I do not own Fairy Tail (do I really have to do this at the beginning of every chapter it's already annoying).

And I heard through the grapevine that 10,000 jewel equals about 100 U.S. dollars (my currency), so that's how I wrote the prices (sorry, I don't know about any other currency's exchange rates...).

"SUCK ON THAT, LOSER!" Artemis cried out, slamming the controller down on the coffee table. "Ahhh, revenge is sweet!"

Laxus stared at the screen in astonishment, jaw gaping open. Did she just beat me?

"And YOU." Artemis swiveled where she sat, grinning widely. "Owe me a hug!"

"Art, you asked for a hug?" Lyla, who had just walked into the room carrying random snacks she had found, widening her eyes. "Why not money or something that would actually help you?"

"Have you ever received a hug from this man?" Artemis stood up and stretched. Laxus groaned and set the controller down lightly on the couch, rubbing his hands over his face.

"He's just in denial. Get up, lightning-boy. I earned this hug, and it better be good."

Lyla started laughing at the comical situation. Laxus finally gave in, standing up and giving Artemis… what looked like a really good hug, actually.

"Laxus, why can't I get a hug like that?" Lyla threw a bag of half-empty chips at the man, who caught it and tossed it to Artemis without a second thought.

"I don't hug," He answered simply.

"You should hug more often," Artemis sighed, flopping back down on the couch. "This is why I place bets."

Lyla rubbed at her eyebrows, jokingly wondering why she was friends with this girl. "Okay, Artemis. You've playing video games with him for the past four hours. Don't you think he's getting sick of this by now?"

"Ahh, he needs to suck it up." Artemis leaned backwards, throwing her arms behind her head and kicking her feet up on the couch. Laxus tersely lifted her feet and placed them back on the floor. It was the fourth day into their "agreement" and he was near insane, saved only from Lyla's calming presence and music. Artemis was a hurricane of fire.

"You need to lay off," Lyla smartly responded.

"Tch," Artemis sounded out, shrugging and closing her eyes. "I've played my part. Your turn."

Laxus sighed in relief. Lyla's half of the day, be it morning or evening, was always the desired time of day. Artemis always had him exhausted by the second hour, sometimes by the first ten minutes. The results were the same even when the girls had work.

"Yes! Okay, there's this magic shop that's right next to a music shop and I really want to go there, there's also a bookstore nearby that I want to stop by…" She dragged him out the door. Or, rather, he allowed himself to be carted out the door and down the stairs, out into the marketplace. She fawned over many different magic items and Laxus kept her from spending all of her measly pay. She was a victim of marketing, and he was sure Artemis did this job every time they went shopping.

"What is this?" Lyla carefully picked up the silvery object.

"My dear, that is the key to other universes, you can do great things with that, make more friends-"

"It's a celestial gate key," Laxus interrupted the passionate seller. "Which gate does it open?"

"Columba, gate of the dove," The seller muttered, angry at Laxus for stopping all of his schemes.

"Oh!" Lyla thought about it. She'd heard all about celestial magic; maybe she could give it a try? "How much is it?"

The shopkeeper brightened considerably while Laxus protested. "10,000 jewel!" Lyla widened her eyes. 10,000?!

"Maybe we could make a deal for 9,000," The seller offered, noticing her shocked reaction.

"Is it… is it really worth that much?" She blinked a few times. "Then… I guess nevermind." While they maneuvered their way out of the shop Laxus thought he heard her mutter "I really wanted that key" under her breath.

Her mood lightened immediately when she caught sight of the music shop. "They might have those little instruments I've heard so much about! If I ever travel, I'll want to have as much mobile music as possible!" His heart lightened at her exuberant attitude as she darted around the shop, marveling at the smallest of things.

"I've never seen such a tiny harp! I'll bet that would fit great in my pack! Ooh, it that a foldable drum?"

She gathered up numerous musical instruments, all small sized, and dumped them on the counter. She rifled through her wallet to grab the money, and slapped it on the counter when she found it.

"Uh, you're 3,000 jewels short," The worker stuttered, as nobody had bought this much in one go in a while.

"Oh," Lyla's eyes fell to the many instruments strewn about on the counter, instantly assessing which she could do without.

"Here." Laxus placed 3,000 jewel on the counter. Lyla jerked her head upwards, staring at him incredulously.

"No, you don't have to pay for me. You're already putting up with my music craze; I always get like this around instruments. I don't have to have the, uh," She glanced down at her pile, doing quick calculations. "The flute."

He slid the money towards the worker, who swiftly snatched the money and bagged the instruments, Lyla protesting the whole time.

"Uh… thanks," Lyla finally said, when they strolled out of the store and started walking back to the bar.

"No problem. You have been putting up with me as well, you know," He reminded her, his eyes darting down to meet hers before flicking back up in front of him.

"I wouldn't call it putting up with you- eep!" She yelped when Laxus suddenly grabbed her shoulders and ducked into an alley, and -dare she say it- nervously peeked out from behind the wall. Eventually he sighed, leaning his head against the brick and closing his eyes, relaxing.

"Uh, Laxus?" She tentatively stepped forward, examining his face. He opened one eye and seemed to remember she was there at the same time. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes again and running a hand through his hair. Lyla swallowed, waiting for him to speak.

"It's nothing. I thought I saw something, but it's nothing." He got up off the wall and walked out of the alley. She knew he was lying, especially because he repeated himself, but she let it go. Or she was going to if she had the time, as before she could follow Laxus out of the alleyway someone grabbed her around the mouth and dragged her into a side door she hadn't noticed before. A single rope wrapped itself around her torso and started wrapping itself around the rest of her body while she struggled against it. She bit the hand -which tasted really nasty- clenched on her mouth and took a deep breath to scream when she was hit at the base of her sternum. All of the air rushed out of her lungs and she fell to her knees with a wheeze. She was busy frantically trying to get air into her lungs so she didn't notice the tightening rope. By the time she was oriented, both of her hands were behind her back and her legs were bent underneath her, tied together.

"Lovely catch. Boss'll love this one." She heard a strange voice rasp. She tried to summon her magic; she was a dragon slayer, for god's sake! A few kidnappers shouldn't stop her!

But alas, the rope must have had magic cancelling spells cast on it, for she couldn't even scrounge up a sleeping spell via lullaby. As she lay panting on the ground, still slightly winded from the hit earlier, a leering face was brought into her line of sight. "Aw, is the little baby hurt? Did we hurt you?" He jeered, mimicking what he must have thought was a baby. She growled, dragon slayer style, and headbutted him.

She regretted it seconds later from the instant headache, but the regret when away nearly just as quickly as the man jumped away from her in surprise. She followed up with a loud scream (for some reason, the morons didn't gag her).

The two men cursed, one of them shoving a dirty cloth in her mouth and the other kicking her stomach for good measure. She curled in on the wound instinctively, falling onto her side and moaning in pain.

"That's right," The man hissed at her, cursing worse than a sailer. "You don't scream. Got it?" He kicked her again, pain exploding in her side and stomach. Her lungs still burned, though it wasn't as noticeable, especially with her new bruises. The man let out a cruel laugh and reared back to kick her a third time when the wall exploded.

Lyla wasn't sure what happened, as the next thing she knew she was enveloped in Laxus's arms as he peered at her, eyebrows knit in worry.

"Are you hurt?" She heard him ask. Vaguely her mind noticed the two men, smoldering and unmoving on the ground, but it quickly moved on. She took a quick second to process the events of the past minute or so. It all had happened so fast.

"Did they hurt you?" He asked again, standing up this time with her in his arms. She took a deep breath, then moaned as it stretched her stomach. Laxus got his answer when she curled in on the bruise. He lifted up her shirt to expose her stomach, her wellbeing the only thing on his mind. His gaze darkened when he saw the developing bruise but said nothing.

"Let's get you back." He carefully adjusted his hold and carried her out into the darkening street, the light lacrimas activating slowly.

"I-I can walk," She protested, wiggling out of his grip. Lyla was cursing her damsel-in-distress-like nature. Why can't I be more like Artemis?

She straightened, ignoring the pushing pain in her abdomen. Her face twitched slightly when she tried to walk, but she took a breath and continued.

He opened his mouth to argue but realized she would be insulted if he kept treating her like glass, even if he considered it a given since she had just been attacked. "Why didn't you use your magic?" He asked instead.

"The rope prevented me somehow. Thankfully they forgot I could scream, but they didn't appreciate it when I did," She responded, tripping on a stone only for Laxus to catch her and put her upright. They continued as if nothing had happened.

"Hmm." They lapsed into a comfortable silence, Laxus inconspicuously glancing at her throughout the duration of the trip. He wanted to make sure she didn't hurt herself more.

"I was going to give you this earlier, but you had to go and get mugged, so…" One side of his mouth stretched upwards into a smirk. She shot him an unamused look.

"Here." He placed a cold, silver metal key into her palm, enveloping her hand for a few seconds before bringing his hand back to his side. She stared in awe at the Key of the Dove. She most likely wouldn't be able to open it, but it wouldn't hurt to try.

"But… you already paid for my music, you paid another 10,000 just for this present?" Her gaze found his and she raised one eyebrow, somehow managing to look thankful at the same time.

"Well, I didn't end up paying the full amount." His mouth was set in an indifferent line, but she noted the amused lift of an eyebrow.

"Oh. How?"

"I have very good negotiating skills." He answered simply. She shook her head, deciding not to ask. She stared back at the key in her hand.

"Okay… here goes…" She concentrated on her magical power. "Open! Columba, gate of the dove!" She waited for something to happen, but the key didn't even vibrate. Her face fell slightly, but not for the reason Laxus was assuming. She had attempted to hide her brief moment of realization, but she was never very good at hiding her emotions.

"Not everyone can be a celestial spirit mage," He attempted to console her.

"Oh, I'm fine. I feel like I should pay you, though, since it's basically useless to me now…"

"It was a present." He pushed her outstretched hand back. "Besides, it may still work."

She nodded, knowing full well she didn't have a speck of celestial spirit magic in her. She was also completely fine with being full of music.

They finally reached the apartment and met the demon in Artemis once they told her Lyla had been mugged.

"What the hell happened?" Artemis had raging fire in her eyes, and Laxus was not enjoying being on the receiving end of it.

"Artemis, I told you, I'm fi-"

"No, you are not fine! Look at that giant bruise! What the hell, Laxus? Why didn't you protect her?" Artemis swiveled on her feet, ignoring the defensive lightning mage, and carefully dragged Lyla towards her room, shoving her -gently, as to not worry the bruise- in and shutting the door behind them. Laxus tried to open the door, to apologize or help or do something, but it was locked.

"Get out of here!" He heard the enraged voice of Artemis yell.

"Just wait on the couch, we'll be out in a minute!" Lyla's calmer voice called out. "Artemis, be nice. He did save me, you know." Laxus followed the saner of the two's command and threw himself onto the couch, waiting silently for the sisters to be done.

In the room, Artemis was lightly prodding the bruise, which was quickly turning a deep reddish purple. Lyla had placed the key on the bedside table carefully when she was "painlessly assaulted" (as she claimed later) by the redhead.

"Ow, Artemis, get off! Since when are you a doctor?" Lyla flinched away from her friend. They were sitting against her bed.

"Since when it concerns me. I order you to not move for three days!" She commanded, causing Lyla to let out a deep sigh.

"Look, I'm fine. I'll just refrain from physical activity and probably loud singing for a couple days. It's all good. Now, you were completely unfair to Laxus out there, and I want you to apologize."

"Really, mom?" Artemis shook her head in exasperation.

"Let's go," She ignored Artemis's protests and lead the redhead out the door, causing Laxus's eyes to fall on the two, one eyebrow raised.

"Thanks for saving her," Artemis mumbled. Laxus attempted to stifle a smile.

"And?" Lyla stared expectantly at the girl.

Artemis huffed slightly and wandered over to the couch. "I am not apologizing. I did nothing wrong."

Lyla rolled her eyes, opening her mouth to say something when their alarm rang.

"Crap!" The two girls yelled simultaneously, grabbing their uniforms and bolting out the door, Laxus following in their wake chuckling lightly to himself and worrying for Lyla's health. She really shouldn't be working.

They made it down in time for their shift, and Laxus slid into his stool and received his "complimentary" drinks. He had won three nights of free drinks by beating Lyla at chess. He intended to take full advantage of the situation. Unfortunately for the girls.

One drink turned into ten in the blink of an eye, and before they knew it, there was a drunk Laxus at their bar.

"Art, there's only one more hour until we close," Lyla whispered to her friend. "We can handle him, right?" Artemis nodded. "Of course we can handle him." Artemis was still not over the whole mugging thing, and felt a whole lot of contempt towards the blonde at the moment.

"We can't handle him," Lyla groaned five minutes later, Artemis nodding in agreement.

"Oi, some people still want a drink here!" A regular shouted out from further down the bar. Artemis shot down to the customer and ordered his drink while Lyla approached Laxus.

"Heyyyyyy, Lyy!" He grinned widely, a sight she'd never seen on the man before. "You gonna sinnnnggggg?" A sound escaped his throat that Lyla could've sworn was a giggle.

In response, Lyla brought her harmonica to her lips and played a few notes in a soothing order, waiting until the glassy look had swept over his eyes before stopping. Her stomach clenched in slight pain: every time she flexed it, which was a lot, an aching pain swept through her body.

"That was pretty, Lyyy. You know…" He stopped himself, a conflicted look appearing in his eyes. "I like it when you… when you sing."

"Really?" Lyla's eyes found Laxus's to see that he was staring down at her, grinning.

"Yeahhhh. You have a pretty voicccce."

"Thank you, Laxus. Now, sit down and be nice and quiet for…" Lyla flashed her eyes to the clock before returning her gaze back to Laxus. "Forty minutes. You can do that, can't you?"

Laxus nodded slowly. "Mmm. You shouldn't be working with your bruise."

"I'll take that as a yes." Lyla crept away from him, glancing back every now and then to make sure he was staying put. Business was slowing down, and then finally the forty minutes were up. Artemis and Lyla dragged the groggy dragon slayer up to their apartment -there was no way he was getting to his house in this state- and dumped him unceremoniously on their couch. Actually, Artemis did most of the dragging, to Lyla's dismay the singer couldn't do any physically taxing jobs. Upon releasing Laxus, Artemis immediately announced that she was going to bed herself and left for the bathroom to get ready, while Lyla grabbed a few blankets and draped them carefully over the snoring blonde. It was only after she was sure he was as comfortable as he could be that she traveled to the bathroom to prepare for bed.

~o~

Two weeks later, Artemis came home from a short camping trip to find a drunk Laxus passed out on their couch. She laughed, took a million pictures, drew on his face, and took more pictures.

Let's just say Laxus wasn't very happy when he woke up, and Lyla was scolding her sister for such immature acts- then patting her on the back afterwards and making her promise to send the pictures. Artemis responded that she was insulted that Lyla had even doubted she would send them to her.

The third (and last, at least at that bar) time he got drunk was five days after the second.

"Laxus, I swear to all things holy, you are never getting drunk again in this godforsaken bar if it kills me," Lyla announced, trying to pull him towards the door with his arm over her shoulder.

"But I don't want you to die~" He laughed, squeezing her to his side and causing her to let out a small squeak.

"Is it a dragon slayer thing? To be so affectionate when drunk?" Lyla wondered aloud quietly. She was uber affectionate when she was drunk. Artemis had told her many times over the after effects of her drunken nature.

"You tell me, my little- *hic* dragon slayer," Laxus drawled loudly, staring into her face. Lyla stiffened as her eyes flickered around the bar, hoping nobody heard.

"You're drunk," She said nervously, laughing fakely. The few people that had turned around in confusion nodded to themselves and returned to their drink. Relieved they assumed he was only drunkenly rambling, she continued to tug the large man over to the door that led up to Artemis and her's apartment. "Come on, Laxus, you're heavy." She complained, throwing back her head in exasperation. He giggled again, something Lyla hoped she wouldn't have to get used to. It was unnerving and, frankly, creepy.

"Fine, I guess I'll have to." Lyla sighed. She hated using this magic, it made her feel uncomfortable and godlike. She pulled out her harmonica.

"Derrigortzeak," She murmured before bringing the instrument to her lips. She played a slow waltz she had come up with a couple years before. Laxus's body froze, then straightened. It started walking on it's own towards the door, opening it and forcing him to march up the stairs.

"Lyla what's happeninngg?" He slurred, trying to turn around or look at her or do something on his own. He couldn't do anything, though if he were sober he would be able to break free from the immense magic power the lightning mage possessed. She gritted her teeth and kept playing, flinching when she felt his magical power rebel against her compulsion magic. It didn't work very well if the receiving end knew they were being controlled, so it was really ineffective on full-body control. Unless the victim was drunk. Then they usually didn't know what was going on.

She finally managed to push Laxus -with magic and muscles alike- up the stairs and into her apartment. He collapsed onto their couch, groaning softly as her compulsion magic seeped out of his body.

"Lyla," He moaned, bringing his hand up to his face. "Come here."

She hesitantly obeyed, pausing before stepping towards his exhausted body. "Yes?"

He grabbed onto her wrist, pulling her down to the couch while sitting up slightly. "Sit." She tentatively lowered herself onto the couch, knowing there was no way for them to both fit comfortably with Laxus all stretched out.

He laid back down, his head coming to rest on one of her legs. He made a face and pushed himself until his head lay comfortable in her lap. Her body stiffened and her eyes widened as she stared at the drunk blonde, who was seemingly completely comfortable and okay with this arrangement.

"I feel…" He stopped, looking confused. He internally struggled to either give in to the alcohol and tell her, or to be logical and not. The alcohol, this time, won over, but he was still semi-illiterate as a side effect of said alcohol.

"Sick." He finally said, eyes meeting hers in triumph. He did not get the desired reaction, as her eyes widened even more -if that was possible- and she started to struggle to stand up.

"Well, don't throw up all over my carpet!" She tried to stand, jostling Laxus's head in the process. He growled, reaching up and latching onto her shoulder so she didn't cause him any headaches.

"I'm not that kind of sick," He said, sounding annoying. "I'm…"

There was a pause.

"You're what, Laxus?" She asked softly, settling back into the couch. Laxus used his hold on her shoulder to pull himself up and her down until his mouth was directly next to her ear and whispered, "Homesick."

She just gazed down at him in awe and confusion when he let go and they fell back into their former positions (she had also shivered slightly, but not for any reason she was willing to admit). "Homesick? But you were at your home just yesterday."

Laxus shook his head, and it dawned on her. "Fairy Tail. You miss Fairy Tail."

"You remind me of there." Laxus reached up and touched her cheek, reminiscing. Well, as much as he could in his current state. "Of Levy and Ever and Erza, and even of that new girl whatsherface. You remind me of Grey and Artemis reminds me of Natsu and you guys make their relationship in a different way. You guys remind me of Fairy Tail." Tiny tears started glistening in his eyes, and Lyla panicked.

"No, don't cry! It's okay, right? We just remind you of old friends, that's all. Right? Old friends. Of Levy, Ever, Erza, um, Grey and Natsu? But it's okay right now, um, oh, I suck at this," Lyla muttered, especially worried when she saw fire appear in Laxus's eyes.

"I am NOT friends with that fire freak and ice pervert!" He cried out, lurching upwards in response.

"Okay! Okay, okay, okay, calm down." She pushed him back into the lying position. To attempt to calm him down, she started running her fingers through his hair and combing it, something that always worked when Artemis was stressed out and- well, and drunk. From what she could tell, it seemed to be working with Laxus as well, so she continued to run her fingers through his blonde locks.

"Sometimes I want to go back," He mused, staring blankly above him, whether at Lyla or the ceiling she wasn't quite sure.

"Then why don't you?" Lyla asked him, knowing full well she would get an answer with all of his walls down from his excessive beer consumption.

"Gramps kicked me out," He said simply, eyes wandering.

"Gramps?"

"You know, Master. Gramps. He's my grandpa."

"WHAT?!" She jolted upwards but didn't quite make it to her feet, as Laxus once again brought her back down to the couch with a growl. Her hand, which was formerly running through his hair, stilled and his gaze met hers.

"What?" Laxus was completely, blissfully unaware of the torrent of emotions his statement had dumped on the poor girl.

"Oh my god I'm so stupid, how could I have not figured it out sooner? Lightning dragon slayer magic, his name is freaking Laxus, he looks so much like the Master of Fairy Tail… Artemis is going to freak… have I seriously let this psychopath into my house?… his temper is legendary…" She muttered incoherently under her breath, running a hand through her hair and resting it on her shoulder.

"Don't worry, I'm not in Fairy Tail anymore," Laxus proclaimed, missing her problem and, if anything, making it worse. She was completely still, staring at the wall and contemplating his situation. She was tempted to kick him out then and there based on his less-than-positive reputation. She stopped herself and remembered when she was trying to fit in in spite of a reputation she had given herself from the past. Artemis…

"You know what?" She announced, coming to a conclusion. "Here, you aren't Laxus Dreyar, grandson of Master Makarov. You aren't Laxus of Fairy Tail, either. Here, you're just Laxus, our friend. Got it?" She stared intently down into his eyes.

"Got it." His grin grew lopsided and his eyes rolled up towards his forehead so it looked like he was stared at the arm of the couch. His arm moved upwards and his hand wrapped around her wrist as he lowered her hand onto his hair again. Understanding what he wanted instantly, Lyla started moving her fingers through the dragon slayer's hair. His eyes fluttered -yes, fluttered- shut and he was snoring within minutes. Lyla let out a laugh that revealed a mixture of emotions: relief, confusion, astonishment, and happiness.

Laxus was passed out on her lap, and her legs were starting to fall asleep, but there was no place else she would rather be.

Idk with this chapter. I ran out of content and thought I remembered I promised an extra long chapter, so then I thought of the mugging... then I kinda ran with it and now it's MORE THAN 4,400 WORDS so yeah that's a slight upgrade from 2,900 or so, even if I didn't promise it...? (idk with my mind)

Ugh this chapter is trash I'm so sorry

Well, the plot (for part one, anyway... huehuehue) is actually starting next chapter (I've delayed long enough).

Until then, mes amis! (and don't forget to review!)

-Leaf