Housekeeping!

This will be dark and full of what I'm sure will be explicit sexual content, terrible, filthy language, and mature themes, and so on. If you've read Noir, it will be in that universe, and have that same sort of tone.

At first I didn't think it was going to be a direct sequel, but then... that's what it turned into. You won't technically haveto read Noir for this to make sense (I hope), but I'm sure it would help.

Mature audiences only, please.

That's all.

Pandora's Box

Lisanna scrubbed a towel through her short, silver hair, and marvelled at how exhausted she was. She and Elfman had been swimming just moments before in a large pool in the town of Melony, cooling down after a long day of hard training. Now she sat in a tiny, stifling room full of old, wrinkly women with too much flabby skin and too little shame.

"I heard it with my own ears," one such woman insisted.

"You're crazy, Velma," said another. "That devil would never come to this town."

"It's true! They say she has a lightning dragon at her side, a real monster, and with them travel a strange man in a mask, a woman with too much sauce, and a green haired man carrying a sword."

"Dragons don't exist anymore."

"Is that what you're focusing on? Did you not just hear he's travelling with a devil?"

"Strange times in Melony, if devils are moving through."

"Not just devils, but the She-Devil."

Lisanna had been mostly ignoring them, but at the mention of her sister's hated nickname, her heart squeezed. "Pardon?"

One lady turned to look at her. She was a hag with a sagging face and pouchy eyes. "Pay no mind, girl. It's dark news."

Lisanna almost rolled her eyes. "Yes, but did you say the She-Devil was in town?"

The woman fluffed her off. "What did I just say? Innocent young things like you should stay away from the likes of demons. They'll corrupt you and tear you apart."

She said it with such conviction that Lisanna's heart actually beat a little harder, then she shook her head. "Yes," she said dismissively to placate them, "but you said the She-Devil, right? Mirajane Strauss is coming through Melony?"

"A devil like her doesn't deserve a name other than demon," another woman spoke up.

Lisanna couldn't find the words to rebuke her statement, she was too flabbergasted by the amount of dislike these women had for her sister—Mira, who was sweeter than anyone she'd ever known. They don't know her like I do, she thought, and pulled a sky blue dress over her head. She didn't bother saying goodbye, just slipped out into the hallway and went in search of Elfman.

She thought finding Mira would be difficult, but she should have known better. Her sister attracted a crowd wherever she went—both of admirers and of fear mongers, like those women in the change room.

Stepping outside of the tavern she and Elfman had been staying, her eyes roamed the streets of Melony. There, down by the single church, a throng of people gathered. She knew it was a crowd for Mira because voices rose and fell both in awe and terror.

"Leave it to Mira to have a fan base even all the way out here," Lisanna said with a sigh. Both love and a small shred of contempt worked in her heart. It was hard being the youngest sister of the famous Mirajane Strauss. Being the sister of a famous mage meant that she always had to share Mira with the masses. It also meant that she was mostly overlooked by employers who only wanted the She-Devil, not her team of rag-tag siblings, and don't forget all of the drooling men that totally ignored Lisanna to lap at Mira's heels. She told herself she didn't want anything to do with them anyway, but still, it was a hard pill to swallow some days when she was feeling particularly down on herself. Not that it happened too often.

"You said those hags made it sound like Ever was with her, right?" Elfman asked.

"Yeah…" Lisanna said. "That's what it sounded like." Though why, she couldn't fathom. She hadn't heard anything from Laxus and his team since Fairy Tail disbanded.

"Come on," Elfman said from her side. He started down the hill at a fast jog. Lisanna rushed to catch up. Every step he took, she could almost feel his bulk shaking the ground. It served as a reminder of how large with muscle he'd gotten in the few short months they'd been away from Mira. What do the town's people say about us behind our backs, she wondered, do they think we're devils too, because Elfman is huge like a giant beast and I can change into animals? Maybe, but Lisanna knew that ignorance always ran rampant. It was something the Strauss' had dealt with since Mira learned of her power. The most important thing was that none of them had ever buckled under the pressure of men and women that just didn't understand.

Grinding to a halt by the church, Lisanna struggled to catch a glimpse of her sister. The crowd was so thick that she couldn't see through, even when she stood on tiptoe. "Do you see her, Elfman?"

Her brother tilted his chin up and looked over the jostling mob. "Ever!"

I'll take that as a yes. Out loud she said, "Not Evergreen, Mira." Her voice was full of exasperation, but she smiled at the blush high in her brother's cheeks. It was sweet the way he was with Evergreen.

"Ever! Over here! It's Elfman!" Elfman said, as if Evergreen would ever be able to mistake him for someone else, and started pushing through the crowd. Lisanna grabbed onto his belt and let his hulking size part the way. People rushed to make room—it was either that, or be crushed.

There was a gap of space in the middle where no one dared to get closer to the travelers. It was that space that Elfman broke into and totally filled up. Lisanna scurried along and gasped for air like she was rising from the deep. There, she caught her first glance of her sister in several months. Mira nearly looked the same as ever, but her hair was down and there seemed to be a… shadow that lurked behind her eyes, as if she'd seen some harrowing things. Later, Lisanna thought, and threw herself at her shocked sister.

Mira was still trying to take in the mammoth Elfman had become, so she wasn't prepared for Lisanna's assault. The youngest sister threw her arms around Mira's neck and squeezed so tightly that Mira had a hard time drawing breath.

"Lisanna!"

"You're here!" Lisanna said happily. From over her sister's shoulder, she made eye contact with Laxus. The dragon slayer met her eyes squarely. He didn't smile, but he did nod hello. She looked next at Freed. He was assessing the encroaching crowd skeptically, as if he expected them to become violent. As far as Lisanna could tell, people were asking for autographs and just… talking. Some words were hurtful, telling the She-Devil to leave their good town, but some where asking about Fairy Tail, and Master Makarov.

She tried to find Evergreen next, but the woman was caught up by Elfman in a bone-crushing hug. Both of them were still too happy to see each other to be bashful. That'll come later, she was sure. Finally, she found Bickslow. She thought he was looking at her, but she couldn't really tell with that damn helmet over his face. Is it better like that, or when he stares at you with those eerie green eyes? She didn't have a good answer.

"Lisanna, you're crushing me," Mira said and Lisanna realized that she was right.

Easing up her grip, she said, "Are you hungry? Or tired? How long have you been travelling for? We have food up in our rooms—"

Mira laughed. "Let's go."

"You can stay here tonight," the tavern owner said hesitantly, "But I don't have enough rooms, so one of you will have to share with Elfman or Lisanna."

"That's fine," Mira said from the doorframe of Lisanna's room. Behind her, conversation had petered off so she, Laxus and Lisanna could speak with the man. "Lisanna and I can share."

The man nodded. "And I must ask that you move on tomorrow."

Mira frowned.

"It's nothing personal," he rushed to say, "But people talk, you know, and if they start saying that the She-Devil is in my place a work an' they don't come 'round no more… well, you know… someone has to pay my bills, eh?"

Lisanna watched Laxus' face go through a myriad of expressions. First he looked like he wanted to laugh, then throttle the man. He settled on his finest sneer and said contemptuously, "We don't want to stay in this shitty little dump for more than a night anyway. We'll be moving on in the morning."

"No need to be rude," the man said.

Mira opened her mouth to add something, and from the look on her face it was scathing, but Lisanna grabbed her hand and said, "We understand. Thank you."

The tavern owner smiled tightly, then disappeared down the hall.

"Fucking igit," Laxus cursed in his wake.

"Someone is testy," Lisanna scolded. "What's your problem?"

The dragon slayer looked at her darkly.

"We've just been travelling for a couple of weeks straight," Mira explained.

Laxus huffed out a sigh. "Yeah. Worn out, you know?"

"Well," Lisanna said with a grin, "You'll have tonight to relax, and maybe we can head over to Welland tomorrow," she named a town to the north. "I hear they have great hot springs, and we can all take a break. Elfman and I could use one, we've been training really hard."

Laxus looked in Elfman's direction. "That's an understatement. What was he doing, bench pressing mountains?"

Lisanna barred her teeth in a fierce grin. "Something like that. Come on, I made some dumplings last night—there's enough for everyone, I think, as long as everyone gets theirs before Elfman does. If you thought he ate a lot before, you should see what he eats now!"

"Sure, that sounds nice." Mira smiled faintly and grabbed for Laxus' hand, a motion that didn't escape Lisanna's notice. She raised her brows at her sister. Mira flushed and leaned in closer to the dragon slayer. O-kayyy, Lisanna thought, but didn't voice her questions.

Some time later, the seven of them sat in a circle on the dusty wooden floor. Lisanna was knee to knee with Mira and, of all people, Bickslow. The seith mage had his helmet pulled low over his face, as always, and was quieter than usual. He didn't crack or make jokes, just stuffed his mouth with Lisanna's cooking and grunted his appreciation. Every once in a while, she'd feel his eyes on her skin, but when she looked, he just turned his face back to the floor and stuffed another dumpling under his helmet. Lisanna frowned at him and turned to where her brother and Evergreen were bickering about something stupid. That sure didn't take long. Then she found Freed.

"Is it good?" she asked the man.

Freed jumped from where he glowered at Laxus and Mira and flushed. "Delicious, thank you, Lisanna."

"Good, I snagged the recipe off this woman in town, the one that runs the Crow's Nest," she named a well known restaurant. "It took me a couple of tries, but I think I've got it now."

Bickslow reached behind himself and went rooting through the pack he'd dragged along with him. "It'd be better if we washed it down with some whisky, eh?"

Lisanna laughed because she thought that's what he wanted, but Bickslow didn't even look at her, just unscrewed the cap and took a large gulp.

"Share with the rest of us, Bickslow," Evergreen said from across the circle. Her glares seemed to work on all men. BIckslow sighed and dropped the bottle.

"I'll get some cups," Lisanna said and got to her feet.

For a second she thought Bickslow would get up and help, but he just settled and took up more space than he had before, so Lisanna either had to sit in Mira's lap or be pushed out of the circle. She wasn't sure why she glowered, but she did.

Coming back with six glasses, she handed them out to everyone, then sat back down where she was, a little further out of the group than before. Bickslow didn't move to make room for her, and he still wouldn't meet her eye.

"Think you miscounted there, Lissy."

Lisanna stiffened at the nickname. "It's Lisanna, and no, I did not. I'm not having any."

Bickslow snorted.

"Come on, Lisanna," Mira encouraged, "Have a couple of drinks with us before we call it a night."

Lisanna looked skeptically at her sister.

Mira flushed under her gaze, but didn't drop her eye.

"Here." Bickslow pushed his cup into her hand. "I don't need it anyway."

"Fine," Lisanna said after a moment, and accepted the glass. When her fingers brushed Bickslow's, he pulled back like she'd shocked him. What the hell is his problem, she wondered, but didn't have the courage to ask. He was always odd, but the months apart made him seem especially so. She had no idea what kind of man he was before, and she was even more stumped now.

Everyone put their glasses in the center of the circle, and Bickslow filled them up so they brimmed with amber liquid, then he settled back and went back to drinking out of the bottle. Evergreen didn't protest anymore; she was too busy bickering with Elfman again. Freed renewed his glowering while Laxus played absently with Mira's hair, and Mira started talking about a casino she'd worked at for a few weeks. Her words were truncated, as if deciding what she should and should not reveal, which made Lisanna sad. What could be so bad that her sister didn't want to talk about it? Ask later, she decided, when they weren't surrounded by other Fairy Tail members.

One bottle turned into three. Laxus and Bickslow drank most of it, with Mira and Elfman bringing up the rear. Lisanna was three quarters of the way through her fifth glass and feeling particularly fuzzy when Evergreen yawned hugely. "I'm tired. Walk me back to my room, Elfman?" It sounded like a question, but Lisanna knew a demand when she heard one.

"But—" Elfman started.

"Now," Evergreen insisted and rose unsteadily. Elfman seemed to catch her meaning and picked himself up from the ground. "See you in the morning, Mira, Lisanna."

Mira looked after her brother with a mixed expression on her face, both pride and fierce sisterly protection, as if she wanted to tell Evergreen not to be such a bully. In the end, she smiled sweetly and said, "Goodnight."

"We should head off too," Laxus said. He leaned heavily into Mira, his eyes glossy and bright.

Lisanna looked away when he laid a sloppy kiss to her neck.

"I'm supposed to stay with Lisanna tonight." Mira pushed him gently back. "Remember?"

Laxus bit her. "No. But I guess that's alright. You're cool with the floor, eh, Lisanna?"

"Gods," Lisanna snapped. She didn't even want to think about what they'd do in her bed. "Absolutely not."

Mira laughed loosely. "Stop teasing, Laxus."

Stop. Teasing. Laxus. Lisanna almost choked on Mira's words. What the hell?

Laxus got to his feet and looped an arm around her waist. "Come on, She-Devil, and let's give this snooty little dump something to talk about."

If Lisanna thought she couldn't blush more, she was seriously wrong.

Mira looked at her sister apologetically. "Lisanna—"

"Just go," Lisanna said and waved them off.

"I suppose I too—" Freed hiccoughed drunkenly, "—should be heading to sleep."

Instead of getting up like Lisanna thought he would, he curled over on his side and rested his face in his arms.

"Freed—" Lisanna started.

Laxus laughed. "He never could hold his liquor. Looks like you got a new roommate, kid."

He tried to keep heading out the door, but Mira stopped. "We can't just leave him here."

"Why not? He's not bugging anyone," Laxus said. "And the guy said we have to bunk up. It's a good solution."

Mira frowned. "Really? I'm not leaving him with my little sister when he's such a… wreck."

Laxus laughed for real. "You think he's going to take advantage of her?"

Lisanna flushed again.

Mira crossed her arms. "It would be irresponsible."

Laxus sobered under her patented glare. "Yeah, yeah." Stooping, he grabbed Freed by the collar of his shirt and lugged him bodily from the room, uncaring when his feet snagged on the door and he lost his shoe.

"Hey—" Lisanna started, but they were already gone.

"I'll give it to him in the morning," said a voice at her side. Lisanna stiffened, until she remembered that Bickslow was still there. Turning, she met his gaze. He'd taken off his helmet so his black and blue hair stuck up in odd angles. His iridescent eyes seemed to burrow into her skin. Lisanna shifted uncomfortably. It's easier with the helmet on, she decided. He was less intense then. Just thinking about what he could do with his magic made shivers roll down her spine.

"You wanna keep going? There's enough for a few more shots in here." Bickslow waggled the bottle in front of her face. Without waiting for an answer, he plunked down once more and tipped the bottle into his mouth.

Lisanna licked suddenly dry lips, just this side of drunk not to be a nervous wreck, but still sober enough to be self-conscious.

Bickslow noticed her wavering and chortled. "It's alright, kid, relax. I'll take the party downstairs. There's bound to be some girls at the bar worth drinking with."

Lisanna's neck heated.

Bickslow rose and stumbled towards the door. It closed loudly in his wake.

Lisanna stared after him for too long, furious with him and herself.

Kid.

Just Mirajane's bratty, not-quite-as-cute little sister.

She was moving before she really knew what she was doing. Going to the door, she ripped it open to call him back, but Bickslow was already down the stairs.

Lisanna let out an aggravated grumble and moved to close the door again.

Then she paused, a thought coming to her head.

She found him easily at the bar. He was leaning on the counter, a stout drink already in hand, and was talking to a pretty girl with short, dark hair. She smiled and didn't look at all nervous. That's because she doesn't know what he can do to regular people, Lisanna thought. She almost swung around on her heel and went back upstairs, but Bickslow chose that moment to turn and call the bartender back. "Hey, another drink here for—" He dropped off when he saw Lisanna. One of his dark brows rose up and disappeared under a fringe of messy hair that had fallen over his forehead.

Sucking up her courage, Lisanna made herself move. In what she hoped was a casual manner, she dropped herself down in the stool next to him and said to the bartender, "A whisky, please."

Bickslow scoffed, perhaps a little meanly. "What are you doing down here, kid?"

Lisanna bristled. "I'm not a kid." Really? That's what you have to say to that? The bartender brought her the drink. She threw it all back in one, messy swallow, then knocked the glass against the bar. "Another, please!" What are you doing? But she knew: she was proving that she was more than just Mira's kid sister. Meeting Bickslow's eyes as squarely as possible, she said, "I'll drink with you."

Bickslow's laugh slid over her skin, harsh, yet velvety smooth. "Alright, littlest Strauss." Looking over his shoulder at the other woman, he said, "Sorry, looks like I got some company after all."

She said something Lisanna missed, then rose and sauntered off indignantly.

Lisanna felt her neck flush, but then the bartender brought her another drink and she forgot to be embarrassed. Tossing back the liquid again, she winced around the taste and held out her cup for another.