So far it had been three days since Flare had joined the guild and because of that Natsu had all but stopped talking to me. Whenever I enter the guild he pretends I'm not there but he always gets angry when he sees Flare by me side. Speaking of Flare I know that she's nervous about being here but for some reason she's taken to following me around wherever I go. When I asked her about it she only said
"I feel safe when around Blondie." which did nothing more than help the rumor that Flare liked me, which was most likely started my Mira for some unknown reason. But after three days of doing nothing but relaxing at home and buying some clothes for Flare seeing as the clothes she came in were the only ones she had brought it was time to do a mission.
"Hey Flare lets go on a mission together." I say getting her attention. apparently she had found a real interest in some of my older novels and had taken every opportunity to curl up on my bed and read them.
"A mission what's that?" she asked setting down her book and looking at me.
"You know where you go and do something for someone in exchange for money. Did Raven Tail not have missions?"
I instantly regretted saying that just now remembering that any time her old guild was brought up Flare would become withdrawn and sullen untill I managed to cheer her up.
"Usually the master just told us who we needed to rob or what village was late on its protoction money and that was it."
"Well our missions are entirely different and really easy I promise."
I could tell from the look in her eyes that she was hesitant to leave a place she had deemed safe so takeing a page out of Mira's book I added some incentive.
"Tell you what if we go on a mission I'll let you wash my hair when we get back."
"Really!?" if there was one thing that Flare seemed to like more than reading my books it was messing with my hair. I didn't need to say any more to get her to go to the guild with me. As I walked my usual route along the river and as usual walking to close to the edge I ran into my two favorite boat men who as usual told me to be careful.
"Please I never fall in" as if by some twist of fate my foot hit the only puddle and I slipped and was sent hurdling into the water. I closed my eyes as I fall but the cold of the water never seemed to hit me and when I opened my eyes found my self being held up by Flare's hair.
"Blondie should really be careful" she said as she set me down. I gave her a quick hug in gratitude which left her both stunned and blushing when I pulled back.
"Thanks for the save Flare now lets head to the guild"
As we started walking I couldn't help but hear the two on the boat saying something about how nice it was that I had a girlfriend like Flare. After that arriving at the guild was a piece of cake, in fact it was rather quiet and dull which was even more unusual seeing as it's usually such a rowdy place. In fact the only people I could see in the guild were Levy who was as usual surrounded by Jet and Droy along with Cana who was busy drinking from her always present barrel. Mira was busy wiping the bar while Wendy ate a ice cream sunday.
"Flare while I go and get us a mission why don't you go talk to Mira and Wendy I mean this is your first mission and Mira can give you some advice."
She seemed a bit sad when I told her that but then again she always looks a bit sad so it was rather hard to tell with her but after a moment of looking from me to Mira nodded and walked over to the bar while I looked at the available missions.
"Let's see, Mage needed to slay evil creature, no that's a bit to much for a first mission, Mage wanted for magical demonstration at local preschool not that one either Flare can only be around four people without being nervous so I doubt a bunch of hyper kids would help." I was just about to give up when I spotted something hidden underneath one of the posters.
"Two mages needed to bodyguard nobel during train ride big reward upon completion, well that one doesn't sound to bad just guard one guy for a simple train ride." I snatch up the poster and head over to the bar where Mira was talking to red faced Flare who seemed to jump out of her chair when I put my hand on her shoulder.
"Oh hello Lucy I was just asking Flare some questions. Did you find something nice for her first mission?"
"Yeah a protection job that needs two mages but what kind of questions were you asking?"
I could tell something was up the way Mira looked at Flare and then to me but she just smiled and said.
"Oh nothing important just being curious is all."
"Right well Flare if you're ready we'll head over to meed with the noble the poster says to meet him at his private train car."
We head back home and pack some gear in case of emergencies and head across the town to the train station where we found a two massive guys in black suits standing in front of a posh looking series of cars.
"Hello we're here for the bodyguard job." I say as soon as we get close to the train and are stopped by the guards.
"Prove you're from a guild and show your mark."
We show them our guild symbols and are given a wide berth as one of the guards a dark skinned man wearing black sunglasses leads us through the trains.
"Sorry about earlier but one can never be to careful."
"It's okay I've seen it before" I remember growing up in the mansion surrounded by guards of all kinds.
"Now I'll be honest Mr. Rosecrest can be a handful" before he opens the last door he looks us over one last time before sighing.
"Typicaly for women like yourselves."
I was about to ask what he ment by that but before I could the door was flung open to reveal a tall blond-haired green eyed young man in an expensive suit.
"Alert the driver to leave at once I'll not wait one more minute...And why didn't you tell me we had such beautiful women on this train."
"These two mages are your body-guard sir and please be patient the train will be departing in the next five minutes."
Even though I just met him I could tell he was the poster child for the entitled nobel. The guard that had led us here was waved off as Mr. Rosecrest moved us inside his private car and set us down on a couch as he took the seat across from the two of us.
"So Mr. Rosecrest about the job"
"Please Mr. Rosecrest is my farther, please address me as Adam."
"Okay then Adam about your job what kind of trouble are you expecting."
He grabs a bottle of expensive looking wine and pours himself a drink.
"Oh just the usual bandit or thug with the dream of kidnapping and ransoming me back to my parents. My family is quite rich so this sort of thing happens far to often then I would like." He talked like he found being kidnaped was something extremely tedious.
"But don't worry I usually only get attacked by rouges as we pass the mountains so if you can defend me through that I'll give you a reward and maybe something special." He winks at me and tries to place his hand on mine but I pull back which seems to anger him but he just smiles.
"We'll guard the train car in front of this one while you just relax here. Come on Flare."
He gets up as we do and motions around the car at all the extravagance.
"Please stay here I can guarantee that this car is much more comfortable then any other."
"Be that as it may we're here to protect you and we can do that better if we form a line of protection."
When I try to take a step away he reaches out and grabs my arm.
"I insist you stay here." he says his anger showing.
However in an instant his hand is pulled back by Flare's hair.
"Don't touch Blondie!" before he can say anything Flare opens the door and pulls me through.
The minute we through the door Flare looks at the mark his hand had caused and for an instant I could see nothing but hatred in her eyes. In fact if I might not have known her for long but I could tell what she was thinking of doing to the man just a few feet away.
"Flare let it go."
"But he hurt you Blondie!" she screams as her hair starts to ignite into flames.
"Flare it's not the first time I've had to deal with someone like him. But thank you for doing what you did."
I walk her to a nearby bench and set her down before sitting beside her as she puts her flames out so not to harm me. As we were sitting something disturbing pops into my head.
"Flare I know this is sudden but tell me about yourself."
"Why?"
"Well we've been roommates for a few days and I know next to nothing about you."
She goes silent for a moment before looking back to me.
"Alright but only if you can tell me about you"
"Well alright then, where were you born?"
"I was born in Sun Village also known as the village of giants, but after a while I noticed how different I was from them and not long after I got my hair magic I left to see the world. Now your turn Blondie."
"Well I was born into a wealthy family which is why I'm so used to people like him. Anyway a few years after my mother died and my farther become to obsessed in his business I ran away and become a mage like my mother. Soon after that I met Natsu and joined Fairy Tail."
At the mention of Natsu my voice becomes laced with sadness at the thought of my good friend avoiding me. Flare seems to catch on and puts her hand on my shoulder.
"I'm sorry Blondie it's my fault Natsu is avoiding you."
"Don't be sorry Flare I forgave you for what you did I just can't see why he can't."
"Does Blondie like Natsu?" Her question catches me off guard for a moment and as I think about it the answer comes to me like a lighting strike. I couldn't tell why but for some reason Flare's hands were fidgeting like crazy as she looked at me awaiting my answer.
"Everyone thinks that I like him and honestly... I only see him as a friend or maybe brother bt that's about it." I catch a smile on her lips but before I could ask about it the lights went out as an explosion rocked the train as the door at the front of the car was blown from its hindges as six huge men carrying battle axes came in but it wasn't untill their leader came in when I was truly surprised. For every man we saw were the same guards from before but now instead of suits they wore suits of armor
"Ladies I'd rather not hurt you but I'm afraid we've worked to hard and waited to long for the opportunity to kidnap this arrogant fool. So please step aside and this won't have to become unpleasant."
"Open gate of the Lion, Leo" with one swing of my hand and a puff of some Leo was standing before me and without me saying anything rushed forth and took two of the men out with glowing fists while three men rushed past him and raised his axes to strike flare, instead of looking panicked she just jumped back while sending her hair like two harpoons striking the men in their chests and sending one onto the wall and the other flying out the window. Loki seemed to be dealing with his enemies just fine but this fight was becoming more dangerous as the men were learing to strike and retreat so I decided to blow them away in one shot.
"Open gate of the Scorpion Scorpio!" hearing this and knowing what was next Leo jumped back behind Scorpio as he raised his giant stinger and sent a massive blast of sand into the remaining enemies knocking all but the leader out cold.
"You'll need more than sand to stop me!" he screams as he charges us axe raised.
To my surprise it was Flare who rushed forward and with her hair like spikes slashed his axe and armor as she jumped over him. He chuckled for a moment thinking nothing happened but as he took a step his axe and armor fell away in pieces before Loki delivered the last blow in the form of a glowing fist to his face sending him into the wall with the rest of his men. After that the rest of the train ride passed with no trouble and we made it to the town were the authorities were waiting to arrest the men. Not only that but Adam's parents were there to greet him when he stepped off the train.
"Now for the matter of payment for the mission" he said throwing a large bag of jewels to us but apparently that wasn't all he had to say.
"And of course a bonus for being such fine lades." Before I could stop it he leaned in and was about to kiss me when a hand grabbed the back of his head stopping him.
"Now son you wouldn't be harassing the women that saved your life now would you?" his farther said smiling like Mira did before she did something really scary
"...No" he squeaked out.
Not believing him his farther dragged him away from us while his mother placed a ticket into my hands.
"Sorry about our son, please accept this as a real bonus. It's a ticket good for two people at the Inn and hot spring we own in this town"
"Thank you" I say right as she leaves and Flare grabs my hand
"Come on Blondie"
"Flare where are we going?"
"You promised if we went on a mission I'd get to wash your hair so lets hit the inn"
I guess after all the chaos of today Flare still only wanted to mess with my hair... Not that I'm complaining.