The guildhall was alive with laughter and chatter, mugs slamming on wooden tables, but all of it blurred into the background when the massive doors creaked open. Every head turned. The scent of ocean salt and iron drifted inside before the figure even appeared—tattered cloak dripping with rainwater, steps uneven, skin pale and streaked with dried blood.

Gasps erupted as the hood was pushed back, revealing familiar eyes—eyes Laxus thought he’d never see again.

You.

The hall fell silent, shock freezing everyone in place. For over a year, you’d been gone. Lost on a mission no one thought you’d return from. The council had you listed as missing, maybe worse. Fairy Tail had grieved… and Laxus had carried that weight quietly, refusing to let anyone see how much of him had shattered.

Now you stood there in the doorway, trembling, beaten but alive.

Laxus was on his feet before he realized he’d moved, the chair clattering behind him. The silence broke into whispers, questions, but he didn’t hear any of it. His chest burned as lightning magic crackled faintly around his shoulders, unable to contain the storm in his veins.

“You…” His voice was raw, disbelieving, almost breaking as he crossed the floor toward you. “You’re alive.”

Your knees threatened to buckle under the exhaustion, but before you could fall, Laxus was there—his strong arms catching you, pulling you in against him like he’d never let go again.

Your head pressed against Laxus’s chest, the steady drum of his heartbeat grounding you even through the haze of pain. His arms were iron around you, crushing yet trembling, as if the moment he let go you’d vanish again like smoke.

“Damn it…” his voice was low, cracking as he buried his face in your hair. “You were gone. A year. Do you even know what that did to me?”

The guild around you seemed to fade—voices hushed, eyes wide but knowing better than to interfere. Lightning sparked faintly across his shoulders, dancing in small arcs like his magic was reacting to emotions he couldn’t cage.

You managed a weak smile, your lips brushing the fabric of his coat. “I told you… I’d come back.”

Laxus leaned back enough to look at you, his hands framing your face carefully, terrified of the blood and bruises marking your skin. His jaw was tight, fury and relief battling in his eyes. “Barely,” he growled. “You’re half-dead. You should’ve sent word—you should’ve something.”

Your legs gave out then, and he caught you without hesitation, scooping you up as if you weighed nothing. The murmur of voices behind you grew, but one glare from him silenced the entire guildhall.

“Nobody touches her.” His voice was final, dangerous. He shifted his gaze back down to you, softening just a fraction. “I’m getting you home. Then you’re gonna tell me everything. No running, no hiding. You hear me?”

Despite the pain, you gave him the smallest nod. His grip tightened protectively, and for the first time in a year, Laxus finally let out the breath he’d been holding.