Disclaimer: I own the plot.

Author's note: This is for an anon who wanted anything with Bixlow/Freed…It's a bit angsty but there will be fluff in the future. Warnings include violence, angst, and angry Seith Mages…

*~*~*~*

Shelter

He'd swallow the hurt, angry words that bubbled under the surface clearly wanting an outlet which would only worsen the situation and clenched his teeth tightly. It was bad enough that he was struggling to blink back the angry tears forming in the corners of his eyes. Honestly, WHY did he put up with this again?

"What, no come back, PRISSY?!"

The sneering tone nearly has the rune mage flinching but he'd promised that when dealing with those who were NOT mages that magic would NEVER be a first resort. So at the moment, he was trying to just ignore the idiots and get back to his apartment. They just seemed to want to do nothing but heckle him. 'Walk,' he tells himself firmly, 'Just walk away because it's not worth…' His trail of thought is derailed immediately by the feel of something colliding with his shoulder hard enough to jerk him and send him nearly face-planting on the ground. Gritting his teeth, he grips his shoulder before forcing himself to merely right himself and start walking again.

'Do not retaliate, ignore them and get home,' he tells himself, 'It's only a few more blocks…' He wasn't going to fail to uphold his word to the Master. He was NOT. However, when the objects continue, he realizes that he has a few choices that he needs to make. Finally opting for the one that was most promising, he cuts down a street and changes course. If he wanted to get out of sight then he wasn't going to make it to his apartment. And while he was sure that it wasn't going to go over well, he was left with only this. He slips into a complex and heads to the third floor before knocking on a door. "Bix, open up, please…it's me."

Only a moment would pass before the door would open revealing the spiky-haired Seith mage. "Freed?" he asks before noticing the state of the other and immediately tugging him inside before shutting the door, "The HELL happened to you?"

"I apparently offend masculine sensibilities," the green haired male retorts bitterly.

"Those morons again? Freed-baby, WHY won't you let us handle them?"

"Because we promised NOT to use magic against those who don't have it."

"Magic wouldn't toss them into the river," he retorts as he reaches out and undoes his sword, "Get the coat off so I can see if you are badly hurt. And don't argue with me."

Sighing, the younger male does as commanded wincing as moving the one shoulder hurts. it only takes that reaction before the coat is removed far more gently by the other who hisses between clenched teeth. "Bix…"

"No, Freed," comes the terse response, "I'm going to BE angry. They have NO right to do this to you!"

"I'm KIND of pretty!" he points out.

"No, you're lovely as hell…and there is NOTHING wrong with that! Honestly, they need to find better reasons to hurt others than petty jealousy. Just because you're far better looking doesn't give them the right to be conceited assholes. And I'm sure if Ever and Laxus knew this was getting bad enough to INJURE you then the Master would be hearing about it."

"This isn't a guild problem, this is MY problem."

"Newsflash, ANY of your problems is a Guild problem…or at least a problem for the team. You KNOW better than this!"

Freed swallows. "I can't tell him, Bix. I can't tell him that I'm having trouble dealing with non-magical ruffians. He'll definitely be wondering why he puts up with me."

Bixlow makes an annoyed face that the other couldn't see. "Freed-baby, stop worrying about Laxus would you? He's gotten onto all of us for failing in some way…but he still calls us HIS. Now, take the damn shirt off because you're bleeding and I need to see just how bad that shoulder is."

"Are you sure it's NOT because you want me half-naked on your couch?"

That makes the older male roll his eyes before he replies, "No, Freed. And besides, I would want you FULLY naked and splayed out on my BED."

Freed nearly chokes as he stills before flashing a look at the other. The Seith mage stares back before commenting, "You never thought to wonder why I get so annoyed with Laxus? Freed…" He shakes his head. "Never mind, just take your shirt off so I can see. I promise I'm not going to do anything to you, okay?'

Slowly, Freed complies before responding, "I would never accuse you of such behavior, Bix. I just…I didn't realize…"

"Don't worry about it, okay? It's fine. But you need to stop trying to handle this on your own if it ends up like this. You could get seriously hurt before you realized there was a problem to be had. I know we promised he Maser not to use magic as a first resort…but you and I both know that he would not want you to just let them kill you, either."

He knew the other had a point. He just didn't really want to concede it and merely goes silent as the other gently doctors a few of the worst wounds and gets an icepack for his shoulder. He ends up falling asleep on the couch curled up with his head on the others leg too overwrought to do much more than that.

Slowly, Bixlow reaches down and gently brushes a few strands of hair out of the others lovely face. "They will regret this," he vows softly, "I promise you, Freed. They WILL regret this." The rune mage might always have a thing for Laxus which irked him to no end but it didn't stop Bixlow from accepting position of friend and protector regardless. He glances up before his mouth would curve into a cold cruel smile. "Go give 'em hell, babies," he commands softly, "Give 'em hell for MY rune mage." It wasn't like he wasn't already known for disobeying things when the mood took him.