Mohawks and Manliness

Chapter 4

"This place is too nice," Mirajane said as Laxus pulled out her chair for her.

"Anything for you, demon."

"I mean, you bring me to this fancy dinner, you book us that nice hotel, you even brave the train for me-"

"You're just worth it," he told her simply. "What else is there to say?"

A lot. Like the only reason he was dropping that many jewels on something like that was because he figured it was the only way to be sure that they were completely and utterly out of the range of her idiotic siblings and his stalkerish followers.

It was the only way, it seemed.

The whole thing had taken a bit of planning, honestly. He had to book the room, set the reservations, get Mirajane off, make sure the Thunder Legion were all busy with one another and, heck, if he didn't pull it all off.

Especially that last one. It hadn't been that hard, actually, if he was going to be honest. He just used the same point of contention that had been bubbling the whole time.

Who was the bigger man? Eh?

Him.. Laxus freaking Dreyar. Duh.

But, for the sake of getting his alone time with his demon, Laxus left Elfman and Bickslow to their quest for manliness, suggesting to both of them before he and Mirajane ducted out of town that they should have a final round. A final test of Bickslow's manliness.

Hehe. He almost started laughing, just thinking about what he had suggested to the two of them. And he knew that they would follow through with it. Because they were idiots. And it would probably cost them a hospital trip (maybe), but if so, then that was just the price of interrupting all his dates.

Besides, Bickslow and Elfman were big boys. They could deal with possible burns…or blindness…or loss limbs…

Oh jeez. What had he left the two of them to?

"I am?"

And Mirajane was talking again so he didn't care about those idiots anymore.

"Of course, woman," he said with a wink before nodding down at the menu. "Order whatever you want. Just make sure you save room for dessert."

"Really?"

"Of course, woman," he said, looking over his own menu. "Red or white?"

"Red or white what?"

"Wine, demon," he insisted. "What do you want?"

"You want wine?"

"Don't you?"

"You're already spending so-"

"Red then," he decided. "Since you're gonna be difficult."

"Lax," she sighed. "I just don't understand why you're doing all of this."

"Because I love you."

"I mean," she corrected, "that you didn't have to do all this. I know that you just took me away for the weekend so that we wouldn't be interrupted. The shopping trip you promised tomorrow, the dinner tonight, the ritzy hotel." She shook her head. "You don't have to woo me. We would have…you know, anyways. It's not like we're just dating. You are my boyfriend. You don't gotta spend all this money on me."

Making a face over at her, he said, "Yes, demon, I do. And it's because you're my woman that I do. What? You think that just floozies get the high life? Not with this dragon."

"Floozies?" Mirajane made a face. "Sometimes I wonder what generation you grew up in. I mean, I know you got some years on me, but this many?"

"Hush." He went back to his menu. "And enjoy the night."

It wasn't until after they ordered that she said anything of real significance.

"So, dragon," she prodded as he took a sip of wine. "About what you said before. About enjoying the night."

"Hmmm?"

"Instead of dinner," she explained. "You said to enjoy the evening."

He nodded. "What about it?"

"There's not something…after this? Is there?"

"Why, demon," he said with a smirk. "Are you wanting me, the man that just bought you dinner, wine, and will get you dessert to spend even more-"

"No," she was quick to say. "Of course not. I just…was wondering."

"I figured we'd go for a nice stroll," he said, wagging his eyebrows at her. "Don't know to where, but if you got somewhere in mind-"

"Actually," she cut him off. "Just going back to the hotel sounds fine with me. Thanks."

Laxus grinned widely. "You don't say?"

Without a menu, Mira had few places to hide her blush. "Yes, well."

"Mmmm." He took a long sip of the wine then, savoring it before setting his glass back down. Then, leaning back in his chair, he said, "You should have told me before, demon, that the reason you were telling me this all wasn't necessary was because you wanted it just as badly as me."

Giving him a look, she said, "You do realize I have needs too, right?"

"I definitely do."

"And besides," she huffed, "this whole thing was good for something at least."

"And what was that?"

"It got me off for the weekend."

He nodded, wholeheartedly agreed, one hundred percent. They worked his poor baby demon to the bone.

"You deserve it."

"Awe. You deserve some time to yourself too though, you know," she was quick to add. "You work so hard, dragon."

"I do," he agreed.

"And your plans for the two of us have been thwarted by so many trivial things recently that it's just not fair."

"It's not."

"And I just want to show you how much I love you. That's all."

"Demon?"

"Hmmm?" She was taking a sip of her own wine then, but did glance over at him.

"This isn't supposed to be about me," he reminded. "I was bragging on you. Yet somehow you shifted it to being about me."

"You usually love that."

"I know, but tonight was special."

"You know I can't help myself, Lax," she told him with a shrug. "If there's anything I like talking about, it's guitar."

He blinked. "Okay."

"And then my brother and sister."

"I don't-"

"And Fairy Tail."

"You're really-"

"But then you. Definitely you."

Grinning over at her, he said, 'You're at the top of my list."

"You don't have to lie tonight, you know. You're already in."

"Oh, no, I know. But you are."

"Sure."

"You are." He snickered. "Why would I ever lie? Huh?"

"Gee, I wonder."

"You're the one that said I ain't gotta try, right?" he reminded. "So why would I care either way?"

"I didn't say you didn't have to try. Just that you didn't have to schmooze."

"And I ain't," he assured her. "Just showing my appreciation for my demon, who I love dearly. Is that so shocking?"

"Coming form you? A bit."

His grin was toothy then. "Woman, I love you. Of course you're my favorite subject."

"Of course."

"Alright." He held up a hand. "I ain't gonna try and convince you or anything. Just know that it's true."

Humming, she took another long sip of wine before saying. "I do, dragon. Trust me, I do."

Dinner went well. Mira was quite full just from the main course alone, but Laxus still forced some cake down in her, claiming that she needed it. And that stroll, if one could call it that, was straight back to the hotel room, her leaning heavily on him the entire way. Just the way he liked her.

When they finally got back to the room, well, things were heavy from the beginning. Again, matching Laxus preferences and enjoyment excellently. In fact, it was probably the closest he'd gotten to being with Mira in weeks.

Then it happened.

There was a knock at the door.

Which they ignored at first. They were in a hotel room. Laxus hadn't told anyone where they were going. There wasn't a person that should be disturbing them-

The knocking didn't stop. That dreaded knocking. Banging, really. And not the kind that Laxus was wanting!

"What," he growled as he shoved up and away from the undressed Mirajane, "is going on?"

"Boss! It's me! Open up!"

"Yeah, open up, sis! We have a problem."

"Oh, you fuckin' bet we do," Laxus growled as Mirajane, rather flushed and, for once, not in embarrassment, struggled to get up. He just shoved her back down though. "Fuck off, you idiots. You-"

"Boss, this is life or death."

"Yeah, sis, really."

"Lax," Mirajane whispered. "Maybe-"

"You're right," the slayer growled as he jumped up. "It is life or death. In fact, it's just pure death for you idiots!"

He had never taken off his boxers and didn't pull anything else on as he stalked over to the hotel room door.

"How," he howled, "did you two find us?"

"What do you mean?" Lisanna was standing out there in the hall and was the first one he glanced at. "Mirajane told me where you guys were-"

"She what?"

When he glared back at the woman, he found her hiding under the sheets. From beneath them, she called, "I had to, Lax. In case of an emergency."

"What kinda-"

"There was one!" Lisanna slipped passed Laxus then, rushing into the hotel room. "Mirajane, look at Bickslow. Your boyfriend made your brother do this to him!"

"What?" Laxus glanced at Bickslow who previously had been grinning, but stopped when the man looked at him. "There ain't nothin' wrong with him!"

"And Elf isn't just my brother you know," Mira pointed out. She still had the sheets pulled up over her head and she didn't seem like she was going to be coming out any time soon. "Now what's the-"

"Thanks to boss and his just oh so great suggestions," Bickslow said as he pushed his visor up over his eyes, "this happened!"

Though Mira couldn't see it, Laxus could. And, with a snort at the man's completely red eyeball, he said, "You should have never poured that stuff on your eyes, man."

"What?" Mira sat up then. "What hap-"

"Elfman had to go to the hospital for it, you jerk," Lisanna hissed, frowning over at Laxus. "And Bickslow should too, probably, but…"

"But?" Mira asked softly as the seith came into the room. Laxus didn't even fight it. Knew he couldn't. What would be the point? What was ever the point? Clearly, Mirajane just didn't want him. It wasn't meant to be. Clearly.

"I'm too much of a man to go!" Bickslow puffed out his chest. Glaring at him, Laxus reached out to hit him in it. "Arg!"

"What?" Laxus frowned. "I barely touched-"

"They also spilled potions over their chests and might have gotten burned-"

"They what?" Mirajane, in worry, bounded out of bed at that, forgetting momentarily her state of undress. "We have to take him to the hospit-"

"I feel better," Bickslow said, even opening that injured eye just to gawk at Mira. "Much."

Laxus hit him in the chest harder that time, making the other guy fall over in agony.

"Bickslow!" Lisanna didn't know whether to be afraid for him or angry at him, but rushed to his side regardless. Then, glaring at Laxus as Mirajane, flushed then from embarrassment, dove back for the bed, Lisanna hissed, "This is all your fault."

"My fault?"

"Yeah. Your fault."

"Is that why you came here? Huh?" He snorted down at her as she sat on her knees, comforting her boyfriend. "To call me out or something? Tattle on me to your sister? Well too bad. Get out. Both of you. You're-"

"Laxus," Mira hissed from under the covers. Beneath them, she took a moment to transform, only coming out when she had a dress on. "We are not letting him just writhe around there. He could be seriously injured. Damn it, Lisanna, why didn't you take him to-"

"He would only come here. To show you guys how much more of a man he is. That Elfman let Evergreen take him to the hospital."

"Oh, you mean how Elfman was intelligent?" Laxus growled. Then he started kicking at Bickslow. "Huh? Huh? How smart Elfman was? You idiot. You're not allowed to die here!"

"I don't wanna," Bickslow gasped out. "Because I'm a man!"

"You're going," Mira said before glaring at her sister. "Help him up. Dragon, get dressed."

"What? Why do we gotta go?"

"Laxus, his magic is in his eyes," she reminded. "What do you want? For him to lose his magic?"

"He deserves it."

"Laxus-"

"And where are his babies, Lisanna?" Mira went on as she forced Laxus to go get dressed. The two of them were still out in the hall and, well, it was actually rather embarrassing. They were in a rather nice place, after all.

Lisanna only blinked. Then she looked around. "Um-"

"You lost," Laxus growled, "your damn dolls, Bickslow?"

"I got a lot going on, man!"

"Okay, so I'm going to go take them to the hospital," Mirajane sighed as she went to help her sister get the seith up. "And you, Laxus, are going to go round up his babies. There's five."

"Quick!" Bickslow suddenly sat up. "I'm going into the light!"

"I turned on the bedroom light, dumbass," Laxus growled as Lisanna only gently reached out to push the man's visor back over his eyes. "And Mira, I think the two of them can handle going to the hospital. I-"

"We're not going," Bickslow insisted. "I'm a man."

"Great," Lisanna grumbled as she glared over at him. "Elfman turned him into him. Like I really wanted to date my brother."

"Come on." Mira sighed, glancing back at Laxus. "Remember. Five."

When she closed the door, Laxus let it all out. He growled some, yelled a bit, and even kicked a few things around. Then, still in a huff, he got dressed and went to work on tracking down those damn dolls.

"I am so glad that you've all arrived."

Ever only glared at Mirajane. "You forced us to come."

That much was true.

"Still," the she-demon insisted, "you made the choice to listen."

"You threatened us with Laxus," Elfman grumbled. "What did you expect?"

Also true.

"And then when that didn't scare us," Lisanna went on, "you turned into Satan Soul and came after us."

Again, true.

"Then you shot me with this ball of energy in my injured chest!" Bickslow complained.

That time, Mira only sighed. "Are we going to list all of my transgressions or are we going to get to why you're all here?"

"Preferably the latter," Freed said, "considering I still am unsure what exactly I'm doing here."

None of them knew, really, other than after spending a night and a day in the hospital, upon Bickslow's release, Mirajane used a communication lacrima to get in touch with Ever and Elfman, informing them that they were all meeting in the town she and Laxus had run off to, that day, and they had better be there, along with Freed, less she'd sic Laxus on them.

Bickslow and Lisanna, who wanted no part in the meeting, were, as previously mentioned (griped), were threatened instead with Satan Soul, in the flesh and, well, that went just as splendidly.

She rounded them all up in the hotel room she and Laxus had for the weekend. There was a couch in there, which Ever, Bickslow, and Freed shared, Lisanna seated on an armrest, while Elfman took to pacing around the room, a little loopy from some pain pills.

Not to mention the eye patch they'd made him wear was screwing with his depth perception. Most importantly though, no matter what Ever said, it just wasn't manly!

Mira had even mandated that the babies had to go into the bathroom, all by themselves, after that stressful day of getting lost and then found by Laxus the night before. The horror.

"Alrighty then," Mirajane said as she stood before them all, trying her hardest to look as annoyed as she felt. Her bangs were down, which gave her a good chance at accomplishing just that. "Well, for starters, I'm very disappointed in you all."

"Yeah, well-" Elfman tried.

"Tell them about how you hate them, Mira," Laxus suggested from the bed, which he was sitting on the end of as he glared at the others. "And that we want to disown-"

"Lax, I got this," she said, holding up a hand to him though she didn't break her glare at the others. "Now. Surely you guys understand what things you've been doing to us that might annoy us. Right?"

Bickslow scratched at his cheek. "I'm drawin' a blank here."

"I know what Elf and Bickslow are doing to annoy me," Lisanna hissed, frowning over at both of them. "But no. I don't recall doing anything to either of you."

"Seriously?" Laxus growled. "You seriously have no-"

"Don't make me say it," Mira pleaded. "Really. Just stop doing it."

"How can I stop doing something that I don't know what I did?" Freed insisted. "Huh?"

"The only thing that you did," Laxus complained, "was let these idiots run wild."

"You cannot be tried for others crimes," the letter mage insisted.

"You can in this court," Laxus told him with a nod.

"Laxus and I have not been able to be alone in weeks," Mirajane said.

"How's it our fault that he would rather be with anyone other than you?" Evergreen asked with a hint of snark. "I mean, honestly?"

"Shut up, Ever," Laxus growled. "Next one who interrupts my demon gets shocked."

"But Laxus, what if you interrupt her?" Bickslow asked. "I mean, unless you and Mirajane are into that-"

"Shut up you idiots!"

"Calm down, dragon." That time Mira did glance back at him. "Do you need to step outside? Here, did you bring your cigars? Go have a smoke out on the balcony."

"Boy, boss," Bickslow remarked as the man set off to do that. "A nice balcony on an even nicer hotel room. You and Mira were celebratin' somethin', I take it?"

"No, you moron, we're-"

"Go, dragon. I'll get you when we're done."

Laxus didn't want to go, but did. The second he was out on the balcony with a cigar to sedate him, Mirajane turned her attention back on their merry band of fools.

"I," she complained, gaze truly dark then, "do not understand how you all don't get that me and Laxus want to be alone. I mean, honestly? Are you all that needy? Huh? Why can't you just leave us alone and entertain yourselves?"

Ever, without Laxus around to keep her tame, scoffed. "We don't need you guys. You're the one that called us here, need I remind you."

"Yeah, sis," Elfman agreed. "We haven't done anything like what you're saying."

Bickslow nodded. "I especially."

"You're the main cause of all of this!" Mira was exasperated and it showed. "You and Elfman."

"I agree," Lisanna called out. "They-"

"You be quiet." Mirajane even raised a finger at her. "You're no better. All of you. Laxus and I have been trying for weeks to…to…"

"To what?" her sister prompted with a frown.

"To have sex! We just want to have sex. Why can't you all just let us have sex?"

Elfman started choking then as Ever only held her hand fan over her mouth.

"My, my, Mirajane," she mocked as the other woman blushed. "To think Laxus could have such a hold on you."

"Ew," Lisanna complained. "Mira, I don't want to talk about this."

"I want boss to get laid," Bickslow said with a nod. "Totally. So I'd never do anything to hamper-"

"But you are," Mirajane insisted through her deep red tint. "All of you are. You keep interrupting us every single time we-"

"Last night is the only time in my memory that we have ever interrupted you," the seith argued. "Although it did get me a pretty nice look at you- Lissy, I'm hurt! You can't hit me."

She did it again. "Bet."

Freed, though he seemed uncomfortable, nodded. "As someone else that cannot have Laxus, I can sympathize, Mirajane."

"Thank- Wait, what?"

Elfman couldn't look at his sister, though he did stop his pacing. "I don't want to talk about this. Men don't talk about their sisters… I mean, they talk about sex, of course, but this? Not with their relatives involved. I have to-"

"No, we are taking about it." It was his turn to get a finger wag. "This whole thing started when you punched Bickslow. Now look at both of you! You're in an eye patch, he almost went blind, you both have burns on your chests from chemicals-"

"Unattractive ones at that," Ever added because, well, it needed to be. "And honestly, I don't understand how any of that helped us determine who the bigger man was."

"Because men can withstand pain or something," Lisanna groaned, shaking her head. "It was really stupid, but Laxus told them to do it, of course, so-"

"The point isn't how idiotic this all is," Mirajane cut them off. "I mean, yes, it was-"

"I still went the longest without a hospital," Bickslow kept up. "So-"

"So nothing! I've been a man all along!" Elfman raised a hand. "Real men know how to ask for help! Especially from hospital staff!"

"Enough!" Mira was over her embarrassment then as she took a page out of Laxus' handbook and literally growled at them. The slayer heard it from outside, where he was smoking his cigar, and grinned out at the city before him.

His demon was a beast when she wanted to be.

Inside, she went on from there.

"Elfman," she hissed, "you have no right to tell Lisanna who she can and cannot date. Short of the guy just being abusive towards her, you have to be accepting. Bickslow's good for her. I don't care if you think that he's a man or not. Lisanna's not breaking up with him. Get over it."

"Huh?" That made him look at her, if only for a second. "What are you-"

"And Bickslow. Get over it. Elfman doesn't think anyone's a man other than him. You think that Laxus lets it bother him that he doesn't like him? Huh? No. He mans up and ignores it. Do you love my sister?"

"W-Well, yeah, I-"

"Then move the hell on. Doing things that are only going to be detrimental to your health does nothing for anyone. We all love you. You dying trying to prove yourself to someone won't help a damn thing. Pouring pepper juices in your eyes? Then potions? And chemicals on your chests? Really? Are you idiots? Are you? Because if you are, just tell me, and I'll stop expecting things from you."

"N-No, but-"

"And Lisanna, you want to be an adult? Fine. Be an adult," Mira said, glaring at her sister then. "Manage your own boyfriend. It's not my job to force him to go to the hospital. I have my own to deal with. I'm tired of babysitting you and yours. All of you, really."

Freed nodded approvingly as Evergreen lowered her fan to grin. Watching Mirajane give it to the others was fun.

Noticing their looks, she turned her stares onto them.

"You guys aren't in the clear," she added as Ever raised her fan back up and Freed's face fell. "You both just let all this happen. Especially you, Freed. I thought you always had a handle on all of them?"

"I have a handle on things just fine, thank you," he said, looking off. "It's not my fault that you and Laxus can't sleep together. Actually, Mira, I prefer it, so-"

"And Ever, Elfman's your deal," Mira pointed out. "And Bickslow's your friend. You couldn't at least try to bring them together?"

She snorted. "If this isn't your problem, then why should it be mine? Huh? I-"

"I don't dislike Bickslow! Sheesh!" Elfman huffed, looking then at the seith. "Is this what this has all been about? That you think that I don't like you?"

"I ain't a chick, dude," the seith grumbled. "But-"

"I thought that we were just playing a game," Elfman grumbled. "To prove that we were men. What? You think that if you proved yourself to me, I'd just hand Lisanna over to you? She's not a trophy, you dick."

"Yeah." Lisanna hadn't thought about it that way. "I'm not a-"

"I never said she was!" Bickslow was bucking up then. "You're the one that wouldn't let me train with the two of you. You-"

"And? You should have never asked."

"I was invited." Was he? He couldn't remember. "So there."

"Then you should have turned it down!" Elfman was getting worked up then as Mira deflated a bit. "I've already lost so much time with Lisanna and now you're taking up more of it. I deserve to be with her too. Not just you. What are you anyways? Just some stupid guy. So stop impeding on the little time we have left. Got it?"

That was heavier than any of them were expecting. And, for a moment, they were all quiet. Laxus had turned around, out on the balcony, and was staring in front the glass doorway, cigar hanging from his mouth.

"Elf," Ever and Mira whispered about the same time as Lisanna just stared. Bickslow though only frowned.

"I'm not just some guy," he grumbled. "But…I didn't know that it was so special to you or whatever."

"Well, it is. And her spending every waking hour with you isn't fair."

Bickslow bowed his head then and Lisanna took over.

"You can't hold against him what I do, Elfman," she said, though her voice wasn't as taut as theirs were. "I…haven't noticed that I wasn't spending much time with you."

"Well, you haven't."

"Then I'll spend more. There? Was it that hard?"

Shaking his head at her, he said, "I just don't want us to…to…"

"We won't. We're still close," she insisted. "But I have other interests now. And Bickslow happens to be one them. I respect you and Ever." Most of the time. "You should do the same for me."

Again, they were all silent. Until the sound of the balcony door opening was heard.

Poking his head in, Laxus said, "Uh, demon? We deserve respect too. Get to that."

Then the door shut and he was went back to overlooking the city and smoking his cigar.

Those damn Strausses. Everything was always so emotional with them. It made it impossible for Laxus to spend too much time around them.

And no he wasn't sniffling. It was just cold outside. Aggravatin' his allergies. That was all.

Damn.

Inside, everyone was just staring at one another then though no one speaking. Slowly, Mirajane whispered, "Then…is everything okay? Will you guys stop this stupid…game? Because, Bickslow, even if Elf doesn't think so, I think you're plenty manly. And Lisanna loves you. And we're all a family. You don't have to prove yourself to someone. You never do."

Freed nodded slightly. "And toying with your eyes, a huge part of your magic, was stupid. Can we get back to that? How stupid he was? Please?"

"Actually," Ever spoke up as she got to her feet. "I saw Laxus' cigar. It's about done. And, since apparently you two are so horny, Mira-"

"And there was go," Bickslow grinned and snickered. "I knew it wouldn't stay so dark for so long. Not with this bunch."

"We're not…horny," she blushed. "We just-"

"And there went my interest of being in this room." Lisanna stood. "If the point is that you want to sleep with Laxus, then just do it. Why did you have to drag us all here to tell us about it?"

"Yes, Mira," Freed agreed as he got up too. "This was most disgusting."

"What?" Ever remarked as they all headed to the door. "You two can't get off without others knowing first?"

"Disgusting," Bickslow grumbled.

Elfman though only went to throw an arm around Lisanna before calling over his shoulder, "Please don't ever do this again, Mira. None of us enjoyed it."

When they door shut behind them, Mirajane just stood there for a moment before letting out a long breath.

Finally, they were truly alone.

Rushing over to the balcony, Mirajane threw it open before staring out at Laxus.

"Still got a bit of cigar left, woman," he grumbled as she came to stand with him. "And it cost some jewels here, yeah? You can either blow me while I smoke it, or you can wait a minute."

She just went to stand next to him and take in the view a bit too. After a moment, she said, "Why do we put up with them?"

We? Laxus felt much more frustrated with the situation, personally, but hey.

"Because we love 'em."

That shocked Mira. Laxus only told her that, really. She knew, of course, that he did love the others, especially his bodyguards, but minus the threat of death, it wasn't something he would admit.

Still she only giggled. "Yeah. I guess we do."

Not as much as he loved her. And their time together. Finally, finally, he had a chance at that again. And, the second his cigar was down to the butt, he took her back into the hotel room to enjoy her some.

They were more than a little into it when there was, almost comically then, a knocking at the door. A hurried one.

"Just let me in!" Bickslow called it from behind the door. "Real quick. One-"

Laxus, still very much so nude, went to do just that. The seith hardly dodged the punch as it came flying, ducking and rushing into the room, avoiding looking at the also nude Mirajane (though she was trying to get a sheet around herself).

"Come on, babies," the seith said as he hurried went to go release them from the bathroom. "We gotta get outta here. Sorry, boss! Hurry, babies. Very naughty things are about to go down here, I figure."

"Naughty," they sang as they rushed along with him. Bickslow getting the door on his way out. "Naughty."

Then it was just the demon and the dragon once more. For a moment, they only stared at one another. Slowly though, Laxus came back to the bed.

"I might love 'em," he growled as he tackled Mirajane again and buried his head in her neck, "but I fuckin' hate 'em too."

"Mmmm," Mirajane mewled, having a feeling that that time, they really would, finally, be completely alone. "Me too."

Just a little follow up next and then this one's finished. I know it was a long time coming, but kinda fits the theme of the story (on Laxus' side of things, anyways).