Phoenix

Hugging Time

Emi walked into the living room to see Laxus staring at the wall. She slowly made her way over to him and gently put a hand on his shoulder. Laxus jumped slightly from his chair, obviously frightened by the sudden contact. He turned his head to look at the woman before turning back to the wall.

"Are you okay? You've been in here for a while."

Laxus let out a quiet hum in response before standing up and stretching.

"Just thinking."

He was telling the truth. He was thinking about his grandfather's conversation with him. About being able to rejoin Fairy Tail.

A soft smile appeared on Emi's face, relieved that nothing was wrong. However, her concern resurfaced when Laxus suddenly walked over to her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into him. He bent down and his head rested on her shoulder. Emi's eyes widened at his sudden movement.

"Uh, Laxus? What's wrong?"

His arms only grew tighter around her. Emi instinctively started to rub his back. Laxus barely hugged unless it was to say goodbye before heading off on a request. Even so, this one felt different than the others. This realization brought more worry to the woman. Emi started to question the mage again.

"Laxu--"

"Just one more minute."

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"Oh man! I told you we could get in a quick visit after our job! We can get another meal, Happy!"

"Natsu," Lucy scolded, "you can't just keep showing up and demanding food."

"Lucy is right," Erza said, "you mustn't take advantage of her kindness."

Gray continued, "Besides, Laxus looks like he's getting annoyed with all of us coming all the time."

"Who cares about that guy. I want to see Emi!"

"Aye sir!"

"You just want to have her cook for you," Lucy muttered.

The group made their way through the forest before stopping at the clearing. Natsu and Happy led the way, and Wendy and Charle walked behind everyone else.

"Charle, how come everyone seems shocked with Laxus? Is it really that weird for him to be with someone?"

"Wendy," Charle started matter-of-factly, "from what I've heard, Laxus was known as a very temperamental and rude person before he put his comrades against each other, leading to his exile. I'm sure everyone finds it strange to see that same mage chooses to engage in domestic life."

"We're here!" Natsu screamed.

As Natsu started to run towards the house, Erza grabbed him by the back of his overcoat. She silenced his protests and dragged him back to the edge of the forest where the rest of the group followed. Wendy was the one who stayed in the clearing, confused as to why the rest of Team Natsu had suddenly retreated. They were so close afterall. Lucy made a quiet "psst" and waved her hand for Wendy to come back.

"Everyone, what's wrong? Why are you hiding?"

Charle flew out into the clearing, scooped up Wendy and flew back to where everyone was hiding.

"Child, you shouldn't get caught like this. The group obviously sensed danger and you should follow them."

"I still don't understand, Charle. I don't sense anyone else in the forest."

"Wendy," Gray spoke up, "it's not dangerous in the forest. It's dangerous in the house."

"Is Miss Emi in trouble?" Wendy innocently asked.

"No," Lucy nervously said, "but we sure will be if he sees us."

Wendy looked confused before turning back to look at the house. They all looked in the window to what the group assumed to be the living room. Standing there was Emi and Laxus. They shared what seemed to be a rather intimate embrace, with Emi's hands in the lightning mage's hair and Laxus's face in the side of her neck.

"We are so dead," Lucy stated.

"I agree," Erza said, making everyone even more nervous, "I believe we should leave before we are seen."

They all walked through the forest and back to Hargeon, careful not to make any noises that might draw attention to them.

"They're in llllooooove."

"Happy!" Lucy hissed. "He'll hear you!"

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"Feeling any better?"

Laxus simply hummed into the woman's shoulder before loosening his grip and pulling away from the hug. His flat expression appeared on his face once more, causing Emi to giggle. He was obviously trying to make it seem like he didn't care, but a very faint red tint was seen on his ears.

"Well?"

"This whole Fairy Tail thing is so stupid. How can they just come out of nowhere and start to--"

"Try to get you back into their lives?"

Laxus stayed silent.

"It's because they care about you. Even after what you might have done in the past. You said Fairy Tail treated everyone like family, right?"

"Don't see how that's relevant."

"You're still family to them, no matter what happens. They worry about you and are curious to see how you are after so long." Emi smirked before looking back up at him, continuing, "Especially Master Grampa. I don't know if you noticed, but he didn't come all this way to have a meal that an unknown woman was making just because Natsu said so."

Laxus slowly sat down on a rocking chair and put his head in his hands. He let out a huge sigh.

"After everything I did, why would they possibly want anything to do with me?"

"Were you just ignoring everything I said? Because they love you. Because they care about you, your safety, and your happiness. You big dummy."

Emi made her way to the mage's side and touched his shoulder again.

"They want to see what you've been doing in these three years, and they were finally able to find you. Of course they'll want to come around so often! Hell, the whole entire guild came with no hesitation just to see you."

Laxus let out a small laugh before turning to the shorter woman. He looked up from his seat and ruffled her hair, emitting an annoyed squeak from Emi.

"Great," Emi complained, "This is the third time today that you messed up my hair. It'll never look the same again."