Lighting the Way Home
Disclaimer: I own the plot and the twisted mind.
Author's note: Here's the start of a multi-chapter AU Fairy Tail fic in which Freed starts out in Grimoire Heart. Events after the Phantom Lord Arc have been altered to suit this time-line. I make few excuses for this other than the desire to try something of this nature. Warnings include angst, dark themes (violence, non-consentual sexual acts, mentions of rape, abuse), OOC on the parts of pretty much everyone, I'm sure (especially Zancrow and Rustyrose...because I paint them as some pretty nasty guys...just a heads up there). It will eventually be Fraxus. Eventually. I promise. As always; reviews are well received!
Prologue: Freed the Dark
Sweat pours down beneath his clothing and his body shudders as he teeters on the edge of complete exhaustion and magical drain. 'Just...one...more...' he thinks struggling to keep his focus even as his vision swims and doubles. He had to get this done and he couldn't afford to fail. Master Hades would NOT be forgiving of that and the last thing desired was to grant the male a reason to punish him. The early morning chill grants the green-haired male a bit of help in staying awake as he forces himself to continue casting. The horizon was starting to color with the impeding dawn and he had to get out of there soon. 'Just...a few more...Please...I have to...Please...'
Someone seems to be listening as the last enchantment is cast and laid to wait. He staggers and barely manages to keep from crumpling to the ground. He needed to get back. His task was done and Master Hades would have no reason to take ill with him. And that was something desperately needed by the blue eyed male stumbling back.
Bone-tired and completely drained of magics, he stumbles into the aircraft that doubled as their Guild Hall. "Well, well, well, look who finally got done a simple assignment. Honestly, I don't know why the master puts up with such a pitiful excuse for a mage," comes the caustic tone of Rustyrose, "Guess you have to be pretty good with that mouth of yours, eh, Freed?"
The male's commentary would normally bring an embarrassed flush to his face and some snarky response but at the moment, Freed did't really care. He wanted to lie down too much to want to bother with the male who he felt was a complete waste of space in his own right. Declining to even acknowledge the other, he heads further in knowing he'd best give a report and then perhaps he could rest. That was if Zancrow didn't want...He immediately derails that train of thought. There was no need to panic himself at the moment.
He comes to a stop before a familiar door before rapping on it knowing better than to enter without permission. A moment later, he'd hear, "Enter, Freed." Promptly, the command would be obeyed and he'd soon find himself standing with his head lowered by the male's chair. "I take it that you did as I commanded?"
"Yes, Master Hades," he answers, "They will have a most...unfortunate day."
"Good. I warned them not to fail me and that to do so would cause them dearly. I do not tolerate failures as I have warned before. They'll learn. Everyone does. But that is no longer an issue. You've pleased me with this, Freed Justine. Go and rest."
He bows deeply. "My gratitude, Master Hades." When he'd become so automated, he couldn't remember and perhaps didn't want to but it wasn't something he wanted to think about as he makes a retreat for the room he hoped was empty. That, too, was something he didn't like to think about but it was the situation as it stood. Pausing by the door, he closes his eyes a moment before finally unlocking and stepping within. The dark room appeared to be empty but Freed had learned a long time ago not to trust appearances when it came to the members of Grimoire Heart...and especially not the Seven Kin of Purgatory. Blue eyes strain for a hint of who he was seeking hoping desperately that he wouldn't find him. A moment later, the light would flip on.
"It took you longer than it should have to set those runes."
Freed tenses involuntarily. "They were completed as ordered by the Master."
"Completed or not, I know how fast you can work. You were stalling." The accusation was clear even with the congenial tone the other was using.
"That's not..." The protest dies as the other rises and moves towards him. Backing away only ends up with him against a wall with no where to go. "Z-Zancrow, please..."
"You take me for a fool still, I see."
"N-No, that's not..." The backhand is enough to topple him to the floor with as little strength as he had remaining.
"Do NOT contradict me!"
Freed flinches and wishes for the umpteenth time that he hadn't gotten stuck in the middle of this mess. "F-forgive me, Z-Zancrow." This wasn't going to end well, that much Freed already knew. Angering the blond was a good way to get himself hurt and considering that it didn't take much to do that in addition to the fact that plainly the other LIKED causing someone pain, Freed spent an awful lot of time regretting a lot of things...which included EVER being born.
"Forgive you, huh? Well, I'm not a very forgiving God-Slayer and you know that. So you're just going to have to EARN it."
Freed swallows, his gaze lowering knowing that there was nothing to do but play this out to it's inevitable conclusion. "What is your command then?"
"Get on your knees and crawl to me. SHOW me how sorry you are for arguing with me...for thinking you have the RIGHT to sass ME."
There were just times that he hated how things had gone in his life and this definitely made that list. Exhausted, aching, and wishing the male to all sorts of unpleasant places, Freed does as commanded hating the humiliating position it put him in and hating MORE what this would lead to. He wasn't stupid and he knew by the time all was said and done; he'd be in even MORE pain for his troubles. It was how things had progressed in his life thus far.
The son of a dark wizard who belonged to a guild affiliated with Grimoire Heart, Freed Justine was versed in runes and dark-scripting. He'd been scouted by several of the other Guilds they were connected to but it would be Grimoire Heart that would claim him mostly because he caught Zancrow's attention and the male had a serious need apparently for entertainment to keep himself in check. So here he was stuck; in the middle of hell dealing with a group of fanatics wanting to locate Zeref and change the world while he played toy, punching bag, and tool for whatever was needed of him. It was no wonder Freed sometimes thought it might be better if he stopped breathing altogether. If this was all life had in store for him then he really HAD drawn a the short-stick.
The feel of fingers entangling tightly in his long hair once he ends up at the others knees has his eyes watering from pain but he was well aware of how much worse this was going to be especially when he's tugged closer. He'd slowly raise trembling hands and remove the hindering articles of clothing wishing this hadn't become a twisted punishment but then he recalls that he was dealing with dark wizards who seemed to enjoy causing as much pain to others as they could. Hoping that if this went well nothing more would be demanded of him even though that hope was slim to none at this point, he focuses on the others needs and wants with the skill experience granted praying it WOULD appease the male into not touching him further because he wasn't sure he could handle the sheer violence the other was known for in addition to everything else.
Banging on the door is what rouses the sleeping mage who blearily opens an eye and wills the unkind soul to the depths of hell for disturbing his sleep. Feeling WORSE than he had when he'd returned, Freed did NOT want to get out of that bed to deal with whatever petty nonsense was going on. "You lazy, useless waste of space, if you do NOT open this GODDAMN door..." Rustyrose's voice makes him grit his teeth before forcing his bruised frame from the bed and into pants before he'd pad over and yank it open almost making the male fall.
"I-is there a reason you're bothering me?" he demands, "or do you just find it entertaining to cause me as MUCH grief as possible?"
The male straightens before balling his hand into a fist and Freed ends up on his ass from the blow to the jaw. "Remember your place, bitch," the male sneers down at him, "You're here because your magics can be useful and because you keep Zancrow satisfied enough not to be a complete raving lunatic. Other than that, I can't see MUCH use for you as utterly inept as you are."
Repeating to himself that he didn't need to argue with the male before him because it would do nothing but cause trouble, he forces out, "Wh-what can I do for you, Rustyrose?"
"Get dressed. You have a new assignment."
His magics were hardly up to par for anything too difficult but something tells him that mentioning that wouldn't be a wise idea and he merely withdraws and shuts the door blocking the other from view, the sting of being considered lesser filling him. He'd been told enough by the father who was only too glad to get him out of his sight that he was a failure that he didn't need to hear it from every OTHER dark wizard he met. Honestly. He pulls on his usual attire which was more to hide the various bruises and formless enough to lessen the amount of time he had to hear "girly" being thrown at him. Not that it stopped some of them but it kept the commentary down.
Reappearing, he finds that Rustyrose is no longer alone as Meredy is with him. "You two will be going and observing the goings on at a Guild our Master wants to keep out of our business."
It sounded like a spying job which was definitely less taxing than the runes he'd had to do. "Which guild?" Meredy demands.
Rustyrose snorts. "Fairy Tail. Apparently Phantom Lord did a good job of destroying their Guild Hall so they're busy trying to rebuild which should keep them occupied enough to stay away from what we're doing. Insufferable busy-bodies those ones. The Master needs them to stay THERE so keep them suitably stuck with what they are doing. I'm sure you two can handle that."
It's not long before they're alone on a train heading for Magnolia City. Freed stares out the window trying to get lost in his thoughts before the feel of something cold has him flinching. "Easy," Meredy soothes, "You're going to bruise if you don't handle that. Honestly..."
"Don't worry so much," he tells her as he takes the icepack gratefully, "You know how they see that."
"And? They shouldn't be so cruel to you. You've never done anything to deserve that."
Of all those at Grimoire Heart, Meredy's presence made him hurt the most knowing how she'd come to be there and being unable to warn her of the truth. Watching the others see her become attached to Ultear, desperate for a way to reclaim what was lost and not knowing who had taken it all away in the first place just made Freed's heart break into millions of pieces. "Life is...cruel sometimes," he says after a moment.
"It's not fair to be that way. Hopefully when we find Zeref...things will be better. They HAVE to be better, Freed."
The need for that, the almost desperation is nearly more than he could stand as he was beginning to think that this whole thing with Zeref was one crazy attempt at destroying EVERYTHING but he didn't dare say that aloud. The thought of a world that enticed people like Rustyrose and Zancrow just made him want to be physically ill. However, it kept Meredy going so he refused to disillusion her which was probably a far crueler act.
The train gets to the station and both head for a hotel. Stepping into it, Freed finds himself just wanting to curl up. As if sensing his thoughts, he feels a slight push towards one of the beds. "You go and get some more sleep," Meredy coaxes, "I'll take a look around the city and scope out the best place to observe them from. You're still exhausted from your previous job."
"Please be careful," he tells her.
She smiles softly at him; one of the few honest caring expressions. "Don't you worry about me. Rest. You need it."
Around everyone else, Meredy was cold and calculating but alone with him and she let herself out a little bit as Freed did the same. It was why watching this whole farce play out with the Seven Kin was so absolutely devastating. However, he was well aware of what would happen if he so much as hinted to Meredy of the truth so he merely slides his sword, jacket, and boots off and curls up. Hopefully, it wasn't too hard to keep Fairy Tail suitably busy for their Guild. Even if it was, it didn't matter. Orders were orders and he wasn't about to fail. His thoughts soon just derail as his eyes flutter before closing and sleep takes a hold of him.