned in close, his eyes darkening. "And if you even think about touching Lisanna, I'll rip you apart myself." He growled and Lorik laughed, clasping a hand on his shoulder.
"Have some faith in me man, I won't touch your woman. But as for the others...I dunno guys, I can be smooth as butter when I want to be!" The S Ranked mage started laughing, he lifted his mug and they all clinked together with spirit.
"Also, she's NOT my woman!" Natsu added with flushed cheeks as he drank. The others just laughed and followed Natsu's lead!
The sky was beginning to turn from blue to orange due to the lateness of the day, a few people had left the guild on jobs but no one was yet to enter. The trio continued to drink in each others company. As more people left they began to grow impatient, at this rate no one was going to come in. Seriously, it was a Saturday night where was everyone?! They had almost given up and left to get something to eat when it finally happened.
"Welcome back!" Mirajane's voice called across the Guild hall in her usual kind greeting. All three snapped to attention, waiting to see who passes through thoughts large, welcoming doors.
"Get ready to lose!" Natsu grinned. They all leaned in, the wait suddenly unbearable.
Then it happened, their 'Target' walked into their sights.
Gray and Natsu's mouths hung open, agape with shock. Their eyes simultaneously flickered to their friend who was staring, eyes wide, face in complete disbelief at his intended hook up.
Standing in the middle of the Guild Hall, making their way to an empty table at the back, was none other then the mighty and powerful lightning Dragon Slayer Laxus Dreyar himself.
Lorik shook himself to his sensors downed the rest of his drink and stood up. Natsu and Gray turned to stared at him, mouths still open. He smirked down at them.
"Game on boys!"