A Soulful Fugue

by LittlePrincessNana

What if the one person you hated the most was the one person that could set you free? One's buried under his own fear of society's condemnation, the other caged by his own lack of self understanding. Laxus and Cobra find themselves hating each other, not realizing the fine line they tread. Can they see past the exposition and discover the symphony that lies beneath? (Laxus x Cobra,

10. Some Eaves Shouldn't Be Dropped

Hi everyone!

Finally got this update finished in the midst of working on CoLu week. It sorta took on a life of its own and I have to admit that I sometimes forget how much I love writing with the One-Eyed Bastard that is Cobra hehe.

But, on to the reading!

As always, I don't own Fairy Tail or the characters but the plot is all mine.

---

Chapter 10 - Some Eaves Shouldn't be Dropped

He was nervous. Extremely nervous. Cobra couldn't recall the last time he'd been as nervous as he was. Okay, maybe it had been the night of that fated dinner with Laxus. In his own defense, there'd been a very real reason for his apprehension then. Sitting on a train, in a confined space, sharing a seat with the Lightning Dragon Slayer while his three worshipers sat across from them was not a justifiable reason. It had nothing to do with fearing Bickslow, Evergreen or Freed. He'd eaten lunches that posed a bigger threat in his book. He knew without a single doubt that if they chose to attack, he'd have them suffocating on toxic fumes before they could lift a finger. That definitely wasn't the cause of his anxiety.

The unsettling quiver in his stomach had started the moment Laxus had asked him to join them on a mission. He wasn't exactly sure why he'd said yes in the first place. It wasn't that he needed the money or the experience really. If that had been the case, taking a job on his own would have been a much better plan. He could go at his own pace, not have to worry about someone getting in his way and he sure as hell wouldn't have to answer to anyone. Looking back, he'd had every single damn intention of telling the Slayer to go fuck himself. He really did but then somewhere between his brain firing off and his lips parting, he'd given a reply that still had him cringing. He was sure kittens somewhere were dying because of the sheer horror of it.

"Sure! I'd fucking love to, when the hell do we leave out?"

Seriously. He'd officially grown a vagina, had his first period and the boobs were going to spring up any day now. He should've been wearing a skirt, blouse and a damned apron instead of the joggers and tank top he'd had on. It would've made the big guy's job easier when he'd carried him to his bed and tested the damn coils. Good news? The mattress was a lot fucking better than he'd thought. The bedframe hadn't held up to the test, though. That fucker was still in pieces in his room back in town. Just one more damn reason I shouldn't be here. I'm such a pussy. Fuck my life.

"So, Cobra. How are ya settling into the guild life?"

When Bickslow's way too damn happy voice broke into his thoughts, his gaze snapped up and he knew that the scowl he was mentally trying to hide was broadcasted for all to see. Who the fuck is that damn happy this early in the day? Oh. I know. Motherfuckin' ventriloquists who haven't their damn asses abused. "Fine," he replied shortly and sighed when the Slayer next to him nudged his side. "Can't really complain, I guess."

"Why did he have to be the one to accompany us? What is Laxus thinking? The man, if one would dare call him that, is a brute, an uncivilized thuggish bully."

He glanced over at the Rune mage and narrowed his eye. The stuffy, cravat-wearing asshole had his ass on his shoulders bright and fucking early. The moment he'd walked up to the group at the train station, Freed had looked down his nose. He was used to being judged, that certainly wasn't an issue. It was the fact that the guy either didn't know or didn't care that he could hear thoughts. He just broadcasted that crap like reruns of Knots Landing, in stereo.

The Seith mage laughed and gave a nod of his head. "I hear ya, Man. Us Fairies can be a tough pill to swallow but we mean well."

You could fucking say that shit again. "Yeah…"

"You'll have to come out on the town with me and Laxus sometime," Bickslow grinned. "We'll show ya the nightlife in Magnolia."

"Oh for heaven's sake, Bickslow. Shut the hell up. No one wants him tagging along on our nights out! Are you asking for trouble? He's probably killed people and we'll be next! Why the hell is he sitting next to Laxus. That is my seat. I always sit next to Laxus. Always and he just comes along..."

It took every ounce of restraint not to tell the pompous, little green-haired fucker where to shove his judgemental bullshit. Sure, he had killed people and every single one that he knew of had been well justified. The first life he'd taken had been a guard who'd back-handed Macbeth in the Tower. No one fucked with his friends. Ever, unless they were him. But that was completely beside the point. He'd turned over a new leaf and didn't relish the thought of prison food again. He liked his freedom but it would seem that stupid ass, high society, hypocritical Toadstool was going to jeopardize it. Greenie better be glad he's Tesla's friend. "Sounds good," he replied dismissively.

"Why is he looking at me? I am sure he is plotting something. He's probably envisioning ways to slaughter me in my sleep."

Unable to help himself, Cobra smirked at the thought. Okay, so perhaps he had envisioned a little payback that may, or may not, have included choking the Rune mage with his own cravat. It was only a little, just enough to cause the Asshole to pass out. He'd be smart, not leave any marks. Maybe. "Say, Evergreen?"

The Brunette stiffened, her mind immediately running through the reasons he would have to speak to her. "Y-yes, Cobra?"

He was a little surprised that for as bitchy as the Fairy mage presented herself to be, she really wasn't the snob he'd pinned her for. In her head, she was intimidated by his presence but seemed to be collecting reasons to like him. She was apparently stuck on the idea of playing with his hair. That shit wouldn't be happening anytime soon but it did give him cause to struggle with keeping his laughter at bay when she recalled putting bows in Laxus' hair one time as he slept. That was something he'd pay to see but it did make him wonder if the Lightning Slayer was aware of the fact that she had pictures to prove it. He made a mental note to pull her off to the side sometime. "You got a nail file?" he asked. "I've got a wicked ass snag."

Her cocoa eyes widened just a bit behind her glasses and a nervous smile quivered on her lips. "S-sure!" she said as she zipped open the small travel bag on her lap. "You've got lovely cla- I mean nails."

"Don't fucking censor yourself, they're claws," he smirked as he reached over for the metal nail file she offered. His grin only broadened when he saw the color drain from Freed's face when he tapped his fingers against his thigh. "And no, I won't be letting you paint the damn things."

"That is just lovely, Ever. Give the mass murderer another weapon with which he could kill us. Sell outs, her and Bickslow both. Oblivious assholes, that is exactly what I am surrounded by. Oblivious assholes with a death wish."

Cobra gave a roll of his eye as he filed at the non-existent snag. It was exactly the kind of reaction he'd been expecting. The only problem was that it was losing its comical value and bordering on pathetic. Did the fucker not get that he could hear thoughts? For someone who seemed so… intellectual, that was overshadowed by borderline paranoia. It was just boring. A slight nudge brushed against his shoulder and he glanced over at the large Slayer to find the ghost of a smile on that wide mouth. They locked eyes for the briefest of moments and it left him clearing his throat as he offered the fingernail file back to the Fairy mage. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Evergreen smiled and pushed up at her glasses.

"What is the relationship between him and Laxus anyway? They seem so… friendly as of late. I swear, if he hurts Laxus… Well, I'll just show him what I'm truly capable of."

He glanced cautiously back at Freed and found the man frowning into the open book on his lap. It was pretty fucking obvious that he wasn't reading a damn word. It was upside down and while the guy did seem to have some skills when it came to the written word, that just felt a little too far fetched. The fact that he could practically taste the hint of jealousy in the Rune mage's thoughts was a little unsettling. He should be happy the Asshole was jealous, right? He wasn't. It only fueled the nervous sloshing in his gut. It's because you're a damn pussy.

"I wish Laxus would settle down. Find a nice girl who will treat him like the Lightning God he is and be happy… Lucy would be such a good fit for him, if only she were not so blind and hung up on that fire blazing imbecile."

If he wasn't so put off by the thought of Laxus being paired with anyone else, he might have found it comical. There was certainly no doubting Laxus' choices, at least where he was concerned. That fucker seemed to breathe, eat, drink and sleep him and everything the Slayer wanted to do to him. No, Laxus was definitely one hundred and fifty percent gay. Women, more notably Lucy, didn't even make a blip on his attraction radar. Okay, sure. He wasn't exactly squared away with his own sexuality. If he were honest with himself, and he absolutely refused to be on this subject, he had not one fucking clue where he fell in the grand scheme of labels. Tesla was the first person, ever, that he'd even been remotely attracted to. Sure, he'd kissed that girl not long after Brain had busted the gang out of the Tower. It was experimental and fully driven by the incessant teasing of Macbeth and Sorano. But there'd been no feelings of anything outside of "Holy crap, she's fucking dead." Even that had left him feeling quite empty and without any emotion one way or the other.

He didn't look at women and think of sex. He didn't look at men or animals or plants or weird space creatures with giant fucking tentacles and think sex. It was like his brain and body just weren't programmed that way. The only thing that had ever stirred him in any way was the sound of a soul's song, but even they had never affected him the way Laxus' did. Nothing, no one had the unstoppable effect that the Lightning Dragon Slayer had on him. Even now, looking at the ones sitting across from him, they didn't stir him and it wasn't for lack of trying.

He took note of Bickslow's strong jawline and broad but well sculpted shoulders, the way his face came alive with his smile. Nothing.

Evergreen was probably what most would consider an attractive woman with the gentle curve of her high cheek bones, the softness of her ivory skin, the thin but feminine bow of her lips, the ample swell of breasts peeking from the top of her dress. Nothing, not even a second glance.

Freed with his more gentle masculine features. The almost delicate jawline, long, thick lashes that rested against flawless skin with a beauty mark just below his left eye, full and almost pouty lips, the slender build of a fencer. Not one thing stirred and their soul songs didn't either. They were interesting, oddly fitting each of them.

Bickslow with his upbeat undertones and constant shifting, choppy pull of the bow over strings. It was as spontaneous as the Seith mage, but the soft undertone of a damn love song was a little out of place. The guy apparently had fucking heart. Go him. He did have to wonder if the guy could hear souls the same way Laxus said he saw them.

Evergreen, hers was almost sad at first listen. The piano slow and haunting with the drawn out notes of the violin giving it an ethereal quality. It was the flute and clarinet that joined in with the tweeting of birds that finally made it settle in. Hers echoed the vision she saw life in with her rose colored glasses. It was as beautiful as the world she wished to live in.

Freed's was as isolated, as regimented as he appeared to be. The repetitive tinkering the ivories that spoke of his need for order that went back as far as his childhood. The smooth and steady notes of violin and cello strings was the mundane of life around him, the way he saw others and their actions. But there was that clinical, almost frigid sense that radiated from the sound that made Cobra want to almost pity the man.

"Perhaps that is his issue. He never pays any mind to other women, just Lucy. And that cretin. I never see him with women either, with the exception of the lesbians. I wonder if he's one of those homosexuals. Perhaps that is why he insisted on taking the seat next to… No, Freed Aloysius Justine. You will not go there, that would imply..."

The lesbians? Those homosexuals? Cobra couldn't remember the last time he'd heard as much contempt as he did inside of the Rune Mage's head. It was nauseating, almost to the point that he was almost offended. He'd heard of all the teasing the man had received at one time, when those in the guild believed him to be one of those homosexuals. There were still little rumors floating about that he just might be bisexual, but he didn't exactly buy it. Especially now and definitely not when he took into account the acidic flavor of fear that ran just beneath the surface of those damning thoughts.

It was that fear that kept him from giving into the man's earlier thoughts and pouncing on his ass. That kind of fear was the type that was bred into a person, a deep seated belief that it wasn't supposed to exist. He'd heard that bullshit before in those that protested against gay rights. They feared what they didn't understand. And in a way, he could relate. He didn't understand himself, didn't know where he fit. He felt as out of place with his attraction to the large Slayer as the Rune mage felt with what he didn't know or understand. For the first time since they'd boarded the train, he found a patch of common ground.

"Laxus is not one of THOSE people. He's entirely too… Manly. Dear Mavis, I sound like the Oaf. Manly, it leaves a wretched taste in my mouth. Similar to moist. Ugh, oh no. Do not lose your lunch, the snake may see it as a sign of weakness."

He couldn't help but glance over at Laxus. This was part of the reason why the Slayer was so adamant about hiding. This was why he was suffocating his soul the way he had been. Tesla… The thought hurt and he frowned as he watched the man, his eyes closed and head reclined back as music blared in his headphones.

"I should speak with Laxus about this. He simply should not be associating with this level of danger. I would hate to have to defend his sexuality to others for merely being around that sort of thing. Makes me sick just thinking it."

Now there were two patches, two solid pieces that he could connect with where the Rune mage was concerned. Despite all the venom in the man's thoughts, he was ultimately just concerned for Laxus. He didn't want him to experience the ridicule he'd received in the past. And Cobra solidly agreed. While he still wasn't sure just what the hell all of this was, he was certain enough that he'd kill a fucker for overstepping any boundaries where the blond was concerned. He, himself, had lived through enough fucked up shit and he knew something of the crap Laxus had. He wouldn't allow that crap to happen again, not if he could help it. I got ya number now, Greenie and I can fucking promise… I'll be the last damn thing ya gotta worry about with him.

---

The sound of an obnoxious belch broke the silence around the campfire and a feminine voice groaned in displeasure. Laxus didn't even have to look up from his plate to know who it came from and he could only shake his head. He'd been with his team for too many years and knew each of them better than he knew himself at times.

"Good fucking out, Puppet Master."

"That was a kiss for ya, Cobra," Bickslow chuckled.

"Must every male be so ill-mannered?"

"Not all, Miss Evergreen." The older, wiser voice of Papa replied. "But this is Bickslow you're talking about."

Laxus couldn't help but smirk as he pushed the clean rabbit bones on his plate off to the side. It was one of the great pleasures of being out with his team. Bickslow was surprisingly as good a hunter as he, even more so when it came to much of the smaller game. He could only surmise that it had everything to do with being able to fly on his babies. It gave him a greater silence advantage. But the most surprising thing was the fact that Evergreen, who claimed to never cook or clean for fear of breaking a nail, was the best cook out of them all and that was saying something. When it came to wild game, she pretty much had the market cornered on talent. Her rabbit stew was the best, bar none.

"Papa," Bickslow gasped. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

The middle of the Seith mage's babies swooped down to knock his wooden totem against Bickslow's helmet. "That you can sometimes be a throwback from the Ice Age."

"Don't you mean the Stone Age, Popo?"

The sound of a gentle throat clearing sounded and everyone looked over to find Freed staring at them in unveiled boredom. "If you are wishing to imply that he is a caveman, Miss PuPu," the Rune mage said all too matter-of-factly. "The earliest humanoid is believed to date back to the tertiary period, or simply put the Stone Age."

"When did they make all the pretty drawings?" Pipi's high pitched voice cut in.

The most flamboyant and crass of the Babies sighed and Laxus knew something utterly ridiculous was going to be said. Okay, so in all truths, he liked the souls. They were each so very unique with their own personalities that was definitely who they'd been in their previous lives. Papa was just that, Bickslow's adopted father. He'd been a kind and gentle man from what he'd heard from the stories the Seith mage had told him. His own parents had died in a house fire when he was at a very young age and Papa had been the one to save him, had taken him in and taught him what he knew. That also included his soul magic. It had been the older man's dying wish that Bickslow retain his soul, not wanting to leave the young fifteen year old alone.

Pupu was the motherly figure despite having died at the young age of thirty-five. She'd been a mother of three, a stay at home wife to a mage who'd gone astray. Bickslow had found her soul shortly after he and Laxus had met. They'd come across her in the rubble of a small home that had long since crumbled. They'd later learned that she and her children had perished at the hands of her husband after he'd returned home from a weekend long drinking binge. Her children's souls had been able to pass but she'd been stuck there, reliving the horror every night for years on end until they'd stumbled upon her. It had been a sad tale, one he could relate to in a way because it was a lot like his own father. A mage who'd lost sight of the right path thanks to the lure of darker things. He could only be thankful that he'd had his grandfather to protect him from ending up in the same manner.

Popo was often the quietest of the bunch, preferring to spend his time brooding over everything. He could often come off as surly, crass or just downright rude when he did speak. But that was to others that didn't know him. Laxus could surmise that he'd probably get along well with Cobra. The soul was the middle of Bickslow's babies, having been twenty-five when he'd been trapped in a landslide while climbing Mount Hakobe alone. He'd been an artist and poet in life, finding solitude was his greatest companion. It had been no small task for the Seith mage to convince him to stay with him. It had taken an entire week and even then, Popo had not agreed until Bickslow had called it quits and started his journey back. The soul pretended not to care, but he knew better. He knew that act only too well. For all of his solitude, he craved companionship of his own.

Pipi was the youngest and most needy of the souls, understandably so. Bickslow had returned with her after he'd made his annual pilgrimage to the grave he'd had erected for his parents. He'd apparently come across her in a cave he'd found purely by chance when a stray thunderstorm had popped up overhead. She had only been ten years old when her village had been attacked by a guild of dark mages. Her parents had told her to run and they would come find her when everything was safe. She'd waited there for them for two weeks before starvation and dehydration had taken her life. The Seith mage was the first person she'd seen in six months and it was an instant attachment. The soul and her little totem still begged to be allowed to sleep on his pillow out of fear of being abandoned.

Then there was the second to youngest. Pepe was the oddest and probably funniest out of the group. In life, he'd been a homosexual drag queen and he still too often liked to remind everyone of that fact. Not that anyone could forget given his vibrant personality that often bordered on pure insanity. Laxus been surprised to learn that he'd taken his own life at the very young age of twenty-one. He was always too upbeat, too comical… too happy but Bickslow said he'd known from the moment he'd spotted the soul lingering at the edge of a village the Raijinshou had gone to for a job. The Seith mage said his orb hadn't been like the others. Instead of bright and a vivid shade of leaf green like Popo and Pipi or sky blue like Papa's or the deep shade of sapphire like Pupu's, Pepe's soul orb had been dull. So dull that he'd almost missed it when they'd gone out on patrol in the middle of night. A black center was on the verge swallowing the flamingo pink color it was now.

"Ice Age. Stone Age. Drag Queen stage," Pepe stated with a flare. "It doesn't matter, leave my Bixy alone."

Pupu gave a hum of obvious disapproval. "Your Bixy? Did you forget you're a wooden totem?"

If the gay little totem could smirk, there was no doubt he was when he flippantly replied. "Girlfriend, all the best men have wood."

"Damn queen," Evergreen groaned.

Pepe flew over to settle in the Fairy mage's lap, something he was prone to do with her quite often. "Someone's gotta represent us fabulous Divas."

"And on that note," Cobra interjected as he stood up from the log he'd been sitting on. "I'm gonna go gather more firewood."

Laxus looked up, his eyes meeting the amethyst of the other Slayer's and he started to speak but Bickslow beat him to the punch.

"Give me a sec and I'll go with."

The Poison Dragon Slayer's lips quirked as he gave a shrug of a shoulder. "Suit yourself but I don't really need anybody to hold my damn hand."

"Shame," Pepe sighed. "I'd hold it and anything else you'd want me to."

Cobra cut his eye at the small wooden figurine and curled his top lip. "I don't fucking think so."

"Pepe," Bickslow warned. "Stop hitting on Cobra, you don't know where his dick's been."

"No, but I know where I'd like it to be."

"Not gonna fucking happen, Splinter."

"Afraid I might bring out your inner fabulous?" Pepe shot back.

Freed let out a loud sigh of frustration. "Must every conversation always revert to male genitalia and talk of coitus?"

"Dude," Bickslow gaped. "And Cana still lets you fuck her when you say shit like that?"

"What Cana and I do is, quite frankly, none of your concern."

"Bicks," Evergreen cut in with a sigh. "Stop picking on him. Who cares if he coitally penetrates her or screws her brains out?"

"I'm pretty damned impressed, Wings," Cobra smirked.

The brunette smiled, her whole face lighting up at the impromptu praise. "Why thank you, Erik. Or do you prefer Cobra?"

The one-eyed Slayer opened his mouth at first to respond but paused as if contemplating her question before giving a shrug. "Meh, I prefer Cobra but I guess you can call me whatever," he said before gesturing in Laxus' direction. "Not like he really listens to my ass and no… I'm still not letting you paint my damn nails."

"Well, damn."

Laxus laughed despite himself at the horrible pout that settled on Evergreen's face, the glow of the fire almost making it creepy in appearance. The sun had long set and up above them were a million stars decorating the clear blanket of indigo. Camp had been made just two hours before, right as dusk had begun to settle. That had been an oddly pleasant experience. Laughter had been shared when Bickslow somehow managed to collapse his freshly set tent. It had been refreshing to see Cobra openly laughing, fully bellied even at the sight of the Seith mage's legs poking out from under the nylon material while the inside was a flurry of motion with the babies trying to escape. Evergreen had tried to help, and partially succeeded when she managed to free one of the small wooden totems, but the second to make it out had caught her right in the face. One bloody nose had been enough for her to tell Bickslow he was on his own.

They'd eventually untangled the Seith mage from his tent, but only after what could only be taken as a rerun of The Three Stooges. The rest of camp had been set up pretty easily with the exception of a few small amenities like additional wood to fuel the fire overnight, which was a relief after the long ass day they'd had. The train ride had been the usual nauseating fuckfest that he was used to. Then came meeting the overly pompous Mayor of Junjou. The small village was strange enough with all of the occupants and their sheep. He'd never seen so many damn wool-producing vermin in his entire life and the little trinkets of the animals everywhere. Metal shapes of the creatures hung from signposts, little decals decorated windows, sheep-shaped flower pots adorned porches and shop stoops. But then they'd met Hitsuji Oveja, the overly flamboyant town head.

The roly poly little man stood no more than five foot, at best, and made Master Bob look normal. Laxus wasn't even sure that could be possible but apparently it was. The man's wool dress coat, or maybe it was a dress (he was still on the fence about that), had more colors than the rainbow with its multitude of gemstones and strange carpet like fringe edges. Bright pink tights, neon green crocodile skin and purple hat with orange pom pom fringe that dangled from the brim completed the horrendous ensemble. He didn't concern himself too much with fashion but the man had been a walking billboard for every fashionista failure known to man. Then he'd spoken and it was like flashbacks to being forced to watch the Wizard of Oz with Lucy. Either the guy was the last remnant of the Lollipop Guild or he'd sucked on a million too many helium filled balloons. He was glad for the five mile separation between camp and the village from hell.

Now it was time to save his camp from erupting into hell. Freed was obviously past irritated and the others were not helping matters. "I'll go with him to collect wood," he said as he stood up. "You guys clean up from dinner and we'll be back in a bit." Sure, he knew it was an excuse but it was one that would kill two birds with one stone. They'd all settle down and he'd get much needed time alone with the little one-eyed bastard. Finally. All day had been a war of wills to keep himself in check when all he'd wanted to do was hold the fuckers hand or touch his ass. Both literally and figuratively, of course.

He caught the questioning but humor-filled look Bickslow tossed his way, but he chose to ignore it. He was actually feeling pretty good as he turned for the woods. His heart was lightened, knowing his team was taking strides with the Poison Dragon Slayer to get along. He'd worried about the two not marrying very well but it had been for naught, at least for the most part. Freed was still overly stand offish, reserved to a damn fault. He'll come around once he gets to know him. The Rune mage had issues with trust and held grudges worse than a woman. It would take time, he knew that but the outlook with Bicks and Ever was good. It was a start and that was all that mattered.

"You know," Cobra grumbled when they were out of earshot. "I don't need you to come babysit my ass."

He glanced over at the Slayer as they fell into step and gave a roll of his eyes. "Staying in camp would be babysitting," Laxus groaned. "We need firewood and I just wanted to spend a few fucking moments alone with you without my whole damn team breathing down our necks."

"You're so goddamn romantic," Cobra sarcastically noted.

"Well, you seem to bring it out in me."

The Poison Dragon Slayer stumbled over a prominent root in their path and shot a glare in his direction. "You start fucking singing Disney shit and I'm gone."

Laxus paused mid-stride and turned to give the most offended look he could possibly muster without laughing. "And I was fucking hoping you'd be the Nala to my Simba."

Cobra's face fell, any hint of amusement swept away by the go to hell look that took up residence. "We're more like Timon and Pumbaa."

A laugh slipped from his lips and he shook his head before turning to continue on deeper into the treeline. "The fact that you even know who they are scares me," he called out over his shoulder.

"Lahar," came the gruff reply. "He used that shit as torture, played it incessantly in the day room."

Laxus couldn't keep the smile from rising on his lips. That was the first time he'd heard the other Slayer even mention his time in prison. And the fact that it seemed to just slip out so naturally was a sign of improvement. He had to wonder if he could get him to open up more. "I'm surprised they let your ass into the day room."

The one-eyed Slayer let out a laugh. "Me too, but I guess I wasn't a threat when all they allowed me was a plastic fucking spoon and crayons."

"Not even a spork?" Laxus chuckled as he ducked under a low hanging limb and paused to lift it without thought. "The fucking nerve of those assholes."

"Yeah," Cobra grinned. "But I got their asses back for that."

He quirked a single brow, almost afraid to ask. "Do I really wanna know how?"

"Did you know that if you eat an entire box, it turns your shit different colors?"

"That's fucking gross."

The Poison Dragon Slayer shrugged. "Finger Painting one-o-one."

There was no damn way he could conceal the disgust from his face, his entire body shuddering at the repulsive thought. It was incredibly easy to envision the little one-eyed bastard painting crap on his walls, literally. "Remind me to never give your ass crayons."

"How about a sock?"

"A sock?" he blinked, completely lost as to just what a fucking sock would be used for.

"Not a Harry Potter fan?"

When the realization hit, he wanted to smack himself and then the little shit. He'd been forced to watch every single one of those damn movies, thanks to Lucy. She'd even gotten him a few times with the same damn trick. He still had two pairs of socks that were mateless thanks to her ass and his slow thinking. "You're a fucking asshole," he grimaced. "I'll never give you a damn sock."

"But Dobbie wants to be free," Cobra chuckled.

Laxus stared at him for a few moments before turning and heading deeper into the woods. "I don't give a single shit about Dobbie," he smirked. "Coby, on the other hand, doesn't get to be free. I like his pointy fucking ears too much."

"Dick."

"I've got one."

The Slayer behind him let out a heavy sigh and mumbled, the words just loud enough for him to hear. "I know. Believe me, I fucking know."

The two carried on in silence until they reached a small clearing and Laxus paused to glance around, his ears focusing on the sounds around them as his nose struggled to smell anything but the garlic and almond scent of the slayer behind him. The timber of his team's voices and crackling of the fire could no longer be heard. Only the symphony of cicadas, crickets, the rustling of leaves in the breeze, an occasional hoot of an owl and the distant howl of a wolf that was the forest at night reached him. He loved the woods at night, but in that moment he was loving the solitude it provided. He'd had enough of being forced to hold himself back, of not being able to touch the one thing he wanted.

"We just gonna stand here all fucking night or-"

The gritty voice, so filled with annoyance, set him off. Without a second thought, he turned and grabbed Cobra by the shoulders. He terminated the man's words with the almost violent meeting of their lips as he forced the Slayer against a nearby tree. His hands buried in messy, thick maroon locks as sturdy, thin fingers pressed noncommittally at the wall of his chest before curling into the fabric of his t-shirt. Full supple lips molded against his and parted to grant him access to the full flavor that was solely his lover. The muffled whimper of a plea filled the space of their joined mouths when tongues met, bartering a hungry growl of pure lust from deep within his throat. Fuck, I've wanted to touch you all goddamn day.

"W-we can't… Team… Wood," Cobra muttered intermittently between voluntary nipping at his lips.

There were zero fucks to be given for his team or the damn wood they were supposed to be gathering. Finally he was able to feed the seemingly endless craving he had for the little one-eyed bastard. Kissing him the first time had unlocked Pandora's box and there was no obvious way to close it, not that he particularly wanted to. Laxus wanted the claw-tipped fingers that raked down his sides to slip beneath the fabric of his shirt, needed to feel the cocky son of a bitch's arousal pressed against his own as their hips eagerly surged forward to meet. His fingers curled into Cobra's hair, pulling his head back so that his lips could travel the length of his jawline. "I don't give a shit," he growled as his teeth found the fleshy part of an earlobe.

"Ne-neither… G-goddamn," the maroon-haired Slayer moaned, his fingers curving around the curve of Laxus' ass. "Wh-wha-what if th-those… assholes c-come looking?"

Laxus stilled at the thought. That was part of the reason he'd been unable to touch, unable to intertwine his fingers with the other Slayer's. Unable to use his lover's body to drown out the stomach churning ride. They weren't privy to his private life despite their close relationship. Except Bicks… Bickslow would be the one that would initially be sent out to search. Evergreen hated the woods at night and Freed was too much of gentleman to leave her alone. They would only split up and search if it appeared to be an emergency and this wasn't one of them. No. Bickslow, if any, would be the one to come across them and he already knew about Laxus' budding relationship and sexual preference. The Seith mage knew that the mum was the word, he'd never hear the end of it but his friend of fifteen years (if the seven year gap was included) would not repeat it to anyone else.

Reaching back, Laxus grabbed for the other Slayer's hands and raised them above his head to pin them against the tree. "Is Coby scared?" he moaned teasingly, his sharp canines scraping against Cobra's chin. "Afraid of someone else seeing just how fucking sexy you are when you're begging me to fuck you?"

"Who said I'd beg your ass to fuck me?"

He smirked at the challenge so clearly laced in that snarky reply. The other Slayer could easily fight against being held captive, could easily escape if that was really desired but he didn't. And Laxus knew he wouldn't. The throbbing he found when he pressed both wrists into one hand so that he could reached down to grasp Cobra's erection through his pants told the truth of the tale. The desire for more was completely mutual. His fingers deftly worked at getting the button free and the sound of the zipper sliding was loud in the relative silence around them. "No one," he grinned as his hand slipped beneath the waistband of the Slayer's boxers. "But you will."

"Fuck," Cobra moaned. "Laxus…"

He felt the surge of the one-eyed Slayer's hips, the length of his arousal sliding into his firm grasp. He captured Cobra's lips to muffle the low growl of a moan as his hand stroked the velvet-skinned length. He loved the way it felt in his grip. The weight, the way it twitched when his thumb would brush lightly over the tip to collect the pooled moisture there, but most of all he loved the sounds of surrender it pulled from Cobra. "You're so fucking hard, Coby," he moaned between kisses. "I want you so damn bad."

The smaller Slayer whimpered against his lips as his fist tightened. The way it throbbed in his hand made him want more. It spurred his fist to move faster as his tongue delved into that delicious mouth he loved so much. For just a split second, the curiosity of what it would feel like to have that cock inside of him entered his mind and it made him pause. It wasn't a thought he was used to and it startled him when his own arousal twitched and ached with need in his pants. He didn't bottom, preferred to be the giver and he wasn't ready to go there. He knew he may never be.

He released Cobra's wrists and dropped a hand down to that unruly mass of maroon spikes. "But first," he growled as he nipped at his bottom lip. "I want to feel that smart ass mouth of yours wrapped around my cock."

There was no resistance when he pushed the Slayer down to his knees and he moaned when the cocky little bastard grinned up at him as fingers made quick work of his pants. The waistband of his boxer briefs only made it as far down as mid thigh before the entire length of his aching arousal was encased in wet heat. "Shit, I love the way your mouth feels."

A moan vibrated the length of his cock and his hips surged forward, the sensation of Cobra gagging around him only adding to the curling of his toes in his boots. He buried his fingers into the Slayer's hair, guiding his mouth up and down the length of him. His lids grew heavy, wanting to close in his need to savor those lips around him, that blessed tongue dragging against the underside. But he fought it, needing to watch as his cock disappeared, needing to watch the flush of arousal spread over his lover's caramel skin.

He bit at his bottom lip to the point of drawing blood as Cobra's thin fingers wrapped around the base of his arousal, lips and tongue teasing the head enough to pull a throaty moan from the depths of his belly. His shirt felt like it was suddenly two sizes too small, the neck like restricting the airflow. He reached back and single handedly pulled the shrinking article over his head, tossing it onto a nearby bush without a care. The cool night air did little to relieve the near stifling heat that permeated his skin, the temperature quickly rising with every lick and nibble. Then came the scraping of teeth against his flesh that nearly buckled his knees.

"Fuck!" Laxus moaned. Those damn sharp ass teeth got him every fucking time, feeling them lightly pulling over the sensitive skin of his arousal. "I don't know what I want to fuck more, your mouth or your ass."

Lust flashed in that solitary amethyst orb as Cobra chuckled darkly. "Seeing as how your ass forgot to grab the lube," he quipped before pursing his lips to spit on the head of the blond's cock. "I'd say mouth first."

"Have I told you just how goddamn sexy you are?"

"Only every time your ass gets me naked."

Laxus grinned and tightened his grip on Cobra's hair, pushing his head back against the tree as he anchored himself with the other. His arousal jumped when it brushed against saliva slicked lips, a shudder shooting up his spine as Cobra's breath feathered over the hot skin. "Then let me remind you again."

He thrust once more into his lover's mouth and his head fell back with a groan. God he fucking loved the little shit's mouth. He pulled back until just the head was left between those delectable lips and thrust back in, his fingers digging painfully into the bark on the tree when he hit the back of Cobra's mouth. Slowly at first, he repeated that over and over until his grasp on holding back started to slip.

The mouth around him loosened and he glanced down the find that single eye smirking up at him. It renched that control away and he buried the full length of his arousal inside the welcoming wet heat. The fingers on his hips tightened, those sharp nails digging into his flesh when he slipped into the strict confines of the other Slayer's throat. The taut muscles around his girth moved, stroking him and the level of his desire. He couldn't stop himself from pulling back just long enough to allow him to breath before burying himself fully once again.

"I want you to fuck me."

Even in his head, Laxus could still hear the pleading in that gritty voice. It set him on edge as his pace quickened. Another series of moans pulsated around his cock and he clenched his teeth to stave the pressure building in his gut and the buzzing at the base of his spine.

"Goddamn it! Please?!"

God, why the hell did he do this to himself? He could so easily give in and the heavens knew he wanted to. He wanted nothing more than to feel Cobra's ass clenching around his length, to hear that sexy ass voice of his out loud. Gathering every bit of willpower he had left, Laxus withdrew from the heaven that was Cobra's mouth and looked down. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, willing himself down from the ledge he was perched upon. "Ask nicer and I just might," he teased.

Defiance flared in Cobra's eye, his lip curling ever so briefly into a snarl before he acquiesced. "Fine," he gritted out with narrowed eyes. "Please fuck my ass… Daddy."

You… You just had to fucking go there didn't you?

He saw the quirk to Cobra's lips and his own eyes narrowed. It wasn't gentle when he pulled the other Slayer up and crushed his lips to his. Teeth gnashing and tongues furiously dueling with one another, he slipped his hand into the backside of the Slayer's pants. His fingers dug harshly into a supple ass cheek as he pulled their bodies together, a moan slipping between them when their cocks pressed against one another. A hand slipped between them and he was forced to pull back.

"Oh no you don't," he growled as he turned the other Slayer. He trapped him between his body and the rough surface of the tree, his hips arching to press the length of his aching erection along the length of the slit in Cobra's ass. Thrusting against him, Laxus reached around to wrap his hand around his lover's cock. "My turn to touch and give my Coby what he wants."

"Oh fuck," Cobra moaned, his ass pressing back into him. "Back… Back pocket."

Laxus stilled, his brows furrowing. Back pocket? He reluctantly released his hold on the man's arousal and fished down into the back pockets on the maroon pants. His face relaxed when his fingers brushed against foil and he pulled the item out, the light of the moon catching on the silver packet. "You dirty, little ass," he smirked. "You were anticipating this shit."

The Poison Slayer pressed back once more against his cock, his head turning to glance mischievously back at him. "No, I just know how you fucking operate because I'm sure you didn't think to bring one."

It was true. He hadn't, it didn't even cross his mind. Of course, he hadn't exactly planned to have the time or place to indulge in his addiction. But still, he should have known. He was in a relationship and he never went without one just on the off chance. His eyes flickered between the condom and his lover's face, his mind trying to piece together why but coming up empty. "Whatever," he grumbled as he brought the foil packet up to his lips. "Lose the shirt, I wanna feel your skin against mine."

He ripped the foil package with his teeth and spit the remnants off to the side before rolling the pre lubed latex sheath down the length of his erection. His tongue slid over his lips as his eyes raked over the marred flesh of Cobra's back. He did as he always did and lifted a hand, his fingers gently brushing over the imperfections. The Slayer shuddered and pressed back against him instead of pulling away.

"Now who's the one teasing?"

The gritty voice, thick and dripping with desire, grated over his cochlear nerve and he felt it all the way down to his toes. Gripping his cock, he slid the tip teasingly between Cobra's ass cheeks. "Is this what you want?"

"Stop being an asshat," Cobra hissed. "Yes. You fucking happy? I want your goddamn cock inside of me."

Laxus grinned, his arousal twitching at the angry words as he lined himself up with the Slayer's opening. "I love it when romantic shit falls out of your mouth," he moaned before gathering every drop of saliva he could muster. He let it drip from his mouth, the thick droplet falling exactly where he needed it to.

"Fu - ahhh... H-Holy fucking shit!"

He could only moan in agreement with that exact sentiment as Cobra's body gave way, allowing him to slowly slide inside of the tight confines of his lover's body. No matter how many times or how often he did this, he knew without a shadow of a doubt he'd never tire of feeling those constricted muscles molding around his girth.

---

Bickslow dropped the stick he'd been using to draw stick figures in the dirt and looked up at his companions. Freed was lost, as usual, inside of the book in his lap. A corner of his mouth quirked as he watched the Rune mage read, his lips moving ever so slightly as his eyes traveled the page. He just knew the asshole knew the entire book, cover to cover. The Grapes of Wrath was Freed's favorite and he'd read it a couple of million times in the the span of the seven years he'd known him. And for the life of Bickslow, he didn't understand why. That book had all the excitement of a pile of ashes, its contents designed to bring its reader a slow and agonizing death. He'd rather have his toe and fingernails ripped from their beds then have rubbing alcohol poured over the open wounds than have his end come at the hands of boredom.

His gaze moved to Evergreen and all he could do was blink. She was in the middle of her nightly ritual. It was that time of night, just before she retired when she painted her face with mud the color of split pea soup and wrapped her long tresses in a piece of soft cotton fabric. Why women did that was beyond him because, quite frankly, it was terrifying. People feared his magic but they were perfectly okay with women painting their faces to look like a damn ass worm wearing a turban. He wasn't exactly sure what a damn ass worm looked like, but he just knew it had to look like that. A shudder traveled up the length of his back and his ass cheeks involuntarily clenched.

He glanced over at the woods where Laxus and Cobra had disappeared to before looking up at the sky. He did a quick calculation in his head and his brows furrowed. They'd been gone a good while now and there was still no sign of them returning. It wasn't that he felt he needed to be concerned, but in his own way he was. The Mayor from town had said it was a pack of rabid dogs that had been attacking people and nearby farms. Surely if something had happened, they'd hear it. Right?

The fact that it was as quiet as it was didn't settle very well in his stomach. Even the hoots of the owls had stopped, leaving just the pop of the fire, the rustle of grass and leaves in the wind and the sound of cicadas singing. He glanced back at the other two once more, contemplating on whether he should mention it but something stayed his hand. What if they were perfectly fine and just wanted some alone time? He didn't want to risk the other two getting worried and dashing off into the woods the way he knew Freed would. The Rune mage meant well but he mother henned Laxus entirely too much.

His bladder gave a shout and he sighed with his decision. He'd just go take a leak and keep his ears open for anything suspicious. Pushing up from the log he was sitting on, he activated his babies. "I'll be back," he said. "I'm gonna go piss so Papa, you, Pupu and Pipi stay here with them just in case."

"Aww," Evergreen cooed sarcastically. "Afraid of the boogey man getting you?"

He side eyed her as he picked up his visor and put it on. "Shut it, Mud Face."

"Touchy touchy, Bicks."

He shot her a one fingered salute as he made his way towards the trail he knew the other two had taken. The second he entered the tree line, he let out a whistle and waited a moment for the customary call back. When nothing but cicadas and crickets replied, he advanced down the trail.

"You do realize it's Laxus you're worrying about, right?"

Bickslow glanced over at Popo and sighed. "Yeah and they've been gone a little too long for my liking."

Pepe let out a tsk of disapproval. "They're two gay men, Bixy."

"Who are in the damn woods. Alone. At night."

"Bixy, honey," Pepe chided. " We're in the middle of A F E, I don't see this place being a hotbed for gay bashings."

"A F E?" Popo asked in confusion.

The flamboyant totem giggled almost girlishly. "Ass fuck Egypt."

Bickslow shook his head and groaned at the ridiculousness. "It's Bum fuck Egypt, Pepe."

"Oh, I know but that's such a stupid word. Bum. Ass just sounds so much better," Pepe replied. "Say it with me, Bixy... Ass."

His feet came to a stop and he blinked at the totem, his eyes rolling at the way the word had been drawn out. "How about you two keep an eye out while I piss?"

"You better be glad your ass is so sexy," came the smart ass reply before the two totems flew off into the dark.

He loved his babies. He really did but there were times he wished he could just choke hold them for a few. Especially Pepe. The little gay doll of utter and supreme fabulousness could drive a saint to the crack pipe. He unzipped his pants, a sigh of relief slipping from between his lips as his bladder began to empty. The breeze above seemed to pick up as the sound of leaves rustling echoed around him. While he didn't exactly believe in the boogey man, he'd been around long enough and fought enough strange crap to know creepy shit often lived in the woods.

The seemingly never-ending stream of urine finally abated and he quickly tucked things back where they should be before glancing around. He channeled his magic and let pulse out around him, creating a perimeter with him at the epicenter. It was only twenty-five feet in diameter but it allowed him to sense the presence of souls around him. A racoon was in the tree above him while a family of field mice scurried off to his left. A few bats flew overhead and he could sense Pepe at the very edge to the right.

"Popo, where the hell did yo-"

The question he'd groaned to the silence around him cut short when the sound of rustling erupted in the bush next to him. The hair on the back of his neck stood and he could feel the erratic quivering of Popo's soul. He channeled more of his magic and the space around him illuminated in an eerie green hue. He was prepared for a large dog, a bear. Hell, he even considered whatever it was to be a Vulcan with the way upper branches quivered. I'm fucking worrying about Laxus' ass and I'm the one who's gonna get fu-

His thought halted as something broke through the brush line. It slammed into his chest, sending him staggering backwards with a grunt. Intuitively, his arms wrapped around the unidentified object and his mind froze when his fingers brushed against wood. He glanced down to find the perpetually smiling face of Popo's totem looking up at him. "What. The fuck. Is wrong with you?"

"Laxus… Cobra… Pepe saw!" the soul panted. "I got… Gotta get back… Can't unsee… Please?"

There was no discerning the fear from shock in the Soul's voice, the pitch a good two octaves higher than it normally was. He'd never seen Popo scared of anything and he could only blink as the totem pulled away to haul ass back towards the camp. Glancing in the direction the totem had come from, he found himself struggling with his own fear. He was terrified of what he might find. His mind conjured every horrible possibility as he deftly made his way down the trail. Laxus disemboweled, Cobra beheaded, both stranded with limbs missing. No matter which way his twisted brain turned, it always ended up with blood. Copious amounts of it.

"Fuck, Laxus!"

The grunted voice of Cobra stopped him in his tracks and he glanced around, trying to pinpoint its exact location. He strained to listen in around him and just when he thought perhaps he'd been imagining things, he heard what sounded like a groan come from just ahead on the right. He pushed through the brush off the side of the trail and failed to notice the large root in his path. His heavy boot caught against the wood and for the first time in as long as he could remember, he tripped. The ground was coming up fast but something caught him just a hair's breadth away from his nose becoming intimately acquainted with the moss-covered, compacted dirt.

"Be quiet, China Bull!"

Pepe's voice filled the space between his ears as the totem righted him on his feet. He started to question the soul but stopped himself short. He'd only glanced up but his eyes quickly returned to what was in front of him and his jaw slacked. The treeline barely concealed his presence at the edge of a clearing, bright moonlight bathing the contents in its glow as though it were daytime. Th-that… That… What… Holy...

"Spread your ass for me, Co - Oh God... That's so fucking sexy."

Laxus' words barely registered, the desire ladened moan overshadowed by what Bickslow was seeing. His eyes slid up fair, powerful legs, the denim and cotton pooled around the ankles forgotten as he took in the way the Blond Slayer's sculpted ass hollowed with every thrust. He'd seen the man naked a million times between showers at the gym and sharing a room on missions. But he'd never seen him quite like he was seeing him now. Sweat glistened over rippling back muscles, his head was thrown back as panted grunts and moans clawed their way up to escape through parted lips.

Bickslow knew he should turn away and do exactly what Popo had done. This wasn't just some chance encounter with strangers that he'd come across. It was his best friend of too many years to count, being intimate with his boyfriend. Everyone in the guild often joked about his quirky, perverted comments and perhaps he was the degenerate they sometimes referred to him as. But this was different, completely. Logic told him to leave, forget what he saw. Yet he was rooted, held captive in morbid curiosity and completely unable to turn away. If anything, he was sucked in deeper when he took in the stark contrast of creamy white against the darker shade of caramel.

"Shit, Erik. Your ass feels so fucking good squeezing my cock."

A knot the size of the entire country of Fiore formed in Bickslow's throat at the feral sound of his best friend's voice, its effect paying hell on his nervous system. He'd never heard the familiar voice sound so… Sexy? His brain sputtered on the thought but it was enough to draw his attention to the toned leg that was thrown over the the Blond Slayer's muscle bound arm. Without giving thought to what it was he was exactly doing, his feet carried him silently around to take in the scene in its entirety.

In his head, he managed to convince himself that it was merely a hand or even the other Slayer's mouth that Laxus was thrusting in. But he couldn't have been farther from the truth as his eyes were drawn to the Poison Dragon Slayer. The chorus of panted breath, skin meeting skin, grunts of exertion and masculine moans drowned everything else around, tunneling his vision further. Clawed fingers marred the trunk of the trunk of the tree that was Cobra's prop, his kiss swollen lips marking faint trails of saliva against the bark.

"Fuck yeah, Laxus... Don't stop."

The usual scowl that normally adorned Cobra's face was nowhere to be seen. Unveiled ecstasy softened his sharp features in absolute abandonment. A strange sensation pulled at Bickslow's gut and he found himself confused by its familiar tingle. Envy. He knew it well, having always envied others who had two loving parents or those who didn't know the feeling of loss. But to be envious of this? It made no sense to him. This… This is so wrong.

"No, Sugar. This is absolutely beautiful."

He didn't want to admit that the soul was right, but he was. Watching the two Slayers together, their naked bodies colliding in mutual pleasure… It was erotic, strangely beautiful, sensual. His own hand strayed as he watched Laxus' fingers dig into Cobra's waist and shoulder and it was then that he noticed them. The extensive cicatrices that defaced the Poison Slayer's back. His brows furrowed because he knew those marks. They were the same that littered Laxus'. The Poison Slayer's constant refusal to remove his shirt suddenly made sense, he was ashamed. That… No, I need to leave. It suddenly made what Bickslow was seeing more personal and he started to turn but the blond Slayer's voice halted his retreat.

"Be Daddy's good Coby and wrap that hand around your cock for me."

The sound of teeth ripping through tree bark echoed in the space around them, strangling the throaty moan of pleasure that came with the smaller Slayer's all too willing compliance. He couldn't turn away or shut it out as his eyes were drawn downward. The air in his lungs escaped in a rush, the moisture evaporating from his mouth with it. Before he could comprehend his own movements, he stumbled back until his back met with the ungiving trunk of a tree. His hand slid over the front of his jeans, shame and lust launching into battle when he found himself hard. It shouldn't turn him on the way that it was but the fact that he had to bite his own lips to stifle a moan was proof enough.

"Mmm now that's a man after my own heart. You just take it, little Dragon Slayer."

Pepe's words reverberated in the fog of confusion and arousal that blurred the lines of right and wrong. The need to be offended by the soul's comment swept away in the surge of pleasure that came with the first stroke of his hand along his denim encased length. His eyes struggled to remain open as he watched their movements quicken, their thrusts becoming more demanding. Grunts and moans that had started low and pleading grew into animalistic growls of passion, need laced into the repetition of curses and each other's names. Suddenly, the pressure against his covered cock wasn't enough.

His fingers wasted no time in undoing the few buttons on his jeans before slipping beneath the waistband of his boxers to grasp his throbbing lucid portion of his mind screamed that he needed to stop, that this was crossing a line but the need to relieve the ache in his groin was greater. His palm pulled the moisture from the tip of his erection down, using it as lube as he thrust up into his fist. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been as hard as he was or so far lost to desire to forgo sanity in the pursuit of satiating it.

"F-fuck! Your ass is so tight, baby. You're gonna make me cum."

Bickslow's eyes rolled at Laxus' thick, raspy voice, the words crawling over his skin and igniting fire in the pit of his belly. Suddenly it wasn't Cobra beneath his best friend, but him. The image of himself gripping the tree while the Lightning Dragon Slayer thrust into him over and over again, those words being meant for him, flashed in his head. The depths to which his mind went shocked the hell out of him. But even more, it had his balls tightening and the buzzing in the base of his spine expanding to the point of feeling like he was on the brink of spontaneously combusting.

"Come for me, Daddy. Fill your Coby's ass."

Those words set off a chain of explosions down the length of Bickslow's spine and his fingers tightened around the base of his arousal to stave off the eruption he knew was coming. But it came a little too late as he felt the rush travel up the length of his cock. His free hand clamped over his mouth and his teeth bit painfully into his palm to silence the cry of pleasure that crawled up his throat. Warm, wet fluid spilled over the edge of his hand and the fact that it filled his boxers didn't even register as his body spasmed with the force of his release.

"Sh-shit… Fuck, fuck fu - ahhhh!"

"G-god, that's… Shit, shit, sh - Laxus!"

The orgasmic cries of the couple before him barely cut through the ebbing ringing in his ears. He sagged against the tree at his back and his eyes slowly fluttered open just in time to see the two Slayers collapse against their own tree. Their chests heaved as they gasped for air, their sweat sheened bodies pressed together. It was watching their lips meet that pulled him from his own euphoric bliss, reality snapping in like the bitch she was. He yanked his sticky, soaked hand from his boxers and his stomach heeved when he saw the evidence of his voyeuristic activities glaring back from his palm. Oh god. Wh-what… What did I just…

Panic and guilt slammed into him as he fumbled with closing his jeans. He'd just overstepped a boundary he knew he shouldn't have. Laxus trusted him implicitly and he'd just done something so incredibly horrible. The Slayers had left camp for solitude, for privacy, and he'd not only intruded but desecrated it with his own partaking. He wasn't a pervert, that was too good a word. He was an immoral, degenerative piece of shit that deserved nothing less than to burn in hell for all damned eternity. Bile filled his mouth and he pushed away from the tree, his feet stumbling noisily as he searched in the dark for the trail that would take him back.

"Bixy, wait! I'll take you!"

He ignored Pepe's shouts in his head, pushing them back as he tried to rationalize what had just happened. Why had he stayed in the first place? He wasn't gay, had never once pictured himself with a man nor found himself thinking they were attractive. So why now? Why his best friend and lover? Why would he risk the trust and friendship of one of the people he cared about the most? Oh god… Mira! His girlfriend of nine months flashed in his head. Her snow white hair, porcelain skin, eyes the color of the ocean and smile that brightened a room. The thought of betraying her, even if it had just been in his head, twisted his stomach even further.

"Bixy, maybe you just miss her and the live porn was a little too much."

He stopped abruptly and turned to glare at the totem. His lips parted to unleash guilt-filled, angry denial but the thought that Pepe could be right stopped him. It was true to a point. He did miss Mira, he missed her companionship. It had been weeks since they'd been able to spend any real quality time together. She was busy constantly and he understood. Her siblings were an important part of her life and Lucy really did need all the help she could get with the wedding plans. "Yeah," he frowned before turning back to continue on. "Maybe."

The only problem with that explanation was that it wasn't her that he'd imagined, as he had while watching porn in the past. Even now, he tried to recall the images of their last time together. He remembered thinking her gorgeous with her perfectly rounded ass in the air, her wrists bound behind her back, her face pressed to the sheets and her cries of passion muffled by the gag in her mouth. The memory should have some effect, spark some sense of longing or desire but it was like a slap in the face when his flaccid cock didn't even tingle in the wet confines of his boxers. And that only drove the guilt deeper.

The glow of a fire became visible and the popping of burning wood reached his ears but he slowed to a stop just inside the treeline. He could see that Ever had retired to her tent, and it appeared that Freed was getting ready to do the same. Bickslow's vision blurred and a sense of dread tightened his chest. Laxus was a Slayer with heightened senses. There was no way his presence had gone unnoticed and he knew it. When the two returned, and they would, it would mark the end of their team. His actions had jeopardized everything he held dear.

"Pepe," he whispered, "You head back and have Papa meet me by the creek with my bag."

Pepe sighed before landing on his shoulder and nuzzling against him. "You can't run, Bixy."

"I'm not. I just ne-"

"Ashlee Bickslow Tamashi," Pepe hissed, cutting him off. "You only need your bag if you're running away."

The thought had crossed his mind but he knew that would only prolong the inevitable. And make it ten times worse. The thought of having two Slayers on his ass made him shudder. He'd never escape so it made more sense to just meet death now. "I'm not running," he mumbled. "I need to clean up this mess before they get back, but Pepe…"

"Yeah yeah," the totem replied. "I know, never use your full name again."

---

Laxus gave a tug on the rope, checking to make sure the knot he'd tied around the bundle of wood was secure before looking up to find an amethyst eye studying him. They'd dressed in near silence, avoiding the proverbial elephant in the room and he knew it needed to be addressed before they made it back. "You know we were seen, right?" he asked as he stood and hauled the load of wood over his shoulder.

Cobra had been waiting for the asshole to bring the subject up. Seen? That had been the understatement of the year, but then he couldn't tell if the blond jackass knew the extent of Bickslow's stay. Cobra, however, knew when the fucker had showed up and knew the extent of his damn thoughts. "Yeah," he snarled as he turned to walk away. Teammate or not, he wanted to strangle the living hell out of the Seith mage. The only thing holding him back was the scent of tears and fear that fled with the peeping tom.

"He won't tell," the Lightning Slayer commented as they started off back towards the camp. He knew that the little one-eyed bastard was pissed. He'd felt the Slayer's jealousy towards the end of their tryst, had tasted it in his words and the kiss they'd shared afterwards. Granted, he was pretty pissed when he'd smelled Bickslow. But he knew their secret was safe and he also had zero doubts that Cobra had anything to fear. Even if Bickslow had been gay, the guy was like his brother and his sights were solely set on the little angry ball of hatred that was Erik.

Giving only a hum of acknowledgement, Cobra took lead on the trail back. He needed to deal with the raging anger inside of him before they got back to camp. It had taken everything he'd had not to push Laxus away just so he could rip the pervert's head off when he'd heard the direction the man's thoughts had turned. Literally the only thing that had stayed his hand was the fact that the thoughts shocked the Seith mage as much as they had him. Bickslow had a woman and was, for all intents and purposes, strictly hetero. It was really apparent that this was his first brush with anything other than the female anatomy.

A corner of Laxus' mouth quirked skyward as he followed behind the Poison Dragon Slayer, his eyes raking over his stiff posture. It was the fact that he wasn't the only one feeling a sense of possession that abated his previous ire. It gave him hope that this was something a little more than mutual attraction. He reached out to lay a hand on his lover's shoulder, pulling him to a stop. "Babe, you do realize you have nothing to fucking worry about. Right?"

So says the asshole who can't hear the shit I do. Cobra let out a groan of frustration and turned back to face the blond Slayer. The moronic, unwanted female that had apparently taken up residence inside of him squealed like a fucking banshee at those words. But it was the sane masculine side of him that wanted to punch Laxus in his perfect face, maybe set his ass on fire and throw him into oncoming traffic. He was on the fence with that one as he tried to deny the truth that danced in those electric blues. There was nothing to worry about and that scared him more than the green-eyed beast. "You sure about that shit?" he bit out defensively. "He just might want to fucking trade places."

"Erik!" Laxus growled when the smaller Slayer pulled away and turned back for camp, leaving him standing there. He hadn't been expecting that or the burn that came with it. A slap to the face would have been more kind. He might have anticipated it, had they been discussing some random stranger in a bar. But this was Bickslow. Big, goofy, perverted and completely straight Bickslow. When the one-eyed asshole didn't seem to be in the mood for stopping, he took off after him. "Would you hold your goddamn horses for just a minute?"

"Fuck you."

"No, fuck you and your stupid ass jealousy bullshit."

Abruptly stopping, Cobra spun around to glare at the blond Slayer with teeth bared. "Jealousy bullshit? Is that what the hell you think this is?"

The fires of rage that danced in that single amethyst eye had Laxus pausing for a split second. Confusion only pricked at his own anger because he didn't understand its cause. He hadn't done a damn thing to deserve it. "So Bickslow walked up on us," he tried to reason. "It could've been worse. A whole hell of a lot worse!"

"Oh, such as the homophobic pious asshole on your team?"

"You're a dick," Laxus snarled. He wasn't blind to the Rune mage's obvious disapproval of homosexuality, but he'd be damned if he was going to stand by and allow Cobra to take his anger out on his team. "Freed may be a lot of things but he's not homophobic."

God, you're so fucking blind! Cobra shook his head, a grunt of annoyance slipping from his lips. "Could've fooled me."

The Lightning Slayer narrowed his eyes in disbelief. "Are you fucking jealous of him, too?"

If he wasn't so damn angry, Cobra would have laughed. Jealous of Freed? He knew that was a big fat negative, definitely not after what he'd been privy to on the train. He was more concerned about that asshole finding out and shunning Laxus or outing them both. Friend or not, he'd seen siblings turn on each other for less. Trusting people was a tricky damn game. "Ah, no," he flatly replied. "That guy would rather slit his fucking wrists and be crucified before he'd let you shove your dick up his ass."

Laxus could feel the control over his own anger starting to slip. All he was doing was defending himself and he didn't really know from what. A little bit of solicitousness he could completely understand. They were Dragon Slayers after all, hoarding their possessions and becoming fiercely protective when something threatened it. But the fact of the matter was, he'd given no reason for concern. He could honestly say the only damn person he saw was the Slayer before him. The rest of the world just dulled in comparison and he thought he was pretty clear about that. "Who the hell said I wanted to shove my dick up anyone's ass outside of yours?" he replied bitterly through clenched teeth.

"No one," Cobra replied. "But I'm pretty damn sure you'd have a line around the damn block if you put out an ad in Sorcerer's Weekly."

That was the last straw for the blond Slayer. The frayed line that held back his tumultuous emotions snapped. He was done being on the defensive and he was done with the snide remarks and insinuations. There hadn't been a moment that he could remember being dishonest with Erik so this little shit show was unwarranted. "Ya know what, go fuck yourself and take your paranoid bullshit with you. I told you from the get go that this shit was just between me and you. I don't fuck around and because you apparently can't see past the end of your own fucking nose, you're the only asshole I've wanted to shove my dick in."

It was the Poison Slayer's turn to narrow his eye, the picture that sat on Laxus' mantle flashing in his head. It only served to fuel his anger and the little green-eyed devil inside. "And my damn twin."

"Excuse me?"

When he saw the blank confusion and heard the large Slayer's thoughts racing to figure out what he'd meant, Cobra gave an indignant huff before turning on his heel. "Nothing," he called over his shoulder. "Not a goddamn thing."

"Oh that's it," Laxus called out after Erik's retreating form. "Turn and run away with your tail tucked between your legs. That seems to be all you're fucking good at."

Cobra's steps faltered when he flinched as though he'd been physically slapped. Part of him knew he deserved that, knew he'd pushed the blond too far. But he couldn't admit it aloud, his own anger and fear wouldn't allow it so he did what he was best at. Sarcasm covered everything. Turning his head, he glanced back over his shoulder. "Yep. You got me pegged. I'm just a fucking loser who'll never be good enough for the almighty Lightning God."

Laxus knew his words were wrong the moment they'd left his lips. He saw Erik's steps falter, saw the way he tensed. His anger had hit its mark with deadly accuracy and he wanted to kick himself for it. It's not what you say, it's how you fucking say it. His grandfather all but beat that shit into his head and he apparently still hadn't learned. He knew when his anger ignited, everything came out the wrong damn way. "Goddamn it," he swore under his breath when the other Slayer started walking again and he gave chase. "Erik, that isn't what I fucking meant and you know it."

"Right now, I don't have a single damn clue what you mean."

The Lightning Dragon Slayer wanted to call bullshit so fucking bad but he held his tongue. Any smart ass remarks would only blow the situation farther out of control than it already was. He needed to be upfront, transparent the way he'd said he would be. "I made it pretty damn clear from day one," he said as he caught up and pulled Cobra to a stop. "No running and that's all you have wanted to do from the get go. I don't mind chasing your ass. I really don't, but come the hell on, man. I didn't start this shit, you got pissed because Bickslow saw us. Big fucking deal. He's been my friend since he was sixteen years old and he's kept every single one of my secrets. You know my fear of people at the guild finding out about us and I'm the one not scared shitless right now. You are. So untwist your balls and tell me what the fuck is wrong. Please?"

Fuck me, I just want to hate your ass right now. Just slap you right across the fucking face! Cobra's glare softened as he turned his face away because the fact of the matter was that he didn't hate Laxus. He couldn't even bring himself to hate Bickslow, not when he understood the confusion that slammed into the guy when it was all said and done. But he couldn't tell Laxus any of it. As he'd just pointed out, they'd been friends for forever and who was he to out that the guy may or may not have the hots for him? "You wouldn't fucking understand, so don't worry."

"Too fucking late," Laxus replied. He saw the brief glimmer of hope in the wavering that was on his lover's face. "I am worried so why not try me?"

And that was why Cobra couldn't hate him. He knew the guy actually gave a shit in some capacity. For the first time since he'd been taken from his home, he knew without a doubt that someone gave at least a single damn about his ass. "Laxus," he sighed regretfully. "Believe me when I say this again. You will not fucking understand."

Laxus's fists curled at his sides as he swallowed the bile that rose into his throat. The little shit wasn't going to open up, he was shutting him out and he realized that maybe that was how it would always be. Maybe it's just time to face shit and take a step back. "Fine," he quipped. "Whatever the hell you say. Come find my ass when you're ready to stop being a little bitch and feel the need to be honest."

It stung when the large Slayer stepped around him without another glance in his direction or a brush against his shoulder. It hurt even worse knowing that Laxus was right. He was a scared little bitch. He didn't exactly know what it was he was afraid of, but he was scared none the less.

He was angry with a heterosexual for having dirty thoughts. He'd been angry at that Peter Pan asshole for even considering the possibility of Laxus being single. He was furious at Freed for daring to think he had any intentions of hurting the Slayer. And that confused him. He didn't understand why he felt the things he did, didn't understand why he even cared. It was always just him and he'd been happy with that. Until him. Cobra quietly turned and followed after him, his eye locking on the broad, stiff back in front of him. A queasy feeling settled in his stomach when it hit him.

It wasn't Laxus that he didn't trust, it was himself.

The rest of the hike back to camp was made in silence and Laxus was glad for it. There was too much in his head to sort through, too many emotions hitting him all at once. He was torn between the struggle for air in his lungs and the desire to strangle the Slayer behind him. He hated the fact that it felt like they were back at square fucking one. For all the talking and time spent together, nothing was changing. At least not for the stupid one-eyed fucker. The fact that the distance he could feel growing between them felt like a knife being twisted in his gut was proof that it was very much changing for him.

By the time they'd cleared the tree line, it took every ounce of willpower Cobra had not to hurl everywhere. The silence that had once been his friend had turned on him, weighing him down and deafening him with the barrage of thoughts that were swimming in Laxus' head. Words were left unsaid but he could hear the end result of we're done quickly approaching. He should be glad for it, but he wasn't. He wasn't happy knowing the short circuited asshole was in pain, because of him. He wasn't fucking happy that he couldn't just tell Laxus the truth, it wasn't his to tell. He wasn't fucking happy that there was doubt swimming the blond's head. And he really wasn't fucking happy that he gave a single damn.

"Good. You guys are back, I'm heading to bed."

Laxus dropped the bundle of wood and looked up to find Bickslow pushing up off of one of the logs. He glanced around and his brow furrowed in confusion when there came no jokes or pervy comments. The others had obviously retired early, the sound of their Freed's snoring and Evergreen's sleepy sighs reaching his ears. What? Did the 'asshole bug' bite everybody tonight? "You do know we're big boys," he tried teasing. "There wasn't really a need to stay up."

"I wasn't," the Seith mage hastily responded. "I just… I felt like taking a dip in the creek and was just drying off."

"God, don't look at them. If you look at 'em, then they'll know what you did. Why the hell did I do that? I don't deserve to be their friend. I don't deserve Laxus. I don't deserve Mira. I'm gonna lose everything. Everything. I'll be back to nothing. I don't wanna lose my best friend. I didn't mean to fucking do that. I don't see him that way. Why? Fuck, I'm gonna be sick again. I'm not into dudes. At least I didn't think so. Maybe I really am a disgusting pervert like everyone says. Maybe he should just kill me. Mira will. I love her and I'll never fucking see her again. I should just leave, but if I do…"

Any anger Cobra could've had left abated when the swarm of mixed thoughts slammed into him. He didn't need to smell tears or see the red rim around the Seith mage's eyes to know he'd been crying. He could hear it and that only worsened the sick feeling in his gut. He hadn't been able to see past the giant ass fucking green-eyed Kaiju that reared up from the depths of his insecurities. The confusion, the fear. He'd felt exactly the same damn way the first time those images had popped into his head. But this is so much fucking worse. He didn't stop to think and he'd pushed Laxus away because of his own selfish pride.

Laxus' frown deepened with the uncomfortable silence that settled over the camp. Maybe Freed was right. Maybe this was just a huge ass mistake. The thought only served to worsen the pain and he glanced back over his shoulder. "I'm hitting the rack," he mumbled. "We're up at daylight and will head out soon after."

"Night, Boss," Bickslow mumbled before turning for his own tent.

The sound of static filled Cobra's ears as his gaze locked onto the Seith mage's shirtless back. A path of mottled pink and sickly yellow skin stretched from shoulder blade to just about his waistline. The glow of the fire made the ridges in the pitted, wrinkled flesh shine while the divots darkened in shadow. I'm a fucking asshole. They weren't different at all. Bickslow was exactly like him, scared and scarred. He glanced over at Laxus' tent and a soft whimper slipped from his lips despite himself. The Dragon Slayer was shutting him out and he absolutely deserved it.

---

And there ya have it. Bickslow let his inner perv get the best of him, Freed says bad words in his head and Evergreen likes Cobra, or at least his nails and hair. Oh… and the LaxCo babies just had their first fight as a couple. Those two… They just need cute puppies thrown at them until they smile. Or something lol.

I need to thank my lovely and talented triplet, Gemnika for proofing for me and for holding my hand while I wanted to cry for the angry couple LOL! I love you, so hard.

For those interested in hearing what Bix, Ever and Freed's souls songs sound like:

Bix's soul song:

watch?v=pRPOztxXWlQ

Ever's soul song:

watch?v=vxIOUJ7by6U

Freed's soul song:

watch?v=pUZeSYsU0Uk

But! Now it is back to working on CoLu week for you guys and the next chapter of Love Games.

For those of you who haven't heard about CoLu week:

CoLu Week 2016, June 2016

Dates: June 19, 2016 - June 26, 2016

Prompts:

Day 1: Eternity

Day 2: Excuses

Day 3: Online

Day 4: Colour

Day 5: Answers

Day 6: Raspberry

Day 7: Energy

Day 8 (Bonus): Aurora

As always, please remember to follow, fav and review!

Lots of Love and Big Hugs!

Princess Nana