Every step woke in Laxus a pain that would have made anyone collapse to the ground. But he couldn't. Giving up didn't only meant to accept to die, it also meant to condemn Mira. The hand of the latter was solidly gripped to his, holding even harder as she tried to ignore the pain that threatened to take her down any moment.

They did more steps into the dark hallways, trying the best they could to put as much distance between them and the one wanting to end them. But what had to happen finally happened. Laxus felt Mira's hand ripped from his as Blackburn projected her on the wall with a solid hit of the back of his hand. Never did the young man felt as powerless, his anger rising in him as he knew he probably couldn't do anything useful against the monster.

As if she wasn't wounded enough, blood was flowing from a new gash above her eyebrow where she was hit by Blackburn. Even though his brain kept reminding him fighting was delusional, his body still decided to take place between his enemy and Mira, firsts up, ready to fight till the end. At least, maybe he could with a lot of luck hold back his father's associate long enough for Mira to run away. Sadly, that hope barely touched his mind before remembering that the young woman was way too stubborn to leave him behind. "Could you just not be your usual hard head for once and get the hell out of here?" he mentally begged. But of course, she did nothing of it and took place next to him in a fighting stance, as straight as she could despite her obvious pain.

"I get a feeling of déjà vu" snickered Blackburn, looking at both of them, obviously planning to slowly appreciate his victory against them.

"The end will be different this time" defied Mira with a strength he admired.

"Of course it will be" replied their enemy "this time I won't make the mistake of letting any of you alive".

"Only if you manage to do so!" Retorted Mira before Laxus's incredulous eyes.

He was the first one to appreciate Mira's spunk and energy in those kinds of desperate situations, but what got into her to push her to provoke him this way?

Then he had part of his answer when Mira took out the blue flare, lighting it up in Blackburn's face, the latter only figuring out the nature of the object once it was too late.

Laxus didn't need another cue to take once more Mira's hand and try to put ass much distance between the fallen and them as blinding sparks were burning their opponent's face. But they only won a few seconds heads up, a minute at most... What was on her mind? He then recognized one of the secret passages they took on their mission to retrieve Evergreen and Elfman. They sunk into it and a few minutes later, they ended up out of the wall next to the forest. Laxus was about to enter the woods but Mira let herself fall on the ground, her back to a three.

"I'll carry you" stated Laxus despite having trouble to walk on his own.

"You know as well as me that he'll catch up no matter what we do" she sighed.

That last comment woke up a wave of anger in Laxus.

"What? That's not you, Strauss! Not a minute ago you were defying Blackburn as if you were about to crush him! You seriously don't think of giving up right now?"

"We could run, but he will get to us soon or lather".

"So why all this..."

"To win enough time," she said, avoiding his eyes as if she was afraid to continue.

"Enough time for what Mira?" He said kneeling next to her. "Because now we're losing it!" he added impatiently.

"No human in our state can win against a fallen as strong as Blackburn... but another fallen can" she finally said.

"And how are you planning to..."

Then he stopped himself realizing she was talking about him. No! No, out of question! The only way for him to become a fallen was to absorb someone's vital energy... her vital energy. Before he could firmly stand against the idea, she took his hand and placed it on her cheek.

"You know it's our only chance at survival, Laxus".

"It's absolutely out of the question for me to wipe you out of your energy!" he barked, quickly taking his hand back. "I almost killed your mother when I was eight years old and the only reason she survived is because of her pregnancy!"

"I trust you" she simply said.

"You shouldn't!" he exclaimed, taking her into his arms, ready to walk the entire forest that way if he had to.

"Laxus" she whispered.

"No"

"Laxus, listen to me!" she said a little stronger.

Against his will, he listened to her, knowing very well he wouldn't like

"We can hear him coming already. None of us will live through another attack if we try nothing."

"We can figure something out" he argued.

"You know that's not true" she said in a sorry tone.

After a moment, he clenched his teeth, slowed his pace, knowing she was right.

"I will never forgive myself if I kill you with my own hands" he finally said.

***

"I will never forgive myself if I kill you with my own hands"

Mira's heart tightened to the sincerity Laxus just showed her, his voice almost trembling. Her eyes crossed the ones of the man she was falling in love with a little more every day.

"If we don't try, none of us will survive" she let out, a hand cupping his cheek. "You are our only hope".

Then a feeling of relief filled her as he finally stopped, falling on his knees, Mira still laying against him. With a delicacy she didn't knew he possessed, he replaced a strain of hair behind her ear, freeing her cheek so he could place his fingers, fingers he was looking at as if they were a dangerous weapon.

She felt the energy in her body slowly leaving her. The pain was more and more vivid, but she didn't let herself show it. It was hard enough already for Laxus without seeing her suffer. Her sight was more troubled by the second, but she still could witness the changes operating in him. His traits were harder, claws were slowly replacing his nails, his teeth were getting longer.

The strength that allowed her to keep her hand on Laxus's face abandoned her, her hand falling limp on her side. That's when Laxus ended their contact, worry filling his expression. Blinking, she could see how much he had physically changed. However, she was very aware his transformation wasn't completed yet. To be able to win this battle, he would need to take some more energy, as unpleasant as it was for both.

"You have to continue" she said in a weaker voice she would have hope.

"No way" he said in a voice she didn't recognize due to the transformation.

"You're still not strong enough to fight him" she let out. "Please Laxus, do it for me."

And then she placed her mouth on his, renewing the contact between them. After hesitation, Laxus resumed the absorption despite being against it. Then he stopped. This time, he fully had his fallen form. Mira barely had enough energy to simply look at him.

As he rose, a tear left his eyes to fall on her cheek. Never would Mira ever imagine seeing a fallen cry. But that fallen had nothing to do with those bloodthirsty creatures she met until now. That fallen, it was Laxus, it was the one ready to give up his own life to protect her, ready to do the very thing that hunted his nights and ruined his childhood to make sure they will live through the night. That fallen, it was her Laxus and she had no doubts entrusting him her life was the right decision.