A/N:
Hi Fairy's!
I'm so sorry, I completely forgot to tell you my updating-schedule!
On the weekends it's "family time" so I haven't got the time to do anything then. So, I'll be updating daily from Monday to Thursday, then pause from Friday to Sunday.
Than you so much for your follows and fav's – and especially for your reviews, angelMwings, westerngoddess, Velvet Thorn, Guest and sassykitten1701! It means a lot to me that you took the time to tell me what you thought of the chapter and our two weirdos.
Okay, I've babbled enough now. On we go, hope you'll enjoy!
Abi
3. Invite
"Erik..." she said. "I like that name, it suits you." And then she smiled that godforsaken smile of hers again. You know, the one that made him feel all gooey inside and not-at-all like himself. Yuck. He hated people. Hated talking to them, hated being around their noisy souls, hated their lovey-doveyness when it came to feelings, hated being exposed. Especially being without clothes! He felt so... fucking naked if he didn't have his coat or long sleeved shirt. All his scars on display... just like they were right now, standing around in nothing but some boxers and a towel. Fuck. But strangely, with her he didn't mind as much. Which brought him back to the start. What in the seven fuckhells was wrong with him?
… and she was staring at him again... huh. "Hey Bright Eyes, got some clothes for me to wear so you can stop drooling all over my scarred arse?" he smirked, trying to cover up how confused he was. That seemed to startle her out of her trance. Like, badly. So badly in fact, that she stumbled and bumped into him – which then sent him to the floor. Again. At least they had made it back into the living area, him limping along and her holding him up. Crashing on the bathroom tiles would've hurt much worse. Still, a hiss escaped him.
"Oh no! I... I'm so sorry! Did I hurt you? I'm sorry!" He blinked his eye open, then closed it and opened it again. What... There she was, on her knees beside him, her face right next to his. And her smell... soft and sweet and fruity... like... strawberries? No blushing for you, fucker! Keep it in, dammit. He sat himself up … oh my god Lucy you cow, can't you watch were you're staring! He must think me so weird, really he's got it right I was drooling all over him... but those muscles... gah bad Lucy not again! Retreat! … only to gulp and bite back a groan. "I'm gonna get you some shorts and a t-shirt, be right back!" she squeaked and took flight. Yeah, he was officially nuts.
He shrugged, nothing he could do about it now, then stripped out of the still wet and clingy boxers - he had been wearing them in the tub, after all – remaining only in a towel that he wrapped securely around his waist. His hair was still in the short cut that every prisoner got, so it was dry already. He shuddered slightly as a cool breeze hit him from somewhere, making the fine hairs of his happy trail stand up in goose bumps. "You gotta make those clothes from scrap or what?! I'm freezing here, you know!" … sheesh... can't even hide out in peace for a couple of minutes... he heard her. "Come on, get me those clothes and help me treat the injuries. Then I'll be out of your hair!"
She came out of the door that must've been leading into her bedroom, holding a pile of clothes out to him. Cocking her head to the side she asked "What do you mean, out of my hair?" "Like I said it, out of your hair. Gone. Poof. Not bothering you anymore." he chuckled at her confused expression. "What's up with that face you're making?" … he can't mean... just two hours ago he was almost freezing to death, clearly hasn't anywhere to go... he's so hurt his back! He can't possibly... "Can't possibly – what, Bright Eyes?" "Uah! Stop listening in you creep!" she made a move as if to kick him but caught herself at the last moment and hit the couch instead.
"I don't get you... Erik." He laughed softly – which had her staring at him, mesmerized yet again – and fuck, what was he doing?! Flirting? Hell no. But maybe... his inner voice seemed to say. Nope, not gonna happen. "Well, that's two of us then." "Seriously, I can't let you leave when you're so weak still! You could get really ill, and where would you sleep? Get food? No. I'm gonna help you." And don't you dare try sneaking out in the middle of the night or any such idiot moves, either. He gulped as for a split second a dark aura surrounded her.
Scary Lucy apparently was a thing. He'd never believed Blueberry when he told stories of the "scary" Fairy Tail girls. How Levy threatened Black Steel or how the pink mess cowered in fear of the so called "Scary Lucy". Sure, She-Demon Mira was something else entirely (man, she had various demons in her brain, arguing about anyone and anything all the time!) and the strawberry-cheesecake had a mean right hook. But those small, friendly girls? Completely mad. Well, who was he to argue. Wasn't completely sane himself after all.
While they had been bantering, he he'd put on the second pair of boxers, not second guessing where she may have got them from, leaving the shirt in his hands as Lucy uncupped a vial of some thick salve... and wow, did that smell horrible!
She had no mercy either, because she began to rub the oily substance all over him "You're killing my nose here, Bright Eyes! What the fuck is in that?!" She just snickered and shook her head. "No telling, it's a secret reiceipt of Porlyusicas." Okay that cleared that up. The old hag probably made it smell weird intentionally.
"It helps, I promise!" Oh Lucy get yourself together... but he's just so handsome... and so.. arghh! With bis face all scrunched up. And his skin feels nice... and his torture continued. Still, some part of him was silently purring in contentment and he was way past caring at that moment. "Okie-dokie, that's it!" she patted his shoulder slightly, "Now we're just gonna wrap you up in some bandages and then you can go and rest. It's late after all and you'll need it to get well again soon."
She left the room again, only to come back a moment later with bandages in her hands. It was a thing of mere minutes to get him wrapped up, one could tell she had some experience. Her team wasn't called the most destructive for nothing, and more often than not someone would end up hurt and in need of treatment. After the incident with "nurse Erza" on Tenrou... well lets just say they tended to come to her for help. If she wasn't the one who was hurt in the first place. Being the physically weakest member of her team that happened fairly often, too.
When she was finished tightening the ends of the bandages, she smiled at him. "I'm happy to be able to help you, you know? You're a good man, Cobra. Erik." And then she leaned in and kissed his cheek... he must've died. No way in the... fucking shit... he felt his ears heat up, this time there was no escaping it, and he grumbled as a response.
"Okay Erik. Here's the deal. I've got the couch for you, it's extendable so you'll be having enough space to lie down properly. And don't get any ideas - I've officially invited you to stay with me, for as long as it'll take to get you on your own two feet again, alright?! No sneaking of at the crack of dawn, no feeling guilty. Roomies, 'kay?" He had a rejection already on the tip of his tongue, a scathing remark to hide how unsure he felt about all her help, but then she cocked her head again, smiled her sweet smile and winked. Winked. He was done for. But damn if he wasn't gonna enjoy this newfound peace while it lasted.