Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Gift Giving –

“ Freed, Not sure how long I will be gone. Don't miss me too much .” Instead of a signature, there was a jagged scribble like a lightning bolt. 

“Who's got the terrible handwriting?” Cana asked, leaning over to read the note over Mira's shoulder while she took a beer from behind the bar.

“I don't know. What does the signature look like to you?”

“Hmmm.. It looks like someone just dragged their pen down the sheet to me. Maybe it's supposed to be an S?”

Mira poked through the pile of goodies inside the basket it had come with. There were chocolates, cheese and crackers, a very good wine, loose leaf tea, a hair mask, lotion, massage oil, scented candles, sword oil as well as a small stack of books including a romance novel based on the pair of men on the front cover. "S. S. S. Scarlett. Maybe he's got a secret relationship with Erza.”

“While the handwriting is bad, it’s not quite hers. Plus, there's still sweets in the basket. It's not Erza.”

“Well Strauss. Who do you think it could be?” Cana asked, crossing her arms as she emphasized her last name. 

“My siblings aren't on a mission, plus neither one is interested in Freed.”

“ Sherry Blendy's name starts with an S.” Cana pointed out. 

Mira laughed. “She's married to Ren. Though maybe it is someone from a different guild. Members of Sabertooth came to visit last week.”

Cana's eyes lit up as she grabbed the roman novel. She pointed to the men on the cover and suggested, “Like Sting! He was here yesterday. All of the dragon slayers are on a mission together.”

The pair were soon joined by the rune mage in question, “Good morning ladies. Mira, before he left on mission, Laxus told me there was something at the guild for me.”

“Good morning, Freed. This basket was left for you.” She slid it closer then leaned on her elbow to watch his expressions.

Freed sat down beside Cana and read the note Mira passed to him. He kept his face stoic as ever, but she noticed the grin that kept pulling at the corners of his mouth. “How thoughtful.”

“Who's it from?” Cana asked with a hiccup, “cause I think it's Sting.”

“Why would it be from Sting?” Freed scrunches his eyebrows, confused. 

“Because the signature. S for Sting.”

“Oh. I'm sorry to disappoint you but it is not from Sting.”

“How can you be sure? Do you know who it’s from?” Cana leaned in closer, eyebrow raised.

“Of course I do.”

“Who is it if not Sting? Scarlette, Sherry? Strause? Sorreno? Secret Admirer?” Mira listed excitedly.

“Of course not! Why are you guessing S names anyway?”

“Because of the signature.” The girls answered together.

“Oh?” Freed rexamined his note then laughed, “I guess it could be seen like that. He really does have terrible handwriting. I am sorry to disappoint you though, because that's not an S.” He explained then took his basket and slipped away out the door before either could register his exit.

“If it's not an S then what is it?” Cana asked confused.

“Better question,” Mira asked with a gleam in her eye, “is how did Laxus know it was here?”

Chapter Text

Levy liked the library. It was cozy and since yelling and drinks weren't allowed, most of the crazier guild members stayed away. The members that did join her kept to themselves as well. They were the usual suspects. Lucy, Laki, Reedus, and Freed mostly. Though there was one that was an unexpected addition to anyone who wasn't as frequent a visitor. 

Laxus once explained that he enjoyed how since no one ever expected him to be in there, he could avoid most people. Those that did see him, usually didn't care, or at least didn’t talk. He liked how he could tuck away into a corner behind the shelves and relax on a pile of pillows with his headphones in. 

Levy’s eyes peaked over the top of her book to where he had burrowed into one such pile of pillows. She smirked and wondered if it was just a coincidence that his favorite pile of pillows often included the lap of a certain rune mage. 

Freed sat with Laxus’s head in his lap, absentmindedly running his fingers through Laxus' hair as he read silently to himself. 

Laxus rarely spoke. Usually eyes closed as he enjoyed whatever song interested him at the moment. Levy wondered if his extensive collection included any of Gajeel’s songs. 

She also understood why he would not reject the head massage. Freed has given one to both herself and Lucy during intense research sessions so she was aware of how his nimble fingers were expert at finding the right spot to itch. 

She had also noticed that he actually showed emotion when he read. His eyebrows would crinkle and his lip would pout out or he sometimes quietly gasped to himself. 

At the moment, Laxus had his eyes open and he had a smirk on his face as he watched Freed's shifting expressions. Freed kept peeking down at Laxus, meeting his eyes then would blush and quickly turn away. Laxus chuckled quietly to himself each time. 

“What?” Freed finally asked. 

“What?” Laxus answered innocently.

“What do you want? You keep watching me and smirking.”

“You just seem to be enjoying that one.” 

Freed tried to ignore the other’s grin. “It is very well written.”

“I can tell. You're chewing your lip.” Laxus pointed out with a suggestive grin. “We both know what that means.”

“You can leave if you're going to tease me.” Freed decided, nose raised in the air. 

Laxus snuggled deeper into their nest. “Nah, just let me know if you read anything that you wanna try.”

Freed gently bopped the lightning slayer in the forehead “Behave.” He admonished then returned to his book. 

Laxus leaned back and closed his eyes, welcoming the fingers that wove into his hair.

Chapter Text

“So,” Jason asked as a camera flashed. “How does it feel to be ranked in the top 10 Wizards that our readers would like to be their Boyfriend?”

Freed shifted his pose for the camera, feeling slightly ridiculous in his costume. Boxes were very impractical attire for an overgrown grass field. He kept his expression neutral as he answered, “I am honored that your readers have considered me among such greats as Laxus and the other 8 wizards on the list once again.”

Jason nodded at the humble response as he scribbled down his notes. “What are your favorite pastimes?”

“Laxus has introduced me to quite a number of musicians that I find rather interesting. He has a very good ear for music.” Freed answered, glancing just past the camera and Jason who sat in a folding director chair just beside it. His eyes met with Laxus who had just finished posing for the same photo shoot. The blond was in the same brand of shorts and his skin glistened from the oil they had used for the shoot. Freed couldn’t help but stare. A small smirk flickered across his lips before they both turned away.

“What kind of music do you like?” Jason asked.

“He has introduced me to a large variety of genre.” Freed answered, shifting his position once again to provide more poses to choose from. He knew that Laxus would have simply crossed his arms and glared so they deserved some variety.

“Okay, that’s cool.” Jason wrote down the word music then moved on to the next question. “What about a special someone? Our lady readers would love to know if they have a chance.” Jason giggled suggestively. His eyebrows bounced up and down his forehead.

Freed fought a grimace at the suggestion. He kept his cold mask and simply responded, “No.”

“Cool. Cool. What do you look for in a significant other then?”

“My private life is just that.” Freed answered, eyes drifting back to where Laxus sat across the room at the snack table. He was watching the photoshoot with that intense gaze that always made Freed shiver. He was apparently in a mischievous mood because he was eyeing the rune mage as he slowly ate a banana. Freed rolled his eyes at the display.

Jason kept talking. He laughed, “That’s cool. The ladies do love a mysterious man. Speaking of mystery, your magic is not well known. Would you care to explain how it works for our readers?”

“No, thank you.” Freed answered again, shifting now to flex his chest and arms in what looked like a relaxed pose. His eyes traveled back to Laxus, who grinned.

“Keeping it mysterious. That’s cool. How about you tell me about your team. Why are you called the Thunder Legion?”

“We are Laxus’ bodyguard squad. He is the mighty lightning and we his thunder.”

“What makes you so powerful that you can call yourself Laxus’ bodyguard?” Jason asked innocently.

Freed’s eyes narrowed at the suggestion of his weakness. “Laxus is a powerful mage. Strong enough to earn many enemies by the dark guilds. He deserves to reserve his greatness for only those most deserving of his justice.”

Jason rubbed his temple annoyed. “Why do you do this?”

“Do what?” Freed asked, cocking his head to the side and letting his hair fall across his shoulder. The camera flashed again.

“Every year it’s the same thing. I ask a question and you either dodge it or morph it into a compliment for Laxus. He can’t possibly be that amazing. Can he?”

Freed stood up and crossed his arms. For anyone that knew him, he was visibly annoyed. The camera flashed again when he glared at Jason to answer. “On the contrary. Laxus is a wonderful human being. He is strong, powerful, passionate and unafraid to take on any of life’s challenges. Why wouldn’t I ensure that everyone is aware of how amazing he is?”

“It’s just, our readers want to know about you, not Laxus. Plus,” he mumbled nervously, “it can come across as a little… creepy.”

Freed’s expression turned icy as his hidden eye flared purple. “Dedication is not creepy. Should Laxus ever find issue with my affection, he will tell me. His unfiltered honesty is one of the many great things that I appreciate about him. Next question.”

Jason ignored the low chuckle that rumbled through the room like thunder. Instead, he turned back to his notes to try once more. “What is your favorite color?”

“Laxus has a shirt that is quite a lovely shade of purple.”

Jason grumbled as he wrote down the answer then continued. “What is one thing that you hate? Anything at all. Unrelated to Laxus.” He added with narrowed eyes. 

Freed paused and thought for a moment. He finally answered, “Gum.”

“Care to elaborate?” Jason asked. When Freed shook his head, he sighed dejectedly. “Thank you for your time.”

Freed bowed to the camera man and then to Jason. “I appreciate the request for an interview. Have a nice day.” He quickly changed back into his regular clothes then joined Laxus at the snack table. “Ready to go?” he asked, almost sounding chipper.

Laxus laughed and led him away from the photoshoot. “Do you realize that those are pretty much the same answers you give every time?”

Freed sighed, “And yet they continue to ask. It is not my fault they have yet to learn.”

“You just need to stop being so hot.” Laxus retorted.

Freed’s smirk flickered onto his lips then stayed there. “Maybe I should just tell them that I am taken.”

Laxus looked over with an affectionate glance, “Who would be able to put up with your bullshit for… how long has it been? 10 years now?”

“3 years dear.” Freed corrected.

“No, it should be 10.”

“Tenrou doesn’t count. We were frozen in time. And not together yet.”

Laxus frowned, “But I was going to ask you out. That should count.”

Freed shrugged, “You should have spoken up sooner.”

“We were being attacked by a dragon!” Laxus defended and Freed laughed at their long running argument.

Jason watched the pair walk away, too far to hear them arguing but still close enough to see the joy on Freed’s usually stoic expression. He recognized the expression and scribbled down one last note, Definitely taken.