Krampus POV
The aftermath of the destruction of the R-System towers was messy, but fruitful. The incriminating memories of Brain were copied and given to the Rune Knights captain.
The man steeled himself before viewing them, but within moments his face paled. "By the gods…" he muttered, staggering back. His hand gripped the table as he swallowed hard, looking as if he would vomit. "This monster… what he did to those children—no wonder he ended up brain damaged. I want to finish the job myself."
He wasn't alone. The same thing happened to all the Rune Knights who read the memory, even their seasoned superiors in the chain of command. Hardened veterans threw up, clenched their fists, and cursed Brain's name, swearing they'd see him executed if only there was anything left of him to punish.
Krampus was also disgusted with the memory, though he hid it well. He had gotten used to seeing the worst of humanity after all these years and had better self-control than most. He simply folded his arms and said, "It's foul, yes. But it's also valuable. There's more in here than torture—names, contacts, proof of the moles in the council."
The captain wiped his mouth, still looking sick. "You mean to say… this could tear the corruption out of the council by the roots?"
Krampus nodded grimly. "Exactly. A purge is inevitable now. For once, the council will have no choice but to clean house."
The captain exhaled shakily, his eyes burning with equal parts disgust and determination. "Then we'll endure the stench of this memory. If it means uprooting traitors, it's a small price to pay."
After the grim business of handing over Brain's memories and seeing the Rune Knights reel from the horror, Krampus turned his focus to something more constructive. He approached Erik, who had been waiting nervously, and decided it was time to fix up his dragon lacrimar just like he had once done for Laxus. The ritual unfolded in a blaze of runes, chains humming as they traced patterns around the boy's chest. As the final seal sank into place, Erik's eyes flared bright purple—just like when Laxus's eyes had turned golden.
Erik blinked, disoriented, and muttered, "My vision feels… sharper, and the poison in my veins hums differently. Is this… what it means to be a true Dragon Slayer?"
Krampus tilted his head thoughtfully. "Perhaps. Laxus's turned gold, yours purple. Maybe it's a sign of perfect integration. Or maybe it's just a quirk of your affinity. Either way, it's stable now. No more risk of tearing yourself apart."
Afterward, Krampus turned his attention to Kinana. With a precise gesture and the Rule of Rending, he tore away the curse binding her form. A flare of violet runes lit the chamber as the little snake shimmered and stretched, expanding into a small, startled girl about Erik's age. Erik's eyes went wide. "K-Kinana?! You… you were human all along?"
Kinana, trembling, nodded. "I… I barely remember. But I know you took care of me when I was nothing but a snake. Thank you, Erik."
Their bond, simple and steady, remained unchanged. Erik scratched the back of his head, cheeks coloring. "Well… friends, right? We've always been friends. That doesn't have to change."
Kinana nodded quickly, smiling with relief. "Yeah. Friends. That's enough for me."
On another note, Laxus seemed to feel a kinship with Erik. He stepped forward, placing a hand on Erik's shoulder. "You're a second-gen like me now. That's no small thing. The road ahead isn't easy, but you'll manage. While you're at Fairy Tail, I'll keep an eye out for you, make sure you're not left to fend for yourself."
Erik blinked, surprised by the sudden reassurance, but then gave a small nod. "Thanks… I don't mind that at all."
Watching Krampus calmly repair Erik's lacrima and then lift the curse from Kinana gave Sorano courage she hadn't felt in years. If he could do that for them, maybe he could do something for her as well. She clasped her hands tightly to her chest, gathered her breath, and finally looked up at Krampus with pleading eyes. "Please… I know my little sister Yukino is out there somewhere. Can you help me find her? I want to see her again. I need to."
Krampus gave a solemn nod. After healing Erik and Kinana, and seeing the relief on their faces, it felt right to grant this request as well. He invoked Rule of Binding: Trace Relations, chains circling with glowing runes as he focused on Sorano's blood relations. "Oh, there she is," he muttered casually, giving the chain a sharp tug. "Yoink!" The space before them rippled like disturbed water, and in a flash, a small figure tumbled forward.
The little girl, no less than 4 years old, yelped in fright and clung to her stuffed toy. "W-where am I? Sister?!"
Sorano rushed forward, tears welling in her eyes. "Yukino! It's me, your sister. You're safe now!"
Yukino blinked up at her, trembling before recognizing her face. With a joyful cry, she buried herself in Sorano's arms. "Sister! I missed you so much!"
Krampus gave a small nod, relieved. "Reunion successful. No harm done."
Once calmed, Yukino peeked up at him with wide eyes. "Who's the big scary lion man?"
Sorano smiled and stroked her sister's hair. "He's Santa, Yukino. He saved us. And he's offering us a family too."
Yukino looked at Krampus again, still shy but slowly smiling. "Then… I want to join too, if it's with you and sister."
Krampus sighed softly, thinking, Another child. That makes the weight heavier. Now that another kid was joining, Krampus started to feel again the pressure on how to house them all.
Ever since Krampus's arrival to Magnolia, the town had experienced an economic boom due to the businesses and safety that Krampus brought to the town. Especially when Krampus managed to restrain Gildarts from randomly destroying stuff in town and permanently end the infamous "Gildarts Mode." More people migrated to Magnolia, new shops and buildings popped up like mushrooms after rain, and perhaps because of Krampus or the fact that the Fairy Tail mages had become burly and muscular, a fitness trend was hitting Magnolia. A bunch of gyms emerged in Magnolia, and Krampus fully endorsed them and gave lots of advice. Overall, Magnolia was slowly turning into a vibrant city with strong-looking men and women everywhere, but the problem was the lack of living space.
Beside West Forest, Magnolia had been expanding, but there was still not enough space to house a whole bunch of orphans from Fairy Tail. The girls could still be housed in Fairy Hill while on loans, and there were plenty of rooms since there weren't many girls in Fairy Tail to begin with. But the boys were in a difficult situation. As such, Krampus decided to be a landlord and build a male dorm for Fairy Tail members in the West Forest where Krampus and Porliusica lived, making his own "Maison De M" except he wouldn't be getting sexy with the tenants—there was only one person in all of Fairy Tail he ever wanted to get sexy with, and he wasn't about to admit that out loud.
His gaze lingered when Laxus was laughing and clapping Erik on the shoulder, the lightning dragon slayer grinning like a proud older brother. "You got it better than me, kid," Laxus said with a crooked smile. "Your lacrima was done right, perfect from the start. Mine? Ivan jammed it in half-assed. Left me with this scar." He tapped the lightning-shaped scar across his face, but his grin widened. "Funny thing is, I've grown to like it. Makes me look tough, right?"
Erik chuckled nervously. "It does. Kinda makes you look invincible."
Krampus, while secretly staring, couldn't help but agree. He had once thought of rending away that scar when Laxus was younger, but the boy had insisted on keeping it as proof that he survived. Now, fully grown, the scar only amplified Laxus's manliness. Krampus admired that look every day, though he would never say it aloud.
As Krampus's gaze lingered, Laxus eventually noticed. He broke off from Erik and walked over. "What's up? You've been staring at me like I've got something stuck in my teeth."
Krampus stiffened, caught off guard, but reacted quickly. "N-no, nothing like that. I was just… thinking. About housing. With all these new kids, Fairy Hill can handle the girls, but the boys are in a tough spot. So, I've got an idea for a male dorm out in West Forest, near where I live with Porliusica."
Laxus raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "A dorm, huh? That actually sounds pretty good. I'll have to check it out."
Krampus swallowed, trying to calm his tail that was twitching nervously. "Yes. Exactly. A dorm. For the boys."
And then, perhaps he was too tired, but Krampus started saying his true thoughts deep down, saying, "Besides visiting, maybe you should start thinking about moving out yourself? You're quite big already and hey, maybe you could even move in with me? You're at my place all the time anyway."
Krampus immediately realized what he just said and started panicking inside, thinking, WTF!? Am I so brave now?
Laxus POV
Laxus's head was spinning after hearing Krampus's words. Move in with him? Is Krampus finally gonna make his moves on me? The thought lit a fire in his chest, equal parts excitement, curiosity, and possessiveness. He replayed the words in his mind again and again, savoring the boldness beneath Krampus's fumbling tone.
Contrary to what Krampus probably thought—that Laxus was still some innocent kid—he knew better. Makarov had sat him down when he was ten and given him the full birds and bees talk with way more detail than any ten-year-old should've gotten. Between that, the mountain of porn hidden around the house, and the guild master himself being a shameless pervert for the ladies, Laxus hadn't grown up naïve in the slightest. He knew exactly what Krampus's slip might imply, and the possibility made his pulse quicken.
And it wasn't like Krampus's own habits were exactly subtle either. He made every guy in the guild hunky with his training and magic, ogled them openly, and wasn't shy about smacking their asses during drills. Laxus burned with jealousy every time, but the worst was when Krampus smacked Billy's ass during sparring. The sight had made Laxus's blood boil, his chest tight with the irrational fear that he might actually lose Krampus's attention to someone else. After all, his body was the biggest and beefiest after Krampus's—why wouldn't Krampus be making moves on him instead?
Maybe it was puberty, the way his body ached and burned with urges he couldn't always explain. Maybe it was because he'd grown up early, forced to carry burdens most kids were spared. Or maybe it was the dragon lacrima inside him, bleeding draconic instincts into his soul—possessiveness, hunger, the drive to claim what he saw as his. Whatever the cause, the feeling was the same: Laxus wanted Krampus to want him—openly, without hesitation. He didn't just crave the heat of lust, though that certainly simmered hot in his blood. He also sensed something deeper, something that felt like belonging, as if his bond with Krampus was meant to be more than simple guild camaraderie.
He'd tested it before. More than once he'd deliberately slept almost nude next to Krampus, pressing close, letting his body heat speak the words he couldn't. Each time, Krampus's reaction had been hilarious and frustrating all at once: sneaking out of bed in the middle of the night to jerk off like some embarrassed teen. Cute, in its own way, but deeply disappointing. Why hadn't he made a move then? Was Krampus holding back because he still thought of Laxus as a child, or was he simply too scared to reach out for what he so obviously wanted??
But now—now Krampus had blurted out an invitation in that awkward, fumbling, yet surprisingly bold manner of his. Laxus's heart thumped with anticipation, excitement curling low in his gut. So, the big guy's finally enlightened, huh? Finally brave enough to hint at what's been simmering between us?
His inner monologue carried on for a while, but when Laxus looked back, he saw Krampus muttering to himself, looking increasingly nervous, as if he was about to chicken out and take it all back. Krampus rubbed the back of his neck, mumbling, "Stupid… what was I thinking? He's not gonna take me seriously. I should just tell him to forget it before I embarrass myself more." Like hell I'm letting that happen.
Laxus leaned in with a wolfish grin, his voice booming with enthusiasm. "Hell yeah I'll move in! You better make some space on your bed, and clear out half your closet too. Don't think you're getting rid of me now."
Krampus froze, face blazing red, tail lashing like it had a mind of its own. He stammered out, "W-wait, you don't have to answer so quickly—I-I didn't mean it like—" before cutting himself off, realizing how absurd he sounded. His words tumbled over themselves, incoherent and awkward, and Laxus could tell he was flustered beyond belief. Yet beneath that embarrassment was genuine happiness shining through in the way his halo flickered warmly and his ears twitched. That awkward contrast was one of the things Laxus loved most about him: the way he could look like the most intimidating beast alive one second, and the cutest, most vulnerable man the next.
Laxus decided not to press it further. He smirked to himself, watching Krampus stew in his own embarrassment, tail twitching and halo flickering nervously. "Cute," Laxus muttered under his breath, too low for Krampus to hear. Let the kitty brew in his own thoughts for now; he'd get plenty of chances later. For the moment, Laxus turned back to help the Rune Knights finish escorting the prisoners.
As he worked alongside Krampus rounding up the new kids, he couldn't help but sneak glances, still amused by how flustered the hulking lion had been. Every time their eyes almost met, Krampus quickly looked away, his ears flicking and tail twitching nervously, which only made Laxus grin wider. The memory of that embarrassment made his chest feel strangely warm, almost tender, as though he was seeing a side of Krampus no one else got to see. He chuckled under his breath, then forced himself to shake it off and focus on the task at hand.
Truth be told, he was excited about the fresh blood. He even found himself grinning as he thought it over. "Krampus might be hopeless at small talk," he muttered to himself, "but when it comes to picking talent, the guy never misses." Every recruit Krampus had brought in so far was a gem. Sure, maybe they fit his aesthetics too, but that didn't change the fact that they were powerful, raw talent just waiting to be shaped.
"Ten new members, if I counted right," Laxus thought aloud, rolling the number over in his head. That was a huge boost. Fairy Tail usually floated around fifty to sixty members, strong ones at that, and the guild had a reputation for keeping its family close-knit. Anyone brought in young usually stayed for life. At least, that's what grandpa always said. The thought made Laxus's chest swell with pride—Krampus wasn't just changing the roster, he was shaping the guild's future.
So the work continued. He and Krampus, side by side, gathered the children, and with a flick of Krampus's chain, a portal split open in the air. In a blink they stepped through, space folding around them, and the group emerged inside Rosemary Village. Waiting there were three more children—Erza, Simon, and little Kagura—survivors who had been guarded by Rune Knights since their rescue.
Introducing the tower children to the Rosemary trio was awkward at first. The tower kids were withdrawn, still haunted by their time in captivity, while the Rosemary kids had been given time to recover and were more open. But soon enough the walls started to crack. Milliana bounded up to Kagura with bright curiosity, Sho offered Simon one of his carved wooden swords, and Erza—though clearly wary and carrying herself with unusual maturity—gave Sorano a nod that carried a quiet understanding of shared pain. Krampus and Laxus watched carefully, making sure the groups mingled without friction, and before long the children were walking together as if they had always been part of the same flock.
By the time they finally returned to Magnolia, the sun was dipping low. The guild hall's silhouette welcomed them against the orange sky, and the chatter of the children grew louder as they saw the city come into view. It had been a long couple of days—chaotic battles, emotional reunions, and the strain of travel through portals—but now there was a sense of relief in the air. The hardest part was finally over, and they were home.
When they handed the children over to Makarov, the old man gave them the usual warm welcome, spreading his arms wide as if he could hug them all at once. He knelt down to speak gently to the little ones, then straightened to explain the guild's situation in full. "Fairy Tail is noisy, rowdy, and sometimes a little rough," he told them with a grandfatherly grin, "but it's also a family. You'll be safe here." Afterward, he arranged for them to stay temporarily in the underground spare rooms Krampus had set up—rooms meant for fighters to rest after a match in the arena next door. For now, the children would be safe, watched over until proper housing could be arranged.
With the official duties wrapped up, Laxus finally grabbed Krampus by the wrist. "C'mon. We're heading home."
Krampus blinked in surprise, ears flicking. "H-huh? Already? I was thinking we should—"
"Nope," Laxus cut him off with a smirk, tightening his grip. "You've done enough running. This time, you're coming with me."
Krampus's face heated, tail twitching nervously as he muttered, "Y-you're too pushy sometimes…"
Laxus only grinned wider. This time, he wasn't going to let Krampus slip away. This time, he'd be aggressive enough to make sure the big lion couldn't resist him.