"Shit…" Laxus sat in the furthest, darkest corner of the guild as he could, setting his head down gently on his arms and closing his eyes. He felt like his brain was going to split or maybe he'd just rip it in half himself. Ever since he'd begun hearing better in the hospital his senses kept climbing to new and almost painful heights. Every noise was magnified so loud he couldn't think anymore. He could hear Lucy whispering to Levy about her novel and the sounds of glasses clinking together as Mirajane handed out beer at the bar. Footsteps upstairs seemed to be pounding against the roof overhead, almost making him jump every time they resumed.

And that wasn't all. His senses of smell and sight had significantly changed as well. The scent of booze stung his nose even when walking up to the guild. Perfume from the various women in the hall made his head swim uncomfortably. He could almost taste the acidic scents on his tongue. The midday sun almost burned through his corneas now. Every light was blaring and harsh, consuming his actions in harsh white that he desperately wanted to block out. Even light cast by his own magic had him squinting his eyes and avoiding its use. Most of his days had been spent in his room in complete darkness, coming out only after the sun had set and its rays were gentler.

It was only after some worried pleas from Gramps that he even came to the guild today. Freed and Bixlow greeted him with rowdy hellos and Freed quickly ushered him away once he'd realized something was wrong. All the Lightning Slayer wanted was to be left alone, was that too goddamn much to ask? But like always, Natsu had swept in, all fiery determination and idiocy, and challenged him to a fight. Of course he'd promptly sent Natsu flying across the hall and preceded to pick the most secluded spot he could.

And here he was, trying his best to seem like himself although a migraine was ripping its way through his skull. If one more idiot came hauling through that door he thought he might just send the whole place flying.

Just then, he heard heavy steps near the front door and the sound of hinges groaning as the heavy cedar was pulled open. He turned his head, hoping it wasn't Cana to blather away at him drunkenly as she usually did when he was at the guild. Instead, his eyes fell on the dark figure of Gajeel as he made his way petulantly inside. Pantherlily flew at his shoulder, arms crossed with a concerned look set across his features. Laxus almost immediately caught the scent of stale blood as Gajeel passed him, a slight limp in his gait that he was trying to hide by pausing to run a gloved hand through his black locks. It had only been a few days since he'd pushed his way past the nurses and refused any further medical help.

"Why don't you let Wendy help you?" Pantherlily growled lowly, keeping the conversation between just the two of them. Laxus turned his head although he was listening in on the conversation. It wasn't like he especially wanted to, more he wouldn't have been able to help it if he tried anyway. Another side effect he'd been having lately.

"Because I don't need no help," Gajeel's voice sounded tired and strained and he seemed to almost fall haphazardly into his chair, wincing slightly from the action. Laxus could hear him gripping the wooden arms, the wood creaking wearily under the force.

"You've never refused her before," Lily clicked his tongue, landing lightly on the table, "Why now?"

"Builds character," he grunted sarcastically, leaning forward to rest his chin on his hand.

"Your stupidity is going to be the end of you," Lily huffed.

"Why don't you make yerself useful and get me something to drink?" Gajeel growled, his red eyes cutting into the Exceed angrily. He paid no mind to the dark look, only took Gajeel's money with an offhanded comment about making him get it himself and flying over to Mirajane.

Suddenly, a loud crash sounded from across the hall, making Laxus physically cringe at the cacophony that ensued. Natsu and Grey started yelling at each other, getting Titania involved and soon the whole guild was broken out into a raucous fight like usual. Every slam of a table, broken glass, punch, scream, seemed to pound a nail into Laxus's skull. He dug his nails into his arms and clenched his teeth, desperately trying to keep from ripping his hair out. The noises and smells were overwhelming, crashing around in his brain and slowly making him feel like he was going to go mad.

A bottle shattered on the floor next to his feet, splattering beer across his shoes and pant-leg but he didn't even have it in him to lash out at whoever had thrown it. He was concentrating on keeping it together, on not running out of the boisterous hall and diving into the largest, darkest hole in existence. He was going to go insane. He could feel it, every ounce of restraint in his body slipping. He was drowning in the noise, in the foul smells that permeated the air, the blinding light of the world around him that all seemed so completely normal until that damn mission. He was going to lose it…

He was going to…

"Oi, Sparky,"

Laxus jumped for the second time that day and whipped his head around to meet Gajeel's bloody red eyes. Laxus frowned, watching as tendrils of electricity snapped and popped as he meticulously deactivated his magic. He hadn't even realized he'd been exerting any energy, and by the scorch marks left on the table, he'd used quite a bit. Gajeel looked down at him coolly for a moment as if he were deciding something before clicking his teeth and leaning back to cross his arms.

"Come on," he growled angrily, stepping past him and making for the door just as the violence in the room began to swell again. Laxus rose and followed wordlessly, not missing the anxious glances being shot his way by Pantherlily and Levy as he passed.

He followed Gajeel outside and down a small path into the nearby strip of forest. They walked in complete silence, neither of them saying a word as they made their way to Mavis-knew-where. Despite not knowing what was going on, Laxus couldn't find it in him to get angry. Wherever they were going, it was far from the harsh sounds and smells of civilization. The sun's light was speckled across the ground through the protective branches of the trees. Out here, Laxus felt like he could finally get some peace.

Finally, Gajeel stopped in a small clearing, crossed his arms and took a long breath. He turned slightly and looked at Laxus over his shoulder, his red eyes swimming with the midday's light.

"Mind telling me what the hell we're doing out here?" Laxus said calmly, crossing his arms.

"This is where I go when I need some quiet," Gajeel said after a long pause, "And we're out here to spar,"

"Spar?" Laxus scoffed, "You can barely move,"

Gajeel let out a low growl, "If you think this is the first time I've gotten my ass beat you'd be mistaken. What do you think I did before Wendy started coming around?"

"Fine, but don't think I'll take it easy," Laxus challenged, letting his jacket fall to the ground, "Any rules?"

"No magic," Gajeel rolled his shoulders, grabbed a roll of tape out of his pocket, and threw his jacket over a low hanging branch.

"No magic?" Laxus said quietly, noticing the fresh scratches fighting to heal on Gajeel's back. The muscles on his back moved abnormally, shakily, clearly still weak and sore from the beating he'd taken when Laxus had lost it. He felt a pang of guilt begin to form in his stomach. How badly had he been injured, exactly?

"Got a problem with that, Sparky?" Gajeel huffed, throwing the tape over to him and stretching out the tenderness in his muscles while he waited.

"Don't fucking call me Sparky," Laxus growled, taking a ready stance.

A grin slowly made its way across Gajeel's face, "Whatever you say… Sparky,"

"Pain in the ass," Laxus lunged forward, aiming a strong punch to his gut. Gajeel dodged, his movement stiff but not slow enough to cause him injury. He was swift on his feet, an advantage against the larger mage.

Laxus hadn't fought with bare fists in years. He'd always used his incredible power to take down enemies. He'd never had to be methodical in his thinking, never had to plan out punches and blocks and parries. His strength had always been what won him fights. Gajeel, however, had been thoroughly trained in hand-to-hand and magical styles of fighting. His red eyes were calculating as he gaged Laxus's hits and the times it took for him to recover. He had been a master killer and S-Class mage in Phantom Lord and it showed.

Laxus continued his assault, hitting Gajeel's forearm hard enough to make him stagger slightly. While throwing his next hit, though, Gajeel dropped down and spun on his heel. His other leg slipped behind Laxus's ankles and swiped his feet out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground. Gajeel was over him in an instant, stopping his elbow just inches from Laxus's throat.

"Point," Gajeel huffed, sweat beginning to make his raven hair cling to the sides of his neck, "you're not paying attention."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Laxus panted, sitting up and pushing him over, "You're my only opponent."

Gajeel rolled his eyes and struggled back to his feet, extending a hand to the Lightning mage, "Again,"

"You're going to hurt yourself, dumbass," Laxus stood up without accepting the help, stepping back and widening his stance, "Again."