"Che. They're both blind."

Cana Alberona scoffs at the sight of the small, blue-haired bookworm talking quietly with the rough, hulking iron dragonslayer. Levy rocks forward onto her toes as she speaks animatedly, light as a songbird about to take flight. Gajeel, on the other hand, seems to sink into himself, pulling his sprawling form in as much as he can to appear unthreatening to the little Solid Script mage. This is ridiculous.

"Why blind?" Mira murmurs from the other side of the bar, hands deftly wiping out a wine glass. She smiles sedately, watching the couple chat. "Look at them. They only have eyes for each other."

Cana grins. "No shit. But they have no idea. Morons, the two of them."

Levy mutters something to the iron dragonslayer that makes him choke and turn bright red. Flustered, he jumps to his feet and storms out of the room huffily. Levy remains sitting where he left her, a look of utter bemusement spread across her face. The confusion slowly turns to irritation, and, hopping from her stool, she speeds after him.

"I wonder when she'll realize he loves her," Mira says softly.

"Love turns people into idiots," Cana tells her sagely, taking a sip from her drink. The sudden burn sears her throat and makes her choke. She aims a gimlet glare at the barmaid. "Shit, Mira, what did you put in this, Etherion?"

"It's blue agave tequila, calm down." Mira fixes the brunette with a skeptical stare. "You don't believe that."

Cana eyes the glass suspiciously. "I can totally believe that. This shit kills."

Mira rolls her eyes. "No, baka. You don't believe that love turns people into idiots."

"Sure I do."

"Where's the joy in that?" Mira leans forward over the bar, blue eyes questioning.

Cana heaves up her bottle onto the bar with a heavy clunk. "I got all the joy I need right here!"

"You're going to die of liver failure."

"Ooh, baby, say it again."

"I'll cut you off."
"Don't you dare!"

Their bickering cuts off abruptly when the guild doors slam open, revealing Laxus Dreyar's intimidating figure, framed by the noon sunlight. He stalks into the hushed room, prowling over to the bar and slumping onto one of the stools. He's just returned from a mission, Cana realizes, judging by the ragged pack slung over his shoulder. He raises his head wearily, eying the barmaid. "Mira, a beer." The white-haired woman slings a glass down the length of the bar towards him; he catches it with a groan and lifts it to his lips.

"What happened to you, Dreyar?" Cana asks loudly. She knows the inquiry will piss him off, and the flash of irritation in his grey eyes doesn't disappoint. "You look like shit."

"No more than you on a regular basis," he snarks back. "I had to hold back an entire thunderstorm on my mission, actually."

And he comes out swinging! "At least I can fake pretty," she grins. "You're stuck with it." She pauses. "You can hold off a storm?"

He chuckles quietly, then looks vaguely shocked at his own humor. "It was a gamble." He takes a swig, and Cana finds her gaze drawn to the smooth lines of his throat as he tips his head back.

"Glad to see you non-fried, Sparky," she tosses off instead. "I was worried there for a second."

He glances up at her with a mischievous look, sensual mouth quirking up into a small grin. It's enough to shock her into silence. "You don't have to worry about me, Alberona." Getting up, he pads over to her stool to whisper in her ear before leaving: "I'll always come back to you, you know. Too many good insults left for me to give up now."

He walks away from her in a swirl of brown coat, striding over to sit at the Raijinshuu's table. Cana watches him go with wide, irritated eyes. "Cocky idiot."

Mirajane gazes with amusement at the card mage. "Idiot, huh?"

"Yeah, I've told you—" Cana freezes, mid-word. "No. No, Mira. Don't even go getting those ideas. There is nothing—"

"—Between you and Laxus, I know," the barmaid finishes sweetly, beaming. "I've heard it."

Cana narrows her eyes. "You're wrong."

"If you say so." Whistling, Mira goes back to work polishing glasses. "It just seems to me that maybe Levy and Gajeel aren't the only blind ones around here."

Cana glares at the white-haired woman, sipping moodily from her drink. "I'm not blind." The liquid settles hot and fiery in her stomach. I'm not. Almost against her will, her gaze drifts back over to fix on the obnoxious lightning mage. He's laughing with his team, and the sound sends something warm through her chest.

She sighs. I may not be blind, but I sure as hell am an idiot.

"You like him," Mira whispers loudly from across the bar.

Cana scowls at the barmaid. "I will pour this tequila on you."

"Do it. I'll get Laxus to put locks on the liquor again."

Cana sulks. "I'd get him to undo it."

"Sure you would.

"With my feminine charms."

"Uh-huh."

"And my effortless wit."

"Yep."

"…I'm not blind."

"Whatever you say."