[Disclaimer: As always, I don't own any lines that are quoted; quotes use dubs.]
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Totomaru let out a long sigh. "This job is so boooorrring. What's the deal with this chick anyway?"
Aria, with whom he was searching, began to tear up. The fire mage wished he were surprised. "It's such a tragedy.. A family torn assunder by a rebellious spirit... A father willing to go to such extremes to see his precious child returned to his care..."
Or a rich guy too lazy to go look for himself, Totomaru mentally snarked. Still, he shrugged and supposed he shouldn't complain when the guy was paying so well.
"Sup losers," came a familiar voice. The duo had just enough time to turn around before the dragon slayer hit the pavement.
"Not much. You have any luck on your end?"
A bright grin flashed. "Oh, I don't think we'll need to search any longer. The little flies should be coming to us soon enough."
"Really?" Gajeel explained his actions, earning a somewhat mixed laugh from the fire mage. "Dude that sounds kinda harsh. But I guess it certainly should get the job done!" Besides, the victims would probably recover, right? It wasn't like he actually killed anyone, so no need to get too worked up.
"How very... tragic." Although Aria's words carried a lament, both his comrades got the distinct feeling that he approved of this action.
Man, that guy's got issues, Gajeel thought, shaking his head. "Anyway, figured there's no sense in hangin' around this scrap heap of a town any longer."
Totomaru nodded. "You tell the others yet?"
"Nah, they're next." He actually couldn't believe his luck in coming across these two first. After all, there was a virtual beacon for the others: the three Phantom wizards headed toward the center of the single dark cloud that hovered over Magnolia.
For a few minutes, they simply walked in silence. Then Totomaru broke it. "...Soo." Gajeel's answer was a questioning glare; from the tone alone, he was already feeling an urge to punch him. Despite this, the young wizard continued. "Have you made up with her yet?"
Silence, broken only by footsteps.
"Gajeel?"
A little longer. Then, "Dunno whatcher talkin' about." The words dripped venom.
Totomaru rolled his eyes, though the slayer in front of him couldn't see as much. "Uh-huh." Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. Nothing but boots on pavement. "Have you guys ever fought before?"
No..
A little disagreement here or there, and even some sparring matches, but not... a fight. He honestly had no idea what to do, but from where he stood, she was just being a stubborn bitch and needed to come down off her damn high horse.
The splatter of raindrops joined the clatter of feet. Gajeel still only glared.
"Tis always so sad when lovers quarrel," remarked Aria.
"Watch yer fuckin' mouth." His scowl fell back over his shoulder again.
Totomaru raised his hands defensively. "Easy big guy. We're just tryin' ta help." He was even pissier than usual today, it seemed. "I know how much I hate fighting with my girlfriend."
At that last word, Gajeel's eyes widened, and a moment later his Iron Dragon Club skimmed within inches of Totomaru's face; he'd dodged. The slayer's voice was a thin rasp. "She is not." His metal arm retracted. "My fucking." It reverted to flesh. "Girlfriend."
She had made that much explicitly clear. He wasn't her type. She couldn't see a future with him. So why should he give a damn.
A dark, malevolent aura seemed to radiate off the dragon after that remark, and Totomaru, heart still racing, decided he'd push his luck no farther.
It seemed he wouldn't have had much chance to do so anyway, as it was only a minute later that a familiar chant rang out. "Drip, drip, drop." Gajeel wondered for just a moment if she'd overheard them before remembering that he didn't care.
Sol's form half-rose out of the street nearby. "Bonjour! To what do we owe ze pleasure of zis meeting?"
"We're going home," Gajeel said shortly.
"Did Gajeel's plan work, then?" droned the rain woman. He'd seen her like this before, when she first joined Phantom. He'd seen her at times interacting with others in the guild or with clients or people around town. He knew she got like this when she was upset, or angry, or worried she was being a bother. But it had been so long since that tone was directed at him.
More than that, though: technically, the answer was no. "It will when they see what else I left 'em." He plastered on an arrogant smirk.
Juvia.. was afraid to ask. "Do you have the girl," she didn't quite ask. She could see them, after all, though she supposed they could have left her somewhere.
His grin faded. "... No."
"Do you know where to find her."
And turned to a scowl. "... No."
"Then Juvia will continue searching."
"We're going home," Gajeel commanded.
"The mission," replied Juvia, "is not complete. Gajeel may go. But Juvia will not."
His eyes narrowed, and he broke into something of a snarl. "Fine. We don't need all yer doom an' gloom anyway."
The stoic face flashed with emotion, but it was not the kind Gajeel had ever hoped to see. For just a moment he thought she would cry, and he fought to keep himself from reacting accordingly. But soon enough, her expression grew even harder than before. "Very well," she said flatly.
She spun on her heels, then, and headed back the way they'd come.
One hand started to move, as if he would reach out to stop her, but he denied it. Let her go. What business was it of his.
All eyes turned then to Sol, who sighed. "I zuppose it would not do to have le mademoiselle wandering about by her lonesome, oui?" With a look to Gajeel, he added, "With your permission, mon capitaine?"
Gajeel let out something between a groan and a sigh. "Whatever. Let's just go you two." With that, Sol melted back into the ground, and Gajeel and the others headed for the train station. Totomaru and Aria exchanged a look, but said nothing.
-
Juvia would have been fuming, if she didn't feel so dead inside. She was such a foolish child. After all this time, his true feelings had shown through, and lo and behold: he'd just been using her. Lying, sugarcoating, tolerating her to get what he wanted.
Just like all the others.
She wasn't even sad. She was just empty.
That was, until Sol began to speak up. "Ma chère, are you certain you're all right?"
"I'm fine."
Sol's jaw went a little slack. Who... was fine? He melted back into the earth and re-emerged closer to her. "Forgive me. I meant no offense."
Her eyes never moved from the path ahead. "None taken."
Fingers tapped at his chin as he thought on what he could say that might ease the situation. "You and Gajeel... You are camarades, non?"
"I suppose." Never did her monotone waver. "That is the point of a guild."
Non, non, non, that wasn't what he was trying to say. "Mes excuses. What I mean to say is..." Again he melted, popping up on the opposite side. "Anyone with eyes can see you two are.." He tapped his fingertips together. "Ezpecially close, ma chère. Like... famille? Or perhaps... amoureaux?"
Juvia was only about 90% certan she got all of his.. whatever language that was. But if he was saying what she thought he was, she didn't like it. "Juvia is a gloomy rain woman," was her answer, the barest hint of bite entering her words. "Drip.. Drip.. Drop."
Sol frowned. Shame. This was the sort of thing he would simply love to delve deeper into were it not one of his companions. His specialty was aggrivating wounds, not tending them. Still, he supposed it was clear enough in this case what had her so upset. "I'm sure he was merely speaking in anger, ma petite fleur."
She almost wanted to believe that, but she had dealt with this far too many times before. Already she had let her naive hopes get the best of her toward him. It would not happen again.
"I know you may disagree with his methods, but I am sure he is only thinking of ze guild, as are you. Monsieur Gajeel simply-"
Juvia cut him off with a glance. "With all due respect, Sol," she snapped, more emotion in these few moments than she would show again for days. "Monsieur Gajeel can go fuck himself."
-
The ride back to Oak Town was fortunately not a long one; Magnolia wasn't quite its next door neighbor, but it wasn't terribly far from it. As such, the three elite wizards soon found themselves back at their own guild.
Master Jose was busy just that moment, it seemed, so Totomaru and Aria excused themselves and headed upstairs. Gajeel didn't feel like being there right now. In fact, he didn't feel like much of anything.
Food. Food was always comforting. And by food, he meant he had already found his way to the storage room and dragged out a box full of scrap metal to dump on a table. Another followed it, and another, until he had more than he could possibly eat in one sitting. Still, it was a beautiful sight. Jose could just take his sweet fucking time; Gajeel had everything he needed right here.
Even through the constant crunch, crunch, crunch he could occasionally pick up sounds of everyone in the guild going on about the recent events. Seemed the others had let a few details slip on their way up. Typical. Not that he especially minded; he just wished everyone would calm their tits until the actual report was given. At this rate he wasn't even going to need to talk to Jose.
Some twenty minutes into his meal, however, one of his more.. sociable guildmates approached. "So, Gajeel!" Ugh, he hated this guy. No respect for rank. He just thought he could be buddy-buddy with anyone. "I heard you made a mess out of the Fairy Tail guild hall! Oh man, I wish I coulda seen the looks on their faces!" If there was a more obnoxious voice in Phantom Lord, Gajeel wasn't sure he'd heard it. "They prob'ly ran away cryin' ta their mommies!" He just. kept. going. "Boo, hoo! Somebody awob bmah grway ousz."
That last bit might have been muffled by the sound of his biting down on a mouthful of scrap, or he might have just started tuning the guy out; probably the latter. Whatever the reason, it certainly wasn't that the author replayed this scene about 20 times and was still left wondering what the hell he was saying. ... Cough.
Whatever the case, the obnoxious sound of the guy's laughter sent him over the edge, and he quickly delivered an Iron Dragon Club to the face. "How many times do I hafta tell ya, I don't like ta be bothered while I'm eating!"
A wave of snickers passed through the nearby members. Seemed Gajeel wasn't the only one who didn't like this guy.
All the same, he figured he may as well address it, lest he be interrupted yet again. He'd already stood in the process of attacking, and now turned to face the others. "And besides. Those Fairy Tail clowns can't challenge us. We're way more powerful than they could ever hope ta be." They could accept that or try to prove him wrong, but either way ended with Fairy Tail's humiliation and Phantom Lord's exaltation.
"The die has been cast." The crisp, authoritative voice rang through the room, silencing everyone. It seemed Jose had finally found a moment for them. What perfect timing. "I compliment your excellent work, Gajeel."
So it seemed he'd overheard about the guild hall after all, or perhaps been filled in by Totomaru or Aria. Just as well. As long as he knew, Gajeel certainly wasn't going to complain; less work for him. Giving reports was never his favorite part of the job anyway. Still, he wasn't sure if Jose knew both parts of the story. "I didn't think we were hard enough on 'em, so I decided to leave 'em a little somethin' extra," he snarked, and a grin spread. "A present... that's sure to get those Fairy Tailers's panties in a knot."
"Very good, my boy." If Jose knew Gajeel, his so-called present was certain to have been excessive to say the least. Then again, Jose did know Gajeel, and he knew exactly what he'd been asking for when he sent the iron dragon on this particular mission. "Be sure to take extra care that no harm comes to that one, if you please," he half-sang.
"Gi hi." They both knew this wasn't about the job; to the contrary, the little rich girl was likely to be the only one Jose cared about harming, and only for reputation's sake even then. The money was a nice bonus, but it would benefit the individual wizards far more than the guild itself. If the literal castle wasn't enough indication, Phantom Lord was not hurting for funds.
"Would I be correct in assuming that we should be hearing an answer soon?" Gajeel could practically see the wheels turning.
"Should unless the cowards are totally spineless."
The smile left Jose's eyes, but widened upon his lips. ..Shit. "And if they are?" The tone had become even sweeter, to an uncomfortable degree.
Gajeel's grin fell, but he simply shrugged and averted his gaze nonchalantly. "Then the rain woman and the foreigner are still lookin' fer the girl."
The venom left the master's voice. "I see. Yes, that is indeed quite excellent then." In truth, he knew Makarov well enough to know he would not back down once properly provoked; he just didn't want Gajeel getting lazy on him. Had to keep the dragon on his toes. "Quite excellent indeed." His voice trailed off, as though he were talking more to himself there. "It seems preparations must be made. Be sure to see me first thing in the morning."
He was turning away now, so Gajeel went back to his metallic buffet. As he gnawed away at a slightly rusty crowbar, he found himself slightly- slightly- grateful that Juvia's decision had bailed him out there. He knew Jose was rarely likely to do anything to him unless he really, really fucked up, but it still was good to stay on the Master's good side when he could.
Of course, that didn't change that he was still pissed about at how stubborn she was being, either. That expression when he'd lashed out again crossed his mind, and his teeth snapped the crowbar clean in two. It's her own damn fault, he insisted. She's too soft for her own good.
Soft like her sky blue curls. Soft like her perfect breasts. Soft like her heartfelt gaze every time he was having a bad da-
Fucking shit! He stuffed his cheeks full of as many nuts and bolts as they could hold and concentrated on nothing but chewing. He barely wanted such girly sissy thoughts even when he was writing and he certainly didn't want them now.
All the same, despite all his efforts, the Dragon Slayer soon found his thoughts straying once more. Wonder how she's doin'...
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A/N: I don't have much to say here. I just love Gajeel and Juvia both so much. :'3