Within the town of Magnolia the streets were bustling with laughter and music, remnants from the Harvest Festival, which had ended nearly a month prior. There was a chill in the air, yet the town was alive with bright lights and the dark, night sky reflected the same. Above the town, the stars were brilliant. They shined and did a dance of their own as if mimicking the humans and wizards far below. The town of Magnolia was in a space of its own. Nothing else mattered outside of cheer and glee that radiated off the town walls. However, there was a space outside of the bustling town that was a stark contrast.

The roads leading in and out of the town of Magnolia were quiet. There was still a chill in the air, but it seemed all life lied within invisible walls that surrounded the restless town. The only signs of life on those roads were the occasional critter that would scurry along the dirt paths and any other nocturnal beast that stalked quietly through the night. They were like two different worlds. It seemed as though nothing else existed or mattered. There was only Magnolia and the roads leading to or from it. But there were other worlds, still.

A small town, east of Magnolia, lied beyond those two contrasting worlds. Clover Town, in a valley surrounded by mountains, where the stars are clear and undiluted. The town was quiet, yet filled with the sounds of snores, whispers, and the usual exchange between acquaintances. Most inhabitants rested peacefully within their homes, however most noise wafted from the sole bar located on the far edge of the town.

The bar closely resembled the town it resided in. Within its walls, it was quaint, yet larger than one would expect it to be. There was an upstairs, which led to a cosy inn, while the downstairs was the bar area. There were few tables and chairs, with more people than there could be seated. Most stood and leaned against the walls while they chatted with their companions. Some took up positions near a loan fireplace, their sanctuary from the chill that lingered in the air outside. There were patrons that spoke in hushed tones, those that spoke loudly, and there were some that didn't speak at all. They all drank, though. Some drank a little while others drank a lot, but they all drank nonetheless. It was hard to discern the difference between those that drank for the pleasure and those that drank to melt the stresses of the day, but at this time it didn't matter, and no one asked.

Occasionally, people would walk out, however, so late into the night, there was only one that walked in. His entrance was accompanied by heavy steps that were masked only by the noise of the other people that lurked within the walls of the establishment. Most didn't notice him, those that did minded their own and went about their usual conversations. There was one patron, lingering in a corner by the entrance, that did not follow the rest. She had been within the walls of the bar for hours and minded her own. This time, however, she noticed the guest like a strike of lightning in her peripheral vision.

"Laxus?" The name fell from her lips as she called out to the person that entered.

The owner of the name turned his head to the person that called out to him. Immediately, his face contorted to something akin to surprise. Before him was a woman. She sat at one of the few tables within the bar, in one of the few chairs. Her dainty fingers rested against the base of her half empty glass. Her hair, which cascaded down the smooth expanse of her back, was the color of the darkest ink, rivaled only by her onyx eyes. Her flesh was pale and milky, while her lips were a soft pink. It was those petals that adorned her face that curved up into a grin at the sight of him.

"Lyra?" Laxus responded, brows knitting together as he approached her. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same," she said, the grin on her lips fading while her brows mimicked his, knitting together the longer she regarded him. "Why are you all bandaged up?" Before her, Laxas was covered in bandages from head to toe. Bandages were wrapped around his forehead, just below his striking blond hair, and the whole of his torso and arms were bandaged as well. Other than the bandages, his shoulders were covered with a black coat that was lined with gray faux fur. There were two bags of what appeared to be luggage slung carelessly over his shoulder.

Laxus lowered his eyes to regard himself. He supposed he did look to be in pretty bad shape. He shook his head. "It doesn't really matter," he sighed, taking the seat adjacent to her left. "I'd rather not talk about it."

For several seconds, Lyra gazed at him in silence. Her lips pursed in contemplation while her eyes roamed over his face numerous times. Laxus was beginning to feel unnerved when she ended her silent regard with a raise of her hand, signalling to the bartender to bring another drink.

"You know, Laxus," she hummed, looking away from him to lift her glass to her lips, sipping at her beverage before setting it down to rest again. "I'm going to find out what happened eventually. You might as well tell me now."

Laxus drew out a sigh once more. He reclined in his seat while his fingers solemnly drummed against the wood of the table. It was his own form of contemplation. Lifting his hooded gaze, his eyes loomed over the woman's left shoulder, with which resided the emblem of the Fairy Tail guild.

"I wonder if they'll even remember you," he muttered, so softly Lyra almost didn't hear him.

She hummed, "I wonder too. It's been a few years."

"If you can call ten years a few," he scoffed.

When Lyra first joined the guild, she had been distant. He remembered how she kept to herself and kept everyone else an arms length away. She was much like him, in a way, but much softer and more kind. Eventually, she began to warm up to the guild. And, when he himself started to push everyone away, she stayed near. They were rather close friends back then.

"I've been nearby," she mused aloud, taking another sip of the drink before her. By then, the bartender had placed a second drink on the table; a mug of beer. Its froth threatened to spill over the edges as Laxus lifted the glass and brought it to his lips. Tipping his head back, he gulped down the bitter, amber liquid.

"Nearby?" A glint of amusement flashed in his eyes. "Define nearby."

She spoke slowly, as if choosing her words carefully. "I travelled… around Seven and Bosco."

"Bosco? I wouldn't call that close."

"In comparison to Bellum and Sin, I'd say it is."

With that, they stared at each other, Lyra meeting his look of challenge with one of her own. Laxus was well aware of her traveling tendencies. She'd been a free spirit from the moment they met. That being said, hearing she spent her years away traversing different countries came as no surprise to him.

Laxus shook his head, breaking the silence with a short chuckle. "You never change." Finally, he let his chilled glass settle on the table top. "You're going back now?"

"I suppose so," Lyra laughed softly under her breath. Her smile was soft as her fingers traced delicate circles around the rim of her glass, soon picking it up and finishing off what little remained within its clear confines. Setting down the now empty glass, for the last time, her deep onyx eyes scanned the space around her. "I figured I've been gone long enough…but now I think I'm just avoiding the inevitable."

What she meant was lost on him. Laxus did not know of the inevitability she spoke of, but he thought it best not to question her. Instead, he opted to act as though her soft words fell on deaf ears as he took another swig of his drink. "I never thought I'd run into you here, now." The drink in Laxus' hand hovered close to his lips now. He gazed down into the pool of beer within the mug, lost in thought.

"I could say the same to you," she placed her chin within the palm of her hand as she regarded him. "I never thought I'd ever see you without your-what are they called again?-The Thunder Knights?"

"Thunder Legion." Laxus corrected, finding himself, eyes immediately lifting up to meet hers.

"Right," she drawled, a light chuckle causing her shoulders to shake ever so. "Touchy, as always."

Laxus grumbled incoherent words under his breath, breaking his eye contact with her in favor of sipping at the drink he would eventually set down; it was beginning to feel heavy in his hand.

"What about you?" She asked, finally. "Are you coming, or going?"

"Going," he continued after several moments, "and I don't know when, or if, I'll be back."

"If?"

Laxus let out yet another sigh into the space surrounding them. He'd rather not be talking about this, but even if their last interaction had been years prior, he knew her well enough to know she wouldn't drop the subject until she had a sufficient answer.

"I hurt them," he muttered shamefully, "and I put a lot of people in danger. I've been excommunicated." Lyra's brows furrowed, causing a deep crease to form on the features of her face. She responded to his admission with silence, but Laxus knew she was merely processing it all. "The Battle of Fairy Tail, Thunder Palace… I tried to take over the guild." It was his shame. She could see it written plainly on his face. Eyes that usually gleamed with confidence were dipped in uncertainty and glossed with contempt towards his own actions.

Now, it was Lyra's turn to heave a heavy sigh. Laxus lifted his gaze just enough to observe her expression. Her brows were still furrowed and a frown had found its way onto the usually smooth skin of her face. She had always made it abundantly clear how much she disapproved of his open disrespect towards his grandfather. Naturally, she would be troubled by this news. Her facial expression seemed to be set in one akin to sorrow, but her gaze remained on him, steady and unwavering.

Their gazes caught each other, and for what seemed like endless moments they stayed that way. They were more so caught in their own inner thoughts, taking in recent happenings, and finding their own place within the disorganized puzzle of it all, for the most part. From an outsider's point of view, it must've looked like a scene from a romance: two lovers rendezvous in a dimly lit space, saying few words, yet simply gazing at each other. However, that wasn't the case at all.

Laxus began to drum his fingers against the table again, an unconscious action, and that was what brought Lyra from her trance-like thoughts. "What else has happened while I was away?"

"Too much to tell." He deadpanned, to which the tension that showed on the features of her face melted in favor of releasing a quiet laugh. "I became an S-Class mage about a year after you left."

"Well, look at you!" A wide grin tugged at the corners of her lips as she reached over and playfully nudged his unbandaged shoulder. "The scrawny boy is a man now!"

"Scrawny?" Laxus scowled at her. "I wasn't scrawny when you met me!"

"Yes, you were!" She countered, shaking her head at the memory. "For a while, I never thought you'd bulk up." Lyra flashed him a sweet smile as his face contorted into one of near exasperation. Soon, however, her smile began to fade. Instead, she looked down at her hands as they folded themselves on the table before them. "You really did it, this time…" her voice was soft and near inaudible.

Laxus had no response.

They both began to become aware of how empty the bar had become during their chat. Most patrons had long departed, with the exception of a few. The bartender busied himself with cleaning glasses and wiping down the polished wood of the bar top. The establishment that had once been filled with a mixture of hushed tones and drunken slurs, now had nothing but the occasional sound of glass touching the surfaces of wood to fill the space.

"What are you going to do now?"

"Travel around Fiore, for now. Maybe go to Crocus."

Lyra piqued at that, eyes lighting up with interest. Laxus couldn't help but notice how she leaned forward in her seat, just so, or the grin that tugged at the corners of her lips. "You could-"

No." He cut her off.

"I didn't finish." The grin never left the features of her face.

"I already know what you were going to say, and my answer is no."

"What was I going to say?"

Laxas rolled his eyes. "You were going to suggest we travel together."

"I was going to suggest a route you could take in order to see as much of Fiore as possible on your journey, but-" Her voice was sweet, and Laxus was beginning to wish he had another drink.- "since you brought it up, I'll take you up on that offer!"

"Lyra," he drawled, "you and I both know that you're just using me as an excuse to avoid going to Magnolia."

"I won't deny that," Lyra hummed, returning to her previously reclined position. "But, you've got nothing to lose, except my company."

For a moment, Laxus remained silent, neither confirming nor denying her claim. Lips pressed into a tightline, eyes narrowing slightly, he unconsciously drummed his fingers against the wood of the table. Internally, he weighed his options, but it was not whether to allow or forbid her from joining him.

Lyra looked at him unwaveringly, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. It was a look that caused Laxus to click his tongue begrudgingly. The look on the woman's face suggested she knew what his answer was going to be.

To allow or to forbid, rather the options Laxus weighed were whether he should give her the satisfaction of knowing she was right.

With a sigh, he relented. "Fine."

She smiled playfully. "I don't remember you being so suspenseful."

"A lot can change in a few years."

Lyra's lips stretch to release a soft laugh as she stood from her seat, and reach across the table to grasp his hands. Laxus followed her with his eyes until she prompted him to stand with her.

"I'm assuming you don't have a place to stay." Just an earshot away, the bartender, also owner, caught her eye. Dutifully, he polished the bar and cleaned the glasses. He had been observing them, the last remaining patrons, and upon catching her gaze he gave a short nod of approval to her yet unspoken request. With that confirmation, she returned her gaze to the taller, blonde before her. "Stay with me."

"I'm assuming I don't have a choice in the matter." Still, Laxus' eyes followed her as she set a stack of coins on the table that held their empty mugs.

Her eyes teased him as she urged him to the steps that lead to the inn portion of the building. "You have a choice." She stated, yet the challenge in her voice said otherwise.

From then on, Laxus remained silent, resigning himself to his fate. The stairs to the inn creaked heavily under the weight of their steps. As they ascended closer to their destination, the scent in the air seemed to shift from the alcohol of the bar to an odd mixture of jasmine and musk. Down the hall, farthest room to the right, they approached Lyra's room. Occasionally, they would pass a patch of peeling wallpaper or unpolished wood. Upon entering the temporary abode, the previous scent seemed to strengthen, almost causing Laxus' sensitive nose to wrinkle. The thin layer of dust that covered the furniture in the small room only emphasized the old atmosphere. Still, it was an otherwise well kept inn.

The room was small, but decent for a single occupant meant to stay a night or so. Within the confines of the four walls there was: a twin bed, a side table, a chair, and a door that led to a closet sized bathroom.

Laxus set his belongings on the table, and shrugged off his coat. He intended to find refuge on the old, cushioned chair, but was stopped by Lyra's hands on his forearm.

"You can't be serious." She regarded him skeptically.

"There's only one bed."

"You make it sound like we've never shared a bed before."

He scoffed, "I don't remember you being so forward."

"A lot can change in a few years." Lyra hummed, returning his own words. By now, she urged Laxus away from the chair. He hardly noticed how she led him to the bed until the edge hit against the back of his knees, forcing him to sit on its stiff surface. Hands on his shoulders now, Lyra coaxed Laxus onto his back, his eyes never leaving her all the while. The bed was small, but they made due; Lyra resting her head on his chest, and Laxus curling his arm around her waist.

Surely, Laxus began to feel the weight of the day as his eyes began to drift shut. In the dead of night, the only light that entered the room was that of the moon phasing through the sheer curtains that hung over the window. Peace settled over the two, with only the sounds of their soft breaths disturbing it.

"He'll let you come back," Lyra spoke into the silence, "eventually." She added.

The sound of her voice urged his eyes to open, yet Laxus didn't respond. Instead, he stared at the ceiling above. Could he really one day return after what he did? If only it were that simple. The thought alone was enough to cause a lump of regret to form in his throat, but he choked it down. He didn't know how long he stayed like that, contemplating in silence, but soon he felt her breath fall into the steady rhythm of slumber.

Ever since leaving Magnolia, Laxus had trouble sleeping; his thoughts nagged at him like endless buzzing at the back of his head. Like previous nights, this promised to be one where he would have to force himself into a state of sleep. Finally closing his eyes, he evened his breath and forced his thoughts away. Instead, he opted to focus solely on the rhythm of Lyra's breathing, matching his to hers. With that, he managed to coax himself to sleep.


A/N: Seven, Bellum, Bosco, and Sin are different countries in Earthland.

I am so excited about this story! I came up with it after drawing some Fairy Tail fan art. It was suppose to be a female version of Laxus, but in the end I made her an OC. Shortly afterwards, I also started listing to this song called Mary, Did You Know? and BOOM! That's how I came up with this story. I've gone back and forth a lot about plot details and how to develop certain characters, but I hope you'll come to love them!

Comment, and let me know how you like it so far!

I'll see you in the next chapter!