Notes: Thanks for the response! I'll endeavor to learn different ways to put sentences together (and figure out how to format again. It's been a while!)
Disclaimer: I do not own (in any way, shape, or form) Fairy Tail. I simply enjoy watching and reading it. None of this has changed since the first chapter, it's still true.
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There are some times when ideas start kicking around in your head, they become impossible to ignore. The key, as Laxus was learning, was when to stop obsessing. (Putting selfish wants in front of family and friends' needs is not okay, by the way. A lesson he'd never forget again.) It was hard for him still though, trying to relax around everyone once more. Bravado is fine in battle, but only playfully alright with your guild mates and he had to try so very hard to rein himself in sometimes.
Normally he'd just stay out of everyone's business, but that Lucy chick was staring again. (At first he wondered if he'd taken her favorite bench or something, but she doesn't seem the type to stare at him because of that.) What'd she want? Was this just where she looked to zone out and he was just being especially paranoid? This had been going on for a week or so, and any time he asked Mira, she just smiled and waved him off.
So what did he know about Lucy… blonde. Good boobs (he's not blind! Absolutely he'll look when the goods are on display.) Celestial spirit mage. Is a part of Natsu's bunch. …writing a novel? Laxus was pretty sure he'd heard Levy talk to her about that. So not much on the Lucy knowledge front then. Bickslow said something about how she's a cheerleader, maybe? Well, she dresses like one sometimes, anyway.
Opting to try to ignore Lucy's gaze once more, Laxus looked towards Freed only to be met with an unfortunate sight. "Aw, man, Freed, don't just stare, go help Elfman!" he grumbled. That poor lug can't ever catch a break, but it was his own fault for "secretly" dating Evergreen. He was pretty sure not even the manliest of men could handle his fairy mage friend. Couldn't blame Elfman for trying, though. "Ever, shouldn't you be nicer to your boyfriend?" Laxus intoned with try amusement.
"He's not my boyfriend!" she replied a little too shrilly, puffing up with indignation, "I would never date someone who turns to stone so easily."
Laxus just couldn't help but give her a knowing look, "Right. Just destine him or whatever." Smiling slightly at her frustration, and the two men of the Thunder Legion as they poked and prodded Elfman until he turned back into flesh, Laxus felt a little more at ease. (Freed, ever the gentleman, offered to get the flustered take-over mage a drink. He had such a gentle heart he was surprised the green haired man had gone along with his plan at Fantasia time for as long as he had.)
A soft huff escaped the lightning dragon slayer and he looked back down at his beer. What had he done to deserve this loyalty, exactly? Was what Freed said true, and it was the kindness he tried at first to keep hidden need in his heart somewhere that allowed everyone to welcome him back so easily? He was trying to loosen up, to be what his Fairy Tail family wanted him to be, but it—oh she's got to stop looking over here, it's impossible to be brooding when someone's giving you this much attention. "Excuse me", he muttered to his companions, pushing away from their table and starting over to Lucy at the bar. Freed watched him go curiously, then grinned and went back to teasing Elfman and Evergreen with Bickslow.
"So can I help you with something, or do you just find me that irresistible to look at?" 'Smooth, Laxus. Go on and scare her by pretending to flirt…'
Lucy, for her part, turned beet red. "Oh, Laxus! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to be rude…"
"You've been looking at me every day that you were here for a week. Really, if you've got a problem with me, I'd rather just settle up." 'Damn it, talking to nice people you don't normally speak to is hard! Stop being scary, Laxus, you can do this.'
"N-n-no problem", the guild suddenly seemed eerily quiet, "I was just thinking about how we never talk." She finally managed to stammer out. It was pretty hard to believe the potential mess she'd just gotten herself into! How could she not have realized how often she looked over! Thank heavens for Natsu, who chose that moment to barrel into the hall, making a beeline straight for Lucy in excitement.
"Hey, Lucy! You won't believe what Happy and I found!"
The celestial mage was even more grateful at his tension popping interruption, smiling a little softly when the noise in the hall started to pick up again. "Natsu, I'm a little busy r—"
"LAXUS!" the fire dragon slayer exclaimed energetically, "Ready for that rematch?"
Laxus gave Natsu an annoyed but amused glance, "No, but give me a second and you can pester Lucy some more", he managed before fending off a telegraphed fire punch and easily batting Natsu to the floor.
"Oh alright" the pink haired young man whined, but he immediately perked up again, jumping up from the ground, "but you'd better be ready to fight me again someday! I'm gonna take you down, Laxus!"
Smirking, Laxus eyed Natsu with a cocky air, "Yeah, okay. But now you've gotta leave for a second so I can go back to talking to blondie here." (And if Laxus chose to ignore how that nickname made Lucy look a little more annoyed than she did before, what was the harm in it? Annoyed was good. Annoyed was relatable and definitely understandable.) Turning his attention completely back on Lucy served two purposes, getting Natsu all riled up and furthering the initial conversation, "Anyway, listen. I'm sorry for what I did, and if I scare you, I'm sorry about that too. But could you knock off the staring? Just come talk to me about it instead, no matter what it is." Never in a thousand years did he think she'd smile at him like she was. It was like a small weight was being lifted off his chest.
"Thanks, Laxus. I'm the one who should be sorry though." Lucy said at last, standing (and then promptly trying to stay upright as an impatient Natsu started pulling her away out of the guild.) "Sorrygottagobye!"
The muscular blonde man sighed in exasperation and turned to Mira, "Kids these days, huh?"
Mirajane smiled sweetly at him (and her smile always felt like it meant more somehow), "Well you have built quite the reputation. I thought that was a very mature thing of you to say to her." Laxus made a soft dismissive sound at that, then looked over at the warm smile he could just feel in his bones. 'Grandpa…' "She's right you know, Laxus. You've come a long way." Makarov rumbled fondly. This only earned another dismissive (embarrassed) noise from his grandson. It had been a clumsy effort from Laxus, to be sure, but it was a huge step forward.
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Thanks for reading, please review if you feel like it.
