\|/

Mending & Lamenting

/|\

An unlikely (quite odd) group of few from far too different lives. One dealing with a case of angry-but-loving-boyfriend, one compulsive liar with a criminal record, another a frightened coward under tough skin, one near-murderer seeking redemption. Shame floods their veins. Most have a dark, shady past. Some want redemption more than anything, others wish nothing more than finding a solution. Guilt is also a common factor, though some feel it much more. And another common factor is a certain guy with pink hair. None know one another, but they meet. Talking brings them together in their conflicts in life. The task? To hopefully solve their issues.

Chapter 1: Morning Glory

Part 1: Please, Smile (I Want To See You Happy) [It Might Be Selfish, But I Want To See You Smile] [Please Don't Be Upset] {Please, Be Happy & Smile}

-(Would you forget your burdens and smile for me?

Be by my side and stay happy with me?

The whole world may fight against you and be angry,

but I'll always & forever keep you close to me)-

"Wow, Gajeel, look! Aren't these pretty?"

Levy glanced up at the silence. Her boyfriend was staring with a bored, dull expression at a withering plant, but he turned away from it. When their eyes met, he nodded. "Sure, yeah." His voice was bordering on apathy and exhaustion. Not much to be expected, since all the flowers were pretty, and it had been Levy's idea to come here.

Still…

Her brows creased as she carefully asked, "Did you get into another fight?"

"What makes you think that, shrimp?" he gruffly asked in return. His hands stuck inside his pockets, out of sight. There was a dark bruise blooming around his left eye. The bruised eye was narrowed, not opening as much as the other.

The beautiful flowers shook side to side, a soft wind blowing through the open door of the flower shop. Levy looked down, picking up a patterned pot, inside a few white flowers. "Oh, nothing." she huffed gently. Taking the vase, she put it down on the counter. Sun shining down on the flowers made them all the more incredible to look at. Lightly, she touched one of the white petals.

Behind the counter, the cashier smiled brightly. "Hi!" the cashier glanced down at the flowers in the pot. Joy sparkled in the air while he commented. "Oh, my. Did you pick this one on purpose or was it fate? You got the luck-bringing, peace and happiness representing, white morning glories - how wonderful!"

"I don't have much knowledge on flowers…" Levy said, wearing a small smile. Her energy was nowhere near the animated energetic way of the cashier. She took another glance at the white petals, admitting aloud, "I felt like it was just the right one to get, and, yeah." And it was true. It was as if she had been drawn to this specific one from all the different varieties of plants lovely to view any time of day. And it was pretty. And…

Levy glanced at the currently sulking (but he would say otherwise) metal-head smelling flowers and making faces at the corner.

…Maybe it would bring some positive energy.

She could only hope it had good effects.

Brute as he may be known by many, Gajeel also chose a pot of plants, one the cashier (florist?) called the double-luck flower. "It's like you two are both bound by destiny to choose lucky things in life!" the florist had said in his chippery voice. With a grimace, his eyebrow twitching (Irritated, disgust?) he had added, "And, love!"

When Levy mentioned it had been her idea to be at the flower shop, the florist had once again found a positive. He had said, in more words than a normal person should be able to manage - basically, that their togetherness was what must've caused such luck. It was a nice thought. Kind words from the stranger with pink hair.

Levy smiled at the florist before Gajeel hurried things up and they paid and left. She walked at a leisure pace, one hand holding Gajeel's cold and rough left hand, her own left hand holding the flowerpot in a bag that Gajeel chose.

"Did ya have to get this in the morning?" Gajeel voiced his question while showing the bag with the morning glories in his right hand.

An apologetic smile on, and Levy gently said, "You know I have work in the afternoon. And you have work later in the day…So, I thought we could spend a little time together…"

"Nah, it's all good," he said. After a beat, he quietly added, "It's nice." And his frowning gaze stuck for a few moments on Levy's pout. He glanced once more at the flowerbag in his hand before turning back onto the street. "Smiling suits you, shrimp, so keep smiling." Although he did not look at her, Levy's cheeks flushed, lips quirked up, unable to look up as she watched their feet. "You should smile too…" she mumbled though couldn't bring herself to look up with her face heated up. Of course her boyfriend stole a glance. And seeing her smile, he also smiled. His hand held on just a little tighter, one side of his mouth twisting upwards just a bit higher.

They walked home hand in hand in the warmth of summertime sun shining down on them. Who knew? Perhaps the flowers truly did bring luck…

Part 2: Please, Believe Me (I Speak The Truth, Go Away) [Please, Leave Me] {I Don't Deserve Someone Like You…But…I Wish…Please, Don't Ever Leave Me}

–(Don't you know how horrible I have been to you? | I'm cruel, I've made too many mistakes…

Don't you know how I don't deserve someone like you? | I'm terrible, in so many different ways…

Don't you know how much I've hurt so many people around me & you? | I've killed and hurt people, one too many…

Don't you know how much I love you? | Please, I know. You hate me. You should. I yell 'go away!', I scream, 'leave me!'…but, in my heart, I wish you'd be with me)–

"You're looking well."

Erza's voice was steady. She steadily watched Jellal who really did look better than the last time she was here. Her hands in her lap remained steady. Her heart, however, though she may want otherwise - unfortunately, unsurprisingly, as it usually did here - was not, not calm at all - oh, gosh, her heart was not calm. It beat far too hard and fast, her skin feeling hot, and she took silent deep breaths, watching sharply for any movement behind the glass screen between them.

The blank expression of the man remained while he quietly murmured, "You too."

He never looked away, and Erza continued watching.

Silence between them was thicker than the glass wall separating them. And both were common whenever they saw one another.

"I know you don't want to hear this from me," Jellal began, cutting the insistent, suffocating quiet. He shifted in his chair, chains clinking from his ankles and wrists, hands on the cold surface keeping him arms length away from the glass wall. His hands wrung together, chains uncomfortably loud without either of them talking, though neither looked at the metal bounds. "Erza…You should understand I will soon be permitted outside this facility." His stare, vacant, empty, awaited a response, an interruption, some words shouted in disagreement. It was the usual. It was expected. It should happen any moment now. She must know his statements. Still, Erza remained as she was.

Not a word spoken in return.

Swallowing, Jellal continued the things he repeated every time. "There is no reason for you to waste your time with me." If Erza felt anything, she did not show it. She did not react in the slightest. The non-reaction was a complete opposite to the pink-haired guy who visited long ago - telling him off, yelling for having hurt a friend.

Her unusual silence at his words dragged on and on and on. It was unnerving, to say the least. Erza would have stood up from her chair and shouted at him by now. Or spoken about her day. Or something. Anything other than the way she was now.

Erza watched him silently. She stared until he could not meet her eyes and, in a moment's weakness, blurted the question, "Do you truly believe I can be good?"

The tension in the air broke once Erza smiled, albeit, she was tense, the smile tight. "Of course. Everyone does wrong. You have made some mistakes. What matters is what you do now." The word 'mistakes' comes out of her mouth so easily, she can fool herself into thinking it is a small crime, an action not worthy of all the repercussions her…

Who was he to her? She came up with nothing. As usual, her mind blanked out at the mere question most would find easy to answer with people in their life. Yet for her…No word existed to describe what he was to her.

"And as usual, it seems I have to bring some sense into you." Her smile instantly vanished, in its place, a deep scowl. She shook her head as she told him what she had to repeat every time. "You should know by now. I am not wasting my time. I never do anything that is wasteful." Her fierce gaze found his own wandering away, and she held on, emphasising the words as she stated, "The time I spend here is not a waste."

She watched as he processed her words.

He must have a slow processing system, because she always had to repeat herself. She wanted to give him a smack in the head and make him repeat the words until his voice turned hoarse. Really, how could he be this much of a fool? How could Erza make herself any clearer?

Jellal pursed his lips, looking at the side. "You should not concern yourself with me. I don't deserve any kindness."

This time Erza did slam the counter before her and stood up. Her chair screeched loudly, moving so quickly it fell backwards. He stared as she screamed, "How could you be such a fool?! Must I repeat myself every time?! I will not leave, and I will stay. I will make certain you repent for your crimes, and, and I will not leave you alone!" A glistening in her eyes had formed, Jellal saw, and he could do nothing but listen. He listened to the words he'd heard so many times before, and he fisted his hands as he listened as she continued with a softer tone. "I have said all this so many times, but again I feel the need to ask - I can be here, right? Or…Do you wish me gone?"

His gaze snapped up at that. "No! Erza, I want you to believe me. I mean it when I say that - I do not wish you gone. You are always welcome to…spend your time with me." he lowered his voice at the end, but she must've heard him because she was truly smiling now, beaming at his use of 'spending time' instead of his constant use of 'wasting time' even if the latter was the truth. Not anyone could be believed if they said he deserved anything from her. He did not deserve her…kindness.

He knew it was true. She was wasting her time. Why could she not see this? Whatever the case, he listened when she spoke of her day. His lips twitched but he knew not to smile - he did not deserve to - and his eyes burned and he could barely say a word whenever she let out a heartful laugh or a grin he witnessed so seldomly.

Part 3: Please, Show Some Mercy (You Should Know, I'm Scared, I'm A Coward.) [I Know] {Please, I Beg With My All, Please Show Some Mercy} [I Care, I Love]

—(There are days I find happiness with the ones I love, days filled with joy spent time with family, days full of bliss and things I know are gifts from above,

but I only wish it would last longer, I always wish for more, because the next moment I am at a cliff down to sorrow and sadness and your absence is the final shove)—

"Sis, calm down."

Mirajane simply punched another wall. Her knuckles bled and bruised and she did not stop. "Calm down?! Those bastards - they - they took Lisanna and you just stood there!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

It was a fact spoken aloud. It was something they both had been there to know every little detail. It was heartbreaking despite it happening two years ago.

Still, the pain…The pain felt fresh. How could it feel so fresh and hurt so much? Could this universe they lived in show no mercy? He wished for some mercy…

"I know. I'm…sorry…" Elfman choked on the words and tears rushed down faster.

His gaze was locked on some graffiti on the wall - it was new, it hadn't been there last year. It was showing the word 'peace' with bright colours. It was dry but no doubt recent. It was nothing important. If only the world could show some mercy…If only…

"Sorry…?" Mirajane had long since begun sobbing, just like Elfman was sobbing, loud, wet, ugly cries, their wailing loud in the empty streets.

His hands trembled when she took them. "I'm sorry. I didn't - I didn't mean - I just…Oh, Elfman, I'm so sorry." she whispered, clinging to him as they both leaned against the wall and hugged sitting on the concrete, her hushed whispers louder than his own crying. In the abandoned part of town, there was nothing else to hear. Not a car, not any people around, not birds or anything. Just the two of them with broken hearts and tears that did not stop even if they dried them.

Once the hands holding his, Elfman knew were bruised because of fights. Obviously his sister was just about always the victor, but every time they were battered and bruised and bloodied, he felt so scared. For his sister, for himself, for the people fighting.

Elfman never could handle fighting. Although he took the persona of a manly person, this day, today, the day their little sister was gone…This day, his cowardness, his frightened self was up and about, watery eyes blurring his vision from the memories. "Remember." his voice was muffled from her blouse, new yet stained with his tears. "Lisanna - she would want us to smile, when we feel down the most." The words were forced out from between that ball in his throat. Oh, god, it hurt, his emotions a whirlpool just as much as the person he loved, now clinging onto her with sobs wrecking through them both, their shoulders shaking, hearts breaking.

How could pain from years before feel so recent?

He could never understand, but he had strengthened himself, no longer the wimpy, cowardly, scaredy-cat he once was. At least, not on most days.

Most days, he could muster up manly ways and be a man. A certain pink-haired childhood friend of his had told him to man up - and Elfman did just that.

Now it was rare for him to not act like a man. But rarely, like today, his self crumpled, and he could only find courage and strength from Mirajane, just like now, just like now as he held her, crying his heart out like a little child.

Thickly swallowing down the tightness in his throat, he gradually stood shakily. He wiped away his tears, and after the tears were dried - not another wave pouring down without a warning like it did last year - he gave a small smile. "Let's show our little sister, a - a smile."

"You're right." Mirajane sniffled, trying a wobbly smile that kept disappearing, wiping at her wet eyes that kept filling up.

Elfman shakily exhaled and took her hand in his warm one. "We can," he took a deep breath, and said, "We can bring flowers. Like last year."

His sister nodded. They walked and talked, neither mentioning if words were spoken quietly, or if their voice broke, or when they needed a moment to compose themselves. They got flowers, and walked, wearing a small smile as much as they dared without the tears inevitably arriving for them to be damped by the back of their hands.

The graveyard was quiet, the sun shining bright.

Elfman did not know if he could ever get used to this. He wished, he prayed, he could only hope that the good would outweigh the bad. He could hope all was well. His little sister was gone, and both Mirajane and himself were deeply hurt by this - he wondered if there would be more comfort, more joy, less pain as time passed.

They went to send their prayers, speaking so quietly it was a parallel to any other day. Today, the two were showing their past selves. Just…for today.

Maybe in the upcoming years, he would hold off the cowardly side of him. Mirajane could hold her temper back. Maybe next year…

The flowers they left drew in butterflies.

Beautiful, they flew about. Elfman once was a frightened little boy. But no more. Every day, he did his best to be manly. And being a man was all about doing the right things, things that showed he cared - even if there was more strength and brawn in it - and he showed his love, now through a manly voice instead of the quiet one. It'd only be his wish that things turned for the better. Elfman cared, he did, but he could only take so much. He needed mercy from the world's cruelty. Needed peace.

Part 4: Please, Do Not Hate Me (You Have Every Right, Every Reason…) [I'm Greedy Like That, But Please…] {I Don't Deserve Anything From You…But I Want…}

-(I might have no right to care, I did, after all, take things too far. I know 'sorry' will change nothing…I can only hope I did not change who you are…

I know I have no place in your life - I know, it is unforgivable - my hands cannot be cleaned of all the blood - I was horrible, even stabbed you with my own knife…

but I still want to be there for you. I still want to be your family. Even if you hate me, know, I am sorry - god, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry - and…I love you)-

"Hey…"

Scoffing, Lyon willed the tremor in his hands to stop. "Hey? That's not right. What the hell, even I should be able to do better than that - I can't just go up to him and say 'hey' - I can definitely come up with something better than that…" he muttered under his breath.

What was he thinking? 'Hey'? Seriously?

He took a sip of his icy drink to calm his nerves and his heated up face. Everything felt too hot right now, and his leg wouldn't stop bouncing, and his finger was still tapping the table, and he knew it was not because he was nervous - he was most certainly not anxious or anything of the sort. Not at all.

Sitting in the air-conditioned cool coffee place was meant to help keep his thoughts organised. Unfortunately, somehow, he was left in disarray, not even able to speak without an uneasy streak creeping into his voice.

"This is supposed to be easy." he grumbled to himself. "Just talking. I can do that much." He knew so. He has spoken plenty times - both in crowds and in the spotlight and with people in general and he knew he could. "Just go up to him and talk." His words were not working in convincing himself. He found himself glued to his seat in the coffee shop.

People chattered about near him. The background noise did not have the intended effects of keeping his calm. He was one of the best at keeping his cool, he was the best at being cool-headed. Why now was he unable to cross the street and have a conversation?

What was wrong with him? Why was his pulse increasing? And for whatever reason, his gaze was stuck out the window, and he couldn't bring himself to look away, not sparing a second, holding the straw of his drink and directing it clumsily without looking away from the window. He knew why, of course - if he looked away, he might miss the sight of his brother - did he have the right to call him his brother? - He might miss seeing him exit the building.

No way was Lyon about to let this chance slip through his fingers.

Although, to be fair, he always had the opportunity to talk with him.

Perhaps Lyon was just that much of a coward. Chickening out on such a simple task of just going there across the street and, and - talking.

His hands were sweating, he vaguely noticed, and he put both hands to cover the chilly glass. The coolness radiating off the glass was not enough, it seemed, because still, his skin felt too flushed and his heart was not calming down and his thoughts and nothing was going as he planned and - he was just supposed to go and talk.

Talking was supposed to be simple.

As easy as breathing.

Opening his mouth, and words spilling out. Lyon tried imagining it, meeting up, and - the reaction! Would it be…fear? Anger? Repulsion? Fear? Loathing? All?

And - what could he say? He'd ruin anything positive built up until now with his absence! He really should get going. Did he even deserve to speak with his-

…Did he deserve saying anything to him? Or be here?

Lyon was most definitely sure he should not be anywhere near this place. He would not be welcomed. Most definitely, he would not be wanted around here.

Even though the mere thought of seeing his brother - gosh, what was wrong with him? How could he dare call him his brother after everything he did?

But still…Lyon knew, seeing him…Alive, and, alive and about, and living and up and about and, and simply seeing him would have Lyon so pleased and relieved and full of joy even if he knew - he knew for sure that he did not deserve to feel any of those things. Right now, though, the ability to stand up and cross a street felt impossible, his knees weak, his hands still sweating and he could not do this - oh, what was he thinking coming here? Had he lost his mind - he had to get out of here before he was seen and - he knew he should have never come here in the first place so - what had he thought of by coming here?

Truly. Lyon must have lost his sanity.

But then before he stood up, he saw through the window when the door of the building opened. He saw a bunch of people he did not care for casually walking and his eyes searched and he found the one he was looking for and - for a moment, he forgot to breathe, breathing sharply after a moment at the sight of the dark-haired person he would know from anywhere. The scars were covered, clothing and his raven hair blocking any sight of anything that would have Lyon nauseous with guilt. Still, shocking Lyon to the core was that carefree smile, some guy with pink hair slinging an arm across the relaxed shoulders, smiles and all, and Lyon could not go talk.

Lyon could only smile at the sight of his brother - Gray, standing with life, beaming at friends, standing under the shade of trees from the glory of the morning sun.

\|/

~Hello everybody!

This might be a real rollercoaster (not that I've actually ever been on one) but I had this idea and yeahh

Recurring Characters I'm thinking of for later include: Hisui, Loke, Minerva, and Yukino

Basically, none of the four main characters in the story know of one another. Common element a certain pink-haired playful pal - or a pretty pissed off punk depending on which of the main 4 in this story we r discussing. Anywho - Talking brings them together in their conflicts in life. The task? To hopefully solve their issues. Human AU so no magic n plenty of drama to go around big & small as well as random stuff I made & changed and prbly slow updates (sorry) :D

Do enjoy! - hope u all got ur own problems solved (if not, best of luckk) - and let us begin this story with a calm before the storm - enjoy~