A/N: Thank you everyone who read, favorited, followed, and reviewed the first chapter. I was a bit nervous about posting this story for some reason and so I greatly appreciate the good response I got.

Chapter 2

The Thunder God Tribe had met the reporter at the guild hall like Mirajane had directed them. Evergreen nudged Freed hard in the ribs to get his attention. At first he glanced at her with annoyance but then he looked up and saw the reporter approaching. Even Freed, who only had eyes for Laxus, had to admit that the reporter was very attractive. He was tall, with dark hair, olive skin, and chocolate brown eyes. He was conventionally handsome with just enough character in his face to make him interesting.

"Hi, guys, I'm Asher, a reporter from Sorcerer Weekly. I assume Mirajane told you all that I wanted to interview you for an article about Laxus Dreyar," Asher told them.

"Yes," Freed replied with a pleasant smile. "We would be happy to answer any questions you have about our Laxus."

"Alright then. How about we find a quiet place where the four of us can talk?" Asher glanced around pointedly at the more curious members of the guild who had gathered. He actually staggered back a step in shock when his eyes found Lucy who was trying to drape herself across a table in a sexy manner to attract his attention.

"Okay, who told Lucy there would be a reporter from Sorcerer Weekly here?" Freed hissed at Evergreen and Bickslow.

Bickslow turned an accusing gaze on Evergreen and Freed followed suit. "Well, I had to tell her why I needed Cancer to style my hair," she informed them defensively as she brushed away a strand of her now silky hair from her face.

Freed turned back to Asher. "We could go to the basement. There should not be too many people down there."

Asher looked relieved at Freed's words and nodded. "Sounds good. Lead the way."

Once they were all settled around a table in the basement Asher pulled out a notebook and pen. "Alright, let's get started. So question number one: What would you say has been the most difficult job Laxus has ever been on?"

Freed jumped in to answer the first question. "There has never been a job too difficult for Laxus. No matter what job he endeavors to complete he always finds a way."

Asher nodded and wrote down Freed's response. "What would you say is Laxus' most admirable trait?"

The interview went on and Freed started to relax. He had anticipated there being harder questions or questions that seemed prying or inappropriate. So far they seemed harmless. The three of them gave an abridged version of how they met Laxus and became a team. He found it rather enjoyable to be chatting about his favorite subject.

"Is it true that during the Grand Magic Games that Laxus fought the entire Raven Tail team including his own father?"

They all sat up a bit straighter now on guard at the question. "Yeah," Bickslow replied slowly.

Asher jotted down the response. "And how did he feel about the battle?"

Evergreen cleared her throat and gave Freed and Bickslow meaningful looks. Freed's mind had gone blank. Laxus would not want them talking about that battle or what effect it had had on him. Yet he couldn't think of a tactful way to steer the interview away from it.

"I bet you're wondering how I got my hair so silky!" Evergreen suddenly stated loudly. "You see, one of Lucy's celestial spirits styled it. You can touch it if you want."

Bickslow jumped up and his dolls lined up in the air. "My babies have been practicing a synchronized routine. Would you like to see it?"

Asher shook his head with an amused smile. "No, that's okay."

Freed let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "So, what is the next question?"

"Well, I guess I'll skip most of these about the Grand Magic Games. Never let it be said of me that I don't know how to take a hint." The Thunder God Tribe let out a simultaneous sighs of relief as Asher flipped through his notebook looking for the next questions. "Here we go. Is Laxus currently seeing anybody? There have been some rumors about him and a certain red-headed, S-class wizard who wears armor."

Freed felt like his insides had suddenly been submerged in cold water. His mouth went dry and he had to take a sip of Evergreen's drink so that he could speak. "Are there really rumors about him and Erza?"

Asher's eyebrows raised in interest. "Yes. Is there any truth to these rumors?"

"Of course not!" Evergreen replied. "Erza and Laxus would never work out. Besides Laxus is much too focused on work to be sidetracked by a relationship."

Bickslow nodded in agreement. "He doesn't like the drama."

Bickslow's dolls bounced in the air as the agreed. "Too much drama!" they chanted. "Too much drama!"

For the rest of the interview mostly Evergreen and Bickslow answered questions. Freed was seriously starting to consider Cana's advice. He shouldn't have gotten so worked up over rumors that he knew were untrue. Maybe going out on dates with new people might help him not obsess over Laxus so much.

They all went back upstairs as Asher asked. "I would like to schedule a photoshoot for tomorrow. Would that work for all of you?"

Evergreen lit up with excitement, but then tried to tamp it down. "Tomorrow should work for us. Right, guys?"

Bickslow shrugged. "I'm not doing anything."

"That would be fine," Freed agreed.

After scheduling the photoshoot Asher started to leave but stopped and turned back to Freed. "I would like to have more material for my article. Since you're the leader of the Thunder God Tribe you know Laxus the best, right?"

Freed swelled with pride at those words. "Yes, that would be a correct assumption."

"Great. Then I would love to do a one-on-one interview. How about we do dinner tonight and we can talk then?"

A blush crept up Freed's neck. Was this a date? Guilt flushed through him at the thought of going on a date with someone other than Laxus. "I don't know if I would feel comfortable talking about Laxus on a date-"

"Oh! No, I'm sorry," Asher jumped in. "I wasn't asking you out on a date. I just figured that we both have to eat dinner and I have appointments the rest of the day."

The blush darkened with embarrassment. "Oh, God… I'm sorry that I assumed…"

The reporter gave Freed a calm smile. "I should have made myself clearer. We can meet at the restaurant at six, if that works for you?"

"Yes, six would be fine."

Laxus had returned from the job early. He had been a bit disappointed to find that it was not nearly as dangerous as they had made it sound in the flyer. He wished that he had brought the Thunder God Tribe along so that it wouldn't have been so boring.

He considered going straight home but changed his mind and decided to stop by the guild hall first and let Mira and Gramps know he had returned, job successfully completed. Laxus approached the bar to inform Mira about the job but paused when he saw Freed across the guild hall. His friend was talking with an unknown man, laughing together. Freed was blushing and looking away shyly. Laxus was startled to find that his fists clenched reflexively. He consciously relaxed them and went to the bar.

"Oh, you're back already," Mira observed.

"Yeah, it was an easy one. Who is that guy Freed is talking to?"

"That's a reporter from Sorcerer Weekly. He was interviewing the Thunder God Tribe about you," she said with her usual bright smile.

Laxus frowned in confusion. "Then why is he only talking to Freed?"

"I think they already finished the interview. I overheard them talking about going to dinner together later."

"That sounds like…" He didn't want to finish the thought but he didn't have to as Mira finished it for him.

"A date? Yeah, I think it would be good for him loosen up a bit, go out and have fun."

Laxus watched as the reporter left. Freed still had a smile on his face as the other man walked away. His fists clenched again and his eyes narrowed. Laxus didn't know why he suddenly felt angry and possessive. Maybe he was afraid someone was going to come in and change their team's dynamic. Laxus nodded internally. That had to be what he was feeling.

"Laxus, are you okay?"

He had forgotten that he was talking with Mirajane. "Yeah," he said after clearing his throat. "I'm fine."

After that Laxus slipped out, ensuring that none of the Thunder God Tribe saw him. He went home and tried to relax, hoping that would improve his mood. Yet his mind kept wandering back to Freed and his dinner date with the reporter. The image of the two of them laughing together was seared into his brain. He wondered what the reporter could have said that made Freed blush like that.

It was already dark outside when Laxus decided that he couldn't be alone with his thoughts any longer. He was approaching the guild hall when he saw Freed and the reporter leaving together. Laxus ducked into some bushes as he watched them pass. Before he knew it he was covertly following them at a distance.

When he realized what he was doing Laxus paused for a moment feeling slightly ashamed. It was ridiculous of him to be stalking a member of his team on a date. But his team was his responsibility. He was had to ensure their safety whether on the job or in their personal lives.

Convinced of his noble intentions Laxus continued to follow them all the way to the restaurant. Freed and the reporter were seated outside on a raised fenced off deck. Laxus stood casually below them. He reassured himself that he wasn't eavesdropping. He was just there in case things went south and Freed needed an out. Besides he couldn't even really hear what they were talking about. But he definitely heard Freed's laugh. It wasn't his quiet laugh when he found something mildly amusing, or his sarcastic laugh when Bickslow told a bad joke; it was a loud and enthusiastic laugh that Laxus rarely heard come from the younger man. It was an unrestrained laugh that Freed didn't even feel safe letting out when he was with his closest friends.

Laxus fumed as he stalked away unwilling to stick around any longer. Things seemed to be going well enough that he didn't have to be concerned about the leader of his personal guard. But Laxus wasn't relieved or happy that Freed was having a good time. He was angry that some outsider was able to make Freed laugh and blush. His anger boiled inside him and permeated Laxus like a venom.

As he walked home, passing citizens of Magnolia gave Laxus a wide berth. He knew why but didn't care and given the electricity was crackling around him, plus the dark look he probably had on his face he didn't blame them. He continued to dwell on the thought of sharing Freed with a new boyfriend. By the time he got home he finally exploded. His fist collided with the wall leaving a huge hole with charred drywall still crumbling off around it.

Freed grinned trying to hold back his laughing fit as Asher finished telling another embarrassing story about a celebrity mage he had met or interviewed. "And I swear, she took the shrimp and threw it at her now ex-boyfriend. Hit him right between the eyes."

The waiter dropped off their food as they both tried to calm their laughter. Asher took a sip of his drink as they prepared to start their meals. "Before we start the interview I wanted to ask you something; off the record."

Freed's smile waned slightly. "What is it?"

"I've met a lot of people over my time working for Sorcerer Weekly, and to be honest most of what the magazine has labelled 'the greatest wizards of our time' turn out to be first rate assholes. So I wanted to know is Laxus actually as great as you guys are saying he is? I've heard rumors that he can be a real jerk."

Freed fought to stay cool. Asher's tone wasn't accusing but it was skeptical. His first instinct was to jump up and defend Laxus with his whole heart. He took a sip of his drink to give himself a moment to calm down and think through his response. His cup made a soft clink as he set it down. When his eyes met Asher's he did his best to convey the sincerity it his statement. "Laxus has made mistakes in his youth. I won't deny that. We all have. What makes Laxus great is that he has learned from those mistakes. In fact he spends every day trying to atone for them. If someone would say that he is a 'jerk' now, then I would say that they did not give him a real chance. I've known Laxus for years and I can honestly say that he is the bravest, most passionate, most caring, most human, person I've ever met." Freed stopped there, knowing that if allowed he would go on for hours about how amazing Laxus was. Asher was looking at him with an odd expression and he could already feel himself blushing at the conviction that had been in his voice.

"Okay then," Asher said after a moment. "We should get the interview started."