Laxus reviews the files, and documents, for a third time. He's writing down notes and can't believe what he's reading. Lucy has enough evidence to put her father behind bars for a very long time.
Laxus is currently sitting in his office with Natsu and Lucy sitting in front of him.
"You have two options here," Laxus points to his notes. "Sue for embezzlement, if you don't present criminal charges, and gather some of the affected people so they can file a class action suit so they can recover what they've lost. Or you can press charges."
"How would I proceed with criminal charges?" She looks nervous, a bit hesitant to even ask the question. Laxus assumes that this is all starting to become real for her.
"I could recommend you to two officers, Sting and Rogue. They are great detectives and would know how to proceed further. I work with them on occasion when dealing with various embezzlement suits." Laxus provides her with the info.
"They really are good." Natsu is quick to agree. "They'll do an official investigation and will be fair to everyone involved."
"What are the cons to pressing charges?" Lucy seems concerned.
"To my knowledge it might be harder to receive the money lost. I know some criminals who file for bankruptcy or try and hide their money since they fear jail time." Laxus admits.
"Or they'll want to do whatever it takes and settle quickly. Probably take a plea bargain even, which could be beneficial for those affected." Natsu goes for reassurance. Laxus knows Natsu means well but he wants Lucy to realize that this won't have happy endings all around. Lawsuits are messy as is, especially involving high profile people.
"Can I change my mind and present this evidence to the cops later?" Lucy bites on her bottom lip.
"Of course," Laxus nods. She sighs again and begins to fidget in her seat. "If there are no further objections then I can draft up an agreement for you to sign, and give it to you tonight."
"And then you'll file the suit?" Lucy ponders out loud.
"I will create a complaint and submit it yes, at that moment your father will be notified as soon as the clerk gets the complaint out." Laxus answers.
"Oh god, his firm will probably be notified then." She groans. This peaks Laxus' interest.
"Which firm represents him?" Natsu questions before he can.
"He recently switched to Raven Tail." Laxus isn't sure who looks more surprised, himself or Natsu. Probably Natsu who's jaw is currently hanging wide open.
"I'm guessing you know them?" She sounds hesitant and unsure.
"Do we ever," Natsu grumbles while Laxus' face turns to stone and hardens. He grips his right knee and closes his eyes briefly in order to calm himself down somewhat.
"He's my father." Laxus deadpans. It must be the tone because her lips tighten and she looks down.
"If you don't want to take my case I understand." She whispers apologetically.
"Why wouldn't we?" Natsu nudges her so she can look up.
"There's obviously tension there and I don't want to cause problems," she admits sincerely. This girl is far too good for Natsu, Laxus mentally chuckles at the thought.
"Don't worry about it," Natsu waves his hand dismissively. "We are professionals, at the end of the day, which means we can certainly push past our emotions in order to do our jobs." Natsu sounds so confident but Laxus isn't too sure the words are true. Laxus knows himself, and he knows his father. The man always finds a way to get under Laxus' skin.
"Okay then, how do I go about contacting people for a class action?" Laxus clears his throat in order to clear his head.
"Natsu and I will take care of that." Laxus explains. "Based on the information you've provided we have a large contact list that we can go by. Besides, I'm sure our friends, Sting and Rogue, will be able to call in some favors to find anyone that we can't." She nods and smiles at Natsu before turning back to Laxus who's raising a brow at the scene. She must really like the dork, he can't help but think.
"Alright then, what if they want to press charges?" She leans forward to ask.
"Nothing we can do about that, except advise them on the best course of action but ultimately it will be up to them. Then again, we can't just plainly state that your father has been stealing their money in order to cover up the fact that the company is going under. All we can say is that there is damning evidence and if they want to try and sue then we'll be willing to take them on as clients." She nods once, as if she understands.
"So that's it for today?" She goes to stand.
"Yup, you should take Natsu and let him buy you some clothes." She blushes as he says this. "Poor Bickslow was about cream himself after seeing you in that low cut top." Natsu's face is turning a nice red color as well as Lucy's.
"Oi," Natsu blushes harder. "She shouldn't have to buy new clothes because that perv can't control himself. It ain't Lucy's fault she's got big boobs." Lucy crosses his arms over her chest.
"Natsu!" She shouts in a harsh whisper. Natsu flinches and scratches the back of his head. Laxus leans back in his chair and looks on amused.
"It's not like you don't know you have large boobs Lucy," he, stupidly, gestures to her chest. "It's the first thing I noticed." Laxus can't even control his laughter when a hand reaches out and slaps Natsu on the arm.
"I would hit you in the face but I don't think violence is ever okay," Lucy grits as she points. "But just so you know I really want to hit you. Have you been staring at my chest this whole time? Is that why you've been so nice to me?" Laxus is surprised Natsu is even breathing at this point.
"I don't actively stare no, but I can't not see them when they're just sitting there all perky and stuff." Laxus places his head on the table and laughs as hard as he possible can. There's no way Natsu can be this dense. He looks up, wiping away tears, to see a red Lucy practically having steam coming from her head.
"Can you not call my boobs perky when you've seen them bare before?" She shrieks. Laxus raises a brow, secretly wanting to know a back story behind this statement. Laxus was only teasing about those two getting it on in camp, but now he's not so sure.
"I…I mean...I-I-can't unsee them." Laxus can't even remember the last time Natsu was so flustered he started stuttering. "Besides, would you rather I call them saggy?" Laxus shakes his head as he places it in his hands.
"Oh man, just stop." Laxus waves his hands. "The hole you're digging can't possibly get any deeper."
"Whew," Natsu sags in the chair and looks defeated. "I'm such an idiot. But you have to agree with me here Laxus." He groans loudly. Lucy glares at the side of Natsu's face for a minute before huffing.
"Nah man you are on your own." Laxus shakes his head. No way was he getting in the middle of Natsu's fuck up.
"I know you don't mean any harm Natsu," she nudges him with her elbow. "But I don't want you to be nice to me just because I have big boobs." Natsu nods emphatically.
"Of course not, I really want to help. I just can't control my brain to mouth filter." Lucy seems to take pity on the poor boy and goes to give him a hug, but since he's sitting and she's standing, her boobs press right against the side of his head. Laxus is a tad bit convinced she's doing all of this on purpose. Poor Natsu, he doesn't stand a chance. This girl is going to eat him alive.
"You're squishing me." Natsu's words come out muffled but Laxus gets the hint anyways.
"Sorry," she says unapologetically. "I can't control these 'perky' things." She gestures to her chest as she pulls away. Natsu squints his eyes and points a finger.
"I know this is a test, I refuse to play into your hand." He sniffles and turns his head facing away from her. "I really think we should be going before I decide to put my foot in my mouth some more." Natsu stands and waves at Laxus before nodding his head to gesture for Lucy to follow.
Of course she follows but not before looking over her shoulder and sending Laxus a chuckled wink. She really was just giving Natsu a go. Too funny.
He chuckles to himself and tries not to let his mind get bogged down with thoughts of his awful father. He's spent most of his life trying to shake the horrid things that man has said about him, there's no way he's going to slip back into old Laxus. Old Laxus believed he was nothing, that his life was meaningless and miniscule. Old Laxus lashed out, didn't try, and lost the love of his life. So no, old Laxus will not be making a return.
Speaking of old Laxus, Laxus fishes out his cell phone and decides to call Mira; he really should be making more of an effort to know his own daughter-no more excuses. He stares at the number as if it's personally offensive. Bitting on his bottom lip he puffs out a breath and channels his inner Elfman, just be a real man.
He dials the number that he hasn't used in many years. The phone picks up on the third ring and Laxus can hear Mira's hesitant voice on the other end.
"Hey, umm, Laxus?" It comes out a question even though he knows she means it as a statement. He doesn't blame her caution though, he hasn't called her directly in over five years.
"Yea, I was umm calling about Azmay and uh, I was just wondering if you know? Because she doesn't know I'm her father but uh, that should...I mean is it okay if she came over?" He squints and cringes as he mentally berates himself. What the hell is wrong with him that all of a sudden he can't even speak properly?
Her quiet chuckle fills his ears and breaks him from thoughts.
"Are you asking me if it's okay to get to know your own daughter?" He frowns at the phone. She makes it sound so simple. "Of course you can see her whenever you want, and after the two of you bond some you can always tell her that you're her father. Just…" she trails off but that's okay because Laxus can fill in the blanks.
"I'm tired of being so angry all the time, and making you two suffer because of it." He admits with a scowl. "She's my daughter and I should doing everything a father does, and not treating her like my father treated me. I have to be better than that." Mira's quiet and Laxus allows her time to process.
"Thank you." She whisper out and it sounds a bit muffled, like making she's trying to reign in her emotions. He grips the phone tightly. Doing the right thing, and being a decent person shouldn't make someone feel like crying. How has he let it have gotten so bad? Why hasn't Natsu, Bixs, or Gramps put their foot up his ass by now? Hell, Erza should have skinned him alive.
"You don't have to thank me for stepping up, I should be thanking you for doing such an incredible job at raising her all on your own." She doesn't say anything for a few moments, to the point Laxus has to check to make sure the line hasn't been dropped.
"When uh, when would you like her to come over?" Laxus scratches the back of his head.
"Maybe this friday? She can sleep in the spare room and I'll make sure Bixs is on his best behavior." He hears Mira hum.
"Please do, the last thing I need is for my daughter to come home suddenly wanting her tongue, or face, tattooed." Laxus huffs a laugh of his own. The things Bickslow will do if he's drunk enough is frightening.
"I remember a certain wild child getting a few piercings of her own." Laxus teases almost as if time hadn't passed at all, as if they were still teenagers just laughing and escaping reality for just a bit.
"Stop making me blush," she chastises in a friendly manner. He relaxes, after this. For some reason all those years he's spent being angry just seem so silly now. They were both young, she much younger than he, and they made a mistake. He can't blame her for his own actions, not anymore.
"I remember you getting that lightning bolt tattooed to your…" he's cut off by a scolding gasp.
"Laxus!" She screeches. He holds back a laughter. "And all those have been removed thank you." She continues on.
"Too bad," he smiles as he shuffles in his chair. "I'm sure your future husband would have loved to tease you about those." She huffs in his ear.
"Please, like I'm ever getting married." He frowns.
"You used to dream of a huge wedding, that whole fairytale shit." He recalls a teenaged MiraJane dressed in all dark colors, looking like gloom and doom, and yet still talking about this massive fairytale wedding that she'll have when she's older.
"As if," she snorts. "I only talked liked that because I wanted you to sweep me off my feet and take me far away from my life. I never really cared about weddings, or marriage-that was more of Lisanna's thing." Laxus can feel the tension growing through the line; it makes his body feel heavy and weighed down with guilt.
"She and Natsu would totally have been married by now, equipped with at least four kids." He can hear Mira's breathing change and secretly hopes he's not taking things too far by talking about Lisanna. Laxus knows how hard it is for Natsu.
"How is Natsu? In regards to her death?" Laxus sighs.
"He still blames himself and he refuses to talk about her." Laxus shrugs. "The old man tried to get him counseling but it didn't work."
"Does he still hate fire?" Laxus feels another pang of guilt rush over him like a mini tidal wave.
"Cringes at any flame bigger than that on a stove." He admits. "Fire was his life. He used to love the flames, watching them dance with hidden glee. But to see him hate fire so much now, it breaks all of our hearts."
"I wish he didn't blame himself. Maybe I can talk with him." Laxus nods, feeling the exact same way. Having to watch Natsu' flames burn out hurt almost as much as losing Lisanna. "Never mind the sad stuff. I shall see you this weekend, Azmay in tow." Laxus clears his throat.
"Yeah, and it was uh...it was great speaking with you. I'll have another cheque waiting for you." He can already hear the protest threatening to break her lips. "Don't argue. I owe you a lot more than a few cheques so please let me do this. I need to make amends." The silence that ensues is dreadfully long.
"Thank you Laxus. It was good talking with you as well, and see you soon." She hangs up before he does but he doesn't mind one bit.
Ft
Laxus places his brief case next to the front door and instantly begins loosening his tie and taking off his suit jacket-carelessly tossing it on the couch. He sniffs the air and smells something good being cooked so he strolls into the kitchen to see a giggling Lucy sitting on the counter while trying to throw nuts into a cooking Natsu's mouth.
Unsurprisingly Bickslow is sitting at the table eating from the bag of chips Laxus bought just yesterday. Bixs sees him and lowers the bag, waving as if he didn't just see Laxus at work about an hour ago.
"Why are you always in my house?" Laxus complains with a gruff as he snatches the bag away. Bixs whines and pouts as he tries to grab for the bag back.
"I can't stay away from you." Bickslow jokes as he leans back in the chair. Laxus huffs as rolls up the chips before putting them on the counter.
"He's probably just really lonely and needs some companionship." Lucy offers with a smile. Natsu giggles behind his hand, trying to cover up the laughter with a cough. Bickslow looks at her with an expression of betrayal.
"Then he should get a pet." Laxus grumbles. "He can have Happy, the damned thing doesn't do anything but shit and eat anyways." Happy, who was lying on the floor, hisses and runs out of the room.
"Oi, don't go scaring my cat away." Natsu warns, pointing a spatula at Laxus.
"Maybe I would be nicer if you actually cleaned out the things litter box." Natsu huffs and turns his back to Laxus.
"I clean it." Natsu whispers under his breath. Laxus raises a brow.
"You mean you say you'll clean it but then you wait for me to get frustrated and watch as I clean it." Natsu whips around, retort at the tip of his tongue, before he sticks up his middle finger and turns back around to cooking. The tips of Natsu's ears are a bit red and Laxus contains his own laughter.
"Don't make it sound like I'm messy." Natsu groans as he looks to Lucy before back to his food.
"It's okay Natsu, I've seen your room and there's nothing wrong being a bit unclean." Natsu's face turns a crimson color Laxus has never seen before.
"Luce," he chastises. "I'm not dirty, or messy. I know where everything is." Lucy waves him off.
"I never said there was anything wrong with it." She continues to wave her hand in front of her face, looking flushed.
"Everyone is messy compared to Laxus; the guy has to have everything in complete order." Bickslow offers. Laxus shrugs, not even bothering to apologize for the way he is.
"I can't help it," he looks down at the counter. "Spending all those years with Freed has rubbed off of me." Laxus can feel the temperature in the room drop. Freed's name is a bit taboo in the house, so him casually mentioning the guys name has both Natsu and Bixs on edge. Laxus tries to act nonchalant but it's hard when Natsu is looking at him with such sad eyes.
"I wish someone would rub off on me, or more like rub me one off." Bickslow tries to ease the tension. It works when Lucy's lips part open in surprise at the man's crude tongue.
"You think about girls 24/7, I'm worried about you." Natsu frowns.
"I'm horny." Bickslow complains and turns his sights to Lucy and wags his brows. "I wouldn't be opposed to a certain blond haired beauty joining me in my room, however." Laxus gauges Natsu's stiff behavior as if he's waiting for what Lucy might say.
"What room? Natsu says you've been mooching off of them for the past ten years." Lucy says with a gentle smile, letting everyone know she's teasing.
"Hey, I'm a friend; it's not called mooching." Bickslow turns to Natsu to yell indignantly. Lucy turns to Natsu and gives him a wink all the while Natsu shakes his head.
"Just accept it Bixs, you live here without paying rent." Laxus goes over and pats his friends head.
"You also don't buy food." Natsu adds.
"I feel so attacked right now." Bixs fake cries as he rests his head against Laxus' arm.
"While I remember, Natsu I'm going to need the spare room this weekend." Natsu whips to stare expectantly. "My daughter will be staying the weekend." He goes for nonchalant, and can see a thousand questions swirling around that pink head.
"Oh, does this mean I can decorate the room?" Lucy claps her hands.
"Uh, sure." Laxus scratches the back of his head. "I can give you one of my credit cards tomorrow."
"I'm so excited. I love decorating." She looks excited.
"Wait? So does that mean Lucy will be sleeping in my room?" Natsu's face is pink again. Geez, the boy acts like a blushing virgin, Laxus scolds.
"Only if you don't mind." She looks down at the ground, cheeks equally pink.
"Are you two in your teens, or twenties?" Bickslow asks the question that's on the tip of Laxus' tongue.
"I don't mind, of course not." Natsu chooses to ignore, wisely, Bixs' outburst.
"Good, then." Lucy whispers.
"Yeah." Natsu goes back to stirring sauce and Laxus sighs as he takes a seat beside Bickslow.
"So," Bixs leans in close to so only Laxus can hear. "Your daughter is coming to stay and you've casually mentioned Freed's name. Progress?" Laxus thinks about his anger, and life, up to this point. He doesn't want to be that hateful guy anymore. He wants to be happy, genuinely so. And if that means doing the right thing, and fighting for what he wants, then so be it.
"Yeah, it's definitely progress." He says with a private smile. Bickslow pats him on the back a couple of times.
"So what are you going to do now?" Comes the next question, and honestly the only thing that comes to Laxus' mind is one thing.
"I'm going to fight for what I want." He smiles and Bickslow responds by leaning his head back and letting out a massive howl of approvement. Natsu and Lucy look on with questioning expressions and Laxus shakes his head before getting up and heading upstairs to change. He has no idea what's bringing on this new attitude but he's certainly going to ride it out for as long as he can.