"I swear to God, I didn't mean to lead her off to the wrong direction- I-I-" Evergreen was currently being interrogated by an engraging brunette, but the thin walls, of course, are not able to hide anything. The conversation did not go unnoticed by the blond, and almost interrupted by knocking, but wanted to hear the explanation first.
"You- I ought to fire you, is that what you want?" Cana seemed so exhausted, already running her hand through her hair. Lucy could see through the peeping hole. She didn't like firing people without a strong reason to, and based on that background, Cana is most probably testing her loyalty to the bar. "If I hadn't found my niece, you would've been kicked out already."
No, no it wasn't solely her fault.
Evergreen, meanwhile, stood still in her place, completely flustered. She wasn't like that before, what made her all fidgety and obedient?
"I admit, that was my first goal, but not when I see you."
"What?"
"Not in that way, but rather, you seem like a caring boss. You always make sure we eat well and do our job. Of course, my old jobs were like that and it's true I always complain about the tasks I've been given here. But I don't mean that. . .really. In my short time here, I've grown fond of working. Besides, I can take Lucy's shift, so she won't have to face the customers, if that's what want."
Cana squints her eyes, not taking it into her perspective despite the heartfelt speech given. She folded her arms against her chest and scratched the back of her head, indecisive of what to do. "I don't know."
That's when the blond barged in and defended Evergreen's side. "Auntie, I know I shouldn't be coming in between 'adult' decisions, but think about her speech for a moment. Ever-san is a good person, I can tell. It's true she always complains and complains to me all the time about wanting to get fired from before, but who knows? Maybe she had a change of heart."
"Oh, Lucy." Cana went to hold on to her niece's shoulder as an empathic move. "I still want to fire her, because she is doing a lousy job at it. I'm losing my regular customers."
Evergreen simply shrugged it off, "Eh. It was worth the shot."
"Wait, what? You were lying about all those things?" This may have came as a shock to the younger, but not so much to the brunette as she had dealt with her old employees and they all said the exact same speech. Ended up getting the hang of their lying and managed to fire them quite easily this time. Ever was not a stranger in that group.
"Listen, kid. Of course you'd have to lie sometimes to get the job or remain in one to say. I only needed the money, anyway. I'll be able to find a different workplace." The woman found her luggage and started packing, getting a sympathic smile from the blond. They may not have been friends- well, they never really established that; they may not have known each other for that long, there is a sense of gratitude in Lucy that longed for Ever's presence as a thank you.
Ever noticed the downing aura from the niece, so as a goodbye, she (hesitantly) patted her twice on the head. "You did good." She cleared her throat before running off, out of the bar.
Cana shakes her head at the fired employee and closed the door shut, paying attention to her niece now. "Now that's taken care of, what else is there to resolve now?"
"Oh, right- uhm, I kind of slept over at a friend's place when I ran away from Natsu's. . .my stuff are still in their room."
"OK, then. Let's go get it."
"Ah, but they'd be in an instant shock, knowing I've gone home. Actually, I haven't been treating them like real friends of mine, so I should handle it myself. Do you trust me?"
The aunt smiled immediately at the maturity her niece was portraying and then received another pat on the head. "You do that. But I'll stay outside while I get you a cab, OK? I still need to look after you."
Lucy shrugged at the idea. "Oh, well. It was worth the try." And the giggling continued.
💄
The blond was feeling a whole lot of pressure right now as she left her guardian's side to look for Laki and Levy's dorm room. Once she did find it, she was just about to twist the door knob open, when suddenly got disrupted by the two girls coming from behind her.
"Hey, you two!" She greeted, sounding as estatic as possible.
However, the two didn't respond with the same thing and only managed to wave as a greeting. "Oh, hey." Not a worried tone was to be found in their voice. Of course, Lucy knows why. It's her fault for making herself look like a user. They'd been there by their side for the longest she could remember. Especially when stuck in a dire situation.
"Look, I'm sorry, I-"
"No, let me guess, you and your aunt made up and you're going home now." Laki finished her assumed statement with a subtly fake smile. "We get it."
"Girls, I'm sorry if I always seemed- no, I'm sorry I always leave you two behind whenever you guys have always helped me. I'm sorry if I only appear when I need something and for not getting the chance to really get to know you and hang out with you.. I want to use this chance to tell you the truth, the whole truth about me as a deal."
The two smaller teens looked at each other and agreed telepathically with just a mere smile combined with an understanding nod. "Alright. We promise to listen to you attentively."
And that, they did. The two of them let Lucy back into the apartment while she was packing her stuff, getting ready to move back in her home. She started from the running away part, and officially told them about her traumatic past, which seemed to be quite a shocker at first but not so much when they got to the part where she meets Natsu and Lisanna and her experience sharing the same roof with both of them. Now that she's getting ready to be picked up, Laki and Levy stood up and gave herself a great big hug. "You poor thing."
"I didn't know you had to go through so much. ."
At least they didn't apologize for listening, Lucy thought. Usually people do. When in reality, it isn't even their fault they never knew. Although, maybe it's because they only feel sorry and that they couldn't comfort her the way she should be with her trauma. Then again, she still appeared to have been a user to both of them. So she had an idea.
"So what, you have like a stockholm syndrome now with that Natsu guy? Oh, wait, a professor, I mean?" Laki giggles at just mentioning the name and profession of the man.
"Except that you weren't captured, but rather, you were kind of submissive having to only chat one man after going through an entire life of not meeting one." Levy continues the theory, looking her way at the suggested illness.
"I don't know. I just really, really like him. At first, I thought I just wanted to be friends with him, but turns out, it was more than that. ."
"Don't get mad at me for asking, but what about your trauma? Aren't you scared if. . .if that guy touches you, won't it trigger the memories back in?"
Lucy hasn't really thought of that part.
"Now it's making me want to get checked up by my psychiatrist. Oh, but I don't want to go back in there. Not even for a second."
"Then don't. I can see you can handle this by yourself. We'll be here, OK? If anything triggery happens to you, don't hesitate to tell us. We'll do the same and ask you for advice, too, someday. That's what friends do."
"Speaking of friends, I remembered you guys wanting to go to a bar, right?"
"Yeah!?" Laki and Levy turned as Lucy got their attention mentioning the place.
"I work in one and knowing my aunt now, I'm sure she'd be glad to have you two come."
"Oh, wow. Your aunt is intelligent." This caught Lucy's attention. "Like, since the trauma is kind of triggering you- I mean, getting used to the environment of men ought to lessen that fear, right?"
All the blond could do as a response was her signature shrug, ignorant of that theory, as well. But maybe. Maybe she remembers Cana telling her that was going to be the reason to. Subtle reason, to be exact.
"And to answer that question, yes. It would be an honor to go to the bar with you." Laki frowned, her eyebrows furrowing at the statement. "Sounds weird, doesn't it?"
"No," Levy contradicts, looking at Lucy, holding on to her hand. "Not at all." as if saying, we're here for you.
💄
a/n: i think lev and laki
turned out to be extras than
lucy's friends really. my fault
lol