Chapter 5! Hope you enjoy!

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Chapter 5

Cobra watched as Lucy fussed over the couch where Midnight would be sleeping, trying to make it as comfortable as possible. She had already tucked two comforters onto it, adding to the softness of it, and was now debating on how many covers the man would need since he would be sleeping in the coldest area of the apartment, apparently.

"Lucy, calm down. I'll be fine." Midnight muttered, only to have her shake her head before moving back toward the closet where she seemed to store everything.

"I don't like the idea of you getting sick, or being uncomfortable. You know the option of taking my room..."

"No." Midnight cut her off, what Cobra swore was the hundredth time. The moment they left the guild hall together, Lucy had been determined to change Midnight's mind, trying to convince him to take the bed while she should sleep on the couch. It was like watching two mules fight over who was more stubborn...Damn amusing!

"Well then, if you wont take my bed then I'll just have to make sure that you're comfortable." She shot back, grabbing yet another cover and pillow from the closet as Midnight gave a groan. Cobra finally decided to take pity on them both, since he could tell that they would be going in circles like this for hours if he didn't.

"Bright Eyes, Narcoleptic here hardly even sleeps at night in the first place. He'll be fine with what you've already given him. Besides, he usually just snoops around when he can't sleep, so before you offer your bedroom again, do you really want that chance?" Cobra asked, ducking down as a book was suddenly chucked at his head and looked at the man who had tossed it.

"I do no such thing!" Midnight hissed, but Cobra smirked as he had accomplished what Midnight wanted.

"Right. Here are some extra blankets, just in case you need more." Lucy stated, offering the material to Midnight who looked like he wanted nothing more than for the ground to swallow him whole.

"I swear, Dawn. I don't do that." He grumbled, accepting the covers before plopping onto the couch and glaring at Cobra. Giving a shrug he turned and headed for the spare bedroom, wanting nothing more than to rest. Hoping that by tomorrow he'd be out of this damn dream like state he kept feeling.

"Night Cobra." Lucy called, he gave a wave over his shoulder before shutting the door and finally giving a sigh. He was finally alone to his thoughts without other people's soul wavelengths interrupting.

While his talent was useful when he needed to be, it could be a major pain in the ass when he just wanted to think. It wasn't that he didn't have control over it, but there was just some wavelengths that one couldn't tune out. Meredy's for example, that hyper pink demon's soul was like a stereo on full with the largest amps around. What was even worse was that her soul bounced around with the thoughts in her head, so there was no way to drown her out unless there was some distance from her.

Another one was Natsu, who seemed like he wanted nothing more than to fight everyone and anyone. Or how he could snitch food from the kitchen without getting caught by Mira, and constantly worrying that all of his friends were okay. The last part was dull compared to the rest of his soul, apparently so long as he saw them at the guild, he was assured that they were fine.

Mira was another soul he couldn't tune out, merely because of all the demons that were within her. While she had control over them, they still retained their personalities, and seemed to be constantly warring within the eldest Strauss sibling. He wasn't sure how she stood it, but could tell that regardless of what the demons within her liked and didn't like, Mira was still the alpha of all the personalities. Once she thought enough was enough, then it seemed to quiet down.

Finally, there was Lucy. However, there was another reason he couldn't tune out her soul. It wasn't because it was loud, in fact it was one of the quietest souls he'd ever encountered. Save for the Sky Maiden's. No, it wasn't the sound of her soul that made it to where he couldn't tune her out, but the fact that it was so quiet since it came from someone with such a bright personality. Her soul sang of sadness that she was pushing through, determination to continue on, and a striving desire to understand all of those around her.

Her soul was quiet in it's sound, but carried such a catching tune that he knew that he would be able to pick it up from anywhere. He didn't know why, but he was glad that he could. Something within him seemed to settled whenever he heard her soul, and stirred restlessly whenever he couldn't. However, he knew that he couldn't stay beside her all the time, that would be strange, but yet at the same time it seemed like that was the only thing he wanted to do.

Almost like he wanted to assure himself that her soul still sang that song. That she wasn't experiencing anything troublesome and trying to hide it. It was like he didn't want that tune within her soul to ever change, because...well, he didn't know why.

"Damn, this is irritating." He growled, yanking his coat off before peeling away his shirt and muscle shirt. Tossing them to the side, he began to reach for his jeans, but paused as a small squeak reached his sensitive ears. Blinking, he glanced toward the door, and froze as he saw Lucy standing there. Her eyes wide and a bright blush covering her face. A bundle of extra blankets and pillows pressed to her chest.

"M...Mi..Midnight said you get cold easy." She squeaked out, seeming determined to keep her eyes on his, as she stuttered out the meaning as to why she was there. Giving a slight hum, he approached her, raising an eyebrow when she tensed and had to make herself freeze before she took a step back. While he had never cared about what his body looked like, apparently, Lucy cared a lot. Since her soul and mind were thinking of nothing but his chest, abs, tan skin, and strong looking shoulders.

"My eye is up higher." He muttered, smirking as her blush actually deepened before her trailing eyes shot back up and she thrust the bedding objects into his hold before quickly turning around and rushing down the hall. A chuckle escaping his lips before he blinked as Midnight let out a loud bark of laughter, followed by a warning shout.

"You're the one who walked in without knocking! Don't blame me!" Midnight shouted, laughter still in his voice before the sound of a door slamming shut reached him. Giving a smirk, Cobra shook his head and stepped back into the guest bedroom. He knew that she was still innocence in the most physical sense only, but he guessed that was one of the reason he was falling for her...

He froze completely. The covers and pillows falling from his grip and landing with a muffled sound on the floor as he raised a hand to his mouth. He was falling for the blonde!? He was in love with Lucy!? She was his mate!? When the hell had that happened?

He blinked as he realized that had been his problem all along, he had been trying to figure out his feelings for the blonde bombshell, and it turned out that he was coming to love her and that she was destined to be with him! Shit! How the hell was he suppose to deal with this!? There was no way that Lucy could like him back, sure she had a physical attraction to him, but that didn't count as love! Also, just because she forgave him didn't mean that she would think about a relationship with him! Not to mention, so many people at the guild would be out for his hide, even if she did like him back. Also he was sure that he wouldn't be able to convince her just because his dragon side wanted her as a mate, even though it meant that she complimented him in every way possible!

"Fuck. I'm screwed."

Lucy groaned into her pillow as she pressed her face deeper into the soft material. Wishing that the image she now had stuck in her head would just go away! Seriously! No man should look that great!

Giving a sigh, she rolled onto her back, finally accepting that there was no way to ignore what she had seen. Especially since she had been trying for the last three hours. Which in all truth wasn't bad, considering she had seen more of the men from the guild than she had ever wanted, so why did Cobra gain so much more of a reaction?

She felt another blush begin to rise on her face as the image came forth again. Cobra's chest and wide shoulders, tight with lightly developed muscles, the thin waist with clear abs and the faintest of trails that disappeared beneath his low jeans. His hair messed up from where he had jerked off his shirts, and the way his muscles had tensed just the slightest when he had heard her.

Combine that with the glint that had entered his eye when he had met her gaze...a groan slipped through her lips as she rolled back onto her stomach and dropped her face back down into her pillow. Cobra was a damn Adonis compared to the men in the guild! That was for sure.

Lucy frowned at that thought, lifting her head before shaking it. That was wrong! Laxus and Gajeel could easily compare to Cobra. Then Natsu and Gray in their own way. She had seen it, hell more so than what she had seen of Cobra. Yet, none of them caused a reaction like this. Was it because she only saw them as brothers? Whereas Cobra was...What? He was now a member of Fairy Tail! So, he was now apart of her family. It didn't make sense why she would be this attracted to him.

"Damn Poison Dragon Slayer." She muttered, pouting at the wall before giving a sigh and sliding out of bed. Thinking that maybe some tea would help calm her down some, and hopefully relax her body enough that her mind would let her sleep. And stop thinking about Cobra!

Easing her bedroom door open, she peaked out toward the couch. Smiling as she saw the top of Midnight's head resting on the arm of the couch. Biting her bottom lip, she eased out of her room and toward the kitchen. Making sure that she was quiet so as not to wake him. Once her bare feet touched the cool tiles, she moved to the cabinets and carefully opened the one she needed. Stretching slightly so she could reach the jasmine herbs that she kept there, but stilled as a hand reached around hers and grabbed the jar.

"You don't have to be quiet." Midnight muttered, causing her to give a yelp before spinning around to stare into his, amused, ruby gaze. Shuffling in guilt, she gave him a pout and flicked on the kitchen light.

"I thought you were asleep." She muttered, giving a huff as he raised an eyebrow at her before shaking his head.

"My magic doesn't let me sleep at night, anymore." He stated, handing her to the jar of crushed herbs before sitting himself at the table. She could only blink for a moment before moving to her filters and tea pot.

"Why?" She asked as she worked, looking over her shoulder as he remained quiet and knew that it had something to do with his time in the Tower from the look in his eyes.

"Sorry, I didn't..."

"It's fine. My powers developed at the Tower. I refused to sleep there out of fear, so my powers increased at night to help me stay awake. Only problem, was when the sun rose, it left my body feeling drained and exhausted. I was barely able to work, and got punished often for it. Which only seemed to make it worse come the next night and day." He stated, and she frowned as she focused on the tea. Honestly, no one deserved what he and the others had been through. Especially since it messed with them so bad that it effected them to this point, where they could hardly trust others, and it took nearly forever for others to trust them.

"Well, is there anything that helps you sleep at night? Or to help calm your magic some so you can get a good night's rest?" She asked, looking over her shoulder in time to see him blink and look away.

"Warm tea, milk and honey." He muttered, causing her to blink before looking away quickly to hide a smile. He was almost like a child! In truth, all of them were in some way, almost like they were making up for not really having a childhood in the first place.

"Well then, you happen to be in the right apartment for that then! Also, I just happen to know that Mira makes the best milk and honey combination. So, anytime you're at the guild you should get some." She stated, grabbing another cup from the cabinets and pouring two cups of tea. Then quickly turned and placed one before him and took a seat across from him. Missing how he blinked at her as she sipped at the tea, before placing it down and smiling at him.

"The reason you couldn't sleep?" He suddenly asked, picking up his cup and taking a sip. She could almost visibly see him relax, and then registered his question. Giving a sigh, she covered her face as she felt it heat up and glared at him for making her remember what she was hoping to forget.

"What? Don't tell me you're still embarrassed from walking in on Cobra? He only had his shirt off." Midnight chuckled, causing her to give a sigh before lowering her hand and wrapping her hand around her warm cup.

"That's why I can't sleep. I don't understand why I'm having such a strong reaction to him just barely unclothed, but nothing from any of the guys from the guild. Hell, I've constantly seen Gray, and a few others, without a stitch of clothing on them, and...nothing." She muttered, looking up when Midnight remained quiet, only to flush slightly as she realized that he was looking at her like she had a second head or something. Making her realize that she was having a rather personal conversation with someone who she hardly knew, and hardly knew her.

"What?" She asked, frowning slightly when he gave a sigh.

"I just thought you were smarter than this, Dawn." He stated, causing her to tense in indignation but couldn't get a word out as he suddenly stood and waved.

"Night." He muttered, leaving the kitchen with his cup, and leaving her sitting there confused.

"Wait! You know..."

"Gotta figure it out on your own." He called back before she finished her sentence. Giving a huff, she stared down at her tea, before giving a sigh. Picking up the cup, she moved through the kitchen, turned off the lights, and then entered her bedroom. Hoping that with a good nights sleep, her mind would be more clear in the morning to figure everything out.

Chapter 6 is in progress! It should, hopefully, be up in the next few days.