Lucy found Freed and Laxus highly suspicious. She caught sight of Laxus tugging Freed off to his office and couldn't help the naggingly nosy part of her mind that wanted desperately to follow them. But…she didn't. She couldn't bring herself to snoop, even though she really wanted to. Instead, she waited until her mini lunch date with Freed to pop the question on him. Lucy met him at the front of the office building, and together they walked over to the salad bar across the street. After getting her food, she grabbed a table and waited on Freed to join her.

As her green-haired friend sat in the seat across from her, Lucy gave him a small smile. "So…" Lucy started, taking her plastic fork and stabbing it into a wad of lettuce and cucumber. "What was all that with Laxus about?" Freed froze for half a second before quickly covering it up by digging through his own plate.

"Well…actually, he was supposed to come to get me this morning and help me get my car. So… I guess he was just a little surprised I came in with you instead." Lucy slowly nodded at this and swiped the fork off with her lips. "Don't feel bad, though!" Freed quickly added, "I was glad I spent time with you all."

Lucy chuckled and waved a hand. "I know. I don't feel bad. You could say I'm just a little surprised you had a close relationship with Laxus." Freed cringed.

"I wouldn't necessarily say we're close." Honestly, Freed was so mixed up about his own relationship with Laxus it was beginning to be confusing even to him on what to tell people. He supposed he and Laxus would rectify all of that when they talked later. At least Freed hoped they would. Part of Freed had a feeling he would only leave Laxus's house tonight even more confused on where they stood, but he tried to suppress it. "Honestly, I would have never met him if he didn't know Mira."

"Your stylist." Lucy annotated, "So he knows her?"

"Yeah, they're best friends." Lucy took this in. She guessed that made more sense than whatever her brain was trying to conger. For what it was worth, Laxus was Makarov's grandson. Lucy had worked for that man for five years before he retired. She knew that if Laxus was anything like Makarov, he wouldn't have gone against company standards and dated within the company. So the silly little thoughts her mind was trying to picture between Freed and Laxus were finally silenced.

"So," Lucy said, finally reaching a bit of a conclusion. "It's like a friend of a friend kind of situation." Freed nodded, hoping that would end the conversation. "Gotcha." Lucy smiled again, putting her fork down. She propped her head up with her hands and watched Freed as he took a sip from his drink. "You know, I always wanted to talk to you."

The sudden confession stunned Freed. A soft blush tented his cheeks, and he quickly started building a massive bite onto his fork. "O-oh." He said, "Why?"

Lucy shrugged her shoulders. "I mean…everyone in FHA are pretty close. We all wanted to talk to you. Natsu, Gray, Loke. I think even Lyon and Sherry wanted to strike up a conversation. We were just all scared." Lucy dropped her hands and grabbed her drink. "You seemed like you were so far away like you lived in a different time zone than us. When everyone else was slacking and complaining about work, there you went flying past us with the mail cart." Lucy laughed, and Freed sighed at the realization he made himself unapproachable. Evergreen fussed at him all the time about that, but in the end, he guessed it was just a part of his personality.

"I never intended to make myself distant." Freed finally said. "I never really had a lot of friends growing up, so it was hard for me to try and talk to people. The combination of social anxiety and having an unapproachable aura kind of work against you."

"I'm sorry, Freed," Lucy said softly. "I really didn't mean it like that. I said all of that to say we all misjudged you. If no one else, Natsu and I absolutely adore you!" She gave the secretary a cheeky grin. "And I know Cana would strangle someone over you." Freed cracked a smile out at that. Even without Lucy telling him, he knew they all liked him; he saw that from the weekend. He only regretted not trying to join them before. "I just want you to know," Lucy added, bringing Freed out of his thoughts. "We don't want you to hold back anymore. Talk to us, hang out with us, join us every weekend when Gray and Loke perform. We want you there. I wasn't sure if we made that clear last night, you know, with Natsu getting all drunk and being all sloppy last night." They both laughed as the memory of Natsu trying to constantly pick fights with Gray made its way back in their minds. Freed found Gray and Natsu's slight rivalry pretty hilarious, especially when Natsu was slurring his insults and shouting threats that made absolutely no sense.

"Thank you, Lucy," Freed said with a smile. "I truly appreciate you all." Lucy grinned before taking a forkful of salad. When she finished chewing, she took her fork and pointed it at Freed.

"Oh! By the way, I also don't think I told you this last night, but Gray and Loke sing most Fridays and Sundays. I'm pretty sure they're planning to this upcoming Friday." Freed slowly nodded.

"I would love to see them perform again."

"Really!? I think they'd like that a lot. Loke was hella nervous when Gray told him you were going to come watch, but then he was dancing all over you like it was nothing!" Freed immediately blushed at the memory of Loke twirling all around him back at the lounge. Then his memory flashed to Gray, caressing his cheek and singing to him, those midnight blue eyes never leaving him. It made Freed shudder a bit.

"Their performances are rather… eccentric."

Lucy snorted, "I'll say. They were pretty tame last night compared to how they usually perform." Dear God, if that was tame, Freed couldn't even imagine what else those two could do. He honestly was nervous about finding out.

The two finished their meal, chatting casually about this and that. Before long, they were back at the office wrapping up their day. When four-thirty rolled around, Freed began gathering his things and got ready to find Laxus. Lucy and Gray stopped by on the way out, offering to take him to get his car, but Freed refused, stating his roommate would come and get him. Lucy eyed him curiously but didn't say anything and instead wished him goodnight with promises to see each other tomorrow. With most of the housing department gone, Freed cautiously stalked over to Laxus's office and tapped his knuckles into the door.

"Come in." Freed took in a breath, braced himself, and turned the knob before stepping into Laxus's office. Laxus was seated behind his desk, clicking away at his computer screen. There was soft classical music gently coaxing the room. Instead of his overhead light, Laxus used a lamp perched upon his desk. Freed walked over to a chair across from him and took a seat without a word. "I'll be a minute. Erza wasn't here today, so I'm sending out some emails for her." Freed slowly nodded, dropping his bag from his shoulder onto the floor.

"I didn't even realize she was absent today," Freed said softly. Laxus glanced over to the secretary from around his second monitor.

"She called and said she wasn't feeling well. We're in limbo right now, waiting on clients to return their recertifications for the new year, so Gildarts allowed her to take some time off. She'll be back Tuesday to conduct interviews." Freed's ears perked up at that.

"Interviews? And wasn't there an audit this week?"

"Erza completed most of the preparations. Gildarts and Wakaba are going to take care of everything else. Besides, she'll be back before they come in." Laxus tapped along his keyboard, turning his attention back to his computer screen. "As far as interviews. We're hiring a new housing worker to take over Sherry's caseload while she's out on maternity leave in March." Freed blinked back in surprise. Sherry was pregnant? Since when? He truly didn't know much about his co-workers. Besides informing her of clients, Freed never talked to Sherry, let alone look at her long enough to notice a growing baby bump.

"I see," Freed said. He played with the strap of his bag and looked over Laxus's office. Just as he thought, Laxus's office was completely bare, not an ounce of personality. Freed at least had a decorative placemat, a succulent in the corner of his desk, and a single picture of him, Bickslow and Evergreen. Laxus's desk was littered with only papers, two empty energy drink cans, and files. "How long will Sherry be out?"

"Maybe six months, that's how long we offer for paid maternity leave. If she needs more time, we allow it just without pay." Freed takes this in.

"So you're just hiring a temporary social worker?" Laxus looked back up at Freed with an arched eyebrow. So many questions.

"Not exactly. Whoever we hire, they will be permanent. Even when Sherry returns, we'll need someone here to stretch the caseloads. Lyon, Gray, and Lucy have the bulk of clients, but there's only so much they can do on their own." Freed already knew this, just from how pissy Lucy could get at times. Even before they had become friends, he knew that it was due to stress. It must have been difficult for them to manage over a thousand people at one time with no assistance.

Freed left the conversation at that, deciding to remain silent for the duration of Laxus finishing up work. Laxus stayed silent as well. In fact, they didn't talk until Freed was standing in front of Laxus's truck, and he was opening the door to get in. "I'm going to bring you to my place first," Laxus said. Freed only nodded in response, his mind filing through the different possibilities this could go. Freed was nervous, more so of the thought, he'd be alone with Laxus in the element of the COO's very own house. Laxus pretty much attacked him before, and they were at his apartment, and Bickslow was in the room across from them. Laxus even got very close with Freed at the salon with the possibility that Mira could have walked in. What on earth would Laxus do completely alone in his own amenity. All of the potential scenarios made Freed's face light up.

Laxus peered over to Freed, sitting in his passenger seat, smashed into the door, and adverting his gaze from the driver seat. Laxus rolled his eyes. He was beginning to think Freed was scared of him, afraid of Laxus touching him. Laxus would be lying if he said he didn't want to back Freed up against his seat and kiss him again, but he couldn't; he was angry. He was peeved Freed stood him up this morning with zero context and had the nerve to fool around with Lucy. He wanted revenge, and he was definitely going to get it.

Laxus gripped the steering wheel tighter and gazed over to Freed once again. "Any question you want to ask me, I'll answer it honestly." Freed finally looked up and into Laxus's eyes.

"Okay-"

"-I won't tell you anything about Bickslow." Freed shot him a glare and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I should have figured that much." He grumbled under his breath. "I was going to ask why were you and Mirajane so close." No, Freed wouldn't take the direct approach with his questions; he would wiggle around and probe with different questions hoping to piece everything together himself.

Laxus drew his brows together, a bit stunned at the question. He was expecting Freed to get straight to business, maybe ask him about his motives, why he wanted to help, or maybe even about his kink. But instead, Freed wanted to know about his background. "Well," Laxus started, "Mira, Lisanna, and Elfman lived in my neighborhood. They helped me during a difficult time of my life, and even at some point, they took me in. They had a good adoptive family and a loving environment. I knew nothing about that, but they took me in like I was a part of the family. They gave me a family. I always gravitated more to Mira because we were the same age, but I'm close with all of them. The salon is just another way for me to spend time with them when we become adults- Well, with Lisanna and Mira; Elfman has his own life now, so I try not to interfere." Freed let all of Laxus's words sink in. So, maybe Laxus wasn't close with his grandfather after all. He had to be on some decent terms with him if he allowed Laxus to become COO, but from what Laxus told him, it seemed like Laxus leaned more to Mirajane's family than his own. He wanted to know why; he wanted to know more behind Laxus's story. But he didn't feel comfortable probing at that information right then. He would find another time to learn more about Laxus later.

"Okay, then… were you honest with me when you said you…you had a kink for men in women's clothing?" Laxus turned down a dirt road, following the trail all the way to a small secluded house on a patch of land. The whole area was surrounded by trees, acres, and acres of forest surrounding the property. Freed gulped. Not only was this house far away from the main city, but it was also surrounded by straight forest. Freed felt a sense of containment like he was being backed into a corner. Laxus was reeling him into his domain and trapping him. It made his legs jitter at the idea of being ostracized, even though this was only Laxus's house and nothing more.

Laxus parked in front of a single-car garage and unlocked the doors for Freed before answering his question. "Everything I told you Wednesday was a hundred percent the truth and how I really felt." Laxus got out, walking around to Freed's door and opening it for him. Freed blushed at the sudden chivalry, remembering Laxus had done the same thing the night he'd taken Freed home.

"So you do want to help me," Freed said, stepping down from the truck leaving his bag. Laxus led him up to his front porch, taking out a wad of keys. He fumbled through a few before singing out one and pressing it into the lock.

"I've told you multiple times already that I do," Laxus grumbled. Freed followed Laxus within his house and was surprised to see Laxus's house was completely decorated and furnished. There were two black loveseats in front of them facing a wall with a T.V mounted on it. On the left side, the house opened up to a hallway Freed assumed was to bedrooms, and on the right, it opened up into a kitchen. It was evident that Laxus favored the color black. His loveseats, his decorations, even the curtains were all black.

Laxus took off his shoes at the door and Freed fumbled doing the same. "I want to know, Laxus." Freed suddenly said as they walked into the living room. Laxus walked over to a couch and flopped within the cushions before turning up to look at Freed. "What exactly do you want from me?"

Laxus gave Freed a smile before beckoning him to sit beside him on the couch. Freed hesitated, his body jerking to follow the offer, but he held himself back. Laxus sighed and grabbed Freed roughly, tugging the other man forward. Freed lost his balance, tumbling over his feet and tripped, landing sprawled in Laxus's lap. His knee slammed into the side of the couch, his hands snapped out, and he took hold of Laxus's shoulders to stop himself, and his other leg awkwardly landed in between Laxus's legs.

"I'm so sorry!" Freed frantically said, immediately moving his body off Laxus, but the blonde quickly jerked him back down.

"This is what I want." Freed blinked back in confusion looked down to the COO staring up at Freed longingly. "You." One word. One single word sent waves of electricity through Freed's body. That one word made Freed twitch when Laxus said it. Laxus leaned in closer, reaching his lips so close to Freed, their lips inches away from each other. Freed's eyes fluttered closed, his face twisting up into a look of pure embarrassment, and he clenched harshly at Laxus's shoulders. Laxus loved that look, that face reflecting a personal, internal dilemma in Freed's head. Just the thought that Laxus would kiss him sent him into a blushing panicky mess, and Laxus ate it all up. " Freed." Laxus slid his hands across Freed's back, gripping him closer to the point where he could feel Freed's breath fluttering from his nose in quick, shaky waves. "What happened with you and Lucy?"

Freed opened his eyes, and when he did, he met Laxus's smokey-teal orbs dangerously close to his face. Freed had never focused on Laxus's features, but at that moment, practically sitting in his lap, Freed focused on a crack scar along his right eye. It wasn't intentional but Freed subconsciously brought his hand up and softly drug his fingers over the scar, tracing the healed skin and broken lines. Freed's fingers dragged from above Laxus's eyebrow down to his cheek, mapping out the scar. Laxus didn't flinch; he didn't jolt at the secretary's intimate touch. He let Freed follow the scar's path, keeping his mouth shut.

"What happened?" For a second, Laxus thought Freed was referencing his question about Lucy, but as Freed lined his scar once again, he knew where the question was directed to.

"I asked you about Lucy first." Laxus snapped back, taking his free hand and clenching Freed's wrist. Freed instinctively went to tug his arm away, but Laxus didn't let go. "Did you touch Lucy?"

Freed quirked an eyebrow, going to tug his arm free again. "Why are you jealous?" Freed jabbed. Instead of Laxus getting annoyed like Freed thought he would, Laxus only gave him a hard stare.

"Are you going to answer every question of mine with your own?"

Freed simply shrugged his shoulders. "I'm just curious. You told Cana you had no interest in me."

"And I told you already that was a lie I said to cover our asses."

"So what's the truth, Laxus? Just tell it to me straight." Freed finally jerked his arm out of Laxus's gasp and pushed him back a bit so he could have his own space, but Laxus only lurched back forward.

"The truth?" Laxus cocked his head up, staring fully into the turquoise eyes glaring down at him. "It's simple. I want you. I want to help you. I'm interested in you, and I want to be there for you." Freed blushed, but his eyes remained hard and cold. Laxus wanted him? Intimately? Romantically? He was interested, so that meant…he wanted a relationship?

"A relationship?" Freed asked. Laxus dropped his hands from the mid of Freed's back, down to the curves of his hips, pressing there, holding on tightly. Did Laxus want a relationship with Freed? He did indeed enjoy toying with him, playing these tiny intimate games with him, but could he classify that as wanting to pursue Freed romantically? Laxus didn't know Freed very well, but he knew there was a desire within him that wanted to get to know him on a more personal level. His mind projected the idea of an intimate relationship with the other man, and those images pleased a dark hidden side within him.

After a drawn-out silence, Laxus replied, "Too early to tell." Freed frowned at the response and moved quickly to remove himself from Laxus's lap. Laxus watched him stand and rub out the wrist that Laxus had held on to a moment prior.

"That's what I meant by confusing," Freed mumbled. Laxus sighed and threw his arm back behind the couch.

"I'm telling you that I want to spend time getting to know you more. We don't need any fancy labeling. We can just take our time figuring things out on our own, figuring each other out. The perfect times for us to do that are on Wednesdays at our appointments."

"So, in other words," Freed quickly returned, "We're fooling around?" Laxus smirked and threw a dismissive hand up with a short shrug.

"I'm simply saying let's see where things take us. I want you to come to me naturally. I don't want to pressure you into anything. But just to be a bit transparent with you, I'm going to get jealous if I even think someone else is interested in you." That…was a bit chilling. And even though Freed shouldn't have found that endearing, he couldn't help but feel a bit enthralled that someone like Laxus was interested enough in him to the point where he'd get jealous. Freed knew the possessiveness when they weren't even considering the idea of being exclusive was a red flag. Still, that threat of possible danger only fueled a sense of longing in Freed. The longing to string Laxus along, make him jealous, witness what kind of delicious reaction he would give him. Would Laxus flash like he had that morning? Would he simply just ignore Freed? Would he take him right where they stood and claim him in front of everyone? The ideas absolutely excited him. Freed wanted to see Laxus squirm with discomfort and jealousy. He wanted to see Laxus act on the motions of envy. All for him .

Freed knew a tangle of this nature with the COO could be dangerous. Someone could get their feelings hurt if the other got bored or simply found someone else to toy with. But the truth was, Freed was okay with this arrangement. He wanted the feeling of being desired. He liked the idea of having Laxus want him in such a possessive way. To crave his body sexually with or without the make-up. Yet, Freed did not want the attachment of a relationship at the moment. Freed was still trying to figure himself out, understand who he was as a human being, as a man. He didn't really have the mind space for entertaining a blooming relationship. This arrangement with Laxus could work if they both took things slow, set boundaries, and made it very clear everything would be casual.

"Okay." Freed said, "But we should lay some rules down." Laxus grinned at this. This was what he liked about Freed. Everything about him was so calculated, so thought out and planned. So thorough, even for a casual relationship. The structure restricted Laxus, and he absolutely enjoyed the idea of binding Freed's rules and straining any barriers.

"Alright, what did you have in mind?" Freed bit his lip and looked away.

"Maybe starting with a clear agreement that this is strictly casual and to help build my confidence. "

"Okay."

"Everything is consensual. Anything that happens between us happens after strict consultation and consent."

"Okay"

"Everything remains secretive. Especially at the office."

"Okay."

"And-" Freed paused, feeling a sense of Deja Vu. Laxus cracked an eyebrow up in question at Freed's sudden pause but Freed just sighed. "Um…this stays between just us. We aren't exclusive…but I need to know if you plan on…you know."

"Sleeping with someone else?" Freed blushed. Oh god! He said it! So they were technically agreeing on a friend with benefits situation. That shot a wave of anxiety over Freed in a way the previous one hadn't. Before, there was a twinge of desire and lust in that wave of anxiety. This wasn't an exciting tingle. It was pure worry. Freed was actually agreeing to possibly sleep with Laxus. Actual sex. Freed's burned at the thought. He'd never even fully considered sleeping with someone before. The idea that things could go that far between the two of them sent bubbles of heat and nervousness through his stomach.

Laxus crossed a leg over the other and gave Freed a smug look. "I had no intentions of stepping outside of this relationship." Freed blushed even harder.

"If you say it like that, it sounds like we are exclusive."

"I never said I wouldn't be. All I said was that we didn't need labels right now."

"So…" Freed looked down to his feet, playing with his shirt. Maybe he needed labels. He didn't know what to call this or make of this situation. He'd never even kissed someone before he had with Laxus Friday night. Everything was so new to him; he didn't know how he should behave.

Laxus sighed and stood, taking the few steps to close the distance in-between him and the fidgeting secretary. "How about we make the rules as we go. If something happens and you're uncomfortable with it, let me know." Freed nodded his head, but Laxus quickly grasped his chin between his thumb and index finger. Laxus took in Freed's bright cheeks, mirroring the shades of a brilliant flame. His eyes were slightly hooded and diverting Laxus's gaze from embarrassment. His full lips quivering deliciously. All Laxus wanted to do was lean down and take the bottom one into his own. But he held himself back, at least for now. "Are you okay with that, Freed?"

"Y-yeah." Laxus pinched his chin tighter, urging Freed to look at him, yet his trail remained pointed in the opposite direction of Laxus.

"Look at me," Laxus ordered with a snap. Very slowly, Freed redirected his beachy blue eyes back up to the other man. "Good," Laxus purred. Freed shuddered at the praise, raising an eyebrow on Laxus. Did he like that? Did he enjoy being told he was good? Laxus smirked. "I need to know if I have complete freedom to touch you." Freed cut his eyes away again until Laxus brought them back with another pinch to his chin.

"Y-yeah…"

"You sure?"

"Well," Freed's eyes strayed again, and Laxus didn't try and force them back up to him. "Ju-just not at work. We're not supposed-"

"I know. I won't." Freed shook his head.

"Then…Yeah." Laxus finally let go of his chin, and Freed immediately dropped his head, his green bangs fluttering to hide his face.

"And now?" Laxus asked. Freed snapped his head up and looked at Laxus with a face full of fear.

"Now!?" He bellowed back. "Wh-what are you trying to do? The appointment isn't until Wednesday."

"You think one day out of the week will be enough?" Laxus retorted with a smirk. "Absolutely not."

"I-um….I don't have any make-up on."

"You don't need it." Laxus snapped. That shot an arrow of lust straight through Freed's heart. That's right! Laxus desired Freed with and without the need to see him dressed up. Both halves of him were accepted when he was with Laxus. "Just let me touch you; let me get familiar with your body." Freed's face upturned utter crimson, all of the heat in his body draining to his cheeks.

"O-oh! O-okay." Laxus took one more step, now practically on top of Freed.

"Follow me." He spoke in a soft whisper. Freed stood there for a beat longer, even after Laxus brushed past him and started down a hallway. No way…Freed gulped. No way!