Rain clung to his suit and stained the fabric. Jellal wasn't too worried. He paid his staff well. They'd find a way to get the staining out or they would make the suit disappear and find something to replace it with. The only one he'd notice missing was the one his father gave to him when he turned twenty-one and joined the family business.

At the edge of the park where the crush stone path met the road, Laxus waited patiently beside the '29 Studebaker President FB, hip pressing into the spare tire behind the front wheel well. He pulled his thick cigar out of his mouth to examine the cherry. Seemed like the rain hadn't been treating him good.

"You could have waited inside," Jellal said.

"I couldn't stand his voice."

"That Strauss girl came through then?" Jellal asked.

Laxus' smile was crooked. "She needed some coercion but eventually told me her brother spotted him on Brigade Avenue. From there, wasn't so hard, was it? He's always liked fire. I found him pretty quick."

"And Strauss wasn't interested in why you were askin'?"

Laxus said, "Told you, her girlfriend there got fired and she didn't give a damn about me."

"Good." Jellal peeked into the backseat window. Natsu Dragneel needed to bleach his dark hair again and there was something new stabbed through his lip that Jellal had never seen anyone else around these parts wear. Natsu saw him looking through the window and lifted his favourite finger in his favourite salute.

"That's the politest he's been."

"What's he got in his face?"

"I asked. He called it a lip ring," Laxus said.

"Where did he get that from?"

Laxus looked at him blandly. "I didn't get the details, boss."

"I see." It looked like something that could be torn out if Natsu pissed off the wrong people. Which he was constantly doing. "Did he say where he put Gajeel's car?"

"He claims that after he and Heartfilia's girl used it to make a break for it, he sold it." Laxus' smile widened. "I can't wait to tell Gajeel."

Jellal said, "We shouldn't let him get killed. I plan on taking over the Den and I want her members to be in tact."

"If you say so," Laxus said. He looked over Jellal's shoulder and Jellal followed his gaze. On the opposite side of the park, Erza had gathered herself up from her bench and was slowly walking toward the road on the north side of the park. "Scarlet's not joining us?"

Jellal shook his head. "Not yet." That was just as well. Easing her into working for him would be best; she would balk for sure after today. The sky started falling harder.

"You think we should offer her a ride? It's raining."

"She's got my umbrella," Jellal said. He left Laxus' side to get into the passenger's seat.

Natsu spoke from the back. "Long time, Jellal."

"Weed?" Jellal took his cigarettes out of his pocket and handed it on back.

"Finally, someone that knows how to be civil—"

It'd be better if he wasn't wearing rings; it would have hurt less. Jellal's knuckles sang; Natsu always had a hard head and punching him always fucking hurt. Natsu hadn't been expecting the sharp jab but he recovered quickly and pushed Jellal's hand aside. He didn't get in a hit of his own. Laxus reached into the back seat and pushed him hard against the doorframe.

"You take what's coming to you, Dragneel, and you say thank you, Mister Fernandez, because it's going to be good treatment."

Natsu pushed Laxus' hands aside, too, and wiped his slowly bleeding cheek. Laxus took his handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to Jellal. Jellal cleaned his knuckles. "That's for stealing."

"I never stole anything from you."

"Remember that time you took my Corvette?"

"Okay, once."

"And you took off with Gajeel's Coupe. Which is just as good as taking from me."

"I needed—"

"On top of all that, though, you don't respect my properties, the lines I've written in this city, you just go wherever the hell you want, whenever you want—"

"If you're talking about when I had everyone gather at Bristol, the Dreg House was burning and—"

"I am talking about that time but there have been others, haven't there?"

Natsu got quiet.

"Where were you staying when you ran away, Natsu?"

"I rented a house by a beach," he said easily.

"And on your way back? Stop in Clover?"

He shied away from Jellal's gaze. Jellal already knew the answer but he pushed anyway, wanting to hear it from Natsu.

"Did you perhaps stop at a farmhouse on Eighth Concession?"

"It was just some abandoned place," Natsu said. "What about it?"

"It wasn't just some abandoned place and you know it. I don't know how you know it, mind. The only explanation I've got is you listen just a little too much when you shouldn't. Apparently nothing fucking sticks in that thick skull of yours except the things you shouldn't know about."

Natsu rubbed his cheek again; it was swelling. "I just heard you and Laxus talk about a safe house one night over poker, okay? I had the cops on me and I needed a place to lay low."

Jellal was back to being furious. "Drive, Laxus." The Studebaker came alive with a roar and the accelerator was depressed.

"If you're bringing me back to teach me a lesson, forget it," Natsu said. Jellal thought he was being brazen to the last but it seemed that he had more important things to do, for once, than argue. "I learned it. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

An apology of that caliber from Natsu Dragneel was odd enough but to get it so sincerely and quickly? "Take us to Bristol Avenue, Laxus."

"Okay, apology not accepted, apparently. If you're going to get a lesson in, it doesn't have to be at Bristol," Natsu said and added, "Right here's fine."

"You got that Heartfilia girl waiting for you?"

Even more surprising than an apology was Natsu's candidness. "Yeah."

"Hm. I sympathize but I got a problem. I like this car," Jellal said. "I'm impartial to getting blood on the upholstery. Besides, we have some things to talk about. It'd be nicer if you were sitting. Comfortable."

"What?"

"I'd like you to hear a proposition I've been working on and bring it back to your brother."

Natsu looked at him warily. "Why not just talk to Zeref yourself?"

"Because the deal will sound sweeter out of his brother's mouth," Jellal said and turned back around to watch the world go by.

Erza thought maybe she should have asked Jellal to drop her off at home; surely, she wasn't too prideful to avoid getting wet feet? She'd looked that direction, though, saw him and Laxus standing around that Studebaker he loved (supposedly) almost as much as he loved his white Corvette, and she knew that she'd never ask. Constable or not, it would look awful if she was seen being carted around by Jellal and his minions the day she was fired.

So she got wet feet. Her top half was dry, anyway. She wished she had a change of clothes, though. For the first time ever, she didn't want to wear her uniform. She didn't want to be seen in it. She didn't want to look at herself in the mirror with it. And she definitely didn't want to drag herself into her mother's bungalow and explain why she was red eyed. If she knew her mother at all, Eileen would never let it rest, not until she had taken her shots at the Chief and everyone that supported his decision, too.

Coming around the corner she saw that her mother had left the porch light on; it broke up the coming night. Gray's truck was in the driveway and there was another car on the curb, sitting beneath a streetlight. As far as Erza could see, it was a black Hudson Hornet. Its engine was running and she could hear Oh Boy by Buddy Holly coming out of the speakers. The sound got louder as the window rolled down.

"Scarlet."

Erza froze with her foot half-extended. She would have kept going if she'd been prepared but she was not. She looked back over her shoulder to confirm and was met by Chief Briggs' craggy face. She got over the shock and summoned a scowl. "Get out of here."

"I'd actually like it if you got in." He looked up and down the street nervously as he spoke; there were no cars.

"I don't get in cars with pigs," she felt validated in saying and Briggs flinched.

"Please, Miss Scarlet. I borrowed my nephew's car and everything, just hurry up and get in before someone sees us."

She didn't know why she crossed the road with her umbrella in hand, maybe it was the sincere curl to his brow or the way he said her name pleadingly. Maybe she just wanted an opportunity to scream at him some more. She opened the door and climbed in; the car smelled like leather and smoke and cologne. There were kid's toys in the back seat, a doll dressed in a badly fitting baby blue police uniform. Its hair was redder than strawberries.

"Belongs to my granddaughter, Maggie," Briggs said when he caught her looking.

"I thought you didn't have family?"

"When you've been a cop for as long as I have, you learn not to advertise," he said.

Erza puffed out a breath and turned back around. "What do you want?"

Briggs put the car in drive and ignored her question. "My granddaughter got the doll with red hair because she thought it looked like you, then she stripped her brother's doll and dressed it like that."

That threw Erza more than the impromptu car ride. "She did?"

"She looks up to you. She wants to be like grampy and daddy and now she thinks she can be," Briggs said and there was a note of sourness to his voice.

"I bet she's going to be thrilled the day you tell her dames look better in dresses," Erza said, getting a cut in when she could remember to.

"I'm still hoping that she'll wake up one day and realize that this isn't a good life, not for a lady," he replied.

"Afraid she'll get unjustly fired by a Chief that's a giant flaming bag of—"

"Enough with the flattery," Briggs said. "I didn't come out all this way to hear you talk sweet in my ear."

"Then what the hell do you want?"

He slowed at a stop sign and looked both ways before accelerating again. The wipers wicked away water from the windshield and the song on the radio had changed to My Foolish Heart by Billy Eckstine. "I wanted to talk to you about today."

Erza entertained what that might mean and didn't like where her mind immediately went. She wanted the Chief to say he'd made a mistake and she didn't because she didn't want to have to go back; it was humiliating. "What about today?"

"How thick are you in with Jellal Fernandez?"

He threw her for another loop. "What?"

"Are you friends, are you lovers, are you acquaintances? Do you hook up and play a little backseat bingo when your beau's out of town? How close are you?" he prosed again.

Erza stammered, and then she collected herself enough to be outraged. "That's none of your damn business."

Chief Briggs gave no quarter. "What they're whispering about you, Erza, is it true?"

She was furious enough to spit out a fevered "No," along with a choice word that had the Chief's neck going red.

"Did your momma teach you those words?"

"And worse," Erza said.

"Fernandez, though, he wants to be close, right?"

"Pull over."

He kept on course. "You're a good looking dame, of course he does. I have a job for you if you'll accept it. If you are still loyal."

Erza scowled and said, "If you're wondering about my loyalty, this is a bad way to make me sweet on you."

"I am wondering about your loyalty, but I think you're the only person for the job," the Chief said.

"What job?"

He smiled minutely. "There's discord on Magnolia's streets. Gangs are shooting each other up without warning and people are disappearing. When they show up again, their head's lopped off. If anyone knows anything, it'll be the weapon's dealer in Magnolia, wouldn't you say?"

"So?"

"So, I want you to find out who's causing war and I want you to find out why."

Her heart skipped beat with excitement. She choked the feeling. "Why not get one of your other constables to do it, huh?" Erza asked. "One that wasn't fired?"

"Because none of my other constables have been offered a job weekly by the biggest crime syndicate in Magnolia, have they? And no one else is in the position to take the job."

He said the last in a way that made Erza look at him suspiciously. "Being suddenly jobless, that is convenient, isn't it?"

Briggs sighed. "Firing you was necessary. Doing it publicly like that… makes it so Fernandez isn't suspicious when you accept his offer."

"You really set me up?" Erza spat.

He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "Had to. My granddaughter was real pleased to meet you."

Erza looked. He wasn't kidding. "Are you broken up there?" She tapped her own head. "I don't care how secretive you are. Don't you think people would recognize your family? Everyone is going to know that you put them up to this."

"My son has been dead for seven years and his wife has only just moved back to Magnolia."

"Unbelievable," Erza muttered. "That boy's arm was broken."

This Briggs winced at. "That was unfortunate, and Jamie did cry. He toughened up, though, once he realized that he could get his cast signed. He'd like you to add your name to the growing collection, too."

Erza put on her best displeased face though she was a little enamored with the idea that in Briggs' household, she had made something of a name for herself. "All of this because you wanted me to get in good with Mister Fernandez."

"It's an important job."

"Well, you can find someone else to do it."

"There is no one else, Scarlet. You're it."

"You fired me."

"For good reason!"

"You could have said something," Erza hissed over Elvis Presley's voice and the sound of the driving rain.

"How would firing you have been believable then, eh? No offense, doll, but this was made in the shade when you were in the dark."

"I hate you," Erza said offhandedly. "You're a bad Chief."

"And you're a bad employee getting all pie-eyed when there's justice to be done."

"That's called enthusiasm."

"The actual term you're looking for is liability."

Erza scowled. "Get bent."

"You going to do this job or what?" Briggs asked.

She held her scowl and her tongue.

"Reinstatement comes once we have a name," Briggs said. "And a promotion."

"I get my own office?" Erza didn't mean to ask, nor did she mean to sound so hopeful.

"You get to come into the bullpen with the rest of the men," Briggs said. "Any sexual harassment is on your shoulders, and if you knock one of my men out and they gotta take time off work, you're picking up their shifts."

That was the most agreeable thing she'd heard all day. Still, it seemed unfair.

"You gotta keep quiet about this, though, Erza. Not a peep to a soul. I can't tell you what to do with your beau but I will say if Jellal suspects you, I can't help."

All Erza heard was, "It's a secret mission?"

"Yeah."

She was in love.

Briggs accurately assessed the look in her eye and opened the glovebox in front of her. From its depths, he pulled a gun unmarked with the MPD crest. It was plain jane, functional. "You can pick up more bullets from the market."

Erza took the gun and had nowhere else but her pocket to put it. She forgot herself and her anger for the moment. "Thanks, Chief."

"Don't thank me, I'm still trying to decide if this was a mistake," he mumbled and turned the car back the way they came. He stopped on a street three over from Erza's and told her a quick, "Watch for unsavories."

In suburbia, the worst Erza had to worry about was Micky on the street slow dancing to rock with his garage door open, his girl in his arms. She walked fast all the same and kept her eyes peeled for anyone looking her way too long. She went unbothered until she got to her driveway and realized that Gray was outside getting into his truck. The front door was open and her mother stood in the doorway, looking peeved and relieved all at once.

"Erza," Gray said when he heard her feet on the ground. "Where the hell have you been? I've been looking all over town for you."

She told her first of many lies. "I was just walking around. I needed to clear my head."

He came for her and took her hand. His palm was calloused and his grip was firm, familiar and enjoyable. He pulled her into a hug so tight that Erza couldn't get breath. "I tried to talk to the Chief. He told me that unless I wanted to be fired, too, to shut up. I didn't. He didn't take my badge, though. I think if I work on him again tomorrow I can bring him around."

Eileen closed the front door and gave them some privacy.

"Forget it, Gray."

"No, Erza. This is your dream. I'm not going to just sit back and watch some old boy stomp on it because he can't see you're good at what you do—"

"No sense in both of us being out of a job," Erza said. It was a good thing that her chin was over his shoulder, that way, Gray couldn't see the way she smiled just minutely at the thought of going undercover.

"I don't care," Gray said. "I'll quit and we'll both go to Hargeon or something. They're always looking for beat cops."

"I'm sure when you dreamed of being a constable, you weren't skimming through Hargeon's alleys arresting sailors for being drunk and disorderly." Not Gray. He was a career man. He'd already put that in jeopardy for Lucy, Erza was determined not to see him try to do it for her, too.

"I don't care, Erza—"

"Maybe not today you don't. But you might tomorrow. Just forget about it."

His chest expanded; he was drawing in air for another argument. Erza pulled out of his grasp and tugged him toward his truck as a distraction. "Take me for a ride?"

The bluffs around Fairy Lake were a popular spot. Depending upon your purpose there, that was. On one side of the large lake was a body dump by the name of Monnet's Point, frequented by people of ill repute. It wasn't scenic, on the edge of a highway frequently used by transports, or easy to get to, full of sharp and jagged rocks and steep plunges that could take you away with one misstep.

On the other side of the lake was Tofino Point where, if you knew where to park your car, you could drive it all the way down to the water's edge and use the trees to block you from view. It had become a favourite spot. Erza supposed that she should have been clearer in her request for a drive. Of course, Gray would think this was what she had in mind. Why wouldn't he?

He put the car in park and reached for her and the words Erza had been stoking to put a 'soft' end to their relationship got caught in her throat. Suddenly, she was in his lap and his hands were on her and Johnny B. Good was playing and she wasn't thinking about much of anything other than how weird and messed up her day had been and how this was so much nicer and familiar.

Gray made quick work of her wrinkled uniform and the plain white T-shirt she wore beneath it. Once he got down that far, though, he slowed. It was no secret that this was his favourite part and that morning, she'd put the bra on just for him, figuring that they'd end up together at some point that day. His fingers skimmed over the lacy material, coming to a halt at the tips of her breasts where he drew slow, small circles. Erza wriggled some and felt him stiff against the inside of her thigh.

"Did you bring the rubbers this time?"

"I started leaving some in here." Gray wrapped his arm around her middle and leaned forward so he could go searching through the glovebox. He came out with a package of Dean's Redi-wet. Not only did he have extra, he had the expensive stuff. Erza rolled her eyes skyward and laughed.

"What?"

"You're such a dweeb."

"Last time we didn't have any—"

She kissed the words away and started getting him out of his pants. Her leg kept hitting the suit Jellal had sent to her and her excitement grew to outweigh her guilt. Tomorrow, she'd start doing real police work. Work she was meant for. She channeled her enthusiasm elsewhere. Today had gone from being the worst day of her life to the best in the blink of an eye and she shared some of her euphoria with Gray.

There weren't many times Jellal preferred to do the work himself but this was one of those. Not only did he want to send a message to Zeref, who had let his house get so grossly out of order that others were looking to pick him off, Jellal wanted to make an impression. He wanted to sell his proposition and he wanted it to be good.

He wanted this to seem like the only option.

Natsu had stopped holding his head up defiantly about a minute ago. Out of respect, Jellal pulled his punches. He didn't leave huge gouges in the youngest Dragneel anymore, he'd taken off his rings and did good work.

Thorough, though.

"I think that's probably good."

It was very, very rare that Laxus was the voice of restraint but Jellal grasped onto it because it would be easy to keep going. It wouldn't make Zeref cooperative, though, would it? He pulled back and wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. Laxus handed him a glass of water that he slugged back while Natsu spat blood at his feet, staining the parking garage's floor. This had become a favourite place for Jellal; it was where he did all of his best work now. He'd kicked out the lawyers and the police and the judges that rented parking spaces and paid a man to watch the garage intently for any that shouldn't be there. The loss of those funds was a small hit to his finances. The world was always on the brink of war and when it was not, individuals and gangs like those that fought for prominence on Magnolia's streets and beyond needed to be armed. It was surprising how many bullets and guns they went through. What was even more surprising was how much he could jack up the price of both because he made sure his guns were clean. Untraceable.

People who understood that they got what they paid for always paid premium price.

Jellal held out the glass and waved for Laxus to fill it up. The water came and the glass got so full that it almost spilled over Jellal's hand. "With me, Natsu?"

Natsu slowly lifted his head. His nose was fine, mostly. A little swollen. His cheeks and his brow and his lip were where the damage really showed. That lip ring was squeezed tight beneath the swelling. He gathered more blood on his tongue and spat it out again, almost hitting Jellal's shoes. Jellal sidestepped the glob and didn't hit Natsu again, though if it were anyone else he would have.

"You're a good sport, taking your licks without complaint." Never mind that he was tied to a chair.

Jellal grabbed Natsu by the chin and tilted his head back. He brought the water to his mouth next and poured it in slowly. Didn't matter how careful he was, though, the water still dribbled over Natsu's front, taking with it runners of sweat and blood that stained the leather jacket he wore. "Your jacket's ruined. We have a new one for him, Laxus?"

"I could get Bickslow to deliver one tomorrow."

"Good. What size are you?" He tapped Natsu's chest. "Looks like you've been lifting some. Large?"

Natsu gave a cautious nod.

"Good. Are we ready to talk business now, Clyde?"

Again, Natsu nodded.

"You're a bit smarter than when you left, aren't you?" Jellal prodded. "What happened out there, Natsu? Turn twenty-one and your brain cells turned on?"

"Fuck off."

Jellal smiled. "Just checking. Thought I had an imposter, you were being so cooperative."

"I just want to get out of here," Natsu said.

"Your baby's probably scared, huh?"

Natsu was silent which meant yes.

"No worries, I'll let you get back to her," Jellal said. "First, though, I want to talk about this loose screw that's been hacking and slashing throughout Magnolia."

"I don't know much about it," Natsu said. "I only just got back in town."

"I very much doubt you would have come back if you didn't feel like you had to."

Natsu gave Jellal what he wanted without his having to fish too hard. "Zeref called and asked me to come home. He was shook up after what happened to Carla."

"That was sad. I paid my respects; Carla was a nice girl. She and Happy are together now, though, right?"

Natsu's face pinched. "Did you bring me here to talk about Carla and Happy?"

"No. I brought you here to offer you and Zeref and the rest of the Dragon's Den sanctuary."

"Sanctuary?"

"You come and work for me, be part of the Fernandez name, and I can't guarantee that no one's going to be cutting anyone's heads off, but you'll have a much better chance at survival."

"Thanks but no, thanks."

"That's not your call, is it?" Jellal asked. "Take my offer to Zeref. He's reasonable. He'll understand that there is someone tearing through Magnolia trying to undermine the families that have a strong foothold in this city."

"Still, no, thanks."

"The Den used to be powerful," Jellal mused. "Before Kinana betrayed you and Erik was shot. Before little brother Natsu ran away. Before Carla had her head cut off and Happy had his life wrung out like—"

Natsu cut in. "And what are we going to do for you? Run Snow up north?" His sarcasm was potent.

"Sometimes. Not always, though."

"Then what?"

"I'll discuss that with Zeref when he comes to see me."

Natsu sighed and looked away. Jellal nodded to Laxus and Laxus cut Natsu's bonds. He didn't let Natsu up, though. He grabbed his face and wrenched it back. "That thing in your lip is fucking ugly. Someone's going to tear it out."

"Not if I don't keep getting punched around," Natsu said.

"That's funny. Little Natsu Dragneel keeping his trap shut long enough to avoid a knuckle sandwich."

Natsu pushed him off and got to his feet. He swayed like he was drunk.

"Need a ride back?" Jellal asked.

"I got it, thanks."

"Watch for machetes," Jellal said. "I'd hate to see all my hard work go down like that."

Natsu pressed his tongue against his lip and felt where it was split. "I don't know if Zeref's going to be feeling cooperative when he sees me."

"He will be," Jellal said. "Zeref knows that treatment was more than fair." He was betting on it. Zeref seeing how easy it was to get to the people he cared about was what was going to sell him on joining Jellal. "Anyone else and—" He mimed a gun with his fingers and lined up the shot. "They'd be talking to daisies."

Natsu adjusted his leather jacket around his shoulders and sidestepped Laxus. Jellal watched him until he exited the garage.

"I hope that generosity wasn't a reflection of how you rule, figlio mio."

Jellal turned just as, across the parking lot, the doors leading upstairs and into the stairway banged closed. Acnologia was as formidable a presence as ever. His dark hair was pulled back and plaited down his spine to show off the tattoos that had marked him for as long as Jellal could remember, and in his hand was a large cigar that he had yet to light. The heels of his handmade cap toe oxfords clicked decisively with every step.

"Padre," Jellal greeted. "I thought we agreed you would stay where it's safe?" As in, in the new safe house he'd provided outside of Magnolia where the old man couldn't meddle in his business.

"Where else is safer but in my son's kingdom?" Acnologia asked with a smile that never, ever, for as long as Jellal could remember, met his eyes. "Your madre said she was uncomfortable after the last incident and wanted to come to Magnolia where it was safe. Who was I to deny her?"

Jellal felt a small lick of shame. "Natsu didn't know you were in the house in Clover."

"Careless," Acnologia said and Jellal had to agree, he had been careless. It wasn't every day that he had to hide his on the lam father, though. He took out his lighter and came to his father's side. Acnologia put the cigar in his mouth and let Jellal set it alight.

"You're right. Come back to Halo. I'll take care of you both there." He wrapped his arm around Acnologia's shoulder like they were much closer than they actually were and led him to the Studebaker. He opened the front passenger's seat and let Acnologia take up residence there while he took the back. If his father suspected that it was because he wanted to be able to put a bullet in his spine if he saw the need to, Acnologia didn't insist that their situations were reversed.

"I've already moved our things into that hole you've made your heaven," Acnologia said. "And your madre's eager to see her piccola stella."

It had been a long time since he'd heard that term of endearment, little star, and it made him ache fiercely for home and the woman that had tried to curve the sharp edges her husband had made in her son.

Laxus got in the driver's seat and directed the Studebaker out of the garage. They left the chair where it was; chances were, it would be used again before the end of the week.