Welcome to a darker, twisted, modern Fairy Tail AU!
I started writing a high school AU a while ago, but this one had recently wiggled into my head and I like it a lot more. The characters are a bit OOC, so I'm really only using them as a base. Which I guess means this is more 'inspired by' than a pure fanfic? It also doesn't really follow the FT story line.

Obviously, I don't own Fairy Tail or any of its characters, though I like to think I own what I've done with them and these ideas.

The title is a working title because I couldn't think of a good one.

The Guild: Chapter 1

Natsu sighed as he stared out the classroom window. With his feet, clad in his usual black runners, up on the desk in front of him, he slumped in his seat just waiting for the lesson to end so he could go to lunch. No-one was bothering him, not even the teacher who was probably pissed off that he'd come in halfway through class and wasn't even listening. Natsu had only been here 3 weeks and had already made a name for himself as dangerous. No-one wanted to be the one to tell him off. With his strange, spiked, pastel-pink hair, messy uniform, permanent scarf and leather wristbands, he'd attracted attention quickly. But now, the only people who even talked to him were those who hadn't yet heard, or didn't believe, the story from his 5th day in which he'd sent 3 guys to hospital for annoying him. So, he sat, undisturbed in maths class, waiting for the bell, thinking to himself. Asking himself why he was even in class at all. Oh yeah, because he'd promised Gramps and Gildarts. Because if he didn't he'd potentially lose all his freedom. And because she'd asked him to. He involuntarily winced slightly just at the thought of her disappointed face if he stopped attending classes. He wished, for the thousandth time, that she was there with him.

The bell finally rang and Natsu calmly swung his legs down, rising from his seat and heading out the door. He ignored everybody on the way to his favourite spot. He nearly asked himself how the hell this had happened, but it was kind of hard to forget. He'd been going to a small high school halfway across the country from here, full of friends and people he thought of as family, but then it had suddenly been taken away from him. Some stupid government authority had arrested Headmaster Makarov (known to the kids as Gramps or Master), apparently on claims of 'brainwashing defenseless children into taking part in an underground fight club' or something. It was all bullshit. As Lucy had so eloquently said at the court hearing, Gramps had taken in a lot of orphans or kids from troubled backgrounds, given them somewhere to live and an education, while also helping them learn self-defense. A lot of them had come from really dangerous situations, Lucy included. So what if it had sort of turned into an underground fight scene? That was mostly out of Makarov's hands, he'd just tried to make sure none of them got killed in the process. It turned out that they couldn't find him guilty of anything serious because all the students had spoken out in defence of him and every teacher at the school. It had been hell for about 2 weeks. They'd been interrogated by police and youth psychologists. Someone had tried to tell him he had anger issues and 'borderline pyromania', but he hadn't seen how either of those things were relevant. Except that his anger problems had nearly made things worse in the courtroom when the arsehole lawyer person had accused Gramps of some pretty horrid things and he'd jumped the barrier in an attempt to punch his lights out. Eventually some of his friends had to pin him (the normal security guards had been no match) and he'd only stopped when Makarov finally said his name and then Lucy had called him back. He hadn't been allowed to stay at the hearing after that, but apparently they'd tried to use his problems against the school headmaster, saying he was to blame.

The next day they'd allowed him to return, though bound by a promise to neither blow up the court nor attack anyone inside it, and his friends had done their part. He'd watched, proudly, as Lucy had taken the stand. She was so smart and brave. She'd answered all questions with a brilliant, composed grace, saying exactly the right things. Though then they'd tried to ask her about her past and she'd shut them down saying the police were aware and it was entirely irrelevant to the case. She was one of the few that hadn't joined as a child and made a pretty good case that there was no brainwashing or kidnapping occurring. Erza had been next, and him and Gray had sniggered at the mean lawyer cowering under her deathly gaze. He'd been the focus of that glare many times, it was nice to see it directed at someone who deserved it. She'd been equally composed and graceful, with her head head held high, though less good with words than Lucy. A few others spoke, including Gray, and then it was his turn. He'd hated the interrogation in front of everybody. A glare from Erza and a smile from Lucy had kept him from losing his temper, but it had been hard work. He'd answered all questions, grinding his teeth when they were phrased in a way that attacked Gramps. Then they'd asked about his adoptive father, Igneel, who had disappeared when he was a kid. They'd said that Natsu's claim that Igneel was a member of the Dragons (a semi-legendary special forces corp) was fictional and a product of brainwashing. They'd said it had to be because the Dragons weren't even real. Natsu had heard Wendy burst into tears and Gajeel yelling in defence of their parents (his father and Wendy's mother had also been Dragons), but Natsu had just entirely shut down. His face went blank and he refused to even respond to any further questions. The psychologist person had then stepped in, saying something about protecting his mental health. He hadn't actually minded that person, liking that they cared for this kids, even if they tried to throw around stupid disorders like 'stockholm syndrome'. He didn't really remember what had happened after that. A few more people had been questioned, but none of them had budged in their defence. Gramps' defence lawyer had used that well. In the end, Makarov had been stripped off all his teacher qualifications and rankings, and banned from ever working in a school or with children again, but that had been it. No jail.

Unfortunately, some people had also decided that it was healthy for the kids to be split up. Something about learning to function in normal society. Natsu had thought it was a load of crap, as did all his friends, but they'd accepted it, knowing they would find a way to reunite. So, Lucy had been sent home to her abusive father (because they didn't know about that part and she refused to tell them). The policeman had nearly choked when he'd found out who her father was. Natsu had laughed at his reaction. The police certainly didn't expect to have the daughter of one of the country's most dangerous Mafia leaders in their custody, and they certainly didn't expect her to refuse all offers in exchange for information. Lucy held that information as insurance against her father, for her own safety. She wasn't about to lose that. Then they'd still sent her away. Back to that monster. Gray had been sent to live with his older sister and brother. None of them were blood related, but Gray and Lyon had been adopted by Ultears biological mother years ago, but then she'd died and Gray had joined the school. So, Ultear, being old enough to be considered legal guardian, took him back. Of course, they were in on the whole fighting thing, but apparently they'd made a damn good show of acting normal and being shocked and all that. Erza had just turned 18, so she was allowed to live by herself, but was offered support. She'd turned it down. Natsu didn't even know what had happened to Gajeel and Juvia. Someone had said they'd been returned to their previous guardian, Jose. He didn't think that was true. Jose was bad news, but he'd disappeared after a bit of a turf war with their school. He knew that Wendy had been taken in by Porlyusica, a doctor that was a bit gruff, but had helped out in the school infirmary a lot (including after fights), so she knew the students. That was good. It meant the young girl was in safe, known, hands. Then there was Natsu. They'd decided Natsu was high risk and moved him first, which is why he was here with no-one else. They'd let him live by himself due to 'exceptional circumstances' and then enrolled him in this 'as-normal-as-possible' high school. A nice lady had let him rent a small, 2 room shack near the edge of town, and the government gave him an allowance, but all of this was hinging on him actually attending school. He had to keep his grades at a certain level and meet with a psychologist once a month (that appointment was coming up soon) or they would put him in a highly controlled facility (meaning Juvenile Detention, probably). Natsu wasn't stupid. He hadn't objected, he'd talked to them, he hadn't lost his temper, and he just generally tried to act normal like they wanted. He played along. And waited.

Unfortunately, Natsu's introduction to 'normal' schooling hadn't really gone to plan. If he were any other kid in other circumstances he probably would have at least been suspended, if not expelled, in the short 3 weeks he'd attended. Not that he'd meant to screw up. He'd pretty much kept to himself as much as possible; sitting up the back of class and talking to no-one. Teachers had tried to engage him but I few silent glares had put an end to that. Then, at lunchtime on the Friday of his first week, some boys had tried to pick on him. He'd flat out ignored them at first but reacted when they said something that insulted his family. He didn't even remember what was said, but without his friends around to control him, he'd let his anger get the best of him. Ambulances were called and Natsu was sent home for the day. Midway through the following week, Natsu had been caught playing with his fire-twirling gear during lunch. He didn't see what the problem was, he hadn't set anything important on fire. It got worse when they searched his bag for more stuff and had found his knives and brass knuckles. Apparently weapons aren't allowed on school grounds. After that, he was left alone again. Which was supposed to be a good thing, except that Natsu wasn't without emotions and did actually get lonely. He missed his old friends. He hoped they join him soon, his anxiety was kicking in. They were still coming, right? They were the only people he trusted to not abandon him. Lucy wouldn't abandon him. She'd promised. God, he missed her.

Some of the para breaks feel in an odd spot, because I just tried to break up a really long background explanation. The middle 3 paras are essentially as one, it just looks easier to read this way.

Hope you like the start of this! If you find any errors, let me know. I try to proofread but sometimes I miss something.