Wow. It's the new year and no chapter? Damn, I have to apologise with all of you. I had so many things going on that it would take twice the length of this fanfic to explain. But Morgana is back. Her love for writing has not diminished, not at all! And I promise I will be more constant.

I would like yo thank each one of you who had been reading even if I wasn't posting, and all the ones that have left a review. Merci ;)

NOW, ONTO THE STORY!

We have left Dalila at Fairy Tail, and Master Makarov had just decided that it would be just awesome if our wind dragon slayer entered team Natsu...


Cobra was fuming. "You fucking-" "Erik!" Kinana shrieked, seeing the strain of insults ready to jump out of his mouth.

Kinana's high voice had resonated through the guild hall. A few mages around them had turned their head. From the table where Dalila and the other girls were seating, Lucy turned towards the bar counter with a questioning and surprised look. Dalila didn't dare to move, but Cobra heard distinctly her soul whispering.

Ah no. Not in the whole world was he let her find out she had pissed him off even without moving a muscle!

Cobra closed slowly his mouth. In front of him, Master Makarov was smiling broadly and sipping his beer as if nothing had happened. A good idea indeed!

Ignoring him, Cobra glanced at Kinana. "Remember me to insult the both of you when no one else is listening." He hissed. "And don't look at me like that, Cubellios. This is also your fault, and you know it!"

Kinana was giggling. Come on, Erik! Why are you so angry?

"Because…" but the poison slayer bit his tongue. He wished he could say that he simply didn't want Snow White around - Is there something wrong with that? - but he had already said that everything was alright in between them, and now it was too late to take his words back. And he felt things were actually good, if only Snow White had stayed with team Shadow-my-ass-gear!

"I am glad you agree with us, my child." Makarov couldn't help himself snorting. Oh, he knew he was playing with fire - with poison, to be precise - but he also thought that would have been the best solution for everyone. Yes, even if that meant putting Cobra and Dalila is the same team. What could go wrong, after all? he thought, as Wendy and Charle joined Lucy and Levy into explaining Dalila what the Sorcerers' Weekly was.

Cobra didn't want to let that pass that easily. "You old bastard, listen here…" But then he didn't know how to continue. Again, what could he say to oppose the Master's decision?

In any case, Makarov wasn't listening to him. He was busy now thinking what mission could be assigned to the new team.

An easy, smooth mission, at least for this time! Makarov hummed to himself. Otherwise the poor child will be scared to death! But they are… how many mages? Natsu, Lucy, Erza, Gray, Wendy, Cobra and Dalila… And Happy and Charle… It makes seven mages and two Exceeds… They aren't all S-class mages, but with such a numerous team, they might choose even complicate jobs now.

As he was planning on choosing the mission himself, or asking Mirajane to find the easiest, smoothest mission on the board, Makarov remembered that his old-time friend Yijima, ex member of the the Council and currently owner of the restaurant 8Island in Hargeon, had sent him a job request a couple of days before. That would be just perfect!

Yijima request was the following: the Hargeon Autumn Festival was taking place that week, and Yijima needed some extra help in his restaurant to face the crowd of tourist from all Fiore that were expected to come to Hargeon for the Festival.

After all, his restaurant is one of the most famous in town… Seven people would be enough of a help! Makarov nodded to himself, more satisfied with the idea as he examined it in his mind.

Ignoring the defeated look in the poison slayer indigo eye at his side, the short Master jumped on his feet "It's decided!" He exclaimed. "Tomorrow team Natsu will go to Hargeon!"


When Makarov called team Natsu and Dalila in his study, Cobra just stayed there at the bar counter were he was.

After all, he could hear crystal clear the souls of his team mates exulting at the news even from there.

Dalila part of their team? That was awesome! Was thinking Lucy. Of course part of the Celestial mage was worried because the wind slayer and a certain poison one didn't seem to get along very well, But yesterday they were together, right? It's not like Cobra had left her in the woods with a twisted ankle…

Right. Cobra mentally answer her. Considering I could have fed Snow White to the Vulcans, I would say we will be best friend.

Needless to day, Natsu was just as happy, and the cat as well. For them, anyone that was enlarging their team was a feast. It wasn't exactly the same reaction Cobra had had when he was assigned to team Natsu, but even he had managed to get along with all of them. And it's fucking like Snow White is already included… They are all crazy about her.

Gray and Erza quickly followed in the felicitation. The poison slayer felt a gush in his stomach when he heard the soul of Wendy trill and shrill of happiness. To the younger slayer - the only female dragon slayer in all Fiore, as far as he knew - it was like to have an elder sister right on her side.

That's crazy… Thought Cobra, who remembered very well the pure terror that was pervading Wendy when he had been brought to Fairy Tail. But after all, Tinuviel hasn't been part of any dark guild responsible for a very very long list of crimes of the worst kind… He sipped his coffee. No, definitively Snow White wouldn't have the guts to do all the thing I did.

His mind corrected 'I did' in 'was forced to do', but did it mattered now?

In any case, Dalila wasn't less happy. Actually she was greatly surprised to be put with the strongest team of Fairy Tail. Being able to be in the same team of Lucy and the others was making her elated.

She had yet to become conscious that Cobra would have been in her same team, but the poison slayer heard her soul twitching and hissing worriedly. He shrugged that away. What he could expect?

We are good now, Cobra told himself once more. Even if we had been close to kill each other… Well, he chuckled to himself, I would have killed her, that is for sure.

"Erik…"

A voice brought him back to himself. "There is nothing to worry, Cu." he muttered, composing himself once more. Damn Snow White… He was ok, really. He snorted when Lucy started hugging Dalila so tightly to her chest, that the wind slayer started to wonder if she would have survived.

"I am not worried, Erik." Kinana huffed, searching the right words. "You just look… troubled."

Erik shrugged. "I do not feel excluded, as you are fearing."

"I was not thinking that-" "Yes, you were."

Kinana sighed. She could tell when Erik was starting to rise walls.

"I am not rising any wall." Erik moved on the stool, and took a sip of his coffee. He drew a deep breath. "It is not Tinuviel's fault that the old geezer has put her with us."

Kinana frowned for a moment. Tinuviel? Ah right, he calls Dalila like that now.

Erik chuckled. "Only when she doesn't get on my nerves. Then she becomes 'damn Snow White' again."

A smile broke on Kinana's lips. I believe you when you say you are all right, Erik. Just come to me if you want to talk. "Hei!" She said then. "Why don't we do something this afternoon?"

Erik raised an eyebrow. "Hadn't you an appointment with the dabber?"

He smirked when he saw Kinana blushing heavily, and even more when he heard her soul starting to bubble happily at the thought of meeting Reedus later that afternoon.

Ah, Cubellios… I was a little less an asshole, I would tell you how much happy I am for you.

And that thought helped him pushing aside the sound of Erza voice, commanding the whole team to be at the train station the day after at six o'clock in the morning.


The morning after…

It was only because Dalila was able to fly that she made to the railway on time.

She had opened her eyes ten minutes after six, believed her clock was wrong, realising it was way more probable that she hadn't heard it, and just rushed out of bed.

"How it is possible?" She whined out loud, running around the room, looking for her shoes. "I am a dragon slayer, I am supposed to hear things!"

Resigned to skip breakfast - How cares ? I am going to throw up anyway, she thought - She had merely time to grab her bag and brush her teeth, before deciding it was too late to take the stairs.

Let's put to real use this ability to fly… Thought the wind dragon slayer jumped out of the window and onto the cold air of the morning, flying as fast as she could in direction of the train station.

Dalila landed on the rail in the moment the train appeared right behind the curve, and rushed among amazed passengers, and found her whole team ready to catch the train.

"What's your excuse for being so late?" scolded Erza as soon as Dalila reached them.

"Sorry, my bad." The wind slayer muttered apologetically. "I didn't heard the clock!"

Erza narrowed her eyes. "But you are a dragon slayer! And-"

"She is saying the truth, you monster." Cobra cut in. He was eyeing the upcoming train as if it was some sort of disgusting monster he was not able to defeat, and the rage mounting in Erza soul was not helping his bad, bad mood. "Now shut the fuck up before I decide I poison everyone in this fucking place. Starting with that train!"

"You can't poison a train!" Sighed Gray. It was too early int he morning for him to use his usual caution when speaking with Cobra - and in all truth, the more time the ice mage was spending with the poison slayer, the more Gray was realising Cobra was just a sadistic, bad-mouthed Natsu. No damn difference… All the dragon slayers are the same!

"I am fucking not the same of Salamander!" Growled Cobra dangerously, not sounding as half as menacing as he had wished. "And if I fucking say I will poison that fucking train, I fucking will!"

"Yes please!" Sighed Natsu, who hadn't followed the conversation and was already feeling too nauseated to do so. "I don't want to get into the train…"

"Come on Natsu!" Happy chimed. "Maybe a fish would make you feel better?"

Way to start the morning… Dalila stomach churned, she didn't know if it was because she was hungry of if because the clattering of the train was making her feel sick already. Next time I will ask Wendy to wake me up, she thought, entering the wagon after Lucy and taking place next to her. Now let's only hope that this train doesn't make me too sick…

But of course, as soon as the train started to move, a wave of nausea rushed from the pit of the dragon slayer stomach, making her regret she had ever got up from bed that morning. I should have missed the train… Why did I ever think of arriving on time?

Next to Dalila was sitting Wendy. The younger slayer was quickly paling. "I shouldn't have had that cinnamon roll for breakfast…" she murmured.

"No Wendy, breakfast is important!" Insisted Charle from her lap, patting slightly Wendy's tight. "You must only breath in, and breath out, in, and out…"

"Charle, I am afraid I will-glarb!"

But before Wendy could reject her breakfast, a tanned hand closed tightly over her mouth.

"Do never fucking ever have breakfast again before getting on a fucking train, kid. Understood?"

Cobra thanked his soul hearing for allowing him to prevent such a disaster. He just knew when someone was about to throw up, just as when he knew what they were thinking. If the runt starts with this, I am going to spread my bile around… Hell, not even I am that cruel…

"Thank you, Cobra." Lucy sighed, relaxing in her sit. If one of them starts throwing up, I am afraid the other four will follow… She thought, glaring at Natsu was was sitting right in front of Dalila, and had just taken a greenish tint that the Celestial mage didn't like one bit.

"Next time we are taking the car." Gray, who had already lost his sweater and t-shirt, shot a worried look at the five dragon slayer, deeply wishing he had taken a sit on another couch. Or another carriage. Or another train. The Ice mage shot a glare at Natsu, who was sitting next to him. "I don't want to get stuck near any stinky dragon vomit." He grumbled.

"Hei ice brain! What the hell-blurb!" "Here, here Natsu." Lucy was quick to stop Natsu from getting up from his sit, and exchanged place with Gray.

Now Lucy was next to the fire dragon slayer, who was next to Cobra, who was next to Erza, who was busy examining the new Heart Kreuz catalogue and was totally indifferent to the problems of the four dragon slayers.

Lucy rolled her eyes, as she forced Natsu to lie down with his head on her lap, and started caressing his hair. "Now try to sleep a little, ok?" Four dragon slayers! She was thinking in the mean time. We really should think about an alternative transportation…

Her thought proved to be right when she saw, in the sit in front of her, Dalila, and Wendy sweating with their hands pressed on their mouths.

The Celestial mage felt Natsu adjusting on her lap. The will of rebelling had totally left him when the train rolled on a sharp turn, and it was only because Lucy had started combing gently his hair and scratching his scalp that the fire dragon slayer allow Gray's comment to pass. "I am going to get Gray as soon as we step out of this death trap…" he mumbled.

Dalila was ready to agree with him, if she hadn't her own hands pressed on her mouth. Her eyes met Cobra's deadly-looking purple pupil right in the moment when she felt the dinner of the day before creeping up to her mouth. Next time I am going to fly… I am never going to take a train again…


Miraculously, they managed to arrive to the 8Island without any of the dragon slayers vomiting on the train.

"Good!" bellowed Erza, once they were in front of the restaurant. "We are here under Master request, to help Mister Yijima in a moment of great need! Do not disappoint me!" She shot a glare in the direction of Natsu and Gray. "Have I made myself clear?"

The flames dancing on Natsu fists extinguished instantly, while the giant ice feet hovering over Natsu disappeared with a puff, and Gray slowly lowered his hands and scratched the back of his head. "Got it." He muttered.

Lucy took Dalila by the arm. "You will like Yijima." Said the Celestial mage. "He is an old friend of Master Makarov, and he is a very kind man."

Dalila nodded. The smell of soup and roast coming from the kitchen of the 8Island was invading the street, and was enough to make Dalila's mouth water already. And with that, the wind slayer smelled the scent of orange juice, baked cakes, mint and mango milk shakes, fresh vegetables and steamed rice. Here is a place were they serve good food… And loads of it!

"Is Mister Yijima the only owner of this place?" she asked, trying to ignore the loud rumble from her stomach.

"Yes!" Wendy and Charle were walking next to them. "He gives us free lunch as well!" Wendy smelled the air, and hummed. Her stomach too whined soundly. "We eat usually after work, but I guess we can have a bite, since it is the first day…"

"I hope so, since you almost puked your breakfast! Otherwise, how are you supposed to carry on a day of work?" pointed out Charle.

"We will ask Yijima. But I am sure there will be no problem." Said Erza, practically glowing at the thought of the strawberry cake that she knew Yijima had always in store for her. That thought gave her renewed energy. "Come on!" She cried. "We mustn't be late! The changing room are this way!"

"Changing rooms?" Dalila raised an eyebrow. "Changing rooms for what?"

Ten minutes later…

It was now perfectly and painfully clear to Dalila why did they need changing rooms. And in her opinion, it would have been much better if they stayed inside the changing rooms, and not get out of there at all!

"Isn't this dress a little too short?" she asked tentatively to Lucy. "I mean… It's above my knees… And this… How can you work with this?" She pointed out the tulle behind the skint, that was making it staying even more high on her tights. There was no way Dalila could make it stay down to its place.

"This is just some lace, to make the skirt a little… bouncing." Lucy giggled, adjusting Dalila's petticoat. "You will get used to it no time, Dali-chan!"

Dalila sighed. At least my shoulders are covered. She thought, looking over Lucy, that was sporting a strapless, black minidress, with a small white apron on the front, that let her cleavage well visible. Black sleeve warmers and tall, white stockings completed the outfit.

"How can we work in this… This…"

"Ah, don't sweat it!" The Celestial mage reassured her, tying her red sandals. "And you look very nice in the uniform! The size fits perfectly!"

"At least you have your legs covered!" whined Dalila, glancing enviously at Lucy's stockings and trying to take the dress down. "I have never wear something that short!"

As soon as the wind slayer was tugging the lower hem of the dress, the neckline was moving down, exposing things that should have stayed covered. It's a lose-lose game! Whined Dalila in her head. How can I walk around with this?

The bright red pair of shoes that they were supposed to wear were even more embarrassing. The heel was short, so probably she would have made it until evening without tripping or falling, but the color red was all but discreet.

Dalila sighed once more, putting on the shoes, and seeing how they were standing out against her pale skin. She looked at herself in the mirror. I look ready for another activity, other than working as a waitress… "Are ponytails necessary?" she pleaded, defeated, lowering the ponytails at the top her head that Lucy had just made her, tying them with red hair clip that matched the shoes.

"Yes they are!" Erza had just finished to tie her apron and quickly proceeded to re-adjust Dalila's ponytails in the previous position. That was, high tall above her head. Good heaven… Thought the wind slayer, looking at herself int he mirror. "I look like a doll!"

But the Requip mage was too excited to pay her an attention. "Those ponytails have to stay tall and proud!" she declared fiercely, as if it was a life-or-death matter. "We have to make a good impression today! Practically everyone of Fairy Tail has worked here at least once! It's like an initiation for your life at the guild!"

Dalila was pushed onto Erza huge chest as the Requip mage hugged her. "Aren't you excited?"

Yes Dalila was, and not little… But she felt so pout of place she had no idea she could have presented it in the restaurant hall. But she just couldn't ruin Erza enthusiasm. "Yes… Of course!" She said with a small smile.

"Great!" Erza patted her on the shoulder. "Now, let's go!"

Dalila nodded. Erza looked... Sexy. And with the black tights and the black minidress with with laces and heart-shaped neckline, Dalila was sure the Requip mage was going to make not just a good, but a great impression. Even with those ponytails.

"Come on, Dalila-san." said Wendy encouragingly. "I wasn't comfortable with the uniform the first time either… But everyone is dressed pretty much in the same way, and Yijima has insisted that we wear them. You will get use to it in no time!"

"Sure, Wendy... I have not really worked in a restaurant before…" The wind slayer smoothed her long hair. At least Wendy is wearing something decent! She thought, looking at the chaste blouse that was covering Wendy. Still ponytails and red sandals… And I would extend the hem of that dress too, if I could…

The four girls exited the room, heading towards the restaurant, Dalila still fighting with her dress, Lucy and Wendy giggling and whispering, and Erza walking in front of them all, standing proud on her bright red heels, swinging her ponytails back and forth like she was wearing the most powerful of her armours.

Charle had also changed, wearing a similar, smaller uniform, and was already waiting for them outside.

"Charle and Lucy-san will take the orders." Wendy explained. "And I will stay at the counter."

"Plates are too heavy for me!" Said Charle. "But I can fly, which makes it vert convenient for me!"

They entered in a huge room, occupied by many tables and chairs, disposed all around. Dalila saw Natsu and Gray, wearing similar uniforms, with black trousers, apron, and white shirts - even Happy had a small, back papillon for himself! - already disposing the tablecloth, and moving the tables and chairs around.

Cobra was behind the bar, wearing a total-black look and his usual bored, uninterested expression on his face, and was lazily taking off some bottles out from a cupboard.

On that moment, the owner, Yijima, came out of the kitchen with a tall hat and apron. "Hello to all of you!" He greeted them. "Welcome back to the 8Island, team Natsu! Your help will be precious this week."

Erza bowed. "It's a pleasure to work for you again, sir!" She said. "We are glad to help!"

"I hope this implies that the kitchen will not be destroyed, this time!" chuckled Yijima, eyeing a certain couple of mages that pretended to look elsewhere.

Dalila stared wide eyes at Natsu and Gray. Wait, they destroyed the kitchen? What's this story?

"Yeah." whispered Lucy, reading her thoughts. "We had to pay for all the plates and pots they broke, and it costed us the whole reward… I think Erza is still mad about it."

"Ah." Dalila swallowed. Well, let's hope this time nothing goes wrong… I would like to be paid, after all.

"I can assure you that there will be no troubles!" Erza bowed again at Yijima. "Now, shall we start?"

"I would say so!" Yijima clapped his hands. "You can start by settling the tables!"

"Yes sir!" And Erza immediately dragged Natsu and Gray away by the ears, already giving them orders and throwing some threats in between. Wendy and Charle followed, chatting happily, ready to wait for the first clients to arrive.

The old man followed amused the mages scattering around the restaurant, and then turned his attention to the latest member of the team. Yijima looked up and down at Dalila with great attention. "I understand you are miss Dalila, the newest member of Fairy Tail?" he asked, politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you, finally."

"Ehm, yes sir!" Dalila stretched out her right hand, which Yijima lost no time shaking warmly.

"Makarov had talked to me about you." The small mage continued. "Wind dragon slayer magic, am I right?"

"Precisely." Dalila nodded. "I am still learning, though."

"There is a lot to learn." Nodded Yijima. "I believe also your fellow dragon slayer have not yet explored their capabilities... Although one in particular was able to blow up a good part of my kitchen..."

Dalila giggled. "I am not that powerful... The worst that can happen is that I break a glass."

Yijima huffed. "Oh, I am sure you are much more like young Wendy that like…" he eyed worriedly at the kitchen, were Gray and Natsu had just entered. "Well, let's get to work, shall we?" He said, before sprinting to the kitchen, possibly to prevent another disaster right before the week of the festival.

"Sure, sir!" Dalila and Lucy bowed and rushed in the hall.

Dalila looked around, at the green painted walls, the round tables that Charle and Wendy were covering with white, candid tablecloths.

"Now we need to set the tables. Cutlery is over there, and glasses on that cupboard." Lucy directed her. "Once we are done, the first clients should already be arrived."

"Sure." Dalila draw a little breath. She was ready. I am starting my first job with team Nastu!

Setting the tables was a simple task to start with. Dalila was worried to spill around drinks and food with her clumsiness, but setting the table was something she could definitively do.

"Erza and Gray usually deliver food and beverages, because usually trays are very heavy…" As Lucy and Dalila placed plates, forks and knives in the right place, brought glasses and napkins to the tables, Lucy was explaining the wind dragon slayer how the Yijima had organised the work between them.

"I guess you might help them. If Charle and I need some extra help taking the orders, we can always ask Happy… Mmmh, but no, Happy doesn't know who to write, so it's better if he stays with Natsu."

"What is Natsu doing?"

"Natsu and Happy do the cleaning part…" Lucy grimaced. "At the beginning they were serving with Gray and Erza, but Yijima found out they were eating from the plates of the clients… They still do so, I think. Yeah, exactly. It's gross." Lucy nodded at Dalila's disgusted expression. "But at least it's the leftovers, and not the plates our costumers are receiving!"

Lucy went on explaining how the number of the tables were organised, where to find clean glasses and plates, and from where Dalila was retrieving the plates she was going to serve to the tables.

The space was well organised, and the way Yijima had organised the work in between them was simple. It didn't take much time for Dalila to already have an idea of how to do her part.

"Ah, finally!" Lucy giggled, pointing at the bar counter at the far end of the restaurant hall. "There is our bartender! Cobra is good with alcohol, after all."

Dalila cautiously turned, and spotted him. The poison slayer wasn't sporting his happiest face. The wind dragon slayer guessed he might not like too much working in a restaurant.

He hadn't said a word for the rest of the train ride, and on the way from the train station to the restaurant. As soon as they had stepped in, Dalila had lost sight of him - he surely had gone changing before Gray and Natsu, probably trying to get a few moments of calmness.

How to blame him? Dalila thought, as her ears detected an argument in between Natsu and Gray in the kitchen, that Yijima was trying to sedate as fast as possible.

Cobra was lazily polishing some beer cups, not bothering to look up at them. "I am not a fucking bartender, Tinkerbell." he grunted. "And watch out not to mess up the orders this time."

"It happened once!" Lucy pouted.

"One too many."


Right after Lucy and Dalila had set the tables, the clients started to arrive. The wind slayer looked carefully as Lucy and Charle took the orders, Erza and Gray brought around drinks and food, while Wendy computed the bills and printed the receipts, delivering them to the tables and collecting money and changes.

With Yijima, Natsu and Happy cleaning the empty tables - and yes, sometimes eating the leftovers of the costumers - and Cobra at the bar, the team was really working as a sole body.

Soon Dalila started to help Gray and Erza.

Gray showed her were too see which course was to be delivered to which table. "Numbers are written here." he explained. "And then when an order is done, you put it here. Otherwise Yijima will cook several times the same dish."

"Alright." Dalila nodded, trying to memorise it. It was all so new for her, and she didn't want to mess up! "Finish an order, put it away, got it!"

Gray smiled, and patted her shoulder - he had already lost his shirt, but Dalila wasn't sure it was worth to make him notice. "You will do good, Dalila! The job is not hard, you just have to get used to it!"

"Thanks, Gray." The wind slayer returned the smile. "I will do my best."

Soon, orders begun to flock, and more and more deliciously smelling dishes started to come out for the kitchen.

Soon, orders begun to flock, and more and more deliciously smelling dishes started to come out for the kitchen.

I hope we will be enough to deal with all these clients! Thought the wind dragon slayer, eyeing the full tables. There are even people waiting outside to be seated! She noticed, seeing a few of them waiting for a free table at the bar counter.

"All good?" Asked Gray after a while.

Dalila, who was delivering a tray full bowls filled with soup, smiled weakly. "As long as this doesn't drop…"

"It won't." Gray chuckled. "And even if it would, everything would still be good, as long as flame brain doesn't blow the kitchen up again…"

"What did you just said?" Came an angry voice form the kitchen.

"Gray…" pleaded Dalila. "Don't start!"

Hours ticketed by.

Before Dalila realised, it was already half past one. They were supposed to work until three, and then cleaning the restaurant and set once again the table. The evening shift was beginning at six and finishing at ten.

Yijima had rearranged for them a small apartment a few streets nearby. Dalila had yet to see it, but the others had already been there.

The good think is that I will be so tired by the end of the week that I will sleep on the ride back. I can't feel my arms already! Thought Dalila, carrying two portions of fried chips to a family of three. "Two spice rice with egg and ham!"

"Here!" The kid shot his hand up.

"Say thank you!" scolded his mother. "I am sorry," she then said turnign to Dalila. "When he is hungry he tends to forget good manners." she apologised.

"No worries, madame!" giggled Dalila. "Anything else I can bring to you?"

"Juice!" shouted happily one kid. "Please?" he said shyly, looking at his mother glare. "Better John, much better."

"Juice it is!" Dalila walked towards the bar. "Juice for table three!" she chirped.

"Next time remember to ask which juice the rat wants." Muttered Cobra, handing her a glass filled with orange juice.

Dalila bit her lip. Damn. He is right. I forgot. "Yeah. Sorry, Cobra."

A carelessness that was easily overcome by the Soul Hearing of the poison slayer, anyway. Cobra was about to say that he would not always be there to avoid her poor figures with clients, but Dalila had already turned, like she wanted to be as far as she could from the counter, and the moment she was handing the glass to the thirsty kid she was wearing again her bright, soft smile.


Tuesday…

The fist day and half had come and gone. It was a little past three o'clock and Dalila felt exhausted and worn out.

"I actually never thought it would have been so tiring!" She muttered, massaging her aching arms.

Next to her, Lucy was sipping a strawberry smoothie with extra sugar, and munching a cookie. "Yeah." She nodded. "I agree. But you will get used to it in no time. And dinner usually is less tiring. People take their time to eat, and this means we have to run less back and forth."

The two girls had stopped a while ago. Natsu an Happy were finishing cleaning the tables, and Erza and Gray were just about to join them. Wendy had passed out on a bench, with Happy and Charle in her arms.

Again, Cobra was nowhere to be seen. Dalila wandered where he was - careful not to wonder too much. Who knows if he listening to me? She thought, glancing right and left.

But the poison slayer wasn't in sight, and that made Dalila feel a little more at ease. I shouldn't think like that… But I can't help it…

She couldn't help having swallowed heavily every time she neared the bar counter with a new order. She soon enough had learned to just place to written order there, and to come a minute later, when she would have found a ready tray with the order ready to be delivered at the table.

And yet, I still feel slightly intimidated by him… Even though he had practically dragged me to he guild when I twisted my ankle a couple fo days ago… Thought the wind dragon slayer, sipping her coffee. Maybe it's the black uniform?

Her train of thoughts was interrupted by a loud voice coming from behind them. "But it's Lucy Heartfilia? Cool!"

Dalila jumped on her seat, half deafened and ready to strike. Who was that?

"Oh no…" muttered Lucy under her breath. "This is Jason, the reporter from the Sorcerer's Weekly…"

"Who?" Cried Dalila, twisting a finger in her right ear, trying to make it work properly. "What did you say?"

"Cool!"

"Not you!" Grunted the wind dragon slayer, turning to the intruder. "And would you please-"

"But this is Cobra! COOL!"

When Dalila turned she had found herself facing a short, blonde man, with a camera pending from his neck, a small notebook in his hand, a pair of big sunglasses.

And a man that certainly wished to die in a painful way… Thought the wind dragon slayer, seeing the reporter - who was precisely Jason from the Weekly Sorcerer's, as Lucy had said - jumping on the bar counter and staring at Cobra with eyes wide open.

The poison slayer didn't move an inch, and kept tidying up the shelf he was busy with, as if there wasn't a man shouting 'cool' and gaping in his direction.

But Dalila noticed a light contraction of the muscles of his hand, and his ears had just had the smallest of flickers. Immediately she turned to Lucy. The two exchanged a worried glance. Then Lucy jumped on her feet. "Ehm… Yuu-huu! Jason! Weren't we talking about me?"

Dalila wasn't believing it could be enough to distract the reporter before he could start to take pictures of Cobra - something he could have paid with a few days at the hospital - but then he saw Jason turning again towards them. "Lucy? That Lucy?"

"Yeah, it's me!" Lucy would have been lying if she said she didn't like the idea of being photographed for the Sorcerer's. It was one of the most famous magazine of all Fiore, after all! She was going to seize the moment! "There is a nice light outside!" She said. "Let's go and take some picture! Erza must be around as well!"

"Cool! Cool! COOL!"

And as fast as he had appeared, Jason forgot Cobra, jumped down from the bar counter, and a moment later he was trailing behind Lucy, flashing her with his camera and his 'cool!'.

Dalila looked at the couple disappearing behind the door that lead to the interior courtyard of the restaurant. She blinked and rub her eyes. Have I just seen what I have just seen?

From behind the counter, Cobra didn't answer. He must remember himself to not insult Lucy for the rest of the day, to thank her for her service. Not that Tinker bell doesn't like that guy… Or better, that fucking magazine.

So Erza likes it as well? Dalila took a thoughtful sip of coffee. Or she is more like Cobra? She eyed the poison slayer, who had been acting for the whole time as if he was completely deaf to the world.

Now that Lucy wasn't there to chat, Dalila felt silence stretching between the poison slayer and her. She would have been happy to talk, really, but he seemed more confident with silence. Or maybe he doesn't want to talk to me? Oh no, he can hear me! Dalila blushed and averted her gaze from the poison slayer. Ok, just… Just remember it, Dalila, and stop thinking!

And so she did. She concentrated on the sound of glasses clicking together, the smell of the restaurant hall, and of the coffee in front of her. The voices of Erza, Jason and Lucy were coming from the outside - the reporter asking the two mages to move from a corner of the yard to another.

It was incredible how many angles and poses Jason could find in his own mind, and Dalila was busy analysing the small trace the reporter had left behind him - a mixture of dried dispositive, something overly dainty she couldn't really place, and sweat. And hours spent on a van, and behind a camera, and of many people and events… And the smell of printing machines, and hair gel…

It wasn't exactly there scent she liked the most. She waved her hands in front fo her, trying to disperse the smell, and small threads of wind enveloped her arms and hands for a moment, moving the air around her.

Maybe ti was because of that the another smell that she instantly recognised reached her nose.

The smell of sea and spices, piquant and sweet at the same time, and of rich flowers and morning dew and a soil of a land far, far away…

Cobra was turned, and so Dalila couldn't see the grimace on his face. That was new to him. Snow White smelling him? Was she crazy or what?

But then he remembered when he had smelled tiny flowers and snow and candy on her cloak, merely a couple fo weeks before, and bite his tongue. He could still feel that smell lingering in the whole room, like a spell of some sort. He shrugged, forcing himself to ignore it.

If Dalila remembered she had been sleeping covered by Cobras' coat, the smell didn't called back to her mind that memory - luckily for her, because who knows how the poison slayer might have reacted then!

No, she was only savouring a scent she found endearing and relaxing at the same time, much appreciated after the strange stink that surrounded Jason.

Dalila tilted her head, adjusting her ponytails. The coffee was almost finished, and was cold by now. She was pondering to just leave it - who liked cold coffee? - when she heard from the outside Jason demanding Erza to pose without stockings and undo her hair.

"Is it always like that?" She asked frowning.

"He likes Titania's legs, apparently. The bastard has good taste."

Dalila thought at the last numbers of the Sorcerer's Weekly that Lucy and Wendy showed her right a few days before. Mainly it contained half-dressed mages and witches.

"Well, this explains pretty much everything." She muttered.

Without turning, Cobra snickered. "You don't want to see your pretty face on the magazine?" His tone was mocking, and Dalila lifted her eyes, staring hard at his back.

He ignored her. "Sure boys will be all around you. You could make a couple of good articles… Maybe be the scoop of the magazine for a couple of weeks, if you are lucky."

"I do not wish to be photographed half naked, thank you very much." Dalila bite back, starting to rise from the stool.

She was about to leave, when she heard Cobra murmuring. "Are you sure? With your mushy story, you could be the cover for three weeks for sure."

Something stung deep inside Dalila, and her whole being trembled and jerked. It still hurt. Of course it does. She thought gritting her teeth.

She turned, and wanted to say something harsh in return, but then…

A whiff of tears and fear and the stinky entry of a cell reached her nose. Cobra's story, which her didn't know but bits, could be a great material for the magazine as well. But ours are not stories that you share in magazines. And even if we could turn our tragedies into 'mushy stories', none of us wants to do so.

She could have easily told him that the very same held for him, even if she knew he would have preferred to have his tongue cut right there and then than telling his own story. It was too easy to start a pointless argument. Too easy to say something that would hurt him as well.

So, Dalila closed her mouth, and just shrugged. "I have no desire of spreading my personal story around either." She mumbled, as she left the hall, heading to the kitchen.

And maybe she just dream it, but right before exiting the restaurant hall, she believed she heard him whispering behind her. "That's a wise choice, Tinuviel."


Wednesday…

Cobra lingered a second onto her fair skin. The cherry red of the hair clips was accentuating the platinum color of her hair, and the shoes were doing the same with her small feet. Cobra gaze followed the line of her legs as she walked towards the kitchen once more. Up and up, until he was caught by the hem of the dress, gently caressing the tight, hiding partially the Fairy Tail guild mark.

"Two cokes and one coffee!" Lucy high pitched voice cut in and he groaned. One good thing of those ridiculous uniforms was that he got a nice view of legs for the whole day, and he didn't like to be interrupted.

Annoyed, Cobra groaned. "Tinkerbell, there is no need to scream in my-"

Cobra, there are some strange guys at table nine. I have just taken their orders and I think it's better if you keep and eye on them.

Cobra face remain emotionless, but Lucy could see an evil glint in his purple eye.

"Sure." he only said, tilting his head just enough to catch what was being said around table nine, and placing at the same time the orders on a tray.

"Thanks." Lucy picked up the tray, going back squeezing herself in between chairs and tables.

Apart from serving drinks without poisoning them, Cobra had been bestowed by Yijima with a secondary task.

The ex-member of the Council had put it in one word: security. It happened that some random guys came at the restaurant to bother the waitresses, or were just being boisterous and noisy - thing that was totally normal, considering that Yijima had chosen fro his staff uniform that were barely dressing them, but it wasn't Cobra pace to discuss the matter. The only job of the poison slayer was to guide the nuisance at the door, gently.

And since Yijima had forgot to mention how much 'gentle' he was supposed to be - and the poison slayer knew the man had done it on purpose - Cobra had free rein on whoever was disturbing the other costumers, or the staff.

"With your magic, that should be pretty easy." Had told Yijima to him the first time he had been employed with team Natsu. "It is enough for me to put an end to any fight or fuss even before it has the chance to start."

The poison slayer had never failed his employer. Damn, listening to other people was his second nature, and he was always extremely glad to kick some caught asses out of the main door, in front of everybody - yes, he had done so a few times already… and with the blessing of and ex-member of the Council, no less!

He stretched his magic, reaching table nine, and listened.

Tinkerbell is right.

At Table nine there were three young men. Their clothes and watches where expensive. One was even wearing a ring with a huge ruby - and even from there, Cobra could tell that it wasn't a face one.

They were talking loud enough for Cobra to hear - something about cars and horses, nothing really worth his attention, and in any case nothing he could throw them out of the door for - but the way their soul hummed and clicked as Lucy handed them their drinks had definitively his attention.

The look of lust they gave at Lucy's body wrapped into the black dress, and the thought that followed, were nothing strange to Cobra. Many men had eyed Lucy in the way and had similar thoughts about her - now, if Cobra was annoyed by that it was also true that he couldn't turn to mush everyone that laid eyes on his teammate.

But the thing that made the poison slayer emit a low growl was the sentence one of them, the one who seemed the leader of the trio, said.

"I bet I can run a hand up to one of those skirts before the end of the night…"

Oh, that made Cobra more than ready to slaughter them in the centre of the hall, as a warning to every man who was planning to lay hands on a woman before she had given him her explicit and clear consent.

He was not against one night stands, not against flirting or openly asking for a night, but sliding up a hand under a woman skirt? That was something he couldn't bear. He accepted everything - really - as soon as there was an agreement, and he knew for sure that no one of his team mates would agree to anything with those lecherous, arrogant bastards.

Lucy was enough smart not to get too close to their table while passing by. She knew too well how to distinguish a sly smile from an indecent one, so automatically her brain set on 'avoid danger' mode. Not that she didn't trust Cobra, but just to avoid the annoyance.

And Cobra was grateful to her. Hearing a woman soul after one had groped her was something that could make him very sick and very angry at the same time.

He kept preparing coffee, tea and pouring juices and water, without letting his attention lower towards

None of the three boys didn't attempt to win the bet as Titania took their order. She glared annoyed as she felt their stare on her chest, but preferred to take their order quickly. Her swords were ready to dance, if they tried to make a move on her or any other female in the room. She exchanged a glance with Cobra. He responded with a nod. He was informed, he was keeping an eye on them. And if they had Cobra's attention, well, they wouldn't had time to move a finger without the slayer knowing. That thought was comforting.

Cobra looked around, as minutes ticked by.

Wendy and Charle were beyond the counter, unaware at what was happening. Natsu had somehow sensed Lucy's unease, and it had got him one single look to understand the situation. A glance in between him and Gray had been enough to alert the Ice mage, who had had a word with Erza. Cobra snorted when he saw the Requip mage ready to change into something more appropriate for those three young fellows, but Gray was Abel to make her desist.

Luckily for them Titania can't hear what I can… Otherwise they would be already passed out in the trash bin outside the restaurant…

The bell ring from the kitchen, signalling other courses were ready.

Table nine… It's the one next to the window… Balancing three plates of fish on her arms, Dalila rushed over the tables. Damn, these dished are the most expensive of the whole menu!

She looked around the room, doing her best to not knock Gray down and not letting anything fall. I see there. Three guys…

Cobra raised his head. He followed with his eye the wind dragon slayer approaching table number nine, too busy not making the food fall on the other costumers to notice the looks the three young men were throwing in her direction.

"I bet I can run a hand up to one of those skirts before the end of the night…"

Cobra moved from behind the bar counter. Lucy and Erza glanced in his direction. Charle lifted and eyebrow, and Wendy lifted briefly her head, before going back taping the receipt of the woman in front fo her. "It's 250 jewels, madame!"

Dalila reached the table, looking at the three occupants with a polite smile. Her nose was right above the fish, but even so she smelled the heavy scent of cologne. Had the cologne be only a little lighter, she might have felt the smell of aroused male, excitement, money and wicked intents. But she didn't, so she just asked: "So, it's a tuna with roasted tomatoes, and two crabs with potatoes and celery?"

Cobra moved swiftly among he tables. Gray stepped quickly aside, letting him pass. I would like very much to see their faces in the mud. He told the poison slayer. Don't be gentle.

Oh, ice-prick, no need to tell me. But thanks for the support anyway.

At the table, the three men nodded and smiled, a lecherous sparkle in their eyes, that Dalila, busy placing the heavy place not he table, didn't catch.

"Who has the salmon?" She asked instead.

The man at the opposite side of the table lifted his hand. "I do have a salmon." The other two exchanged a glance, snickering, but Dalila didn't catch the double meaning, and bent slightly over the edge of the table, to pass the man the plate. "Here is it!"

She didn't notice the hem of her dress lifting an inch, nor the hand of the man right next to her lifting slowly, nearing her exposed tight, ready to grope her rear…

But she certainly noticed his unmanly, high-pitched squeal when a blood-red scaled hand seized his wrist, burning his expensive shirt and his skin with invisible drops of powerful poison.

"Yaaaah!"

Dalila had put down the plate just in time. She jumped aside with a cry of surprise, and when she turned to see what had happened, saw the man with a pained expression on his face, doing his best to jerk away from a very, very mad Cobra.

"Let me go! You are hurting me!" Trying to break free.

But the poison slayer grip was one of iron, Dalila knew it by experience. She saw the furious face of Cobra, with his eye that was burning of anger - really, there was no way to tell if he looked more scary when he was showing his anger or when he was not showing it!

"Hurting you?" He murmured almost in a soft, gentle tone, not matching the scales on his arm or his uncovered pointed teeth. "I think you are hurting me!"

"I-I-Iiih!"

Dalila cringed when she heard the bone cracking.

"Hurting me, because when a woman is groped like they way you were about to do, her soul starts to wail, and it makes my head throb and hurt…"

The wind dragon slayer gasped. "Gr-groped?" She cried, looking in disbelief at the man in front of her. "This man was about to-"

"No!" Cried the man - the bone of his wrist cracked, and Dalila knew cobra had just broke it.

She was about to protest, but then she saw the man's face, were under the pain was painted a boiling anger. She turned her gaze to his two other friends, and she saw just that - anger. Not surprise or fear, but annoyance. And she smelled the lie she had just heard a moment later.

It is true, then! Dalila felt anger boiling inside her. "You were about to do what?" She hissed. Wind started collecting around her, like a net of silver threads dancing on her skin.

"I said I wasn't!" Cried the man, glowering at Cobra. "Let me go!"

One of his companion seemed to have found his voice again. "Let him go immediately!" He cried indignantly. "Do you know who we are?"

"Yes, do you know?" Echoed the third one.

At the tables around them, the other costumers were staring at the scene. Some them were whispering. Some others were pointing the trio, nodding among themselves. Everyone seemed to know them.

Cobra shrugged. "I don't care." He then leaned over the man he was still holding by the wrist. "Now," creed the poison slayer, "would you be so smart to say that you are sorry to this young lady, and then take your ass out of the door quietly?" Cobra smiled wickedly. He liked too much his role. "Because if you don't do so, I will be forced to make you do all these things, but that might be less… pleasant, for you and your friend."

"This is unacceptable!" Cried the second man who had talked, raising on his feet.

"Yes, it is!" Echoed the third one.

"Being threatened in a respectable restaurant," continued the second, "By a common convict!"

"Repeat it!"

Wait, was it really Dalila who had let out that frightening, chilling growl.

Lucy, who was only a few tables away form the scene, felt a shiver running down her spine. Oh-oh! Things are getting out of hands! I must run and call Yijima before something bad happens! And she rushed in the kitchen, looking for the short mage.

In the meantime, under a pair of eyes that were glowering and throwing glares that could have incinerated anyone, the second man had lost a good part of his confidence. "I… I will repeat, if I… If I want, alright?" He stuttered. "And, what's more…"

But he didn't get to finish his sentence, because something totally unexpected happened, saving the poor soul. Well, sort of.

The hideous cologne worn by the three young men had been lingering in the air and itching Dalila's nose for a minute or two by now. Probably all of them had mixed the cologne with some sort of perfume, and if such mix might be pleasing for a human, it was surely revolting for a dragon slayer.

Right on that moment, a naughty gust of wind brought to the sentire nose of the wind dragon slayer the smell of cologne, perfume, aroused male, and money all together. Enough for Dalila's nose to start prickling dangerously. Oh no!

She had only time to realise what was about to happen. Cobra heard her just in time, and promptly left the man and took a quick step back, before the wind slayer totally lost control and let one of her powerful sneeze.

"Etciù!"

Out of nowhere, silver threads of wind swelled and bloated, in a small gale that send the wind slayer tumbling backwards, and she would have ended up on the nearby table hadn't Cobra stretched out a hand and steadied her.

But her blow invested everything that lay in front of her.

The drinks on the table, together with forks, knives, plates and their right-out-of-the-oven content were swept away and ended on the three occupants of the table.

"My shirt!" Cried one, staring horrified at his not-so-immaculate shirt splashed with red wine., before realising the glass had broke on his chest and he was covered in tiny ice splinters, that were hurting him through the texture. "Ahi!"

The one that had already his first broken had been hit by a fork right on his cheek and was howling in pain, unable to form coherent words.

And the second one, the one that had called Cobra a 'convict', was covered in hot potatoes and a crab. Now, maybe it was a fortunate coincidence, but the crab in question was still alive enough to make use of his claws. And so, it had pinched fiercely the nose onto which it had fallen.

The man jumped on his feet with a pained cry, and started jerking his head and body - as if he had crabs pinching him all over him - but the only thing he obtained was to raise the laughs of the whole room.

Gaining again her balance on her feet - Thanks, Cobra! - Dalila looked around her.

One man dirty with a mix of wine and blood, another one with a broken wrist and a fork implanted on his cheek, and another one jumping around with a crab attached to his nose. Good grace! The wind slayer didn't know if she should laugh or not.

Cobra was ready to start laughing - as everyone in the room was doing anyway - when a voice boomed in the hall, silencing everyone, included the lamenting three men.

"Is everything alright?"

All the eyes fell on Yijima, emerging from the kitchen on that moment wiping his hands on his apron. "I believe I have heard a little commotion from inside…"

The second man managed on that moment to finally break off his nose from the crab. "It's indecent!" He started. "We have been-"

"I was not talking to you." Yijima didn't let him finish. The short mage narrowed his eyes, and the young man protest died in his own throat. "I perfectly know what you and your friends were about to do, young man. Bothering my staff and making a fools of yourselves seems more important to you than having a nice, peaceful dinner."

Yijima voice was laced with disgust. He looked straight to each one of the three men with a severity that Dalila believed could rivalled only by Master Makarov and Warrod Sequen. None of the men was able to held his gaze, and each of them dropped their eyes on their feet, looking angry, humiliated and embarrassed.

"I must ask you to leave my restaurant." finally said Yijima thought gritted teeth, and even if he was little more than whispering, in the silence of the hall his voice sounded crystal clear. "And I want you to never come back."

For a moment, no one moved. Then the man that had the crab pinched on his nose spat not he ground. "Come on, guys." He hissed. "Let's goofing a place where they do not hire…"

He didn't finish the sentence. He shot a scornful look at Yijima, a disgusted one at Cobra, and a moment later he was slamming the door behind him.

His two friends, the one with the shirt drowned in wine and a little blood, and the one with the broken wrist and the fork in soon followed him.

There was a moment of complete silence, where everyone held their breath - except the crab that had been pinching the nose of the second man. The crab was somehow well alive, and managed to escape from a crack in a wall.

Then, a man in the back of the room started to clap. He was soon followed by the woman of a nearby table, who was imitated by her three children and her husband. A young couple started applauding enthusiastically, and then another costumer, and another table, and an old woman, and a little boy…

Soon the whole room was cheering and clapping, in a cacophony of compliments for having 'put back in their place' those loud, ill-mannered youngsters, and for 'had given them a lesson'.

Dalila didn't know what to do. She interrogated Cobra with her eyes, but the poison slayer was already walking back to his place at the bar counter.

She then turned to Yijima, somehow preoccupied, but the short mage was smiling at her. "This is what I call a good show! And a good show means always good publicity! And the best thing, is that is for free!" He laughed, then went serious again. "Now, let's collect these dishes and put everything in order… And maybe find again that crab!"


Later that evening…

Dalila was finishing to wipe the floor. She had prepared the tables for the lunch of the next day, helping Erza setting the tables with glasses and cutlery for the day after - the Requip mage was so enraged about what had happened that evening that Dalila had been afraid Erza could smash the glasses on the ground.

But in fact, everyone in her team had been losing their minds about those three guys and whatever they had in mind.

Loke had even come from the Spirit World to express his personal wish to 'crush his balls with his own hands', to report his exact words, and also to calm Lucy, that was so nervous that in the Celestial Realm all her Spirits were nervous and angered.

Needless to day, Natsu and Gray and Wendy had been pretty much on the same line.

"Where is he now? I am all fired up!"

"Hopefully for him very, very far away from here…"

"Dalila-san! Next time I can serve in your place if you are scared!" Had even said Wendy, but Dalila wasn't scared or anything.

"I am alright." She said. "Really, I am good!"

And she truly felt not scared or anything. I am with my team. They will be there, if I need them. And I will be there for them too, for anything they need.

"A truly noble thought."

Even if it was late at night, and she was tired and only wanted to go to bed, the voice of the poison dragon slayer wasn't something unwelcome.

"I am flattened."

"Don't get used to it." Dalila chuckled, without lifting her head from her work. "Goodnight to you, Cobra."

But Cobra didn't move. He leaned over the bar counter, his eye inspecting the empty restaurants.

"A man with a fork in a cheek, one with his nose half broken by a crab, and another one with a shirt worth a couple of months of my rent dramatically washed with his own blood and wine…" he smirked. "Not bad as first day of work."

"I know my guns." Chuckled again the wind dragon slayer. "I think they will not come here for a while."

"I think that little one will kick their damn asses as soon as they step into the damn street, Tinuviel."

"You are in credit too. You broke his wrist."

"Ah." Cobra smirk widened. "Business as usual. But I wasn't here for a little talk."

Dalila stopped wiping the floor, and raised her gaze. "Uh?" There was something Cobra wanted to tell her?

"In fact, yes." The poison slayer crossed his arms in front of him. He was about to do her a favour and he didn't like it one bit. "Do you know who those three were? No, spare me. I already know you don't."

Cobra sighed. "The one who tried that shitty trick on you… He is the eldest son of the owner of the Blue company, one of the biggest companies in Fiore. They commerce silks and fabrics of all sorts."

Dalila frowned. "What does-" "It means, that the father of that fucker is well connected with anybody that counts in Fiore. And do not interrupt me again, because I am doing you a favour, and I am not liking it a bit. The poor soul that had his shirt ruined is a complete dumb ass, but he is the sole heir of the empire of the Salt&Co, that trades - guess what? - salt and spices. Same shit as before. And the last one, the one that befriended the crab…" Cobra sucked in the air. "Is the son of one of the Council men that openly opposed my parole."

It took Dalila a few seconds to register the information. "What?" She croaked. "But…"

"Why am I telling you all this?" Cobra shrugged. "To give you the complete picture."

"You shouldn't have… What if he talks to his dad… Or… Or…"

"He might, but there is very little he or his dad can do."

Dalila didn't seemed convinced. Cobra sighed. "I don't really care about it. And before you come up with strange idea, I would have done the same for any member of my team."

"This I know for sure! But then, why are you telling me this?"

"Just to tell you you are here by merely a few months, and have already enemies of a certain level. I am impressed."

"But that'd been an incident!" Dalila started to panic.

Cobra raised an eyebrow. "Oh. Does it matter, now that you know who these people are?"

Dalila blinked. Then realised what Cobra was telling her. No, of course it didn't mattered. I haven't been raised to believe a social status can allow a guy to behave as he likes.

"No, it doesn't change anything at all." She said shrugging. I think I can survive a few perverts, even if they come from the best families in Fiore. I have survived Cobra, after all…

The poison slayer raised an eyebrow. "Survived… For now."

Maybe it was the late hour. Maybe it was because the day has been so full of events, and she was tired. Or maybe it was just that Cobra was at her side at the right moment. Instead of drawing back, or tiptoeing, Dalila pulled out a sinister smirk. "I am not afraid of anything now." She declared theatrically." Not that after everyone has seen my deadly sneeze!"

"Please, Tinuviel. My breath is deadly."

Right. He breaths poison. "I am more for 'confuse, don't abuse'."

She wasn't expecting an answer as she went back wiping the last corners of the hall. But a deep rumbling sound made her head turn, and her mouth open in amazement.

In front of the astonished wind slayer's diamond eyes, from Cobra's chest was coming a bass vibration, and his lips were stretched in something more than his usual smirk. His eye was fixed on her, and he looked, for the first time since Dalila had first met him… not scolding, or angry, or mocking or blackly staring at her.

He seemed more amused than anything else, and it took to Dalila a moment to realise what she was seeing.

So… Cobra can laugh as well...


I must say I have no idea on how to see this chapter... Let me know what you think :)