"Was that take-over magic?" The nurse asked, her hands busy prepping a small satin bag.
Freed looked up from his fingers that had lost themselves in the soft fur of Laxus' coat. His hand moved up and pressed against his guild mark that was inked on the side of his neck. He swallowed and let his lips fall. No sound escaped his throat until he shook his head. "No… it's a possession. I come from an old family that has many debts to pay. I just happen to be one of them." His voice was low and raw, his lips dried and cracked.
The nurse put down her little bag and passed Freed a glass of ice water. "My apologies, I should have waited until you had fully woken up." A flush dusted the tops of her cheeks. She stared until Freed had finished the entire glass and placed it gently beside the flowers left for him.
Freed coughed once before he began to speak again, "No, I need the human interaction especially after I have wakened up. It helps ground me for the rest of the day. Besides, you're my doctor. You need to know what you have to deal with if things were to suddenly turn." He turned back to play with the fur resting on his lap, soft strokes like he was petting a cat.
"I'm not a doctor, I'm just a nurse," The woman tried to argue but before she could go far, there was a soft knock at the door.
"That must be Lamia Scale," Freed reasoned, he looked up and smiled while he watched the door open. First, there were the tips of pink ponytails, then Lyon's face who looked around the door. Chelia was the first to walk into the room. She met Freed's eyes and smiled. In just a few long strides she was able to throw her arms over his shoulders and bury her face in his neck. Freed rescued one of his arms trapped between them and pulled the young girl closer.
"It's good to see you little one," he said into her hair.
Lyon kept close to the wall and let the rest of their team in.
Jura looked Freed over once before he took notice of the nurse who waited patiently.
"May he come back with us to the hotel?" Jura asked.
Yuka stepped out from behind Jura and didn't wait for a response before he began to gather Freed's things.
"Yes, he's healed enough to go, but I would advise against any challenges tomorrow. His body and magic need to heal before anything strenuous. I would say to find his replacement for the remainder of the Games. Yet, I seem to have an inkling that no one would really appreciate that." The nurse smiled and handed Yuka the velvet bag. "This has a pain potion that I want him to take tonight and a tea that will help with any soreness. Not only that but a crystal that will help with magical regeneration. He can keep it in his coat until he feels well enough without. The tea should be taken as needed or every three hours. It's bitter so honey will help with the flavor."
Yuka nodded silently and tucked the bag into his sleeve.
"I'll make sure that he stays on top of it. We need him if we even stand any chance at winning…"
Lyon scoffed, "You forget just who's on this team Yuka. I'm wounded in your lack of confidence."
Between them Freed looked with fond eyes, his lips turned up in a smile and he laughed against the top of Chelia's head. "You both are unbelievable, now come and help me. I would like to go back to the hotel sooner than later."
That was enough to snap Lyon and he rushed to Freed's side. His cold hands going to rest on the top of Freed's shoulder. "Come on, he won't be able to move with you holding on to him like a monkey." He scolded Chelia.
Jura bowed to the nurse, "We can't thank you enough, we are not sure what the outcome would have been if it hadn't been for your capable magic."
"Just promise me that I won't be seeing any of you soon, now go and win. I have a bet on Lamia Scale." Her smile was bright, the color of her cheeks vibrant.
Soon Freed was leaning heavily on Lyon and they were out of the small room waving their last goodbyes and making a promise that she would win her bet.
Lyon's arms were strong around Freed's body, his face pressed briefly to the man's temple, "Thank the stars that you're alright. I thought I almost lost you."
Freed turned to look at Lyon with wide eyes, his lips closing the space between them. A soft kiss landed right on the corner of Lyon's lips, "Just hold on to me, I'm not gone yet."
They reached the hotel and Freed had gained enough strength to walk slowly on his own. He didn't let go of Lyon's hand the entire time.
Lamia Scale filled Freed on what had happened the rest of the day. They told him of Elfman's victory and they watched as Freed glowed with pride. When they recounted Mirajane's battle Freed couldn't stop laughing, "That poor woman must have not known just the demon Ms. Mirajane could become."
They were all settling in to their room when Jura told Freed what had happened between Sabertooth and Mermaid Heel. He had gone quiet at that point the lines on his forehead deeply set. "Is there anything that we can do? Perhaps offer her a spot within our guild?"
"I've talked to the old hag about it, the girl just needs to come to find us and only ask."
As the evening went on Freed began to pace, Laxus' coat folded neatly over his arm. Lyon and the others had left to get dinner for the night leaving Jura and him alone.
Jura looked up from his book with a raised brow, "Why don't you go and return the coat. I'm sure its owner is terribly cold without it."
Freed stopped mid-stride, his head snapping to look at Jure with a shocked expression, "Go, before the others come. I'll tell them that you've gone out for some time in the spa. That'll give you enough time."
"Jura I don't-"
"Freed, enough of that. Go see them, they must be worried sick not knowing that you're well."
A second passed before Freed silently walked out the door.
-x-
The walk wasn't as far as Freed had thought, he asked a passing stranger if he had any idea of where Fairy Tail could be. The man laughed and kindly pointed him to a bar not too far from where Lamia Scale was staying, "That entire street is just filled with noise so careful. They also have a habit of throwing things out of the windows so watch your head." Freed thanked him and made his way to the tavern. The jewel in his pocket hummed pleasantly against his side giving him the strength to walk.
Soon he was in front of the bar watching silently through the window. He didn't dare move, only staring in awe at the ghosts that crossed his line of sight. Everyone was so happy, drinking and laughing together as if they had never left their guild. All Freed could do at that moment was clutch to Laxus' coat a little tighter. His eyes shined and a single tear slipped free.
"It's good to see you up and about my boy," Makarov spoke behind him.
Freed spun quickly to face the old man, his eyes blinking away unshed tears. "I only came back to return Laxus' coat. He left it with me at the infirmary when he came to visit." He presented the jacket to Makrov with trembling hands.
"Perhaps you would like to return it yourself, make sure that it gets to him in one piece. I can't trust that I won't just forget it somewhere. You know how my memory escapes me." Markov smiled up at Freed, his hands tucked neatly behind his back, "I'm also positive that the others would love to see you. It's been years. I'm sure that you have a lot to catch them up on."
"I don't think they would want to see me after what I did, I abandoned Fairy Tail. I-"
The old man shook his head, his hand coming up to silence the poor boy, "Nonsense, you never left. This is and will always be your family. Now enough of that, none of us are angry with you. We are relieved that you found a place that loved you as much as we do. Do you know how proud I am at the fact that one of my children became an S-class wizard? Now my dear boy, go inside and greet the others they've missed you."
The air was crisp and cool, as the soft wind played with both men's hair. Over their heads the full moon shined. Markov stood firmly in front of his student with a kind and open smile that showed the happiness and warmth he had for the boy. There had been nothing on this earth that would have ever kept the man from loving his children.
Freed wiped away the tears that had fallen on his cheek with a smile on his face, "Yes, of course, Master."
He turned around and opened the tavern door.
-x-
"So you think that girl from Sabertooth is going to be alright?" Evergreen asked over her mug of ale.
Bickslow shrugged his shoulders going to scratch his chin, "She seems like a tough cookie,"
"I thought it was enough to have to be dealing with Raven Tale, but Sabertooth is on another level. We're going to have to be on our top games if we even stand a chance in beating them."
Evergreen chuckled, "You sound so confident Mr. Dragon Slayer."
Laxus rolled his eyes and moved to face her with his back now to the rest of the tavern, "I'm being realistic here, I know we are going to beat them. We just have to realize that it's going to take a lot." Behind him, the door opened with a gentle creek. Laxus didn't pay it any attention until he took a deep breath of the fresh air that swept in.
His mouth fell open as Freed's scent floated to him like smoke. It was muted, tamer from having been outside, but something still clung to him and it took Laxus a moment to realize that it was his own smell enveloping the man. The sandalwood and rosemary that came from his cologne made him blink.
He turned around quickly to prove to himself that he wasn't going crazy, that he wasn't such a pinning fool that he would do this to himself.
Then there he was, Freed stood right before the doorway clutching Laxus cloak to his chest. Their eyes met from across the tavern. Freed's lip pulled up in a delicate smile. His mouth falling into a gentle hello.
Laxus got up from his seat stunned to silence. Everything began to move in slow motion, noise around them went muffled almost quiet. Nothing in that moment could ever have come to compare to the sight Freed Justine made in that very moment.
"What are you doing here?" Laxus asked between them.
Freed shook his head and offered Laxus' back his coat, "I wanted to give this back, and thank you for helping me."
"You can keep it, I'm sure it looks better on you than me…" Laxus reached out and covered Freed's hands with his own. They settled perfectly on top of each other, the heat between their skin growing to warm both their cheeks. Freed gripped the dark fabric a little tighter and looked through his bangs up at Laxus.
They stood silent for a long while, just basking in the other's presence.
"It's good to see you. You look strong, exile did you well," Freed joked with a smile.
Laxus laughed moving closer, "It definitely kicked my ass, but I want to say it's all-natural strength," He raised a brow and settled in a smirk. The mysterious flash across Freed's eyes sent a shock down Laxus' spine.
"Just as modest as ever I see Dreyar," Freed laughed.
The moment was perfection, everything coming straight from a dream that neither of them knew they shared.
"Freed?"
Neither man had heard Evergreen approached them until she was right on top of them separating them both with surprising force. She threw herself at Freed, wrapping her arms around his neck holding onto him as tightly as she could, "What are you doing here? Are you alright? How are you feeling, I swear when I get my hands on Raven Tail they will be hell to fair." She pulled back and cradled his face between her hands. Eyes scanned from the tip of Freed's head to the tips of his black boots.
"BABY!" Bickslow was easier to hear with his heavy steps running up to the trio. He pushed past Laxus and scooped up both Freed and Evergreen up into the air.
The rest of the guild caught up with the sudden surprise stunned to see the former Thunder Legion Captain.
He was back.
