Rescued -Part One- *Yaoi Warning*

Disclaimer: I own the plot.

Author's note: Request from crayonsarejustice who wanted an AU where Freed was a merman and he gets rescued. I couldn't resist and didn't realize how much I needed this until I started it. And of course it'll be multi-chaptered…and all over the place. And I apologize. I have a list of things in the works that need to be updated and I'm about to just work on a schedule of what I want to get posted and updated at some point because I'm horrible at it (and I'm sorry to my so-patient anons. I have all my requests in various stages of working on. Inspiration just comes and goes in spurts I'm afraid). So, this is my spin involving mer-folk so there are things about them that aren't I guess "typical" as with other stories. So…it's okay if you don't like my versions. I promise not to be too upset. I just do. Words in ' ' as opposed to " " are telepathy (yes, my merfolk are telepaths…and can talk to aquatic life…amongst other interesting things that I'll let you discover. Oh…and it's eventually Fraxus (surprise, surprise). So…onwards dear readers…

Part One

He wasn't about to come out for THEIR pleasure. Remaining in the dark portion of the prison he'd found some measure of peace in, he attempts to get some sleep while wondering why humans had to be so damn inconsiderate. A moment later, a low level currant has him jerking and hissing through clenched teeth. Obviously, someone wasn't pleased at his refusal to play their game. A few more repetitions and he finally slips from his spot and surfaces glaring up at the bastard who'd managed to capture him. "Not good at listening are you?"

His blue eyes narrow beneath long green hair and he returns with a single gesture which just earns him being zapped again thanks to the collar around his throat and he grits his teeth. He'd enjoy drowning this one if he ever was stupid enough to get close. "You're going to learn to behave one way or another."

'I'm not here for YOUR amusement,' he sends scathingly, 'Let me GO!'

The male laughs. "Fat chance, merman."

'You will die for this, I promise you.'

"Yeah, you keep telling me that and yet you're still stuck in a fishbowl. Isn't that something."

Freed hisses before abruptly going back under. Let the asshole shock him until he was unconscious, he had no intent of playing this game. Humans were the worst kind of busybodies and their need for fame, glory, or sadistic amusement just made him hate them even MORE. Mages especially. They thought they were entitled to whatever they wanted just because they could use magic. What use they were was beyond Freed except as destructive idiots who didn't know the first thing about actually protecting what mattered.

*~*~*~*POV Skip*~*~*~**~*~

"It's an aquarium. What in the WORLD could be causing such a goddamn uproar?"

"You heard the Master, he wants it checked out," Evergreen retorts before sighing softly, "You could be less "rawr" about it, Laxus."

The blond glares at her. "Seriously? We're asked to check out a fishtank and you're asking me to ENJOY this?!"

"Look, it's a request so we take it. According to the Master there have been a lot of complaints about cruelty and whatnot."

"So how is this OUR problem? Why don't they talk to the authorities?"

"Because the owner IS a mage. Honestly, don't you READ the damn job descriptions?!"

"No, I leave it to you," Laxus mutters, "So we're breaking into a closed aquarium because someone wants to complain about cruelty? THIS is what I got S-Class for?!"

Evergreen stares at the third member of their group with a look that clearly begged HIS help. Bixlow sighs softly. "Laxus, your grandfather senses that something is up. Would you please trust his judgment?"

Laxus glowers and stares at the silent building before them. "Fine. Whatever. Let's go take a look and then get out of here. Getting arrested is NOT how I want this to go."

Both merely nod satisfied that their leader was at least calm enough that they didn't have to worry about massive amounts of destruction. Now if they could get through what really DID seem like a waste of their time and energy, it would be so much better. However, no one in the Guild of Fairy Tail refused a command by Master Makarov Dreyar. Not even his highly rebellious grandson.

Getting in isn't a problem and they find themselves inside a large indoor aquarium. "Well, gee, there's a lot of fish," Laxus mutters dryly. Evergreen and Bixlow are pretty sure this is going to be a VERY long night.

'Danger.'

'Strangers are here.'

'Magic wielders.'

Freed's blue eyes slowly blink open at the undercurrents of fear he senses from the fish. So there were tresspassers? Honestly, what did he care about that? If the moron who ran this got himself into trouble maybe then he'd get out of here. He tries not to think about the fact that the alternative was that he starved in that tank unable to escape thanks to the damn collar he wore.

Slowly, he slides from what had become his refuge and he slides to the surface. Whoever they were were fast approaching this area so he slides into tall reeds and waits to see. A moment later, a group of three walk in. "Seriously, I think the old man is losing his touch," comes the annoyed tone from a striking blond.

"You know better than to question the master," the only female argues, "Besides, places like this…really bug me."

The blond sighs. "Look it's an aquarium. It holds fish. I don't understand what…" Freed is pretty sure the trailing off is due to him noticing the stand that told the viewer what to find in the particular rooms.

"Laxus?" the other male asks.

Freed watches him walk up to the podium before slowly staring back at his two companions. "Let me ask you something," he says quietly, "What's the going tale on merpeople?"

"Mer…" The girl's eyes widen behind her glasses, "PLEASE don't tell me that there is one HERE."

"A merman if this is to be believed," the blond retorts.

Freed watches the spiky haired male groan softly before muttering, "That's ALL that is needed. Is this guy THAT much of an idiot?!"

"It could be a hoax." The female again. "I mean…is someone really stupid enough to capture one? I mean seriously?"

"Guess we're going to find out," the blond answers before Freed watches his gaze land on the water, "It's against magical law to wrongfully imprison other races…ESPECIALLY that one. They're testy enough as it is. You do NOT want to piss them off. Drowning will be the best thing you can hope for in that case."

"There's no way we're going to find out if it's true considering that it's dark in here and we cannot risk turning on lights and LOOKING for him."

He'd merely watch them walk the length of the area before the blond's head would turn. "We've got company approaching. We'll have to come back later."

Freed watches them leave and sighs softly. What did it matter? It wasn't like being rescued would do much considering what had landed him in this mess in the first place. He tries not to think about that and slips back under the water as the first light beam sweeps over the enclosement. He slips back down to his hiding spot and curls up. It would probably be easier if he just resigned himself to playing the part of amusement for this idiot. At least…at least it was somewhere to stay. As sad as that was…it was what he was left with.

Pain is what rouses him and forces him to surface gritting his teeth as he stares up at the male responsible for this entire mess. "You any more willing to concede?"

'You know that I'm not some animal for you to show-off don't you?' he replies annoyedly, 'I was sleeping.'

"The aquarium opens in THREE days. You will be compliant by then or you'll be wishing I let you die."

Freed glares at the male. 'I'm not grateful to you. I will NEVER be grateful to you!' Of course his retort ends up with him gripping the collar hissing and jerking violently.

"You might want to rethink that, were I you."

If he needed a reminder of how despicable these creatures were…well, he had it. Honestly, they were ridiculously petty and violent. It was no wonder dragons hated them and spent so much effort trying to wipe them out. They were an utter useless race though the way they were going; they'd destroy each other before long. Then maybe things would be quiet. 'Go spout nonsense to someone who has time for it,' he retorts scathingly before vanishing from sight this time being in a foul enough mood to actually cause a scene spraying water into the male's face as he dives down into the depths of the tank. The bastard deserved it. Freed had enough of sadistic machinations for a few lifetimes.

When no pain follows, he figures the other had other matters to attend to, and he curls back up wishing the other had left him for dead on that beach instead of collaring him and bringing him HERE to be put on display. Freed hadn't particularly LIKED the "charitable" act. Gentle nudging reminds him that he wasn't quite alone in the tank and he reaches out before gently brushing his fingers along the dolphin's nose. 'Ignorant. The race is completely ignorant…and selfish…and greedy.'

'Not all of them.'

Freed snorts. 'Everyone has an ulterior motive.'

'For one so young…You sure are jaded.'

'I'm stuck in a glass cage by a race that can't even keep from quarreling with each other and who abuse magic for their own selfish desires. Things do not get much more unpleasant than this.'

'How did he manage to…acquire you?'

Freed swallows and looks away. 'I…was cast out…and got attacked.'

'Something bad happened, I presume?'

Freed laughs bitterly. 'An…arranged marriage with another mer-clan that I refused to have anything to do with.'

'And you were cast-out?'

'Yes,' he answers, 'but then I've a history of "actions unbecoming" where my family is concerned and this was apparently the last straw.'

'Kind of the rebel?'

Freed finds himself chuckling darkly. 'Oh, I would think so…considering I have a very distinct intolerance for the fairer sex.'

'You were to marry a female and you weren't interested.'

'Not at all. Now, her BROTHER might have been another story…but that's rather taboo…so…I ended up thrown out after a nasty altercation and didn't notice the sharks…'

'I'm sorry, young one.'

'So am I…but it is what it is. So now I'm stuck here with a stupid human with nothing better to do than bother others.'

'You deserve better.'

'Not everyone gets what they deserve.'

Night falls…and with it comes the return of those mages. Freed slips back up into the reeds and watches them. A moment later, the blond extends his hand and a ball of lightning flares outwards lighting the area up. "Laxus, be careful," the female cautions.

"Bixlow put the guards to sleep," Laxus replies quietly, "We have time."

A moment later, Freed blinks as the light washes over the reeds. He sinks down knowing that his coloring would hide him though he was becoming far too curious about THESE particular mages. It wasn't healthy…or smart. 'Curious about the visitors?'

'I can't help it.'

'Maybe you should say hello. The blond one in particular is quite fetching.'

Freed scowls. 'I don't know what you're talking about.' Hearing the dolphin snicker doesn't help his state of mind at the moment. 'They need to leave…and leave well enough alone.'

'Leave well enough alone? They're here to help you.'

'Right…Help me WHERE?'

'Not here.'

Freed watches the group stare at the water. 'I don't care. I'm pretty sure I know what drives them. All humans are the same.'

'You are far too young to be that jaded.'

Maybe he was…but paranoia had kept their race alive long enough. As much as curiosity made him want to reach out and see what they wanted, fear and ingrained suspicions mixed with his own anger and misgivings about this race keeps him far beneath the water. Maybe they'd leave and wouldn't come back.

*~*~*~*Time Skip*~*~*~**~*~

"The sea is a violent, cruel place."

Listening to the man was grating on Freed's nerves. He'd been trying to ignore the blathering he was doing. Opening day was a pain in the ass and here it was nightfall and the male was having some midnight showcase that was making Freed antsy and unhappy. Tomorrow would be the day he'd be expected to make an appearance and he wasn't exactly thrilled with that thought. However, he could see what was going on though the people on the other side couldn't see this tank or him. 'Stupid creatures,' he thinks, 'Useless, stupid…' His thoughts derail at the sight of the dolphin herded into the tank the man was standing by. Something twists in Freed and he moves to the glass pressing his palms against it.

"The most important lesson to remember…is just how unforgiving the oceans can be," the male says and as Freed watches, another door opens. The darting forms have him banging on the glass knowing that no one could hear him.

'NO!' he cries out, 'No…DON'T!' No one could hear him with all the wards put up and he watches horrified at what happens hating the sight of those spectors cheering on the carnage. Angry bitter tears form and spill as he pounds uselessly on the glass. 'M-monster…you fucking…monster…' He sinks to the bottom of the tank shaking and crying bitterly unable to help someone who'd become a friend during his captivity.

He's not sure how long he stays down there before the collar activates and pain vibrates along him forcing him the surface. Shaking, he stares up at the male. "Do I need to have a repetition of this or will you behave yourself?"

Freed freezes staring at him unable for a moment to understand what he was saying and then a wave of guilt and grief rolls through him. 'Y-you…killed her because of me…'

"You do catch on fast. So…how many more times will this have to happen?"

He shakes his head. 'N-none. I…I'll do as you say.' Oh yes, these creatures were despicable. BEYOND despicable.

"I'm glad to hear that."

Freed wished the bastard to the lowest pits of hell for this act of heartless cruelty. The petty, vile man deserved it and more for what he'd done to an innocent. However, being left alone he finds his thoughts starting to condemn HIM for letting it get to this point. He should have just done as he was asked; played their stupid game. Then this might have been avoided. Grief and now guilt-ridden, he slips back down into the dark and curls up again. Honestly, what was the point in fighting when these people would resort to such tactics as hurting the innocent to get their way? 'Why fate favors these monsters is beyond me,' he thinks miserably, 'Whatever did anyone see in granting them the use of magic?'

It's an uneasy sleep that he's roused from. Looking up, he realizes that the room is lit up again. Slowly, he moves towards the surface wondering what this was about. Surely those mages weren't back AGAIN were they? He slides up in the reeds and stares at the walkway. And there they were. "That was disgusting, you know."

"Could we not talk about it?" the female demands glowering at the red-eyed one, "I mean…seriously let's not talk about how unnecessary that was."

"Hush, you two," the blond interrupts.

"You have to admit that it was unnecessary, Laxus."

"Of course it was unnecessary," the blond replies, "Ever, could you just leave it alone. We need to find our finned friend before tomorrow rolls around and this place is crawling with unsavory people."

"I can't believe they're doing this out in the open like this. It's against the law to entrap mer-folk like this. They could be imprisoned."

"Yeah, well how many people tonight do you think complained about watching a dolphin get ripped apart by sharks? You can clearly see the answer since we're here and this place ISN'T crawling with inspectors."

Evergreen sighs. "I still doubt that we're just going to find him. I mean…I'd seriously not like people at this point."

"He has a right not to," the blond replies, "but what HE needs to realize is that the benefactor of this place specializes in killing magical creatures and using what he can for spells and whatnot."

Freed stills. So, that was the plan then? Sell him to someone to butcher. Really, was he supposed to feel anything but contempt for these creatures? His anger fills him again and he really finds himself sick and tired of these people as a whole. And then the blond starts talking again. "Evergreen, Bixlow, you see those four buckets? Grab them and fill them. Now."

"Laxus…"

"Do as I say," the blond commands. Freed is definitely sure something was up but he isn't granted time to figure that out as once the buckets are filled and out of the water, the others magic floods it and he's unconscious.

"Laxus, what the hell was THAT f…" He doesn't even wait for Bixlow to finish before he's in the water heading for the form that floats to the surface. He slides his arms around the human torso and comes to the side.

"Guess what," he says calmly, "There's a merman in the tank."

"Seriously, that isn't going to make him any less resentful," Evergreen retorts.

"I don't care. We need to get him back to the hotel and into the tub. Ever, head back and get to filling it. Bixlow, take him back there and keep him wet."

"What are you doing?" Bixlow asks.

Laxus stares down at the male having already noticed the collar. "I have a key to find. I'll meet up with you guys soon enough. Just get him back to the hotel and keep him wet, Bixlow." He waits for Evergreen to take off and Bixlow to get his puppets able to cart the male he was holding.

"Be careful," Bixlow says as he gathers Freed out of the water and sets him there before grabbing the buckets.

"Will do. GO!"

It was a small space to which he'd wake up to. Blue eyes blink open and he'd find himself in a bathtub. 'They took me from the aquarium…'

"You're awake."

He slowly stares up and finds himself gazing at the blond seated by the tub watching him. 'You…zapped me!' he accuses.

It makes the male chuckle. "Yeah well, I didn't think I had much of a choice. You were in some pretty nasty trouble."

'There was no reason to electrocute me!'

"It got you to where I could find you. Be offended all you want but at least this way you don't end up sushi."

It was hard to be angry when he could tell the other WAS just trying to help. 'Whatever. Now what are you going to do with me?'

"We're bringing you back to the Guild we belong to until my grandfather who is master there can figure that out."

'Sure I'm not going to end up sushi THERE?'

"You might want to watch out for this blue, winged cat named Happy but other than that…No."

Freed snorts softly before he brings his hands up and touches along his throat. 'The…collar…'

"Yeah, I figured it would be nice to get it off of you…and makes traveling a little easier when you don't have fins."

'Did some research?'

"One of my teammates did. They're a little better about that then I am."

Freed glances at him a moment. "Thank you," he finally says aloud, "I…appreciate the help." He didn't like being beholden to anyone and certainly NOT some human but it was the polite thing to do.

"You're welcome. I'm Laxus. Laxus Dreyar."

He gazes at him a moment before replying, "My name is Freed."

"Nice to meet you, Freed."

"I'm not sure meeting you is the same."

Laxus chuckles. "You can make up your mind about that on your own."

He closes his eyes a moment. "So…what's…in this for you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean why come to the aquarium?"

"A friend of my grandfather's was sure something was going on out here so he asked us to look into it."

"Just like that?"

"Sometimes it's all it takes."

Freed snorts. "I have a hard time believing you do things out of some need for justice."

"So there is sometimes a payment that comes with helping others deal with their issues. But it's an exchange and helps with living expenses."

"Greed is still the same no matter what it's cloaked behind."

"This has nothing to do with that," Laxus replies calmly, "but I can't blame you for jumping to some pretty awful conclusions. You look like you haven't had a stellar time."

Freed opens an eye. "You be stuck in a glass box with no way out dealing with a collar that SHOCKS you if you don't do as you are told and talk to me about a NOT stellar time."

"Yeah, you do not like people."

"I don't like anyone at the moment which includes myself. Now, are we leaving soon?"

"Not for a few hours."

"Then go away and let me sleep. I'm tired and you make for horrible company."

Laxus slowly rises before chuckling. "Sure thing, Freed. Get some rest. It'll work out. It always does…at least that's what my grandfather likes to believe."

"Your grandfather is either an optimist or a fool."

Laxus glances at him before murmuring, "I'll let YOU decide when you meet him."

Freed slowly turns on his side making sure not to splash the water out of the tub. "Whatever. Nosy human." He gets a soft chuckle in return before the door closes with a soft click. Letting his eyes slowly drift shut, he had to wonder why he thought that things were only going to get more interesting and crazy and not LESS.

****TBC****