Day 1: antidisestablishmentarianism (noun) - opposition to the withdrawal of state support or recognition from an established church, especially the Anglican Church in 19th-century England.
Gajeel sat there at his desk staring at the piece of paper. There was no way he couldn't have known this was coming. But, the fact, that it came so damn soon was bad, very bad. It gave him little to no time to do what he needed to. Lifting his eyes up to look at his longtime friend and partner who helped him set up this place. They'd both been orphans and been given over to the Church as their parents were devout members. Thus being in the church-run, state-funded, orphanage.
Their lives had been good. And the Priest and Nuns had been nothing but good to him, Pantherlily and all the other children. Of which, there was a ton. At some point, he'd sunk to the depth of depravity in Humanity. Almost losing his best friend before he had been pulled back from the edge of oblivion and turned his life around. Almost dying of blood loss mixed with an overdose of Angel Dust infused Heroine. It led to loads of rehab for the drugs and physical therapy to walk again.
"It finally came, huh?" Lily asked.
Slowly he nodded his head and dropped the paper onto the 16th-century oak desk. Running his hands down his face, then through his long, shaggy black hair, Gajeel kept himself from screaming in frustration.
"I... We have a month at the most to relocate all the kids to 'group' homes, or find someone who will fund our orphanage," he growled as he closed his red eyes.
The soft hum from Lily was all he needed to hear. There was little time and over eighty kids. And the Church itself was not big, old, not big. The congregation over the years had dwindled. Not many people wanted to adopt children that were older than two years of age, or if he could push it three. Everyone wanted a baby, brand new. High demand. As if they were a hot commodity. It sickened him. The kids were the future of their society. No matter the damn age.
"Well, want me to make some calls? Prepare just in case to rehome them?" Lily asked.
Groaning as he fought back the tears that were suddenly burning under his eyelids. Then Gajeel nodded his head, yes, their safety and security was his first priority.