The Son
. . .
"None of them understand," the man muttered under his breath as he drew a hand through his thick locks. "This Guild could be so much stronger. But there's no vision." He sighed. "I plan to change that."
The man had another, hidden motive as well. He desperately wanted to grab the attention of his father. He'd never truly known the man, but perhaps if he got wind of what his son managed to accomplish, he'd come back into his life. He'd reached out to him several times as he grew up. Ivan and his Raven Tail Guild had become somewhat famous for those who knew of him. But each request for a meeting and every inquiry made had gone unanswered.
He rolled his shoulders trying to relieve the tension, his tattooed body flexing with the movement. He allowed his magic to fill him, delighting in the powerful feeling it gave him. One of his teammates approached him, always a bit cautious around him when he activated his magic this way.
"Hey boss, the plan's all set. Just waiting on you to say go."
He turned around and grinned at his dark haired friend. "Go."
The plan was perfect, because he had thought of it himself. And he could watch from his place overlooking the town to make sure things went according to plan. If something got off track, he'd be able to use his magic to get in quickly and rectify. "Are you watching, father? Take note of how strong your son has become!"
. . .
Sitting in his Guild's infirmary, he still didn't quite understand how things had gone off track so quickly. His plan had been tight and if everyone had just kept to their assigned tasks, he'd be in charge of more than just his Guild now.
He scowled, trying to ignore the pain from his injuries. "Weak. Every last one of them. They couldn't even withstand a fight with those assholes."
"Hey boss," another of his teammates approached the door to the sick bay tentatively.
"What?" he immediately spat back at the man. He cowered slightly before moving aside. "Someone is here to see you."
The man's eyes widened as Ivan Dreyar walked through the infirmary door. He was even more intimidating in person. His dark features created a sense of mystery about him and the golden armor he wore topped with a fur lined cloak made him seem larger than life. A few shikigami dolls circled around him, almost as if they were his guards.
"Father, you're here?" He could barely believe what he was seeing.
"Leave us," Ivan directed and the one that had made the announcement quickly bolted from the room. Ivan closed the door behind him and strode over to stand in front of the bed. His son tried to stand but he put his hand up. "Stay seated. You're injured."
"Like hell," he'd responded. But as he tried to stand up, Ivan raised his voice.
"I told you to stay seated." His son widened his eyes and nodded his head before staying in the bed. "Well, you got my attention. Is that what you were after with all this?"
The son began to open his mouth but Ivan continued. "It worked. I was impressed."
"But, I failed. I didn't accomplish my objective," he responded in disbelief.
"I wouldn't necessarily say that's true. You were able to strike fear into the hearts of many and make them fear your name. Besides, your plan would have worked if your teammates weren't so weak. And that is not necessarily your fault. We often must work with what we are given." Ivan went quiet for a minute. "You've proven yourself worthy. As my son, I would like you to join my Guild." Ivan fixed his son with a hard look, as if sizing him up. "Will you join me, Erigor?"
A smile spread across Erigor's face as he clasped his father's hand. "Without hesitation."
. . .
Ivan was a ruthless leader and Erigor learned much from him over the next several years. The rest of the guild members had left for the evening and the two found themselves alone in the central hall. "Do you even remember my mother?" Erigor finally found the courage to ask.
Ivan scratched his black beard and pondered the question. "Weather mage. Silver hair." He smiled. "Pretty thing. But fuck if I can remember her name."
Erigor grit his teeth, trying not to get angry. He had no illusions about who his father was and he had had his fair share of one-night stands himself, but still. "Her name was Leda," he responded quietly.
"Was?" Ivan cocked his head.
Erigor scoffed. "I guess you didn't know. She died in childbirth with me. I was raised as an orphan."
Ivan's eyes widened at hearing this. "Are you sure?" This can't be right. She died just like Emilia-no, Emilia isn't dead. He must be mistaken.
"That's what I was told. And I at least I know that I didn't grow up with a mother." Erigor looked at his father and was surprised to see real emotion on his face. The news must have shaken him somehow.
The pair sat in uncomfortable silence before Erigor tried to clear the air. "You were going to tell me your plans for the Grand Magic Games?"
Ivan stayed silent, leaning his arms on both his legs. Erigor cleared his throat and Ivan sat up. "Right, sorry. Yes, the Grand Magic Games." Erigor narrowed his eyes. He knew his father had his fair share of secrets but he had never seen the man so visibly shaken before. Ivan prided himself in always appearing strong and never letting his guard down.
"I've gathered some information on Laxus." Erigor sneered and Ivan cast him a disapproving look. "You may find that you two are more alike than you know. He went through a similar move with Fairy Tail as you did with Eisenwald. Got kicked out. Went to live in Bosco for a while." Ivan laughed. "I bet that was fun."
Erigor rolled his eyes and nodded. "Sure."
"Anyways, I think it's time we get his attention. Apparently he's back with Fairy Tail but I'd say it's clear where his true allegiance lies. He'll be our most powerful asset. I made sure of that when he was very young."
. . .
Erigor seethed. His father had finally left for the evening and the son stayed behind, nursing his anger over some brandy. "Why does he need Laxus when he's got me? He talks about him like he's better than me." He knocked back the last of his drink before slamming his glass down on the bar.
"As if who's better than you?"
Erigor turned to look at who had just come through the door. "Oh, it's you, Flare." The weather mage narrowed his eyes at the redhead. "What are you doing here so late?"
The girl scoffed and walked behind the bar. "I frequently raid the bar at night when I can't sleep. Want some company?"
Erigor smiled at her boldness before pouring himself another brandy. "So how did dear old dad recruit you to this place?"
Flare shrugged as she poured herself a shot of honey rum. "Didn't take much convincing on his part. I grew up pretty removed from things. I wanted to experience being part of a Guild. Why not join one that aimed to be the most powerful. Seemed like a good idea to me."
"Still seem like a good idea?" Erigor asked into his drink.
Flare knocked back her own shot before walking around the bar to sit next to the weather mage. She placed a hand on his thigh and bit her lip before responding, "depends on what you're up for tonight."
Erigor didn't waste any time. Pulling the redhead into his lap, he smashed his lips against hers. He'd eyed her since they'd first been introduced but hadn't acted on his desires. But if she willingly offered herself to him, he certainly wouldn't refuse.
Flare was gorgeous. A little crazy but still within the crazy hot matrix to be a go. And that red dress she wore on a daily basis basically screamed come and fuck me. Erigor was honestly surprised he had help out this long before making a move on her.
She broke the kiss with a bite to his lower lip, taking the opportunity to remove her gloves before thrusting her hands up under his black tunic. He lifted his arms to allow her to remove it and her hands began to roam his skin. "I've always wanted you," she said as she began to trail her tongue along his tattoos. Ever since I first saw you I knew I wanted to fuck you.
Erigor's eyes rolled into the back of his head as he leaned back against the bar and let her continue to explore his body. He'd never felt harder than he did right then and they had just gotten started. Flare knew her way around a man's body. She didn't hesitate or try and tease him before releasing his firm erection from the confines of his trousers.
Stroking him slowly at first he hissed as he felt her tongue begin to explore the underside of his shaft. Before long, she was working her delicious mouth over his cock and he was trying his best not to tumble over the end.
Finally stopping her movements with a gentle touch to her face, he brought her back up to him for a kiss before it was his turn to explore her body. He barely had to move the bits of material covering her chest aside before she was fully exposed to him. She was balancing in his lap as he began to trail kisses down her neck. HIs palm came up to cup her soft mound and she moaned, tilting her head back further.
Moving his mouth down, he suckled at her breast and she breathed his name out in pleasure. "Oh god, baby I need to get this off of you," Erigor whispered and Flare opened her eyes. Standing, she let the dress fall to the floor and Erigor looked on in reverence at her beautiful figure.
He grinned before lifting her up and placing her on the bar. She leaned back and watched his movements and a smile lit her own face when he placed his face between her legs and began to lick her into ecstasy. She came fully into his mouth after a few minutes of his ministrations. Unable to hold on any longer, Erigor picked her up and turned her around so that she could grab onto the bar.
Lining himself up with her entrance, he whispered against her ear, "Scream for me" before slamming himself into her. And she did scream his name as he stretched her, his thick erection filling her before he began to move at a punishing pace.
She held onto the barstool, moaning his name as the two found bliss through their coupling. When the pair had finally recovered, opting to move to one of the sofa lounges, Erigor took another drag on his cigarette before Flare spoke. "I don't think you should go."
"Huh?" he responded, cocking his head to the side.
"To the Grand Magic Games," she clarified. "This is Ivan's issue with this Laxus guy. He may be your half brother but I wouldn't help him replace you."
Erigor furrowed his brow, thinking about her words. "You know how he is about orders. It would mean serious trouble for me when he returned."
She shrugged her shoulders, her breasts bouncing lightly, still not having put her clothes back on. "Maybe. Unless you can convince him you're better used elsewhere."
Erigor took another puff of tobacco before he chuckled. "Right. And how might I do that?"
Flare frowned slightly. "Isn't there some weird thing he's after from that Fairy Tail Guild. Maybe you could claim you were doing reconnaissance while everyone was out."
Flare didn't have all the details about the Lumen Histoire. To be fair, no one but Ivan did, however she was on to something. It would be the perfect time for Erigor to do some scouting on this hidden power the Guild was keeping. And it would help him avoid having to assist his own brother in potentially threatening his place in the Guild.
Erigor pulled Flare in close, placing a kiss to her temple. "You're fucking fantastic."
She just grinned before responding, "I know."
. . .
Laxus shifted on the couch as he watched Lucy fiddle with trying to get the lacrimavision to work. It still amazed him that after everything they had been through, the girl had agreed to move in with him. Well, perhaps moving in implied more than it should. Given that her apartment lease had been terminated when she and the others had been reported missing, she had nowhere to go. Rent had increased in the city during the time they were in slumber and the girl had barely been able to keep up with her payments seven years ago. As she put it, her savings was spent, literally.
Laxus had been truly pleased when she agreed to his proposition. No matter where she ended up, he had plans to rent a place right next to her so he would be able to protect her until the Mating bond wore off. But her agreeing to stay with him at his house made all of that much easier. Freed had placed the strongest of runes around his house when it was first built, so the two could relax when they were here.
And they had the place all to themselves. Bickslow had paid off his townhome years ago and his father had continued to pay the real estate taxes for him while he was gone, so he had a place to go. Evergreen opted to stay with Bickslow for a while, saying something about not wanting to intrude on Lucy and Laxus' time together. Laxus had rolled his eyes at that; the woman was almost as bad as Mira.
"There, I think I got it to work!" Lucy said with pride as she walked back over to the couch.
"What are we watching?" Laxus asked, trying not to notice the fact that she was wearing micro pink shorts and a tank top that left little to the imagination.
"The Royal Tenenbaums!" Lucy exclaimed, like that was supposed to mean something to Laxus.
"And what's it about, exactly?"
Lucy tapped her lip. She opened her mouth and then closed it again before finally saying, "I guess you could say it's about a dysfunctional family."
Laxus chuckled. "Like either of us don't have enough of that in our lives already."
Lucy frowned and turned to face the large blond. "This may be the wrong time to ask this, but I never got the specifics of what happened between you and your father."
Laxus ran a hand through his hair. "Wanting to trade bad father stories, huh? I'm pretty sure I've got you beat."
Lucy moved in closer to Laxus. The two had become much more physical since their awakening, often finding themselves holding hands or embracing when they saw each other. Lucy just crawled into his lap and he put his arms around her, feeling an overwhelming sense of calm take him. "You're safe with me."
Laxus sighed, letting his head fall against her and revelling in the scent of her hair. "You sure you want to know?"
"Only if telling will make you feel better," she responded instantly.
Laxus had to think about that. He'd carried the weight and the guilt of what had happened with his father with him for most of his adult life. Hell, he hadn't even found out until recently that the lacrima his father implanted contained an actual living soul. He doubted his father even fully knew what he had done.
But at the same time, the idea of sharing the weight with someone else, letting go of some of the burden of keeping what had happened a secret, was tempting. So Laxus took a deep breath, and proceeded to tell Lucy everything that had happened some twenty-two years ago. When he had finished, Lucy just sat there, stunned.
"Pretty fucked up, right?" Laxus chuckled softly, trying to break the silence.
"Oh my god, Laxus. I never knew," she said, moving in to hug him tightly.
Laxus relaxed into her hold and sighed, "You're the only one that does. I never even managed to tell Gramps what really happened that night. It was just," he sighed, "the betrayal. I think I understand his motives now. Or at least, I understand that he was still twisted up about mom, but to manipulate me into thinking I was receiving some gift, to make me actually ask for him to hurt me that way, it's," his words trailed off.
"It's totally fucked up," Lucy finished for him. "And I'm sorry you've been carrying that around in you. I promise I'll keep it safe," Lucy vowed, pulling back and looking into his eyes.
Laxus returned her gaze and before he could stop himself, he was moving forward, intent on capturing her lips with his. He succeeded but only briefly before Lucy pulled back. "Laxus, you're hurting, are you sure?"
"Lucy, I've never been more sure of anything in my life." As he said the words, he pulled her closer to him again so that they were forehead to forehead. His hands held her firmly against him and he spoke with conviction. "Lucy, I love you. I've always loved you. And that's so unfair. You deserve so much better than the fuck up I am. But I can't help what I feel for you."
Lucy didn't need to hear anything else the man had to say. She knew it all. She knew his self loathing and hatred ran deep and stemmed from issues she couldn't herself solve for him. But she'd known since they woke up, still remembering the dreams they had experienced, that she was in love with him. She just didn't think it would be fair to tell him when he was trying to make amends for the botched Mating. Lucy valued freedom above all else and she would never willingly shackle a man to her out of guilt.
So she pushed her lips back against his, pouring all her emotion into the kiss. It stayed a gentle kiss, nothing one might expect from the feral dragon slayer but, it was heartfelt and full of emotion. As the two of them worked their lips against one anothers, it was as if they were erasing all the doubts, fears and insecurities that had developed over the last eight years away, opting instead to trust one another.
