Standing By

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 2

Cobra was known to be a single-minded person. He kind of had to, when he was serving his daily dose of a beat down to Natsu Dragneel. Once served, it was when he noticed a new soul within the guild. The one being led around by the Light of Fairy Tail, Lucy Heartfilia.

He could hear a mixture of fear, sorrow and wonder. He could understand the fear, being in a new place. Sorrow, not being there for her friends, during a time of war. Wonder, he couldn't pick up the reason behind the feeling. Since he was also hearing a history lesson on top of the feeling. Before going back to fear, as he felt her being led to the Master's office.

He could pick up a melody that made him think of a summer night breeze, before a thunderstorm. The deep quiet string tones. Before the loud brass instruments started out, just before the strike.

His eyes focused on the door. Waiting for the owner of the soul, calling him, to come out. After what felt like eons. The door opened, with Lucy leading the way. Only to see a woman of vision, to come out. She was covered from head to toe in scraps, blood and dirt.

Even though she wore jeans, a pullover shirt, under a jean jacket. She would be a woman of vision to him. A warrior, fighter, a survivor. His eyes followed her through the guild. While hearing a fellow guild member's soul.

'Damn, looks like Snake Breath may have found his girl. In Bunny Girl's new friend, no less.'

Cobra was slightly worn out by his fight with Natsu. Otherwise, he would have added a Steel Cold ass to his hit list that day. He had made his way to the bar and ordered his Nightshade cocktail. As he sat at the bar, the two girls sat further down from him.

Just as his drink was placed in front of him. Lucy waved Mira down. "Hey, Mira! We have a new member."

The short white-haired lady walked over to the two girls. "Oh, wonderful," Mira smiled wholeheartedly. "What is your name?"

"Hermione," she smiled softly. "Hermione Granger."

"What color, and where would you want your guild mark to be?"

"Huh?"

Lucy smiled at her. "As a guild, we go out on jobs to help others. We show people our mark, stating we belong to a guild, which is under the government's approved listings." She turned to glare at Natsu.

"Meaning if one of us mages did bad on a job. It would come back to our guild. Where our master has to pay any damages that the guild member has done."

Hermione nodded softly as she was following along. "And the mark limits copycat mages from stealing your jobs?"

Mira smiled, "Yes, and also shows that you're under a binding contract. That no matter the job, you are there until the completion of said job."

Hermione nodded her head, before pulling back her left jacket sleeve. Showing her inside wrist. "Lilac." Once the stamp was given. Her eyes roam the room before setting on Cobra's drink. She hissed, "That's Nightshade!"

Lucy waved at her. "It won't harm him," she smiled. "He is a dragon slayer, remember." Making Hermione glare at her. Lucy huffed, "Dragon slayers eat their elemental power, but can't eat what they make. Cobra is poison, Natsu is fire."

She pointed to another person. "Gajeel is iron, to make steel. Wendy is wind and Laxus is lightning." She pointed the other ones around the guild.

Hermione scrunched her nose. Cobra found that even though he could hear her soul. It was muffled, not just by the many members around. But her own soul seemed muted. Like she was purposely making it quiet for some reason.

"But Nightshade," Hermione asked. Looking at Cobra with a thoughtful look. At least that was what he could describe it as.

"Out of all the poisons, it leaves a nice sweet after-taste. Not like others, only leaving bitter and chocky." His voice normally sounded deep and tattled, but came out as a purr. After his so-called drink.

"Plus, Nightshade is a catnip to Cobra. Leaving him lean back and easy to talk to," replied Lucy with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "Can I get a Lavender lemonade?"

"Coming right up," smiled Mira, before leaving for the back room.

"Lavender," asked Lucy.

"Yeah, it helps me relax. Since I rarely drink any alcohol."

Cobra could hear from her soul that she was drugged through Hell. From hearing her high pitch screams, from a cursed blade into her flesh. Riding a dragon through the countryside, to a war at a castle. All in the name of keeping her best friend alive.

'Shit, and here I have issues! The Avenging Angel has many more things than I could dream up.' He stopped his inner grumbling. "Avenging Angel," he whispered softly, turning to her in thought. 'It fits her.'

Once she had gotten her drink. Along with Lucy's strawberry milkshake. They moved to a table, where Hermione met Team Natsu.

"This is Gray, Erza and Happy." Before the blue fur of a blur, rushed to Hermione and hugged her middle. "Are you joining our team," the blue menus asked.

"Well, I have a lot to learn." Hearing her soul sounding slightly off beat. Making her sound slightly uncomfortable.

"Welcome to the team," grinned Natsu. Pulling himself off the floor. Giving Lucy a one arm hug. "Now Luce, you need to share our new friend!"

Hermione glanced at the pink-haired man with worry. "Shouldn't you be laying down, somewhere?"

Natsu smiled, "Nothing that firewhiskey and firechicken can't cure. Mira!"

"On it, Natsu!"

As the day had gone on. Hermione Granger learned many things about the surrounding team. It was enough to get her memories and emotions under control, for the moment. She may not know how or the reason she was there. But believed that she was there for a reason. At least she hoped there was one.