Ah, finally, chapter 9! Sorry to keep you guys waiting, but this next week will be just as slow =C After that, I promise they'll come faster!

I only own the OCs and grammar mistakes. Hope you enjoy ^^


Ch.9 Tears

"Laxus?" Moon's voice brought the boy back. Blinking to register where exactly he was, he saw the concerned face of the doctor.

"A-Ah sorry… lost in thought," he scratched the back of his head and smiled.

"Well, if you ever feel the need to talk about anything, feel free to tell me," the doc smiled back and patted the boy on the head and ruffled his hair.

"Oi old man," gently tapping his hand away, the two were smiling at the act and response.

"Don't call me 'old man' kid. I'm only 45," he joked and laughed when the blonde stuck out his tongue. "I'm not a kid. I'm 23 ya know," Laxus defended, inwardly shocked that he acted in that way. It was far out of his character, but somehow it felt nice. Being able to just joke around a bit.

"Oh? You must have a fiancé then," Moon laughed and almost fell off the bed at the sudden red face that Laxus had.

The Dragon Slayer tried forming words, but all he managed to do was open and close his mouth a few times, like a fish out of water.

"No! No way! Women are weird! And crazy! I'd never- Hell no!" he started protesting smiling along as Moon had to hold his stomach, tears forming in the corner of his eyes.

"It's not like they're demons or anything boy!" he managed to speak.

"S-Sure… you keep saying that," a nervous sweat-drop formed on the Mage's head as an image of Mira in her full Satan Soul glared at him.

"B-But no really *pant* do you *pant* have a girlfriend?" the doc was still laughing.

"Well… e… I can't really call her that," the boy looked to the side.

"Oh? So… you're in deep and she ignores you?" the doctor had calmed down and continued to tease the blonde.

"N-No! It's not like that! We just… well… I don't know anymore," as if admitting defeat, Dreyar hung his head.

"Aw come now… I'm sure it can't be that bad."

"It's just… I… I want her to be really happy… have a guy she deserves…" the mood took a turn as a cloud passed the sun, making the room seem darker.

Seeing him in that state reminded the elder man of his love-life and how it was very similar. But then, he recalled, he never had the kind of problems the boy was having.


"You're a good kid, but you've had your hard times… Nothing is written in stone you know… Your past, your scars or the people you're connected to don't define you. Only your actions you take now, from this moment forward. What's in the past is in the past. Don't let it drag you down. Don't think 'what I should have…' think 'what will I…' You're your own person," the smile was so warm, genuine and welcoming, that Dreyar thought he might actually break down.

Almost all his life, he had been trying to make his father proud of him. He wasted time and money he could have used for many other things, just to get his approval. And now, this man before him, who hardly knew him, was treating him like his own son. Yes, Makarov tried to talk to the boy in a similar manner, but he didn't know what to properly say. Laxus knew his grandfather was trying, but he never really got that reassurance.

"Thank you…" the blonde whispered, biting his lip and closing his eyes. After all that, he couldn't cry. It wouldn't be right. But it was hard to keep it inside.

"You don't have to thank me," Moon said and looked at the boy, tilting his head slightly before leaning in and hugging him. "Hey, it's alright… you don't have to keep it all inside. I'm not going to judge you for crying… not to mention I'm just a doctor. You don't have to be brave in front of me…" his words were quiet, but so warm, the Dragon Slayer believed it wholeheartedly.

In the following moments, tears streamed down his cheeks as he buried his face into the elder man's shoulder, muffling the sobs.

"Good… people don't cry because they're weak… but because they've been strong for too long… The first step to being strong is admitting you have been weak."

The Mage didn't know how long they stayed like that, him just crying onto the doctor's shoulder, listening to his words of encouragement. He had never had anyone to be able to speak like this. Never had a shoulder to cry on or ear to listen to his sobs. So this was probably awkward for both of them, but neither seemed to care. Laxus was just glad he was able to let it all out.

After, who knows how long, the blonde lightly moved back and Moon understood that as, that he was finally feeling better.

When the elder man looked at the boy, he saw his red eyes and the lines left by the tears. The Mage was already rubbing his sleeves around his eyes, trying to get the liquid away. Smiling and reaching for a box, the doc handed the blonde a box of tissues.

"If you ask, I'm sure there will always be someone willing to help. Just reach out your hand and someone will grab it. I'm sure of it," he spoke as Dreyar reached for the box and cleaned himself off. It was as if he was looking at a 12 year old boy who got a bad grade, not a 23 year old that's probably never had the chance to cry and let all his emotions out.

"Now! You hungry? It's about 1 pm. soo…" he trailed off and let the blonde get his composure back.

"Now that you mention it…" and as if on cue, his stomach rumbled as they both laughed.

"Well, what will you have? We got fried chicken, tuna, hamburgers and spaghetti."

"Personally, anything will do just fine."

"Well, two bowls of spaghetti it is! The meat in the hamburgers sometimes moves. I think it's alive," Moon whispered the last parts as they both laughed again.


And as the doc left to get the lunch, couldn't help but re-hear the words Moon spoke. He had tried finding ways to come to those conclusions, but he gave up when his father left Fairy Tail.

"Damn, you old geezer… I doubt you'd even know this is me huh?" a small smile appeared on his lips as a not-to-pleasant memory unfolded.

*Flashback*

"Laxus! Get up!" Ivan yelled as he towered above the 13 year old.

"I *pant* just need *pant* a few seconds…" the boy said weakly, doubled over and taking in quick breathes.

"Tch, don't be weak!" the father yelled and kneed Laxus in the stomach, sending him flying into a wall on the other side of the room. "This is training for your powers! If you're too weak to even stand, you don't deserve them!"

The blonde didn't respond; only lay there on the ground as bits of the wall crumbled from the hit. Frowning, Ivan walked closer to see what happened and gritted his teeth.

"You're crying?! Just how much weaker can you be boy?" he yelled, but that didn't affect Laxus at all. The only thing that managed to achieve, was making him cry more.

"Tch, go clean yourself up… when you're done whimpering go to bed," was the last thing Ivan said before turning around and leaving the room.

Hearing the door slam shut, the Dragon Slayer curled up in a ball, gripping his stomach and trying to stop the crying. He hated when he cried, because his father hated his as well.

*End of flashback*

Letting out a relaxing breathe, he did a few calm ones, to try and get rid of the stress. Now was not the time to be thinking about that stuff… His stomach rumbled again, and his concentration faded a bit as he looked at the door.

"Maybe I should help him carry it?" he thought and took off the sheets and tried get up, but pain shot thought his body like cold water. Gritting his teeth, he settled back down and winced at both the pain and annoyance.

"Damn it! I feel so useless…" he hissed in his mind frowning at the condition he was in. "But I guess… I odda be grateful I'm alive…" he murmured when the door knob twisted slightly and soon after the door opened.


"Hi, I'm back Li-" someone spoke, male and around 20. But they stopped midsentence when they entered the room and saw the blonde male in the bed, looking like he just saw a ghost.

"Oh, m-my bad. I got the wrong room number," the boy apologized and bowed, but Laxus didn't respond.

It wasn't that he didn't want to, he just couldn't. The moment he saw the green hair, sky-blue eyes and face, his heart skipped a beat.

"You…" the Dragon Slayer spoke, voice shaking as the boy looked at him, slightly confused and startled. "What's your name?" he didn't mean for it to sound demanding or menacing, but at the moment, he just couldn't control it.

"M-Me? I'm – I'm Julian…" the green-haired boy gulped slightly at the expression Laxus had. It was the face of someone who didn't want to or couldn't believe what they were hearing or seeing.

"Julian… The – The son of Ciel and Lyle?" Dreyar wasn't sure how he managed to make it sound calm and in control, but he didn't mind.

"Y-Yes! You know my parents?" hope, joy and excitement were all present at his words, in his voice, eyes and on his face.

"H-How are they?! I haven't heard from them in a while! They must be worried about me. B-but there was supposedly an earthquake, but I'm sure it wasn't near them… just a bit worried is all… S-So please! Anything you can tell me would be amazing!" he beamed and Laxus didn't know how to respond, let alone what to say.

"Oh, where are my manners! Even if you know my name doesn't mean you know me," the boy laughed nervously and stepped closer. "I'm Julian Battle. I work at a farm at the edge of town," he smiled and extended his hand.

Swallowing, Dreyar lowered his gaze and opened his mouth to speak, when the door opened and in stepped no one other than Dr. Moon, carrying four bowls of spaghetti.

"Hope your hungry kid!" he laughed, but stopped when he saw that someone else was in the room as well.


That's it for this one. Tell me what you think ^^ Oh and, I'd just like to say, that I'd really love it if more people reviewed =3= I mean, so far only two people and a recent new reader have reviewed, and not that I want you to stop, but I'd also like to know what everyone else thinks ^^'