Freed watched Lucy sitting at the vanity in her bedroom. After he had gotten dressed, Lucy played around with the hem of Natsu's pants, folding them up to hide the fact that they were too small on Freed. She then tied a belt around his hips and made him tuck in his shirt to hide that it was a little too big. When she was finished, she reassured a nervous Freed that he looked fine.
These clothes were completely out of Freed's comfort zone. He usually wore khakis with button-up shirts and the occasional tie. He never wore a polo, feeling as if the collared shirt made him look even more stuck up and snobby.
When Lucy was finished playing dress-up with him, she let him know she would throw on some make-up before they left for the office. Freed had hoped he could watch her. He was interested in the ways other people applied their make-up and was delighted to see she did everything at a small vanity in the corner of her room. After awkwardly asking if he could watch, Lucy pulled a chair from her living room and pulled it next to the vanity for Freed to sit in. Freed was just grateful Lucy didn't ask any questions.
Lucy's brush strokes were more hurryingly and sloppy, possibly because they were in a bit of a time crunch. She also used a sponge to apply her foundation, whereas Mira used brushes. Lucy skipped contouring and instead used something called bronzer. Even though there were many differences between her and Mira, Lucy's product was still just as beautiful. Freed was very intrigued. He found it fascinating how there were many different ways to apply the same types of products Mira used. Watching Lucy made him wonder if he ever taught himself how to apply make-up, what methods would he use? Would he use a more professional approach, or would he be like Lucy and just find a method that worked for him? Freed wanted to know; he was excited to grow and find out.
"Lucy…" Freed started as Lucy capped various make-up containers and tubes. She hummed in response, waiting for him to say whatever was on his mind. Freed played with the belt around his hips, trying to find the right way to ask his female friend what he'd been thinking. "Well…I just wanted to know…why?" Lucy looked over to him then and tilted her head to the side.
"Why?"
"Um…Like why do you wear make-up? To look good at work?" Lucy smiled and returned to putting away her make-up products neatly in the crevasses they belonged.
"In a way, I guess you could say it's for the office," Lucy said with a smile. "When I was a little girl, I used to watch my mom put on make-up every morning before going to work. My mom was very keen on looking her best, but that was more so because my father pushed her to." Lucy finished placing the products away before turning to Freed beside her. "Maybe my dad didn't find her attractive without make-up, or maybe he just wanted her to look her best because he was a conceded, egotistical asshole. Either way, I saw the strain it had on my mother. Yet, I still envied her. My mom was beautiful with or without make-up, but she came to life with a few brushes of her magic wand. I remember watching her and thinking, 'how pretty! I want to be like that when I grow up, someday!' But as an adult, I realized that wasn't the truth." Lucy sadly looked over to the various bottles, brushes, pallets, and lipstick tubes on the surface of her vanity. "I remember sitting here with Natsu one day when I first got this apartment. Natsu asked the same thing you did. 'Why do ya wear all that crap!?' he said." Freed chuckled at the way Lucy mimicked Natsu's voice. "Then I said, 'don't you want me to look pretty in front of you?' but Natsu just gave me this crazy look and said, 'Why would I want all of that when you look fine just the way you are!?' Then he told me my eyebrows were crooked." Lucy laughed, the memory fondly flashing into her head. Her genuine smile made Freed almost teary-eyed. He could picture Natsu saying those exact words, with that silly look he always gave, not knowing his words' tremendous effect on Lucy. Their friendship was truly marvelous, the dynamic of having someone so beautifully positive and always there for you. It was truly envious.
"I realized then how silly it was for me to think what my mother was doing all those years ago was something to look up to," Lucy said. "That wasn't how love was supposed to work. That's not how your partner or even your friends should see you. You should look beautiful to them no matter what you look like. I began to think that I didn't want to be like my mother. I wanted to wear make-up for myself. Because of Natsu, I noticed how pretty I looked even when I brushed my teeth and stared at myself in the mirror. Not an ounce of make-up on my face and toothpaste smeared in the corners of my mouth. I felt pretty. Make-up became something I used as just a way to boose my confidence. I did it for myself, not to make Natsu, my co-workers, or anyone think of me more attractively. So I guess you can say I wear it for the office. But I wear it because I want to feel confident while at the office. Or when I'm out to karaoke, or at Gray's house with Natsu and Loke." Freed was utterly awestruck. He realized now that he had been viewing make-up wrongly. He remembered Laxus's words that Wednesday afternoon.
"What Mirajane can't do with those make-up sticks is give you self-esteem. That takes time, and nothing make-up could do. Think about it."
Laxus was right. Make-up alone couldn't give him the confidence he needed to face bigger challenges like wearing a controversial outfit in public, judgemental strangers, personal trauma, or even a conceded, egotistical asshole husband. Lucy was proud of who she was underneath the layers of eyeshadow and concealer. Freed loved himself, but he knew he wasn't as confident as Lucy was. Freed knew deep down he wouldn't have been able to face Laxus in that outfit he wore Wednesday without make-up. He knew now that was something he needed to work on. Maybe that's what Laxus meant when he said he could help Freed? Like now, Natsu had helped Lucy. Was that possible? Freed and Laxus weren't as close as Natsu and Lucy were. Sure Laxus's words had left a small impact on him, but they couldn't change his whole outlook on wearing women's clothes. He didn't think anyone could do that; too much trauma and negativity surrounding his passion. However, with time and patience, maybe Laxus could help him.
Lucy gave Freed a smile and stood from the vanity, paddling over to her closet and grabbing her purse from it. "You know, I think what most people forget." Lucy says, walking back over to him, "Is that Make-up isn't a mask. It's not supposed to conceal you and hide who you are. It blends with your face and creates an image with what is already there. All it does is enhance what you already have. So, if you feel like you're beautiful with make-up on, shouldn't it be easy to feel beautiful without it? After all, you can't put on make-up without a base to work with. It's all your features, just drawn out and enhanced." Freed hadn't realized he was openly gaping at his blonde friend until she quickly blushed and turned away out of embarrassment. "Oh, my god! I got too carried away! I'm so sorry."
"N-no! Lucy! That was wonderful. You had me emotionally invested. Your words were beautiful!" Lucy blushed harder and covered her face with her purse.
"Geez, that just makes me even more embarrassed!" Freed smiled. He was so glad he had grown closer with Lucy. She was a wonderful woman, stunning inside and out. Having such a wonderful human around him motivated him to grow and become more like her. -No, to become someone others admired purely for who he was, not because he was similar to those around him.
"Thank you, Lucy," Freed said. Lucy slowly brought her bag away from her face, traces of a blush still freckled on her cheeks.
"W-were you interested in make-up?" She asked. Freed froze. Should he tell her? Could he confide in her? Would she judge him? Would she think he was crazy? Laugh at him, tell Natsu, and then everyone else at the office? Would they all laugh at him? Isolate him? Fire him? Freed could feel a panic bubbling in his chest until Lucy quickly cut in. "Cause…you know make-up is hard to learn if you just attack it head-on. I could show you some tips…or something?"
No…Of course not. Lucy would never do something like that.
"You would do that for me?" Freed asked softly. Lucy's face glittered with excitement, and she quickly rushed forward and clenched his hands into hers.
"Of course, Freed! We're friends, right? I would do anything I could to help you learn!" Freed's heart surged with happiness. Lucy…she truly was an amazing woman. "Oh my god! We could make a night of it. Watching youtube videos, eating popcorn, trying new styles!" Lucy squeezed her face up in pure thrill. "We could totally do it, Freed!"
Freed held Lucy's hand tightly in his. He hoped she'd never let him go. He hoped they'd always be friends. This budding friendship with the blonde-haired beauty was one of the happiest moments to ever happen to Freed. This morning with Lucy felt so similar to his meeting with Bickslow and how overjoyed he was to finally have a person, someone who got him. Someone who accepted who he was. A person for him alone. "Yes," Freed told his babbling friend, "I can't wait!"
Freed and Lucy talked all the way to the office. Lucy's apartment was within walking distance of the office building, so they were able to leave her apartment about ten minutes before they had to clock in. Freed told Lucy about his two encounters with make-up with Mirajane at her salon. Lucy excitedly talked about their upcoming date to Ulta that Thursday so Freed could purchase his own make-up products. Freed was excited to learn, to be able to one day apply make-up himself without Mira. He'd miss going to the salon, but he also didn't want to become dependent on it.
When they made it to the Office, Lucy helped Freed into the building since he didn't have his badge and helped him clock on. "Alright," Lucy said at her office door, "I'll talk with you at lunch!" Freed smiled and waved as he parted with her and walked down the hallway to his own desk.
A whistle sounded from behind him, and he turned, meeting Lyon Vastia, eyeing him curiously. "Freed Justine, walking in with the notorious Lucy Heartfilia." Lyon gave Freed a pointed look up and down and smirked. "Wearing clothes that were obviously not his." Freed blushed, looking down at his attire. Lucy said he looked fine! He knew it was obvious these weren't his clothes! "I've got to say," Lyon continued with a grin, "You've got me utterly surprised."
"Oh shut up, Vastia." Cana cut into the conversation, throwing a protective arm around Freed's shoulders, jolting him with surprise. "I believe it was last Monday you came in with Sherry… whose's married and-" Lyon chuckled and tapped the legal folder he had in hand into his shoulder.
"Nice try," he said with a smirk, "But Sherry merely gave me a ride. Also, I wasn't teasing Freed, just observing." To Freed, he smiled. "I'm just glad you're finally warming up to everyone." Lyon turned to leave then. "About time." He said as he disappeared into his office.
Cana mocked him when he was out of ear distance and then turned to her green-haired friend beside her. "Okay, cough it up. Why did you come in with Lucy today? Don't tell me you're banging blondes now." Freed choked as an image of Laxus flashed in his head.
"Uh- N-no." He quickly said.
"Good. Now spill. Mama's completely interested. Also, what the hell happened to you Friday? You completely ditched me and Gildarts." Freed thought back to Laxus literally stealing him away from Gray. He blushed, remembering what happened between them about an hour later. Cana caught it and raised an eyebrow. "No way. Instead of Operation Get in Laxus's pants, you commenced Operation Get Freed Laid!" Freed clamped a hand onto Cana's mouth, trapping any other embarrassing words from leaking out. Who talked like that!?
"I did not participate in anything of sorts." Freed hissed quickly. He let Cana's mouth go when she gave him a knowing look.
"Yeah, and you want me to believe you wear high-waisted slacks and polos? This whole outfit screams Natsu." Freed flinched, and Cana ate it all up. She grinned sadistically and started choking Freed in a headlock. "You fox! You screwed Natsu and came in with Lucy to cover it up! Or maybe it was a menage a trois!?" Cana purred lowly. Freed's face lit up tomato red, and he quickly started stuttering to cover her sentences. "I knew those two were into some kinky shit."
"C-c-ca-ca-Cana!"
There was a harsh throat clear behind the two of them, immediately silencing Cana's teasing. Cana blinked back, turning them around into the morning glare of Laxus Dreyar. Cana quickly let Freed go and corrected herself, flashing the COO and toothy grin. "How much of that you heard?" She asked awkwardly.
Laxus arched an eyebrow. "I walked up on, 'Operation Get Freed Laid'" Freed shrunk. Cana tried to hold it back, but she immediately burst into laughter. "What's funny? We're about to open, and you two are in the hallway openly discussing your sex life."
"Because!" Cana started, "I had no idea you were behind us the whole time! Boy, Freed, you must be mortified." As if on cue, Freed squeaked a solemn "yes" from behind her shoulder. But Cana corrected herself and gave Laxus a lookup and down. "The real question is, Mr. Dreyer. Why did you steal my date Friday?!" Laxus looked over to Freed standing behind Cana and shrugged his shoulders.
"Saw him throwing his guts up outside the restaurant, so I offered to take him home, that's all. Just being your friendly, neighborhood COO." Freed blinked back the stabbing feeling in his chest. Was that all Laxus was doing? He only helped him because he was the COO? Freed knotted his brows together. Why was he…disappointed?
Cana eyes Laxus cautiously, taking her eyes and thoroughly dragging them all over his features. "Yeah? Just trying to show us you're nice and friendly, huh? Absolutely no interest in Freed-sama over here?" Freed's breath caught in his chest as he waited for Laxus's answer. When he looked up, Laxus's eyes were staring down at him, burning holes into his.
"No," Laxus said slowly. "Not at all." Freed's heart dropped.
Cana nodded her head approvingly, "Good! We were starting to wonder if you two were hooking up." Cana shook her finger naggingly at Laxus. "You know the rules, no relationships within the company." Laxus gave the woman a smirk and nodded his head, pushing past them.
"Wouldn't have expected less from the CEO's daughter. Of course, I know." Laxus left the housing department's hallway onto the executive office with a hand thrown up behind him.
"Well," Cana said with a grin to Freed, "You're off the hook. For now." Freed forced a smile upon his face and backed away from her. "I still wanna know the status between you and Lucy, though."
"Oh-that. I went and saw Gray and Loke at karaoke. We went to Lucy's afterward, and I guess I got a bit drunk and fell asleep." Cana eyed him carefully, "Uh- on her c-couch, of course."
Cana hummed and followed Freed as they walked to the front of their department, where their offices were.
"Well, if that's all it was, then I guess I could let it go. What are you doing for lunch?" Freed blushed again as he took a seat at his desk.
"Oh…um. Lucy and I-" Cana's face upturned at the corners, and Freed quickly cut in to stop her roaming mind, "-As friends, we are going to grab something."
"I see, I see." Cana cooed and stalked off to her own office but Freed could still hear her giggling maniacally.
Bickslow took a deep breath and peered over to his once girlfriend. Somehow the white-haired woman conned him into bringing her to his shop. She stood to the side with a silly smile on her face as Bickslow pulled the garage doors open and unlocked the front door. "I have two employees," Bickslow told her. "They come in around nine, so we have some time alone." Lisanna immediately went to work looking over the various vases and sculptures. In the corner of the shop was a lone bookshelf littered with multiple vases. At the corner of the second shelf stood a piece Lisanna could never forget.
"No way." She whined, walking over and taking the small clear vase, running her fingers over the sculpted curves. "You're selling this one?!"
"Not for sell," Bickslow said. He had already gotten to work counting his drawer for opening. "Nothing on that shelf is for sell." Lisanna looked back over to the vases.
"Why so?"
"Because," Bickslow grumbled, never looking up from the stack of bills in his hands. Somehow he never lost count, even from the side conversation. "I crafted them all with the thought of you." Lisanna narrowed her eyes. With a clearer picture in her head, Lisanna could see the similarities between the formed vases. They were all uniquely curved. Some were lopsided, some were perfectly even, and some were purposefully unsymmetrical. They were also all clear. Every other vase in the shop had a tent of color or was created from a solid color with resin. Yet these, they were all clear. Just glass.
Looking over all of the vases made in her liking made her sad. Sure she was happy Bickslow never stopped thinking about her even after they were ripped away from each other. However, the bittersweet memory of why this shop existed still burned her chest. "You made your dream come true," Lisanna whispered. "You opened a glass shop. You created your own business. And yet…" Lisanna looked back down to the vase in her hands. What a precious memory this one vase held. "I haven't even started working towards mine."
Bickslow thumbed once more through the bills before putting everything back into the register and marking down the total. "This shop isn't going anywhere," Bickslow told her. "You can take as long as you need." That…those words Bickslow spoke hurt Lisanna more than anything else he could have said.
"Why?" Lisanna whispered. "Why would you build this shop even after we broke up? We were told we'd never see each other again. This dream…" Lisanna clenched the vase tighter, tears rolling from her eyes in anger. How could Bickslow be so stupid? How could he be so silly to actually go through with something from so long ago? Why did he care so much?
Bickslow set his pen down and took in another deep breath. "You're here right now." Bickslow peered over to her small body shaking with tears. He couldn't console her; he had no will to. He loved this woman, loved her more than words alone could even think to describe, but he failed her. He failed them both.
The truth was, he never lost hope. Even if he was gray and old, he would have continued with this shop. He would have forever created vases with the idea that one-day Lisanna would come back to him, and they'd live on fulfilling their dreams together. That's what they promised. That's the least he could do to atone for the mistakes he made when they were in college. He could never make up for hurting her in the past, and he could never make up for leaving her. But he could create this store so that if Lisanna returned and wanted to continue their story one day, Bickslow would help pave the way with a headstart.
"I made a promise to you," Bickslow told her. "I took that promise seriously. Whether you remember or not."
"Of course, I remember." Lisanna bit back a whimper and frantically whipped her eyes free of any other tear. "I took a break from university…after everything." Bickslow eyed her as Lisanna rounded the glass counter and stood beside him. "It's taking time, but I didn't give up."
"So you didn't graduate?" Bickslow couldn't help but feel a sliver of guilt. Lisanna would have graduated years ago if it weren't for him.
Lisanna looked over the small paper in front of Bickslow, tracing her fingers along the edges of the white sheet. "I'm graduating this upcoming spring. Finally." She peered up to him, Bickslow's bright green eyes still studying her. "That's not your fault." She quickly said. "I got sick again." Another shot of pain ran through Bickslow.
That's right. That's what started all the drama in the first place. Lisanna had gotten sick. Her body was frail, and she was hospitalized in a snap of a second. Bickslow could vividly remember the confusion, the absolute mayhem that ensued after Lisanna was hospitalized. Everyone was on edge; emotions ran so high. Everyone was scared for the worse. Maybe that was why…. Perhaps that's why Laxus did this.
Bickslow reached his hands out and took grasp of his former lover, pulling her into his arms. "I don't care how long it takes for you, Lisanna. Just like I told you then, I'll tell you again. I'm not going anywhere. I'll never go anywhere." Fragments of their past clouded his vision. The bouquet of pink roses sitting in a clear vase in the hospital window seal. The tubes, the wires, the needles all poking, probing, and sticking from Lisanna. The snowy winter nights sleeping on the hospital couch all to be eventually kicked out and forced to go home. His fists were bruised and busted from fighting, from giving everything he had in fighting back against his restraints. His bloody, broken reflection in the mirror. They all came back to Bickslow. They all flashed like a slideshow, only reminding him of the worse moments of his life.
Lisanna gripped Bickslow tightly, "Bickslow?" She whispered. "Let's run away."
The room was engulfed in a long, prolonged silence. Lisanna slowly pulled herself away from Bickslow to look into his confused eyes. "What?" He asked.
"Let's move, let's go away when I graduate." Lisanna looked down to Bickslow's chest, those broad muscles underneath his shirt that she loved so much. She flattened her fingertips over the fabric of his t-shirt and slid her hands along his body. "When I graduate. I want to be free. I want to live my life however I please…I want a family, a house, a baby." Bickslow's mind flashed to Evergreen's words the previous morning. Her plans to start a life from scratch with Elfman. Her hopes that Bickslow and Freed could too.
Freed.
Did Freed even need him anymore? He wanted to remain by Freed's side, but if Freed had found happiness elsewhere…in Laxus. Then he couldn't interrupt that. Lisanna was here now, begging for him; she needed him. They were two people in Bickslow's life that meant the world to him, and they didn't even know a thing about each other. They'd never met. Never interacted. Bickslow wished he could just take them both away. Forever.
"Bickslow?" Lisanna cocked her head to the side and looked up into Bickslow. "Is that too much?"
Bickslow let his thumb rub circles into Lisanna's waist, gripped tightly in his hands. The truth was, he wanted that. He'd always wanted that with Lisanna ever since they first started dating. Whatever Lisanna wanted in life, Bickslow vowed that he would make it possible a long time ago. No matter what. "No," He said with a sad smile. "When you graduate. Let's run away." Lisanna gave Bickslow a knot of her brow.
"I mean this, Bickslow. I want to get away from here. With you. Please…" She dropped her head into his chest, a soft cry leaving her lips. "Please don't promise me this if you're just going to take it back later."
Bickslow sighed and cupped her head tighter against his chest. "I won't. I promise."
The workday was long and tedious. Like the typical morning, Freed sat at his desk, only periodically calling for one of the social workers with a client in the lobby. Gray came through around ten to ask how his morning was progressing, and they chatted briefly. Freed was having a peaceful morning besides snickering from Cana here and there.
That was until Laxus Dreyer stepped into his office.
"Come with me." Freed blinked up to Laxus with a highly perplexed expression, only earning an annoyed glare back. "Come on. We need to talk. Let's go before you go to lunch." Freed peered over to the lock hung against his wall. Twelve thirty. What could Laxus possibly want to talk to Freed about? Did he want to take back their agreement for Wednesday? Was he angry from him and Cana slacking off earlier? Was he mad he came in with Lucy?
He came in with Lucy!
That's right, Freed forgot all about clearing up the misunderstanding about this morning. Of course, Laxus was pissed off! A wave of nausea from anxiety washed over Freed as he followed the COO into his office. Oh god, what if he and Bickslow got into a fight? What if he was about to tell him things between them were worse? What would Freed do? How would he fix it? Freed shut his eyes tightly at the thought of having both Laxus and Bickslow angry at him. Freed was so engrossed in his thoughts that the moment he stepped foot into Laxus's office, he hadn't noticed Laxus locked the door, closed the blinds, and immediately started charging right for Freed.
Swiftly, Laxus had Freed pinned in-between the door and his body. The shock jolted Freed out of his trance. Yet the moment Laxus slammed his lips into his, he was gone again. Freed groaned at the feel of Laxus's lips, at the taste of bitter morning coffee instead of hard whiskey. Laxus rocked with him, letting himself fully indulge in Freed's mouth, his tongue coming to swipe along Freed's bottom lip, earning a soft moan from the other man. Laxus pulled back and took hold under Freed's chin, halting any words from escaping.
"What a nice sound." he teased cruelly. "Sucks to know you made something quite similar for Lucy." Freed snapped his head away from Laxus's grasp and quickly shoved the larger man away.
"What the hell, Laxus!?" Freed shouted, subconsciously bringing his hand to his lips. "We're at work!"
"Yeah? And how'd you get here? Caught a ride from the hot blonde?" Laxus pushed back up against Freed, slamming his fist into the door behind him. "We had plans. I trotted my ass all the way over to your house, and you weren't there. I called you five times, and you didn't even answer."
Freed narrowed his eyes. The truth was, he hadn't even checked his phone. He grabbed it from Lucy's living room on the way out to work, but he didn't even look down at it. "How'd you get my number?"
"Made a deal with Bickslow."
"What the hell!?"
"That," Laxus yelled over him, "Doesn't fucking matter. You were gone. You didn't even tell your roommate where you were. But you were out screwing around with Lucy."
"Why do you even care!?" Freed yelled back. "Why the hell are you so confusing? For you to be jealous right now, you'd actually have to care about me." Laxus snapped his hand back around Freed's chin, squeezing the other man's cheeks together so tightly Freed was sure the insides would scrape against his teeth and become sore.
"Quit screwing with me." Laxus growled, "You want Cana to find out our real relationship? Be my guess. You asked me to be courteous at work; you didn't say anything about making our relationship clear to other people. You specifically wanted things to remain secretive." Laxus snatched his hand away from Freed, glaring down at him with a wave of pure anger. "I'm the confusing one? We had an understanding Friday on what our plans were, but after frolicking around with Lucy, you've forgotten." Laxus pulled away, stepping away from a stunned Freed, still shocked and confused.
Freed had never seen Laxus angry like that. Then again, he still was technically getting to know him, but to actually see Laxus flash out at him like that…was a bit chilling. Freed rubbed at the soreness in his cheeks, glaring back at Laxus, trying to match his scowl. The last thing he needed was for Laxus to know Freed was actually a little bit scared of him. "You are confusing, Laxus. You keep saying you want to help me, but then you do confusing things like…kissing me. And saying you have no interest in me. I don't get it." Freed clenched his hand tightly at his side. "You keep referring to a relationship, but what the hell are you even talking about? You're supposed to just be helping me as a…." Freed cringed at the word daring to leave his mouth, but that was the only word he could think of to describe Laxus. They weren't lovers, and he wasn't Freed's boss. "As a friend."
Laxus sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Getting angry at Freed won't do. Laxus calmed himself, momentarily pushing down his anger. "Fine." He said curtly, "Afterwork today, come with me. I'll take you to get your car, and we'll talk…about everything." Freed looked away, running the idea over his head. Everything? Would he tell him what happened between him and Bickslow? If that was the case, Freed definitely wanted to know.
"Alright," Freed said. "I'll go."
Mirajane softly slid her arms around Erza's shoulders, draping herself across her lover's body. Her long silver hair fluttered over Erza's bare shoulder and across her chest. "What are you doing here?" Mira sang into her ear. "You're supposed to be at work." Erza sighed, letting her partner play with the choppy ends of her scarlet hair. Mira peered at her from the side, taking in her earthy brown eyes and stern features. "Were you playing hooky just for me?" Erza gave Mira a pointed look, slightly moving away from her grasp.
"I should say the same to you. Normally you would have left by now to go and attend the salon." Erza arched an eyebrow at her girlfriend. "Playing hooky just for me?" Mira giggled, fanning herself out into the bed beside Erza.
"I don't feel well. I wanted to stay with you a bit longer. I'm lonely."
"Lisanna?" Mira's eyes hardened, it was only for a short second, but Erza faintly saw the change.
"Lisanna ran away from home." Erza hummed at this. "She always does this around this time of year. She runs away and stays with Elfman as if she were getting away from me. Then she'll randomly come back home. Only this time… She's not with Elfman." Mira leaned up on her elbows, staring into Erza's bareback. "So this time. I ran away as well."
Erza lets out another breathy sigh. "You aren't worried about her? Something could be wrong."
"Nothing is wrong." Mira leaned over and grabbed her cell phone. She cut it on, sliding over to her messaging app, and pulled up Lisanna's information. There below her contact information, Mira flashed Erza a picture of Lisanna's exact location. "I've been keeping up with her. I know exactly where she's at." Erza groaned and flopped back into the sheets beside Mira.
"If I didn't know you, I'd say that was creepy. But I get it. Just don't choke her. Lisanna needs freedom too." Mira didn't respond. Lisanna had all the freedom in the world. Lisanna could do whatever she wanted as long as it didn't involve Bickslow. And yet, no matter how much time passed, everything still involved Bickslow. It was like he was a festering parasite that Mira couldn't detach from her sister. He ate and ate and ate away at her until all she was, were a mere crumb.
Mira absolutely hated it.
"Lisanna is okay." Mira finally said, looking over to Erza's amused expression. "I make sure of that." Erza took her hand and slid it over the smooth flesh of Mira's skin, stretching her hand from one shoulder to the other until she was cocooned into the other woman.
"Well, then I suppose I could keep you company a little while longer." Mira squealed in delight, throwing her arms happily over Erza.
"Great!" She said with a wide smile, "there was something I'd like to talk to you about." Erza shot an eyebrow up and waited for Mira to elaborate. "You said you all were going to have an opening position soon at the housing authority, right?" Erza hummed a positive response and nodded her head. "I have someone I think would be a perfect candidate!" Erza was thoroughly intrigued now.
"Oh? Who did you have in mind?"
"A family friend." Mira simply answered. Erza sat up and looked down at her girlfriend.
"Does he have any property and housing management experience?" Mira shot her a pouty frown and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Does he really need all of that stuff?"
"Um…" Erza laughed and raised an amused eyebrow. "Yes. He definitely would need that." Mira looked away with a roll. Erza chuckled at her cute response and gently laid a hand on Mira's cheek, turning her attention back up into her brown eyes. "If he's recommended by you, then I'll give it some thought." Mira smiled and wrapped her arms fondly around Erza's neck, pulling the other woman closer. Erza hugged her girlfriend back but let her mind softly drift off to this mystery person Mira wanted to work with her. It was odd, but she knew Mira well; if they were of her approval, surely they had to be decent enough to go through training. Erza supposed it would all boil down to how they presented themselves in the interview.