Laxus Dreyar x Reader

Return

-Timeskip-

After the 7 Year Gap

The warm afternoon sunlight filtered through the bare branches of the park trees, casting intricate shadows on the cobblestone paths. The air was crisp, but not biting—one of those rare, late February days where winter’s chill gave way to a fleeting promise of spring. Magnolia was alive with the hum of activity, but for Laxus Dreyar, it was just another quiet stroll.

He adjusted the scarf around his neck and shoved his hands deeper into the pockets of his coat. After seven years trapped in Tenrou Island, much of the town felt new and strange to him. Yet, there was a comfort in the mundane sights of Magnolia, even if he wasn’t entirely sure where he fit anymore.

As he approached the park, a flicker of color caught his eye. A girl in a pink winter outfit stood near a bench, her hair framing her face as she gazed at the small pond nearby. Her gloved hands cradled a steaming cup, her breath visible in the cool air. She looked so at ease, so radiant in the afternoon glow, that for a moment, Laxus stopped in his tracks. There was something familiar about her—something that tugged at the edges of his memory.

His brow furrowed. Do I know her?

Then, as if sensing his gaze, she turned her head. Your eyes locked with his, and time seemed to freeze. Recognition lit up your face, and a smile broke through the surprise.

“Laxus? Is that you?” you called, your voice soft but full of disbelief.

He blinked, still processing. “Yeah,” he said after a pause. His voice was gruff but tinged with something unreadable. “It’s been a while... You’ve... changed.”

A laugh bubbled from your lips as you closed the distance between you. “Seven years will do that,” you replied, stopping just a step away. You took him in—his sharp features, his unmistakable presence, the faint trace of electricity that always seemed to cling to him. He hadn’t changed a bit.

Without thinking, you threw your arms around him, pulling him into a hug. The action caught him off guard, his body stiffening before he slowly returned the embrace, one hand awkwardly patting your back.

When you finally stepped back, your cheeks were flushed, both from the cold and the excitement. “I can’t believe it. I thought—well, we didn’t know if you’d ever come back.”

“Yeah,” he muttered, scratching the back of his head. “It’s... good to be back. And you... you’re different now. More... I dunno, grown-up.”

You laughed again, the sound light and warm. “And you’re exactly the same. Still terrible at compliments.”

He snorted, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Guess some things don’t change.”

You gestured to a nearby bench. “Do you have time? I’d love to catch up.”

“Sure,” he said, following you. “Got nothing else going on.”

The two of you sat down, and the conversation flowed effortlessly. You told him about the years he’d missed—how the guild had struggled but survived, how you had grown into your own role within it. He listened more than he spoke, offering the occasional comment or question. And when he did talk, it was about Tenrou Island, the surreal experience of being frozen in time, and the strange, bittersweet sensation of returning to a world that had moved on without him.

Before either of you realized it, two hours had passed. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the park in hues of gold and amber.

You sighed, standing and brushing off your coat. “I guess I should let you go. I’m sure you have a million other people waiting to see you.”

“Yeah,” he said, rising as well. “Guess so.”

There was a pause, the kind that hung heavy with unspoken words. Then you smiled, stepping closer. “It’s really good to see you, Laxus. Don’t be a stranger, okay?”

He nodded, his expression softening. “You too.”

With that, you turned and walked away, the sound of your boots crunching against the path fading into the evening air. Laxus watched you go, his hands stuffed back into his pockets, a thoughtful look on his face.

For the first time since returning, he felt... grounded. And as he turned to leave, he couldn’t shake the warmth you had left behind.