Chapter 12: Divulge

"L-Lisanna," Mirajane stuttered in shock as she stared at her younger sister. "W-What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" the other girl repeated. "What are you doing here? Huh?"

She'd taken this defiant stance, right off the bat, arms crossed over her chest as she stared in at her older sister with heavy eyes. Though she was going for firm, she was fearful of coming off as petulant.

"What are you talking about?" Mira countered. She saw Bickslow standing there, in the hall with her sister. More like hiding behind her, honestly, but there all the same, as well as his five little dolls who were floating around. Upon further checking, however, Mirajane took note that there didn't seem to be any other people from the hall lurking around.

Good.

Though she wasn't sure what difference it would make, with the two standing before her clearly there with a mission in mind. Her own was racing, trying to formulate any way that she could possibly get rid of them and fast. Not coming up with one in the allotted time she gave herself (all of three seconds), she just moved to shove them away and step out into the hall herself, leaving Laxus, who she hoped they hadn't taken notice of, behind.

"I told you," she hissed at her sister, feeling slightly better then, out there in the hall. Their blue eyes clashed as she returned just as heavy a look back at Lisanna. "I'm doing a job for Master. I can't believe that you would be so brazen to-"

"No," her sister said with a swift shake of her head. "You're not."

"Excuse me?"

And then Lisanna lost some of her bravado. For all intents and purposes, Mirajane had had a big hand in raising her. And she did not raise her to undermined her authority. Very few people did.

"I just… You never came back," Lisanna argued, dropping her arms then. Bickslow was still behind her of course and was mostly shifting the weight from one foot to another, trying to figure out if he should just bypass the two of them and go on in to see the boss or if he should wait for his punishment. "And Master Makarov said that he didn't send you on a job. Just to get Laxus. Surely you've done that by now, haven't you? So what is it, Mira? Huh? That's kept you away for over a month?"

"I...I don't have to tell you that," her sister said, looking off. At Bickslow that time. "And you knew that we were on a serious job."

"Oy," he agreed softly. "I did."

"Then why did you bring her-"

"She kidnapped me!"

"Oh come off it," Lisanna complained, making a face at him. "Honestly."

'She did," he argued and then, after glancing around, he took a step closer to Mirajane. "Not to mention, her and Lucy offered me-"

"We did not!" Lisanna's face heated up immediately. "Don't tell her that!"

"-the choice of either fessing up or fightin' the Salamander." Bickslow nodded heavily. "So I chose fight, of course! And as I was beatin' into her precious Salamander, the kid here pulled me off and demanded that I take her here, less I wish for the Master to come down on me. Apparently, he' ain't too keen on whatever job you and the boss are doing and, well, boss is boss, but Master is, you know, supreme boss."

The two sisters shared a blink. Then the younger frowned at him.

"What are you talking about?" she complained. "None of that happened. Or at least not the way that you said it."

"That was freaking vertebrae, woman," he retorted.

"Verta… Verbatim, idiot."

"Don't call me names."

"Then don't say things that make you seem like the words I call you."

"Ooh, kid, you're really askin' for it."

"Oh, whatever. You're such a- Hey, Mira! What are you doing?"

Uh, try going back into the apartment while they were distracted and leaving them alone, out there. She wasn't sure what good that would do her or even what she'd do once she was inside the apartment, but figured it was better than standing there and listening to her baby sister argue with the guild's resident seith.

But she'd been caught and there was no way that Lisanna was letting her get away. With the door open and her sister slipping in, the other woman just moved to hold a hand against the door and force it open herself.

Laxus was in there, she saw him, seated in his wheelchair with an extremely pissed off veneer. Bickslow could see him too and only took in a breath before following the two sisters.

"I don't know what to do," Mira said simply, glancing over her shoulder at the two stragglers (seven counting Bickslow's babies) with a sigh. "Laxus. Should we tell them...about our job? And how we're deep undercover and have discovered some sort of massive coverup that we weren't telling Master Makarov about because...it could get him killed and he's Laxus' grandfather and he loves him and I love him and we all love him, really, so what did you expect us too do? Huh? What did you expect, Lisanna?"

She was too shocked, the other woman was, to even say anything. So was Bickslow, actually. Stunned, really. Laxus, however, only let out a long breath before speaking.

"Mirajane," he began, but she wouldn't let him speak. Didn't think he needed to. It was on the fly, but what she had come up with sounded good enough. She knew if she kept talking that holes would begin to appear, but for what it was worth, the lie wasn't horrible. If she could only get her sister and the seith out of there, they might get away with it for a bit longer.

"No, Lax," the woman insisted. "It's alright. Seriously. I've told them the situation and now it's okay. They're gonna go and we can get back to our job. Remember? Our important job. So just-"

"Shut up," he told her harshly, though his eyes were still on his bodyguard and the woman's youngest sibling. To the two of them though, he only glared. "So what, huh? Who told on me? Was it Mirajane? Huh? Did she talk to Gramps and have him send you fools down here? Is that it, Mira?"

"What are you talking about, Laxus? I didn't-"

"It's some sort of big conspiracy, right?" He snorted. "Like there'd be any other reason for these two dopes to show up. You cover it, Mira. Guess what? I ain't goin' back. So you can go with your damn sister and-"

"Laxus, I didn't tell them anything! I-"

"You aren't gonna trick me."

"You just heard me lie to them about some made up job," she argued. "Why would I have done that if-"

"I don't know. What? You expect me to know everything, woman?"

"Laxus, shut up, you-"

"Wait." Bickslow held up a hand then. He and Lisanna were kinda just standing there, dazed by not only the original lie, but also the argument over the lie. Lisanna, personally, was starting to connect dots, but Bickslow was still very much so in the dark. "What are we talking about now? So there ain't a job? And boss, is Mira givin' you trouble? Don't worry. I'll prevail where Freed failed. Understand?" Then he snickered darkly, looking away from Laxus and at Mirajane. "Come on then, Mira. Let's fight!"

"No, you idiot," Lisanna hissed, moving to grab the seith's arm when he raised it, as if to call his babies to arm. "Don't you get it?"

"Get what?" Then he glared. "And don't call me an idiot! Else I'll have to take you out too, kid."

"Oh, whatever."

"Keep whatevering me, kid, and I'll-"

"I'm not a kid!" Huffing, she added, "And this isn't about you. Or did you forget that?"

"Me? You're the one making it about you."

"Am not."

"Offering up threesomes-"

"That never happened!"

And it was Mira and Laxus' turn then to just stare, the former in slight disgust and the latter only getting more peeved by the moment.

"Boss, can you believe this?" Bickslow looked back at the man then. "This kid here-"

"Stop calling me that!"

"Blindfolded me and tried to gang up on me, right? With that Lucy chick? And-"

"You what?" Mira was done with Laxus then. "Lisanna, what have you been doing while I've been-"

"Nothing!" She was still glaring at the seith though. "That's not what happened!"

"Laxus, if you want me gone so badly, fine," Mira said then, though she wasn't looking at him either. Just her sister. "Apparently, I'm needed back home."

"That never happened!"

Bickslow snickered then, grinning over at his esteemed idol as his tongue flopped from his mouth in triumph. Another life ruined. Good day's work, he figured, as the babies took to laughing too.

"Oy, boss," he said, walking over to where the man was still glaring at him from his wheelchair. "Looks like I might have driven your woman away from ya. So, what are you really doin' down here? Way I figured it, since you kinda spilled the beans about the lyin', you're probably bonin' Mirajane, huh?"

"What?" Mira looked at Bickslow for the first time in the past few minutes. She'd gone over to her sister, to scold her, but her head shot over to the seith at those words. "Why would you-"

"The candles, the flowers from before, the apartment far away-"

"That has nothing to do with-"

"Now what I don't get," the seith continued with a big grin, "is where the wheelchair comes in. Some sort kink or-"

"Bickslow, knock it off," Mira told him as Lisanna only groaned. "Honestly, just.

"Shut up," Laxus hissed, though that was at bodyguard. The man was grating on his sanity and they'd only been around one another for a few minutes. "You dolt."

"B-Boss, I was just-"

"And get out of here," Laxus added with a glare."Now. Take 'em both with you."

"I-I don't-"

"I mean it, Bickslow," he ordered. "I told you not to come back here."

"I didn't want to! The kid, she kidnapped me and-"

"Oh, you get kidnapped by little girls now?"

"Laxus, you don't get it, I just-"

"I think I get more than enough."

Bickslow didn't know what to do then. He'd been having fun since they got there, but it appeared as if he were the only one. Well, his babies too, but they enjoyed whatever he enjoyed.

"I didn't...I'm sorry." The man reached up then, to push off his hood and visor before glancing back at Mirajane. "I didn't mean to ruin you and the boss's little getaway, Mira. And I shouldn't have said he was bonin' ya. Is that what you wanted, boss?" He looked back at Laxus then. "Was that okay? I really meant it. Mostly. Should I apologize again or-"

That was the thing about the Thunder Legion. It was just impossible to stay mad at them. Especially when they were all contrite and shit. Looking off, the man grumbled out, "No. And that's not..."

"I was just kiddin'," Bickslow informed them all, as if they could have possibly missed picking up on that. Looking around at each of them, he said, "I really didn't wanna come back here even. But the kid, well, you had her spooked, Mira, and she got the Master all freaked and he forced me to go. Well, she did, but under his orders. And she didn't wanna sleep with me. She's just a kid."

Lisanna stuck her tongue out at him before saying, "I'm not a kid, jerk. But gross, for the record."

"You'd only be so lucky."

"Barf."

Ignoring that last jab, Bickslow grinned at Mirajane. "See? We didn't do nothin' that should have you worried. With Lucy either. Or Natsu, but I'm not so sure if he was in on it or-"

"That's enough," Laxus grumbled. "Bickslow."

Nodding, he said, "In closing, the kid's great. We rode on the train, had lunch, and boss? Can you pay the woman? She sorta paid my way and I'd feel bad about it if-"

"What part of enough don't you get?" Laxus glared at him that time. "I was being serious. Get the hell out."

"But boss, I apologized and-"

"And I accept it, alright? Just scram." He rolled his shoulders. "All of you."

"Lax." Mira sighed, looking to him once more. "It's alright, okay? Just-"

"No, Mira. You get out too. All of you! I-"

"But boss, why?" Bickslow was hurt, really. He knew that the man would be mad and, at most, was expecting a good talking to. Not to be kicked out in the cold. That wasn't cool. Not at all. "If you ain't on a job, then what's the problem? Huh? How come we can't stay? Ain't you and Mirajane here just having a nice romantic...month...or more… Or something?"

Or something.

Mira gave Bickslow one of the most sympathetic looks he'd ever seen. It was like she'd just seen his puppy get run over or something and had to break the news to him. That bad. Seriously.

"What is it?" He frowned when Lisanna, who was still fuzzy on the details, but had most of the puzzle pieced by the point, gave him one just as bad. "I don't… What's going on?"

"Bickslow," Mira whispered as Lisanna took to glancing away from him. "Maybe you and I should go talk about…something in the other room. Okay?"

"What? No." He was glaring at Laxus then. "What is it, boss? What? Is it me? Or… Oh, gosh, it's Freed, isn't it? Is that why he hasn't come back from his job in forever? Oh shit. Shit. He wanted me to go, you know, but I wanted to take a different job and I didn't go and now he's dead and shit. Shit. Damn. I'mma have to tell Ever. I take these things better than- I can't take it!"

"What are you blabbering about? Freed's fine, idiot," Laxus complained.

"Really?" Bickslow, who'd been ready to rub at his eyes, dropped his hands. "Oh. Good. Man."

"Well," Mira added softly. "As far as we know."

Bickslow was alright with that. Completely. Grinning at Laxus once more, he wagged his tongue as he said, "This is great news! In fact, it calls for drinks. Now, boss, you've been here for a bit, so I'm sure you know the best bar in town, huh? And are willing to pay for me? And the kid? AS repayment for her, you know, also paying for me? So let's get after it!"

The seith turned to walk off then, but noticed that the man didn't get up. Didn't even move. Pausing, he glanced back at him. "Uh, boss? Ain't we going?"

No one said anything. Didn't even move. Bickslow, undeterred, walked back over to the man and patted him on the shoulder.

"Boss," he repeated. "I said come on. Let's go. You know, to a bar? Come on! Boss?"

"Bickslow," Mira whispered. "Maybe-"

"No." He wouldn't even look at her that time. Just Laxus who was glaring off at one of the walls. "Boss. Come on. Get up. Boss? Get up. Let's go. Boss?"

That hung in the room for a moment or two as Bickslow only stared at him.

"B-Boss?" He didn't know what to do. Only stood there, in front of the man, as if coaxing him would get him to his feet. "Aren't you coming? You gotta get up, boss. I-If we're gonna go-"

Laxus wouldn't look at him. Only moved then to release the brakes on his chair before rolling backwards, so he had room, before off, towards the bedroom.

"Mira." His voice was loud and sounded even, but she knew it was only a cover. "I need… Come here."

She was frozen though, if only for a moment, and could only make the short trek across the tiny living room, gently patting Bickslow on the arm as she went, before following the man into their bedroom. The door shutting softly behind them killed the seith just as much as the entire scene had.

And then there were two, just standing there. Lisanna was unsure of her whole part in the situation and only stood there awkwardly, rubbing at her arm.

"Uh," she tried. 'Bickslow, maybe-"

"W-Why didn't he just get up?"

"Master said there was an...accident," she told him softly. "Maybe Laxus broke his leg or-"

"But it wasn't bandaged," he pointed out, glancing back at her. "So it can't be that."

"Maybe-"

"So he should have been able to get up," he said. "Right? He should have been able to get up. How come he just didn't get up?"

"I-I don't..."

"It doesn't make sense," he insisted. "That he didn't get up. Why wouldn't he?"

"Maybe we should just… You should probably sit down and, uh, I don't know, just-"

Bickslow sniffled then. "He could just get up. I don't know why he just doesn't get up."

Taking a step closer, she said, "I'm sure that...that he's alright. I mean, it's probably only temporary."

"That what is?"

"You know. His...not being able to-"

He turned on her real quick for that, eyes glowing green as he glared. "Boss is fine! So don't say he's not!"

"I wasn't! I mean, I just-"

"He's fine." He sniffled again. "He just didn't get up because he didn't want to. Because he can, if he wants, but he didn't, because he just didn't, Lisanna, what don't you get about that?"

"S-Sorry. I just-"

"He's fine! He has to be. Because if he's not then that means that… It doesn't mean anything! Because it's not true. It can't be. Boss would never get hurt. Laxus is great. He's not some sorta chump, you know?"

"I know."

"He never gets hurt because he's too great. He's awesome. He's the best mage ever! How could the best mage ever be...be… Is boss...paralyzed?"

The green glow disappeared in his eyes and was replaced by moisture as his vision blurred. Turning from Lisanna, he only stared at the closed bedroom door, the shock fading and the realization setting in.

As bitter as it was for him, reality was far worse for the man on the other side of it. He only sat there in his chair, only having rolled just inside the door before Mira got him. His head was hung and her hands were on his shoulder, but they weren't bringing him any comfort. Nothing was. Or would.

Avoidance had been nice. Real nice. Comforting. But at the same time impossible to keep up with. Keeping the others out hadn't spared him any of the pain. If anything, it just prolonged it. And now that Bickslow and Lisanna knew, everyone would know. It was over.

It was really over.

Mira's hands left his shoulders then and he felt slightly colder. Glancing up from his own self pity, he found her heading over to the closet. When she returned, it was with one hand outstretched.

"Here, dragon," she whispered, placing the object in it into his lap when he didn't reach out to take it from her. "It'll be okay. I promise."

He didn't believe her. But the dead, plastic eyes of the green dragon she'd thrust upon him said otherwise. Stroking the stuffed animal's old fur gently, he whispered, "I just want it to all go back to normal."

Mirajane didn't know if he meant before Bickslow and her sister showed up, before they'd kissed, or even before the accident, but all three sounded just as nice to her, so she nodded.

"Yeah," she agreed. "Me too."

They could hear them, outside the bedroom door, talking softly. Bickslow sounded really distraught and Mira wished that there was something that she could do for him, but Laxus was her job. There was nothing she could do about it.

"What," she asked softly, staring at the man, "do you want me to do? Dragon?"

He didn't know. He didn't even know what to feel right then. He wasn't a child, of course, and in no way had he thought it possible for him and Mirajane to stay hidden away forever. Someone was going to find them. And, besides, Bickslow already had once before. It was his fault for sending the dope away without really addressing the problem. The blame landed squarely on his shoulders.

Not that it made him feel any better, however.

When Laxus didn't answer, she only asked softly, "Did you want me to go get him? Did the two of you want to talk? You think? We can do that. And Lisanna and I can go… We'll go get dinner. Or something. Instead of me making it. And then we can decide where to go from there. Okay? Dragon?"

Nothing was okay and he wasn't sure how she could think otherwise, but still, all he did was nod. What else could he do? He did have to talk to Bickslow eventually. And without Mira around or her sister judging him, it should be a bit better.

Maybe.

Still, he didn't want to immediately, so he just sat there for a few more minutes, with his stuffed dragon, letting Mirajane rub at his shoulders. Eventually though, she leaned down and kissed the top of his head.

"We should go out there," she told him when he glanced up at her. "Alright?"

Slowly, he handed over his stuffed dragon and Mirajane went to put it away once more in the closet while Laxus only took a deep breath. He could go out there. Hell, he was the Thunder God. He could do anything. Anything. Even face one of his followers and admit that he made a mistake that led to his inability to walk. He could. Honest.

He just needed some support first.

"You ready, dragon?"

And Mira was great at giving it.

"Am I ready?" He snorted as he attempted to get back to his usual self. He was going to need it if he was going to go tackle the Bickslow problem. "Of course I'm ready. Why wouldn't I be? All I'm going to do is go out there and talk to him. Like what? You think that I'm a what, Mirajane? A baby? A child? Who needs his mother to take care of him? Yeah, well, I don't. So don't try to mother me. It's disgusting."

Mira only stood over him though with a slight frown. "Dragon-"

"No. No. I'm fine. I-"

"It'll be okay, dragon." Reaching out, she stroked his cheek a few times with her thumb, cupping the rest of his face in her hand. Reluctantly, he leaned into the touch. "Alright? No matter what, I'll always be there for you. I promise."

It felt good, her saying that, even if he wasn't so sure there was any validity behind it. Then again, they were still guild mates and, well, Mira could say that same thing to any of them, so…

Ugh. He was over-thinking. That wasn't even the problem of the day. Instead it was seated in the living room with Lisanna, waiting to be addressed. He had to just go out there and get it over with.

And what was it anyways? Huh? Just that he had to explain to a dope that worshiped the ground he walked on that he was injured. That he couldn't walk. He could still do everything else just fine though. His magic was still intact. His looks. His ability to get women (or at least a demon). He was set, really. Now he didn't have to worry any about walking. Ugh. Who liked that anyways? Huh?

"I told you," he told Mirajane gruffly. "I'm fine."

She only stared at him for a moment or two before sighing and saying, "Come on then."

In the living room, Bickslow was still just standing there in front of Lisanna, a shocked look frozen on his features as she tried to make him feel better. She wasn't sure how though and was slightly glad to see the emergence of her sister and Laxus. It saved her, really, from all the awkwardness.

"Lisanna," her sister began as Laxus and her came out of the bedroom. "Laxus and Bickslow have a...lot to discuss. Come on. We'll go pick up something to-"

"Yes, okay," Lisanna didn't even let her finish. Just rushed to her side. "Let's go. Right now."

Because, yeah, Laxus and Bickslow did need to talk about things, but so did Lisanna and Mira. And stat.

The women were quick about getting out of there, Mira tapping the back of Laxus' head gently before she left. He only stared at Bickslow who, even with his visor off, couldn't manage to do the same. When the front door closed after the two women, they were completely alone.

Laxus only wheeled closer as Bickslow sniffled some more. This annoyed the slayer for some reason who growled.

"Stop groveling, you fool," he complained, coming to a stop. "What are you? A woman? Huh?"

"S-Sorry, boss," he mumbled. 'I just-"

"I expected," he growled, "this from Evergreen. Maybe Freed. But you?"

"I just- This is just so much to take and I can't-"

"Come the fuck on, Bickslow," he hissed. "What are you? Huh? Not the one in the chair. Not the one that has to deal with this. What do you gotta do? Huh? Absolutely noth-"

"I gotta take care of you."

"What?"

"Boss, I don't know why you went to Mirajane," he said, rushing over. "And I'm so sorry if I did something that made you think that I couldn't… That I… But I can! What do you need? Huh? Someone to cook for you? Clean? Bathe you?"

"No one...bathes me. Damn it, Bickslow, I'm a grown-"

"I'll do it all! And so will the rest of the Thunder Legion. Unless you, you know, specifically want me. Because that's good too. Really good. I mean, sheesh, I already take care of my babies. I can do this. Really. And you can come live with me and I'll take care of you and it'll be great. Two bros just living large and...and...and..."

The man had begun to dry heave at the end of that and, by the time he reached the final trailing off point, couldn't even speak any longer. His throat was all closed up and his eyes were welling with tears and he felt...funny. Really funny. But not funny, funny. More weird funny. And wasn't that funny? That he was feeling funny, but there wasn't a damn thing funny going on? Real funny.

"Boss," he sobbed as he only came over to the man, unable to contain himself any longer. His babies were upset, as they had been the entire time, and began to moaning loudly, all five of them. They weren't too sure what they were supposed to be so morose about, but they definitely were. Through sobs, Bickslow got out, "I just want you to be okay!"

Laxus only groaned as the man fall to his knees before him (Bickslow had more of a flare for drama than Ever at times), and laid his head in the man's lap, crying over him.

"There, there," Laxus grumbled patting him on the head. "I mean, think about this, Bickslow. You only, what? Have absolutely nothing wrong with you at all? Should clear those tears right up."

"I'd rather have something wrong with me," he told the man then, "than you. Of course I would! I'd cut off my legs right… Boss, how did this happen? Huh? What accident? I'll kill them. Was it the Strauss chick? I'll kill her. I'll mangle her body and- Ow, boss!"

Laxus had hit him in the head, making the other man lift his. "Stop...crying on me. And you're not going to touch Mirajane. Ever. So drop that. And it was just… It's hard to explain, alright?"

Still on his knees, Bickslow only rubbed at his eyes. "But we can fix it, huh? Can't we? Fix it? It's not forever, right?"

The man only took a deep breath before saying, "Look, things are...complicated. And right now, all I want from you is a promise."

"Yes. Whatever it is, of course. I've pledged my life to you and I mean to keep it! I love you, boss."

Sighing, Laxus said, "Yeah, I know."

"And I just want to make sure that you're okay. And that you'll keep being okay." Another sniffle. He couldn't help it though. "How come you didn't tell me, boss? I mean, am I that big of a screw up? Huh?"

"No," he groaned. "I just didn't want anyone to know."

"Oh, so what? You think that I can't keep a...that I can't..."

"Don't," Laxus said, frowning down at him, "start crying again. Seriously, just don't."

"I'm not going to," he argued. "I mean, I know that you're going through a lot and that your life has to be hell right now, but Mirajane Strauss? Really? Over me? Or even Ever? Or Freed?"

"I asked for Freed, you twit," he grumbled. "But he was out. If I had known that, I probably would have requested you from Master, but he just sent Mirajane, not knowing what was wrong. You know that her and Erza are his go-to people."

A horrible thought occurred to Laxus just then, one that he hadn't thought of before. If Mirajane had been busy and Erza free, it might have been the swordswoman that came to take care of him. And probably would have immediately reported back to Master what was wrong.

Or worse; not and have stayed to take care of him.

Or even worse, perhaps the two of them would have…fallen for one…

Bleh. Unfathomable. Mira? Fine. Whatever. But Erza? What would the two of them even do together?

Hmmm.

"Uh, boss?" Bickslow frowned. "You look torn."

He was. Erza did have all those sexy little outfits. Although, Mira could just transform into them. Right? He was pretty sure.

Hmmm. So which trumped which? It pretty much came down to preference, but-

"Is it about me?" Bickslow just wouldn't shut up and let him get that worked out. "Honestly, Laxus, this is a good thing. All Ever or Freed would do is hamper you. I'll help. You want this to be a secret? Hell, I'll kill anyone that knows. Sic the babies on Lisanna and Mirajane, keep them from ever opening their mouths. Swear it. I'm that committed to-"

"Just… Get off your knees, alright? It's awkward."

"Of course, man, anything you want."

Laxus only watched him for a moment before saying, "And make your babies stop crying. It's buggin' me."

Bickslow didn't even do anything visible. Still, the babies suddenly just all came crashing down to the ground, their bodies going dormant just like that.

"Anything for you, Laxus."

Hell yeah.

Relaxing into the chair some then, Laxus rested his arms on the armrests, tapping his finger against one.

"What," he asked slowly, "did Lisanna do to you, exactly? To get you here?"

"Well, uh, she kinda threatened me with Master Makarov," he said, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck. "And hey, about you and Mirajane..."

"What?"

"Is she… Are you guys screwing? Or can you...not? Because either way's cool, man! But-"

"Fuck off, Bickslow. Is that all you think about?"

Recently? Yes. But at the moment it was more him trying to get back on to neutral ground. Talking about he wheelchair (more like wailing over it) had only pissed the man off. And, considering that was the major thing in his life at the moment, Laxus was left without anything else to talk about as himself was his favorite (and typically only) subject. Another one of his big talking points however was, of course, women. And with Mirajane being the only one that the other man had seen him with since, well, since he got there and the time before, it was only natural to ask.

For him anyways.

Bickslow knew no such thing as social graces.

"Sorry, boss," he said then, holding up a hand. "I's only askin'. I mean, you guys were all close and stuff when I ran into you before and you'd gotten her flowers and then, today, you bought candles and stuff for a dinner and you're living together and I only see one room, unless that other door's a room, but I figured it's a bathroom 'cause, well, it's open and I can see in there and I ain't thinkin' badly of you, but I don't think you'd make the poor woman sleep in the bathroom-"

"The couch pulls out," Laxus grumbled. He wasn't sure why, but it just didn't feel like the time to get into the simi-relationship that he had going with Mirajane. "Then there's a bed in the bedroom."

"Oh." Bickslow nodded because that sounded about right. "Then you and Mirajane that day were-"

"We just get out of the apartment sometimes. Is that a crime?"

"Of course not, boss. I didn't mean to make it sound like I'm questionin' ya or somethin'. I just… I should have been smarter. Yeah? When I saw you here with Mirajane, I was so easy to just write it off. I mean, what if you needed me and I was such an idiot that I just wrote it off? Huh? I'm so stupid."

"No, you're not. And don't say that, idiot." After all, it was only okay when he said it. "I told you I was fine and you believed it. That's on me. Not you."

Bickslow, slowly, turned and went to retrieve his fallen visor. "I just wish you'd trusted me, Laxus."

The slayer sat there for a moment before saying, "I fucked up. Out on that job. And I didn't… I didn't want anyone to know. And when Gramps sent Mirajane, well, I thought it was over. But she made it so easy to hide it. 'cause I'm with, like, the most clean cut person in the guildhall. Mira? Hide something? No way. It just made it so easy. It was such a good cover. But I just… I don't know. I'm sorry, alright?" Then, with the first grin of the hour, he said, "I'm an ass. You should be used to it."

Bickslow didn't grin though. Only shook his head.

"Nah, boss," he said, glancing back at the man once his visor was replaced on his face. "You're not ass."

"And you're not stupid." Then, after a beat, he added, "Although, being taken down by a Strauss girl-"

"It's a lot more complex than that."

"Yeah. I heard something about a threesome or-"

That, finally, got a grin and snicker out of Bickslow. Hanging his tongue from his mouth, he went to begin picking up his babies dormant bodies.

"Yeah, well," the seith said, "I am a lady killer."

Laxus nodded then. "A soul stealer, I heard."

"A jack of all trades."

Grinning, the slayer agreed softly, "A jack of all trades."

Bleh. My laptop that I've had for, oh, eight years finally gave out, which meant that I lost my access to Word, which meant I had to download Libreoffice on the laptop I'm borrowing, only for that laptop to get a virus on it from something else, but all's good now (for now). I lost the original draft of this chapter though (I like this one better, actually, so that's okay) and a one-shot I spent a few days on which sucked, but other than that, I got all my files off my old laptop, so I should be able to get back to updating regularly again.