Chapter 30

The rain didn't cease. The mages were wet, but none of them seemed to care. Pantherlily and Rogue could lead the other two themselves, but Wellis insisted Marus and Reya escort them. Gajeel stayed behind the group, even behind Laxus, but Pantherlily had shown up beside him, offering an umbrella he'd bought on the trip himself.

"How've you been feeling?"

"Like shit," Gajeel mumbled, hiding half his face in Laxus' hoodie, "It's...everything's been worse since we got here."

"Worse…?"

"That old man said-ngh…" Gajeel tried to speak through his migraine, "H-he said these people were people from Ca-uh. Vincent and Jacob's hometown. And they've retreated here...made this place."

"So he probably knows what's going on right now." Pantherlily figured.

"Mmm," He nodded, "He doesn't want us here. Doesn't want me here."

"Maybe that's a good sign?" The exceed suggested, "Maybe Cadaver knows we're on the right track."

Gajeel thought about this, but he worried. Cadaver had clearly been resilient. What if what they were doing wasn't enough? All for nothing? He feared failure, being stuck with the beast in his head for the rest of his life.

Or, Pantherlily was right, and this just worked, whatever the hell it was. He could go back to living his life as a dragon slayer, a Fairy Tail wizard. He could finally beat Natsu's ass for spying on him last month. He could take a job for the first time in ages and do something for himself for once. Perhaps he could actually go out with Laxus properly, repay him for everything he'd done for him. Everything he'd put him through.

The guild missed him...the thought seemed funny. During the month under Laxus' care he'd never considered the guild missing him. He still blamed himself for everything they went through at Spirit Park, and everything they'd gone though to rescue him. Not to mention his rep at the guild as a whole. He was certain there were members of that guild that simply did not like him, and didn't miss his presence whatsoever, but thinking about them, and thinking about his past with the guild only hurt his chest. There was an entirely new issue that had to be resolved right now.

The building came close. It was bigger and further away from the others, at the edge of the forest. It looked ancient, as did the whole town, but it was the shoddy, quick build that left it looking as though it had been there for a century. The water damage on the outside was bad, but Gajeel noticed a glimmer through the windows. He parted his lips, staring at it for a moment before another sudden, searing pain quickly shot through his skull, and the dragon slayer was stopped in his tracks.

"Gajeel?"

Gajeel barely looked up to find Laxus, now much closer than before and reaching out for him as he held his head. He couldn't see the others but he knew they were staring. This was too much intimacy, he thought. Couldn't the other tell this was too much intimacy? The migraine, however, was also more than Gajeel could stand, and he resigned to taking Laxus' hand, awkward as he'd felt.

No one said a word.

"This is it," Marus said as they approached the door, "Our village elders helped our city thrive for years before Cadaver destroyed it. It's an important job passed on to a citizen they only deem worthy."

"'It's like that no~w," Reya corrects him, "Usually been passed down to their own family members cuz they raise 'em right, but the current village elder's son don't have a wife."

"So what? He's still a bachelor 'nd they just gave up on him?" Laxus asked, visibly annoyed.

"Oh no no, he's got a husband." She smirks. Marus rolls his eyes and reaches for the knocker on the large wooden door.

"H-husband-" Gajeel's eyes widened as he stuttered "Wait-"

There's a loud three knocks. The group stood in silence, waiting for a response. Of course, Gajeel was left in so much shock that he was no longer focused on his migraine. The doors slowly opened. It was a young man, with long blonde hair and a long, elegant wrap skirt around his trousers. He stared at each of them, eventually meeting eyes with Gajeel.

"Ooh, speak o' the devil! Hi Tesh!" Reya greets.

"Tesh," Marus dips his head, in a more respectful manner than Reya, "I believe these two are returning with their friends they told you about?"

Tesh nods, smiling, "Yes yes, please, all of you come quickly, you're soaked!"

It was very much a sturdy, well decorated cabin from the inside. There was loose magic floating about everywhere, lights along the walls and ceiling all on and lit candles on the floor. At the center of the room was a table and cushions surrounding it. There was another young man, sitting on a loveseat in the corner of the room, waiting for his partner to return. The brunette smiled up at his husband as he let the others in.

The long-haired blond lifted his hands up and suddenly they were dry and warm. A mage, Gajeel noted. He wasn't from Bellden, looked nothing like the others either. He watched from behind the others Tesh walk past the center table and up to the other end of the room, where various papers were strewn about and glasses and jars were empty or full. The old man at the counter stared down at a book, hands clasped together and hidden in his haori before Tesh gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Grandfather," he whispered, "He's here."

The elder turned around, slowly, seeing the mages he'd met before and two new faces. He wasn't as short as the old man from before, but his height was nowhere near Tesh and his own son. His long, silver hair was pushed back behind his ears with a blue tam hat, and his beard nearly touched the floor.

"Ah, good, good," He said, walking towards the group now, "Please, come, have a seat, please."

Gajeel bit his lip as he released Laxus' hand to sit at the table. It was a large glass table, well decorated with candles and a floral centerpiece. Rogue and Pantherlily were clearly more familiar with the building as they took their seats so promptly while Gajeel awkwardly shuffled, the floor creaking louder to himself than reality as he knelt down on the cushion.

"Everything okay…?"

The iron dragon looked beside him to find his exceed partner to his right, and he nodded, exhaling. He wasn't relaxed at all, but it was not because of Cadaver, rather, he was waiting for him…actually, Gajeel was surprised he hadn't shown up yet. He's plotting something. You know he's there. He couldn't keep thinking about the man. He had to focus.

Not to mention the other man who'd just sat across from him. He seemed like quite the proud man as he sat crossing his legs and arms, eyes closed as he quietly sighed. That was the elder's son, Gajeel remembered. And his husband perched right next to him, leaning on him and wrapping his arms around his. Gajeel winced, shivering as he'd woken himself up and quickly looking away before the older man could catch him absentmindedly eyeing them.

"Ah…I see…"

Gajeel looked back up at the table again to see the elder had sat down. The older man breathed very slowly, focusing his concentration. His voice was calming, and he had a very gentle face, but his words made it difficult to breathe.

"He is here."

The couple frowned, as did Marus and Reya.

"Mmm…I understand. You were correct," he looked to Rogue, "This is in fact the source of the dark magic that caused the calamity that destroyed Bellden…Your friend is currently the vessel of Cadaver."

Gajeel couldn't explain the amount of emotions hitting him at once. The relief at knowing he hadn't just gone mad from the trauma; the anger, pain and fear of Cadaver in his mind, the harm he'd done to his body was real. He felt like he was falling, or sinking into the floor with nothing to grip but his own damn shirt.

Laxus grabbed his arm under the table. Gajeel's face was burning as he snapped out of his panic. The table was glass. He knows the table is glass, right?

"You are all familiar with Cadaver…Cadaver must have gotten extremely powerful, to have been able to pull off something so malicious the way he did. I must apologize to you, you do not deserve to be burdened with this, Gajeel."

Gajeel's breath shuddered. Laxus glanced down at him, a tinge of worry as his partner frowned at hearing his own name. His attention would turn back to the elder, however, as he continued on.

"As I'm certain you all know, Cadaver has been an issue for a very long time. However, Gajeel, you should be assured that you are not the only one affected by this."

Both dragon slayer's eyes widened. The old man to the left of them nodded, humming before he spoke again, "Yes, yes, After the destruction of Bellden there were survivors affected by Cadaver's magic. Infected, would be a more proper word I suppose. When we escaped up here, rebuilt Bellden with what little we had left, my son, his husband and I spent years developing a cure for those infected by Cadaver's magic. It took so long-too long, and we could not save everyone-but as it was fully developed, we did save people. Everyone we could reach."

"Cadaver didn't just attack us," the man's son spoke, eyes shut and facing downward, "There've been countless towns he'd reached we don't even know of."

"Mine was wiped out as well. We happened to neighbor Bellden. The outcome was…much more destructive for my hometown, as he'd gotten so much stronger." Tesh said, sitting up from his husband and sighing before gesturing to Rogue and Pantherlily, "Regardless, Gajeel. Your friends told us everything they knew about you and your situation with Cadaver, and it's very unique, unlike the encounters we've had with those he'd infected."

"Of course, that's because this time, it's him." His husband raised his eyebrows.

"Though I must say that it is baffling that you all faced him and came back both alive and victorious; he's clearly succumbed to whatever blow had done him in…and your friends tell us that was you, Laxus?"

The elder had called him out, to his surprise, and Laxus only nodded. Victory, succumb, two words Laxus would not have used, at least now. He'd felt disgusted knowing for certain Vincent-well, Cadaver, had in fact been within Gajeel's mind, manipulating him or taking advantage of him mentally. He couldn't accept praise, even as Gajeel didn't object to it.

"Arata, I believe it's ready now. If you could prepare the bed, please?"

Laxus watched as the other man stood from the table and walked out of the sunken floor towards the counter, Tesh following quickly. Again looking over to Gajeel, this time, he noticed he looked off; face down, and he could hear the other dragon slayer's breath labored quietly. Laxus tightened his grip on Gajeel's hand.

"Gajeel. Hey," he called the other, receiving no response, "Gajeel?"

"Mmm-Hmm?" He reacted, finally, looking up at the other only slightly and with an exhausted look on his face. He didn't need to say a word and Laxus knew it was Cadaver. That monster in his head knew something was up, that they were trying to get rid of him, kill him for real and for good. He didn't like it. He was punishing his lover for it.

"We have the elixir ready. Follow us upstairs." Arata spoke in a commanding voice.

"Ah, good," The elder said as Tesh assisted him to stand, "The both of you, please come, quickly, quickly."

Finally, Laxus thought as he too stood from his seat, bending to help Gajeel up as well. Though, Gajeel found it difficult to keep balance and collapsed into him, pushing the lightning mage back slightly and startling the others. "G-Gajeel?" Pantherlily floated up to him, "What's happening? Are you sick again?"

"'M fine," Gajeel grunted, standing up slowly, "I just…I-"

Gajeel could not keep himself up for very long and found himself held up by both Laxus and a now larger Pantherlily.

"It's Cadaver," Laxus said, gritting his teeth.

"We know," Arata said, "That's why we need him in bed quickly."

Tesh opened the old wooden door, letting the elder in first, followed by Arata who carefully held the elixir, and Laxus and Gajeel. Laxus carried his partner, barely conscious, into the room and stood by the window as he watched Tesh close the door and the Elder wave his arm, the candles around the room becoming alight. The light revealed the very colorful, painted wooden walls and floor, mosaic tiles, stone and glass speckling the walls. The curtains were pulled shut, hiding the little bit of sunlight that had shown through the heavy rain clouds outside.

"Lay him down here," Arata gestured towards the bed, and Laxus did so, gently placing Gajeel down and resting his head against the satin pillow. Tesh began pulling his boots off, but Laxus disregarded it, only staring at his face as Gajeel stared back.

"...hurts a lot." Gajeel uttered quietly.

"I'm sorry," Laxus whispered, genuinely, the shakiness of Gajeel's statement sending thorns through his own chest.

"Think this is it?" Gajeel asks.

"Mhm."

As Laxus withdraws, Gajeel pulls him back down by the shirt to the other's surprise, catching him by the lips. Laxus wanted to do this exact same thing, kiss Gajeel, but even though most of the others were away, they were not alone, so he reserved himself. And Gajeel was in a great deal of pain, Laxus didn't want to cause any more. Despite all of this, however, Gajeel had kissed him.

"Gajeel…" Laxus spoke shakily as they parted.

"I'll be alright."

Laxus sat up again, sighing softly as he nodded towards Arata. The man did have his back turned, waiting patiently for the two. He nodded in return and turned his heel in their direction. Gajeel closed his eyes, and Arata knelt down against the bed.

"Open."

Gajeel opened his mouth, and his brows narrowed as Arata held it open with his thumb, and with his other hand, very slowly poured the medicine down his throat so he did not choke. There was a sweetness to it, but it was clear that that sweetness was added to mask the extreme bitterness. And it was very thick, glowing light blue. He almost felt weary drinking it but trying anything else in regards to Cadaver was out of the question.

After a minute-or two, it felt like much longer-of gently swallowing the elixir, it was finished. The nausea had faded, and he could no longer tell if the sleepiness he'd been overcome with was due to Cadaver or the elixir. Regardless, he no longer forced himself to stay awake, and he relaxed, keeping his heavy eyelids shut and allowing himself to sleep as he felt a hand wrap around his tenderly.

A/N: Hiii (^∇^*) This story is almost complete! I'm gonna have to come up with new stuff to write soon, I'd love to start another long story \( ^0^ )/

Crazy to think I've been working on this for almost 4 YEARS NOW THOUGH! guess that's how it is for works like this u_u see you soon!