It was five years prior-.
Lucy and Loke walked slowly through Magnolia; their fingers were intertwined as they strolled towards the Fairy Tail guild hall. Their hands swung back and forth at a leisurely pace.
Lucy gave a sigh, leaning carelessly against her spirit's shoulder. "After that job, I'm ready to get home! Into a nice hot back. A long one," she confided, glancing up to the sky, painted pink from the sunset.
Loke snorted a soft laugh. "Could I join you? My back is killing me."
"No, you pervert. Get an ice pack." Lucy rolled her eyes, but giggled despite herself and bumped Loke's shoulder playfully. They slowed to a stop as they came to the cobbles that lead to the Guild hall.
"You should go back through your gate," Lucy said, turning to face Loke. "Get regenerated. Healed." Her eyes traced over a nasty slash on his cheekbone.
He hummed. "I did use quite a bit of magic back there," he conceded, wincing slightly. Lucy smiled, leaning up to press a kiss to his lips.
"I'll see you tomorrow," she offered softly before lowering herself back down to her toes.
"Okay." Loke smiled at her, grinning for all his worth. "Good night."
"Good night," Lucy replied, blowing a kiss as the lion disappeared into his gate, a flutter of blue fragments was all he left behind.
Lucy stretched her arms into the air for a moment before twisting, towards the Guild. God, she was ready to get home.
She made her way to the bar and tried to ignore the strange way the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she sat down. When she looked behind herself, she wasn't able to find anyone looking at her, or seeking her eyes.
It's the long job, her mind assured her.
"Hey there Mira," Lucy says, trying to put a gleeful tone to her voice. It fell flat, of course. She was never going to take a three week job again so long as she lived. "Are the team back?" she questioned, indicating her own Team Natsu. After she sneaked out on her own solo mission, she was informed that the team took another mission to pass the time while she was away.
"Not yet," Mira smiled at her. A small quirk of the lips. Something about it set Lucy on edge. She took another look around; the bar was virtually empty, but the tables were filled out. There was that strange feeling again...
"Are you okay Mira?" she asked, looking back to the older woman, who had since put down the glass she was polishing and was looking over Lucy's shoulder. Lucy followed her gaze to Master Makarov. She hadn't noticed when he walked up.
"Lucy!" he says, voice bright and all around normal sounding. It relaxed Lucy and she allowed herself to breathe. "You've returned!" He climbed up on a barstool and placed his butt to sit on the bartop. He pointedly ignored Mira's chiding in favor of smiling widely at Lucy. "How was the job?"
"I'm so tired," she immediately groaned, leaning her head down on the bar. "It was supposed to be a simple 'get the rogues out of our village' but they were wizards. Psycho Wizards!" She lifted her hand, wrapped in white bandages. "They must have had a massive grudge against us because one of them tried to literally carve my insignia away." I was rescued by one of the locals -which was a little embarrassing because I'm from Fairy Tail - but then we kicked some rogue butt and finished the job so it turned out alright!" She picked her head up, a proud air about her. She let out a breath. "I think I might even need a new stamp!"
"Lucy, as much as it pains me to say this," Makarov began, speaking for the first time since her rant. "You won't be getting another stamp."