The timeline/reality we are working with is obviously post Eclipse Gate and is pre Tartaros. Crime Sorciere has grown to include the Ex New Oracion Seis, but has not had any interactions with Fairy Tail, excluding Erza, since the dragons were sent back through the gate. Even I don't know how long ago that was... Maybe one of my characters will enlighten me at some point. Do me a favor peeps, and if my conversations lose people let me know. As in, I'm not differentiating between characters enough.
Edo-Salandria. I love discovering the sweetheart hiding behind Bickslow's visor. I adore Cobra myself. He can bring so much to the story and spin things in a whole new light.
Firesong23. I know right? I just had to let her have a little fun here. I don't think even she imagined these two discovering the depths in each other. She just thought they were cute eating ice cream.
RosesMcKellar. Lucy is terrified of the moment Erza wakes. Bickslow is too. Haha. I happen to agree about Bixlu vs Colu for this story. I'm glad Cobra didn't cooperate.
Unoyoko94. That box has got to have some crazy stuff in it. Bad stuff, sad stuff, crazy stuff, embarrassing stuff, Zirconas...
Darkfarie3590. Yaaay! My story got someone in trouble! Umm... I mean... (clears throat) Therashae condemns the improper use of official time. This story is not ment to be read while on the clock at work or during class hours. Thank you.
Fairy Tail is awesome. And not mine.
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"So you weren't following Erza?"
"Jellal, you are the only person who would trail after Erza. Following her is fucking dangerous. Half the time I barely survive missions with her when she knows I'm there. In fact if we had known she was here we wouldn't have come up here."
"Why? Aren't you a team? I know she considers you a sister. I thought you felt the same."
"I do. But... well..."
"What Tits means is that She-Thor is a hazard to Echo's health if she catches them together." Meredy started squealing.
"You two are together! That's so sweet!" Lucy looked horrified.
"Meredy! That's not what he ment!" Bickslow felt his heart clench until she continued. "Even if we were you can't tell Erza that! She might kill him over some imagined slight to my honor! We aren't equipped to fend her off without backup!"
"But... BixLu..."
"Oh, Mavis..." Bickslow muttered. "She's a cotton candy version of Mira..." *nooo, not another one.
"On that note," Angel stood and stretched. "I'm turning in. Our attempt to wind down backfired and I've been awake way to long. Night boys. Meredy." She stared at Lucy for a long moment. "I... thanks... for helping with Erza." She turned away.
"Angel." She looked back at Lucy hesitantly. "If you are really starting over, and you really feel sorry at some point, I can talk to Aries, Gemini, and Scorpio for you if you want. Just let me know." Her eyes widened.
"I... g-goodnight... Lucy." She practically ran into the castle.
"Yep. This morning can be over now." Racer kicked Midnight on his way past. "Come on man. You sleep under a tree and get shit on by a bird don't blame us." Midnight mumbled and stood, wobbling a bit. He probably would have ended up back on the ground asleep if Richard hadn't bid them all goodnight and guided him under the portcullis behind Racer.
"I'll take first watch so you can be awake when Erza is, Jellal."
"Don't be silly, Meredy. Bix and I slept last night and wouldn't be sleeping with the sun up anyway. We will keep watch. Go sleep." The three remaining Witches stared at her as if she was speaking some other language. "What?"
"You broke their poor little brains, Cosplayer." *broken, poor brains, call Punishment so she can start digging graves.
"Umm... sorry. I guess you wouldn't be comfortable... it's a trust thing. My bad."
"That's not it, Tits." Cobra spoke softly. "You guys go ahead. It's to noisy for me to sleep yet anyway." Meredy threw her arms around Lucy in a tight hug before she and Jellal left silently. Lucy wasn't sure what she had done to upset them , but she had obviously done something wrong. "No, you didn't. You made a general offer of friendship and protection without asking for anything in return. We don't even do that for each other. None of us ever had that."
"But didn't you have..."
"Not really. I kept her safe in the tower and she returned that with loyalty. The friendship Cubelios and I had was strong, yes, but it was originally based on a you watch my back I'll watch yours mentality. Kinana had that relationship and years of trust built up between us to work with, even though she doesn't remember, so even there it wasn't freely given without expectations. Taffy Head was used by the woman she considered a mother. The thing Blueberry Pancunt and She-Thor have is... not healthy. As for the rest, Brain was... let's just say he didn't see us as equals." Lucy felt like crying for them.
"Cobra..."
"Don't you dare hug me, Tits! Or cry on me! I can hear you!" Lucy laughed.
"Is there something wrong with Natsu and Wendy? Because all the other slayers have allergic reactions to emotions too." Bickslow's tongue hung out as he started laughing.
"Cosplayer we all know there is something wrong with the fire breather." *wrong, terribly wrong, smoke in his brain, fried his brain.
"The Sky Maiden is a Fairy. Look deep enough you will find issues there too, Tits."
"Agreed. The one mission I went with her you know what her solution was when faced with an undefeatable foe? Heal the shit out of him till his mind melts. And it worked too."
"Was that the one with the cows?"
"Yep." *cows, so many cows, a cow tornado. "So I have to ask. Why the hell do you two keep talking about Kinana? I'm obviously missing some vital information here. Can I get an explanation? What is she to you, Cyclops?"
Lucy stayed silent. 'This isn't my story to tell, Cobra. You can trust him though. He won't hurt her. Bickslow understands secrets.' The slayer she directed her thoughts at eyed her skeptically, before turning to answer the question.
"I believe the word she would use would be girlfriend, if I thought using it wouldn't get her locked up or dead or tortured. You know she used to be cursed. She was my best friend while she was under the curse, the snake Cubelios." Bickslow stared for a while.
"Of course she is. Our sweet precious Kinana is dating an ex-master criminal and used to be a giant snake that was a part of a world domination plot. Natsu is getting laid. The sexiest girl in the guild is a virgin. Somebody drop a bomb on me before Erza becomes a pacifist."
"You requested a bomb, Disco Princess?" Both males screeched and jerked away from Virgo. "I can fetch one if you wish. I brought the noon meal. I have prepared a poisonous nightshade salad in case the Dragon slayer wishes to partake with you." Lucy laughed as they both tried to pretend the spirit hadn't startled them at all.
"I was joking,Virgo. Thanks anyway though."
"Very well. Please summon me if you need anything." She handed a picnic basket to Lucy.
"We will, Virgo. Thanks for lunch." Lucy spread the picnic out and settled in to eat. "Sniff out your poison so we don't kill ourselves, Cobra. I'm starving for something that isn't cake."
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"This trip is giving me a new appreciation for your spirits, Cosplayer." Bickslow stretched out on his back to enjoy the sunshine and his full belly. "Think Virgo would take it the wrong way if I kissed her next time she pops in?"
"She'd really rather you spanked her you know. Your spirits are messed up in the head, Tits. No, that's not an insult. I'm just stating fact. She brought me poison, so she's good in my book. Her head is still messed up."
"You know he's right, Cosplayer."
"Yeah, like any of us are any better up top."
"Shut up, Tits." Lucy giggled.
"You have a plan to keep me from dying when Erza wakes up?" Bickslow only got more nervous as the silence stretched out.
"No she doesn't."
"Shut up, Slither Bat. I'm thinking."
"I refuse to answer to that."
"You can just start ignoring me then."
"Bitch."
"Douche."
"Pole Dancing Wannabe."
"Eavesdropping Gossipmonger." This right here was why he called her Cosplayer. Today she was going to just insult her way into friendship with the most antisocial dangerous wizard he knew of. Tomorrow she would probably be starting a puppy sanctuary or something.
"Guys. My life is at stake here. Please focus." *focus, help, life and death.
"Well cake won't work this time."
"I vote we just run before She-Thor wakes up."
"We?"
"Yeah. It's been awhile since I dropped in on Kinana. I'll tag along." Bickslow wasn't sure how he personally felt about company, especially this company, on what he had expected to be a mildly romantic return trip to Magnolia. Making friends made Cosplayer happy though, so he would roll with it. "Much obliged for your blessing, Echo." If the sarcasm in Cobras voice got any thicker he would choke on it trying to speak. "Shut up, Echo."
"I support Bickslow."
"You didn't hear him."
"I still support whatever he said."
"Thanks, Cosplayer." *Yeah Thanks, haha, stupid Cyclops.
"You can shut up too."
"Love the babies, Slither Bat."
"No."
"But they love you."
"No they don't."
"Babies tell Cobra how much you love him! Lay it on him. I bet he could use cuddles too!" That a girl, Cosplayer. Bickslow picked his head up to watch as the babies chased Cobra around the clearing. *Love the Cyclops, hugs and cuddles, so much love. "Kisses too babies!" Bickslow couldn't help but laugh. This was awesome.
"Fuck you, Echo! Make them stop, Tits! What is your problem you psychotic Fairies!"
"What are you guys doing to Cobra?" Meredy was standing behind him watching her guildmate run around in circles trying to escape his totems.
"Cosplayer and the babies are showing him love. You didn't sleep very long."
"I usually don't. I always feel like I'm missing something." She squeaked when Lucy pulled her down to sit on the blanket.
"You missed lunch. Virgo brought it. We've still got some left. Just don't touch the salad."
"Got it. Don't touch Lucy's salad."
"It's not mine." Lucy laughed. "I would share. It's Cobra's. It will kill you." Meredy froze with a bite of chicken halfway to her mouth.
"You fed Cobra poison?" The topic of their discussion started taking swipes at the totems still trailing after him.
"Of course she did. They are friends now, so she insulted his character, attacked his interpersonal relationships, and poisoned him. Now he is coming home with us. Cosplayer likes collecting strays."
"I'm not a dog, Echo! Now call these things off before I melt them and they have to go back to the nuthouse you call a guild as disembodied voices!" Bickslow stuck his tongue out and laughed as he redirected the babies to share love with the girls, who would welcome such attention. Meredy was doing a very good fish impersonation.
"Are you serious!" Meredy started flapping her arms. "He is going to Fairy Tail with you?!"
"Just to feel things out, Taffy Head." Cobra sat back down and snatched up what was left of his salad. "Just because Tits is an ally doesn't mean they all feel that way."
"Shut up, Cyclops. You know Lucy is telling the truth. I bet you've heard the same thing from me and Erza both. You know, my team and I have a bad record. No-one holds it against us anymore and it was way more personal than your... stuff."
"Actually about all there is to be heard from She-Thor is 'Jellal, cake, destroy, Jellal, Jellal, cake, for Fairy Tail, destroy, cake, Jellal.' You get the picture?" Lucy snickered.
"I can hear her saying that exact thing." She turned to Meredy. "You know Juvia would be thrilled to see you if you want to come with us?"
"Really?" Bickslow laughed. The poor girl was practically vibrating. "Can I come?"
"If we leave before Blueberry Pancunt and She-Thor wake up no-one can tell us no..." There was silence before they all hopped to their feet.
"I'll get our bags."
"I'll leave a note so they don't think we got attacked."
"For fuck sake lie about where we are going, Taffy Head."
"Babies, help Cobra with the bags. We've got the picnic."
"Open! Gate of the Maiden! Virgo!"
This was going to be so much fun. If Erza and her not-boyfriend didn't catch them and kill them all.
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To be continued