HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail or Beauty and the Beast.

Chapter Fourteen

Hades and Persephone

Mirajane had made a habit of retreating to the library after visiting Juvia out by the rose garden. She sat in a little nook by the window on the second floor with a different book every day.

Laxus found it easy to find her. He often let her have her space, but he couldn't bear to leave her while she was in the library. Laxus simply sat by her side, closed his eyes, and enjoyed her company.

Sometimes Mirajane would read aloud for Laxus, cherishing the subtle smirk on his face when she would start to read. She couldn't explain the sudden change in their relationship. Not one bit. It turned out that they did truly have a lot in common. Ever since that explosive fight in the portrait hallway, the pair were willing to really get to know each other.

"What are you reading today?" Laxus spoke, his voice cutting through the long silence.

"Just a book on Greek mythology." Mirajane didn't raise her nose from the old, yellowed book. Happy purred at her side, curled next to her and keeping her warm. Mirajane stroked the velvet on Happy's back.

"Ah, Greek mythology," Laxus hummed. He stood tall, peering out the large window. "Any specific stories pique your interest? I've read that book more times than I could count. It's rather sad, really… That I didn't pick a different book to read. I simply found the stories so spectacular. As a boy, I wished I was a hero in one of those epics. Well, see where that dream led me."

"Jason and the Argonauts."

She was at his side, no longer reading that cobweb-covered book. "Jason and the Argonauts." He repeated. "That is a good choice, indeed. The mission for the golden fleece truly is an exciting one. The ending is rather melancholy, don't you think?"

"A majority of these stories have unhappy endings," Mirajane added. "Tell me, what is your favorite of the stories? You said you read this book numerous times."

Laxus turned bashful. "Oh, it's been some time. I hardly remember the best ones."

Mirajane smiled at him, easing Laxus. "Humor me."

"Hades and Persephone."

She nodded slowly, her facial expression unreadable. "Hades fell in love with Persephone and caused the ground to split from under her, capturing her. Hades stole Persephone from the life she lived. She was trapped in the Underworld and then Hades made her his wife."

There was a painful silence after Mirajane spoke. "It is said that Persephone was unhappy," Laxus added. "But… in time, she came to love Hades and was happy."

Mirajane simply trained her eyes on the plain white snow outside. She didn't dare look at Laxus. He was squirming next to her. He was searching for something to say… begging. Normally, the silence was fine by him, but this silence gave no satisfaction. Think, Laxus. Say what you want to say.

"You…" His low voice echoed. "You remind me of Persephone. If I didn't know better, I would believe that you were her. Persephone, whose beauty knows no bounds, was the goddess of spring as well as Queen of the Underworld. She was majestic and rather formidable to deal with a god like Hades. Mirajane, you have many of the qualities Persephone possesses."

Mirajane didn't stir. Laxus pleaded for her to look at him. "The only similarity I care about is the fact that we are both in chains."

"Does that make me Hades?" Laxus responded.

That earned a smirk from Mirajane. She shook her head and turned to him with the faintest laugh. "Don't get funny on me, Lord Dreyar. You wish you could be."

"No, I suppose I don't, my Persephone." Laxus let out a crass laugh. "That would make me the villain in your story." Hearing the implications of his words, Laxus winced. Perhaps he wasn't as good with his words as he remembered. Laxus knew he very well could be the villain of Mirajane's story. "Excuse me, for my rudeness."

"No, please don't worry," Mirajane responded, still laughing. "I find your fumble of wit rather endearing." She cut herself off at that, coloring at the use of endearing. It was her turn to squirm.

From afar, Jellal and Erza turned to look at each other. Though their faces were covered by a metal mask, their amusement was clear. Mirajane and Laxus were shyly progressing to a new level. They were much more open with each other, and it was very apparent.

"Maybe I ask?" Laxus started.

"What do you want to ask?"

"I don't know much about your life outside of here." Laxus paused to think. "I want to know more about you. I want to know what you love."

Mirajane smiled to herself. "That's sweet of you but-"

"I insist."

Mirajane felt a fluttering in her chest. It had been a long while since someone outside her family or few friends asked her about her life. She had always been given a story due to her appearance, but that wasn't the truth. Mirajane didn't realize that all she wanted was someone to share her story with.

"Back home in Magnolia, all I have are my little brother and little sister. Elfman is rather shy towards most, but he's passionate. Ever since he enlisted in the army, I was terrified that I'd lose him. I was foolish for thinking that though."

"Why?" Laxus whispered.

"Elfman maybe my brother, but I can't control his life. He's not so little anymore. I didn't want him to go into the army. He was wounded and returned to us recently. Lisanna and I were excited about his return, but when I saw him… He had grown up."

"Mirajane, I just want to say…" Laxus took Mirajane's hand in his. "I apologize for my treatment of your brother. I was rash, and I didn't treat him as the respectful, brave person that he is. I hope one day I can make it up to you and him."

She sucked in a hard breath. "Laxus…"

"No, I was a terrible gentleman."

"Thank you for your kind words."

Laxus watched as her eyes light up. He never understood how someone could be so tied to their siblings since he did not have any. He was alone a majority of his early life. Watching Mirajane talk about her siblings changed that view for him. She was sparkling. Mirajane turned into a different person when she talked about her siblings.

"Tell me about Lisanna," Laxus asked, wanting to see more of this side of her.

"Lisanna is the best of all of us," Mirajane gushed. "Lisanna just turned sixteen a couple of months ago. That means she's starting to really blossom. Every person that has ever met her absolutely loves her. I've never met anyone as kind and gentle as Lisanna. Though, she spends too much time with me. She's starting to act like me, which isn't a good thing."

Laxus chuckled low and throaty. "And why is that a bad thing?"

Mirajane rolled her eyes. "I don't know if I've ever told you this, but when I was younger… They called me 'The Demon'."

"You? A demon? I'm not sure why they would ever think that."

Mirajane nudged him, but he didn't budge. "What's with all the jokes, huh? I barely even recognize you."

He smirked, cocky and boyish. He hadn't smiled like that in years. It reminded him of that ignorant boy ten years ago, but he wasn't scared. It was a part of him that had been long forgotten. With Mirajane, he felt calm and able to express his true personality.

"I was a true terror as a girl. I used to terrorize the people of Magnolia. I was snappy and rude to everyone but my siblings. If it wasn't for Porlyuscia, I'd probably still be ripping things to treads." Mirajane looked at Laxus, who looked confused. "Porlyuscia adopted us when our parents abandoned us. I owe everything to her. She was kind in a backhanded way. Porlyuscia was all about discipline, and she was the one who taught me to read. You know, reading was what helped calm my temper."

"I wish I was as willing as you were to fix myself. My grandfather begged me and begged me, but I wasn't willing to listen. When my father died, I was obsessed with continuing his legacy. I had followed him so diligently, but I shouldn't have done that. I wanted to be the man he was."

"I may not have known your father, but I do know this. You don't need to be him. You are a better man," Mirajane whispered.

"You seem rather sure of that judgment. You forget that I committed the heinous act of stealing you away."

"Oh, I didn't forget." Her voice was hard, snapping him from his trance. "But despite all of that… I find you to be a good man."

"A good beast."

"No." Her words were even harsher. "A good man." She darted her eyes away as if searching for something else to talk about. "I need to tell you something that… I'm afraid to think about. I'm afraid you'll think differently of me."

Laxus ran his thumb on the top of her delicate hand, comforting her to move forward. Laxus smiled as her face dusted with a hue of warmth for a mere moment.

Mirajane let out a shaky breath and moved forward. "I'm engaged."

"E-Engaged to marry?"

His face was unreadable. He was trying his hardest to keep a neutral face. His hands squeezed hers as if she was going to disappear right before his eyes. He felt his resolve crack for a moment.

"Let me explain!" Mirajane begged. "I was forced into it. He would hurt Elfman and Lisanna if I didn't accept!"

Was he a little bothered by the new information? Absolutely. But somehow he wasn't bothered by Mirajane. He was bothered by that man that forced her into the engagement.

"Do you love him?" Laxus asked, his voice painfully dry.

Mirajane flashed with anger. "Do I love Bora? No! I could never love a man like him. He's awful, just awful. He treats me like a prize that is owed to him."

"I don't think differently of you if you were worried." Laxus meet her eyes. "If anything… I find you to more brave than I ever knew. Not many people that I knew would do that."

Mirajane smirked like she had caught him in a trap. "It seems to me like you need to find better people to know."

Mirajane found waking up every morning to a fresh cut rose rather enjoyable. There was always something to look forward to. That morning she had woken up to something new, the tangy scent of fruit.

She rolled over to the side table and saw the rose as usual, but next to it was a peculiar fruit. Mirajane recognized it as a pomegranate. The red fruit was sliced and the seeds were delicately picked for her.

Next to the fruit was a short note from Laxus that read:

Dear Mirajane:

I figured that someone with beauty on par with Persephone deserves her sacred fruit.

Yours, Laxus

Mirajane smiled despite herself. She didn't even wonder where Laxus had acquired the fruit because she didn't even care. Yours. Was Laxus really hers? The thought of it had her giddy beyond belief. She savored the taste of the pomegranate seed on her tongue. She lifted the note closer.

So this is intimacy.

"What's got you in such a good mood this morning?" Wendy asked snapped Mirajane from her trance.

"N-Nothing!" She had nothing to hide, yet she felt that she needed to. A painful blush erupted on her face. "I'm going to head to breakfast." She took the fruit and rushed out of the room.

"Miss Mirajane is acting strange," Wendy voiced out. "She's always moving, and… she'd always humming and twirling about, holding that rose."

Lucy, with a dreamy look on her porcelain face, sighed. "Oh, Wendy… It seems like something's there that wasn't there before."

Wendy scrunched up her face. "I don't get it."

Howdy

Just warning you... The ICONIC SCENE TM is going to be the next update. I hope you're as excited as I am.

Please let me know what you think of this chapter. I really wanted it to be as intimate as humanly possible.

Peace