Sorry about the long wait! I messed up my shoulder some way and it was hard to type with only one hand. But, shoulder is somewhat better and I can write! Hope that everyone enjoys!
Invitation
Chapter 4
"Lu-Lu...Don't get me wrong, but maybe you shouldn't hang around Cobra." Levy suddenly whispered, drawing Lucy's gaze up and away from the book she had been reading. Levy was curled up on their couch, playing with her hair and refusing to meet her gaze.
Releasing a sigh, she marked her spot in the book and set it to the side. Leaning closer to Levy when she inhaled and finally looked up.
"I'm glad that you hung out with someone without my encouragement, but Cobra isn't the type you should hang around. Cobra isn't even his real name, and neither Gajeel or Laxus knows it. They trust him, but even they admit there is something odd about him." Levy ended the rant by straightening and giving her a pleading look. Lucy knew that she wanted her to just go on what she said, no questions asked, but Lucy couldn't. Not this time, anyway.
"Odd how?" The sigh that Levy released told Lucy that this could very well turn into a small bicker between them, but she couldn't help it. There was just something about Cobra that drew her to him.
"He speaks nothing of his past. The only thing they know is some of his idols, and that Midnight is his only friend, and the only one that knows about his life before here. Yet, Midnight refuses to talk about it..."
"It's not his place too. If they want to know so badly about him, then.."
"They have asked, Lu! Cobra always gives them some riddle like answers. Even I asked what his real name is, and all he said was; "You have to earn that privilege." Who says things like that!?" Levy snapped, a familiar spark entering her eye and Lucy thought about backing down but shook her head.
"Maybe he has a past he just doesn't like talking about. Maybe, he has trust issues to where he wants to absolutely trust someone before telling them his real name. Just because he doesn't talk about his past..."
"Alright, fine! But can you handle the rumors and being ostracized?" Levy asked, causing Lucy to blink and stare at her.
"What do you mean?"
"Lucy, there are so many dark rumors surrounding him. Rumors of being in gangs, being thrown into juvy and jail. Of him hurting people. Other students, they keep there distance from him. If you begin to socialize with him, they could very well give you the same treatment." Levy explained, and Lucy raised an eyebrow.
"I'm already anti-social, so I don't see.."
"Because that can be fixed! Associating yourself with Cobra could make it so no one would approach you. Which could mean that he could become your sole dependent, and he could easily hurt you!" Levy snapped, and Lucy gave a sigh while shaking her head. Talk about spiraling on that one. None of their friends would allow that to happen.
"This is ridiculous. So big deal, people don't know of his past, that doesn't mean he hurts people. I talked with him last night, and honestly, he's nothing like you just said. Thank you for your concern Levy, but I think I'll do this my way." She stated, grabbing her book and standing.
"Lucy..."
"I'll be at the library if you need me." She interrupted, grabbing her bag and walking out of the dorm room. Giving a sigh once she was out in the hall, she moved to the steps and glanced out a window in passing. Only to stop and backtrack as she saw Cobra moving through the campus grounds toward the library as well. Wondering briefly why he had decided to come back to the library, unless Laxus and Gajeel had lectured him as Levy had just lectured her.
Regardless, it didn't matter what his past was like. All that mattered was who people were now, even if a dark past shaped them into different people. Straightening her shoulders, she continued toward the steps, and decided that she would talk with him more if she saw him at the library. She didn't care what others thought, she wanted to get to know him and make her judgement based on what she saw. There was nothing in this world that would make her turn away from him.
"Other students, they keep their distance from him..." The words that Levy had explained earlier sounded in Lucy's mind. Which she was beginning to see was a major understatement. Students didn't just keep their distance from him and Midnight, they went out of their ways to just downright avoid them.
From the moment she had entered the library, she had seen just that. Cobra and Midnight were off at one table to the side, and it was almost like an invisible force field were around them. Everyone's eyes were focused on them for a few seconds before they focused back on what was before them, or if they had to get a book, they skirted around the table in a ridiculous manner. Surely this was just too extreme!
"Can you handle the rumors and being ostracized?" The question had Lucy giving a smile before facing the table again, watching as Midnight and Cobra talked about something, wincing as Cobra suddenly dropped his head onto the table and Midnight gave a heavy sigh before raising his crimson gaze. They seemed to widen slightly before staring at her in curiosity. She tilted her head slightly before giving a small smile, silently asking if it was okay for her to get closer. And felt something warm settle in her chest when he gave a small smile and nodded just the slightest.
Turning to face their table, she approached. Not minding the little skip that she had in her step, or the worried looks that she felt from the other students. No, Cobra wasn't like they made him out to be, and damnit, if she had to be the one to show them that, then so be it.
Cobra had poured everything out to Midnight, hoping that his friend could give him some sort of advice. Something to help him rather decide to leave Lucy alone, or attempt to have something with her. But, he was afraid. His life wasn't exactly something he could share with someone so...Pure! Not to mention, everyone treated him like a leper, and he didn't want her to experience the same.
Sure, she was anti-social. But that was her choice. If she hung out with him...Then people would start talking, and no doubt he would flip his lid the first time he heard a dark rumor about her. Giving a sigh, he plopped his head down onto the table, giving a smirk as Midnight's sigh reached his ears. He knew that his friend would like nothing more than to slap him upside the head, but just didn't have the energy at the moment because of his insomnia.
For the past few minutes, Midnight had been telling him to just screw what other people thought and try something with the blonde. Only to be rejected by another doubt from Cobra. Leading his friend to ask him if he truly wanted something with Lucy, or if it was just a crush. He had answered that he had wanted something, but was just to worried about everything else.
"Have you thought about what Lucy wants?" The random question had him raising his head and narrowing his gaze at the smirk on Midnight's face. He was up to something...
"Hey, can I join you guys?" The voice was unmistakable. Looking over his shoulder, he could only blink as Lucy stood there, waiting for them to give the okay. But for the life of him, he couldn't get his brain to register the answer correctly.
"By all means. Keep Cobra company for a bit, I'm gonna go get some coffees." Midnight muttered, standing from the table and causing Cobra to give him a panic look. Nearly growling when he just smirked before looking to Lucy again.
"Anything you want?"
"Caramel coffee, please." Lucy answered, pulling out the change for it, but Cobra wasn't surprised when Midnight waved it away and headed for the bar. The students in his way parting like the damn Red Sea.
"I could help..."
"He's the one who offered, therefore he pays. It's something he does, no point fighting it." Cobra muttered, finally finding his tongue in order to defend his friend. Looking to Lucy when she gave a hum and finally sat down. Right. Beside. Him!
"Guess that makes sense. I'm the same way." She muttered, and he felt his heart clench before giving a sigh and laying his head on the table again.
"You alright?"
"Fine, just a lot of shit going on inside my head." He grumbled, peeking out from under his arm at the students and felt dread settle over him. They had noticed Lucy sitting and talking with him. Some of them were already whispering to one another, and there was no telling what they were talking about.
"Mira and Midnight would look cute together." The off comment from Lucy had him looking back up with surprise. Only to follow her gaze to his best friend and the bar maid that took care of the entire library. Nearly falling from his chair as he saw that Midnight was actually giving a small, barely noticeable, smile to the woman.
"I knew he had a crush on her, but..."
"Looks like she might return his feelings." She muttered, and Cobra looked at Mira, who was blushing ever so lightly but wearing her usual smile. Well damn!
"Wait. Isn't she with that Mard guy?"
"Broke it off. He was just too serious, and when he finally insulted her siblings she cut it off. Her family means everything to her, and will always come first to her." Lucy muttered, and he turned to her with a raise eyebrow.
"And you know, because?"
"Hmm? Oh, Mira is one of my closest friends. Along with Natsu, Gray, Jackal, Lisanna, Elfman, Wendy, and Erza." She stated, causing him to sit there and just stare at her. Out of everything that they had talked about, her group of friends hadn't been mentioned...Those people were the most insane people around! Especially Natsu, Gray, Erza, and Jackal!
"How did you become friends with them?" He asked, watching as she gave a sad smile.
"Back in High School, after I got away from my father, Levy dragged me into her group of friends. They knew them from being around, and it just kinda happened. Natsu and me really kicked it off as friends, and the others just gradually came around." She admitted, and he watched as she rubbed the back of her head before looking up.
"Here is the coffees." Midnight sounded, placing a cup with dark liquid before him, a light brown one in front of Lucy, and a cream colored one in front of himself. They all sat in silence, each sipping their coffee, before Midnight finally lowered his cup and broke the silence.
"Lucy? What do you think of the rumors that surround Cobra and I?" The question had Cobra glaring at him, before peeking over at Lucy to see that she was looking at him in surprise. They both watched as she lowered her cup and looked up as she thought.
"Honestly, I don't even know any of the rumors that supposedly deal with you two. I don't listen to gossip, but Levy did lecture me about the rumors of gangs, being in juvenile detention, in jail and hurting some people. Although, she was mid rant so I don't know how credible all that is." She shrugged, looking at them with a small smile. Cobra shifted, wanting to defend himself, to somehow explain that not everything about him was bad. But, if he did that then she would know that a few of the things she just mentioned were true!
"Well, some of the rumors aren't far from the truth. What if we said something like that?" Cobra nearly shot across the table at his best friend. What the hell was he playing at!
"I wouldn't mind." That statement had him snapping his head in Lucy's direction, staring as she met Midnight's gaze head on. No hesitation, no dishonesty.
"What happened in the past, is in the past. It's shaped you to who you are now, and that's all that matters. So long as you are respectable people, I don't care. So far, I know that Cobra is nice and kind, and you are seeming to be the same way. So, if it's okay, I'd really like it if we can be friends." She beamed at them, and Cobra looked at Midnight, who gave a small smile before nodding. Then looked down at the table. Lucy didn't care about what happened in their past...Just who they were then...With a mental groan he dropped his head onto the table. Fighting the idiotic grin that wanted to plaster his face.
Never, in all his years, did someone just accept him like that. Hell, the only reason he was friends with Midnight, was because they had lived beside one another and dealt with the same shit. To have someone not even question their pasts, it was a fucking blessing. Especially when it came from Lucy!
"Cobra?"
"I'm good, Bright Eyes. Just wasn't expecting that shit." He muttered, before raising his head and facing her with a smile. He could deal with friendship for now, but if she would completely accept him, then he would go as far as he could. Even if that meant inviting her into his dark past.
Hope that you enjoyed!
