Chapter 50:
They all withdrew with Freed quickly taking up lecturing Bickslow about tact and everything he'd done wrong through the whole ordeal. Evergreen just rolled her eyes and listened as the two men bickered, offering sarcastic comments here and there. Laxus turned his eyes to the setting sun and glanced over at Gajeel, a slight nod letting him know it was time for them all to set off.
Their walk was markedly more easy going. Gajeel walked close to Laxus the entire time, though, smoking a cigarette for most of the way. At some point, Laxus reached out a hand and let it fall gently down Gajeel's spine to rest a the small of his back just a moment, a tantalizing shiver making Gajeel straighten suddenly, before Laxus let his hand glad away and back into his pocket. Gajeel shot him a stern look just as Freed started complaining about the two needing to keep their hands to themselves while they were on a mission. That didn't stop Gajeel from pointedly reaching out and grabbing Laxus's ass soon as Freed's attention was turned elsewhere.
"Gajeel," Laxus had hissed, giving him a look of mock disapproval.
"Shaddup, you liked it," Gajeel purred devilishly before flicking his cigarette butt on the ground.
It was fully night when they crested the south side of an easy hill and caught their first glimpse of the fort. It was old, very old. It loomed like an ancient stone relic in the wilderness, surrounded sparsely by withered and timeworn trees that had been haggard by wind and dust for decades. To all of their dismay, there was no perimeter, no guards posted on the walkways to keep watch for attack. Briefly, Gajeel wondered if maybe Krew and Ezal didn't mention their appearance in town. They made their approach, eyes peeled for any signs of movement or life, to the rear of the place. There was no entrance on this side, only high, crumbling stone walls. Evergreen sighed impatiently as the five of them gazed up to the top of the structure, obviously not happy with the prospect of scaling the thing.
"Well…" she said at length, "Me, Bix, and Freed can fly, what about you two?"
"Are we still working under the pretense of surprise?" Freed interjected, pulling his jacket closer as a stray wind whisked fiercely by, "If so, would it be unwise to just waltz in?"
"I can slip in," Gajeel muttered, gaining all of their attentions. He cleared his throat and added a little more modestly, "It wouldn't be hard."
Evergreen snuffed, "And what do you expect the rest of us to do? Wait?"
Gajeel shrugged, looking to Laxus as he spoke, "It was an idea."
"You can get in and get to the front gate without being seen?" Laxus asked, although he wasn't surprised with the answer.
"Yeah… should take me like… twenty minutes? Maybe? I can let you guys in and we can make our way through the place."
"Are you looking for something in particular?" Laxus prompted, trying to flesh everything out before they were stuck inside enemy territory with only one way out.
"They should have a resource room… a manned, locked place where they keep records and surveillance if they have anything set up. That's what I'm after."
"Is there a reason why we can't just bust in, take care of business first, and look for your shit later?" Bix whined, earning a silencing look from Laxus.
"Cuz if they have surveillance they'll spot us and if they're smart they'll destroy anything they got when shit starts goin' down," Gajeel replied calmly, "It's just an idea, we can do somethin' else."
Laxus mulled the option over, turning his eyes to the wall for a moment as he thought, "Alright, Delinquent, you're up."
"Less work for us, I suppose," Ever flipped her hair over her shoulder and Bix rolled his eyes. Gajeel grinned as he sashayed past Laxus.
"Try not to stare at my ass, Sparky," he simpered, purposefully running his tongue over his teeth at the blonde before turning to the obstacle in front of him. Green light flooded around him for just a moment as he summoned his Iron Scales, his nails turning to sharp talons that glittered in the dank light. He crouched down, all of the muscles in his legs becoming taunt just before he uncoiled like a spring, flying up almost half the height of the wall before digging razor-sharp nails into the stone. Sparks flickered where iron struck stone and then Gajeel was vaulting even higher, rising like a shadow up the side of the structure before disappearing at the top.
"Lewd, isn't he?" Freed simmered.
"Don't be jealous, Freed, it looks ugly on you," Laxus rumbled, trying to hide a smirk as he passed his emerald friend.
"I-I'm not jealous!" he whimpered helplessly, "I… I just think he could… be a little more… graceful?"
"You're jealous, Freed," Ever tutted, "Maybe youshould be a little more graceful."
"Since when were you on hisside?" Freed grumbled, crossing his arms.
"Anyone who will shut Bickslow up is good in my book," she grinned wickedly.
"Why am Igetting involved?!"
"Because you dragged us into your trouble earlier!" she hissed in return.
"Speaking of which…" Laxus growled, stopping his procession to stand almost shoulder-to-shoulder with Bickslow, "What you did was cruel, Bix."
"It helped," he stated simply.
"Just because it helped doesn't mean it was good," Laxus discharged some lightning in his direction and his friend froze, eyes darting to the ground as electrical energy swelled around them. Laxus could smell the apprehension he incited in Bickslow and it was almost sobering, "I'm going to say this once, Bix, don't fuck with Gajeel's head again."
Bickslow swallowed and nodded, "Right, yeah… sorry."
"You can see what you're doing to him, you would think you'd know better."
He could tell Bickslow wasn't sold on actually saying the words out loud but forced them anyway, "Sometimes you need to be broken down before you can rebuild."
Laxus turned away from him, not bothering to give him even the slightest bit of tolerance, "You heard me, Bix."
"Aye, sir…" his voice was wary and it satisfied Laxus for the time being, so he took the lead again this time with the three of his friends following close behind.
As they walked the premises it was hauntingly quiet, as if the whole place was holding its breath in anticipation of something. There was no movement from old arrowslits that had been carved into the walls some time in history, not a whisper of light or shadow. After a long, tensely quiet trek, Laxus could begin to make out the entrance in the dark. Tracing along the outside wall, he motioned for the rest of them to remain as silent as possible as they walked up. He could already make out a shape in the darkness, a guard, posted and lounging lazily as he watched the night.
"Looks like Gajeel didn't make it," Freed whispered, gripping the hilt of his sword, "Should I dispatch him?"
"Hang on," Laxus hushed him, still watching intently, "Give him a chance."
For one insufferably long moment they waited in silence before a shadow slipped behind the guard and tapped him on the shoulder. Just as the guard turned, he punched him square in the temple and the guy crumpled immediately. Laxus and the others rushed forward just as Gajeel gripped the guy by the collar and propped him against the wall, making him almost look as if he were sleeping.
"Brutal," Bix breathed.
"Well, you know… had to be fast," he huffed, slightly out of breath, "C'mon. I think I know where we're headed."
"You do? Already?" Ever's eyebrows raised and her voice hitched up a tone.
"He likes this kind of work," Laxus hummed as Gajeel led them in. The walkways were narrow and winding, a maze not unlike Bianca's chambers but instead of concrete they were surrounded by stone walls. Gajeel led them with confidence and every crossroad they took they were met with figures slumped in the shadows, taken down by the Iron Dragon Slayer just minutes earlier.
"Gods… remind me not to get on his bad side…" Freed muttered as they passed by an entire patrol that had been incapacitated, laying like toy soldiers on the floor of a child's bedroom.
"They didn't exactly see me comin'," Gajeel replied smoothly, stopping in front of a metal door with two deadbolts on it.
"You waitin' for an invitation?" Laxus spurred, a wry smile on his features.
"I'm listenin'," Gajeel huffed, meeting his grin, "You ain't good at being quiet, are ya, Sparky?"
"There's five of us. Trust me, it'll be fine."
Gajeel shrugged, "Aight, then."
In one swift movement he kicked in the door, sending it flying into the room. They rushed in, Laxus easily dispatching the two mages stationed there. Gajeel rolled his shoulders as he looked around, eyes straying on a row of shelves and cabinets before he trained his gaze on the screens at the back of the room. He made himself at home, the confidence and nonchalance he exuded telling Laxus that he was in his element and knew exactly what he was doing.
"What are you looking for?" Freed moved to his side as Bickslow went about propping the door back on its hinges as best he could.
"People…" he muttered, flicking through different screens as red eyes scanned, "I was never any good at this…"
"So you really were just a delinquent?" Laxus jeered at him and Gajeel shook his head, still focused fully on his task.
"I was the guy who went in… Juvia always had this job," he grumbled, "But since yer all amateursat being discrete, here we are."
"What are you even looking for?" Evergreen sighed as she leaned against the wall, waiting, "There's no one even around."
"And that doesn't bother you?" Gajeel growled, "We know two guys warned the guild that we were comin' and yet they're nowhere? No defenses? No extra guys out front?"
"You took out a lot of guys," Bickslow chirped from his station at the door.
Gajeel let a frustrated noise ease out from the back of his throat. Suddenly, he stopped just as one of the screens flickered to a white room. It was massive, more of an arena than just a room, and in black etched across the floor were angry, arching words that spelled out clearly 'Welcome Back, Kurogane'. At the farthest end of the room was a large chair and through the rough, low quality surveillance they could make out a figure sitting with their knees crossed. Gajeel stood and leaned in, narrowing his eyes to try and see past the grain.
"Well… if that's not bait I don't know what is," Freed murmured, and Laxus could hear his grip tighten on his sword.
"I'd say so," Gajeel responded coolly, "But not the best bait I've ever seen… especially if he's just tryin' ta make me mad."
"So level headed, delinquent… what willget a rise out of you, then?" Laxus purred as Gajeel, seemingly satisfied with his find, slipped beneath the panel.
"Let me know when he has a knife to someone's throat… preferably someone I know," he pulled something out and resurfaced. The images shuttered for a minute before returning to their previous, albeit poor, display.
"Did… did you just take out the recording lacrima?" Freed followed him to the bookshelves as Gajeel pocketed the glittering orb.
"Yeah… now they can't record. It's just a live feed," he started picking through shelves, pulling out books of receipts and flipping through pages swiftly.
"Why is that essential? And whatare you looking for?"
Gajeel shot him a fierce look that rooted the emerald-haired man in place, although he didn't waiver, "Force of habit."
"That…! That is not a good enough answer!"
Gajeel ignored him blatantly, still flicking through files and books, putting them back where he'd found them as if they'd never been touched. Laxus realized he wasn't haphazardly picking up different pieces, he was actually lookingfor something.
"It might make things move a little faster if you let us help." Laxus came up to study what he was doing, trying to find a pattern.
Gajeel hesitated for a moment before he finally relented, "It's… like what Mirajane has. A book of missions that the guild has picked up or completed. It should have a register of who went… I doubt it'll have everything I'm lookin' for but it'll be something."
"Not those?" Laxus nodded to the center shelf which Gajeel had skipped entirely, clearly marked with dates.
Gajeel didn't even move his eyes, "That's a little too obvious… if ya get me,"
"Riiight…" Laxus scanned the shelves. Each binding was blank and nondescript. He honestly didn't know what to look for. The only thing that wasn't something thrown together in binding was what looked to be an encyclopedia… which was odd given the rest of the contents on the shelf. He nudged Gajeel's arm, "What about this?"
Gajeel's eyes lit up when Laxus opened it. It looked like a record, but not one that Laxus had ever seen before. Instead of rewards listed and completions, there were only Xs and dashes and what Laxus assumed should have been the client there was only a set of numbers, no address or name. Of the members who accepted the missions only first names were listed... actually, not even first names. Code names, maybe? A lot of them repeated, the same set of four in different variations over and over again at the start. Then another name was added here and there until finally Laxus came to recognize almost a dozen. As Gajeel flipped, every once in a while his eyes would linger on certain names or numbers. It was all gibberish to Laxus and Freed, who watched carefully over Gajeel's shoulder, but he seemed to know exactly what he was looking for. Finally, he stopped on a page in particular. On it were several names that Laxus recognized as well as some others that hadn't been listed on the previous pages. In total there were eleven names hastily scrawled down and all but one of them was crossed out harshly. Beside the number was an X.
"That's it?" Laxus hummed.
Gajeel brow furrowed and wordlessly he marking the page and flipping through the next few pages before returning back to study it. For a long minute he glared down at the page and Laxus could almost see his mind working, searching back through hazy, caustic memories. The more he thought, the more his face twisted into a dark scowl.
"What's wrong?"
"Krew told me they lost ten of their guys…" Gajeel's voice dripped with malice as he spoke, "There's eleven here."
"…Which means?" Evergreen prompted snappishly.
"Which means they should know who in the hell killed their guys," Gajeel bit back at her before snatching up the first sheet of paper he could find and a spare pen. Laxus's brows pulled together as Gajeel hissed to himself, "…there was no oneleft…"
"Why don't you just rip it out?" Bix muttered, irked from where he sat holding post, "I ain't like they'll be using it anymore."
"Because someone else might be looking for this," Gajeel growled as he slipped the tome back where he found it, "And it would be more than a little suspicious if it were missing when they went to look for it."
"Ready?" Laxus prompted, stepping for the door.
"Thank the gods, I was getting bored," Bickslow groaned.
"Before we go, Gajeel," Laxus turned to his partner, startling him slightly, "How do you want to handle this?"
"I… what?" Gajeel blinked dumbly.
"You know these guys, how they act. They're clearly waiting on you to fight," he motioned back to the screen where the figure still waited, unmoving, the black words still etched across his homemade stage, "How do you want to handle this?"
He suddenly seemed nervous, looking to Evergreen, Freed, Bickslow, and then back to Laxus before sucking in a breath and making a slight shrug, "I dunno… I thought we'd just go in and whatever happens, happens."
Laxus smirked, quirking an eyebrow at him as he turned for the door, "Well you better start thinkin', delinquent, we're following your lead."
"I… yeah…" Gajeel seemed far from confident with the decision, even as Laxus stepped out of the way so he could take point. Evergreen gave Laxus a concerned look but he didn't acknowledge it, preferring instead to walk at Gajeel's flank as they edged back into the circuitous corridors. Laxus could taste frustration like bad air turning sour in his lungs, could see the agitated way Gajeel plucked through the place. Occasionally he'd clench his fist as if to ready for something around the next bend but always there was nothing there and the edge in his grip would relax. He seemed stuck in a place and time that wasn't there with the rest of them, his eyes almost glazing over certain rooms and adornments that spoke of familiarity. Laxus refrained from saying anything and the group walked in a silence so complete it was only broken by the occasional misstep or scuff of boots across the floor.
They finally came to a grander hall, larger and decorated with the massive insignia of the Phantom Risers, poorly scrawled on fabric and hanging like banners every ten feet before relinquishing to a large double door. It was plain and Laxus could clearly hear the murmur of a large group of people waiting like the audience to a play for their show to begin. Gajeel stopped, eyes trained in front of him for a minute before he let a sour, nervous laugh from the back of his throat escape.
"You good?" Laxus put a gentle hand on his shoulder and Gajeel immediately shrugged it off. He shook his head and grabbed the doors, throwing them open as if the act itself pushed whatever old fears that had surfaced far to the wayside. Immediately, the noise in the place settled and silence echoed back at the small band like a massive beast's yawning mouth engulfing them as soon as they entered the place. The lone figure was seated in a shabby throne on the far side of the stage. He stood as they stepped in, a flowing cape that was a bright shade of garnet draping across one of his arms. He wore deep navy slacks and a buttoned jacket, a mockery of military dress with golden gloves covering his forearms. Greasy, dark wine-colored locks were swept back from his face and stuck to the back of his neck and the sides of his jaw. Laxus's eyes strayed to jagged scars that disappeared beneath his high collar, several of them interlacing with each other like the marks of some deranged beast he'd somehow survived.
"Kurogane!" his voice filled the hall in the same way a toxic gas would, suffocating and sweet, "You received my invitation!"
"I did," Gajeel's voice exuded a confidence betrayed by his protective posture. No grin eased its way across his face, "I have to say I'm flattered."
"We've been waiting for you," he swept his hands out and around, motioning to the many sets of eyes watching expectantly. Boorish jeers were hollered out before a swift flick of the man's wrist ended the short tirade. His eyes flickered to the waiting audience and then back to Gajeel, "How have you been? I have to say, some of us thought you were dead."
Gajeel's lip twitched, fighting to break into a snarl as he straightened, a smug grin worming its way across his face in response, "Didn't even know fer sure if I was dead an' here you are, parading around like some cheap knock off?" he scoffed and crossed his arms before his voice took a sudden razor edge, "I know Jose taught ya ta never leave loose ends… you are from Phantom, aren't ya, Unaven?"
"Of course," his smile fell just slightly, his voice growing more and more fervent as he spoke, "but don't worry, I'm not insulted you wouldn't remember me. What hero remember every worm that crawls at their feet, after all?"
"I wasn't anyone's hero…" Gajeel growled and Unaven's eyes widened, seemingly almost elated at his words.
"But of course you were," he laughed scathingly, mockingly, and Gajeel felt he sounded just the slightest bit unhinged, "You're the legend. The one who never failed a mission for Jose. You were ruthlessand precise… you never got caught… you actually lived by his standard…" his smile suddenly fell as he glowered down at them. His hand twitched, "Achieve victory or die trying."
"A lot of nice words," Gajeel took a step forward, a shadow playing in the ruby of his eyes as he regarded his foe, "But somethin' tells me you didn't want me here just to tell me how great I was at my job."
He chuckled at that, his eyes reflecting Gajeel's same darkness back at him as his voice twisted, become far more malicious, "Hmm… yes, of course. You always are one to stay down to business, aren't you? Well then, let me start by saying I didreally admire you and everything you did for Phantom Lord and the Master. You were one of the best… that is to say though, Redfox, you should be dead."
Gajeel clenched his fists and Laxus stepped forward, ready to jump in if needed.
"If you didn't secure victory for Phantom Lord… you should have never returned at all… Isn't that right?"
Gajeel gritted his teeth, "I didn't return."
Unaven frowned, his lips pulled back into a snarl, "No you did one better, didn't you? You turned against us."
Gajeel quirked a brow, flashing his eyes about the arena, taking in faces as he swept his gaze across the crowd, "Judgin' by the lack of familiar faces, I'd say I wasn't the only one."
"All in due time," he growled just as red energy began to pop and sizzle around him, "I will restore Phantom back to its original glory, let me assure you, and it has no room for ghosts of its past trying to crawl back to their former places when they abandoned us at our lowest. The next generation is taking the mantle… and wasn't it your own words, Kurogane? That the weak needed to make way for the strong?"
"What are ya gettin' at, Unaven? Ya gonna try an' kill me?" Gajeel's voice sounded toxic and the air filled with boiling magical energy as Iron Scales fought to dot across his skin. Laxus stood at his side, discretely trying to hold him back, "Ya think ye have it in you?"
"Oh, I most certainly do," a cruel grin broke across his face and scarlet lightning flashed around his fists as he spoke, "In all my time at Phantom I've seen a lot of things… including you at your weakest."
"Is that so?"
Laxus hummed quietly, "He's baiting you."
"You think I don't know that?" Gajeel snapped at him, his gaze never wavering from the man in front of him.
"If he uses lightning, you'll be at a disadvantage," Freed whispered, "It'd be wiser for us to break into teams; you and Laxus handle him while the rest of us handles the guild."
"Face your formal retirement," Unaven called over them, tightening and releasing his fists as he spoke, "You and me, fight for the title of Kurogane."
"And if I refuse?" Gajeel retorted, squaring his shoulders.
He grinned, a look that was as gruesome as if congealed blood had been strung across his face, "You don't have a choice, Gajeel."
"Oh, don't I?"
"No… you don't…" he almost sounded empathetic, his tone back to its sickeningly sweet tone from when they first entered, "You see, there was a man looking for you here the other day… and something tells me, you're running from him."
"Davian…" Gajeel breathed, seething where he stood.
"I just happen to have something that he needs but for old times I wanted to give you a chance to stay out of the cage…" he leered, excited crimson light brightening his features as it snapped around him, "Only one of us is making it out alive today, Gajeel Redfox, and if you're not a coward you'll face me head on."
"Gajeel-" Laxus grabbed hold of his arm, stopping him from making a move.
"Laxus." Gajeel finally turned on him, his eyes enraged as he met his melting gold, "Don't get involved."
"I'm not stopping you," he stated harshly, subduing the lightning that made the air between them buzz as if a living thing trying to adhere them together, "I'm asking you… Is this what you want?"
"What I want?" confusion was clear across his face and his lashing anger was barely being restrained, "It doesn't matter what I want."
"It does," he said calmer, staring deeply into Gajeel's eyes as he spoke, and the latter seemed to soften just slightly, "You always have a choice."
Unaven scoffed, a harsh noise that ripped across the charged space, "I'm waiting."
Gajeel pulled away from him then, his eyes lingering on him for just a moment more before he leapt up to the makeshift stage. Unaven waited, unclasping his cape and flinging it to the side and revealing the rest of his crisp jacket. Gajeel eyed him steadily, taking a wide stance with clenched fists, waiting for him to make the first move.
Gajeel felt the attack before he saw it coming, electricity charged the air making the hair on his arms prickle. He swept to the side, rolling out of the way as a bolt of ruby lightning shook the platform. Just soon as his feet hit the ground, he was dodging again as without warning another bolt fell from the sky. The smell of burnt wood filled his nose as he swerved a third, this time faster, noticing the slight telegraph from his opponent. Unaven's eyes widened and his mouth set in a glower as each crippling attack missed but still Gajeel didn't make a move towards him. He danced out of the way, closer and closer to the lightning, realizing their range with each nearer and nearer miss.
Unaven realized what he was doing and with a smirk he sprang forward, engulfing his body in crimson and he hurled at breakneck speed at him. Gajeel's eyes flickered at him and he stepped back, the motion almost comical in its nonchalance. He didn't even hold up his hands in defense and Unaven rocketed past him, turning on his heel and launching towards him again. Gajeel retreated out of the way so that Unaven had to come to a stark halt at the edge of ring, his breathing hitched. He whirled around in a rage as Gajeel stood, arms crossed, looking completely unfazed.
He crooked his head to the side slightly, his eyes widened as his lips quivered as he fought to not break into a sneer, "I thought you said you were gonna kill me, Unaven? You can't even touch me."
Unaven roared as he charged again, this time letting loose both attacks in tandem. Gajeel dodged the first and rolled into his charge, aiming a solid fist for his face and hitting his mark with a resounding slamthat sent Unaven tumbling to the ground. He was on his feet, rushing again, this time charging the air with more electricity and sending volleys of glaring red towards the Dragon Slayer. Gajeel flashed towards the attacks so each on flew high and met Unaven fist for fist in the middle of the ring. Unaven lunged and Gajeel parried, both dodging just barely out of reach othe other man's hit as they fought for even the slightest advantage. Gajeel didn't use his iron magic, taking each blow full force on his forearms or forcing Unaven's hits to go wide. Without the aid of his Iron Scales, Gajeel couldn't cause the damage he desired on his adversary. Hits that would usually cripple were blocked, a jab for the ribs could be taken instead of Unaven being forced to defend for fear of breaking something. Still, Gajeel gritted his teeth and surged forward, never making a misstep to allow Unaven the edge.
It was a hit meant for Gajeel's face that enticed Gajeel to spin against it and draw it wide so he could take the opportunity for Unaven's sternum that caused his downfall. Unaven struck his shoulder and gripped a hold of him, drawing him close and releasing a charge of furious red into the Iron Dragon. Gajeel's scream ripped through the building as Unaven forced charge after charge into his body, a wicked smirk twisting into a deranged smile wide enough to show his teeth as he stared down at his victim.
"Laxus… Laxus we need to do something…" Freed breathed, glancing over at the blonde who watched, eyes wide as Gajeel screamed. Laxus ground his teeth and refused to respond, fighting the urge to consume the building in his own electrified wrath. He couldn't. Gajeel had told him not to interfere and he'd agreed. He could feel Bickslow, Freed, and Evergreen's stares as he simmered away in his barely restrained anger and concern.
Finally, Unaven released Gajeel. As he collapsed the crimson-haired mage whipped his leg around and kicked him in the chest, sending him sprawling onto the ground. Gajeel gasped, everything in his body shaking from the white-hot pain that had seared through him. He could feel the ache in his ribs from the kick, his throat sore from his screams of pain, and as he tried to push his hands into the ground to rise up he could taste the energy in the air before the lightning struck him again. He arched on his knees as red engulfed him, everything in his body shattering from the blinding agony encapsulating him. Gods alivehe knew this pain. Everything in him feared and abhorred this pain. He could feel the limits of his body begging for him to give up and be released. In the pause he felt a moments sweet relief before being whisked away again and finally he collapsed again to the ground. His body raw and in excruciating anguish for the relentless attacks. Through his delirium, he could hear a laugh filling the air when he didn't make move to rise.
"Such weakness… such disappointment…" Unaven's voice cracked as he stood over him, a wild look in his eye as Gajeel clutched at his hammering chest in an attempt to stop it from stuttering, "Look at you… you're nothing."
"Bickslow," Laxus hissed.
"He's in a lot of pain, Laxus," Bix returned, stepping forward, "He attacks like you."
"Fucking hell, Gajeel," he breathed. Get up.
Unaven knelt down next to him, eyes swimming as he stared down at his imminent victory, "I used to think you were unstoppable. You put Phantom Lord on the map, helped it claw its way to the top… and now look at you. You'repathetic… and no longer worth my time."
He stood, a look of finality in his gaze as he regarded his victim, "You didn't have the strength to kill your hero when you were in my shoes. I never dreamed I'd be where you stood," he chuckled, "I'm you, Kurogane, but better."
"Gajeel…!" Laxus surged forward just a step, he fists clenched as white lightning snapped around him, "Get up!"
Unaven's gaze cut to him, regarding him as if only just now realizing the four were there. To their surprise, his eyes filled with recognition, slowly at first before consuming his features. He stepped towards Laxus who met him with ferocity.
"…you…" he glanced from him back to Gajeel, "Is this… is this your boyfriend?"
Laxus narrowed his eyes and Unaven looked stunned for just a moment before a giggle bubbled from the back of his throat. He lapsed into a fit of manic laughter that shook his chest.
"You're fucking kidding me…" he laughed, clutching his stomach as if trying to contain himself, "You… you're fucking… What? Getting your ass beat by Fairy Tail wasn't enough you had to let 'em fuck ya too? Or was that the only way to get them to let your sorry ass in?"
Laxus growled, refusing to engage him. He kept his eyes locked on Gajeel whilst he lay on the ground unmoving.
Unaven's wicked smile suddenly turned to that of depravity, a betrayal of something sinister that he hadn't shown before, and it made Laxus's blood turn to ice, "A fucking animal and a faggot. I wonder what the Master would do if he knew what you are now."
"Gajeel!"
A wave of thunder shook the entire fort as red flashed. Laxus lurched forward as the scream ripped through the room and stopped at the realization that it wasn't Gajeel's. The harsh oppression of dark Iron Magic suddenly filled the air with suffocating ferocity. His eyes widened as the crimson faded and he realized Unaven wasn't standing any longer. He had crumpled, bands of iron twisting around his legs and holding them in place. To his amazement, Gajeel pushed himself up to his feet, wavering for just a moment before holding his balance. In a brutal act he tore Unaven from the ground and kneed him in the chest before slamming him bodily back to the ground. He cried out and Gajeel growled, stepping over him as if he were a piece of trash in his way. As Unaven struggled back to his feet Gajeel spat blood onto the ground, eyes wild as he watched his opponent rise.
"Unaven!" he simpered, exposing his sharp canines smeared with blood, "Unaven!I knew… I knew I'd heard your fucking voice before!"
Unaven launched a bolt of lightning at him but Gajeel rushed him, transforming his arm into an Iron Lance and drawing the searing attack only to spin around a slice up across his chest with a newly red-hot blade. Unaven staggered back, clutching his chest with wide eyes as the color of wine soaked into his jacket. Horror filled his feature as Gajeel stood at the ready.
"Do you wanna know how long I've been tryna figure you out, Unaven?" he hissed through his teeth, "A guy with those kinds of scars? I would recognize that in an instant if I'd worked with ye before. You didn't get those until recently, though, did ya?"
Unaven took a step back in terror as Gajeel lunged. He fired back recklessly, not aiming for Gajeel as much as just trying to stop his attack. Gajeel recalculated and threw Iron Pillars to the ground before him. Each attack struck the pillars before they could touch him and so he swung his Iron Lance with murderous intent, grazing the crimson mage's cheek as he retreated in desperation from Gajeel's ire.
"Those pesky loose ends, again, eh? I'd been lookin' real hard fer mine and here you are," he growled as the floor was overtaken by green light. Glittering armor overtook him, nails turned to razor sharp talons, and predatory eyes locked on it accustomed prey. His voice was as dark as midnight spilling from his mouth, "You said you were goin' ta kill me, Unaven, but I think you're already dead."