The guild was chaotic, the anime didn't exaggerate one bit, but there was something about it that made him feel like he could fit in here. There was something raw and honest about the way the guild operated, even if it was a bit... unrefined.
His thoughts were interrupted as a loud crash echoed across the hall, followed by a string of colorful curses. Leon turned to see Natsu and Gray in the middle of a full-on food battle. Natsu, grinning like a maniac, had a large piece of meat in his hand and was dodging Gray's attempts to steal it back.
"Give it back, Natsu!" Gray shouted, throwing a punch that narrowly missed Natsu's face. He was clearly serious about getting that food back.
"Catch me if you can!" Natsu laughed, taking off, with Gray chasing after him, still yelling about his food.
Erza sighed, a small smile playing on her lips. "They've been like this for years. The food wars never stop."
Leon raised an eyebrow. "Is this normal?"
"Totally," Erza replied with a grin. "But don't worry, it's harmless. They'll end up fighting for an hour, then be best friends again five minutes later."
As Natsu and Gray continued their ridiculous antics, Leon couldn't help but laugh. It was absurd, but kind of endearing in its own way. "I can see that. Looks like you guys have a lot of... character."
Erza chuckled. "You have no idea." She paused, giving him a thoughtful look. "But if you're serious about joining, you'll need to show you can keep up with the chaos. That's part of being in Fairy Tail."
Leon nodded, his mind spinning with possibilities. "I think I'm up for the challenge."
After a few moments of watching the antics unfold, Leon made his way toward the bar, his curiosity piqued by the woman standing behind it.
Mirajane Strauss.
As he approached, Mirajane flashed him a warm smile. "Hey there! What can I do for you?"
"I want to join the guild." he said, his voice steady.
Mirajane's smile never wavered. "Ahh. I see, unfortunately the guildmaster is out, if you would like you could wait for him here, I bet he'll be back anytime soon now."
"I see. I would do that" Leon nodded.
"Great! What can I get you?"
"I'll take some water, thanks," Leon said, feeling a little awkward now that he was standing at the bar.
"Coming right up!" she said, quickly grabbing a glass and filling it from the nearby pitcher. "So, what brings you to Fairy Tail? Looking to join the madness?"
"I needed a new place to start." Leon replied, shrugging slightly. "Seems like a good place to figure things out."
"I'm Mirajane, by the way." Mirajane smiled knowingly. "Well, if you're anything like the rest of us, you'll find yourself at home here soon enough."
Leon gave a small, polite nod. "Leon."
Just as he took the glass from her, a voice broke through the noise of the guildhall.
"Well, well, well... if it isn't the guy from the woods."
Leon's heart skipped a beat as he turned toward the source of the voice. Standing by the door to the back room was none other than Laxus Dreyar, his arms crossed and his usual expression of arrogance plastered on his face.
"Laxus," Leon said evenly, setting the glass of water down on the bar. His mind raced, memories of their earlier encounter in the woods flashing before his eyes. It wasn't exactly the best first impression.
Laxus' eyes narrowed, his gaze lingering on Leon with a sense of recognition. "Didn't think I'd see you here."
Leon wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. The tension between them was palpable, and for a moment, the noise of the guild seemed to fade away as all attention focused on the two of them.
Before the conversation could escalate, Mirajane stepped in, her voice smooth and calm. "Laxus, don't start anything here. We don't need any more drama today."
Laxus gave her a lazy glance, his smirk never faltering. "I wasn't planning on it. Just thought it was funny seeing the guy who couldn't take me on in the woods show up here. Guess I was right." He leaned back, enjoying the moment.
Leon's pride stung again, but he bit his tongue, choosing not to escalate things. He had lost to Laxus, and it was no secret. But hearing him rub it in like this felt different, and Leon didn't exactly feel like reliving it. Not here, not now.
While Leon knew he was still no match for Laxus, he wouldn't run from a fight.
The air around them crackled with an unspoken challenge, but Mirajane stepped in again, her voice cutting through the tension.
"Laxus, I said no," she said firmly, placing a hand on his arm, her grip light but insistent. "Let's not do this now." She then turned to Leon with a softer expression. "Sorry about him. He can be a little... intense."
Leon met her gaze, appreciating the gesture. "It's fine," he said, trying to smooth over the moment. "I'll just... stay out of his way."
Mirajane gave him an encouraging smile. "You'll get used to it. Laxus may be tough to deal with, but if you can handle him, you'll be fine here. Fairy Tail's full of people who have... big personalities."
Leon nodded, still feeling the remnants of their earlier exchange in his chest. He wasn't going to back down from Laxus, not forever. But he had no intention of making things worse right off the bat.
Mirajane turned back to Leon with a wry smile. "Don't worry about him. He's like that with everyone, especially new faces. But if you can survive him, you'll do fine here."
Leon gave a small nod. "Thanks. I think I can handle it."
Mirajane's grin widened. "Good. Just don't let Natsu and Gray drag you into any of their food fights. Trust me, it's not worth it."
Leon chuckled at the thought, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little. "I'll do my best to steer clear of that."
And with that, the chaos of Fairy Tail seemed a little more manageable. The guild had a way of making its own brand of madness feel oddly welcoming.