Chapter Twenty-Four:

She was dreaming. She knew she was dreaming. She was standing in the streets, but they seemed twisted. Somewhere out of the corner of her eye she could see Audra's studio. The walls seemed to be looming over her. The streets seemed to veer off into darkness. And there, moving out of the shadows, was Ivan Dreyar.

His lips were turned up in a frightening grin, his eyes were wild, crazed. In her dream, he crossed the street in a blink of eye, and she didn't even have a chance to scream before he reached out and grabbed her throat, fingers tightening around her neck. Wake up. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't… Wake! Up!

"Hisui! Wake up!" A warm hand was pressed against her cheek, the other gently shaking her shoulder. "Shortcake—?" She stumbled out of bed, gagging, and rushed to the bathroom connected to her room and leaning of the toilet. She let out a shuddering breath, tears filling her eyes. The door gently swung open behind her and her fiancé stepped in. He sat on the edge of the bathtub, reaching out to hold her hair back.

"…'Sui?"

She sat back, taking in a deep, shaky breath. He gently rubbed her back.

"Are you alright, shortcake?"

She shook her head, letting out another shuddering breath, tears filling her eyes. "N…no…"

Laxus dropped to his knees on the floor in front of her and gathered her up into his arms, holding her close and tight. She rested her head against his shoulder, breathing him in. "Let's get back to bed, baby." He murmured. She nodded once, and he stood, lifting her up into his arms and carrying her back out into her dimly lit room. He gently set her down in bed again, but she didn't lay down. He sat down next to her, gently brushing her hair away from her cheek. "Do you need to talk about it?"

She hesitated, and then whispered, "Your father…." Laxus's whole body immediately tensed: shoulders taught, jaw tight, brow furrowed.

"I won't let that man touch you ever again," he growled.

She shook her head, "It was just a dream."

"Come here," he gently took her into his arms again, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead. "I love you. And I won't let anything happen to you."

She let out a sigh, "I love you too, bear." Then she pulled away to look him in the eyes seriously. "And I won't let anything happen to you."

He laughed a little, leaning forward to press another kiss to her cheek. "It's only two in the morning. I have to get up for work tomorrow…. We both need more sleep."

They settled back into bed. There was a moment of stillness before she reached for him, resting her head against his shoulder, his arm gently wrapped around her. She smiled, letting sleep take her again.

⁂

Laxus woke up before his alarm, which hardly ever happened. But the warmth at his side had slipped away. He stirred, blinking awake. The sun was just rising—it must have been just past dawn. Hisui was sitting up, hugging her knees.

Laxus cleared his throat, his voice gravelly with sleep. "'sui…? You okay?"

She shook her head.

"Another dream?"

"No, nothing like that," she whispered. "I'm just not feeling well… I think I'm getting sick." She pressed her hand to her forehead. "I'm sorry… I can't sleep, I'm just really nauseous."

"Don't apologize," he sighed, reaching out to rub her back.

"I'm just sorry for waking you."

"It's okay," he sighed, "I should be getting ready for work soon anyways."

"I wish you could stay," she dropped back against the pillows.

"If you're sick, you should try and get some sleep," He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You need to rest."

"You're right," she sighed, cupping his cheek. "Will you call me tonight, when you get home."

"Of course," he nodded.

"I love you," she smiled, brushing her thumb over his lips.

"I love you too, shortcake." She laughed as he leaned over to kiss her neck, "Sleep well."

He was worried… he pulled on his uniform, brushing his fingers through his hair and glancing back at the four-poster bed where she had rolled over onto her side. Ivan had hit her yesterday, had hurt her.

I once supported you, dad. The word sounded so bitter in his thoughts… his hands balled into fists, hot anger boiling in his chest. I will not hesitate to put you back in jail where you belong.

⁂

"For the last time," Makarov snapped, "No."

"Gramps!" Laxus said, gritting his teeth, "I can get in his head! I know how he thinks!"

"I said no. You're not assigned to this case. You're too close to it. Regardless of how well you think you know your father, regardless of how good a detective you are. You're too. Close."

"Gramps—"

"He's your father, Laxus! And he hurt Hisui!" The old police chief's eyes darkened with rage. "And he won't get away with it. But you cannot be involved."

"Gramps, listen—"

"I'm assigning you to this case." Makarov dropped a file on his desk in front of Laxus. The detective wanted to object, but Makarov sat up straight in his chair, worry in his eyes, "Laxus… Listen to me…" He let out a deep sigh. "Hisui needs you right now. Please, just take this simple case. And let Erza and the others find Ivan."

Laxus stared at the file on the desk, and let out a low groan, before reaching out and grabbing it, and storming out of the office. He's right. Gramps was always right, and Laxus hated it. But… Sui. His fiancée did need him. He knew that just as well as gramps did. But there was also a part of him that yearned to redeem himself. I was the one who supported Ivan… I once worked with him. And he… he killed Hisui's mother… he hurt Hisui… Laxus gritted his teeth, dropped in the chair at his desk, slapping the file down onto the surface in front of him.

He had no interest in whatever was in the case file. Probably some sort of simple case… He flipped it open. A robbery…. An old hardware store on 5th. But… the thief wasn't after money? Laxus perused the page, gray eyes stopping at the list of missing items—wire… steel water pipes… brass caps… nails… batteries… "When was this…?" He muttered, flipping over the paper…. A day before the bombing. Damn. His breath caught in his throat. Why wasn't this flagged?! He knew they had been backlogged since the attack, but surely someone had looked at this! This was Ivan… All of those things….make a bomb.

He glanced across the room at where Team Natsu was discussing their next move.

"Come on," Erza said from where she sat at her desk. "We've searched the studio and there wasn't really anything to be found."

Natsu let out a deep groan, "Why do we have to talk about it? We're wasting time. We should be out there looking for him."

"Where are you gonna look, fire-brain?" Gray snapped. "All over the city? We have no idea where he went."

Laxus stood, crossing the room to Erza's desk, and dropped the file down in front of them all, pressing his hand to it on the desk. "I think I have a lead for you." He said.

Natsu's eyes lit up, a crooked grin touching his lips.

"Share, Dreyar," Erza demanded.

"I have one condition," Laxus said.

Erza narrowed her eyes. "What would that be?"

"This," Laxus slapped his hand on the file again, "Is my case. So from now on, we work together."

Erza looked hesitant, "This is your father, Laxus."

"I understand that," the dragon slayer scowled. "But you all should know by now that no one hates him as much as I do. I'm going to bring him to justice with or without your help."

Erza bit her lip but nodded, "Fine. You'll work with us on the rest of the case. What do you have?"