The regret Freed felt in giving Lin the idea to use Evergreen as bait was instantaneous. Even if she had been knocked out before she wasn't now, screams echoing around the room as Freed was forced to watch the needle pierce her eyelids, before pulling the thread taught through her eyebrow and back again. Freed had thought he'd seen the worst humanity could throw at him, the months spent cooped up in a hospital with doctors poking and prodding at his eye, the endless nights he watched as magic was forced into Laxus' body, but it was nothing on this. He wanted to look away, empty stomach lurching with the blood streaming down his teammate's face, but the burning curiosity wouldn't let him. Evergreen's face contorted in pain, body writing as she begged for it to stop even though everyone who heard her knew it was futile.
Bickslow had fallen silent a long time ago. Freed tore his eyes away from the horror in front of him to look at the Sieth, but the other man's eyes were closed. It was only the unsteady rise and fall of his chest that indicated he was still alive, and Freed wondered if that was even preferable to the alternative. If this was the end of the line for the Raijinshuu, right here, right now then so be it. Let the wrath of the Thunder God rain down on the man in front of him. Maybe the added anger would give that extra bite Laxus would need to defeat Lin. Freed watched the last of Evergreen's procedure, the maniac in front of him forcing Bickslow to transfer her magic for nothing but the extra power it would give him. The man hauled Evergreen's unconscious body off the table she had lain on, shooting one last grin to the two mages before he winked out of existence.
Freed had always hated quiet. He'd never admit it, never out loud, but now it was suffocating him like it never had before. Bickslow was silent, something that usually meant he was up to something but now meant he had given up all hope. And maybe Freed had, too. Given up all hope of getting out of here alive, anyway. It was in that moment, as his eyes raked over the man he had come to see as his brother, that Freed realised he wasn't afraid of dying.
Freed stood on the edge of a battlefield, but something wasn't quite right. Like he was there, but not there. Like he was caught up in a dream, but his dreams had never been as real as this. He was commanding his army from atop the gates of the town he was sieging, one hand on his sword as magical energy crackled around him. He could see Evergreen, heading up the small division he had allocated to her and Bickslow, using his own division as puppets, continually marching forward even after they had been mortally wounded.
"Would you not rather be down there, getting into the fight?"
He didn't have to move his head to know who had spoken. The Dragon Slayer stood next to him, lightning arcing around both of their bodies as he grew ever impatient. No. He wouldn't rather be down there. Up here he could control the fight, and it's many variables. Up here he could gather information, fling runes and set up traps where needed. Let Bickslow and Evergreen lead the attack on the ground.
But this wasn't where Laxus belonged, and deep in his heart he knew it. Despite the other man being a leader, his physical strength and magical prowess led him to being a force to reckon with in hand to hand combat. And Freed could see he was itching for the feel of blood on his hands once again.
The nod he gave his idol was almost imperceptible. The slightest tilt of the head and Laxus was pure lightning, electricity sparking around the two of them as Freed's wings materialised and he raised himself up into the air. The battle was slowing now, almost won but it was obvious Laxus was anxious to deliver the final blow.
Their descent was in tandem, Freed falling into place behind the Dragon Slayer to start to pick off any stragglers his magic failed to kill. It was easy, a few short swipes with his sword and he was done. He didn't even have to expend any magical energy. Occasionally he would throw up runes to protect the two of them, fingers moving lightning fast as they drew up the necessary characters. The battle was like a dance, him and Laxus whirling through and around their enemies for mere seconds before moving into their next partner. Freed always forgot this, the utter rush of the battle as they weaved their way through the crowds. He looked over at Laxus, and time almost stopped.
Time had slowed for Freed only a few times in his life. Until it had happened he always assumed it was a fiction, an overused trope that people used to increase dramatic tension. For him it had always been in battles, and it had always ended badly. The first fight with Laxus. Finding Bickslow. Fighting Mirajane. Squaring off with Dragons. But in this moment it felt so small, so insignificant. One arrow was all it took, an arrow he spotted far too late. His fingers twitched in an autonomic response, starting the runes that his brain already knew would take too long to write.
People always assumed Laxus was intangible, invulnerable in his lightning body. They were wrong, of course, if anything he was more susceptible to piercing attacks. They could fly right through him to the most vulnerable parts, unhindered by skin or armour. Freed watched as the metal of the arrow found its way to Laxus' heart, the cold shock of the injury jarring the Dragon Slayer's concentration just enough so he became human again, flesh and skin sealing itself around the arrow as he fell to the floor.
Freed was certain he screamed, but he couldn't remember hearing it.
Lin grinned at the mage in front of him. What a nice surprise it had been to find him asleep when he has returned, wonderfully susceptible to the nightmares he was about to wring from him. He sat back and enjoyed the show that was provided just for him, heart racing as he began to realise what was about to happen. He was about to gain the power of a Dragon.
