CHAPTER 6

AT THE GUILD

Levy returns to the hall and plunks down on the chair beside Gajeel. Heaving out an exasperated sigh, she rests her elbows on the table and drops her forehead into her palm. She still couldn't believe what Cana had said to her, apart from the shocking revelation about her being in love with Laxus. Remembering the girl's confession about not regretting her selfish act brings out new waves of anger rising within her. Cana had hurt Lucy intentionally. Levy didn't know if she could ever forgive the girl if it had been her who she betrayed. She felt another surge of rage as she imagines herself being in Lucy's shoes; Cana trying to take her grumpy, sturdy dragon slayer away from her. The feeling of her heart clenching in pain just by the imagination has her pondering over with worry, wondering how Lucy was taking it all since she had faced the nightmare for real.

A few seconds later, from the corner of her eyes, she sees Bacchus hurriedly walking out the guild with Cana running after him. Thankfully, the guild was too busy to notice the unusual sight. Levy then lets out a groan in annoyance and lifts her head to see Gajeel gaping at her with raised eyebrows.

She narrows her eyes at him in realization and frowns. "Were you eavesdropping?"

Not wanting to get hit in the face by her thick book or her small purse which may magically appear, Gajeel lifts his hands in defense. "It's not my fault I have sensitive hearing."

Levi sighs and waves it off, "Just don't mention it to anyone." She simply states, knowing Gajeel wasn't one to gossip anyway. She then leans towards the guy and mutters, "Have you seen Laxus?"

Gajeel grunts, "He came in early this morning. I think he went on a mission with his team. I saw Freed signing off a request from the she-demon."

Nodding, Levy opens her book and flips through the pages absent-mindedly, wondering what the guy was up to. She just hopes Laxus won't go searching for Lucy and make things worse for the girl.


OUTSKIRTS OF MAGNOLIA

It has been several hours since the Raijinshuu left the guild. The group was already on the outskirts of Magnolia and the entire way, Laxus haven't uttered a single word. Evergreen, along with Bickslow, wordlessly follow their leader, letting Freed do the talking. The fairy mage was barely holding onto her patience but when the Rune mage's questions went unacknowledged yet again, Evergreen decides she has had enough of the brooding atmosphere. She was beginning to feel as though they were talking to a brick wall.

Evergreen stops dead in her tracks and folds her arms below her chest. "So help me God, if you don't talk to us and tell us what's going on, I won't take any step further, Laxus!" She firmly states, catching Laxus' attention. Freed and Bickslow stares at the girl like she had grown a third head.

The lightning dragon slayer, however, simply pauses for a moment before he starts walking ahead again.

"Laxus. . . This is about Lucy, isn't it?" Evergreen's statement brings Laxus to a standstill, confirming the girl's concerning doubts.

Seeing that she has finally gained his full attention, she continues. "You may think you've got us fooled but we're not stupid. We always knew about your relationship with Lucy."

"H-How?" Laxus turns around to face his team.

"You and Lucy are not very good at sneaking around, Laxus!" Freed says with a small apologetic smile.

"Laxus!" Gaining the confidence, Bickslow speaks next with a serious look. Quite an unusual sight even for Laxus, seeing as the Seith mage is always fooling around with his tattooed tongue dangling. "Would you please tell us what's bothering you? Don't you trust us?"

Three pairs of concerned eyes pins him in his spot and Laxus feels all his energy drain. All the frustration and the guilt inside eating him away and he knows if he doesn't let it all out, he might combust.

Letting out a dejected sigh, Laxus settles down on a fallen tree trunk. His team follows suit and patiently waits for their leader to speak.

What has his life come to? Laxus rubs his face in aggravation. Deciding to get it over with quickly, he speaks. "I cheated on her. And she found out." His voice slowly losing its strength by the end of the statement. Just saying it out loud left a foul taste in his mouth.

Laxus waits for the oncoming lashes from his team mates for hurting their guild's beloved Celestial Mage. Believe it or not, even the Raijinshuu were protective of the blonde beauty. Everyone was. So imagine his surprise when all he hears are collective sighs instead of the reprimands like he had been expecting.

"So she found out about Cana, huh!" Evergreen muttered sadly. It was a whispered but clear statement.

Taken aback, Laxus could not disguise his surprise. "Wh-What are you saying?"

Freed then heaves out a sigh. "Like I said Laxus, you're not very good at sneaking women around!"

After the initial shock, Laxus recovers briefly, only to feel a slight tinge of irritation. "Why didn't you say something before?"

Bickslow gives their leader an unimpressed look. "Would you have listened to us if we had said something?" When Laxus didn't have a reply and rather looked like a fish with the way he was gaping, the Seith Mage makes his point. "Exactly!"

"Were you able to talk to her after the incident?" asks Freed next. When Laxus shakes his head no, Freed hums. "Figured as much. . . What about Cana?"

As the taller man shakes his head once more, Freed had to voice out his curiosity. "How did this even happen, Laxus? Were you not happy with Lucy?"

Freed's questions were a repetitive punch to his gut. As the reality and seriousness of the questions heavily sinks in, Laxus feels an agonizing scream lodged in his throat. He wishes to muster his cockiness and glare at his friend for even daring to ask such absurd questions.

But he couldn't. After all, his actions alone had led them to think that way, didn't it?

"I love Lucy!" Laxus declares with certainty. "What happened with Cana . . . was a mistake. We were both drunk when it first happened. I met her at a bar the night Lucy left for a mission with the fire breathing idiot. I was upset that she left without informing me." A dry chuckle escapes his lips. "I was drinking my sorrows away. Then one drink led to another. And well, by the end of the night, I was a slobbering mess. Next thing I remember is waking up in an unknown surrounding with someone else that wasn't Lucy." He then recalls the overwhelming guilt he felt following the realization. "I didn't know what to do. The guilt was tearing me apart. So no matter the outcome, I decided to confess to Lucy. But Cana begged me not to." There is a pause before he continues again, "So we both decided to leave it behind, forget it ever happened and never repeat it again. Yet . . . " Laxus whispers shakily. "Yet, I have no answer why it kept happening."

He had confessed to Lucy of his one month long affair with Cana. And as far as he recalls, he had slept with their guild's drunkard not more than four times, his guilt not letting him live it down.

Still, that does not justify cheating on her in the first place, huh! Because at the end of the day, the fact remains that he had hurt Lucy.

"Geez! What were you guys even thinking?" Evergreen's outburst breaks him out of his turmoil. "To think even Cana would cheat on Bacchus!"

Laxus snaps his head up so fast he thinks he might have pulled a nerve. Uncaring, he stares at the girl bewildered. "Cana and Bacchus?"

Eyes widened, Evergreen cocks her brows. "You didn't know?" Seeing the perplexed look on his face, she mutters a low 'Ofcourse you didn't!' before answering. "They have been dating ever since you and Lucy started dating."

Laxus wasn't aware he had screwed up this much. Why didn't Cana tell him about her relationship with the man?

"Because she loves you!" Evergreen answers his unvoiced question. "She always loved you. You never noticed because you're as dense as a rock." Laxus didn't even have the strength to electrocute the female into oblivion for her comment. Cana loves him?

"Now that you're aware of her feelings for you, let me ask you again." Freed looks at him straight in the eyes. "Do you love Cana?"

Without any hesitation, Laxus replies. "I don't. I always thought of her as a guild mate. Nothing more."

Satisfied with his answer, Freed nods his head.

"What are you going to do now?" asks Bickslow with all seriousness. Looking at the distraught man, he could clearly notice the bags under his eyes. Laxus may not want people to see him weak but the Raijinshuu knew better. This situation with Lucy was killing the lightning dragon slayer. And even though all three knew Laxus deserves whatever he was going through now after hurting the most beautiful soul to ever grace Earthland, they couldn't bear to see him broken. "Tell us what you want us to do? We'll help you Laxus."

Laxus looks up at Bickslow and the rest in shock. His team manages to catch him off guard once again.

"Look, what you did was unacceptable. And trust me when I say we're very disappointed in you." Evergreen levels Laxus with a stern glare before a soft look adorns her face. "But we also know you're regretting your actions." A pause. "You are, aren't you?" The unwavering glare was back.

Laxus gulps but nods firmly. "I made a grave mistake which won't happen again. I'm gonna do everything I can to make this right!" He then looks at all three individually with a small upturn of his lips. "Thank you."

Surprise plasters on their faces because Laxus never thanks anyone. With a small flinch, Laxus realizes he really was an asshole to everyone.

He sighs for the umpteenth time and ignores their shocked expressions. "I know you guys want to help me. But I feel this is something I should work out on my own. After all, I made the mess. I drove her away."

Freed hums with a smile, full of pride. "Know that we're always with you, Laxus!" Evergreen and Bickslow nods in agreement.

Laxus chuckles with content. "Enough of this sappiness. Let's move out!" Holding back his laughter when the group simultaneously clears their throat and tries to recuperate their status as the tough group, Laxus leads the way once again. Knowing his team was by his side, he feels more determined about his quest.

Laxus Dreyar will definitely win Lucy Heartfilia back.


Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.

~Mrs Dreyar