Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters; that right belongs to Hiro Mashima.
Lahar's P.O.V.
Not sure how he had been put on the detail, though suspecting it had to do with his partner. Lahar glared at the people trying to quell their over-enthusiasm. Apparently, the guard duty they'd been assigned was for a good know and popular cosplaying Idle group from Japan.
Personally, Lahar didn't understand the craze over what was cartoons imported from a foreign country. Or why there was a convention for these people. Who enjoyed it. Doranbolt had tried time and time again to get him interested in the silly little shows. As well as a particular female child one that was classified as a magical girl.
He had given it a chance and found it utterly preposterous. Hell to him Harry Potter made a lot more sense. Even with its religious undertones. But seeing a prepubescent girl shifting into a 'uniform' that would 'mask' her normal identity. Add-on the fact that her magic was given to her by some small talking furry animal. Lahar had excused himself by the third episode of the series. Which he recalled was Fancy Lala. Claiming he could feel his brain cells imploding as he got a massive headache.
Now he was here, not by choice, at a convention full of people that adored that ridiculous stuff, standing guard for a group that apparently dressed as such characters and sang the music. Shooting a glare to Doranbolt as a hush suddenly fell over the assembled crowd. With a deep breath, Lahar started to relax as the most serendipitous thing happened. A voice (He was sure was from his past) rang out clear as a bell, sounding like a breezy spring afternoon, spoke. Going still as his mind told him he wasn't mishearing, that it was a voice he thought he would never hear again.
Doing his level best to not spin around and confirm visually, to see if he wasn't losing his mind in the insanity from the place itself. Lahar coughed a bit like a brief flash of gold was caught in his peripheral vision. Swallowing reflexively, eyes trained forward, feeling as his heart rate picked up as if it was trying to its way out of his chest. All while his rational and logical mind telling him that it was not possible. The probability of it actually belongs to that particular person was one in a couple of billions.
So deciding to zone out and focus on his job, Lahar jumped at the feel of a hand on his shoulder shaking him. Snapping his head around hard enough to give himself whiplash, he looked at Doranbolt, who was staring at him in concern.
"Hey man, you okay? It took me almost a minute to get your attention."
Nodding his head once, Lahar lifted a hand to adjust his glasses, while shrugging Doranbolt's hand from his shoulder.
"Okay. If you say so. But we have to go and meet our wards now."
Again, Lahar nodded his head before following Doranbolt. Barely listening to his incessant chatter about the idol group. He just wanted to focus on his job for the three days then go back about his life. The whole purpose of this detail was guarding a group of women, not hard at all. Not learning all about the girls, even if one did stir memories of his youth here in Seattle on Capitol Hill.
The walk through the convention center's back paths was brief since there were only the convention staff and a few of those that belonged to the center, minus the elevator ride. Before coming out on the 8th floor where all performers were to be housed during this 3-day event. Slowing down to a halt outside the door, Lahar could hear several female voices chattering away inside in Japanese. Doranbolt wasted no time in knocking on the door loudly to announce their arrival.
It was only a few seconds before the door was opened, revealing a petite woman with light purple hair, red-framed glasses and a frown on her face as she looked them over. Lahar noted just how quickly Doranbolt explained in short but precise detail who they were. This had them ushered into the room swiftly, where Lahar saw a chaotic scene that laid before him of clothes, accessories, wigs, and props.
"LADIES! Attention, please. These two are the guards being assigned to us from the Seattle Police Department for the duration of our stay here at the convention."
The quiet that instantly fell was impressive. The woman or rather their manager earned some respect points from him. To be able to command such results spoke of her abilities in her position.
"Now for introductions Ladies. This is Lieutenant Mest Doranbolt and Captain Zieger."
As they were each announced, both stepped forward and gave a small nod of their heads. Doranbolt actually saying hello. While Lahar, himself, choose to remain silent.
"Now for us. I am their manager, Laki Olette. The small blue haired girl over there by the mirror is Wendy Marvel."
The small petite woman, almost delicate in appearance stepped forwards and bowed politely.
"Next is Erza Scarlet."
A tall, rather buxom redhead with a defiant look on her face gave a curt nod of her head.
"Next is Cana Alberona."
The leer Lahar saw on her face, made him feel ill to his stomach. His mind instantly placing her as the group's troublemaker and would be difficult. As her brown eyes kept him pinned with a look that said 'Fresh Meat' as she lifted a bottle of whiskey to her lips.
"Miss Alberone, behave yourself, please. Now back to our introductions, another blue haired woman is Levy McGarden."
Shifting his eyes to look at the other tiny woman in the room, whose eyes went wide as she met his gaze, as she looked over her shoulders at him. Curious to her reaction as she swiftly looked away. His mind finding her last name familiar for some reason.
A small sigh came from Laki at it all. Telling him Lahar just how tired the woman was.
"Last but not least, the lead singer of Fairy Tail, Lucy Heartfilia."
Blinking his eyes slowly at the name, as his eyes landed on the final remaining girl in the group. Seeing golden hair framing a pale heart-shaped face with large mocha brown eyes that were almost impossibly wide. Eyes that were boring into him in shock as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing. All while his past was coming to life once more. A feeling he was not used to having at the current moment.
Earlier his ears had to play tricks, now his eyes were. His usually stoic face breaking into a delighted but polite smile. Watching as the blond uncurled herself from the pillow and chair she was occupying, to stand. Revealing a curvaceous (One he didn't remember) body in a barely there outfit from an anime he recalled (Due to the posters on Doranbolts bedroom wall) was named 'Hundred'.
Not sure what to say or do or even how to react as she made her way towards him. The room was painfully quiet. Only to stiffen when she stopped inches from him. Those warm brown eyes just staring up at him in disbelief before he realized she was suddenly hugging him.
"Lahar, it really is you."
Flushing darkly at the feel of her barely clad body, Lahar looked all around the room at the other women. Then to his partner (who was trying to appear very innocent) before back to the blond hugging him. Letting the breath he had been holding out, Lahar wrapped his arms around her in return. Savoring the soft warmth that had always come from her hugs.
With a small shake of his head, Lahar sighed.
"Yes, Lucy Heartfilia, it is me. And welcome home. Seattle has been gray without your sunny disposition."
The soft sob he got from Lucy at his words, let him know she was just as happy as he was at seeing each other again. And he knew at that moment as they made a scene. But as the did an odd thought occurred to Lahar (not that he would ever admit it aloud to anyone). That if he could see Lucy in Cosplay like this for the next 3 days, he might actually start to like Anime.
~~ The End! ~~
A/N 2: Okay, I had a few ideas for this. The original one was of Lahar being a closet otaku and Lucy finding out. But just...NO... and I mean NO matter how I tried to work that idea it wouldn't take. A fetish, a kink or oddity yes, but him being a straight up Otaku. Yeah, Lahar is a lot of things, but that is not in his list of it. I hope you all enjoyed it.