Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail
Chapter 36: Seal
It was an overnight occurrence. Under the cover of stars and black sky, it felt considerably less real. Magnolia was sleeping, quaint and calm in their beds and oblivious to the monster that slunk through their streets.
"Why're we doin' this at night?"
"It's better than in the middle of the day where you could get into a fight." The man gave Gajeel a silencing look a continued onward. The magic that usually coursed through the air, sat at a dull hum coming from the guild master. The scents were dulled and barely identifiable; a jump from the tangy smells of iron he'd been inhaling hours ago. They continued through the streets Gajeel had once skulked through looking for a victim. To walk it now with seemingly opposite intentions was considerably strange in and of itself. What Makarov had said remained in his mind, unforgotten. He doubted he could ever forget the murderous intent that had flooded him during that fateful conversation. It didn't matter, though. Gajeel needed a guild. He had to provide for himself if he wanted to find out what happened to Metalicana. If he had to put up with the damnable fairies, then that was the price he would pay. This would be punishment.
"Speed it up, boy," Makarov said. "We've got to do this quick so you can settle in."
"Settle in? What're you talkin' about?"
"I've arranged an apartment for you. It's not too close to the guild but the location is good for what I have planned."
"I don't need it."
"You do and you will take it." They had finally arrived at the guild hall and the master unlocked the door and stepped inside. It didn't look too different from the old Phantom Lord guild hall, if Gajeel was being terribly honest but, then again, he'd also hated the men that made up that guild. "Now, this is strong magic." Makarov was saying, leading them to the bar. The old man stepped behind and fiddled with something just under the counter. Glasses clinked together and soon the man was revealing something that looked like a stamp. He'd remembered a similar item used to give him his guild mark.
"Black." Gajeel reminded, and Makarov nodded, a lachrima flashing over marker.
"If I give you this, you become a part of Fairy Tail. You hurt us, hurt my children, and for that I will never forgive you. Do you understand that?" He nodded. "Good. Fairy Tail is a family. You hurt one of us and you've hurt us all. But we express our joy together as well. I know Jose is not the kindest guild master," Gajeel snorted, "But neither will I be to you because of what you've done. Nor will my children."
"Yeah, I figured."
Makarov raised the stamp dramatically and Gajeel turned so his shoulder faced the old man, the Phantom Lord marker seeming to burn under scrutiny.
"This is a promise that upon entering this family, you will try to earn that forgiveness and take on whatever missions you are given. You are lost and I understand that, but you are not faultless. You will join us?"
"I ain't got anything to lose."
"I had a feeling you would say that." The man took a different coloured lachrima pressing to hit to his skin and Gajeel watched as it removed the old mark from his shoulder. The pain of its removal was brief. When the stamp came down, however, the sting was more painful and he tried his best not to show any change on his features. This was a promise, sealed with a guild mark that bound him to the guild for what he would deem eternity.
"There you are. We are nakama now."
Gajeel hoped he wouldn't regret this.