Summary: Because they're fiercely protective of what is theirs. Natsu, Gajeel, Wendy, Laxus.
A/N: This one was fun. It's definitely the biggest chapter in the series. Huge hints of NaLu and GaLe and a tiny bit of LaxMira (I honestly don't know what the official ship name for Laxus and Mirajane is...). I think Laxus and Wendy are my favorite FT characters. Especially Laxus. He's so adorably awkward.
x. Hoard
Natsu climbs into Lucy's bed every night.
At first, she is irritated. Yes, he's cute, but that does not give him instant access to her bed!
But after their first couple jobs together, she slowly comes to realize that he's not being a pervert, but it's more of a need.
He needs to hold her, because touch reassures him that she is safe.
The first time he kisses her, he is amazed that her skin is still so soft despite all the cuts and wounds and scrapes she's acquired because he couldn't protect her from everything, and he vows to himself that he will work harder. But for now, he'll settle for holding her, watching as she becomes pliant in his arms, relaxed as she drifts into the realms of sleep.
He needs to feel her, feel her heart beat and her breathe, to know that she is still with him, that she is alive.
He marvels at her quiet breathing, how relaxed and peaceful she looks when she's sleeping, and he wants them to always stay this way. He is amazed at how sensitive she is to the cold. He's naturally warm and she gets cold easily, so he simply holds her closer to him, hoping his body heat will transfer to her and keep her just as warm. With him around, she won't ever need blankets or a heater.
He needs her, because he has already lost so much, and he will do anything to keep her safe.
After a while, Lucy finds that she doesn't mind him climbing into her bed so much, and waits for him to come in through the window before shutting off her lights.
Gajeel has never been one to hide or run away from his problems.
He just doesn't understand when and how he became so attached to the little Solid Script mage of Shadow Gear, but if he was a betting man he would say it started when he attacked her.
He guesses he feels a sense of responsibility and obligation towards her.
After his guild is destroyed, Makarov offers him a place at Fairy Tail, and he accepts, partly out of curiosity and partly because of Natsu. And partly because he wants to see a certain blue-haired mage again.
He honestly doesn't remember his body moving when he intercepts the attack from Laxus. He remembers being disgusted though, that the lightning dragon slayer would attack his own fellow guild member.
He receives injuries, of which he is grateful for, because if he is injured then it means that he has succeeded in protecting her.
After the whole festival fiasco is concluded, Gajeel comes to his original conclusion: that Makarov's grandson is an idiot anyways. One day the kid will realize his loss.
With that little problem out of the day, Gajeel finds himself running into the Solid Script mage a little too frequently for his liking. Sure, they're in the same guild. But he doesn't run into Gray or Erza or even Natsu with the same level of consistency that he does with her.
Gajeel has never been one to hide or run away from his problems, so he decides to face this one head on, right when Makarov announces the candidates for the S-class exam and Mirajane explains the first section of it, giving him the perfect opportunity.
He makes his way over to Levy McGarden.
"If you really want to become an S-class, I'll lend you a hand. I'll be your partner for the exam."
He's going to make sure she passes.
Wendy's going to be eternally grateful that this wonderful guild welcomed her with such open arms. She is so young and inexperienced compared to everyone else in Fairy Tail, and the Exceeds don't count. She's not too strong and she doesn't have a lot of skill. (At that, Carla scoffs and reminds her that she is a sky dragon slayer and a healer, rare and nearly extinct.) She doesn't know what she could possibly offer them in return.
But she's a great listener.
She listens to Makarov crying over the damage that the guild is causing and offers to help with repairs, and she listens when Natsu and Gray (and sometimes Gajeel and the other guys) fight and argue over who the strongest mage is.
She listens when Lucy and Levy complain about how dense dragon slayers are. (She's inwardly amused because she is also a dragon slayer, and she doesn't think she's dense at all. But then again, she's female as well… but then again Gajeel doesn't seem the dense type… not to mention it's Natsu that Lucy is talking about…)
She listens when Erza gives her pointers that should help and offers to teach her basic weapons skills, and then the requip mage lists all the reasons as to why strawberry cake is the best, and asks Mirajane for more. She listens to Mirajane's matchmaking plans (and is a little scared as to when the Take Over Mage finds someone to pair her up with) and Cana's fortune telling (which she thinks is really interesting).
She likes to listen to Gildarts because he's so much older and so knowledgeable. When she asks about dragons, he tells her that he'll keep an eye out for her adoptive mother. (He's traveled the world and seen and experienced so much, and she wants to do that one day. Maybe she'll even find Grandine again if GIldarts doesn't find her first.)
She listens to Carla commenting on how odd the mages of Fairy Tail are, and she can't help her grin.
She hasn't known these people very long, but she knows that she will do whatever it takes to protect them, because they are her family now.
Laxus doesn't say much, but his actions speak where his voice does not.
He knows he's screwed up and made some bad choices in the past, but that's done and over with now. He now knows and appreciates (most of the time, anyways) what an amazing family he's got, and he's not going to lose them this time around.
He is an S-class mage and a second generation lightning dragon slayer, so he is a force to be reckoned with.
He is perceptive.
When Mirajane and Elfman return from their job without Lisanna, he's the one keeping an eye on Mira. Elfman's resting from his injuries, but he's the one making sure Mira's eating and resting and he's the one waking her up from her nightmares and the one she throws herself at when she's sobbing. He keeps everyone from bothering her after she retires from her S-class rank and takes up the head waitress position at the bar. (When he comes back from jobs, he always takes up a seat at the bar where he can keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn't overwork herself.)
He keeps the guild from going too overboard (being the disciplinarian is Erza's job anyways, but he knows that he's got a better hold on both Natsu and Gray, and he won't admit it but it's actually fun to pummel the two idiots for wreaking havoc) so his gramps doesn't lose the few white hairs he has left. It really isn't hard – all he has to do is point a finger and lightning roars from the sky, striking down the unfortunate soul(s) pissing him off. Bonus: when Erza's pissed off, that's when it gets really fun. The two S-class mages know that the other guild members don't even come close to their level of skill, so on the far and few occasions he and Erza spar, that's when he can really let loose, because he trusts her to protect herself adequately with her Lightning Empress armor, and she trusts him to move fast enough that she won't spear him through with her swords.
He sticks around when Mavis wants to play (mostly because it's an order coming from the First Fairy Tail Guild Master and she could probably force him to stay if she really wanted to so it's not like he has much of a choice anyways) and he finds himself enjoying her company, knowing that despite her youthful look that she is very knowledgeable and they have a lot of interesting discussions on strategy and techniques.
He keeps an eye on his team, giving them pointers to improve and suggesting moves that complement one another in battle and strengthen their attack power. He subtly threatens Elfman about Evergreen, to which the male Strauss yells something about real men treating women respectfully (and he better or else).
He looks out for the youngest member of the guild with the tenacity of an older brother, making sure she arrives safely to her room at Fairy Hills after a long day, accompanying her on short excursions around town and sometimes buying the sky dragon slayer her favorite sweets, checking up on her from time to time and giving her pointers to help with her offensive techniques. He listens when she speaks, and quietly (and in much fewer words) offers her advice when she asks for it. When she hugs him in gratitude, he grunts in response and tries to act nonchalant about it, but Wendy knows better.
She knows that Laxus doesn't say much, but his actions speak all the words that are needed.
No one is going to hurt his family.
tbc.