Hello all and welcome to Little Drop of Poison! I had an idea on having Cobra somehow influence Natsu and Lucy becoming a couple for a really long time. I finally found a way to make it sort of plausible. Enjoy!

Chapter One: The Proposal

He is sitting in the furthest corner of the guild from everyone, despondently staring out into the nearly empty hall. I hurriedly fix another drink for Cana, and then glance up at him again. He comes in here day after day and sits in his dark corner until the day is over. He looks downright miserable.

It has been like this ever since he joined the guild a month-or-so ago. At the time, he stormed in here like he owned the place, confusing everyone within the guild when he yelled loudly that he wanted to join the guild. That initial day was when some of the more protective mages, myself included, threatened him and warned him that any funny business would not be tolerated.

I am still shocked that Cobra, he still insists that we call him by his code name, came to Fairy Tail, of all guilds, when he was granted freedom. To be frank, our guild is the reason that he went to prison in the first place. I have a sneaking suspicion that Kinana is his reason for coming here.

I haven't received a straight answer from my purple-haired co-worker, albeit my tries, about his intentions and his relationship with her. She always rushes out of the building when her shift is over and Cobra disappears soon after. I know that there is something there, she will eventually tell me. She will.

I finish drying a glass and walk around the side of the bar, intent on clearing all of the tables since most people have gone home for the night. I really have the intention to visit the Cobra Corner.

At the thought, his eyes snap to me, it surprises me that his eyes are filled with warning, like a cornered animal. I give him the courtesy of making a b-line for him, knowing he can read my mind.

"Save it," He seems to growl as I get within three steps of him, "I don't need your pity. And I sure as hell don't want your lectures."

I laugh, "Who said I was going to lecture you?"

He hisses, making me stop in my tracks. I know better than to provoke a person with his look of being cornered.

"You are smart," He sneers towards me, leaning back in the chair. "I guess you are okay. Kinana idolizes you, though she never says it."

A not-so-subtle reminder that he can read minds. I take a step forward and take the chair that is across from him. He doesn't react.

"You know, you are never going to get on a team if you just sit here in the corner and glare at people," I muse at him, trying to tell him that my intentions are friendly.

He glares at me without saying a word.

"That's not the only thing that I do," He cocks his head to the side, "And here I thought you were smart."

Before I can think on his statement, he continues, "I am listening to everyone. Not a single one of them would be able to handle the missions I would take on."

"Not even Natsu?"

"That brainless twit? Ha! I was impressed that he was able to stop thinking, but now I see that is normal for him," He laughed loudly, catching the attention of Gajeel, who was glaring at the empty guild from another corner. The iron slayer laughs his unique laugh, but otherwise disregards our conversation.

I tilt my head and ponder for a second, "What about be on a team with me?"

He drops his arms in shock, his good eye widening slightly. I took him off guard, that's surprising, since he can hear my thoughts.

"Don't get full of yourself, I was listening to another thought," Cobra's lip twitches after reading my mind.

I stand slowly, with a smile on my face, "Well, if you ever want to go on a mission instead of being a corner-dweller, just talk to me. Even if you want to talk to someone verbally, I will normally be at the bar with Kinana."

I walk back to the bar, picking up empty plates and mugs on my way back.

I get to the guild early the next morning, so I can start opening before some of the mages leave for an early mission. I think three teams are going on missions soon, so I should have meals prepared for them.

I unlock the front door to the guild and walk in.

Not three minutes after I turn all of the lights on, Natsu, Lucy and Happy come in.

Natsu is dragging his feet, obviously not enjoying being awake this early. Happy is in the same shape as his foster-father, hanging low in the air and rubbing his eyes. Like always, Lucy has a wide, alert grin on her face.

I wonder if she enjoys taking these early missions so that she can torture her teammates.

"Not in the way that you think," I hear from beside me. I jump and nearly drop the plate that I was preparing for Happy.

I see him standing there with a smug smirk, impressed at my reaction.

"Cobra, I didn't see you come in," I regain the grip on the plate and set it on the bar. I cast a reassuring look towards the other three mages, who are now alert and watching Cobra, waiting for him to do something nefarious.

"I came in the back," He leans over the bar and picks a vegetable off of the plate meant for Happy. The blue exceed zooms over. He glares at Cobra as he gushes a 'thank you' to me for fish. At a low growl from Cobra, Happy quickly retreats back to Natsu and Lucy with the plate above his head, making a few of the garnishings fall off behind him.

"Funny cat, isn't he?" Cobra mentions and looks over his shoulder at me.

I nod, unsure as why he is here this early, without Kinana being scheduled to work.

"You said that if I ever wanted to do a mission, I should come to you," He picks at something under his fingernails.

"I did say that," I affirm his statement. "Would you like to go on one today?"

"It's not a mission that we need to leave the guild much for," He looks back up to me, a sinister smile on his face.

I furrow my eyebrows, "I'm not sure that I follow."

He glances at Natsu, Lucy and Happy. He darts his focus between the two humans, "I hear how much you like that."

He knows about my schemes to get Natsu and Lucy together?

He nods with a smirk, he sighs and stands up, looking me in the eye, "Before you get any funny ideas, I am doing this because I owe him. And Sugartits has a very loud, repetitive thought process. It'll make the guild quieter for me."

Did he just call Lucy Sugartits?

Cobra laughs. "Out of all that, that's what you think of first?"

I smile deviously, finally understanding that this isn't a joke. He seriously wants to help get the two together.

I have a partner in matchmaking crime.

"How should we start?"

EDITS: 10/21/2015: Changed grammar, some wording, nothing too big.

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