For infinite-atmosphere for all the Fraxus art. You wanted angst. Here you go.
Red on Green
a Fairy Tail fanfic
by Rhov
Laxus' hand shook as it reached down. He stroked Freed's hair, just as he had done so many times before. Whenever he did, even just in a friendly gesture, Freed had always smiled with a look of peacefulness, joy, and warmth. When Laxus had caressed his head in more intimate moments, just the two of them, Freed always leaned in with a hum and rested against his chest.
His pale face was now frozen with pain and his last seconds of fear. He felt cold, and his turquoise eyes that had looked upon Laxus with adoration now stared out blankly.
Laxus shook his head, refusing to believe it. The stench of blood filling his nose said otherwise. Across the cobbled road, the sun shined across red on green. A little behind him, he heard Evergreen's sobs. Bickslow had removed his helmet to wipe aside tears. Everything else was silent. Fairy Tail normally did not kill, but Laxus lost control. Seeing that … how could he not?
"Why?" Laxus shuddered, collapsing across the motionless body.
Why had he leaped in the way? Why had he taken the shot? Laxus had trained, trained so hard, for so long, so that none of those he loved would ever get hurt again. He had sworn to himself … sworn to them … he would protect the ones he cared for.
He would protect his guild!
How could he not protect the man who loved him?
Laxus let out an enraged roar and punched the ground hard enough to shatter the stones and leave behind a crater. Blood trickled from his knuckles and mixed with the pool of Freed's blood.
Freed used to declare stolidly yet with pride that they were Laxus' bodyguards. Some people called the trio merely Laxus' groupies. Yet today, Freed showed he had not been lying. He had taken his job seriously. Long ago, Makarov asked him to watch over Laxus, keep him out of trouble, and protect him if he ever needed it.
He did his job as a bodyguard.
Laxus grabbed up the body and cradled it in his arms. Freed's hand flopped out, the guild mark still on it, and his hair draped around Laxus, almost touching the ground. Laxus turned away from the concluded battle and marched off.
Evergreen wiped her eyes and replaced her glasses. "Laxus?" she whispered, seeing the grimness in his face.
He did not stop. "I'm taking him home."
He had sworn he would get strong enough to protect them all.
He failed.
