They were stiff, hungry, uncomfortable, and Evergreen had never needed to pee so bad in her damned life when the floor shook under their feet and Presca smirked, eyes suddenly back lighting with his magic and flooding the closet with silver light.
"What...what is it?" Ever asked, it was the first time she'd seen his face since the night before she had….molested the poor guy, she was probably going to have a permanent blush from that too, not that Presca teased her, he didn't, but saying he'd liked it? Just made it all fucking worse for her because now, now she wondered if she should try a little more, or...if he was...interested?
She didn't trust herself enough to make the leap though, she'd been humiliated before when she'd thought men were interested in her and she'd approached them. Rufus Lore had left her in tears after the Grand Magic Games…telling her he'd rather have Freed on his arm as the Rune mage was by far the sexiest thing on her team.
"I feel...Vander...Bickslow…" He said smiling and her eyes widened.
A moment later she shrieked as something slithered up her leg, jumping onto Presca where he had just managed to unfold himself and get to his feet and wrapping herself around him scrambling to climb the man as high as she could to escape whatever was on the floor because if it was a mouse? She'd be standing on his head….
"Shit...Ever…" Presca chuckled, voice muffled where his face was wedged between her breasts. The door flew open and glowing red eyes were on them.
"Sex in a closet...seriously Presca, didn't know you had it in you...need to lower her a bit, you're hung but not that big man…" His friends familiar silken voice had him grinning too much to get mad, the magic felt...different, stronger, more...solid...but the light in it? As bright as he'd ever felt it.
"I'm ok with her just like she is thanks." He chuckled, just too happy at the feel of his friends energy, so bright, strong, healthy.
"You always were a boob guy." Vander laughed as Evergreen huffed and slid back down to her feet before attacking Vander with her fan, the Shadowquip cackled, vanishing and reappearing behind Bickslow.
"Pfft I like legs and nice round asses, YOU are the chest man, tits or big pecs you never seemed to care." He chuckled and Vander vanished again as Evergreen was shoving a laughing Bickslow out of the way and almost falling into Lucy. He appeared behind Presca, reaching around and gripping the mans pecs with a light moan.
"You are so right…" He purred and Presca swatted his hands away, plucking his jerkin out of requip so he could slip it back on.
"It's good to see you guys but we were expecting Laxus." He observed.
"Yeah well boss called us and Cris had been to this village before so...here we are, Boss is here too though...he was electrocuting some dark mages when Van said his black beauty sensed you down here." Bickslow replied.
Presca frowned and looked at Vander. "Black beauty?"
Vander grinned, holding out his hand and Presca saw the edges of what had to be a vivid tattoo suddenly flare and loose color as a black serpent with wings slid out, winding around Vanders waist and resting along his arm to look at Presca and hum.
"Heh...figured she'd like my best buddy and one day booty call." Vander said lightly.
Presca rolled his eyes "In your dreams, she's gorgeous…" He said, smiling at the animal as an explosion shook the tunnel they were in and dust showered down on them.
"Reunion later, there are 100 Rune Knights, Laxus, and some of Fairy Tail and all of the Raijinshu, Kaleb and Hestor upstairs kicking ass...we should probably not be beneath that…" Bickslow observed and everyone agreed, running back up the way the others had come to the stairs to hurry up to the main level of the complex.
It was chaos in the complex, magic attacks flying everywhere, sewing machines, scissors, all manner of everything else also flying everywhere.
"Scutum!" Lucy called as a large surger ailed toward their group, nicely bouncing off the shield.
"Nice babe." Bickslow grinned, kissing Lucys cheek but his mate was narrowing her eyes, Cancers stardress forming over her. "Oh this is gonna be fun…." Lucy purred and Bickslow grinned, stepping onto his babies so they could launch him up, he caught a rafter as he sent them to start blasting the hell out of any baddies trying to take shelter behind things.
Zen was wrecking the place, his wings slicing through everything as he almost waded through all the mages could throw at him closing on on them and Kaleb had quite a few of them turning on each other, beating each other senseless while two had walked over to him blank faced and were giving him and Lahar a complete run down on the operation, who was who and answering Lahars questions while Laxus protected the group from panicking higher ups trying to kill the two mind controlled men.
"Nother day at the office…" Vander grinned and ran forward, running up a broken sewing machine, his serpents shooting forward and pulling him into the air and he vanished, exploding out of a void in the center of the "fort" type area the baddies had retreated too, hi katanas swinging as his serpents attacked anything that tried to come at him from behind.
Presca grinned, tightening his bracers and pulling swords out of requip space "Can't let Van have all the fun…" He growled and ran forward himself, attacks fizzling before they reached him, depleted of energy and dark mages screaming as he plowed right into them to reach Vander, the serpents adjusting, adding guarding him to their work as the pair started tearing through mages.
Another explosion and everyone staggered a bit.
"The fuck…" Presca hissed, regaining his balance and driving the hilt of his sword into a mages nose.
Vander smirked "Remind me to introduce you to Cida when we're done in here, she's outside handling the assholes that try to run for it."
Another explosion, distant female cackling could be heard through the now shattered windows.
"Is she blowing them up?" Presca asked.
Vander shrugged "Likely, she really has a thing for guns and canons." He smirked.
Presca rolled his eyes "Tell me you didn't fuck another girl into following us like a puppy?" He sighed.
Vander grinned "Haven't fucked her, she keeps saying no, more a kitty too….you'll see." He chuckled as another explosion rocked the building.
Getting the innocents clear had been the hardest part, it was amazing how fast dark mages turned to hostages and hiding behind children when they were available.
There was really nowhere for them to hide by the end of the first day, and with Vander able to just wrench them into the ground and toss them into the voids, Lahar was rubbing his temples glaring at the black leather clad man after the third time he did it.
"We need them...alive, criminals that are set adrift in…" He hesitated glancing at his notes. Vander smirked.
"The voids between planes of existence, it's ok, took my government time to figure out I wasn't kidding about that too, you'll catch up." He said lightly.
Lahar scowled at him. "This isn't funny Mr. Pradesh and while I appreciate you are a government licensed assassin in Bosco? We don't DO that in Fiore and you are on our soil." He said.
"You mean you don't AKNOWLEDGE you do that, because I've worked on your soil before, for the Council in fact, trust me...you do use assassins, I've worked with some of them...fuck you have nice eyes…" He tilted his head and Lahar narrowed those nice eyes.
"We are not indescriminately killing people here Mr. Pradesh, I've already reined in the Sevenese Gun woman…" He sighed.
"Encan."
"What?"
"She's Encan, trained in Seven yeah and she got tattood but she's Encan." Vander corrected and Lahar frowned looking at his notes and raising his light pen.
"Really...do you know what part? I meant to…." He growled then and glared at the smiling Boscan.
"That's not the matter at hand Mr. Pradesh." He snapped.
"Captain, technically? I'm a Captain by rank in the Boscan military, so...Captain Pradesh if you want to be all formal and shit, I don't mind if you call me Vander though…" He purred the last and Lahar gaped at him for a moment.
Laxus pressed his lips together and turned and walked the other way, for once...he abso-fucking-lutely was LOVING Vander right now, he had Lahar locked down and Laxus was getting Cobra the fuck out waving him toward Cris who rolled his eyes and leveled his gaze on the Poison slayer who was leaning on a tree looking very much like he'd rather stay and stir shit up.
"It's like herding fucking cats…" Laxus growled, glaring at the slayer who grunted and jerked when a snap of electricity hit him in the ass. Flipping Laxus the bird he pushed off the tree and walked to the Lunar slayer so Cristoff could get him out of sight before Lahar saw him. Technically, Cobra had been pardoned, so Lahar really couldn't act on his past transgressions...but...there were about 15 bubbling hissing smoking dead mages alongside the building Cobra had "Detained" when they tried to run for it. The little girl they had tried to use as a shield? Safe and sound over by Kaleb who was talking to some other officials.
While Cris got Cobra out of sight, Vander stood in front of Lahar, keeping him occupied while Presca, Evergreen, Lucy and Bickslow were working to un-entrench the last of the mages holed up ironically down the hall Presca and Ever had spent the night in.
"How did we ever miss such a big fucking dark guild?" Evergreen hissed as they took cover, hurling attacks down the hall.
"See the symbols, Nightmare, they're huge Ever, you and Presca just happened on one of their operations...fucking big one too." Bickslow chuckled, yanking Lucy back into the little closet as a large bolt of red magic shot down the hall.
"Damn it...I just wanted a nice mission, nothing over complicated, to pass the time until we needed to pick Vander up! I missed out on seeing the island." Evergreen snapped, hurling fairy bullets down the hall.
Presca smirked, watching her angrily hurl attacks and jerk back into the closet whever the enemy mages sent any.
"These are the last ones...lets end it.." He said and stepped into the hall, dodging his way down at a dead run until he was close enough he could bring his magic fully to bear on the correct targets and, taking only one acid bolt to his thigh, he brought the whole group down to their knees, the women they'd been holding running from their lax grips, latching onto Presca for "protection".
Virgo appeared and started clapping cuffs on the mages and Bickslow chuckled as, when he stepped out a couple women latched onto him, arms going around him, eyes wide. They ignored Lucy and Evergreen holding onto the men, too terrified to let go now that they had found men, mages, they were sure were trying to help them.
Evergreen glared at the blond who was on her knees, hands on Prescas thigh, rubbing either side, her fingers decidedly lingering as they moved up and down the inside of the mans thigh worrying over his wound.
"You think rubbing it is helping? Get your kit out Presca so I can clean that." Evergreen snapped
"You women let him go so I can look after him, go hug Bickslow." She shooed them and Lucy made a disgruntled noise summoning Loke
"Go get Laxus, Lahar, someone to collect the mages and take these women up with you to the Rune Knights please." She said firmly and Loke smirked, more than happy to let the women all latch onto him.
Presca managed not to smile, handing Evergreen his medical kit again.
"I can have Virgo do…" Lucy started
"No! I've got it, you help Bickslow take the assholes up, I'll get Presca cleaned up so he can walk up ok and get to Cristoff." Evergreen snapped cutting her off.
"But...we could bring Cris…"
"GO! I've got him...really Lucy." Evergreen snapped and Lucy eeped and scurried to help Virgo, Bickslow sauntering by leering at Evergreen who ignored him as she started cleaning the acid off the leather around the wound.
Once they had led the staggering weak mages away Evergreen huffed impatiently and looked up at Presca, proud her cheeks didn't heat up when she met the calm steel colored eyes.
"The pants are…" She pressed her lips together and Presca fought the smile, undoing his belt and watching her turn pink.
"I don't wear anything under these…" He warned but was smart enough to do it as he let the pants down instead of letting her have time to think about it.
The second the words were out though she was already done...gone...Presca Martel, double s class wizard of White Sea...whose body she had been groping just that morning...stood naked from the waist down, worse...his jerkin was open, he'd never really had time to tie it closed, so…
She made a real effort not to look, managing to even get cleanser on a cloth and lift it to his thigh but the wound was high enough...there was just no way to avoid looking...and once her eyes were on it...her brain shorted.
It wasn't that he was huge or anything...he wasn't...he was in perfect proportion for a man his size, a little thicker in girth than some...not that she'd seen a lot, Gray, Laxus, Freed, Bickslow more time than she could count, Elfman. He was neat, well trimmed, and Gods he could just…
Presca stood, keeping still, lips pressed together so he didn't smile, as she stared at his cock and cleaned out the injury, seeming to struggle to tear her eyes off him, reaching and groping around for the roll of gauze and he said nothing, didn't make a sound, knew if he did she'd probably break and run or be so embarrassed she'd never be able to look at him again and he really...very much...wanted her to be ok with him.
She wrapped the wound, biting her lip as her hand passed close to his groin, still staring, just unable to stop, eyes roaming down powerful thighs, he was so cut, tanned, his hips...
That V she wanted to run her tongue over it, over everything in front of her…
"All set, you should be fine to walk up to Cris now." She said clearing her throat and he smiled, bending and pulling his pants back up.
"Thank you, feels good, like the other one you did. Would you let me take you out? Dinner maybe? To say thanks." He asked, crossing fingers, she could just leave with her guild, Laxus was here, she really didn't need to return to Bosco...if she didn't, he wasn't sure what he'd do...just...be disappointed probably, another woman uninterested in him and in this case, while she seemed plenty into his body...she hadn't even made the smallest bid for sex.
He'd do it too...if she asked...jump right into her bed because he knew he wouldn't be able to help himself, he'd throw all he was into pleasing her too.
"You...you mean like a date?" She asked, shakily taking his offered hand to help her stand back up before gathering up the med kit and putting it back in requip.
"Yes a date...I like you Evergreen, I'd like to take you out, away from everyone we know...spend time just with you." He said, chancing reaching out to push some of her soft brown hair back.
She smiled then, a shaky one but real "I'd...like that...yes." She said then, already plotting getting back to Bosco, it wouldn't be hard, they had their reward to claim for completing the job. Prescas smile about took her breath away, those steel eyes lit and it staggered her realizing she was why, she'd said yes and he looked..really happy about that.
"When we get back, we'll collect the reward for the job and go out from there...sound ok?" He asked and she nodded, her smile growing because of hi enthusiasm.
"Lets get to Cris...you did a great job but that acid got pretty deep…" He admitted, the twinge deep in the muscle reminding him, taking acid arrows anywhere never felt good. Evergreen pulled his arm over her shoulders, stepping right into the energy mages side and getting an arm around him.
"Ok let's get you patched up right." She agreed, smiling at him and he acted...dipping his head and catching her lips with his, she was startled, stiffened for a moment and he started to pull back, ready to kick himself for jumping the gun but she pressed into him, a hand flying to push into his hair and hold him so she could kiss him back, he almost staggered under how much she pushed against him, his injured leg sending agonizing fire through him but he ignored it, tilting his head, slanting his lips over hers wanting every bit she'd give and their mouths moved, Ever lips parting letting him deepen the kiss, tongues sliding shyly against each other until there was a shout from the stairwell.
"Did he die? Come ON guys!" Bickslows voice...Evergreen started planning retribution as those soft warm lips left hers but under his gentle smile...she forgot she wanted to kill her teammate, lost in those steel colored eyes as he brushed her hair back and leaned in for one last brief kiss.
"You could help him up the stairs asshole!" She shouted up when they reached the stairs and made a strangled sound when suddenly shadows curled around them and Vander appeared on the steps, wine colored eyes moving over his partner.
"Dumb ass, you usually dispell those before they hit you." He observed.
Presca shrugged, far too happy right then to rise to Vanders bait. "There were 11 mages throwing attacks, only one got through." He pointed out and Vander made a face.
"It was the sex in the closet wasn't it? You get it so infrequently when you finally get laid you get all distracted." His friend smirked and Presca narrowed his eyes on Vander.
He didn't need to say a thing though, while he was staring Vander down...Evergreen punched the shadowquip in the nuts….
When the shadows swirled away and Vander wasn't there Bickslow and Lucy both frowned while Cristoff hurried over to help Presca sit and the energy mage hissed when the slayer didn't have Evergreens issue, grabbing the leather of the pant leg and ripping it wide open so he could get to the wound.
"Damn it Cris…" He growled.
"Where's Van?" Lucy asked.
Presca smirked "Nursing his nuts on the stairs down there, should be up in a few minutes."
Bickslow blinked and looked at Evergreen, hand shooting to cover his crotch when he saw her narrow eyed look.
"You busted him in the nuts?" Presca glanced up, the woman wasn't familiar, but he'd caught they had a gun mage from Seven with them. This had to be her. She was sitting on one of the overturned sewing machines dangling a long leg sucking on a lollipop, pale green eyes looking toward the stairs.
"He deserved it." Evergreen growled and the woman laughed.
"Oh oui luv, i've no doubts there, He's right ornery at times."
"I'm not ornery...I just need to watch for low cuts from women…" Vander groaned, shadows releasing him to limp to sit by Presca.
His friend snorted "You deserved that." He chuckled and Vander fell back on the table holding himself still.
"Cris...when you're done…" He whimpered and Cristoff smirked.
"I am not healing bruised balls that deserve to suffer." He said.
"My own brother...abandons me...I've been on an island for a month...no ex." He whined.
"Corvus fucked you at least twice." Hestor said, shifting as Kaleb sat on the table to between his mates legs so he could lean back and be held.
"Twice in 4 weeks! Seriously, I'm still blue down there...I may never have children…" Vander whined.
"Good, the world rejoices." A dark voice said with no small amount of irritation.
"Captain Lahar, when was the last time you had sex?" Vander demanded and the Rune Knight stiffened, pushing his glasses up his nose and riveting his eyes on his notes.
"Uh huh...that's what I thought…" Vander smirked.
Cristoff was able to bring everyone he'd brought back to Bosco, Laxus offering to finish up with the knights once Lahar had released the fabrics to be sent back to Elluris and given Presca a note to give to the fashion house in Pelerno stating all they had uncovered.
The group surprised Presca and Evergreen, passing the reward the Rune Knights gave off to them to split.
They all retired, even Presca deciding to stay at the Pradesh home instead of driving back into Pelerno and as he settled back on the bed, eyes looking out the large sliding glass doors that led onto the balcony every bedroom on the second floor had he smirked seeing shadows shift.
"I'm glad you're doing so good Van." He said as his friend appeared on the foot of his bed.
"Did you meet the kids?' His friend asked and Presca grinned, sitting up as the serpents emerged.
"Bet that was a hell of a thing." He said, pointing to the tattoos on his friends body,
"You have no idea...holy hell was it ever...they're...amazing though...my magic...it's solid and it's never been like this, I've always fought for my control, always had to bust my ass to keep a grip on it." Vander said thoughtfully as Presca rubbed Searshas chin.
"You feel different, energy is solid, bright as I've ever seen it, magic signature is...strong. You gonna slack off now?" He asked with a smirk and Vander scoffed.
"Fuck that, I love my workouts and I just got the gym like I like it. Wanna hit it tomorrow morning? I promised Cida I'd take her down there." Van said.
Presca nodded and smiled at Vander.
"Cida...what's the deal there buddy?" He asked.
Vander flopped back on the bed "Fuck if I know, she shows up my last week, all legs and tight round ass and won't let me in her pants, the serpents like her and she's a little asskicker, so...whatever, she's been through some shit, engineered soldier form Seven man...she says she just wants to run the wilds and find peace with a part of her she's afraid of….I can relate to that shit." Vander said.
Presca nodded "Yeah...so...we talking new team mate then? If so she should definitely be coming to the warehouse with us."
"You ok with that?" Vander asked, hands behind his head he eyed his friend, he'd distance himself from Cida if Presca said the word, he wouldn't lose his best friend and partner or make him uncomfortable, no matter how nice Cidas legs were or how much he enjoyed her company and the serpents liked her.
Presca smiled "I like the idea, training with Lucy was fun, Bickslow says they're going to be focusing on her training now though in her magic, working with Hestor and such, o we won't be seeing a lot of her." He replied.
Vander grinned, relieved and looked at the ceiling.
"So...you and Evergreen, she looks at you like she's pretty into you man."
He smiled "I'm taking her out after we collect the reward tomorrow."
Vander pushed to his side propping himself up on an elbow. "Good, you need to get laid."
Presca snorted "You know how I feel about that, speaking of which, why are you even here instead of out prowling, you should be balls deep in something good looking by now." He chuckled.
Vander shrugged "Went to the bath house when we got back, while everyone else was bathing and showering here I got my happy ass nicely laid, fucked a couple attendants, I'm happy."
"Two? And you're happy? Those serpents.." Presca chuckled and Vander gave him a half hearted glare.
"Meh, I'll get more, maybe after I leave your ass to sleep and languish in blue balls but hey...I'm leaving out...end of the week. Got this…" He handed Presca an envelope and Presca frowned, reaching over to flip on the bedside light before opening it and reading the contents, eyes widening.
"This is an invitation from Xiao Xing of Stella…" Presca said reading and shaking his head.''
"Is this serious? Does your Dad know about this?" He asked.
Vander nodded "Yeah, Dad knows, he invited Zen too, same kind of shit about being a chosen of Set, can't pass up the chance you know?"
"Of course not, even if it just gets your foot past all that fucking security, those wards and shit have always been a pain in the damned ass." Presca said.
Vander grinned, this was one of the things he loved about his friendship with Presca, they knew each other so damned well, shared a lot of experiences and work and appreciated a lot of the same things.
"Exactly, so even if it does nothing else? This gets my ass in past the wards and shit and I can look around to my sneaky shady asses content." Vander said and Presca snorted
"And fuck some priestesses, just remember some of them are like...concubines and shit, kept all fertile.." He eyed Vander who shuddered.
"Yeah I'll be avoiding those...but some of the others…" His lascivious smile made Presca roll his eyes.
"Well, maybe I can talk Evergreen into staying a little while...take another mission...get a few more dates out of her.." He said with a smile and Vander grinned.
"I like her...she fights dirty and has a nice ass." Vander said and Presca smiled.
"You stay away, you have a Cida to crack." he pointed out and Vander smirked.
"Like I'd ever give up…."