(Magic Council)
Makarov and Yajima sat on the roof of the Magic Council headquarters. Both of them quietly observed the peaceful landscape of ERA. No one outside seemed to realize the storm raging within the Council due to the Phantom Lord incident.
"I still can't believe what you did in the Council, Mavo..." said Yajima in a weathered and concerned voice.
Makarov's gaze darkened momentarily as he fell into deep thought, but it was quickly replaced by a look of firm resolve.
"I don't regret it, Yaji..."
Makarov and Yajima had known each other since they were young, and there was an unshakable trust between them. It wasn't a secret that Yajima had saved Makarov from Council punishment on more than one occasion.
"I want a special ramen with twelve slices of meat..." Yajima muttered.
"Twelve?! Isn't that a bit much?!"
Despite being the Guild Master, Makarov Dreyar wasn't exactly rich, so spending that much on food still stung.
"During the incident, Fairy Tail committed several violations of magical law..."
"I know, I get it..." Makarov sighed.
"Mavo, are you truly willing to go that far for that boy?"
"..." Makarov fell silent, remembering how the previous hearing had gone.
(Flashback)
"This is inconceivable!" Org exclaimed.
"We must arrest him immediately!" added Michello in his high-pitched voice.
The Council had gathered to discuss the situation regarding Fairy Tail. Unlike with Phantom Lord, where the decision had been swift—revoking José Porla's title of Saint Wizard and dissolving the guild—the case with Fairy Tail was more complicated, to the point that the sentence had been delayed for several days.
Even so, since Fairy Tail had been more of a victim than a culprit, the guild was about to be declared innocent of all charges. But there was one issue… the one who had defeated José hadn't been Makarov Dreyar, but rather the same wizard they had recently dealt with.
They had ultimately decided to let Allen go free. However, the recent incident had shown that Allen possessed power on par with that of a Saint Wizard. This was alarming, considering there were only ten such individuals across the entire continent of Ishgar. How could another one appear out of nowhere?
"Makarov, what do you have to say about this?" asked Siegrain with a somewhat cold voice. "Before, I agreed that Allen Walker shouldn't be judged solely for lacking a verifiable past. However, at this point, even you must suspect his motives and goals for coming here..."
"I don't!" Makarov cut off the shouting and protests with a firm voice. "It's true that he's a young man even I don't know much about. Indeed, his power isn't something a wizard could obtain out of nowhere. However… he is a member of Fairy Tail!"
"Does that even mean anything to us?" said Leiji with an emotionless expression.
"You can criticize my kids' behavior, you can criticize many of their personalities—but never their morality!"
The Council members fell silent. Makarov's words were undeniable. Fairy Tail might be the most chaotic and destructive guild, but each of its members has consistently stood on the side of good.
A couple of faces crossed Makarov's mind—one of them being his grandson Laxus—but he quickly dismissed them.
"I was overwhelmed by the situation. At that moment, José had tapped into some kind of forbidden or dangerous magic and had lost his mind. There's no doubt many of my children would've died if not for Allen!" Makarov's voice grew louder, and his gaze more intense. "I, MAKAROV DREYAR, AM WILLING TO PUT MY LIFE ON THE LINE AS A GUARANTEE AND VOUCH FOR ALLEN!"
Everyone in the chamber drew in a sharp breath at that declaration. Siegrain clenched his fists in frustration, and Ultear's lips curled up slightly. Makarov had really gone that far. The idea of two Saint Wizards in the same guild was certainly terrifying… but what could they do?
Org and Michello had no choice but to hold their comments this time, and Siegrain couldn't hide his displeasure at the outcome. As for Yajima, he couldn't believe Makarov had gone that far.
(End of Flashback)
...
"Mavo… don't push yourself too far," Yajima sighed as he looked at his old friend. "We're not young anymore..."
"I know. Actually… I've been thinking about retiring."
"..." Yajima's eyes widened. He had suggested that multiple times in the past, but he knew Makarov. After the incident involving his "son," he wouldn't hand over the guild to just anyone.
"I hadn't really considered it seriously until now. At that moment, I was careless. I was defeated—and that almost got everyone killed!" Makarov slammed his hand on his thigh. "But Gildarts is never around and completely irresponsible! Mystogan is basically a ghost! Laxus is arrogant, condescending, and his mindset would only destroy the guild! Erza might be the best option, but even she has her reckless outbursts—not to mention she's still young..."
"Mavo?!" Yajima's eyes opened even wider. "Don't be reckless! That boy hasn't even been in Fairy Tail for a month!"
"I made a mistake once, with the brat I held in my arms the day he was born!" Makarov clenched his fists, veins bulging from his head, but then calmed down. "Of course, this is just a thought on my part. And the way I see it, he would never accept… but if I have to retire, I'd like Allen Walker to become Fairy Tail's Master..."
"Mavo… what have you seen?" Yajima lost his breath. Why was Makarov so certain of this decision? Why was he willing to hand over Fairy Tail to a boy he barely knew? What was in that young man that had pushed Makarov to this point?!
Makarov laughed, "You'll see someday!"
....
(Magnolia Town)
Allen shivered slightly as he looked over the Request Board for a job. Juvia immediately noticed and rushed over, grabbing onto his arm.
"Allen-sama, are you cold? Juvia can keep you warm~"
"Didn't you mean you'd give him a coat?" Lucy huffed as she walked behind them.
"Don't worry. I don't think it's a cold..."
"Maybe someone's cursing you?" Wakaba laughed as he lit his pipe.
"Wouldn't surprise me," Macao joked, leaning on the table and sipping a mug of beer. "Maybe it's some angry dad whose daughter you stole?"
Erza slammed her hand down on Macao's table, startling him. Then she approached Allen and, without hesitation, brought her forehead close to his to check his temperature.
"Hmm… doesn't seem like a fever… still, we should be careful. The quests can wait, let's go home and I'll make you something hot to eat and a cup of tea..." Erza said with a warm smile.
'WHO ARE YOU?!' the entire guild shouted in their minds.
If someone didn't know who Erza was, they would just see a beautiful scarlet-haired girl being affectionate and considerate. But for the guild… this version of Erza was scarier than when she got mad—almost as if it were impossible to accept that Titania could act like this.
"Hey, I want to cook something too!" said Lucy, her competitive spirit flaring up.
Juvia smirked disdainfully before speaking, "Can you cook, Lucy-sama?"
Lucy, having been a former rich girl, didn't exactly give the impression of being a great cook.
"Don't underestimate me!" Lucy puffed out her chest. "I may not look like it, but I've gotten way better lately..."
Juvia covered her mouth. "Getting better at poison-making doesn't sound very praiseworthy~"
"What?!" Lucy and Juvia clashed foreheads. "How dare you say my food is like poison?!"
"Lucy-sama, you always leave cooking to that perverted maid or 2B-sama, so I don't expect much..."
"Hey, calm down, I'm not dying, I'm not even sick," Allen said as Erza hoisted him onto her shoulder and started heading toward the exit.
"Hey, Erza, that's not fair!" Lucy ran after them.
"That's right! Juvia doesn't remember this being part of the agreement!"
*Pam*
Just before Erza stepped out the door, Mira slammed a hot plate of spiced broth down on the bar. The aroma was so enticing that Natsu wanted to eat it, but Mira's piercing glare made him back off immediately.
"Mira?" Erza's eyes widened. When it came to food, Mirajane's skills were terrifying—proof of which was that Allen had disappeared from her shoulder and appeared at the bar before she realized it.
The three girls watched this unfold before sighing and giving up this time.
"Hey, can someone explain what's going on?" Cana asked, astonished at what she had just seen.
Laki, who was cleaning a table nearby, spoke indifferently, "As you can see, they're competing. But to avoid ending up in a fight and hating each other, they decided to make an agreement... I don't know the details, but apparently if one of them gets a small victory, the others will accept it..."
Mirajane smiled while watching Allen eat his food. Next to her, the three girls seemed a bit frustrated but didn't make a fuss about it.
...
(Walker Hotel – Not really a hotel)
Back home that night, Lucy changed into something more comfortable and sat at her desk to write in her diary.
"Dear Mother, I already told you about my new life and how I stood up to my father. I'm living a pleasant life, though there are a few bad things. Do you remember my prince...? He's not perfect, but whenever I'm by his side, I can't feel sad or lonely. I wake up each day hoping to see him, and I fall asleep thinking about him~ *sigh* My only worry is that he is too charming, and many girls are trying to win him over. But I won't give up!"
Lucy covered her face in embarrassment. If anyone found out how she secretly called Allen, she would die of shame!
"..." She looked at the moon through her window, then continued writing, "Mother, I'm going to be happy. I promise you~"
Lucy closed her diary, walked to her bed, lay down, and touched her lips. She hadn't heard the answer when she asked Allen what that kiss meant. Was it something more? Or just one of his casual behaviors?
Lucy shook her head. She hadn't known Allen for long, but she knew he wasn't like Loke, who used to dismiss women when he got bored. So he wouldn't kiss her casually. But if that was true, then what did Erza mean to Allen?
Lucy pulled the blanket over herself...
"I don't care, I won't let you go!"
....
Erza was taking a shower. Her hands washed the soap from her white skin.
"Allen..." She felt confused. Since the kiss at Phantom Lord, her relationship with Allen hadn't changed much. There were no kisses, no caresses, no words of love. Of course, Erza had no experience in these matters—she didn't know at what point two people were considered a couple.
Erza was a little scared. She was clumsy and aggressive, lacking Lucy's gentleness and Mirajane's femininity. She was confused. Her heart beat faster every time she was near him. She wanted to touch him like Juvia did, to cling to his arm like Lucy. Yet her personality made it difficult to do so without her brain feeling like it was on fire.
"No... is this love to begin with?"
Erza had to answer that question—and to do so, she had to be willing to forgive her own heart.
"No!" Erza slammed the wall as her breathing grew heavy. She couldn't. Every time she thought of Allen, guilt gnawed at her; memories crushed her. Erza could still see the faces of her friends trapped like slaves while she searched for happiness she didn't deserve.
Erza stumbled out of the shower, trying to lean against the wall but nearly falling—luckily Allen caught her.
The image of Erza in a bath towel, water droplets sliding down her smooth skin, would be poison to any man—but Allen held her with a gentle look. Erza trembled... clutching her towel, unwilling to cry, unable to let herself cry. She wanted to be the powerful Titania, strong enough someday to overcome all her mistakes. She wanted the strength to return and face Jellal.
"Let me go... please," Erza whispered weakly.
"..." Allen didn't let go; instead, he held her tighter.
"I don't want you to see me looking so miserable..."
"I don't want to."
"You're selfish..."
"I am..."
"Allen..." Erza pulled her face away from his chest and raised her eyes. Her melancholic gaze reflected a wounded soul; tears fell from one eye, a reminder she wasn't yet a whole woman. "Still, I want to ask you a favor."
"What?"
Allen's gaze was calm, serene, offering a reprieve from Erza's chaotic emotions. She smiled and steeled herself to kiss him. Their lips met, and Erza's body stopped trembling as if Allen's breath and warmth were an antidote to her fears. After a minute, Erza pulled away and smiled with a calmer look.
"Hold me~"
The girl's voice was filled with warm breath, her skin flushed pink. In this world, the word "hold" often carried a double meaning—and anyone could guess what Erza meant.
Allen stayed calm, though his eyes swirled with conflicting emotions: joy and affection for the girl who tried to give him everything, and uncontrollable anger toward whoever had hurt Erza so badly.
"Erza, I—"
Erza cut him off with another kiss, though a brief one. "I'm not asking you to choose me over Lucy or any other girl right now. I just want you to hold me... just for today, take the pieces of this broken woman and make me forget everything..."
Erza slightly pushed Allen away, separating their bodies. This caused her towel to slip and fall to the floor, revealing Erza's beautiful figure—her prominent breasts and hips. She was simply stunning. Erza blushed; she hadn't seen herself as a woman before and thus felt no shame being seen in little clothing. But the young man in front of her changed that—she even considered modifying several of her armors she no longer felt comfortable wearing now that she knew Allen.
Allen leaned in and kissed Erza's neck. She trembled, but a smile formed on her face. Her breathing quickened, but then she felt a sharp sting as Allen bit her neck.
"Ah~... A-Allen?!"
Allen pulled back and looked at Erza with intense eyes. "Remember what I told you: if you provoke me again... I'll devour you."
"I-I know..." Erza swallowed hard.
"But I won't—not because I don't want to; I swear I do. It's just that I don't want to be your relief."
"...?!"
"I don't know what pushed you to this point, and I won't force you to say it. But my patience is limited. Eventually, I'll make you tell me—and first thing, I'll move heaven, sea, and earth to make sure you never say something as foolish as being a broken woman again!" Allen kissed Erza possessively and passionately, leaving the girl breathless. "After that, I'll devour you..."
"A...!" Erza trembled, her face turning completely red. Then she began to stammer before fainting. Allen looked away from the beauty in his arms—otherwise, he really would have eaten her.
"2B..."
"Yes, Master."
The silver-haired girl appeared obediently behind Allen, awaiting orders.
"Take Erza to her room. If I do it myself, I'll regret it."
"Understood..."
2B smiled and carried Erza in her arms, then bowed, leaving Allen coughing as he tried to ignore the dampness and sweet scent Erza left on his clothes.
Around the corner, Juvia sat on her knees, having witnessed everything. Instead of anger, she felt shame and envy.
"Allen-sama..." Juvia bit her finger, trying to calm her heart pounding fiercely.
Allen ignored Juvia's presence and stared out the window as his heart grew cold. There was someone in this world who had earned his hatred. Who dared to hurt Erza like that?!
"I don't know who you are... I don't know where you are... but I swear I will find you and make you regret hurting Erza!"
At that moment, Allen didn't know that the answer to his questions was closer than he thought—and soon he would meet the man who had hurt Erza.
===
A/N: Allen became Liam Neeson 🗿🍷
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