Disclaimer: *See Prologue*

Author's note: Freed is adjusting to a place where he worries when the occupants are gone. Returned from a job, the four interact with some pretty amusing results. Warnings include Bixlow's lewd sense of humor and Freed being easily embarrassed and utterly adorable. Thanks for reading and leaving reviews, I really appreciate them!

Part Ten

The apartment was still, silent, and it made Freed antsy; something he wasn't used to. There was a time where he preferred being alone to anyone else being there. That he wanted them back, needed to know that they were okay, wasn't something he was used to or knew really how to deal with. He paces again telling himself that he had NO reason to be doing this and that it probably made him look crazy.

Finally, the door opens and he forces himself to sit down on the couch though the arched eyebrow before a grin would follow tells him that the blond now leaning in the doorway KNEW exactly what he'd been doing. "Wow," he drawls, "Gone FIVE days and you're a nervous wreck."

He swallows feeling his face heat up. "I..."

"No, no don't apologize. That's...actually kind of cute."

"I...I've gotten too used to you being here and..."

That has Laxus finally chuckling. "Yeah, you're cavity-inducing cute there, rune-caster," he says walking in allowing the other two entrance as well.

"It went well...then?"

"It always does," Laxus answers, "There isn't a job we haven't managed to complete."

"Well, it would be BETTER if someone didn't nearly destroy the CITY while he was at it," Evergreen retorts.

"I was a little more concerned about the maniac trying to KILL us," Laxus responds, "Which wouldn't have been an issue if YOU could learn how to AIM."

"I WAS!"

Freed glances at Bixlow who just rolls his eyes and shakes his head. "Well...dinner is almost ready," he says quietly knowing that normally food tended to diffuse the situation, "I'm glad you guys made it back safely."

"It's not like we can't handle ourselves," Evergreen tells him.

"It's not even that," Bixlow says, "You have to remember that he's not used to caring if other members of the Guild came back. This is NEW to him to be worried about more than just Meredy."

"You...do have a point," Ever concedes before looking at Freed a grinning, "You were saying about dinner?"

He smiles. "It'll be ready in five minutes."

"Sounds good."

He slips back into the kitchen finding their banter something. He's not alone long. "It's really okay, you know," Bixlow comments quietly, "Though from our point of view it's sad that this isn't something you're comfortable with. You shouldn't spend most of your time hoping people DON'T show back up."

"They were awful people," he answers as he waits for the food to finish up, "though I apologize for acting like a complete nutcase."

"You're not...trust me. You really are CUTE though, Laxus' right."

Freed flushes more. "Why call someone cute?"

"It's certainly not an insult."

"Are you sure?"

The older male chuckles softly. "Yeah, baby, I'm sure. Just because some idiots seem to think one way of others doesn't make 'em right. You're lovely...and there isn't a damn thing wrong with that. Besides, too many testosterone muscle-heads running around...like the blond one. Need a few cute things wandering around to even things out."

Freed feels his face flush before he manages, "Don't let Laxus hear you!"

Bixlow laughs softly, "Oh, I'm not too worried about him. He snarls, spits, and tosses lightning. Nothing new."

"The lightning part is what worries me."

"Eh, it only hurts the first seventeen or eighteen times he chucks it at you."

Freed chokes. "The first...Why..."

Bixlow chuckles softly. "Relax, baby, besides he's just temperamental what with his magics. That's all. And it's not like he throws it full-powered. Its like getting a sharp jolt from a live-wire or a socket that you're crazy enough to put your finger in."

"Neither sounds like a good time."

"Not at all," Bixlow agrees, "But trust me, it's not as bad as it seems."

"I'll take your word for it. But it makes me wonder about your hairstyle now."

"Heh, funny...but no."

He starts on the plates. "You sure?"

Bixlow chuckles. "Baby, you really are something when you relax."

Freed flushes. "Why do you do that?"

Bixlow grins. "Because the reactions are entertaining. Laxus finds it highly annoying."

"With a reputation like his...I can see where he might take offense to that."

"I take offense to MOST of what Bixlow does," comes the blond's voice, "and trust me, you'll spend more time telling him NOT to call you that or to keep his goddamn tongue in his mouth."

"Aw, Laxus, don't be so mean. Besides, you know you want me to show you what I can do with it..."

Freed stills staring at the male wondering if he meant it in that way and has a good view of Laxus' face coloring before he'd sputter, "G-goddammit, Bix!"

Bixlow grins and blows him a kiss. "You know you love me, baby."

"I'm three seconds from ENDING you!"

Freed wonders if this was a safe place to be at and then hears, "If you two are DONE giving Freed a heart-attack, take your spat into the living room." Ever pushes between the two of them before smiling at the green-haired male. "Ignore them. They do this all the time. It's not something you need to concern yourself over, I promise."

"A-are you sure?"

"Positive," she responds immediately, "Bix just likes to tease Laxus and Laxus...well, he doesn't have a sense of humor. Don't mind them. They know better than to throw magic in the apartment."

Freed still looks warily at both males. Laxus stares back before snorting softly. "We have to work on your timidity, rune-caster."

"If you tell me your bark is worse than your bite I'm going to call complete B.S."

Laxus chuckles. "Perhaps not...but I'm hardly going to put you in the way of me smacking the hell out of Bixlow."

"...You sure? Because all the stories say that usually cities end up paying for anything you all do to include any sort of recreational activities."

The male stares at him a moment before grinning. "Now that's a better response from you."

"Well, it's not like it's not the truth. Apparently 'moderation' and 'caution' are not skills most of your guild has."

"I'm pretty sure the old man has said that a time or two," Laxus replies with a shrug, "We get the jobs done."

"Well, I'm pretty sure the clients would still like a home to return to."

"He does have a point," Evergreen comments, "but seriously, eat you two before you decide that we need to drag one of you to the infirmary."

"It'll be Bixlow," Laxus answers.

"You sure?" the Seith Mage returns.

"Food," Evergreen says sharply, "and stop flirting with him, Bixlow, before he does knock the hell out of you."

"But how does anyone resist him? He's got the physique of a god."

Freed wisely just focuses on his own plate not wanting any of them to know how much he was finding himself agreeing with that statement. "Bixlow," Evergreen mutters, "knock it off, seriously."

"If he can't handle a compliment..."

"Bixlow, you're going to end up in the infirmary again if you don't knock it off and I'm not going to feel at all sorry for you," Evergreen says tersely, "Seriously, you know he dislikes when you do that."

"Gee, he'll date everything that has a skirt but one guy makes a pass and he gets all offended."

"It's not that you're a guy," comes the blond's retort, "it's that you're you, Bixlow. Now shut up and stop antagonizing me."

"Oh, so say hypothetically, Freed, here, hit on you then you wouldn't go berserk?"

Freed finally chokes. "L-leave me out of this!" he protests willing his face not to be noticably red.

"It's hypothetical, baby, relax," Bixlow responds, "Well, Lax?"

"Soul-Stealer, Freed wouldn't be hitting on me, I'd be hitting on him. And no, his interest wouldn't make me want to send him to the moon. Unlike you, he is cute."