The Justice Guild
CHP11: Blending In
The Justice League and Titan members reunited and ready to focus on more important matters. Up till than had been about discovering and becoming accustomed to their surroundings. Only positive was the Ovatrector was in their possession and at any point the enemy might come after them to obtain it. Each shared the same feeling as to what they were to do in the meantime. The entire world was still a mystery and more importantly were back to square one.
"Hate to state the obvious where do we go from here," Starfire looked to Superman and Wonder Woman, "True Neisa returned with a group to try and take the rock but can we really assume they will be back anytime soon after two failed attempts?"
"I don't follow…who's Neisa?" Superboy scratched at his hair.
"She's the woman we clashed with inside the watchtower," Starfire looked Superboy's way, "A little before you and Zatanna arrived Batman and I met with her again. This time however wasn't alone and tried taking the Ovatrector by force. Lucky for us members of Fairy Tail were around and helped fight them off realizing they were the aggressors. One of them even attacked civilians. That alone showed how important the rock means to them."
Wonder Woman and Superman thought about her question for several moments, neither having an answer. There was nowhere for them to go, and technically didn't exist.
"Hear me out before disagreeing," Starfire took a deep breath, "Fairy Tail thus far has been very helpful and I was thinking maybe they could lend us a ha…"
"It's been discussed and the decision made. We cannot involve outsiders. We still don't know how dangerous Neisa and this organization of hers is. We can't include anyone and potentially get them hurt or worse. You know this Starfire." Batman implied.
Kori was ready to argue her point but remembered the short conversation between her and the Dark Knight a while ago. That coupled with the look on Diana's face told her without question the princess of Themyscira sided with the Caped Crusader. Facing away from his teammates Batman situated himself beside the building's ledge.
"We'll make it just fine on our own. Something caught my attention shortly after we left the train station. Wait here until my return. If for some reason decide to leave shouldn't be difficult regrouping long as we remain in town."
Batman leaped off the ledge using a grapple gun to swing across the way. Zatanna tried going after him but was stopped by Superman, resting a hand over her shoulder, "Let him go. Batman wouldn't leave in a hurry like that, he's got his reasons."
"Shouldn't be long before more and more of the towns people are out and about. We should probably decide on a place to hang around that isn't out in the open. I'm betting we'd draw more than enough attention the way we're dressed." Wonder Girl said.
Everyone agreed and afterward headed for the town's border. Opposite to them Batman jumped from one rooftop to the next. To no surprise observed more and more people on the streets. For the moment was shielded from those down below and hoped it would stay that way. His appearance was anything but pleasant and would startle townspeople if nothing else.
For some time traveled at a steady pace and before long the building came into view. It wasn't long after their departure from the train station first set eyes on it. Three large letters MDA were positioned atop the building and beneath it read, "Magnolia Detective Agency." If there was a place to start was there.
Three weeks later
A map led him to the mountain side. The blizzard like weather slowed him to a point but to wasn't a big deal. The bitter cold had little to no effect on him and was at his best in the bitter conditions. He folded the map placing it into a side pocket. From that point had no further use for it, the destination already in sight. The wind swirled over forty miles per hour blowing flakes of snow all around his face and body.
The pathway brought him to the entryway of a cave entering slowly. For the most part was quiet and dark, but further in appeared to be light. He soon heard voices the deeper he went. Before long the persons came into view, all of which sat around a campfire. He wanted to make his move but needed to confirm something first. The group was bunched together telling jokes and seemed to be having a good time. What their conversation was about didn't concern him, more interested in what was inside the bags around them.
"You guys over there," He finally spoke making his presence known, "Are you the gemstone robbers of the city below this mountain."
"And what if we are? You plan on doing something about it pretty boy?" One stood from around the campfire.
The remainder of them stayed seated getting a good laugh, "Look boy I don't know how you found this place or if you followed us, but it's the biggest and last mistake you will ever make." The one standing pulled a handgun from his side pocket only to have it frozen solid to his hand. The sudden action brought the remainder of them to their feet.
"What is this guy some sort of wizard or something?!" One out of the group jumped back.
"Yeah yeah I think he might be I've heard stories about people like dis guy. They gather in some group called guilds and take on jobs like some damn bounty hunters. That right boy, is you one of them wizards or whatever they call em?"
"You could say that," The individual in question threw off his white jacket and under shirt. It became apparent was in fact a member to a guild, each spotting what looked to be a guild mark on the right side of his chest.
More so than that couldn't believe he went shirtless knowing the temperature was below freezing.
"You can't just come in here uninvited starting trouble! Who the hell are yah anyway?!"
"I was wondering when you'd ask. Gray Fullbuster of Fairy Tail…I am here to recover and return the stolen gemstones to their rightful owners. This can be done one of two ways. Hand over stolen items and walk out of here without suffering a single blow or have the crap beaten out of you. Either way you look at it I'm leaving with the gems. What's it going to be?"
"Let's see what you got pretty boy." One out of the group spoke lifting a staff off the ground.
Gray knew exactly what their decision was without words. Their expressions and demeanor were more than enough to figure it. In a strange way was relieved they chose not to give up the items without a fight. Battle was what he looked forward to most when taking job postings. In total were seven, all of which carried a weapon in some shape or form. Besides one gun was a combination of knives, staffs and crowbars. They came at him all at once.
"Ice Make arrows."
Gray fired dozens of ice arrows aiming and first taking down the person carrying the gun. The attack in question successfully connected with each of the seven criminals. The criminal holding the gun lost hold of it dropping to the ground. He grasped an upper part of his leg where a single arrow passed through. He screamed in agony attempting to keep any further blood from surfacing and pouring out.
Five out of the seven were down leaving only two standing. One held a machete and the other a pocket knife. Deciding to make things more interesting Gray constructed a sword of ice engaging them up close. He eluded the first swing of the machete flipping over the other that came at him from the side. While airborne he sliced at them both smoothly touching down over the rocky surface.
"Ice Make Ice Bringer!" Gray took down the remaining two slicing them in an X motion.
Not a single one looked to have any fight left in them.
"You bastard! When our boss gets here you'll wish you weren't born. She will turn you inside out and fry what remains of your little body!"
"Unfortunately for her I'll be in and out before that happens." Gray walked past the beaten criminals that had a hard time standing. He recovered the collection of bags in a corner of the cave heading straight for the exit. He redressed in his shirt and jacket before exiting out.
"You won't get away with this wizard boy. We know what you look like and we've got an A class mage working with us who would wipe the floor with a chump like you. You hear me boy, this is long from over!"
"Goodnight gentlemen a pleasure doing business." Gray grinned stepping out of the cave.
Additional snow fell from the sky but the wind slowed up. His travel down the hillside was slow, having to march through the towering snow up near his knees. Lucky for him wore boots and had made the decision before making the trip. In total carried four bags and to a degree was heavy and played a role in slowing him more. Over an hour passed before he reached the city. The conditions weren't much better but did find it easier to move around. Down a couple streets and around a corner entered into a hotel he was temporarily checked into.
The cold didn't bother him like it did most but felt good being out of the wintery conditions. He looked to the elevator but instead took the stairs to the 3rd floor using a keycard to enter. First thing he did was set the couple bags over one of the two beds. He took a deep breath standing in front of a window observing the snow fall down as it had the past couple hours.
He turned from the window proceeding to open the first of the bags. Inside were gemstones which came as no surprise but alongside them was other stolen goods. Those items included jewels, wallets, diamonds and other objects of that nature. The bathroom door was shut but light emitted from beneath it and heard the water running. That let him know his teammate for the mission was inside. He went through the remaining bags and like the first had a combination of items. The criminals had only been reported for the stolen gemstones and nothing more. Gray wondered if maybe he and his colleague would receive an extra bonus for recovering items not listed in the job description.
The bathroom door flew open a minute later and standing in the doorway was his teammate. She had a towel wrapped around her body and another in her hair. Gray's heart skipped at the look in her eyes. It was that same death glare he and Natsu received on various occasions whenever she broke up fights between them, or whenever they got on her bad side.
"And where have you been?! I searched around for nearly three hours trying to find you!"
She marched his way, Gray feeling the hairs on his back stand. It looked as though might strangle him so jumped back putting a little extra space between them.
"Speak for yourself Erza. When you said you wanted to go shopping had no idea it would take hours. I mean does it really take that much time to try on a couple different outfits with your equip ability?"
Gray almost regretted the words out of his mouth getting the idea was like pouring fuel on the fire. She tightened her fists taking another step.
"You didn't answer my question!"
"Oh…that," Gray grazed at his hair looking to the bags out over the bed. Erza did the same grasping what she thought might have happened, "While you were busy playing dress up I completed our mission. With a couple tips tracked our goons to a cave up the mountain side. The mage listed as being part of their group wasn't present at the time so made my job easier."
"Let me get this straight," Erza's shoulders dropped, "When I asked you to hang around in the waiting area until I finished instead took off and finished the job on your own. You could have gotten yourself killed! That woman was listed as an S class mage."
"A class actually." Gray uncovered the job flyer hanging it over her face.
She wanted to yell and scream at him but couldn't. Even though he bailed without word, his completion of the mission held her at bay. Expressing her anger and irritation would have to wait for another time. Gray crossed his arms gazing out the window on the other side of the room.
"Bringing you along turned out to be a waste, I easily could have ha…" Gray yelled stumbling forward at Erza's fist whacking him over the head.
"Don't get cocky!" She snarled with that same menacing look in her eyes.
He rubbed at the now sore area. In ways felt sorry for her husband to be, and if she did someday have children. Boy would they be in for it. He flushed out his thoughts standing in front of the bed.
"Turns out our targets had more than just gemstones," He pulled a diamond bracelet from one bag, "They've gotten away with more than the authorities or anyone else noticed. Any chance our reward goes up?"
"Maybe, maybe not; we'll sort it out tomorrow after we've given everything to the job poster, which in this case the city officials. Until than you and I should get a goodnight's rest."
While he faced the window opposite to her, Erza finished drying before reequipping into a pair of purple pajamas. Gray zipped each bag shut setting them on the carpet. With the light shut off Erza got into one bed and Gray into the other. Both looked forward to collecting their reward and returning back to Magnolia.
XXX
All alone she walked the streets of Magnolia. It was only half a moon with a couple scattered clouds but still a beautiful night regardless. Lost in her thoughts, Lucy reflected on the meet with the two travelers she and Natsu came across. Since their departure that day, Superboy nor Zatanna were seen or heard from again. That also included the Starfire and Batman persons Mirajane and Erza met with. She wondered if maybe they left town or found a way back to their world.
"Hey Lu-chan over here!"
Lucy turned to the familiar voice and wasn't surprised to see Wendy approaching with Carla flying overhead. Behind them was Happy and Natsu. Seeing all of them brought a smile to her face, pleased they returned in one piece. Their job was taken up a little over three days ago.
"We just arrived back in town ten minutes ago and are headed for the diner just down the street," Natsu removed both hands from his pockets, "We'd love for you to join us."
"I was feeling somewhat hungry so guess this works out perfectly." Lucy grinned.
Happy and Natsu bypassed the entire group striding down the block. Lucy shook her head but couldn't help but smile. She, Wendy and Carla joined them inside the diner sitting inside a booth. Happy was the first to pick up a menu hoping to find something that had to do with fish.
"Hello and welcome to Shads Grill In. My name is Cassandra Sandsmark, but you can call me Cassie. Is there anything I can get you to start? Our appetizers are on the second page." The waitress smiled holding a notepad.
"We'll start with three sodas and two cups of milk. We should be ready to order when you return." Lucy informed.
"Sounds good, I will be back with those right away." She wrote the info down stepping into a back room.
She conversed with a few workers before heading toward her favorite coworker and friend, "You hanging in there Zee? You've got about thirty minutes before your shift ends correct?"
"Yes and plan to meet with Diana once I get out of here. You could call it a ladies night out, but still have no idea where she plans to take us. Bruce's idea to assume civilian identities has worked to perfection so far."
"What really did you expect? That's Batman for yah, always having the answer to everything."
Together they laughed, Zatanna getting a kick out of Wonder Girl's sarcastic tone.
"Anyway I better get back. I'd really hate to keep customers waiting. Talk later?"
"Sounds good, if you aren't sleepy maybe after you get off in the next hour are welcome to join Diana and I."
Cassie only nodded walking away.
To Be Continued