They called the mayor and security was to remove the bandits from the scene. Although the square was destroyed and some buildings on the way damaged, the mayor did not withdraw any part of the reward. After some solemnities and thanks from the politicians, merchants and citizens of the city, they thought it would be good to spend the night and return to Magnolia the next day, in the morning. So they did, of course not without first going to a restaurant and celebrating their victory and a mission successfully completed, until they were expelled for exaggerating their party. The next day they took the train back to their hometown, a smooth ride with occasional conversations and the Dragon Slayer feeling sick, but they finally arrived and headed straight for the guild.
"We're back!", Natsu yells kicking the guild door and entering.
"Welcome back," the guild members replied in unison.
"Did they destroy the entire city again? Gihihi! " said Gajeel, laughing and teasing them.
"Not your old can! And we still get the whole reward, "Gray said proudly. It ended up surprising everyone, Team Natsu didn't destroy everything and took the entire reward, everyone thought.
"GRAY-SAMA!", A blue mage screamed and came running towards him, the ice mage immediately knew who she was, and was waiting for her. She ran like a lightning bolt towards him, pushing aside Ryker who was in the way. Reaching her love, she jumped on him, putting her arm around his neck, hugging him affectionately with a smile on her face. "I wish Gray-sama was safe again. Juvia was homesick ".
"What the fuck was that !?", Ryker was startled by the girl's reaction.
"Juvia being Juvia," said Lucy with a drop of sweat on her forehead, and everyone laughed.
"Well, whatever," he said and headed for the bar. Halfway there he was stopped by a tall man, about the same height as him, blond and with a scar on his right eye.
"You must be the new guy," that man says.
"I think so. And would you be ...? ", Ryker replies, staring.
"Laxus, Laxus Dreyar".
"Ah yes. So you're Makarov's grandson, "he says with a slight smile out of the corner of his mouth. "I think I should thank you for the shirt".
Laxus smiles smugly. "Forget it. That was an old shirt. But I see that you are strong ", he says with a defiant look.
"I can say the same about you," Ryker replies. The weather heats up in the guild, with the two tall men facing each other.
Moments pass before the S- Class lightning mage laughs and taps the novice on the shoulder. "I am going on a mission now with my team. See you latter," he says and leaves, followed by the other members of Raijinshū.
Ryker watches them go and cares little for them, remaining indifferent and goes on his way to the bar.
"How was the mission?", A sweet voice asked him as soon as he sat down.
"Everything went well, Mira. Those bandits were nothing. You can get some juice and something to eat, please, "he said to the waitress.
She smiled and went to get her order. She brought what he had asked for and the mage ate and enjoyed that delicious meal.
"Mira-san. Everything okay? ", Lucy said sitting down at the bar next to Ryker.
"All right. Glad you got all the reward, this month you will not have any problems paying the rent ", the demon woman said smiling.
"Yes!", The blonde replied with sparkles in her eyes. "And all thanks to him," she said, pointing to her companion next door.
"Huh !? What do you mean? "Mira was confused.
"It was not a big deal. I just warned that there would be damage in the city and guaranteed it would be minimal. That way they would be warned and there would be no way to get the reward for rebuilding the city, "he said.
"Yeah ... it was a good idea," Mira realized.
"I just used my head," he said as he moved his right shoulder.
"What is it?" Mira asked, seeing him moving his shoulder as if he was uncomfortable.
"Nothing much, don't worry," he said.
"Nothing much!? You got shot there, you nut, "Lucy said angrily.
He turned to her with a serious and slightly annoyed expression. "Who was I shot at protecting? A certain blonde magician, who got distracted, "he said sarcastically. This only made the magician snort and cross her arms.
"But are you okay?" Mira asked with concern.
"Yes, do not worry. Nothing that three days will not solve ".
"He didn't want to go to a doctor and even asked Natsu to cauterize the wound," Lucy said indignantly and angrily to her friend at the bar, denouncing her 'deed'.
"This is irrelevant, and besides, it worked," he said to Lucy, starting an argument between the two, with Mira in the middle.
"It is not irrelevant! You're going to kill yourself any day, your idiot, "Lucy shouted angrily at him.
"I'm a grown man and I know what I'm doing, girl," he replied in the same tone.
"No man in this guild knows what he's doing, they're all idiots," she replied.
"I am not like these fucking shit", he and she were looking at each other and snarling with serious and irritated expressions. Mira just laughed at that situation, which was actually looking quite comical.
"Well if your shoulder is hurt I can call Wendy to have a look at it," Mira interjected smiling.
"What !?", he looked at her confused.
Mira looked around the guild until she located the young Dragon Slayer and called her.
"Yes Mira-san. How can I help you ", the little magician said smiling at her friend at the bar.
"Hey Wendy, could you look at Ryker's shoulder? It looks like it's hurt ".
"Sure," the young blue-haired mage said.
"Hey, wait! What can she do? ", The magician said in suspicion.
"I have healing magic," Wendy said smiling.
"Really !?", he asked and the mage stated with a nod.
"Okay, then," he crouched down to be at a better time for the mage who placed his hands on his right shoulder and a green light appeared. He felt that his shoulder was getting better. He may even feel that the hole that was made was closing. This was incredible, he thought.
"How are you?", Wendy asked affectionately.
"It is much better. Thank you, Sil ... Wendy, "he said, blushing and smiling out of the corner of his mouth.
"Okay," she just gave him a smile. "If you're feeling better, I'm already happy."
He got up and sat down at the bar again. Wendy decided to accompany and stayed there too, along with Carla.
"Have a beer, will you?", Ryker asked and she served it.
"How exactly did you get hurt?" Mira asked him.
He looked at her and then at Lucy beside him. "Well, Lucy got distracted and I had to intervene by jumping in front of a magic spear or something that was thrown at her."
"I'm sorry," Lucy said sadly. "I should have paid more attention, so you wouldn't have been hurt because of me," he said with a sad face and a wistful voice.
"It's okay," he said. "Isn't that what comrades are for?"
"But ..."
"Don't worry," he said looking at her. "It is my duty, after all. That's it, isn't it? Protect each other. Therefore, I would die for you, for any of you, this is how I act and trained for. I'm not afraid to risk my life for the person next to me. I'd rather die than see my teammates get hurt. So don't be sorry, I know you would do the same. If you made a mistake, learn from it. Remember one thing Lucy, I cover you and you cover me. OK!?".
She looked at him all flushed and with tears forming in her eyes, but confirmed it with determination on her face, as did Mira and Wendy. They also blushed, and were proud of their new companion's attitude and gave a hearty smile. He did not notice, but others in the guild also listened to the conversation and were proud of his attitude towards Lucy and his way of thinking, everyone smiled and felt happy for his new nakama.
He noticed everyone's eyes on him and felt uncomfortable and quieted down in his corner drinking his beer. "What's wrong with them?" He thought. He decided to leave the bar and sit at a table alone and stayed there for a while enjoying a few beers, until Wendy sat down with him.
"Wendy !?", he said surprised to see the magician sitting with him.
She was embarrassed and embarrassment, not quite sure how to speak or how to start a conversation, and he realized. "Are you okay?" He asked worriedly.
"Y-yes. I just wanted to know ... about ... your friend. The one you say ... looks like me, "she said sheepishly, but in a cute way. "I mean, I was a little bit curious and would like to know more. Of course if ... if it won't bother you ... "
He looked at her and smiled out of the corner of his mouth, but showed no annoyance or irritation. Among all of them, he would never be angry with the young Dragon Slayer, as he considered her a little sister, even without her knowing it.
"Sure, why not," he said quietly. "She was just like you. I mean, taking off the clothes, everything else is the same, well except this weird cat ", he said looking at her and at Carla.
"Hey! Who's weird here you pervert? Wendy, don't be close to this guy! "Said the angry and overprotective cat.
"It's okay, I trust him," Wendy said to her friend Exceed.
"But ..."
"Don't worry," she said, interrupting Carla, who accepted the situation. The mage looked at Ryker. "But how can anyone be like me?"
"I really do not know. But she was ... ", the speech came out and he cannot hide his sadness.
"What happened, Ryker-san?", She said with a certain tone of concern.
"I had known her since I was nine. We became very friends, we shared everything, we trained together, we ate together. We had a good time, if I may say so. I considered her as my family, "he said contemplatively. "But nothing lasts forever. And ... unfortunately she ... is gone, "he said sadly.
"I'm sorry, Ryker-san," Wendy said with a sad expression. She had her head down, but felt a hand on her head ruffling her hair.
"Don't worry girl", she saw him with a hand on his head in a genuine smile, one reserved just for her.
"But I remind you of your friend and you may be upset about it. I mean ... remember that she ... "
"Don't say that!" He shouted. "You do remind me of her, yes. How couldn't? But not from the bad times, but from the good ones ".
Wendy looked at him with wide eyes in surprise and smiled broadly. "Thank you Ryker-san".
"Only Ryker. Okay? "He said and she smiled and agreed. "So are you a Dragon Slayer? How did it happen? ", He asked and with a smile she started telling her story and they continued talking amicably and stayed like that for some time.
"You went through some adventures!" He said.
"Yes, but you haven't said a lot about yourself."
"I'm sorry, Wendy, but there are things you still shouldn't know. But if I have to say something, I would say that I went through some good adventures too. Of course not as cool as yours. But if you want to know about one ... me and some friends saved an entire city from a bunch of bad guys. It was very difficult and the fight lasted for a while, but we were victorious. Now, more than that you will have to wait. Just trust me, will you?".
Wendey looked disappointed, but nodded in agreement.
"Don't be in a hurry to grow up Wendy," he said, ruffling the young mage's hair. "Everything has its time. And honestly I would prefer that you were playing and socializing with people your age instead of doing dangerous missions and fighting who knows who ". This surprised the magician. "I know I can't ask you to, but take it easy, okay? Enjoy this phase of your life. Have fun with friends your age, don't want to carry the world on your back, it's not the age to have responsibilities like these. Do something stupid! "He said with a smile in the corner of his mouth and a sly look.
Wendy was even more surprised by his words, but I smile and nodded in confirmation as he ruffled his hair again, much to Carla's disapproval. "I promise I'll try," she said.
"I know. Believe me, you will feel much better being and behaving just like a child, "he said with a smile as he got up from the table. "Well, I'm going for a walk, so see you Wendy!" He said, waving at her, who returned the gesture. "Ah! If you need anything, look for me, "he said at last.
"Thanks Ryker," she said as she hugged him, which was a surprise for him and the guild who watched them. He returned the hug. " You're welcome, little," he said as he stroked his head affectionately. They broke up and he left the guild for a spin and get some air.
He had gone to an ice cream stand and bought a chocolate bar. He was walking around town eating his ice cream and enjoying the pleasant weather in the late afternoon. Until he saw red hair sitting on the banks of a river watching the waters.
"Erza !?", he said to the girl.
"Ryker?", Erza said, turning towards his companion's voice. He came over and stood beside the magician.
"What are you doing here?", He asked, eating his ice cream, a slightly ... strange image that made the redhead laugh a little with the senna.
"I like to come here from time to time to think," she replied with a contemplative expression.
"Right. Do you want to? ", He said offering some of his ice cream.
"What? Ah ... no, thanks ", she looked at him smiling. "Don't you want to sit down?" She said to him, who shrugged and sat down next to him. "It was very good what you said to Lucy earlier."
He looked at her confused. "What exactly?".
"The fellowship thing," she said contemplatively.
"Ah yes. But that was kind of obvious. I mean, everyone in our situation knows and acts like that. I don't know why the surprise ".
"It's always good to see a friend talking like that, especially at Fairy Tail. Our bonds are what make us strong. You saying that, it was ... very good ", Titania said in a very happy tone and with a calm face.
Ryker looked at her, finishing his ice cream, and watched his companion, until he returned his gaze to the river and they stayed there for a while without saying anything. Eventually they went back to the guild and ended the day as usual, with some fights and a lot of drinking and a little party.