The Black Guard
Chapter Two: Settle Down
Gray pulled Raven to sit down on a stool before the bar, and he felt like someone was smiling at him brightly. Raven looked over his shoulder to see a woman in her early twenties, possibly a year or two younger than that. She smiled at him kindly, and walked over.
"Hello, Gray! Who's your friend?" She asked Gray, leaning on the counter.
"He's not really my friend," Gray stated, before grinning. "I just like the vibe he gives off. This is Raven," Gray introduced, placing a hand on one of Raven's shoulders. The golden eyed male flinched slightly at the contact but relaxed, letting out a toothy grin.
"Yo." Mira smiled and nodded, turning to face Raven.
"I'm Mirajane Strauss, I work here at the bar," she said, holding out a hand. Raven stared at it as if it was some sort of foreign creature, making Gray sigh, and Mirajane laugh slightly. He hesitantly reached out and shook it with his flesh-and-bone hand, very slowly. This only made Mirajane laugh harder. "What's got you so nervous?" She asked after settling down. Raven looked at the bar, at his organic hand.
"I...haven't shaken someone's hand in six years," he confessed, and the two looked at him in surprise.
"Gray." Another voice chipped in. It was feminine, Raven noted. Gray stiffened before turning around, and Raven could swear he was sweating bullets.
"Hey, Erza," Gray greeted nervously. Raven looked over his shoulder (yet again) to see an armor-clad woman with scarlet hair. She reminded Raven of Elesis.
"Greetings," she stated in return before turning to Raven. "And you are..?"
"Raven," he stated, grinning. Erza was a bit shocked with this new young man. The aura he was giving off would strangle her if she wasn't careful. Suffocating. Heavy. Strong.
But not an ounce of Magic Energy.
"Pleased to meet you, Raven," Erza nodded to him in respect, making Gray gape. The Erza bowing in respect? He thought not. "I am Erza Scarlett."
"Yeah," Raven nodded before turning to Mirajane. "We can get a drink, right?" She nodded. " 'You have any tea?" Mirajane stared at Raven, surprised. "What're you starin' at?" He asked, raising a brow.
"O-Oh, no, sorry, you just don't seem like the type to drink tea..." Mirajane laughed nervously, rubbing her nape in a nervous manner. Raven stared at her in an unimpressed fashion before leaning his chin on his palm and looking to his right. It smelled heavily of booze.
"Raven, huh?" A slurred voice asked, and Raven's brow twitched in annoyance as his eyes met those of a drunken woman. "Man, your eyes are weird~," she commented, words slurred once again.
"Come now, Cana, sit up properly..." An aged voice chided, and Raven averted his gaze slightly to his left to see an old (and very tiny) man standing on the bar. He had black eyes and was growing bald with only the outer rims of his head growing white hair. The short man also had a thick mustache.
"Like you're one to talk, old man," Raven stated, taking the offered cup of green tea and sipping it slightly, letting the hot liquid cover his tongue before swallowing.
It had been a long time since he had been able to taste things.
"Oho? Who are you?" The old man asked, turning to Raven with a brow raised. Raven stiffened, feeling the strong air the old midget was giving off. Raven closed his eyes before taking a long gulp, and finishing the cup of tea, slamming it back down on the table.
"You already know who I am, old man."
The old man chuckled.
"Yes, I do. Welcome to Fairy Tail, Raven! My name is Makarov Dreyar, Fairy Tail's Guild Master," Makarov said, and Raven grunted, showing that he had heard the short man. "I got word about you from Mavis..." Raven almost choked on his spit and turned to look at Makarov, clearly startled. "Would you like to join Fairy Tail?"
Raven had only just noticed it now, but apparently the entire Guild had been listening in on their conversation.
"Wow, that's an amazing arm!" Someone commented from behind him, and Raven turned to see a short girl with blue hair and large eyes. She had a yellow band in her hair to keep it from falling into her face, and a yellow dress to go with it. "My name's Levy McGarden," she greeted with a large smile. Raven stared at her for a moment before grinning and doing a two-finger salute.
"Yo, I'm Raven. As you've probably heard about six times by now." A few laughs rippled through the group before the golden-eyed boy turned to Makarov. "Lemme think about it." Makarov nodded.
"And I suppose you don't have anywhere to stay?" Makarov asked, and Raven blushed slightly. Everyone laughed, making Raven glare at them all, shouting: "SHUT UP!"
"Hm..." Raven glared over his shoulder, but the heated look faltered slightly when he saw who it was. "Yo. I haven't seen you in a while."
"Hey, if it ain't the Lone Wolf!" Raven grinned, fist bumping said Iron Dragon Slayer.
"Hey, don't call me that, Ironclad, I go by Gajeel Redfox now," Gajeel grinned, clasping hands with his friend. "How was life back with Elsword? Still boring as hell?" Gajeel asked, pulling up a stool before plopping himself down on it.
"You think?" Raven rolled his eyes, neither of the boys realizing the whole guild was listening in. "And I go by Raven." Gajeel chuckled. "The weird ghost girl brought me here and made me 7 years younger," Raven growled, scowling. Gajeel laughed loudly, slapping the bar as he did so.
"No wonder you look like a brat!" Raven glared at Gajeel.
"Shut the f-"
"Wait, Raven! How do you know this bastard!" Natsu butted in, placing a hand on the raven-haired boy's shoulder. Raven looked up at Natsu, his (permanent) scowl deepening slightly.
"Why d'you wanna know?" He asked in a menacing tone. The pressure in the room seemed to increase, the temperature lowering slightly. Natsu shivered and backed away slightly at Raven's glare.
"Because you aren't from around here," Levy reasoned. Raven turned to her and stared at her for a moment before shrugging.
"I know Gajeel 'cuz he's from where I'm from," Raven stated vaguely, before turning to Makarov. "Hey, old man. I've decided."
He pointed to the center of his chest and smirked.
"Right here. And make it black."
Makarov smiled, and took out the stamp.
That was the day, the hour, the second, that Raven officially wiped his past clean, and started a new life.
