The Dragon Father

Healing

Acnologia was out of it, he and his hatchlings had been so for the past three weeks. Tartaros had hurt them the most. Everyone gave them space and time. 

The guildhall had been rebuilt... again, but it was quiet these days, no one really felt like bickering or arguing, no one debated or threatened, the guildhall was quiet, and everyone hated it.

Acnologia hadn't left the bar, he didn't drink anything; he just sat there. Erik was in the rafters as usual, and he wouldn't come down. Sting was barely in the guildhall, he only returned to eat and sleep, the rest of the time he was occupied with jobs... solo jobs, sometimes even leaving Lector behind. Rogue distracted himself by catering to Frosch, he took the exceed out shopping, out eating, he spent every jewel he had trying to distract himself... even Frosch noticed. Gajeel was in a corner, he would sit there eating metal, that's it, just staring into space and eating metal. Laxus was himself, going out for jobs, but he never messed around anymore, he couldn't bring himself to smile. Natsu and Happy left to beat up a few baddies and hadn't returned, no one was worried, he was Natsu... what could happen? The dragon slayer that everyone worried about the most was Wendy... she was silent, always silent.

"Do something Acnologia," Kinana urged sitting next to the dragon slayer.

"Leave me be," Acnologia growled.

Mira slammed her fist on the counter, "Do not growl at my bar, rule number one."

"Have I ever given a damn about rules?" Acnologia growled his large blue bangs hiding his face.

Outside a storm raged, rain pattered at the windows and the wind howled. Everyone was looking at Juvia.

"Th-this isn't Juvia's fault, Juvia is innocent," Juvia defended.

"Yeah, stopping blaming her!" Gray scowled.

"Oh, Gray-Sama is defending Juvia... Juvia is so happy!" Juvia cried embracing Gray.

"You're so creepy!" Gray cried.

"Oh Juvia darling, when will you embrace me in such a way?" Lyon cried.

"Wendy has been out in that rain all day, I tried to get Erik to go out after her, but he says that she wants to be alone!" Kinana hissed.

"She wants to be alone," Acnologia growled.

"Everyone is hurting, Laxus won't buy a drink, Erik won't come down, Wendy won't come in, Sting won't stay in, Rogue won't keep Jewel in his pocket, Natsu hasn't come home, and Gajeel is stress eating in the corner!" Mira whispered pointing to the dragon slayer.

Gajeel looked up from his metal disk, "No I'm not," he scoffed.

"Your point?" Acnologia asked.

"You need to do something, at least get Wendy in before she catches a cold!" Kinana cried.

"She's the sky dragon, she doesn't need a babysitter," Acnologia growled.

"No, but she needs a parent. She just lost one and you're here feeling sorry for yourself!"

"Do you know what I just went through!?"

"No, but do you know what Wendy just went through, what all of them just went to. You're the freaking Dragon of the Apocalypse, parenting shouldn't be too hard."

"A true parent is a saint, and do I look like one to you!?"

"No, but you do look like a father."

Acnologia muttered a few swear words. There was a flash of lightning followed by a crack of thunder that shook the guildhall. Acnologia got to his feet and walked across the guildhall.