Hey guys! So I made this chapter way longer than my other chapters because I won't be able to add another chapter till the end of the week So enjoy the extra-ness! :D


1:02AM

Freed was a little hungry and very groggy. Plus his chest ached badly and it wasn't just from the wound. Freed fluttered his eyes open glancing around the wooden room noticing it was pitch dark outside.

It's probably best if I left now. I'll take one more drink of the medicine Porlyusica made me and sneak out.

Porlyusica had left the teapot of medicine on the left side bed table with a cup already prepared for him to drink. Since the stab to his lung was on his right side, it would be easier to grab the cup with his left hand. He drank the disgusting tasting liquid which was supposedly helping his lung. At least she left him some candy mints next to the cup.

Jeez, she must have known how gross this probably tastes Freed quickly popped in a mint candy which was soft and chewy making his mouth taste twenty times better.

Freed rolled his head back to the center of his pillow, feeling exhausted from just drinking and moving that little bit, but wasn't prepared to face his ex-friends; to see the amount of hatred in Laxus' eyes. Freed breathed in deeply, trying to get some of the fog to leave his eyes.

Time to go

Freed felt something soothing and warm touch his fingertips. He looked to his right, holding in a gasp. Laxus was resting his head next to his hand, sleeping soundly. Freed was good at noticing when Laxus was awake and sleeping for the ten years they had been a team.

From what Freed could tell, Laxus was legitimately sleeping, but he probably wasn't deeply asleep. Laxus had only slept deeply a few times in his life; probably a dragon slayer thing.

This was going to be hard.

Why is he even in here? Wouldn't it be hard to be around me? Aren't I disgusting to you Laxus? Why won't you just leave me alone?

Freed could feel the tears brim his eyes but knew that if any left him, the lightning dragon slayer's nose would smell it, changing his sleeping pattern at the moment. Freed had to hold in the pain he was feeling seeing Laxus next to him like this, like he cared.

Freed slowly, very slowly, lifted his hand up and away from Laxus being very sure to stop any and all movement if he saw Laxus' breathing pattern even remotely shift.

Successfully moving his hand away from the dragon slayer, he knew moving his body would be the hardest. He's magic was seriously low at the moment (his body giving most of the energy to heal his damaged lung) so he shouldn't use any runes to help him escape; nonetheless he would try.

He drew one rune to stop the dragon slayer from feeling a shift in weight on the bed. That was as much as Freed could do at the moment, so hopefully any klutziness wouldn't happen. He couldn't have that bad of luck, right?

Freed drew in a deep breathe before moving slowly from the bed. The rune held out, thankfully, until Freed was standing on his own two feet on the other side from Laxus.

I'm sorry. There wasn't anything I could do to stop you from hating me, was there?

Freed had to hold in his tears again, his chest aching so horribly he felt physically ill again. Freed would have to leave out the front door considering there was a chance the window in his room would be squeaky (or extra squeaky and loud so he wasn't going to even bother with his luck).

Freed put another rune down on the floor to stop any floor boards from creaking considering one out of place creak would also change Laxus' sleeping pattern. Freed saw black enter his vision for a moment, almost stumbling with uneven footsteps, before getting his grounding back.

Shit… I can't use any more of my magic right now or I'll pass out for sure. Then I'd have to face Laxus again…hear those cruel things he hates about me so much

Freed finally made it to the doorway, which was thankfully already open, before looking back at the sleeping dragon slayer, his eyes softening and lips quivering.

Goodbye Laxus. I'll always love you I think… no matter how many years go by.

Freed turned back around, walking out the doorway before stopping in his tracks, sweat dropping.

What are these idiots doing here? Why can't they just leave me be!? I tried to leave! I tried not to fail Fairy Tail one last time! I tried to make your lives easier by not being around you! Why isn't it enough!?

Freed was really on the verge of tears at this point. Ever, Wendy and Charle were happily sleeping on the couch. Erza was in a comfy looking rocking chair with Mira; Lucy was on some sort of pillow fort. Bickslow, Natsu, and Gajeel were on the floor snoring god forsakenly loud. It was absolutely packed and Freed wondered for a moment how Porlyusica could even stand all of them being there like this.

Freed was thankful the rune he put on the floorboards spread this far through the house. He was in the middle of the living room, his sadness sinking in on him.

Goodbye my friends. I wish I could have done something to make you hate me less… I'm so sorry.

A tear finally fell from Freed's eye, rolling down his cheek. He suddenly saw Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy twitch.

Shit! They're going to wake up! Are they already awake!? What if they stop me! What do I do!? No, no, no, no, no.

Freed felt his heart beat out of control seeing the dragon slayers shifting. What if that meant Laxus was also waking up!?

Freed started to panic, breathing becoming labored and probably too loud considering the dragon slayers had excellent hearing. Freed shut his eyes tightly, knowing he was going to regret what he was about to do.

Freed ran out the front door and ran hard. He wasn't sure what actually pushed him to run that fast but he was flying through the forest.

"FREED!" Freed could hear a roar from Porlyusica's wondering if he would make it someplace where the dragon slayers wouldn't be able to smell him.

I could sneak in the bake shop or the perfume shop! The smells in there are always strong! The bake shop is closer to here though, right? I can't remember! I'm too panicked.

Now what happened next, Freed wasn't sure. One minute he was using his adrenaline rush to run like a bat out of hell. The next minute his chest was on fire. Not literal fire because that would be really concerning, but his chest wound started to bleed, soaking his bandages in blood.

Vision was going spotty. Breathing was becoming difficult. Then a flash of light was right behind him, catching Freed's peripheral vision. Freed fell over his own feet, about to hit the ground hard before a pair of large, strong hands held him tightly to a strong chest. Freed went down to the ground still, with said man, not feeling much of an impact since he was practically surrounded with solid muscle.

Freed's vision was blurry, but he could make out the outline of the bake shop.

So close … do I really deserve to hear those words again?

Freed knew he was automatically in Laxus's arms considering that apple and rain smell was surrounding Freed strongly, somehow making the pain in his chest lessen.

Freed closed his eyes, everything just hurting.

"Freed," was whispered in such a sad, soft way that Freed wasn't expecting that to come out of Laxus at all. He was expecting to be yelled at. For the cruel words to be said again or said even crueler this time. But maybe this was a trick. A trick Laxus was going to use to get Freed to look at him so Laxus could see the pain in his eyes.

Laxus was never this cruel before, why now? I don't understand!

"Look at me Freed, please" Laxus breathed against Freed's neck. Freed squeezed his eyes tightly in fear, tears leaving both of his eyes (even evident behind his bangs over his right eye). Freed finally gave in. He was giving up.

Give me it. Tell me how much you hate me! Destroy me completely! Freed thought miserably in his head before opening his eyes at the man above him, tears freely leaving his eyes.

No point in wiping them away, huh? More will just come out until I finally run out of tears and can't cry anymore right?

Freed slowly moved his blue eyes to meet Laxus' gray eyes prepared for the worst. However, Freed was shocked to see mostly pain, sadness, and fear in those dark eyes; even brimmed with tears ready to fall.

Freed looked into his eyes very confused and very surprised by the way Laxus was looking at him right now.

"Idiot! Who do you think you are to run from me?" Laxus started to yell, but by the end of his sentence, his words started shake as though he were going to cry.

"Please… just hear me out one more time. Just hear what I have to say. If you don't like anything I'm about to say to you, you can leave and I won't stop you," Laxus whispered. Freed blinked at him considering Laxus was giving him a choice and not being cruel or mean about it.

"But if you do leave, please promise me you won't put yourself in danger again. I don't think I could take it," Laxus looked at Freed who still hadn't moved. Freed looked away from him, closing his eyes but nodding his head oh so slightly in agreement.

Freed suddenly felt callused yet gentle fingertips on his cheek making him flinch hard thinking Laxus was going to hit him again before feeling something wet on his cheek.

Freed looked back up to see a tear had left Laxus who looked so upset that it kind of made Freed want to hug him in comfort, but stopped the stupid thought from becoming an action.

"I-I'm sorry for scaring you. I won't hit you again, I promise. Though I shouldn't have hit you in the first place, huh?" Laxus gave the saddest, deep chuckle Freed heard, making Freed feel like Laxus felt exactly how he did at the moment.

But that's not possible.

(All the people that were at Porlyusica's were hiding themselves behind some trees several yards away from the pair, knowing Laxus was the only one that should explain things to Freed right now, even though they all wanted to join in, in the explanation).

"At the pool, there was a person hiding in the hallway that led to the pool," Laxus sighed, noting Freed was listening even though he turned his head again and was facing away from Laxus.

"When all those horrible things were said to you, I was conscious of what I was saying, but I wasn't actually saying any of those things," Laxus saw Freed's brows draw together in confusion.

"Sorry… I suck at explaining these things. But I hope you understand in the end even if it takes a couple hours" Laxus scratched the back of his head sheepishly before continuing.

"Because Bickslow, Ever, Erza, Mira and I all said those things to you, we knew that somehow we were controlled in those few minutes to say those things specifically to you. Why? I don't know. If I did, I'd kill the bastard that made me say those cruel things, especially to you"

Freed turned his head back so his eyes were looking into Laxus' again, brows still furrowed together in confusion.

"Lucy and Levy were looking through old books and Levy said someone used a dark spell called Reverse Emotion. I didn't really understand everything they were saying but in short, it reverses the emotions of how I really feel about you; how all of us feel about you. She said it was an eye and physical hand magic or something. Lucy thought it might have been someone who wanted to be apart of the Raijinshuu but got rejected. Ever, Bicks and I couldn't remember anybody specifically since we suck at those kinds of things. That's one of your specialties."

Freed looked shocked as the gears in his head started turning at what Laxus just told him.

"So… when I said all those horrible things it really meant that I… I really like you, like you," Laxus had a tint of pink on his cheeks making Freed blush slightly himself.

What…? This… This isn't real is it? A dark spell called… reverse emotion? This is crazy! But something in the back of his mind told him that Fairy Tail usually just dealt in crazy.

"This…" Freed felt how dry his throat was when he said that one word, but noticed Laxus was paying absolute attention to him which kind of made his cheeks want to warm in a blush.

"Isn't real, is it?" Freed said softly, looking away from Laxus, "all of you hate me…all of you think I'm disgusting right? That I'm dirty. Something dirty doesn't belong in Fairy tail… doesn't belong anywhere," Freed nearly choked out the words as tears left him, unstopping.

"Don't… don't ever say that again about yourself!" Laxus yelled out, tears streaming down his cheeks; unbeknownst to them, their friend also having tears leave them at the bitterness in Freed's voice and how much he hated himself. More than them or what any of them said.

"You are the kindest, smartest, most giving, loyal, noble and courageous person I've ever had the pleasure to meet and befriend. I am so lucky to have had you in my life at all!" Laxus grabbed Freed by his shoulders gently; praying to the heavens above Freed wasn't going to flinch from him again. However, Freed was too busy sobbing at the moment to notice such a motion from Laxus.

"You're wholesome and clean and good! You deserve the best because anything less would be offensive to give to you."

Laxus slowly turned Freed's head, gently curling his first finger slightly under his chin to face him again as Freed slowly opened his eyes.

"I'd give you the world and everything in it if it made you happy. If it just made you smile again. You've only ever deserved to smile. Not to ever be sad. Not over something you couldn't control. I'm not good with showing my emotions or explaining them, but over the days I couldn't see you I had to find the words to explain how I felt about you. If I didn't, then I would lose you and I can't lose you. I don't know if it's because I'm selfish, but I know I'm not the best at being a guild member, or friend, or even a lover if I was ever to become one. You deserve the best. Which is why even though I don't ever want to lose you, its okay if you walk away. I can't be selfish anymore. I don't think my heart could take it to see you hurt like this again… because I'm stupid. Because I couldn't stop a stupid spell from being used on me to hurt you. I'd… only ever break your heart because I'm not the perfect person you deserve in this world," Laxus had tears slowly dripping off his cheeks since he was still hovering over the immobile greenette.

"You've… always been free to leave. So please, stop loving me so your heart doesn't feel any more pain. So you can finally be happy. Please… let this love go," Laxus felt his throat tighten up, his heart clenching in pain, holding in the sobs that were sure to fall from his lips any second. He had to let his mate go. He had to let him choose a happy life without him in it.

Please let me free you from this pain

Freed started to sob under Laxus only making Laxus clench his fists into the ground, his heart aching at the pain that was so evident if Freed's voice.

"S-Stupid!" Freed yelled out angrily making Laxus' tears fall more quickly, "you forgot that I'm s-stubborn! I can't let you go. I won't! I've loved you for so long my heart can no longer fall in love with anyone else. I've tried! I have! But my heart and my mind are fixed on you forever. Whether you would have loved me back or not, I would have never truly fallen in love with someone else. And to finally hear you say that you actually like me" Freed sobbed trying to get out what he needed to, "I won't let you throw away your feelings for me. Not when you just showed them to me! Not when you are my happiness. Let's do this together. Please… don't let me walk away or tell me to let this love go again. That was more painful than horrible words said before. Be with me Laxus, however you see fit."

Freed had tears steadily down his cheeks and into the ground underneath him. He suddenly felt Laxus' hands on either side of his face, trying to wipe his unending tears away.

"You'd be stuck with a stubborn idiot for the rest of your life. Who is emotionally inept and can't do well by you" Laxus said sadly, still giving Freed his chance to walk away.

"I'm stubborn too which is how I've stayed so long by your side; I'm not easy to push away. You aren't stupid just because you don't know something. Not everyone is good with emotions and you've always done well by me and everyone at the guild. Whether you've seen it or not, I've seen it. You're a wonderful person Laxus. You aren't just a strong mage but you are also loyal and caring and honest. You care more about others than yourself and you want to give someone else happiness even if that meant you wouldn't be happy anymore. I'd… want to be stuck with you forever, because then I'd know I'd be happy forever," Freed gently cradled his hand against Laxus' cheek who leaned into the touch, holding his own hand against Freed's.

Laxus very slowly and very gently kissed Freed. It was a little sloppy and awkward at first, but they slowly started to find their rhythm. Once they found their rhythm, the put as much emotion into the kiss as possible. It would slow, it would speed up, it would be gentle then rough. Tongues would find each other to comfort or fight. But it would return to the sweet gentle kiss that expressed how much they needed and wanted the other. How much they loved the other. When the finally separated for some much needed air, both had red puffy eyes from so much crying and sadness.

They just stared into the others eyes before Laxus carefully held Freed to him, Freed's arms remaining around Laxus' neck where they had found their way during the kiss. They just held each other, their heart rates slowing down; the calm finally taking over.

When Laxus moved away from Freed, who continued to look into his eyes, both of their eyes half lidded. They could see a spark in the others' eyes and their breaths mingled at the closeness. Freed's lips tingled from the kiss, as did Laxus'. Laxus gently touched Freed's soft pink lips, only causing Freed to kiss his fingers softly making Laxus give a small smile. Freed started to blush realizing what he had done, about to turn away again in embarrassment, only to have Laxus move some of his bangs away from his face gently; silently telling Freed he didn't mind at all. Somehow Freed understood because he gave a small smile to Laxus. Laxus kissed him sweet and slow again, their rhythm permanently seared into their brains, before Laxus released Freed's lips again.

Freed couldn't believe what had just happened. What he just said. The fact that Laxus just kissed him was blowing his mind. That Laxus had kissed him twice and initiated it both times! It was like a damn was broken from them and they could kiss each other as much as they liked because they both wanted and needed each and every kiss the other could give to them.

If this is a dream, it's the best dream of my life… but it would also be the cruelest because I would wish for it so badly to be real. It is real, it has to be.

"We should get you back to Porlyusica's to rest. She'll probably be upset you even moved from the bed," Laxus chuckled softly making Freed look worried at the horrible lashing he was going to get from Porlyusica only making Laxus smirk at him, "plus sleeping out here would be really bad for you anyway, though I'd probably have to make you sleep on top of me so you're at least comfortable."

Freed smiled softly at him making Laxus have a tint on his cheeks.

"I… didn't think you'd smile at me so soon" Laxus said shocked making Freed look confused before understanding what Laxus meant. Laxus had hurt Freed so much that he was sure Freed would never smile at him again.

"Of course I would, you always knew how to make me smile" Freed said softly seeing Laxus becoming less tense. He was afraid of getting into another fight with Freed so soon. But Laxus and Freed both knew they were too stubborn with each other to just let another fight happen; especially over something ridiculous.

"I… don't want to sleep" Freed began seeing Laxus about to scold him (probably about his health), "because I'm scared this is a dream still."

"I promise you, when you wake up, I'll be right there" Laxus whispered kissing Freed softly on the forehead, making him blush.

"You promise?"

"I promise. I'll even give you a good morning kiss," Laxus winked at him with a smirk making Freed give a huff of a laugh.

"Idiot"

"Told you I was"

Laxus stood up before reaching his hand out for Freed to take. Freed took his hand, feeling warm and gentle sparks running through his hand (silently wondering if Laxus could feel them too).

As things seemed to come back to a normal time frame, since their talk seemed to stop time for a moment, everything came rushing back to Freed. The exhaust from using magic and ripping his recently closed wound again. Freed felt something wet run down his side before the pain shot through his body. Freed gasped, hand gripping his chest over the wound, his knees buckling under him. Freed started coughing violently as blood dripped from his mouth.

"Freed!" Laxus panicked, though he would never full out admit it, quickly let go of Freed's hand to pick him up gently; it only served for Freed's coughing fit to continue.

Laxus knew their friends were somewhere nearby anyway, eavesdropping on the two considering they all wanted to comfort Freed about the horrible spell. Before Laxus could call out to Porlyusica, she came running out to them with Wendy (the others behind them).

Porlyusica shook her head angrily, before sighing.

"He must be brought back now!" Laxus did not have to be told twice as they all ran back to Porlyusica's.

"Freed!" Ever and Bickslow wanted to be there with their friend, but Porlyusica only allowed Laxus in the room at the moment considering she knew what dragon slayers would do if they weren't near their mate (even if they weren't fully mated yet).

"Place him on his left side Laxus"

Laxus did as he was told as he watched Wendy heal from his back and Porlyusica heal from his front. After what seemed like forever, they both stood up and sighed from exhaustion.

"I hate dealing with you humans! I was sleeping so well before you idiots came along!" Porlyusica harrumphed, stomping her way out of the room while yelling at the bystanders outside in the living room.

"He'll be okay Laxus-sama. He really needs to rest and drink the medicine though for at least a week before Porlyusica will let him leave, I'm sure" Wendy whispered, hoping what she said would calm Laxus down since his muscles were very tense at the moment.

"Thank you Wendy, for healing him. You and Porlyusica" Wendy nodded, giving a smile before leaving to see Charle and the others.

Laxus gave a heavy sigh before lying behind Freed, not sure he could be too far away from him now. Freed felt warmth against his back, which somehow eased a little of the pain he was feeling.

Apples.. and rain. Such a nice smell

"Laxus" Freed whispered.

"Shh. You just had a bad coughing fit, I don't think you should be talking okay?" Laxus whispered back. Freed could feel Laxus' breath against his neck making him shudder in the best of ways.

"You'll be here?"

"I promised I would"

"What if I don't wake up for a while,"

"You will since your too stubborn to sleep for so long"

"Its… not a dream?"

"No. Now hush and go to sleep. If you do I'll kiss you when you wake up. If you're good that is" Laxus chuckled softly making Freed smile.

"Idiot"

"Your idiot?"

"Always"


Sweet mother of mayhem that was ounces of drama. Hope you can see where the romance is starting to blossom :D! I also had to make a difficult choice. In the manga, Laxus' eyes are orange but in the anime they are gray. I went with gray so… hopefully that's okay ^^ Review and let me know how you think the story is going so far!