Haruka & The Fairy Tail Guild
It was getting late by the time Erza returned to guild building. It wasn't quite sunset, but getting close. She frowned slightly as she entered the doors, listening to the ruckus within. A few of the wiser Mages tried to hide their mugs under the desk and act orderly, but most were too distracted to notice her approach.
Erza scowled as walked through the Guild Hall, down the rows of tables. In front of her, Elfman staggered out in front of her path, holding a mug of beer up to the crowd. He didn't notice Erza approach.
"Come!" Elfman roared loudly, spilling liquid from his mug. "Only the manliest men can hold their beer! I will be the last man stand—"
He was cut off by an armoured fist being rammed into his stomach. Erza barely gave him a second glance as he groaned and crashed to the ground. The mood turned silent.
"If you're going to drink," she said a schoolteacher strict voice. "Then sit in your seats and drink quietly."
One by one, the Mages slowly returned to their seats. Erza cast a glance around the room. "Wakaba, mop up this mess," she ordered, walking slowly towards the bar. "Vijeeter, stop spilling drinks everywhere."
The crowd parted to let her through. Erza glanced at Mirajane. "What's going on here?" She demanded. "This type of behaviour is shameful."
Mirajane chuckled, scratching her head. "Oh, we're just celebrating," she explained happily. "Did you know that Natsu and Haruka are a couple now?"
There was no visible reaction from Erza. The armour Mage stayed completely still. "Natsu and… Haruka?" She repeated quietly.
"Oh, that's right," Mirajane apologised. "You haven't met Haruka yet. She's a new recruit that arrived a while ago. She's the Celestial Dragon Slayer. She and Natsu are really cute together."
Again, Erza stayed completely still. A very keen observer might have noticed that she didn't seem to be breathing. The redhead knight only had one eye visible with her long red hair half brushed across her face.
"I see," Erza said simply.
Mirajane just smiled brightly. "Oh, that's right! You were looking for Natsu yesterday for a mission, weren't you? He's in bathroom at the moment, but I'm sure he'd love to go on the mission with you."
"It wasn't just Natsu," Erza said sharply. "Gray. I was going to take Gray and Natsu on a mission."
She had made a point of asking for Gray as well; it made sure that she wasn't focusing on just Natsu. Still, that whole mission had lost its purpose when Natsu hadn't been available.
Mirajane hushed over to serve drinks, while Erza slowly sat down at a bar stool. Her Heart Kreuz Armour clunked slightly against the table. Her hands were clenched tightly, but as the rest of the guild realised that she wasn't going to punish them, the atmosphere slowly returned.
"This… Haruka…" Erza asked after a while, as Mirajane approached. "… What's she like?"
The white haired woman shrugged. "She's nice. Red haired like you, pretty, carefree. Really easy to be around," Mirajane replied. "She went chasing after Loke a while ago, but I'm sure you'll enjoy meeting her."
Erza smiled; or, at the very least, her mouth moved up at the corners. There wasn't any humour there. "I'm sure I will."
Around her, the celebration continued. Most days were celebrations in Fairy Tail; it was very easy for them to find something to celebrate. After a few minutes of silence, Erza approached the bar.
"I'll take a beer," she said with forced sweetness, holding out some coins towards Mirajane.
Mirajane stared at her with shock, sweating slightly. "Umm… Are you sure that you should be drinking?" Mirajane said quietly. "You remember what happened the last time you started drinking…"
Erza's smile could have been painted on. "Yes," she replied simply. She really never needed anyone to remind her what happened the last time. "Now pour me a drink."
There was a just a hint of warning in her voice. Erza remembered the time when Mirajane would have challenged her for talking so rudely, but she just smiled and handed her a mug. Still, there was just a flash of darkness in the woman's eyes.
The beer was frothy and bubbling. Erza was just about to take a sip when a hand reached out and stopped her. Erza stared in shock as Makarov's elongated arm touched her wrist.
"It's probably best if you don't," The Guild Master said quietly, still sitting cross-legged on the bar, smoking his pipe.
Erza was just about to object, but Makarov cast her an uncharacteristically serious glance. "You know that I normally let you enjoy life to the fullest. But not tonight," he said quietly, glimpsing around the hall. "I will be shutting this party down before it gets too far. I fear that tonight we will need everyone at their peak."
She frowned. "Is something going to happen?"
"Perhaps," Makarov admitted. "Or it may just be that I'm a paranoid old man. Either way, I don't want my children to be drunk if trouble does arrive. There have been… worrying occurrences."
"What?" Erza demanded, before frowning. "Speaking of which, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the Regular Meeting?"
"The Regular Meeting was cancelled. There have been too many disappearances around Oshibana Town; too many people have vanished, too many small settlements have become quiet," Makarov explained darkly. "Whole trains have simply disappeared. Many are starting to fear what is happening, and the Guild Masters don't want to leave. I do not know who, or what, is attacking civilians, nevertheless where they will strike next, but I will rest a lot easier knowing that all of my children have the presence of mind to defend themselves."
Erza's eyes widened in shock, but she nodded. Makarov's voice was low. "Don't tell anyone. Let them enjoy the moment," he ordered quietly. "But stay alert. I fear that dangerous things may be coming towards us."