Chapter Text
Fairy Tail guild is known to be quite the chaotic place. With loud banter and fights starting at the slightest disagreement. It makes the softer moment offered by the early morning a gift to cherish.
It’s not that Mirajane doesn’t like the usual atmosphere of the guild. It wouldn’t be her home without it. But the calm chatters that filled the building made her at ease.
Those few who are awake all seemed to agree to keep it quieter at the very least for the next hour. Also Natsu is on a job, it did make a difference. He’s one of the rare member capable to go all out as soon as he wakes up.
It was quite the treat for the young barmaid had a really tough night, she had barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes all that came to her mind was the disastrous date with Laxus. She had messed up everything.
Laxus acting like the egoistical, arrogant bastard he is was to be expected. But her? Playing along his game and making a total fool of herself? She wasn’t a kid anymore and knew better than that.
What if she ruined everything? Anxiety filled the thought of the white haired woman.
Normally when she was feeling down reading one or two fan letter was enough to change her mind.
Ever since her sister death she hadn’t felt the same.
With her power gone, she felt defenseless. The tough mask she used to shield herself from the outside world had completely crumbled. It was like being the thirteen year old chased by the whole village again.
Unable to go on mission, the young girl had accepted to work as a model. It felt nice to just forget about everything and give a big smile for the camera.
Everyone had loved the pictures, not just in the guild. That made her believe she could finally be seen as someone else than the "she-devil".
But she had messed it all up by acting like her old self.
As she starred at the plate she was washing. Tears were welling up in her eyes. She couldn’t break down here.
Mirajane turned her head to the counter in search of really anything that could stop her from bursting into tears.
She saw Freed. He was alone, that rarely happened. The green haired mage was always accompanied by Evergreen, Bickslow and well… Laxus.
Harboring the biggest smile she could muster up as she came closer.
"Are the rest of the thunder legion still sleeping?" As the barmaid said it she could only notice the worried expression on Freed face. It was quite the surprise as the rune mage was known for rarely letting his emotions show.
Though it was only for a second and was quick to regain his usual calm expression.
"Indeed, none of them would wake up so early." He answered with an amused expression.
"And what brings you here?", Mirajane continued," You rarely pass by the guild hall alone like this."
"Well… I just felt like taking on a quest by myself." Seemingly noticing the worry in her eyes, he finished, "It could be a challenge of some sort."
"I see…" the white haired woman answered looking down at the plate she was currently drying.
"You seem quite troubled, is something bothering you?" Freed voice bring her back to earth in an instant.
Maybe if her problem had concern anyone else than Laxus, she would have honestly answered him. She truly trusted the rune mage and more than once had they shared their problems to each others.
It had all started by exchanging about their pain their demonic magic bring them and had expended to pretty much every of their problems. Even though they talked more rarely now.
But if one thing everyone knew about Freed, it was his devotion to Laxus. And Mirajane didn’t wanted to damaged their relationship by saying anything bad about the blond man.
"I must still be tired, I got home quite late"
"It’s about Laxus, isn’t it." Damn she could hate Freed perspicacity.
She didn’t know what to answer. Therefore she just stared at her reflection in the plate.
"I heard that last night you two had a date and…" looking at Mirajane sad expression he cut himself. "I’m sorry, this doesn’t have anything to do with me. "
The rune mage then proceed to walk to the quest board, letting Mirajane alone with her thought. Once again.
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Freed was staring at the numerous quest he was to pick from. But he couldn’t bring himself to read any of them because of the guilt that consumed him.
He didn’t know why he brought up Laxus. It was a cheap shot at her. Was it his jealousy that push him to talk about the electric mage or was it his moral searching a way to do what was "right" and spill the truth.
Now was breaking Mirajane poor heart really the right thing? Should he tell her what happened last night?
~~
Maybe had it been between one or two am, Freed hadn’t look at the time, he just knew it was late and the only thing keeping him from sleeping was the book he was reading.
The story matched his liking. A detective novel about the murder of a girl on her wedding day by someone who was jealous of her. Not something he would have picked by himself but Levy swore to him that it was more than it seemed.
And she was right.
But as time passed, realizing he had to choose between getting a good night sleep or finally learning who the culprit was. The latter seemed much more appealing.
Still he wasn’t completely irresponsible and wore his pair of Gale force reading glasses. The simple black rectangle model. As a naturally fast reader, rarely the occasion to wear those presented itself.Furthermore the scene just didn’t possessed the same impact when read at such pace.
Regardless, he couldn’t stop on such a trivial details if that meant avoiding staying up all night.
As the ending was getting closer, the identity of the killer was about to be revealed as—
A loud bang on his door resonated through his living, completely throwing him off his reading. Soon to be followed by more banging getting more impatient by the second.
He could have pretend to wonder who would be knocking on his door like a manic man in the middle of the night. But the answer was awfully obvious.
Still, it had irritated him a bit to be cut this way halfway through getting answers on the mysteries of his book. Especially since the rune mage had decided to post pone his usual sleep schedule for. The idea of letting the man outside for a bit longer did brush his mind but was quickly dismissed.
Opening his front door, Freed saw Laxus standing there. Who proceeded to enter with "ugh… finally" as the only greeting the green haired man would get.
"I’m glad to see you too…" Freed answered in an attempt of making the blond man realize his lack of manners. Which had not worked.
"You could have open the door faster." Laxus turned to face his friend. The slight blush on his face indicated all he needed to know to the rune mage. Laxus was drunk. And it also meant he wouldn’t be able to go to bed anytime soon.
Under the alcohol influence, the electric wizard was oblivious to his friend discomfort. "And since when do you need glasses?" He added on an amused tone. "It kinda make you look like—"
"I don’t need glasses. They just help me to read faster…" Freed cleared out before having to face any mockery.
"Why are you here Laxus?" He continued on a firm tone staring at the man in the middle of his living room.
"I just…" the blond man seemed hesitant to finish his sentence and had let a long silence fill the room. If at first, for someone who didn’t know the electric mage, it may not have been obvious that he was completely wasted. The poor spectacle he putted on by trying to stay standing without leaning on anything made it quite obvious.
Which was why Freed took pity on him.
"Go take a sit in the kitchen, I’ll bring you a cup of water." The green haired man had let out on a softer note. He couldn’t help it, seeing Laxus in such state truly worried him.
After sitting down and drinking a glass of fresh water the electric mage had let go of the arrogant act for a more softer version of himself. It rarely happened but every time it did happened it was with the thunder legion. Especially with Freed.
While in a rush to tend to Laxus, the rune mage nearly forgot he was still wearing his gale force reading glasses but as he reached to take them off the blond man stopped him.
"I didn’t meant to make you feel bad about your glasses, they look really good on you.” It nearly sounded like an apology, which was proof enough that the man was still under the influence of alcohol. A sober Laxus would rather die than ever having to muster up an apology.
The compliment truly surprised Freed, so much that a slight blush came onto his face. Even though he was quick to regain his composure, it was too late, his friend had already noticed it.
"What happened that pushed you to drink tonight?" Freed questioned his guest. Before taking the empty glass and going to refill it.
"Ugh… don’t make me remember it. You know how me and Mira are dating, i think? Well she decided to make me go on a date with her…" that’s right. It had been something like a month since those two had decided to get together. Freed would have been lying if he said that it didn’t get to him.
Still trying not to show his feelings he stayed facing his sink, his back turned to Laxus. "And? That’s not a bad thing. Knowing her it must have been pretty nice."
"Yeah, Yeah whatever I guess she could have picked a worse place but like, she tried to kiss me…. And so you know I tried to be romantic!" Freed was truly this close to cut him off. Since hearing whatever those two had been up to would only worsen his mood. Yet he let him talked.
" And she’s been such a bitch about it! . "
He normally wouldn’t let it slide, even for Laxus, calling Mirajane such names was going too far. But at the time it wasn’t the same, as it was confirmation of an idea he had entertained for the last month. Laxus does not love Mirajane.
For a while he believed that was just his way of coping with his jealousy. But the more time had passed the more it felt real. Regaining his composure he finally turned to Laxus and gave him the glass of water he just filled then took a sit close to him.
"It’s not a pleasant experience. But it doesn’t seem enough to make you drink so much." The rune mage answered placing his hand on his friend shoulder.
“It’s just… I don’t understand women. They always seem so offended over some details and they be trying some stupid shit. Like I can only stand them for a one night stand.” Laxus had stopped to think what he was going to say next. Drank all the water in his glass. Before continuing his expl
"It kinda bothered me, so I just wanted to forget it… So I’ve gone to the first bar I found and it just happened to be closer to your jome than mine." Was the only response Freed would get as to why the blond man had stop by. “I can leave if I’m bothering you.”
"Don’t. I prefer having you sleeping here than wandering in the streets." The rune mage said before taking the glass of water that had just been emptied to the sink, to clean it.
This time, as he turned his head to look at his friend he noticed that Laxus had gotten up and was standing closer to him. Too close.
"Do you want somethi—" He tried to ask before the electric mage took his jaw into his hand and kissed him delicately. It wasn’t much yet it felt so intimate.
Although it mainly felt all too surreal, it was only when their lips parted that Freed understood what had just happened. The Laxus Dreyar, who would express his disgust towards gay men. The very person he had to hide his homosexuality to. Worrying he wouldn’t accept him. Had just kiss him like they were some kind of married couple.
Not trying to understand further what had motivated this and by fear of letting his only chance with his long time crush go, he puts their lips together again.
While deepening their kiss, Laxus grabbed Freed’s thights to put him on the counter of his kitchen.
Had Freed fallen asleep while reading his book ? Because that kind of scene only ever took place in his dreams. But no, what he had waited for years finally happened. And nothing could ruin it.
Or so he thought.
As they break the kiss to take back their breath, Laxus stared at Freed’s face before adding. "I wish you were a girl… It’d be better to have you as my girlfriend than—" He didn’t had the chance to finish his sentence before being strongly pushed back.
Any romantic feelings Freed may have felt had been crushed by his growing anger. He didn’t want to hear one more word coming out of Laxus’ mouth. Even just the sight of him in this instant was too much for him. He should have known there was something else going on in the blond’s mind.
"You’re drunk Laxus. You should be sleeping. Take my room, I’ll sleep on the couch." Had been the last word the two man exchanged for the night. The anger filling Freed’s voice surprised the blond man, yet he did not say anything and just left the room.
It was only a few minutes later after truly processing what had just happened that the rune mage truly felt ashamed after realizing how not only had he been taken like a fool by Laxus but also betrayed Mirajane trust.
As he laid on his couch, contemplating the damaged that Laxus caused on his psyche. It truly felt like he had been struck by thunder and could still smell the ozone in the air.