"So you found a purpose?" Acnologia said looking at the book.

"Yes," Seilah nodded.

"Well it sounds promising if you both want it; you can do it after you serve Fairy Tail."

"Thank you," Jackal bowed.

"Just keep your heads low for a while, a few extremists have learned we welcomed you and are seeking your blood so watch your backs."

"No problem," Jackal chuckled.

"Well just in case I would prefer that you not go on missions alone," Master Makarov said from the bar.

Jackal and Seilah looked to each other, "Well, see, that might be a problem. We were going to go on a few simple solo jobs, but if that doesn't work I suppose we could-"

"Seilah!" Levy laughed greeting the demon, "Look at this!" she handed Seilah a slip of paper.

"Are you serious!?" Seilah cried reading it.

"It's such a simple job and you get a reward and the newest book by Norrad Henriod!" Levy squealed.

"For a human, he writes incredible stories, he explains humanity and its flaws so well, "Seilah said in awe.

"What do you say we do it together? We'll both get a copy!" Levy said.

"Yes please!" Seilah squealed her eyes shining.

"Okay... I'll just stay here then," Jackal said sarcastically. The girls weren't listening, they ran out the door and were out of Magnolia before anyone could say otherwise, "by... my... self," Jackal finished slowly.

"Man it sucks to get ditched like that," Bickslow chuckled leaning in.

"Come any closer and I will make you explode," Jackal growled.

"I can fiiiixxx that," Bickslow teased.

There was no denying the perk in Jackal's demeanor.

(An Hour Later)

"No," Jackal moaned as the woman brought up what must have been the fiftieth piece of jewelry.

"We're looking for something for him," Bickslow sighed. The old woman nodded, reached down, and pulled out a golden crown.

Bickslow began to laugh while Jackal facepalmed.

"Me, I need an enchanted item that I can wear that will-" Jackal growled.

"This is my last piece although I don't think the girl you're trying to impress will like this," the old woman pondered.

"I'm not trying to impress a girl!" Jackal cried.

The old deaf woman pulled up a bright neon hair bow. Bickslow began to roar with laughter.

"No," Jackal objected, "enchanted piece of clothing for me!" he spoke slowly trying to get the old lady to understand.

"Oh well, if the young lady wants enchanted items I have a few to choose from," the old woman pondered.

"There is no lady!" Jackal cried gesticulating wildly.

"Excuse me, 'mam," Bickslow chuckled leaning over the counter, "We're looking for this." He handed her an advertisement. The woman put her glasses on a read the slip of paper. Then she looked at Jackal.

"You have a strange taste in woman," the woman sighed as she went to the back.

"There is no woman involved! What even led you to believe that!?" Jackal cried.

"Here you are," the woman said flopping a pair of gloves on the counter. They were black and thin, "guaranteed to block you from all curses, and I don't mean that magic stuff, I mean demon stuff," the woman cackled.

"Well?" Bickslow asked as Jackal took his old gloves off and slipped the black ones over his hands, they went up to his elbows and were rather form-fitting.

"They're comfortable," Jackal admitted.

"Do they work?" Bickslow asked.

In response Jackal tapped Bickslow. "Yep," he laughed.

"That'll be 700,000 jewels," the old woman smiled. Jackal's color faded.

"How much do you have?" Bickslow asked.

"20,000," Jackal sighed.

"I've got you," Bickslow laughed handing the woman the amount required.

"Really?" Jackal asked.

"Yeah, course this means you owe me three nights of video games," Bickslow laughed.

"Video game?" Jackal asked tilting his head in confusion.

(That Night)

Freed was awakened for the fifth time that night by a loud yell. He knew that it came from Bickslow's room just down the stairs. He got out of bed in his soft lighting designed P.J's and trudged downstairs. He stood outside Bickslow's door and recognized muffler runes... runes he had been forced to teach Bickslow because of his late-night video game binge habits, yet somehow he was making enough noise to break through the runes. He gritted his teeth as another shout broke through, he threw the door open.

"I would like to get some sleep eventually Bickslow!" he yelled. Then he froze as he took in the scene before him. Jackal was sitting on Bickslow's couch next to the soul mage, a bag of chips to his left and an open bottle of beer on the table. A pair of headphones held down his large animal-like ears and his tail was flicking wildly as he mashed the controller buttons.

"Left, left!" Bickslow yelled.

"You go left I'm busy with this guy!" Jackal bit back.

"Crazy girl three o'clock!" Bickslow yelled. Their screens erupted in fire and the simple words of Game Over appeared on the screen.

"It's always the pyro chick," Jackal moaned.

"Again?" Bickslow asked popping a Cheeto in his mouth.

"Yeah," Jackal scoffed preparing for the next game.

"Oh hey Freed," Bickslow said looking at the stunned rune mage.

"So," Freed asked, "how long have you two been here?"

"Since this afternoon," Bickslow shrugged.

"You do realize its two-thirty in the morning," Freed sighed.

"So?" Jackal asked.

"Again, again!" Bickslow's dolls cheered.

"You want to join us?" Bickslow asked.

"No," Freed scoffed.

"You sure?" Bickslow asked waving a controller in the air.

"One of us, one of us," Bickslow's dolls chanted.

(A Few Hours Later)

Evergreen was pissed. She had been woken up at least ten times, it was now five-thirty and the noise hadn't ceased. She was surprised Freed hadn't stopped it, he was usually all over Bickslow's late hours. Another yell made her leap to her feet stomp down the stairs and throw the door to Bickslow's door. However, she couldn't make the words leave her lips.

Freed, Bickslow and Jackal were all on the couch staring at the large screen lacrima, video game controllers in hand. Freed, in his lightning designed green P.J's, threw another chip in his mouth as he spammed a button. Jackal had a piece of jerky between his teeth and was gnawing it angrily as he played. Bickslow would take sips of beer when he could before hunching down and playing with fury.

"On your six, on your six!" Freed yelled.

"Where's my six?" Jackal asked with his mouth full.

"Behind you!" Bickslow's dolls chanted.

"You've got someone tailing you Freed," Bickslow yelled.

"I see him!" Freed gritted.

"Ever, Ever," Bickslow's dolls chanted as they spotted the mage.

"Morning Ever," Bickslow called.

"What are you doing?" Evergreen asked.

"We're fighting to protect the innocent of Frashida and trying to vanquish the evils of Granida!" Freed yelled.

"It's so clear now," Evergreen sighed.

"Want to play?" Bickslow asked.

"Play, play!" Bickslow's dolls chanted.

"There is a female character, she's pretty badass, I think she's killed me twice," Jackal offered.

"Fine," Evergreen sighed snatching up a controller from the center table.

(That Morning)

"Hey, guys?" Laxus asked entering the house. He opened Bickslow's door and smiled, he had a feeling that there was a reason for their disappearance. Jackal was leaning on the couch snoring, chip remnants on his lap; his controller was angled in a way so that his character kept walking off a cliff and dying. Bickslow was draped over the couch sleeping, his dolls in his lap. Freed was leaning on Bickslow's shoulder muttering things in his sleep. Evergreen was asleep next to Freed leaning on the arm of the chair hugging her controller.

Laxus chuckled and left the groceries he had brought on the counter in the kitchen, and then he left them in peace.