Dragon Instinct

Chapter Six

Laxus slowly stepped into the house. He wasn't looking forward to facing an angry Freed. The rune mage was small, but he could be a frightening adversary when he wanted to be. He paused after shutting the door, sniffing the air before walking to the kitchen surprised. His nose had to be lying to him. There was no way Freed made his favorite meal after the way he acted. He'd be lucky if Freed let him speak before casting his pain Ècriture on him.

"Mister Laxus!" Eliana called out as soon as he stepped in the doorway.

"Hello kid. Freed seems to be making you somethin' special."

"Mmhmm. I asked him to make it."

"Apparently she really likes pasta." Freed say coolly turning to him, the look in his eyes making Laxus swallow slowly. He had never seen Freed look at him like that before, he was definitely pissed off at him but there was more there. His eyes were full of the pain Laxus had been hoping to spare him by not acting on his feelings.

"Smart kid," he said softly, looking away. "I'll make her plate."

He stepped forward, making a plate for Eliana slowly.

"Listen Freed, after she goes to bed, we uh, we should talk. But...I'm sorry. You should know that. I messed up."

Freed paused turning to look at Laxus, eyes wide. He'd never, in the years he'd known Laxus, heard him say the words "I'm sorry." Even when Laxus realized how wrong he was for making the guild turn on itself, he never said he was sorry. He simply left, knowing he'd made a mistake. Not trusting his voice, he simply nodded before walking to the table sitting down with his plate.

They ate quietly, Eliana oblivious to the tension between the two men. She seemed intent on devouring her food without tasting it. Laxus began to wonder if she had eaten throughout the day. Freed had said she'd been pretty worried about him, and he wouldn't be surprised to learn she'd skipped her meals, too upset to bother with eating.

Freed disappeared after dinner, as he usually did. Laxus knew he liked to spend most his time in the evening reading. He assumed he was exhausted after spending all day at Eliana's side. He turned to the child slowly as she turned to him. The child and him had a staring contest a good ten minutes while he wondered exactly what one does with children before he decided to wing it.

That's why, a half hour later Freed found a bemused Laxus being climbed over as if he were a jungle gym by Eliana. Freed couldn't help but smile watching them. Laxus may not have been happy that she was climbing on him but he didn't stop her, and the look in his eyes told Freed he wasn't going to. Laxus was looking at her in a way Freed had only seen the happiest of parents look at their children. He was already doting on the blonde haired girl. He'd never seen Laxus bond with someone so fast before.

Laxus looked up quickly as he heard a knock on the door pausing seeing Freed in the doorway. Freed just shook his head going to answer the door.

"Ah, Mirajane, can I help you?"

"Hello Freed," the transformation mage said with a smile. "I brought some of Lisanna's old things. I figured this was such a surprise for you guys you might need them."

"Oh! Thank you. I'm sure Laxus will appreciate it." Freed said quickly taking the bag from her.

Mira smiled at him, then giggled seeing Laxus and Eliana over his shoulder.

"Who knew Laxus could be so domestic? "

She jumped in surprise as a bolt of lightning struck right in front of her.

"Good night Mira." Laxus called from where he was.

Mira just grinned at Freed with a small wink before walking off.

"Mister Laxus, was that your lightning?"

"Yeah."

"Can you teach me magic like that?!"

"Sure kid, I'll try." Laxus said patting her on the head gently. Freed could see the smile the Dragonslayer was trying to hide.

"Eliana, we need to get you upstairs for a bath." Freed said walking forward.

"I can bathe myself," she stated proudly.

"You can?" He asked surprised. He didn't know many children her age that could give themselves baths. Then again he didn't know many children her age that could talk as well as she did. "Eliana, how old are you?"

"Six."

"You're six? I thought you were younger than that." Laxus said blinking.

"I've always been small for my age mom said," Eliana told them, unsnapping a necklace Freed didn't realize she had on. "Will you hold this for me while I'm in the tub?"

"Sure thing." Laxus said as he took the locket from her.

"Come on, I'll show you to the bathroom."

Laxus sat down on the couch as Freed showed Eliana where the bathroom was found. Freed came back a few minutes later sitting beside Laxus.

"She really bonded with you. I didn't realize how much, and how quickly until we were separated on the train," Freed said softly.

"Yeah, neither did I. About the train, I'm sorry about that. I asked for separate carriages because I wanted to spare her the sight of seeing me like that. I didn't want to be under that new enchantment of yours until I sorted a few things out myself."

Freed looked at him slowly, there were those words again, words that were so hard for Laxus to say usually, just falling out of his mouth as if they were the most natural thing in the world for him. Freed swallowed slowly looking away.

"You mean about the kiss?"

"Yeah."

"Did you...Did you ah...sort things out then?"

"Mostly, it's complicated," Laxus said looking up at him, meeting Freed's gaze finally.

"Laxus, if you don't have feelings for me, if you were just curious or something, it's fine. I'll survive."

"I...wasn't just curious."

Any response Freed had died in his throat as he stared at Laxus. It wasn't a confession of feelings, but Freed knew Laxus well enough to know what he wasn't saying. The blonde never discussed his own feelings, and when he did he usually talked around the subject, and this would be no different.

"Since when?" Freed asked softly.

"I'm not sure. I...well you're the only..." Laxus sighed frustrated standing up.

"You've never been attracted to men before. Laxus, I've known you since before you knew what a crush was, I already knew that. It's why I tried, and apparently failed, to hide my feelings."

"Right. So, when I noticed things were different, I didn't realize why. Until recently. I wasn't going to act on it. I...the thought of being wrong about my feelings and well...I didn't want to hurt you." Laxus finished looking away from him.

Freed stood up walking to the Dragonslayer slowly. He could see he wasn't going to get any more answers out of Laxus. The man had already said more than he wanted to. He really didn't need anymore answers anyway. Laxus had feelings for him, feelings he still didn't fully trust, but they were there. He smiled touching Laxus' cheek gently.

"Does this mean, you want to try..."

"I think so," Laxus said quietly looking down at him.

Those sea green eyes were devastating when they held that much happiness in them. He hadn't seen them look like that since Freed's parents died. Laxus reached up slowly running his fingers over Freed's cheek gently, before leaning down to kiss him.

This time Freed was ready for it. He could see it in Laxus' face. He let his eyes close kissing him back sighing happily. He felt Laxus wrap his arms around his waist pulling him closer. Freed wrapped his arms around Laxus' neck slowly, pressing closer. Laxus slowly backed him into the wall, the kiss becoming more demanding in nature, Freed gasping into it.

Laxus jumped back as he heard something fall to the ground behind him. He couldn't keep the annoyed glare off his face when he saw Bickslow standing there, his totem dolls laying on the floor, his magic having apparently disappeared from them in shock.

"I uh, I'll just go grab a plate and head to my room, have fun you two," he finished with a smirk heading for the kitchen.

Laxus turned back to Freed, whose face was as red as Erza's hair.

"I'm gonna go check on Eliana," he said stepping away.

"Laxus, why the interest in her? Not that I mind, it's just, you've been acting different since you met her," Freed asked clearing his throat.

"I don't know, I don't understand it myself." He replied before walking out the room.

He walked down the hall pausing outside the door to the bathroom. He was about to knock when he heard the distinct sound of crying coming from inside. He paused leaning against the door. He knew she was putting on a happy face for them. There was no way she was going to just shrug off the death of her mom. He stepped away from the door quietly, letting her have her privacy. He took a breath heading for kitchen, wanting to take a moment to clear his head before going back to Freed.

Bickslow looked up as he walked into the kitchen. The Seith mage had taken off his helmet, and apparently regained control of his totem dolls.

"So, complete silence on what I saw? Even from Ever?"

"Hmm, oh, I dunno. Haven't gotten that far."

"Still, it's pretty bad ass, you and Freed."

Laxus looked at him slowly. Bickslow was never one to keep his mouth shut. Why should now be any different.

"Don't get your claws, or talons, or whatever dragons have out. I mean it. It's sucked seeing Freed so lonely. It'll be nice to see him happy for once. Just, don't hurt him." Bickslow said looking at him. "Don't hurt him, don't hurt him." The totems chimed.

"Can't you shut those damn things up? And I don't intend to."

"So, the kid staying with us then?"

"Yeah."

"Where?"

"Probably Freya's room. I'll have to talk to Freed about that."

"Where is Freya? No one seems to know," Bixlow asked.

"Ask Freed..but, not right away." Laxus said remembering the pain in Freed's face when he told him.

"Why...no..don't say...Freya?! This is bull shit! We leave for a week, lose seven years, and lose family?!"

"Bicks.."

"I swear, I'm gonna help you and Natsu barbecue that damn dragon next time we see it."

Laxus watched him storm out before going back to the living room. He joined Freed on the couch slowly leaning back.

"So, Bickslow knows we're well, whatever we are," Freed started slowly.

"Yeah."

"You don't seem upset."

"We share a house, he would've figured it out anyway. Besides, it's Bickslow."

"Which means the whole guild will know."

"No they won't. Bickslow will give us that much respect."

"Do you want the guild to know?" Freed asked looking at him.

"Not right away I don't think...not because it's you or anything, but because. ." He paused struggling to find the words.

"Because it's new? You want time to explore it, and get used to it without the pressure of the guildmates?"

"Yeah."

"Good, because I feel the same way," Freed said blushing. "I mean, I may be gay, and may have had feelings for you for a long time. But being able to act on those feelings, not trying to hide them, having you return those feelings, it's all new to me."

Laxus slowly slipped his arm around him giving his shoulder a squeeze.

"Then, we'll wait a little while."

"Not too long though?"

"No. It won't be long."

Freed smiled slowly putting his head on Laxus' shoulder. It was a simple gesture, but the idea that he could filled him with warmth. It would take some getting used to, this new ability to be close to Laxus. A few minutes later they both looked up to see Eliana walk in wearing one of Lisanna's old night gowns. Freed looked at her, pausing a bit, seeing her cleaned up made him realize how much she looked like Laxus when she was younger. In fact, in some ways she reminded him of Mavis, the first guild master.

She walked forward climbing in a stunned Laxus' lap curling into him. He turned to Freed slowly who just shook his head.

"Are you sleepy Eliana?"

"Mmhmm."

"We have a bedroom for you we can set up."

She looked up shyly a pout beginning to form on her face.

"Can...can I sleep in your room for now?"

Freed could see it before it even happened. The dragon slayer was going to cave in the face of that pout.

"Uh, I guess a couple days won't hurt."

She smiled wide hugging him tight. Laxus picked her up gently carry her to his room. He laid her in his bed slowly, reaching down to run his fingers through her hair trying to sooth her while his mind raced. He couldn't place it, but he knew her smell seemed familiar. It was almost like he'd met her before.