I do not own Fairy Tail.
It was unbelievable. The entire Guild sat silent after Lisanna broke down into sobs. Natsu gathered the crying silverette into his arms. Holding her tight he whispered in her ear"I did not realize you could cry on command."
Lis covered her giggle with a loud sniffle.
Natsu led her out of the abnormally quiet building, wordlessly telling Mirajane he would take the girl home.
"What do we do?" Gray suddenly burst out. "We have to go back there, right? Try to find her, any part of her… right?" He was frantic. She could not be gone. She was young and smart and strong. How could she just not be anymore?
Erza put her hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort the Ice Make Mage."We could try, but from what Lisanna said it sounds like there was nothing left." Erza had to clear her throat before continuing. "Master, what do you think?"
Master Macarov looked up from his untouched beer."We will send volunteers to go through the ruins and check for any sign of our guild mate." He wiped his eyes then looked around the room. "Does anyone volunteer for this heart wrenching mission/undertaking?" He waited patiently for a response.
For a while it seemed no one would speak up. Everyone was afraid of letting down the rest of the Guild and so hesitated to take on this responsibility.
Gajeel and Laxus shared a look. They both knew that a Dragon Slayer would be the best bet at finding any trace of their golden haired guild mate. Both nodded, deciding. Bickslow, Evergreen, and Freed, who all witnessed the exchange, shared a look and nod or their own. They knew that where Laxus went they went, and they were more than willing.
Gajeel stood first."I'll go. Our best chance at finding something is a Dragon Slayer anyway."
Laxus stood"we will find her." He wasn't surprised when his team stood before he had even finished speaking.
"We will accompany Laxus-Sama and Gajeel on this mission and provide whatever support and or assistance they may need." Freed's proper tone hid his internal distress.
Master Macarov was nodding his head, pride for the 5 standing mages making his heart swell."I think this will do quite nicely. Thank you." His eyes glistened as the group moved to leave the guild hall. "Please keep us apprised of the situation. Any little detail could give us a modicum of relief."
Laxus gave a brief nod of ascent before leading the others out the doors, leaving them to slam behind them.
@#@
As soon as they were out of sight and earshot Lisanna straightened and wiped away her fake tears.
"They bought it right?" Natsu questioned.
Lisanna answered without hesitation and a wave of her hand,"of course. It probably would have been better with some proof, but the fire covered for that." She smiled at her soon to be mate before grabbing his hand and pulling him along.
"Where are you taking us Lis?" Natsu asked laughing, letting her lead him.
She turned and winked at him."I want to celebrate. And then after we mate I want to do it again but in her bed." Facing forward again she continued, "we are finally free of that judgmental bitch, and since she has been keeping us apart I think it is quite fitting that we fuck in that stuck up cunts bed."
Natsu looked unsure,"do you really think that is a good idea? I mean, what if someone from the guild goes there for something?"
"If that happens," Lisanna started, "then we just act like the grieving team mates they all believe us to be." Natsu did not look convinced. "It's really not that complicated Natsu." She was a little fed up with his innocent act.
Natsu finally nodded slowly,"you're right Lis, let's go."
@#@
Once out of the guild hall Laxus suggested that they each go home to pack and meet at Lucy's place in a half hour. Everyone readily agreed and split up.
Gray, having slipped out behind the other group headed straight for Lucy's apartment. He felt the need to be close to her in any way he could. He was also feeling guilty for fighting with her before she left with Lisanna on a mission, a mission she hadn't come back from.
Walking around her apartment reminded Gray of all the good times he had spent with the bubbly blonde and felt the need to go find her himself. He pushed the feeling down though, he knew he was too emotional about the whole thing. No, he would trust Master's decision and let Laxus and the others go see what they could find. Honestly he was thankful that Gajeel was going to be with them. Not that he did not trust Laxus he did, but he knew Gajeel had gotten especially close to Lucy over the last couple of years and knew the Dragon Slayer would run down every possible lead.
He did not realize how long he had been sitting staring at a picture of him and Lucy, lost in his thoughts, until he heard voices outside her front door.
"Do we break it down?
He got up and walked to the door, pulling it pen to shocked faces."No need. Even if I wasn't here you would have been able to get in. Lucy stopped locking her door years ago." He sighed, stepping back to allow them in. "She realized it was futile when we all just broke in all the time anyway. She had to replace the door 3 times the year before she stopped locking it because Erza kept breaking it trying to get in." He shook his head, "thinking back on it we really were not very good friends to her, even though she was all of ours best friend."
"Why are you here Gray?" Laxus got right to the point.
Gray smiled sadly,"I wanted to be close to her, even just this little bit. She was always like a little sister to me. My always there, kind of annoying but I love her and would easily kill for her, little sister."
Gajeel nodded at the Ice Make Mage before wandering further into the one room apartment.
Laxus seemed to accept this too and followed the younger Slayer in looking around Lucy's, not so private, private space.
Freed, Bickslow, and Evergreen settled on Lucy's pink couch as Gray settled back in her favorite chair.
"What did you think of Lisanna's recounting of what happened?" Freed asked bluntly. Honestly the youngest Strauss sibling's story had not set well with him. Something seemed off about it all.
Gray thought back over the tale Lis had told the guild.
He tried to picture how it would have looked based on what she had said.