Chapter 10 ~ 10 Ways to Recover After a Job

Rien had slept again on the flight home at Natsu's insistence. The brunette could hardly believe it had only been 26 hours since they first left.

Wynn wasn't happy that he couldn't go with them after they made it back to Magnolia; he wanted to care for his pack. However, he understood that he couldn't be seen by people yet. With little prompting from Rien, he flew off to the forest to find somewhere to rest.

Natsu helped Rien walk back to her apartment. Not only was she exhausted from staying up all night and going into shock, but she'd also depleted her magical containers. She'd been stubborn about not wanting to be carried, so she had one arm thrown over Natsu's shoulder with his arm around her waist, half dragging her through the streets. A few people stopped to look at them, but it wasn't the first time they had seen tired wizards stumbling through the town so they were quickly forgotten. When they finally made it to the door, Rien passed the key to Natsu.

"I feel like death." She groaned, shuffling inside. Natsu came in as well, putting the keys on her living room table for her. He sat on her couch, letting his head rest against the cushions.

Rien thought maybe he wanted to make sure she got to bed before he left, so she grabbed a maroon fairy tail sweatshirt Mira had given her along with black sleeping shorts and made her way into the bathroom. She really needed to take a shower. The girl undressed and rinsed her body as quickly as she could, moving through the motions on autopilot. Shampoo. Conditioner. Bodywash. When she was done, she turned off the water and toweled off. The brunette couldn't be bothered with blow drying, instead pulling up as much of her short hair as she could gather and tying it up into a half-bun.

When she finally emerged from the bathroom, Natsu was sound asleep in her bed which he must have pulled down while she was gone. Rien smiled softly, going over to sit on the side he wasn't occupying.

"Natsu." She whispered, gently shaking his shoulders. The dragon-slayers eyes fluttered open, looking up at her tiredly.

"Are you going home or did you want to stay here?"

"I'll stay" He yawned. Natsu scooted back and lifted the covers on Rien's side. The girl blushed, but she really was too tired to be embarrassed and her bed had never looked more comfortable. Rien slipped under the blankets, pulling them up to her chest. She sighed contently as she snuggled into her pillows. It was extra warm thanks to Natsu's body heat.

Just when she was about to fall asleep, she heard Natsu whisper to her.

"Rei?"

"Mmhmm?" She hummed.

"Can I hold you?"

Her heart skipped a beat.

She was too exhausted to use her magic to understand his reasoning, though she figured it probably had to do with the traumatic experience they had just gone through. Rien wasn't a particularly touchy-feely person, but if it made Natsu feel better, what was the harm? Besides, she slept against him when flying on Wynn. How different could it be?

"Y-yeah."

Natsu scooted closer, circling an arm around her waist. Then he gently tugged her backward until her back pressed snuggly against his chest. His other arm rested just above her head on the pillow. Due to the position, one of his legs ended up between hers. Rien sighed contently. She was wrong. It was a lot different than sleeping on Wynn because Natsu was comfortable too and there was no risk of falling. This was better.

Seconds later, both teens were sound asleep.

The brunette was only half awake when she came to again. Nothing had changed in the time she was asleep. If anything, she and Natsu had moved closer, his head resting on top of hers and his hand sprawled across her stomach.

There was a knock on the door.

Rien sighed. She didn't want to move.

Another knock.

Well, she didn't want to leave them outside either. The mage tried to sit up, only for Natsu's arm to tighten around her.

"Don't go." He mumbled.

"It's Lucy and the others." She whispered back, wiggling up into a sitting position. "I'll be right back." Natsu's arm thumped against the mattress in a sign of protest. Rien ignored him, quietly heading for her front door.

"Hi guys." She whispered, letting them in. The curtains were drawn and all the lights were off, giving just enough light for them to see. "Natsu's here too."

"He likes sneaking into other people's beds." Lucy grumped. "You'll get used to it."

"Er, right. Wh-what are all of you doing here?" She asked, noting Happy, Erza, and Gray behind the other girl. All of them had changed into more comfortable clothes, with Erza in a set of pink pajamas, Gray in black sweatpants, and Lucy in white sleeping shorts with a matching silk slip top.

"After missions like that one, no one likes being alone." Gray explained. "So we usually crash in Lucy's apartment."

"I never volunteered." The blonde added.

"Would you mind if we stayed here with you tonight?" Erza asked, despite the fact it was only three in the afternoon. Everyone was exhausted.

"Yeah, of course. Let me set up places for you to sleep."

"Thanks, Rei." Happy mumbled, floating past her in the doorway. The brunette only nodded in return. She should have enough space for everyone. The small mage asked Gray for help in moving the glass table away from the couch, then pulled out the bottom section of the larger side and propped it up, turning the piece of furniture into a double sized bed. Rien jogged to the closet inside her bathroom, pulling out extra sheets and blankets which she gave to the other girls to use on the couch. She then went back to the closet again, this time pulling out an extremely cushiony bed roll for Gray. Happy had already flopped onto her meditation pillow so she decided to leave him there, gently placing a blanket on the cat as well.

"It's like a cloud." Gray groaned in appreciation, landing face first on the flexible mattress. Rien giggled, placing a soft green blanket over him.

"Goodnight Gray."

"G'night Rei."

"Thank you for doing this." Erza whispered, gesturing to herself and Lucy. They'd made their bed quickly, already laying under the covers. The celestial mage nodded in agreement. Rien smiled.

"You're very welcome."

When she was sure everyone was content, the brunette made her way back to her bed where Natsu appeared to have already fallen back asleep. It was strange. One week ago, if you'd told her that she'd be welcoming this group of people to sleep in her home and sharing her bed with Fairy Tail's first dragon slayer, she would have called you insane. And yet, in this moment, everything felt right. Rien smiled to herself, carefully crawling back into bed so as not to wake up the male already there. However, as soon as she settled Natsu drew her back to his side. This time they were facing one another, with Rien's hands pressed against his chest and his one hand covering her lower back while the other one went back above the pillow. Rien blinked up at him, noticing him checking that this was okay with half-lidded eyes. In response she ducked her head down, resting it against his collarbone. Her cheeks heated, but she scooted forward anyway, entangling her legs with his. She couldn't help it. She felt so drawn to him, and it was so comfortable that she didn't really care what it looked like or what it implied. She just wanted to be in this moment, with these people, wrapped up in Natsu's arm.

This time, instead of two Fairy Tail mages sleeping soundly in the apartment, there were six.

The next time Rien woke up, it was dark outside. Natsu was also awake, his head tilted back to look at the stars outside her window. The girl's eyes glowed, alerting Natsu's attention while she checked if the others were still asleep. They were.

"Hi." She greeted, rolling onto her back. Her voice sounded scratchy from sleep. Rien stretched her arms above her head, feeling her muscles crack with a satisfying 'pop'. "Have you been awake long?"

"No."

"If you want food or something, you can grab anything from the kitchen." The girl whispered, hoping not to wake the others.

"I'm okay." Natsu moved his arm, propping his head up to look at Rien better. "Do you feel better now?"

Rien blushed slightly. "I-I'm alright Natsu. My magical containers are currently 65% restored, and my body is well rested. I should be up and ready to go back to the guild tomorrow. Which reminds me, I need to write up a report on our mission." As she spoke, Rien reached under the bed and opened the first shelf which contained her laptop.

"That creepy bastard can rot in hell."

The brunette shook her head. "You don't know what his life was like. He could have been mentally ill or abused. For what it's worth, I don't think this was his plan at all."

That caught his attention. "You don't?"

"No. For one thing, that magic orb must have been an extremely pricy object, and from the state of his hair and cleanliness, I could tell he was middle to lower class. Even the costume was cheep. A man like him could work his entire life and still never be able to make a purchase that expensive."

"And you could tell this by his hair?"

"Well, yeah. It was greasy but brushed, so I assume he owns cheap shampoo. Considering his outfit was clean and lacked debris from the forest, he must have had a home somewhere where in the very least he was able to shower and sleep. I'll be adding in my report that they should search the outskirts of Persimineon and other nearby towns. Most likely, his home will be in the middle of the woods."

"I don't get it." Natsu sighed, flopping back into the pillows. Rien giggled.

"You don't have to get it. My magic is for figuring stuff out, and your magic is for beating people up."

"Sounds like a good team to me." The pinkette observed, folding his hands behind his head. "Next time, I'll be there when you figure it out so you don't have to take all the hits afterwards. Like you said, beating up the bad guys is my job."

The girl frowned. "That wasn't your fault. I was the one who let us get seperated. At that point, there was nothing you could have done. Please try not to dwell on it."

"Yeah." Natsu whispered, though he clearly didn't agree with her assessment. Rien sighed, continuing on with her report.

"Hey, Rei?"

"Hmm?"

"If the Gamemaster is gone, how are we gonna help all those other wizards?" The slayer asked carefully.

"I was wondering the same." Added another voice. Rien turned, seeing Erza sit up in her bed. Beside her, Lucy was waking up as well.

"Ah, I'll explain. I'm sure you all remember how I woke up in shock? That was because even though my body wasn't actually wounded, my mind thought it was and continued to register the pain. It was part of the orbs magic. It influences a dissociation between the body and mind. All those wizards are still very capable of using magic. However, their mind doesn't believe they can, therefore making it impossible for them to use. I'm recommending the council provide at least ten sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy to all the Gamemasters previous victims. The therapist should be able to help them repair their distorted cognitions and modify their emotions and thoughts on the experience towards a more realistic light, allowing them access to their magic once more."

"So in the end, it was just another mind trick." Gray summarized, having woken up just before Rien's explanation. The girl nodded, even though she knew Gray couldn't see her in the dark.

"That's right. Everything you and they experienced was derived from the mind. Nothing physical actually occurred. However, that doesn't make it any less real. I ask that you not disregard the importance and fragility of the mind. Some of the deepest wounds are the ones we can't see."

"You said everything we saw was from your memories." Erza spoke up. "When I was separated from everyone, I ended up in a girls bedroom. There were dolls of everyone but you."

Rien hummed. "Was the room yellow and brown?"

"Yes."

"That was my bedroom in my aunt's home. As for the dolls, I imagine those are the ones I saw in the Fairy Tail gift shop. I wasn't there because I don't have a doll. I'm not exactly a popular enough member to sell merchandise of."

"You definitely will be soon, I'm sure of it." Lucy reassured, causing Rien to laugh.

"Personally, I'm not sure I want people I don't know to have depictions of me in their home."

"Aww, you don't think it's flattering?" The blonde teased.

"Most of our sales are made to men and women between the ages of 35-50. What do you think they're doing with objects that have our members in skimpy clothing?"

"Okay, eww~"

"What're you talking about?" Natsu asked curiously, while Gray burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Happy wondered sleepily.

"F-Forget it!" Erza ordered, her face bright red.

Rien giggled. "Alright, anyone else?"

"I was in a town." Gray spoke up. "And there was a demon flying towards us. I had to save either the school or the apartment complex."

"Well, I assume the town is also the one where my aunt lives." Maroon eyes flashed. "And the demon must have been one of Mira's demon souls. Or, at least, the demon she defeated for it."

"Have you seen Mira take a soul before?" Lucy's eyes lit up. Rien shivered.

"Yes. Her Halphas one. It was… not an experience I wish to repeat. Once was more than enough."

"So Mira really has beaten demons before?" Natsu asked, his eyes lighting up. "That's so cool~ Now I wanna fight her!"

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Gray snorted. "You wouldn't last five minutes."

"No one asked you Ice Freak!"

"Anyone could have told you that Crazy Flame Spewer!"

"Pervy Popsicle!"

"Dragon Freak!"

"Enough." Erza demanded, shaking with rage. The two boys gulped, shrinking into the cushions of their respective beds.

"I know! Rei, you can tell us! Can Natsu beat Mira?" Happy asked, flying over to see the girl. Rien gulped.

"Erm, based on what I know of Natsu's and Mira's magic, I would say it's currently…. 4%. And that chance has nothing to do with a contest of strength or magic."

"Hey!" Natsu cried. He reached over, gently bopping her on the head with a closed fist. "Have a little faith, would you?!"

"I-It has nothing to do with faith!" Rien defended, shrinking away with a blush on her cheeks. "It's the facts Natsu. You aren't at her power level yet! That being said you could still win… I'm just not going to tell you how."

"Good. When I defeat her, it's going to be with my own magic!" Natsu promised, punching his fist into his open palm. Rien bit her lip. That probably wouldn't happen for another…oh, three years at least. But she wasn't going to tell him that.

"Well uh, any other questions?"

"What about the cliffside? And the forest I was in?" The pinkette asked, calming down a bit.

"Tillman's forest. It's a really beautiful place you know. I'll have to show you guys sometime."

"I was in the night sky standing on a cloud, but I think that's pretty self explanatory." Lucy shrugged.

"Oh, I have one! When did you see Juvia's magic?" Happy asked curiously. Rien coughed, looking away.

"I-I th-think that's a story f-for another t-time."

"How come you're so nervous~?" Natsu grinned, leaning closer to her so that their noses were practically touching, wiggling his eyebrows. Rien squeaked, nearly tumbling off the bed. Of course, with her athletic ability, she fell into a backwards somersault and rolled onto her feet instead.

"I-I- umm- bathroom!" The girl turned, practically flying into the other room. Everyone stared at him.

"What?" The dragon-slayer wondered, cocking his head to the side. Lucy shook her head.

"Nothing. You just, well, you seem to be getting really close with Rei is all."

Natsu blinked. "Isn't that the point? To be closer with her so she won't leave? We are her family after all."

"Okay, no. That is not at all what Lucy meant." Gray sighed. He suddenly felt like a parent scolding his child, except he didn't even like Natsu all that much. "You just seem to be in contact with her a lot."

"Yeah." Natsu shrugged. "So?"

"You don't do that with me or Lucy." Erza pointed out.

"You're armor hurts and Lucy kicks me."

"What about the other girls in the guild? Like Lisanna?"

"Everyone's busy at the guild."

"I give up." Gray sighed, throwing up his hands. He flopped onto his back, shutting his eyes. "He's hopeless."

"What?"

"I just realized it's literally ten thirty-four at night." Rien spoke as she came back into the room, seeming much calmer than before. Though she did hesitate before getting back into bed and throwing the comforter over her legs. "Are you guys hungry?"

"Now that you mention it…" Lucy spoke, placing her hands on her stomach which grumbled loudly. She sweat dropped. "I'm starving."

"Yes. I would also like food." Erza agreed, blushing slightly. Rien hummed.

"Okay. I don't have much to eat here, but I can run over to the pizza place down the road. They're closing now, but I know them well enough that they shouldn't mind making a pizza or two for us before they go. Is cheese okay with you guys?" The brunette got up again, silently mourning the loss of heat. She went into the bathroom, leaving the door open this time as she threw on a pair of gray sweatpants over her shorts and brushed out her hair. "I don't want to make them go too out of their way."

"Pizza is cool with me." Gray called back. The others agreed. Rien nodded, grabbing her wallet off the table as she headed for the door.

"I'll be back in twenty minutes tops. Feel free to grab something to drink from the fridge or turn on the tv. Anything is fine."

"Do you want someone to go with you?" Erza asked. Rien smiled at her concern.

"No, I'll be fine. Thank you though. See you soon!"

With that, the brunette was out the door.

Rien returned twenty minutes later as promised with two pizzas in hand. It was nice to see the father and son who ran the business, and they'd been more than thrilled to see her. She talked about her last mission while they cooked and even told them about the recent developments in Fairy Tail. The older of the two had grinned at that, saying he'd been about ready to march down there himself if Fairy Tail hadn't shaped up soon. It warmed Rien's heart, and she tipped a little extra for their trouble on the way out.

Everyone was pretty much exactly where she'd left them when she got back, except now the TV was on and they were watching some cop show with cases about non-wizards.

"Pizza's here!" She announced cheerfully. "They even put sardines on one slice for you happy."

"FISH~!" The cat cheered, racing towards her. Rien laughed.

"Hold on, let me put it down first." The girl placed the pizzas on her glass table along with the paper plates she'd been given. She put two slices on everyone's plates excluding Happy's one and handed them around with paper towel. After those two slices, if someone wanted more they could grab it themselves. Rien went back to the bathroom again to take off her sweatpants before settling back in bed.

Everyone seemed content. They spent the rest of the night marathoning the show, finding that they were too awake now to go back to sleep. It was fun, talking casually and getting to know one another better. Rien learned a lot about the group, such as where Gray's stripping habit originated from and the novel Lucy was writing. Once the sun started to rise, they agreed to go home and change before meeting back up at the guild. Rien would be helping with the morning shift if Mira let her, followed by the afternoon shift with Erza again. It was sweet how excited the red head was getting about preparing food for everyone.

She wondered if this was what daily life was like for the rest of the guild.

A/N: Just a little bit of recovery after the mission and some fluffy moments. Don't worry, I PROMISE you will one day learn about Rien's encounter with Juvia, but today is not that day. Keeps you wondering, doesn't it? Also, the rest of the team is catching on to Natsu's behavior. Is he really as Naive as they seem to think?

Next arc should be a little more light hearted and also include a lot more characters than just Team Natsu. I do have to work out some of the plot though, but I think it'll be fun. And Rien is going to develop a… special relationship with someone else in the guild. Can't wait for that! See you then!