The next morning, light shone brightly through the one window we had. Various types of birds called out to each other in a cheerful tone. Truthfully, it was the perfect way to wake up.
Too bad it wasn't the way we really woke up.
A horrendous electrical smell filled the room. At first, I did not truly pick up on the scent. Then I felt Yolric jerk upright. Immediately, I clung the covers to my chest and sat up with him. There were Natsu, Happy, and Erza; Erza who was bringing clean laundry into the room and Natsu who had tried to plug in an iron and electrocuted himself. His hair was standing on end and he looked... Stunned, for lack of a better word. Happy was hovering over his staticky hair and attempted to pat it back down, only to be shocked himself.
"Good morning, you two," Erza spoke, a grin on her face. It looked as though she did not notice the fact that Yolric and I were both practically naked and that what she was doing was out of the ordinary.
"W... Whatcha doing, Erza? Natsu?" I stuttered.
"Well, I thought that if I took the liberty of doing your laundry, you might have more time to work on other things. Shiny, powerful things," she hinted, her eyes twinkling. I knew she meant her armor that I had promised her the evening before.
"Yeah, like showing me how to do those moves of yours! I'm ready to go now!" Natsu added as though he had not just been injured seconds before. Happy added in his cheerful "Aye!" after Natsu's words. I couldn't help but chuckle at their impatience.
"Yolric, would you mind going to meet up with the others and working out a plan of action? I'd like to stay here with Natsu and Erza for a bit," I asked. Yolric nodded, kissing my head. With his towel still mostly around his waist, he made his way to the clean clothes Erza had just brought in. He grabbed the first articles of clothing he could find and went into the bathroom to change. It was just me, Erza, and Natsu now... With me being naked in bed. At this realization, I blushed a dark red. When Natsu saw this, he immediately realized the situation he was in and blushed himself.
"I-I should go. I have to... Bug Grey..," he mumbled. Happy was about to question him, but Natsu grabbed him by the paw and left. Erza tossed me some clothes with a smirk.
"So, did have fun last night?" she questioned and I shimmied into my underwear. At this point, I was so used to that question from the guys it didn't even phase me.
"N-no! Of course not! W-we're not some sort of disrespectful animals!"
Clearly, it still embarrassed Yolric. I looked at Erza and rolled my eyes as he came out of the restroom clothed, head down, red-faced, and practically running out of the room. Erza giggled as he shut the door behind him and Happy was heard asking him why his "face looks like a tomato".
"So, Juniper," Erza began, "how long have you been with this team of yours?" I stood up out of the bed to get my jeans and shoes on.
"Five years with the guys, about a year with Vanya," I replied, heading to the bathroom to take care of the last of the morning routine and leaving the door open so I could continue talking to Erza. "Truthfully, they are the only family I have known. My father was always really busy, and my mom... I left so she wouldn't get into trouble with my magic. She was a sweet woman, though."
"Ah, you sound a lot like Lucy," Erza commented. I smiled at her words as I brushed my teeth. Lucy was such a strong and powerful young wizard; just being compared to her made me blush.
I spat minty foam into the sink. "So, let's talk armor."
"Check this out," Yolric said, slamming down two flyers in front of me. Erza and I had discussed everything she had wanted in her armor and were now sitting amongst the other wizards drinking tea made by Mira. I picked up the two pieces of paper and read over each one.
"'Rare Phoenix being sold illegally. In need of skilled wizards to retrieve the creature at secret auction. 100,000 Jewel'. That sounds easy enough. What about this other one? 'Criminal gang wanted. Four in all. 15,000 Jewel per member, 75,000 for all. Consists of Earth Magic Wizard Nile Pater, Plant Magic Wizard Tigris Illian, Animal Possession Wizard Euro Haties, and Chain Magic Wizard Rio Kelso. Take caution'. I understand that both of these are good jobs, but how do we do both?" I read thoroughly. Yolric flashed me a smile and winked.
"Our little prophet told me this gang would be at the auction. Word on the street is that they take great pride in collecting rare creatures, skinning, and eating them for 'enhanced power'. Of course, it doesn't work, and I know how you are with the animals. How about it, Dearest? What say you and I sneak in and save two birds with one job?" Yolric asked excitedly. I could tell he was ready to get back out and use his abilities for good. I smiled at him and nodded, drinking one last sip of tea.
"Sounds good to me," I replied, standing up. "What about the others?"
"Xavier is going to exchange most of our coins for jewels. We decided to keep some of it for Xavier's Precognition, but most of it is being sold. Vanya and Darren were both invited by other teams to go on missions," Yolric explained.
"You two go have some fun. Show them what a new Fairy Tail Wizard can do," Erza stated with a twinkle in her eye. We both looked at her, nodded, and went to prepare for our first jobs.
