Chapter 31:
Laxus stormed through the street. The aching in his chest was threatening to swallow him whole and he was clenching his jaw so hard there was a sharp pain lancing down his neck. A sore lump had formed in his throat and made its home there, throbbing every time he swallowed and bullying his voice into submission so that he dared not speak for fear his voice would crack.
Honestly, what had he expected? He'd put Gajeel through hell. Just those few words had brought all of his crippling shame back to the surface. He'd finally started to accept that maybe Gajeel didn't resent him for what happened between them and that it could mean he should let it go too, but he'd made it perfectly clear that this wasn't the case. He'd gotten his hopes up. Why had he gotten his hopes up? Why had he thought for even two seconds that this would have been anything other than a giant rejection? He was such an idiot. Why did he even try? If someone had done to him everything that he'd done to Gajeel, he'd probably hate them. He'd probably want them locked up.
"Such a fucking kid," he snuffed at himself, stopping to close his eyes against tears that were threatening to tumble from his eyes. He steadied himself, took a breath to try and calm himself down, and swallowed past the lump in his throat. He wasn't going to start blubbering. He didn't have the right. If he were completely honest with himself, he didn't have a right to even consider a relationship with Gajeel in the first place. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and started walking again, this time headed for an actual destination.
He stopped at the apartment that he'd been to over a dozen times before. He trooped up the steps and knocked timidly at the door. He heard footsteps and then the turning of the knob. Mira sashayed into view, her blue eyes sparkling cheerfully as they rested on Laxus. Mira was always happy to see him. No matter what he did, no matter how cruel he was to her, no matter what he had done, she was always there waiting. Her smile quickly vanished when she saw the hurt in his eyes and her brows furrowed as understanding made her features fall.
"Laxus… are you ok?" she said quietly and he merely shook his head, not willing to trust his voice. She stepped to the side and he came in, his heart pounding against the flurry of emotions in his chest. When he pulled the door shut behind him she rested her hand on his, her slim fingers lingering against his skin as she got closer to him, "How can I help?"
He clicked his teeth and closed his eyes against the guilt, "What's wrong with me?"
"There's nothing wrong with you, Laxus," she'd barely uttered the words and he was leaning down to kiss her. He gripped onto her roughly, pulled her against him as he sought her lips. She tipped her head back to accommodate him and her hand clung onto his shirt. He gripped her thighs and lifted her off of the ground, pushing her against the wall as she wrapped toned legs around his waist. She was lithe in his arms, digging her nails into the back of his neck as she returned feather-light kisses on his jaw.
"You're perfect Mirajane," his voice shuttered as he fought to keep his tears back and his sadness shoved down into his chest. He was trying to turn it to frustration, wishing for himself to change and his heart to switch from Gajeel to Mira, "You're beautiful, smart, strong… Mavis's sakes, I could list forever how perfect you are…"
"Laxus…" she breathed, arching against him, her blue eyes shimmering with lust and hurt and quiet understanding… always understanding…
"This is what everyone wants, isn't it? It's what you want…"
"Laxus…" he released her and felt her legs slide down on either side of his own as she slowly lowered herself to the ground. She was wearing a thin sundress and he already knew just how much she wanted him. She was still holding onto his shirt, staring up at him with shimmering, angel blue eyes. Her lips were already full and bruised and ready for him. His heart was still aching, still wishing it wasn't those angel blue eyes staring up at him but a completely different color. He didn't want to do this to her but he couldn't stand to be alone right now.
"I've known you forever, Mira… so why…?"
She shushed him, silent tears making her eyes turn red as she gazed up at him, "Your heart just wants what it wants, Laxus."
He clenched his fists and pressed his forehead against the wall, feeling every inch of her even though she was no longer touching him. He could feel her heat, hear her breath, smell her hunger.
"I'm sorry, Mira," he breathed, trying to regain control of the hot tears that wanted to break free once again, "I just fuck everything up."
"That's not true," he felt her press her body against him, a silent temptation begging him to leave his troubles at her feet if only for a moment, "You've done nothing wrong."
"I really have, Mira… and if I don't leave you now I will again," he looked down at her and for a moment where was just a hint of remorse in her eyes. Mira, who was never selfish and always put others first, quickly squashed it before it could take root. She hooked her fingers into the loops of his pants and pulled his hips closer to her own.
"If it will keep you from blaming yourself tomorrow, you can say I made you," she whispered and leaned up to steal his lips again. He let it happen, let her use him as he used her. They'd both been denied what they had wanted so why the hell not take solace in each other for a few hours?
She was undoing the buttons on his shirt, pushing him off of her and towards her bedroom. For a moment, he realized how strangely dark it was for this time of afternoon. Her windows were closed and her blinds drawn. Maybe she had also been wallowing in her own self-pity while she was alone.
"Laxus…" she breathed, straddling his lap and kissing his neck gently. He didn't open his mouth, didn't sigh out her name in return. It probably stung her and he'd never admit it out loud, but he was worried he's utter the wrong name if he was given the chance. She was grinding against him and every movement she made felt wrong and frustrated. He was pushing down the disgust he had for himself, stomping down everything in his body that was telling him this wasn't what he wanted. For today, this would do just fine. And he could tell by the way Mira's nails were digging into his back and the angry way she was nipping at his neck that she felt the same way.
He lost himself in the sounds of her taking what she wanted. The heat of her mouth sent chills down his spine. She was just as immaculate as every other time they'd done this, her graceful movements made him relax and soon she was over him and the last of his inhibitions slipped away. He closed his eyes and just let it all happen, riding with her on this dangerous sea they were afloat in. When her breathing became more erratic, he amped up the pace and soon the shivers of pleasure were making his mind go blank and a strangled sigh escape his lips.
She laid next to him but they didn't hold each other. She rolled onto her side facing away from him and pressed her face into her pillow. He didn't bother her. His own regrets were already taking a hold of his chest. He let her pretend to be asleep and he just stared at her ceiling, thankful that at least he wasn't alone.
What was he doing? Why was he here? He'd been so upset he wasn't thinking and had come here looking for a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen or somethingthat wasn't what had just happened. Everything about Mira was suddenly so sour. He shouldn't have done this to her. What would happen if she resented him for it later? Then he would have lost her not only as a lover but also as a friend. His heart constricted at the thought. First Gajeel, now Mira… He wanted to open his mouth, to say something that might ease the obvious tension between her shoulders. But as always he was unable to articulate what it was he wanted to say.
It was completely dark when they were finally disturbed.
A knock at Mira's front door stirred Laxus from a restless doze. He lifted himself up onto his elbows and looked over at Mira's drowsy form. The next knock was more insistent and he gingerly laid a hand on her shoulder to nudge her awake. She waved at him dismissively, as if to say to just let it be and they'd go away. Laxus couldn't shake the feeling that this was something important, so he groggily rose and gathered his clothes from her floor. At his movement, Mira finally stirred and also began to get dressed.
He trudged over to the door, ignoring the nagging in the back of his head about rumors that would start depending on who was on the other side of her doorway. Just as the third round of knocking filled the entryway, Laxus finally opened the door and his stomach dropped a little at who was in front of him. Pantherlily's eyes widened at the Thunder Dragon and of course they were just as sharp as his claws.
"Laxus… fancy seeing you here," Lily coughed, a disapproving look in his eyes, "You rebound fast."
"It isn't like that," he muttered but Lily wasn't buying it.
"I didn't take you for the type to stoop this low," Lily growled, crossing his arms and Laxus felt the heat of shame spreading through his chest.
"I didn't take Mira for the type either,"
Lily backed down then, his respect for Mirajane high enough to keep him from making any other offhanded comments.
"Lily? Is that you?" Mira's tired voice called from deeper in the house, "What's going on? Isn't it late?"
"Yes. It is," he said matter-of-factly, "I was stopping by to see if you'd heard anything from Gajeel but I can see that's clearly not the case."
A pang of hurt stabbed at him at just Gajeel's name but he brushed it to the side. Mira came up beside him, having dressed in some leggings and an oversized shirt. She was tying her hair up.
"Have you asked Juvia?" she said calmly, not too concerned that the Iron Dragon was missing.
"Yes," Lily huffed.
"Levy?" she put her hands on her hips, her blue eyes flicking to the side as she thought.
"Yes."
"Natsu?"
"Yes," he sighed, balling tiny paws as he spoke, "And Wendy. I've been to the guild, his favorite bars, a few liquor stores, home and back again a dozen times…"
Mira frowned as she looked down at him, "Maybe he's just out walking around? Cooling his head?"
"It's been hours…" Lily's eyes fell to the ground. It was apparent he was worried. Laxus cast his eyes to the setting sun. The sky was past the point of bright magentas and fire reds. All that was left of the sun's dying rays where the deep maroons and purples on the horizon. It would be completely dark within the hour. A chill was settling in the air that made his skin prickle with gooseflesh.
"What about the forest?" Laxus mused and the two looked at him. He crossed his arms, not meeting Lily or Mira's eyes, "…it calms him down. He thinks it's peaceful."
"I… but where...?" Lily turned towards the hills.
"Maybe you should go home and rest, Lily? I'm sure he'll be back by the morning," Mira smiled gently at him, leaning down so that her silver strands were tumbling down her shoulder.
"I don't think I can," he finally admitted quietly.
Laxus's brows pulled together and the defeated Pantherlily finally broke down.
"What's going on?" Mira asked, tucking her hair behind her ear as she knelt down to be at his level. Laxus just eyed him silently, quickly realizing the situation was more severe than they'd thought.
"After… everything… he kicked me out. I thought maybe that would be best, to give him some space. But after a couple hours I wanted to check on him to make sure he was alright but he wasn't home…"
"Maybe he's just out like Laxus said…"
"You don't understand," Lily shook his head, "I think he's going to hurt himself… or worse."
"Don't joke around about that kind of thing," Laxus growled and Lily flinched, his eyes large.
"I wouldn't joke about my best friend trying to kill himself, Laxus!" Lily yelled back, worry clear in his voice.
Laxus's heart dropped for a moment and he felt Mira's arm circle around his own. She was speaking rapidly but he wasn't quite hearing what she was saying. He was too busy trying to think. Had he really been this bad? How could he have not noticed? He gritted his teeth. No wonder he felt like he'd been taken advantage of. With a sudden determination he stepped off of the porch, ripping away from Mira's touch and forging into the dying light. He heard her call after him and the sound of Pantherlily's aeria magic but he didn't look back at them. He was thinking of anywhere the Iron Dragon could have gone.
The forest… what about the clearing? He rushed through the streets, his eyes scanning constantly for long raven locks and ruby eyes. He made his way to the forest, to the path that was familiar, and deep into the brush. He called out Gajeel's name and listened as his voice bounced back at him from the trees and the ground. His steps were getting more frantic as he walked in silence, his mind gearing itself up for what he might find.
He stepped into the clearing and felt his chest tighten.
"Gajeel!" he called, listening to the wind sigh through the trees and across the tall grass where they had once sparred. There was nothing, no sign of him here.
He swallowed and turned immediately, heading back through the woods while keeping his eyes and ears peeled. His steps were faster, the beating of his heart louder. He was back on the street again, heading through town and peering into shop windows and the eyes of strangers. He saw a shock of midnight. His spirits raced and just as suddenly deflated again when he realized it wasn't Gajeel. He pushed forward, breaking into a jog as he continued.
Where was he? Where could he have gone?
He went to the park where the sakura trees would bloom in the spring. He passed the massive tree that he'd once fought him under. He darted down paths, passed couples on their ways home, his hands shaking with each face he didn't recognize. He was running now, his heart pounding deafeningly in his ears. What if Gajeel was already gone? How would he know? Would they find his body? How long before they get the rest of the guild involved? At this point, were they looking for their friend or their friend's body? How long was it before it was too late? Did he even have any time left?
He was zipping in a bolt of lightning, tearing down the streets as he scoured for any sign, any hint to where Gajeel could have gone. Hell, he even flew by his own house to see. He was flashing through the streets, hating himself for running to Mira when he was down. What had he done? He'd left Gajeel when he was in such a low place. Could he even claim to care for him anymore? If something happened to him he'd never forgive himself. He had to find him, there wasn't a choice.
If he didn't… hell, he might just follow him.
He stopped in front of Gajeel's house, out of breath and weary to the point of collapse. He pushed forward, his mind mad with feverish worry as he pushed open the door. A strangled cry stuck in his chest as he once again found no sign of the raven. He stepped into the quiet house, let the darkness and cold consume him as he sank down to his knees in the middle of the floor.
"C'mon, Laxus…" he gasped, his lungs gulping down air as they fought to keep pumping oxygen into his body. He squeezed his eyes shut and pushed his fists into the ground, "You can't stop… not yet..."
The room smelled like cigarette smoke and beer. It drowned out everything around him. He couldn't even smell Gajeel anymore, it was as if he were already gone. No, no, he couldn't think like that. Gajeel couldn't be gone yet, there was no way. Laxus punched the ground and pushed himself up, an ache lancing through his heart that was far worse than what he'd felt earlier today.
He couldn't be too late… he just couldn't…
He rubbed his knuckle against his forehead as he tried to think. Wasn't there anything else he could try aside from this stupid guessing game? Suddenly, he caught a whiff of Gajeel and his eyes shot open. He gazed about the room, searching for the Iron Dragon but finding no one. It must have been the wind, or just his frantic mind making it up to ease his pain…
Wait…
He sniffed the air, kicking himself for letting his emotions allow him to forget something so simple, so important. His Dragon senses. He took a deep breath and headed back outside. The air was so clean and devoid of any definitive features but he just barely caught a trace of Gajeel, faint from time and exposure. He didn't think, just threw himself into what his instincts were telling him to follow. He sped off, rushing towards the hills. He was running at a full sprint, ignoring the screaming in his lungs and legs as he pushed himself harder than he ever had before.
"You better… be ok…" he gasped, his mad dash taking him up a hill and tromping through leaves and twigs and bushes and anything else that got in his way. Something dark caught his eye and he came to a sudden stop, catching himself on a tree as he tore towards it. Gajeel's boots were sitting by a tree, abandoned. Laxus felt his stomach drop and he whipped his head around, searching frantically, "Gajeel! Gajeel where are you?!"
No response.
"Dammit…" he breathed, catching the scent of his friend on the wind again, stronger this time, "Gajeel… Gajeel!"
He saw a silhouette sitting on the ground and his heart soared. He raced over but quickly slowed, feeling the ground ebb beneath his feet as he approached. Gajeel didn't turn towards him, didn't say a word. He just sat at the edge of the cliff looking out over the forest. There was a bottle at his side, knocked over and dry, and an empty package of cigarettes.
"Gajeel… what are you doing out here?" Laxus took another step but froze as the sound of rocks tumbling made him realize just how unsteady the ground was here.
"Careful…" Gajeel's voice was distant and he didn't look back at Laxus as he spoke, just brought his last cigarette to his face and pulled out his lighter, clicking it a few times with shaking hands as he tried to light it, "Or you'll send us both down."
"I get it," Laxus deplored, his voice shaking as he stood out of reach of the Iron Dragon, dread making his stomach turn to lead as he stood, "What I did wasn't right... I should have told you it was a date. I'm sorry. You weren't ready for something like that. I was a selfish prick, ok? But, Mavis's sakes, take it out on me not yourself."
A dark laugh filled the air and chilled Laxus's skin, "You're pretty full of yourself thinking this is all because of your stupid stunt," Gajeel took a deep draw from his cigarette and the smoke oozed from his mouth and nose as he spoke, "I've wanted to do this for so long..."
Laxus clenched his teeth. The lump in his throat was back, fighting to keep his voice in silence but he wouldn't allow it. He didn't care if his voice cracked, didn't care if it made tears come, he couldn't stay silent, not now. Not when it meant Gajeel's life.
"T-tell me," he was shaking. He didn't know what to do or what to say to get Gajeel back from the ledge and onto stable ground. He didn't think he could handle watching him die, "How long?"
"You had to come out here," he sounded tired, defeated, and it was strange to hear Gajeel speak like that, "Right when I'd made up my mind."
"I should have come sooner," Laxus tried to sound calm but it was so difficult to be level headed. He could see the drop from here and it made him panicky. Gajeel was right there, just out of reach.
"Just go home, Laxus," he brought the cigarette to his lips again. There was a lie in his voice and the tremble in his hands was just barely subdued, "I'll leave when I'm done with this."
"The only way I'm leaving is if you're coming with me," Laxus took an unsteady step forward. Dammit, he'd always hated heights, "What you're going through, Gajeel, it's not going to last forever. Shit's rough right now but in time…"
"It's been years, Laxus!" Gajeel snapped, still refusing to look back at him, "I thought it was over when I came here but it isn't!"
"What… isn't over…?" he swallowed as he took another step onto the unsteady ground, clenching his fists as he tried to push down his fear. He could do this. For Gajeel he could do this.
"Everything…" Gajeel's voice started to shake, in anger or remorse Laxus couldn't tell, "my past just won't leave me alone. I can't handle what I've done anymore…"
"What you did with Phantom Lord… it was wasn't because you wanted to. You told me the other night, it was because you felt like you had to in order to stay in favor with Jose," he took another step and felt like the ground would give weigh underneath him, but he was one step closer to Gajeel. He could do this, he just needed to talk him down, "It wasn't your fault."
"I still did it Laxus!" Gajeel growled, his hands shaking again, "And just when I thought I was putting it behind me, it comes back again. Bianca… and the Magic Council…"
"The Magic Council? What the hell does the Magic Council have to do with this?" Laxus could make out the wounds on his arms. Was that why he'd been pulling at his sleeves the night prior? The slashes were almost completely healed now and in their place were small circles of blistered flesh. Laxus's eyes widened as he realized what could have caused them.
"They made me out like a monster," his voice was shuttering, "Like Iwas the one in the wrong. The only reason why they didn't lock me up after Phantom Lord was because of a loophole, that if I was in a different guild I'd be rehabilitated," he spat the word out of his mouth as if were a disgusting morsel, "When they were going over the scene of the crime, this guy kept asking me questions. Why did I attack the guards? Why did I kill Bianca? Caetus? All those fuckers…"
"What…?" Laxus felt like his veins had just turned to ice.
"They didn't have reason to believe I was in any life-threatening danger. What if I just did it… because I wanted to?"
"No… no that can't be what they meant…" Laxus shook his head slowly in horror. They wouldn't… would they?
"This fucker… I didn't even get his name… he asked me about shit from Phantom, asked about old jobs, people I knew, told me about how he'd locked up most of the guys I used to run with… He wants Kurogane locked up because I'm a menace to everyone around me. I can't be changed…"
"You havechanged, Gajeel," Laxus reached out. His fingers grazed Gajeel's shoulder as he came every slowly closer, "You're not the person you used to be."
"What if I'm not? What if I'm worse?" his voice was barely a whisper and Laxus kneeled down next to him, trying to stop the fearful tremors running through his body.
"You're not," he said sternly, trying to find Gajeel's eyes.
"You have no idea…"
"Then tell me," Laxus sat down and tried to calm himself. He rolled the bottle off the side of the cliff and listened as it smashed into bits on the way down, "I'll never know if you don't tell me."
"I'm fucked up, ok?" Gajeel snapped, finally looking over at the Lightning Mage. His eyes were bloodshot and sunken in. He looked like he hadn't slept in weeks and Laxus realized his hands were shaking again, "That feeling of… of tearing through someone else… I loved it. Just thinking about it makes me sick. I've never felt like that before. They took everything away from me, my freedom, my sanity, even my fucking body. I was… they…"
Tears started to streak down his face and he immediately looked down, rubbing the back of his hands against his eyes to try and dry the tears before they could fall, "I'm fucked up."
"No you're not." Laxus didn't know what to do. Should he reach out a hand to comfort him? Should he stoically listen? What was he supposed to say?
"I wanted them dead… I wanted to kill them… finally being the one to end it all was the most amazing thing. And that bitch… I could have… I wanted to…" Gajeel's eyes got distant again. His mind was running with what he couldn't bring himself to say aloud, "What happens when it's not people I hate?"
"What do you mean?" Laxus breathed, unable to take in everything Gajeel was saying. He had no idea how to help and the floundering killed him. What if he was just making everything worse? Would he have the ability to stop him?
"I'm starting to hurt the people I care about," Gajeel took a pull from his vice and tried to steady himself but his voice still held a touch of horror, "I fucking hit you… I wanted to hurt Lily… what happens when I can't control myself? If I get that angry again? What if… what if I can't stop myself…"
"You won't."
"How do you know?!" he turned on Laxus again, this time not caring about the tears tumbling from his eyes.
"Because that's not who you are."
"How do you know who I am?!" Gajeel yelled, glaring at the blonde. The resounding silence was tense and angry and terrified and awful. Gajeel whipped his head back around to stare at the ground and Laxus came to the distressing understanding that he was losing. Gajeel squeezed his eyes shut and he could see the vein in his neck jumping as he gritted his teeth. For a couple heartbeats Laxus cast his mind to think of something, anything to say… to do…
"You're right. I don't know," Laxus breathed, "Actually… there's a hell of a lot I don't know. I didn't know about the Magic Council, your past with Phantom Lord… Hell, I didn't even know that everything you'd been through was tearing you down so much…"
"You weren't supposed to. No one was," Gajeel's voice was shaking again but quiet.
"Why not? I know you don't see me as a friend, Gajeel, but Lily… Juvia… Levy… hell, even Natsu… especially Natsu… do you think any of us would just be ok with you doing this?"
Gajeel was silent for a moment. He'd thought about this, Laxus could see it in the way he hunched his shoulders, "Death is just a part of life, Laxus. It was bound to happen sooner or later. What does it matter if I decide that it's better to just end it now… before things get worse…"
"What happens if things don't get worse? What if they get better?" Laxus pressed.
"Then I won't be there to see it… and that doesn't bother me," Gajeel's voice was shivering as he spoke and Laxus forced himself to laugh past the lump in his throat.
"You may be a lot of things, but you're definitely not a good liar,"
Gajeel didn't respond, just closed his eyes. Laxus could feel the gooseflesh on his arms with each chilled, easy breeze that drifted by. Gajeel didn't seem to mind the cold that was settling in with the night. His feet were bare and dangling over the empty space and for a moment a serene look came over the Iron Dragon.
"You'd be proud of me," Laxus piped, breaking whatever thoughts were going through his head, "I've been running around town for the past hour trying to find you."
"Yeah?" Gajeel smirked, if a bit half-heartedly, "I thought you hated running."
"You might not believe me, but that didn't really cross my mind," Laxus let the corner of his lip quip up just slightly, "You know, you told me you'd help me get in shape. Did you think I'd forget?"
"Of course not," Gajeel sighed, his smile quickly turning sour.
"It'd be a lot easier to run with me when you're with the living, don't you think?"
"Laxus…" Gajeel breathed, defeated again, "I can't…"
"I'm not asking you to suddenly be over this," Laxus interrupted him, "Depression… it doesn't go away overnight. I'm just asking you to give it some time…"
Gajeel just shook his head, "I can't…"
"You can," Laxus insisted, refusing to back down now, "You're one of the strongest mages I know."
"I can't make you happy," Gajeel finally forced out, startling the Thunder Mage into silence, "I can't… I'll just… drag you down. Trust me."
Laxus sat shocked for a moment, his thoughts scattered after hearing those words come from the man beside him. This wasn't about making him happy, this was about making Gajeel happy.
"You don't exist to make me happy," Laxus retorted, causing ruby eyes to pull up and meet his amber, "But if you insist, just hanging on for a little while longer will be enough."
Gajeel looked back down, "What happens if I can't… if in a week I end up back up here…"
"Then I'll be here too," Laxus reached out a hand and laid it gently on Gajeel's. They stayed in shared silence for a while, neither breaking eye contact, before Laxus finally broke, "I'll be honest… I'll need you to help me up."
"What?" Gajeel's brow furrowed, "Why?"
"I can't tell you… you'll never let me live it down."
His chuckle turned a little sour towards the end, but still it wasn't a negative noise, "You don't think we're past living things down by now?"
"You can't laugh."
"Laxus…"
"I hate heights," Laxus breathed and for the first time in a while, Gajeel broke out into a fit of laughter. It bubbled out of the back of his neck and soon his entire body was shaking from the genuine euphoria that broke through the darkness in his eyes. Laxus didn't even get mad. He just watched in quiet amusement as his friend desperately tried to recover himself.
"You fucking… I… hold on…" Gajeel eased himself back from the ledge, raised himself off of the ground, and held a hand down for the Lightning Mage, "You didn't fucking say anything."
"Then I'll say it now… the next time you try to kill yourself, can you please do it somewhere that I can talk you down from the ground?" he tried a small smile, slightly worried that maybe Gajeel wasn't ready for his morbid humor.
"I'll think about it," Gajeel grinned, if a bit sardonically.
They two walked down the hill, Laxus's mind still reeling with emotion and relief all at once. As they made it to Gajeel's house, the door whipped open so hard it smacked the side of the house. Juvia scrambled down the steps in a flurry of blue hair and skirts and wrapped her arms around Gajeel's waist, tears streaming down her face. Mira's silhouette came to the doorway as well and Lily was also scrambling to get outside.
"Gajeel promised…!" Juvia was sobbing, and Gajeel could do little more than hold her, distress clear on his face as he did so, "Gajeel said he wouldn't hurt himself anymore…"
"I'm sorry Juv…"
"Gajeel… Gajeel was going to leave Juvia alone…"
"I'm sorry…"
"Gajeel promised he'd talk to Juvia… he promised he wouldn't do this… he promised…"
"I'm sorry, Juv…"
"Gajeel is Juvia's best friend…"
"I'm sorry…"
"Promise Juvia you won't do this again… Promise!"
"I promise…"
Juvia's hysterics finally did Laxus in and he could feel the hot tears gathering and sliding down his face. He was suddenly very, very tired, but he felt just a little lighter. Mira ran up to the pair and wrapped her arm around Gajeel's. Lily was gripping onto the Iron Dragon's shoulder, nuzzling his face into his partner's neck and muttering apologies. Laxus just stood back and let the relief wash over him. There wasn't a single dry eye in the yard.
Gajeel was home and safe. For now, there wasn't much more that any of them could ask for.