Sorry for the wait, I had to get a new computer and such. I still do not have Microsoft Office so I've been writing in Google Docx. Not the best so I'm sorry if the formatting of this chapter is a bit strange. And just a little warning, Laxus may seem a bit OOC, I am not sure though. I tried my best to keep him in character but it is so hard sometimes ;A;. Anyway, feels are found in this chapter and made me smile.

Silent Thunder

Filler

Chapter 6: Festival of Feels

The quiet pitter patter of water droplets on leaves was the only thing Ringo could hear as she and Laxus emerged from their shelter. The strong scent of wet grass and floral hit their noses, causing Laxus to wrinkle his sensitive one slightly. The day had started off perfectly clear but the gray clouds had rolled in fast and even though the two knew the storm was coming, their lack of shelter had caused them to hide under a small shrine for a fox deity.

Ringo bowed to the statue of a long faced fox before sighing in relief that the storm had not produced any thunder. Laxus pulled at his wet shirt slightly, only to have it snap against his skin again. Ringo's own outfit was wet as well, clinging to her features and becoming uncomfortable. She tugged at her loose shirt as well as it clung to her stomach and back, wanting to change into dry clothing.

Like Laxus, her hair was soaked but it felt much heavier due to the large amount that she had compared to the man. She gripped a knee length twin tail and started to ring it out, seeing the steady drip of water add to the muddy pools of water on the dirt road. After getting a large amount out, she released the now coarse hair and looked up at her friend.

Laxus didn't say anything but started to walk in the direction they had originally intended. Ringo followed behind him, her soaked sandals squeaking slightly with each step and causing water to splash on her bare legs. The same happened with Laxus, darkening the blue pants he wore even more. With each step, both mages grew more impatient and wanting to change into dry clothing.

After several agonizing minutes of walking with wet feet and an annoying squeaking noise, the two came within sights of a fair sized town. Ringo gave a small smile, happy to finally be able to change into dry clothing as well as dry off herself. She began to make her way to the town with Laxus behind her. The lightning mage watched the back of her head, waiting for her to say she couldn't go into the town.

The typical excuse never came however; as they crossed a small bridge over a creek, now full of water from the afternoon storm. The town showed all the signs of having been hit by the rain: the cobblestone walk was darker, water poured into barrels from gutters and water droplets slowly fell victim to gravity whilst they clung to the window glass. Though there were a decent amount of people walking, nearly everyone held a closed umbrella, some soaked and others dry, in case of another shower from the still present grey clouds.

Ringo stuck close to Laxus as they began to walk through the lively town. The air was a bit muggy despite the autumn season but the wind kept them cool. Ringo looked up at the buildings, all were made of stone and the houses were set up on hills, looking like giant steps. Many had railings wrapped around them, allowing access to other parts of the town, but very few had any greenery.

Laxus stopped when he spotted a clothing store and gripped one of Ringo's twin tails. Tugging it slightly, the girl turned to him, having his full attention. The man thrusted a thumb in the direction of the store and Ringo's eyes immediately lit up. Laxus released her brown hair as she bounded towards the store. Without a second of hesitation, she went into the store, followed by Laxus who found no harm in buying himself a dry outfit.

Like many other times, Ringo spent quite a bit of time, going through the outfits and finding which ones she liked better. When all was said and done, she had chosen some dark denim shorts and a simple white tank top with light beige boots and a flower clip for her hair. Laxus wore a pair of black breeches and a white collared shirt along with a new pair of shoes which weren't soaked and caked in mud.

When they left, Ringo was smiling to herself and Laxus could almost hear a faint hum. "Boots really are more comfortable than sandals." She said, smiling at him. He remembered when they first met and how cut up Ringo's feet ended up in the desert from her cursed habit of fashion over logic. "But they have to be cute boots." She looked at the short boots which were folded over with white lace. Laxus smiled ever so slightly. Some things about the woman would not change.

The two continued their walk, mostly in silence or Ringo pointing out some places she would like to visit. They had already agreed to get a hotel for the night; this would be the first time they both had slept in a real bed in a long time. While looking for a decent place to stay, Ringo's attention was distracted by a dragon fly which was flying around. It darted past her quickly but came back. If it wasn't such a blue colour, she probably would never be able to keep up with the creature as she found herself following it. When the speedy insect was finally lost, Ringo stopped and looked around, finding herself separated from Laxus.

With a small frown, she looked around to find her bearings. In her little distraction, she had managed to climb to the upper part of the town. She looked for a higher place to climb and found that she could easily get to the roof of a house from where she stood. Going over to the guard rail that protected the small drop, Ringo climbed onto it and jumped onto the back fence of the house. Losing her balance quickly, she flailed slightly before running along it till she jumped onto the slanted roof. Her feet slid under her slightly from the slickness caused by the rain but she gripped onto the tile with her bare hands and managed to scramble to the top.

Standing up on the peak of the roof, the wind struck at Ringo more than it had on the hill. Her long hair began to flow in the steady breeze, wrapping around and getting into her face. Pushing a strand behind her, she tapped the headphones that she always kept on in order to protect her magic sensitive hearing. She took in a deep breath and calmed the tightening that had occurred in her stomach since she had entered.

The town was lively but unlike before, it did not feel like knives stabbing her ears. It was loud, but still felt like normal people talking. Quieter than a shout, but louder than a whisper, the noises around her seemed to be at a normal level, a level of hearing that she could get used to. She could only think that it was because of Laxus. Being around him calmed her down and even in a town like this, she didn't feel that fear as much.

Smiling to herself, Ringo felt proud at how far she had come. With a simple wave of her hands, she increased the level of her hearing and focused. To her, the town rushed around her, the sounds going by, morphing together and forming individual words and sentences. She could hear each conversation as she allowed herself to float through the town, wrapping it all around her. Footsteps, breathing, even heart beats were in her field of hearing and their individuality was broken down until she found the one she was looking for. The heavy footsteps of the muscular man that were steady but not forceful, the shallow breathing that never showed panic and the steady heartbeat that at that time seemed to beat a bit faster.

Opening her eyes, Ringo changed her hearing back to the way it was before. She had found Laxus. He was three streets over and down the hill and seemed to be moving at a steady pace. With that in mind, Ringo slid down the roof of the house and jumped over to the next one. With the position of the houses, she could easily get three levels down by just going across the roofs. As she did so, her booted feet slid a few times, causing her knees to knock into the roof tiles more than once. Each time her knee hit, she bit back her tears and suppressed a necessary yelp of pain. Wiping away the few tears that appeared in the corner of her eyes, she stood up and continued on. After making it to the road which Laxus was walking on, Ringo hopped down on to the railing which wrapped around the home she stood on. With her feet on flat ground, she made her way down the steep steps.

When the blonde man came into view, Ringo waved her hand. "Laxus!" she called, instantly getting the mage's attention. Since had been looking for her after she had disappeared, Laxus snapped into attention when he heard her voice, and saw that she was running down stairs carelessly. As soon as he started to think she would fall, her foot slipped on a small puddle of water and the sound mage tumbled down the stairs and managed to flip over the railing, falling to the ground, two stories below.

Seeing the woman falling down, Laxus ran underneath in an attempt to catch her, only to have her foot hit him in the face and cause him to fall backwards. The lightning mage landed on his butt hard but caught himself with his arms, still sitting up. Ringo was sitting on his stomach, legs on either side of him and back pressed against his drawn up legs. She had one hand on his knee while the other was resting on his abs, her hair draping over both of them.

Ringo's fast breathing slowly calmed down as Laxus's face turned to a set scowl, his temper flaring. "What made you think that was a good idea?" he asked her, growling almost as she looked up at him.

Her panting soon twisted into a smile that she was trying to hide before she covered her mouth and shook slightly, suppressing her laughter. "I didn't think I would fall." She said, catching her breath and smiling at the man. "Thank you for catching me." Her shoulders still rose and fell as she laughed silently.

Laxus gave a tempered sigh and ordered her to get off. Ringo obeyed and watched him sit up and wipe himself off. With the ground having been wet, his butt was damp now and uncomfortable. "Sorry," Ringo said honestly. "I got distracted by a dragonfly."

Laxus stared at her but couldn't find the ability to get angry, knowing that she had at least admitted to doing something stupid. He waved it off and pointed to a building on a few meters away. "We'll stay here." He told her as Ringo noticed that it was in fact a hotel.

Without a protest, the two secured a room on the top floor of the three story hotel. When Laxus unlocked the door, they found it to be a small but cozy room with two queen sized beds, a bathroom with shower and a small kitchenette. The only light in the room came from the open windows. Laxus walked over to the bedside table which was positioned between their beds and ran a hand over the lachrima lamp placed on top of it. The circular lamp started to glow, slowly illuminating the room and revealing a simple floral pattern on the room's wall paper.

Ringo smiled at the quaint room and sat down on the bed closest to the door, claiming it as hers. Laxus dropped his bag on the other bed with no protest, not caring which bed he got. Feeling the plush bedding underneath her bottom, Ringo laid back, her head resting on a soft feather pillow. With her eyes closed, she was content where she lay.

Laxus watched her relax on the hotel bed. It did not take long for her breathing to slow and she fell into a simple slumber. The man sat on the side of the bed closest to her. He propped his head up in his hand and watched her sleep for a few minutes. The girl had instantly fallen asleep just from being on a bed, a reaction he had never seen before, even within his former guild. The small smile he had from watching Ringo disappeared as he thought of his former guild. The mistakes he had made there were harsh and he knew now what his faults were; the words from John lingered on him. How many people knew what he had done and of his exile? He stayed silent; his mind lingering to the names of a few people he hoped would never find his location. For his own sake and Ringo's as well.

The bed creaked and he looked up to find Ringo having curled up on top of the sheets, putting her body into a tight ball. Her hair was trapped underneath her and she shivered slightly, attempting to get warm. Laxus reached across to her bed and managed to get the blanket over top of her. As soon as the warmth touched her, she cuddled up against it before continuing her nap.

Laxus continued to watch her as the sun went down, causing their lachrima lamp to illuminate Ringo's face. Her squarish jaw was hidden by her thick hair but her short round nose could easily be seen. Her thick eyelashes hid the dark colour of her eyes and her thick eyebrows gave her a childish look despite her mature air. Like many women Laxus had seen before, she was attractive, yet she was one, he didn't want to see walk away.

With the sun already below the horizon and the dark clouds now hiding the night sky's stars, Laxus decided it would be bet to go to bed. He stood up and removed his shoes and shirt and got under the covers of his bed, moving over to the side closest to the window. He stared out the open window for a few minutes before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep slowly.

When morning came, Ringo awoke before Laxus even began to stir. When she moved to sit up, a strand of her long hair got caught underneath her arm, yanking at her head. She grounded her teeth and slowly moved her arm off of the hair, only to do it again with the other one. After being thoroughly woken, Ringo stood up and stretched. She looked over at Laxus and saw the man still sleeping and facing her. She smiled and sat on the edge of the bed. Despite the still cloudy sky outside, she could see Laxus clearly.

His sharp nose that fit perfectly on his angular face made him look rough but the small frown on his thin lips never showed it. Sure there were times where Ringo found Laxus to be quite scary and hard, but here he didn't quite look soft. His eyebrows furrowed slightly, showing a dislike in wanting to be woken up, a thought Ringo didn't intend to do. Standing up, the young woman walked over to the bathroom and proceeded to take a shower.

The noise of the water running was was woke Laxus up. He had heard the rush of water going but figured it to be more rain until he heard it change into a steady stream of a shower. He sat up, the bed squeaking slightly under his weight as the sheets fell to his waist. Scratching his head, he decided to wait until she was done to take his shower and to get up. Several minutes passed and the water stopped. He could hear the curtain move aside and the sound of Ringo attempting to right herself on the wet tiled floor of the bathroom. Several more minutes passed and the girl did not emerge. Finally the time for a normal person to be done had passed and he got up.

Walking over to the bathroom, he knocked on the door before opening it. Inside, Ringo stood at the sink, a white towel with the hotel insignia was wrapped around her chest and waist, practically glowing against her tanned skin. Another towel was in her hands, wrapped around a clump of her long hair while the rest was free. Ringo looked up at him with a smile. "Sorry, I couldn't get the hair dryer to start." she admitted, knowing that her hair took forever to dry without one.

Laxus looked at the sink, it was a white marble colour and had just enough room for a bulky hair dryer and a towel stack. He picked up the silver painted device and pushed a button on it. Holding it up to Ringo's face, he held down a lever and warm air rushed at her. Ringo's eyes widened as her hair flew back and the warm air wrapped around it. Giggling, she moved her hair in front of it to dry off. Laxus smiled at her and placed the hair dryer down when her long locks were back to their original state.

Gathering her clothes, Ringo scooted past Laxus who still stood in the doorway. "I'll change out here." she said and pointed to a dresser that was across from the toilet. "There are towels, soap and shampoo bottles in there." She closed the door behind her and walked over to her bed. As she dumped the clothing onto it, she heard Laxus start up the shower.

Pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, she froze, realizing that her blue headphones were not in place. Her hands shook as she went through her clothing and pulled out the magical devices. She carefully put them to her ears, hooking them on a releasing a sigh of relief. Her hearing went silent, but then it came back and she felt a bit tired.

Ringo smiled and began to get dressed as Laxus continued his shower.

When Laxus came out of the bathroom, towel rolled up across his bare shoulders and dressed in his pants, he spotted Ringo sitting on the windowsill. Her back was against the frame, one leg hanging out and resting on the ledge just outside while her other barely brushed against the carpet floor. She looked at him and smiled before turning back to look at the sky which was now beginning to clear. She was dressed, but her shoes rested at the edge of the bed and her hair was still loose.

"Tonight is a festival." Ringo told him, not turning to face him. Laxus sat down on his bed and pulled a tank top over his solid frame. "There are supposed to be fireworks and food stands and games." She turned now and looked at him with a puzzled look.

"Are fireworks pretty?" she asked. She turned her whole body to face him, bringing her other leg to rest against the one that was already inside. "Grandfather never let me see them."

"They are." Laxus said, remembering the ones that Natsu always put on display at Fantasia. "But they are loud."

Ringo frowned and looked up at the ceiling. That was obviously the reason why her grandfather had never let her go and see them. She looked down at Laxus and grinned. "Can we watch them?" she asked. "I want to see them."

Laxus was a bit surprised as Ringo's request. He had thought for sure that she would avoid them after him telling her they were loud. But instead she was smiling. In her eyes he couldn't help but notice a small light, one that he had noticed in many guildmates before his exile, even in the eyes of people he had fought. It was the simple urge to try and become stronger and he himself had to smile in response. This determination was something he liked.

"Alright." he said, standing up. "We'll sit on the roof of the hotel. It will be a good place to watch them."

Ringo's eyes brightened and she jumped up, her hair flying slightly as she took a step closer to Laxus. "Thank you." she said cheerfully, holding the upper part of his arm. She let go almost right away and quickly slid on her boots, eager to prepare for the nights festival.

Night could not have come quick enough for Ringo who was like a child as she prepared for her first ever festival. The streets were lined with people, stands, flags and confetti fell from every window. People wore costumes and handed out balloons as children ran around in masks and jester hats. Women wore masks over their eyes on a stick and gossiped as men played games and won prizes. Younger children played as well and chased chickens with sticks.

Ringo looked at each stand as they passed, some sold items such as masks and stuffed toys whilst others made you play for them. She spotted a shooting game where she could win a mask and immediately walked to it with Laxus following behind her. She leaned against the counter, barely listening as the man explained the game. Her eyes rested on on a pale blue mask. It was one that wrapped around the head instead of being on a stick. It was laced with beige and pale yellow beads and had pink ribbon around the edges. The eye holes were decorated with lace and the fabric wrapped around the edges, making it easier for the wearer. Her eyes sparkled as she saw it and pointed to the mask.

"You have to knock down ten ducks." the owner said, handing her a gun and taking the Jewels that Ringo pulled out of her pocket.

Ringo leaned over the counter, using her elbows to prop up the gun and make it easier to shoot. Her ears listened intently for the mechanics to signal a duck coming up. Each time she heard the click, she pulled the trigger, moving ever so slightly to each angle. Laxus watched, impressed that she shot as soon as the target popped up but couldn't find himself to praise her since all but two of her hits missed.

The sound mage stood up and smiled at him, realizing she had messed up. "I'm no good at aiming." she laughed hesitantly and handed the owner of the stall his gun back. He handed her a small keychain of a black sheep holding a shield and small sword. Ringo smiled at it and held it up to the darkening sky. It wasn't the pretty mask, but it was cute nonetheless.

An announcement stating that the fireworks were about to start rang over the sounds of the crowd. "Let's go." Laxus said, tilting his head in the direction of the hotel. Ringo put her prize into her pocket and waved goodbye to the stand owner who waved back. She followed next to Laxus as they walked back to the hotel.

Once in their room, Laxus opened the window and disappeared in a flash of lightning. Ringo walked over to the window and looked up. Laxus was above her, sitting on the edge of the roof. She carefully climbed onto the ledge right outside the window and gripped the gutter, starting to pull herself up. Pushing her feet against the wall and window of the hotel, she managed to get her upper body over the roof edge. Once she was up that far, Laxus gripped her upper arm and pulled her up the rest of the way.

Ringo's knees bumped against the gutter as she made it up but she quickly moved to sit. Laxus stood and easily walked up higher onto the roof. Ringo, refusing to stand, crawled over to where he was sitting and took her place next to him, leaving only an inch of room between their legs. Ringo looked at the sky and bounced slightly, excited for the event. Laxus glanced down at her and rested his head into his hand which was propped up on his knee.

"I thought you wouldn't want to see these." he admitted.

Ringo stopped her bouncing and looked at him. "I didn't either." she said. "But something told me that I could. That there wasn't going to be any problem with it."

Ringo smiled at him, her eyes softer. "It's thanks to you that I can enjoy this." her words fell heavy on him and Laxus simply stared at her. Seeing his expression, Ringo looked at her hands before turning to the sky. "It's so much easier to relax around you, it feels like a weight that was on my shoulders is lifted. I don't feel the fear as much as I had before."

She turned her attention to the blonde man who was now studying her. "Meeting you, was the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. Thank you, Laxus." Red darkened her cheeks as she smiled at him, eyes closed. Laxus felt a tinge of heat rise in him, his heart beat becoming irregular ever so slightly. He opened his mouth to say something when the thundering sound of fireworks caught their attention.

Both whipped their heads to the sky in front of them which brightened with colourful sparks. Some of the fireworks were shaped like flowers, bursting in bright colours of reds, blues, yellows and pinks. Others shot up in orange flames and purple sparkles. Some lasted in the sky for seconds and others disappeared as soon as they came. They weren't magic produced like the ones Laxus had grown up with, but they were beautiful.

As well as loud.

Despite her childish face, mouth open and eyes wide, as she watched them, Ringo's hands were folded over her headphones, covering them more from the booms and whistles of the fireworks. Though these sounds rang in Laxus's ears, the woman's words played through his head and he smiled at her.

He too, was glad they had met.

I do accept critiques and I would love any helpful tips. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Also, thank you to Aniwolfgirl for suggesting the festival! It worked out perfectly. 3