Sorry, this one is a short one.. Don't own Fairy tail… only Sphinx….
-So Mira, is Sphinx around? Gray asked the smiling take-over mage.
It was day three after their drunken night and still there was no sign from the black hared female mage that had left a lasting impression on the males. Gray wasn't the only one who asked after her, it seemed that as soon as the game had ended, with the women's victory, had the bold, flirtatious woman disappeared into the night.
-Sorry she's still out on a mission, Gray.
Master had informed her the next morning that Sphinx had already decided on a mission earlier on and was not to be expected back for another week at least.
- But you should ask Lucy or Cana about her if you're interested. Mirajane gave another smile at the ice-mage as he nodded and left her counter.
Mira knew Cana would not be happy about all the questions. Yesterday she already yelled at Natsu and Bixlow for pestering her with questions, then again it also could be her hangover that made her really grumpy.
A small part of Mirajane really suspected that Cana kept information about Sphinx to herself but she had yet to ask the card mage. It surprised her to find Sphinx folder on Laxus table one day when she brought the lighting mage his food.
-Do you know her? Was the only thing the lighting mage had asked.
Apparently there wasn't much information on her in the file, which wasn't a surprise because Sphinx had joined the guild just before they had returned from their 7 year entrapment. In formation gathering hadn't been a priority at the guild then.
-Only as a friend, had the take-over answered the man.
It was the only thing Laxus had asked about the dark hared female.
When a week had past Mira had spotted Gajeel talk to Lucy about Sphinx. He looked the same as ever, like it really didn't interest him at all. But it was obvious that the stunt she pulled had also caught the Iron dragons red eyes.
It wasn't until another week had passed and the few males had stopped questioning her absence had she finally appeared. It was already very late as she saw Cana, Levi and Lucy gathered around while each taking glances at the door.
- She should be here by now; Levi whined the book in front of her long forgotten.
- She promised she'd stop by so just wait, Lucy said even if her own constant shifting told about her eagerness.
- This is going to be so bad ass, she might need some alcohol to agree on it, Cana said with a grin.
Suddenly the door opened and in walked the mage they had all been waiting for.
-Sphinx! Lucy said excitedly and waved at the woman.
- Hold on second guys, I'll just lay these in papers master's office. The dark hared mage answered with equally happy voice.
Laxus halted his pen as he heard the step come up the stairs. By instinct he took in the scent of the visitor who walked passed his office to his grandfathers. It was female, exotic, somehow smelled a little predatory and definitely feral, there was only one he knew who had such a complicated but alluring sent. He looked towards the door following the footsteps almost as if he could see her threw the wall.
Sphinx was finally back
He didn't see her the next day as he entered. Inhaling again he found the scent to be old, so she had yet to arrive. Making his was to Mira she smile like she always did. Today he almost felt like smiling back, almost. Laxus continued his normal days routine like he always did.
-You heard right?
Bixlow sat at his office sofa while lazily leaning back. It was already past mid-day and the seith mage was now waiting for him to come and train. Laxus only needed to glance at his friend to answer the question.
- Right, what's up with her aura? Cana and Lucy didn't know.
Laxus only shrugged at the curious man. Bixlow smiled to himself, he had a feeling that the return of the mystery Sphinx was soon going to bring something new and exciting to the daily guild routine.
- So why do you avoided Natsu? Lucy asked the female who sat at her table.
- I don't avoid him, it's just, it seems that Dragon slayers have a kind of, uh, weird to say this, effect on me.
Sphinx explained while eating hungrily a Lucy's food. The blond Celestial mage had invited her and Levi to eat and there was no way she would past the opportunity to eat Lucy's cooking.
-I think it because the primitiveness and they are so damn intense, she mused.
- What kind of effect do they have then? Levi questioned.
- I don't know, it's hard to explain, it somehow draws me in,
- But I can resist it, I think,
She looked up at the two and muttered.
- I hope… She grimaced as the two chuckled at her.
-Don't worry you'll be fine. Beside they have been asking about you, Lucy smiled smugly.
- Damn, Maybe I should take just another mission so everyone can forget; I really can't believe Cana made me flip the switch that bad. Sphinx said as she remembered the last night before he mission.
- But the 'happy trail' on Bixlow? Damn, let me get a taste of that! The dark hared mage grinned showing of her white teeth.
Around Lucy's she had agreed to take the veil off.
- I can't believe Gray had pulled that off? Lucy said and agreement
-Well I really wished someone would have taken some pictures, I was so drunk my memory of the night's all fuzzy.
Levi whined making the two of the laugh. Sphinx patted the young mage on her shoulder.
-Don't worry I'll make sure you see them again without shirts,
-I might hold you to that; Levi grinned mischievous making the dark hared mage narrow her eyes at the blunette.
As the guild doors open all the craziness hit. It didn't surprise the woman but the few flying chairs did get a few surprised yelps out of them. Dodging and ducking their way to the guild bar Sphinx couldn't help but take a deep breath of the guilds atmosphere. It might me rowdy but it was home.
The air was filled with vibrations and cheerful auras. It was inevitable to not grin as she felt the few auras that stood above others. Her blue eyes scan the crowed to the darkest corner where red eyes were already on her. A shudder when over her as those red eyes seemed to asses her slowly.
Damn dragon slayers, Sphinx shook her head slowly and turned around towards the bar. If he only knew what kind of feeling and though she sometimes got from his red eyes, she would be in trouble.
- Hey Sphinx, I haven't seen you in a while,
His presence was impossible to ignore as the very loud pink haired Natsu jumped on the counter.
-Natsu off, you burned the last counter, Lucy was immediately pushing her team mate off the table.
- Why do you wear that mask? His curious gaze landed on her covered lower veil.
- I like it, was her short answer.
Sphinx was not sure how to handle Natsu, she had seen many ignore his behavior or just get used to his somewhat of a dens and reckless ways. Still Sphinx couldn't place it, underneath that easy-going loud kid seemed to be even a little creepy intensity. It had only flashed in his aura the last time she had been this close to him.
So Sphinx was a bit clueless on how to handle it, tilting her head a little she glanced at her other side where Lucy and Levi had started a conversation with Mira. And like last time, she felt it. It was feather light, but it was there.
Sphinx whipped her head back towards Natsu. He wasn't grinning anymore. In fact he didn't have that goofy expression at all, he looked serious. Again his eyes glanced at the veil then back to her eyes. Those eyes weren't definitely dens, they were intense.
- You shouldn't wear it; I like it when you don't;
He may have said them with a friendly softness in his eyes but she could the rumbling dragon in them. Those dark green eyes seemed to flash dangerously making Sphinx feel uneasy, was this still the same Natsu Lucy was so fond off?
- That's my decision isn't it?
She may seem wary but Sphinx wasn't one to get easily spooked. Her voice still held her composer even if it had dipped a little lower from his primitive growl. She could feel she little spike in his aura that suddenly seemed to lick her skin.
It was hot, and just as demanding as you would expect from a dragon slayer. Again the he stared at her with such intensity that for a split second Sphinx actually though about taking the mask of to please the fire flicking in his eyes.
It wasn't until she felt his hand brush again the side of her leg that had her worried. Fortunately a loud familiar card mage decided enter the scene.
-SPHINX! Cana all but grabbed the woman into a bone crushing hug.
-Ge-t o-ugh- me, Sphinx protested the mage who just laughed as she climber on the bars stool.
Looking back a Natsu who no longer looked at her but grinned widely at Cana, there was no trace of the Natsu who had just given her an indirect command.
Now, that's creepy
The male changed a few words with Cana before smiling again and ran towards Gray with a flaming fist. The slightly stunned female brought a hand on her veil in wonder. Her attention was soon brought back to the girls she they called her name.
-So Sphinx about that Dare….
-I can't believe your making me do this. The black haired beauty cringed. They couldn't see all of her face properly but the narrowed eyes and frowning brow was enough to show her dislike.
The black veil that covered the lover half of her face was black but in good light it would become a little see threw. Why she wore it nobody really knew or how on earth could she drink threw it? But it was her thing among other odd things.
-Bet's a bet and you lost, Cana bomber at her; she was having the time of her life. Not long and she and the rest of the guilds women would see something priceless.
-I'm seriously never playing anything with you again Cana, she mutters bitterly looking up pleadingly at the smiling Mirajane.
Sphinx held her head in her hand trying desperately to calm down, she was about to make a utter and complete fool of herself in front of the whole guild. She glanced beside her where a grinning blond celestial mage sat with a strawberry shake in front of her. Next to her sat the guild smart blue haired bookworm Levi. Another desperate sight escaped her; they were all in on it.
It was maybe a month when she last time been at the guild and the people had hopefully started to remember the 'Man Vs woman' incident.
- You'll be fine Sphinx, you kind of said you would never back away from a challenge,
Mirajaine watched her with kind eyes that tinkled with humor, even the 'oh, so innocent' Mirajane was in on it.
Innocent my ass, Sphinx cursed in her mind crossing her arms over her.
How Cana came up with this stupid dare was beyond her but come on why it had to be in the guild. She could have pulled this off in a random bar any day but the guild that means she would still have to see the people after this.
- So you're ready? Smirked the blonde beside her.
