A/N: Welcome to chapter 4! Only one more to go!
It had been a little over a week since Lucy and Laxus mated in the guild, and Freed was finding that the envy he'd once had for the Celestial mage was nothing more than a distant memory. He had his own Slayer, and was more than happy with Gajeel in his life. And even though he loved being around the guild with the team and watching Mira losing her mind for the past seven days over the news that Lucy was pregnant, as denoted by the golden scales resting below her navel, Freed was sure that Gajeel had the right idea in taking a job.
Things had been more hectic than usual, simply because of the news. Lucy and Laxus hadn't been hassled much about the power outage their little escapade had caused for half of Magnolia, only because the blonde was pregnant. And mated. Makarov was far too happy about that to get on their case.
Freed looked over to the doors of the guild longingly while thinking about his own Slayer. They were going to come out casually - by way of letting Mira know about their relationship so she could spread the word - as soon as Gajeel was back. And from what Freed had been told before the Iron Slayer left a few days ago, he and Pantherlily would be back that day.
Sometimes Freed still couldn't believe he'd gotten so lucky in finding a man like Gajeel. And even with the blunder he'd made that night, trying to be spontaneous and taking things too quickly and too far, they were still going strong. In some ways, he felt like things were better than before, like they had a better understanding of one another now.
"Freed, you look like you're thinking about something," Laxus said, giving the green-haired mage a sidelong glance.
"Just waiting," he sighed.
Laxus grunted in understanding, looking over to where his mate was sitting with her team. Just the day before, he'd pulled Freed off to the side and asked if what he and Lucy had seen in the locker room was a serious thing. Based on the bashful smile on Freed's face that day, Laxus knew it was the real deal. "Lucy says she always watches the doors when I'm gone."
"I can't help it," Freed nodded, looking back down to the table. "I worry…"
"I'm not judging, man," Laxus shrugged.
"We're telling everyone when he comes back," Freed said after several minutes in silence. Thankfully, Bickslow and Evergreen weren't at the table. The Seith mage was sitting at the bar, chatting with Mira, and Evergreen was on a job with Elfman. It meant that he could speak a little more candidly about his relationship with Gajeel.
Granted, Freed didn't want to keep it a secret from his other two teammates, but he and Gajeel had an agreement. Everyone would find out when they were together, and ready to let them know. That way, it wasn't just one person dealing with all the attention.
"That's good," Laxus nodded. "Any reason you didn't before?"
"A few," Freed sighed. "I can't talk about that, though."
"You're not embarrassed, are you?"
Freed smiled and shook his head. "Not at all. But we wanted to keep it quiet until we knew whether it would work out. And then… Well, all I will say on the matter is that he set a goal for himself, and we agreed to wait until he reached it."
Laxus' stormy eyes cut over to the guild doors at the approaching sound of beating wings, and a concerned frown turned down his lips. "Freed?"
"Yes?"
"You might wanna-"
The doors to the guild burst open, and Pantherlily in his battle form stumbled inside. With a very bloody, unconscious Gajeel on his back.
"Wendy!" Pantherlily shouted, limping further into the guild as his wings deactivated completely. "Where's Wendy?!"
Freed's breath stuttered and his limbs froze in place as the little blue-haired Slayer rushed forward. He didn't see her though, his gaze resting on the battered body of his boyfriend. "G-Gajeel…"
His long black hair was matted and covering a good portion of his face, but the small bit that was visible was swollen and raw with dozens of small scrapes. The fingerless glove on one hand was missing, baring the torn flesh on the back of his hand and the bones of his knuckles.
The Exceed's form winked out, leaving him lying in a sweating, shivering heap under Gajeel's body. Laxus jumped to his feet, dragging Freed with him as he rushed over to help. It wasn't even a conscious thought to take the Rune mage along. He'd simply followed his instincts. Thankfully, none of the other guild members got in his way.
"Freed, take Pantherlily," Laxus ordered, bending down to lift Gajeel onto his own back. He wasn't worried about blood getting on his coat, not if it meant helping his guildmate. "Wendy, get up to the infirmary, and get ready. We'll meet you up there."
The little blunette nodded and ran off toward the stairs, Carla hot on her trail, while Freed and Laxus worked to get Gajeel and Pantherlily there at a slightly slower pace.
"What happened?" Freed whispered to the panting Exceed.
"He was… pushed off the train," Pantherlily whispered. "Some kids saw him throwing up off the back… And they… I tried to catch him… F-Flew all the way when I… Freed, I-I'm sorry..."
The group came to the infirmary with Laxus rushing Gajeel inside and laying him down on the bed that Wendy was standing next to. Once the Iron Slayer was situated, he found his stomach rolling at the sight of Gajeel's body.
The skin in several areas was shredded, his clothing was torn and looked as though it had been burnt off entirely in some spots. The bones of his forearm and one femur were broken and protruding from his flesh. When Gajeel's hair was pushed away from his face, they could see that the piercings in one of his eyebrows had been ripped out and his eye was swollen shut. A long gash reached across the Iron Slayer's cheek from the corner of his mouth to his ear.
Freed set Pantherlily on another bed, quickly getting the Exceed a glass of water. He made his way over to Gajeel's side, barely biting back a sob of anguish while looking down at his battered lover.
"He's losing a lot of blood," Wendy said while pouring more magic into Gajeel's body. "Laxus, I-I need Porlyusica. This is too much for me to do alone."
"You got it," the Lightning Slayer nodded. "I'll go get her and be back in a flash."
"I-I will help, Wendy," Freed sniffled as Laxus teleported out of the room. "Tell me what to do."
The little healer nodded to a stack of towels at Freed's side. "Apply pressure, Freed. And don't stop."
He nodded and grabbed a towel, then turned to look at Gajeel again. "Wh-Where…" There were so many spots to choose from. So many places his boyfriend was hurt. So much blood.
"Chest," Wendy said, blowing the hair from her eyes. "It looks like a railroad spike is lodged in his lung. Just slow the bleeding down until Porlyusica gets here."
"Sh-Shouldn't you take it out?"
Wendy shook her head, moving her hands up to Gajeel's head to check for swelling around his brain. "It's plugging up the hole. He'll bleed out faster if we remove it without Porlyusica's help."
He bit back the bile rising in his throat and pressed the towel to his lover's chest. There was no reaction from Gajeel, and instead all Freed could see was the blood soaking into the towel. Then the fabric of his shirt sleeves.
"Change the towel," Carla said sternly, forcing Freed's hands back and placing a fresh one on the wound herself when he didn't move. "Honestly, if you're going to lose it over this, then you won't be any help at all."
"Carla," Wendy frowned, keeping her focus on the task at hand. "He's got internal bleeding…"
"Focus on the internal injuries," the white Exceed said as a gentle reminder. "Organs are first. Don't forget to check his head and…"
Freed dropped the towel to the floor and grabbed another to start cleaning Gajeel's other wounds. He had to do something, anything, to help the Iron Slayer. Freed already knew he wasn't cut out for this sort of thing, but he couldn't lose his composure. Because if he did, it could cost Gajeel his life.
'Be strong,' he told himself while he and Wendy worked to reset the bones in Gajeel's arms and leg. 'Be dominant. Lock everything up for now, Freed. He'll be fine…'
He would never forget what it sounded like, hearing his boyfriend's joints creaking and the sickening pop of his bones being pushed back into their rightful places.
'Gajeel will be alright…'
There was just too much blood.
"Don't leave me, Gajeel.'
Carla flew up and pressed a mask to Gajeel's face, compressing the bag on the manual respirator in a carefully set tempo to help him breathe.
'You promised not to leave me behind… You… Gajeel, please…'
*.*
"Sometimes, I think I remember my parents," Freed whispered, toying with his lover's hair and resting a cheek on his bare chest. "My mother, mostly…"
"I thought you said you were just a baby when they died."
"I was almost four," Freed said. "I can remember little bits of things from time to time. A smile or her hair. It was just like mine…"
"Freed, what's goin' on?" Gajeel asked with a concerned frown.
The Rune mage turned to look up into his boyfriend's worried, crimson eyes. Early morning light streamed in through one window, highlighting his piercings and softening his usually strong features as dust motes sparkles between them. "I was dreaming about it last night. When it happened…"
"Freed…"
He sighed as a strong arm wrapped around him just a little more tightly than normal, then laid his head back down and watched the raven strands moving between his fingers. "Sometimes," he whispered, "I think that's why I have my hair so long. Hers was long. Down to her knees, I think. And I wonder… What she'd think of the life I have now."
"I dunno," Gajeel said softly. "Life's pretty good for me an' you. I think she'd like that."
"Gajeel, will you promise me something?"
"Anything."
"Don't leave me behind… If… If you're going to die, take me with you."
The Iron Slayer jolted in surprise. "What the hell?"
"I can't live without you," Freed whispered shakily. "Please, Gajeel… I know that our lives can be snuffed out in an instant, especially as mages. I love you too much to be without you."
Gajeel sighed and shifted in the bed so he was looking into Freed's eyes. He brought the calloused fingers of one hand to his boyfriend's cheek, brushing his bangs away from his eye. "As long as I can help it," he said, "I'll be with you, baby. I'll fight like hell to always come home to you."
"You swear?" Freed asked. He didn't care that he sounded just as young and timid as he felt, so lost and confused. He needed that bit of reassurance though.
"I swear, Freed," Gajeel nodded. "I'm stayin' with ya, and there's nothin' you or anyone else can do to stop me."
Freed found a small smile on his lips when Gajeel kissed his nose. "Then, I will swear the same. No matter what happens, I-I'll always come home to you."
"Even if yer a bloody little bag o' bones," Gajeel smirked. "You come home and I'll fix you up."
"Will you be my Doctor Frankenstein?"
"Hell yeah," Gajeel chuckled. "I'll sew you up and get the Lightning Rod to shock yer ass awake."
Their lips met for a series of slow kisses, each more soothing than the last. Eventually, Freed's eyes opened and shined with happy tears as he looked at the man who had stolen his heart.
"No more worries about it, baby," he breathed against Freed's lips. "I love you… Just keep rememberin' that, and you'll be set for life."
Freed laughed at the smug smile he was given, his mood lifting as the seconds ticked by into minutes, then hours. Simply lying in bed and talking with the love of his life.
*.*
"Freed," Laxus said softly, watching as the Rune mage started attempting to thread another needle for Wendy to continue with her stitches. His hands were shaking too badly for it to be effective. "Freed…"
The Rune mage shook out his hands, then his head shot up when Laxus covered them with his own. "L-Laxus, I have to-"
"Let Wendy and Porlyusica handle this," the Lightning Slayer whispered. "It's what they do."
"B-But, I…"
"Oh, just get out of here already," Porlyusica scowled. "You're in the way."
Laxus shot the pink-haired healer a heated glare while Freed shrunk in on himself. "He's just trying to help."
"Help this boy die, maybe."
Tears broke past Freed's lashes and he quickly swiped them away. He didn't notice that he'd smeared his lover's blood across his cheeks. "I-I'm sorry… I was j-just…"
Laxus sighed as he watched Freed rush out of the room, then turned back to the pink-haired healer. "Y'know, you could be less of a fucking monster sometimes," he spat.
"I am simply being realistic," she said while reaching into the wound in Gajeel's abdomen. "He was in the way. Much like you, now."
"Freed was just trying to be helpful, Porlyusica," Laxus growled. "His boyfriend looks like he's gonna kick the damn bucket any second."
Wendy's brow furrowed in confusion, but she kept her focus on the task at hand of healing the Iron Slayer's internal injuries while Porlyusica removed a six-inch railroad spike that had bent while piercing his lung.
"Well, if you keep bothering me, that will happen. And neither you or that smelly human out there will have anyone to blame but yourselves. Now let me work!"
Laxus' hands clenched into fists at his sides, his nostrils flaring. But he knew she was right. The woman needed to stay focused on treating Gajeel, not dealing with all of their shit. So, even though he hated it, Laxus turned and started walking out of the room. Just before he reached the door, he paused. "All I'm saying is… If it was me in that bed, you would have been telling Lucy the same thing. So… Just don't let Freed's mate die, okay?"
Wendy's eyes widened and her magic sputtered out as she lost focus. The door slammed a moment later, and she gave Porlyusica a wide-eyed stare. "Gajeel is…"
"Not the time," Porlyusica snapped softly. "Focus on healing him, child."
Pantherlily watched in silence as the two worked. He knew that his own injuries were minor in comparison. Most likely, he had a bruised bone or something was sprained. That could wait. After having a little water and accepting a towel from Carla to dry his sweaty fur, he felt marginally better. A little dizzy, but that was nothing.
But it was the sight of his partner lying in that bed, being bandaged and given painkillers and saline through an IV that made it just a little harder to breathe. And if it was difficult for him to see Gajeel like this, he couldn't imagine what it must have been like for Freed. Watching Gajeel bleed out and trying to help keep the Slayer alive.
By the time the two were finished, Wendy was exhausted and being led to a bed by Carla to rest. Porlyusica came to stand before the little black Exceed, and he watched her carefully prodding his legs.
She didn't say a word while tending to his leg, wrapping a small bandage around his ankle. It wasn't until she was ready to leave that the older woman spoke.
"Have Carla go and get that little Christmas tree," she whispered. "His mate is going to make it."
Pantherlily sat up slightly with a frown. "Did you send Freed out for his own good? Or because you really would have lost Gajeel with him being in the way?"
"There's a reason doctors don't operate on loved ones," Porlyusica said. "It's an ethical dilemma, and they'll make mistakes."
"Freed's not a doctor."
"Even less reason for him to be in here, mucking everything up." The older woman's crimson eyes narrowed momentarily before she sighed and shook her head. "I already had two patients to deal with. There was no point in adding a third to the roster just because he's stubborn."
"So, it was to help him," Pantherlily mused.
"Believe what you wish."
He watched as the woman started walking off, then said, "What about you? You were a member of Fairy Tail before, right? How can you operate on guild mates?"
"I said loved ones," Porlyusica shot back. "You brats are just a pain in my ass."
As the door closed behind her, Pantherlily could swear he saw the barest hint of a smile on the woman's wrinkled face. Maybe he was seeing things though.
His gaze shifted when Carla came to sit beside him on the bed. "Carla…"
"I'll go and get Freed," she nodded.
"Be nice to him," Pantherlily whispered. "He's… Gajeel is everything to him."
"It would have been nice to know that before," she muttered.
"That was their decision," the black Exceed answered. "And you'll keep it to yourself until they decide to let anyone else know."
"I'm not a blabbermouth like that little blue tomcat downstairs," she sniffed.
"No, but you've got one hell of a tongue on you," Pantherlily countered.
"I'll control myself," she snipped.
"Good," he nodded, looking over to his thoroughly bandaged partner. "Because I'm pretty sure Freed is on the verge of losing it."
The days came and went in a mindless blur for the Rune mage. After having left the infirmary the day Gajeel was brought in, he'd gone right to his home and packed up a bag of everything he would need. By the time he'd returned to the guild and was on his way up toward the infirmary, Carla was coming out to find him.
He'd never been more relieved in his life than when he'd heard that Gajeel was going to live.
Freed wasn't sure how many days it had been since Gajeel was brought back to the guild, but he hadn't left his boyfriend's side for anything but hygienic necessities. He slept in the chair next to Gajeel's bed, sat in that same spot and read to his unconscious boyfriend, talked to him. Sometimes he would sit in silence for hours, from the time the sun was sitting high in the sky until it was dark out, and simply watch Gajeel's slow breaths.
His heart ached at seeing the amount of bandages all over Gajeel's body. And it terrified him to think of just how bad it looked under the gauze that was covering half of his face. He couldn't watch when Wendy came in to change Gajeel's bandages. It took too much time, letting him know just how close his boyfriend had come to dying.
Too close.
Laxus and Lucy had come to check on him, and on Gajeel, several times. They asked if he needed anything, how he was holding up, and all sorts of different things. But Freed didn't pay that much attention to them. All he wanted was to see that Gajeel was awake, then he could believe that this was all behind them. They weren't out of the woods until Gajeel was awake, as far as Freed was concerned.
Until he could hear that gravelly voice, and see his beautiful, gleaming ruby eyes, Freed couldn't find a reason to move forward. He was stuck, simply waiting, and it hurt more and more as time ticked onward. Some moments, he would question whether or not everything he'd experienced with Gajeel had been nothing more than a dream.
But then he would look over and see the Iron Slayer just lying there, looking as though he was sleeping. If it wasn't for the bandages, Freed would be able to believe that. And once he saw Gajeel, Freed couldn't deny that everything he'd felt over the last year with the man had been real. It felt like a dream, so perfect and pure and good, but Freed knew that it was just because he was in love.
Things had never seemed so bright before Gajeel came into his life.
The Rune mage looked up from the cover of his book after reading the final lines and closing it, and his eyes were instantly drawn to his boyfriend. He could never look away for long, always tempted to keep an eye on the mage just to make sure he hadn't disappeared.
And as Freed looked at him, all he could feel was a sudden weight crushing his chest from the inside. He'd spent days trying to remind himself that this wasn't his fault, that it was just because of some moronic children that Gajeel was in this position. He wasn't responsible for the damage the Slayer had sustained, no matter how much it felt like he was.
Because, as far as the Rune mage was concerned, it was his job as the Dominant in their relationship to make sure Gajeel was safe. Not just in their bedroom, but overall. Gajeel needed him, and Freed hadn't been there.
'But I can't be there all the time,' he reminded himself. There was just no way that was even possible.
And no matter how much logic Freed tried to use, he just felt consumed with guilt. And with hopelessness. Because, even though Wendy had told him that Gajeel would wake up when he was ready, he was starting to think that day would never come. And Freed would never be the same if he lost the Iron Slayer.
He took a slow, shuddering breath as he felt his eyes burning with unshed tears.
Ever since running out of the infirmary after listening to Porlyusica, the Rune mage hadn't allowed himself to cry. There hadn't been time for it, and he didn't need anyone knowing just what it was that had upset him so much.
But he just couldn't keep it bottled up any longer. He missed Gajeel so much. Hearing his voice, feeling those familiar fingers as they braided his hair before bed, his smile, his laugh… Even the way he sang and played his guitar. Freed missed being serenaded by Gajeel's horrible lyrics, and hearing how beautiful his voice was while singing along with some random song playing in the background.
"G-Gajeel," Freed whispered, leaning forward in his chair. "Please wake up…"
There was no response, but he hadn't been expecting one. After several painfully long minutes, he got up from his seat and laid down on the edge of the bed. Gajeel's broken arm and leg were closer to the door, which meant Freed only had to be careful of the multitude of bandages all over him.
His head rested on one of the few uninjured spots on the Iron Slayer's shoulder, his vision filled with the left side of Gajeel's face that was covered in bandages, and Freed closed his eyes to combat the tears that were winning in the war against his iron will. He just couldn't hold himself back any longer.
He was terrified of what his future would hold if he lost Gajeel. Nothing would be the same for him. Life was already losing its color, fading into a dull grey without the man he loved to bring a smile to his lips.
"P-Please," Freed sniffled. "Gajeel, don't leave me…"
The Rune mage didn't hear the door to the infirmary opening as he carefully shifted so his fingers could brush over Gajeel's stubbled, bandage-free cheek, then to his hair. He didn't care that it needed to be washed. That was so far down on his list of concerns that the Rune mage barely even noticed it.
Mira's small, hopeful smile faded as she stopped in the doorway, a tray with a cup of piping hot tea and a sandwich in her hands. She'd known that Freed was sitting by Gajeel's side for the past week, waiting for him to wake up, but no one was entirely sure why. And from what she could tell, nobody was going to question him about it.
What she hadn't anticipated was seeing the Rune mage in tears, cuddling up with the unconscious Iron Slayer. His eyes were closed, but he looked so broken right then. The last time she'd seen Freed cry like this was years ago, during Laxus' Thunder Palace incident when she'd beaten the Rune mage.
"C-Come back to me, Gajeel," Freed whimpered. "Please… Don't l-leave me all alone." He sniffled and swiped away the tears that wouldn't stop now that they'd started with his unbuttoned sleeve.
The Rune mage hadn't seen the point in making sure he looked as put together as usual. There was no one to impress that mattered, and spending time fixing his hair and ensuring that his stupid cravat was in place would take time away from watching over Gajeel.
"P-Please… Just open your eyes…"
Mira bit her lips in silence as she watched Freed with the unconscious mage. Part of her wanted to smile at the tenderness she could see in the Rune mage's actions, but her heart ached at the sight before her. How broken and lost he seemed. And she was sure that it really wasn't a good time for her to interrupt, but the white-haired barmaid couldn't even bring herself to back away from the infirmary. She was stuck, rooted to the spot, and unable to do much more than watch as Gajeel's fingers twitched slightly where they peeked out from his cast.
Freed didn't seem to notice as Gajeel's breathing changed.
"Come back to me," Freed whispered. "Please, Gajeel…"
The Iron Slayer frowned when he felt a slight weight against his left arm, but he hardly noticed it over the dull ache that wracked his body. One small breath, because anything more hurt like a motherfucker, and he picked up way too many scents.
Old blood, rubbing alcohol, tears, iron. The adhesive on tape. Tea. Books. And Freed.
His head felt muddy, as though he was trying to push through a thick fog. But he knew Freed was with him, and damn did that make him feel a whole hell of a lot better. Because the last thing he knew, Gajeel had been puking his fucking brains out on a train.
"I-I need you," Freed sniffled, clamping his eyes shut tighter when he thought he felt the Iron Slayer stirring. It was just wishful thinking, he knew. 'He'll never wake up again. I should have known this was too good to be true…'
Gajeel wiggled his toes a little, wincing when his right leg flared with pain. His fingers moved, and he felt another shaft of pain streaking up his right arm. Another short breath, and he felt tape pulling at his skin all over his chest and stomach. And when he tried to open his mouth, he swore it felt as though someone had taken a white-hot brand to his left cheek. Feeling the inside with his tongue, though moving sluggishly, he cringed at the feeling of stitches running the full length of it, all the way to his lips.
'What the fuck happened to me?'
His eye cracked open, and he had to blink several times before he could make sense of any of the blurred, distorted blobs he saw. Just a ceiling.
It was weird as hell when he tried to talk, and Gajeel had to swallow several times just to get his throat feeling as though it would start to work with him again. With the way his face felt, talking probably wasn't the best idea.
"I-I just want to… to see your eyes," Freed cried quietly. "Just one m-more time."
The Iron Slayer didn't really care about whether or not something was a good idea when he heard the defeated tone in Freed's voice. Or the fear. Just what the hell had happened to put his boyfriend in such a state? Whatever it was, the raven-haired mage already knew he was going to beat it right the fuck up as soon as he could get on his feet.
He had to talk with only one side of his mouth, and keep his teeth together so he didn't pull on the stitches in his cheek, but Gajeel was nothing if not stubborn. If that's how it had to be, then fine.
But when he tried to lift his arm so he could hold Freed, the Iron Slayer was outwardly hissing in pain.
Freed's head shot up in an instant. "G-Gajeel?"
A single ruby eye cracked open from a long blink, then slid over toward Freed. "Shh," he whispered. "Don't…" He had to clear his throat when he felt just how dry it was. "Don't cry, okay?"
Freed failed to stifle a relieved sob at the sound of his lover's voice. "Y-You're awake…"
"Sorta." Gajeel's attempt at a small smirk ended with him groaning in discomfort. "Promised I wouldn't… leave ya."
Freed shook his head, his lips quivering as his head dropped to Gajeel's shoulder. Full-bodied sobs broke free unchecked, and he had to remind himself that he couldn't cling to Gajeel like he wanted. With the amount of damage the other man's body had sustained, there was no way he was going to chance hurting him more just because he wanted the comfort.
"Hey…" Gajeel sighed when all he could manage was pulling a little of Freed's loose hair between his fingers. "I'm okay, baby… S'alright now."
"I-I'm supposed to t-take care of you," Freed sobbed. "I-I… Gajeel…"
The Iron Slayer took a slow breath while tugging on Freed's hair hard enough to get his attention. "Move my arm," he whispered. "I wanna hold ya."
Freed let out a hiccupping sob and sniffled loudly while shifting on the bed so Gajeel's mostly uninjured arm was around his shoulders. The tender, barely there squeeze of his boyfriend's hand only made him cry harder.
Gajeel was trying so hard just to comfort him right then, and he knew that. But this wasn't right. Freed was supposed to make sure that Gajeel was okay. He needed to pull himself together and tend to anything his boyfriend needed, but he just… He just couldn't move. And he couldn't stop himself from letting out every single relieved tear he had in his body.
"Mmm… Smell a book," Gajeel whispered. "And my iron…" That had to mean that Freed had been reading recently. He only had one piece of Gajeel's iron with him at all times, the little bookmark that he'd made. "Were you readin' to me?"
Freed only mumbled incoherently into the white gown that Gajeel had been changed into.
"Such a nerd," Gajeel chuckled breathily. It took more effort than he would have liked to pull Freed just a little closer, and it hurt like hell on his ribs when the Rune mage's smaller body was pressed flush against him. "C'mere, sexy. Don't fall apart on me."
Freed found himself latching on and refusing to let go, even though he knew that Gajeel must have been in pain. And all he could think about was what Lucy would have done for Laxus in this situation. Because, even though the two blondes had only recently found out about his relationship with Gajeel, he'd taken the Celestial mage to the side and had a nice, long conversation with her about her role in her relationship with Laxus. For the first time since getting together with Gajeel, he had someone to talk to about it.
Someone who understood having a Dragon Slayer being submissive to them.
And when Freed thought about Lucy and Laxus, he was also reminded of the fact that they were mated. The two had mating marks, and he knew it was something he wished for with Gajeel.
Before, Freed had thought that maybe he just wasn't the one for Gajeel, because he'd been too inexperienced, and felt like he was making mistake after mistake sometimes. But the Iron Slayer was always reassuring him, even without words, that he wasn't looking anywhere else. Freed was the one he wanted.
But they had a rule, one that had been in place from the very beginning. 'No marks…'
Freed had been worried that Gajeel would leave a hickey on him the first time they were together, and if someone had seen it, he would have had to say where it came from. After that, the rule had stuck, even though there were times when Freed wanted Gajeel to bite him and leave little love marks on his flesh.
"I-I want to change a rule," Freed said suddenly. His head turned to look at the bandages on Gajeel's cheek, and he winced when he realized that he needed to move so they could see each other. "About m-marks. I-"
Gajeel groaned while moving his arm and placing the tips of his fingers over Freed's lips. "Later," he said. It really wasn't the time for them to talk about the rules they had in the damn bedroom. Not when he could tell he was drugged up on painkillers. Besides… "I just wanna hold ya."
Freed blinked in surprise.
"Please?"
"A-Always," he whispered, closing his eyes again and getting just a little more comfortable. Just being able to feel Gajeel's fingers toying with his hair was enough for him right then, and when he thought about it, it probably wasn't the best time to bring any of that up. Based on how Gajeel sounded, it was a struggle just for him to speak in the first place.
The Iron Slayer's gaze shifted toward the door, to the sound of another heartbeat that he hadn't heard before then. "Mira," he said. "Come back later… Now ain't the time…"
Freed slowly brought his fingers to Gajeel's bare cheek, smiling when he felt his boyfriend's lips barely puckering against his fingertips. He wanted to kiss the man more than ever right then, but it was too soon. "I love you," he sighed happily.
"Love you too, ya precious little shit," Gajeel answered with a breathy, pained laugh.
"I am f-far from precious," Freed said, his cheeks roaring to life.
"I'll go and get Wendy," Mira whispered as she backed out of the room, letting the door close once again. She couldn't help but smile while making her way back down the stairs. And even though she wanted to shout her happiness from the rooftops that there was such an adorable couple in the guild - even though they couldn't have babies that she could spoil - she was going to keep her mouth shut.
The last thing they needed was extra attention right then.
Gajeel groaned as he turned his head just a little toward his boyfriend. "You are," he whispered. "Too tired to argue the point though. Gimme a rain check."
"Should I get Wendy to-"
"Mira's on it."
Freed didn't even mind one bit that the barmaid had seen them. He and Gajeel were going to tell Mira soon anyway, so it didn't matter to him one bit if she told the rest of the guild right then.
"I know yer freaked out, nerd…"
"You shouldn't be talking, Gajeel," Freed sniffled.
"So, tell me what the fuck happened."
"Wendy would be better suited for that," he sighed. "I… don't like thinking about it. What you looked like when you were brought in..."
"That bad?"
"... Yes."
Gajeel sighed and tightened his grip on the Rune mage, his eye cutting over to the door when he heard several sets of footsteps approaching. "More'n just Wendy," he whispered. "In case you wanna clean up, or-"
"I don't give a damn what I look like," Freed said, shaking his head slightly. "You are awake. That's all that matters."
Gajeel started to smile, then grunted in pain. "Freed, stop making me happy, damnit."
"I'm sorry," the Rune mage replied dryly. "I will try to refrain from lifting your mood."
"Good, that shit hurts."
"Happiness is painful?" he smirked. "Maybe Wendy should check you for brain damage, Gajeel."
"I'm gonna damage yer fuckin' brain, you keep it up," Gajeel growled playfully.
"If you say 'With my dick in your mouth' I'm quitting, right now."
Gajeel was barely able to repress a smile at the suddenly playful mood his boyfriend had slipped into. He loved that about Freed, how he could look and sound so serious, but just be joking around the entire time. Granted, Gajeel hadn't really been able to see Freed all that much in the first place, since he could already tell that turning his head was a bad fucking idea.
"Not my dick, then," Gajeel sighed.
"Thank goodness."
"Not in yer mouth, at least…" It took everything in the Iron Slayer's power not to laugh when the door opened and Freed's team followed Wendy and Lucy into the infirmary.
"Gajeel, now is not the time to be joking about fucking me."
"Never said I was jokin', ya sexy little Christmas tree."
"As soon as you're healed up, I'm going to beat you with a paddle for that…"
"The Christmas tree thing, or me wanting to fuck you?"
The group paused and stared at the two mages on the bed, with Freed none the wiser that they weren't alone.
"I am not a Christmas tree, Gajeel," he whispered with a smile, sniffling slightly and brushing away his tears.
"So you have no issue with the fucking," Gajeel prodded.
"None whatsoever," Freed replied. "I'm looking forward to it." His eyes opened and instantly found his team, specifically Bickslow and Evergreen, staring at him with their jaws slack.
"Surprise," the Iron Slayer chuckled. Only a moment later, he groaned at the painful ache in his chest and across his cheek. It had to be the drugs that were making him forget to be careful about smiling and laughing. Or they were just making him loopy to begin with.
"Well," Bickslow coughed. "Congratulations?"
"Y-Yeah," Evergreen nodded, her eyes wide.
Everyone sat in an awkward silence for several moments before Freed cleared his throat and closed his eyes again. "Wendy, please tell me that I don't have to move," he whispered.
"Not right now," she said, giving the tired Iron Slayer an encouraging smile. "How are you feeling, Gajeel?"
"Like a train ran over my ass."
"Actually," Laxus said, wincing slightly. "More like it was dragging your ass." At the confused look he got from the raven-haired mage, he let out a long sigh.
Thankfully, Lucy stepped up and helped to explain it. How Gajeel had gotten sick on the train, which he remembered, then some Children of the fucking Corn sneaking up and pushing him off the back. They had tied a rope to his foot, so Gajeel had been dragged down the tracks for a quarter of a mile before Pantherlily was able to cut the rope.
The kids had been on their way to Magnolia, and were taken in by Rune Knights after being identified by Pantherlily two days after Gajeel was brought in. Their reasoning for it was that they were just having some fun, and thought the rope was short enough for Gajeel not to get hurt.
Then it was Wendy's turn to tell the Iron Slayer about the injuries he'd sustained. A good hit to the head had knocked him out before he was even fully off the train, which helped to explain why he didn't remember anything other than throwing up. A railroad spike had punctured his lung and nearly pierced his heart. Broken ribs, arm and leg. Internal bleeding and a perforated kidney.
And then there was his damn face.
The whole left side of Gajeel's face had really gone through the ringer, between his torn up cheek and the fact that his eyebrow and nose piercings had been ripped out while he was tumbling down the train tracks. Wendy assured him that there wouldn't be any visible scarring on his eye or nose.
But his eyebrow would apparently never grow back.
"That's actually a fuckin' relief," Gajeel whispered, drawing everyone's attention in the silent room.
"... What?" Bickslow frowned.
"Now I only have to wax one of my damn eyebrows," Gajeel answered. "Do you have any idea how much of a hassle that shit is to do around piercings?"
Everyone's eyes locked onto Gajeel's only visible eyebrow, and Freed simply smiled against his chest. "You mean now I'll only have to wax one of your eyebrows…"
"Yer better at it," Gajeel replied. "And I get ya on my lap, so I'm fine with it."
"You, uh… Seriously wax your eyebrows?" Evergreen asked curiously.
"Yep."
"Damn," Bickslow chuckled. "I thought you just didn't have any, what with the piercings."
"Nope."
"Gajeel looks terrifying with eyebrows," Freed said. "I asked him to grow them out… Laxus, they are thicker than yours."
Everyone blinked and stared at the Iron Slayer, and Lucy shuddered. "That's… creepy."
"Hey, fuck you, Blondie!" Laxus scowled.
"No," she laughed. "Your eyebrows suit you, baby. But… Gajeel…"
"Hence the wax," the Iron Slayer muttered, closing his eye.
"Um," Wendy mumbled. "Gajeel, there's something else."
"Yeah? Make it quick, 'cause I'm fuckin' exhausted."
"Your eye," Wendy said. "It was damaged too much for me to do anything."
His eye slowly opened and he gazed squarely down at the fidgeting blunette. "Did I lose it?"
"N-No, it's still there. I just, um… I couldn't heal it with how low my magic got by the time everything else was handled. I-It's why you have stitches, and-"
"So, I'm half-blind," he mused.
"Y-Yes… I'm so s-sorry, Gaj-"
"Squirt."
Wendy's lips clamped shut in an instant, and she gazed up at the bandaged Slayer timidly only to find him giving her the best smile he could manage.
"Don't apologize," Gajeel said softly. "You saved my damn life. I'll take being part blind and crippled in a wheelchair over bein' dead any fuckin' day of the year."
"You won't be in a wheelchair for long," she assured him. "Just until your leg heals a little more."
"Not the point," he whispered. "I'm alive. My eye can go and fuck itself. As long as I'm alive, that's all that matters."
Everyone watched as his eye closed again and his head turned just a little - as much as he could manage, they were all sure - toward Freed. For having their relationship outed this way, even though it was really only Freed's team there, the two mages in the bed didn't seem to be all that affected by it.
"Freed, how long have you… um…" Evergreen said softly.
"Thirteen months," the Rune mage whispered with a tender smile.
"And you kept it a secret this whole time," Bickslow nodded, a slow smile stretching over his wide lips. "Sneaky bastards."
"Ask questions later," Gajeel muttered. "And fuck the hell off."
"Aw, but we're just chatting," Bickslow chuckled.
"And I'm just cuddling with my sexy little fuckin' nerd. Get yer own."
And instead of the Seith mage responding, he simply smiled and shook his head down at the two mages. It wasn't a surprise that Freed was gay, since he'd never really been all that secretive of his infatuation with Laxus. And Bickslow had never had a problem with it. And sure, he'd been surprised as hell to find out that Freed and Gajeel were together in any capacity, but while he looked at the two, he couldn't help but see just how well they fit together.
The fact that Freed had been crying in the first place was a testament to how deeply he cared for the Iron Slayer. But the way he was smiling, and just how perfectly he fit in the guy's arm that was wrapped around him… It was a seriously beautiful thing.
"We'll let you guys get some rest," Lucy whispered. "Let us know if you need anything, alright?"
"Mm," Gajeel mumbled. "Where's Lily?"
"He's been staying with me," Wendy answered. "I'll have him come up in a little while, if you'd like."
"Nah, let him relax," Gajeel whispered sleepily. "Fuck, you smell good, baby."
"I haven't showered since yesterday," Freed winced. He'd been planning on doing that earlier, but then he'd had his little meltdown, and now there was no way he would be moving if he could help it.
"I don't give a shit," Gajeel smirked. "Ya smell delicious."
"Gajeel, I do have to change your bandages," Wendy said softly. "Is that okay right now?"
"Do yer thing, Squirt. Can't say I'll be much help." And within minutes, he was already unconscious again, snoring softly and getting only the scent of his boyfriend in his nostrils with every short inhale.
By the time Wendy had finished changing out Gajeel's bandages, Freed was also sleeping. She turned and gave the group that hadn't moved an inch in all that time a silent thumbs up to let them know that Gajeel was healing well, and everyone finally left the two slumbering mages in the infirmary.
Gajeel had never been more impressed with Dragon Slayer magic than when he watched what Wendy was able to do. And he was, in essence, one of the hardest cases the little girl had ever had to handle. He definitely admired her determination to help everyone, but the Iron Slayer had one very big rule for her as far as his recovery was concerned.
Wendy was only allowed to check and make sure he was healing properly as soon as he was released from the infirmary. He didn't care how often she checked him out, or anything else, but there was no way in hell that he was going to take the easy way out of things by asking her to make his leg or arm heal faster. And he wasn't going to take advantage of her magic by having her heal him more than was necessary.
Which meant the Iron Slayer was in a wheelchair for several months. It didn't bother him all that much, to be completely honest. Because all he kept thinking about, every single morning when he would wake up, was that he was lucky as hell to be alive.
After all of the battles he'd been through, even facing down Acnologia and nearly fucking dying on Tenrou, this was it for Gajeel. This was his moment of clarity.
Freed walked into the room, buttoning his crimson shirt and tucking it into his black, pressed slacks. From where Gajeel was lying on the bed, he couldn't help but watch the Rune mage bustle around to get dressed for the day. It was something as simple as this that Gajeel loved the most. Just being able to see his boyfriend adjusting his clothing while looking in the mirror. Watching as his hair was pushed over one shoulder so he could brush it out.
His style of dress had changed slightly in the past few months. The cravat had been set to the side for good (and was now acting as a blindfold or gag in the bedroom), and Freed looked more casual than before. Still in a dress shirt and pressed slacks, but now the shirt was opened just a little instead of choking him. His sword was attached to the belt around his pants instead of his signature red jacket. And the jacket itself, which was sitting out in Freed's living room, stayed unbuttoned.
Even how the Rune mage kept his hair was different. It wasn't tied back any longer, simply flowing freely unless he was on a mission. Every once in awhile, Freed would tie it up into a high ponytail, with hair still framing his face and the little lightning-shaped cowlicks sticking out.
And Gajeel loved every bit of it.
That day was just a little different. The dress clothes Freed normally wore had been replaced with a far too sexy suit - black jacket and tie with a red dress shirt and matching handkerchief.
This was worth everything to him. Being able to see Freed as he turned toward the bed, how those thin lips turned up into a smile that was only for him and how his cheeks would flush only slightly when he realized that he was being watched.
"What are you smiling like that for?" Freed laughed, his eyes drifting to the floor as his blush deepened.
"Just thinkin' I'm the luckiest bastard in the world," Gajeel whispered. "You ready to go?"
"Yes," Freed nodded, lifting his gaze to the Slayer on the bed when he heard the soft shuffle of fabric. "Do you need help?"
Gajeel shook his head and slowly sat up, placing his feet on the floor. It took him a moment to really prepare to stand up, but now that he was supposed to start weight-bearing exercises for his leg, Gajeel was more than ready to get it going. His hand sought out Freed's once he was on his feet, and he gave the Rune mage a small, embarrassed smile.
"This is wonderful," Freed grinned. "How do you feel?"
"Alright, I guess," Gajeel chuckled. "Walking is something completely different though."
"Yes, but the crutches are gone," Freed said. "And we will take our time getting around while you adjust to using the cane."
"I know, I know," the Iron Slayer smirked playfully, "And we'll stop and rest whenever I need it."
"Precisely." Freed moved to stand in front of his boyfriend, then sighed as Gajeel's arm wrapped around him. His right arm still rested in a sling more often than not, even though it was technically healed, because of the screws that Wendy and Porlyusica had opted to put in the bones to keep them aligned. Granted, they'd needed to be made from Gajeel's metal so his body wouldn't absorb it, which meant the healers had to wait for him to wake up after he'd been brought in in the first place.
Gajeel simply preferred to keep his arm a little better protected while his leg was still healing, since one particular morning had caused him to fall and nearly break it again while trying to catch himself.
"I'm still not complainin' about how you baby me," Gajeel chuckled.
"And I am more than happy to do it," Freed answered, with one hand resting on the fine silk of Gajeel's crimson dress shirt that matched his own.
His fingers traced the line of Gajeel's jaw, his thumb brushing over the new scar that reached from the corner of his lips, over his left cheek, and up toward his ear. Then to his nose and the piercings he'd replaced once he was healed.
Gajeel's eyes closed when Freed found his way to his left eyebrow, sighing as those slender fingers brushed so tenderly over his replaced piercings. It had been a bitch to put new ones in, since he'd done them in the first place while he was still just a kid, but it was all back to normal now, and the damn things were now anchored in the bone to make sure they weren't going anywhere. Just for good measure, Gajeel had anchored all of his piercings in his bones where he could - both eyebrows, his chin, his nose. He was waiting until the screws were out of his arm to deal with those piercings.
Almost six months later, and the only proof that Gajeel had been injured at all was in his broken leg and arm. Aside from the scar on his cheek, no one could really tell that he'd nearly died. And when Freed's thumb brushed under his left eye, Gajeel gave him a saddened smile.
He hadn't been lying when he told Wendy that his eye didn't matter all that much to him. That had been the truth. But Gajeel could see the damage that had been done when he looked in the mirror. With one eye perfectly clear, still the same crimson that had always looked back at him, Gajeel could see the other that was utterly useless. Just a light pink, milky iris that had no hope of being able to function again.
That was usually where his issues with balance and running into shit in general stemmed from. His depth perception was still off after a few months, but he was getting better.
Freed sighed in contentment as he was pulled into a slow kiss, filled with emotion. Ever since waking up together in the infirmary, things had been different between the two of them. Gajeel had been caring in his own way before, but now… It was almost as though nearly dying had made the Iron Slayer open up even more. Freed had never really been one for public displays of affection, but it seemed that Gajeel absolutely loved it. Or maybe it was just that he loved making Freed blush in the middle of the guild.
The women in the guild definitely loved seeing the two cuddled up together, or how Freed would help Gajeel get around when he needed to. The amount of cooing that had happened when a flaming Natsu had been hurtling through the air toward Gajeel's wheelchair, only to hit a wall of runes, had both mages cringing at the time.
Freed pulled back from Gajeel's lips on a gasp when the Iron Slayer playfully bit his tongue.
"I was thinkin'," Gajeel grinned.
"That is a dangerous thing, from time to time," Freed whispered.
"You changed that rule about marks." And Gajeel knew just what the Rune mage had been getting at when they had finally talked it all out. He was now allowed to give his boyfriend hickeys and to bite him hard enough to bruise, if he so chose, while they were in the bedroom. But there was something hidden in all of it that Gajeel had hardly been able to believe.
Being allowed to mark Freed, even with just a hickey, meant they were that much closer to the Rune mage wearing a different, more permanent mark. One that Gajeel was more than ready to give him.
"I did," Freed nodded.
"So, I was wonderin' if you'd let me try something."
"That would depend on what it is."
"Well," Gajeel sighed. He winced while slowly shifting his weight to put just a little pressure on his injured leg. It wasn't much, but he knew he'd get back to normal with time. "Ya see, there's this thing… A test, kinda… That I've gotta do before I could make someone my mate."
"O-Oh?"
The raven-haired mage couldn't help but let out a small laugh at the suddenly flustered expression on his boyfriend's face. "I told you about how it all works already, since the Spark Plug and Bunny Girl went through it."
"I remember," Freed nodded slowly.
"So, he had to shock her. Like, really shock her, with his lightning. And when she was able to handle it, he knew that she was his mate."
"Right," Freed nodded again. "You told me that."
"So, the raw elements are pretty simple," Gajeel whispered. "If the person can absorb it, and not be hurt by it, then they're the one."
"I understand."
"Mine's a little more complicated."
Freed's lips turned down in thought, but he stayed silent.
"My mate would have to be able to take my metal… somehow. Since it's not fire or lightning or anything else, I've gotta do something different."
"I see. What might that be?"
Gajeel nibbled his lip nervously, then whispered, "Would you let me test you?"
Freed's mouth opened and closed for several seconds, his eyes widening in surprise. "M-Me?"
Gajeel nodded slowly. "You," he said. "I'll know if you're the one, Freed. Without a doubt. And… whenever you'll let me, we can take that step."
"G-Gajeel, I…"
"It doesn't have to be now," the Iron Slayer smiled. "But I want you to know… Yer it for me. I can feel it. And if you ain't ready to get that serious right now, then that's fine with me. I can wait."
It was exactly what he'd wanted to hear Gajeel say, but Freed was left at a loss for what he should respond with. Did he want to be the Iron Slayer's mate? Definitely. But there had always been that kernel of doubt in him that this wouldn't last forever. That there was someone out there who would steal the man he loved away by a choice of fate, someone who was better suited to be with Gajeel than him.
"Wh-What would happen if…" Freed's brow furrowed as his gaze shifted to the floor. "If you did this test, and… I wasn't the one…"
"You are."
"But, if I'm not… What would happen?"
"You'd get metal poisoning, and I'd have to get ya to a hospital. My iron's really not suited for being in someone's body."
"H-How soon would you know i-if…"
"Right away," Gajeel whispered.
"But, if I'm not your… W-Well, there would be no point in st-staying together… And I… I don't want to lose-"
"Freed," Gajeel sighed, pressing a soft kiss to his lover's lips to silence him. "I know it's you. I can feel it."
"But, what if I'm not?" Freed whispered shakily. "What if…"
"What if you are, and we never find out because yer too scared of that slim fuckin' chance that I'm makin' a mistake about what I feel for ya?" Gajeel smirked. "I don't take this lightly, nerd. I was taught what to look for in my mate. I just wanna know, a hundred percent, that it's you. And I want you to know it, too. So all you have to do is let me test it."
"Where would you be… p-putting your iron?"
Gajeel's smile widened into a devious grin and he pressed a finger to Freed's chin, then slowly pushed his lips apart. His finger slipped inside the Rune mage's mouth, lightly touching his tongue. "Right here," he whispered. "So, do you want to find out?"
Freed's eyes slid closed and he gave the single digit a long, slow suck, smiling wickedly when Gajeel's breath stuttered. "Can we thit for thith?" he asked, his words muffled by that thick, calloused finger.
Gajeel nodded and carefully sat down on the bed, groaning in relief as the weight was taken off his injured leg. He hadn't even realized that he needed to take a break already. After only a few minutes, he was feeling weakness in the limb that he didn't want to dwell on.
Freed stayed standing, watching as his boyfriend got situated on the bed again, leaning against the headboard. "Where should I sit?"
"On my lap, preferably," Gajeel chuckled. Within seconds, slim hips were settled on his, and he was looking deeply into Freed's only visible eye. "Open yer mouth."
Freed's lips parted slowly, a blush roaring to life on his cheeks as Gajeel's finger pushed back into his mouth.
"Count of three," Gajeel whispered. "One… Two…" He sent out a quick burst of iron from his fingertip, forming it in an instant into a thin shaft of metal that speared through Freed's tongue.
Turquoise eyes rolled back in ecstasy and a low, aroused groan rumbled in Freed's throat. As soon as Gajeel's finger was out of his mouth, the Rune mage was diving forward and crashing their lips together while pleasure rippled through his limbs.
"Mmph… Freed," Gajeel laughed, trying in vain to pull back from his suddenly ravenous boyfriend. "Wait…"
"No," Freed groaned. His newly pierced tongue darted out and teased Gajeel's into a winding, writhing dance. He'd heard plenty of stories, and had done research when he was so inclined, about piercings. It wasn't hard to figure out what Gajeel had done, but there hadn't been any pain like the stories had said. All Freed felt was heat spreading through his limbs, and hardening his member within his pants.
"Lemme see." Gajeel groaned as he was pushed back against the headboard, and his mouth was more thoroughly invaded. He could feel the little piercing he'd given Freed, and definitely heard it knocking lightly against his own tongue piercings, but he was curious to see just what it looked like on the Rune mage.
But as his lover's slender fingers slid over his chest to grip his raven hair, Gajeel decided that it would be best to wait to see it. Because Freed was, in no way, a masochist. The only pain Gajeel had ever seen him enjoy was being bitten while they were having sex. He very nearly turned into a blubbering mess while stubbing his toe. But this… With the way Freed was reacting to his iron, Gajeel knew in an instant. He really was the one.
Anyone else would have gotten metal poisoning from his iron, almost as though he'd injected mercury right into their bloodstream. Only his mate would actually have a more than positive reaction to it. Much like Freed was. And the best part about it was that there was no swelling and no pain, just like when Gajeel pierced himself. Freed's body saw the piercing as a part of him, not something foreign.
Eventually, the Rune mage felt the heat spreading through him lessen. The harsh waves of desire settled into a soothing lull, and he gave Gajeel one last gentle kiss before pulling back to look into his eyes. "I-I… Does this mean…"
"Yer my mate," Gajeel grinned. The utterly overjoyed look on Freed's face, his brilliant smile and shining eyes, had the Iron Slayer laughing as he pulled the man into his chest. "You tell me when yer ready, and we'll make it official."
"I have been ready for some time, Gajeel."
Gajeel bit his lip as his nose nestled in Freed's hair. "Then, I'll tell ya what…" He moved slowly until their lips were pressed together again, smiling all the while. "I'll make it a surprise."
"It will be hardly a surprise if I know you're going to do it," Freed laughed.
"Mating is a special thing, Freed," Gajeel replied. "You'll be marrying me, in a sense."
"But same-sex marriages…"
"I know, we can't get married legally," Gajeel nodded. That was still something that he hated, but Fiore could suck his dick with all their medieval law bullshit. Some piece of paper wasn't going to make Freed any more his, so it wasn't that important to him. It stung that he couldn't actually marry the man he loved, but this was his mate. Being mated and marked was on a whole other level.
"Would you want to?" Freed asked. "If we could."
"We could take a trip out down to Minstrel and do it," Gajeel answered. "And yes, I really do wanna marry yer ass."
The Rune mage flushed brilliantly and ducked his head. "You would… want to go to another country, just to marry me?"
"In a fuckin' heartbeat. But, regardless of whether or not we're recognized as being married, we'll still be mated eventually. And when that happens, I... wanna do something special for ya."
"Special, how?" Freed smirked. "It will already be special."
"When we do it," Gajeel said softly, drawing his boyfriend's attention back to him in an instant. "You'll be the one takin' me, nerd."
"Y-You mean…"
"I mean," he smiled. "I want you to take my virginity."
"B-But you're not really a v-virgin," Freed sputtered. "Unless…"
"Exactly," the Iron Slayer whispered. "I've never let anyone touch me there, Freed. I want you to be the only one to do it."
Freed already knew just why Gajeel had never allowed anyone to take him, because it left him too vulnerable, too open. It wasn't about the possible pain of being stretched to accommodate his lover, but simply about the level of trust he never had for anyone. But he wanted that with Freed.
"I can't say I'll want it to happen all the time," Gajeel muttered with a wince. "But, I wanna share that with ya. Give ya somethin' that no one else has ever gotten from me."
"Aside from your undying love?" Freed smiled.
"Exactly."
The Rune mage's arms wound around Gajeel's shoulders and he bit his lips while looking into his boyfriend's mismatched eyes. "I'd like that very much, Gajeel."
"Yeah, I bet you would," the Iron Slayer teased, nipping playfully at his fine chin. "You've just been waitin' all this time to stick something up my ass."
Freed's face fell into a blank stare. "I will not be 'sticking something up your ass,' Gajeel."
"Oh, yeah?"
"I will be gifting you with the honor of carrying my anal babies," Freed nodded firmly. "This is quite the honor for you."
"Wh-What the fuck?!" Gajeel cackled.
Freed smiled and sifted his fingers through the Iron Slayer's hair, bring their lips together again and again even though they were both laughing. "We should get to going," he whispered. "If I am to be the best man today, I shouldn't be late."
Gajeel nodded and watched as his boyfriend carefully got up from the bed, then smoothed the imaginary wrinkles in his clothes. He slowly sat up and moved to the edge again, instantly taking Freed's hand as it was held out to him. And once Gajeel was on his feet, with hardly any pressure being set on his healing leg, he caught sight of their reflection in the mirror Freed used while getting dressed.
Gajeel was never one for suits. They just weren't his style. But he'd agreed to wear one for Laxus and Lucy's wedding that day. And for once in his life, the Iron Slayer was left speechless by how he looked. More specifically, how he looked standing next to his boyfriend. The two of them looked damn good together, but he was sure that it was Freed making that happen. Because when Gajeel turned his head to get a full look at the two of them - out of habit, since only one eye actually worked - all he could see was the scar on his face and the milky pink orb that had once been a vibrant red marring the beautiful picture of them together.
Freed leaned over and grabbed Gajeel's cane from where it was leaning against the nightstand, then turned and handed it to him. It hadn't been a surprise that the Iron Slayer had taken the cane he'd been given and spruced it up with his metal. Now the entire thing was coated in iron with a smooth dragon head adorning the top where his hand would sit, and a long body spiralling down the length of the rest. Thankfully, Gajeel had left the rubber stopper on the bottom to muffle the sound it would make.
The Rune mage looked up and followed Gajeel's line of sight with a smile, leaning into his side. "Handsome, as always," he whispered.
"I don't know about all that," Gajeel muttered.
Freed let out a slow breath while leaning up to press his lips against the Iron Slayer's scarred cheek. "No matter how many scars you have," he said, peppering the flesh with more kisses, "You will always be handsome to me." It was no secret to him that Gajeel was actually very self-conscious about how he looked where the left side of his face was concerned. He hated that his eye no longer worked, and even more that it wasn't still red. And Gajeel had constantly questioned Freed about why he would stay with him, when the scar on his cheek was so hideous. But nothing as minor as that would change how Freed saw his boyfriend. Gajeel was just as handsome as before the accident.
Gajeel's right arm carefully wrapped around Freed, and he gave the other mage a small smile. "Well, as long as you think so, I guess…"
"There is no guessing involved," Freed smiled. "You're perfect, Gajeel. Everything I could have ever asked for in a man."
"And in a mate?" the Iron Slayer whispered.
"Definitely." The two shared another slow kiss, then Freed turned to lead Gajeel out of the bedroom and down the hall.
It was a long, slow process, but they made it work. Gajeel's sling was placed on his arm - as it almost always was when he was about to go outside - then the jacket for his own suit was draped over his shoulders. For the first time in six months, Gajeel didn't need help putting on his shoes. Tying the laces on the dress shoes was something else entirely, because he still struggled with his dexterity from time to time, but Freed had no issue helping him finish up.
"Should you need it at any time," Freed said as he locked the door behind him and watched his boyfriend's slow trek down the stairs to the sidewalk, "Let me know, and I will write some runes for you."
"It's not that far to Kardia Cathedral," Gajeel shrugged, still smirking down at the smaller mage. "But thanks. I'll do that."
After two blocks, with only one left to go, Freed was stopping the Iron Slayer and forcing him to rest his leg. They still had two hours before the ceremony would start, and Freed knew he would make it there on time. Just as Laxus already knew that the Rune mage was going to be helping Gajeel get to the wedding, so it might take a little longer than normal to get there from his home.
Ten minutes after sitting down on a bench, Gajeel finally asked Freed for some help. The Rune mage wrote a pair of wings for his boyfriend, then ones for himself, and they flew the rest of the way to the cathedral.
And all during the ceremony that day, all Gajeel could think about was what it would be like to stand in front of all of their friends and guild mates and bind their lives together like this. Laxus looked damn good, and Lucy was absolutely beautiful. Maybe even more so because her six-month baby bump was pushing out the front of her dress.
That night, during the reception, Gajeel and Freed danced together for the first time in their entire relationship. It was just a small shuffle here and there, mainly the Iron Slayer holding his boyfriend and carefully turning during a slow song, but for them it was perfect.
"We'll do all this one day," Gajeel whispered into Freed's hair. "And everyone will be there. Just like this."
"One day," Freed nodded, a wistful smile on his lips as he basked in the comfort his boyfriend provided. While it hurt that they would have to travel out of the country just to be able to do something like this, and Freed knew that not everyone in the guild would be able to attend the wedding he and Gajeel would have, he was still looking forward to the day when he could look into Gajeel's eyes and call the Iron Slayer his husband. And one day, his mate.
And that's it for the chapter! I hope you enjoyed it! I think we all know what's coming in the next chapter... hehehe.
I love you, guys!
~~GemNika