I was writing for Beyond The Gate, when this little gem popped into my head fully formed. So I just… typed it out so it wouldn't be in my head distracting me anymore.
I don't know if this idea has been done before or not, but it was too cute not to post.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.
Mirajane was surprised, a couple of days after the Fantasia debacle, when Freed plunked himself down at the bar with a heavy sigh and a downtrodden expression on his face.
The now short-haired greenette then stared at her with an unnerving intensity.
"Is something the matter, Freed?" Mirajane inquired, concerned about her friend's defeated posture. Could he be brooding again over Laxus' excommunication? Freed had taken the whole ordeal rather well for Freed, though it had cut the man deep. Still, he was the leader of his group in Laxus' absence and he carried the burden with enviable poise and self-possession.
What could be getting him down?
Freed's green eyes darted away from Mirajane for a moment, while their owner debated with himself over confiding in the barmaid.
Smiling, the white-haired woman reached out and patted his hand over his guild mark. "You know you can talk to me about anything, Freed."
Looking back up at her, Freed returned Mirajane's gentle, kind smile with one of his own. "It is nothing, Mirajane. A trivial matter that I brought upon myself, no more. Nothing to concern yourself over."
"Oh, Freed." Mirajane sighed in exasperation and shook her head at his reticence. "You're my friend. We share our troubles to ease their burden – it doesn't matter if you consider them trivial or not. I care because I care for you. Now tell me – what's on your mind?"
The Rune Mage fidgeted at the affection Mirajane was openly displayed towards him, despite having seen him at his absolute worst. It would take some time before he felt entirely comfortable with this new development in his life. "It truly is… inconsequential, Mirajane."
"Nonsense. Now spill," she ordered firmly.
Unable to refuse when she was staring at him like that, Freed flushed a little in embarrassment. "It is mortifying to confess, however… I am beginning to believe my actions hasty in regards to… the altered state of my hair."
Mirajane blinked. Once. Twice. Three times.
"As I stated before – I brought this upon myself so I should learn how to just… live with it until it grows out once more. In fact, I did it with the intent of penance so I really shouldn't complain about it."
She really shouldn't giggle when he sounded so utterly miserable, but Mirajane couldn't stop herself from letting a couple of them escape.
Freed stiffened in his seat, offended. Although he hadn't expected any real sympathy for his plight, he hadn't anticipated laughter from Mirajane at his pathetic condition, either.
Mirajane reached out and patted his hand once more. "Calm down, Freed! I'm just happy that it's something easy to fix!"
His eyes alit with interest, he inquired, "You have a solution to my predicament?"
She smiled brightly at him. "Not me, per se. I do know who you could ask for help, though!"
"Please, do tell."
A scant half hour later, Freed found himself standing perplexed in front of a quaint townhome on Strawberry Street. He glanced down at the paper in his hand that Mirajane had scrawled the address upon.
This was it, then. Mirajane had refused to tell him who he was visiting, however. She claimed that she didn't want certain nosy, mildly overprotective morons to bother him while he asked this mysterious cure-provider for a favor.
Folding the paper and secreting it away in one of his waistcoat pockets, he mentally gathered his courage. After a few more hesitant steps, he was at the door. Politely, he rapped his knuckles upon the wood.
Several minutes passed, with no one appearing.
Deciding that the owner must not be at home, Freed started to turn to leave, when the door was thrown open.
Startled, he took a step back.
"I'm so sorry! I'm not used to having visitors that actually knock before intruding, so it took me a few moments to realize what the sound even was! Again, I'm so sorry! So… Hello! What can I… Freed?"
Just as surprised at the blonde woman's arrival as she was by his, Freed was hard put to articulate a coherent response.
"Lucy?"
Freed sat at his guild mate's dining table, mildly perplexed as to how he'd gotten there. One moment he and Lucy were staring at each other in shock in the doorway to her home, then the next she had invited him up to her apartment. Insisting the entire time that she make him some tea, despite his protestations to the effect of being an intruder upon her abode and he couldn't possibly inconvenience her further.
She had silenced him with a simple, "I'm making it anyway, and I need a second opinion on the blend – so really you would be helping me out. Not being an inconvenience."
Unable to argue with that logic, Freed had ceased speaking entirely and had allowed her to seat him at her table.
A cup of steaming tea was placed before him by the nervous-looking blonde. Wrapping his fingers around the delicate china, Freed took a sip.
"This is delicious, Lucy," he complimented. "I don't believe I've ever sampled this blend before. Are those hints of cranberry and blueberry?"
The Celestial Mage positively beamed at him. "Why, thank you, Freed! And yes, you are correct. I'm happy that you enjoyed it! I think you're the only person I've met in Fairy Tail who would even care for tea at all, to be honest."
He nodded slightly, taking another sip. "Most of our guild members' palettes are… unaccustomed to most drinks beyond alcohol, I'm afraid."
Lucy giggled. "That's one way of putting it." She took a seat across from him. "So, what brings you to my apartment?" she asked, holding her warm cup but not drinking from it just yet. "You looked as if you weren't expecting me to answer the door."
The Rune Mage set his own cup down. "I must confess that I was given your address by Mirajane, but I was not informed that you were the owner."
Waving her hand, Lucy smiled at him. "I'm just the tenant, actually. So Mirajane is giving out my address now?" Her eyebrow quirked up as she said it.
Freed flushed. "My apologies, but Mirajane said that you might be able to assist me with a problem I have."
Interested, Lucy leaned forward. "I would be happy to help!" she declared without hesitation.
He blinked at her in confusion. "But you haven't even heard the request…?"
Smiling brightly at him, Lucy shook her head. "I'm always pleased to help nakama! So, what do you need from me?"
Touched, he replied, "Your kindness is something I find astounding."
She flushed a deep, cherry red. "Oh, nononononono." Her hand waved wildly in dismissal of the flattery. "It's nothing so wonderful. Just…" She made a strangled cry in the back of her throat. "How can I help?" Lucy finally responded, in a squeak.
"I… er… how do I put this… I might have made a mistake in… changing the length of my hair. Mirajane said that you might have a solution for me…?" It was horribly embarrassing to admit to the girl sitting in front of him – even more than confessing his concern to Mirajane had been.
Lucy's eyes widened until they were the same size as the saucers her teacups rested upon. "Oh! Yes, I can help with that! Wait right there – you really picked the perfect day for this!"
Abruptly, she stood and pulled out a golden key and summoned forth a glowing spirit. "Cancer! I could use your hair expertise today!"
"I would be happy to help. Ebi."
"Not for me," she clarified, and pointed out a bewildered Freed. "He's the one we're working on today."
The giant crab spirit eyed the greenette's short hair with a critical eye. "Yes, he is in severe need of our assistance, Ebi." His scissors snipped at the air, in what Freed found to be a somewhat menacing manner.
Freed wasn't so certain this was a good idea, anymore.
"Lucy, I don't know how I can possibly thank you and your spirit enough for your assistance. Although, I must say I still don't understand how he could make hair grow with scissors alone."
The blonde woman smiled as she saw Freed off, his hair finally back to its proper length. "No problem. It's what nakama do for each other. And yeah, I don't get it either. But it works, so there's that."
"There's that," he agreed. "Still, is there anything I can do to repay the two of you?"
"Really, you don't need to."
"I insist."
Lucy thought about it for a moment. "Join me for tea again. And let Cancer do your hair for you again sometime – I think he really likes your hair."
Freed smiled at her. "So you wish to be my… drinking buddy?" he teased.
She laughed, a brilliant smile on her face. "Yes, I guess that's exactly what I'm asking!"
"I would be delighted – both to drink tea with you and let Cancer trim my hair again."
"…I don't think what he did was 'trimming'…"
"I… do not know what else to call it," Freed admitted. He paused, and added, "I'm sorry to ask, Lucy, but do you think you could…?"
Lucy smiled, and mimed zipping her lips shut. "My lips are sealed. I won't mention anything about your hair."
Relief rushed through him. "Thank you. It would be mortifying to have to admit that I didn't like my short haircut after I did it for penance…"
Lucy needn't have bothered to make that promise, it turned out.
Not one person said a single word about Freed's suddenly long-again green locks.
Because they were just too relieved by their reappearance.
Freed with short hair was just… terrifying.
And that's the end, folks. It was kind of fun to write. I had always wondered how Freed's hair suddenly grew long again… I have like, four theories, honestly. And Cancer confuses me – he really HAS made hair longer with just those scissors in the series.
Let me know what you think!
