FAIR WARNING: 100 YEAR QUEST SPOILERS. DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU

As silly as it may sound, I'm sad where I went with that last prompt. I absolutely love NaLu. I don't know why my mind went there but I just figured I would go with the flow and stick with it.

Day 5 – Opposite (adj. having a position on the other or further side of something)

Lucy, Laxus, and the Raijinshuu are walking down the halls of an inn they rented for the night. It's a quaint place, that has an Onsen attached to the side of the building. They accomplished the job request and are on their way to said Onsen for a little relaxation.

"That was a fun mission. I really needed that." Lucy says to the group smiling, hands behind her back as she walks. She really did too, after everything that happened before they left.

"The jewel reward is definitely worth going through with that," Evergreen comments, not wanting to bring up the real reason why she needed that. She's not going to mention it if Lucy doesn't say anything about it first.

"While that is good because I don't have to worry about rent for a couple of months, I was referring more to the fact that it kept my mind busy, and I got to let out my negative emotions on those monsters." Lucy smiles taking in her surroundings. It's a cute, relaxing place with rooms at a good price. She'll definitely stay here the next time she's in the area.

Evergreen gives her a smile back. She's impressed with the woman. Not just as a mage. Evergreen doesn't know if she would have been able to pick herself up if Elfman were to do what Natsu did. Worse, if it was with one of the few friends she has.

"Yeah Cosplayer, you were totally badass. Those things gave me a hard time. Remind me not to seriously piss you off." Bickslow has had a good time getting to know Lucy more and beating up monsters with her.

"Blondie's come a long way, don't forget, she had to save my ass. Those monsters were nothing compared to what and who she's had to fight."

"Thanks, Laxus" Lucy gives him a grateful smile.

"Ahh, we're here," Freed says. "you two enjoy your bath."

"We will thank you, Freed." Lucy smiles and waves.

"You three enjoy and don't you dare try to be a creeper," Evergreen pointedly looks at Bickslow.

"Awww but Ev," Bickslow fake pouts. He wouldn't dream of peeping on them. Not only does he see Ever as a sister but Laxus has a thing for Cosplayer. Don't get him wrong, Lucy is a cool, smart, chick with a racking body to boot, but Laxus is his best friend and he still has a lot of life to live.

Evergreen catches up to Lucy and the guys make their way to the men's baths.

"Ahhh," the guys make the same sound of relief sinking into the bath.

It's quiet while they soak in the warm bath until Bickslow breaks the silence.

"So, Bossman, when are you going to ask Cosplayer out?"

Laxus sighs, he knew questions from Bickslow were bound to arise. "I don't know."

"Is it because of what happened with Natsu?"

"Yes."

Silence. Crickets chirping.

"Well?"

"Bickslow, if Laxus-sama doesn't want to talk about it, then drop it. He'll speak to us when he's ready."

"Listen, I'm not sure if I'm even going to."

"Are you worried about upsetting Natsu?" Freed asks.

"I'm not worried about upsetting him. It's just after everything she's been through, how will I be able to tell she's ready to date again? If she even wants to after what Natsu, NATSU did to her?"

"If you're serious about her then you just got to be patient Bossman."

"You know I'm fucking serious."

Bickslow holds his hands up and tries to placate him, "Chill, just be her friend for now."

"What if that lands me in the friend zone?" It would kill him if she did that. Okay, maybe not kill but it'd hurt.

"It won't."

Laxus stares at him, "You can't guarantee that. Not to mention we're two completely different people. We don't have anything in common."

"Not true, you're both Blonde." Bickslow chuckles and his tongue lolls out of his mouth.

Laxus rolls his eyes and Freed lets out a huff of frustration with Bickslow.

Freed decides to cut in. "Being opposites isn't necessarily a bad thing, but you two aren't completely different. You both love the guild and care about your nakama. You just show it differently than her. You both have tempers. You both know how to listen to reason. If that's not enough, well your childhoods are similar. You two share something that no one else in the guild can relate to."

Bickslow looks at Freed quizzically.

Laxus is the one to explain, he had a talk about the Phantom Lord incident with the old geezer because he was too ashamed to ask Lucy about why they wanted her.

While his friends try to reassure him that after he waits to give her time, Laxus doesn't mention he can hear the conversation between Evergreen and Lucy.

On the other side of the baths.

Lucy steps in, "Mmmm… this feels so good."

"Yes, it does. It's exactly what we've been needing."

Lucy tilts her head back and Evergreen follows suit.

Silence. Crickets chirping.

"So, Lucy, how have you been doing, really?"

"I'm doing better. I'm still hurt over the whole thing but I'm better than what I was."

"What are you going to do when we get back to the guild?"

"I haven't thought that far ahead yet."

More silence and crickets making music.

"Do you think you'll be ready to date again?"

Lucy lifts her head and watches as she glides her arms through the water, "I'm unsure. Definitely not anytime soon. When I am ready though it'll be difficult trusting a man to be faithful if Natsu of all people is able to cheat."

Evergreen looks over at her, "Yeah, I can understand that." She doesn't want to push the topic, even if she wants Laxus and Lucy to get together. Hopefully, that will happen in time but for now, Laxus wants Lucy to get to know him, without knowing about his crush. He doesn't want her to feel like he's pressuring her to date. Evergreen finds his crush to be cute. She's known Laxus for a long time and he's never been hung up on someone. But just like Lucy, he even has his own insecurities.

Lucy knows why Evergreen is asking her all of these questions. She's not an idiot, sure she has her moments. But she's seen how Laxus looks at her, and the way he treats her is so different compared to how he used to. But then again, it's not like they ever socialized much. Not until she won the new author's prize: The Kemu Zaleon Trophy. He had told her that she was the first person in the guild to ever win an award and had done them proud. He then went on to discuss the book with her. After that, they would go out of their way more to greet the other. After the 100-year Quest, they would sit and hold conversations every now and then. What he doesn't know is that after her battle with Kiria, she recalls him saying that he's proud of her which really meant a lot to her. More than he'll ever know. They had a shaky beginning and the man he is now is the complete opposite of who he used to be when they first met. Given time, she may think about a relationship with the man. While everyone knows what Freed thinks of Laxus, she has learned just how much Evergreen and Bickslow admire, look up to, and respect him.

"Well, now there is a smile I haven't seen in a while. What are you thinking about over there?"

Lucy blushes, "Just how lucky I am to gain four more cherished friends. We may be nakama but the five of us haven't really gotten time like this together."

Evergreen now blushes because she doesn't have many girlfriends, "thanks Lucy. And so you know, we're lucky too."

At that last part, Laxus smiles and agrees with Evergreen.

"What are you smiling about over there?" Freed asks.

"Nothing." Laxus leans his head back and enjoys the rest of the relaxing time in the baths.