AN: This chapter was hard for me to write. The flow was awkward for me. And I feel like something is missing. Maybe because it was more from Laxus's POV? I am not sure. There is also a bit more profanity than normal because of the high tension.
Chapter 23: Standoff at Phantom S
Three men galloped hell-bent into Irene's territory. Their ragged horses were lathered in sweat. Even though horses are built to travel great distances, normally horses can only run at full speed for a couple of miles before growing fatigued. The men hardly paid attention to their mounts. They kept a watchful eye on the swiftly passing scenery, darting to every nook and cranny just in case there was evidence of Lucy or Levy being taken down the same route.
About three miles from the Love and Lucky, they abruptly halted under Jellal's raised fist.
"We need to move more carefully from here on out," the blue haired man acknowledged with an intense glance to the surroundings. "Our group is at a disadvantage entering the ranch from this direction. They will see us coming as soon as we exit the tree line, but we are also running out horses in the ground. They might kill over at any second." To demonstrate his point, one of the horses started foaming at the mouth.
Laxus pulled his horse closer to Jellal with every intention of arguing when a hacking fit hit him. He covered his mouth, embarrassed that he was in just as bad of shape as the animals. Bloody phlegm escaped his open mouth into his palm. Sting quickly tore his bandana off, offering it to his brother, who muttered his gratitude before dissolving into more coughs. Sting and Jellal focused away awkwardly until the lung convulsions died.
"Hey are you alright?"
The blonde man did not reply as he stared hard at the red spot staining the cloth, silently cursing everything under the sun. Just gasping in the hot, dry air caused his lungs to swell. His breath labored and irregular from the ride. He took a second to inhale slowly. The need to cough rose in him, but he buried it down. His body could pay him back in full later for overexerting himself. Tying the bloody, dirty cloth around his neck, Laxus declared, "I'm going to scout ahead. You follow more slowly."
His brown eyes met Sting's questioning blue ones. Eyes that asked why he was here. Laxus's grip on the reigns tightened. There was no way in hell Laxus would let his brother see him as some puny, frail old decrepit. It wasn't Sting's responsibility to rescue the girls.
It was his.
He dug his spurs into the horses flank, but before the animal could move Jellal stopped him.
"I am not sure if you going alone is a good idea."
Worry laced his words, causing a rusty blade to turn somewhere in Laxus's stomach. He ignored the feeling, instead affirming his decision with a sharp, "I'll be fine."
"Yea, are you sure you aren't being a stubborn ass?" Sting's words were ignored as horse and rider zipped ahead.
Laxus rode as fast as his tired steed could manage. At this point, he felt as if he was more running away from Jellal and Sting then racing toward Phantom S. A part of Laxus had withered from the looks the two men had given him when he started coughing. How could he face his family knowing that they saw him as a burden? He had to escape the condescending atmosphere between them even if they didn't really think that and most of it stemmed from his overactive imagination.
The woods on either side of his path became less thick, the trees were now younger even if the brush and shrubs became denser underfoot. He tried to keep his trail obvious to the two following him. So far he had not met anybody. The path seemed void of human travel. Maybe they wouldn't meet anyone before reaching the ranch?
He finally stopped at the base of a hill, concealed by plants from anyone watching but God. Reaching into his back pocket he pulled a small flask of laudanum, a concoction of opium and alcohol. Mira didn't like him taking it, and nobody else knew he took it. That's why he stayed cooped up in his room.
It wasn't just the tuberculosis eating away at him.
He hadn't meant to get addicted to taking it. Atlas Flame meant well when he brought the elixir to the house after buying it from a traveling medicine show. With Lucy and Levy gone, his family needed him more than ever. And Laxus felt the only way for him to be that way was to have help. Of course, the high made him feel invincible, and he needed a bit of that liquid courage to get his shaky hands through the next few hours.
From Laxus's mind the morning was becoming treacherously hot – and bright. Although his increased sensitivity might be because of the drugs entering his bloodstream. Instead of moving to the shade like a sane person when his body protested the hot sun roasting his skin, he wanted to wait for his compadres in the open. Mira always said he could teach a jackass how to be stubborn, and his newly developed sunburn was just going to prove her right with his refusal hide behind a bunch of leaves.
On the other hand, it was kind of beneficial to be so sensitive to everything. Even as he concentrated on his environment while waiting for his friends, his quick ears caught the sounds they were making. The pair were still some distance behind, and Sting's loud mouth was started to chaft Laxus's nerves.
"Doesn't Jellal at least know how to keep him quiet?" He rubbed his head as he sighed the question. His brother was going to be the death of him one day.
Shaking his head slightly, he thought about whether or not he should head closer to Phantom S when his hearing picked up new sounds coming from the opposite direction. Laxus wasn't the least bit surprised when two Phantom S workers rode into view. Irene probably had men camping in the woods, ready to pounce on innocent, unsuspecting travelers. And stupidity attracted stupidity, Sting was practically screaming, "I'm here bitches! Come get us!"
In an attempt to hide his identity, Laxus pulled his bloody bandana over his nose. His cowboy hat was already riding low on his forehead. He was pretty sure he had not met the two before even though the greenhaired one with tribal tattoos was itchingly familiar. The other was blonde with a flamboyant feathered hat that honestly was much too citified for country life. Praying that they would not notice his lightening scar he greeted the pair with a whimsical "Howdy folks."
The two newcomers shifted suspiciously as they blocked his path. The larger one tried to be threatening by showing his muscles. Somehow Laxus managed not to roll his eyes.
"Turn back friend. This is private property."
"Doesn't look so private with a couple of drifters wandering in and out."
"Your voice sounds familiar. Why don't you uncover your face so we can see what we are talking to."
Laxus ignored the bait until the green-haired drove his horse closer to Nichiya's side.
"Look a'here Rufus. I believe we have a Dreyar lose in Belserion land." The man laughed while hatred grew in the other man's face.
He spit toward Laxus,"Filthy Love and Lucky trash!"
"Oh so that saves us introductions." Laxus grinned under the banadana. Looks like he was about to have some fun at the other two's expense. "Why don't you move aside ass wipes before I make you kiss the dirt."
"Dreyar shit. You don't have balls to kill us yourself? You too weak to shoot us."
The blonde man cocked his head to Sting and Jellal, "Will draw their guns faster than you can grasp your own."
"We aren't going to let you on this land. Even if you kill us, the entire community will be here within minutes. The lure of the gunfire will cause Irene to rain hell down on you. So instead of causing commotion, go back home to banging that whorish wife of yours." Orga smirked. "I would like a piece of..."
Two seconds is all it took for Laxus to punch the large man off his horse while simultaneously drawing his gun on the other. "I dare you to move." Laxus said, his focus on the man rolling on the ground while his gun remained pointed at the second.
The man still on his horse gulped.
"You broke my nose, you little shit!" Orga screamed. The dirt turning a nasty brownish-red color. A free hand grasped his gun but before he could pull the weapon out, Laxus had his own gun pointed at Orga's temple. The gun clicked. "Please. I'm begging you to give me a reason to squeeze this trigger." Murder gleamed in the lightening bastard's face and Orga swore he was looking up at a monster.
Sting's eyes narrowed dangerously before he road next to Rufus. Pulling his own gun, he smashed it right in the cheek of blonde cowboy, "You better go warn mommy that she is expecting company. Now get!"
The cowboy fled in terror. Seeing his friend leave, Orga held up his gun in surrender. His face steal leaking blood. Laxus didn't move. He kept his gun trained on Orga.
Orga began to sweat.
"I give up."
The blonde man's lightening scar twitched as he fought need to shoot the man.
Jellal told Laxus to stand down, but he refused. The drugs interfering with his judgment.
Sting called out to his brother, "Laxus?"
Approaching the man slowly, Jellal was finally able to get his attention. He pointed to the guy on the ground, "Immobilize him will be good enough punishment. Death is far too good for the likes of him."
Everyone sighed in relief when Laxus cracked his gun to the side of the guy's face.
"Well that solves our problem. " Sting chuckled nervously as they left. He wasn't sure what had happened.
"What are we going to do now?"
"Depending on how they let us enter... If they let us enter. We need to searching for an escape route. That means we need to find cover if they start shooting. Or something to dodge behind. When we enter, you and I will hang back behind Laxus."
"And leave Laxus out in the open?" Sting quized incredulously.
"Nah. My plan is to get close to Irene or Erza." Jellal stated. "I'm going to circle around him while you find us some cover."
"And?"
"I'm going to take one of them hostage if the situation goes south."
"Ohhhh! Wait. Who the fuck would want to take one of them hostage? It's like... Better to chop your balls off now than the pain they will bring to you. Those women are more terrifying then anything else."
"You two shut it." Laxus commanded as the forest gave way to a flat land and to the high walls of the fortified ranch-town.
The Belserion ranch was not like any "ranch" known to man. Instead it seemed to be a high wall castle of brick and wood set in a oasis of green. The high brick walls weren't very high,, just a little over man's heighth but Laxus was not surprised to they were lined with gunman watching them as the three headed to the iron ggates at the arched entrance.
The gates weren't closed so the group did not stop from riding inside where Cobra was waiting for them. He held a buckskin water pouch in his hand. Laxus dismounted. Leading the animal to stand next to his old friend, he greeted "Eric" with a nod.
Cobra nodded back, not making a move to shake hands. He finally stated, "Laxus."
"You punk." Laxus said in a netural tone.
"Asshole." Cobra folded his arms before sipping his water. Liquid rand down the corners of his mouth, trailing down his neck before he used the back of his hand to wipe his face. "Can I help you?"
"We need to speak to your Ma."
"Why?"
"Cuz she took something of ours."
"What did she take?"
Before Laxus could reply, Jellal dismounted as well, "You can hear it the same time she does. Not before."
"It don't make no never mind to me." Cobra closed his brown eyes a second before shrugging. Granted, he was a little ticked to be ordered around, but he had grown up with Laxus and Sting. And he knew Jellal from his past. Of course, he would never choose them over his family, but the ranch had been boring lately. He might as well piss his mom off. "She's probably waiting at the house by now. The dude you scared alerted the whole community with his infernal yelling. Lucky for you, Erza isn't here to welcome you. She's in the field with Alzacks and Biscao. So follow me. The layout has changed since you last came. "
"Love the new walls, by the way." Sting replied, resting his hands in a nonthreatening way as they moved slowly to the one story ranch. Instead of building up with multiple floors, they had opted for a long building spread in an "L" shape. "It gives this place such a warm, fuzzy feeling. Makes everyone seem welcoming and oh so loveable."
"Yea. Irene's idea. Guess she thinks an army will attack us one day."
"Aww did she make the army mad too?" Sting tongue-in-cheek replied.
Jellal bopped his head while Cobra snorted. "Don't doubt it for a minute. My mother could anger a saint."
There was a lot of activity going on inside the walls, which was not surprising given the fact that the ranch had doubled since Love's fall. Two men were breaking a horse in a fence in area next to the barn. Another group seared the ranch's symbol on what looked to be newly bought foleys. Servants lined the vegetable garden picking while children chased a dog around the clothes line.
As the group passed, the laughter, talking, and work died around them as people turned to stare. Closer to the main house, Laxus noticed the hired hands had their guns out. A couple sported rifles. In his prime, he would have laughed at the odds, knowing he could take most of them out before one could even shoot a decent shot. He suppose that Jellal and Sting could take most of them now. He was the one most likely to take a bullet before them.
On the steps of her porch, Irene Belserion was waiting for them in a tight, dark number that barely covered her chest. Her two scarlet braids could have covered her breasts but they were slung back over her shoulders. A red sash was tied on her hip while a rose brooch sat on her bosom.
Holding her gaze, Laxus bowed, "Irene, your blouse is looking extra scandalous today?"
Blinking rapidly at her cleavage before grinning widely, Irene floused "Oh do you like it Laxus? I didn't know I would have more company or I would have worn something special."
Cobra sighed uncomfortably, already knowing where this conversation was going.
Jellal sensed the building storm and deflected the tension by clearing his throat. Getting everyone's attention he nonchalantly pointed out how public the group was.
"Maybe we should move this meeting inside?"
"Sure thing handsome," Irene's wink had Jellal rolling his eyes heavenward.
Following the lady, Laxus handed his horse to Sting. "Sting stay here."
"What?" His brother gave him an icy stare.
"You'll just get in the way."
Fury danced in Sting's face but before he could open his lips, Jellal tapped his shoulder. Leaning he whispered, "Remember the plan."
"Right. Gotcha."
The the three entere the house with Sting leaning on the fence. He would have fought to go in but they were in enemy territory. It would not be good to show discord among the family. Makarov had taught him that through his handling of Ivan. And that was something Jellal planned to use against Irene. It was no secret that Irene, Erza, and Cobra weren't exactly the closest family members.
Erza, Alzacks, and Bisca arrived, "What seems to be the problem here?" Erza demanded, slapping her hat against Bisca's outstretched arms. She flipped her hair, approaching Sting. He normally thought of that as a seductive gesture for a woman, but when she did it, he actually felt harassed like she was preparing to look good when she kicked his ass.
"Uh. My brother and Jellal are meeting with Irene. Family business." Sting puffed his chest making Bisca role her eyes. Erza pushed him out of the way before marching into her house.
Sting sneered at the couple, remembering their last encounter when the pair had chased him, Natsu, and Elfman from fixing the fence. He was iching for a rematch. Of course, he wouldn't hurt Bisca, she was hot, but Alzacks definetly needed to be shown who was head gunman around these parts.
"Erza didn't want to mess with me. That's why she ran into the house."
Bisca cheekily replied, "We saw how you made Erza your bitch just now. You were praying. Please God. Don't let her kick my ass."
Dang! How did she know?
"You two... I will take you here and now." Sting lifted his fists.
"Hot shot," Alzacks punched Sting's face, "you are on."
Next Chapter: Labor Pains
AN: It was also hard for me to name the next chapter but just know stuff is about to go down with Phantom S, Mira's baby, and Lucy's kidnapping. This chapter initially was connected to next chapter but then that would have made a super huge chapter. And I just could not write the whole thing this week. Don't have much time to talk. Hope there wasn't too many mistakes. I didn't have time to go over it like normal or get someone to beta. Peace and Love!
I'm also going to add a short story at some point about what really happened with the girls at Mira's party a few chapters ago. I had most of it written but threw it out to proceed with Miraxus backstory. Therefore, we will get to see some fun with all this drama happening.
As always thanks to my reviewers: Masakatskie - Queenie - FairyLover01 - JC - sarara1.8 - HammyJessa - ThayetJade - Guest - Juvia is my spirit animal -SheWhoShips - JadeDragonXx - Rachel Maddison - SingingAngel327 - 4everDorky17 - Lodemai04 - NaLuFTFanatic