Master


Sitting in his plush leather chair behind a beautiful oak desk, Headmaster Makarov Dreyer surveyed the three students standing before him. It is already 5:17 pm, and he was supposed to have left for Clive's blasted meeting when they burst into his office. Already he can see his afternoon stretching out into a very long one.

"Master, he needs to go," Jet growled in displeasure as he pinned the old man with a displeased glower, "clearly he is planning something. It is not safe for him to be around the other students. We know that better than anyone."

Rubbing at his temples, Makarov nods slowly, "I know your very justified opinion of Gajeel Redfox being here. I understand it and would not have agreed to him coming anywhere near you if I thought it wasn't good for him to face his sins. That he deserves a chance to heal just as you three have."

Eyes wide in disbelief, Droy waved his hands about wildly, "You cannot be serious! This is one kid you can't hope to save, Master! He relishes in hurting others and is violent beyond all reason."

Makarov gave the black haired boy a speaking glance, "Has he attacked anyone since he has been here? All you have given me is Levy's word that he is going to betray me soon. From a phone call no less that for all we know can be mean anything but hurting someone."

Shifting his eyes to the single female at the back of the room, Makarov noticed her fragile silence. It disturbed and pained him on a level he would not show to anyone. Surely his decision in having Redfox near her would make her upset with him, but he has his reasons. Their ire at his plans would be another sin he will live with.

"I can try to help the boy just as I have with Natsu, Erza and you three. It is the least I can do concerning how my own family turned out."

None of the students would meet his eyes when he said that. They all knew his connection to Raven Institute's president as being his son and how his own beloved grandson had transferred there a couple months ago. Some still call Laxus a traitor to Fairy Academy but the Headmaster would not speak on the matter.

Sighing heavily, Makarov reached for his lukewarm mug of tea, "I think you understand why I would want to prevent another Laxus. I will speak with Redfox and draw up a surveillance contract. I will even have him sign a restraining order if that would make you more comfortable."

Jet and Droy shared a frown before the redhead took a step closer to the old man.

"That is not good enough and you know it. Within rights of self-defense, if he so much as lays a hand on any of the students, I will hurt him."

The old man wanted to groan at the boy's stubbornness, noting Droy's nervous nod of agreement, "That is for the teacher's job to enforce the safety of students…"

Spinning around on one heel, Jet stomped towards the door with a snarl, "If it means a chance to kick his ass, I'll take it!"

The two boys hastily walked past Levy, squeezing her shoulder gently before storming out of the door. She had been boring a hole into the rug of his wooden floor, one hand tracing her throat. He kept his face blank, knowing from her distant gaze that she was remembering the past.

"Levy," he started gently, but she looked up at him with a torn expression. He almost apologized right then and there.

"I can't do it," she murmured quietly as she walked towards his desk, "I cannot be in the same building, knowing I could turn a corner and walk right into him. It's too much. The very fact that you find it okay for him to be here only makes me feel less safe in a place I call home."

That was not his intention. If only she could see that but he couldn't trust her with those details. Not yet.

"I am going to have my classes transferred to our online server immediately. I will leave it up to you to think up an excuse as to why I will not be at campus. Seems something you are good at. I do not believe for one moment that jerk is here as a charity case. You would not be so cruel as to have me go through that pain again. The boys know that and I know that."

The older man met her gaze, not letting his emotions bubble to the surface. Levy had always been book smart, street-smart second and one of the brightest kids he had ever come across. Her shy nature hid her potential and the fact she was using it to see through his textbook reasoning only made the regret weigh on his conscious all the more.

"I...I am sorry for this Levy. Surely one day you will forgive me?"

Brown eyes stared angrily at him before she shook her head and turned towards the door, her arms wrapped tightly around her.

"It might be sooner than I can ever think of forgiving that monster."

He winced as the door to his office slammed in her wake. A couple tears slid down his weathered cheek, knowing tonight after dinner he will drink away his sorrows and self-hatred very heavily with a good mug of scotch. Wiping away the droplets of salt, Makarov steeled his face after a couple minutes before he hit the button for the video com to link to the designated meeting room. Gildarts' complaints concerning Gajeel would no doubt be dirtier than Jet's.

As the video stream connected, Makarov sighed heavily from the stress as he closed his eyes briefly, "Sorry for the wait, old boy. It seems you-what the hell?"

Having opened his eyes to view the all his faculty slumped unconsciously over one of the very long meeting tables, Makarov moved for the nearest phone when his office door suddenly opened. Eyes wide in shock and outrage, Makarov stared numbly as his only grandson sauntered into the room, making sure to obviously lock the door behind him.

"Hey old man, how you been?"

Makarov did not miss the wolfish grin or the triumphant gleam in those familiar bluish green eyes that sent a worried skitter down his spine.

"Laxus…you cannot be here. You have been expelled."

Reaching for the phone that his grandfather's hand was holding, the younger Dreyar slowly put the phone back into the charging dock. Makarov could not do anything but watch as his grandson pulled the connector jack for the land line.

"Then consider this a very bad dream. I'm just here for what rightfully belongs to my pops."

He couldn't believe this. Could Ivan have found out after all? "What could that possibly be?"

Laxus chuckled as he stared down his grandfather with a fang filled sneer, "Why the Academy of course."


Until the next one!

I have not forgotten this story. It is my baby and will be updated. I just had to flesh out the current story arc I am aiming for. So many questions. Just what could Makarov could be hiding? Sorry there was no Gajeel this chapter. –sobs-

I know Levy seems somewhat out of character here but I think she should have had more of an issue with Gajeel being in Fairy Tail in the manga than trying to put up with it for Makarov's sake. In my story, she will voice these issues and more on her past with Phantom will come to light later.

Anyone wanna root for Jet? I thought he was awesome!

Please review and tell me what you think about this chapter and the cliffhanger.