Okay! So! This is something I've been working on for MONTHS, I had the concept made for a very long time, like years. I did want to entirely complete it before I published anything- but, I'm hoping so bad for a positive response I couldn't wait any longer.

As I write this note I'm on Chapter 18, and believe me, its going to be A LOT longer then that.

Honestly, its my headcanon for canon mostly- as fucked as it is, I LOVE IT SO MUCH. This is one of my greatest works in my opinion!

But um... it gets pretty fucking dark, please keep that in mind.

.o0o.

He thought he saw it, a tear staining an ivory cheek, a glisten of light against water, for just a fraction of a moment; until he perished the thought, for the idea was incredulous. Then he turned his head away to stare at the glass walls of the building beside, only to see a reflection of himself tilted by the glass, gazing at light skin and seeing it tainted with the markings of emotion. Lips uptilted into a scowl, an ugly thing, a weakened thing, not near convincing upon a man who bore such a hardened reputation, not as sharp as his could be within the quickest of moments. The scowl was falsely made not born of true irritation, it was softened and untrue, fakened by the want for anger but none to shine through; a farce.

Though he was not beside the channel he could still see the water because of his stature, he was standing in the middle of the street watching through an alleyway. Although he was unsure why his feet had stuck him in that position, why his eyes kept drifting over to stare at the couple's conversation, further, why in mind he had no desire to pay attention, yet he watched and something emotional swam within his breast. Still, he thought he saw it, merely for a moment, the brief refraction of light against a tear: his own comprehension denied the sight, indeed the possibility, yet rationality fought forward to say that he had indeed seen a tear. It furrowed his brow to acknowledge, it confused his experience of the man to understand that Natsu Dragneel had cried- if only momentarily.

However, instead of walking forth and asking bitter questions, of giving a tender comfort which clashed against his own character. He clenched his eyes, taught tight, turnt on his heel and walked away. His fists also clenched at his side as he attempted to ignore the confliction of anger and concern burning in his chest.

The guildhall was bustling whence he finally managed to force himself to enter, further then calm his face was set stoic, but motion betrayed as the hefty door slammed open even banging against the wall by the sheer power of the action. Moreso, his truth was revealed by the sound of his echoing boots against the scratched wooden flooring. Without his mouth opening to showcase an obvious emotion, the vibration of his lips taunted him sounding so quiet in the open, but the growl was so obvious to him. By the time he had muttered to Mira the request for a beer the click of the door gently opening this time had him glance back, only for the glimmer of a glare to shift into his narrowing eyes as his vision caught unto the newfound woman in the guild.

His mind had classified her lowly without pause, without proper consideration, truthfully only recognizing that she had been found by Natsu. In his perception, she was merely a blonde with a busty chest and pathetic magic that Laxus considered so weak he could strike down one of her apparent spirits with a single blast of minorly powered lightning. Though he had not met the woman, the spread gossip, rumour, spoke of her so highly he had merely rolled his eyes at the sound leaving their lips, scoffed for their high praise. He collapsed on the barstool beside, more obviously staring at the woman entering, her easy disposition as she gave a joyful giggle and her breasts bounced in her tight little blue and white top with her slight swaying. His stare narrowed as his orange irises sharpened in their nature as his hand gripped unto his mug, the feel of the glass digging into his palm. Questioning in silence why she was so acknowledged, so highly regarded, he could see the attractiveness of her figure, but her persona- it was happy and joyful sure, she was mildly comedic on occasion he'd noticed, but by that simple standard- Laxus twitched, so was Natsu. The woman was more upheld then the pinkette however.

Again, his lids dropped again veins pulling near his sideburns and a sneer came to his lips, focus on the happy woman had him not acknowledge the sting of his hand. Pieces of glass dig into his fingers and palm, the liquid cold over his skin and burning in the bloodied cuts. The feeling had him shift his attention to the injury, still no apology left his lips, and he merely rested his hand on the counter without a proper care for the pain. Vision shifting back to the blonde, however moving once more as pink flashed in the corner of his retina, he made an slight evaluation; but could not see an indication of sadness or issue with the man. Then, the tall man released a large sigh, heaving his body and relaxing all the tension plaguing in his muscles, he pulled a hand through his hair as he stood. Something exasperated falling onto his express, as once more he gaze landed on Natsu as he yelled at his cold rival, but only for a second as once again stoicism masked his expression, a low growl vibrating against his lips. He exited the guild with violence he had entered with.

He looked mostly to the stone path as he walked back to his large apartment, his injured hand still stinging beside him and he loosened his fist slightly to ease the feeling. It was as the music in his headphones were switching to the next song and he heard highly raised voices coming from the small park near, it had him turn in mild curiosity for the faimilarity of the voices angered though they were. The small figure cowering behind the large tree he recognized instantly, her blue hair evidence enough along with her slight body and orange dress. The hat upon Jet's head was too obvious for him to ignore, and then his curiosity heightened and his brow rose as they began to cast attacking spells. It was near amusing to him how pathetically weakened their magic was to a frontline fighter, yet he knew for fact they considered themselves strong amongst the many within the guild. Though the slight smirk that had risen to his mouth fell flat at the sight of their target, a man he had no expectation to see without a search, Black Steel of Phantom Lord. Laxus shifted his direction, feet falling on grass as his arms crossed for annoyance though some satisfaction came forth as he watched the man on his hands and knees; even so, the blond knew it was an act, for though he was a mere pest by his own vision, Gajeel had been an S-class wizard previously for a reason.

Anger came swiftly as the black mark on the mans shoulder displayed itself proudly, an anger at both the man who bore it and he who had placed it frothed in his head. "I bet the only reason the old man let you join, is because he was scared that you would wreck the place again." The words spilled out his mouth without his own proper consent, merely the depths of his thoughts that he had given to himself as a slight comfort for whatever true rationality his grandfather had made in allowing the scum to join. The yell in his own voice echoed in his own head as he spat out his own ire at the man, "on my way back from my last job, I stopped off at a few pubs and I heard some things that really pissed me off! Everyone was talking about how weak Fairytail is now! We've become the laughing stock of the magic community because of you!" It burned at his throat to state, to know that in truth the guild he had upheld in such esteem had dropped to nothing more then a low-class mockery unto others, the reverence of his childhood had turned into a pile of washed-up rejects and little girls with dreams of glory, the grandfather he had idolized was nothing more then a weakened old man and far from the strengthened figure he had seen.

"And now you're going to pay!" The lightning wheel he released was a minor spell he mainly used to knock down thugs who wondered into his path. The man feel down quickly however, Gajeel was not fighting back, and though it leared at his mentality, he only let lose a single strike more of power before he switched over to the heavy sole of his boot, a low satisfaction spreading throughout for the classic feeling of physical combat. Though still accepting with a reluctance that bringing his all against a submissive opponent would simply be cowardly, even so his fist coiled for a moment at the thought of what he had heard occurred in Phantom's guildhall , the hostage the man had taken in weakness, the beating Natsu had taken simply to win their match; the pain in his hand did not stop his nails from digging into his flesh at the very thought, ready to punch. Instead, he ended up directing his anger towards Jet as the man ordered- yelled, at him to stop, it whent to Levi's cowering figure as the man shifted away. Laxus had however, seen the blue and black figure of Gajeel before the man took the impact, so it did not surprise him to see the iron slayer take the blow.

Though Laxus made no apology to the blue-haired woman, he did minorly respect the valour in the action, as he silently walked away. Considering only, that something had to be done to stop the recline of the guild he knew. Violent if necessary.

.o0o.

Relief had swum within him whence he had taken notice of the fact that Natsu was unable to compete, stuck behind a barrier for a reason no one could comprehend. Though he knew he could fight the man, he had no true desire to do so, a reluctance filled him at the mere possibility. It shook his hands, it made his lips thin together for lack of understanding, his muscles tensed at the thought, and yet he knew he was not afraid, it threw his mind into deep confusion. A reason had come to him the night before, a rational one he had rejected imminently:

Was he simply afraid of hurting the smaller man? He scoffed at the idea, Natsu was not a weak damsel who couldn't take a hit, he was not a man who did not know how to throw a punch. Yet, sitting inside the old cathedral with a mind already reeling at his situation, he considered without the plaguing mentality of denial he commonly upheld in avoidance of reality, he accepted that whenever the pinkette was injured a roar of rage surged within his body. His teeth clenched further in recognition however, as the few days previous crept forward in his mind; when the perceived tear on an ivory cheek had the want to move forward and comfort the man spread through his chest in a warm unfamiliar tingle. And then, and then, the growl that had burned in his throat in staring at the happy-go-lucky- lucky woman who took near all of Natsu's time and continuously stole his company.

He cursed himself mentally as his head bowed, in shame or under mere comprehension; he did not know. His body weak suddenly, he slouched over his headphones clattering on the floor- he made no effort to pick them up as the tones of music had suddenly begun to sting at his ears.

It was a wash of cold understanding, the type of frigidity settling in his body that had him wondering if Fullbuster had found him. That flared a hope in his chest, that he would have no need to fight the fire prone dragonslayer, but it was false, and his own logic weighed heavy; Natsu Dragneel would not relinquish a fight, nevermind against the man whom he had been stewing for a brawl with since the days when he would squeak in pubescence when he spoke.

Clenching his intwined hands he looked to the display of time and people remaining, not doubting for a moment that the pinkette was among those left; still he growled in disappointment for the rationality. Irate now not merely at his grandfather's apparent stubborn mindset in refusing to allow a change for the betterment of the guild, but now at the shifting of his own emotional control. His fist found the wall for frustration, as he attempted to find all the memories he pertained of the small fire mage's defiance and blatant addiction to fighting which had always annoyed him, yet behind all the examples he conjured there was a smile tilting of his lips upwards in fond remembrance, along with the happiness warming his chest; the exuberance always displayed with the younger's challenges, the determination behind blackened eyes had forever been gratifying to see.

Confusion swam within him; in order the win he would need to fight Natsu, and though he truly believed that in order for the guild to once again be strong change would have to come, his emotions spung forth to deny the idea; his want denied the idea. Still, he lifted his head, personal opinion had no baring upon the situation, he was preforming this game all to repair what the guild had lost, to salvage what he had always revered as a child. Stoicism muted his expression, as he heard the heavy door open and nary silent footfalls sounded behind, the sweeping cloak of Mystagin within the corner of his vision. It took a force of thought to get his feet to turn around as the implication of his own decision weighed at his mind, his emotions clamped tight away battered brutally at their confines for escape. Sill, the memory, the thought of a brillant, flaming light, aura warming the deepest most darkened parts of his mind, lightened his heart and burned at his decision.

But, with stinging reluctance; he walked forward, all for the sake of his guild.