A New Home

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[X779, Magnolia]

— Mirajane Strauss —

"I'm sorry I wasn't much help."

Mirajane apologized with her head hung low. Dannis chuckled beside her.

"Hey it's fine. You helped out a ton, wouldn't have won those trials without you." He said with a soft smile.

She just crossed her arms with a frustrated look on her face. "It was pure luck that the orb lacrima didn't break. I made sure to shield it before Gildarts hit me, but the fact that it didn't even crack is sheer dumb luck. You trusted me to protect it and I failed."

"Hey, cut yourself some slack. I'm pretty sure that was intentional. After you passed out, Gildarts had plenty of chances of breaking that orb. I think the only reason he didn't was because he knew I was ready. He wanted to fight me at my full strength, without worrying about anything else. That was the whole point of that fight." Dannis shrugged. 

"But still…I didn't expect to get taken out by just one attack."

"Wahaha! What can I say, Gildarts is a monster as always."

She really felt bad about her failure. She made that whole promise of making sure he would get that S-Class title and helping him all the way to the top, only to be taken out before the fight even started. 

She really really hated feeling weak.

But Dannis didn't seem to mind at all. He's always been like that, so easy to help others despite needing help himself. She sighed with a smile as her thoughts went to this best friend of hers.

Mirajane didn't really know what happened, But it seems Dannis has been a lot more relaxed recently. After the trials, she noticed that the star of the hour was missing from the celebrations.

She saw him go upstairs where only S-Class mages are allowed. He and the master had some sort of conversation and then he left the guild building to go who knows where. She wanted to follow him, but deep down, she felt like he wanted to be left alone.

When the next day came, it looked like a large weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He smiles a lot more frequently and laughs a lot more openly.

She's happy to see this side of Dannis that she had never seen before.

The both of them are now on their way to a contractor in Magnolia. After the celebrations for Dannis's promotion was concluded, he wanted to finally take that step in his life to find his own place.

Being an S-Class mage, he found it fitting that it was finally time for him to move out of Wakaba's. 'To symbolize his independence', he told her.

He had a lot of money saved up from his crazy drive of clearing out the mission board all those years ago. Not to mention the stipend he was given from figuring out that thing with the Cacklers. 

She remembered that he once accidentally showed her the amount of jewels he had in his account when she accompanied him on an outing. Her jaw had dropped from the number.

Dannis is absolutely loaded.

So when he went to buy a home, he decided to go all out.

It was a two story house located on the outskirts of Magnolia, close enough to still be part of the town, while also far enough to be away from the usual chaos of the city.

It had a wide backyard that he planned to shift as a training ground and a garden. The front had a small winding path that led to the front balcony and a patio where a few chairs and a table were set up.

The moment they stepped foot into that house, he knew it was what he wanted. So he bought everything the place was built on, even the land itself. It was quite costly, but well worth the price.

Mira saw how his eyes lit up in excitement of having his own physical home. She could relate, Mira can't wait until she and her siblings could do the same thing. They lost their home back in Rackshaw, razed to the ground by prejudiced villagers. That feeling of loss was something that she never wanted for her or her siblings to ever experience again.

She remembered him telling her about his past, it was easy to connect the dots. He must have lost his old home, just like her.

"I can't believe it." He commented as he looked around his new home. "This place is mine."

He then smiled at Mira, "Couldn't have found this place without you, Mira. Thank you."

"Don't mention it!" She replied with a wide smile, happy that she was able to help.

Dannis then passed to her a spare key to his home. "Feel free to visit anytime you like. I know you're living with a member of the guild right now, so whenever you need a place to crash, my place is always open. The same goes to Elfman and Lisanna." 

Her eyes widened in surprise as she held the key and at his invitation, before they sparkled. "Okay! I'll take you up on that! I'll even cook for you sometimes as thanks! We can have dinner together!"

His smile softened. "I'd like that."

As usual, she ignored the feeling of butterflies in her stomach. Wondering just what it was about him that made it happen.

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— Wakaba Mine —

"And that's the last box! Whew, what a workout."

Wakaba placed the last box in the pile inside Dannis's new home. One that was filled to the brim with books of all kinds.

The Strauss Siblings were here too, helping in Dannis's moving day.

"That was only one box, and it wasn't even the heaviest. You really are getting old, Wakaba." 

A tick grew on his forehead at Dannis's remark. "Shut up brat! I'm only 31!"

A small laugh came out of the new S-Class mage as lifted two stacks of boxes piled up high, each on one hand, the sword that he gifted him a few years back sheathed on his waist. 

Wakaba sighed as he walked around the house. The place was nice, and had a homey feeling to it. He could see smiles on everyone's faces, as they happily brought in more of Dannis's things that they had packed from his house.

How long ago was it, when the Master came in the guild one day and brought with him a small black haired boy.

Seeing the young man in front of him now, Wakaba can't help the surge of pride within him. Time sure flies by quickly. 

He then saw Dannis nailing something to the wall, curious, Wakaba took a step closer to see what it was. 

"Is that—"

Nailed on a wooden frame in the living room was a picture of a family. All of them had notable black hair, one that he is so utterly familiar with.

A small grin appeared on Wakaba's face as he looked at the kid's parents. The resemblance was obvious, he had his father's sharp chin and his mother's round eyes.

Just looking at them both, he's sure that Dannis would later grow to be quite the lady killer. He already was, somewhat. He placed second on Sorcerer Weekly's poll for future bachelors after all. 

"Heh, it's nice to finally put a face on the people that raised you brat."

"They're not the only ones who raised me, y'know?"

He raised an eyebrow from Dannis's comment. "Hmm? What are you—"

The kid then pulled out a camera from nowhere, "I plan to put pictures on this wall commemorating all the people that mean a lot to me. My parents were the first, you're next on the list, Wakaba. How about it, want to take a picture?"

Wakaba's eyes widened as they turned glassy, feeling deeply touched. He then grinned, "Heh, make sure to catch my good side, would ya?"

Dannis smiled before passing the camera to Mira. He and Dannis both had cigarettes on their mouths as they put their backs against each other while crossing their arms. 

A click and a flash later, a new picture was hung up on that wall.

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— Mavis Vermillion —

Swinging her legs in a childish manner as she sat on the wooden rafters of Dannis's new home, she smiled seeing the interactions between the guild members.

The bonds made in a guild have always been its greatest strength, and it seems this new generation is not lacking in that regard. 

When she latched onto the ship of the S-Class trials, she did it with the plan to follow Dannis. For reasons unknown, Zeref is somewhat interested in him. That itself is enough reason for her to do this. 

Initially, she planned on revealing herself, but then decided to opt against it. She still does not yet know what Zeref's plan is, so for now, just following him around as he goes on his adventures should be enough until she figures things out.

From what she heard of Makarov and Gildarts conversation in the exams, Dannis should be going on demon-related missions after his successful promotion. Specifically, ones that tie into the Etherious.

From her calculations, this is indeed the most clear cut way for him to learn any answers that he seeks. Hopefully, whatever answer he finds would be sufficient for her to connect the dots herself. 

She knows plenty of things regarding Zeref, things that only she knows from their time together. She truly misses the man that he used to be. But now is not the time for sentiment.

Looking down, she saw that everyone was taking pictures for some reason. Feeling mischievous, she floated down and posed with a peace sign while grinning right behind Dannis and the older man named Wakaba. 

Taking a peek at the results, she pouted as she was nowhere to be seen in the picture. Trying it one more time as Dannis poses with Mirajane, she sighs as the results continue to be the same.

'Mo, being a ghost sucks!'

After moving day had finished, everyone left for the guild to grab some lunch. She found herself alone in the newly furnished house. 

'What should I do now?' she wonders.

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AN: Man, I love Mavis. It's really challenging to write someone so intelligent but also equally childish. I hope I do her justice.

This should be the last of the downtime chapters. Next, we're heading straight into action.