Chapter 6: Troubles Revealed

Grey walked into a restaurant behind this friends with the strange man leading them. Erza was still ignoring his hand, but seemed willing to be treated to lunch with this... this mysterious no-name.

If something is wrong, wouldn't Erza have told us? Why was she suspicious of this mission and not suspicious of this man? Is there something hidden in her actions? How about in his?

Grey shook his head as he unconsciously sat down. There was something odd about the stranger - something that unnerved him and made his skin tingle. Lucy senses it, too. I wonder what is bothering her? Most likely she feels the same way I do, or is there something else as well? Can I still trust anyone? Ugh! Stop thinking weird thoughts, iceball, he scolded himself, but he was still worried. Goosebumps ran up and down his white arm, and he struggled to smile at the unwanted stranger.

~ o ~

"Aren't you going to take a drink from your glass?"

Carla's head snapped up to spy Wendy's questioning face. She gave a quick 180 and saw that Levy and her two hooligans were also staring at her.

"Y-yes, of course. Just thinking, that's all," she said quickly. Wendy gave her one last odd look, and turned back to one of the hooligans, the blonde one named Jet, to continue a small conversation.

Carla sighed. Why did she feel the way she did? Like there were ants crawling inside her stomach... and her paws were shaking!

That male-cat! she hissed to herself. Why am I so nervous whenever he's not around? I've never felt this way before. He's just an old tomcat, Carla. Just a dumb cat who's nothing special.

Then what is this feeling in my heart? It couldn't be... could it?

The female Exceed shivered. No, no, NO! That's not possible. Think again, Carla. Maybe because he's a fellow Exceed. Right, that must be it.

Then she moaned.

Ai... I'm hopeless.

"Seriousy, Carla! I just asked you about your glass and I don't see any less water than there was five minutes ago," scolded Wendy, breaking into her thoughts.

Carla sighed again.

~ o ~

Erza sat stiffly in the inside of the booth, Natsu and Happy to her right, the stranger across from her, Grey sitting awkwardly beside him and Lucy sitting on an extra stool on the edge of the table. Erza noticed worriedly that the stellar spirit mage looked uncomfortable, raising her hand to her forehead, and kept making odd glances toward the stranger.

Just then, Mister Anonymous spoke.

"... So, Erza," he said, giving a wide smile and leaning forward across the table. "How are you today? Such a wonderful privilege for me to treat you and your party to lunch-"

"Cut with the pleasantries, Monsieur," Erza snapped, and waved her hand to draw his attention to the whole gang. "I'm sure we are all curious to know why you are here."

"That, my dear Erza, will have to wait until we can chat casually over our dishes," came the smooth reply. Erza twitched. Just who did he think he was? That bossy, snobby, too-slick know-it-all... The list could go on, but Erza knew she had to focus to get anything out of that mysterious man.

"Fine." She turned to her friends. "Is everyone ready to order, then?" Lucy nodded, Happy and Natsu said, "Aye!" and Gray just looked away. She sighed and waved for a waitress and they all gave their orders. Erza noticed that the stranger simply ordered a coffee; that was all. She made a mental note to ponder over that later.

Once the food arrived, the first thing she did was demand, "Now, why are you here?" The man looked like he wanted to stall it, but caught himself and leaned forward, fixing his gaze on Erza's.

What enchanting colours, she found herself thinking as she lost herself in his gaze.

He smiled as if he could guess what she was thinking, then moved his eyes to look out the window at the street.

Then, he began.

~ o ~

Jet sat stiffly among his friends, listening to their voices chattering, bickering, laughing...

He wanted to join them.

But there was something in his rotten mood that held him back. It choked him, like long, black tentacles wrapping tightly around his throat, too tightly. It kept pulling his spirit down every time it stretched out its wings in preparation to soar. His weakness was keeping him down.

Fear. It was fear of being left alone, being forgotten by the only close friends he had - Droy, Levy... The three of them had grown up together, and if Levy kept growing so distant, Droy would be sure to follow, and then what of Shadowgear would be left? An empty black shell, that would be it. And among the ruins of the thin, black shell, would stand one tiny creature, charred to the bone. If he wanted to be happy again, and enjoy the time he still had with his friends, why shouldn't he? What was keeping him from being cheerful and laughing with his pals?

Nothing.

And yet, he couldn't bring himself to break out of his mood. He'd heard somewhere a proverb that explained that bad moods enjoyed company. Jet shuddered. He knew it was true, and the more he told himself to stop being so grumpy, the more he wanted to feel that way.

The easiest path would be just to let himself stay moody.