Hope yall enjoy and don't mind these kinds of moments.
Also if you want me to speed up a bit let me know below
Speed up
Don't speed up
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The morning light filtered through the curtains of Varion's room, casting a soft, golden haze over the bed. He stirred slowly, his body heavy from the emotional release of the night before, the ache in his chest dulled but not gone. As awareness crept in, he felt a small, warm weight wrapped around him—Wendy's arms clinging tightly to his neck, her little body curled against his side like a koala, her blue ponytails splayed across his chest. She was still asleep, her breathing soft and even, but even in dreams, her grip hadn't loosened, as if letting go meant he'd disappear.
Varion blinked down at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the lingering tears dried on his cheeks from the roof. She'd refused to let him go last night—clinging through her own tears after seeing him cry, insisting on staying with him until he felt better. They'd climbed back inside together, and she'd crawled into his bed without a word, hugging him like a lifeline. He hadn't the heart to send her back to her room; her presence had been a comfort, chasing away the loneliness for a while.
He tried to shift gently, but Wendy's hold tightened instinctively, her small face burrowing deeper into his shoulder with a sleepy mumble. "No… stay…"
Varion chuckled softly, his voice rough from the night. "I'm not going anywhere, Wendy. It's morning."
Her eyes fluttered open, still puffy from crying, but she didn't release him, hugging tighter instead. "Promise? You were sad… I don't want you to be alone." Her voice was small, trembling slightly, the worry from last night still fresh in her big blue eyes. Tears started to well up again as she looked up at him, her lip quivering—she hated seeing him hurt, her big brother who was always so strong.
He wrapped an arm around her, holding her close. "Promise. Thanks for staying with me."
She sniffled, rubbing her eyes with one hand while clinging with the other. "Why were you crying? What made you so sad?" Her voice cracked a little, the emotion bubbling up as she tried to figure it out, her little face scrunched in concern.
Varion sighed sadly, his own eyes softening as he stroked her hair. "I'll tell you some other time, okay? When you're a bit older."
Wendy stared at him, her teary eyes searching his face, her little brain working overtime—gears turning as she pieced together fragments from their time together. Then, it clicked: she remembered his reaction back during their first day at the guild, the way his voice had caught when someone mentioned parents or dragons, the distant look in his eyes. "Is it… about your dad?" she asked softly, her voice hesitant but hopeful, tears spilling over now as she hugged him tighter, her small heart hurting for him.
Varion's breath hitched, surprise flickering across his face—he hadn't expected her to connect it so quickly. But he nodded slowly, his voice thick. "Yeah… it has to do with him."
"I… I heard you talking last night," she whispered, her voice trembling with the weight of what she'd seen—her big brother, always so strong, breaking down under the stars. It had scared her, hurt her deep in her chest to see him like that. "You were talking to your dad… like he was gone. But we'll find him! All of us—me, Natsu, Sting, Rogue, Gajeel… we'll help! We'll search everywhere, and bring him back to you. Promise!"
Her words were so earnest, so full of innocent hope, her little face set with determination despite the quiver in her lip. Tears started to well up again in her eyes, not for herself, but for him—the pain of imagining him without his dad was too much for her young heart to bear.
Varion's throat tightened, the ache flaring anew at her kindness. He knew the truth—Veldanava was gone, lost to Acnologia's claws, beyond the reach of any search in the world of the living. But he couldn't shatter her hope, not like this. Instead, he smiled gently, pulling her into a tight hug, his arms wrapping around her small frame as he held her close.
"Thanks, Wendy," he murmured, his voice soft and a little rough, choking back his own emotion. "That means a lot."
She hugged him back fiercely, her tears soaking into his shirt, and they stayed like that as the house woke around them, the bond between them a quiet anchor in the morning light.
Varion held Wendy close for a few more moments, her small body a comforting anchor against the lingering ache in his chest. The morning light grew brighter, spilling across the room like a gentle promise of a new day. He could feel her tears soaking into his shirt, her little frame still trembling slightly from the shared emotion. But as the house stirred—the faint sounds of the other kids waking in their rooms—he knew they couldn't stay like this forever.
He pulled back just enough to look at her, wiping a tear from her cheek with his thumb. To change the mood, he forced a bright smile, his voice light and playful. "How about we go make some pancakes for everyone?"
Wendy's eyes lit up instantly, her tears forgotten as she looked up at him and nodded excitedly, her ponytails bouncing with the motion. "Yes! Pancakes!" She scrambled out of his arms with surprising energy, hopping off the bed and rushing toward the door, her small feet pattering across the floor. "I'll get dressed super fast!"
Varion watched her go, a warm smile spreading across his face as she disappeared down the hall. What am I going to do with her? he thought fondly, the affection swelling in his chest like a balm over the grief. She was so pure, so caring—it made the world feel a little less heavy.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed, standing with a stretch that pulled at his healed scars but didn't hurt like before. Shaking off the last remnants of the night's emotion, he headed downstairs to the kitchen, the wooden steps creaking under his weight. The room was still tidy from last clean up. He pulled out flour, eggs, milk, and a few other basics from the pantry, mixing the batter with practiced ease—stirring in a bit of vanilla for that extra touch the kids loved.
As he heated the pan on the stove, he heard soft footsteps approaching. Mira walked out from the guest room, rubbing her eye with one hand and yawning widely, her white hair tousled from sleep. She wore an oversized shirt, borrowed from Varion's closet, he realized, with a punk reference scrawled across the front in faded black letters: "Chaos Reigns." It hung loosely on her frame, sliding slightly down one shoulder to reveal the pale skin beneath, giving her a casually disheveled look that was oddly endearing. She collapsed into a chair at the table with a tired groan, obviously not a morning person, her head dropping forward as she mumbled, "Morning…"
Varion kept glancing at her and checking her out subtlety then chuckled softly to hide his embarrassment, flipping the first pancake. "Morning, Mira. Sleep okay?"
She nodded groggily, propping her chin on her hand. "Yeah… train lag, I guess. Smells good."
Erza emerged next, her red hair slightly tousled from sleep, dressed in her usual armor and skirt, looking more composed than anyone had a right to be this early. She froze mid-step when she spotted Mira slumped at the table in the oversized shirt— the punk reference on the front, the fabric sliding down one shoulder to reveal a glimpse of pale skin. Erza's eyes narrowed, a flush of indignation rising to her cheeks.
"What are you wearing?" Erza demanded, her voice sharp as she marched over, arms crossed. "That's indecent! Walking around like that in someone else's house—have you no shame?"
Mira lifted her head groggily, blinking at Erza with a mix of confusion and irritation. "Huh? It's just a shirt. What's your problem, armor girl? Jealous or something?"
Erza's brow twitched, her face heating up as she leaned over the table, pointing a finger accusatorily. "Jealous? Of a sloppy newbie who can't even dress properly? You're the one prancing around like a lazy cat!"
Mira sat up straighter, her own cheeks flushing as she fired back, standing to meet Erza eye-to-eye. "Lazy cat? At least I'm not a stuck-up tin can who probably sleeps in her armor! Bet you clank when you roll over!"
"Tin can?!" Erza shot back, her voice rising. "Better than a demon wannabe who looks like she rolled out of a trash heap!"
"Demon wannabe? You're just a bossy know-it-all with a stick up your—"
The argument escalated quickly, the two girls leaning over the table, their faces inches apart as they hurled mean names back and forth—"Control freak!" "Pushy intruder!" "Metal-head!" "Cloak hag!"—their voices overlapping in a heated frenzy, sparks (figurative this time) flying as the kitchen filled with their rivalry.
Varion watched from the stove, rubbing his temples with a sigh, but before he could intervene, quick footsteps pattered down the stairs. Wendy burst in, fully dressed in her usual outfit, her blue ponytails bouncing as she made a beeline for Varion. She glued herself to his leg, wrapping her arms around it tightly and looking up with a bright, excited smile. "I'm ready! Can I help with the pancakes now?"
Varion's expression softened immediately, a warm smile spreading across his face as he looked down at her. "Of course you can, Wendy." He handed her the spatula, guiding her hand to flip the next one, his voice gentle. "See? Just like this—wait for the bubbles, then quick and gentle."
Mira and Erza froze mid-insult, their heads turning to stare at the scene—Varion smiling down at Wendy with such genuine warmth, his hand patiently helping her as she giggled triumphantly when the pancake landed perfectly. The sight hit them like a splash of cold water, the ridiculousness of their fight sinking in. How had they been acting like that… in front of him?
Their faces turned bright red in unison, blushes spreading as they pulled back from the table, suddenly unable to meet each other's—or Varion's—eyes due to how childish they were acting. Mira sat down heavily, fidgeting with her shirt sleeve, while Erza straightened her skirt, clearing her throat awkwardly. The kitchen fell into an embarrassed silence, broken only by Wendy's happy humming as she helped with the next pancake.
Varion glanced at them, raising an eyebrow but saying nothing, a faint amused smile tugging at his lips.
The kids started flooding out of their rooms one by one, drawn by the delicious smell of pancakes wafting through the house. Natsu burst out first, his pink hair wild from sleep, sniffing the air like a hound. "Food! Yes!" he yelled, diving for the table. Sting and Rogue followed close behind, Sting rubbing his eyes while Rogue yawned quietly. Gajeel lumbered out last, grumbling but his stomach growling loud enough to give him away. Wendy, already dressed and beaming from her spot at the counter, waved them over. "Come on! We made lots!"
They swarmed the table like a pack of hungry wolves, plates clattering as they piled on pancakes, drowning them in syrup and fruit. Bites were huge and fast, syrup dripping everywhere in their eagerness—Natsu stuffing three at once in his mouth, Sting challenging Rogue to a "who can eat faster" contest, Gajeel chomping through his stack without a word, totally not a morning person. Elfman and Lisanna joined in too, Elfman tearing up a bit at how good it tasted after days of scraps, Lisanna giggling as she shared with her brother. Even Mira, also not a morning person, perked up with a small smile as she took a bite, the fluffy texture melting on her tongue.
Varion watched from the stove, flipping the last few with a warm chuckle, Erza standing nearby with her arms crossed, a faint blush still lingering from her earlier actions. The kids ate with ravenous speed, barely chewing in their rush to finish—eager to burn off the energy and go play or start a mock fight in the backyard, whichever came first.
"Done!" Natsu shouted first, syrup smeared on his face, jumping up. "Let's go spar! I call first round with Gajeel!"
Sting bolted up next. "No way—me first!"
The others scarfed down the last bites, plates emptying in record time, before dashing out the back door with whoops and challenges, the sound of laughter and playful shouts filling the air as they tumbled into the yard.
Varion shook his head fondly, stacking the empty plates. "They never slow down." As he cleaned up, a thought crossed his mind—Lucy. It had been a while since he'd seen her and her parents at the Heartfilia estate. With everything settling in Magnolia, he decided he should go check on them soon, make sure Layla was recovering well and see how Lucy's magic was progressing. A quick trip, maybe in a day or two.
Varion stepped out onto the wide porch of the house, the morning sun warm on his face as he stretched his arms overhead. The backyard sprawled before him—a generous patch of grass bordered by trees, perfect for the kids to burn off energy. He spotted Wendy and Lisanna off to the side, playing a game of tag with Lisanna's Take Over magic turning her into a swift bird form to dodge Wendy's playful wind gusts. Their laughter rang out like bells, Wendy giggling as she missed, Lisanna chirping triumphantly before shifting back.
Closer to the porch, the boys were sparring in a loose circle—Natsu throwing fiery punches at Gray (who'd shown up early for "practice," shirt already missing), Sting and Rogue teaming up with light and shadow bursts, Gajeel blocking with iron arms and grumbling taunts, Elfman cheering from the sidelines with enthusiasm looking like he wanted to join but not having the courage. It was controlled chaos, the kind that built their skills without real harm, but Varion saw an opportunity for a real challenge.
With a mischievous grin, he rushed forward in a blur of speed, scooping up Natsu and Sting under his arms like sacks of flour. "Gotcha!" he called, swinging them around in wide circles, their legs kicking wildly as they screamed and hollered in surprise.
"Whoa—put me down!" Natsu yelled, flames sputtering harmlessly from his hands.
Sting laughed through his shouts. "This is crazy—ahh!"
Varion lightly tossed them toward Gajeel, who caught them with iron-extended arms, stumbling back a step with a grunt. "The hell?"
The boys all stopped, staring in confusion as Varion stood there, hands on his hips, a playful challenge in his eyes. "What's going on?" Gray asked, ice melting from his fists.
Varion's grin widened. "Let's see what you brats have got. All of you—against me."
The confusion turned to excitement in an instant. Natsu pumped his fist, flames roaring. "You're on!"
Sting smirked, cracking his knuckles. "This'll be fun!"
Rogue nodded with a faint smile, shadows coiling around him. Gajeel laughed gruffly. "Bring it, red!"
Elfman cheered tearily. "Y-Yeah! Go get 'em!"
Even Gray grinned, frost forming on his hands. "Count me in—can't let these lizard-brained idots have all the fun."
Varion laughed, pointing to Erza and Mira still standing on the porch, watching with amused expressions. "You two are referees. Call it if things get too rough."
Erza nodded sternly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Understood."
Mira crossed her arms, her cheeks tinting pink as she glanced at Varion. "Fine by me."
The boys charged with cheers and smirks, excited and ready to go, the backyard erupting into a whirlwind of dragon slayer magic and youthful energy.
Natsu lunged first, flames erupting from his fists as he aimed a fiery punch straight at Varion's chest. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" he yelled, his body a blur of heat and motion.
Varion reacted with casual speed, sidestepping just enough to grab Natsu's ankle mid-leap. "Good start, Natsu—fast and direct," he said with a grin, swinging the boy around like a ragdoll before hurling him head-first at Gray like a human missile. "But don't commit so hard without a backup plan!"
Natsu yelped in surprise—"Whoa! ahhhhhhh!!"—as he collided with Gray, who had been charging up an ice attack. The two slammed together in a tangle of limbs and magic, flames meeting frost in a burst of steam that knocked them both flat for a few seconds. Gray groaned from under Natsu. "Get off me, flame-brain!"
Natsu rolled away, laughing despite the dizziness. "That was awesome! But unfair!"
Varion didn't give them time to recover, turning as Gajeel rushed in next. The iron slayer smirked, his arms transforming. "Iron Dragon's Lance!" He fired a barrage of sharp iron projectiles from range, the lances whistling through the air like spears to distract and pin Varion down.
Varion dodged most with quick footwork, batting one aside with his bare hand. "Smart, Gajeel—using range to control the field. Good positioning," he praised, but then leaped forward, closing the gap before Gajeel could reload. "But don't rely on it too much—mix in close combat or you'll get predictable!"
As Varion engaged Gajeel up close—parrying an iron punch with his forearm, the clang echoing like metal on metal—Sting and Rogue struck in a perfect tag team. Sting vanished in a flash of light, reappearing behind Varion with a glowing fist. "White Dragon's Holy Fist!" Rogue melted into shadows, slithering across the ground to trip him up. "Shadow Dragon's Slash!"
Varion twisted at the last second, grabbing Sting's wrist and redirecting the punch into Rogue's shadow tendril, disrupting the attack. "Excellent teamwork, you two—Sting, your speed's improving; Rogue, that shadow slash is sneaky. But coordinate your timing better—give each other openings without overlapping."
The boys backed off for a breath, grinning despite the misses, the praise fueling their fire as the play-fight continued.
The boys backed off for a breath, grinning despite the misses, ready to keep going.
Gray shook off the steam from the collision, frost forming on his fists as he charged next. "Ice Make: Lance!" He launched a volley of icy spears from close range, aiming to pin Varion's feet and limit his mobility.
Varion leaped back just in time, twisting in mid-air to avoid the spikes embedding in the grass. "Nice one, Gray—using the environment to trap me. Smart control on the ice. But your form's too open—leaves you vulnerable to counters!" He darted forward, grabbing Gray by the wrist and spinning him around like a top before releasing him into a soft tumble on the grass. Gray rolled to a stop, laughing breathlessly. "Damn, you're fast!"
Natsu jumped back in immediately, teaming up with Gajeel this time. Natsu built up flames in his mouth for a roar, while Gajeel charged with an iron club arm. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu unleashed the beam, the heat wave scorching the air toward Varion.
Varion sidestepped the roar completely. "Good combo, you two—Natsu, your roar's getting hotter; Gajeel, that club's solid for close hits. But sync your timing better, or it's easy to dodge!" He caught Gajeel's iron arm mid-swing, using the momentum to flip him over his shoulder and slam him towards Natsu, the two colliding in a heap of flames and metal with a clang and groans.
Sting and Rogue pressed the advantage while Varion was "distracted," Sting flashing in with light-speed punches, Rogue sending shadow tendrils to bind his legs. "White Dragon's Punch!" Sting yelled, his fist glowing.
Varion blocked the punch by catching it, the impact ringing out like a bell. "Sting, your light's blinding—use that more for disorientation. Rogue, those shadows are stealthy, but they're too slow against faster opponents!" He slammed his food down destroying the bindings, scooping Rogue up under one arm and using his free hand to redirect Sting's next attack into the ground, creating a small crater. Then he gently threw Rogue into Sting, knocking them down again. "Good effort, though."
The boys were breathing harder now, but their grins hadn't faded—they were learning, improving with each exchange. Varion decided to ramp it up, pressuring them more to build endurance. He stopped holding back on speed, darting between them like a blur—sidestepping Natsu's flame kick and tripping him with a sweep, blocking Gajeel's iron lance with his palm and pushing him back a step, countering Gray's ice hammer by shattering it with a precise chop. "Faster, Natsu—your kicks are strong but predictable! Gajeel, mix up your attacks—don't rely on brute force! Gray, good shape on the hammer, but reinforce it more!"
Sting and Rogue tried another tag team—Sting blinding with a light flash, Rogue striking from the shadows—but Varion anticipated, grabbing Sting mid-lunge and using him to block Rogue's slash, then lightly tossing both into a soft pile again grinning, god he loved messing with them like this. The pressure mounted—Varion weaving through their assaults, redirecting energy, carrying and throwing to disrupt without harm, his pointers coming faster as he pushed their limits.
Minutes blurred into a whirlwind, the boys' breaths turning ragged, sweat dripping as they gave it everything. Natsu's flames flickered weaker, Gray's ice formed slower, Gajeel's iron clanked heavier, Sting and Rogue's coordination slipped. One final rush— all five charging at once—and Varion met them head-on, dodging, parrying, and countering until they sprawled out around him in a circle on the grass, panting and laughing, too tired to stand.
Varion stood in the center, barely winded, hands on his hips with a proud smile. "Good job, all of you. You lasted longer than last time. Rest up—we'll go again tomorrow."
The boys groaned playfully but grinned up at him, sprawled like defeated but happy warriors.