Rules

A Fairy Tail Fanfiction

Summary- Freed stands up to Laxus after the Dragon Slayer loses his temper with another guild member.

Freed remained sitting at the bar long after the other members had left for bed and the hall became dark and silent- an attitude few outside the guild had seen. He didn't flinch when the door from Makarov's office slammed open and Laxus strode out- clearly he was still nursing his bad mood as he called out to the Rune mage.

"Still sulking about what happened?" He sneered as he approached the bar. Freed finally turned to face him, looking serious.

"She didn't deserve your treatment of her, Laxus."

"Oops!" Laxus pretended to be apologetic, "Did I break one of your written rules?"

Freed ignored the childish tone. "It's a rule so obvious I shouldn't have to write it down."

The Dragon Slayer's eyes hardened and reformed into slits, his fangs elongating just a little as he allowed his dragon rage to take over. Grabbing his captain by the collar, Laxus pinned him to the wall nearest them- but Freed didn't break eye contact.

"Why don't you STOP applying your codes of conduct where they don't belong?"

"It should be a universal code of conduct to not hurt someone for no reason!"

"She was botherin' me."

"She is a member of our guild!"

"So? I beat up Natsu and Gajeel on a regular basis."

"They get what they ask for. Juvia was asking for your help."

"And I didn't WANT to help! She should have taken the hint."

"She doesn't know you, Laxus! She joined the guild just before you were exiled, and since Tenrou we have been at the guild hall at the same time as she only a few times. The other dragon slayers treat her well, and it isn't unreasonable for her to expect a little civility from you! And to tell the truth," Freed added, feeling the rough hands gripping him hard enough to bruise, "it would be a welcome change for the rest of us as well!"

Laxus bared his teeth and leaned closer, his voice deadly quiet. "Now you're starting to sound like Gramps… and believe me, you really don't want to sound like him right now."

Freed didn't back down. "Threaten me all you like, Laxus. But eventually you will realize I am telling the truth."

Laxus wanted to hit him, hard. But somehow he managed to rein in his violent nature just a little, and settled for a final shake before he released his captain and disappeared out of the guild doors with a growl. He didn't seem to have noticed the sharp crack! as Freed's skull connected with the stone wall behind him in his haste to escape the unexpected judgement.

Magnolia was dark and empty, perfect for an irate dragon slayer. He stamped around along streets and canals that echoed the ghosts of village life, his mind consumed by the echoes of Freed's argument. He turned the words over and over, retaliating silently, ridiculing that logic, fighting back with creative insults in his head as he tried to release his rage in thoughts instead of action. No point in giving the Old Man another reason to berate him tonight. He huffed, remembering the reprimand. He hadn't done anything worth getting exiled again, so he knew the threat had been empty. Why did everyone have to get so riled up? They knew who he was. Everyone knew to not bother him. Everyone… had Juvia really not known? Who hadn't told her of his temper? Probably the Fullbuster kid. Laxus found a new place to lay the blame: on every moron in the guild who wasn't upholding his reputation. The Dragon Slayer thought back to the blue-haired Water mage- she had asked for his help on a job, apparently thinking their magic types would complement each other. Laxus sighed; if those morons hadn't told her to steer clear when he was in a bad mood, it wasn't her fault for approaching him. Freed was right. Laxus stayed out a while longer, giving himself time to cool down and come to terms with his mistake. That was what Gramps never understood- he could recognize when he was in the wrong without blowing anyone to bits, if he had time to do it. Criticism was like hay on hot coals, and he lashed out defensively at anyone in the way. But given time, he would usually make the right decision- it worked before when he was sent away from the guild, and it worked now.

After a while, Laxus returned to the guild. He decided he would wait until morning to apologize to Juvia- no sense in frightening the girl even more by waking her up. But if Freed was still up… The Dragon Slayer wandered the guild hall, dark as when he left it, heading for the library; if the Rune caster was awake, that was doubtless the place to find him. But a low moan behind him made him pause- turning around, he saw a crumpled form at the base of one of the walls.

"Freed!" He must have collapsed where they'd been standing, but why? Laxus hurriedly approached, and found that the swordsman was sitting upright, the arm resting on his one bent knee supporting his head. Laxus dropped to his knees, but Freed didn't look up.

"Hey," He said gently, trying to get the Rune caster's attention, "You okay?"

Freed mumbled something, and even Laxus's dragon hearing could only catch the word "fine". But he wasn't fine, not anymore. Laxus thought back- Freed hadn't seemed injured when they were fighting earlier, then he left…there was an intake of breath as the Dragon Slayer remembered shaking his friend in anger. It hadn't seemed like much at the time, but then his perception was always off when he was mad.

"I… hurt you?" He breathed, but though he knew Freed heard him, the Rune mage didn't respond. "Freed?"

"Yes." Came the quiet reply. Laxus's mouth went dry at the confirmation- he wasn't sure what he hoped Freed would say, but it wasn't that.

"Laxus?" The swordsman was trying to hide the weakness in his voice, but Laxus heard it, and winced at the thought that he had caused it.

"Yeah?"

"Can…can you help me to the library? I would really like to get off this floor, but I'm not sure I can-" He was cut off as the Dragon Slayer swept him up, and Freed's fingers knotted in the fur-lined cloak at the sudden disorientation. Laxus stilled, waiting for the swordsman to adjust before continuing to the library at a slower pace. Grateful for the eternal lamp burning in this part of the guild, Laxus carefully deposited his captain on one of the overstuffed armchairs. Freed's hands came back up to his head, and he let out a long sigh.

"Thank you."

Laxus shifted uncomfortably, aware he really wasn't in a position to be thanked. It was the second time in one day he had injured a guild mate, and this time it wasn't even on purpose; worse, it was his best friend.

"Can I get you anything?" There was the barest shaking of the green head. "Freed…I'm sorry." Freed looked up- a little color was beginning to return to the swordsman's face, though his eyes still revealed his pain. He gave a small smile.

"I forgive you, Laxus."

For some reason this surprised the Dragon Slayer. "But…everything you said earlier- I'm not supposed to hurt people for no reason!"

"It was an accident."

"Yeah, but…" Why wouldn't Freed let him feel bad about this? He turned away, pouting. "Why the hell didn't you just contain my magic?"

"I'm not afraid of you, Laxus." This caught the Dragon Slayer's attention and dragged him into looking the Rune mage in the face once more.

"Oh yeah? Well, you should be." He tried to sound fierce, but the sight of Freed's hands gripping the armrests to keep from shaking was distracting.

"Well, I'm not. And that's because I'm always right, and you know it. Sounds like you came around to see my side of things- what would you do without me?"

"I'd have one less thing to worry about, for starters."

"I am not a 'thing'." The Rune caster huffed.

"But you are worrying me- I'm going to get Wendy."

"I'm fine, Laxus."

"No, you're not. And it's my fault; just…let me do this." Freed nodded his assent, and Laxus left him leaning weakly against the chair back as he hurried to the girls' dormitories. When he banged on Wendy Marvel's door, a blue-haired wizard answered the knock, but not the one he expected. Oops. Laxus realized too late that Juvia was spending the night with the healer after her ordeal with the Dragon Slayer. As she scrambled away from him nervously, he thought suddenly how he would now get to make reparations for his other victim of the day. Things couldn't have fit better if Freed had planned them.