This took way too fucking long. At least I edited it this time, so I kinda like how it is as opposed to how it was. I'm planning four chapters in all for this, so hopefully I can actually get it all done, ye?

Disclaimer; I don't own Fairy Tail or the Tragic Megane Immortal Ginger, which frankly is a good thing seeing my track record for finishing shit.

Loke gazed down into a mug of something foul smelling and deliciously potent, a gift from Cana, proof of comradery between two of the heaviest drinkers in the guild. A title that was a little easy to obtain for someone in his position. Spirits could apparently handle a vast quantity of Earthland drink.

He'd been in the guild for a few weeks already, taking on lower level jobs to get used to both fighting in the human realm and to keep from burning himself out too early. He had a lot of reserves, being the leader of the Zodiac, but unlike these other wizards, when he ran out of magic power it didn't just end in being drained…

He'd mostly gone solo, still uncertain about working with others, but that didn't mean he didn't make a few 'friends' along the way. The ladies certainly were something to look at, and while more than a few of the guild women seemed to brush off his advances, no one had a problem when he turned his flirtations elsewhere and…brought his conquests home, so to speak. He'd even managed to bag a few in the guild, though they never became regulars. Cana, for instance, hadn't minded his attentions at all. Though it often made him wonder who'd set out to bag who first…

When he copulated with them between the sheets of their bed (because he still hadn't managed to set himself up with one of his own) he could…forget. The instant that bliss overtook his tired body he was no longer Leo, no longer a fallen star doomed to a slow and rather painful death, no longer dying and fading, fading, fading away into nothingness. He was just Loke, simple, playboy and average wizard Loke. The mysterious mage who had no last name and more notches to his belt than most other's would even dream of wanting, let alone having.

An enigma wrapped up in flirtatious smiles and cheeky jibes.

He much preferred to be Loke these days.

Drink did the same thing, though he had to go through Cana levels of alcohol to get the effects. He'd become something of a legend in the guild for being the only one who could keep up with her. Naturally, that had set up the basis for a sort of odd friendship, one that involved partaking in heavy liquor, breathless nights and a friendly banter over who in the guild was going to bang whom.

They had an understanding that he appreciated, especially when she started comparing the bust sizes of all the other women with him, or when he started talking about the men in a way that made her smirk in knowing.

Yes…quite the understanding.

Gray was another person he'd learned to get along with, if only through him being a relief of male companionship that didn't end in some sort of brawl. Loke had no interest in getting involved. For one; he hadn't the magic or strength left in him, for another, he'd had several centuries to get over his testosterone driven need to prove himself. He knew who he was, what he was, he didn't need to boast or strut in order to prove it to his comrades.

Plus, he got more women when he didn't strut around, the ladies preferred a male who held back. It showed them he had control, something far too few men learned in their younger years.

Fortunately for him, he got to sit back with his harem and watch while the other men tore the place apart. Along with no few women, to be fair. He was quite impressed with the overall strength of the guild when things went down to it. If he had the freedom to choose….

Well, he hardly had that, and anyway, Gray found himself looking to Loke often when he wanted to talk to someone who wouldn't turn everything into a contest. The spirit sort of prided himself on being a cool head that the younger man could go to when he needed it, and Gray certainly seemed to need it at times. Carefully guarded, masking everything in a cool exterior when things became too deep…he had a pain he was hiding that was hard to miss, at least for the Spirit.

Cana did too, if he were honest. It was painfully obvious to anyone who looked whenever the famous Gildarts passed by, and on those days it was Loke who suggested strong drink, something to help with distraction, dulling the senses and dulling the pain.

Lions didn't do too well on their own, Loke just figured he was taking these two into his own mini Pride. It was instinct, and anyway they did say that misery loved company.

So, it wasn't all that surprising to him when Cana and Gray came up asking for him to join them in a job. He'd never worked on a team before, always he'd been the shield to a master's whim, but it wasn't as if anything were normal for him anymore. He didn't have much time left, so he figured he'd chance doing what he'd never been able to do before.

He picked up his mug and downed it in one go, something the booze hog Cana looked at with admiration. Gray simply scoffed and crossed his arms, his shirt having been discarded at the guild entrance when he walked in. (Loke tended to make note of such things, since the poor guy never seemed to notice when he shed his clothes.) He set the cup down with a clack and gave them both a casual smirk. "Alright, sounds like fun. Might as well see how you Fairy Tail wizards work anyway." He drawled, standing up from his seat with the lazy grace of the lion he was no longer.

Gray snorted, giving his own smirk. "You're one of us you know, and don't act all high and mighty now. You were the one who left Blue Pegasus."

"A good choice I say. Those guys are pretty stuffy, and the booze isn't as good either." He quipped back, turning to give Cana a wink. The card user laughed and heartily agreed, then slid him a flier as they all turned to leave the hall. He caught Natsu and Happy chowing down on a heap of food that would make Taurus jealous, while getting scolded by Erza beside him. For what, he didn't know, but he supposed Natsu did something stupid like challenge someone and get beat up again...

Or, judging from the burn marks on Gray's chest, perhaps they'd been fighting recently, he hadn't paid much attention.

He put it from his mind as he turned his attention to the flier, humming as he noted the reward. A decent amount for all three of them… it seemed like a fairly high level job. "Bandits?" He asked, odd for bandits to call for such numbers.

Cana glanced behind her to nod. "Yeah, group of three wizards high jacking people on the road. Supposedly one of them's pretty powerful, s'why the reward's so high."

"We figured that the three of us could take them on, plus you've never worked with anyone yet so we thought this might give you a chance to do so." Gray hummed from the front, and Loke could hear the smile in his voice. He had a soft heart for someone who pushed others away like he tended to. "Besides, you've been calling us all 'Fairy Tail Wizards' so much it's about time you got it in your head that you're one of us."

Loke raised his brows, a bit surprised that Gray, of all people, would say such a thing. Though, perhaps he had a point. Spirit or not, he had the mark on his back, he should get used to considering himself as one of their own. "Ah…sorry." He laughed sheepishly, scratching the tip of his nose. "I didn't really work with anyone even in Blue Pegasus so…" True enough. He never actually worked with Karin….

"Well then, it's high time you changed that don't you think?" Cana exclaimed, stepping back and wrapping him around in a friendly arm, a bright and eager grin on her face. He liked that about her, there was no coaxing, just brash honesty. It was almost a relief to bed her compared to all his other ladies.

Not that Leo didn't enjoy the courtship itself.

"Right…" He agreed, his grin softening. Maybe they noticed his own moments, the days when he was in too much pain to think and just drank alone, the times when he couldn't muster up a smile and just wandered Magnolia for hours and hours, the nights he spent going from one bed to the next, just so he didn't have to be alone with his thoughts. Perhaps they were trying to pay him back a bit of kindness of their own…

Either way, in that moment he felt grateful to them.

The plan was a standard one for facing highwaymen. A simple Trojan horse by way of Cana driving an innocuous looking wagon with him and Gray hiding inside. The Maker mage had an altogether terrifyingly eager grin on his face as they bumped along, fully ready and willing to thrust themselves into the hands of some viciously dangerous enemies. Loke would have felt more nervous if it weren't for the fact that he was used to such situations. One didn't have time to question the how's or whys as soon as one was summoned after all.

As it was, he could feel that same eagerness in himself, even if fighting with another was a really strange feeling. Only a handful of times were his previous owners strong enough to summon two spirits, and then it was usually up to the mage themselves to coordinate the spirit's attacks.

Even if sometimes Leo had had to step in, it wasn't that often. Leader he may be, but it wasn't a lie who the true master in the relationship was. Sometimes the memory left a bad taste in his mouth.

He pushed it from his mind, instead focusing on the coming fight ahead.

"You ready?" Asked Gray, that grin still on his face, though with only the slightest hint of concern for his friend.

Loke gave him an encouraging smile of his own, though certainly not as bloodthirsty. Built for battle he was, but the, ah, adrenaline wasn't exactly the same for him as it was for humans. "Oh, don't worry. I won't get in your way, Ice Cream Man." He teased, then ducked the predicted blow to his head.

The younger male had a scowl of annoyance on his face, though humor still glittered in his dark eyes. "Hey! Don't you start, it's bad enough I gotta hear that crap from Flame Brain all the time." He huffed, making a few false swipes at the ginger. Loke laughed softly, not wanting to tip off their prey as he kept dodging.

Suddenly he paused, nostrils flaring as an alarming scent came to him. Gray frowned in confusion. "Hey, you alright? You look like Natsu does whenever-"

Suddenly the ravenette was cut off at the sound of Cana's scream, and when they rushed towards the front they barely managed to miss the swipe of a bronze sword slicing through the back of the wagon. Loke automatically glanced back, time seeming to freeze at what he saw before him.

A young, handsome youth, garbed in ancient armor with a bronze sword in one hand and a mirrored shield in the other, his dark skin marred with scars and golden sweat, his garments made of bronze, wool and old, old leather.

And most telling, the severed head fastened to his belt, a ghastly, fleshy thing with thick ringlets made of living serpents covering its' gaze…

His eyes widened behind his shades, and old feeling of nostalgia coming over him. The number of times he'd been put up against the silver keys…

"Perseus…."

"Cana!" Gray called out, shaking him out of his daze. He glanced back towards the now open entrance, spotting their ally a few feet away kneeling on the ground before a beautiful woman in flowing robes, chains fastened to her arms. The make of the chains was also bronze, and chains just like them were encircling the card mage, pinning her to the ground and restraining her.

Loke gaped, forgetting himself for a moment, mind reeling. "N-no way, Andromeda too?" He murmured. Of all the damn times for this to happen! If there were celestial spirits here, then that meant…

He snapped out of it and nearly missed pushing Gray out the front of the wagon, knocking him away from a downward clip of Perseus' sword. The Maker mage snarled and used the momentum to go after Andromeda while Loke turned back to face Perseus.

He moved without thinking, curling back to brace himself against the wood, his legs kicking out towards the young warrior and stunning him into falling back while he regained his own footing. It was too small a space to fight properly, he had to get to more open ground. His right hand went to his left, touching one of the rings he wore there. He'd found it a bit easier to conserve his strength by using a few 'accessories' he'd thought to purchase after taking a few jobs. They were nothing like Regulus, but they worked.

"Twister!" He called out, summoning forth a torrential gust of wind, blowing Perseus out the back of the wagon and quickly following him after. His feet landed on the grass firmly beneath him, and he took a second to scout the area. It looked clear enough, just Perseus, who was standing up, and him. Andromeda had been alone at the front, so where was…?

"Andromeda! Will you stop playing around with them already?" A young man came out from the corner of the forest, young as Gray, his weak, lanky form and fine cut clothes showing him to be from a high bred family. He looked down on Loke for a moment, sniffing in contempt before turning back towards where his other spirit was, because the celestial magic pouring from him proved he couldn't be anything but the summoner. Loke followed his gaze, eyes widening as he spotted his two friends being dragged by the female spirit, completely netted in her chains. She deposited them before her master, her chest heaving, sweat clinging to her skin with a slightly golden sheen.

She looked exhausted.

Gray groaned from his position, having apparently been smacked on the head with the spirit's chains during his fight. Cana didn't look like she was doing much better. Loke frowned, one of Andromeda's abilities could drain a wizard's magic with her chains, though it wasn't that powerful, nor could it stop a truly strong wizard. It also took a lot out of her, especially with two captives.

He quickly glanced towards Perseus as well, noting the same state of exhaustion on the warrior. How long had this kid been keeping them out? Where did he get the endurance?

"Andromeda, do your thing." The mage tossed out, gesturing to his female spirit.

Andromeda grimaced, giving Loke an almost apologetic glance, causing him to wince slightly. How embarrassing, being recognized like this. "I'm sorry master, I cannot." She admitted, cringing and giving him a sour feeling in his stomach. That look on her face was just like Aries'… "With two wizards already in my chains-" Never mind that the draining wouldn't work on him, nor would her chain last a second against Regulus, even if he was significantly weaker after being exiled so long.

The mage scowled, and without hesitation slapped her across the face. Loke tensed, his eyes dilating catlike in anger, the nerve of that…pup! "Then what good are you?!" The mage-child-demanded, scowling while his spirit had no choice but to simply take it. He huffed and turned over to Perseus. "Then you deal with it. I want him dead in the next five minutes!" He stomped to emphasize his point, just like a spoiled brat.

Loke's jaw clenched behind his lips, his breathing growing heavy, a low grow bubbling up in his throat that he failed to completely suppress. This damn cub thought that just because he had a bit of extra power he could order his spirits around like fucking toys. Oh, he knew this type of master, had served them a couple of times, and was hardly sorry when their careless actions inevitably blew up in their faces. Karma was particularly harsh on this flavor of celestial mage, but right then Loke could hardly stand to see his fellow spirits being treated like garbage.

Especially not after just getting away from Karin and her abuse.

He clenched his hands into fists, cat slitted eyes narrowing as he watched Perseus hesitate for a second before rushing him. Their master was a fool, but the both of them knew exactly who he was, and recognized the spike of power as well.

He almost, almost felt glad for his exile, for Andromeda for taking his friends out so that they wouldn't be witnesses. He was dead as far as the spirits were concerned, barred from the heavens, fallen away from the law that governed his kind.

He was perfectly free to bring karma on this little shit with his own two hands, and he was going to enjoy it.

He closed his eyes and brought his fist to his face, his other hand grasping his wrist. The power welled up in him slowly, much more weakly than it had a few days ago. He couldn't do this much more often, but he had a little left in him for one more go.

"Lion Brilliance!"

The light was pale, weaker than it was at his full power, but it did what he needed it to do. Poor Perseus was blinded, his sword falling from his hand as he reached up to cover his eyes. Loke took the moment to strike, giving the fighter a sucker punch to the gut to take him out of the picture. "I'm sorry." He whispered, using Regulus again to do enough damage to shove him back to the spirit world.

Perseus simply smiled, a strained, pain filled smile as he faded into golden light. At least he didn't hold it against him, then again, Leo was going to die as it was. Hard to hate someone you could only pity.

Loke turned back to the mage and Andromeda, the latter who was ducking her head, cringing and breathing heavy with the strain of holding two wizards. He scowled. "Send her back." He demanded, making the young mage flinch and scowl at him. "She's not going to last much longer, her magic and yours aren't cut out for keeping two powerful wizards trapped this long."

"And who are you? Some kinda expert?" The boy demanded petulantly, and he was looking more and more like a spoiled brat the longer Loke looked at him. He shook his head in disgust, they were really supposed to follow little shitheads like this? Honestly…

Of course he knew why the keys and contracts existed in the first place, it just made things all the more irritating, and ironically fitting, with what he was about to do.

"You could say that." He chuckled, grinning and showing off the barest hint of fangs, causing the boy to freeze. "I think you've had this coming for a long time kid." He sighed, before charging up to him with a snarl, his leonine side coming out in full force, a fist aiming for his head.

Andromeda went to block him, of course, like he expected her to. She was a proud Celestial Spirit and would defend he owner, no matter how much of a shit he was, to the end. He watched as she also faded away from the wound he'd inflicted, another apology rising to his lips, though he silenced it. His companions were too close at the moment and he didn't want this kid to know who he was. With Andromeda gone the chains surrounding Gray and Cana were gone too, and from the groans coming from them they were starting to wake up.

He had to finish this fast.

The Mage reached down to his belt, his eyes wide as he backed up frantically from the angry Spirit. "St-stay back!"

"Oh no you don't." Loke huffed, reaching out to grapple and lock the kid in a choke hold, spinning around to pin his arms to his back. He was fast enough and strong enough to snag him, thought it caused him to drop his keyring and let out a pained cry, further waking up the other two. The hold Loke had him in was quite painful, and it really took everything the spirit had to keep from tearing into the brat. However, he wasn't a murderer (anymore, he was once already but he couldn't bare another death on his hands) so he simply settled with keeping the kid trapped and increasing the pained pressure on his shoulders until he gave up.

"G-get off me!" The mage screamed, struggling and wincing from the pain. Loke huffed and just kept a tighter hold, scowling in distaste. Such a brat!

"Sorry, no can do. You've been a bad boy and we've been called to do the spanking." He gave an annoyed snort. "I think I know why this job cost so much." He grumbled. "Your parents put a hit out on you, didn't they?"

"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" The young mage protested, though from the look on his face Loke would bet he was correct.

From the groans and movement from the ground it seemed Gray and Cana had finally fully woken up, and they further proved it by glancing up at the two. "Is it just me…or was there a fuck ton of light shining around here a moment ago?" Cana groaned, rubbing her sore head and frowning in confusion at Loke and his 'charge'. "The hell…did you take those guys out on your own?"

"I don't know about any 'light' but my head is killing me." Gray grumbled from her side, before scowling and glancing around. "Where the hell's that lady who tied us up?" He snarled.

"That Lady was Andromeda, and she's gone back home." Loke drawled, managing to calm himself down just enough to look normal again, though the hint of fangs were still in his teeth if he bothered to run his tongue over them. "Now…could one of you help me get this little brat tied up?" He asked, giving them a slight smirk before tightening his grip on the kid again, causing him to wince. "I can't hold him for long."

"Holy shit dude, did you just beat up a kid?" The Maker mage exclaimed, while Cana went to pick up some rope from the wagon.

Loke grimaced, hazel eyes holding a dark edge to them. "I can't stand abusive brats." He murmured, sighing in relief when Cana came back and did an expert job in restraining him. He pulled away and brushed himself off, taking deep breaths to relax. "Or his sort of magic, at that."

"Yeah, about that, what kind of magic was it? And why aren't those other two around?" Cana asked, tying the ropes extra tightly, taking her cue from her ginger friend. Comradery at its finest.

Loke sighed and pushed his shades up on his nose, he didn't want to reveal just how much he knew, and the topic of celestial mages wasn't something he wanted to think about period, but he did hint he was familiar with it so… "It's Celestial magic. A type of summoning, those other two were Celestial Spirits." He answered, slightly reluctantly.

"I think I've heard of that." Gray murmured, crossing his arms and staring down at the kid. "Something to do with summoning the constellations, right?"

Loke nodded. "Those were the spirits of Andromeda and Perseus respectively."

"You mean like the legend?" Cana perked up, finishing her job and yanking the kid up by his wrists. He was pouting quite a bit and whimpering, but he wasn't saying anything at the moment. Loke half wondered if he recognized him yet, a part of him oddly didn't care. "Weird." She shrugged. "Anyway, let's get that reward, yeah?"

"About that…" The spirit gave a slow smirk, side eyeing the kid as he did. "I think I figured out why this job's giving us so much dough…"

"Oh?" Gray asked. "Why's that?" The four started heading back to the wagon, though the horses were certainly gone by then. They'd likely have to walk back on foot, fun.

Loke snorted. "Because it's probably this brats' parent's that set the hit out on him. Looks like some rebellious punk wanted to get out and have a good time with his spirits." A hint of an edge laced his grin, his thumb jabbed in the kid's direction. "Nothing like testing out your 'toys' after all." Because clearly that's what they were to him.

Toys.

Stars he wished he had the balls to hit the kid harder.

Eventually the three wizards made it back to the cozy little wooden cottage they were staying at, having placed the undeserving whelp with the authorities (and his doting parents) where he belonged. Loke had admired the comfortable setup, with its oak furniture and rustic mountain man décor, but right then he had no stomach for flopping into his thin mattress or making thinly veiled come ons to Cana to make Gray hilariously uncomfortable. No, right then he rested his hands along each side of the porcelain sink in the bathroom, door shut and locked to keep the other two out. His shades were discarded, left on the side of a stand, his bangs draping over his angled hazel eyes.

Between his hands were a set of three keys on a keyring, all silver.

Perseus. Andromeda. Hydra.

All their contracts had been terminated with the kid once he'd been taken prisoner. He knew this because, much like Celestial mages, spirits could also communicate with each other via contact or close proximity with the keys. Especially him.

It wasn't that strong, more like vague impressions with his weak state, but he got enough to manage. They were perfectly fine with leaving; it was just another owner after all. No, there wasn't any repercussions with him being the one to beat the kid, he was dead to the spirit world anyway. They forgave him….

He sighed, a sick feeling in his stomach just from talking to his kind. Was it guilt? He wasn't sure. All he knew was that it served to remind him of what he was, and what he could never have. For a moment there, Leo had thought he'd finally be able to forget all that, that he'd managed to just be Loke…

He should have known.

A knock at the door distracted him from his ruminating, causing the spirit to quickly snatch the keyring from the sink and plop it into his jacket. Gray's voice slipped through the door. "Hey, Loke, you alright?" He asked, worry in his tone.

Loke moved to unlock the door, a relaxed grin firmly in place to assuage the maker mage's fears. "I'm fine, just cooling off a little." He shrugged. "Why you ask?"

Gray frowned, not seeming to buy his words, but he let it slide. "Nothing really, you just didn't seem like yourself after that fight." He then turned away, a scowl on his face, and Loke couldn't help but grin more at that. Heh, he was such a tough guy, was Gray. "Anyway, me and Cana were planning on ordering something for dinner, so you should come out and order with us."

Mmm, human food. The spirit's grin grew as he stepped out of the bathroom, hands slipping further into his pockets as he did. "Sounds like a good idea to me."

A bit later after they'd eaten the three sat around the coffee table in the lounge area, right next to a cozy little fireplace crackling away the mid-autumn chill. Cana was…. drinking. Again. Though it was a mild beer compared to her usual brew. Gray was counting out the reward money and splitting it evenly between them, and Loke…well…Loke was brooding. He didn't even notice he was doing it, just staring at the table with his hands in his pockets, idly fondling the keys that had gone silent a few moments ago, the familiar magic both a comfort and a tease.

Cana chose that moment to give a loud sigh, breaking the ginger from his ruminating. "Hey, Loke. I been meaning to ask you something." She huffed, giving him a frown as he glanced up to meet her gaze.

Loke raised his brows, not at all sure if he wanted to know what she wanted with that look on her face. "What's up?" He asked, trying for that usual innocuous grin he usually donned.

The card mage only narrowed her eyes and jabbed a finger towards him. "I just wanna know how you know so much about that Celestial magery stuff. Where'd you learn it?"

Gray chose that moment to perk up. "Yeah, you did seem pretty knowledgeable about it… I never pegged you for a study of Celestial magic." He frowned, turning to face the ginger as well. "What's up with that?"

Shit. Both his friends were staring at him expectantly, and Loke's eyes were wide as his mind frantically tried to think of some way out. Fuck, fuck, fuck!

"Uh." He began intelligently. "I just…have some experience…" He turned away, not meeting their eyes and grinning nervously, sweating. "With some Celestial mages…" Understatement of the century. Or Millennium. Older in fact. "Okay…a lot actually…" He admitted reluctantly. He couldn't get away with just skimming like that. He hung his head a little. "It's not exactly something I like to revisit." Now that was certainly true.

There was a pause, then Cana spoke up from his left. "It was some woman, wasn't it?" She guessed, hint of a smirk in her voice. Loke instantly glanced up at her, giving her an unimpressed stare. The card mage looked so smug, probably because of his reputation. Still, she was technically right, he had to give her that.

He sighed, choosing to let go of his annoyance right then. There really…wasn't any point in fighting their interpretation. "Yeah…got me there." He offered, sad smile growing on his face. "It was…certainly a woman."

Gray let out a long sigh and when Loke glanced up, he was rubbing at the bridge of his nose. "Why am I not surprised? So you, what, learned all about her magic to impress her or something?"

Loke glanced back down, that sick feeling in his stomach rising again. He was likely to lose his dinner at this rate, not that he really needed to eat. "Not…technically for that reason…" He murmured, before huffing. "Can we change the subject? Please?" He glanced up to give them both a pleading look. "It's not a subject I'm comfortable with."

Cana gaped at him, blinking in shock. "Holy fuck Loke, what did that woman do to you?"

Gray added in a poignant "Seriously…" Before choosing to take mercy on his friend. "Alright then, just…wow. It doesn't seem like you to be this affected by some girl."

If only she was just that. Loke chuckled dryly. "Yeah, well. She was certainly something." He didn't quite think his smile reached his eyes, but he wore shades anyway. So. "Let's just say that I really don't like being around Celestial mages and leave it at that, alright?" Subject change. Please.

Gray nodded and went to pick up a large stack of Jewels and handed them over to the ginger, causing his eyes to bug out a bit. That was…more money than he'd seen. Ever. On this plane. Though he was wealthy in the spirit realm it wasn't like they had a need for commerce, and he'd only taken the smallest jobs to conserve his magic (a tactic currently nulled thanks to all the magic he'd used to take out those spirits, he was going to feel that in the morning for certain), so it was only natural, but still…

"This is…a good amount." He murmured, swallowing before going to slip the stack in one of his inner pockets. Gray chuckled. "Yeah, it's something alright. Never got the good jobs back in Blue Pegasus did you?" When Loke shook his head, Gray only sighed with a good natured smile. "High time you changed that."

"Speaking of changes." Cana interrupted, causing both men to turn to her. She had another smirk on her face, though at least this time Loke was certain she wasn't going to pry about him and celestial mages or magic again. "rumor has it you've pretty much been bed hopping from chick to chick lately, right Loke?"

The spirit could only nod, not sure what she was getting at. Cana tutted and Gray scowled. "That won't do. A hot bachelor needs his own pad, am I right Gray?" Gray nodded in response, his expression sober. Cana nodded back, smirk growing. "Seriously Loke, you need to get yourself a place." She claimed, giving him a firm glare.

Loke blinked, he had a place, technically. And always he'd shared his rooms on Earthland with his master so the thought of getting one of his own was, frankly, a little unnerving to him. "I've been doing fine so far." He protested.

Gray tutted and crossed his arms over his bare chest (shirt at the front entrance, his pants were actually left by the bathroom once he coaxed Loke out of it. He'd watched him strip and tried not to laugh) before fixing his friend with a firm glare. "That won't work. What if you get your girl of the night pissed at you? What are you gonna do? Sleep on the street?" He scowled, shaking his head. "You don't even have that many clothes and you live out of a bag. Seriously Loke, you're doing Fairy Tail a huge disservice living like a hobo."

"A…Hobo…?" The spirit blinked, suddenly finding himself baffled and in a bit of a culture shock. Oh, he knew, distantly, that things like this were important to humans and mattered quite a lot, and for obvious reasons, but the idea of Fairy Tail being effected by his current living status hadn't even factored into his mind. Then again, the whole concept of being homeless was still a new one to him.

Gray nodded, his face stern. "Yeah, a hobo."

"A filthy, stinkin' hobo." Cana chimed in, though she was still smirking. She sent him a wink. "Even if you're sexy as fuck."

"Oh...well…" Loke began hesitantly. "If it's going to harm Fairy Tail…" Even if he didn't quite know how still… "I suppose I should fix that."

"Seriously, I thought Blue Pegasus wizards were classier than this, no wonder you moved to us." Cana sighed, placing a cheek in her palm, her other hand curling back around her mug of booze. "You should just plop yourself in the Fairy dorms if it's that much of a struggle to you."

Loke bristled slightly. "It's not- I just haven't had the money saved up yet." He huffed, before quickly deflating. "Leaving the old guild was…it was kinda a spur of the moment thing." He let out a frustrated sigh and placed his head in his palm. "didn't have much time to save or plan really…"

Gray slowly arched a brow out of the corner of Loke's eye. "Huh…maybe one day we'll learn why that is too." He murmured, but after seeing the ginger's muscles tense, he didn't push. "Anyway, Cana's idea is a good one. It's what I do, and it's got all the essentials. Room, board, a mini fridge and your own kitchen and closet. Not a lot of room though…but I don't think you'll be spending much time there, right?" and now the Maker mage smirked knowingly, and Loke almost felt relieved that they were going back to assuming things about him instead of trying to ask.

He really hated making fabricated stories to match with his being a human after all. Much easier when they did it themselves.

Loke sat back up, giving a bright grin with a slight leer, carefree smirk back on his face. "You got that right, and I guess having a place to put my stuff would be useful." Maybe he should get a bigger wardrobe. He missed his suits, but…he kinda liked the more casual stuff he'd been wearing lately. "I could give this place a try, I guess." His grin grew and he leaned back in his seat, thinking it over. "Yeah…I could definitely do that."

Cana reached over and clapped him on the back, a bright grin on her face to match his. "Talk to the Master when we get back then! Might make you feel more at home with us too. Make you more officially a Fairy Tail mage!"

He laughed and nodded, and the night continued as he went over her words. More like a Fairy Tail mage. More human. Less like Leo, more like Loke.

Later he got to teasing Gray after all, although through the night he still had to pretend to actually sleep, with the energy of the stars resting in his pocket and whispering, taunting him all through the long hours of darkness.

Yes…more like Loke.

He could live with that.

I wanted to have Loke beat an abusive mage to a pulp, but then it turned out said mage was a kid and the dumb lion had to go all noble on me. *huffs*

I suppose it's my own fault for making the guy a kid. I don't think I'd like to beat a kid either, no matter how much he deserved it.

Slowly but surely Leo is morphing into the trickster playboy we all know and adore, here's to hoping things go well for him!

Also yes. He totally stole those keys. Kekeke, sneaky Leo.

Review for your aunty cune plsthnx

Ciao~