Hisui lay in bed staring at the canopy of her four-poster. She remembered her mother, vaguely. Her long jade hair, her beautiful blue eyes. "Maybe someday you'll have a little brother or sister to play with." That was before she got sick. She could still see the worry and the exhaustion in her father's eyes. What would mother say now… If she was here? If her mother was here, Hisui wouldn't hesitate to talk to her. She imagined her mother could keep a secret. But I'm on my own now. To tell her father—impossible. To ask anyone else for a test? What a scandal that would be.
Do I really have to do this alone? She glanced over at her phone. It was past midnight… one or two in the morning… Laxus would be sleeping. But she couldn't do this alone anymore. If she really was… pregnant… she had to tell him. They had to do this together. Fear gnawed at her gut… what would he say…? I need to be with him now. She stood, grabbing her coat and throwing it over her pajamas. Then slipped on her shoes, putting her phone in her pocket before slipping out of her room and down the hall on her secret route out of the palace.
⁂
Laxus woke up the morning after exploring Flare's apartment with a mess of a headache. He reached for his phone on his bedside stand, fingers closing around the sticky pad he had "borrowed" from the apartment. That's right… He blinked, trying to clear the fog from his brain. He had a job to do.
After getting dressed he moved out into the hall. He could hear video game music playing from Bickslow's room. Either his teammate had stayed up all night playing, or he had passed out and the game was still on. Laxus shrugged. It was better that way, anyhow. If any of his team knew what he was planning they would demand to come with him. He quietly came into the kitchen and made himself a cup of black coffee, before he set the sticky note pad down on the counter. Something was written here. He pulled a dull pencil from the junk drawer, and rubbed it lightly over the sticky note pad.
"An address?" he whispered. This is by the docks. The docks could be a dangerous place to be, especially at night. So many people and things coming to and from the city on the ships. There were old warehouses there…. Buildings that hadn't been used in years and years. This address could be to one of those places. He pulled the top sticky note off the pad and slipped it in his pocket, downing the last of his coffee before pulling out his phone and tapping on Hisui's name.
I'm so close, Sui. This will be over soon, shortcake. He hit send and then paused, glancing at the last text she sent him. That was odd. Usually Hisui texted him the moment she woke up, and she was usually an early riser. So why didn't he have a text from her? Maybe she's still not feeling well and she slept in. He sighed, hoping she was alright, and then typed out: I love you.
There was no response. She's probably still asleep.
With that he left the apartment, Bickslow's game music still playing in the background, and got into his patrol car, sticking the sticky note to his dash. Guess we're going to the docks.
⁂
"Hm." Laxus smirked a little, pulling himself up out of his little patrol car. "Just like the old cop movies."
His address had led him to one of the abandoned warehouses at the edge of the dock district of the city. An old barbed wire fence barred anyone from entering, in theory, there were stacked crates. Signs plastered on the fence posts and building itself that warned of the demolition scheduled. He wondered how long they had threatened to demolish the buildings. How much crime took place here? Of course this would be where good old dad decide to keep himself holed up.
Laxus took a breath, cracked his knuckles and moved towards the rusted fence. Of course the lock is broken. He took a breath, feeling electricity at his fingertips. It was too quiet. He slipped into the dim light of the old warehouse. At first, everything seemed normal. Old boxes piled up high, dust on the air, one beam of light streaming in from a dirty window, high above his head behind him.
That was when he saw two figures slip out from the shadows. A tall young man he recognized almost instantly—Kurohebi, and a short, stockier figure—Nullpudding. His father's old buddies… of course. He had told Laxus that he kept them close because he believed they would be able to take on all of Fairy Tail, if anyone in Fairy Tail were to ever turn on Ivan. Jokes on you, dad. Laxus gritted his teeth. Turns out you were the traitor.
"Well, well…" Nullpudding snickered. "Look who's come home. It's the whelp."
"Last time we saw you…" Kurohebi hissed, "You were a whiny little boy."
"Where's Ivan?" Laxus narrowed his eyes.
"Ooh… Little whelp wants to see daddy."
"Where is he?!" Laxus snarled.
"Relax, policeman, your father's just taking care of a little surprise guest."
What? Laxus hesitated. Guest?! "Who—"
"Oh, Laxus…" Ivan stepped out of the shadows, dark eyes lit with delight, "You're finally here."
"Oh, expecting me, were you?" Laxus snapped. "This is all pointless. Turn yourself in, dad. We can avoid a mess."
"You're telling me you came all by your little self to take me back to jail?" Ivan snickered. "And how exactly do you think you're going to do that? I have a mission. I have a goal. And there's nothing little Laxus Dreyar can do about it."
"Why are you doing this?" Laxus groaned, "You used to be a part of our family, dad. I vouched for you. I argued, day after day, with Gramps… for you. Why are you doing this?!"
"To give your grandfather a taste of what I tasted when you all turned your backs on family, and threw me in prison," Ivan snarled.
"What kind of sick, twisted understanding of family do you have?!" Laxus shouted, taking a step towards him, electricity pulsing at his fingertips. Nullpudding and Kurohebi both took defensive positions on either side of Ivan. "You were a dirty cop! You lied, you stole, you turned a blind eye to the terrible things happening in the streets! You were a drug dealer. You killed people! You… you killed my future wife's mother! Your actions killed my mother—"
"The Queen should have minded her goddamn business," Ivan said. "Same goes to Audra—"
"DON'T SAY HER NAME!" Laxus snapped, tears springing up at the corners of his eyes. "You commented that I've come all by myself." Rage was building within him, electricity surging up his arms, gathering in his chest. "The others would stop me from dealing to you what you rightfully deserve. When I'm through with you and your friends they'll be taking you back to jail in ambulances."
Ivan threw his head back and laughed. "Oh, little Laxus," he said, a terrible smile turning his lips up. "Did you forget that we have a guest? Flare! Why don't you come out, darling?"
What…?
From the shadows Laxus saw Flare immerge, in her skin-tight red dress, eyes wide, smile twisted… her hair was wrapped around the hands, waist, and mouth of a small person next to her, maybe an inch or two shorter than Flare (though Flare was in heels).
When Flare pulled the figure into the light, and her feet stumbled across the concrete of the old warehouse floor…. Green hair tangled… cheeks bruised and tear-streaked… Laxus's chest tightened, eyes widened. He couldn't breathe. A tear rolled down his cheek.
"H…" He choked, stumbling towards her, "HISUI!"
"Ah, ah, ah!" Ivan chuckled, his shikigami dolls rising up from the shadows and behind boxes. Sand rose up around Kurohebi's feet. Nullpudding raised his fists, spikes protruding from his hands. "If you make one more move…" Ivan whispered. Laxus watched helplessly as Flare's blood-red hair tightened around Hisui's neck, ever so slightly. "I will kill her."
There's nothing I can do! Laxus's hands were shaking. There's nothing I can do! Another tear escaped the corner of his eye. Anger surged through him, like a dragon roaring to be released. He gritted his teeth, and held still. No one knows we're here. I can't call anyone. My phone's in the patrol car! He knew he could take on Ivan's crew alone—that much he was sure of. But with Hisui in the room… he would risk her getting hurt of killed! If only I had brought Bickslow. If only I had told someone! Anyone!
It was too late for all that now. He took in a deep breath, meeting his father's eyes, furious. "What do you want?"
"Oh, Laxus-chan," Ivan smiled, that twist in his lips making Laxus feel sick. "I knew we could come to an agreement."
⁂
Bickslow shot up into sitting position, gasping for breath. Voices screaming… screaming…. Shut up! Shut up…! His TV was blaring, the opening sequence of Immortal Darkness playing over and over again. What the shit? He groaned, clutching his head, running his fingers through dark blue hair. My head is killing me.
He flicked off the TV to what he hoped was silence, but only heard the landline pealing desperately on the other side of his bedroom door. Shit. He glanced at his cell. Noon? And stumbled out of his room in only his boxers and a tanktop. He yanked the landline off of its cradle.
"Whaaa…?" He groaned.
"Bix? It's Ever. Laxus was supposed to be at the station hours ago. Is he still home?"
"What?" Bickslow groaned. "Ev, I just woke up, what the hell is happening?"
"God, Bickslow, it's noon. Is Laxus home or not?"
Bickslow sighed and walked down the hall, phone still tucked between his chin and shoulder as he scratched his ribs. "Hmm…" He knocked on Laxus's bedroom door, which swung open at first touch. "Nah, he's not in his room. LAXUS, YOU IN THE BATHROOM?!" Silence. "Nah, he's not here…" Bickslow moved back to the living room, glancing out the window. "His patrol car's gone."
"Don't go anywhere, Bix, Freed and I are coming to you."
"Why?" Bickslow groaned, "Ever, it's my day off…"
"What part about 'Laxus was supposed to be at the station hours ago' do you not understand?" Ever snapped, "Laxus is missing! And we have to find him." The line went dead. Bickslow groaned, dropping the phone back onto the cradle and turning towards his room. Guess that means I have to get dressed.
