AN: So my computer's motherboard crashed on the first day of a trip (almost a week and a half ago). Hence why the chapter is delayed. Between being gone on holiday, having to get my hard drive backed up, and buying a new computer… I haven't thought too much of this chapter even though most of it has been written for three weeks. So here it is… sorry for the wait.
Chapter 4: My Brother's Keeper
Mirajane wasted no time in grabbing Sting, forcefully leading him back to the house.
Natsu stared wide eyed at the ferocity of the small woman. It surprised him at the power of her emotions. Something bad must have happened. His attention was caught by the beautiful, sassy lady beside Happy. A small tear fell down Lucy's right cheek as she casted a sad face after the two heading away.
Shaking her head, Lucy told the others, "Let's just leave them alone and concentrate on this problem. Elfman, Jellal. This is Natsu Dragneel."
The two newcomers nodded in the ranger's directions. Natsu sighed before moving over to shake their hands in greeting.
To the the white haired man, he asked "Any relation to the scary pregnant lady?"
"Brother. And call me Elf."
When Jellal shook his hand, the man questioned hesitantly, "A ranger?"
"Yea"
Natsu's pupils flickered toward the tattoo.
Jellal murmured, "You noticed?"
"It was hard not to."
"I use to be a member an outlaw band, but I served my time. Jellal Fernandez, at your service. Even have the release papers in my trunk if you want to see."
"Papers can be forged. I don't really care about a man's past unless he stuck in it. If there's no request poster for me to hunt you, or orders from my superiors to capture you than I'm good at leaving you alone. If you have served your time and are working towards a straight and narrow future than that's fine by me." Natsu lowered his voice, "on the other hand if you ever should fall, I will be the one who comes after you." The grip tighten in the shake before the two released grasps.
Sensing tension rising, Levy clapped her hands, everyone turned to look at her. She patted her cheek "I think it's a good idea to make a tent around your horse. We need to keep the sun off of your horse, and tonight the barrier will keep the wind off him. He'll be warmer."
Lucy agreed, "We can make it large tipi style. Besides keeping the elements off, there are also ants starting to crawl into the wound. Levy go boiled some vinegar and ammonium to put in the ground. It will keep the bugs away. Elf and Jellal gather supplies for the tent. And you" she stared hard at the ranger.
"I guess you are going to be staying with us until your horse is healed. So I will show you where we can house you. You can get clean up that blood while I go back inside to change clothes. Then you and I will build the tent. One of us will take you on a tour when we finish."
"Yes ma'am." He reached out to help her off the ground, but she brushed it aside standing up on her own.
"Noticed you just had a small bag with you. Don't forget it." With that, she sashayed away expecting him to follow while Natsu gathered his stuff.
She paused when he called out, "What about about my hat?!"
An angry growl warned of painful retribution if either should try to take the hat away from the lion.
Lucy crossed her arms. "Bad Loke!" Turning to the ranger who had caught up to her, "Remind me to buy you a new one whenever you are in town."
Natsu heaved the pack onto his shoulder as the two walked away. Glancing back at Happy, he couldn't help but think that the name of the ranch… Love and Lucky… was not so fitting.
"Hey! Mira! I'm coming. Why you pulling so hard? Where are we going?!" Sting protested, trying to jerk his arm back, but the woman had him steadfast in her grip.
"Well if you didn't move slower than molasses moving uphill in winter, than I wouldn't have to drag your sorry hide."
The angry white haired lady took him into the den, passed the shelling buckets and the fireplace smelling strongly of lye.
All those unwanted memories came flooding back of times that he had tried long to forget. Sting had taken Lucy through the house much like Mira was pulling him - leading her behind him without thought or care, pointing out every detail. That first day Lucy arrived on their doorstep, dressed like a boy stating she was their long lost cousin, made Sting really excited. He had grabbed her thinking he had someone his age to play with. He hustled her around until figuring out she was a girl.
Having a girl in the house had turned out to be an adventure. It made living at the ranch bearable. All the men had spoiled her. She had the amazing ability to cool tempers with a joke and a giggle. That was before Mira had moved in six months later. Due to so many single men at the ranch, Lucy's reputation had been in question so Elfman's sister had also moved into the house. Mirajane would leave to her other job but also help Lucy. He had been a coward to leave the two behind with that asshole of a brother. Even stepping up the old log stairs was nostalgic, and made his soul feel every regretful moment he missed out on during his absence.
On the second floor, Lucy's room was opened. Sting quickly glanced inside, noting that not much had changed except it seemed less furnished than it use to be. He frowned in thought, Come to think of it, lots of things seemed to be missing from the house.
Mira finally stopped when they reached the doors to the master bedroom. He didn't have any time to question why before she practically threw him in.
The room was dark except for the light from the window and hallway.
Sting heard coughing.
"Mira?" A weak voice wheezed. The blanket on the bed moved, and a figure sat up.
"So the prodical son returns. I knew you would," cough, "come home."
"Laxus?"
"Yea, in the flesh. Well barely."
Sting cringed as he stood at the foot of the bed, viewing his brother's almost disfigured body. His brother had always been a force of nature. Huge. Larger than life. With this indoninable driving force in his actions. Sting couldn't remember a time his brother had been sick much less look so frail.
"What happened?! How did you get? I mean. You know?" Words could not be formed as all Sting could do was stupidly point with his hand to relay the question he wanted to ask.
Laxus was just so skinny. His body being half the size it was previously, not much more than Sting himself. His hair was also receding making him look older than what he should be.
The boy stared at Laxus as Mira brushed passed him to sit on the bed. She took a handkerchief from the side of the bed to wipe a bit of blood from the corner's of Laxus's mouth. The girl stared adoringly into his face as he reached to entwine her hand with his. Bringing it up to his lips, he kissed her hand before coughs hacked his body.
Never had he witnesses a such a tender moment between Laxus and someone.
"Doc says it's *consumption."
"What? How?"
"Prison."
13 months ago...
The clatter of dishes, the sounds of a boiling kettle, and the muffled whispers of Mira and Lucy in the kitchen traveled to Laxus as he descended the stairs.
Three days ago, he and Sting had argued. It turned into a complete blow out. Their worst fight yet, leading to Sting punching Laxus before being thrown out of the house. During the days that followed, Lucy and Mira's constant harping for Laxus to apologize had started grating on his nerves.
They wanted him to apologize and bring the baby of the family back.
He rubbed his temple.
Another day in hell with the two she demons. Well a half of day with one because Mira was only here temporary. Her shift at the saloon started that night and lasted until early morning when she came to cook breakfast for the Dreyar's before going to bed. She would be asleep soon. And Laxus could easily ignore Lucy by riding the border.
Both girls thought he had been too harsh with his brother. The snot nose brat needed to grow up and Laxus felt he gave Sting the option of staying or being kicked out. Sting had chosen to go. It was the perfect opportunity to make a man out of him. Life would either make him grow up or send him home with his tail between his legs.
It wasn't his place to apologize when Sting needed to learn basic responsibility for his actions.
Laxus made it to the table. Jelly and biscuits were already laid out in front him. The girls probably had already broken their fast. Looked like another day of eating alone. Mostly, the workmen came in to retrieve a plate but most preferred to eat outside or in the bunkhouse. The family sat together at the table. Although it really was not feeling like much of a family lately.
Mira slammed a bowl of grits and beef in front of him before walking off. She left without a "how do you do," or a "bye your leave."
Next came Lucy who place a kettle of coffee on an iron hotplate. She also proceeded back to the kitchen with a "humph."
The man raised an eyebrow at how the womenfolk were treating him. Last night their complaining had been so loud. Now they were giving him the silent treatment. Females and their antics.
Eventually, they would have to understand.
He wasn't his brother's keeper anymore.
Although if he was going to search for Sting. There would be only one person he could go to for help.
Their father.
Ivan Dreyar.
Next chapter: The Six Demons
What specifically happened to Laxus to make him go to prison? And why is an ex convict working at the ranch? Is he to be trusted?
AN2: Consumption is what people use to call tuberculosis. Tuberculosis doesn't work that fast to be soooo established in someone by a few months. Its slow growing, and the symptoms are progressive. So Laxus is sort of like Doc Holiday from the shoot out at the OK Corral (for any western movie fans). That is where I got the inspiration for Laxus and Mira's relationship (Tombstone). We going to meet two familiar new characters next chapter. Really excited to get into some actual life on the Western Frontier. I live on a farm so going to be fun applying some real life experiences to this story.
Thank you to all the followers and favorites. Here is a list of the lovely people that reviewed Chapter 3: NaLuFTfanatic, SingingAngel327 , Phiafairy , SunflowerChrysalis , J.C., Sup, Emperor Zeref Dragneel
Hopefully this chapter answered some of your questions! Maybe it left you with more? Did you expect to see Laxus in the ranch house? Hope you like this story! Peace out until next time.
Happy Short:
Happy runs out of the guild crying. Natsu enters.
Natsu: What's wrong with Happy?
Me (step on Gray's foot): He's just was upset at the beginning of my story.
Lucy: She shot him
Me (head hits table): Thank you Lucy!
Natsu: What? Why would you do something like that?
Me: It's a story. Why don't you and Lucy go bring him back? I will be finished with the next few chapters by then.