AN
I've been agonizing over this part for the last month or two. I finally decided to not keep it to myself and stress about it. So here are the next few chapters! Please, it you have the time, let me know if you like it. A simple yes or no will do. Thanks!
.^Aiyana^.
As the sun went down I heard a knock at the door. I had spent the last two hours journaling and pretty much trying to tell myself it was for the best that I didn't spend anymore time with Laxus. I thought we could be something. I thought that I had understood When I finally opened the door I was stunned. What stood before me were not innocent Levy, armor clad Ersa, well laced Juvia, and lively Lucy. Levy sported a skin tight blue long sleeved dress. At the skirt it flared slightly and had a fringe trim. Ersa had a shiny cut out halter top and leather jeans. Juvia was more extreme with ripped stockings and a dress that showed more skin than it covered. Lucy wore a halter that hugged her curves and gathered at the bottom. High heels accented the long legs that her short pencil skirt revealed.
"It is time Aiyana, for clubbing," Ersa said in a grave voice. I looked to the rest of the girls and saw grave looks. They looked at each other and nodded once before they pounced. When they had finished with me I was in ripped jeans, a lace tank top with subtle colored sports bra underneath, and a leather jacket that I had before the last trip to the void.
"What's Clubbing?" I asked as they dragged me down the street.
The bright strobe lights and loud music made my heart pound with an unknown anticipation. Levi didn't seem to mind as she chatted with Hadwin. I glanced over at them every so often wondering to myself if the years had changed my friend's view on the opposite gender. I stirred my very non alcoholic drink and watched the new ways of dancing. There was space for the bigger moves that some people were doing. I turned when there was a high pitched yelp to my right. I saw a very drenched Hadwin and an angry Gajeel.
"What do you think you are doing to my bookworm Haddie?" He ground out, as iron scales starting to appear. Hadwin just blinked and asked the bartender for a towel and a new drink for Levy. Gajeel tugged Hadwin and held him by the collar, which was rather stupid as Hadwin was more than a foot taller than Gajeel was.
"I asked you a question Haddie," Gajeel spat out.
"Are you this rough in bed too? Because I love it like that." Hadwin asked looking him dead in the eyes. Gajeel turned bright red and practically sprinted away. Everyone around us that was watching the display laughed. As it died down I returned to my drink. I felt so out of place here. The hyper nerves weren't going away and I fidgeted with my glass.
"Aiya are you OK?" Hadwin asked. I looked up surprised, I didn't realize that I looked so glum.
"Oh I just feel so out of place. I mean I've danced around people before like this, but here I just... I don't know," I said.
"Sweetie, is this about what happened earlier with Laxus?" he asked. He always could see to the heart of the problem even if I had no idea that there was one.
"I guess. I didn't expect our relationship to change just like that after our mission. Especially because of how I ran out on that other mission so quickly. But the whole thing could have been avoided if he had said something Did I say something wrong? Is it my fault? You know I was never good at this kind of thing after..." I trailed off. He knew that I meant the arena. I had had a hard time socializing after coming getting out of it. After living so long in a kill or be killed situation, it was hard to interact with regular people. It got easier over time and was way easier with the girls. But I was mostly at a loss on how to behave romantically. Sure I could interact with men, but so far, even before, most of my interactions with men were fighting or mapping out battle plans.
"I know. I don't know what on between you and Laxus, but you probably both made mistakes. I'm going to give you some advice. Talk to him. Tell him what you meant and what you want. He has no idea what you're thinking. And don't expect to understand what he does if he doesn't tell you. Now," he said getting up and slipping my jacket on (it always was too big for me,) "lets go dance. I want to make the cute guy in the corner there jealous." I had seen the man he pointed to look up in interest when Haddie goaded Gajeel.
"If you insist," I said with a grin, "Oh and apparently our land lords had the rooms sound proofed," I finished with a wink.
"Did you get more promiscuous over the last 100 years?" Hadwin gasped in mock shock. I just laughed and pulled him towards the dance floor. I felt like a stereotypical white girl, all arms and no rhythm. This style of dancing was lost on me. But dam, did it feel nice. The bass was reverberating in my rib cage, and I could feel my muscles move. It was invigorating.
It barely registered when I winked at Hadwin as he left with the man form the corner. And when Lucy and Juvia joined me I merely smiled. When the Thunder God Tribe entered I didn't even notice. It felt too good to just dance and not think about anything in particular, to not really pay attention to what was going on.
A hand on my hip that was definitely masculine brought me down to earth. I twisted to see who it was. Laxus stood me hind me staring over my head. I turned and followed his gaze. I don't like to judge people by the way they look, but the way this guy was looking at me and what he was wearing made me uneasy. I turned my back on him and faced Laxus. Looking up at Laxus I smiled and started dancing again. His hand never left my hip.
And just like that I was suddenly hyper aware of my surroundings. How close I was to Laxus, how hot it was under the molten lights, how this dancing felt good in an entirely different way than before. My dancing slowed as I thought 'did I want it feel different, though?'
"Laxus," I breathed not really sure what I wanted to say. He had to lean over to hear me. His breath tickled my ear and I swallowed.
"I'm sorry. About earlier, I didn't mean to start a fight. I don't want to come between you and your friends, I um-" He cut me off, "Aiyana, thanks, but we need to talk about this later. That guy is coming over. Do you trust me?"
I puled back to look him in the eye, "Funnily enough, for the amount of time I've known you, I trust you to the end of the world and back." He smiled wickedly and pulled me closer to him so his leg was between mine. There was now no space between us just like the other dirtier dancers.
"Be gentle Laxus, I've never done this before," I joked with small smile. I started to do figure eights against him. He quickly took the lead grinding against me. It felt awkward and forced. I couldn't look him in the eye when I matched his pace. I forced myself to relax anyway and let instinct guide my movements. I let my hands glide up my front and ran them through my hair. His hands settled on my back helping me guide my movements.
The awkwardness passed and it really felt like the other women made it look. If I wasn't careful I might let it get to me. Wrapping my arms around Laxus's neck I asked, "Did he take the hint?" He rumbled back a 'no'. "Spin me," I commanded.
He did, and I ended with my back to him. My back flush to his front I decided to get creative and took the lead. I grabbed his hands and placed one on my lower hip and the other on the front of my thigh. I let my hands roam up and down my front as I ground back against him, hard. His hands tightened and I knew for more than one reason that I wasn't the only one affected by our dance. I bit my lip and let my head fall back against his chest as I continued grinding back in a figure eight pattern. Through half lidded eyes I glanced in the man's direction. A very big bouncer was walking his way as he obliviously tired to chat up a different woman. Laxus's hand didn't move when the bouncer tapped the man's shoulder. We didn't stop dancing as the man was dragged towards the entrance. I almost couldn't make myself stop and twist to look at Laxus when the man was thrown out. Almost.
"Laxus?" I questioned him. I felt his hands tighten.
"Come home with me, Aiyana," He said.
"Is that really a good idea? I mean I need to talk to you about things," I said more to myself than to him. He turned me to face him, never letting the distance between us grow.
"Are you always this logical? Don't you ever want to just let go? And does it really matter right now if it's a good idea?" he huskily asked and started to grind against me again.
"I-I," I stuttered not thinking straight with the way he was making me feel. "What would I be to you tomorrow?" my voice trembled and suddenly I couldn't stop the words, "I really like you Laxus and right now, the way you're make me feel- I would say no it doesn't matter, but I don't want a one night stand. Not with you." I stepped out of his arms trying to clear my head of the fuzz the dancing caused.
"Aiyana," Laxus said voice still thick, but now coated with worry. He reached out a hand and I panicked and stumbled back only to be steadied by Lucy.
"I need to go home Lucy," I said with a shaky voice. We needed to talk, but I was panicking.
"Aiyana please don't just leave. You're right we do need to talk," he said trying to get me to come back.
"Tomorrow," I promised.
"Let's go. Is Hadwin still here?" Lucy asked leading me away form Laxus. I shook my head no and followed her towards the door. We left Laxus standing on the dance floor surrounded by oblivious dancers under throbbing lights.
"Sweetie what happened?" Lucy asked when we were in the safety of her apartment. We were sitting on her coach no longer wearing our clubbing clothes. I took a sip of my hot chocolate to give myself a moment to figure out where to start.
"Well, everything was going so well. I was dancing with Hadwin, then he left and all of you were there. There was this guy. He... I don't know he just gave me bad vibes. I think it had something with the way he was looking at me. Laxus noticed him before I did. And I guess he thought that if we danced together the guy would get the hint and not try anything with me. He asked if I trusted him, I said yes, and things just escalated," I stopped and took a deep breath.
"You mean that hot dance was to get some guy off your back?" Lucy asked. Clearly my friends were looking out for me. I was touched.
"At first that's all it was, but it felt like more than that. I know that there's some sort of tension between us. I've never really bothered with men before, so I'm kinda clueless when it comes to that. I wanted it to be more than just dancing, though. I didn't want to stop, but I know that I can't just be a one night stand. I need to be more to him than that if I go down that road. Lucy did I leave too quickly? Did I not give him enough time to talk to me? I feel like he was out of line. How do I even talk to him after this?" I searched her face for an answer.
"Well it really depends. You guys do need to talk, especially since it looks like you guys are going to go on a lot of mission together for the Master," Lucy said, "And you did leave rather quickly. What shook you up so bad? You looked like he just said he'd never even consider you for one night stand."
"He asked me to go home with him. And I just panicked I guess. I tried to talk and tell him why that would be a bad idea and suddenly everything was wrong and I just needed to leave," I tried to explain my abrupt panic and need to leave. But I didn't really understand it myself. Why was I so desperate to leave?
"I think I have in-"
Suddenly there was a banging on the door. I jumped and sloshed some hot chocolate onto my hand. Lucy jumped up startled and ran to answer the door. Mirajane stood at the door panting.
"Mirajane? What's wrong?" Lucy asked.
"Aiyana, the Master needs to see you," she gasped out.
"What? What's happened?" I asked a little scared. She sputtered a minute and I realized that she must be spent from her run to get me. "Here, have a drink of my hot chocolate," I said ushering her to the seat I had just vacated.
After she had drunk some and stopped breathing so heavily she said, "Someone showed up at the guild all beat up. The Master took him to the infirmary and then sent me to get you and Lisana to get Laxus." My heart skipped a beat. This was too familiar. I remember this happening before this. The memory of the arena seal painted on the dead man's wall flashed through my mind, as well as a few older memories.
"I need to get some things from my home and then I will head to the guild," I said.
"Mirajane and I will meet you there in a bit," Lucy said a serious look on her face. I nodded at her and ran out the door.
I didn't worry about how loud I was when I banged the door open in my haste. Hadwin could scold me later; I had a really bad feeling. I raced to my room and stripped out of my pajamas. I pulled on the leggings, a short sleeved button up, and my leather jerkin and boots from the time before my last trip. I also grabbed my bag and arm guards to put on on my way to the guild. After I saw them while shopping with girls the second time I just had to have them. As I passed my dresser on the way out I paused. Time was of the essence, but I wanted to be prepared for anything. I delicately grabbed the slender length of barbed wire that I had bought at the same time as the arm guards. Gathering up my hair I braided in the barbed wire and pulled it all up in a tight bun. Old habits from the Arena died hard.
I jogged to the guild. I desperately wanted to sprint there, but I knew that I needed to be ready to fight when I got there. Arriving out of breath was not the best idea if I did have to fight. However, I found the guild floor deserted. Voices floated down from the second floor.
I followed the voices up the stairs and down the hall towards the infirmary. The fear that had settled in my belly spiked towards my heart and twisted in my gut.
As I approached the door the crowd of people surrounding it parted to let me through. They all looked a little stunned. A few of them were talking quietly. As far as I could tell we didn't know the man. The man's appearance was a shock then.
Wendy noticing the movement at the door walked over to me. She was rubbing at her eyes as she walked.
"Who is it?" I asked.
"He's not one of ours. He just showed up at the guild doors,. He just regained consciousness," she responded. I looked over her head to the man lying in the bed. The Master sat at his side quietly talking to him. "He- he was I pretty bad shape Aiyana. I don't know how long he'll be awake or if he'll last. I'm too tired to be sure. Purcila might be able to make sure he lives but I-" she trailed off.
"It's OK Wendy," I said resting my hand on her shoulder, "He's awake and comfortable. You did an amazing job." I gave her shoulder a squeeze and walked into the room. Both the Master and the man looked up at me when I pulled up another chair.
"Hello," I said softly. The man stared at me and said nothing.
"Aiyana this is the man you and Laxus were sent to see," the Master said. I looked over the man's wounds my thoughts racing. His disappearance. The too similar Arena symbol painted on his wall. Master's odd curiosity over my involvement with the past Arena. Abruptly it all clicked. This man had information on the Arena. We had been sent to collect that info. The monsters in the cave were merely a cover. The Arena had captured him. He had escaped.
I stood up quickly, my chair scraping against the floor. I turned to the people crowded at the door. I strode over and said, "It would be best if you all waited down stairs. If anyone needs to enter tell them to knock and wait for me to open the door. Oh, and if one of you would bring up some broth and bread that would be lovely." With that only the man, Master, Wendy, and I were in the room. I turned to Wendy.
"This will be hard to handle. I know you have seen his wounds but if you need to there is no shame in leaving," I said. She nodded and I turned back to the man and sat down.
"My name is Aiyana. I might have some knowledge of what you went through. May I look at your wounds?" I asked in a soft voice. He narrowed his eyes at me and his lips thinned. He was on the defense. I was like that once tool. I decided to try a different approach.
"What was the first weapon they gave you?" I asked pulling at the laces of my left boot to take it off, "Mine was a battle ax." I pulled it off and rolled the sock down. An inch or two above the inside of my ankle was a nasty scar. His eyes widened and just a fraction of the tension he held in his shoulders eased. Carved into my leg were four numbers: 2525.
"They called me 25. What was your number?" I asked.
"106," he answered in a raspy barely there voice. His hands were shaking. I reached out and took one.
"It'll be OK. You're safe here," I said gently, "I''m not sure what has changed since I was there, but it might be some comfort to know that I was once the Champion in the first Arena," I paused to see his reaction. His hand stiffened in mine. His eyes darted to mine in fear. I gave him a soft smile trying to be reassuring. "You are under my protection now. To move against you is to move against me," I told him. Turning to Master I said, "Did he come with a weapon?"
"Yes he did," he said.
"May I see it?" I asked. He nodded and reached into his coat and slowly pulled out a wrapped bundle. I was grateful that he let me take the lead on helping the man. He offered it to me and I took it slowly with my free hand. It would not due to startle him. He had not relaxed again and I could feel his eyes fixed on me.
I unwrapped it in my lap. It was old and had dried blood on it, but I could tell that he had taken good care of it. The blade was long and had a slight curve to it. I grabbed a corner of the clothe and scrubbed at the gore. When it was as clean as I could get it I carefully picked it up and placed it close to the hand I was holding. The relief he felt was viable as he relaxed back into the pillows.
"Don't ever try to take this from him. You were all lucky he was asleep when you took it the first time. My ax didn't leave my side until five years after I got out," I said to the room.
Suddenly there was a sharp knock at the door. He immediately sat up more and reached for the knife. I let go of his hand.
"I'm going to get the door," I said for his benefit. I slowly rose and walked to the door. I cracked the door open slightly to see who it was. Laxus stared down at me, he was holding bread and soup.
"Thank the gods you're here," I said with relief and opened the door for him. He slipped through and I closed it quickly. Once he was through I took the food and turned to the man.
"This is Laxus. He is a good friend of mine. I trust him," I told him. I walked back over and held the food.
"Laxus this is Neno. The man I sent you to see on your last mission with Aiyana," the Master said. Neno eyed Laxus with suspicion. The knife was still clasped in his hand.
I offered him the bowl and asked, "Can we ask you some questions? We need to know more so we can help you."
His eyes never left Laxus, but he nodded nonetheless. Wendy brought over a lap table and I set the food down in front of him. I turned to Laxus and said, "Sit down. You're making us uncomfortable," when he sat I said, "Neno was captured by the Arena. He is now under my protection."
"I see," he said sizing up Neno. Neno did the same. But he seemed to come to some conclusion and let go of his knife and started eating. He wolfed it down. I was glad I had asked for broth and bread. Anything else would probably been thrown up. Looking at me he asked, "What do you need to know?"
"Anything you can remember. Let's start at the beginning. Do you remember what day they took you?" I asked.
"The day before you were supposed to arrive" he said. His voice was still raspy, but the food helped. I blinked. He lasted along time.
"Was the knife they only weapon they gave you?" I asked. He nodded. I was impressed. He lasted a long time with only a knife. " Did they train you to use it?"
He shook his head no. "Wow," slipped past my lips, "I was given basic training with my ax. Much has changed," I paused before asking my next question. If things hadn't changed then this next question was very personal, but I needed to know, "What was your rank?"
He looked away from us. "Adept," he mumbled.
"I'm sorry but I have to ask. I need to make sure it's like it was. Does that still mean 30?" I asked. He shuddered and sniffed. He nodded again.
"It's not your fault. You did what you had to do to live. When I became the Champion I was a Diviner," I admitted, "It takes time but it will get better."
Laxus leaned over and whispered, "What does that mean?"
I glanced at him and said, "We were ranked by how many we killed. Adept meant 30 kills. Diviner was over 100. We did what we had to do to survive."
"How many came to get you?" I moved on.
"I can't remember. Four?" he said still not looking at us.
"How many watched over you all?" I asked.
"Five."
"Do you know how many in the cult?"
He shook his head. I furrowed my brow. "How many were in your cell?"
"When I left I was alone. I think there were 20 cells by me. Those held five each," he said. That meant they would be recruiting soon if they hadn't already. I didn't want to rush the questions. I wanted to give him time, but time was of the essence.
"How many days did it take you to get here?"
"10?" he wasn't sure.
"Can you remember where it is?" this question was the most important.
"I can find it on a map."
"Thank you . That's all we need to know for now," Laxus looked ready to argue so I sent him a glare. He glared back but didn't say anything. "Is there anything we can do to help you sleep?"
He shook his head. "We'll have someone stay with you. I'll be in the building. Call for me and I will come," I said and stood.
"Master is there anyone who can stay with him?" I asked Master. He thought for a moment and said, "I will ask them to come up." With that we left the room; leaving Wendy to check him over again.
Outside the door I stopped and let the others walk ahead of me. I leaned back against the wall and closed my eyes with a sigh and tried to relax. My hands shook as I brought them up to scrub at my face. After a moment of trying to get my emotions under control I moved my hands low enough to open my eyes. Laxus was standing a few feet away from me. I was almost too tired to snap upright. Almost.
"Are you alright?" he asked. I contemplated his question.
"No. I'm not," I replied, "You know when they first told me the Arena was gone I didn't believe them. I almost didn't believe it when I saw the saplings growing were I used to sleep. And so I thought that it was all gone. It could never happen again." I looked at him trying to figure out what he thought about all of this. Laxus knew about my past, but seeing pictures of me fighting and knowing how many people I killed before I was the Champion were two very different things.
"Laxus," I started unsure of how to continue. Before I could say anything he strode over and hugged me.
"Just for one minute, don't say anything," he grumbled into my hair.
After a few moments he said, "You should listen to your own advice. It's not your fault the Arena is back. You've only been here for a few months. Aiyana I'm sorry about early. At the guild and at the club. You mean more to me than just a one night stand."
It was relieving to hear him say that. I was thinking about what I could have done to stop the Arena form coming back.
"Aiyana!" a voice called from down the hall. We broke apart startled.