Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail, if I did. I would kill of characters like Akame ga kill!

I know it's been a while since I've last updated this story, but I've been quite busy with summer school - yes I just had to take a dual credit class. And some guests- my mom's cousin and his family are over for the week, so I'm showing them around my hometown. I mean we went to the beach, nasa, and the pool. Also the mall and other things that took up my time.

Anyway's this short spin-off takes place around the time that Lucy, Natsu, Levy, and Gray are new recruits in the ft Agency, so as a result Juvia and Gajeel aren't featured in this chapter since well they're in Phantom.

Once again I'd like to apologize for the slow show with this. I've been struggling with this story's final chapter, and in the mean time I'll start uploading pieces like this- in place of said chapter until its ready to the world. Now without further ado-

Thank you for taking the time to read this and enjoy!

.

.

.

The Poison Prank

.

"But you've slipped under my skin, invaded my blood and seized my heart."

-Maria V. Snyder, Poison Study

.

.

Mirajane's P.o.V

"MIRAJANE STRAUSS!" howled a certain blonde haired partner of mine. I spun in my office chair from my interrupted conversation with Erza. I smirked while trying to hold in my laughter by biting on my bottom lip at the sight of a dripping wet almost naked Laxus with the now a horrible shade of dark purple spiky hair- curiosity of moi- with a towel around his waist. "Hey Laxus, how's that new hair color working for you?"

"Purple." He stated flatly. "You used purple. Why?"

I raised a brow with a smile- I was seconds away from laughing my ass off with Erza, "Well isn't it your favorite color? I mean you wear dark purple shirts with style."

He scowled, "What'd I do to make you change my shampoo in the men's shower? Did Jellal help you?"

"You know what you did Laxus." I stood up with irritation- remembering his prank from a couple of months back, "You put shaving cream in my shampoo. My hair smelled like shit for weeks!"

Laxus's scowl turned into an amused grin at the memory- which frankly made me pissed. "But you love the smell of roses."

"Not when it's from Evergreen's cabinet!" I hissed at him before turning to Evergreen, who was beside Erza in own daily gossip table, "No offense, Ever."

"None taken. It's the company's shitty idea." She shrugged as I turned back to my partner with a smile, "Good luck trying to wash out the color, Laxus."

He scowled and before storming off I stopped him by handing him out next job, "Also Cobra got out."

Wiping his right hand on his towel- his left was holding his towel Laxus took the document from my hand. There was something in his eyes- I frowned- as it quickly disappeared. It was like a mischievous look- like when I confront Laxus about one of many payback pranks on me. That's weird. Laxus huffed, "Huh, I guess the Council's prison's aren't all that secured like they boasted."

"Oh shush. He probably had inside help." I said remembering first hand out their crystal prisons worked prisoners to the edge of sanity. "I'll meet you in an hour?"

"Make it three." I smiled knowing he would have to wash out his lovely purple hair. "If you bring cannoli from Erza's strawberry cake bakery. I swear I'll never prank you again."

"You still gonna prank me if I do bring some." He snorted before walking away. I turned to the ladies at the table. "So where we're with the new recruits?"

"The blondie and pinky obviously have a thing for each other. I bet-"

"You mean Lucy and Natsu, Ever." Interrupted Erza as Evergreen snorted, "Whatever. I mean did you see the way he had his arm around her shoulder?"

"What about you and Elfman, Ever?I've seen you two getting a little chummy with each other." I pointed out my observation of the day. The wavy light brown haired woman immediately opened to her mouth to object, "I don't have anything with that man who thinks that flowers are 'manly'! They're not manly for god sakes! How did your brother get such a 'manly' complex!"

"Like you with fairies?" I shot back not liking Elfman's partner's tone.

"How about you with Laxus?" asked Erza cutting in. I frowned, "What about me and Laxus?"

"On come on Mira," The scarlet haired woman sighed, "don't tell me you haven't noticed."

"Noticed what?" I asked as Erza frowned, "you haven't-"

"Erza!" our heads turned to the said woman's partner, Jellal who continued, "Makarov wants you and Evergreen in the communication center!"

"Coming!" Erza said before turning to me, "Just look at him, Mira."

The trio left the floor as I started to nibble on my lunch. I wonder what she means by that.

Three hours later I was smiling, and Laxus was still scowling- the dye had partially came out, and it looked worse than before!

"How did you try to remove it?" I asked as he got into the black SUV. "Vitamin C Treatment and anti-dandruff shampoo. There wasn't any color remover left thanks to the blondie and pinky using it all up to prove something about that loudmouth's hair being natural. Gramps really has to get the Agency new cars. It's like painting a target on our backs with these black SUVs. "

"Ah. So why didn't take a wig from the cover ups?" I suggested as we exited the parking lot. He scowled again, "Like I'd wear that itchy shit. We're here."

I looked from his hair to Lamia Scales's bakery. "What are we doing here?"

"Meeting my contact of course." he replied as we got out of the car and into the bakery. Just look at him, Mira. I frowned remembering Erza's words from this morning. Laxus's voice interrupted me from thinking about what she meant by asking, "I thought you liked cannoli, Mira."

"I do."I said before adding, "It's just something Erza said at lunch, that's all."

"What'd she say?"

"Something." I evaded knowing his ego might skyrocket if I say anything more. "Where's your contact?"

"In the men's bathroom on the floor." Laxus replied before scowling at something a couple of high school girls said about his purple- it turned into more of a lavender purple and yellow polka dotted hair. "I hate you."

I smiled, but I couldn't but feel a little pity for the guy walking around with , "Keep on telling that to yourself, so what now? Try his usual spots?"

"Gotta start somewhere." Laxus grumbled before biting into his doughnut as I glanced around spotting a baseball cap hanging from the cost rack on the wall near the cashier. "I'll go pay for the food. You want any coffee?"

A muffled yes as a reply while I got up sauntering over to the coat rack, unhooking my jacket from the prodding hook while swiping the grey cap from its hook. Placing it on my head I paid for our meal and headed back over to Laxus- his eyes somehow softened when I did. "What? Some cream on my face, Laxy?"

Usually he would scowl at the god forsaken nickname so devised by a once drunk Jellal- but no he smiled instead!- "I haven't seen you smile in a while."

Laxus blinked- even stranger- he reached out and poked the corner of my lip as if wanting to get me to smile. "I guess it has been a while."

Today's just getting even weirder! I shoved the medium sized cup of coffee with its lid on into his hand unable to comprehend my current situation. "Here! Let's go!"

Quickly rushing out of the bakery trying to clear my thoughts as I unlocked the SUV and tossed the keys behind me, knowing he'd catch them. Getting into the car Laxus stated, "You added sugar. You know I like it black, Mira."

"I just thought you'd like something sweet- you've gotten bitter lately." I commented looking out the window waiting for him to start the car.

"Mira?" He said in a questioning tone as I turned my head slightly to the left in response, bidding silently prodding him to continue.

"Thanks." With a small smile I turned back to the window not before Laxus snatched the stolen cap on my head and placed it on his. "Hey!"

It wasn't long before we tracked Cobra down to shopping mall. There were many things a poison terrorist could do.

The bastard holding shopping bags was not one of those scenarios. Many of them in my head included death, gas masks, and a newscast helicopter in the air, and several Council assault teams surrounding the place.

Today just kept on getting crazier.

Glancing to Laxus who nodded, we went for the pincer strategy. The minute Cobra- the slim son of a bitch saw us he ran like the devil was on his heels.

"Demon, you realize you just said that out loud right?" Laxus's voice pipped in my ear through the bluetooth device. My eyes followed Cobra as he entered the large section of Heart Kreuz- the ladies undergarments section much to my amusement while I barked, "Shut up thunder and bolt your way to the Heart Kreuz shop- the bra section- and just get me Cobra and maybe a new set of bra and panties."

"You trying to kill me aren't you, Mira?" I nearly stumbled into a family of three when I heard his voice turn... husky. "Uh... Just do it! I'm coming in five."

Dashing my way to the Heart Kreuz, I made my way past the cashier counter- my eyes caught Cobra and Laxus in a fist fight and a few bystanders. Cobra didn't seem to have any poison on him. Not wanting to pull my gun out in front of the customers inside- there would only be screaming and a chance for Cobra to escape in the scream fest.

Punches continued to fly when one of the women in the crowd took out a pepper spray and sprayed it at the two men clobbering each other with their fists. Laxus cursed loudly with his hands to his eyes as the purple haired woman who sprayed the pepper spray grabbed Cobra's hand and made a run for it- who despite having being pepper sprayed in the eyes actually grinned- in a quite feral as he ran.

It wasn't until I heard Laxus berate me for stopping right when Cobra went past me, did I realize something.

It was like he was important to her- the purple haired woman. Was she the reason he escaped from prison? I thought it was romantic, but that sort of thing lies in bed with one Erza's trashy chick flicks and erotic literature- I call it porn novels. She must be a relative or acquaintance of his.

Apologizing to Laxus we returned to the Agency empty handed, but not with ideas as to where the escaped duo might be in.

Stakeouts were common in our line of work- we were at the residence of Kinana, Cobra's fiancée apparently. Bordem had begun to set in as I thought about how I hated stakeouts- mainly because there was no restroom or coffee if I wasn't prepared, but tonight I ran through that mocha cappuccino like a man drinking water for the first time after walking through a desert. Had he been lying to her during their whole relationship? I thought as Laxus and I watched the sparsely lit apartment complex. Today must have been a shock to the lady.

"They're not going to show."

"We don't have any other places where we can scope out the area from him."

"Where should we try next then, banana fingers?" Laxus scowled as the nickname that I used since we were kids. "I don't know hotels? Family's place-"

"They don't have any family, and Cobra knows we've got eyes on every hotel in the city." I cut in where grabbing the bag of chips from him.

"Known contacts?"

"Angel and Midnight's off the radar. Brain's in prison. Hoteye- er Richard is with Wally on vacation. Erza and Jellal are beating up every underground contact in the bars."

"How'd you get them to help with this?"

"A little blackmail." I shrugged as the street lights flickered. We sat in a comfortable silence til Laxus spoke, "What happened at the mall today?"

"You know what happened, Laxy. I let them get away."

"You know what I meant, Mirajane." I raise a brow at the rare occasion of him calling me by my full first name. "Cobra's important to Kinana, Laxus. Somehow I knew that he would fight tooth and nail if I tried anything. Like I would for you."

"Really?" Laxus voice in disbelief. I frowned, "Did Cobra manage to knock all the sense out of your head? Of course I would. Hell, I'd go through a hall invested the cockroaches for you then have you pay me back with dinner."

"Just cause Gramps made us partners?" he asked befuddled as my frown turned into a scowl punching him in the shoulder, "You're more than that to me, you big-"

My words were soon cut off by my phone vibrating quite loudly in my purse, and with it soon came a small silence save for the my shuffling as I answered it. "Hello Erza?"

"Bisca called, she said HQ spotted Cobra in a shady Asian restaurant in uptown. Need any back up?" The scarlet haired woman on the other line offered while Laxus started up the engine.

"No I think we can handle him. This time maybe Laxus won't get pepper-sprayed."

"Oi!"

I wasn't sure how it happened, but one minute Laxus and I were chasing Cobra through the restaurant inches away from the double entrance doors and the next thing I knew Laxus was down on the ground and I was under Cobra's foot on my back. I racked my brain for answers but to my dismay came up with nothing. I could tell how Laxus was poisoned probably when he fought Cobra at the mall but me? I kept my distance from the snake man.

Finding no use in thinking about the past I turned my head sneering at the criminal, "So how did it feel- having you fiancee dump you like a sack of beans?"

"Shut up, bitch." He snarled putting more pressure onto my back while inserting something like a large syringe into my neck. "What the fuck-"

"Just a simple poison that'll have you bleeding from your ears in hours while I take care of your friend over there." The marronish haired man went over to Laxus with my gun that he picked off of me. Using my chin- I stuck out my chin to the ground pulling myself while using my partially paralyzed arms to wiggle to Cobra who was still advancing to Laxus.

"I'll die before you touch him!" I hissed out still trying- no matter how useless I felt because... because... I blinked thinking all the way to when I was chatting with the girls about boys. Then I thought back to all the times on our missions where I thought Laxus was acting weird- like lovingly weird. Even this morning when he-

The firing of bullets snapped me back into reality though dazed I knew Laxus was alive, but I couldn't say the same for my left leg and back. My vision grew blurry as I heard someone shout my name, "Mira!"

When I regained conscious I was in a bed- huh never knew the medical floor's beds were so comfy.

I blinked trying to push the dizziness out of my head and elicited a groan. Looking around I spotted Laxus at the doorway. "L..ax...us?"

He turned with a visible sigh of relief. "You're awake."

The blonde in front of me moved to sit in a chair next to my bed. "How you feeling?"

"I just got shot Laxus, how do you think I feel?"

"Okay, point taken." He held his arms up in surrender before staring quietly at his hands. I asked, "What happened to Cobra?"

"He's back in the Council's hands. Erza and Jellal intercepted him before he could escape."

"How do you think he poisoned me?"

"I honestly don't know. Must have been an air-born poison."

"Ah." I glanced to him with a frown. It felt awkward now, it never felt awkward before.

"I'm sorry." My frown deepened, "For what? If it's cause you think you need to protect me all the time then you are sadly mistaken. you men and your male egos, I'll never understand that."

"That's a lot for a person who just got shot."

"I'm not some trainee on a first mission. I've been shot before remember?" Laxus scowled at the memories. "That doesn't make it any fun to see you like that, Mira."

"Are you telling me as a partner?" I asked tilting my head to him- Laxus was hesitant with his answer before finally opening his mouth, "No, I'm telling you this as a man."

I've heard enough for my brother Elfman to read in between the lines when a man such as Laxus say something like that. "So does that mean..."

"Yeah, I... I l-lo-lov-" I had to take pity on the man- he looked really uncomfortable with trying to spill out his confession. "I know, Laxus. I know."

He visibly deflated like balloon in relief then scratched the back of his head, "So does this mean..."

I grinned, "Yep, so you're going to be paying for all the dinners from now on."

Running his fingers through his spiky blonde hair, Laxus sighed, "Alright, but I get back rubs after showers."

"Deal."