It was a surprisingly calm day at the Guild. Hayden was sat in his usual seat at the bar, talking with Mira when she suddenly gasp and broke out in a bright smile. Hayden turned around to see what she has spotted and saw Esme walking out of the infirmary. "Esme! You're up and walking! Good to see your better!" Hayden said happily. Esme smiled and walked over to them. Then suddenly, a cold chill went down everyone's spine as another person wobbled out of the infirmary with Dark aura surrounding him. Kage wore a mask that covered the bottom half of his face so he wouldn't pass his illness to anyone else. Though he could move around, he still had a slight stumble to his movements and he got lightheaded really easily.
"Can't say the same for him though." Hayden chuckled. Kage made his way for to his usual table in the corner of the Guild and the Guild members who were sat there immediately got up and quickly moved to a different table. No one wanted to bother the sadist while he was sick and in a horrible mood. "We should celebrate their recovery!" Mira exclaimed in excitment. "Yah! That's a great idea!" Esme announcd. Hayden glanced at Kage who had his head down on the table. "I'm kinda scared for these next couple of days." Hayden muttered. "Dealing with a grumpy Kage is not something I'm looking forward to."
They got started decorating the Guild Hall just as everyone else started showing up. Erza had brought a big strawberry cake that Esme started drooling over and Kage glared at everyone who got bear his table. Gajeel and Lily walked into the Guild and looked at those who were decorating. "What's going on?" Gajeel asked. Mira walked up and greeted them. "We're throwing a party for Esme and Kage to celebrate their recovery!" She told them. Lily floated up to her face. "Kage is better?" He asked. Mira giggled. "Well not really. He's still sick and not really feeling well, but he's up and moving! He's sat that table in corner glaring at everyone." She said as she pointed behind her. The two looked over her and saw the sick boy face down at the table. He was definitely giving off a "don't come near me" vibe. Lily quickly flew over to him and landed on the table.
"Kage! You up! Are you feeling alright? Do you still hurt?" He asked frantically in worry. Kage didn't say anything as he sat up, grabbed Lily, and cuddled him close to his chest. Lily's face lit up in a blush as Kage layed his head on top of his own. "M' missed you." He muttered, clearly drowsy and a little delirious.
Esme snickered as she watch the scene unfold from her spot at the bar. A plate of strawberry cake in her hand. "Having a sick Kage isn't ALL bad." She said with a smirk. Hayden laughed from his spot next to her.
"Hey Kage!" A familiar loud voice echoed through the Guild. "Uh oh." Hayden muttered. Natsu made his way over to where Kage was hugging Lily and sitting with Gajeel. "I heard that you got sick when you got injured! Man, and I thought you were stronger than that." He teased, trying to pick a fight. "Just because his body is weak right now doesn't mean he can't fuck with your life Hothead." Gajeel spat. Natsu just laughed. "He probably has a week immune system because he has such a feminine figure!" He teased. Kage suddenly stood up and glared at them. "Will you stop bothering-!" He cut himself off. His vision suddenly blurred as his head spun. Gajeel quickly reached out and caught him as he collapsed. "Kage!" Lily called out in worry, still in Kage's arms. Hayden and Esme quickly ran over as Gajeel knelt down on the ground, cradling the boy. "I'm fine!" Kage yelled, fixing the mask on his face. "I just stood up to quickly and got dizzy."
Erza smacked Natsu upside the head and glared at him. "Leave the boy alone Natsu. You can pick a fight with him when he's better." She scolded. Natsu shivered in fear and nodded his head.
Later on the party started and everyone, who was old enough, started drinking while the others ate cate and played board games and just had fun. Gajeel was one of those who was drinking and Lily, being a curious kitty, snuck a few drinks from Gajeel's cup. "You're not gonna have a drink?" Gajeel slurred. Kage rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Fuck that. You guys can make fools of yourselves all you want. But leave me out of it. Besides, drunk people are easy to get blackmail from." Kage responded with a glint in his eyes. An evil smirk hidden behind his mask.
Gajeel laughed at that and stared into his cup. He wasn't exactly drunk but drinking sure makes him ramble. "You always find ways to torture people without physically hurting them."
"It's funny to you, to fuck with people's lives." Lily added while he leaned back on his paws as he sat on the table.
"That's just one of the reasons why we love you." They both muttered. Their eyes widened and faces paled as they realized what they had just said. Without uttering a word, Kage stood up and walked out of the Guild. Natsu, who had over heard the whole thing, ran after him.
Natsu found the boy a little ways from the Guild. Laying under a tree on a small hill and looking up at the clouds. "What the hell was that?!" Natsu yelled. Kage didn't move. "Those two admitted their feelings for you and you just up and left! I know you're a sadist and all but there were your best friends!"
"I don't..." Kage cut himself off. Not knowing how to put it into words. Natsu sighed and sat down next to where he layed. "I just didn't know how to react. So I left." Kage told him. Natsu grew confused. "You say that like you've never been confessed to before."
"I haven't." Kage admited. "Hayden and Esme are more open and friendly. People naturally love them. Though I can make friends, I've never had someone fall in love with me. I'm the sadist. I mess with people for my own amusement. People don't normally like that in a relationship."
Natsu sat there and thought about it. "Do you like them?" He finally ask. Kage sat up and looked at him as if he were stupid. "Of course I do! I wouldn't be friends with them if I didn't."
"No I mean in a romantic way." Natsu said with an annoyed tone.
"I don't know. But I guess I'm willing to give the whole dating thing a try. It does seems to make Esme and Hayden really happy."
Natsu suddenly stood up. "Then what are you doing here?! You need to go tell Gajeel and Lily before they think that you hate them!" Kage sighed and stood up, walking after the energetic firebreather as he ran back down the hill with a big smile.
After checking the Guild and being told that they went home, Kage made his way to Gajeel and Lily's house. With his hands stuffed in his sweater pocket, he kicked on the door and waited. Gajeel opened the door but what cut off before he could say anything. "I'm being followed. Let's talk inside." Kage said as he let himself in. Gajeel nodded and shut the door.
"Damn it!" Esme shouted as she popped out of a bush. Hayden following. "Did you really thing he wouldn't notice?" Hayden muttered while Esme pouted.
