Funeral

The funeral was stiff and formal where the seven teens sat in and amongst police officers in uniform. Zeref and Rogue managed to say a few quiet, more personal words including stories about Grandine and Weisslogia since Sting and Wendy refused to speak, instead latching onto each other and sobbing silently through the whole service. Their shuddering breaths punctuated solemn speeches and filled pauses with anguish while the others offered quiet comfort. Meanwhile Gajeel got out his guitar and sung traditional song his father used to play for him which for once moved everyone to tears. Hidden away at the back Gray watched on as his father's body was laid to rest whispering the frantic prayers and heartfelt words he couldn't bring himself to share. It was definitely not what any of their parents would have wanted but they were being treated as heroes and therefore needed a proper ceremony run by the police instead of a smaller, more personal service. Plus it wasn't as if seven people in education could afford a funeral, let alone one for six people.

Natsu was restless in his awkwardness and itching to leave throughout the whole ordeal. He muttered hurried thanks to a few officers who stopped him before finally bursting out of the church doors. As he turned the corner he saw a familiar scruffy beard and mop of chestnut hair under a captain's hat.

"Gildarts! You're back!" He called while running over only to stop in his tracks when he saw who Gildarts was talking to. A familiar scowl was aimed at him as the teen mumbled some words to Gildarts and left after keys had been pressed into his hand. "…You know Gray?"

Gildarts laughed, heartily patting Natsu on the back before he seemed to remember where they were and stopped.

"Of course I do. He's my third favourite kid, well fourth after Lisanna. He's been down at the station quite a few times since he was young although I haven't seen him lately, my Cana looks after him now."

"Oh yeah Cana.. I saw a picture of you at her house, I mean your house."

"You know Cana?" The old man's face lit up as he started to explain the whole 'not knowing he had a daughter until she was a teenager' thing and then continued to gush about how great she was. "She's the light of my life Natsu I've gotta spend all the time I have with her making up for all those years I didn't know she existed."

"That's great... But more importantly it's been a while since we've seen each other. Fight me, Gildarts." It wasn't said in his usual over-enthusiastic manner, more a determined yet resigned statement.

Gildarts shook his head "Not now, we're at a funeral here. A police captain can't be seen fighting a kid anyway Natsu you know that."

"Fight. Me. Gildarts."

"No." He replied, a little firmer this time.

"I have to get stronger… for Igneel. I will get stronger for him. I'll become a police officer and protect people from bastards like Tartarus just like him. Or even better than him. I have to. I have to…" He trailed off, unsteady on his feet from the wave of emotion that just hit him.

"Okay, easy buddy. Look if you want to join the force I can help you out alright? I'm sure you'll make a great officer. Just calm down for a sec kid you're scaring me."

Warm hands patted his back and held his shoulders steady as he slowly came out of the pool of memories and back into the courtyard, still having to lean on Gildarts for support.

"It'll be alright Natsu. You should come and visit me sometime, eh? I'll help you out okay? And I won't have to do a whole background check on you before you become friends with Cana either." He chuckled but it was slightly too hesitant to have been genuine. Natsu just nodded as he continued leaning against the police captain and stared at the ground, determined that he wouldn't cry when he was meant to be celebrating Igneel's life.

"Since you've showed such an interest in becoming a police officer can I ask you a favour? Check on that Gray would you? He's been so distant and jumpy lately and I've heard some bad rumours about his siblings but we can't check it out without more evidence. Cana says he's always been like that and she won't do anything that'd upset their friendship so could you just see if he's okay? You're chatty right? You can do something like this."

"You want me to spy on Gray?" Natsu asked, confused.

"Not spy! I'm tellin' you to make a friend and check on a civilian who could be in danger of turning to crime. Contacts are everything in this business, you know?"

Well if it was going to get him in Gildarts' good books then why not? He had to return that coat after all…

A/N Okay so this whole chapter turned into a set up for the next. I had to think of an equivalent to Natsu's year out training since the whole school's not gonna disband or anything like that but I still wanted to have something come from Igneel's death so police officer…yeah. Originally I had planned to have this as a longer chapter where Natsu and Zeref went back with Gildarts to have dinner at his house with Cana and Gray as well but then I wasn't sure how I could get the two alone etc. and thought of a way better idea but I stuck with the beginning of him meeting Gildarts at the funeral. I actually went to a funeral for the first time two days ago and like Sting and Wendy I was fine until the coffin came in then I cried uncontrollably like the whole time. I also realised I skipped the bit where they're actually buried oops but it's okay. I also might be running out of chapters so might have to take another break after the next one.