Part 2:

Laxus returned to his room feeling unsettled. He tried to convince himself it was because he was lonely and that maybe it had been rash to send Brisha away. Maybe she wouldn't have really yakked the entire time they were doing it. Then again maybe she would have. He frowned as he disrobed and pulled on a pair of boxers to sleep in. He told himself that he shouldn't be so desperate for sex that he was willing to do it with someone like her. She wasn't even his type. He lay back onto the bed. What was his type? He had asked Freed what the rune wizard's type was, but Laxus had to admit he felt as though he didn't have a good handle on what it was that attracted him to women. He hated to think his only prerequisite to dating someone was that they were willing to have sex on the first or second date. He had never meant to become that guy. Casual sex was one thing, but he didn't want to be like those Blue Pegasus guys who spent their entire day trying to weasel their way into ladies underwear. An image of Ichiya dressed in a woman's thong popped into his head and he gagged. He would never admit it but that man terrified him more than the Wizard Saints or the damn Magic Council put together.

Laxus tried to reassure himself that while he enjoyed the company of women he wasn't a predatory creeper like the man who constantly commented on Titania's parfum in a very suggestive way.

Maybe I just need to settle down and actually have a real relationship, he thought. He certainly wasn't getting any younger and he didn't dislike the thought of being with only one person. But it took a special kind of person to deal with being involved with a Fairy Tail wizard. Mages were often away for long periods of time on missions, they could easily end up maimed or killed at any moment, the jewels were inconsistent, and many of them suffered from a bit of narcissism. Not me though, Laxus thought. I don't just think I'm the best. I know it. And so does the old man and Freed and Bickslow and Ever. It's just Natsu who's too dumb to figure it out.

All this serious thinking was counteracting the muscle relaxation he had gotten by visiting the bath so Laxus told himself to quit being a pansy worrying about his love life, or lack thereof, and to instead go to sleep. The only problem was that his brain wasn't listening. It refused to shut off and since he seemed unable to clear his mind he switched his focus to his favorite topic, the antics of his partners in the Thunder Legion. What was up with Bickslow's dart throwing tonight? Half the time he hadn't even hit the target. And when the hell was Ever going to actually admit that she was head over heels for Elfman's manliness? Laxus had already told her he approved. It went without saying that he and Bickslow and Freed had to sign off on any gentleman who wished to date Evergreen, she was after all, theirs. We're a possessive lot, Laxus thought, recalling how people looked at the four of them a tad screwy whenever Freed referred to him as 'his' Laxus. You never hear Erza or Gray proclaim that Natsu's 'their' Flamebrain. It made his chest feel warm when he thought of how much his team cared about one another and how close they really were. They could tell each other anything, but the great thing was that most of the time they didn't need to. Laxus didn't particular like talking. He felt like most things should simply go without saying, like how he would do anything for his team and his fellow guild members.

Which is why he was feeling as though it was mighty important for him to figure out what Freed's type was, because if he himself couldn't get laid maybe he could at least find a way to show his best friend a good time, and if there was ever a man who needed a 'good time' it was Freed. Laxus wasn't even sure Freed had ever had sex. He knew he came close to it at least once, that one time when the two of them went on a double date with the Hostiss sisters, but Penelope and Freed were too shy to do much other than hold hands and kiss and it had been too cute for Laxus to give him a hard time about… But damn it, grumbled Laxus. That was the only time I've managed to get him alone with a girl overnight.

Laxus knew there was a strong possibility that Freed 'played for the other team,' but Laxus thought if that were the case Freed would have had the courage to at least tell the Thunder Legion the truth. It wasn't like they were going to judge him, they put up with that crazy dancing mage who was always wanting to try out his X-rated dance moves on them.

Laxus was frustrated. He wasn't sure if he should assume his friend was gay or not and that made it very difficult to play matchmaker. Hhhmmm, he thought. What does Mirajane do in situations like this? After some debate he decided that Fairy Tail's most notorious matchmaker wasn't worried about it and just tried to pair any lonely person with whoever else she felt was lonely at the time. Laxus was actually surprised Mirajane hadn't tried pairing Lilly up with someone yet. She wouldn't care that it was an interspecies romance, he thought with a grin. The takeover wizard was notoriously ruthless when it came to pairing up her guildmates.

So, if Freed isn't into any of the women that were around us today, he said recalling Freed's answers earlier that evening. It means it must be somebody back in Magnolia. He thought of every woman in the guild, but none seemed like a good fit. Ok, then he's gay or bi or something and he's obviously not into Bickslow, and who can blame him, the guys all tongue… very disturbing, really. He started thinking about their day. He said he had checked someone out today, though. Today. Who the fuck was around us today?! It certainly wasn't the bandits they fought. Those were some ugly ass mo'fo's, Laxus thought to himself. There were some men in the bar and none of them seemed too memorable… the ugly thieves, and their own team… and if he wasn't into Bickslow…

Like an ultra highspeed slideshow on the lacrimavision images appeared before his eyes one after another of his best friend, Freed: Freed by his side doing as instructed, Freed patiently going along with Laxus' ideas even when they were terrible, Freed bringing him breakfast in bed when he was sick, Freed playing the wallflower while Laxus danced with several different young ladies at the Magic Ball, Freed blushing when Laxus paid him a complement in front of their fellow guild members. It can't be, Laxus thought. No way. He would have told me. Wouldn't he?

Laxus recalled the time he'd been hit by a magical malady that had severely lowered his immune system causing him to catch multiple nasty cold bugs all at the same time causing him to be bed ridden. The first week Freed never left his bedside except to brew him tea or make him soup or broth. And he'd always bring it into the room on a tray with a vase with a little white rose in it. Laxus had called him 'butler' all week as a joke. Then when the second week rolled around and Laxus had still not recovered Freed had abruptly ordered Ever and Bickslow to stand watch at 'his' Laxus' bedside while he traveled to get Porlyusica. According to rumor, the rune wizard had arrived at her house in the middle of the night and insisted at swordpoint that she come with him immediately to save 'his' Laxus who was on the verge of perishing. Hhhhmm, murmured Laxus. Maybe that isn't normal. Until now, Laxus had always assumed Freed's seemingly odd behavior was normal for people who were more emotional in nature. But was Freed that emotional about things that didn't involve Laxus? The lightning mage had no way of being sure.

Then there was that time they had all been drunk and playing Truth or Dare because Mirajane had suggested it. Of course, she was the one to suggest it, thought Laxus. And Cana had been making all the guys kiss each other. "I'll let you pick who… but it's gotta be a dude," she had said. Laxus had looked around at the faces of his friends and shrugged. Gods, what did I say then? Something about it being Freed's 'lucky day', recalled Laxus. Oh, no! No wonder he hasn't told me. Shit, but he wouldn't have liked me that long ago. That was back when we were teenagers. But, Laxus remembered looking at Freed as their lips parted and a strange expression being on his friend's face and a hint of crimson across his cheeks and…

"Hooooly shit!" Laxus shouted sitting upright in bed. He got up and paced. It couldn't be. Freed would have told him. He wouldn't have just stayed by his side enduring that kind of pain like some kind of masochist would he? Laxus had to know, and while Bickslow was an idiot, Ever was pretty perceptive…

The lightning mage marched out of his room, realized he only had underwear on, turned back around, threw on his robe, and then proceeded down the hall to Ever's room and banged on her door.

"Go away. I told you. I'm not interested!" Ever shouted.

"Uh… it's me," Laxus said awkwardly wondering who it was she thought was rapping on her door in the middle of the night.

"Oh! Sorry," she said and he could hear her running over to open the door. Seeing the stormy expression on his face she asked if something was wrong as she as she ushered him into her room with a wave of her arm.

Laxus, his brow deeply furrowed, walked in and sat down in a chair by the fireplace. "I don't know. I need to talk to you about something."

Evergreen knew that Laxus wasn't one to waste words, so if he felt he needed to talk the subject was sure to be important.

"You want something to drink?" She asked trying to make the man more at ease.

Laxus shook his head but held out his hand at the same time. Ever retrieved a beer from the minifridge and popped the lid off it and put it in Laxus' hand. He wasn't acting normal. Maybe I better tell Freed. He always seems to know what to do when Laxus is out of sorts, the leprechaun thought.

"Ever…" Laxus said her name before bringing the glass bottle to his lips and downing about a third of it in one go. "I think Freed has a thing for me."

A smile spread across her face. Men really are stupid, she thought.

"Just worked that out, did ya?" she asked as she grabbed a beer for herself.

"He told you?" Laxus said, his eyes the size of planets.

"Honey, he didn't have to tell me," she said. "It's been pretty obvious for a long time."

"Shit," Laxus said, but why was he feeling flattered? Was he smiling?

Ever stared at her friend and arched an eyebrow. "Well, I have to get my beauty sleep. See you in the morning," she said walking to the door.

"Wait! I haven't even finished my beer!" Laxus pointed out, not getting up from his chair.

Ever nodded and walked over to him and removed his beer from his hand and walked back to the door with it.

Laxus frowned and got up and walked to the door.

"But!" Laxus protested.

Ever placed the beer in his hand and shoved him out the door sighing, "Honey, I can't tell you what to do. Deep down inside you're going to know what you want to do." She yawned. "Did you seriously not know?"

Laxus shook his head.

"Even after he asked you to dance?" Ever was looking at him like he was a dumbass and Laxus was beginning to think that he probably was. She shook her head. "Good night and good luck, ya big idiot," she said. "I'll see you in the morning." And with that she shut the door right in the face of one of Fiore's most powerful wizards.