Laxus glared into his mug as he listened to Mirajane gossiping behind the bar. On occasion he would offer a half-hearted grunt of recognition, but for the most part he hadn't heard a word she was saying. He was too busy sulking.

It had been over a month since he and Gajeel had fought. The Iron Mage was fully healed and was back to his antics around the guild. The two of them hadn't spoken or really looked at each other since, something that was bothering Laxus more than it really should have.

Maybe going on the mission with him – and whatever had happened that he still couldn't remember – had actually made him form a connection with the Iron Dragon. He wasn't nearly as annoying as Laxus had previous thought, especially compared to how he acted at the guildhall. But he still couldn't shake the feeling he'd gotten in the pit of his stomach when he'd looked down on him and smelled his fear. Even when he thought about it, it still wracked him.

Gajeel wasn't scared of anything. The man was almost as idiotic as Natsu in that aspect. He wasn't a man that feared anything but rather forced fear onto others, and for the most part, the raven-haired mage prided himself in that aspect. And yet what Laxus had experienced was terror, even though it was masked by anger and pain, it was still there. And it was all harbored especially for Laxus.

"Laxus," Mira's white hair flashed into view and he glanced up, meeting two curious but worried eyes in the process, "Is everything ok? You seem… off."

He was silent for a moment before suddenly furrowing his brows, "How do you make someone lose their fear of you?"

"Eh… what?" her smile faded just slightly as amused puzzlement filled her features, "Someone is scared of you, Laxus?"

"Yes, and I don't want them to be," he replied bluntly, taking another swig of his drink, "How do I change it?"

"Its not really something you can do…" Mira sighed, "Mind telling me who this person is?"

"Just never mind it," Laxus sighed, putting his hand into his palm and looking across the guild, "Not like it much matters, anyway."

He heard the clamoring sound of chairs being knocked over and cast his gaze over to the source. Gajeel was in Salamander's face yelling something and the pink-haired boy was laughing loudly. Gajeel slapped the Fire Dragon on the back of the head before stepping around the table to head to the bar. He stopped a few paces away when his eyes fell on Laxus, his features quickly turning irritated, and then he pointedly walked the other direction as if he'd been headed for the request board the entire time.

Laxus let a sigh escape him before he had a chance to stop it, realizing too late that Mirajane had been studying him intently the entire time. His ember eyes rose up to her usual smiling face, only there wasn't a smile there. She looked like she was calculating and was watching Gajeel.

"Maybe its not you he's scared of but your magic, Laxus," she offered, grabbing a glass and a towel and wiping down mugs as people started returning them.

"My… magic?" he said at length, watching the barmaid. She was so perceptive.

"Didn't you realize that your magic affects him differently than others?" she looked pointedly at him now, her eyes almost critical.

"Iron and electricity don't mix well…"

"No I didn't," he watched the Iron Mage out of the corner of his eye, the way his arm muscles flexed occasionally as he stared at the request board, his mind clearly not on whatever the papers were showing him.

"He's like a human lightning rod, Laxus," Mira leaned across the counter, gaining his attention. He suddenly realized she was speaking much quieter than before, her eyes on the Iron Mage as well, "Where your attack would make Natsu stumble, it would almost incapacitate Gajeel."

"But he never…" his mind went back to their fight at the cathedral with Natsu. He'd kept par with the Fire Mage, even had redirected one of Laxus's attacks to himself to save the pink-haired idiot.

"He didn't used to be an S-class mage for nothing, Laxus," Mira winked at him, her smile coming back to her face despite the serious topic, "Maybe you could try to help him overcome his fear… since it bothers you so much,"

"Who said it bothered me?" Laxus growled, feeling his face start to heat up for some reason.

"You did," she grinned, "when you asked me for help."

"I didn't ask anything," Laxus seethed quietly, dismissing the devil-woman's keen smile as she took her work to Lucy and Levy who had come bubbling up to the counter. He let his eyes wander back to the Iron Mage who was grabbing his sack of iron from the table and leaning down to talk to Lily before heading for the door. Letting out a huff, he pushed himself off the barstool and followed him outside of the bar.

"Yo," he called to him, causing the raven-haired man to stiffen, "Where are you off to so early?"

He craned his head back, sending his bloody stare over his shoulder to Laxus. His eyes were guarded and glared quietly at Laxus as he stood wordlessly. He wasn't wearing his leather jacket today, trading in his long black feathers for a black tank top though he wore the same khaki pants and studded boots as usual. Laxus didn't miss how his muscles rolled defensively as he took stock of the situation.

"Last I checked," his words were venomous despite the air of calm he was trying to put on, "I could go and do as I pleased."

Laxus gritted his teeth, trying to repress an irritated comment, "Going for a walk, then?"

Gajeel was silent for a moment before replying, "Aye."

"Mind if I join?" he was growing impatient. He wasn't good at pussyfooting around people and Gajeel was a man he never thought he'd have to treat like a five year old. He felt like a wolf that was trying to coax a sheep into following him, although Gajeel wasn't a sheep but a war-haggard mongrel like himself.

"Can't make you stay," Gajeel growled, turning to walk away.

Laxus furrowed his brow as Gajeel retreated into the woods. He didn't want to force anything on him, and he had asked if he could join him so why did he feel like he was twisting the Iron Mage's arm about this? He clicked his teeth.

"Let your magical energy flow naturally," Laxus blurted tensely, feeling ridiculous with each syllable.

Gajeel froze in his spot, not daring to look back at the Lightning Mage. Not a win, but at least the idiot was listening.

"Lightning looks for a completed circuit. If you let your magic flow naturally, you can redirect it to something else."

Wordlessly, Gajeel started once again, walking as if the conversation had never happened. Laxus watched him tersely until he vanished into the forest before turning agitatedly on his heal and heading back inside the guildhall. Mirajane watched him return with a smirk on her features.

"I take it that it didn't go well?" she smiled her usual sweet smile as he once again plopped into his barstool.

"He doesn't want shit to do with me," Laxus growled, "And the worst part is I have no idea why because I can't remember what happened on that damned mission."

Mira's smile turned into a mischievous one as her mind started working, "I bet I could fix that."

"You think you can get inside that metal head? Be my guest," Laxus grumbled into his beer.

"Well I can help at least… that is, if you're willing to do a little performance for me?"

Laxus cocked a brow at her.

"Just trust me," she smirked, "I happen to know how well he holds his booze."