Chapter Text
The guild had been anticipating this day for weeks. The question wasn’t contained to just the guild hall either. It was in every corner of Magnolia. Every member was interrogated about it from the moment they left their house in the morning to when they walked the streets to end their nights.
Who would be on this year’s Grand Magic Games’ team?
Laxus would be lying if he said he wasn’t expecting to be on the team. He had been a staple on the team for the past few years. For him, the question wasn’t ‘who is going to be on the team?’ The question was, ‘who are my teammates going to be?’
He thought about who would walk into that arena with him that week. Weighed the pros and cons of each member. He had even gone to his grandfather and tried to get him to reveal the team to him early to no avail.
His guesses had changed many times over the past few weeks, with members leaving on long jobs or serious injuries occurring. With Gajeel and Levy away on a job as well as Natsu and Lucy attending to “family matters,” he was almost certain his guess would be correct. After all, there was a hefty sum of cash on the line.
Juvia, Erza, Grey, and him. That was who he had landed on. The team that would secure them another well deserved win.
He closed his eyes and gave himself a small laugh as we walked into the guildhall. The energy in the hall was electric. Everyone talked, sharing their guesses at who they thought would make the cut. A drink got placed in front of him as he sat down at the bar stop. Looking up, he made eye contact with Mirajane as she smiled at him. “Thanks,” he said.
“Have you given any thought to who you think is gonna make the team?” she asked, turning to polish a rack of dishes on the bartop.
“Of course. Everyone has.” He took a sip of the drink. “If you’re trying to get me to tell you so you can win the bet going around, I hate to break it to you, but I’ve got it correct. I’m not telling anyone.”
She laughed and nodded. “I’m just a little curious, that’s all.”
“Morning, Mira, Laxus.” Their heads turned as their master walked up to the bar with a big smile on his face.
“Good morning, Master,” she responded with a smile. “Is it time?”
He gave her a nod before climbing on top of the bar and clearing his voice. The room went silent as everyone’s attention turned to him. He took out a piece of paper out of his pocket and gave everyone a big smile. “I’ve heard how big of a deal this has become around here! I hope none of you lose too much money after I announce the team.”
Laughs filled the room.
“Well the time has come. If you don’t mind coming up here when I call your name that would be greatly appreciated.” Laxus could almost hear the heartbeats of everyone in the room as they waited in anticipation for the names to be called. “Juvia Fullbuster.”
Groans already filled the room as people realized their team lineup was wrong. Juvia pushed her way through the crowd and climbed up onto the bartop, smiling and waving.
“Erza Scarlet.”
Laxus smiled to himself, knowing he had the right lineup. He stood up as his grandfather yelled his name. He stood on top of the bar with a grin on his face, thinking about all the money he was going to walk away with.
“And finally…” The room went completely silent as everyone waited for the final team member to be announced. “Mirajane Strauss.”
“What?” Laxus yelled at his loss. Erza laughed next to him, holding out her hand to him. “No, there’s no way I’m giving you a cent.”
“You better pay up. I won fair and square,” Erza yelled back.
“If I didn’t know you, Laxus, I would think you didn’t want me on the team,” Mirajane joked as she climbed her way onto the bar top with everyone else.
“I don't.”
“Don’t listen to him. I’m glad you’re on the team with us, Mira,” Juvia said with a smile.
“We’ll have Grey as our reserve member. You are all free to step down now,” their master said with a smile. The guild cheered and clapped as they stepped down.
Laxus rubbed his face as Erza stood in front of him, her hand extended. “Pay up.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash, counting the amount he had betted and placed it in her hand. She smiled and walked off, making her rounds through the guild, collecting her cash from each member as she passed by
With a sigh, he sat back down at his spot at the bar. Mirajane took a rag and wiped the length of the bartop and stood opposite of him one more. “I’m not actually upset that you’re on the team,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I know you’re not. I would be mad too if I lost that much money to her.”