The Last Place to Find Home
Fic TW: homophobic slurs, internalized homophobia, and verbal child abuse (a few flashbacks: I'll note them so you can avoid if you need).
A/N: My next multichap! With romantic angst, traumatic pasts, smut with emotional baggage, and gay Dragon Slayers—basically what you can expect from me. This one is already complete. So I won't take forever to update, woot.
Chapter 1: Frustration
The job was the kind Freed enjoyed, with forethought and strategy, not merely brute strength. Blackmail had occurred and someone had died; the family hired them to catch whoever was discovering secrets nobody should have access to.
They stumbled by pure accident on an eavesdropping girl who fled through a solid wall when they noticed her. Aha.
As the team gave chase, she disappeared in and out of walls, keeping just ahead of them until Laxus growled they needed a plan. While he, Bickslow, and Ever routed her, Freed set a simple jutsu shiki which caged her as soon as she emerged.
She slammed into his barrier, glaring at him in the twilight.
"She's awfully young," he commented as Ever rounded the corner.
Ever shrugged. "I've seen younger."
"Running an extortion operation?" Shaking his head, Freed asked, "Whom are you helping?"
The girl jerked her head in denial.
"You got her," Laxus growled as he and Bickslow arrived in the alley. "Slippery thing."
At the lightning mage's approach, she backed up until the runes stopped her, eyes sparkling with terror. Great: she was afraid of Laxus. Freed was both proud and exasperated.
"We're not going to hurt you," he said, not wanting to be too kind but not wanting her to have a heart attack either. "Just answer our questions."
She focused on the mouth of the alley for a moment, then found Freed's face. He watched her silent communion, expression flashing through half a dozen emotions. She settled on timid determination.
"I don't believe you." Her reedy voice made her sound even younger.
"We intended to stop you," Freed sighed. "Now that we've done that, we won't do anything else."
"Promise?"
Freed raised an eyebrow at Laxus.
"As long as you don't try anything, we promise," Laxus told the girl.
"Shake on it."
"You won't get me to take down the runes," Freed snorted.
"Then I'm not talking," the girl replied.
Rolling his eyes, the rune mage turned around. "Ideas?"
Removing his visor, Bickslow said, "Damn, she's only twelve."
No way she did this alone.
As if in answer, the hair on the back of Freed's neck stood on end. A sudden rise in magic power: he and Laxus both whirled, scouring the darkness.
"Oi!" Bickslow shouted.
Freed twisted back to find his jutsu shiki disappearing, the girl running through another wall. Before he could do more than raise his sword, orange flashed around them (the color of Laxus's eyes, some absurd part of him noted), trapping them in the alley. Runes.
"There!"
Ever pointed at a shadow fleeing the alley mouth. Without hesitating, Bickslow shot his dolls off in pursuit.
As soon as they passed through the orange light, they crumbled. Dust, in an instant.
Bickslow let out a pained yell.
Electricity flying along his skin, Laxus made a run at the barrier.
Standing right beside the runes, Freed had a horrible premonition of what would happen. He had just enough time to punch Bickslow away from himself before the orange runes exploded.
Lightning hit Freed's side and raced over his skin, muscles contorting. Each sharp jerk felt like it was tearing something, but the electricity numbed him too, a deafening roar in his head.
His body ran wild: it was horrifying for Freed, who prided himself on self-control. Right now he was useless to Laxus, useless to his Raijinshuu. He couldn't protect anyone.
Collapsing, Freed registered wet dirt—better than stone, at least—and waited for the charge to dissipate.
He hated getting hit by Laxus's magic. He was forever impressed by what Laxus could do, but he would much rather see it than experience it. Since the beginning of their friendship, Laxus's tight control meant this had only happened a few times.
As the pain subsided, Laxus's voice broke through the hum.
"—ou okay?"
Freed coughed and blinked.
"Yeah."
A hand hovered in front of his face, and after a moment processing the signals coming in from his extremities, Freed accepted the help up.
"Didn't expect that to happen," the Dragon Slayer mumbled, jerking away as soon as Freed was standing. "Good thing you're not burned."
"I'll be fine. I've been through worse," Freed chuckled.
When Laxus huffed in chagrin, his eyes met Freed's, silent apology and forgiveness passing between them. The Dragon Slayer moved to lean against the far wall in his usual lurking pose.
Freed massaged the hand Laxus had grasped, ostensibly because his muscles were still cramping. In reality, he was trying to erase Laxus's touch from his skin. Normally he was fine, but some days the most casual contact got his nerves jumping and brain spiraling off into places it wasn't allowed to go. Laxus was his teammate. Forever. Only.
"Freed, next time could you warn a guy with words?" Bickslow asked, rubbing his jaw.
"Sorry. I didn't want you getting hit too."
"So what is this magic?" Ever tossed a pebble through the orange light and it exploded. "Objects pass through but Laxus's fist didn't."
"They pass through and fucking disintegrate," Bickslow muttered through clenched teeth. "My babies hurt. They're too weak to possess new bodies."
Freed skimmed over the lines of symbols. It was no language he recognized, but there were familiar patterns.
Across the alley, Laxus frowned down at his fist then reached for the barrier.
"I wouldn't—" Freed began.
With a hiss, Laxus pulled back, knuckles bleeding where they'd touched the magic.
A smile dawned across Freed's face. "It's an interaction with your lightning. Can you electrify the barrier for me?"
"Sure." Laxus looked over at him. "The barrier drained my magic power both times I touched it. Just so you know."
"What happens if you don't make physical contact?"
Splaying his uninjured hand, Laxus sent a charge into the orange light and shook his head: no extra draw on his magic power. After a second's hesitation, Freed touched the tips of his fingers to the light.
"Careful!" Bickslow bellowed, but Freed's fingers passed through unhindered.
"Thought so. Laxus's magic makes it relatively safe."
"'Relatively' being the operative word," Laxus muttered, eying Freed's fingers.
Freed pulled back as his hand began to sting. There was a sense of being sucked in: the barrier leeched his magic power at a surprisingly rapid rate, and it took an effort to tear himself away.
"Do you think we can pass through?" Ever asked, staring up at the orange wall. "If we move fast enough, it might only sap a little of our magic."
"Or it might shed all the ethernanos from your body and you'll die," Laxus said.
"I wouldn't risk it," Freed agreed. He unsheathed his sword. "I don't recognize the language, so it might take a while to rewrite."
As Laxus ran a charge through the runes, Freed raised his sword—
The tip of Freed's sword melted.
Laxus nearly dropped his electrical assault as he saw the metal drip, hearing the others yelp in surprise. Maintaining the lightning, he glared at Freed.
"That doesn't look safe to me."
Freed frowned, laid down his sword, and pushed his fingers through. Though Laxus would never admit it, his pulse doubled before he saw Freed's fingers intact on the other side. Moving further, Freed pushed through up to his elbows, teeth clenched.
Then Freed's arms ignited.
Laxus barked an expletive. He couldn't do anything, too far away to render assistance. His occupied hand felt like a ball and chain.
"Freed!" Ever shouted, running forward, but the rune mage was already stripping out of his coat and shirt. The flames dissipated when the clothes landed on the ground, leaving Freed panting and staring at his singed skin.
Panting and shirtless.
"Not too bad," he said, despite the stretches of pink marring his forearms.
"Good," Ever said. "We don't have anything for heat burns."
Laxus was too distracted by Freed's lack of attire to dwell on the sting of that comment (they did have a salve for electrical burns). Freed's muscles flexed for a second as he shivered, abs standing out against the orange light. His pants sat low on his hips, muscles disappearing below the border of cloth in hard lines, and... Laxus's mouth watered.
As Freed rubbed his burned arms, Ever collected his wardrobe.
"You're such a slob," she teased. "Stop leaving your clothes everywhere."
Rolling his eyes, Freed nodded at Laxus in confirmation and shoved his hands through the orange barrier once more. Everyone tensed for a second until it became clear naked skin wouldn't ignite. Something about organic flesh, Laxus realized, mixed with his lightning.
Still, Freed winced for a moment before he could hide the reaction.
"Where's your—ah." Ever picked up his cravat. "You're so messy, Freed. I don't know how you live like this."
When Freed grunted, Bickslow burst out in a laugh and Laxus smiled. They all knew Freed was neat as a pin.
"I like this jacket," Bickslow commented, picking it up. "What do you think, Ever? Is it me?"
"Not your style at all. Only asshats would wear something so aristocratic."
Laxus snorted in spite of himself.
"Ever, just because you're not doing anything right now," Freed grunted, "doesn't mean you ca—shit!"
"Don't mess up," Bickslow called, but he added, "or hurt yourself."
Freed's knee struck the barrier, pants smoking where they made contact. At least he'd reacted before they caught fire.
Laxus had to inhale through his mouth to keep the smell of singed skin from overwhelming his nostrils. An incessant buzzing wormed into his brain.
"Be careful," he mumbled.
"No kidding," Ever said. "At this rate, you'll end up naked."
Still writing, Freed's voice rose in a growl. "I am not taking my pants off."
Laxus choked, coughing. Freed without his pants. No, wouldn't want that.
"You should keep your pants on, Ever," Bickslow piped up.
"I'm wearing a skirt, dumbass."
"Yeah, but the expression isn't, 'keep your skirt on.'"
"It can be. You're just being sexist."
Bickslow stuck his tongue out and the two fell quiet, watching Freed's fingers fly over the foreign runes.
Laxus maintained a silent vigil over the barrier. Electrifying it was simple, but Freed's hands were at stake—and possibly his nose: he was leaning dangerously far into the neon light. Laxus refused to be distracted.
Even though distractions were abounding. Like Freed's shirtlessness.
It wasn't often you could get Freed like this. He wasn't self-conscious, just always put-together. Part of that was his personality, but it was also his need to be responsible at all times. Which was why his teammates were teasing him so mercilessly.
Taking a hard breath, Laxus looked away, focusing on his own hand, much rougher than Freed's lithe, streamlined frame. Laxus's knuckles were still bleeding, though the magic power running through his veins would stop that soon.
Wait, magic power. Freed was dipping surprisingly low.
"Freed," Laxus said in warning.
"I know."
Freed pulled back rubbing his arms. The buzzing ceased and Laxus realized it came from Freed's contact with the barrier. The sound made his spine itch.
"Dammit, I'm going numb," Freed said.
"Your magic…"
"That too."
At his off-hand tone, Laxus glared. Freed's levels had dropped enough for Laxus to feel it, which shouldn't happen in mere minutes: Freed was powerful. This was serious.
"Are you sure it's not damaging you?" Bickslow asked, while Laxus muttered, "I can try blowing it up again."
"No," Freed said, "and no, Laxus. I'm fine." In a much quieter voice, he added, "There's something wrong about this language."
With a determined twist of his lips, he pushed his arms through again, orange sparks flying off his skin. At Freed's pained hiss, Laxus flinched. Bickslow and Ever looked at each other, helpless.
"Laxus, what if you get right next to him?" Ever offered.
Shoving off the wall, Laxus strode closer.
"If this electrifies you, blame her," he grunted, moving his hand right next to where Freed's muscled arms pierced the orange wall.
Freed let out a sigh.
"That's much better. Thank you."
His voice traipsed into Laxus's heart and calmed his pulse.
Laxus could see Freed sweating, the delicious muscles of his back tensing as he messed with the twinkling runes. The pain had to be intense if Freed was exerting this much effort. And trying to hide the fact. Freed's magic power was less than halved already.
Dammit, Laxus wanted to punch the wizard who'd so easily trapped them like fireflies in a glass and was now torturing his Raijinshuu's captain. He wanted to punch them really, really hard. Then collect the reward, go home, and drink for a while. Preferably by himself where he didn't have to deal with humans, shirtless or otherwise.
Come on.
Even as he waited, Laxus's gaze kept landing on Freed like a fly drawn to fruit. It shouldn't mean anything, of course, his brain being diverted down channels of how very attractive Freed looked at the moment: anyone would notice Freed like this. Including straight people like Laxus.
No homo: Freed was one of the few special people he could tolerate.
Blinking, Freed drew a rune with sloppy, unfocused strokes. Since Laxus stood at sharing-body-heat distance, he felt the moment Freed's magic began vanishing faster and faster. Freed's fingers slowed.
Laxus yanked him backward. Stumbling, Freed slumped to his knees before Laxus could catch him, breathing hard.
"Fuck it, Freed," Laxus ground out, crouching at his side.
"It's done." Freed closed his eyes, gulping to catch his breath. "But thank you."
"Wasn't going to let you pass out," Laxus grumbled.
Freed's arms shook at his sides, skin slick and raw, magic nearly depleted. He frowned at whatever sensations swirled behind his closed eyelids.
His arms and hands were an ugly pink and the scent of burned flesh made Laxus want to claw his nose off. He stood, trying to escape it: that smell was worse than blood (which frankly made him hungry), and when it was one of his teammates—when it was Freed—it set his already edgy nerves sparking off. He needed an opponent to take this aggression out on. He needed vengeance.
When Ever offered Freed a hand, she had to drag him to his feet.
"You're finished?" she asked.
"The barrier is still there," Bickslow said, as if Freed hadn't noticed.
Glancing at Freed's triumphant, too-pale face—a face he could trust no matter what—Laxus strode through.
His teammates gasped, but then the Dragon Slayer was standing on the other side and Freed flashed a smug grin.
"I neutralized the effects," Freed explained as he leaned on Evergreen's shoulder, following with unsteady steps. "I've never seen that language, but once I figured out the syntax, I just had to start crossing the right particles out."
"Nice." Bickslow clapped him on the shoulder, his voice filled with the same boggled pride they usually had for their Freed. They didn't always understand what he said, but it was obviously smart and cool and had worked.
Bickslow turned to Laxus.
"Smell anything?"
"The girl and someone else."
He struck a direction down the dark street and the four set out, but when Freed nearly toppled, Laxus slowed in concern.
"Shit." Freed's mouth twisted. He despised being weak.
"Has anyone considered that they're way ahead by now?" Ever asked. "No offense, Freed."
"Sorry."
"Didn't I just say 'no offense'? Here, take your clothes already."
"You're not enjoying the view, Ever?" Bickslow teased. "I thought you were into men."
"She's only into one man," Freed corrected.
Evergreen sputtered. Hearing a rise in her heartbeat, Laxus grinned. His nose had a good idea who Freed meant.
"Freed's into men too!" she finally managed.
Laxus's neck went taut at the words and he heard Freed's swift exhale. This wasn't a safe topic. Not when they were both present.
Oblivious, Bickslow retorted, "Freed isn't going to check himself out."
"How would you know? I check myself out all the time," Ever shot back.
Laxus's hands curled into fists. This isn't happening.
"Would someone lend me a hand?" Freed interjected desperately.
His fingers shook visibly and he couldn't keep a grip on his garments. Bickslow helped him get his arms into his shirt and jacket while they began walking slowly.
"You get to do your own buttons," Bickslow said. "And there's no way in hell I can tie your cravat-thingy unless you want to be strangled."
"It's an ascot, actually."
When Freed attempted the first button and couldn't even line up the seams, he gave up with a sigh.
"This way you get to show the town your pecs," Evergreen said in consolation. "This is the hour when single men are walking home from work…"
"Stop it," Freed said flatly.
"Does someone already have a date waiting back home?" Bickslow cooed. His tone made Laxus want to slap him. "You never tell us these things, Freed. Sometimes I wonder whether you'd even let us know if you had a boyfriend."
"Please stop," Freed said, head hanging, sounding almost despondent. "We're on a job."
This was the one topic Laxus and Freed could never broach around each other. The mere subject of dating made Laxus upset and Freed anxious. Freed's apprehension made Laxus more pissed, and his anger made Freed that much more nervous, like prey waiting for the predator to pounce. It was a vicious, awful cycle Laxus avoided at all costs.
He never wanted to think about Freed's love life again.
Tense and bitter, Laxus sped up his pace, forcing the others to shut up and follow.
"Freed can't go this fast," Bickslow protested.
"Ever's right: we're behind." Even as Laxus said it, he glanced back at Freed. "Can you keep up?"
The relief in Freed's face was heart-breaking. Like Laxus had just saved him from torture.
"I'll be fine," Freed said, giving him the same old smile. Back to known ground.
When the team broke into a jog, all conversation ended. The only sounds Laxus could hear were their scudding footsteps, Freed's harsh panting, and his own crashing heartbeat.
Laxus was a hulking shadow at the bar, taking up a good meter of space where he hunched over a tankard. Mira assumed the mug was empty: she couldn't think of another reason why it deserved the dark, terrible look he directed at it.
"What's wrong?" she asked, sidling over.
Laxus glared at her, but Mira just raised an eyebrow.
"Is your drink too strong?" she taunted.
"As if."
A silent, deadly sort of anger hung in the air around him. It was for him to be alone instead of off in a corner surrounded by his Raijinshuu. There were circles under his eyes and something strained about his expression.
Mira propped her hand on her hip.
"Who is it?"
Laxus stiffened. "Who?"
"You've either fought with someone or fallen in love. Which is it?"
"Neither," Laxus growled, meeting her gaze for too long.
She couldn't help the corner of her mouth curling in a smile.
"You've fallen for someone, then."
About damn time. Laxus stared at the bar as if ignoring her would make her go away. He should know better.
Leaning on the counter, she said, "Fine, I'll phrase it your way: you're sexually frustrated."
"You think I'd have trouble finding a fling if I wanted?" he snarled, the sudden anger confirming her suspicions.
"In my experience, it's not about ability or attractiveness as much as people think."
He relaxed a little.
"So why haven't you slept off your frustration with someone?" she asked. "Unless you are pining after a specific person."
Laxus narrowed his eyes. She was hoping he would admit who he was crushing on, and that it would be Freed. She'd been waiting to see them together for so long now.
When Laxus remained adamantly silent, she said, "If I had someone I wanted but couldn't be with, I'd get over it by finding someone else to date or fuck or whatever. Someone casual."
"You offering?" he sneered.
"No." She looked him up and down in obvious judgment. "You're not my type."
"Go pester someone else."
This was going to take real meddling.
"I know someone who would sleep with you," she said.
Laxus raised both eyebrows.
Setting him up with Freed directly could be risky, but Mira was sure as soon as Laxus found himself in Freed's arms, he'd realize what was obvious to everyone else: the two men were a matched set.
Nor was she lying about Freed taking casual lovers—that was the only kind Freed took. His heart was otherwise occupied, dating others never overcoming his adoration for Laxus. So he dated and fucked and was forever lonely, and Mira hated it.
"One of our guildmates is a relaxed lover," she said carefully. "No strings attached. And you're definitely their type. If you're interested."
"You saying Fairy Tail has a resident whore?"
Her palm connected with Laxus's cheek before he even saw it coming.
"Fuck, Mira!" He put a hand to the red mark and glared at her. "What the hell?"
"Don't you dare talk about our guildmates that way," she hissed.
"Are you attempting to look demonic? That glare might scare small children."
"As I was saying," she said, "if you want a casual hookup, I know someone who'd do you."
Laxus sat back in his seat, trying not to look interested.
"Any reason you're pimping your friend out?" he asked.
"You seemed like you were in need, and I like connecting people for everyone's mutual benefit." She grinned. "Like I said, you're very much their type."
"What's their sex?" Laxus growled in a low mutter.
"Er…"
Uncertainty fluttered through her. Freed had never told her how he was so sure Laxus wouldn't date him, just that it was one hundred percent certain and he refused to ask Laxus out.
But Laxus was obviously not straight and he couldn't be homophobic. He didn't bat an eyelash at Gray and Natsu—he'd been the one to out them. He jeered at Cana for her walk of shame last week, but said nothing about her wearing Lucy's clothes. So why should sex matter?
"Dick or cunt?" he sighed, rolling his eyes at her slowness.
"Dick."
There was a pause.
Then he said very, very quietly, "Okay."
She was so used to Laxus balking she blinked in surprise.
"Well?" He waved a hand. "Who is it?"
"I'll check with them first. If they're game, I'll set things up."
"Okay. Whatever." He glared down at the counter.
It was too easy. Freed and Laxus were finally getting together.
As she turned away, thick fingers wrapped around her wrist.
"Mira, be fucking discreet."
Dark threats lurked in his eyes. Mira stared back.
"Of course."
She wouldn't risk someone screwing up the two men's chance at happiness.
Letting go of her, Laxus went back to glowering at his drink.
Chapter 2: Imperfections
A/N: I love how Mira doesn't even consider Laxus might be straight; his attraction to men is that obvious to her.
Sometimes I think I'm very clever, like a fly drawn to fruit...Freed is FRUIT...okay yeah bad puns. Freedback appreciated. (Laxus: "I would love to get Freed on his back" lolol what is wrong with me)
