Felix and Chester were quick to open the doors of the balcony and they gasped as they looked inside. What a big ballroom! It was decorated with big plants, glamorous furniture and long curtains over the big windows. Floor tiles had detailed patterns and on the walls there were enormous paintings.
At the other side of the ballroom there was a stage where someone was playing a piano and people were talking, dancing and enjoying their time in front of it.
"It's like in those old stories about princes and princesses", Felix said. "Is this actually a castle?" he asked looking at Laxus who snorted.
"Hell no", the man said. "This is just another place where to drink and talk with other people, a regular bar."
"Fairy Tail has a bar and it doesn't look like this at all."
"That's because we don't need all this pompous crap to make our guild great."
"Ach, how it hurts our pompous heart to hear our old friend talk like that", they heard a dramatic sigh and looked at Hibiki who was coming closer with Ren and Eve.
"Good that it hurts", Laxus grunted.
"We got a word from Erza that you would be coming", Hibiki just smiled not caring about Laxus' grumpiness. They had grown used to it during the year the Thunder Legion was part of their guild. And quite frankly, that grumpiness was part of Laxus' charm and it attracted women even if the lightning dragon slayer didn't want it.
"We were so happy to hear you would be joining us again, Evergreen", Ren smirked taking Evergreen's hand, making the fairy mage giggle. "We hardly had any time to chat when we met last time. Of course, it's not like I was particularly waiting for us to meet again..."
"We would be honoured to pour you some high quality wine for the evening", Eve assured smiling to the brunette.
"Cut with that host club shit", Laxus said. "We're here to meet Master Bob."
"It is already late and I'm afraid Master Bob isn't here yet", Hibiki apologized. "So the best thing to do right now is to just sit down and relax."
"What? He knew we were coming and he still left somewhere?"
"No no, he was visiting our guild house in Crocus but he will be here by tomorrow morning and is actually quite looking forward of meeting you all after such a long time."
"So we would be staying here?" Theophilius asked and Ren looked at him.
"It's a talking squirrel", he murmured his eyes wide.
"Say what?" Theo growled glaring at him.
"He's a Quirlat", Felix explained to Ren. "They are not squirrels."
"Oh, I see", Ren nodded still looking at Theophilius. "His fur looks really fluffy..."
"It wouldn't suit you so back off", Theophilius growled from behind Felix' back.
"Cute is not my thing anyway", Ren huffed waving his hand.
"Why don't we all go upstairs?" Hibiki suggested them. "You can naturally have some supper and rooms where to stay for tonight", he promised as they started walking towards doors.
"So you guys have two guild houses?" Roscoe asked mildly curious as he looked around in the hallway. It was huge and full of paintings and plants. There was a very expensive looking carpet on the floor and it was also covering the huge stairway.
"Well I can't tell you how many we actually have them", Hibiki chuckled as they walked up the stairs. "But you should know that only one quarter of this building is actually our guild house. Rest of it is a hotel with our famous club, just like the rest of the guild houses we have in other towns."
"Only one of them is a guild house only meant for our guild members", Eve said.
"That location is only known by the members of Blue Pegasus, so there is no use prying where you might be able to find it", Ren said.
"I'm not that interested..." Roscoe muttered. "Do you guys know it then?" he asked looking at Laxus and others.
"We might", Freed smiled mysteriously. "But since we respect our former guild members, we wouldn't tell you since you were never part of Blue Pegasus."
"Yeah, you never tell secrets of your guild no matter what, baby", Bickslow smirked. "Even if you're not part of it anymore."
"I can understand that", Roscoe nodded approvingly.
"Are we gonna eat? I'm hungry", Chester said.
"You'll get food right away, there is no need to worry at all", Hibiki promised.
On the other floor they stepped in an elevator which was clearly meant for only guild members and those who had a permission to step in the area meant only for Blue Pegasus members. The elevator took them up, all the way to the top floor and once they stepped out it felt like they stepped in some sort of five star restaurant.
"It's feels so nice to be back", Evergreen chuckled.
"Wow!" Felix gasped as he, Theophilius and Chester ran to the huge window. They had a beautiful view over the city from here.
Hibiki, Ren and Eve lead them to one of the tables and they sat down.
"You don't need to go through all this trouble", Freed assured.
"Nonsense, right now you are our guests", Hibiki assured with a small bow. "Master Bob instructed us to take good care of you while you're here, partly as an apology because he couldn't be here himself greeting you."
"Partly?" Laxus frowned.
"He didn't really explain it more."
"How mysterious", Bickslow snickered as waitresses came over to bring them food and drinks.
"You'll be joining us after the meal, Evergreen?" Ren asked and Ever smiled.
"I think I will", she nodded. "I'd love to dance again."
"Then that is what we will do."
"I'll come too", Bickslow grinned while munching his food. "I wanna say hi to others."
"What are you going to do?" Felix asked curiously.
"I think we could play some cards with the old crew."
"I can play cards if you tell me the numbers on them."
"You're going to bed", Freed said amused. "It's too late already for you to be awake."
"But Bickslow said all the fun stuff happens when it's nighttime..." Felix whined disappointed.
"And how thankful we are for that", the rune mage said looking at Bickslow who smirked.
"You can't say I'm completely wrong, baby", he said with a shameless wink which made Felix, Chester and Theophilius confused, while others laughed.
"It might be fun to play some cards again", Laxus hummed.
It had been a surprise to them to learn how in Blue Pegasus almost everyone in the guild was a pretty good card player. Playing cards was one way to entertain their guests after all, not just dancing, drinking, talking and listening to them. Since Laxus had never been a romantic nor was he very considerate even if trying, playing cards with customers had been his best move. He had become quite good at it during the year they lived here.
"I'll take care of the drinks", Bickslow grinned. Oh yes, being a bartender had been his job and he had enjoyed it!
"I was hoping you would say that", Hibiki chuckled.
"Freed, why don't you join us too?" Eve suggested looking at Freed. "Some of our clients still ask if you're around so they could hear you play the grand piano and sing."
"I wouldn't mind doing so, but I think I should stay with Felix, Chester and Theo", Freed smiled.
It had been his trick how to get away if there was need for it. He couldn't say he was very talented at playing instruments but he was good enough, neither was he really fond of it but he did enjoy it time to time. There had been customers – men and women – who were more indomitable with their flirting and it made him really uncomfortable so simply saying how he got a sign to go play the piano was his escape from those situations.
Naturally, no customer had a privilege of touching any of the hosts without a permission but there was always those customers who thought they were simply too irresistible for anyone to deny them, or that rules didn't for some reason apply to them. Now that Freed was thinking about it, there had been one customer who had been like that with him too...
Suddenly Laxus leaned closer to his ear.
"I don't mind if you come and sing", he smirked. "I always enjoyed listening to it. You never sing at home."
"I guess I don't", Freed chuckled, feeling flattered when Laxus said he enjoyed listening to his singing.
"I remember that one guy who used to come here all the time just to stare at you. Fucking stalker."
"I don't think he visited that often."
"That's because you never thought that might happen. We all noticed that guy and we could guess you didn't even consider that he might be here just because of you."
"Well, he did get too close that one time, pulling me against him suddenly without a permission", Freed huffed, looking how others were talking something else. "But after telling him I was not interested in him, he thankfully stopped coming."
Laxus snorted amused.
"Yeah, that's the reason he stopped coming", he laughed sarcastically.
"What?" Freed asked confused looking at the Thunder God.
"I beat the shit out of him after that and made sure he would never come back."
"You did what?" Freed almost shouted and he was shocked. "He was a client!"
"He was a douche. Master Bob agreed that Blue Pegasus didn't need clients like that", Laxus huffed taking a sip of his drink.
"There was no need for you to meddle. Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"
"Because I know how proud you can be. You would have gotten even more mad than now. I know you are perfectly capable of defending yourself and that guy would have regretted it deeply if he had tried to touch you more. But I got pissed so I told him to go to hell."
Freed sighed rubbing his forehead. But then, he smiled.
"Did you get jealous?" he chuckled.
"Dunno. Then I just thought he was a jackass who was harassing my friend."
"You could have just talked with him, there was no need to actually beat him up."
"I felt like it was necessary to make him understand he was not wanted. Guess I did get a bit jealous, though I didn't understand it then. What, you're gonna tease me about it now?" Laxus asked looking at the swordsman who chuckled.
"No", Freed assured. "I think what you did was wrong, but I am happy you wanted to help me."
"I'm gonna do it again if needed."
"I believe you, Laxus."
After the meal they all went back to the hallway.
"I'll take Felix, Chester and Theophilius to sleep", Roscoe suddenly said and they looked at him surprised.
"Aren't you gonna come with us, baby?" Bickslow asked.
"I'm tired, I don't really care about partying through night", Roscoe said. "Besides, these are your friends. You should go there and have fun with them without worrying about the kids."
"But we could have joined them too", Chester assured and they were pouting with Felix, while Theophilius yawned.
"I want to sleep too", the quirlat said.
"I'll show you your rooms", Hibiki smiled.
With some complains and whining Felix and Chester left with Roscoe, Theophilius and Hibiki, while Freed and others followed after Ren and Eve back to the big ballroom.