AN: This is Laxus's backstory. Sorry for it being sooo long. I was scared to write it because I didn't think I could do it justice so I got a bit creative. A little bit worried on how it will be received. This will be the only chapter in this format. If you don't like abuse, don't read the italicized backflash. Hope this is interesting. Promise some Nalu fluff next chapter.
Chapter 5: Six Demons
He had made a bargain with the devil, who sent his demons to take everything away.
Exactly thirteen months ago, which would have been one week after Sting had left, Laxus rode out of Love and Lucky with a sack on his horse's back and a vow to find his brother.
When he had left home, the morning had been blistering hot for western Alvarez. Thankfully halfway to town, a light drizzle started. Clouds dotted the landscape, but none dark enough or thick enough to warrant a stop. Really the water was a blessing, allowing the temperature to drop a few degrees. Laxus decided not to stop in town but proceed to Raven's Tail Hollow, his original goal.
He failed to take in account how the weather acts between the mountains, desert, and grassland. The sky is a peculiar, fickle child, throwing a tantrum one second and ignoring you the next. So it wasn't long before the land darkened and a clap of thunder close by spooked his horse.
The rancher glared at the clouds, daring them to leak before he could get to shelter. Almost in response, a slight rolling thunder grumbled in the distance.
The rain held back. He rode until he stood in front of a white chapel. Knocking on the door, he heard scrambling before a small red eye peeked out.
"Laxus?!"
The doors opened wide as a flash of red tackled him into a hug.
There was actually nothing strange about this greeting. Flare Corona was just an overly friendly person. She was the daughter of the local minister who took to looking after the local town drunk. Today she wore high collar red top that matched with a faded, long denim skirt. Her toes were bare, and her hair was braided.
"Now this is unexpected. What brings you to these parts Laxus?"
"Come to see Ivan. By the way have you seen Sting?"
She frowned at him. As long as Mr. Dreyar had been living in the old pastorium with her father, Atlas Flame Corona, behind the church, none of his children had come to see him. The only reason that she knew Laxus is because his grandfather and her father had been close friends. Flare actually didn't live with her father anymore. Her and her brother, Obra, lived on the second floor of the church. When Obra went into the ministry and took over Atlas's position, they expanded the building to add three bedrooms to the second floor and a kitchen to the first. Atlas had always tried to limit Flare's interaction with Ivan, but she had never questioned why. Honestly, she had only seen Ivan Dreyar perhaps three times in the last six would cook for Atlas and Obra, then her dad would take a plate home for Ivan. Mostly the man kept to himself, and everyone in her family was happy to let him.
As for seeing Sting, Flare answered truthfully, "Haven't seen Sting since your grandfather died and was at the funeral to meet your cousin Lucy."
"Thanks. Am searching for him. If you see him, contact Love and Lucky. So where is my good for nothing father?"
"Why? Where has Sting gone? And Ivan should be sitting at home like he normally is, I guess. Haven't really talked to him lately. It would be better to ask Atlas when he answers the door."
Laxus nodded before turning.
"Sting left home."
"Well what in tarnation is he doing leaving home? And no he didn't come here."
"I kicked him out for being childish."
"You must be regretting your decision if you riding all over the place looking for him. Bet you feel like a jackass. But at least it shows you care."
Laxus raised an eyebrow at the words he would have thought better of a preacher's child using. Flare had the good grace to blush before murmuring "Never you mind that. Go around back. Do hope you stay for supper. Can cook up something real nice."
"Just make me something for the road. I won't be staying.
The cowboy walks to the house ready for a confrontation. His fist clench. It had been twenty years since he had saw his father. He had been nine when his grandfather had stomped the mess out of his father…
...Through waves of pain, he heard a deep gravelly voice cursing slightly. He could feel the whip on his back as he tried in vain to break the ropes that tied his hands around the fencepost. The smell of blood was almost overwhelming.
Suddenly the whip stopped. He heard yelling before a thud hit the ground. More groans sounded until the clap of gunfire caused the whole world to stop.
Then his mother, Anna, was running to him crying, working at untying the ropes.
Her sobs were not the only sounds audible. He flinched as he heard a high pitch squeal close by. He also heard another crying in the background, Sting. He was no more older than a toddler. The child didn't understand what was happening, just that everyone around him was scaring him.
"Laxus can you hear me?" A new voice asked. Laxus tried to nod. He must have did something because there was a sigh of relief.
Safe hands cradled him as his body gave away when the last rope fell.
One dark eye opened into a slit to see his grandfather holding him with surprising strength for such a small body. The other eye wasn't moving. All he could see was darkness. Actually he had been worried about that eye. His dad had hit him with a broken whisky bottle in the face.
Everything had started when Laxus saw Ivan beating his mom. He had tried to fight him with his two tiny fists. Even with a wounded face, the small boy had continue. His mom had ran away to get their grandfather, taking the baby with her. During that time, Ivan had taken Laxus outside and strapped him to a post before whipping him.
Makarov's voice made him realize he was losing consciousness. "I'm going to have to carry you to the house, boy. It's going to hurt like the dickens so man up and don't cry out. Grit your teeth."
Laxus swallowed hard. His back felt raw while his shirt was starting to stick to the lacerated skin.
The little man picked him up by swinging the boy to sit on one arm in order, and had Laxus's upper body over his shoulder in an effort to not touch Laxus's back.
"Old man, this is the last you interfere with my family."
The group turned to see Ivan pull a small pistol from his boot, aiming at Makarov.
"Nooooooo!"
At the last second, his mother jumped in front...
Laxus marched up the steps to the porch. Atlas must have heard him coming because he was waiting at the door.
"Ivan?"
"Yes."
"In the billiard room."
"Not any more" A voice said.
Laxus had notice the man in the background, but Atlas turned with a start.
"Damn it Ivan! Stop sneaking up on people. It's bad for my heart."
If the moment was not so serious, Laxus would have found it amusing that the preacher used the word "damn," in a sentence. Apparently, his father could make saints sin.
"What you doing here boy?" Ivan asked as he chugged from a small keg.
"Atlas don't let me have glass anymore for my drinks. Says they are a danger to me and those around me. Guess you should know. With that scar."
Laxus's eyes flash so violently in his face that Ivan swore he saw a dragon deep in his soul. The scar made a lightning shape scar down the side of his son's face from eyebrow to cheek. He had heard Laxus was partially blind. Ivan chuckled a bit before growing a bit sorrowful. Never did he regret beating Laxus. Actually he was glad he gave him that scar. The only thing he regretted from that day was killing his wife whom he had loved in his own way.
The moment was over and the blonde man sighed before walking into the room. Ivan cocked his head to the side as he drunk more alcohol trying to forget his wife's face that popped into his head. Anna Heartfilia had been blonde, distantly related to the royal family. She had been the perfect woman besides maybe her younger sister Layla who had been married off to some fortune hunter in Isghar.
"I need to know if you have talked to Sting?"
Even though both of his sons had their mother's coloring, only Sting actually looked like her. Probably why he liked the younger one better.
"You raising your brother right? Learn anything from me? Spare the rod spoil the child." He taunted his son. Ivan had the audaciously to stumble up to tap his body of whisky on Laxus's chest "See here boy. If you knew what was good for you, you would have taken more after me."
Laxus pushed Ivan back, who tripped over his feet, falling to the ground.
"Listen you. Stay away from me. You and your liquor. I have no need for no good, wife beaters that escape the death sentence because there are men in the west that think wives are property not people."
Ivan started tearing up, "Your mother was a mighty fine lady. Gave me two healthy, strong sons. She just couldn't handle how I raised you. Kept wanting to baby you. I miss her. She always kept me straight. Why she had to step in front of that old man is beyond me." Ivan tried to take another sip but the liquid missed his mouth and poured down his shirt. He almost sounded sorry.
Laxus shook his head as he raised his foot up to kick the man, "You need to stay down and sober up, old drunkard."
Atlas stopped him. "Violence is not the way. Why do you think Makarov wanted us to take Ivan in? Even he felt sorry for him."
"Gramps was a kind soul. More kind than me. "
Ivan crawled away to find place to sit, knowing Atlas and Laxus would not follow him. The alcohol he had consumed made his movements twisty and jagged before hitting the side of a coffee table.
"Well this was a wasted trip!"
Before Laxus could leave, Atlas grabbed his arm.
"All of us carry souvenir of that encounter, Laxus, some are just more hidden than others. Even though I wasn't there. I was affected as well. Don't you think I regretted marrying them. That Anna would be alive. " Atlas whispered.
"Some things are unforgivable. I will forgive him when his soul is in hell and his body has been eaten by dung beetles." Laxus brushed off the unwanted hand.
"Don't leave yet. Wasn't done talking to you."
"I was done talking to you."
"I am sorry we weren't more help, but I suggest you go to Sabertooth. My congregation has been talking. They are building the city up, it might be a bit of a travel, but it's the easiest to get a job. And I know if I was wanting to leave the area, it would be the first place I would go. Before you leave. Let me do a reading for you."
Atlas opened his bible before reading, "There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who sows seeds of discord between brothers."
"What does that mean?"
"Not sure but it does sound rather ominous. I say watch out on your travels."
Ivan Dreyar was the first demon, with haughty eyes standing high above his sins.
Two hours later, Laxus arrived just enough time to see his horse to a stall in the Sabertooth blacksmith's barn before the bottom of the sky fell out.
Somehow through the thick rain, he found the saloon. The rain had not let up yet. He decided to take shelter on the porch not wanting to track his wet boots inside or drink any of their product.
He heard the laughter of the men playing cards and the piano playing. Thank goodness there was no showgirl performance. Bars that had them tend to attract trouble with a capital "T."
He inhaled deeply, the stench of tobacco and liquor.
A girl in a white, trimmed in feathers like an angel came up to him. She pushed open the small louvered doors.
"Hey stranger, need anything? Couldn't help notice you standing out here. Not coming inside?"
She reminded him a bit of Mira with her long white hair and working in a bad but this girl had cat eyes that while weren't unfriendly, were definitely not trusty.
"Just here for a second til the rain lets up. Don't drink alcohol. However if you got a sarsaparilla, wouldn't mind a cup. Or coffee."
"Root beer? Haven't drunk one of those since I was a child." She laughed. "Not a heavy drinker?"
"Sometimes just not when I need to keep my head straight. And definitely not after what I have had to go through."
"Hard times? That's the best time to drink. Why don't you come inside?"
""Nah just traveling. Will leave when the rain stops. I'm ok standing here til then."
"Aren't you lonely? Wouldn't you prefer going inside for some good company?"
Laxus was weary of the endless talk, growing suspicious.
The girl grabbed his arm. "You sound like fun company though. And here I was lonely. What's your name?"
"Laxus." She smiled as she tested it out. Apparently liking it, she smiled before introducing herself, "My name's Sorano. The girl at the bar is my sister, Yukino. We own this place."
Laxus looked at the saloon's name: Heaven's wings.
First a preacher and now an angel. Maybe it is a sign, though the cowboy. So he decided to talk to her. Only sipping some water. The weather never let up so Sorano gave him directions to a bed and breakfast down the street. A group of three drunk men rounded on him we when he tried to leave.
"We heard you talking to the boss's woman."
"Listen I did nothing to her. We just talked. Now if you gentlemen will calmly get out of my way."
"We don't like you talking, all respectable.."
"Bet an old man like you can't take us all."
"Just because the three of you share one chest hair, doesn't mean you can call me old."
Sorano watched the stranger beat the men up.
"Yukino! I think he could be the one."
The second demon's lips were as beautiful as her lies.
He found her later that night in his bed.
Sorano surprised the rancher by coming sliding under the covers around midnight.
"What are you doing?"
"Comforting you."
She smashed her lips against him.
Sadly, Laxus was not hypnotized by her. He jerked her away. She smiled seductively, rubbing an a leg over his side.
"Don't be like that. You are a fine looking specimen of manhood."
Pounding on the door interrupted their "talk."
"It's my husband."
"You're married?!"
"But we have been off and on." She hugged herself allowing a few tears to fall. "He tries to take money from my saloon and beats me."
Laxus cocked his head to the side wondering if she was being truthful. He didn't want to be involved, but he couldn't stand wife beaters.
"Yesh! How do I get mixed up with this?"
"Angel!" The name yelled from outside.
"I thought your name was Sorano."
"Angel is my nickname on account of the saloon's name."
"Why don't you jump out the window?" Laxus asked seriously. His skin tingled making his hairs stand on ends. He only got a feeling like that when something bad would happen.
The girl didn't have a chance to reply. The door was kicked down. Sorano screeched as three men burst into the small room being led by her husband Dan.
"Listen this has been a big misunderstanding. Not looking for a fight."
Sorano was yanked from the bed.
"Hey now" Laxus said. Guns were drawn toward him.
Dan slapped Sorano, "You filthy whore going behind my back. You'll get punished but go to your bar now."
She ran off.
"As for you."
"Why don't you come hit me and see if I act the same way. Or are you such a pussy that you can only hit women?"
"You!"
Laxus was itching for a confrontations. He needed to alleviate stress, the men just needed to put away their guns.
He started to fight, but it was interrupted by the sound of gunfire. Sorano reenter the room.
"Get away from him." She yelled. Standing beside Laxus she held a gun to the other men.
"You ok?"
"Yea. I was actually having a bit of fun."
"We can have that." Next Laxus found himself getting hit in the temple by her gun before falling out.
The next morning he woke up surrounded by dead bodies and the gun in his hand. Then he came to learn that the room he was given was Sorano's room at the hotel.
Dan Straight and his murderous wife were the third demons.
Laxus trial was speedy.
Sorano hired some bigwig, eastern lawyer from the capital name Caprico to steamroll the defendant. Lucy tried to afford a good lawyer but there were just not a dozen lawyers in the west and even less that would actually take defending in an open and shut murder trial.
The widow of the man that was killed was led into the courtroom when the verdict were called. She slumped before her shoulders as people offered her a comforting hand when she passed by. She sat beside her sister as the head juror stood.
"Laxus Dreyar found guilty of three accounts of manslaughter."
The Sabertooth townspeople whooped and hollered with joy. Elfman held on to Mira and Lucy who seem to be in shock. A few of their workers sat behind them taking up at least two whole pews.
Tears spilled out from Sorano's eyes as she smiled not from relief but that she was free.
"Don't worry Miss Angel, today justice done for you and your sister." The man said, trying to comfort the crying woman. The local sheriff who was her friend also leaned forward from the chair behind her. Her hands hid her joy as the lawyer reached around her shoulders, pulling her closer, away from the sheriff.
"It's like never in my life had someone cared for us. We have always just been misused by men. My husband was a hard man, but I loved him. Then this man came into town, and took Dan away from me."
"It will be ok Ms. Straight. Shh! Don't talk."
Laxus stared at them as he was led away. He wanted to yell at the court to look at her. He wanted to say, "Look at the lawmen. Look at how they are reacting to her. She's working them, the same way she worked you!"
Both men were almost unconsciously trying to get closer to her.
Before leaving, Sorano stood up stretching out like a languorous Persian cat with a small glance toward Laxus. He tripped over his feet at her smug grin.
"Move it!" One of the deputies said.
Squaring his shoulders with his face set straight ahead, Laxus didn't look back.
The fourth demon had a heart filled with corruption and easily manipulated.
The night after the trial, before being shipped off, Mira tried to visit him. The sheriff being blackmailed by Laxus for his secret relationship with Sorano Straight allowed her to see him one last time.
Not much talking was actually done.
"I will wait for you to get out." She promised resting a head on top of his shoulder. The both gazed at the ceiling. Their clothes thrown in disarray around the cell.
"Already miss you." A single tear ran down her right cheek.
"Hey don't cry. I will be out before you know it." He kissed her forehead. She reached out into the air. "I wish we could see the outside. It's so dank and dark in here."
He reached out to entwine his fingers with her. "I see you. That's enough to satisfy me."
Then he was gone, leaving an empty void in Love and Lucky.
At some point in the penitentiary, he made a friend, Jellal Fernandez. He was quiet man who mostly kept to himself. Laxus like his distant attitude and felt a kindred spirit. Strangely, the man became one of his favorite people. The girls ended up visiting Laxus often, bringing presents to both him and Jellal. The state of the ranch was going south so in five months, the visits became very sparse.
Mira and Elfman were the last to visit… It was an eventful meeting.
That day she was the prettiest thing he had seen in weeks when she stepped through the door of the cafeteria. She had been right about her brother getting big.
"Whoa there Elfman. When did you eat a beanstalk and venture to giant world? You look huge."
Mira's bottom lip pouted since Laxus spoke to her brother first.
"I know this is what a real man does!" He flexed his arms.
Mira growled, "Elf…."
"Yes ma'am." Then Elfman sunk into a chair.
Laxus raised an eyebrow. Mira was very serious, which was strangely not like her.
"Uh remember that wild night in the jail house…?"
She took off her jacket.
"Holy mother of …."
Everything happened in slow motion.
Where her tiny waist should have been was a large round bump.
"Wait?! What?! You're pregnant."
"Surprise."
Quickly run from the fifth demon, for he is a quick judge and evil soon follows.
Prison life was hard enough without worrying about a baby on the way.
His stress level was not helped by the fact that his home was slowly falling apart.
After Laxus got the news about Mira's pregnancy, Lucy sent a letter about a month later that Phantom S was trying to buy out Love and Lucky. He knew the owner Eric, "The Cobra," Belserion and was surprised at the aggressive stance his neighbor was taking. They were friends. Lucy explained that Cobra's sister had moved to the area recently and had tried buying up all the surrounding farm and cattle lands.
More time passed, he heard that most of the workers had been scared off. Lucy was having trouble on running the ranch having no prior experience. He worried a foreman or a random stranger would take advantage of her even though she had Mira and Elfman. A new girl had moved into the house, Levy. The local librarian was there to help Mira with house work and the pregnancy when it came.
When his friend Jellal had been released, he sent him to his home.
"Please look after my family."
He made Jellal swear to go to his house and help his family until he was out. Strangely, even though he met Jellal in the prison, he trusted him. It worked out because the ex gang member had no place to go on the outside.
He missed Mira, wanting to her grow fat and round.
Constantly he tried to find ways to get his sentence reduced, he wanted to see his child grow up. So most days Laxus was in a mood.
And there was this pain in the ass that kept popping up out of nowhere.
"Hey lightening bastard!"
Laxus growled a response. When Jellal left, a new person arrived at the prison who immediately got under Laxus's skin.
Gajeel Redfox, loud as he was annoying. His long mane of black hair probably had stuff growing in it. It seemed as if it hadn't been washed in a week. His red eyes were also a bit spooky. Instead of being the typical Alvarez brown, he had a glowing almost red around his pupils.
And Laxus could have sworn his eyes were slitted.
"What the hell do you want?" Laxus asked the dark hair man. He slapped him on the back. The force must have dislodged something inside because a Laxus became possessed by a fit of coughs.
Ever since Gajeel had entered the prison, he had been talking big how his cousin was going to get him acquitted because of some prejudice against Native Alvarezians...
Gajeel asked, "What you in for?"
"I made a bargain with the devil and lost."
Gajeel was quiet for two seconds before bursting out laughing. Slapping this knee, he said, "Sure. What really you in for? My cousin might can help you if it's nothing too seriously?"
"Your cousin thinks he can help me do what?"
Cough, cough.
"Man, you don't look so good. You getting sick?"
"I'll be." Laxus swallowed thickly, "fine."
"Listen. My cousin can get us out of here. He's some big shot in the House of Lords. Pulling a full strings and get us acquitted."
"I was set up to look like I murdered three men, but it was that woman Angel."
"That sounds serious, but you had pleaded self defense instead of innocence, maybe we could get the verdict changed. If anyone could, I know he could do it."
Laxus started coughing again. "Anything. I just want to get out. Why would he do it for me? Cuz I don't know him from Adam."
"I mentioned you to him and he was very interested."
"What's his name?"
"Acnologia."
The sixth demon creates chaos, yet he is not the worst. A seventh still remains.
Next chapter: Stories under the Stars