Laxus had always prided himself for being a man who was prepared. He was not accustomed to being surprised, despite the peaks, valleys, and canyons life had thrown in his path. His caution wasn't a simple matter of paranoia, just a reinforced habit to always expect the unexpected. Once, long ago, Laxus believed he could force the outcome of his actions to match his own, misguided ideals... and it had nearly cost him everything. One man couldn't make a river halt its stream, nor could he make it flow faster—a river could only be diverted, by the strength of his own hands and the help of his friends. After the war, when the guild had elected to appoint him as their ninth master, he had sworn to serve with the same poise and wisdom as his grandfather, to always be prepared for the dangers that threatened the guild and its members.
Laxus never expected the danger to come from within the guild.
Lucy had done most of the talking, scant details and muttered words painting a piece-wise picture of the mission, the monster, and... the other monster. Laxus stared at Natsu as she spoke, his gaze solid and penetrating. The other man was silent, his eyes dropped to the floor, whether in shame or thought was unclear. Mira stood by him, listening as she always had been for years. Her shock, though muted, was evident on her face. She and Laxus had already known about Natsu's... circumstances, but the news of the Leviathan and what it meant was more than troubling. Lucy drew their story to an uncertain close. The Guild Master released a heavy breath and scrubbed his hand down his face.
"I see. Just when I thought it was starting to get boring around here," Laxus sighed. "Are you alright, Natsu?"
Natsu looked up at Laxus, seeing the worry hanging from his jaw and the steep angle of his brow. "Yeah, I'm okay now."
"Thank goodness," Mira breathed. "I never would have thought that one of Zeref's demons could still be around after all this time."
"Or that it would have such an adverse effect on you." Steepling his fingers, Laxus leaned back in his chair. "The Leviathan's own etherious must have reawakened yours for some reason. But I guess the real question is, where the hell did that thing come from?"
Natsu rolled his eyes. "It's gone now. As long as another doesn't pop up, I should be fine."
"That's entirely it, though, Natsu," Lucy spoke softly, leaning forward to catch his gaze. "What if there are more out there? If one demon was able to survive Zeref's death, then who's to say there aren't others?"
"Just one was bad enough," Happy mumbled, shrinking further into Lucy's lap.
"Then we take them down, obviously!" Natsu spread his hands, feigning nonchalance. "There are plenty of wizards in this guild capable of defeating Zeref's demons besides me."
"Damn it Natsu, this is serious." Laxus abruptly stood from his chair, hands planted heavily on his desk. "What if the next demon that awakens is you?"
Natsu stiffened, a ticking itch somewhere behind his heart where fire met darkness. Laxus glared down at him, his eyes holding the challenge Natsu was too uncertain to face. Lucy, Mira, and Happy watched in silence, the tension in the air rising. Natsu said nothing, his fist gripping his frustration as he stared back at Laxus. After a few slow moments, Laxus sighed, his shoulders deflating once more and turned to Mira.
"Tell Freed that I'm going to visit gramps soon, and that he's free to come along."
"You know he will." Mira smiled gently.
"As for you three," he snapped as he spun his coat across his back. "I'm going with you to see Porlyusica. I won't be too long, so try not to get into too much trouble in the meantime. I expect that you'll agree that we keep this whole demon thing under wraps for now, at least until we get a better idea of what's going on."
Natsu huffed as he stood, irritation chasing after him like a storm as he stomped out of Laxus's office. Happy jumped down from his seat, he and Lucy quick to follow after him. Sidling up to Natsu, she nudged him gently. He turned to her, facing the amber depths of her gaze and the concern shining there like a candle in the dark just wanting to know if he was okay. Natsu returned her with a smile, his hand automatically finding hers as they stepped into the main guild hall. The quiet seclusion of the office shattered against the bustling atmosphere of the guild; hearty laughter and jovial discussion, good spirits to drink and to give along with all the other things that meant home and happiness.
At the bar, Lucy watched Mirajane pick up a bottle of liquor and expertly refill the tankards that scattered the bartop as she approached Freed with Laxus's message. Freed, in the middle of his own service duties, nodded at her words. Ever since Laxus became guild leader, the Thunder Legion had all stepped up in various ways to assist him. But none more so than Freed, who went directly to Mirajane and all but begged for her guidance, for her to teach him how to serve Laxus just as she had served Makarov. Now, he worked the bar and ran administrative and financial services when Mira was busy. At first, it was strange seeing him where one would normally see Mira, but overtime it became common place.
Natsu's eyes were turned the other way, scanning the grand hall and the faces gathered within. He stood abruptly, nearly knocking Happy from his perch on his shoulder as he raised his hands and waved.
"Hey! Wendy!"
The young dragon slayer looked up, her cobalt eyes glimmering from across the room. Excitement lit up her face with a beaming smile. Next to her, Carla hopped down from her spot on the table to join Wendy as she crossed the hall.
In the span of three short years, Wendy could hardly be considered a little girl, anymore. She was becoming a fine young woman, a vision of potential and beauty. Her face was sharp angles and striking features, casting aside her childish looks. Tall and slender, shallow curves with a deceiving softness, and still unfathomably kind. Like the winds that blow the sands from the desert to the sea, her magic was strong. She was a powerful Dragon Slayer, and a potent healer. As Wendy entered her late teens, she was already well on her way to becoming a capable and revered wizard.
"Lucy, Natsu! Welcome back!" Wendy embraced Lucy with a giggle. When she turned to Natsu with open arms, though, her glee flipped to shock and she recoiled from the bandages on his face. "Are you okay? What happened?"
Nastu shrugged. "The boat exploded."
"Exploded?!"
"I don't know why you're surprised. Seems pretty typical to me." Carla smirked. She turned to her blue counterpart. "Did you get a chance to practice your transformation, Happy?"
Happy scratched the back of his head, snickering an apology through his teeth. "Things got a little hectic, you could say. I was more focused on staying alive!"
Natsu sneered at the exceed, huffing annoyance.
"Let me get those for you," Wendy said, her fingers ghosting across his face. "If it scars, it'll look like you have whiskers."
"That's what I said." Lucy nudged him with an elbow to his ribs, a playful smile and smug wink. Natsu puckered his lips in thought, mischief lurking in the angle of his brow and the gleam in his eye.
"Didn't you say you thought my scars were cool?" He leaned closer to her, his lips hovering by her ear though his voice was hardly a whisper. "Isn't that why you're always biting me on my-"
A quick finger sharply to his ribs shut his mouth like a springtrap. Natsu crumpled on his bar stool and groaned.
"Anyway," Lucy turned back to Wendy, her voice tight with irritation. "Yes, we would love if you could take care of those."
It took less than ten seconds. Natsu discarded the bandages and scratched the healed skin.
"Feels like I've got a brand new face!" He laughed.
A sudden draft from outside and the loud clang of the front door opening echoed above the din of the hall. Laxus and Freed had just stepped out, no doubt heading for Kardia Cathedral. In his hands, Freed cradled a small bouquet of flowers, and Laxus carried a peaceful mourning on his shoulders.
"It's nice to see Laxus taking time to honor Makarov. Feels like he's still here," Carla mused.
"Maybe we should pay a visit to the Master, too." Lucy said, a small smile of old remorse on her lips as her memories turned to a younger past.
Wendy nodded. "It's been a while since I've gone as well. It'd be nice to pay my respects."
"We already are."
They all looked to Natsu, but his gaze was turned up, taking in the wooden rafters of the guild and the sunlight pouring in through the skylights. The oh-so familiar ambiance of Fairy Tail had come to mean something else to those members that had been part of the war. In the aftermath of the struggle, through the numbing grief and hard-packed anger that followed the conclusion of the invasion, the guild had been a sanctuary for its children—a place where they could all heal, and overcome their sadness and sores. Makarov's last words echoed into their hearts, an oath and a creed all in one for them to carry as they moved forward together. Tranquil days and different understandings of peace and love reinforced what many of them had already known: there wasn't a single thing that couldn't be accomplished when they worked together. As new members joined over the years, none of them could really know just how special the legacy they carried on their shoulders was, but that was part of the eternal mystery that Makarov and Mavis had envisioned for the guild. No one ever forgot that.
Natsu nodded once in finality, smiling at his fiancé and the other dragon slayer.
"We don't have to go to church to see Gramps. He's right here."
"Spoken like a true bonehead."
Natsu growled, slamming his fist on the bar top as he shoved a finger toward his offender. "Shut up, Gray!"
Gray grinned, satisfied with himself as he leaned against the aged wood of the bar. "Save all that mushy crap for your wedding day, eh Natsu?"
Natsu tipped his chin up, a sneer on his lips. "You're about to get yourself uninvited."
Gray shrugged and crossed his arms. "I'm pretty sure the bride is the one who makes that choice, am I right, Lucy?"
"As long as you keep your beard trimmed and remember to wear clothes, I have no problem with it."
Gray stroked the dark hairs on his chin. "I'm not making any promises."
"You guys picked a date?!" Wendy gasped.
"No." Lucy leaned toward the younger woman, speaking softly in mock secrecy. "We can't settle on a date until someone decides who they want their best man to be!"
"I don't know why you're waiting on me to pick," Natsu huffed. "Don't see why I even need one to begin with!"
Lucy rolled her eyes, reciting the same formulaic rejoinder once again. "We can't send out invitations to our friends in other guilds till we pick a date, and we can't pick a date till the wedding party has been decided. You had one job, Natsu, and you're slacking."
"I can be my own best man, dammit!"
"Quite being such a baby and ask me already." Gray spread his palms, inviting trouble and larks. "I'm dying for the opportunity to turn you down."
Natsu scowled. "I'll turn you down on your ass, freezer burn."
"Bring it on, sparky!"
Behind his back, Lucy fisted Natsu's jacket, an urgent warning digging from her fingernails into his spine. Natsu immediately froze, message received loud and clear—but Gray had already dropped low into a fighting stance, his fists raised with pale clouds of frigid cold rolling from his knuckles.
"Don't listen to him, Natsu."
Juvia laughed, a light and twittery sound as she set the grocery bags in her arms down on the bar top. Somehow, no one had seen her walk by and yet there she was; a hidden waterfall, cascading and cool. Hands free, she let her hair down from its pony tail and sighed with relief. Leaning back, Juvia winked at Natsu from behind Gray's shoulder.
"Despite what he says, Gray really wants to be your best man. He told me himself. Isn't that right, darling?"
Gray puckered his lips in thought as Juvia glided to his side, her hand lighting on his arm. "That's not exactly how I worded it. You finish running errands for Mirajane?"
"Mhm." Juvia nodded. She held up a bundle of clothing to Gray, a light shirt folded neatly. "I also stopped by your place and grabbed the shirt you forgot to put on this morning."
Gray looked down to his bare chest. Yep, he was somehow half-naked—a mystery to be solved another day. Sighing, Gray took the shirt and shook it out before slipping it over his head. Now fully clothed, Gray wrapped an arm around Juvia's shoulders and gave her an affectionate squeeze.
"Thank you. I really appreciate that."
Juvia beamed, her cheeks rosy and her smile content.
War—survived and endured—had left many reimagining their futures. Gray and Juvia were no exception. For many years, Gray had lived for others, seeking revenge and victories and expectations for the sake of loved ones present and gone. If he could repay the debt of all who had touched his life with their lessons and love, then he would know the strength to protect and defend... but for a price far too high to pay. Juvia had been running for a long time; whether running from a past too painful or after a redemption that taunted her with unrequited love and cold, empty distance. If she kept running, kept striving and sacrificing and sprinting, maybe she could reach the happiness she sought, a happiness that hurt more than it healed.
They had both paid the cost for their peace during the invasion. They were rewarded with sorrow and rage and unfulfilled dreams. This price... it wasn't worth their lives.
Gray let go of the debt that had never existed. Juvia found the redemption she had already earned long ago. They started to live for themselves—and in the same turn, realized what they meant to each other. They had been going steady ever since.
"I'm not the only one who has to pick out a best man, Lucy." Natsu crossed his arms, shifting his narrowed gaze to the woman beside him. "So where's yours?"
"Shows what you know! I don't need a best man, Natsu." Lucy grabbed the tasseled ends of Natsu's scarf and yanked, cinching the white cloth tight with her annoyance. Natsu coughed and stumbled, pulled down to Lucy's height to bear the full brunt of her irritation. "It's called a maid of honor, and if you had been paying attention, you would know that I already chose someone."
"You did? Who?" Wendy asked. Carla scoffed.
"Haven't you been present, child? It's Erza, obviously."
"No kidding," Gray muttered, shaking his head. He scanned the guild for the requip mage, but they all knew she was away on a job—something terrifying and spectacular like the woman herself. "She's more excited for your wedding than you are."
"She takes her duties as a maiden very seriously." Juvia nodded, something akin to envy hanging from the angle of her jaw when she smiled. "You chose well, Lucy."
"It seemed the obvious choice," Lucy bit her lip. "Although, I think if I didn't choose Erza, she would have been sad."
Her friends ruefully agreed, knowing Erza and her penchant for celebrations like they did.
"Why can't Erza just be my best man, too?" Natsu jerked back, pulling his scarf from Lucy's grasp.
"You don't want Erza in charge of your bachelor party, pal." Happy muttered.
"Why not?"
"You remember how she is when she drinks, right?"
Natsu thought for a beat. When his face dropped and his lips curled into an embarrassed cringe, Happy knew he had made his point.
"Uh-huh. That why I made her promise there would be no surprises." Lucy patted Natsu's back, gentle and reassuring. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll eventually find someone to be your best man."
"I don't need one!"
"Oh come on, Natsu." Mirajane stood behind the bar, unpacking the various groceries and provisions with an attentive ear turned to them. "I think it would be adorable if Gray was your best man! Nobody knows you better than him—except Lucy, of course."
Gray's lopsided grin rose once again as she spoke, a petulant triumph earned for such an endearing endorsement.
"Besides, who else are you gonna ask? Gildarts isn't here, Gajeel would rather chew his own foot off, and Elfman…" Gray didn't have to finish, seeing Natsu's frown deepen with every word he said. Stepping up to the dragon slayer, Gray threw a companionable arm over his shoulders. "And who knows? Maybe if you ask me really nicely, I might just-"
Gray's words choked to a stop, ceased by a startled gasp laced with unexpected pain. Snatching his arm back, Gray crumpled around himself, sucking quick breaths through his teeth and cradling his hand like a wounded bird. Beside him, Natsu flinched and jerked, hissing through his teeth as a muscle spasmed violently through his neck and chest.
Like a blunted spear, dread panged in Lucy's stomach. Of course, how could she have forgotten: Gray wasn't just a Maker mage.
They both recovered quickly, their comrades concerned and surprised, but Gray's confusion lingered heavily in the uneasy space that followed. He said nothing as he looked down at his palm, a thin sheen of sweat on his brow and eyes bright with shock. Juvia rushed to him in an instant, a worried hand on his back as she softly called his name. Gray didn't answer her, his gaze shifting to Natsu as the confusion turned to doubt, and finally to suspicion. His hand was tensed into a claw, his fingers twitching. Natsu blinked and rolled his head, puzzled and oblivious.
Though the sleeves of his shirt covered his arms, a small triangle of dark flesh crept out from beneath the cuff on his wrist, something born of rage emblazoned on his flesh and growing. Realization hit Lucy like a kick to the gut. She knew what it was. They needed to get out of the guild. Her mind raced to think of something, an excuse or a reason or an alibi—Mirajane was faster.
"Lucy!" Mira barked. Everyone jumped, her voice ringing urgently through the din of the guild. She smiled plainly, her pale blue eyes locked on Lucy's face. "Weren't you telling me you needed to... pick out napkins? For the reception?"
Lucy blinked, recognizing that Mira was giving her and Natsu an out. "O-oh! Yes! We do! Right now! Let's go!"
Natsu frowned, his confusion weighing down on his brow. "Napkins? Why the hell would we-"
Lucy gripped on the tails of his scarf once more and yanked him away. Gagging and fumbling, Natsu jerked at her pull, choking on her name. Lucy ignored him, rushing through her worry before Gray or anyone had a chance to recover or act.
"This is important, Natsu," she blustered, snatching Happy off the ground with her other hand. The blue cat yelped as she hugged him close to her chest, dragging them both towards the door. "If the napkins don't compliment the table cloths then the wedding is ruined. Bye everyone! We'll see you later!"
"I'll tell Laxus to meet you!" Mira shouted after them.
They were gone swiftly, gusted away like a leaves in a storm. Their companions, still stunned and addled, watched after them till the door banged shut. Wendy looked to Carla. The white cat shook her head.
"Goodness, what was that all about?" Carla said, then turned to Mirajane. "What does Laxus have to do with napkins?"
Mira answered with an uncertain chuckle, an anxious gleam following her smile. Juvia, watching Gray closely, tilted her head at him.
"Gray? Are you alright?" She spoke quietly.
Gray stared at the front door, his eyes distant with racing thoughts. Juvia watched him, seeing the storming unease behind his gaze. There was fear there, too, something lurking and waiting. Juvia touched his arm. Gray flinched away from her, startled from his thoughts.
"Gray, what's going on?" Juiva asked, forcing some conviction into her words. He swallowed heavily and shook his head.
"I'm not sure what just happened," Gray breathed as he met Juvia's eyes. He could feel the tattoo on his arm fade away again, only a cool imprint left behind on his skin to remember it had ever been. "But I really hope I'm wrong."
Outside, Lucy had dragged Natsu and Happy a ways down the street and turned down another before she finally released them. Natsu tripped over his feet, falling to the sidewalk in a strangled heap. As he and Happy gathered themselves, Lucy peeked around the corner back to the guild. It didn't seem like any of their friends had followed them. Heaving a sigh of relief, Lucy sagged as the tension in her shoulder's began to ease. Thank the gods for Mirajane's quick thinking.
"Is something wrong, Lucy?" Natsu asked tightly, loosening his scarf. "Since when do you care so much about napkins?"
Unbelievable. Lucy glared at her fiancé and wondered—not for the first time—how he had managed to come so far in life. Shaking her head, Lucy raised a hand to gently massage her temple as Happy fluttered to her shoulder.
"You saw it too, right?" He asked. Lucy nodded.
"I'm such and idiot. Why didn't this occur to me before now?" She mumbled to herself.
"What are you talking about?"
Happy and Lucy looked to Natsu. His face held no assumptions, an honest and worried perplexity the Lucy realized as something she had missed.
"Didn't you feel it, too?" She asked. "Back there, when he touched you? It looked like you had a reaction to him."
Natsu's eyes widened, his head slowly bobbing side to side. "I... don't remember."
Happy's paw tightened on her shirt, a small dither he pressed through Lucy's skin. But this would have to wait.
"When Gray touched you," Lucy stated, letting Happy fall from his perch. "His Devil Slayer magic responded, and not in a good way."
Natsu blinked. "Devil Slayer? But he hasn't used that spell in years. I thought it went away after the war."
"I think he did too, judging by the look on his face," Happy chirped.
"It can't be a good sign if Gray's power is coming back, especially after what happened with the Leviathan… but I could be wrong, right?"
Natsu couldn't answer, too unsure and unsettled to even try to assuage her worries. He barely remembered the last time that he and Gray had clashed as demon and devil slayer. His memories of the fight were faded and dark, but he knew that it had been bad; a fire that flared dark and ice so cold it burned, his fists pounding against a rage and sorrow that mirrored his own—and for the first time, a crimson hate that hungered and festered and corroded him from within.
They would have killed each other, if Erza hadn't stopped them.
They never talked about it. Natsu had silently resolved to never let it happen again, and assumed Gray had done the same.
Perhaps, Natsu thought, they had been naive to believe something so intrinsic and engrained within themselves would let go so easily. Behind his heart, the dark wisps of the etherious quivered, almost like it was laughing at him.
"Come on," Natsu said, leading the way out of town. "Let's head to Porlyusica's."
A/N: Yes, it is called Devil Slayer magic and not Demon Slayer magic. I do my research.
Thank you to everyone that reviewed!
EDIT: This chapter has been edited for content and grammatical errors on 11/2022.
As always, read, review, and enjoy!