Chapter 23:

Laxus sat in the guildhall, mug in hand, staring at the doors. How long had it been since he'd left the ebony-haired man alone in the woods? Surely his heat should have subsided by now? Had it been ten days or eleven? He'd been so nervous that he'd lost track.

Nothing.

No word.

Not even reports of damage from a botched mission.

Nothing.

The silence was what was making him uneasy. Gajeel didn't just stay away from the guild. He hadn't taken a mission when he'd left so it wasn't complications with that. He hadn't had the money or supplies with him to last this long on his own, although Laxus was sure the man could probably fend for himself in the wilds if he had to. But it had just simply been too long.

He remembered the agitated Dragon Slayer stating he would only be gone a week. He'd insisted that was when he'd return. Briefly Laxus thought maybe he'd been embarrassed by his behavior when Laxus had intruded on his privacy but Gajeel wasn't exactly the type to let that bother him. Not to mention the two men had put each other in far worse situations before and managed to show their faces around each other still.

Did something happen?

Laxus silenced the anxious thought before it could take root. Gajeel was a strong man and he was more than able to take care of himself. There was no reason why Laxus should be upset or worried. In fact, he was almost positive that any moment the angry man would come waltzing in and order a beer like he always did, not even giving the Lightning Mage a glace to prove how much he didn't care. Those scarlet eyes would probably roll backwards when he caught sight of Laxus sitting by the bar, listening to Mira's mindless chatter. He'd be in a foul mood for sure.

"Thinking about Gajeel again?" Mira's playful voice shook Laxus from his thoughts and he looked over at her. She was resting her chin on her hand and was leaning near to him, "I take it he hasn't come back then?"

"You would know," Laxus huffed, crossing his arms and leaning back in his seat.

"Did something happen when you went after him?" her voice was quiet as she spoke, almost as if she were scared of his answer.

"Nothing that would keep him from coming back to Fairy Tail."

"Oh? So what did happen?" her eyes were coy as they ran over his face, searching for a chink in the blonde's armor. Laxus just grinned cheekily at her.

"Don't tell me you're jealous… of a man, no less." he cocked an eyebrow as if to emphasize how ridiculous the claim was.

She lowered her voice dangerously and he could see the gleam of a demon in her eyes, "You used to be obsessed with me once. You think I can't see it when you're that way with someone else?"

His smile fell a little flat.

She puckered her lips slightly as she mocked him, "With a man, no less."

"Getting a little chummy?" the voice of the salmon-haired mage drew Laxus's attention and his golden eyes fell on the chagrined boy. His hands were clenched into fists as he glared up at the man seated at the bar. Mira crossed her arms and leaned back, confusion drawing her pale brows together as she looked down on Natsu.

"I ain't in a mood to fight with you today, Natsu," Laxus dismissed him immediately, "Go bother that Lucy girl."

"I'm just sayin', Gajeel has been gone for almost two weeks and all of a sudden you're cuddling up to Mirajane," his black eyes pierced into Laxus and he could see the vein on the side of his neck standing out against his toned skin as he gritted his teeth. The angry tension that boiled from him filled the air and Laxus clicked his teeth.

"I think you need to mind your own business, kid," Laxus growled, gaining the stares of a few members who were nearby. He was concentrating on stemming his magical flow. He didn't want to gather an audience.

"Doesn't it bother you that he hasn't come back?" the boy took a step closer, challenge in his eyes.

"We're both worried about Gajeel," Mirijane talked smoothly, trying to defuse the situation as best she could, "We're just talking, Natsu. I was just trying to cheer him up."

Natsu took another step closer to Laxus, fire rolling in his smoldering coal eyes, "Why haven't you gone looking for him?"

Electricity charged the air as Laxus quickly began losing his patience, "If you're so worried, why don't you go look for him."

"Because-!" his voice seemed to echo off of every smooth surface in the hall. Laxus's eyes widened as a range of emotions flashed across his face before angry determination took control, "Fine!" he snapped, "I will."

He turned on his heel, sparks singeing the air as he marched. Happy briefly rose to follow but Pantherlily stopped him, whispering something into the blue cat's ears that made him refrain. A few guild members murmured at the strange exchange between the two Dragon Slayers but none approached Laxus, knowing far better than to do something like that. Mira frowned as the doors slammed shut behind Natsu and her white locks shimmered as she turned back to Laxus.

"What the hell was that about?" Laxus mumbled. He was gripping his mug so tightly he thought it might shatter.

"Don't you think you should go?" Mira said quietly, diverting her eyes from the blonde.

Laxus bit his cheek as he sipped his beer. Of course he wanted to go but after a display like that he didn't want to move from his spot. He didn't know for sure, but he couldn't help the sneaking suspicion that maybe Gajeel was just avoiding him and that's why he hadn't returned. Surely he wasn't in any real harm. But Laxus had just left him after an extremely open invitation. Maybe the reason Gajeel hadn't returned was simply he didn't want to see Laxus for a while. And he had no idea how long that while might be.

But now Natsu was leaving to find him and that caused a whole new series of emotions to rush through his chest. It was obvious from the conversation he'd overheard at the bathhouse that something had happened between the two – and whatever it was involved Lucy. Not only that, Natsu didn't seem completely over it. If he let Natsu find Gajeel first… the possibilities made Laxus's stomach roll with magic.

Mira studied him and sighed, knowing exactly what to say to get the Lightning Mage moving, "If Gajeel's in trouble it'll take more than just Natsu to help him. He used to be an S-Class Mage, after all. Maybe you should go, Laxus? Just to be sure?"

He met her eyes. They were sullen and worried and dejected. She was jealous that Laxus had fallen for someone other than herself; it was clear as day on her face. But aside from that, she was genuinely worried for Gajeel. She was a kind person despite the fact that she knew she was being rejected. Laxus had to commend the porcelain devil. She never put her feelings before anyone else's.

"You're too good for me, Mira," Laxus smiled gently at her.

She forced that jaw-dropping smile onto her features and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "I know."

He lifted himself from the stool and grabbed his bag from the floor, still full of supplies from the mission he'd just returned from. He stalked out the door after Natsu.

To his surprise, as soon as he exited he noticed the salmon-haired boy was leaned against a tree not far away. His eyes immediately landed on Laxus and he pointedly waited for the older man to approach. Laxus couldn't stop the sneaking suspicion that he'd been conned on some level.

The smug grin that grew on the Fire Dragon's face only confirmed his doubts, "I figured you wouldn't be too far behind."

"So are you coming or what?" Laxus fumed as he passed Natsu in his decent from the guildhall.

"After you."

"He probably doesn't want shit to do with me, you know," Laxus muttered.

"Yeah… me either." Natsu laughed somewhat lightheartedly.

"Fan-fucking-tastic."