Lucy was being held hostage by Jose Porla, who had returned for revenge against Fairy Tail. He had invaded the guild hall and defeated all of the wizards there, including Natsu, Gray, Erza, Gajeel and even Makarov, all of them lying on the floor. Standing at the second floor, was Jose, securing Lucy with her arms behind her back.
"Finally... Fairy Tail has fallen!" he shouted.
"Let me go!" Lucy demanded, as she tried to free herself, but without success. "You will pay for this!"
"And what can you possibly do?" Jose taunted, showing then her key ring with all of her keys. "I have your precious keys... all of your friends have been defeated... your guild hall has been taken over... Face the reality... Fairy Tail is no more. Now, there's only Neo Phantom Lord!"
And he laughed maniacally. It was then that the sound of thunder was heard, ceasing his laugh, as the doors of the guild hall were burst opened. Standing at the entrance was a big figure, with his arms crossed and his coat fluttering with the wind. It was Laxus, setting is sight on Jose holding Lucy hostage.
"Haven't you heard you shouldn't celebrate beforehand?"
"Laxus!" Lucy shouted, with a big smile on her face and her eyes irradiating with hope.
"Oh, just look who he is..." Jose taunted. "The prodigal grandson decided to return home at last... Too bad you're too late. Well, at least you showed up... unlike what happened last..."
But Jose was not able to finish, as Laxus used his Lightning Body, turning himself into electricity and quickly going against the evil wizard, making his body appear as he tackled him, electrocuting as a result, and throwing him against the wall with so much strength that he went through it and then was casted away. Lucy was thrown to the air because of that, but she didn't it the ground, as Laxus was able to catch her on his arms, as a few bolts of electricitiy still run through his body.
Looking up, Lucy's eyes met with Laxus', which were so intense, but at same time transmitting a great sense of security. Lucy did feel safe on those strong arms that belonged to an equal strong body. A blush appeared on her, as a smiled appeared and she went to wrap her arms around Laxus' torso in a hug, saying:
"Oh, Laxus... thank you for saving my life."
"Lucy... I will always be wherever and whenever you need me" Laxus said. "Because... I love you..."
And so, without hesitation, Laxus leaned forward, with his lips about to touch Lucy's...
At that moment, Laxus woke up from his dream, as the sunlight entered through the window of his room and rested on his face. He sat up, wearing a black tank top and white pajama pants. Despite the little confusion after waking up, Laxus was able to realize what he experienced was just another of his strange dreams with Lucy.
"Uh, what is wrong with me...?" he said, as he brough his hand to his face and rubbed his eyes with the tip of his fingers.
He rose up from the bed and went to window to taste the fresh morning air with a deep breath. That allowed him to cool down his body.
That was the place he came to live into after returning back from Tenrou Island. It was a cottage located near the forest, a little away from the town. It was the perfect place to have seclusion and not have anyone disturbing (with that detail being exclusive for Natsu). His room was located at the loft on one side of the cottage, above the living room that was connected to the kitchen and had access to the bathroom.
After he took a shower (a cold one), Laxus could feel more in control of himself. He got out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist, and came towards the sink, where the mirror was, and looked up to his reflection. He couldn't help but remembering all the strange dreams that he had lately. They were all about Lucy... and they all ended in a similar way.
Ever since the Grand Magic Games, his feelings for Lucy have only become stronger and more confusing. And the talk he had with his grandfather and Erza didn't help much. How could he try to talk with Lucy when he couldn't understand what he was feeling? Their relationship was already awkward enough. Revealing what he was feeling without even put some sense into them would even deepen that awkwardness. Not to mention he couldn't stop thinking about Lucy's reaction if he confessed to her. Even if he was not the social type, he had noticed her close friendship with Natsu, making him wonder if there was something between them.
Those dreams were most likely a consequence of the emotional turmoil he was feeling. Could it be they were a reflection of his true feelings... or just a twisted version of them caused by his physical attraction towards Lucy?
Laxus went to his room where he got dressed. Getting down later on, he took a fast breakfast and then took his coat that was resting on the back of the armchair where he normally left it whenever he was at home and put it around his shoulders. As he arrived to the door, he took a deep breath, since he was about to go to a place where he would most definetely find her... the guild hall.
Arriving to the entrance of the guild, he encountered his companions from the Thunder Legion waiting for him.
"Hey there, Bossman!" Bickslow said. "Looking nice today!"
"Looking nice! Looking nice!" his dolls repeated.
"Honestly, Bickslow, can't you see the little bags under his eyes?" Evergreen commented, turning then to Laxus. "Have you slept well?"
"I slept just fine, Evergreen" Laxus replied, with a little grunt. "There's no need for worry."
"Are you sure about that?" Fried asked. "Sorry to ask you this, but... in the last few days..."
Laxus just sighed, while rolling his eyes. He knew that his teammates were just worried about him, but he simply didn't want to share with them about the turmoil he had been feeling, especially because he knew they would give their own opinion about what he should do, something that would only increase his already big confusion. He could already hear Bickslow motivating him to follow his crush and to have fun. Meanwhile, Evergreen would tease him about it and then give a lot of love advices. And then there was Fried who would just say that whatever he wanted to do would for certain be the right choice, what would be the most ironic advice, since Laxus himself didn't know what to do.
"Guys, I'm fine, don't worry" Laxus told, firmly. "Now, do you want to go inside and pick a job or do you want to stand here all day?"
With that question, they all went inside the guild hall. Once they arrived, they could hear some grunts of dismay that Laxus quickly identified as coming from Natsu, who was with Gray and Happy. Despite not seeing Lucy there, Laxus was able to identify her smell and, for the looks of it, she went to the archives. Just by sensing her presence, Laxus could feel his body react in anticipation, while also shaking with nervousness. However, at the same time, the fact she was not at the same room as him made Laxus get a bit relieved.
As he started to move in with the Thunder Legion towards the stairs to the second floor, Natsu placed in front of him, saying:
"Oh, no you won't, Laxus!"
"What?" Laxus asked.
"Natsu get out of the way" Fried said. "Don't you see we want to get a job?"
"Not if you go take a S-class job" he said. "My team is going to pick first, so we can't get the best one. We were already here."
"Oh, really?" Evergreen asked, looking then to the table where Gray and Happy were. "For what I can see, you are lacking most of it."
"The girls are at the archieve" Laxus said. "But even so... I can't sense Erza here. And, in case you haven't notice, Natsu, without her, you can't take a S-class job. Unlike me. So, if you don't mind... get out of my way. Unless you want me to do it for you."
"Is that a challenge?" Natsu asked, making the smile he would usually do when he was getting excited for a fight.
"Oh boy..." Gray said.
"Here we go again..." Happy sighed. "Another Natsu and Laxus one-sided fight."
"Trust me, you wouldn't be much of a challenge, kid" Laxus replied.
"Natsu, trust me, Laxus is not that much in the mood..." Fried tried to tell.
Natsu hit one of his fists to the palm, while making fire appear for a moment, and he said to Laxus:
"Bring it on..."
But before anything could happen, Makarov appeared at the second floor and called:
"Laxus! Come to my office, now, please. I have something to talk with you."
After he went to the office, Laxus turned to Natsu and told him:
"It looks like this is your lucky day. You just got a few more minutes."
He then turned to the Thunder Legion:
"Wait here. After I am done with the old man, we'll go working."
"Understood..." Fried replied, as Evergreen and Bickslow nodded.
Laxus started passing by Natsu who kept saying:
"Come on, Laxus, are you walking out on our fight?"
"Cool down, man" Gray told him from the table. "Didn't you hear the master call him?"
"Yeah, Natsu, don't provoke Laxus, if you still want to be conscious when Erza gets back" Happy told.
But the Fire Dragon Slayer kept on making a scene, but Laxus didn't even bother to pay any attention, as he climbed up the stairs to the second floor to go to his grandfather's office. When he got in the office, he said:
"You called, old man?"
"Yes, please, close the door" Makarov told, as Laxus entered and close the door. "I hope you and Natsu were not having problems."
"If there's someone with problems is that flame freak" Laxus replied, as he sat down on the chair in front of his grandfather's desk. "So, what is it that you wanted to talk with me about?"
"A job request has just arrived" Makarov told, as he held a flyer. "It is urgent, and I think you are the perfect choice for it... No, scratch that... you're the only choice."
"What kind of job is it?" Laxus asked. "Because if it is like the ones we have been receiving lately..."
"It's a SS-class job" Makarov told. "So you don't have to worry about not being serious."
That revelation surprised Laxus.
"A SS-class?" Laxus asked. "We haven't had those in a while. Normally, depending on the urgency, they normally tend to become Decade Quests. To those more urgent, you normally send Gildarts."
"Yes, but Gildarts is not here at the moment" Makarov said. "And the urgency prevents me from contacting him in such short notice. But, even if I could, I don't think that he would be ideal for it. The job is requiring a wizard that possesses a strong light-based magic."
"I see..." Laxus said, as he took the flyer and read it. "Four million jewels? That's a little lower than usual... even when considering the regular S-class jobs outside."
"The other part of the reward is directed to the guild itself" Makarov said. "Not just that, but I was told that, depending on the results of the mission, you may get an additional reward. Don't ask questions about it."
"Okay..." Laxus said, a little suspicious, but putting it aside. "Well, the Thunder Legion and I will go as soon as possible and..."
"Actually, Laxus, you should read the rest of the flyer, before you go" Makarov warned.
Laxus raised an eyebrow before reading the flyer more attentively, ending up noticing one detail that would catch him off-guard.
"The hell...?!" he asked. "You must be joking. Please tell me this is a joke."
"It's not a joke" Makarov said. "And trust me that I had nothing to do with it. That is a very specific and upmost necessity for this job."
There was a pause and then Makarov said, adopting a more empathic voice:
"I understand that you are still trying to figure out things over... but, for the time being, I want you to put that aside for the sake of our client and the guild's reputation."
Laxus took a deep breath as he tried to control his own emotions.
"You're right, old man. I should do what is best... both to the client and the guild" he said, as he got up. "I better go then... Natsu and the others are waiting for Erza so they can take a S-class job. I have to get to them before they leave."
"I wish you good luck, my boy" Makarov said, as Laxus started heading towards the exit of his office. "You will need it."
"I don't need any luck, old man" Laxus said, without turning to his grandfather, as he reached the door. "By now, you should already know that."
Having said that, he got out. After he did, Makarov leaned back on his chair as he sighed.
"I hope I have made the right decision in sending those two..." he said. "This job is not going to be something that they can simply solve with magic power alone."
It was then that he sensed a presence in his office, one that he quickly recognized.
"I know I have agreed to help you the best I could and that you had a good reason to send me that job specifically for them, but even so... They are about to face something that transcends the knowledge and experience of most humans on this world."
The presence there was casting a shadow that revealed to have feathered wings...
AN: Regarding Laxus' dream, I was planning to make something more... intense. However, I decided to make something more meaningful. As you must remember, Mirajane contacted Laxus to let him know what was happening during Phantom's attack and asked for his help, what he, like the jerk he was back then, refused... unless Lucy became his woman. Now that he had become a better person, that moment is now seen as shameful by him, especially if we consider his feelings towards Lucy. So, having him have a dream where he saves Lucy from Jose is basically his mind trying to have him repent for his actions and, at the same time, win Lucy's heart. Also, regarding the last part... That was my way of teasing what is coming and also the plans I have for the sequel of this AU that will be my own version of the 100 Years Quest.