"Buuuut, I also know that you only said that because you didn't want Jellal and Erza interacting more. You'd haaate that." Lucy's face turned to him, and she put on a wide smile. He sincerely hoped his own face wasn't grimacing.
"…Yeah. That's right," he replied. It wasn't as if it were untrue, a part of him had said that because he didn't want Sorano to go messing with Jellal and Erza and make everyone else's (ie, his own) life hell. But, wasn't it also accurate to their personalities? Some people were just never going to catch a break.
Like himself.
They stood together another moment, before Cobra hesitantly spoke, "I need to get back. Damage control a bit."
"Heh, I can imagine. You go do that." Lucy's eyes softened at him. "I'm glad you liked my advice. I know it wasn't ideal, but I think we really did help Sorano out. Who knows, maybe she'll really take it to heart and give those two some peace of mind in the future."
What the former criminal wouldn't give for that to be true.
Cobra left slowly, turning around once to see if Lucy was still watching, but she was already making her way back to the main part of town. Lingering only until she was out of sight, he made his way down more alley streets that led out of the town, in the opposite direction of Lucy.