Bickslow was drawn to her song, he listened intently at the top of the stair case careful not to be heard or seen by her. It was a melancholy tune, it broke his soul, but it was so beautifully lonely that he couldn't help himself but listening. His heart ached to help her, he didn't know why, all he wanted to do was comfort her, to dry her tears, hold her close, so she may never feel the darkness. He could feel her magic energy, it was weaker than before. It was alarmingly low, yet she still sang her lullaby. Her voice was low and soft, kissing his ears and wrapping around his soul. He shut his eyes and rested his head against the cool stone, losing himself in her tale.
It was about a lonely dragon, swimming in a sea of darkness, killing everything the creature touched, being rejected by love and life. This dragon lived for centuries alone, lost in an abyss of pain, cursed, until she found a single willow seed. She resided in the forest, surround by decay, she planted the willow seed, and spent her life caring for it, loving it. She spoke to it and although it never spoke back, it blossomed in her darkness. But the tree began to wither like everything else around her, so she gave it her darkness. And the lonely dragon layed to rest underneath the willow tree eternally.
Bickslow fought back the tears, startled when he opened his eyes to find Laxus having taken the space next to him.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Laxus smiled painfully. When did he get here? How long has he been listening to her song? Why was he so lost in it? Bickslow thought to himself, clearing his throat.
"Yeah, so disconsolate." Bickslow sighed, he could hear her still humming the tune. He wanted to know the true meaning behind the tale.
"Makes you want to know the real story doesn't it?" Laxus grinned, knowing that was exactly what Bickslow was thinking, it seriously creeped him how that Laxus was able to do that.
"Mmhm." He replied nodding. The lullaby still on his mind. Darkness?
After Laxus had given the papers to Levy, he passed by the stair well that led to where they were holding Nyght, Bickslow was there? This is odd,he thought, then he heard it. That mournful lullaby. it was beautifully haunting. Bickslow was lost in the lost, and he could see why, he sat down next to him, not seeming to notice him. His soul ached for this girl as she told him of her sorrow. Her lullaby told him her story, the reason she ached, the reason her eyes were filled with so much pain, he just wish he was able to understand her grief.
Tell me why your soul crys, why your eyes break my heart...
What was her darkness, her curse? Laxus again, left without a word, heading toward his apartment. He wanted to be left alone, to think about things, Nyght, Crimnson Souls, the heart that was crystallized and still beating...
Later that evening Laxus joined the Fairy Tail bath house, knowing the company would get his mind off of things. He stripped down, and walked into the hot waters, letting it evaporate his thoughts. Listening to the chatter of Elfman, Gray, Natsu, Gajeel, and Freed. He wasn't sure about the nature of the conversation, but he knew it had something to do with the ladies.
"So when are you going to stop being such an idiot and go after Lucy?" Gajeel questioned, he was cool and collected like he always started out. "She's not going to be on the market forever." Gee-hee Gajeel wanted to put Natsu on the spot and it worked, all the guys silenced and waited for him to respond. His answer was half expected.
"It's not like that!" Natsu's voice thundered through the bath house, the water splashed and swashed as he stood. Here we go. "And like you're one to talk anyway, what about Levy, still too chicken to make a move huh?" Natsu had him, Gajeel didn't say a word, he was right. He's been wanting to ask levy out, it was clear to the whole guild they liked each other, but neither ever made a mood.
"How's it going with Juvia?" Elfman asked gray, switching the attention. Elman had been dating Ever for awhile, it was a love hate relationship there, her constant complaining and admiration bipolar chatter was all she ever did on the Thunder Legions jobs.
"She calmed down after awhile. I'm liking this one a lot more!" Gray chuckled, teasing his girlfriend like always. She was less obsessive and more cool now that she finally had Gray.
"What about you Freed? You got an eye on anyone?" Gajeel called out to the green haired mage. The man hesitated, taken aback that they would care about his love life.
"No, I'm not one to really talk to woman romantically." He lied, Freed, eve though he admired Laxus did have his eye on the card mage that can drink any man under the table. Her fire was so intriguing.
Laxus smiled, knowing freed better than anyone, but would not say a word as long as he refused to accept his feeling for the girl. He couldn't count on his hands how many times he's caught Freed staring at the card mage.
"What about you Bickslow?" Gajeel interjected. Bickslow was here? Laxus opened his eye, Bickslow was just as quiet as he was, his eyes closed as he soaked in the water, he had a lot on his mind as well, much be why he's been so unusually quiet lately.
"Yeah, but there's no need to discuss the matter. Move on." His statement was simple, cut and clean. Not giving anything away or attempt at being rude. it was a statement that told the rest of the men that he just wanted to be left alone for the time being. Laxus couldn't help but wonder who the mage was that Bickslow had his eye on, and why he even said he did if he wasn't going to reveal the poor girl who he had his eyes on.
"Awe come'on man. Who is it?" Natsu being his usual self, didn't really know when to let things drop, what a dense child he was. Respect or not he could admit that his guild mate was a moron most of the time.
"Natsu, drop it." Bickslow hissed, a clear warning to leave him alone. Natsu was taken aback, this was so unlike him. Bickslow was a fun character that laughed and teased everyone any chance he got get. Hell he picked on Elfman and ever since the day he came to the realization they liked each other. Shoving them together and singing that cheesy tree song about "loooove". Laxus was ready to jump in when Natsu would get fired up the second there was any chance of a fight, but it never came. Hm, maybe he wasn't so dense after all. Silence grew and the boys could listen in to the girls side of the bath house.
Natsu was getting out of the hot water when he heard Mirajane speaking to Lucy...
"So Lucy, when are you going to come clean to Natsu about your feeling?" Mirajane's soft voice echoed through the bath house.
"WHAT! No! I-I, It's not like that Mira!" Lucy stammered. The men froze, including Natsu as he held his breath. No, no, no, no..he thought, his cheeks burning.
"Oh really?Then why are you blushing!?" Erza teased. A splash sounded. "Hey!" Erza.
"IM NOT!" Lucy squeaked, splashing more. The girls giggled.
"Yeaaahhh..." They sounded in unison.
"Plus, it's not like it'd matter, nothing would happen, I don't think Natsu could comprehend the whole relationship thing anyway." Lucy sounded to the girls.
This left Natsu's head hanging low...ouch. Laxus thought, feeling pity for the boy. Natsu may be dense, but there's no way he's that dense. He just loved differently than others.
The girls conversation continued...
"I don't know Luce." Erza. "I wouldn't under estimate Natsu like that."
"Yeah you may be right. But still, I don't think it would be a good idea for anything to happen." Lucy's voice trailed off.
"Why not?" Mira.
"I don't want to get into it. What about you Levy, when you going to make your move? "
"What?" Levy voice was high, confused.. Gajeel quickly arose and left, Natsu following quickly behind, he clearly didn't want to know and end up in the state Natsu was.
"It's so obvious you like him!" Juvia chimmed in, giggling.
"Is it really?" Levy shyed away. She was clearly uncomfortable.
"Yeah. Sooo?" Mira and Erza.
"Well, I don't... I want too, maybe this weekend. he invited me to go on a job with him. I think it will be just us. " Levy.
"That's perfect!" Lucy giggled. "Well I'm getting out, we all have a big day tomorrow dealing with Nyght and all. I wonder how she's doing." The water swashed around the girls as they began to leave.
"Well that was awkward." Gray voiced, breaking the silence.
Elfman chuckled. "You got that right man. " Elfman rested his head back against the tiles, lowering further into the hot water.
"Damn, that sucks for Natsu, finding out like that though. I couldn't Imagine." Gray hung his head, he felt for his friend. The poor guy felt so much for so many, to find out that possibly the one he's risked his life for so many times, might not even give him a chance if he wanted one. If that wasn't a clear answer Gray didn't know what was.
"He's a real man, he'll make it through some how." Elfman stated, he was right, Natsu has always managed to pick himself up, but still, he couldn't imagine that pain. " And plus, it's not you wouldn't understand Lucy point of view, how long did you do the same thing to Juvia man?" Elfman raised an eyebrow. Ouch.
"That's different dude."
"Really? In what way?" Elfman let some of his frustration seep through, he wasn't to kind on those who mis-treated women. He did grow up with two sisters.
"I-I-It just is." Gray stammered unable to think of a legitament excuse.
"Oh really? I think you're full of shit dude." Elfman stated cooling, daring gray to comment.
"Fuck you dude, you don't know." Gray said dumbfounded, what the hell brought this on?
"Fuck me! HA!" Elfman's body shook with sarcastic laughter. "You man, you are really something, how stupid are you dude? Juvia has been by your side watching after you since the day she entered the guild, and all you did was shove her aside until you finally decided to date her. You led her on for years without giving her a clear fucking answer. You didn't even bother to attempt on giving her a chance before Torturous!" Tension vibrated the air.
"You better put some of that ice on that burn!" Laxus's laughter bounced off the walls, even Bickslow joined in.
Grays head hung, he didn't know what to say, he couldn't even be mad at Elfman because he was completely correct. Gray never really thought of what he was doing to Juvia all those years. And not once did she stray from him.
Laxus chuckled, lightening up the mood. Elfman sensed Grays shame, he signed, feeling like a dick.."Duuude, listen, it's all good now, you are together and you're both happy right? So don't stress about the past man." Elfman shrugged at the man, cooling down the conversation.
"So that's how Lucy really feels." Natsu kicked a rock as he slouched forward, tediously making head way toward his apartment where happy waited. He had left him to his fish earlier that evening. Natsu stared up at the moon, it's gentle glow illuminated Magnolia. She wouldn't give him a chance, not that he was sure if he wanted it, he didn't even understand how his heart felt for her, but he never thought that wasn't even an option. His chest hurt, he grimaced in pain, he didn't understand Lucy, he wanted to though. His head hung low, and he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. Gajeel.
"Hey man, that was rough huh?" Gajeel spoke to him carefully, they may butt heads more than not, but they were a team, dragons brothers, through to the end.
Natsu shrugged. "Wanna get a beer?" He said dryly, hiding his pain, he could really just use a drink and a distracting conversation.
"Yeah man." They walked in silence the rest of the way to their apartments. They lived in a complex provided by the guild, only housed a few doors down from each other, they joined in Natsu's place. Gajeel crashed down on Natsu's couch, scaring the hell out of Happy, who jumped in anger.
"AY!" He screamed before settling back down, Gajeel just gave the blue cat a grin.
Natsu tossed him a cold one before taking a seat on the other end and flipping on the tv. Neither of them were really watching it, both their minds distant, mostly using the television as a back ground.
"Where's Lily?" Happy chimed breaking the silence.
"Zonked out. We just got back from a job a few days ago, I guess it took a lot more out of him than he expected." Gajeel chuckled. He glanced at Natsu, his face stone, off in his own world, he was really torn up about this Lucy this, huh?
"I didn't know you liked Lucy so much for you to be torn up about it." Gajeel stated, his eyes staring at the television, not paying real attention to what was happening.
"I didn't know either I guess. I just, I don't know," He grunted."Not even an option though? I don't get it. What the fuck is so wrong with me that I'M NOT EVEN AN OPTION!" Natsu face began turning red with anger.
"Dude...Chill." Gajeel said cool watching Natsu. "You just need to figure out how you feel toward her then tell her, she may change her mind. She might just not want to take the first step you know. You gotta be the one to do so." Gajeel was surprisingly...smart. Natsu started at him flabbergasted that Gajeel was so keen about this.
"Yeah yeah, not a word." Gajeel waved his hand about. "I know I'm right." gee-hee.
"Yeah." Natsu chuckled, so that's exactly what he'll do. " So what about levy then? It's so obvious you to like her. You two are like the new Bisca and Al." Natsu stared, an eye brow raised, smirking. "hm...what are you gonna do about that?"
Gajeel shrugged, "I haven't decided man, and honestly I don't know if I should, the way I treated her, what I did to her when she first met me...I must scare the shit out of her every time I walk in the room. I cant face that. Not until I've made it up to her." Gajeel stared at his drink, being quickly interrupted when a fist collided with his face, leaving him in shock, then anger.
"WHAT THE FUCK!?" Gajeel howled, clenching his fist until his knuckles turned white.
"WHAT THE FUCK TO YOU TOO MAN!? How can you think like that after everything you two have been through together! It obvious she's forgiven you by now!"
"How would you know!?"
"You can see it on her face every time you go near her, she doesn't shy away out of fear, she likes YOU. And it pisses me off that you're still thinking like that, you're a member of Fairy Tail, so fucking act like it." Natsu plopped back down on the couch, huffing out his anger. What an idiot.
"She may have forgiven me, but I haven't." Gajeel spoke softly, seating himself on the edge of the couch, hanging his head between his hands. Fuck.
"Look dude, whether you've forgiven yourself or not, if she likes you, and you like her, doing this shit is only going to hurt you both. You have to speak to her." Natsu replied, eyeing him, and finished his beer so he could grab another. He didn't want to be able to see by the end of the night.
"Hand me another, Kinda dropped mine when you socked me in the face." Natsu grinned at him and tossed him another.
They dropped the subject and moved on, each having a lot to think about. They continued the night laughing and talking shit to eachother, drinking themselves into oblivion.