Chapter 9: Control The Mood
Three nights had gone by since Dreamer brought Midnight to the guild. Things were still tense, between not just herself and Midnight, but Piper as well. Midnight rarely ventured outside of the room he shared with the other man. Dreamer suspected that he slept during the day and paced the halls of the dormitory at night.
There were a few consolations, at least. For one, Freed's enchantments were certainly working—proven by the time Midnight tried to sneak out of Piper's window before dawn, just to be thrown backward by purple script. He still had a bandage on his cheek after that incident. The magic limiter seemed to be effective as well—tested by another incident where Piper chucked an empty beer mug at him and Midnight attempted to reflect it… and failed. He still had a black-eye from that, too. In fact, he was looking pretty worse for wear, but that was to be expected when a wizard lost magical energy. Magical energy is a wizard's life force—their very soul. Dreamer couldn't imagine struggling through life without it.
She'd also told Jezran about what had happened. They were a team, after all. He uttered multiple "oh dear me's," but was generally supportive of Dreamer's choices. He had always been particularly gentle with Dreamer, and of his own free will. She'd never manipulated his feelings with her magic.
It was midday now, and she was resting at one of the tables in the main room of the guild hall, near the bar. Jezran sat beside her, making her a sandwich, with a mustached smile painted on his face. Piper sat across the table… All the way at the other end.
"You know; you don't have to give me the cold shoulder forever!" she yelled down to him.
"Sorry, Dreamy. Can't hear ya." He yawned in mock carelessness.
"If you can't hear me, why'd you respond?!"
Piper's face flushed red and he turned dramatically away from her with crossed arms. She sighed.
"Have no fear, miss Cumula," Jezran said as he slathered gratuitous amounts of mustard on her bread. "Dear me, you know how he is. He can't stay angry at you for long. I don't know how anyone could, dear me."
Dreamer's cheeks took a pink color. "It's my magic that puts people at ease, not me." She carefully batted away the compliment and bowed her head in thanks when he passed the lunch plate to her.
"Your magic is part of who you are, my dear," Jezran took off his top hat and placed it affectionately on her head. "And on the contrary, you are a remarkable young woman, with or without your magical energy, dear me."
She tugged his top hat down over her ears in embarrassment. Her focus turned to eating her sandwich, when someone slid onto the bench beside her. She looked up in surprise to find Lucy Heartfilia smiling vibrantly at her.
"Hi, Dreamer! I'm not sure we've been properly introduced." She was cheerful and kind. Hair in a signature side-pony. "I know we've been in the same guild, but we've never really talked. I'm Lucy."
Dreamer bowed her head and smiled right back. "I know who you are. You're the amazing celestial wizard. Natsu's partner."
The blonde blushed and twirled her hair. "Well, I don't know about amazing…" Her voice betrayed the false humility. Dreamer laughed and relaxed.
"I was thinking," Lucy continued. "You and I should hang out and get to know each other. I think we'd probably be good friends."
Dreamer nodded enthusiastically. "I think that would be fun."
"Great! How about we go get dinner tonight?" She crossed her legs and propped herself up a bit more on the table, causing blue earrings to sway. "There's this cute little restaurant where I like to go to write sometimes. The food is cheap but really good."
Dreamer finished chewing a bite of her sandwich and then shook her head. "Sorry, tonight won't work for me. Mirajane and I already have plans."
"Mira?" Lucy blinked and put her finger to her chin in thought. "Oh, that's right! You two are roommates, aren't you?"
Dreamer grinned and nodded. Jezran poured her a glass of milk, which she drank absentmindedly, as if she was totally used to his butler-like treatment. "She and I share a little house in the southeast sector of town."
"You haven't heard the rumors that they're dating?" Cana plopped down on the bench across from them, next to Piper. "Nice hat, by the way."
Dreamer flushed and sweatdropped. "It's not like that, no matter what anyone says."
"How did you two end up living together?" Lucy asked, still curious.
"I can answer that!" Mirajane herself joined them at the table. It was becoming quite the party at table 12. "But first, where have you been, Dreamer?"
Dreamer looked over at the white-haired woman in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I've hardly seen you the past few days! Ever since you got home from that job!"
Dreamer raised an eyebrow and mindlessly ate a cookie that had magically appeared on her plate, beside three more little sandwiches which were really just bread slathered with mustard. "Mirajane, we live together. You literally see me every night."
"I know that, silly! But during the day at the guild hall! Usually you're out in the garden!"
Realization dawned on Dreamer and she looked nervously at the table. She couldn't tell them she'd spent most of the past couple of days in Piper and Midnight's room, supervising the dark wizard—or in the library, doing extensive research on the Oracion Seis, reflector magic, and illusions.
"Are you seeing someone?" Mira asked with a cheeky grin. Across the table, Piper spit out his water.
"What?!" Dreamer blushed fiercely. "No, Mira! You'd be the first one to know if I was dating someone!"
"Actually, dear me, I would likely be the first to know," Jezran said, matter-of-factly as he wiped his hands on a handkerchief. "I do keep close tabs on you."
"It's true. Nothing gets by Jezzie," Cana chimed in. She casually slid her beer mug away from Piper, who'd been slyly reaching for it after the 'are you seeing someone' comment.
Mira continued to try and probe the information out of a harassed Dreamer, while Jezran supplied food, Piper pouted, Cana chugged, and Lucy watched in muted interest. Dreamer was on the verge of getting up and walking away when Natsu's voice came from nearby.
"Hey Luce! I gotta ask you somethin'!" He pounced on the table and sniffed the air. His winged blue comrade hovered behind him.
"What?!" Lucy asked, annoyed. She didn't even glance up at him, instead rolled her eyes at his presence.
"You smell anything weird around here lately?" He sniffed again, eyes narrowed in deep concentration.
"Why are you asking me?!" She yelled. "You're the freak who tracks scents!"
"I swear, man…" Natsu folded his arms over his chest and frowned. "I keep smellin' something. It's familiar but I just can't place it…"
"Natsu's been complaining for two days about it," Happy 'whispered' to the table.
"Well, don't ask me!" Lucy said, without yelling this time.
"What about you, child?" Another flying white cat said to a blue-haired girl. Dreamer realized she still didn't know their names. She'd never seen them before Master sent her out to the Worth Woodsea. From what she'd overheard around the hall, the girl was a sky-dragon slayer who helped the coalition on Nirvana.
"Um… I'm sorry. I'm still new here. I'm not used to what everyone smells like… I'm sorry," the girl apologized profusely, simultaneously bowing her head and wringing her hands.
"It's like…" Natsu sniffed again. "Like… What's that stuff you drink before bed, Lucy?"
"Chamomile?" Lucy asked. "WAIT! How do you know I drink tea before bed?!"
"Yeah, chamomile…" He sniffed and tapped his fingers on his arm.
Chamomile… Dreamer gulped. She had a little bit of an idea whose scent Natsu might be picking up. She glanced up to catch Piper glaring at her. He had an eyebrow raised as if to challenge her.
"Chamomile… and… the closet of a dusty old lady-"
"How do you even know what that smells like…"
"…And something else… Smells kinda metallic. Like blood." He nodded, satisfied with his analysis. "Dammit, I know I've smelled it somewhere before!" His teeth and fists clenched in frustration.
Piper's glare intensified.
Dreamer suddenly got a strange sense, like the air had gotten denser. She recognized this dark feeling instantly. She didn't have a nose like Natsu, but she could pick up on strong emotions with ease. And this particular emotion had become very familiar in the past week. Fear and rage…
She looked up instinctively to the second floor of the guild hall. She couldn't see him in the shadow of the pillar he leaned against, but she could see the glint of red eyes.
"You know, Dreamy, you's gonna have to tell them sometime." Piper said loudly. He scratched the shaved side of his hair and kept his eyes narrowed at her.
"Tell us what?" Lucy asked. She tilted her head curiously and her blonde ponytail bobbed.
Dreamer shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"I mean, it's not like you can hide the guy forever," Piper continued. Dreamer sent him a frantic look, begging him to shut up. "What was that shit Master said 'bout facin' the consequences of your actions or something?"
Jezran placed a hand on Dreamer's shoulder. "That is quite enough, Piper."
"What's he talking about, Dereck?" Happy asked, one blue ear twitching.
"Dreamer," said everyone at the table.
"It ain't enough!" Piper stood up and slammed his palms on the table. "You's don't t'ink Natsu's team oughta know? After what he done to 'em?"
All eyes fell on Dreamer. She felt like she was shrinking. She wished she could shrink completely and hide under Jezran's top hat. Did anyone have the magic ability to make her the size of an ant?
Natsu jumped off the table and looked wide-eyed at Dreamer. Before he could open his mouth however, a new voice echoed over the group.
"I'm curious to know about this as well."
Chills ran down Dreamer's spine as the deep, female voice seemed to penetrate her very soul.
"E-Erza…" Dreamer squeaked, too terrified to look behind her at the terrifying woman. Even Piper's fists loosened. He shot Dreamer an apologetic glance, as if he hadn't intended for his confrontational attitude to draw her into the conversation.
"Well?" Erza demanded. "What is it you're hiding, Dreamer?" The requip mage's armor clanked as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Dreamer didn't answer. She tried desperately to think of some kind of excuse. Reflexively, without thinking, she looked back up at the second floor, where Midnight had taken a step out of the shadows. He watched them all with his arms crossed, a faint smirk on his lips.
She quickly looked away and swallowed hard. She prayed that no one noticed her behavior—but, of course, Titania Erza was a woman who didn't miss much. She immediately looked up where Dreamer had been looking.
"Impossible!" She put her hand on the hilt of her sword and immediately jumped into a defensive stance.
"Huh?" Natsu looked up as well. In fact, everyone in the nearby vicinity followed her eyes up to the balcony of the second floor. "Hey, wait a second! Isn't that the sleepyhead?!"
"Seriously, you can do better than that, Natsu," Happy said, mocking the tame insult.
"It's Midnight," Erza said. She gritted her teeth and summoned another sword. "What is he doing in our guild hall?!"
"No wait, please!" Dreamer jumped up. "I can explain!"
The commotion was drawing the attention of the rest of the hall, who all began to look at Dreamer, Erza and Natsu, and up at Midnight.
"Hey, bastard! Get down here and fight! You're the one who hurt, Erza, aren't you?! Now I remember that scent! It's been you this whole time?! How long have you been in our guild hall?!"
Midnight didn't move. His smirk simply widened.
"Please, you guys don't understand!" Dreamer petitioned them again. She looked desperately at Piper for help. His mouth was turned in a guilty frown, but he did not come to her aid.
"Everyone, get out of the way!" Erza ordered the rest of the hall. People scattered, confused but not about to argue with a direct order from the queen of fairies.
"No, don't! He can't hurt you!" Dreamer's voice became even more panicked. She knew the magic limiter lacryma was still clasped around Midnight's ankle. He wouldn't even be able to defend himself if they attacked.
If Midnight was worried about that, he didn't show it. Despite the limiter, or the injuries he still sported to remind him of it, his expression was smug as ever, taunting the two powerful wizards.
Dreamer had to think fast. Natsu's fist was engulfed in flame. Erza requipped into her Heaven's Wheel Armor. Both wizards launched off of the ground simultaneously toward the second floor.
"NO!" She jumped in front of them in desperation. They dropped down in front of her, skidding to a halt so they wouldn't trample her, their eyes wide in surprise and anger.
She cast her pink eyes upon them both, activating the magic circles in her own irises. She felt it, their combined fury and concern. The power of Erza's emotional desire to protect her guildmates. The fire of Natsu's excitement at the prospect of battle and getting revenge. These two wizards had strong emotions, and the task of controlling both of them at the same time was almost too much for Dreamer. She forced her magical energy out and continued to flick her gaze between the two of them. She focused on draining the strong feelings out of them and replacing them with a sense of calm.
Relaxation. Calm. Clearheaded. Patience. Trust.
Dreamer recited words in her head, conjuring up gentle emotions and pressing them upon Erza and Natsu. The two worked up wizards suddenly relaxed. Erza's armor requipped back. Natsu's flames died. Their muscles loosened, heart rates slowed. They stared at Dreamer's eyes.
"Wow…" Lucy uttered from the table. "So that's what Dreamer can do."
"Yes, quite useful in times like these, dear me."
"But why's she defending that freak?!" Happy asked. Sometime since Erza had come into the situation, he'd ducked behind Lucy to hide.
"Please," Dreamer said quietly, her breath shallow from the strain of controlling so many powerful feelings. "I brought him here. He's my responsibility. Any punishment you want to give him… Give it to me, instead. I'll take it all! All your pain and hatred, just please! Don't hurt him!" Tears shimmered in her eyes.
The people watching all gaped in surprise. Piper had seen enough. He snapped his mouth shut and turned away, striding out of the room without a glance back. Dreamer looked at his shoulders for a brief moment, but she didn't have time to worry about him at the moment. She appealed to Natsu and Erza once more. Her arms were outstretched defensively, as if she could possibly bar them from attacking Midnight if they wanted to.
"…Does Master know about this?" Erza asked, her voice was firm, but incredibly calm.
"Yes." Dreamer nodded. She couldn't control the tears that streamed down her cheeks and dripped from her chin. "Erza, Natsu… I know Macbeth and his friends hurt you… I know he deserves your righteous anger, but I'm begging you… Take it out on me, instead!"
The room was silent for a long, tense moment. The only sound was Dreamer's ragged breaths.
"That won't be necessary." Midnight finally spoke up. His voice was low and smooth, drifting down from the second floor like a curtain of moonlight. "Anything you want to throw at me… Bring it on. I'd love to taste some of that Fairy Tail power once more." He licked his lips.
"Macbeth…" Dreamer looked up at him. Was he really challenging them out of some kind of sick, narcissistic desire? No… Midnight knew he couldn't stand a chance against them with limited magical power. And even from here, he looked sickly from the lack of energy. So why…? Was he really looking forward to being beat down by Erza and Natsu, out of some masochistic fetish? Or could it be that he spoke up when she told them she'd take his punishment… in order to protect her?
Erza sheathed her sword. "If this arrangement is something that Master is aware of, then I cannot question it. However, I will be speaking with him at once on this matter." She looked back at Dreamer. "Release your charm, Dreamer. I will remain calm."
Dreamer looked uncertainly at Natsu, who was acting dazed.
"Man, I feel funny. Like I don't even wanna fight anyone. I think I'll just sleep…"
"What have you done with Natsu!" Happy cried out, shaking the pink-haired boy.
"I will not let him attack Midnight," Erza promised. "Given that Midnight brings no harm upon any member of this guild."
"He won't," Dreamer said quickly.
"I wouldn't be so sure," Midnight cooed, ever so helpfully, from above.
Erza glared up at him. "Remember that I am your superior, Midnight of the Oracion Seis. I have beaten you once, and I practiced mercy. Should you bring harm to any of my comrades again, I will kill you."
"Oooh, so scary." Midnight's smirk widened into a grin.
"Stop talking!" Dreamer shouted up at him.
Erza looked at Dreamer again. "The charm."
Dreamer nodded and closed her eyes, releasing the spell's grip on Natsu. It had already been released from Erza as soon as she realized Dreamer had cast it. She was lucky Erza was much more levelheaded than Natsu Dragneel.
Natsu swayed on his feet and then shook his head. "Hey! That's right! I'm pissed off!" He tensed again. "Come down here and get a piece of me, ya girly lookin' punk!"
"You can still do better than that, Natsu.," Happy said.
"Natsu." Erza clasped a gauntleted hand on his shoulder. "Stay away from Midnight for now. We will find out exactly what is going on once we speak to Master. Until then, let Dreamer manage her friend."
The way she said 'friend' suggested insult. Erza clearly could not imagine a member of the Oracion Seis as a friend of Fairy Tail. Truthfully, neither could Dreamer. She hardly thought of Midnight as a friend. He was dangerous, and while he had potential for good, she was no fool. But… She wondered for a brief moment if eventually… If he lived up to his potential… If maybe they would become friends.
That won't be necessary.
Had he really been standing up for her?
"Everyone, get back to work!" Erza yelled at the room. "There's nothing to see here!" She gave one last threatening look up at Midnight before dragging a flailing Natsu out of the guild hall.
"No fair! I wanna kick his butt! You had all the fun on Nirvana! Now it's my turn to show the bastard a lesson! Lemme go, Erza, come on!" His cries continued until the door shut behind them.
Dreamer finally released a long breath. She closed her eyes and controlled the boiling emotions inside of her. Consuming the emotions of others always exhausted not only her magical energy, but her own emotional stability as well. When she opened her eyes, she felt the stares of everyone upon her.
"You've got some explaining to do, *hic*" Cana said with a raised eyebrow.
"I will, but first…" She looked up at the second floor. Midnight was gone. "I need to…" She swayed, feeling lightheaded. She felt Jezran's arms circle around her.
"Thanks, Pops…" Dreamer looked up at him and her voice trembled.
"Dear me, get some rest. I will quell the curiosities of the crowd."
Dreamer tipped down his top hat—still on her head—in a salute. "You're… the best."
"Team Derelict Heart," Jezran smiled warmly. "We are still a team. Do not forget, dear me."
Dreamer nodded and closed her eyes. It was hard to remember they were a team with the way Piper had been acting. And she wondered if she still deserved to be on a team with the two of them after making the choice to bring Midnight to the guild.
That choice… How long was she going to regret it?