Phoenix

Mission: Acquired

"We should decorate," Emi stated simply.

"Why don't you get better first before we start doing anything?"

Emi giggled before trying to get out of bed. She wobbled a bit before falling backwards. Laxus caught her and gently placed her back on the bed.

"You shouldn't be moving too much yet. You're still too weak."

Emi pouted, "This is so boring. I wanna explore the house and all I've seen is this room and the bathroom down the hall. I haven't even seen the kitchen yet!"

"That's because," Laxus reminded as he pulled the covers over her again, "you're sick and you need to recover before you move a lot."

Emi's eyes drifted to the floor and she started to sniffle.

"I feel so useless. I'm so sorry."

Laxus started to panic as he looked at the distraught girl.

"Uh..."

She started to cry harder, which caused Laxus to panic more. He took in a breath and tried his best to comfort her.

"I mean you're not completely useless right now--"

"Laxus! That's so mean!" Mira scolded.

Laxus defended, "Hey! I didn't know how to be nice."

He sighed thinking that he made it worse and got up to leave.

"...You really think so?"

He stopped and looked at her confused.

"I'm not completely useless? That's what you said, right?"

"That...actually worked?" Laxus mumbled to himself before walking back over to the bed.

"How on earth did that work?" Lucy shouted. "That was horrible!"

"Uh, yeah. You do stuff, like, uh...keep me company?"

Emi sat up quickly, causing her to let out a small wince. She smiled brightly at the lightning wizard.

"You enjoy my company?" Emi asked with an excited expression.

Laxus rolled his eyes at the girl before going to leave the room.

"I'll be back with food."

Emi giggled and called after him as he walked down the hall, "Big baby."

-------------------------------------------

"Hey Laxus?"

Said wizard grunted in response.

"Can you cuddle with me?"

Laxus spit out his water and started choking.

"What did you just ask?"

"I'm lonely and cold. I just wanted to know if you would cuddle with me to make me warm."

"Absolutely not. I'll get another blanket."

Emi frowned and buried herself in the four blankets she already was given earlier that day.

Lucy, Lisanna and Mira laughed.

"How many times did you ask him that day?"

Laxus came in with another blanket and threw it over her. He went to leave when her voice squeaked out from under the blankets.