Ch. 5

Cobra was pacing outside and behind the treeline of Lucy's cottage. He was there since Lucy and Hermione had hid behind the Runes. After leaving the guild.

The Runes stated that no one can enter, without permission. But there was nothing in the rules keeping them in. Meaning, he could hear Hermione's soul, as he was pacing. He could hear that she was focused, even with all the questions that kept popping up.

He could hear that her questions were valid. There were some he hadn't thought of before. Even back when Brain shoved the Poison Dragon Slayer ability into his body. Then again, it was back when he was about twelve years old. Back when he was little and weak, to fight a man like Brain, then.

'Do dragon slayers become a full-size dragon, or do they become human size, then over time, become larger?'

It was one question he heard repeated. It was also a question that even he couldn't stop asking himself. Hours after crux had left her. Leaving a few books. He heard her voice through the walls and tree trunks, growling.

"Why can't anything in the books get any clearer?! So basically, mate or die!" She was crying after smelling her tears. "I don't have it in me to allow anyone to die, if I can stop it."

It was then that Gajeel dropped Lucy off at the cottage. Realizing that he had heard her. "Bunny, she needs you. She just realized how life and death a mate can mean for us dragon slayers."

"Do I need to get Cobra for her?"

"No," Gajeel shook his head. "He is behind the cottage. Send her there if she wants to talk. But don't push it."

Lucy nodded before going in. Then Gajeel walked around and looked at Cobra. "Any questions?"

Cobra turned to him with a glare. "Why didn't you tell us about the mating?"

Gajeel sighed, "I didn't know how it worked for you or Lightning Rod. Since you're a different caliber than the rest of us. Pipsqueak is too young. Natsu hasn't felt the pull of his mate, yet."

"When did you?"

Gajeel closed his eyes. "Back when I was in Phantom Lord, kicking the shit out of her. Thinking she belonged to Salamander, only to find I was killing myself. Took me a long time to forgive myself, long after she did."

Cobra nodded, hearing the two girls talking and hearing them hugging out what Hermione had learned. "Do you think you've earned her back, even with all the shit you had done?"

"No," Gajeel shook his head. "I don't think I ever could. But I know I'll never stop living my life, proving that I deserve her…"

Cobra huffed, he knew what Gajeel met. He had spent all of his life, going from one bad thing to another. But he could always count on, that he had never harmed a child. Just people who really deserved it. Other than Lucy Heartfillia, back from the time with the clock. He knew that his group was bad at that time. That and Nirvana.

"What now," he asked Gajeel with a harsh look to his eyes.

"Let her get to know you. You're not going anywhere, nor is she. The more time you're around each other, the mating pull, won't drive you to mindless rut or anything."

Hermione and Lucy sat in the living room. Holding onto one another. After Hermione had given Lucy a rundown of what she had learned about dragon slayers and mates. Only for them to become overwhelmed by the information that they had learned. It was enough for the two of them wanting a drink, but not caring enough to find one.

So, the two settled on giving one another a hug. Pulling away from each other. In order to have a talk.

"What are you going to do," asked Lucy.

Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "What about you?"

Lucy sighed, "Gajeel and I, never had a good run at knowing one another. But I wouldn't want to stop the mating pull. Knowing that the world would lose a great man, if I don't."

"And Cobra," asked Hermione.

Lucy grumbled, "That is another person that I have a bad past with. But I wouldn't prevent anything from happening to him, either. Not when he had worked a hard time. To get where he is today, a grouchy guild mate."

Hermione nodded her head. She glanced towards the back area of the house. Towards the trees. "He's out there, isn't he?"

Lucy huffed, "He is. I should tell you more about him. Before you blindly go to him."

Hermione turned to her with a worried look. "What's wrong?"

"He was once a slave to our dark government, called the Tower of Heaven project. Where he worked tunneling the system, since a child." Hermione growled but allowed Lucy to go into detail of what happened to Cobra's life. Even going as far as telling her about his hearing souls' abilities.

Then from there, the stories of all the run-ins that Lucy had with him and his group of friends. From rising an ancient city of Nirvana, to the clock ordeal. Then helping them with fighting against some dragons, then again with a power hungry dragon.

"With the souls, do you think he can hear us? Even from where I'm sitting?"

Lucy glanced over towards the line of trees herself. "Yes, back when we were fighting against him with Nirvana. He managed to hear us blocks away. This is simply, at least, a block away."

Hermione nodded her head. She had taken a deep breath. "This is simply too much for me to face right now. But, there is always tomorrow."

Lucy nodded, "Yes. Tomorrow, is a new day, as they say."

The two wished each other a good night. Before heading up to their own rooms. Where Hermione changed into her silk clothes again. Only to climb into the bed, closing her eyes. "Goodnight, Cobra."