[A/N]: I don't think I've mentioned how much I love Laxana. This probably won't be my only fanfic of it.

And my chapters might get short in parts; I want one part centered around Cana, the other around Laxus, in each chapter, and a few of their parts are shorter than others.

Cana set her glass on the bar. "I should be going, Mira."

Laughter snapped in the lovely woman's eyes. "So soon? You've only had five glasses of scotch."

"And a mug of beer," Cana reminded her, laughing. "I'm going for a few errands, I'll be back in the evening."

"I'll chill a bottle for the occasion," Mira teased as Cana climbed down from her perch on the bar. She slung her purse over her shoulder and sauntered out.

The Star, huh? Old wounds?

She'd like to see him try.

She dropped her groceries at her place and walked along the river before finding a sunny spot and sitting there, feet in the water. She dealt her cards to either side of her. Shit, the Tower again? What is it with the cards and Dreyar today?

Reversed Judgment

Guilt. Hell in a handbasket. In what universe was that bastard ever guilty about anything?

Reversed World

Hesitation. Great, this hand was gonna need more cards. Cana sighed impatiently and flipped another tarot card. Swear to god, if she drew the Lovers—

Strength

"Fuck," she muttered. Almost as bad. I need to hit something. Now. She drew the last card, this time from her suit deck.

Eight of Wands

"God damn it!" Understanding and hope, my ass!

Okay, what was the grand total? The Tower; Laxus. Reversed Judgment; guilt. Reversed World; hesitation. And…Strength; Cana didn't even want to touch that one with a ten-foot pole. Eight of Wands; Understanding and hope.

"I'm gonna kill someone." She gathered up her cards in a huff; she was gonna have to return to the guild early. Hell, but she needed something to drink. Something stiff, maybe to shake some sense into her magic. Her interpretation of Strength had to be wrong.

Power of love, my ass.

"You're back early," Mira noted.

Laxus glanced down the bar. Cana was not pleased, buying a whole bottle, tearing out the cork with her bare fingers. He smirked. "Not liking the future you see?"

"Shut the fuck up," she snapped harshly. He blinked in surprise.

"Cana?" Mirajane asked softly. "What did the cards say?"

She slowly reached into her pocket for two decks of cards. She set the larger aside and drew the top four cards from the other. Taking a fifth card from the larger deck, she gestured at the arrangement she had made.

Laxus leaned closer in curiosity. Cana didn't even look at him, but she twitched her finger and a deck of cards arranged itself to spell ASS.

"Tch." He turned away and downed his drink.

"I'm sorry, Cana, I don't get it," Mira apologized.

Cana sighed. "I know." She scowled at one card in particular. Leaning in, she whispered to Mira—Laxus focused his hearing on them—"But at least I didn't draw the Lovers."

"Huh." Mira cleaned glasses, keeping her face studiously blank. "So what does the arrangement mean?"

Cana rubbed her head with one hand and sighed. "It means I should take up oracle bones, cause my cards are broken."

Laxus snorted loudly, earning himself a caustic glance that could wither a shrub.

Cana's hand tightened around the scotch, like she wanted very badly to hurl it at his head. Laxus had no doubt that she desired nothing more. But Mira touched her hand and Cana subsided. "I'll tell you when someone isn't around," she said with acid poignancy.

Laxus glanced over at the cards, trying to remember the magic lessons Gramps had given him. The card Cana was particularly upset with appeared to be Strength. What were the meanings of that one? Shit, beyond strength itself Laxus had no idea. Surreptitiously studying the other cards, he noted the Tower and the Eight of Wands.

The Tower, he knew. Lightning. And judging Cana's reaction, it couldn't mean anyone but him. The Eight of Wands was…Order? No, that was the Nine.

Hope? Understanding?

Shit, no wonder she was pissed. From Laxus' preliminary assessment of her cards, they were telling her that she and Laxus were gonna be pals.

He wouldn't stand for that.

"Cana," he said suddenly.

"What?" she snapped ungraciously.

With the hand holding his glass, he gestured at her cards. "If those are right, I suggest we keep our distance."

"Novel idea, I'll get started." She threw a few jewel on the bar and took the bottle, sauntering out. Hell, did that woman ever walk normally? Her hips just had to move that way, didn't they?

Fuck. Laxus turned back to the bar and called for another drink.