Hey there you lovely little kittens ^_^ I know I said that I'm in my finals' period but hahaha...I somehow found some time for this...sooooo please enjoy :)
Burning embers shimmered from the desolation that was emanated by where the once whole, prestigious building of Fairy Tail High stood.
Not too long ago-a few days after Gajeel came back home to inform his brothers of Phantom Lord High's director's plans-Natsu, Gray, Erza, Lucy and Wendy reached school early in the morning to find the building damaged beyond repair by extremely huge metal rods. Natsu and Wendy (who had a heads-up about the situation so she can be careful) knew what was happening but seeing the school directed by the man who supported them since a long time ago in such a shape was still a shock to them.
"W-What happened here?" Lucy's voice was shaking from fear.
The same question was roaming in everyone's mind, even the two dragon-slayers. A scent so familiar was hanging in the air and their thoughts were in shambles because of all the questions popping all over their brains. They knew who caused the destruction of the building and they had a hard time believing it even though their senses never lied to them. But, under the shock of the situation they refused to believe their sense of smell this time around. There was no way the smell was right, it was impossible.
The rustic smell of metal and coins that roamed in the air was definitely not the one they were familiar with. The hint of old books and paper was also a lie, it was not true. It could not be true. It was not the same, Natsu and his sister refused to acknowledge the signals that were sent to their brains, allowing them to recognize the unique perfume they were picking up from the air surrounding them. Especially not after they recognized the nauseating and strong smell of blood coming from a spot a little farther then their guild. The blood of someone they were used to smelling, albeit usually it came out less strong and did not make them feel sick since it was underlaid by a layer of soft and light skin. It was the blood of the person they met plenty of times while they were accompanying their older brother. The blood of the one and only mate of Gajeel Redfox, Levy McGarden…
Gray could see it. Both of them stood there as if screwed to the ground by a strong force. Even when Erza told them-ordered them would apply better-to follow her inside the destroyed building, they had not moved a single limb.
Worried, Gray went to the fire mage's side. He took hold of his shoulder and started speaking softly, telling him to follow the others inside but still, the pink headed teenager did nothing to show that he heard him. Not a single sound came out of him. It was like he got frozen stiff by Medusa herself.
The ice devil-slayer tried again but it was no use. Natsu just would not budge. He even tried pulling him which worked in regard of moving him but it gave the impression that he was moving a doll of some sort. It seemed like the poor guy was under some sort of humongous shock. And, nothing better could have been told about Wendy either. In fact, it seems like she was in a worse state than his lover was.
He tried being gentle once again but it still has not worked to snap the other teenager out. Fed up and scared about what was happening Gray threw a punch to his boyfriend's face causing the later to fly and hit a pile of debris caused by the late events that occurred in the city because of Phantom Lord.
He took a deep breath then yelled, "Snap out of it you idiot! I don't know what's going on but you need to snap out of whatever's shocking you! Standing like a statue will not help the situation that's for sure!"
The ice mage stared at where the other boy landed from the punch and a pang of guilt hit him in the guts when he saw the bruise that was starting to form on tanned cheeks. Though, it disappeared when he saw the green orbs he came to love stare back at him with a new light in them and some sort of glint of determination and trust in them for some reason he ignores.
Natsu held his already purple cheek with the palm of his left hand and used the other to stand up from the rubble that was surrounding him. He winced in pain when he tried to retort to his lover and contented himself to simply walk towards Wendy. He picked her up in his arms and turned to face the raven head with a pout adorning his facial features.
"Sorry about freaking you out like that," a tiny blush made its way on one spot next to his nose.
Gray sighed in relief, "No problem, just don't do it again," he made his way to the fire mage and hugged him.
"Sorry," Natsu's voice was soft.
"It's okay," he let go of the other to create enough space to pear at his face, "So? What's wrong?"
"The school building is destroyed."
"I know that, but both you and Wendy were stiff! Wendy still is…"
"Hmm…Where's Erza and Luce?"
"They went inside and don't change the subject, what's wrong?"
"I wasn't, I was just curious!" The fire mage breathed deeply before going on, "I can smell the scent of blood and it's one I know…Also…the metals, I, he, it's not his fault I'm sure of it! He'd never do such a thing willingly! It can't be!"
"Woa, woa! Calm down!" Gray hugged him to his chest in a successful attempt to calm him down, "And who're you talkin' about?"
"My brother, Gajeel, it's him, he's the one who destroyed the guild," he suddenly raised his head out of the comfort of his boyfriend's arms with wide, pleading eyes and trembling lips, "But don't blame him! I'm sure there was a reason to why he did it! He couldn't have done it willingly! Besides he's the one who told us about the attack and-"
"He told you about it? You knew this would happen?" Gray was astonished.
"No! Wait, yes I did, but we didn't know when and how! He told me about it the other day when we came back from the amusement park but Laxus said that it would be better if I kept quiet about it so to not worry anyone and create unnecessary rumors but he said he would make sure to inform the principal Makarov and I'm sure he did!"
"So you're saying that the old man was aware of this?"
"Yes!"
"Then everything's alright ok? No one's going to blame Gajeel for it, will they?"
"I don't know it's just I-I wasn't expecting him to do this a-and…H-He…Levy…," the fire dragon-slayer could not help his stutters.
"Levy? What's wrong with her? What's she got to do with this?"
"I can smell it, it's hers, the blood, it's hers! A-And he-"
"He what Natsu," the ice mage cupped the bruised tan cheek and prompted him in looking at him in the eyes.
The dragon-slayer was about to reply but someone beat him to it, "Gajeel-nii's the one who injured her, his smell is too strongly mixed with that of the blood, but she's not dead, he'd never kill his lover!"
Both teenagers turned their heads towards the one that was currently being held by them. Wendy looked at them before jumping from between her brother's arms and held on to his hand instead. She seemed to have resolved her brain into believing in the iron mage even if what he did was horrible.
"We should go in before they start wondering what happened to us," said Gray.
"Yeah…"
Seeing the dejected face that was made by the pink head, the ice mage leaned in over him and kissed his forehead, causing Natsu to scrunch his face lightly and huff as well. Gray chuckled and started walking towards what was left of their school, pulling the two others along.
By the end of the day, the school principal took a decision and made sure that everyone would follow his instructions by insuring to punish anyone who does not accordingly. He had announced that since there was a possibility that Phantom Lord was aware of every student's living area, it would be safe if they traveled home in groups. Or, better yet, if they were able to sleep over someone else's house then that would be safer for everyone. Next to him, all the teachers stood nodding their heads in approval to his statement.
After his speech, Laxus left his side to pull Wendy and Natsu aside. Succeeding in doing so, he took them to an isolated area and spoke to them with a strain in his voice, proving how unwilling he was of uttering his following words.
"You guys…What the old stupid fucking man said wasn't the end of it," his face was contorted in a mix of anger, helplessness and fright.
"Not the end of it? You mean grandpa hadn't mentioned something?" The sky maiden tilted her head in confusion.
"Well yeah, we should be thankful to him about not mentioning Gajeel, I mean, the stupid baldy sensed his magic all over the place and I think the metal head made sure of that. Also, we have the injured Levy which he didn't mention so that he doesn't frighten or worry the other students. Finally, he also didn't mention that he's planning on doing an infiltration mission…"
"Hmm…, is he planning on using the teachers to do that?" wondered Natsu.
Laxus pinched the bridge of his nose, "No! And that's why I feel like plummeting him to the ground, but do I have a say in this? Nooooo! He just had to make the decision on his own the motherfucking shit," he grumbled the last part under his breath.
"Anyways, the bastard wants you guys to infiltrate that shit fuck of a school," he tried to sound as nonchalant as possible.
"Uuuuuuh…Wait…Let me get this straight, old man wants me and Wendy to pretend we're students of Phantom Lord to get some information on why they attacked?" Natsu pointed at himself and his sister before narrowing his eyes when Laxus nodded in confirmation with his words.
"Nope. Not happening. Sorry man, this ain't happening! I'll go, sure! But Wendy's not gonna be going!"
"Look here kid, if it were up to me none of you is going but we owe the old man a lot so I just couldn't say no!" he pulled at his hair in frustration.
"I know that, I'm really grateful to him for that but Wendy's not going!"
"N-Natsu-nii, I-I don't mind."
"Wendy no! I'm not going to deliberately put you in danger!" He turned to face the blond man, "If you don't want me to go alone, you better find someone else other than Wendy to accompany me!"
The lightening mage sighed in resignation, "Fine, but who would go there and be recognized by Gajeel? It has to be someone he knows so that if something happens and both of you get separated or anything like that before meeting him, he'd know that the person is not an enemy but a spy sent by us."
"Levi-nee would have been a good option…," muttered Wendy.
"Even if she wasn't in any critical condition I wouldn't have sent her, Gajeel would have had all of our heads off," replied Laxus.
"What about Gray? He knows Gray and he's my b-boyfriend so it should be fine right?" suggested Natsu.
Laxus stared at him with a raised brow as he hummed. A glint of mischief flashed in his blue electric eyes when a smirk stretched on his lips, making his younger brother shiver in fear of whatever the elder dragon-slayer was planning.
"Not bad Natsu," he ruffled said boy's hair, "Like this the infiltration plan would work tons times better."
"E-Eh? What do you mean Laxus?"
"It means what it means dear younger brother," he took hold of the pink head's collar and dragged him along as he made his way back with Wendy walking next to them calmly.
He then started to laugh maniacally, making the other two stare at each other in worry. It wasn't long before the worry in Natsu's facial features transformed into that of a horrified one when the blond uttered his next words.
"By the way Natsu, did I mention that you will have to go there disguised as a pink haired girl?"
You could only hear the screams and yells of a pour soul resonate in the destroyed guild of Magnolia as said soul tried to run away from the clutches of his demonic brother but in vain.
There! Now then, a penny for your thoughts? ^.^
