The sun was setting, casting long shadows on the streets of Magnolia as Gildarts and I walked down the streets.
It felt good to just walk and not think about anything for a while.
Ur's house wasn't far from the center of town. It was a modest home, nothing flashy.
When we reached her doorstep, I knocked gently. A pause, then the door creaked open. Ur stood there, looking far better than when we'd last seen her. The Senzu Bean had done wonders for her injuries. Though the weight of everything still seemed to cling to her, physically, she looked stronger.
"Aiden, Gildarts," she greeted, her voice warm, yet carrying a note of fatigue. "It's good to see you both. Come in."
We stepped inside, and the familiar scent of home-cooked food immediately hit me. There was a calm in the air, as though time itself had slowed down in this little corner of the world.
"Ultear's resting," Ur continued quietly, closing the door behind us. "I didn't want to disturb her. She needs some time."
I nodded. "Yeah, I understand. It's been a lot for her to take in."
Gildarts gave a small grunt of acknowledgment before plopping down into one of the chairs, stretching his legs out casually. "You're looking better," he said with a grin.
Ur offered a soft smile, sitting down opposite us. "Yeah, I feel better."
I studied her for a moment, noticing the lingering exhaustion in her eyes. "How are you holding up?"
Ur hesitated, her gaze drifting toward the window. "It's... hard. I'm still trying to figure out where I stand in all of this." She trailed off, her voice fading into the quiet room.
"Give it time," I said gently. "She's still your daughter. You've done more than enough for her."
Ur's eyes met mine, and for a moment, I could see the weight of her doubts. "I don't know, Aiden. I failed her for so long..."
"You didn't fail her," I interjected, my voice firm. "You did the best you could with what you had. And now, you're here for her, and that matters more than anything."
Ur's lips curled into a small, appreciative smile. She nodded, but the sadness remained, as if she couldn't quite shake the feeling of all that had been lost. She was a mother, and no matter how strong she was, the bond she shared with Ultear was something she'd carry forever.
The room fell silent for a while, and it felt like time had momentarily stopped. There was something comforting about being there, sharing the quiet without needing to fill it with words.
Eventually, Gildarts broke the stillness. "So... where are Grey and Lyon? I didn't see them around."
Ur let out a soft sigh, her shoulders sagging a bit. "They're staying with Sho, Wally, and Jellal for now. Giving Ultear and me some space to figure things out. I think... it's for the best. Ultear needs time without them around, even if she doesn't admit it."
I nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I can see that."
Ur's gaze grew distant as she continued. "It's been a lot for Ultear. She's still processing everything that happened. She needs time to make sense of it all... and so do I, I guess."
"And you too," I added, noticing the faint traces of exhaustion in her eyes.
Ur gave a small, bittersweet smile. "Yeah. I know. I've missed so much of her life..."
"Well," Gildarts chimed in, his voice light, "I'm sure she'll appreciate having you around now. No matter how long it takes."
Ur's smile softened, a glimmer of hope shining through her weary expression. She looked at us both, her gaze filled with a silent gratitude. The weight of everything was still there, but there was a faint shift in the air—a hint of something lighter, something better.
We lingered for a while longer, talking about the small things—the guild, the weather, whatever came to mind. It felt like normal, and for once, normal was enough.
Eventually, the time came for us to leave. Gildarts and I stood up, heading for the door. But before I stepped outside, I turned back to Ur.
"You know we're here for you, right?" I said, my voice quieter now. "Whatever you need, we've got your back."
Ur nodded, her eyes full of gratitude. "Thank you... both of you. For everything."
With that, we left her home, the cool evening air greeting us as we stepped outside. And for the first time in a long while, I felt a weight lift, like things might finally be moving in the right direction.
—
After visiting Ur and making sure she was alright, Gildarts and I were walking back through the quiet streets of Magnolia.
We weren't really talking. Just walking. The kind of silence that doesn't need filling.
And then he elbowed me in the ribs and grinned.
"C'mon," he said. "I need to get this off my chest. Time to throw hands a little."
I looked at him, one brow raised. "You serious?"
"As a heart attack. Let's go, champ."
I should've said no. I really should've. But honestly? After everything I also needed it too. Something to shake off the dust.
"Alright, let's do this," I said, cracking my neck.
He flashed a grin. "That's what I like to hear."
We didn't waste any time. Off to the woods we went—better to keep this between us than risk wrecking the town.
"So, how do you want to go about this?" I asked, readying myself.
He shrugged, a casual look on his face. "Let's just wing it. Old-school style." He flexed his fingers.
We squared off, the night air cool against my skin.
The only light came from the moon above and the stars scattered like tiny diamonds in the sky.
Without a word, he came at me—quick and clean.
A fast jab aimed right for my face.
I dodged it just in time and swung a right at his ribs. He caught my wrist and, with a grunt, threw me over his shoulder.
I hit the ground with a thud, rolled, and shot back to my feet, laughing.
"Okay," I said, grinning. "This is what we're doing?"
He winked. "You wanted to go hard, right?"
We went at it again.
I dropped low, shoulder-first into his chest, trying to take him down with a leg sweep. He stumbled back but regained his footing quick.
Next thing I knew, I was airborne as he tossed me like a ragdoll. I slammed into the ground, cursed under my breath, and jumped back up.
We traded blows—fast, wild, but controlled enough to keep from killing each other. My knuckles were sore, his jaw had a fresh bruise from the hit I landed earlier. He got me a couple of times—right in the ribs—but I threw a good one at his stomach, and I swear, it had him winded.
No tricks, no magic.
Just two guys beating the hell out of each other in the most basic way possible.
And through it all, we laughed.
Not loud, not obnoxious. Just that kind of low, "Yeah, I needed this" kind of laugh.
Eventually, we both collapsed to the ground, exhausted.
We stared up at the sky, breathing hard, the night wrapping around us like a blanket. The stars blinked above us, scattered like embers. Neither of us said anything for a while.
Finally, Gildarts groaned.
"Man, I'm gonna feel that tomorrow."
"You'll feel that in your soul," I said, smirking. "Especially that last hit I landed."
He shot me a sidelong glance. "You mean the one I let you land?"
I laughed. "Sure, man. Whatever makes you feel better."
We both chuckled, lying there, bruised and breathless. For once, the silence was just… peaceful.
After a few moments of heavy silence, I pushed myself up from the grass, the bruises already fading as if they were never there. The rush of healing coursed through me, a familiar sensation. Gildarts clapped me on the back with a force that made me stumble slightly, his grin wide and knowing.
"Damn," he whistled, his gaze sweeping over me with a mix of awe and amusement. "That's some impressive healing, kid."
I wiped the sweat from my brow, letting out a dry chuckle. "That was one hell of a fight. For an old man, you're not half bad."
"Hey!" Gildarts laughed, clearly not offended, his grin only widening. "I'll have you know, I'm in my prime."
"Keep saying that to yourself old man"
By the time I got home, I found Alma sitting by the window, her figure bathed in the pale light of the moon. She was staring out into the night, but I could tell she wasn't really looking at anything.
"Hey, beautiful," I said with a smirk, leaning against the doorframe.
She glanced up, her lips curving into a smile—but it didn't quite reach her eyes. There was something in her expression, a flicker of... something. It was subtle, but I noticed.
"Hey, Aiden," she replied, her voice warm, but there was a distance to it.
I walked over, dropping down next to her on the couch. Her usual spark was there in her voice, but something was definitely off.
"You doing okay?" I asked, watching her carefully.
She shrugged, but didn't look at me. Her fingers played with the hem of her sleeve, absently twisting the fabric. "Yeah, just tired. Been thinking a lot, I guess."
"Thinking about what?" I asked, leaning closer.
Her eyes flickered toward me for a split second, then away again, focused on the dark expanse outside. "Stuff... you know, nothing important."
I watched her for a long moment. There was something in the way she said it that made me wonder if she was trying to hide something. Alma was never one to play the "nothing's wrong" card—she always wore her feelings on her sleeve, for better or worse.
I reached over, gently touching her arm to get her attention. "Alma..."
She finally turned her head to look at me, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "What?"
I studied her face for a moment, noting the tightness around her eyes. Something wasn't right. She was still flirting, still teasing me in that way only she could, but it felt like there was an invisible weight on her shoulders.
"You sure you're alright? You've been... off tonight," I said, my tone softer than usual.
She leaned back a little, as if the question had caught her off guard. For a moment, she didn't respond. The silence between us stretched long enough that I wondered if she was going to dodge it altogether.
"I'm fine, Aiden. Really," she said, her voice a little too casual. Too light. It didn't match the look in her eyes.
I wasn't buying it. Not for a second.
I inched closer, tilting my head. "Alma, you can't fool me. Something's bothering you."
She sighed, the sound barely audible, and finally turned her full attention to me. Her gaze softened, but there was a flicker of something hidden beneath the surface—something I couldn't quite put my finger on.
"I don't know, Aiden," she said quietly. "It's... nothing to worry about. Really."
I reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, the touch gentle but firm. "You're not really convincing me, you know."
She let out a soft laugh, but it was hollow, lacking the usual warmth. "Maybe I don't want to convince you. Maybe I just need a little space, okay?"
I hesitated, giving her some room, but I could feel the weight of her words lingering in the air between us. Whatever was on her mind, it wasn't just the usual stress or frustration. There was something deeper, something that didn't quite add up.
"Alright," I said, trying to keep things light. "But you know I'm here when you're ready to talk. You don't have to pretend everything's fine."
She smiled faintly, leaning into me just a little. The tension in her body didn't fully disappear, but she seemed to appreciate the offer.
"Thanks, Aiden," she murmured. "I'll be fine. Just... give me a bit, yeah?"
I nodded, not pushing further. For now, I let her have her space, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. I wanted to help, but Alma wasn't ready to open up. Not yet.
She rested her head on my shoulder, the moment quiet, but there was still something hanging in the air, something unsaid between us.
For now, I decided to hold on to her, to be there without pressing her too hard. Eventually, I knew she'd talk, but tonight, I was just going to let her be... even if the silence between us felt heavier than usual.
—----------
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