Dragon senses could pick up almost anything, with the right amount of practice. Laxus learned early on that he could and should rely on his far enhanced hearing, eyesight and scent tracking. He practiced nearly every day while in the guild hall. The noise level was great practice for trying to pick out someone's voice, even if it was a whisper or murmur. It was a game for himself now. He'd pick a random guild mate in the morning when he walked in, and throughout the day he would focus and try to pinpoint their location in the guild by the sound of their voice or laugh.
The rumbling of a stomach, was in fact something he didn't hear very often. Distracted from his paperwork by the offending sound, Laxus stood from his table on the second-floor balcony and went to the railing to see if he could find who had missed breakfast that morning. Just another game to him, to hone his sense and become acquainted with each member of his guild in the event of an emergency.
Natsu and Gray were at it, foreheads pressed against the others and fists raised. Not them, Natsu ate like a dragon slayer, constantly, but he was never that hungry. Lucy was at the bar, milkshake in front of her and Mira was setting down her ordered lunch. Lucy was hungry, but it was lunch time, everyone was a little hungry. Not her. Storm grey eyes looked about. Gajeel had Levy in his lap, the slayer looking completely bored, but everyone knew better, Black Steel Gajeel was head over heels. Everyone was waiting for Levy to come into the guild with gunmetal scales over her neck. Nah, they both had empty plates that Kinana was picking up that very moment to take back to the kitchen.
Laxus rubbed at his chin, idly thinking he'd need a shave soon. Then his eyes traveled to the back corner of the guild, where the tables were kind of smashed into the wall and under a window for more natural light but was more a study space than eating or drinking. A few of the newer members sometimes congregated there to study their magics from the massive library that Fairy Tail housed for that sole purpose.
There it was again, the sound of air trying to be digested in a very empty stomach. Blue hair braided down her back the color of a neon sign. A small stack of books on the table and only a glass of water there within reach of her hand. She downed what was left and he noticed a barely concealed grimace as the cool water hit an empty stomach. It would appease the hunger but just fractionally.
Laxus wracked his brain for who she was. Still a fresh face in the guild and he'd barely had time to finally remember the last batch of members that came to join. They'd have to start regulating that shit, the guild was near bursting and it was huge already. It took him a moment but the color of her hair made it easier. Blitz, Ashton Blitz, that's who it was. And if he remembered correctly... A deep inhale in his nose and a few seconds to sort through all the scents in the guildhall. Ozone and static just barely clinging to her skin, she was the lightning mage that had joined recently.
Her stomach growled once more and she visibly blushed but tried to hide it with a cough, in the chaos and noise of the guild it was easily unnoticed. She went back to her books, a thin notepad by her hand as she scribbled notes. Something that should have also tipped Laxus off to who it was were the dark sunglasses over her eyes. Her recalled, Gramps mentioning her eyes. They were white, purest white with no pupil or retina. Yet, she could see perfectly fine. Something about a birth defect, Gramps had said. You don't forget that kind of feature.
He saw her waver in her seat before he knew what he was doing, booted feet going to the bar and ordering whatever the crap Lucy had for lunch. Kinana gave him a confused look but the guild was so busy she didn't question it and moments later a small tray with a turkey sandwich, fries and a cup of fruit was in his hands and he was across the guild. Dodging Gray being thrown in the air and side-stepping Romeo and Wendy practicing their magic in between the tables. Children.
"Blitz." He spoke low so not to attract too much attention, but she still reacted as if he'd yelled at her in her face. She jumped in her set, hitting her elbow on the hard-wooden table and he smirked a tiny bit at her clumsiness. Setting the tray down on top of the books she stared at him perplexed at the food, but her growling stomach had other ideas and practically roared at her. Ashton blushed beneath the dark rims of her sunglasses.
"could hear your hunger all the way upstairs. Why haven't you eaten?" he could feel her gaze narrow behind the glasses and she crossed her arms.
"I'm fine. I didn't even know what time it was... I was gonna... Go home and eat later."
"Yeah, nice try. So, a rule in Fairy Tail? Don't fucking lie to me or any of the other slayer." he taps his nose once and then returns his hand to his crossed arms. "We can all smell lies." Laxus finds her unable to respond and instead she goes silent, her stomach continuing to cry for food and he takes another look at her.
Ashton is on the heavy side, not that she's overweight really. But she's squishy and jiggly where every other woman in the guild was... fuck. Laxus narrowed his own gaze as her head tilted a fraction and Laxus followed what he figured was her line of sight. Straight to Lucy giggling at something Kinana said, Kinana standing beside Mira. All three with thin waists and heavy chests, flared hips and lean legs. Ashton was wearing a very loose long sleeve short with baggy jeans and boots; those women were wearing tight almost form fitting clothes that hid nothing to the imagination. He got it now.
Taking a seat across from her, Laxus leaned his elbows on the table. Still towering over her even while both sitting down. "Not eating is the worst way to go about that, it's extremely unhealthy." she startled, enough that she started to gather her books, and, in a few moments, she was trying to leave the guild entirely. Laxus could scent the heat in her cheeks and noticed the infinitesimal sparks wanting to roam over her arms. Her stomach growled once more but she left and Laxus was left with the lunch at the table. Slowly he got up and went up the stairs, taking the lunch with hi and devouring it himself. He wouldn't push it. But he'd now watch out for Blitz and wondered if he needed to talk to Gramps about a possible guild member with an eating disorder.