Chapter Two: After Nine Long Years
"Recruit Laxus Dreyar is wanted in the Principle's office." An officer had ordered.
All students in the class room had turned their heads to look at the man in question who was reclined in his chair with a look of disinterest.
"What did you do this time Dreyar?" Came the mocking tone of one of his classmates.
"Shut your mouth Gajeel!" Snapped the blonde, his grey eyes narrowed into a menacing glare, making everyone including the instructor to recoil back in a bit of fear.
With a sigh of annoyance he pushed back his chair, the sound of wood scratching on stone made the room cringe. "I'm coming." He had simply stated.
After he had left the class he shoved his hands into his pockets, stealing a glance at the female officer, he was caught by her light pink hair and what seem to be a permanent scowl on her old face.
"What does the only man want me for? I was in the middle of class." Laxus said with a smirk on his face. "Out of all the people in this academy, I thought that he would have known how important my education is. And he would have been the last person to pull me out of class." His tone was mocking as he smirked down at the older woman.
She rolled her eyes, her irritation clearly visible in the way that she was clenching her jaw.
"That old man is your grandfather and the Principle of this Academy! You will show him respect! Or so help me I will personally make sure that you are sent to the front lines!" Her voice was sharp and demanding and sadly it didn't have the desired effect. All the younger man did was laugh at her empty threat.
Moments later they were both in front of two large oak doors that had gold words engraved into the old wood, Principle Makarov's Office, it read. "Behave yourself child!" The woman growled.
Laxus merely laughed. "Of course Medical Captain Porlyusica." With a half ass salute he open the door and walked in, the sound of retreating footsteps floated into his ear and Laxus' eyebrows rose in slight surprise. So he was going to be with the old man alone. Whatever he was needed for must be very important to be only the two of them. Now the whole thing had his attention and his curiosity was making him eager to figure out his new orders.
Being trained to do so from a very young age, the moment the door had shut behind him he became as stiff as a board. He arm shot up to make a perfect salute, the exact opposite of what he had done moments earlier. "Major General Dreyar! At your service Sir!" Like a perfectly memorized line his voice was loud and clear and it made the small old man, sitting behind the large desk, to chuckle into his cup of tea, the smell of whisky lingered in the air from where the old man had spiked his drink.
"At ease Private…" He gave the blonde a kind smile and beckoned with his hand for his to come nearer.
"Now tell me." He ordered. "Why do you think you are here?" His voice was laced with humor and the sound made Laxus roll his eyes.
The simple act, to any other higher ranking officer would have cost him dearly, however when in the presence of his Grandfather and only his Grandfather, the titles of the military were melted away and only a strong family bond was left.
"I'm tempted to say that you missed your only grandson and you decided to pull him out of class to save him from a death caused by boredom?" Once again his signature smirk made way to his lips and he rose his hands up to cross over his broad chest.
The General laughed and took a sip of his tea. "Sadly that is not the case my boy. You are here today on regards of a new student that we will be taking in later today." Placing the fine china down, he leaned forward and rested his elbows on top of the mahogany desk, lacing his fingers in front of his face. His once kind eyes had turned sharp and demanding, belonging to a true leader of an Army. With that look alone Laxus new that whatever was going to come out of the old man's mouth was going to be important and he better have both ears open.
"This new student is a rather interesting case, his is not a citizen of our nation, but of one of our allies, the nation Shingoshita. The boy is of very important blood. However some problems have been rising among both our nations." And the General was correct, there had been some dispute over land that was neutral territory between them. Resources had been found within the earth of said territory and both sides were trying to fight to see who would take control of the resources, such as oil and coal. Luckily they hadn't resorted to a war, but everyone new that it was bound to happen.
"I personally feel that it's too dangerous for him to be here, but the higher ups think it's a good idea to have him here, to show that we can all be friends." Laxus' grandfather continued.
Finally with a moment of pause the younger man was able to take in the new information and with a sigh of annoyance said. "So you want me to essentially baby sit some spoiled brat who probably hasn't seen a single drop of blood?" A bit of anger flared up in him at the thought that in his grandfather's eyes he was only good as some over paid bodyguard then a true solider.
"Calm down boy, don't judge the lad before you even have a chance to meet him. I hear he is rather good at handling a blade." A look of interest crossed the old man's face in the form of a raised eyebrow.
But a head of green hair caught Laxus' eye.
His heart stopped and his breath caught in the back of his throat as recognition soon took over.
The boy with long green hair felt eyes on him and he looked up, his dark blue eyes widening in shock and surprise. A faint blush was painted on his cheeks and it took all of Laxus' will power not to rush out of the office and pull the mysterious boy close, to see if it was the same little boy he had encountered nearly nine years ago.
As if on cue, the heavens open up and soon rain was pouring down on the boy.
His pink lips parted in surprise and his head tilted back to see the grey clouds become darker and the rain fall harder.
General Makarov jumped in surprised and turned in his chair to see not only the new student, but the crying heavens as well.
"Laxus fetch the boy out of the rain and bring him to my office! We wouldn't want out our guest to catch a cold!" He gave a joyful laugh at the idea of adding a new student to his large number of children.
The boy in question was knocked out of whatever trance he was in and spun on his heels, immediately finding his grandpa's umbrella he rushed out of the office. His heart was pounding in his chest as he practically ran to the front doors, he couldn't breathe enough oxygen into his system and it was making him go light headed.
He reached the front door and pushed them open, the umbrella was open at that point and he looked around, trying to find the unique head of green hair and when he found the boy, their eyes met and time stopped.
It truly was the same boy he had met nine years ago. The only difference was that he was no longer a small boy, but a handsome young man. Tall and elegant with all the looks of a true noblemen, and it took Laxus' breath away. It seem that was all the boy did to him.
Blue met with grey as their eyes locked with one another. The small man jumped up in surprise as his own look of familiarity bloomed on his angelic features. His already dark blush, darken even more and he cast his head down in embarrassment, his bangs hiding most of his face.
The simple act in a strange way put Laxus at ease and he was able to have his lips form their trade mark smile.
"Hey, you must be the new student that we got today! My name is Laxus Dreyar and I'm going to be your guide." He walked to the flustered man and made sure that he was under the umbrella.
The sudden stop of rain on the smaller boy's head made him look up in surprise and when he noticed who was shielding him momentarily from the harsh elements his dark blue eyes widen.
"Hello…" He said. "My name is Freed Justine, it's very nice to meet you." His voice was low and laced with hesitation, but when he saw Laxus smile his heart melt.
"It's nice to meet you too."