*Chapter Twenty-Seven: Evidence
A low growl resonated through the camping trailer as piercing red eyes scanned the map. Gajeel scratched out the town they just left, knowing there was nothing for them there. The only thing still kicking were the undead, and he couldn't be bothered to deal with them.
"Where the fuck should we hit next?" Gajeel mumbled, brows furrowed as he followed one highway, seeing it passed through the border of Bosco and Fiore. He had only been to Fiore once when he was a kid. While he didn't have any interest in going back, he was smart enough to recognize he didn't have much of a choice.
Bosco had been a wasteland for the past few months, not a living, breathing soul in sight.
Gajeel jerked his head towards the door when he heard something from outside. He grabbed his handgun, not needing to check to know it was ready to fire. He kept every gun loaded in case of emergency, but his trusty handgun was the only one he kept the safety off at all times.
His eye twitched before his body relaxed, hearing the humming coming closer to the trailer. He calmed down before turning back to the map, brushing aside a few stray bullets so he could take a look at the nearest town. It would take a while to get to Fiore, but after that, he wasn't so sure. They didn't have a specific plan other than find more survivors, if there were even any left.
Gajeel heard the door open, the humming growing louder as his partner entered their home. He kept his eyes on the map, his voice rough as he asked, "Found anyone?"
He didn't have to look at her to know she shook her head. There was no one to find. Whatever it was that plagued the land had killed off everything around them.
"No," came a soft, sweet voice. Gajeel couldn't help but think she sounded too optimistic considering the circumstances, but he learned a while back she wasn't going to knock it off no matter how much he teased her about it. "Juvia was unable to find people, but she did find something else Gajeel might enjoy."
He snorted, highly doubting she was able to find something to get his interest. Aside from his cat, Lily, he didn't care for anything else but firearms and welding, and the chances she found something dealing with either were unlikely. "What's that?"
Gajeel frowned when Juvia set something large on the table, covering most of his map. He clenched his teeth before glaring up at her, reminding himself he needed to control his temper. Anger management didn't do a lot of good when his class was cut short after one week. The outbreak was an inconvenience to him, but that didn't mean he needed to take his anger out on Juvia.
He took a few deep breaths before really looking at her, seeing the concern in her eyes. He wished she wouldn't look at him that way. He didn't want her pity.
Gajeel glanced down, brows pinching together when he realized what it was Juvia found. His eyes flitted around the board, a familiar warmth filling his chest as he counted from one to twenty. His gaze settled on the bullseye, fond memories filtering through his mind. It felt like ages since he played darts. That was back when his old man was still alive, but many things had changed since that time, and Gajeel was no exception.
He slowly nodded, a small smile quirking at his lips. To others it looked like a smirk, but it wasn't. He was just bad at expressing himself, something his counselor often told him.
Gajeel's fingers curled around the board before lifting it, seeing the wear and tear from use. He wondered briefly who it belonged to before, if it was a family or a bachelor. It could have come from a bar, but he decided it didn't matter. Whoever used to own it was long gone, but the dart board could still be put to use.
"Juvia grabbed some darts too," she said, setting down a few sets.
He looked over them, finding them in decent condition. One nail on the wall in their camper was all it would take before they could start playing, but he would have to put Lily up, otherwise the cat could get hurt. He knew his skills were rusty, and he doubted Juvia had ever played before. Nothing she had shown him about herself suggested it was her kind of game, but he was making her rough around the edges, one week at a time.
It was a fair exchange. While he made her tougher, she used her unlimited patience with him, allowing him to work on his issues without losing the only friend he had left.
Well, Lily was his friend too, but his cat was kind of stuck with him.
"Wanna play?" he asked, red eyes flitting up to see the smile spreading over Juvia's face.
She nodded, grabbing two darts before he chuckled. He grabbed a third, handing it to her before standing up. "Come on. I'll show you how to play."
Most days were hard, some days were boring, but they tried finding fun in the world. It was the only thing they could really do to pass the time.
Gajeel just hoped they weren't wasting time, but he didn't see any reason to hurry. They had supplies, neither of them had any living relatives to speak of, and all of their friends were dead. It was just the three of them, traveling town to town in hopes that someone, anyone, would still be alive.
Every day Gajeel lost a little hope, and every day Juvia did her best to restore it.
"Ever been to Fiore?" Gajeel asked, grabbing a nail and hammer before heading to Juvia's 'bedroom' where they would have more space.
"No," Juvia said, following him. He felt her eyes on him as he hung the dart board over her bed. "Are we going there next?"
"Maybe," Gajeel grunted, climbing off her bed before taking a few steps back. The board was a little crooked, but he could get over that. "Haven't decided."
"Well, Juvia is okay with it, if that's what Gajeel decides."
He sighed, beyond tired of her using the third person, but most of the time he didn't notice it. Since she was the only one he had talked to in so long, it sounded almost normal.
"I'll let you know," he said, deciding to shelf the idea for now. He showed her the darts, then began explaining the game. It wasn't long before he gathered his own set and a pen and piece of paper to keep score.
It was a decent start to their day, more interesting than the one they had before, and probably better than the one they would have tomorrow. Still, regardless of how shitty the world was, he was glad he was still alive.
And, if he were being honest with himself, Juvia wasn't the worst person he could get stuck with in the zombie apocalypse.
(December 20th, 2017, Wednesday Noon)
"Elie hesitated before knocking on his door, her heart p-pounding and her chest constricting. She hadn't seen her ex-boyfriend in person for over a... a year, and she was nervous to change that."
Lucy took a deep breath, fingers clenching the sides of the book as she continued reading aloud. "Her bottom lip caught between her teeth, the pink flesh a... abused as she shifted from foot to foot. She knew she should have called first, but she wanted to surprise him. Despite him being her... her ex-boyfriend, he was still her best friend."
Natsu smiled, nodding at her progress. It had been Grandeeney's idea to get Lucy to read out loud to give her more confidence with her voice. So far it had been working. Every day she grew stronger. It had been a little over a week since she was released from quarantine, and Natsu was determined to help her every step of the way.
"She heard the lock before the knob twisted, the door opening a few inches as a pair of purple eyes looked outside. Her heart flipped when his eyes widened, the door flinging open before she... she was wrapped in a tight hug, strong arms feeling just as warm as she remembered."
Lucy paused, giving herself a short break before she cleared her throat. "Elie allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief, thankful her visit wasn't an inconvenience. If Haru didn't want to see her, he wouldn't have greeted her like that."
"That's great," Natsu whispered, leaning back against the wall where he was perched on his bed. He offered her a warm smile before nodding to the book. "Wanna take a break? I think you've read enough for one day." She had already finished two chapters of a previous book and started on another. Her voice was a little rough from use, but it was better than having her a stuttering mess.
Natsu had to hand it to Grandeeney. She had some great ideas.
"Yeah." Lucy placed a bookmark in the book before setting it aside. "What do you want to... to do next?"
Natsu shrugged, glancing at his phone. "Wanna watch a movie?"
A small smile curved Lucy's lips as she nodded. "Sure."
Natsu motioned for Lucy to follow him to the desk. He set a few books down in the center to prop his phone against, turning the volume all the way up before selecting a movie for them to watch. He had seen it countless times, but as far as he knew, Lucy hadn't seen it before.
He laughed a few times, smiling when the movie pulled a soft chuckle out of Lucy here and there. Halfway through the movie he had glanced over to observe her body language, finding her relaxed in her seat with her eyes glued to the small screen. She seemed at ease, so he looked back at the movie, happy she was doing well.
When the movie ended, the two went to see Happy, deciding it was a good time to visit their missing roommate.
Since it was the middle of the day, they expected the room to be empty aside from the pets and an attendant. However, Levy wasn't the only one hanging around. Rogue sat towards the back of the room, two cages sitting in front of him.
Natsu didn't have to look to know Rogue was visiting Lector and Frosch. He gave Rogue a nod when the man glanced up at him, taking his own place in front of Happy's cage. "Hey, what's up?"
"Not a lot," Rogue sighed, a solemn expression taking over his features. He kept his eyes on Frosch, his fingers twitching in his lap as he held himself back from reaching towards his cat.
Natsu knew that feeling too well. He needed to watch it or else he would get in trouble. While Makarov didn't believe the pets were infected, he still had to enforce the rules around other people. Levy and Eve were told to make sure no one touched the pets, and vise versa. So, Natsu kept his hands to himself as he peered down at his feline companion.
"Hi Rogue," Lucy whispered, catching both Natsu and Rogue's attention. They looked up at her, Natsu wearing a soft smile while Rogue gave her a short wave.
"Hey."
Lucy took her place next to Natsu, further away from Rogue but closer to Levy. Natsu wanted to pat her on the back for greeting Rogue without being encouraged to do so. She was improving a lot more since her talk with Grandeeney, and Natsu hoped that progress only continued.
"How are you doing?" Levy asked, padding over towards Happy's cage to sit beside Lucy.
Lucy nodded, her voice soft but firm as her eyes flitted to Levy's. "Good. You?"
Natsu bit his inner cheek to keep from smiling. He didn't want to jinx it. Instead he directed his attention to Happy, delighted when he heard that strong purr from his cat. "I missed ya, buddy. You doin' good?"
"Honestly?" Levy started, her voice background noise as Natsu watched Happy's flickering tail drag against the wires of the cage. "Bored. I keep running back between here and receiving, but nothing's really happening at either."
Natsu looked out of the corner of his eye, seeing Lucy's slow nod before she looked at Happy's cage. He turned his attention to Rogue, watching as the man cooed at the caged cats in an attempt to soothe them.
Unlike Happy, Lector wasn't having it. He was meowing up a storm, clearing not liking his confinement. Frosch was content for the most part, bumping their nose against the wire a few times before brushing their body against the cage. Natsu thought it was funny the three cats had different personalities.
'Well, four...' Natsu glanced over at the last cage with a cat in it, seeing Carla tucked into the corner sleeping. She didn't look like she wanted anyone's attention, but that wasn't unusual. From what Natsu could tell, it seemed like she only liked Wendy.
Natsu missed the slight conversation between Lucy and Levy, his focus directed on Rogue when he noticed something off. Since Natsu had known him, Rogue hadn't been the most social or outspoken person, but he also hadn't zoned out around him. Natsu didn't know whether he should say something or not. He knew he should mind his own business, but he also wanted to know if his friend was okay. Rogue's brows were pinched together, his lips pressing into a tight line as he stared at Lector.
It almost looked like he was mad at the cat, but that didn't make sense to Natsu.
He waited a few seconds before clearing his throat, deciding to test the waters. "Hey, you okay?"
Rogue startled, his head snapping to the side to look at Natsu. His red eyes widened for a second before he calmed himself down. He nodded, though Natsu wasn't convinced, especially when he heard the strain in Rogue's voice. "'M fine."
Natsu took a shallow breath before gazing down at Happy, giving his cat a smile. "I'll be right back," he whispered, climbing to his feet before walking over to where Rogue sat. He didn't seem to mind when Natsu took the place next to him, though Natsu could see the way Rogue's body tensed when he directed his gaze at him.
"You sure? You seem kinda... off."
Rogue sighed, his eyes returning to the cages in front of him without responding to Natsu. He stayed impossibly still for a moment, causing Natsu some concern. He couldn't say Rogue and him were as close as some of his other friends, but that didn't mean he didn't care.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" Natsu asked, seeing the tick in Rogue's eye. He thought he might have offended him, so he prepared himself to apologize, but his voice cut out when Rogue opened his mouth.
"I... I don't know if I should."
Natsu hesitated, wondering if Rogue was going to say anything else. He waited with bated breath, cocking his head towards Rogue when he heard a long sigh escape his parted lips.
"Sting has this crazy idea, and I don't think I can get behind it."
Sting was Rogue's best friend. Natsu was well aware of that. The two had been nearly inseparable when they first came to Fairy Tail, but after a month or so, the two finally started doing their own things without needing the other's constant company.
Natsu couldn't blame them. Gray and him were similar when they first arrived to Fairy Tail, but they grew out of that a lot faster. Of course, they had more friends to draw support from, but Rogue and Sting only had two other close friends, Yukino and Minerva.
Despite knowing everyone had a right to their own thoughts and opinions, Natsu found it strange Rogue disagreed with Sting. From what he had seen, the two agreed on almost everything, meaning whatever Sting's idea was had to be out there.
"What's he thinking?"
Rogue shook his head, his eyes narrowing down at the cage containing Sting's cat. He appeared angry at the animal, but Natsu didn't understand why until Rogue said, "He wants to make Lector bite him."
Natsu jolted his head back, thinking he must have misheard him. "What? Why?"
Rogue cut off his glare from Lector before staring at the tile floor, his dark locks sliding over his face, preventing Natsu from seeing his eyes. "He thinks if he can prove Lector doesn't infect him, they'll let the pets go."
Natsu's eyes widened, his mind racing at the possibility. "Do you think that'd work?" He was already thinking about it, wondering if he should do that too. Honestly, it sounded crazy, but if it got Happy out of that cage and into his room again, he thought it was at least worth considering.
"I don't know," Rogue muttered, his fingers gripping his knees. He refused to meet Natsu's gaze, his head remaining down. "But he wants to do it soon."
Natsu didn't know what to think, keeping his mouth shut while he debated if the risk was worth it or not. Before he could say something, Rogue added, "He has a theory."
"What's the theory?" Natsu asked, unaware that Lucy and Levy had stopped talking to listen to them. He thought he could feel their stares on the back of his neck, but he ignored it in favor of getting information out of Rogue.
"He thinks that dog was infected, but not really." Rogue sighed, looking up but not at Natsu. He stared at the wall, his voice distant as he said, "Like, maybe the dog was infected, but not like a zombie. You know how some people carry viruses but they don't affect them? He thinks that dog was infected, but it wasn't affected by it... but it somehow could spread it."
Rogue took a deep breath, finally glancing at Natsu. His eyes were dim, his shoulders sagging. "That's the idea, anyways. I don't know. I think he's insane."
"Considering everything happening around us, I think it sounds halfway normal," Natsu whispered, knowing their world was more bizarre than he originally thought. If he had known zombies were going to take over, he would have spent more time preparing than goofing off with his friends. 'Maybe Sting's idea isn't so insane.'
Natsu let the silence consume them as Rogue returned his gaze to the cats. His eyes softened when he looked at Frosch. It was easy for Natsu to see Frosch was dear to Rogue, just like Happy was to him. He understood why Rogue was upset. Natsu had been furious when he found out his cat was being locked up, but after a week and a half, he had calmed down.
Now it was just a waiting game. He knew Makarov would eventually release the animals, he just hoped it was sooner than later.
"Maybe it could work?" Natsu suggested, seeing that helped ease some of the tension in Rogue's body.
He nodded, a small sliver of a smile resting on his lips as he looked at his cat. "Maybe... Sting thinks the cats here are fine since they've been here since the beginning. I guess—" Rogue shook his head, the doubt clear in his voice. "Sting saw a squirrel near a dead zombie the other day, and it got him thinking..."
"About what?" Natsu asked, furrowing his brows.
"He... he thinks maybe that dog that attacked Warcry might've eaten some infected meat. You know how dogs'll eat anything?" Rogue didn't wait for Natsu's nod to continue. "I dunno if that's true, but I can kinda believe it, but maybe I just want to believe it too much. Maybe it's all wrong. I... I just don't know."
After a long sigh, Rogue met Natsu's gaze. "I mean, I don't think our cats are infected. I don't, but..."
As his voice tapered off, Natsu finished his sentence. "What if they are, and Sting gets infected."
Rogue swallowed before nodding. "Exactly. I... I don't want to lose my best friend." He turned back to the cages, his voice dull and expression bleak. If Natsu had to guess, he would say Rogue was losing hope, but he still wasn't ready to risk his friend's life on the sake of a hunch.
Natsu couldn't blame him. He put a hand on Rogue's back, giving him a soft pat. "Hey, I get it." He removed his hand, waiting until Rogue looked at him before he said, "Tell him to think about it really long and hard before he tries anything. Hell, he needs to ask Gramps if it'll even help."
Natsu paused, his lips pulling into a frown. "Maybe he doesn't get infected, but if Makarov isn't gonna honor it, he might as well not do it."
"Yeah," Rogue breathed, his eyes falling to the side. "I'll mention that. Thanks."
"No problem."
Natsu quieted down, waiting to see if Rogue would say something else. When he didn't, Natsu gave Rogue another pat on the back before excusing himself. He went back to Happy's cage, now aware of the two eavesdroppers who had definitely heard the conversation. Levy's questioning glance went ignored, as well as Lucy's cocked head. He didn't want to discuss the issue while Rogue could hear them.
They seemed to understand when Natsu said nothing, instead focusing on Happy. He whispered encouraging words to his cat, trying to hide the confusing thoughts now bouncing in his head.
'Would it work? Is Sting really gonna do it? Would Gramps even allow that? How would Sting get Lector to bite him anyways? Just stick his finger in his mouth, or would they have to simulate a bite by having Sting press his finger into Lector's teeth?'
Natsu sighed, unsure how that would even work. He had to admit, he understood where Sting was coming from. If he got bit by Lector and didn't turn, that had to prove his cat wasn't infected. Then again, Natsu thought it was obvious the animals on base were fine.
The room stayed silent until Natsu decided he wanted to leave. It was getting late, and they needed to get ready for dinner. After saying their goodbyes to Happy, Levy, and Rogue, Natsu and Lucy headed out, making the short journey back to their room.
Natsu was once again happy when Lucy went to the bathroom on her own. He didn't even need to stand near the entrance for her to do it. He took care of his own business before they met up in the hall, neither saying a word as they walked upstairs.
It wasn't until they were in their room and Natsu was locking the door behind them that Lucy finally spoke up, her voice rough but not timid. "Do you think... it'd work?"
Natsu raised a brow, casting her a glance over his shoulder before pocketing his key. He walked over to the calendar on the wall, realizing he forgot to mark today off. "If what'll work?" he asked, crossing out the day's date. Even if their leader hadn't encouraged it, Natsu would still be keeping track of the days. It was important to him to know how far they had come.
It had been about five and a half months since the outbreak. Natsu hadn't thought so much time would pass without the problem being taken care of, but the more time that passed, the more he realized help probably wasn't coming soon.
That didn't mean they couldn't hold out until help arrived. Their small community was strong, even if they didn't always agree on everything. The issue with the pets was the main conflict they were dealing with. Well, that and the lack of some supplies, but Natsu knew some of the things people wanted weren't necessities.
No one was going to die if they didn't get to fuck, but the way some people complained about the lack of condoms made him think they really believed they would.
"—saying."
Natsu blinked, realizing he had zoned out. He turned to Lucy, a sheepish grin sliding over his face as he cupped the back of his head. "Sorry, didn't catch that."
She didn't look offended, instead clearing her throat while keeping his gaze. "What Rogue was saying, do... do you think it'd work?"
Natsu thought about it for a moment, his lips twisting before he released his breath. "I'm not sure, but it kinda makes sense?" He didn't know if he was trying to convince her or himself, but he hoped Sting's theory was true. If it was, that meant he could get Happy back soon.
"I really don't know though. I wish I did."
Lucy nodded, accepting that answer, even if it didn't solve anything. She didn't bring it up again, instead heading to the bookcase to grab their dishes. With a heavy heart, Natsu decided to drop the subject too. Talking about how much he didn't know wasn't going to fix anything. It was only going to drive him mad with questions.
Natsu accepted his dishes when Lucy handed them to him, catching her faint smile as she nodded towards the door. "After you?"
He couldn't help but snort, finding her behavior a little silly. It was nice though, not constantly worrying if she was going to cry or not, if he was going to accidentally set her off. Every day she got better, but he knew she still had a long way to go.
"'Course," he said, leading the way.
Jellal's body ached as he walked back to his room. Despite not doing anything too physical during the day, he was still exhausted. When he wasn't staring at other guys' naked bodies, he was helping Yukino and the others with small tasks around the arena. Today had been especially boring, leaving Jellal's body and mind with a lack of stimulation.
He sighed, wishing things had turned out differently. He was on the fast track to success before the outbreak started, but now his brain was being wasted. He had big plans for his future, and none of them consisted of living at his old high school. Some days he considered packing their bags and taking Erza far away from there, but he knew she would never leave her friends. He wanted them to search for help instead of sitting around hoping.
He doubted he could convince everyone to leave the safety of the school, forcing him to stay where he was. He didn't mind the people, but his job was beyond boring, and he was sick and tired of being at Fairy Tail. Every day felt like a repeat of the last, and he didn't see that changing anytime soon.
Jellal unlocked the door to his room, figuring he would be alone since Erza usually left to go eat early. He entered, surprised when he saw the back of his wife's head peeking out from the desk chair. Her red hair was pulled into a tight bun, her shoulders wrapped in a throw blanket.
"Erza?" he started, worry settling in the pit of his stomach when he noticed her shoulders were shaking. It was only then that he heard the light sniffles, his heart dropping when he realized she had been crying. "Baby?"
Erza hastily wiped the tears clinging to her face before turning in her chair, facing her husband. She forced a smile on her face, but one look at him was enough for her to drop the facade. He knew something was wrong, and there was no point in trying to hide it.
Erza opened her arms, beckoning him closer. Jellal moved without thought, kneeling in front of the chair to set his hands on her thighs. "What happened?" he asked, the concern thick in his voice. Erza rarely showed vulnerability, but when she did, it was usually only in front of him.
Her arms wrapped around his shoulders as she buried her face into his shaggy blue hair, inhaling deeply before she let out another sniffle. She shook her head, her grip tightening on him as she whispered, "I'm just so tired of it."
His stomach twisted as he coiled his arms around her waist, wishing he could take away her hurt. He didn't know what had upset her, but it didn't matter. He hated seeing her sad. She was his everything, and he wanted her to be happy.
"I'm sorry," Jellal murmured, already anticipating what she would say next. Just as he guessed, she told him it wasn't his fault, but that didn't soothe his discomfort. "What's wrong?"
Erza took a deep, shuddering breath before pulling him close to her. "Another one," she started, voice growing distant. "We found another person dead today."
Jellal furrowed his brows, wondering what she meant. He wasn't in the dark long, his stomach sinking when Erza added, "Hung himself sometime last night. We found him when he didn't show up for work."
Jellal hadn't heard that news today, meaning it was kept under lock and key. It was hard to keep things from circulating around Fairy Tail. The base was small and the people were bored, clinging to anything they could use to distract themselves from the shitty world. Last week people were whispering about Lucy's scars, now the hot topic was Erik getting Kinana pregnant. People loved to gossip, which was probably why they tried so hard to keep people from finding out another person committed suicide.
That kind of news was disheartening, whether they knew the person on a personal level or not.
"I'm sorry you had to see that," Jellal said, not sure if there was anything else he could say. Erza was a strong person, but even she had some chinks in her armor.
"I'm okay," she whispered, though her tone suggested she wasn't. "I just needed a moment to collect myself."
"Take all the time you need." Jellal ran his hand up and down her sides. "If you want, I can get our dinner so you can stay here?"
A few seconds passed before Erza shook her head. "No, I should be fine. I want to see everyone."
"Okay," he whispered, accepting her answer. She was always so strong, but he was thankful she could show him her vulnerable side. "We can do that."
No matter how much Jellal disliked being stuck at Fairy Tail, he couldn't bring himself to regret staying there. It was his home, only because Erza was there.
No matter where he went, she would always be his home.
Natsu laughed along with his other friends as Gray continued with his joke, the skin around his eyes crinkling as he smiled. He glanced over at Lucy, seeing the small quirk in her lips as she tried smothering her own smile. He didn't call her out on it, instead turning his attention back to Gray to hear how the joke ended.
When Gray finished, Cana told a story about something that happened in the band room earlier that day, thinking it would be equally as funny. It wasn't. Natsu held his tongue when he realized Cana's story was about Macao joking with her about her body in what he considered a perverted way, but he said nothing.
Cana had been an independent person for as long as he had known her. It didn't help that her father wasn't the most active parent there was, and her mother passed away when she was a kid. Cana had to pull herself up more times than she could count, and it had made her a tougher individual.
However, Natsu still worried about her despite her strengths. He wanted to ask if she was really okay with Macao saying she had a 'body that could put a centerfold model to shame', but luckily he didn't have to, Erza stepping up by saying it was highly rude and inappropriate for him to make a comment like that.
"Eh, lighten up," Cana laughed, a sly grin resting on her face. "It was just a joke. No harm no foul."
"I don't know," Levy started, trying to keep her voice steady. Natsu could hear the concern, his own worry building in his chest. "That's not really okay, especially from a married man."
Cana's grin faded as her brows pinched together. She leaned back in her seat, one arm crossing over her stomach while the other rested against the table so she could still get her food. "Fine, if you guys don't like it so much I won't say anymore about it."
"I don't think that's what they meant," Jellal tried, but it earned him a dirty look.
"Sorry I brought it up," Cana said, her eyes flitting to her food in an attempt to end the conversation.
The area around them grew awkward in an instant. Natsu didn't know what to do, so he said nothing, letting someone else handle it. He looked down at Lucy, ready to ask if Macao said anything inappropriate to her, but he decided he could wait until they were in private. He doubted anything like that had happened. Lucy didn't give off the vibe that she was okay with those types of jokes, and Natsu's warning in the beginning had been very clear. He wouldn't tolerate them disrespecting her.
Levy thankfully started a new conversation shortly after Cana stopped talking, asking everyone if they wanted to spend Christmas together. Mostly everyone would have the day off aside from essential personal like guards, but even their shifts were reduced so they could spend a good amount of the day relaxing.
"I'm down," Natsu said, looking over at Lucy. She nodded, causing him to smile as he turned to Levy. "Lucy too."
Erza nodded with a small smile of her own, though it lacked her usual flare. Natsu figured it had to do with the confrontation with Cana. "Yeah, we can do that."
"I'll be there," Cana said, her voice clipped as she focused on her food.
Gray hesitated before nodding, his eyes roaming around the arena before looking at Levy. "Is it okay if Lyon and Ultear come too? If not that's fine, I can hang out for a bit."
"I don't mind. You guys?" Levy asked, seeing everyone shake their heads. "Cool, it's settled. We can hang out in our room. I just got a candle that smells like cinnamon apple, so that should be good for Christmas."
"I can bring something too," Natsu offered, though he didn't know what he could bring. "Anything you need?"
"Maybe a game? If you're out on a run and you see something you think would be fun? Something we haven't already played preferably. "
"Oh!" Cana perked up, her mood reset like the shuffle of a deck. "We should play a drinking game!" Before anyone could say anything, Cana grinned. "It's decided! I'll bring the booze."
No one disagreed with Cana, letting her have that much. Natsu didn't plan on drinking, but if he was in the mood come Monday, he would have a little. It had been a long time since he drank last, so he knew it wouldn't take much to get him buzzed.
Natsu didn't bother asking if Lucy wanted to drink. She hadn't given him a reason to suspect she was interested in that particular activity. He carried on with his dinner, listening as his friends continued planning for the upcoming holiday.
When everyone finished eating, the group got up to head back to their rooms. On their way there, they spotted a crowd of people heading towards the annex.
At first Natsu hadn't thought anything of it, but once he saw Laxus, Makarov, and Sting surrounded by a few guards, he realized something was wrong. What really tipped him off was the fact that Sting's hands were behind his back, but from where a guard was positioned, he couldn't tell if Sting was handcuffed or not.
Natsu scanned the hall, but he couldn't see Rogue. He immediately worried that meant Sting went through with the plan, which would mean Makarov was actually okay with it.
"What's going on?" Erza asked, her authoritative tone making even Natsu flinch despite knowing he hadn't done anything wrong. Her eyes were trained on Laxus, causing him to break their small formation so he could talk to her.
"Sting's going into quarantine," he said, his voice gruff. He looked over at the group walking away before turning back to Erza. He spoke only to her, but still loud enough for everyone else to hear. "He made a deal with Gramps."
"What kind of deal?" Erza asked, her tone skeptical. She hadn't heard Sting's plan since Natsu chose not to mention it at dinner.
"He made his cat bite him, and the doc took some blood from the cat and put it in the wound. And... and he drank a few drops of blood too." Laxus, who stayed composed most of the time, shuddered in disgust. "He's gettin' put in quarantine for forty-eight hours."
Whether it was on purpose or accident, Laxus' eyes flitted to Lucy. She tensed before taking a step towards Natsu, her arm bumping against his in the process. She didn't flinch away, instead relaxing when Natsu took a step in front of her, preventing Laxus from seeing her.
Laxus turned his gaze back to the direction where the group left, the members long gone. "If that crazy bastard doesn't get infected in two days, we'll release him and his cat. If it works, anyone else who wants to try is free to do so, but we still don't know if it's gonna work."
With those as his parting words, Laxus left, leaving a strange void behind him that no one knew how to fill. While everyone else struggled with what to say, Natsu looked at Lucy since what he was about to do effected her more than his other friends. "I'm gonna go talk to Rogue. Do you wanna go with me?"
Lucy nodded without hesitation, but he didn't know if that was because she wanted to go or she just didn't want to be alone. Either way, he accepted her answer. "I'll see y'all later," he said, changing directions to head towards the nearest stairs. As he left, he heard his friends whispering about what just happened, but he didn't stick around to hear their own theories.
They walked in silence, his mind racing as he thought about what Laxus said. 'If it works, and Sting's not infected, I gotta drink Happy's blood.' He loved Happy, but even that was enough to make him think twice. 'If Grandeeney let it happen, then obviously it's safe enough... At least medically-wise.'
Despite knowing how gross it sounded, Natsu already knew what his decision would be. He would do what it took to bring Happy back, even if that meant being locked up himself for two days.
'What'll Lucy do if I'm in quarantine?'
Instead of dwelling on that question, Natsu decided to wait until later to talk to her about it. The more time he gave her to prepare, the better. Besides, she could have Levy spend time with her when it came to getting food and stuff. Two days seemed like a long time when it came to being locked up, but the time was going to pass regardless, and if he had a chance at freeing his cat, he wanted to take it.
Natsu knocked when they reached the room, opening the door when he heard Minerva tell them to come in. He opened the door, letting her get a look at him and Lucy before they entered.
It didn't take Natsu long to find Rogue. The man was sitting against the wall, his head in his hands as he stared at the ground. Yukino sat next to him, rubbing his shoulder while Minerva stood over both of them.
Natsu glanced at Minerva as he passed her, taking the spot in front of Rogue. Lucy followed after him, sitting behind him to the side. She said nothing, merely observing silently.
"It's going to be okay," Yukino whispered, her voice soothing.
Rogue shook his head, his voice distant. "You don't know that."
While Yukino frowned, Natsu spoke up. "Lector isn't infected, and neither is Sting."
Rogue didn't look convinced, but he also didn't shrug off Natsu's words. "He better live, that way I can kick his ass."
Natsu fought his grin, liking the fire in Rogue's voice. He sounded determined, and that alone was a good sign.
"I wish there was another way to tell if the pets are infected," Yukino mumbled, earning a huff from Minerva.
"I don't see why they need any evidence in the first place. We already told that damn old man Frosch and Lector aren't infected!" Minerva's voice rose with her anger, her hands clenching into fists as she glared at her friends. "If you ask me, he doesn't know how to run this base. I think—"
"Stop," Rogue said softly, but it was enough to cut Minerva off. She startled while he sighed. "Just, enough, alright?" He looked over at Natsu and Lucy before his eyes flitted to Minerva. "I understand you're upset. I'm pissed too, but Sting chose this. No one forced him to do it. We all tried to talk him out of it, but that stubborn idiot was going to do it no matter what we said."
Minerva narrowed her eyes, but she didn't lash out. Instead, she took a deep breath before slowly releasing it. "Then what do you suggest we do? We can't just sit here on our hands and expect things to be okay."
Rogue met her gaze, his tone unwavering as he said, "That's exactly what we do. We wait."
Natsu understood why Minerva didn't like that answer, but honestly, there wasn't much they could do without getting in trouble. Lucy had to go through the quarantine process, and she came out unharmed.
Well, physically unharmed, but he didn't want to think about that now. Besides, he knew Sting wouldn't be going through the same thing Lucy went through. He wasn't going to be stripped and watched as he showered.
Natsu took a deep breath, casting the thought away as he looked at Rogue. The question was burning at the tip of his tongue, so much so that he couldn't stop himself from asking, "When it works, are you gonna do it for Frosch?"
Rogue swallowed, his teeth grinding for a few seconds before he slowly nodded. "Yes." He paused, ignoring Minerva and Yukino's looks as he asked, "Would you?"
When the question was asked out loud, Natsu knew instantly what he would do. His answer would upset his friends, and would upset Lucy too, but he had to do what he could for Happy.
"Yeah. I will."
.
.
.
Originally I was going to have Natsu test out the theory of the pets biting them, but I decided he had enough going on right now. He can't solve everything, haha. So, Sting's the guinea pig now!
So, as you can see Gajeel and Juvia are alive and together. (Not romantically, just in the same small group) It's just Gajeel, Juvia, and Pantherlily. They're currently in Bosco where they lived, but they're looking for somewhere else where people are. Who knows how long it'll take before they cross paths with our survivors? :P
Let me know if you want more mini clips into what's going on with them. If not, that's okay too. Just thought this would be a good way to introduce them and let you all know they're still alive and kicking. And in case anyone is wondering, they will eventually be paired up with Levy and Gray. It'll just take a while until they all meet. :) I'm experimenting with different POV's. Hope you don't mind. We got a little Gajeel and Jellal time.
Let me know what you thought of this chapter, or if you have any theories for what's coming next. I'm switching the plot a little from what I originally had in mind, mainly pushing up some scenes because I think they'll fit better that way.
Thank you for all your support! I appreciate every single favorite, follow, and review! Shout out to the incredible people who reviewed last time: Lodemai04, tasha. hime20, Lucia Merinero, naluloverr, Gabbicat18, elizabethbclifford11, isabelangelica. guerraallemant, Winterfairy189(x2), TheLylaRin, Guest, Ashnmarley, shootingstarssel, TheUniqueFangirl, Charlotte621, lili3346, sarahelle04, FlameDragonHime, AlycePixi, ArtemisRavenTerraFan, Meow Orbit, Sam, Bitesbytwins, stranger1999, MeteorWars, Tohka123, MnMAllyn, noah03, Satyrykal, Gigi-San28, MotherOfDragons1227, booksandanime17, randommess1, Lovesmutbabe, cOokIe-MOnzTa, ElementalMiko12, Duchixx, sofiesticated(x2), n. kukurichan, Akina, Animeforlife1412, they. call. me. Bridge, co0ki3. m0n5ter, Nalulovers, AtomicAdri, Mara fray, The 0bservanc3, CodenameMise, Nalu-Nerd13, Guest, Guest, Firefly9917, talce- chan, BedknobsAndLlamas, JacJac-Arie, An Amber Pen, LoveroftheWord, and ThayetJade!
Up next, Chapter Twenty-Eight: The girl she used to be