A/N: I am so sorry for making this THIS late TTATT Forgiiiiive meeeee... I have no excuses. Please enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. I wish I did, though...
IN RESPONSE TO REVIEWS GIVEN BY GUESTS:
Evan: YOU READ MY STORY THANK YOU *hugs* Thank you, Evan, for reading and reviewing, even without an account! I hope you like Laxus's reaction X'D
Laxus groaned and opened his eyes, which he instantly regretted doing.
Sunlight streamed through the windows and burned like acid in his eyes, making his head spin and his stomach churn. The blonde shut them quickly in order to prevent certain death.
"You know," said a voice from the other side of the bed, "You really made an ass of yourself last night."
The mattress moved a bit and he could only guess that whoever was talking had stood up from the bed. A pleasantly cool hand was pressed against his shoulder and he was slowly shaken.
"Come on. I need you to open your eyes." The same voice said softly.
Laxus shut his eyes tighter and grumbled, "Shut the curtains."
"Oh god! I'm sorry! The light must be horrible for you!" There was hurried footsteps and the sound of curtains being shut quietly. "Is that better?" The tender voice asked.
"Mhmm." Laxus sighed, he sunk further into the mattress.
The sound of foot steps caught his attention and then the same soft hand that had grabbed his shoulder, moved along the side of his face. They reached his hairline and suddenly a sharp pain made his eyes fly open.
"What the hell was that for?!"
"Payback for last night. You asshole!"
"Shit. We didn't… You know…?"
"Oh hell no! I'm pretty sure you aren't gay, so hell no. You also passed out after misgendering me and trying to get into my pants." The soft voice Laxus had heard earlier had turned into a full blown growl. The hold on his hair was still tight and making him wince.
Giving one last hard tug, he was set free and left to hold his head in pain.
"You jerk!" They said, standing up again and pacing next to the bed.
Then Laxus heard something very close to, "I swear when I get my hands on Gajeel, he's not going to live to ride another day."
"Wait… Gajeel?" The blonde frowned and rolled over, eyes widening as he realized who was in the room with him.
Freed let his eyes fall on the larger man and for a moment he felt pity for him, but it was just for a moment. "He's a close friend of mine. His girlfriend Levy was someone I use to go to school with." Seeing Laxus roll over in pain, Freed rolled his eyes and moved across the room. Digging through his cabinet, he found a little bottle of pills. Taking two, he walked to Laxus's side and presented them to him.
"Take these, they'll help with the pain."
The biker held out his hand and Freed gently placed the pills in the palm of his hand, before grabbing a glass of water off of the bedside table and handing that to Laxus as well. Laxus put the pills in his mouth and washed them down with a large gulp of water. He set the glass on the nightstand and begrudgingly mumbled, "Sorry about last night."
Seeing the sincerity in the other's eyes, Freed let his head fall and a blush form on his cheeks.
To be quite honest the attention would have been nice if only Laxus didn't think he was a girl. Now with the man in question lying in his bed, the situation was just begging to become even more uncomfortable.
"It's alright…" He said, rubbing the back of his neck. "You were drunk."
"Damn. I really am an asshole, aren't I?" Laxus said, chuckling and mirroring Freed's action. "What other stupid things did I say?"
Freed's eyes widened and he slowly turned to look at Laxus. A thought struck his mind as the motorcycle across the street and in front of the Inn caught his attention. He was playing a risky game, but what other way was he going to get out of that bar? He had enough money saved, so he didn't need to worry about that... His only chance was right there, he just needed to take it.
Clearing his throat he gave Laxus a determined stare. "You said you would take me to Magnolia…"
"Really? Well shit. How the hell did you get me to agree to that?"
Panic formed in the pit of Freed's stomach. "Damn it what am I going to say?!"
His brain short circuited and all he could come up with was, "I was rather persistent."
Laxus sat up and ran a large hand through his spiky blonde hair. "I can see why you were so persuasive… I mean, even now that I know you're a guy, hot damn. If I was gay, I would go for that."
Freed felt his entire body go up in flames. He was almost one hundred percent certain that his face was the color of a cherry. Guilt made him bow his head in shame, the thought of lying to Laxus- anyone, really -was something that he wish he didn't have to do, but what else was he going to say? It wasn't going to hurt anyone, it was just a ride. Really, what harm could a ride do?
Still red in the face, he looked up and saw Laxus still staring at him. "I- I don't know if I should take that as a compliment."
"Take it as a compliment, Greeny," the blonde said, patting Freed's head as he stood up from the bed, towering above Freed.
Slapping the large hand away, the blush dusting his cheeks only grew that much darker.
"My name isn't Greeny, it's Freed." He admonished, his face twisting into a scowl that looked rather like a pout of some sort.
Laxus looked down and smiled. "Even when you're pouting you're quite cute."
Freed just wanted to crawl in a hole and die, but sadly the floors were hardwood, so all he could do was push the larger man away and say, "Just go to the bathroom and take a shower, you smell like alcohol and sweat."
Laxus sighed in acknowledgment and lumbered off to the bathroom, not bothering to lock the door behind him.
Now that Freed had pointed out the obvious, Laxus felt disgusting. He noticed that he had slept in his clothes from the previous day, and his mouth felt like sandpaper. It seemed as though someone had stuffed cotton in his ears and he had just gotten his eyes dilated at the doctor's. Rubbing his face, he noticed that his headache was starting to go away. When he got out of the shower he would be sure to thank the bartender.
The smaller man, now alone with only his thoughts for company, sat on the edge of the bed and nervously tugged at his hair. He felt absolutely awful about lying to Laxus, and the only thing that soothed the guilt boiling sickeningly in his stomach was the thought that he had not entirely lied.
Last night, Laxus had drunkenly questioned Freed about what a pretty face like his was doing working in some bar. He told the truth, he had just never found the right time to leave. He was happy to work at the bar with his close friends, but there was something that just didn't sit well with him. Yes, he felt happy, but he didn't feel complete. Laxus, after hearing him, slammed his cup down on the counter and began swaying tipsily on his bar stool and mumbling something incoherent (which sounded like an offer to Freed's hopeful ears), before promptly crashing to the ground as he lost consciousness.
I'm not lying, I shouldn't feel any guilt; it's just a ride, Freed told himself, taking a few calming breaths until he was able to put his mind in order.
Then he realized that when Laxus came out he wouldn't have any clothes to wear. No matter how tempting the idea of the blonde naked was, Freed got his phone off the night table and called a familiar friend.
Three rings and a string of curses (from Gajeel) later, "Gajeel? Do you by any chance have a change of Laxus's clothes?" Freed didn't wait for a hello. He knew the moment that Gajeel saw who was calling he wouldn't bother with pleasantries.
"Yeah, I do. Why?" Came the reply from the other end of the line.
Freed got up and rubbed his face. "He's taking a shower and his clothes from last night are disgusting." He heard a grunt of understanding from Gajeel and in the background there was a cackling laugh before;
"Are you talking to that hot bartender from last night?"
Embarrassment flared up in Freed and he felt his cheeks catch on fire.
"Gajeel, just meet me in the lobby of the Inn with Laxus's clothes in ten minutes. Alone," he growled, stressing the ending word. Somehow he guessed Gajeel wouldn't pay attention to that last word.
Without giving it a second thought Freed hung up on his friend and got up. His face still felt hot, but he hoped that he didn't look like a tomato.
Reaching the bathroom, he knocked softly on the door, waiting for a response.
"What?" Came Laxus's reply, muffled by the door. There was a heavy thunk and an incoherent string of curses followed it. Laxus must have dropped the shampoo bottle. Freed really hoped that Laxus didn't mind his hair smelling like peaches and vanilla.
"I'm going down to the lobby so Gajeel can give me some of your clothes. I'll be back soon."
"Alright."
"See you."
"See ya."
The green-haired man turned, snagging the room key from a hook on the wall as he walked towards the entrance. Freed pulled on his boots, hopping awkwardly towards the door as he did so. He unlocked the door and strode out, making sure to lock the door behind himself, before descending the stairs of his apartment complex and stepping outside and onto the sidewalk. Freed checked the road before quickly crossing and entering the inn's lobby.
Gajeel was leaning against a wall next to a potted plant, chewing on a nail. Not a fingernail, but a literal nail, as in a metal nail. Freed had learned not to question Gajeel's strange habits long ago. A man that Freed assumed was Bickslow stood next to him, a messily folded purple button-down shirt and a pair of black jeans tucked under his arm.
Freed quietly walked up to him and before he could get a word out, Bickslow's face split into a grin, making the strange tattoo on his face do a kind of odd dance. "You're the bartender who Laxus thought was a girl!"
His eye twitched at that and he had to resist the urge to slap the man again. "Yes," Freed hissed, trying not to scowl.
"Well anyways~ Here are Laxy's clothes," Bickslow said, handing him the badly folded garments, which Freed made a mental note to refold when he got back to the room.
He tucked the clothes under his arm, said a quick, "Thank you," and made his way back to the room.
Freed pulled his boots off and set the neatly by the door, right where they belonged. Taking the silky shirt out from under his arm, he folded it immaculately, and did the same to the pants. He rapped his knuckles gingerly on the wood of the bathroom door.
"Laxus?" He called, waiting patiently for his blonde friend- could he call him that?- to reply.
Freed nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt something tap his shoulder and he turned around to see electric blue eyes staring back at him. "Jesus!" He exclaimed, putting his free hand over his heart as he slumped back against the door. "You scared the living daylights out of me!"
Laxus stepped back and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Sorry about that."
And then Freed noticed that the blonde was wearing nothing but a towel.
Freed slapped a hand over his eyes as he felt his face go red enough to rival his jacket. He held the clothes out blindly with his other hand. "Here's your clothes! I'll leave you to get dressed!" And with that, Freed yanked his hand away from his eyes and scurried off to the kitchen.
A/N: Thank you for reading! Again, my apologies for this being so very late, dear reader. Reviews and constructive criticism are always appreciated!
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