Fairy Tail: Metal and Threads

Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Crocus. 

July 4, x791. 

After returning to the hotel with Sun, Alfonzo fell asleep almost immediately. In fact, he slept so deeply that even his children jumping on him because they wanted to play could not wake him up. 

However, because his wives knew how hard he was working, they helped him out by taking Amar'e, Bianca, and Calvin out to play. Though, they were not particularly happy about it at first. The kids had not been able to play with their father ever since the first day of the Grand Magic Games, after all. 

And the person who felt the worst when they saw the kids unhappy faces was not their mothers. Rather, it was Future Lucy, who had convinced herself that this was all her fault. 

"Come on, stop putting on that face." Levy said from her seat across from Future Lucy at one of the best restaurants n Crocus that wasn't run by Sixth Sense Holdings. 

"But did you see the looks on their faces?" Future Lucy asked, almost on the verge of tears while holding a glass of alcohol in both of her hands. "Seeing those little cuties like that breaks my heart." 

"You two really are the same person from different versions of our world." Levy said while shaking her head with a fond smile on her face. "Every time any of those kids give her the puppy eyes, she caves just like you are right now." 

"I can't blame her." Future Lucy said, trying to smile through her guilt. "They're just so cute." 

"Yeah, they really are." Levy said with a smile. But I bet me and Gajee's kids will be even cuter." 

"Well, as long as they take after their mother, they'll be really cute." Future Lucy said, her smile becoming more genuine as she imagined Levy and Gajeel's future children. 

"Hey, what is that supposed to mean?" Levy asked while feigning anger. "Are you trying to say my Gajee isn't cute?" 

"Uh… Well… I mean…" Future Lucy stammered out. "Oh, by the way, where is Lucy? She usually comes out with us. Actually, Brandish hasn't come out with us for a couple of days, too." 

Seeing how flustered Future Lucy was and how she tried to change the subject so desperately, Levy could not help bursting into laughter, making Future Lucy feel even more embarrassed. 

"Calm down, Lulu." Levy said while trying to get her laughter under control. "I was just kidding. I know Gajee isn't what most people would call cute. But that's not why I fell for him in the first place. Rather, he was the first person other than Alfonzo and Lici to recognize me as a wizard of my own, and not just a member of Team Shadow Gear." 

Future Lucy, after realizing that Levy was not truly mad at her, let herself relax after hearing the explanation. A moment later, however, she pouted, not liking the way Levy teased her. 

"Are you saying my counterpart didn't recognize you?" Future Lucy asked, her pout still present on her face. Though, curiosity was shining in her eyes. 

"Of course not." Levy replied quickly. "From the moment I met her, Lulu has always been a supporter. But I wasn't gonna fall in love wither. I don't swing that way, after all." 

"I guess that makes sense." Future Lucy replied with a nod. "Anyway, I really am curious to know where Brandish and my counterpart are." 

"Oh, like I said, Lucy is weak to the kids' puppy dog eyes. So, she went with the rest of Alfonzo's wives to play with them at Ryuzetsu Land." Levy explained. "As for Brandish, I think she's taking my advice from the other day. I don't' think she's succeeded yet, though." 

"Your advice… from the other day?" Future Lucy asked in a confused tone. A moment later, however, she remembered Levy's advice on what she could do to thank Alfonzo for all the work he was putting in for her, and her face turned as red as Erza's hair. "Wha-wha-wha! Y-You can't be serious. She wouldn't really do something like THAT, would she?" 

"If what I've heard from Lici, Marin, Sun, and Irene is true, then she definitely would." Levy replied with a shrug. "Either way, that's up to her… Well, and if Alfonzo would accept her. But since he's never asked her to leave when she… gets curious… I don't think he'll reject her." 

"Would someone with a harem really reject a woman that's into him like that?" Future Lucy asked, genuine curiosity in her tone. 

"He would." Levy replied with a nod. "Although it wouldn't seem like it if you consider that he's already got nine wives and three lovers, he has rejected other girls before. Laki, for one. Oh, and from what I've heard, he rejected the Mermaid Heel Ace, too." 

"Really?" Future Lucy asked in a surprised tone. "But they're both so pretty. And although I don't know the ace of this Mermaid Heel, Laki is really nice, if not a bit weird. So, why would he reject her?" 

"Because she wanted him all for herself." Levy replied while shaking her head. "And while that doesn't sound like a bad thing. Lord knows I have no intention of sharing Gajee. But he was already with Lici and Cana back then. So, she was asking him to leave them just to be with her. And even if it was possible for Alfonzo to leave anyone else, he would never leave Lici." 

"I see." Future Lucy replied with a complicated expression on her face. "*Sigh* Other than royalty and nobles, there were no harems in my version of the world before it was brought to the brink of ruin. So, I can't really understand what any of them are thinking." 

"Well, I can understand why so many of them love him, actually." Levy replied. "Alfonzo is a really good catch. On top of that, most of the other guys in the guild wouldn't know romance even if it smacked them in the face. So, the options were limited." 

Levy then stopped to think for a while before she continued. 

"Then again, the worst offenders in the guild, Natsu, Gray, and Elfman, all have a wife or a girlfriend. So, what do I know." Levy said with a shrug. 

"Yeah… it's still hard to believe that this Natsu is married." Future Lucy said, sadness washing over her as she remembered her Natsu. "You know, I kinda had a thing for my world's Natsu. But now he's…" 

"Oh, Lulu…" Levy said as she stood up from her seat and parallel wrapped the time traveling, world-hopping blonde in a hug. 

Like that, Levy and Future Lucy spent their time in a much more somber mood than expected. Though, the atmosphere did warm up after Levy had to send a few flirtatious guys packing when they would not take no for an answer. 

Meanwhile, back at the hotel, Brandish was sitting in her room and observing Alfonzo's suite with her [Magic Power Detection]. And when she felt Sun lying down with Alfonzo, she felt her frustration rising. 

That's not to say that she was jealous of Sun. Rather, it was because no matter what, Alfonzo was never alone. And if he was not going to be alone, then there was no way she could enact her plan. 

["Seriously, you really should consider confessing your feelings before you make any big moves, Brandish."] Hecatoncheires said in an exasperated tone from Brandish's inner world. 

"*Sigh* Even if you're right, that's still requires him to be alone." Brandish grumbled in response. 

["Here's a thought."] Hecatoncheires replied, completely fed up with her other half at this point. ["Even if he is with someone else, you could just ask for a moment of his time. That's not that hard, is it?"] 

Brandish did not reply to such a simple idea. 

["Oh, what am I saying?"] Hecatoncheires asked rhetorically. ["Of course, it is for you. Knowing you, you'd find it too troublesome."] 

Once again, Brandish did not reply. However, the way she lowered her head with a blush on her face was enough of an answer. 

["*Sigh* I really don't get you sometimes."] Hecatoncheires said while shaking her head. ["I just don't' get how running to him when he's alone and jumping him is less troublesome than asking him to speak alone for a second and telling him that you like him."] 

"Neither do I!" Brandish shouted. "I don't' get it either. But that's what feels easier to me." 

Though she started with a shout. Every word after the initial exclamation grew quieter and quieter until she was barely speaking louder than a whisper. 

["I sometimes wonder how I was created from your soul."] Hecatoncheires said after a few moments of awkward silence. 

Like that, a few hours passed. And just before the sun set, Alfonzo finally opened his eyes. 

When he did, the first thing Alfonzo saw was the peacefully sleeping face of one of his wives, Sun, who had decided to lay down for a nap with him after getting him back to the hotel. On top of that, her arms and legs were wrapped around him like an octopus. 

"Damn… Ur was right." Alfonzo muttered as he started absent-mindedly combing his fingers through Sun's hair. "I really should have gotten a good night's sleep. That little two-on-two with Laxus and Fried was just the final nail in the coffin." 

While Alfonzo mused to himself, Sun, reacting to the feeling of his fingers in her hair and the gentle touch on her scalp, smiled happily as she snuggled into him even tighter. 

Meanwhile, Alfonzo, after seeing Sun's reaction, dismissed any idea he had of getting up to get to work immediately. 

"I'll just let her sleep a little longer." Alfonzo said to himself with a smile on his face. "She's too cute to wake up when she's sleeping like this." 

Alfonzo then planted da kiss on Sun's forehead while continuing to comb his fingers through her hair while waiting for her to wake up naturally. 

Unfortunately, that plan was disrupted rather quickly when the door to the suite opened and three little heads poked their way into the room. 

"Daddy's up!" Amar'e shouted as soon as he saw Alfonzo turn to the door to see who had entered. 

"Daddy!" Bianca and Calvin shouted as they followed Amar'e over to the bed. 

While Amar'e was able to climb into the bed easily enough, seeing as he was almost four years old, Bianca struggled a little. Meanwhile, Alfonzo, with Sun still clinging to him in her sleep, sat up and swept Calvin into his arms as climbing into the bed was still a bit too much for him. 

"Hey, guys." Alfonzo said with a smile while holding Calvin in his arms while Amar'e and Bianca climbed on top of him and Sun. "Did you have fun today?" 

"Uh huh!" Amar'e, Bianca, and Calvin chorused in unison. 

After that, the three little one's voices blended into an incomprehensible torrent of words while they all tried to explain wat was so fun about their trip to Ryuzetsu Land this afternoon. And although Alfonzo was unable to understand what all of them were saying, just seeing his children so happy, he smiled along with them. 

Then, sometime during the three children's stories, Elicia, Mirajane, and Shizuka stepped into the room. And when they saw Alfonzo, who still seemed a little tired, and Sun, who woke up while the kids excitedly told Alfonzo about their day, smiling while they talked with the kids, they all smiled as well. Then, they made their way over to the bed and joined the conversation. 

"Looks like that nap did you some good." Mirajane said as she took Bianca into her lap. "Hopefully you don't overwork yourself like that again any time soon." 

"I still don't even know why it hit me so hard." Alfonzo said while smiling wryly. "I mean, I've worked harder and for longer hours before." 

"I guess age is catching up to you." Elicia said cheekily. 

"Nuh huh… Fonzie is still young." Shizuka said as she hugged Alfonzo around the neck from behind. 

Alfonzo only glared lightly at Elicia due to being called old. Elicia, on the other hand, only grinned even wider. 

"So, do you plan on getting right back to work now that you're awake?" Mirajane asked, a hint of concern in her tone. 

Immediately, the three kids, who were laughing and talking about how much fun they had at Ryuzetsu Land stopped and stared at Alfonzo with pleading eyes. 

And Alfonzo, after seeing the looks on his children's faces, could not bring himself to say yes to Mirajane. Instead, he smiled at his three children and gave them an answer they wanted to hear. 

"Nah… I think I can wait a few hours." Alfonzo said, his smile widening when Amar'e, Bianca, and Calvin widened their eyes. Besides, I haven't cooked in a while. So, I think I'll make something for all the members of the guild in the hotel." 

The thought of Alfonzo's cooking made all those present, children and adults alike, start to salivate. 

"But I'm only cooking for the people who are already here." Alfonzo emphasized. "So, don't go calling the others to come back. This is one of those right place, right time situations. Ya feel me?"" 

"Okay~~~~!" Everyone replied happily. 

At that moment, Grayfia, Maria, Ikaruga, Mey-Rin, Ai, and Miyuki stepped into the room before they all bowed in unison. 

"If that's the case, please allow us to help you prepare." Grayfia, the leader of the maids, said politely. She then turned to the other five and began assigning tasks. "Miyuki, Ai, you two help Master Alfonzo get cleaned up. Mey-Rn, Ikaruga, please go to the dining room and get the table ready. Maria, come with me, and we'll begin preparing ingredients for when Master Alfonzo is ready to start cooking." 

"Understood." Maria, Ikaruga, Mey-Rin, Ai, and Miyuki replied in unison. 

Then, all the maids tarted to move to fulfill their tasks. Meanwhile, Elicia, Mirajane, Sun, and Shizuka picked up the kids and kept them entertained until Alfonzo was ready to start cooking. 

After Alfonzo was bathed and ready to cook, Elicia, Sun, and Shizuka played with Amar'e and Calvin until dinner was ready. Meanwhile, Mirajane brought Bianca, who had shown interest in cooking ever since the first time she saw Alfonzo cook, into the kitchen to watch the process while chatting with Alfonzo, Grayfia, and Maria while they cooked. 

And when dinner was ready, they all sat down together with Gildarts, Ur, Mavis, Irene, and Brandish, who had not gone out to enjoy the Grand Magic Games atmosphere in Crocus and had a nice dinner.