_I Do not own Fairy tail-
_Sorry it took me so long, had to figure life out again :D_
-Cana is there a reason your clothes are all over my place?
-Well my old man is in town, the brunette said like it would explain everything while lounging on her pit of blankets.
-and your avoiding him?
- Well obviously, he would blow up every guy that I bring home,
-So you though you could bring them here, Sphinx looked at the brunette in distaste,
-Relax, I didn't,
Sphinx cut her off by lifting her hand up;
-Don't really want to know and don't really care, at least some of us get some action, Sphinx sighed defeated.
The blue black haired mage lifted a few of Cana's shirt of the floor and dropped them in the laundry basket. They didn't bother her really but Sphinx felt the need to do something with her hands. Her movements were quick and twitchy just like her hormones.
Cana chuckled while giving her the bottle she had been drinking; the female slayer looked like she needed it more. Sphinx unintentionally roamed the room back and forth; she started to put her pack bag away but then stopped and moved to the fire pit only to resume her walking with her finger snapping. A little restless was an understatement.
-So Mira really was serious when she banned you, Cana said with an intrigued look,
-Yeah, that woman is crazy; seriously she can influence people from the other side of magnolia. I went to a bar two days ago and as soon as someone tried to hit on me the bartender somehow managed to scare them away,
Sphinx lifted her hands in the air animatedly while almost huffing in annoyance,
- And when I asked, he thought he was doing me a favor, apparently I'm off the market according to the information's he had received,
Her hand waved in the air before they came to rub her temples in annoyance, Sphinx hated to be controlled.
- Shit, that doesn't sound good; she's really serious about you. Cana said thoughtfully, it had been a while she had seen Mira so determent about pairing people up,
Sphinx sat down on one of her armchairs and closed her eyes. Things were starting to affect her life in a bigger scale and the raven haired mage wasn't happy. She felt restless and needy; her body seemed to react to any kind of physical stimulation and it was starting to be too much, not to mention very awkward most of time.
- You don't look so good; Cana mused inspecting her shifting friend.
- It's that obvious already? Sphinx huffed and got up to get some cold water.
Cana followed quietly behind her, she knew not to rush Sphinx or she would only receive her sarcasm. Sphinx greedily drank the full glass and filled it ups again but this time she brought the cool glass against her neck. It felt good against her skin yet it would never be enough to kill the burning fire in her.
- I'm starting to hate pants, or clothes, they annoy me. Sphinx said, she may not have been looking at her but Cana could recognize the huskiness in her voice and everything was stating to make sense,
-I really want just rip everything off and go around rubbing my body against every available living human around,
-I want to feel their eyes on me, scanning me with snobbish disproval as well as lust, I want to feel their reactions in their aura, I want to bathe in the that heat and drink their energy,
Her husky voice turned almost sad from the frustration. Cana jumped in alarm as she heard the glass shutter. The Card mage instantly took a step forward and felt dread come over as blood started to trail down Sphinx arm.
- Shit, Sphinx cursed but still she didn't even look interested or in pain,
Cana grabbed her wrist and put it under the running faucet. Sphinx only then let out a hiss but still let the brunette do her thing.
-Damn I think you need stiches, you middle fingers cut pretty bad,
-Just wrap it up; I heal really fast, if it's still bad tomorrow I'll ask Wendy, Sphinx muttered annoyed.
Sphinx looked at her wrapped hand, it was well done and firm. Clearly Cana had asked Wendy to teach her some first aid. Sigh they sat on the little sofa by the fire.
-So, if Mira is only letting you dance with the three then why not do it,
- Yeah, I thought about it, but for some reason the thought of letting Mira win gets my blood boiling. Besides I think that Mira really doesn't know how I work,
-So you're just stubborn, this is some stupid pride shit,
Sphinx gave her a passive but annoyed look and Cana only lifted her bottle in respond.
- Geez thanks, it's always nice to have your support.
- Hah, I'm just honest, that's what friends are,
The Card mage received a pillow to the face for that; however it only made her laugh at Sphinx's childish behaviors. They settled down and there was a moment of silence as Cana studied her friend.
-There is something else; it came out more as a statement than question,
Instantly blue eyes looked at her with a mix of surprise and uncertainty. Sphinx let a hand go through her dark hair and leaned forward and crossed her legs.
- Mira shouldn't push this, they are all my guild members so if things get fucked up like they always do, it will leave a bad vibe to the guild,
-Well you're just a miss optimistic aren't you? Cana snorted,
- I actually have thought about them a lot and how much easier it would be just to go for it but things have evolved way out of my comfort zone.
- Have you ever just thought about actually dating?
Sphinx tilted her head in confusion.
- You mean all that couple bullshit? No, I don't see myself to be able to just devote myself for one person,
Again they sat quietly just staring at the fire until Cana suddenly jumped up and went to the communication Lacrima,
- Lets order food,
-I thought we were supposed to go to the guild; I still need to give in the report. Sphinx said her eyes narrowed as Cana did a small twitch movement,
-Uhm, its nice and all that your back but I think you might not want to go to the guild tonight, Cana said, she tried to sound indifferent but the clear guilty tone was there.
Quickly the brunette contacted someone and ignored Sphinx's piercing eyes on the back of her head. Putting the lacrima back to its place Cana walked casually to the pit of blankets.
Sphinx looked at the Card mage suspiciously, Cana lay on the blankets looking as innocent as possible, the devil slayer had just returned from a week long mission and they always went to the guild. The brunette avoided those blue eyes as she took another drink.
-And why is that? I know it's not the topic we just discussed you enjoy throwing me to the frying pan at the guild, Sphinx cocked an eyebrow.
-It's not that, it-ym- Cana started to say.
-Alright, Sphinx cut in to Cana's surprise.
-I'm actually a little tired so why not stay in,
-Yeah about that,
- Helloo, a bright happy voice echoed in the cave.
The dark haired mage looked at the brunet but couldn't be mad. Sphinx turned to smile just as Lucy and Levi walked in with the bright smiles carrying food.
-Ah, hey, finally, Cana got up to help with the food,
Everyone's moods instantly lighten up. It was impossible to be sad or serious when Lucy gave you that million megawatt smile. As everyone settled down, they turned on the music and started to hand out food.
-So how was the mission? Levi asked as she munched on her food.
-actually pretty tiresome, there was a surprise third party involved but nothing major just annoying.
- Party of three? Now where have I heard that before? Lucy snickered.
-Nop, everyone promised that there was not going to be a word about 'that', Sphinx sighed as an awkward memory surfaced.
- Fine, so what kind of mission was it, the blonde mage inquired.
-Well, it's actually double mission, there was that client that wanted me to supervise a business trade but also the simple information gathering.
-Business trade?
-Yeah, it was between two big companies, lot and lot of influence. They were actually very paranoid, Sphinx chuckled.
-So who was the third party?
-Well there was some idiot who had hired a few assassins, apparently he was supposed to be there so nobody had expected that, then he started to make threats but of course they didn't know I was a mage.
- Oh and check it out, he wanted to marry one of the men's daughter.
Sphinx could see the evident distaste in Lucy's expression.
-Ohh, what happened? Cana pressed on,
-Well I blew them away with my awesomeness of course; Sphinx answered giving them a wide flashy smile.
-OF course you did, Lucy shook her head at her ego.
- Nah, but I actually had to do a little work, they weren't half bad,
The dark hared mage rubbed the back of her head.
-Is that why your hand is wrapped up? Lucy said while pointing at her Sphinx bandages hand.
-hmm not exactly, but it's only a small cut, Sphinx said in a dismissive gesture.
-So what was the other mission then? Levi asked,
- Oh, Master had heard some rumors about the village I stayed in, he wanted to know it there was a connection to the sudden wealth and power in one of the families,
-Wait, were you like a spy? Did you use disguises? Any cool gadgets? Cana asked excited while everyone else shook their head.
- Calm down idiot, I didn't get to do any of that stuff. Sphinx shoved Cana's arm playfully,
-Beside I would obviously be a ninja not a spy; ninjas are a lot cooler, Sphinx snorted while Lucy and Levi shook their head at the two.
- So you were just asking around? Did you find anything? Hold on this is not the first information gathering mission you have had, why do you get those? Lucy pointed out.
-Well, like I have mentioned before I'm not the biggest fan of my magic,
The others nodded; there were a lot of assumptions and questions going around the subject but for now it seemed that Master was the only one who actually knew about the extinct of her powers, especially as the seals had started to break.
-So a mage who doesn't like using magic, but still you're in a guild, Levi shook her head.
-Yeah what can I say, I live for the thrilling life, Sphinx grinned,
- It's not that I don't use magic, I just don't really like using much of hell magic, I do have other tricks in my sleeves,
- Why not, I thought slayers were bound in it, in a way; Levi mused while tilting her head.
- Well yes, it's not like I can shut it off, or not be a devil slayer all of a sudden, it's a part of me like it or not, but if my choice how much I rely and sink in it.
-There you're doing it again, Levi said while pointing her finger at her,
Sphinx reeled her upper body backward at the sudden movement. She tilted her head at the accusing look Levi gave her while she still pointed her finger at her.
-Eh, do what?
-Use those funny ways to say thing, 'sink in it', 'feed of it' what does all of that mean? You always use those but never really explain anything, Levi exclaimed to everyone's surprised.
-Uh, Sphinx lifted her hand in front of her in surrender at the small mages demanding stare, she glanced at Cana for help who only tilted her bottle at her before taking a sip with a grin.
-And don't you dare say it's complicated, Lucy suddenly piped up, Sphinx turned toward the blond who sided with the script mage,
-Well, its not… simple, Sphinx tried rubbing the back of head.
Her witty answered clearly wasn't even appreciated when the two gave her a glare. Sighing in defeat Sphinx started to think how she would explain all this.
- It's just how I see things, I mean in some ways I guess I carve the energies around me, ugh it feel nice against my skin. Kind of nourishing, it's hmm, well the presence of others feed my own black soul Sphinx smirked.
- I have no idea what you're talking about, even if you start making sounding poetic, Lucy sighed
- How can I express something that's totally natural to me?
- Well try,
-Gaah, well the more I use it the more I seemed to devolve into more primitive, hunger, violence just plain darkness, I don't like how it makes people feel around me, Sphinx sighed, this was something that she could not explain.
- There is a part of me that's not so human, Sphinx frowned, I try to channel it to something that can be handled,
It's not like this can be put into words, you only understand it if you feel it, Sphinx frowned, off course they wanted to know and they didn't mean anything bad with it but still Sphinx didn't know what to say.
-Like what?
-Look I just got back can we talk about something else? Sphinx could already feel that slithering coldness that tried to penetrate her mind.
She shook her head and instantly the others seemed to see the troubled expression.
-Sure, so did Mira hear that she's back? Cana asked the blond while changing the subject.
-yeah apparently she had the train station call her when Sphinx would be back, Lucy sighed,
-WHAT! Sphinx lifted her head in alarm,
- Creepy much? Why would she do that?
-Well apparently she has had enough of your sudden absences and unclear intentions towards certain male candidates, Lucy spoke while quoting with her hands,
-Mira has decided to make you all have the talk, Levi finished almost sounding smug,
-The talk? Why the hell would she do that?
- Come on its Mira she just wants to form as many couples as possible, so she can have children running around, Levi said like it was obvious
Sphinx instantly made a face, a mental image came that made her shudder.
-Wow I think I just barfed in my mouth a little, seriously something is so wrong with that woman.
- Why haven't you hooked her up already, I mean she wouldn't be so much into our stuff if she had that perfect love story going on. Sphinx grimaced,
- Well I guess, Levi said thought fully.
-So hook her up already, she'll get out of my business, Sphinx said as she turned towards the fire,
- It's not so easy, last time we tried to make her go on a date it backfired, somehow it ended with me on that date and if Natsu hadn't shown up, I think Mira had planned us already to get married and all, honestly I'm not going through that again. Lucy put her hand in front of her in an x.
Sphinx smirked at the thought of the awkward Lucy and Mira on the background with hearts in her eyes. Still she was not in any situation that requires her need to just sit down and discuss the future. Getting up from the pelt by the fire pit the black hared stretched her back and put on music lacrima.
Cana smirked as she recognized the low beat and got up to dance. The cave echoed in music as they all laughed at Cana's fluent movements.
-I really don't get how she's able to move like that after drinking, I have zero balance and coordination after two drinks, Levi admitted.
-She also can suddenly sober up really fast, I'm super jealous of that, Sphinx agreed as she watched Cana give her a wide grin,
It wasn't long till all of them swayed and move with the rhythm of the music. It was relaxing moment for Sphinx and the happiness the women radiated was contagious making her forget about that burning need for a moment. However realty had its way of crashing all the fun and this was no exception.
A loud call came from Levis pocket and instantly the script mage pulled her lacrima out. Sphinx moved to turned the music downs as Levi greeted Kinana. The bar maiden looked uncomfortable in the small screen.
-I think Mira is on her way there, the woman said shyly,
-Why?
-Well I think she's been waiting for Sphinx for a while to appear. I think she had something planned, she was muttering for a while and when Lucy, Cana and Levi all didn't show up she knew you were not coming.
-So I think she's now coming to you,
-Sphinx you need to get out of here, Cana said immediately
-Don't you think this is all going too overboard? Sphinx snorted,
- No, now run, if she's in using the takeover then she can fly.
Sphinx looked at the women not believing this was happening. Did they really think that she needed to run? Cana didn't let her stand there any longer but started to shove her out of the cave.
-Now run you little Minx,
-I can't believe I'm being shoved out of my own cave, Sphinx said bewildered but started to walk slowly towards the dark forest.
-Unbelievable, now I'm here in the dark, horny and
-autch,
-apparently without shoes, fan-fucking-tastic, the devil slayer all but growled by herself.
It had been easy enough to avoid Mira with her aura pulsing, Sphinx sighed annoyed. Showing a branch away from her face Sphinx stilled. Something was closing in on her and fast. Sphinx looked around her, there was something stirring the natures vibration.
Her tension sky rocketed, she was still not letting a single noise disturbed her concentration. Sending another pulse Sphinx was shocked to find it even closer. Oh shit, without delaying she spun around and took of sprinting.
Why exactly am I running, Sphinx questioned herself but her still kept pushing herself.
She knew she should just stop and give Mira a piece of her mind but a voice at the back of her head said that it wouldn't be any good. So her senses sharpened and she concentrated at the issue at hand.
She knew that vibration and it didn't take much to put one and one together, Mira wasn't acting out alone. Of course, the takeover mage was much too smart to just think she could capture her like that. Sphinx groaned in annoyance. And it did help that she had all the help she needed. Mira wasn't the only on now searching for her in the woods.
That damn demon got little brother and sister to help. I just love when things go so well for me,
She had been voiding them for an hour now; her breath came in a little heavier as she narrowed her eyes at Elfman from the other side of the clearing. Mira had been calling her name loudly but the other two never even a beeped, like they could go undetected from her. Sphinx cursed as she took a hard turned, the hard ground tore up her feet.
What kind of idiot doesn't even realize to put on shoes, she cursed at herself.
She felt her muscles twitch she hadn't lied earlier to Cana, she really was tired. Her feline ears and tail had already lost their cloak; she was too tired to hide them and just focused on avoiding the Strauss siblings.
Making no sound as she walked around Elfman, even when tired she didn't want to be found. The blue eyes focused on the large takeover mage as she ducked under a bush only for the braches to get tangled in her hair and shirt. Instantly Elfman turned to the shaking bush.
-Shit, Sphinx cursed and tore free knowing she had been spotted.
Oh come on, what a rooky mistake, Sphinx scowled herself.
The merciless twigged scraped her arm but she didn't care. Sprinting off fast she could hear her chaser yell something but Sphinx only searched for an escape route. Turning and twisted around the forest, she had the advantage, there may be three of them but she was fast and agile like a cat and she could see in the dark. A slight grin came to her face as she knew Elfman had no chance to catch up to her.
Her own cockiness cost her; in her false triumph she made her second mistake of the night.
Sphinx was underestimating the three take-over mages; Mirajane was not only strong and beautiful. She was wickedly smart and almost ruthless when it came to coupling people up. The whitehaired female was already beyond frustrated of Sphinx's ability to dodge her attempts to pair her up. When she finally had made arrangements the Devil slayer had gone out on a week-long mission.
Mira wanted this wild cat to take control of the matters and stop playing around. It wasn't fair for the men, even if none of them really actually complained. But also Mira had almost been heartbroken when she heard that Sphinx didn't believe in love. So this wasn't just to match people up or get more adorable baby's to the guild, at least not all of it.
She wanted to show what love was to the devil slayer. Mira wanted not only for Sphinx to feel it but she had been so impressed with the three men around her. Laxus and Gajeel were hard to read and seldom seek for any kind of contact but now they were openly after her. Bixlow had for once been serious about someone, it wasn't just a good time, and he had used the words perfect match.
The whitehaired takeover mage almost wanted to squall at her own thoughts but knew now was not the time. She had a slayer to catch.
Sphinx glided effortlessly threw the forest; she had already spotted Mira and was careful not to be found. In fact she was circling them all, a part of her wanted to play, wanted to make them feel a little paranoid, Lisanna would be the easiest to spook in the dark forest. But Sphinx already felt the fatigue in her limbs and just decided to find a good place to hide.
Unfortunately as she decided on that she turned and sprinted only to miss the small trap they had laid out for her. When she finally felt the aura of the incoming mage it was too late.
Her momentum was disturbed making her wavers and fumbled animatedly around before falling straight to the ground. Her momentum didn't stop but had Sphinx rolling through the thick grass. She quickly lost her senses on what up and down as she rolled in the ground; she could taste the dirt and grass in her mouth. Feel the roots and sticks harshly bang into her.
She only had time to open her eyes once before she was once again attacked. Her head wasn't keeping up on the events happening around her.
-Hold her, I got her hands, Lisanna triumphed while Sphinx felt something go around her wrists.
-No, Elfman do not look her in the eyes, Mira said.
-Mira she's not a medusa, Lisanna scowled,
- We still better cover them, the oldest Strauss sister said.
-Get 'ghkb' of-gjhdglkjd- ME, -dfkjgdfjgh, SPhinx hissed while struggling against them.
What the hell? Sphinx was tossed and turned like a bag of potatoes while the three siblings fussed around her.
The slayer tried to struggle, kick and even bite, but her energy was running low and franticly she was still dizzy from her fall.
-There, Elfman lets head back to the Guild, her voice sounded too pleased at her accomplishments.