The entire guild was at the Hospital, as the master had said the day before, to take their annual exams. For this, everyone had arrived early to the guild, which made many mages were in a bad mood. Many of them were not known to be day animals, if you can call it that. Ryker wasn't one of them, but his unfriendly face, not that he didn't have it regularly, but today it was worse, was a reminder not to bother him.
And, in reality, there were very few people who could bother him without consequences, three in fact. He was next to Erza Scarlet, who was leaning against the wall in the white corridor lined with hospital windows. The redhead was standing with her arms crossed, not wearing her usual armor, with a light, pleasant smile on her face.
"What is this face ?" she asked the wizard beside her.
"What do you think!? I don't like hospitals, so I can't have a happy face," he snapped angrily.
"That's it!?" she said in displeasure.
"In truth, no. I think the fact that you made me buy more than 200 strawberry cakes yesterday must have contributed!" , he said. Erza chuckled sarcastically.
"You were the one who provoked it, and besides you said you'd buy me as many as I wanted," she said. Ryker wondered where he had gotten himself.
He looked her up and down, that perfect body. "Where does all that sugar go?" he said, a little irritated and incredulous, wanting, too, to provoke the magician.
Erza looked at him with disdain. "I have genetics that favor me," she said triumphantly.
"Ah huh! This won't last forever," the wizard said sarcastically.
"What do you mean by that?", she glared at him.
"You know how it is! Time passes for everyone...", he said vaguely, and the redhead stood there trying to understand what he meant.
In another corner Mira was with her brothers, but she wasn't paying attention to them. On the contrary, she had eyes for her friend and her redheaded rival interacting. She didn't have her usual cheerful and happy face, it was replaced by a more serious expression, worried, annoyed, envious, frustrated, and a few other things. Can we say she was jealous?
"Sorry for the delay," a soft voice said, after a long wait from the mages. "My name is Claudia, I'm a doctor and I'm going to lead them, one by one, to the exam room. Let's take blood and measure your pressure, see your lungs and heart. Don't be afraid, it will be quick and easy", she said smiling.
"When do the results come out?" asked the master.
"Today, master. As soon as we finish collecting everyone's blood in a few hours the results will be ready."
"Excellent! I think I'll be the first one," he said excitedly. In fact, he was more excited by the doctor's appearance than by the exam. "I'm glad I'll be analyzed by a cutie like you," he said, winking at the doctor.
" Master!", both Erza and Mira caught his attention in a less than friendly way.
" Sorry!" , he said with a shrug. "Just kidding". And so he went into the room to be examined.
One by one the magicians were taking the exams and collecting the necessary material, everything was going well, there were no problems along the way. Natsu was the one who had given the most work so far, but was "gently" calmed down by Erza. Ryker came last.
"Sit down on this chair, sir", Claudia said, the magician obeyed her. " Nervous?" she asked smiling.
"No," he said impassively.
The doctor then took some blood samples, and then, with the stethoscope, she listened to the heart. The once cheerful expression turned to one of serious and concerned, Ryker didn't care. She listened to the lungs and then took the blood pressure gauge and placed it on the mage's left arm to measure his blood pressure. Again she got a worried expression.
"Can you wait a few minutes sitting there?" she said, forcing a smile.
"Is there a problem?", he asked.
"No, but we want to be sure," she replied. The mage didn't like it at all, but he obeyed. After about 10 minutes the doctor repeated the measurements, and her face became serious again. She looked at him and smiled, telling him he could leave and that in a few hours everyone would have their results.
The Fairy Tail mages were in the waiting room waiting for the results to come out. They had been there for hours now, Ryker was sitting in an armchair in a far corner, the others were interacting with each other. Erza preventing a fight from breaking out between Gray and Natsu, it could only be the two of them to fight in a Hospital! Mira with her brothers and other wizards were talking and having fun as much as possible. Levy, Lucy and Juvia were talking animatedly, Gajeel was eating a piece of metal, wherever he got it from, and was talking to Lily. Anyway, the whole guild was having its way to pass the time.
Claudia suddenly entered the room carrying a stack of papers, the results.
"Hello Claudia. Are the results?" asked Makarov.
"Yes Master. Can I speak with you in private?" , she asked. The master agreed and they left the room. It took a while before they came back, the master had a worried look on his face.
"I'm happy to say that everyone had excellent results", Makarov said and left distributing the results to all the members of his beloved guild, being accompanied by the doctor Claudia. Upon reaching Ryker they stopped.
"Ryker!" Makarov called after him, a note of concern coming out of his voice. "Your results weren't good", he said and the whole guild turned to him and the mage in his chair.
"Yes Ryker, his blood pressure was skyrocketing, his heart was too racing for someone at rest and his blood test showed elevated levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, urea and well, everything else. It's detailed there." , said the doctor. The guild's look of concern hovered over the mage, especially Mira and Erza.
"I'm fine, I don't feel anything. It's not something to worry about," the mage said dismissively.
"Of course it is!" yelled Makarov, taking him by surprise. "As one of my children you must be concerned about your health. All wizards should, and it's not normal for a wizard to be sick like you." Ryker just shrugged, not caring what was happening.
"He's right Ryker," Claudia said more softly. "Have you been stressed lately? Eaten properly, sleep properly?", she asked. Oh, if she only knew...
"Maybe," he replied.
"The results also indicate that your liver is overloaded. Have you been taking any medication regularly or using any substance to excess?"
Ryker looked her in the eye without flinching. "No" was all he said.
Claudia and Makarov looked at each other. "Look, I don't think it's a framework for us to worry so much about. The situation is not the most serious, for now, but it requires care. So, I think we can remedy that by changing some habits. Eat right, rest, have fun and relax. Come back in about three months for us to re-evaluate, okay?" , she said.
"Look, I don't think…", he was saying but was interrupted.
"He will, I guarantee it," said a firm, authoritative Erza, which earned a growl from Ryker.
"Great, see you soon", the doctor said and left the room.
"Okay, now that we have our results, let's go back to the guild and wait for the reporter," Makarov said. "Be considerate of him," he ordered, and everyone went back to the guild, all cheerful and one deeply angry.
The guild was full again and its usual noise and bustle waiting for the Sorcerer Weekly reporter. It wasn't a good day for Fairy Tail's most grim-faced wizard. Ryker was at the bar waiting for the meal Mira had gone to prepare for him. All that happiness of the other magicians was too much for him in the present day.
"Here it is," Mira said, placing her lunch in front of her and smiling customarily.
"Thank you," he said and began to enjoy his meal, Mira stood there, on her side, watching him with a smile on her lips.
"Is everything okay?" she asked, noticing the wizard's behavior as he ate.
"Yes. It's just that this food is different," he said.
"I cooked the vegetables, replaced the salt, removed all the sauces and the meat was grilled", Mira said in the most natural way in the world. Ryker looked at her in disbelief, which only pissed him off more.
"Glad you cook like a fairy," he said, in fact the food was good, after all Mira was the cook. She blushed at his comment, even in that situation.
"Do you know what's worse?", the magician said in an outburst. "Erza eats a ton of cakes, Natsu eats those endless fat hams and they have perfect exams and I, well you know," he said indignantly.
Mira's face went from light and cheerful to one of concern. She leaned against the bench with her arms facing the mage, their faces not too far apart.
"You have to be careful, Ryker," she said holding up a hand with her index finger raised, her voice all concerned.
" Shit!", he raged. "I'm fine. Why doesn't anyone believe?"
"Saying you are fine is different from actually being."
"Fuck! Last week I was training, and I just eat your food", he gave her a sarcastic look. "I think you're to blame," he said, smiling, but Mira glared at him, so angry she made him back off. He thought there was a taste of that punk from the past and the devil everyone talks about, he thought.
"This is no joke, Ryker," she said firmly and seriously, then sighed and softened. "Promise you'll take care of your health," she said calmly and sweetly but worried, putting her hand on her friend's face.
Ryker froze for a moment, trying to make sense of it all. She really cared about him that much, he could see it in her eyes. He didn't understand how a being like him, with his past, with what he had to do, with what he did, was worthy of such affection and concern. Maybe, for her and the others, he could do something about it. He owed her, after all.
"I promise," he said, reaching for Mira's topknot, undoing it and smiling.
"Ryker! …", Mira said pouting, which he thought was cute.
His irritation was passing, but a sound brought it all back. A cheerful, excited scream, which he identified more as a raccoon being strangled.
" COOOOOOLLLLLLL!", Jason entered the guild screaming all excited.
His day had just gotten worse...
"Titania Erza Scarlet, Coooollllll!", she was his first victim. "Tell our readers. What have you been up to lately?", he asked.
Erza confidently crossed her arms. "Defeated monsters".
"COOOOLLLLL!", and so it went, one by one, he went through the guild mages.
"Juvia! A former Phantom, now her heart has been laced by the great Gray Fullbuster. Tell us, how is your relationship with him?", the poor girl redder than a tomato.
"Shut up and get out of here!" Gray yelled.
" G… Gray-sama!", yelled his girlfriend.
"COOOOOOLLLLLLL!"
"Natsu Dragneel, Coooollllll! ... " Jason yelled running to the Dragon Slayer.
"Go away", the fire mage slapped him that spun him away.
"COOOOOLLLLL!"
"What's wrong with that guy!?" Ryker said a little disgusted, seeing all that, the reporter coming and going among the wizards. To him the reporter was a complete idiot.
"It's just his way," Mira said, smiling.
Jason saw Mira and a guy he didn't know at the bar and ran toward them.
"Mirajane Strauss, Cooollll! My favorite model. Are you going to pose again? And this one next to you is new to the guild?"
Before he could ask any more questions Ryker turned to him and held his camera in one hand and shattered it. The mage had a cold, angry look, colder than Gray's Demon Slayer ice.
"Listen right here," he told the reporter in the most menacing manner possible, holding him by the collar. "If I appear in a picture in your stupid magazine or there's any mention of me…I'll go after you." By this time Jason was shivering and sweating in a cold sweat.
" Y… yeah…yes, sir," he said and Ryker let him go. "It's not coolllllll!".
"Why did you do this?" yelled an upset Mira, he shrugged.
The day had not been a pleasant one. After he threatened Jason, many in the guild bothered him about it, maybe he overreacted a little and apologized to the reporter grudgingly, but he didn't give an interview and didn't allow himself to be photographed. And the night promised to be just as irritating. He decided to leave the guild and look for something outside, in peace, alone. He wanted to drink, drink like never before. Today deserved it.
The magician, in turn, wandered around the city, in neighborhoods he already knew had bars, but he didn't want any bars, he wanted ones that would give him some entertainment besides alcohol. And no, that's not what you're thinking.
That's when he saw a discreet entrance, which was in the basement of a building, he knew it was a bar, he visited that place once or twice. It was a pool bar, so maybe that would help.
The atmosphere was simple but pleasant, there were plenty of pool tables and a well-appointed bar in the corner. The lighting was nice with yellow lights. It wasn't too light, not too dark. And the variety of drinks was stark.
"How can I help you," the grizzled, middle-aged bartender said as he watched Ryker sit at the bar.
"Wisky, with ice," the wizard said, and was promptly served, a glass of ice and whiskey pouring into it. The magician enjoyed the drink. Oh, how he needed it. As soon as it was over he motioned for more.
"Is there a problem?" asked the bartender.
"Hard day, that's all," replied the wizard.
"We all have bad days. If you need anything, just say it".
"You are a psychologist by chance," replied the wizard.
"Almost, bartender," he replied sarcastically.
"So just fill the glass when it's empty," said the wizard and the bartender smiled back.
After a few rounds Ryker was already feeling his cheekbones go numb, a clear sign that the alcohol was taking effect. That's when he felt a presence sit beside him. Company, great, he thought wryly. He turned his face to see which damn soul was there.
"Cana!", he said surprised. "What are you doing here?", he mentally slapped himself for uttering such an idiotic sentence. Cana, bar, what would she be doing? Idiot.
"Is this question serious ?", she said sarcastically.
"Never mind," he snapped.
"Your day's complicated," she eyed him mischievously. "I mean, the doctor says you're on your last legs, then the reporter, and now you're drowning in booze," she said with a laugh, irritating the wizard beside her.
"I'm not last, and I don't...I don't like reporters!" he yelled, but the alcohol already affected his diction.
"Okay, calm down," the brunette said, holding out her hand in surrender.
"You didn't follow me here, did you ?" said the magician with a serious face.
"Don't think yourself so special, idiot. I was going to come here anyway. It was just a happy coincidence", she smirked at him.
"All is well then. I think", he said and the two were silent for a while.
"Won't you ask me to drink?", Cana broke the silence that fell between the two. Ryker looked at her and considered and smiled out of the corner of his mouth.
"Have you had tequila yet?" asked the magician.
"Are you kidding!?", Cana said disbelieving his words.
"I meant right, not in a barrel", now she was confused. For her there was only one way to drink, which was to open her mouth and swallow.
Ryker sighed realizing that, at least this, he knew more than she did and smirked. "Tequila is taken with salt and lemon. A Mexican taught me," he said and surprised the brunette. "Hey! Can you bring a bottle of tequila, some salt and sliced lemons ?" , he asked the bartender who waved and went to get what the wizard asked.
"Now you've got me curious. And that's not always, especially if it's with a drink," she said leaning towards him teasingly. He smiled at that.
As they wait for the condiments Ryker found himself looking Cana up and down several times. And God, how beautiful she was! That chocolate brown hair, his eyes, his tanned skin. She was a sin and would destroy him. He knew the guild was filled with beautiful women and Cana was among the most beautiful, no doubt her clothes helped to show her lust. Besides, alcohol wasn't helping to keep her sanity in place.
The bartender returned with the drink and two glasses, salt and lemons. Ryker filled both glasses with tequila and went to show him how to actually drink Fiore's biggest drinker.
"Here," he said, taking Cana's right hand gently and putting some salt in it between his index finger and thumb. She smirked at his gesture. "Take the lemon with the other one. The sequel is salt, tequila and lemon," he said. So both did.
"This will give a hangover tomorrow," Ryker said, recovering from his first sip of tequila.
"I was impressed," said Cana. "I'll include that in my repertoire," she laughed. "Now, you needed to take my hand," she said mischievously.
Ryker smiled slightly. "Maybe I wanted to," he said. "Are we going to chat or are we going to drink?" .
"Now you spoke my language," Cana said and they drank for a few more rounds.
After so many, it was clear that the magician was not at the last level of his mental faculties. The slurred speech, the red face and the lost look gave away, drunk on sight. The other magician was more over there than over here, but as she was more used to it, she wasn't like the other.
"Hey Cana!", called Ryker. "Shall we play?" , he said, pointing, or trying, at an empty pool table.
"And why not!? Any game is better when we're drunk," she said excitedly and laughing.
"I agree!", the magician said jumping from his seat at the bar, almost falling to the floor, and heading for pool. "Do you know how to play or do you want me to teach you ?" he said trying to be malicious.
Cana hugged him from behind and pressed her breasts into his back. She rested her head on his shoulder and spoke softly into his ear. "You're smarter than you look, Ryker. Do you want to teach me or take advantage?" , she said, nipping at his earlobe. Ryker bristled, that woman was going to kill him.
He turned to face the mage and wrapped an arm around her waist, bringing her closer. "You suck," he said, smiling mischievously.
"Let's just play, idiot," she said pushing him away from him.
The magicians played various games, told stories, jokes, laughed and took a few sips of drinks. They were like good friends laughing, talking, having fun together. They stayed a good part of the night, Ryker never thought he would have fun like that, especially in the company of Cana Alberona. She turned out to be good company as well as beautiful. As for the game, he lost the vast majority of rounds.
The two of them were leaning on the pool table side by side, the tequila bottle within reach.
"So this Gildarts, is he your father?", he said.
"Right there," she said between sips.
"I don't remember meeting him. Did I meet him?" , the mage said with his slurred speech.
"I really don't know," she said disinterestedly. "But whatever. That old man is never around anyway", she said and looks at the wizard beside her, and smiles mischievously. "Hey! My eyes are up here."
"Sorry! It's just that your breasts, your breasts are so beautiful, perfect", the magician said completely drunk.
"And that gives you the right to watch, without permission," she says with a slight frown that doesn't show any discomfort.
"It's just that you're so hot," he says shamelessly. "Sorry! It's the alcohol's fault !" , he says in his defense.
"Don't blame alcohol!", yells Cana, defending his best friend. The two laugh at the situation, and look at each other deeply.
"One last toast?", the magician asks.
"Always," she says smilling.
They prepare salt, tequila and lemon, but this time...
"But now, you take the salt from my hand and I take it from yours, the same with the lemon", Ryker proposes, Cana looks at him shrewdly and accepts. They toast by taking a little too long on the salt part and using their tongue more than they should, in this case. Each sucking the salt from each other's hands, feeling each other's skin, they drink their drinks and pour the lemon into each other's mouths.
After the toast, Cana approaches Ryker and looks at him with longing, which he returns in the same way.
"It's just going to be the toast or there's going to be something else", she teases the magician.
He takes her right hand gently stroking her perfect tanned skin. With his right arm he hugs her around the waist, bringing her very close. She could feel his breath on her skin, she felt his hand gently stroking her back, just above her hip. Ryker's left hand roamed the mage's delicate arm, he could feel all the smoothness of her skin.
"I wanted..." he said softly the mage, their faces pressed together, his nose smelling her perfume, a sweet and pleasant perfume. She gently held the mage's head against hers with her left hand as she stroked his hair. They were perfectly fine together, feeling each other.
"But…" she said in his ear.
"I don't know if I should," she said not moving from her position.
" Why?"
"I do not know. I don't want to take advantage of you," he said softly. "You deserve something better, someone better."
"A drunk with a conscience", she laughed, he laughed back. "I want this. It's not like we're going to date anyway," they moved their heads like they were trying to kiss, stroking each other with them.
"You will be my downfall, Cana," he says and looks into her eyes, brimming with lust. Without thinking any further, Ryker kisses her on her soft lips. An ardent kiss, Cana returns the kiss eagerly, holding tightly to her companion's hair, preventing him from leaving her. Their tongues fought for dominance amid moans from both of them. Only when their breath wouldn't allow them to continue their kisses did they break apart. That had been one, if not the best, kiss in his entire life. That woman was sure to kill him.
" Come!" he says, taking Cana's hand and leading her to the door. Passing by the bar he threw a wad of bills paying for the drinks, he didn't even know if he had given more, but by then he didn't care anymore. They went to her apartment and enjoyed the rest of the night, and part of the next morning, many times, over and over again.
The next day, Ryker arrived at the guild only in the midle of afternoon, alone. He had to take a ton of meds to cure his hangover from the night before, which... was pretty good. As soon as he entered the guild he went straight to the bar where Erza was sitting and Mira was working as usual. He took a seat next to the redhead, who was eating her cake.
"Good afternoon," the redhead said sarcastically. The mage just grunted back.
"Is everything okay?" asked Mira more concerned. "You never arrived at this time."
"The doctor didn't say to rest. That's what I did, I decided to sleep late today", it was a lie, he didn't sleep a wink all night, yes, this time it was for the reason you're thinking.
"You don't look very rested," Erza commented and Mira nodded.
A loud laugh was heard from a nearby table, and Ryker knew very well whose it was. He broke out in a cold sweat and turned to the direction of the sound. "Why don't you look rested, Ryker? You know I'm dead too today. Completely finished. What could have happened to us tonight? It was such a nice night for me, one of the best", Cana said looking deeply at him and with a mischievous look and smile.
Ryker swallowed and as he stared at Cana in disbelief she said. " D... don't meddle Cana. I have nothing to do with your problems. And me, I also had one of the best nights, if you ask me," he said. Cana smiled and looked at him with fire in her eyes, full of desire, which disturbed Ryker, who turned around to face Mira and Erza beside him.
"Did something happen? Do you look nervous?" asked a worried Mira. Oh, if she only knew...
"Your impression. I'm great", replied the magician. "And you, too, should eat less cake. That perfect genetics of yours won't last a lifetime," he said seriously, deflecting the subject.
"Ridiculous," the redhead said, indifferent to the mage's comment around her. "And if you try to take my cake…I'll make you buy another 500," she said in warning. Mira could only laugh, and Ryker looked frustrated.
"Want to stop laughing Mira!", he screamed.
At a far table the rest of the Natsu team was sitting and talking, Natsu was eating everything he could and nothing else mattered to him. Gray tried to enjoy his drink while paying attention to his beloved girlfriend, it was difficult to do two things at once. Wendy was having dessert and Carla was drinking juice, Happy had his fish. Lucy, on the contrary, had her attention on the trio at the bar.
"Hey Lucy!", Gray called. "What are you looking at?", he asked with his usual frown snapping the blonde out of her trance.
"Those three," she said pointing to the bar. "Did you notice that Ryker only seems comfortable with those two? I mean, he doesn't have that scary face when he's with Mira or Erza, he even smiles"
"Do you think?", Natsu said confused. "He looks like that next to Wendy too", he commented taking a blush from the little girl.
"Well last week we were training, he's a good person," she said shyly.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAT!?" Natsu yelled. "You were trained and didn't tell me anything!? I want to get stronger too! I'll train and finish him!" , he screamed hysterically punching the air in the direction of the trio sitting at the bar.
"Natsu calm down!", ordered Lucy.
"I'm sorry Natsu-san", apologized Wendy in the sweetest way possible.
"Juvia thinks Ryker-san might like Mira-san, or Erza-san," she said excited about the implications and possibilities, she had stars in her eyes. Gray rolled his eyes wondering what was going through his beloved's head. More of those crazy fantasies she had, but deep down he thought it was cute and didn't stop smiling at her. It wouldn't be Juvia if she didn't have it.
"It's possible," Lucy mused. "He always has a cold eye and isn't fond of many friends, but when he's around them he changes a little"
"Lucy, don't encourage Juvia's fantasies!", Gray said.
"It's not fantasies, Gray-sama," the water mage said with a pout, which Gray thought was the cutest thing in the world. He had to turn his face away so she wouldn't see him blush.
"Whatever !", he snapped. "Anyway, it doesn't concern us."
"I hope he's happy, as he has to be," Wendy said. "He deserves".
"I agree. And the two too," added Lucy.
"I do not mind! I just want to fight him," Natsu shouted.
" Natsu!" said Lucy hitting him on the head.
Back at the bar counter, Erza had finished her cake. "I have to talk to the master, so see you later," he said getting up and leaving for the guild master's office.
"Why are you laughing like that Mira?" Ryker asked. He knew she was always happy and laughing, but in that smile of hers there was something different today.
"You look happier today, more excited. I'm glad you're better", she said showing her beautiful smiling face.
Immediately the mage sweated a little, and redness rose to his face. "I think it was the night sleep. Invigorating", he said and then a malicious look appeared. "Since I'm excited I think you could take advantage of the situation and show me that wild side of you", saying this he moved to the other side of the counter facing the mage.
He started to nudge Mirajane with his fingers, trying to tease her, but he was only managing to get a laugh, which caught the guild's attention more than anything else.
"Come on Mira! Where's that punk?" , he insisted, nudging her and eliciting some giggles instead of the demon. "It doesn't even look like there's a demon in there."
" Mira!" said Laxus passing by the bar going on a mission with his gang.
" L… Laxus!", she said scared. "Going out for some work?", she spoke, flushed and nervous.
"Exactly. What are you doing?" he asks mischievously, looking at the two of them indiscreetly, with a mischievous smile.
"I'm trying to piss her off," Ryker said like he was the most peaceful thing in the world, folding his arms. "I want to see her dark side," he said with a smirk.
Laxus laughed heartily, almost crying. "She's not a woman you want to see pissed off," he commented. "Mira, you've got yourself a weird, crazy friend," he said and left laughing with his friends. Ryker stood there not quite understanding.
The mage watched the Thunder God team leave and turned to Mira, she had her usual calm and smiling look, but in a split second it changed to a terribly demonic expression, scaring Ryker deeply. She punched him in the stomach, hard enough to make him kneel on the floor in pain. As soon as she did that she was back to normal.
"That was for bothering me," she said smiling.
"There it is!" he said between moans of pain. "Here's what I wanted to see", he said with a smile on his lips, in the midst of pain. Slowly rising, he brought his face close to hers and looked into her eyes.
"One day you're going to show me your Take Over", he said whispering very close to her face, which blushed at the proximity.
"Maybe," she replied smiling. They chuckled lightly and sat there talking for the rest of the day.
Interestingly, after Ryker arrived at the guild the other bartenders had more work, as Mira's performance dropped a bit. She spends a lot of time talking to the newbie, and she doesn't really care.
At Lucy's table the girls watched the scene and laughed, satisfied imagining possible future scenarios, while Natsu raged and Gray undressed.
kpop1392as - I never taste chocolate strawberry cake, so I don't know the taste, but I like chcolate and strawberry, and I think Ryker would like too, and Erza. I may think it's the perfect union.