Hello all! I know this is late is being posted but my new job is kicking my butt so hard right now. I am still hoping to catch up someday. Enjoy!
As always, I do not own Fairy Tail, it belongs to Hiro Mashima and I thank him for its use in my own creative expressions *bows*
Mest and Romeo pulled up in front of Levy and Lucy's apartment building and saw it was similar to Wendy's but the street was wider and busier. The street parking was almost empty though, lots of people must be away for the weekend Romeo observed. They went up to the door and Romeo hit the buzzer for apartment 302 but there was no response. He hit a few random ones before the heard the door open.
"Not too hard to break into this place," Mest muttered as they started climbing stairs. It was a short trek to the third floor and in front of door 302. Mest knocked on it sharply with his knuckles. "Police," he called out in his best authoritative cop voice. "I need you to open up please." They stood in science for a few minutes but there was no answer from the apartment.
"Police, open the door please." Mest rapped on the door harder with his fist, again there was nothing.
Then there was the sound of a door opening in the hall, but it was not the one he had knocked on.
"Hello?" They turned to see the speaker and saw that it was a man with orange hair in a tall ponytail poking his head out of a doorway across the hall.
"We are looking for one of your neighbors," Mest explained without returning the greeting. "Lucy Heartifillia, do you know her?"
"Yeah, I know her. Is she in some kind of trouble?" He answered apprehensively.
"No, we just need to talk to her about something," Mest replied calmly so that it didn't make him even more suspicious. "Do you know where she might be right now?"
"She should still be at work." The man's brow furrowed. "Or on her way home."
"Is there anywhere else she might go?"
"I don't know," the man admitted. "What about Levy?" He asked.
"The room mate?"
"Yeah… if you're looking for Lucy, is Levy ok?"
"Is there a reason she shouldn't be?" Mest asked, curious about the change of direction in the conversation. The man looked at him with further narrowed eyes and Mest realized that he was not as old as he had initially thought, maybe in his mid-twenties.
"I don't know," he repeated. "Are they in some kind of trouble?" He asked again, more urgent this time.
Mest decided to take another approach. "When was the last time you spoke to them?"
"Levy this morning and Lucy this afternoon," the boy answered.
"What time?"
"I don't know, around noon and then again later, I was talking to Lucy by text."
"What did she say?" Mest hoped that there might be a hint as to where she could be.
"Why should I tell you?" He countered, getting angry again. "You won't tell me why you are looking for them."
"Please," Romeo piped up from beside Mest. "We just need to talk to them and make sure they are alright."
The boy paused and frowned at the wall, but then started to talk. "There was a lot of noise in the hall around noon, I got curious and went into the hall to see what was up and Levy was leaving her apartment with a guy. They had bags with them…"
"Garbage bags?"
He shook his head. "No, luggage bags, like they were going on a trip somewhere. I asked her what was going on and she blew me off. The guy looked really weird though so I texted Lucy to find out who he was."
"You'd never seen him before?"
He shook his head again. "No and I would remember if someone like that was hanging around Levy, he looked like bad news."
"Did he have pink hair?"
"No, it was black. Everything about him was dark, and he was big."
Mest started piecing things together. "What did Lucy say?"
"At first it was like she was confused about it and it took her a long time to answer my second text."
"How long?"
"An hour, maybe longer, she said everything was fine and not to worry about it."
"Did she say where she was?"
"She said that they were going away for the weekend but not where."
"Why didn't you try and text Levy about the man?" It was clear that he was more concerned about the roommate then Lucy and he might be able to use that to his advantage.
"Levy doesn't have a phone anymore, it broke and she never replaced it." The boy looked serious again. "Please, if they are in some kind of trouble you have to tell me."
Mest and Romeo traded a look before Romeo answered. "As far as we know they are safe," he explained. "We just need to ask them some questions about an open case. Have you known them long? You seem very close."
"Ever since they moved into the building five years ago, it's just the two of them, they don't have any family so me and Droy look out for them when we can."
"Droy?"
"My roommate. He's inside the apartment, do you want me to go get him?"
"No, that's ok. Does the name Natsu Dragneel mean anything to you?"
The boy looked confused for a second. "No, I don't know who that is."
"What about Gajeel Redfox?" Romeo looked at Mest, surprised at the question but trying not to let it show.
"No, I don't know him either. Who are they?"
"No one, thank you for the information…?"
"Jet."
"Jet, here, take my card." Mest reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a white business card. "If you see Levy or Lucy, or speak to them, give me a call, ok?"
The boy nodded and took the card from his hand, Mest thought there was a slight chance that he would do what he asked but anything was possible. He watched as Jet went back inside his apartment before turning to his partner.
"I think we're done here." He glanced down at his watch, it was well passed time that they should be back at the precinct. They walked out of the building and Romeo waited until they were back in the car before asking Mest the question that was bothering him.
"Why did you ask them about Gajeel? There wasn't any evidence that he was at the salon this afternoon."
"A big guy, dark and black, is suddenly interested in the roommate of the girl that we think Natsu kidnapped. I think it's too much of a coincidence not to assume that they are related at least in some way even if by the sounds of it this girl went more willingly. But none of that matters, what we need to find out here is the why, why did they take these girls."
"There isn't any kind of report on the other girl though, and we don't know if Lucy was kidnapped or not."
"You're right," Mest agreed. "But something about this situation bothers me. There is more to this, I know it, I just need to figure it out." They rode back to the police station in silence, Mest gathering his thoughts about what he was going to tell Gray.
After Jet shut the door on the two cops in the hallway he leaned against it while reading the white card. Officer Mest Doranbolt it read, along with his home precinct, two phone numbers and the coat of arms for the Fiore Police Department. He was about to toss it in the kitchen's trashcan when something stopped him, he stuck it on the fridge instead with a magnet in the shape of Darth Vader's helmet.
"Droy," he called out. "We have to do a search."
"What?"
Jet walked into the living room and saw that he hadn't moved from in front of his computer. Unlike his roommate, who was long, lean and kind of scrawny looking, Droy was shorter and wider and he had dark hair that stuck straight up in the air. At the moment he was playing an online game with a bucket of fried chicken on his lap and a half melted tub of ice cream on the floor next to him.
"We have to do a search," Jet repeated, he sat at his own desk and started typing at his computer.
"Who?" Droy took a giant mouthful of chicken; he seemed undisturbed by his roommate's request.
"Natsu Dragneel and Gajeel Redfox." Jet started typing on the keyboard like a man on a mission.
"Hoo?" Droy asked again with his mouth full of food.
"The guy who was in the hallway with Levy this morning," Jet explained. He told Droy about the cops from the hallway and that they were looking for Lucy. "And then he asked me if I knew Natsu Dragneel or Gajeel Redfox, so one of them has to be the guy Levy was with this morning." Jet was still typing furiously, stopping occasionally only to read the screen or work the mouse.
Droy had finished his chicken and was now scarfing down the ice cream goo with a serving spoon. "What are we going to do when you find him?" He asked.
"I don't know," Jet admitted. "But I'll think of something." He went back to work determined to find out as much information as he could.
It was just after five when Laxus left the office, he had been waiting on one last phone call but he wasn't sure when or if it was even coming at all. If he hurried he might be able to make supper with his wife and kids before he had to go to the meeting in the park.
His house was not too far away but the long weekend traffic had really picked up and it took him over twice as long to make it home. He pulled into the single car driveway and noticed that the normally lively street was quiet, too quiet for his liking. He enjoyed living here because of all the activity, most of the street was occupied by young families like his own; they were tight knit and looked out for one another. The houses were uniform two story cottage built, painted in pastel colors, although Laxus' was white, and separated by low hedges. L
axus walked up the driveway and went into the garage through a side door, not surprised that Mira's orange SUV was parked inside. He opened the door to the house and expected to hear the sounds of his seven year old son and five year old daughter fighting, it was the only thing they did these days, but again everything was quiet.
"Hello?" He called out while slipping off his shoes and jacket. He put them away in the closet neatly, Mira ran a tight ship and everything was as orderly as things could be in a small house with three children.
"In the kitchen!" Came his wife's reply.
"Where are the kids?" He asked as he walked into the small kitchen. She was standing at the sink washing dishes; the counter tops were littered with dirty bowls, pots and utensils.
Mira picked up a dish towel and dried her hands as she answered. "After we decided not to go to the cabin the kids had an early supper and went to a pool party. I didn't think that you would be coming home so early."
Laxus felt a slight tinge of disappointment; it wasn't often that he missed meals with his family. "That's ok, what's all of this?"
"I was trying to get a head start on the food for tomorrow. The big kids were gone, Justin went down early for his nap and Lisanna is over at Wendy's tonight so I had some time to kill. Are you hungry? I can make you a sandwich."
"You're busy, I can do it myself." Laxus opened the fridge and scanned the contents. "Potato salad…"
"That's for tomorrow," Mira shooed him away. "Go sit down, I will make it."
Laxus pulled out a bar stool and sat behind the dirty counter, watching his wife make him a sandwich. She was stunning, her long white-blonde hair was pulled into a messy pony tail and her feet were bare; even being dressed in old food stained clothes couldn't disguise her model's body. She looked more 20 than 30 and not like she had three children, the youngest one not being even a year old yet.
It wasn't just her looks that made Mira beautiful; she was also gentle and kind with a big heart that loved everyone unconditionally. It was completely contrasting of his irritable and arrogant personality, sometimes he wondered if that age old adage about opposites attracting was true in their case. When Mira set down a plate of sandwiches in front of Laxus it did have a small scoop on potato salad on it, which made him smile.
She started cleaning the counter as he took a big bite of ham sandwich. "So, how is the new case going?"
Bringing up the case made him think about the visit from Mest and Romeo and his anger flared up all over again. It had taken a lot of willpower not to drop everything after they had left and head over to Gramp's to stick his boot up Natsu's uncareful ass, but he had a feeling that that was what Mest wanted. Mira had picked up on his irritation and was looking at him expectantly with a raised eyebrow. Laxus sighed and caught her up on what had happened after their phone call that afternoon between bites.
"Oh my, that is not good." Mira grimaced when he was finished, for her that was about the same anger equivalent as a person throwing dishes at the wall.
"Exactly, the last thing we need right now are the cops snooping around this case. If they find out about Gajeel's involvement then it would be even worse." Laxus mentally tapped on wood for mentioning his thoughts out loud.
"So what are you going to do?" She asked, the counter tops were gleaming clean and the rest of the dirty dishes had disappeared into the dishwasher. "If Natsu doesn't talk to Mest then he will keep digging until he finds him, but if he does talk to him the he will want know why he took Lucy. Plus they will want to know where the girls are and if they are alright." Mira voiced the exact same conclusions that he had come to and he hadn't yet decided on the best course of action.
"I know but I'm going to get Natsu and Lucy's side of the story before I do anything." He glanced at the digital clock on the stove and saw that if he had just under an hour left before he had to be at the park. He stuffed the last piece of sandwich in his mouth before standing up. "I'm going to have to spend the night at Gramp's, make sure you call me if you need anything." Before Mira could reply his phone started to ring from his pocket, he checked the caller ID and it was the call he had been waiting for.
"Hello," he answered hesitantly.
"Hey," was the reply on the other end. "I have some good news and some not so good news."
Laxus sighed. "I'm listening."
"It took a little bit of convincing; they will meet with you but only at the Dog. You have to come alone and unarmed."
Laxus thought about that for a second before answering. "We can meet at the Dog, but I have to bring someone, he was the one that witnessed the murder not me. And one more condition, I want you to be there."
There was silence on the line for a long minute. "Laxus… I don't know if they are going to agree to that."
"Cana, you have to try," Laxus responded. "It's important that I talk to them but I don't want to get killed in the process. Please make them understand that."
Laxus heard a loud sigh. "Alright, I will make it happen. Tomorrow night, 8 o'clock sharp and don't be late." She hung up the phone before he could respond. When Laxus looked up he saw that Mira had found his overnight bag and set it on the floor beside him.
"Thanks."
"No problem, stay safe." She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and he pulled her in for a quick kiss. Just as things were about to get interesting there was a loud thud from a door slamming open followed by even louder yelling. They pulled back from each other as their two eldest children came into the room.
"Daddy!" Five year old Makayla cried as she launched herself into Laxus' midsection, he caught her easily and pulled her into a tight hug which caused her to squeal louder.
"Shh, quiet you guys are going to wak-" Mira started but it was too late, the sound of a baby crying came from the baby monitor on top of the fridge.
"Oopsie, I'm sorry Mommy," Makayla whispered, still in Laxus' arms.
"I'll go get him," Peter was only seven, but he took his responsibilities as the older brother very seriously.
"Thank you!" Mira called to him.
"I'm sorry Princess, but I have to go back to work," Laxus told his daughter as he set her back on the ground.
"But, why?" She asked with a frown.
"I'll be back tomorrow for supper."
Peter came back into the room carrying seven-month old Justin. Both he and his sister had light straw colored hair that was more like their mother's while Peter's was dark blonde, identical to what Laxus' had been at that age. All three children had the heart-shaped Strauss face and the explosive Dreyar personality.
Laxus picked up his bag and ruffled Peter's hair. "Pete, take care of your Mother and the little kids." He kissed Makayla and Justin on their foreheads and turned back to his wife.
"I'll see you tomorrow." She just nodded at him and he left trying not to feel so guilty and failing miserably.