Crime Sorciere Airship - 8:07pm

Nashi was never a stranger to attention thanks to her very loud tendencies and fiery personality as her mother remarked often. But right now with Hunter, Gale and Stripper staring at her in silence, she felt like shrinking into a ball.

Nashi's face shone bright red. "I- I don't look that bad do I?" She muttered, her fingers twitching nervously at her side.

Why was no one talking? Why the hell was she feeling so anxious? Why did she have to be wearing this stupid dress and stupid shoes? Mavis knows she never liked dressing this way. The silence probably meant she looked horrible. After all, what else could the silence mean?

"You... you look amazing, Nashi."

The sudden compliment made her frantic thoughts cease. She raised her eyes from the ground to Gale. He was smiling at her warmly, his piercing red eyes oddly... soft as he looked at her. It was different to Hunter's stunned expression and Stripper's completely confused one. It's a look that Nashi couldn't quite place and yet, her cheeks heated up even more.

She cracked a shaky grin. "Heh... Thanks."

"Are you sure that this person here is Flame Brain?" Storm cut in, scratching his head in bewilderment.

The shyness in her immediately disappeared, now replaced with a dark scowl. "Of course it's me, Stupid Stripper!" Nashi yelled, palms igniting in flames.

"Oh my god, it really is her!" Storm stumbled back, the look of utter confusion across his features. "W-Wha- How?"

"Stop being so surprised!" It was taking a whole deal of strength from Ultear's strength to hold Nashi back from assaulting Storm.

"It's just weird cause you're not ugly anymore!"

"You know what, you deserve to be punched now." Ultear said throwing her brother a glare. She let go of Nashi's arm and the pink haired girl launched into attack mode.

As the two fought as they usually did, Ultear walked towards the others who merely watched the fight ensue.

"You did a good job, Ul." Hunter said, still slightly stunned.

"I know." Ultear said proudly. A smug grin curled over her lips as she looked again at her commendable accomplishment... who was currently choking out her brother.

Nashi was wearing a short black dress. Dresses were already a step out of the pink haired girl's comfort zone so Ultear figured a dress that was nice and simple was the best choice. And she was right. It was actually a surprise, just how well Nashi pulled off the outfit.

"Aw our lover boy is starstruck!" Alexis giggled.

Gale was still mesmerised by Nashi's appearance. Even as she was repeatedly punching Storm, he couldn't quite take his eyes off her. He always found her pretty in her cute-tomboy-ish way but now she was just downright beautiful.

"Is anyone going to help me!?" Storm yelled from the ground. He dodged most of the punches this supposed 'Flame Brain' was sending him. He didn't feel comfortable punching this girl. It was all too weird for the poor ice make mage.

After a few more minutes passed and Ultear finally pried Nashi from assaulting Storm, the teens made their way to the briefing room where Jellal and Erik were.

"Good, you're all here." Erik said as they filed into the room all dressed and ready to take on their mission. "New information regarding our target has surfaced." He announced.

"This can't be good." Ultear murmured under her breath.

Gale's brows furrowed. "What happened?"

Erik sighed. "There are multiple attacks being reported regarding a poison wielding mage taking out Titan Soul's competitors and anyone trying to meddle with the dark guild's business." He explained.

"So they've got Jace and are making him doing their dirty work." Storm concluded clenching his fists by his side. "Those damn bastards." He couldn't wait to pummel these lunatics.

"With Jace on their side, this mission just got a hell of a lot dangerous." Hunter grunted shaking his head. He was well aware of Jace's capabilities, it rivalled his own. Often when the two would spar, it ended with a stalemate.

Jellal nodded. "It seems so." He said running a hand through his hair. His agitation concerning this mission seemed to grow by the second. The circumstances seemed to get worse and worse as they discovered new information.

"With Jace's laziness most likely nullified by Lilith's magic, he'll be fighting to the best of his ability... and if that's the case I believe that it's best that none of you encounter him alone." Erik warned. "Alone, Hunter and Ultear may have a chance but you're all at a disadvantage having been gone for those three months. And Alexis well, you haven't fought in over two years."

Alexis frowned. "So he's somewhat of a mindless monster under that woman's magic huh?" She said grimly. She was familiar with what that felt like. "Is there a way to undo it?"

Both Erik and Jellal remained silent.

"I'm sure taking out Lilith would do the trick?" Nashi suggested scratching her head. "We'll just knock her daylights out and boom! We have our lazy dragon slayer back!"

"That's a reasonable plan that could work." Jellal said shrugging his shoulders. "But do take our advice. No one encounter him or even Lilith alone."

The teens nodded in agreement.

Nashi cracked a grin. "We all work better as a team anyways."

"I've been meaning to ask..." Gale said frowning to himself. "How will we know if someone is under the influence of this hallucinogen?"

"Well, the most prominent way is that there will be dark veins trailing up the person's forearms." Jellal said. "After taking the hallucinogen, the person is under the control of whoever is distributing it without even knowing."

Erik continued from him. "There's been many reports of people committing crimes, but when questioned have no recollection of the event of all or motive. All of them, have the same dark veins on their arms and that's why we need to take down Titan Soul."

Alexis hummed in agreement. "We have to get Jace and stop those lunatics."

__________

Morningstar Nightclub - 10:24pm

"We're finally here." Nashi said itching with eagerness. She looked up wide-eyed at the glowing red sign at the front of the building say 'Morningstar' in fancy cursive writing. Even though they were outside, she could feel the vibrations of the thumping music below her feet. She'd never been to a place like this before... and that made her even more excited.

"Oh for Mavis sake, look how long the line is." Ultear groaned. It was like a never-ending line of people that went well around the street corner. The entrance was closed off by a velvet rope and one big hulking security guard wearing a black suit and menacing look of certain death in his eyes.

Gale grunted. "It's gonna take all night for us to even get into the damn place."

"Don't worry guys, I got the hook up." Storm said with a smug grin.

"If your mom ever found out about this, you'd never be able to leave the house. You know that right?" Hunter said raising a brow at the ice make mage.

Storm chuckled nervously. "Well, it's a good thing none of you are going to tell her then."

"Storm, just get us in the building already." Alexis said, with a slight undertone of impatience. She shifted in her dress, hands crossed over her chest. "We have to get Jace back as quickly as possible."

Storm took a deep breath. "You're right but before we have to go over some things first." He said. "Most importantly, since we're dealing with hallucinogens right now, only drink the booze you see the bartender make? Don't accept any you didn't see get made." He seemed to look more in Nashi's direction in this instance.

"Why're you looking at me?" Nashi scowled.

"Because you're not careful most of the time." He said bluntly. Before Nashi could defend herself he continued. "Gale, you gotta drop that mean look you have or else everyone's gonna avoid you."

"This is my normal face!" Gale growled looking positively offended.

Storm shrugged. "I'm just saying bro. We're tracking down dealers here so you gotta look approachable." He explained as Gale basically pouted to himself. "Hunter, you have to let loose a little bit. You look all stiff and like you could kill somebody."

"I could if I wanted to." Hunter simply said, tilting his head to the side slightly and narrowing his eyes at Storm.

The ice make mage shivered in his spot and chose to just move on to his sister. "Ultear, you have to drop your mom-attitude. No one will like it here."

Ultear scoffed. "I do not have a mom attitude, right guys?" She looked for support from her friends but when they all avoided her gaze, she sighed. "Okay, I'll try my best."

"And Alexis..." Storm said turning to the blonde. To Storm, she was still the rather defenceless girl they'd found in Letha and defenceless girls didn't fare well in an environment like Morningstar. "Don't let dirtbags take advantage of you, alright?"

"Roger that." She simply said.

"Okay I think we're ready." Storm breathed out a sigh of relief. "Let's get this party started!" He turned around and headed towards the velvet-roped entrance with the rest of his friends close behind him.

"Well, if it isn't, Pretty boy." The security guard remarked with a smirk. "It's been a while." He bellowed, towering over Storm.

"Big Tony!" Storm flashed the large man a grin. "Me and the friends were just hoping to let off steam after one pain in the ass mission ya know?" He said, gesturing behind him which the others were. "So if you could just let us in, that'd be appreciated."

Big Tony didn't move an inch. "You're not getting in that easily but nice try" He leaned down maintaining eye contact with Storm. He held out his hand. "Pay up, Pretty Boy."

Storm groaned. "For Mavis' sakes..." He grumbled to himself.

"Is it jewel he wants Storm?" Ultear whispered to Storm. "I have a lot if you don-"

Storm shook his head. "Just let me handle it." He hissed back. Ultear pouted before backing away. Storm reached into his jacket and revealed a plastic bag with what looked like a piece of clothing in it. He dropped the bag into the man's hand.

Big Tony raised a brow. "What's in it?"

Storm looked to the ground, a dark aura emanating from his head. "It's uh... It's... my underwear. I signed it and everything." He cleared his throat trying to mask his embarrassment.

"You're giving him your underwear?!" Gale both burst out into laughter.

Nashi laughed as well, clutching onto her stomach. "I guess you really don't care about your dignity, Stripper."

Ultear, on the other hand, looked completely disorientated. "Why would you..."

Hunter and Alexis were giving Storm's completely judgemental looks and Storm's embarrassment increased tenfold.

"HIS DAUGHTER IS A BIG FAN OF MINE, YOU MORONS! SHE ASKED FOR IT!" He yelled in defence of himself. Storm inwardly cursed himself, he'd never live down this shit.

Big Tony tucked the bag away and out of sight. "I don't understand all this fangirl stuff but it makes my girl as happy as anything when she gets stuff from Pretty Boy here." He said. He lifted the velvet rope and stood out of the way. "Ya'll have a time tonight."

Storm recomposed himself, straightening out of his shirt. "Everyone get your asses in." Storm growled practically pushing them into the club. Once they were through the door, he let out a sigh. "You didn't have to embarrass me in front of my friends like that by asking what was in the bag." Storm muttered with a deepened frown.

Big Tony chuckled to himself. "I was just making sure you put the right thing in there." He said with a cheeky grin. "The job gets boring after a while, I'm always one for a good laugh."

Storm shook his head. "That was a cruel move, Big Tony." He knew for sure, Flame Brain was gonna hold it over his head for a while.

Big Tony merely shrugged. He paused for a moment, a sudden serious look on his face. "You wouldn't happen to have done something to the young lady would you?"

Storm arched his brow. "What are you talking about?"

__________

The party inside the night club was in full wing. The whole atmosphere was intoxicating. Multi-coloured strobe lights beamed across the room and bass boosted music blared as a sea of bodies wildly danced to the rhythm. The bar along the side was crowded by people eager to get flat out drunk.

The plan was simple. The girls were to look for Lilith and when they found her, they would subdue her. The boys would look for any dealers they came across and drag them back to the Crime Sorciere airship for questions. On the airship, it was discussed that they all split up to cover more ground and finish their objectives faster.

"Everyone remember what we're here to do?" Hunter said holding a finger to his earpiece.

"You got it!" Nashi yelled.

Hunter winced at Nashi's loud voice.

Storm groaned. "Don't yell over the earpiece, stupid."

"Nash, you just blew out my ear I swear." Gale growled. With his heightened senses, it hurt him more.

"New rule, no yelling over the earpiece." Alexis chimed in.

"Yeah, that's a good idea." Ultear agreed.

"... sorry." Nashi said much softer now.

"Let's just save Jace and get out of here." Hunter ordered.

Pushing past many sweaty bodies, Hunter made his way towards the bar. It was no secret he hated places like this but he was on a mission so he had to put up a front to get the best results. Besides the bar is where most of the activity happens anyways.

After he ordered a shot, he leaned against the bar keeping a keen eye out for any suspicious activity. He sighed, deciding to take Storm's advice. He needed to let loose. The only way he was going to do that was to get a little bit tipsy. He downed two, letting the drink slide down his throat.

"Well, aren't you snack, red?" A girl said to him as she snaked her arm into his. She had orange hair and definitely wasn't Lilith to Hunter's luck. "You up for little fun?" She licked her lips, looking up at him with glazed eyes. Hunter examined her arms and even in the bad lighting, he could easily make out the dark veins on her pale arms.

This was his opportunity to find a potential dealer.

Hunter smirked at the girl. "I'm always up for fun." He said smoothly, brushing her hair out her face.

__________

Storm had always lived for the partying life. It was exhilarating. The alcohol, fun and dancing without a care in the world was an experience he always cherished. It was like an escape to him. Hence why he had come to Morningstar a lot more than he should've.

But now was not the time for festivities, he had a mission to do. Storm walked around the nightclub casually with hands in his pockets. Inevitably, girls swarmed for his attention as he made his way through. Annoying as it was, it boosted his ego a whole lot which was a good thing... to him anyways.

After about the twelfth girl, he gave in and let her guide him onto the dance floor. Maybe if he gave them the satisfaction for a few minutes, they'd leave him alone and he could continue doing what he came to do.

Letting the music guide his movements, he danced.

The girl wasn't exactly shy, she put her hands all over him until finally she grasped onto his hands and placed them around at her waist. She flung her arms around his neck, her fingertips tangling in his hair. Storm knew where this going. Closing her eyes, she leaned in. He watched with an amused grin.

That grin faltered and he froze when a familiar face caught his gaze.

And she was looking right at him, heart breaking all over again.

___________

school's back on so like my life sucks atm

pray for me the few readers that are still me ):

I missed this story so much and sorry for leaving you guys on a cliffhanger for so long!

you know, I love this chapter so much because storm is just a straight up KING lol

hope y'all enjoyed this chapter

#unedited

this cute gif cause I feel like I don't appreciate them enough