Notes: Probably OC, I'm trying to stick by everyone the best I can though. Also, I couldn't decide on raijinshuu, Thunder Gods, or Thunder Legion. You're getting "Legion" just because I like that word.

Alternating current: An electric current that reverses direction at regular intervals, having a magnitude that varies continuously in a sinusoidal manner.

Disclaimer: I do not own (in any way, shape, or form) Fairy Tail. I simply enjoy watching and reading it.

She knew he was the type, one of those rare few that if you got close that time would cease to be as it is now. If you were lucky enough to be held in the court of favorable attention, time would then be thought of in terms of "before" and "after". Laxus had the trio of thunder cronies, this much is true, and also Gildarts for the rare moments he was nearby. Lucy saw all of this, and judged him lonely. Introverted. The Thunder Legion frequently went out on jobs, but Laxus rarely showed any interest anymore. He was a gentler man than from when he was expelled, helpful to his trio of followers (and others, should they be brave enough to ask), but only mission active when he saw there might be a real and true danger.

At first, when she joined the guild she couldn't help but begrudgingly admire him. He was bold, rude, proud, and generally unpleasant in demeanor, but clearly skilled. (Truth be told, it didn't hurt to know that he was Makarov's grandson. Now in hindsight, the whole guild realized that was part of the problem.) Since his return (thanks to Gildarts, a father figure if an absentee one most of the time) he still seemed mostly inaccessible to almost everyone.

'It's just the way he is', Lucy mused. But after hearing about him and his childhood (oh, well, just as much as Makarov would tell to the guild. He was oddly reluctant to go in depth about Laxus) she also couldn't help but follow her earlier thought with, 'how sad…'

It's not like she was in love or anything stupid like that! No, it was more like a far off understanding. (Besides, she saw how Mira looked at Laxus when she thought no one was watching.) She'd had her rebellion when she ran away from home. It must've been harder to be a rebellious young man in the guild. Someone to be feared. Respected. Forever expected to be perfect. But Lucy had avoided perfection and Laxus had dwelled on it, choosing bits and pieces, pushing out what he'd thought of as weakness. It was odd now, seeing him embrace the boisterous family that was Fairy Tail and still try to hide at the same time. She had Natsu, Gray, Erza, Happy, Levy, Cana, and so many more people she could count on to be there for her when she needed (not to mention her keys.) Laxus kept a much closer circle, keeping mostly to his tiny bunch of eccentrics. Freed, Bickslow, and Evergreen would follow Laxus to the end of the earth if he ever asked them to, there was no question about it.

But today was one of those days. Natsu and Happy were bickering cheerfully with each other in front of almost everyone while she sat at the bar, slowly sipping her drink. Freed, Evergreen, and Bickslow were out on some mission somewhere doing something no doubt mysterious. It was your average day at the guild. All of Lucy's thinking was abruptly interrupted by a mischievous giggle from behind the bar. Lucy blinked, and then paled quickly as she realized that she had made a grave error in choosing which direction to look as she spaced out. "You're staring, you know." Mirajane said slyly.

Apparently Lucy's long gaze hadn't gone quite as unnoticed as she had hoped, judging by the lightning dragon slayers confused (but stubborn—always stubborn. Must be something to do with being a dragon slyer) stare back. Lucy quickly and embarrassedly looked between the Cheshire grinning Mira and the now frowning Laxus across the guild hall.

'Ah! Oh no…' The blush was rising fast up her neck in spite of her attempts to remain calm. "Mira, what do I do!? I totally zoned out and now he's going to think I'm weirder than he thought I was before!" Lucy finally managed. Mirajane's expression quickly turned more amused and forgiving, though the wheels were clearly still turning, "Oh just talk to me instead of thinking about whatever you were doing before. You know Laxus, he's not going to make a scene about it."

Smiling more assuredly at that, Lucy shot Laxus an apologetic look with a short wave, and quickly swiveled her stool around a little more to face Mira. "Truth be told, I was kind of thinking about him, you know? I know most of the other people in the guild really well, but he sticks around so much now and it seems like I hardly know him. I feel like I even know Gildarts better because of all the stories people tell."

Mira hummed softly as she picked up a glass to clean, "Laxus always was kind of a strong, silent type from what I can remember." There was an easy pause in the conversation as Mirajane and Lucy looked over at Gray and Natsu, now in the thick of another one of their scuffles. 'It was hard to know whether to sigh in exasperation or smile fondly at those two', Lucy debated before turning back to Mira with a smile, "I'll buy that description if you add cocky in there too, but I guess he's got some license to be. Why don't you think he takes many missions anymore?"

Picking up her glass and rag again after seemingly deciding there were enough people trying to separate Gray and Natsu, Mira shrugged a little before responding, "I don't know, it might be his way of trying to figure out who he really wants to be. Laxus might just need some time to sort through what he feels like he should be doing. And it's not like he's really in need of rent money…" The cheerful but somehow devilish grin made a return before she opened her mouth again, putting Lucy at ill ease, "But why are you thinking about Laxus so much? You two might make a cute couple—"

"DEFINITELY NOT! I don't know. Maybe it's because everyone else here is so active right now or something." Lucy said with another (hopefully disarming) wave. "But I'd better be going. It's getting kind of late and I want to at least get home tonight before Natsu and Happy try to sneak in somehow."

"Well you take care then!" Mira smiled as she went back to her business at the bar, just dodging a piece of broken chair from the still active brawl across the floor.

She always loved walking next to the canal with Plue at night. Lucy loved the guild and wouldn't have it any other way, but still it was nice to be able to have a moment to herself every now and then. "It's a beautiful night out, isn't it Plue?" she said with a soft smile, listening for Plue's noise in agreement. "I think we got home first tonight." the blonde mage said softly as she opened the door. She quickly set about, tidying up for the evening as much as she could before her inevitable house crashers came by.

Laxus slouched himself into a chair at the bar in front of Mira, "Did blondie want something or did she just take one too many knocks on her last mission with Natsu? Did she say?"

"Nope! Just having one of her Lucy moments!"

With a shrug and a grunt from Laxus, the whole thing was forgotten.

Thanks for reading, please review if you feel like it. More to come eventually if anyone wants it.