A/N: Why is it so hard to write your favorite characters? I'm sure this thing took me more time than any other oneshot so far - but I'm really happy with how it turned out. I hope you enjoy it, too!


Freed tilted his skates sightly, shaving off frost from the top of the lake until they stopped. He bowed slightly to an invisible audience and turned to his rather unwilling student.

"Your turn has come, Laxus."

Laxus said something under his breath and entered the ice. Freed nodded and with slight frown skated a bit away to give him space; today he would be only an observer. His master had not wished for anything more, but someone to watch him as he skated with his headphones…

Ah, of course, how could Freed forget? "Laxus." He offered an empty hand. "Your headphones, if you would please."

No response.

"You need to be aware of your surroundings; once you advance enough I will allow you to use them."

Any moment the Dragon Slayer could frown and start asking for compromises. Freed touched the bridge of his nose; he would - very reluctantly, but not enough to stop himself - let Laxus skate with the headphones.

"You might hurt yourself. Or someone else," said Freed as his last argument.

Laxus took the headphones off and gave them to Freed. "Make sure I advance soon enough. And make sure you don't break them."

"I would never break something important to you," Freed assured him, touching sightly his shoulder. "You know that better than anyone."

"It was just a joke."

Oh, but of course. Freed's thoughts froze for a moment - without even the slightest frown to break his flawless image. "Thank you for your trust in me, Laxus."

The Dragon Slayer nodded and tried to repeat Freed's movements. Freed bit his lip and tried to turn his eyes away; Laxus wanted to skate alone and he could not vex him for every little mistake.

Except he almost fell whenever he tried to turn…

Except his body wobbled as if it would break any moment…

Except his legs crossed ever so often…

"Please, stop!" Even after he covered his eyes - which only made his imagination draw more fears over the blank canvas - Freed could not stop himself. "I'd much rather you watched me once again"

Another demonstration. Another bow.

"Mhm. Then it's my turn." Laxus tried his best; his muscles strained with the effort to skate properly. Slight sweat glistened on him in spite of the coldness.

Not enough, not yet. If Freed had had to train anyone else, his strict perfectionism would have forced him to step in and show their mistakes without any tact.

Laxus, however, had to be perfect. He would ask for help only if he needed it; offering to help him more meant Freed mistrusted his abilities. Yet those abilities appeared less and less reliable. Freed felt close to chewing on his nails; why had Laxus not asked for help yet…

Because he could not. Oh, such foolishness! Laxus had to be Fairy Tail's beacon of hope; a hero that rivaled Erza. He had never known how to ask for anything.

"Would you like help, Laxus?"

Thus, someone had to start teaching him.