Disclaimer: Plot is mine, characters are borrowed.

Author's note: Holiday Bixeel because I love these boys. Warnings include nothing more dangerous than fluff, a kiss between two males, and a mention of Fraxus and ElfEver. Happy Holidays, you guys.

Necessary Interference

He was watching, not sure how long but it was probably quite a while as Evergreen and Elfman swayed and danced before his eyes would drift to the other couple he'd been watching and feels himself smile despite the loneliness that gripped him to see Freed with Laxus. It had been a trying time getting those two together but it was well worth it for the happiness both exuded, even when Laxus point-blank denied it. It was in the way his eyes softened and his lips curved upwards whenever Freed was with him. Victory in all it's sweetness. All three of his dearest companions were finally finding their well-deserved happiness.

That was enough wasn't it?

Black-tinted nails would idly tap the edge of his cup before he'd take another sip. Perhaps it was the closest his own path would come to any sort of evened score. And he'd take that for everything that they'd faced over the years. It didn't make the cold nights any easier but he'd take their happiness above all else. Finally, red eyes would scan the rest of the ballroom; the annual Christmas ball in full swing having been planned between their ally guilds so there was a lot of mingling and at least no disasters yet. Most were just happy to chat, dance, drink eggnog, and avoid the mistletoe.

"You know, my boy, you could not skulk around in the shadows like you do." Master Makarov's voice makes him snort softly.

"It's how I operate, master, surely you know that."

"You've done wonders for those you profess to love but don't you think it's time that you..."

"No," he interrupts immediately, "No, I do not. They're happy. That's all I've ever wanted."

"Bixlow..."

"With all due respect, Master, I'd like not to talk anymore on the subject."

The smaller mage sighs and shakes his head. This brat of his was problematic on a good day but like all of those who belonged to his guild, he wished him happiness. And Bixlow seemed to be more than a little deserving of that considering the path the boy started out on.

As he watches, the younger mage walks off presumably to either slip out of the building or into another dark corner and sighs softly. He really needed... 'Don't worry, Master,' comes Peppe's voice, 'We'll handle him.'

He glances up at the floating tomman and smiles. "I certainly would hope so. That boy has gone through enough to deserve a little happiness of his own."

'We know. And despite Pappa's reiteration that it's most "unseemly", we're all in agreement that he needs this. And so does...well, so does the other. Just leave it to us.'

"I certainly will...just do not cause as much chaos as your charge is known for if you'd be so kind."

'Of course not. We leave the crazy antics to Bixlow.'

Watching as the tomman floated off after the other, Makarov feels himself more at ease. There were few that cared for the Seith mage as dearly as the five who guarded him did. Though he had to wonder just who they had a mind to pair up with the often mischievous male. Whoever it was, Makarov would bet his position as Guild Master that it would be an interesting match.

And Bixlow's mood would indeed take him outside to the small gardens held on the grounds that were neutral to the guilds involved. He finds an empty bench and sinks onto it finding that while the noise was soothing in it's way, he couldn't stand the sight of happy couples for long. Closing his eyes, he takes a deep, slow breath inhaling the pungent scent of the flowers having been spelled to bloom even in the bitter cold months. Slowly, he opens them and reaches out to gently brush his fingers across the petals of a nearby rose. Such a lovely, delicate thing to stand as a symbol of love but then again it did come back to life each year with care, time, patience, and commitment so perhaps there was a point to it.

"Got too loud fer ya, Puppet-Master?"

He nearly jumps not having realized he'd been approached. "Nothing is too loud for me, baby," he retorts as he forces himself to calm, "I just don't do 'sappy' well is all."

"Tell me 'bout it," the raven mutters, "It's enough to get cavities watchin' 'em."

Bixlow snorts softly. "So why aren't you in there with Levy?"

"Why does everyone assume I'm with th' Shrimp?"

"Ya spend an awful lot of time with her, baby. People suppose things from those you keep counsel with."

"Then yer in a foursome with yer teammates. How's that?"

That makes him snicker. "Oh yeah, baby, 'cause everyone thinks that would be at all harmonious. Freed would rune Ever and I into oblivion if he thought we were makin' calf-eyes at Laxus."

"True enough," the male replies before snorting, "Musta taken a real push to get those two together."

"I stole their clothes while they were in a hot-spring and shoved them in a closet."

Gajeel stills and stares at him. "What was that?"

Bixlow grins. "Ya heard me."

"And Sparky didn't kill ya?!"

"He was a little preoccupied for about three days. And by the fourth well he couldn't exactly be mad at me. Freed, however, warned me that if I did anything so forward again that I'd find out just how deserving of the nickname 'The Dark' he is. Doesn't matter to me much considerin' the whole point was to get 'em together."

"Got all three of 'em in a relationship...damn yer somethin'."

Bixlow shrugs and leans back in the seat relinquishing his connection with the flower. "It was what I wanted; them happy."

"That's devotion fer ya."

"They're the most important people in my life so yeah..." He gives another nonchalant shrug like it was no big deal. And in a way it was. It just didn't help when he was alone at night in his bed. He pushes that thought away. "So ya not with Levy? Seems a shame that someone so popular doesn't have someone."

"Havin' someone is overrated, ain't ya heard? Leadin' cause of divorce is marriage so the leadin' cause of breakups are relationships."

The quip makes Bixlow chuckle. "Perhaps...but I think that someone mighta mentioned down the line that there is no greater bliss than sharing one's journey with someone else or something sickeningly sentimental like that."

"Sounds about right," Gajeel retorts as he slowly makes himself comfortable on the bench with him. "So what about ya?"

Bixlow blinks before snorting. "What about me?"

"Any plans fer the future?"

"No, and besides, could ya really see anyone happy with me for long periods of time? I mean I'm tryin' on a good day."

"I'm sure someone out there appreciates that yer brand of mischief would lend towards a never borin' life."

"Or an exhausting one," Bixlow responds, "I just sorta figured I'd be alone. And with the others happy that's okay with me."

"Or is that just what ya say to try and make the ache in ya lessen?"

That makes the Seith Mage go silent as he thinks about it for a moment. He finally responds with, "At some point even a lie becomes truth if it's repeated long enough."

"I'm not sure that's how it works there, Puppet-Master."

"Well, it's how it works for me."

"Not too well if ya ask me."

"Well, no one did," he mutters before resting back and staring up at the night sky. It would be at this moment that he'd noticed they weren't alone. Red eyes narrow slightly. "I'm gonna skip the snide commentary for the time being and tell you to go away and take the damned plant with you, Pippi."

Gajeel follows the others glance before stilling. And there would be one of the male's trademark totems floating above them holding...well, mistletoe. He finds himself snorting at the others almost seething tone. "I assure ya that it ain't fatal to kiss me," the raven finally drawls.

Bixlow blinks before looking at him. "What did you..."

"I said that it ain't fatal to kiss me," he repeats, "I know ya can hear just fine, Bixlow."

Bixlow. He can't remember the last time the man had called him by his name or why he was suddenly so focused on that fact. But the way it rolled off the raven's tongue...He pushes down the spark of whatever flares to scowl. "It may not be fatal but it's assuredly unwelcome." His gaze returns upwards. "Go. Inside. Now, Pippi."

'Not until tradition is followed,' comes her reply.

Bixlow huffs. "Then you'll be waiting until long after Gajeel and I have died."

"Hey, don't speak fer me," Gajeel remarks, "I just said a kiss wasn't fatal. Considerin' the situation that should be taken as 'it's okay to kiss the surly iron dragon slayer without fearing him clubbin' ya over the head' ya know."

"Don't be arrogant enough to think I want to kiss ya, Metal-head!"

"Haven't ya learned yet that all us male dragon slayers are arrogant and self-assured?"

"You're also delusional if ya think I have ever entertained fantasies involving ya!"

If anything, Gajeel only looks more amused by his outburst. "Oh, is that so? Ya sure that likin' dragon slayers isn't somethin' you and Freed have in common?"

"Wh-why...what...Have ya lost your mind?!" What in Earthland was the raven on about?

"Well?" Obviously the male wasn't letting him get away from answering the question.

"I don't know what ya think ya know, baby, but..."

"It's who I know...and so do you, I'm sure. His name is Peppe."

Bixlow does a wonderful impersonation of prey being cornered by a predator. "Wh-what...did ya just say?"

"So say I've had a bit of a conversation with a floating tomman who just might have mentioned a time or two of the mage he's following waking up from some pretty interestin' dreams..."

"I'm gonna put said soul to his permanent rest," Bixlow finally manages to retort, "It's not his or your business, Gajeel. I'm serious."

"Mmm, not quite the answer I was lookin' fer. See, the issue shouldn't be how or why I know but more along the lines of what that means. Now, ya can stop havin' what amounts to an unnecessary panic-attack and we can move on to more enjoyable things or I can shut ya up and get yer attention in a far more desired way."

"And I'm tellin' ya that it's none of ya busi..." And that was as far as the raven was apparently allowing him to go before his mouth is caught in an aggressive kiss which effectively shuts him up and seems dangerously close to stealing his own soul.

The other pulls away before watching him and at the prolonged silence, chuckles and remarks, "If I knew it was that easy to keep ya silent I certainly would have done it a long time ago."

Bixlow merely brings a hand to the corner of his lips staring at the raven striving to comprehend exactly what was going on and it was quite hard at the moment to make the situation make any sort of sense. This gets the other grinning further before he slowly reaches forward and tugs him closer so that he'd soon find himself straddling the raven's lap. "Do ya wanna go around in circles some more about nothin' or shall I proceed with kissin' ya again?"

Figuring that answering him verbally probably wouldn't happen quickly enough for either of their liking, Bixlow closes the small distance between them and lightly kisses the dragon slayer back. It would be enough for him to take the wheel once more and end up with the Seith Mage far more breathless than before. And happier. Much, much happier. The feel of fingers cupping the side of his face has him leaning into the touch red eyes going half-lidded. "We should get inside," would come Gajeel's remark after a few moments, "before either of us comes down sick."

That thought displeases Bixlow as he was loathe to share the others company with the others. Reading some of this in his gaze, the iron dragon-slayer gives a low chuckle. "I said inside...not necessarily back into the party. You and I have a penchant for rule-breaking that no one is gonna find all that surprisin' if we just end up returnin' to the hotel."

Bixlow's expression says everything and the raven merely grins.

"What do you mean he ain't here?"

"I mean that Bixlow has left," Evergreen answers before sighing, "Mavis only knows what sort of mischief that man is concocting."

"He does anything stupid and I'm burying him in the snow," Laxus mutters.

"Well, apparently, he's not the only one to have vanished," comes Freed's voice, "Gajeel is no where to be found either."

"Metal-head up and vanished, too? The hell?"

'They're both fine.'

The three look up at Peppe. "Both of 'em? And how would you know?" Laxus asks.

'Because they went back to the hotel about three hours ago.'

"Well, Gajeel's never been one for socializing," Freed remarks, "but I would think that Bixlow..." His sentence trails off as he realizes there was more meaning to that sentence. "Do you mean that they left together?"

'Yes,' comes the immediate response, 'And if you all don't mind me saying...this will be good for both of them if you won't interfere.'

"Gajeel and Bixlow?" Evergreen asks incredulously.

'He's liked him for some time now.'

"Well, it could be worse, I suppose," Laxus mutters.

'You don't have to understand or approve...just don't get in his way. He deserves this.'

"'Course we ain't gonna do that. But that metal-eating idiot hurts him and all bets are off."