Chapter 12

Lucy was trying to keep up a conversation. At first she had asked accusing questions about why he was with Naomi, what they had been doing, what he was thinking. But after a few grunted replies that said absolutely nothing she gave up, and they walked in silence.

Lucy may have felt awkward, but Laxus was deep in thought and had no room for the little girl's yammering. He himself wasn't sure what he was thinking about. Things were moving too fast in his brain, and it wasn't until the two of them reached the guild hall that they organized themselves into one thought.

"Fuck."

The whole guild hall was staring suspiciously at them. The old man was walking towards them menacingly, and it wasn't until Laxus noticed Lucy shaking like a leaf next to him that he realized none of it was directed at him. Makarov did not speak until he was two feet away from the young girl, and he was shaking with fury.

"What did I tell you?"

"You said that we couldn't—" Lucy began

"Don't interrupt, idiot! I said that you absolutely could not go after her! I can't believe you would go out on your own. I am extremely disappointed in you."

Lucy hung her head.

"I'm sure if Laxus hadn't been there you would've been burned to a crisp by now."

Lucy looked up frowning. "That's not how—"

"Yeah. She sure was a pain in the ass." Laxus glared at her, and Lucy understood that she would be murdered in her sleep if she told the truth. Makarov looked frowningly satisfied, and turned back to the bar. Lucy breathed a sigh of relief, but was stopped short when the old geezer called out.

"Toilet duty. One month."

"Hah! Ha ha ha!" Natsu burst out laughing. Lucy smiled as she realized it was the first time he'd laughed since they had been beaten to a pulp.

"It's not funny! I know I deserve it, but if you keep laughing I'll stick your head in the toilet and use it to scrub down!" She ran after him, and Laxus very nearly smiled. Stupid kids.

He walked to the bar and ordered a mug of ale. He felt drained, and slumped on his stool.

"So that's the honest-to-God truth, huh?" Said a gravelly voice to his right.

"Gajeel. What's it to do with you?"

"If it concerns that woman, it concerns the guild, and that means it concerns me."

"It's like Lucy said—"

"Bullshit. She didn't say squat. The old man put words in her mouth, and you agreed like the asshole you are." Gajeel grinned as Laxus squirmed ever so slightly. "The truth. Now."

"No."

"I figured. Good thing I already know." Laxus looked up.

"What?"

"You been going to see her, haven't ya? Been her little nurse for a couple weeks now I bet. Now that's something I'd like to see."

"How the hell do you know that?"

"I have eyes and a brain, dumbass. It's not like you're the only one in the forest. I've seen the little fires you made. Just shy of seeing you wiping her forehead with a washcloth, ya pansy." Laxus blushed. "Oh, Mavis. You did wipe her forehead didn't you? Ha!"

Gajeel roared with laughter. Guild members were starting to look in their direction, so Laxus hissed, "Shut. The fuck. Up. Or do you want me to start shouting about your everything." That shut the idiot's trap so fast it looked like he had his jaw wired shut. He glared venomously.

"I'll kill ya."

"I know. Shake hands on it?" Gajeel smirked.

"Deal. Ya dirty bastard." The two wizards shook hands with as much force as they could muster, and Laxus drained his beer as he got up to leave. "Make sure she pays you back." Laxus whipped around as Gajeel wiggled his eyebrows.

"I'm going home, dirt-for-brains."

"Sure, get your beauty rest. I bet you're gonna need it."

Laxus contemplated if he could get a right hook in before Gajeel could block properly, but thought better of it. He simply growled and stalked out of the guild hall. Gajeel couldn't stop himself from grinning. Not that he tried.

"He'll bring her to the guild quick enough."