Sorry for the wait! But here is the next chapter and I hope that you enjoy.

Answers

Chapter 7

Cobra couldn't help but to glance at the she-demon of a barmaid as she continued to squeal internally. Why the hell had Midnight thought it a good idea to tell the woman about Lucy being his mate!? Now the woman was tormenting him about a possible future, marriage, and even kids. What was worse, was that she didn't even realize what she was doing, but just imagining that two of her guild mates were going to be happy together.

Giving a sigh, he looked to his oldest friend and grunted as she gave him an apologetic look in return. She had already explained to him what Mira was like whenever she knew about couples within the guild, and would most likely try to get them together as much as possible.

"I'll try to intervene when I can. However, I'm surprised that she hasn't spouted your names yet." Kinana stated, finishing wiping down the counter before her and began to move further down the bar from him.

"Midnight asked her not to say anything. Since apparently, Lucy still has no idea about the whole mating thing. She knows she has feelings for me, but she doesn't think that I return them. And for the sake of it, it would be best if she remained thinking like that." He muttered, ignoring how Kinana gave him a slight glare and instead focused on his drink.

"Cobra, you deserve to be happy. Just as much as anyone else. You are forgiven.."

"By the people around me. I have yet to forgive myself. I believe I've gotten off too easy." He growled, making sure to keep his gaze away from the woman not far from him. Knowing that he would find nothing but a pitying gaze.

He couldn't help it, but Lucy had said it right at her apartment. While she had forgiven them, she could see that it would take time for them to forgive themselves, and he honestly didn't think he had the right to claim her as a mate until he had forgiven himself. Not to mention, he still had so much to figure out about her.

"Oh, Cobra! Lucy! Could you two come here for a moment?" Mira called out, causing a terrifying shiver to shoot down his back before turning to face the she-demon. Not liking the look in her eye one bit, and turned to Kinana.

"Intervene." He hissed, watching as she blinked at him for a moment, before shaking her head.

"Nah. Not this time." She stated, before turning away and walking down to the other side of the bar. Stopping in front of the constant drunkard known as Cana. Cobra could only stare at her in shock, amazed that she had just said that, and was refusing to help after saying that she would run intervention. Damnit, what was it with these people conspiring against him!? First Midnight, now Kinana.

"What do you need, Mira?" Lucy's voice broke through his thoughts, and he tensed as Mira giggled before holding a flyer out to the blonde.

"I found an excellent mission for you and Cobra! It has a key reward, and some nightshade seeds!" Mira stated, and he blinked as Lucy quickly took a hold of the flyer and studied it, seeming to brighten more and more with each line that she read.

"Not only that, but with enough reward money to actually get me ahead on my rent!" She stated, before looking toward him. Only to blink before turning back to the barmaid and handing the flyer back to her.

"M...Maybe I shouldn't." She muttered, causing his eyebrows to raise as the she-demon gaped at her.

"W..Why not?" Mira asked, and he watched as Lucy leaned forward and whispered something. Giving into his urge and curiosity, he dipped into the she-demon's soul to figure out what Lucy was saying. Nearly choking on his own tongue as he heard it. The blonde thought his mate was Kinana! How the hell had that come about!?

"L..Lucy?" Mira stated, and Cobra gave a mental groan, already hating himself for the decision that he was about to make. Getting to his feet, he approached them and turned to the slightly depressed woman beside him.

"We'll take it." He stated, ignoring how Mira gave him a suspicious look, and instead focused on Lucy. Who was looking up at him in shock.

"You said it yourself Bright Eyes. This will put you ahead on your rent, and besides, I want that nightshade." He stated, hoping that his somewhat of a lie got past her. He couldn't stop himself from tensing as she raised an eyebrow slightly, before her gaze shot to Kinana before biting her bottom lip.

"W..Why not ask someone else...Maybe one of the other guys would..."

"No one else collects spiritual keys." He stated, cutting her off, and nearly caved as he saw her struggling to come up with some excuse as to why she shouldn't go with him, for fear of hurting Kinana's feelings. Feelings that he knew weren't there, but that she didn't. Raising his eye, he met Kinana's confused look, and motioned her over. Hoping that she got the message as to what was going on, and felt himself relax some as realization entered her eyes.

"Lucy! Go ahead! This way you can get a new key, money for your apartment, and don't have to worry about Cobra downing all of your cleaning supplies." Kinana stated, and he watched as Lucy looked up in confusion before looking between them.

"B..But..."

"But what?" Kinana asked, and he watched as Lucy tried to ask them if they were a couple or not without just blurting it out. Thankfully Kinana also seemed to see her struggle and decided to step in.

"Lucy, there is nothing like that between Cobra and I. I don't even know where you got that idea from. If you want to go on a mission with him, then by all means." Kinana stated, a smile on her face as Lucy blushed slightly before blinking in confusion. She gave a look toward him, before looking back to Kinana and realizing that they weren't mates. He relaxed, only to wince as he heard the question 'Who then?' filter through her soul before she smiled.

"Oh! Sorry. I just thought...You know what, never mind. Sorry." She stated, and he watched as Kinana merely smiled before moving away again. Leaving him with Lucy, damnit!

"So, where are we heading?" She suddenly asked, causing him to blink before looking down at the flyer.

"Just a little village about a day South of Crocus." He muttered, frowning slightly. He knew of that village, and it wasn't anything good. Last he recalled it was filled with the poor, beaten down, and nothing but crooks. How the hell could someone there think to pay this much, and reward a key and nightshade?

"Well then, lets go get packed and head on out." She stated, causing him to blink and think for a moment. He knew that Lucy could handle herself, and there would be no problem at all with him taking care of both of them should it come down to it, but something just wasn't adding up here.

"Alright. Want to invite anyone else along?" He asked, looking up as she glanced around, before raising an eyebrow as she quickly shook her head.

"No."

"What about the rest of your team?" He asked, thinking that there was no way she would just want him to tag along, but as well as someone she was more comfortable with.

"If we drag any of them along you can say goodbye to that reward money." She muttered, causing him to blink before feeling eye widen as he heard of the past missions with the group from her soul. Damn, were they truly that destructive!? It was a miracle that she wasn't living out on the streets at this point.

"I hear ya. Lets go then."

Lucy bit her bottom lip as she watched Cobra move along the path. They had just reached their first stop, Crocus. However, along the train ride, nothing had been spoken between them, and she was beginning to wonder if she had done something wrong. Maybe she had insulted him when she thought that he and Kinana were together.

"Not insulted, Bright Eyes." He suddenly stated, causing her to start and give him a guilty look.

"I'm not upset at you. Just trying to figure something out." He muttered, slowing slightly so she could walk beside him.

"Something wrong? Is it about your mate?" She asked, watching as he tensed and shot her a look. Swallowing slightly, she gave a small smile before looking down at the path they were taking.

"Gajeel and Levy kinda told me that you had a mate. They weren't sure who, but Gajeel said that he sensed it." She stated, peeking up at him as he gave a sigh and focused on the path as well. Seeing the slight pain in his eye caused her chest to tighten, and she straightened slightly. Damnit, while she might not have been lucky enough to have him as a mate, it didn't mean that someone else couldn't. And whatever seemed to be stopping him from claiming them seemed internal, and that was something she was going to fix.

"I'll help you with whatever is bothering you. Is it that you're afraid to approach them? Is it that only your dragon side wants to mate with them, but you don't? Or, is it that you're just unsure if they're going to accept you or not?" She asked, watching as he tensed once again before giving her a wary look.

"Mostly the first and last question." He muttered, and she gave a nod. Obviously he wasn't going to tell her who the person was, but that didn't mean that she couldn't get some information about his supposed mate.

"Well, tell me a bit about your mate. Maybe I could see from their point of view." She stated, watching as he seemed to think for a moment before giving a nod.

"Well, it is a girl, and she's very kind. Basically has a heart of gold, and she's just perfect in every way. At least, I think so." He muttered, and she felt her chest tighten at his words, hating that they weren't directed at her, but shook the feelings aside. She was going to help him, regardless of what she felt.

"Well, if she is as kind as you say, then I don't see why you should be frightened to approach her. Or why you think that she wouldn't accept you. You are an amazing guy, Cobra, and you deserve to be happy with your mate." She stated, watching as he blinked before looking away. That sad look still in his eye.

"Not that simple. I still don't think I should be forgiven so easily. I still don't think that I deserve to be happy." He muttered, causing her to frown and quickly move in front of him, but kept well enough out of his personal space and halted their process toward Crocus.

"Now you listen here, Cobra. I understand that you still have some issues, but maybe you can get over them sooner by accepting that yes you messed up in the past. However, you're taking measures to assure that it never happens again. And, from the way you talk about her, I think that you're mate would understand that and take strides to help you as well. Regardless of what that may mean. I know I would." She stated, watching as his eye widened slightly, and merely stared at her in wonder for a moment. He relaxed a bit later, even gave her a small smile that caused her to blush slightly.

"Thanks Bright Eyes. I'll try to tell her when we get back to the guild." He stated, and she gave a nod before turning on the spot.

"Good. And hopefully by the time we get back, I'll have it in your mind that you are deserving of being happy. Enough so that no doubts will ever cross your mind while you are with your mate. And that's a promise." She stated, holding her head high as she started forward again. Missing how Cobra gave a true smile at her, and followed behind her.

Here is the chapter! Chapter 8 is next! Just as a teaser something is gonna happen with the mission :3 hope you enjoy!