Chapter 7: Our Choices Have Consequences
A/N: Hey guys! I'm really glad I have some loyal followers and people that seem to be enjoying this story! I may start posting on Sunday evenings instead of Monday mornings because I've had a change in my schedule, just to keep you updated! I also greatly appreciate when you leave me reviews and let me know your thoughts. I'm hoping I can get some love from you guys for Piper. I've grown really fond of him as an OC, but then again, I am like 30 chapters ahead of you dear readers. ;)
"Dreamy!" Piper was by her side in an instant. He clutched her against his chest, pulling her away from Midnight. With emerald eyes shining concern, he tucked hair behind her ear and held her by the chin, checking to see if she was conscious.
She blinked tiredly at her teammate. Her muscles loosened, the exhaustion making her go limp—but she managed a smile. "I'm okay," she assured him.
"Okay?" He gritted his teeth in disbelief. "You seen your shoulder, doll? That's gonna need stitches! I mean what the hell was you's thinkin,' bringing that guy here?"
Dreamer winced at his harsh tone. She found she couldn't keep eye contact with her teammate's accusing glare, so she looked back over at Midnight, asleep on the freshly upturned earth, face obscured by a mess of dual-colored hair. She shook her head, still avoiding Piper's gaze. "It's hard to explain." Because there was no explanation. No good one, at least.
"You able to stand?" Piper asked.
She nodded. He helped her to her feet and acted as a crutch, as if he didn't trust her ability to stand on her own. She appreciated the notion—her body felt like it weighed a ton. One of the effects of being out of magic energy.
"Well, we ain't got no choice but to take the bastard to the guild now," Piper said, as if the idea of doing that was just as welcoming as facing Erza and Mirajane together in combat.
Dreamer nodded. She leaned her head against his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Piper. If my magic were stronger, he would have never seen through—"
"Shut up," Piper cut her off. "I don't wanna hear you's bad mouth yourself, got it? Most of our guild wouldn't be able to stand 'gainst this guy. All that matters is my girl's safe." He gave her other shoulder a comforting squeeze, then let her go so that he could cross over to Midnight. He cast the dark wizard a look of disgust before hoisting him up onto his shoulder. "But you's oughta be more careful with those sleepin' pills, got it? How many you got left?"
Dreamer pulled out the bottle. There were no more than ten inside.
"Yeah, that's what I thought." He grunted and adjusted Midnight's weight. "Who knows when you'll see Mystogan again to get more, ya know? Ain't I told ya not to use 'em so willy nilly?"
"It seemed like a good time," Dreamer countered, slipping the bottle back into her pocket. "We were no match for him." She could almost still feel the tight coil of magical energy wrapping around her throat. She absentmindedly touched the gash on her shoulder, recoiling slightly at the damp sensation of blood on her fingertips.
"Ah, I coulda took 'im." Piper scowled and trudged past her, struggling to support Midnight because of his own injuries. He was covered in bruises and dirt, and it looked like his holey jeans had some new tears. Dreamer caught up and went to throw Midnight's other arm around her shoulder but got a warning look from the dice-wizard. "You stay away from this guy, you hear? If he wakes up again, I wantcha to run to the guild and get back up. I don't want ya stickin' around, got it?"
She opened her mouth to protest, but there was desperation in his expression. She pinched her lips and nodded.
They made slow progress to the glowing city of Magnolia, taking dark side alleys all the way to the guild hall so as not to draw too much attention. It was late and most everyone was in bed, but that would just make them all the more suspicious dragging their beat up bodies through town with an unconscious wizard bearing striking resemblance to the missing member of Oracion Seis.
The guild hall was closed as it was after hours, but Fairy Tail was never really off duty. A different member of the guild was assigned to sit at the desk every night in case of emergencies. And often, members stayed late to finish paperwork, study, or just to be away from home (Macao and Wakaba were prime examples of the last one. The guild was where they went when their wives had kicked them to the couch). The lights in the guild hall never stop shining, making it a welcoming beacon both day and night.
Tonight, Bixlow of the Thunder Legion was on duty. He was sitting behind the information desk with his feet propped up and a dirty magazine in his hands—a stack of other scandalous material on the desk next to him, mostly cut out Sorcerer Weekly centerfolds, along with three crushed cans of some energy drink and a bag of potato chips. He grinned ear to ear at them when they walked in the door.
"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in. Glad you're back safely, Daisy."
"Dreamer," Dreamer and Piper said simultaneously.
"Whatever. Think I'd remember your name with a body like that?" He stuck his tongue out lewdly, showing off the Fairy Tail insignia on it.
"Shut your damn mouth, Bixlow, before I shove it fulla casino chips."
"Ooh, someone's possessive."
"Bix," Dreamer cut him off. "We need to see the master. Now."
"In that case, lemme ring him up for you." He leaned back unconcernedly in the chair and cupped his hands around his mouth. "MASTER!" he yelled through the hall.
"He's already here," Dreamer stated in relief. She was ready to get this over with. The last three days felt like the longest days of her life. There was nothing she wanted more than to go home to Mirajane and Syllestra.
A moment later, Master Makarov descended the steps from the second floor. Piper deposited Midnight's limp body on one of the guild tables (rather roughly), and Dreamer braced herself for the lecture of a lifetime. Bixlow sat his magazine down and grabbed a handful of chips, ready to enjoy the show.
"Dreamer. Welcome home," Makarov said with a kind smile. The little master was still in his pajamas, green cap drooping to the side. Dreamer bowed deeply to him. He walked slowly up to the table Midnight was on and climbed on top of it. His hands folded over his chest and he frowned as he examined the sleeping man. "And this must be the Night Terror, Midnight of Oracion Seis."
She looked at him in shock. "How do you know?" She'd never contacted the guild about bringing him here.
"You see, I happened to get a call from Lahar of the Magic Council early this morning. He told me that if I were to see you, Dreamer, with a suspicious young dark wizard, I was to turn you in to the authorities immediately."
"Oh, yeah…" She hung her head in shame. That was right, she'd almost forgotten that she'd called the council and then changed her mind about turning Midnight in. She hadn't even considered the repercussions that would mean for Fairy Tail collectively.
"Gramps, I found this guy in the woods about to put an end to Dreamer here," Piper said, with a harsh glare toward Midnight.
"And what were you doing in the woods, Piper? Not disobeying a direct order, were you?"
Piper's head quickly lowered alongside Dreamer's.
She took a knee in front of Makarov and bowed her head low. When she spoke, her voice was humble. "Master, I know that I've caused problems for you and for Fairy Tail. I will accept whatever punishment you deem necessary, and I will also accept whatever you decide to do with the prisoner."
Prisoner. For some reason, using that word when talking about the man whose nightmares she'd seen felt like betrayal.
"Before I make any decisions on the matter," Makarov said and stroked his mustache, "I want to know what you were thinking, Dreamer. Why rescue this man in the first place? You know what he did to your friends, do you not?"
Dreamer trembled and didn't lift her head. Piper instinctively stooped down and put a hand on her shoulder, to remind her that she wasn't alone. His familiar cologne was comforting.
"I don't have a good reason, Master. I just… I was compromised. I had compassion for him and I couldn't bring myself to turn him in." She met Makarov's eyes with some ferocity. "I… I won't do it. You are free to do so yourself, but I will not be the one to hand him over to the council."
Piper looked at her in shock and disbelief. He clenched his teeth together and focused his narrowed eyes on the wizard on the table. Midnight seemed utterly ignorant of everything that was going on around him, even to the point of snoring.
"I see." Makarov went quiet. He clasped his hands behind his back and stood in thought. Dreamer continued to tremble. This was the worst part of any and every lecture from the master. The moment before he cast his judgement. She felt like a child about to be scolded, except… Well, ten times worse than that. "Tell me, Dreamer. Do you truly see good in this young man?"
She looked up, mouth slightly ajar at the question. She furrowed her brows and looked from Makarov to Midnight to Piper, and back.
"Good? You gotta be kiddin' me!" Piper raised his voice, the anger clear at the edge of his tone. "This guy's a murderer, gramps! You know what he did to Erza! You know about all the requests we've got in the past, askin' for us to capture him! He ain't good! He ain't even decent! He—"
"Silence, Piper." Makarov cut him off. "I was talking to Dreamer."
Piper pinched his lips shut and made a gruff sound, insinuating that he had a lot more he wanted to say.
"I…" Dreamer kept her eyes focused on Midnight's sleeping face. The flutter of his eyelashes, the occasional twitch of his lip in an expression of discomfort—fear. She couldn't shake the images. The iron bars. The sound of screaming, dying children. The demon looming over him at all times and, most of all, the desperation to be free. "Yes." She said, with finality.
"What?! Dreamy—"
"Don't get me wrong, Master." She quickly added. "He's not a good person. He's full of rage and hate. He's a twisted sadist, but… There's something else there too. I-I can't explain it. I just know that he… He could be a different person if only… I just…" She tapered off. There was no way to explain the intuitive things that her magic allowed her to understand and experience. Putting them into words was an impossible task.
"Have faith in yourself, Dreamer," Makarov said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "You understand the motives of others more than most. "If you believe this man can be redeemed, then it must be true."
Piper couldn't believe what he was hearing. He finally stood up and clenched a fist, veins pulsing. "Redeemed? We redeem murderers now? Since when is that Fairy Tail's responsibility? We gotta call the council, NOW, before this guy does some real damage!"
"Piper!" Makarov called him out again. "I understand that you care for Dreamer and you wish only for her safety. Those are admirable qualities, young man. However, you have not learned that respecting her choices is as important as making sure she is safe. I, for one, find no fault in her choice to bring Midnight here. In fact," he looked back at Dreamer, "I am moved by your determination to trust your instincts, despite the opposition you faced. I sent you on this mission in order to enable you to follow your heart and build confidence in your magical abilities. I believe you have accomplished that task. The proof is in the man at my feet."
She was confused and humbled by the unexpected praise. Tears pricked her eyes.
"I find no reason to doubt that Dreamer is right about Midnight. And as master of Fairy Tail, I can not turn away a young person in need of help—not when there is even the slightest chance that he may find redemption."
She blinked, slowly rising to her feet as well. Bixlow sat forward in his chair.
"This is getting good," he said, popping random popcorn onto his tongue.
"Wait… So, you're not going to turn him in to the Council?" She was surprised. She wasn't sure exactly what she'd been expecting when she decided to bring the assassin here. In all honesty, there had been no forethought or planning at all in the past three days.
Makarov didn't answer. Instead, he put the heel of his foot on Midnight's forehead and prodded him. "Wake up, boy!"
"Master, what are you doing?" Piper and Dreamer said in unison.
Makarov kept jabbing Midnight with his foot until the wizard finally stirred. He sat up groggily, uncomprehending of his surroundings, looking momentarily like a drooling toddler. His red eyes scanned the room and faces until he saw Dreamer. Then, recognition flickered across his features and all innocence evaporated in favor for a dark sneer.
"You!" He jerked toward her, but Makarov's hand clasped hard onto his shoulder, stopping him.
"Midnight, I am Makarov, master of the Fairy Tail guild. You are under my roof, now."
Midnight's eyes were wide in both terror and rage. He clenched his fists and trembled, choking down panic that was welling inside of him. His eyes darted frantically around the room and at all the faces as he processed what was happening.
"So what?" He snapped at Makarov, wildly. "The bitch managed to get me here, finally? What are you going to do, call the Council?"
"Hey, you watch your goddamn mouth, you crossdressing freak!" Piper raised a fist, ready to pounce. It was Bixlow's arms that restrained him.
"Don't do it man. Master'll squash you like a bug."
"Calling the council is certainly a possibility," Makarov said, not losing his cool. "However, if possible, I would like to refrain from taking that course of action. You see, for one reason or another, a child of mine believes that you are undeserving of imprisonment."
Midnight's eyes shot at Dreamer. She gulped and stared at the wood of the table, regretting every decision she had made up to this point. Good one, Dreamer. Hand deliver the assassin, piss everyone off, put the guild in danger… Why did Master think MY instincts could be trusted?
"However, that makes quite a dilemma for me." He sat on the table and crossed his legs. "I can't let you walk away from here freely. Not after you've caused harm to my children and so many citizens of Fiore."
Midnight's jaw was clenched tight and his breathing ragged. He looked like a feral cat, locked inside of a cage. He wanted so desperately to flee, to lash out with his claws. Dreamer could feel it. She could feel the hatred and fear sparking, swirling in the chilly air of the hall. It made her heart hurt—like she was being stung by an invisible wasp that had been set loose in her chest from the moment she chose to enter the Night Terror's dreamscape.
"There seems to be only one option." Makarov met Midnight's eyes evenly. He paused, likely for dramatic effect, forcing everyone in the room to hold their breaths before he delivered the completely unforeseen next line.
"Welcome to Fairy Tail, boy."