Day three of CoLu Week 2017! Hope you enjoy! Also, this will be a short chapter fic, I will finish it up after CoLu week is done.

Endearment

It wasn't unusual to see Cobra and Lucy throwing snide comments at one another while at the guild. If anything, it was expected! Ever since the ex-criminal and the gang that he had followed showed up at Fairy Tail, explaining of their pardons and asking to join, the two had started trying to outwit and out insult one another.

Everyone in the guild found it hilarious, and always placed bets on who would walk away the victor of each day. Rather it just be snide remarks to see who could get under the others skin, or just a single finger salute in passing. It was all fun and games, which soon lead everyone to believe that it was just a way that the two showed their feelings toward one another. Just a strange form of endearment.

Which was exactly why Lucy was completely worried. In all the little arguments that they had, it seemed that something had pushed Cobra over the edge and he was now rather avoiding her, or just right out ignoring her. She wasn't sure if she had said something to upset the second generation dragon slayer, or if he was just trying to kill the rumors that there was something between them. Perhaps he decided that they should stop before one of them got too attached...Although, it was a tad late for that.

Lucy missed their arguments, and it had only been a week since he started giving her the cold shoulder. She had tried to think back as to what could have set him off, or what had given him the hint that she practically craved their meetings. Yet nothing popped out, it had all just been fun little banter, but yet for some reason he just wouldn't partake anymore.

She had tried everything to get him to argue, from announcing a new idea for him to judge to down right insulting him. All she got was...nothing. Just a blink and the cold shoulder, and she didn't know which hurt more. Giving a sigh, she rested her head against the smooth bar top, pushing her untouched smoothie away.

"Still nothing?" Mira whispered, and she shook her head. The She-Demon knew about her feelings for Cobra, and was more than willing to help with her 'newest favorite pair', but Lucy had said that there was nothing to help with since they had never became an item. And from the looks of it, they never would.

"Guess he picked up on my feelings and decided to stop before I got too deep." She muttered, giving a tight smile before releasing another deep sigh. Too bad it was too late for that. It hadn't taken her long to fall for the man.

Even with him being an ex-criminal, something she wouldn't have held against him anyway, underneath was a kind, caring, smart, and outgoing man. He had amazing analytical skills, and could pick up new skills in a flash. He loved learning new things, and had soaked up all the knowledge that she knew about the stars and constellations like a sponge. Not to mention, she had lost count of how many times he would assist others in the guild the moment he realized, or saw, that they needed help. Rather it be Mira and Kinana needing an extra set of hands with the drinks. Or helping Wendy study her medicine, or taking a mission with someone who needed just one extra person.

Never in her life had she meet someone so...Perfect! It was a damn shame that she had to go and fall for him only to have her heart broken before she even found the courage to ask him anything. With another sigh, she straightened and looked about. Thinking that maybe should could go on a mission with her team, or see if Levy had any good reading recommendations.

"Lucy, maybe you should try asking just one more time?" Mira suggested, causing her to smile at the woman, before shaking her head.

"He's just not interested in me, Mira. I'm not going to try and go after something that is unattainable. Besides, I was getting way to ahead of myself. What in the world would a man like that see in a woman like me?" She asked, turning away and walking toward the group's usual table. She already knew that she needed to lose a bit, from Natsu and Happy's constant teasing that she was too heavy to carry. Not to mention she was weak, especially when you took into account how she had to depend on her team to save her all the time.

The thought had her slowing before altering her course slightly to view Levy. She really didn't want to take a mission with her team, only to get in the way and make some mistake that would result in them having to save her. Again. Perhaps she should just do a quiet day and keep Levy company, especially since she had rent paid up for once. Giving a small, tight smile she started toward the bluenette's table, only to stop as she saw Gajeel plop down and start discussing something with her. She knew that with the iron dragon slayer around, Levy wouldn't focus on her and decided to leave the two be with a smile. Retreating toward the mission board, which was thankfully in the same direction as Levy, she studied the flyers without taking any of them in.

She suddenly felt so damn alone in the guild that she loved. She knew that she was overthinking everything, and that no one saw her as a burden or being weak, but she just couldn't help her thoughts. Hell, even Cobra figured something had to be up with her since they had stopped their banter. Maybe she just needed to grow up a bit more, and become stronger so she would stop being overly sensitive to every little thing.

Giving a sigh, she turned from the board, skirted around the guild hall, and slipped out of the door. At the moment, being alone sounded much better than being someplace filled with people she cared for, especially since she was feeling like a bother. Keeping her head down, she slowly headed for her apartment, only to shake her head and move to the park. Her friends would no doubt pick up that something was wrong, if Mira wasn't telling them already, and they would most likely be waiting at her place.

Glancing around as she entered the park, a breath of relief left her as she saw that it was mostly empty. With just a few families milling about or starting to gather their kids to leave. Moving easily, she sat beneath the tall oak tree in the center, leaning back and looking up through the leaves at the setting sun, feeling a small smile grace her lips as she saw the sparkle of the first stars appearing.

Regardless of how low she felt, looking up at the stars and constellations always relaxed her. Giving a sigh, she looked around and saw that she was alone in the park. Without a second thought, she stretched out onto the grass so she wasn't straining her neck looking up, and allowed her eyes to trail over the constellations that were slowly starting to appear.

She wasn't sure how long she laid like that, just that it was dark now and that someone was approaching. Blinking and twisted her head back some, she met the violet gaze of Cobra. She felt her chest tighten before moving her eyes back to the stars, wondering briefly if she should just ignore him like he had been doing her.

"Bright Eyes, can I speak with you for a moment?" He asked, his voice sounding so..concerned and uncertain. Giving a hum and patting the grass beside her, she waited until he laid down beside her, both of them staring up at the stars, lost in their own thoughts.

"Damn, I never thought I would screw everything up this bad." He whispered, and only a curious sound came from her. Keeping her eyes looking up as she heard him shift, and felt his gaze land on her.

"Lucy. I'll admit, I didn't want you to fall for me." He whispered, and she fought to keep a wince from showing, even though her chest tightened painfully. The announced rejection hurt more so than she had ever thought it would.

"However...Me just pushing you away and trying to kill my feelings for you as well. It was impossible." He whispered, causing her to still before turning her head slightly to stare at him. Finding that he had sat up, and was staring down at her, his emotional shields down, and she saw everything crossing his face. Pain, loneliness, desire, fear, and...love.

The emotions responded within her in kind, and she squeezed her eyes closed, grasping at the grass by her sides as she fought to keep herself still. She still needed to know why! Why he would try and not fall for her. Why he didn't want her.

"It's not that I don't want you. Shit, I crave you to the point that it hurts. I just didn't want you falling for me because you deserve better! I was hoping that the snide comments would make you think that I was a jackass! Not make you...Think better of me." He grumbled, flopping backwards as she stared at him in shock. He thought that she deserved better?

"Cobra, that's some messed up reasoning." She muttered, watching as he blinked before an honest laugh left him. And she giggled as he rolled onto his side, surprising her as he raised a hand and traced a finger along her cheek.

"That right there is what I mean. With just words alone, you give me hope that you could love me. That there might be hope for a future between us. But...I'm terrified of risking it. I don't want to lose you in any way." He whispered, causing her to raise an eyebrow before she gave a sigh.

"Honestly, you've been with us for almost a year now, and you haven't learned how stubborn I am? Cobra, even if we tried a relationship and it didn't work, nothing would change between us. I wouldn't let something like that come in between our friendship. You mean far to much to me, even if it's not in a relationship." She whispered, rolling onto her side so there was just a few inches separating them. Watching as he tensed before he closed his eye.

"This...This right here. I want to be closer to you. But my body..." She gave a hum before closing her eyes and pressing her forehead against the fingers that had brushed her cheek.

"Then you lead. I won't touch until you're ready to be touched. Cobra, don't let little things stop you from going after what you want. Remember, you can have anything you want now, you just have to reach for it." She whispered, waiting as his gaze landed once more on her. Knowing that he could hear the trust within her. She knew that he would never harm her, that he would lay down his life for her before allowing anything from the past to happen again.

"Y..You have to tell me if it's too far. I don't..."

"Cobra. I want this as well. I love you. I have for a while. And if it takes you a while to get to that point, I'll wait. But know that I will always love only you." She whispered, her eyes still closed and shivered when his fingers traced her cheeks once more. Before trailing along her jaw, and up to stop at the edge of her lips.

She smiled at his hesitance, finding it absolutely adorable to see this side of him. Only to gasp as chapped lips were pressed to hers, staying gentle and hesitant, but with enough emotions that had her moaning. Twisting her hands into the grass, she resisted the urge to wrap her arms around his neck and tangle her fingers in his hair. She had said that she would wait until he was ready, and if that meant allowing him to test his boundaries, then so be it.

A nip on her bottom lip had her gasping again, only to shiver as his tongue slipped between. Twisting her body, she allowed her tongue to tangle with his, only to submit when he gave a growl and rolled closer. Hovering halfway over her with his hands braced on the ground on either side of her head. They stayed in the position for a moment, before he pulled away to allow them to breath. She panted as she stared up at him, his eye glazed over with desire, love, and lust. Causing a shiver to run through her, and forced her to bite her bottom lip to hold the plea that wanted to come forth.

"Bright Eyes...I want you to be mine." He growled, carefully taking her wrist and bringing it up to cup his cheek. Before he nuzzled into her palm, nipping at the skin before staring down at her once more. The look in his eye caused her to give a nod before slowly easing up and hovering her lips near his.

She felt his tension, and was about to lay back down, but blinked when he shook his head ever so slightly.

"I'll have to deal with it. Just. Slowly." He whispered, his breath fanning over her lips and causing her to swallow before closing the distance between them. Remaining as still as him, she didn't move again until he relaxed and his eye slid close with a relieved sigh. Grinning into the kiss, she pulled away and slowly rested her forehead against his.

"I would offer you to come over to my place, but I doubt my team would be too thrilled." She whispered, watching as his eye slowly opened as he stared at her in wonder, and adoration.

"You know. There is always my place?" He whispered, causing her to blink before a blush settled across her cheeks as she gave a nod. A tremor of excitement racing through her as he easily got to his feet, pulling her up with him.

"Also, remind me later to pummel Salamander and his Blue Furball." He muttered, causing her to blink in confusion before looking up at him.

"Your soul recalled the times that they complained about you being 'heavy', which you're not, when I pulled you up. It has left an imprint on your soul, and I very well intend to make them pay for it while showing you that there is nothing wrong with you." He whispered, brushing his lips softly against her temple as something deep within her un-knotted. She hadn't even realized that their playful teasing had bothered her so much, but to finally hear that she was fine.

Giving a sigh, she nuzzled into his coat, waiting to see if he tensed and found another smile crossing her lips as he gave a hum and wrapped his arms around her. Only to turn them and head toward the outer part of Magnolia, since he still loved his seclusion and had found an adequate hut to call his own.

"You know, some of the guild members are going to be surprised that you're actually agreeing to something with me." He whispered, causing her to smile and bump against him.

"Tell me something I don't know. However, I am wondering how Mira and Meredy will react. Not to mention Erza and my self proclaimed brothers." She laughed, beaming when he chuckled and pulled her closer. Apparently loving that he could be around her without tensing up all the time.

"And that's just with us courting at the moment. Wait until we actually mate." He snickered, causing her to beam.

"Oh, I can't wait for that! I mean, all the courting before had them placing bets...Cobra? Is something wrong?" She asked, looking over her shoulder as she realized that he had stopped, causing her to go a few steps ahead of him.

"Y..You can't wait to be mated?" He asked, causing her to blink before blushing brilliantly.

"Uh..Well...I mean I can wait, it's just that..."

"You would become my mate now. If the option was on the table?" He asked, causing her to close her eyes and give a nod. Peeking one eye open when he said nothing for a few, long seconds, just stared at her before approaching slowly. Leaning toward her so his breath ghosted across her lips when he spoke.

"What if I told you that it was on the table? That I would gladly mate with you the moment we get to my hut." He growled, causing her to tense before a shiver of excitement coursed through her. But, she reined herself in. While she wanted nothing more than to be mated to the man in front of her, she didn't want him to just think about her.

"Bright Eyes. It is taking everything within me not to take you right here and now since you said that. I'm trying not to be selfish and just take what I want. I know that I have some things to work out, but damnit, I'm taking your advice and not keeping it from letting me get what I want. And what I want most, is you." He hissed out, causing a shiver to run down her spine before she gave a smile and stepped closer. Humming when he didn't tense and merely kept her gaze.

"There's nothing wrong with being a little selfish now and again." She whispered, her lips barely brushing over his. She saw something snap within him, and gasped as she was soon in his arms and he was running toward his hut. Giving a giggle, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. Loving that he gave a growl before squeezing her bottom roughly, eliciting a moan from her.

"Better be prepared, Bright Eyes. I'm not stopping until everyone knows damn good and well that you're mine. Screw those banters of endearment, this is an outright claim." He growled, causing her to shudder and press harder against him.

"We'll just have to see what you got, won't we?" The taunt had him growling while pinching her outer thigh lightly, causing her to shiver and look around. They were almost to his place, and she knew that once they reached their destination, there would be no stopping him.

"I still have some control left. You sure this is what you want?" He whispered in her ear, causing her to smile and meet his gaze.

"Damn straight it is."

Cliffhanger! Don't ya'll just love that! Next chapter will be posted in a few days. Until then~