Ch. 12
Once back at Magnolia, Gajeel walked the girls back to the cottage. Before he had gone home himself. Where the two entered their separate rooms.
Hermione spent a good thirty minutes washing in the shower. Only to spend another fifteen to cry her heart out. In the end, she became exhausted to the point, she forgot why she was crying. When she dressed for bed, she exited her bathroom, where it was met with a Grim Hound.
"Sirius," she cried before falling into her bed. Just so the dog could hop up and lay next to her. She wrapped her arms and legs around him. Falling asleep, with her nose near his neck.
Cobra was not happy. Not even he took his anger out on Midnight. He knew he couldn't kill or poison him. Since he was immune to them. When they came back to camp, they only found Jellal waiting for them.
"Gajeel took them home." He passed Cobra a small bag. "They left you, your portion of the job you were paid for."
Cobra had taken a deep breath. He wasn't mad that they left. Just disappointed that he had to deal with his friend. While he should have been there for Hermione.
"We could go after them," grumbled Midnight.
Cobra shook his head. "They're gone. The last train had already left."
Jellal smiled softly. "Let's go into town anyway. We'll be there for the first train, in the morning."
The three left the archeological dig site behind. Where Cobra could leave his anger there too. Which he found, that every step he made, all he wanted to do was hit Midnight.
He could remember all the times that he had been this angry with Midnight. Only to find it was the first time. Yes, he had fought against Midnight for things before. But none was during a blind rage, the kind that would leave Midnight dead in blood Heep. Before wanting to drag it for miles, leaving a bloody trail behind him.
He had never done that. He had never thought of doing it. But at that moment, he really wanted to. But the thought of his mate, looking at him with despair. Just because he had caused something that animalistic. It was enough to prevent him from wanting to try.
Midnight looked at him with a look of mixed fear and worry. "Why are you still moody?"
"I found my mate," he started harshly. "I may know that she's heading home and safe. But my inner dragon is royally pist. Knowing that she is crying, and I'm not there for her. So, yeah, I'm moody."
Midnight sported a bruise on his broken nose. Not caring that Cobra had messed with his makeup. "I take it that I should be grateful that I'm even alive?"
"Yep."
"Wonderful!" Midnight raised his arms in defeat. "Sorry that I made matters worse, when I was just curious about the clock. I had no idea that if it wasn't pleased about the gifts. We would have died. Leaving Lucy Heartfilia the only survivor to live."
"Yeah," huffed Cobra darkly. "Messed up."
Cobra was no longer angry about the whole Fairy Tail beating them. Every time that they wanted to fight the world. No, he was angry if they did go through with the clock. He may never have found his mate. Which could cause his dragon part to switch and kill his friends anyway.
Midnight sighed, "For that, I am sorry."
Which caused Cobra to stumble and then turned to his old friend. "You what now?!"
"I...am...sorry," Midnight dragged out. "I know that I have never said those words before. But I mean them, Erik. When I see that I am the reason that you're hurting. Because I made your mate upset."
The three stumbled onto the train station platform. Where they laid down on the surrounding benches. Waiting for the morning to come.
A few hours passed. Where they were able to buy tickets. Then board on the first train out. Within hours, they were walking down the main street of Magnolia. Jellal led them to the guild hall, where they decided to eat breakfast and wait there.
'I just hope I don't have to wait long.'