Chapter 53: A Night to Remember
Hey dearies, first of all I wanna thank you all for your GREAT reviews! I even got new readers too! *grinning like a fool* Now going through each one of your reviews with my replies to them;
beautiful-surreal:Thank you so much for your encouraging reviews!
D: Aww, sorry about the cliffys . I do that sometimes…HAHA!
Bahamut PURE: Honestly, writing that arc was the most difficult part of the story so far, (almost died) trying to come up with different fight scenes repeatedly for all the characters. Glad you liked it so far!
Shiary: Yup, and the best thing is he is here to stay for the subsequent chapters until I get tired of him (just kidding!) ;)
.Sky.00: Yes, I'll promise to deliver more romance (below) ;)
Midoripoet: Oh, that's a good question: Laxus always leaves the door unlocked and also, he is REALLY drunk (explanation & description below.
TheOnyxRose: Yup, he is back…for now! HAHA!
Code Halo:Oh, oh, oh…it was reaaalllly long since Laxus appeared…but I really couldn't find another place to insert Laxus's appearance until I felt it was right which is about now… .
Wicked Vodka: Yup, he's back! Yes, you may call me Vamp, no worries about that! It really is an enjoyment to write this story and read all your reviews in return for my hard work!
lenie954: He's back and here to re-torture Vannessa again… Haha!
Hirakofan:Why, thank you so much! I will continue this story…as long as my brain juices don't dry up… XD
Van Basten: Yeah, I've noticed that…hmm, with the attack names, I figured that I could follow along the lines of Wendy's attacks which doesn't seem to precede with the phrase 'Sky Dragon'…Hibiki & Ren have personalities whom I guess, depends on how individuals perceive them coz they aren't really emphasized much…do correct me if I am wrong though…anyways, I am glad that do like the story thus far…
"Laxus…?" Vannessa breathed as she took a step forward, unable to believe her eyes.
It was then she smelt it; the strong and sharp stench of alcohol. It was practically reeking from his every pore. She wrinkled her nose instinctively and took a step back from him. He staggered forward, his arm outstretched, reaching for her as his duffel bag dropped to the floor with a loud thump.
"Vannessa…" he whispered huskily, his breathing ragged and heavy.
The Dragon Slayer took another small step backwards; this wasn't the way she pictured how she and Laxus would meet each other again. It was wrong…everything looked and sounded wrong and alien to her.
"Laxus, what's wrong with you?" Vannessa's voice sounded uncertain. This was the first time that she had seen him in a drunken and pathetic state like this. His face looked emaciated and pale, devoid of colour and a healthy glow; his skin was dry and bruised in some places. There was a cut on his forehead. There were dark rings underneath his eyes. His clothes were in a mess and his white shirt was practically in tatters. "What happened to you?" she demanded, her voice stronger this time and she stood her ground, allowing him to approach her and hence closing the distance between them.
Finally, there was but an inch between the two and she stared directly into his eyes, up at him. "Laxus…?" she murmured softly.
His eyes lit up slightly as his hand went to her cheek. Vannessa shivered at his touch; his hand was so cold!
"I'm so glad you're alright…" he mumbled quietly before his eyes closed and he fell forward.
"Laxus?" Vannessa gasped out in shock and instinctively, went forward to catch him before he fell.
Dear god…
Indeed, he was absolutely heavy underneath all that muscle and she was instantly onto her knees on the floor, trying to support both his weight and hers as well. "Laxus? Laxus?"
She began shaking his shoulders to get him to wake but it was futile. Her knees were starting to get sore; for one instant, she wished that she had a taller frame. She shifted herself to a more comfortable position and forced him upright. Something was definitely wrong here. Together, the pair helped Laxus, half-carrying and half-dragging him over to Vannessa's bed. She was breathing heavily by the time she pushed Laxus onto the bed.
"He sure is fat for a mage his size!" Micaiah commented, wheezing.
Vannessa did not answer her as she placed one hand lightly over Laxus's forehead. "Oh no, he's having a real bad fever!" the nineteen-year-old spoke up, panicked. "What do we do? What do we do?" She was wringing her hands and starting to get worked up into a frenzy. Micaiah watched her wielder spinning around, clutching at her head. "What do we do? I don't know what to do! What to do, Micaiah?" The Dark Dragon Slayer began pacing up and down. Micaiah sighed and finally padded over to her wielder. "Vannessa calm yourself down first," Micaiah instructed. "You have to go about this systematically and rationally and not in the panicked state that you are in now...you will probably kill him in the process…"
Vannessa emerged from the bathroom a second later, carrying a wooden bowl filled cold water and a white terry cloth. Micaiah stood by his bed side protectively and watched her wielder's every movement. The nineteen-year-old girl dipped the white cloth into the water before wringing it and dapped at his skin gently, then placing the cloth onto his forehead. She knew that she had to keep changing the cloth once it got warm.
"You have to take his shirt off," Micaiah added, shamelessly.
The Dark Dragon Slayer's eyes widened in horror at this. "I-I'm supposed to be the one doing that?" she shrieked in a soft voice, her whole face turning beet red.
"I don't see anyone else around," the wolf replied flatly.
Vannessa knew that what Micaiah was saying was the truth; she had no other choice if she wanted Laxus to get better. The Dragon Slayer felt her face turning hot as if her skin was melting off and she swallowed as she slowly but reluctantly straddled atop Laxus motionless but breathing body. She leaned over and began to unbutton his shirt, one button by one button, her hands trembling. The poor girl was starting to sweat as beads of perspiration formed on her temple from the effort. Micaiah knew that her wielder was struggling but the girl had to learn about male contact when she had never did in her entire nineteen years of life with the exception of her father, of course. The wolf made neither move nor any attempt to help her out.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to her, she managed to tug the torn shirt out from underneath the twenty-two-year-old, heaving from the effort. Her arms were aching just doing that simple task of removing a shirt. It was absurd! Yet, she did not know why…
It was already four in the morning when Micaiah fell asleep on the carpet while watching Vannessa tend to Laxus. Vannessa was dozing in and out of slumber; her eyelids were heavy with sleep. She could hardly even take forty winks…the cloth would definitely get warm if she were to close her eyes. Dragging herself over to her desk, Vannessa dragged a chair over to Laxus's bed side and sat down, but not before pulling up the blankets for the umpteenth time that had gone astray, over Laxus. Her eyes were still focused on him as she drew her legs to her chest, hugging them close to her body and placed her chin on her knees.
She needed to do something to keep herself awake; else she would fall asleep simply by sitting just like that. The question was what? What was she supposed to do?
"Dad…?"
Vannessa stiffened and her eyes went over to Laxus. "Laxus?" she called his name out softly.
"Dad, please don't leave me here…"
The blond-haired mage's head swung left to right, his eyes squeezed tightly shut. His hands were clenched into fists. "No…Dad, please stay…I'll be alone here…"
"Laxus…!" Vannessa leapt out of her seat and rushed over to him.
"Dad…" Laxus's voice came out so harsh, yet heart-rending and defeated; there was sorrow and loneliness lacing his tone. "Please…"
Tears squeezed past his shut eyelids and crept their way, down the sides of his face. "Don't leave me…"
The Dark Dragon Slayer's face mirrored sadness as she took one of his clenched fists into her own hands, squeezing it tightly and comfortingly. "Laxus, I'm here for you…you're not alone, not anymore…" she whispered softly into his ear. The Dark Dragon Slayer had never seen this side of Laxus…the vulnerable part of him that he took great lengths to cover up and got Vannessa and many others fooled in the process.
He could feel but he just didn't want to show that part of him…
Something that he had always hated…was being vulnerable…
He stopped suddenly, his hand swiftly gripping hers. "Vannessa…?" he croaked out as his eyes opened and focused themselves on her purple ones.
"I'm right here," the girl replied with a warm smile.
He looked at her for one long moment, studying her before he scowled at her. "Your face is too close for comfort, brat. Move!"
The moment was broken. Vannessa's smile dropped from her face completely and almost immediately she scooted away from him. "I'm sorry," she said, almost sarcastically.
Is this what he has to tell me, the first thing he sees me…? I took care of him almost the whole night…!
He tried to sit up and impulsively Vannessa went over to help him up but he jerked his arm away. "I don't need help just to sit," Laxus said a little too stridently. "I'm not a retard."
The Dragon Slayer stood up and glared at his blond head before turning away in a huff. "How grateful you are," she muttered under her breath.
Is this the only 'thanks' that I get from him…?
She picked up the cloth and bowl and strode off into the bathroom without another word. As she washing the cloth and bowl in the sink, Laxus appeared at the doorway, his hair in disarray and half-naked. "Do you mind, brat?" Laxus demanded, motioning for her to get out.
"Can't you see that I'm washing these?" Vannessa shot back, glowering at the man through the mirror.
"Fine, then I'm sure you don't mind me doing my personal business, huh?"
Vannessa's eyes widened in shock that she almost dropped the bowl. "You wouldn't dare…" she trailed off.
"This is legally my apartment and my bathroom…so I can do anything I want to here, brat." As if wanting to prove his point, the blond-haired mage went over to the toilet and started to undo his belt.
In response, Vannessa shrieked and dropped her bowl into the sink before fleeing to the comfort of the bedroom, away from the disgusting sight.
Laxus could hardly resist a smile as it crept onto his lips and he shook his head. "Oh and close that door behind ya," he hollered over his shoulder. That girl was definitely worth his while to tease after all…she gets so hot and bothered so easily. He hated to admit it but he felt his heart speed up when Vannessa's face was in close proximity to his…well, at least just a little. A second later, Laxus heard the bathroom door slam shut with a loud bang and he chuckled.
But I wondered what happened last night…?
"Geez, how I hate him now!" Vannessa muttered under her breath as she fanned at her warm cheeks, pacing up and down the entire length of the room. "There wasn't even a word of thanks coming from those lips of his!"
Indeed, he had not changed his cocky attitude even for a bit when she had left him to travel to Magnolia Town. Although it had been a few days, it seemed that it was too long a separation. Honestly, she felt euphoric the moment she saw him entering the apartment. She had never felt so completed…yet safe in her entire life. But now…
"That arrogance of his has GOT to GO!" Vannessa continued talking to no one in particular. "And that goes for my stupid blushing cheeks! Why the hell am I blushing for every single little thing?"
She patted her cheeks and shook her head, as if trying to shake the blush off.
"What's gotta go?" Laxus asked her suddenly as he came out of the bathroom, wiping his face with a towel.
The Dark Dragon Slayer squawked and whirled around. "You've got to stop scaring me half to death!" Vannessa screeched out. "And th-th-that towel, THAT'S MINE!" She stalked over to him and plucked the yellow towel out of his hands.
He smirked. "It's not a surprising thing, considering the stench."
Her eyes narrowed and she scowled at him. "W-W-What stench?" The poor nineteen-year-old was blushing now.
"Smell it and see for yourself," he deadpanned before heading over to the bed. Vannessa watched him from the corner of her eyes before she sighed heavily and went back into the bathroom to freshen up. She figured that she might as well head over to the guild, seeing as dawn was breaking. She wondered if Laxus behaved like that to all the guild members as well.
Fancy, sharing an apartment with Laxus, I sure am starting to regret it now…
I didn't know that the previous tenant was HIM…!
Last night was definitely a night to remember. It was pure torture.
