I wasn't supposed to make a part 2. But some people asked for it, and I started thinking about it, and before I knew it it was in my head and I really needed to get it out... Even if it took a darker turn at the end. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it !


"Does anybody want wine ?" Cana asked, as the girls were getting into Fairy Hills' hot bath.

They had gone back to the dormitory after their little escapade in the town and unanimously voted to finish the night letting their arms and legs melt into the water.

But the brunette was certainly not going to let that keep them from drinking the night away, and she was not the only one as many hands lifted to claim a glass.

The dormitory's bath was usually reserved for the ones that lived there but since they had all gone back to it and since the guild had been closed for hours, Erza had agreed to let a little exception slip as it was so rare for them to be all together. And it was certainly nice.

The blond tensed as her foot slid inside the burning water, letting the warmth envelop her whole as she settled inside the tub. It was such a nice night. Laughing with her friends and sharing gossips, after their tongue were loosened by the sweetness of one too many cocktails, although it was going to be very awkward in the morning, it was all so very worth it.

They all fell silent then, as each one of them was savoring the caress of the water on their skin and the sting of the wine on their tongue. Even Evergreen seemed relaxed in the moment, which was very rare as she was usually a bit awkward with these kinds of gatherings, given that she considered herself a bit too mature for their childish conversations. But again, she couldn't say no to a relaxing bath if it went along with a glass of wine.

She wasn't that much older than them, the blond considered, she was only a year away from Erza and Mirajane, and three from Levy, Lisanna and herself, it wasn't that much since they were all out of their teenage years now. Maybe it was because she hung out so much with older people. Freed and Bicklow were indeed a few years older than that and Laxus one or two even more. Maybe she had felt like she needed to act more mature than she really was in order to be accepted amongst them when she was a teenager.

Not that she minded her attitude, she was a bit intimidated, of course, but it was nothing in comparison to what it had been a few years back. She was certainly way more at ease with them than before.

It was weird because Lisanna didn't seem to share the same worries as her, she talked to her very naturally, if not a bit mischievously, and wasn't bothered by her sometimes cold tone when she replied. Maybe she was the one overthinking, she simply contemplated as she took a sip from her glass and tried to get back on the agitated conversation that had started between the two.

"I'm just saying that it was rude when you kicked us out of your place."

Apparently, she was still stuck on the time a very drunk Lisanna and somehow inebriated, but very irresponsible, Bickslow had shown up to her hotel room during a job at about 2 a.m. and got a forcefully slammed door in their faces. Because that was what they did now, Lisanna sometimes joined the Thunder Legion on jobs that required more people. Because if her brother was allowed, why couldn't she be ?

"You just didn't want us to see Elfman in your bed." The take over mage sighed with a very playful smirk across her lips.

"And maybe I just don't want your relationship's nonsense in my face when I'm sleeping."

"It's not nonsense." The white one squirmed in the water. "You're the one being odd hiding your boyfriend in a cupboard each time someone passes by." The girls repressed a giggle at the brunette darkened glare. "Especially when his feet are sticking out."

It was almost impossible not to laugh at the thought. Even the brunette repressed a grin in her inebriation and simply shrugged to go back to her wine tasting.

The giggles and loud accusations only went up from this point as the conversation was starting to get heated between a very embarrassed Levy that unwillingly let private details of her life get out of her mouth under the alcohol and Cana's inquiries. And Lisanna didn't let her breathe, she happily joined the battle and was sure no one would ask her anything about her relationship since everyone was already a bit sick of hearing about it.

However, the blond was getting less interested in their conversation than with the fact that another normally very talkative gossiper kept silent and slipped her drink alongside some other redhead way too flustered to speak.

The white-haired mage, instead, was unusually more contemplative about the whole situation. She even seemed a bit absent, grinning slightly at her friends' silliness but without expressing any will to join. Which was very weird since she usually was the one to start.

But instead, she was very calm and staring peacefully at the surface of the water, probably lost in a contemplation that escaped the stellar mage. Of course, her first thought was to their previous conversation in the bar. But in the hours that had followed, no one picked the subject back again, not even Cana, that seemed to have completely forgotten about it while the others did an astounding job pretending to have too.

"Well, of course I wouldn't know that, since you and Gajil are apparently fighting !" The brunette burst in laughter, which dragged the blond out from her reverie.

The conversation had turned very heated between the two young women. Sadly, the young woman hadn't heard the cause of the argument as she had been lost in her thoughts.

"We're not fighting !" The bluenette responded almost immediately. "He's just annoying these days and I don't know what to do about it." She explained under the curious stares.

"Why don't just tell him that ?" Kinana interjected, seeming to be very engaged in the subject.

"I'm trying to be patient, but it's difficult because he's always pestering me."

Silence fell then, as no one really knew what to add.

"Maybe you guys should talk it out." The detached voice of Evergreen rose up.

Silence again, the intervention of the brunette being as surprising as it was rare.

"You say that but you're on a break with Elfman again." Lisanna repressed a laugh, ignoring the dark stare of the fairy mage.

"We're not on a break." She replied simply, ignoring the implication of her answer.

"Really ? You never come over anymore these days. I thought you were fighting…"

"I don't come over anymore…" The brunette cut her through, looking more and more stressed out. "Because Bickslow is always there now, and I need a little bit of peace."

Grins and giggles came through, releasing some of the tension the newfound duel was bringing.

"Well, Bickslow was sort of kicked out of his last flat, so he has to sleep at mine until he finds a new place."

"Maybe if you stopped lending him money, he would actually start working and pay his rent." She replied dryly, not liking the way the attention seemed focused on them, especially not on some silly topic like the seith mage.

"I'm trying !" The youngest Strauss didn't seem animated with the same feeling. "But he's always asking for more to have fun on our dates." She said, her eyes sparkling with some contagious joy, that seemed to give a warm smile to her older sister, the blond seemed to notice.

"Maybe you should stop taking your sister's money." She only sighed then, as the first Strauss frowned at that last statement, probably baffled after hearing Evergreen, of all people, defending her interest.

The youngest Strauss didn't seem as merry as the other, she shut down a bit, not enjoying the personal attack in what had seemed like a silly game for her.

"I'm trying to do that too…" She spoke again, everybody calming down to hear her defense. "but I get half her tips because no one pays out to stare at me all day."

Some giggles then, along with an awkward sigh from the demonic mage, a bit offended but accepting the hard truth. It was true that her share of tips greatly exceeded the others' or anyone's that could be expected from her waitressing work.

"Maybe if you wore more…revealing clothes" Levy spoke again then, trying to lighten the mood that had become quite awkward. Thankfully, the animal mage went along with it.

"Well, I bought some a while ago." Some frowns came out. "I just don't really wear them."

"You bought revealing clothes ?" The blond asked then, for the first time since they got into the bath, blushing slightly.

"Yeah, I think my brother's been stealing them, so I never got to wear any of it." She replied, not embarrassed for the least. Unlike the other girls, hiding their blushing cheeks into the alike redness of their drinks, sending quick glances at Evergreen that only frowned a bit at her lover's weird behavior.

"Elfman is stealing your clothes ?" Kinana finally asked the question on everyone's lips.

"Yeah…" The youngest seemed to be the most amused by this new development, no one certainly had seen coming, even her own sister seemed taken aback by this. "I think he's hiding them so I don't wear them to the guild."

A general sigh went out, everybody dreading a more disturbing reason.

"Maybe Mira's the one hiding them…" Cana laughed then, the white-haired being known for not having been very welcoming to her little sister's new boyfriend.

"I think I would know if my sister was hiding my things in the basement." The youngest answered as everyone was ignoring Mira's surprised-offended moue.

"Apparently you wouldn't, since she hides lots of things from you." The brunette said very calmy then, ignoring the girls' astonished face to this clear and unforeseen attack.

"I don't hide that many things…" The demonic mage only replied in a sad gesture, to which her sister personally jumped on her bottom to take back the conversation.

"You're so secret !" She almost yelled. "You didn't even tell us about your job last week !"

"You went on a job last week ?" It was the redhead's turn to speak.

"It was just a small one." She grinned, not believing she again was the center of inquiries. Slightly hating Cana that seemed to enjoy putting her on the spot about anything.

"Why didn't tell you Erza, since apparently you tell her anything ?" Lisanna pushed, just to see if her eldest would tolerate a bit more of her insolence.

"I do not." She only rolled her eyes, ignoring her friend's frown.

"Oh please !" The youngest was unstoppable then, noticing the white-haired's resistance to get unnerved about this. "You two used to be mortal enemies, and now you're just chilling and boozing about us !"

"Mortal enemies ?" She laughed. "We just used to fight a bit."

"A bit ?" The redhead really frowned this time, almost offended at the statement. "You once gave me a black eye for two months !"

Hilarity traveled through. The memory of a young Mira still vividly fresh in most minds. Only the blond, Juvia, that hadn't said a thing since the beginning, and Kinana grinned less, looking at the bottom of their glasses, almost all empty.

"I just used to be a little less…delicate by then." She blushed slightly at her friends' laughter.

"Yeah, we know." Evergreen spoke alone, in the new installed silence. "You called me a bitch the first time we met."

Only stares and wide eyes turned towards the white-haired then, that looked just as startled by this new information the brunette had nonchalantly threw in. She only blushed and stayed silent a bit while the others gave each other baffled and amused looks, waiting for the accused to plead her innocence, or confirm the story.

"I did ?" She only asked directly to Evergreen, struggling not to look too proud of her little effect.

Stares changed directions, to land on the fairy mage, who seemed to think she was, for once, holding the upper hand on the demonic one.

"Yeah." She shrugged, trying to look as detached as possible, hiding the fact that she was quite relishing the scene. "I tried talking to you and you called me a bitch and a puppet." She explained, everyone hanging on her words. "Erza was there."

She glanced at the redhead, knowing that she would be too honest to deny the truth, even to protect her best friend. The white-haired stared at her too, as was everyone, waiting for the confirmation.

"You kind of did." She finally admitted, very awkward to be the only witness here.

"I don't remember." She only chuckled, feeling the stare of the fairy mage on her.

"Well, you were also very drunk." Erza hasted to add, needing the others to sigh in understanding, while the brunette did not look satisfied with that explanation at all.

"You could seem a little sorrier about it." She started again, to the surprise of the others. "It was kind of hurtful."

"Sorry." She laughed, trying to keep her hilarity inside but the awkwardness of the whole thing only made it harder but still not wishing to vex the woman. "Oh ! I think I remember !" She claimed in a light of sudden awareness, but still not suppressing the smile from her lips.

"Well, good for you."

"Wait…" Cana spoke up, not letting such an amusing subject die so suddenly. "Erza was there too ?"

"Yeah." Evergreen shrugged, taking a final sip of her glass, suddenly wishing for it to wither. "She just laughed and said nothing."

"Is that why you hated us both ?" The redhead inquired, responding immediately to the attack.

"Maybe…"

"She called you a bitch ?" Lisanne cut her through.

"Yeah." She nodded quite forcefully at the youngest Strauss, getting unnerved about her laid-back attitude towards it.

"That's weird." The white-haired chuckled, now addressing her sister. "You were violent, but you didn't really insult anyone except Erza."

Silence fell for a bit, while Mira tried to bring her last brains together to defend herself.

"She said I was drunk, I was probably just in a bad mood…"

Silence, very quick this time.

"Actually, you were quite in a good mood." Erza retook the topic. "You weren't trying to beat me up or anything… When was it exactly ?" She turned to Evergreen.

She rolled her eyed, vainly feigning to search for the answer.

"Just after we got back from our first S-class job with Laxus, I think…"

"Oh, I see."

"You see what ?" The fairy mage replied immediately.

Rapid and awkward silence fell.

"Just…when it was." The redhead answered, a bit taken aback by her tone.

"But what does it have to do with her calling me a bitch ?"

"I… don't know." She blushed slightly, not wishing to enter a fight.

The silence around them was becoming a bit embarrassing also. Mirajane seemed to be contemplating the scene without intending to get into it at all. She simply finished her glass in confusion with the brunette's behavior and growing animosity towards her.

"Mira-nee ?" Lisanna called her then.

She glanced at her, looking quite oblivious at the whole situation.

"What ?"

Her younger sister only widened her eyes to haste her to give Evergreen an answer, but she did not seem to really get the message.

"I said I was sorry." She chuckled, focusing her stare on the white-haired. "What else do you want me to say ?"

"Try…why ?" She replied, almost instantly.

"It was like five years ago ! How am I supposed to remember ?"

"Twelve, actually." Kinana interjected again, but only getting a glance from the demonic mage that seemed focused on Lisanna for the time.

She only stared at her, in an awkward silence that began to feel rather heavy for all the girls present. However, the youngest did not seem any disposed to leave it. She kept her eyes on her eldest, probably expecting her to jump on the occasion to finally be a little closer to the fairy mage like she had asked her so many times. Probably feeling very clueless about why her sister kept horribly silent, staring in into the blue of her eyes almost identical as hers.

But she still wasn't saying anything, just kept a straight face without glancing around.

Because she didn't remember. It all felt blurry in her head. Maybe it was the wine, or the hot springs going right up through her head, but she couldn't recall it at all. The whole thing seemed like a million years ago. She felt bad, of course. A little. Her relationship with Evergreen wasn't the best, to be honest. They had too much in common, and way not enough. Conversations were rare, shallow and always tense, even if the woman spent half of her life in her kitchen when her brother was in town.

It was not that she didn't like her, not that she did either. She knew so little about the woman, she didn't know if she would have risked calling her a friend. She just always seemed a bit angry at her. Even when her and Elfman weren't fighting, like she blamed her for making him into the biggest oaf the world had ever seen. Which wasn't completely untrue either.

She felt weird. Like all the eyes were locked on her. She tried laughing about it, she really tried, smiling cluelessly just to forget the weight of the stares. Even if it was clearly annoying them.


The crowd was still dense when she noticed her. It wasn't hard as the mob only seemed to be concerned with the going ramble. She had seen him also, of course. His lips were pinched and his eyes piercing in their familiar green shadow, looking down on it like a god ready to bestow his divine punishment in one glorious strike of lightning.

He wasn't looking at Evergreen but she believed he was. His pupils were fixed on the excited ramble, that had started once again out of Natsu and Gray's umpteenth dispute, not on the woman standing out of it.

She was beautiful, there was no denying that. Young also. The white-haired couldn't say how old, but it shouldn't have been that much older than her. But she seemed older, way more mature than the whole ton, even more mature than the men twenty years over her. But she was still very young. Her skin was light and unmarked where she wished it would have been a bit tanned.

And that was truly the worst. The dagger that tore her chest leaving only the sourness on her tongue.

She was approaching, slowly through the crowd, but quite certainly towards her and the redhead sitting next to her. The alcohol in her blood being the first reason the demonic mage was tolerating her rival's presence near the feel of her skin. The alcohol making her heart ache even more in her core, the second.

She approached for a long time, and she pretended that she didn't notice her at first. Only glanced at her when stupid Erza asked her if she was the new female member following Laxus. They also said she had joined along with two other men.

She had looked up at her and immediately knew she hated her, with her long and curly brown hair, the perfect light of her untouched skin, the knowing gesture with which she held that glass of wine, like a flighty lady looking down on her society party, and her penetrating gaze covered by the two glass lenses.

She hated everything.

She hated the slight but smart smile she was giving the knight mage, probably hoping to get the attention of the two S-class mages.

Who wouldn't ?

She hated the way she was very awkwardly grinning at her, like she expected some kind of conversation from her too, and the hurried glances she threw on her body, although she couldn't quite figure out what they meant.

But she didn't hate it as much as she revulsed when her mind wondered if he had ever enjoyed stroking the light skin of her waist with the bold fingers she knew him.

And it fucking tore her chest apart.

"I'm seventeen" She answered the redhead.

Great. Fucking great.

And she kept glancing at her while pitifully trying to make small talk with the knight mage. As if it was going to make her dislike her any less. As if she wasn't internally screaming for her to go away. As if she wasn't already glaring to chase her away while finishing the last drops of her drink.

And then, she talked to her.

It was swift, and the tavern was so loud she had to repeat herself only to tell her name. And it was ridiculous. The whole thing was. The way the brunette expected a reply from her, the way Erza was frowning at her, probably thinking that she was taking way too much time to reply anything, if not a nod. The way she wished she would just disappear, her and her ridiculous hairdo and nail polish.

"Oh yeah…" She only grumbled with a slight smirk that she wanted mocking, a bit too loud so she was sure she would hear. "You're the bitch that's one of Laxus' new puppets."


Thanks for reading ! Please leave a comment if you have anything going through your mind right now !