Chapter 28:

Laxus was reclining at the bar, his arms crossed as he stared lazily across the guild. Mirajane was gossiping to a couple of the girls at the bar, talking about whatever their latest shopping yeilded and something about a novel Lucy was writing. Natsu was picking a fight with Gray and yelling about something that had happened on their last mission he had yet to pay for. Erza was enjoying some dessert and talking to Gramps about the best way to use her requip magic. Laxus hadn't thought there would be a day where he longed for this homey raucus the way he did now. This normal had found some way to sedate him despite the occasional barfights.

He just wished he could find Gajeel feeling the same.

It had been almost three weeks since they'd taken down Bianca and her underground empire. Twenty-three boys had been rescued and either moved out to the care of volunteers or a few guilds who were willing to take them in. Fourteen bodies had been found, all of which had been terribly mutilated aside from one, a slim man who looked to have overdosed. The acts were ruled as self defense, and aside from a lengthy statement from the Iron Dragon about what had happened to him when he had been locked in the sordid place, no action was taken against the man who had finally taken down the vilest human trafficking ring in Fiore.

Instead of being proud or even just accepting that the battle had been won, Gajeel seemed to want nothing more than to wash his hands of everything and drown himself in alcohol. Laxus could count on one hand how many times he'd seen the raven at the guild and each time he'd seen the same dark fatigue in his eyes. On occasion, he'd overhear Pantherlily talking to Wendy; asking about what could be done of nightmares or the best way to bring up to him that he needed to get out of the house and try to be more himself. Laxus had just gritted his teeth and returned to his drink.

He'd tried only once to reach out to Gajeel and it had gone about as well as he'd expected it would. Laxus was learning more and more about himself as of late, and one of the things he'd learned was that he could never quite put into words exactly what he meant. Gajeel had gotten angry and left, grumbling about how Laxus should mind his own business, he would deal with his problems the way he always had… which apparently meant shutting himself away from his friends and guildmates as he slowly drank himself to death.

It had been four days since the last time Gajeel had been to the guild and although he knew it was stupid, Laxus still caught himself glancing at the door. He'd been trying to think of something to say. It was strange, but every since the day in the hospital he found he wanted to be there for him… he wanted to help him through this.

After all the shit they'd been through, why couldn't he find a way even to do that…?

"Thinking about someone, Laxus?" Mira's cheeky voice caught him off guard and he immediately felt heat flush up his neck. She smiled sweetly at him, her azure eyes sparkling with something more like curiosity than mischief.

"Mira…" he hushed her and it only seemed to widen her smile, "Do you have to see right through me?"

"Have you spoken to him recently?" she poured him a drink and waived him off when he offered a few jewels, "He doesn't seem his usual self."

"I tried, it didn't go over too well," he sighed and took a sip of whatever Mira had poured him. It tasted as strong as it smelled and burned as it glided down his throat.

"So now big bad Laxus is stuck here pining for his love… how romantic," she flashed that sweet smile of hers that never failed to light up the room, "I should tell Lucy about it so she can add it into her novel."

He rolled his eyes and managed a half-hearted smirk back at her, "I'm surprised you think shit like that would sell."

"Two angry men bonding over their emotional turmoil and falling in love? Of course it would sell. Just ask Erza,"

Laxus choked on his beer and Mira stifled a giggle at his expense. He tried to be as graceful as possible wiping his mess from his chin and table, shooting Mira a playful glare.

"You know too much about your comrades," he huffed, trying to hide his smile as he brushed the damp on his hands off on his pants. She tilted her head to the side and looked at him innocently before quickly switching the topic of discussion back to Gajeel, her face taking on a more concerned air to it as she furrowed her brow.

"I heard he was kidnapped by those people… do you know what happened?"

"Not everything… just what I saw with my own eyes… and what he said in his statement."

"You say that as if they contradict each other," Mira's hand was balled at her chest as she spoke, worry clear on her features, "You think he's lying?"

"I think he's downplaying it," Laxus sighed, "I don't know why. Maybe he just doesn't want to admit what happened."

"But why…?"

"I don't really know… I don't know if talking to him about it would help any or…"

"Or…?" she prompted him, a level of understanding in her voice.

"…or if I can stand to hear it."

She sighed and crossed her arms, an act that for Mirajane always seemed to look more like she was holding herself than showing agitation. He could tell she was thinking before she spoke and her eyes were dancing with negative emotions, something that rarely could grace her features.

"It's not like you to be so unsure of yourself Laxus," she murmered and at first he wasn't quite sure she was speaking directly at him. She tilted her head to the side, "I think you're trying too hard."

Laxus clicked his teeth at her and she smiled sweetly at him, "Come on, Laxus, you like him don't you?"

He blinked at her, not willing to answer the question.

"And you want to help him through this?"

"Mm…"

Mira rolled her eyes, "Why don't you take him out…? On a date?"

Laxus snorted, sarcasm dripping from his voice in response, "Oh yes, perfect idea. I'm sure he'd love that,"

"Why wouldn't he?" Mira's tone was sharp and it silenced the Lightning Mage immediately, "Take him somewhere he'd enjoy himself. Get his mind off of the bad things for a while."

Laxus noticed the smug look on Mira's face as he started considering what exactly it was she was saying. Whenever he would go through a rough time, doing something he enjoyed often helped. And hell, even he had to admit that having Juvia talk him down when he was in a dark place was something he had desperately needed. Maybe he could be that for Gajeel?

"I'll admit it, Mira, it's an idea," Laxus conceded, "But, hell, I don't even know what he's into-"

"He likes jazz and gothic music… the gritty kind, not the moody kind," she smiled at him as she cut him off, her eyes lighting up as she started planning, "And a new lounge just opened up on the far side of Magnolia. It's expensive to get in and you'll need to dress for the occasion. Maybe you should check and see what shows are coming up?"

Laxus cocked his eyebrow at her, "You don't actually think this is going to work do you? As soon as I ask him he'll probably tell me to fuck off. He can't stand me, Mira."

"I'm sure that's not the case, Laxus…"

"It is."

Mira sighed, "Well you'll just have to work through that, won't you?"

Laxus stilled whatever he was about to say. Mira's blue eyes were masterfully hiding the emotions she was battling with. She still had feelings for him and here he was seeking her advise on how to date someone else who probably didn't reciprocate those feelings. The always sweet person Mira was probably had already decided that she would just prefer to see him happy, or even more likely, that by helping him achieve something with someone else she'd finally drop whatever she had for him. She was infinitely kind. Anyone would be lucky to have her one day.

He almost felt guilty for it all.

"Shit, Mira, you make it sound easy," he breathed at last, taking another sip of his beer, "What the hell do I even say?"

"Laxus… you don't expect me to give you all the answers, do you?" she grinned and snatched away his glass. She shooed him away from the bar and he landed heavily on the ground, the loud thuds of his boots catching some curious eyes. She flipped her silver hair over her shoulder, "Just be yourself."

"Be myself…? What kind of shitty advice is that?" he smirked down at her as he grabbed his bag off of the floor.

"Bad or not that's all I have left for you," she smiled, "You're so hopeless I've already exhausted myself trying to help you,"

"Yeah yeah," he huffed as he headed for the door. His stomach was already starting to knot dangerously. He started out towards Gajeel's house, wracking his brain on how he was supposed to ask the Iron Dragon to go out with him.

Go out with him.

He snorted at how ridiculous just thinking about it made him feel. He sounded like a kid asking his crush out to the playground. This was fucking Gajeel Redfox. What the hell was he supposed to say? Hey, I know you went through a terrible time a few weeks ago but I have feelings for you so let's give it a shot?

Hell. Fucking. No.

There was no way he'd go for that. So what was he supposed to say? He was running scenarios in his head as he walked, his face showing the growing agitation he felt. This would never work. Gajeel would shut him down before he even uttered a full sentence.

"Gajeel, a new jazz lounge just opened up, wanna go check it out?"

"Gajeel, would you like to go hang out? This new place just opened and I think you'd like it."

"Gajeel, I was wanting to go check out this jazz place, want to come?"

No. Just no.

He was coming up to the street where Gajeel lived and promptly walked past it. There was no point traipsing all the way up there when he didn't even know what to say. He gritted his teeth and shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Hey man, I just got these tickets and wanted someone to go with me…"

"You doing anything this weekend? There's a show at the new jazz place and I thought maybe you'd like to go."

"I got this tickets from a mission…"

He stopped his march.

That might work. He could just say that he got the tickets as a reward from a mission. Gajeel hadn't been at the guild in so long that there really was no way for him to know either way. He could go buy them now and bring them… just to validate the story a little more.

He could do that. This could work.

Laxus quickly corrected his course and headed for the far side of Magnolia, where the more high-end people lived. The place was called The Garden's Edge and it was seemingly empty, something that was perfectly normal given the time of day. He was awkward as he ordered the tickets and as he left he felt like his head was swimming.

He was doing this… Mavis' sakes, he was actually doing this…

In no time he was in front of Gajeel's house, his mind still completely muddled from how incredulous he felt. He walked up the shabby steps and stood in front of the door, hesitating before making his next move. When was the last time he felt this nervous? He took in a deep breath and for a moment cleared his mind.

He knocked coolly, trying to look indifferent as he stood in front of the door. He stood for a few moments after there was no response and then knocked again. After a few more moments of silence he tried peering into on of the windows. The place was dark and he had a hard time seeing much from the glare of the sun. He knocked again, this time more fiercly, and heard the shuffle of someone coming to reply.

The door creaked lazily open and Laxus's eyes widened at the raven standing in front of him. It was obvious he'd just woken up. His ruby eyes were groggy and almost glossed over from drink. He squinted as he looked up at Laxus.

"Sparky? The hell're you doin' here?" he growled, crossing his arms and straightening just slightly. He was an utter mess. His hair was in tangles and he was just in a pair of worn out pants. Laxus tried to hide how stricken he felt at his sight. Were there fresh scratch marks on his arms? What the hell from? Laxus couldn't help furrowing his brow in concern at the shock of red he could see curling around Gajeel's wrist.

"Uh…" he did his best to shake of the unease he was feeling, "So… you… you like jazz music, right?"

Gajeel blinked slowly, his befuddled mind sluggishly processing what Laxus had just said, "Depends."

"Right…" why was he so awkward? He wanted to disappear, "So I got a couple tickets for that place that just opened up, The Garden's Edge, and the singer for tomorrow is this guy Wilson Benson, figured you might want to see him."

"Wilson Benson? Really?" his crimson eyes lit up and in the sun's light they sparkled like marvelous rubies, almost a deep blood orange color instead of his usual scarlet hue, "He's pretty good."

"I take it you want to go then?" Laxus smirked.

"Yeah… I kind of do…" Gajeel scratched at the back of his head, the light leaving his eyes just as suddenly as it had appeared. Something darkened his features suddenly and he glanced back of his shoulder at something in the house.

"Great, so I'll swing by tomorrow at about 5:30," Laxus couldn't stop the smile that came to his face and Gajeel seemed surprised.

"Yeah," Gajeel's voice sounded distant and Laxus turned to hop off the porch, some of his bravado returning.

"Oh, and this place is formal so try to look decent. I don't want us getting kicked out because of your sorry ass."

Challenge filled Gajeel's eyes and he immediately bit back wryly, "Just try not to be jealous when I'm the one turnin' heads and yer not."

"Yeah yeah," Laxus waived over his shoulder, barely containing himself as he walked down the street. He was almost walking on air as he headed home, his arms crossed behind his head as he watched the large puffy clouds of early fall whisping by overhead. The corner of his lip turned up into a smug grin.

Gajeel had actually said yes.