[ Tower of Heaven Arc {2} ]
"That's enough."
Everyone freezes at the cold, stern voice that echoed throughout the halls of Fairytail as Makarov stares at the scene before him with a hard look. Such a small, fragile looking old man staring into the eyes of his children and taking in their expressions. Hatred, Jet and Droy. Confusion and Fear, Levy McGarden.
Resolution, Gajeel Redfox.
For a moment, Makarov thinks that perhaps this was his fault. In an effort to extend a hand to someone in need, it had burned the hands of others in the process. He truly should have saw this coming considering the extent of their injuries, at least on the boys's end. Revenge makes people desperate and pushes them into a headspace that makes them capable of anything. Morals be damned.
No one is saying that Jet and Droy are attempting to go as far as murder Gajeel Redfox.
But as the old saying goes, "an eye for an eye", how far are they willing to go?
A never-ending cycle, is was it is set up to be. Gajeel strikes back, and then the duo claps back over and over and over and over .
Or that would've been the theoried case, had Gajeel fought back .
Instead, he takes their hits with a resolved expression on his face as if he isn't phased by their anger. As if he's encouraging them to take their violent thoughts onto his body, that he doesn't mind the fact that they are beating him because it was what he felt as if was fair. What he deserved. Violence, as the answer to the problem, even though it was the root for it to begin with.
Makarov takes a small breath at the thought, fearing that he did not know which was worse of the two. A ceaseless cycle of revenge, or the thought of violence being so deeply rooted into one's being, that they do not know how to communicate in any other way.
Droy and Jet had the decency to look ashamed, at least. The moment they heard Makarov's dead tone, they scrambled to get off the fallen Gajeel, who merely spat out red off to the side before he sat upright without a second thought. Irritation flickered across the boys face at the unphased expression on the latter, looking as if he was bored if anything.
Not a thought single emotion escaped his facade, Makarov carefully noted. It was impressive in it's own right.
"What is the meaning of this, boys?"
Jet's jaw clenched. "Are you kidding? You know what he did to us."
Ah, yes. That's the tricky part about compassion. It's hard for the victims to see the other side of the story. It was under Jose's orders, but Jose Porla was not the one that warped their dreams at night, and left their bodies aching from memory. Studded brows and red eyes were all they saw, the object of their disgust visibly in front of them.
Memories flooded them before everything snapped.
"I do." Makarov acknowledged.
"I also know that Fairytail members do not raise their hands on people who do not fight back."
Jet and Droy opened their mouth to argue back, to say that the iron bastard in front of them had defended himself, only to pause. They took note of their own bodies and realized that the only things that were aching were their fists and throats from snarling out curses. And Gajeel had just stared back at them as he let them rack their hits in. Not one moment did he even attempt to protect himself, preferring to let the madness happen.
Jet pursed his lips in quiet distaste.
"You got nothing to say about what you did, you asshole?" Droy scoffed at Gajeel, not wanting to admit his potential wrongdoings. No way, he was definitely a victim. A victim of the past, but still a victim who suffered from said past. Who cared that Gajeel didn't defend himself anyways, it just seemed like he knew he deserved it for being the worst human being.
Gajeel merely remained silent as he glanced at Makarov.
Makarov stared at him for a moment before motioning for him to get up, feeling a bit sick to his stomach when Gajeel operated without a second thought. It was no wonder Jose had no issues with Gajeel, he had followed him by command so effortlessly that it felt as if he was controlling a puppet. Where was that steel gaze that the iron dragon slayer possessed before? Where was that snark and bite that he knew that Gajeel was capable?
It seemed that Phantom Lord's disbandment had broken more than he had thought, Makarov thought gravely as he walked past them, into the guild silently. Gajeel echoed his steps without needing another provocation.
It was eerie quiet as they headed towards the back, in the infirmary area. Gajeel kept is cool despite feeling severely uncomfortable. A discrete survey of the area via his nose had confirmed that Juvia wasn't here, but neither Salamander or Bunny Girl. Other persons of interest, even if he wouldn't ever verbally admit it himself. Instead, he was surrounded by hostile stares and looks of confliction.
And to that he could handle, he was used to such looks.
"W-Why are you here?"
It catches him by surprise, and his facade breaks for a moment as he tenses. Obviously, he had noticed the bluenette when he had walked past her. Gajeel had willed himself to not look down at the petite girl, else something foreign had always seemed eager to crawl up inside him at her expression. That fire in her eyes, that had burned into his skull every time he had closed his own.
It was nonexistent as she seemed to be a shell of herself after the ordeal.
Was it a fluke? One last burst of courage before the fall?
Had he broken her?
The thought tasted sour in the mouth.
He stops in his tracks, eyes lowering down to look at the bluenette.
Oh?
"Eh?" Gajeel grunted at the girl.
Levy McGarden's heart was pounding so violently that she was sure that the towering man before her could hear it. What was she thinking, speaking up like that?! There was something inside of her that was screaming for her to just shut her mouth and look away. She knows what he had done to her. The wounds, only just now starting to heal properly before his presence seemed to have ripped them open again so violently.
Her nerves were bleeding .
Red, just like his eyes.
"Why are you here?" Levy says a bit stronger, making direct eye contact with him now. Her nerves were on fire and yet there was an anger of her own that allowed her to speak up more. A quiet determination that brimmed on her own resolve to be stronger in her own right. Perhaps this was too easy to test her capabilities, but Lu-chan was right. She had went through something traumatic, and yet she survived.
And yeah, later she will probably sob into her sheets as she recalled the anxiety of this encounter. The false(?) confidence inside of her will crumble and she probably won't be able to do this again any time soon. Tomorrow, Gajeel's presence might render her speechless and crippled if he's still present.
Not here, not now though.
Gajeel blinks.
Ah, there goes that fucking intrusive thought again. The little shrimp in front of him, staring at him as if to dare him to say anything. Just like what he had saw all those weeks ago, eye to eye with the girl. She was weak as fuck, but was she ?
He deflects instead, because the hidden truth was that he did not know the answer to her question. What was he doing here? Is that what he is here to find out? What to do with his life?
"...you the leader of Team Shadow Gear?"
It's Levy's turn to blink, this time in confusion. "What?"
"I ain't gonna ask again." His eyes tracked her body, slowly.
She's too shocked to feel anything at the sight.
"Y-Yes?"
Gajeel already knew the answer, of course. He was just curious of her answer and her reaction. Would she proudly state it with that determination? Or would she go back to the skittish, scared woman as before? There was no incorrect answer, but he had suddenly burned to know.
"Hm, I could tell." A sharp grin that veered on the edge of menancing, before he turns around to follow Makarov into the infirmary. For a moment, he had forgotten that his nose was actively streaming with blood as Fairytail gawked at the interaction, with Levy staring at him with a complex expression.
She lets out a strangled exhale as she balled her shaking hands into a fist, watching the back of her attacker disappear in silence.
-E-S-
A gasp awakes her from a nap that was riddled from memories of the past. Her head pounds as it recalls the traumas, the feelings of shackles ghostly dancing across her skin as Erza slowly comes back to her senses. Rubbing her wrist, she sits up slowly and blearly looks around with deep breaths, only to make eye-contact with Lucy who was staring at her through her vanity with concern itched onto her face.
"Erza?"
She cleared her throat before she responds with a small smile and nod, "Good morning, Lucy."
"It's evening time…" Lucy gently corrects her, as it was clear that Erza had woken disoriented.
"I-Is that so…" Erza blinked in shock before turning to the clock which confirmed Lucy's words. She ran a hand through her long red hair as she let out an exhale, before noticing that Lucy was looking rather fancy for the evening. "Off to dinner?"
"Nope, Juvia and the boys wanted to check out the casino. Jeans and a t-shirt won't cut it!" Lucy chirped as she applied her lip gloss. She made eye contact with the knight as she smacked her lips and smiled, pleased with the results. "Wanna come? I wasn't going to disturb your rest initially, but now that you're up…"
"Sure." Erza agreed a bit eagerly, ready to leave the room they shared for the past day. She was still feeling a little drowsy but was not eager to return to the dreams that had only left her tense. Stretching, Erza flips her hair over her shoulders as shakes her sheets off and makes her way leisurely to her suitcase, packed comically to the brim.
Lucy dabs gently with a blush brush as Erza gets ready, the latter eventually finding herself ready to apply the final touches to her outfit.
Erza stands in front of the mirror, dressing in a sleek rose silky dress that left much to the imagination. Pulling long, white gloves up her arms slowly, she looks back at her reflection with a complex look on her face. She looks good, and she knows it.
Yet her body yearned for the mental stability that comes with wearing her physical armor.
She lets out a small exhale before reaching to pull her hair up into a bun, when a knock on the door had let her know that someone was outside. It was muffled, which meant that it wasn't coming from the bathroom door. "Lucy?"
"I got it!" Lucy shouted before she got up to open the door.
It was Juvia, wearing a long blue dress with a fur scarf that covered her shoulders and a rather awkward expression on her face as she let out a small smile at the sight of the blonde. "Hello, Lucy Heartfilia."
"Juvia, holy shit. You look fantastic!?" Lucy gushed as Juvia blushed lightly at the praise before chuckling, "Juvia can say the same for you."
She eyed the blonde playfully, looking at the cream colored, bodycon dress that Lucy had chose, with her hair flowing loosely around her shoulders. Lucy just winked obnoxiously, and the two girls giggled.
"Are we ready to leave?"
"Yeah one second-Erza?!" Lucy shouted behind her. Erza stepped out of the bathroom almost immediately, slipping on her last heel as she looked towards the direction of their room door. She looks at Juvia for a moment and nods, unsure of what to say to the girl but not feeling hostile despite past instances. "Ready."
With that, the girls locked the door to their rental room, and proceeded to walk to the elevator as they descended to the floors to Casino de Fiore. Everything was see through as they went to each level. The night life was starting to kick up as multi-colored lights began to light up the outside world. Gold and silver decor surrounds them as Juvia looks around in wonder, "This place is beyond Juvia's imagination."
Lucy nods in agreement, "I had no idea that Casino de Fiore was this fancy and modern. Boy am I glad that I changed my clothes."
"Indeed." Erza agreed before furrowing her eyebrow, "I just hope the boys were able to finish getting dressed and arrived on time to your agreement."
"It's not anything crazy," Lucy shrugged but internally giggled at the peeved expression on Erza's face at the thought of not being punctual. Tonight was supposed to be for fun, there's no harm in not arriving completing on time. Fashionably late, these events type to be anyways.
Juvia looked a bit pale by the time that they landed on the ground floor and it was Erza who called her out, voiced laced with slight concern. "Everything alright, Lockser?"
Juvia just let out a grimaced smile, "It is…There are lots of people here. Juvia was not prepared."
Lucy was quick to lace her fingers with the rain woman, "Don't worry, we'll stay together!"
Erza smiled and nodded, "Correct. Do not worry, you are one of us now. We protect our own."
The smile that blossoms on Juvia's face was enough to ease the rest of the worries as excitement soon replaced and filled them as they waited for the boys to arrive.
-N-D-
"How the fuck are you supposed to put this on?!" Natsu grumbled as he messily attempted to knot his tie together, only to fail and look like a winded pedestrian late for work in a rom-com movie. His white long-sleeved button down had a few buttons opened as he peered at himself in the mirror with a frown on his face. Igneel's white scarf was loosely hanging around his neck as he retried his efforts, black blazer left as the finishing touches as it laid on the bed.
Gray's silky navy short-sleeved shirt was unbottoned as well, his silver chain visible on his chest as he decided to attempt at gelling his hair to make it more fancier. He looked blankly from the bathroom before he entered the main room again and called Natsu's name.
"Eh?" Natsu turned around, only to choke and look up at the ceiling.
"Whatcha think? I tried to uh, do something to my hair…"
"It sure was something ." Natsu huffed with laughter under his breath before he made eye contact with Gray once more. He had put too much gel on the tips of his hair, making it look unnatural and slightly spikey. "You look like shit."
Gray scowled before sighing and rolling his eyes, "Yeah, I thought so too. Fuck, how the hell am I suppose to fix this?"
"With this!" Happy chirped as he tosses a comb over Gray's way, who catches it without hesitation. His face lights up and he flashes Happy a thankful smile before rushing back into the bathroom, this time leaving the door open.
"Oi Frost Breath, you know how to tie a tie?"
"Why would I? It's all gonna come off eventually anyways."
"If you fucking strip in this casino…" Natsu growled as he warned Gray to know the limitations and boundaries of this place.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's just go before we're super late."
-L-H-
The casino was fun, Lucy thinks as she laughs at Natsu's misfortune at yet another roulette game run.
Surrounding them were white and neon purple lights that lit up the after, bringing the night life to life. With abstract circular ceilings designs hung above them to fancy, intricate designs on the red carpet, it almost felt as if you were the main character in your story in this place. The adorned clothing, the swotty outfits of the dealers in the higher stakes games, the looks of greed and the rush of not knowing if you'll be a millionare within a second, it was intense as it was enjoyable.
"What number should I bet, eh Luce?" Natsu asked as he narrowed his eyes at the board, as Lucy chuckled. "Well, pick a black one this time. You've picked red and loss every time."
"You didn't have to remind me!" Natsu complained as he sighed and shook his head while Lucy laughed louder.
He looked over and poked her arm, "Seriously, pick my number. Maybe you're my lucky charm?"
"Sure," Lucy rolled her eyes before she pointed at one for him to place his bet on. Natsu grinned in his thanks and they watched as the other people around them began to follow his lead. It was a busy table, and people kept moving around them enough for Natsu to be pushed over up against the blonde, who flushed at bit at the sudden close proximity.
"Sorry, the people are a bit uh, pushy?" Natsu said a bit sheepishly as he looked down at Lucy who didn't make eye contact. His heart raced a bit at the scent of the blonde, and it suprisingly takes a bit of effort not to move his head closer in order to take a deeper breath. There goes that feeling again, Natsu thinks. That feeling of bringing Lucy close to him and never letting go.
The thought of anyone else being in his position, caused him to set his jaw and clenched his fist. Lucy eyed it and finally looked up to him, "Natsu?"
He blinked and the tension went away immediately as he flashed a smile. "I'm good."
"Well..you lost again."
"What?!," Natsu's jaw dropped as his head snapped over towards the spinning board, only to see that it had indeed settled on a different number. A red one, this time. Clearly the universe just wanted to spite him, as he wallowed in misery at yet another defeat against the machine. "This has got to be cheating."
"Welcome to the rushes and roulettes of gambling," Lucy snorted.
"I thought you were on my side!" Natsu frowns playfully as he turns to face her again, bit by bit getting closer. "I am."
"You aren't feeling so lucky right now for me though." Lucy just scoffed as she teased back, "Or maybe , there isn't enough luck for me to counteract your-"
"It's a shame to lose, eh? Thus is the woes of this place."
Natsu and Lucy blinked, realized their distance and both flushed a bit, before they turned to look at the newcomer who interjected himself into the conversation. It was a rather rigged faced mam, with cheekbones to die for, as he pulled up in a classy blue suit with a red tie. He nodded, tipping his matching fedora hat for greeting as Natsu half-smiled in return. "The name's Wally, by the way."
"Uh Natsu, and yeah, it is." He said a bit wistfully, "These shitty games are so hard."
"Well, most of them tend to be rigged. Money rules all, right? I can tell you a trick or two, if you want."
"Really?" Natsu perked up, but Lucy just sighed. This place was crawling with people like what this guy was shaping up to be, people who find opporunities to gamble on the people rather than the system in place. Offering help for others in exchange for a price, a classic con-artist move. She opens her mouth to help save Natsu's wallet, but everything spiralled out of control within an instance.
"For a price, of course."
Natsu's face scrunched as he began to way the pros and cons of his offer, patting his dress pants as he began to look for his wallet, "I don't think I have much-"
"Survive, and I'll tell you everything you want to know."
Goosebumps erupted across Natsu's skin as he snapped his head up to stare into Wally's eyes as he let out another polite nod, before he promptedly ambushed Natsu, pushing roughly him onto the roulette table. The head piece of the spinning wheel jabs into Natsu's back as he let out a rough groan at his nerves being pinched for the moment, as Wally hopped onto the table. Natsu rolled over to his side as he let out more groans, trying to claw at his back and quickly soothe the aches spot that left him momentarily crippled.
People were murmurring and starting to back away at the sight. Was this just another loan shark hunting down another client? Sometimes you just had to back and look away instead of calling the authorities, else you'll be the next target.
"W-What the fu-"
Wally crouched down and extended his arm in order for it to transform into a small rifle and pointed it at Natsu, who looked at it in the corner of his eye with a large mix of shock, fear, and apprehension. Natsu tensed, muscles clenching rapidly as he moves to lift Wally off of him, but it was too late.
Wally shoved the barrel of the gun into Natsu's mouth, barely giving him time to think in the process. People stared to scream this time around, and chaos began to erupt around the two boys. The screaming kick-started Lucy into action as she scrambled, screaming for Natsu as she grabbed her keys in an effort to save him.
" NATSU! "
Wally hummed, "He told me you were an important piece to take out early, if it could save the game."
'He?' Natsu's racing mind screamed as he looks up into Wally's eyes. His jaw was aching from the rough metal that was pushed into his cheek, gunpowder filling his nostrils as his heart beats erratically.
It has been a long time since someone has managed to instill fear into him, from such a blindesided action no less.
"Cheers, Natsu Dragneel."
Bang!
-J-F-
"..and then you have to pull this big lever down, which is really huge for dramatic reasons I guess, and then the game begins to run leaving you to hope for the best." Gray explained to Juvia the basics of the slot games, and how to play as Juvia watched intently. Passerbys flushed a bit as they looked at the pair, taking note of their obvious attractiveness. Juvia's naturally sultry face was paired with a killer blue dress and a fur coat, as Gray's boyish charm radiated heavily with his slicked hair and silky navy shirt.
His chain dangled, touching Juvia's shoulder as he leaned over from behind to explain how everything worked while she sat in the official seat. He pulled down the lever for her to see it all in action and moved to lean against the machine.
"It is all to chance?" Juvia cocked her head as she looked at the rapidly spinning motion. The person next her let out a shout while two seats down let out a groan. It was a very loud environment, she notes as she looks around at everyone engrossed. She also notes the looks that people are giving them and narrows her eyes.
"...Gray Fullbuster."
"Yeah?" Gray pipes up before muttering, "And just Gray is fine, you know…"
She ignores the last comment. "Why are people giving us flushed looks?"
"Wha..?" They both made eye contact with some elderly lady who gave them an obnoxious wink, paired with a crude gesture that made even Juvia's jaw drop in slight shock at the open inappropiateness. Gray just instinctively scowled as he looked away and shrugged, "Just ignore that old hag and everyone else."
Juvia just hums as the slot machine goes off, letting out a loud noise and digital confetti shoots off declaring that the person in front of them was a winner. Gray crossed his arms and tilted his head as he grinned at her, "Hey, you won. Congratulations."
"Is it not your win, technically, Gray Fullbuster?" Juvia looked at the machine in slight awe, they had won $60, but Gray had been the one to pull the lever down.
Gray shrugged. "It was for you, so."
Juvia stared at him for a moment, before looking away with flush cheeks. Gray Fullbuster was quite the enigma, doing all of this chivarlous actions despite their past. "Juvia…does not understand you.
"What do you mean?"
"Shouldn't we operate more as…fiercest rivals? We were opponents on the battle field only weeks ago, and now you are teaching Juvia how to play games without a care in the world. Is that normal?" Not that Juvia would know what normal meant.
"Well, I mean, I guess it isn't to the average person." Gray said. "But I just-I don't really care? Like we did fight in the past, and you were quite the opponent, but that's all that was. I mean, do you want to fight me right now, still?"
Juvia eyed Gray Fullbuster up and down, taking note of his physical ability. "...Juvia would not mind a rematch."
Gray blushed, "You know what I meant."
"Juvia does." Juvia concedes, with a small giggle. Gray's stomach flutters a bit at the sound as he swallowed.
"So, what made you decide to join Fairytail, anyways? Was that always your plan?"
Juvia pulled down the lever once more to restart the game, before letting out a sigh as she leaned back in the seat. The lights flickered and danced on her face as she thought about how to answer his question, and Gray thought that she looked beautiful.
And-And she always had, really.
Even when she was screaming at him during that fight, accusing him to have the audacity to understand what she went through.
"Well, not really. Juvia had thoughts of running away to start a new life away from Magnolia." With Gajeel.
Gray hummed to show that he was still listening, and Juvia took that as a cue to continue, "Independent work was probably on the front lines of what Juvia had thought to do next. But we…it was rough to even think about the future at the time. Phantom Lord had just lost, and there was descruction everywhere. It was hard to see."
"Yea, when I woke up, I saw the fresh mess too."
Juvia blinked at the reminder of her leaving him in the field and she let out a tiny frown as she looked up at him, with clear blue eyes. "Juvia is sorry she had left you."
"It's okay," Gray said easily. It really was. They were still enemies at the time after all, and she had to attempt to regroup with her people to find the next course of action at least. He would've done the same. "Don't even sweat it."
Juvia let out a grateful smile, and god, Gray couldn't help but match her own at the sight. Good thing Natsu wasn't here to see him in this-this simpleton state. Gray doesn't think he's smiled this much in a row in years.
"Well, Makarov came like a shining beacon, offering us a home despite everything. He had some conditions, but all were reasonable." Juvia thinks back at that moment, dubbing it as the turning point of her life. "Juvia owes everything to Makarov."
"He wouldn't have offered if he didn't see something in you, Juves." Gray commented. "So don't sell your own self too short."
Juvia let out a soft exhale and chuckled. "You are not the first to tell me that, Gray Fullbuster, but thank you regardless."
"Anytime."
Gray surprised his own self with how serious he meant that. Juvia and Gray just exchanged another look at each other, before the slotted machine rings again, and they had won yet another round consecutively. Juvia looked at the machine in delight, and it was the increasing joy on her face that causes Gray to blurt out,
"I'm glad you decided to join."
Juvia just looks over with a slight mischievous glint in her eye as she smiled, "Juvia hopes you know that Juvia will not be on your side when it comes to quarrels against Natsu Dragneel, like how he drags Lucy into his whims."
Gray splutters then he suddenly barks into laughter, shocked by her answer. "I wasn't even thinking about that!"
"Mhm."
"It's true!"
"Sure," Juvia giggles and moved to get up from her seat, when a rough shoving past her had knocked her back down. Gray's eyebrows furrowed as he looked over to see which rude bastard had brushed past her like that, before noticing that the person in question had suddenly stopped in front of him.
Gray just raised an eyebrow, "Can I fucking help you?"
There will be no pleasantries after what he had just witness. The bastard didn't even look at Juvia at all, just kept his eyes on Gray.
"Where is Erza Scarlet?"
Gray and Juvia narrowed their eyes as they both tensed, getting ready for a fight. "What's it to you? Got business with her?"
"Something like that," The eye patched man grunted before Juvia stood up properly from her seat, water poised and ready to be deliever swiftly into the mystery man's neck. Gray eyed the water blade before he subtly warned him not to do anything.
"I don't like your tone, or approach. How about you take a step back and apologize for bumping into Juvia first, before you say anything else."
He didn't even look at her and ignored his words as he glowered at Gray.
"Where is Erza Scarlet ?"
Gray quickly summoned an ice dagger into his hand and pointed it at the man. Juvia had already taken advantage of the other man's unwillingness to interact with her, and had position herself behind him, ready to strike simultaneously as Gray. In the back of his mind, Gray had shivered at Juvia's readiness for quick and effective violence. Had she done something like this before? Or was this the results of growing up in Phantom Lord?
Probably both, he thought before dismissing those thoughts.
"NATSU!"
Gray and Juvia snap their head into the direction of Lucy's scream in shock at the raw fear laced within in.
Bang!
The sound of a single, powerful gunshot ran through the casino as people began to scream and run around them. Gray's heart dropped while Juvia's eyes widened subtely at the implication of the action, and he turned around to snap at the man between the two of them only to see him in the moment of chanting a spell.
" Fuck. "
"Dark Moment." Simon whispered as he clasped his hands together before spreading them out and canceling the spell momentarily, letting out a sudden hiss of pain. Juvia had managed to sink one of her water blades into his back as the entire room's brightness flickered on and off. Simon back away from the spell as Juvia moved to chance after him with Gray following her lead, but it was too late. His hands had clasped again to complete the spell properly this time.
And everything went dark.
-E-S-
Erza Scarlet was a master at the game of poker.
She stood around, lavishing in her chips as she stood in front of the dealer prim and proper, eagerly awaiting for her next victory. People had gathered around to take a look at the gorgeous red-headed woman that was sweeping the game, as her opponents sweated at their own lack of chips in their inventory. Erza paid no heed and focused solely on her domination in the game.
They will be weeded out eventually.
"One moment, there will be a dealer change." The current dealer had they did the scheduled rotations. Erza didn't pay attention as she idly counted the amount of her chips. Time passed and the dealer rotation was complete.
The first card was dealt, but it was different this time around.
It wasn't a playing card, but a tarot one.
Erza looked at the cards in confusion as they appeared in rapid consecution.
The Fool, Reversed, with a D written overtop the fancy card in a crude depiction.
Ace of Cups, Reversed, with an E in a similar fashion.
The Hanged Man, Reversed, with an A.
Strength the Card, Upright, with a T.
And finally, Death the Card, Upright, with a H.
Ď̶̛͕̙̤͈̞́̔͋͗̽ e̷̹͉̰̅̃ a̶̯̘͎͓̜̤̩̎ ẗ̷̪͝ ḩ̵̧̜̲̱̬̝̟̝̩͛͐̋̓͐̓̕
Erza stares at the cards in wordless shock before she looks up to stare at the dealer, to demand what was going on. Until she found herself looking into the familiar eyes of a familiar friend and she was rendered speechless. Memories threatened to overtake her line of sight as she blinked away her surprise and let out a soft breath.
" Sho? "
Sho looked at Erza Scarlet with a look that showed everything and nothing all at once. They haven't seen each other in a long time, and he thought that he was prepared to see her again. She looked strong, he thought, as he stared at her in her glory. But Erza had always been strong, even when they were younger.
Maybe that's why she had left them, the weaker ones, behind all those years ago.
"Erza."
"What is the meaning of this…" She furrowed her brows as she slowly stood up from her seat and took a step back in apprehension, feeling a bit on edge. First, her dream about the Tower of Heaven had already startled her. Then the spelling of Death onto the tarot cards, and suddenly the appearance from someone associated with the Tower? Immediately, Erza knew that something was brewing.
Something dark.
"It's been a while, right?" Sho said casually as he leaned forwards. Erza remained silent as she stared him in the eyes. He had grown and she couldn't help the wave of nostalgia that suddenly crashed over her.
"Sho…I-"
"NATSU!"
Bang!
Erza flinches and snaps her towards what she guessed to be Lucy's scream for the dragon slayer, and her instincts activated immediately as she summoned a sword and pointed it at Sho. She swallowed harshly at the steady look that Sho gave her, as if he wasn't surprised at this outcome. That only meant that he wasn't alone, and whatever gunshot she had just heard had been from whomever he was alluded with.
"Sho!" Erza thundered as her hand shook slightly, pointing the sword at the dark-skinned man's direction. He looked down at the sword as if to quietly appraise it before flicking his eyes back up to eye the scarlet woman directly. Sho quickly summoned a new deck of cards in front of her face, and spreaded them out artfully within his hands. Inside of the cards were people banging and mutely screaming for help as Erza looked at her former friend in shock before narrowing her eyes.
"I won't ask you again, Sho. What is the meaning of this?"
Sho just scoffed childishly, "Hey, did you notice? I got magic too now!"
He pressed down onto his ear and said, "Target has been found."
Erza's heart dropped as the light in the casino suddenly flickered in and out before succumbing to complete darkness completely, and she instinctively slashed just in case. She hit nothing but air as her heart pounded furiously in her ears as she desperately trained her senses. Target has been found? She was a target? But for what?
Was someone shot? Why did Lucy's scream sound so haunted?
What the hell was going on?
"Leave the others out of it! If you want me, you can have me!" Erza shouted in the darkness as she stood still, waiting for a tell in order to pinpoint the location of her opponents.
"Why?" Sho said hauntily in the darkness, and Erza slashed in his direction. He left out a snort when she had missed, "They your friends or something?"
"Of course."
" Funny ." Sho snarled against her ear, and Erza was quick to elbow him in the face thanks to her instincts. He let out a squeak in pain as he clutched his nose in the darkness and Erza whirled around to pin him down to the ground despite the loss of her vision. She slammed into the ground and leaned in as he struggled against her strong grip, "I-I thought we were your friends."
He wheezed out those words and Erza's eyes widened, "We? Are the others…"
The lights flickered back on and off, and Erza was met with the look of betrayal so vivid on Sho's face that she was stunned for the second time within the span of minutes. She kept a solid grip on him but slowly looked up to see the state of the casino, to take in the sight.
Natsu was on the roulette table in the distance-twitching to Erza's horror-with a large pool of blood dripping down the side of the table.
Lucy's eyes were- glowing, what? - as she fought a cat woman that reminded Erza of Millianna in the distance, the ground cracking and breaking from the force of Lucy's whip. Cancer had been summoned momentarily, but he was binded by some form of bondage magic that seemed to render him useless.
Gray was no where to be found, but Juvia had launched herself from the top of a slot machine in order to attack a large man with what appeared to be a turban and a metal jaw cage that was covering his face. Erza had no idea who that was, but the look in Juvia's eye was feral as she fought him. A quick analysis of his body movements showed that he was most likely the one responsible for the lack of light, and that Juvia's fierce tracking and forceful engagement was hendering his job.
Footsteps sounded behind Erza and she slapped her head backwards as she summoned another sword in her free hand, placing her knee onto Sho's chest.
Bang!
Erza flinched as her sword was shot away from her hand, clanking off to the side as a man with a sleek blue suit walked towards her with a configurated gun as an arm. His suit was decorated with a splatter of crimson, as he transformed his gun back into a hand. Pulling out a handkerchief like a gentleman, and wiping his blood soaked hand, he nodded at Erza.
"Hey there, old friend."
"Wally." Erza internally gasped yet her eyes darkened on the surface at the utter mayhem that her old friends had caused, "You were the one to shoot Natsu."
Wally shrugged, "Orders had to be followed. Surely, you know of that right? It wasn't anything personal."
He reanimates his hand back into a rifle now that he had cleaned it off and pointed it at Erza.
"You've grown into quite the woman, Erza. But I'm going to have to ask you politely to step away from Sho, now please.."