CHAPTER 7
"There's a fight?! Count me in!" Natsu was about to run towards Lyon and Gray who were engaged in a brawl. Before he could even move a muscle, Erza pulled his scarf, causing him to suffocate.
"Don't be stupid, Natsu! Clearly that fight isn't like your usual brawl in the guild!" Lucy reprimanded Natsu.
"Oi, Natsu! I don't think you should be involved in Gray's fight with Lyon" Happy said as he looked down on the suffocating mage.
Erza threw Natsu on the ground and began to walk towards the two ice mages.
"Gray! Lyon! Stop this madness!" Erza yelled, but that didn't stop the two from fighting each other.
"Oh my, what could've caused this?" Mirajane said softly as she gave a worried look on Gray and Lyon. Chelia was frantically waving her arms, trying to stop Lyon.
"Lyon-sama! Please stop this nonsense!" Chelia cried, but Lyon didn't even listen to her screams.
Gray landed another punch on Lyon. Lyon didn't back down either, he retaliated Gray's attack by punching Gray as well.
"Why these-" Erza was about to requip when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun her head, only to see Laxus with a frown on his face.
"I'll handle this. All of you should rest. You don't have to waste your energy on these two." Laxus sighed as he began to walk towards Gray and Lyon.
"Laxus…" Erza raised her brow and sighed, "Fine"
Mirajane stared at Laxus' back. He can't help but surprise her ever since he returned from his excommunication. He really has grown, he has changed a lot.
Erza was about to return to her place when she noticed the way Mirajane looked at the Master's grandson.
"Mira? Are you alright?" Erza asked, and Mirajane quickly averted her gaze at the scarlet-haired mage.
"Y-yeah! I'm fine! I'm sure Laxus can take good care of those two! Well, it's best if we just rest for now" Mirajane said rather quickly and strode off back to the camp.
"Okay…" Erza looked at her friend before walking back at the camp.
"I sure hope, Mira's right" Erza thought
xXxXxXxXx
Before Gray and Lyon pummel each other once again, they found themselves pinned on the ground by Laxus.
"Cut the crap, you two. Do you have any idea how troublesome it is to do this?" Laxus said passively as the two ice mages squirmed on the ground.
"It's not like you are required to do so! Since when did you care anyway?!" Gray protested and Laxus let the two of them go.
"To be honest, stripper, I don't really give a shit if you beat up your fellow stripper here. It's just that you are in an important mission and I do not tolerate any possible nuisance while doing the mission. Now, who started it?" Laxus said and the two ice mages looked away.
"By the gods, since when did Laxus sound like the Master?" Gray thought. He disliked the jerk Laxus before but he doesn't like this side of him either.
"Well, Gray was the first to attack" Lyon said and Gray glared at Lyon.
"Well, you initiated it!" Gray yelled
Laxus rubbed his temples as he listened to Gray and Lyon's bickering. He feels like he is scolding two children who is stealing each other's candy.
"Shut the hell up, you two! Damn, why are you brats so annoying? What the hell did you do, Lyon?"
"I heard him talk about this Juvia again. I just tried to play with him for a bit and then this bastard got sensitive and punched me" Lyon said and Laxus rolled his eyes when he heard this Juvia again.
"Lyon, get your ass back at the camp and I'll have a talk with Gray here" Lyon smirked but Laxus continued, "We aren't finished yet, Lyon. Don't be too confident"
And with that, Lyon left, leaving Gray and Laxus.
"What? You just let him off like that?!" Gray protested
"No, I just need to make things clear here, Gray. Explain to me why on earth did you follow us here?" Laxus asked sternly and Gray went silent.
"I followed you here because I feel like I need to go in this mission" Gray answered and Laxus let out a humourless chuckle.
"Well, congratulations with that! You're already here. You'd better give me a good reason why you disobeyed the Master's orders, Gray. Don't give that shit for an answer"
"Hey! I knew I had to look for Juvia! Since I knew I'm the only who really remembers her!" Gray snapped and Laxus gave Gray a bored look.
"Here we are again with that Juvia? Seriously Gray, what is it with you and this name?"
Gray looked away. What exactly is she to him? Was she a friend? An enemy?
"I- I don't really know" Gray muttered and Laxus raised his brow at Gray.
"You are fucking kidding me, right?" And Gray gave no answer. What can he say? He just followed her by his mere instinct of saving someone he doesn't even know if she existed.
"Are you telling me that you defied the Master's strict orders and went all the way her only for something you don't even know if it existed? And that your only clue is a name and a freakin' brooch? I always knew you were stupid, Gray. But not this stupid" Laxus said
"Hey! You don't know how it feels like! Probably because you haven't tried fighting for someone you love!" Gray snapped, when he realized what he had just said, "Oh shit, what the fuck did I just say?"
Laxus looked at Gray incredulously. He wasn't interested in stuff like those but, did he just hear that right? Is Gray infatuated with that Juvia he's taking about?
"So, that's the reason why you went through all those shits to look for her" Laxus said, a smirk began to tug on his lips when he saw Gray's face redden.
"No! Of course not! What I'm saying is that you just don't know how it feels like! Since you were never there when the guild needs you!" Laxus smirk turned to a faint smile. One that Gray never thought he could see from this man.
"Yeah, you're right. I don't know what you feel right now. Probably because I always run away"
Gray went silent. He was expecting that he would be electrocuted by now because he actually had the guts to yell at this guy. The Laxus he knew wouldn't listen to him, and anyone who tries to speak ill of him will certainly face the consequences. But now, he is different.
"Laxus…"
"I can name countless times when all of you were calling for me. Asking me to help them defend the guild. Lately I just realized, that it was stupid of me that I didn't help. I regret it. Especially when I knew that many tears were shed because of those stupid things I have said and done before" Laxus paused before continuing once again, "You know, you and Natsu have very strong intuitions. And sometimes it's best to follow your instincts, especially if it's for those you care about"
Gray cannot believe what he is hearing. Hearing these things from Laxus was different, it was very sincere.
"Hey, what-" Gray was cut off by Laxus
"Once we are all done, prepare a good explanation to Gramps. Surely he will understand" Laxus turned his back to leave, but before he walked away, "If you have the feeling that you should go after someone, just go. I learned my lesson. I had my chance before but I turned away. In the end I regretted it. You'll just end up wishing what might've been if you had done the right thing before."
Laxus was now walking away, when he heard Gray call to him,
"I was wrong to say that you weren't there when we need you. You've changed a lot, you know. And you have no idea how many tears were shed when you left and when you returned. Mira-san once told me that there are chances for everyone. They just have to take it. Now, you returned to the guild, perhaps, you should try to take your chances as well? Just like what I am doing right now? "
Laxus remained silent before he smirked.
"You have my permission, little brat. Perhaps I should make my own explanation to Gramps as to why I let you go and do your shit" And then he left.
Laxus walked towards the camp, only to see them resting comfortably. He sighed when he saw Natsu sleeping noisily with Happy sleeping on his face, and Lucy was sleeping on his arm. Those three were inseparable. He was surprised when he saw Lyon sleeping soundly with the injuries he received from his brawl with Gray.
Laxus sat by the fire. His eyes landed on a sleeping Mirajane who curled her body for warmth. She was so peaceful. How can she be so peaceful?
He remembered those days he made her cry, made her angry, he even asked Evergreen to turn her to stone! How he was disgusted of himself when he was reminded of those days. She trusted him, she ran to him, of all people. Why does it have to be him? Why does it have to be her? His guilt would be much lesser if it was Alzack or someone else asked him to help them. But it really has to be her.
Laxus slowly took off his coat and walked slowly towards Mirajane who shuddered in the cold. He slowly placed his coat over the barmaid's body. Mirajane smiled in her sleep, and Laxus can't help but form a faint smile on his face as well.
"Goodnight, Mira" he stood up and sat by the fire again. Perhaps Gray was right, he should try to take his chances as well. But then, he was reminded of the mission and he tried to put it all together.
"I don't know what on earth is happening. But I'm sure we'll figure this out. Hopefully Gray is right on this one"
