Dragon Instinct

Chapter Ten

Laxus slammed the book he was reading with a growl, leaning back in his chair. He ran his fingers through his short blonde hair with a sigh, standing up beginning to pace the room. Makarov looked up at him slowly, raising an eyebrow.

"Everything okay Laxus?"

"What are we doin', old man? We don't have any leads to go off of, so why are we doin' all this research. Freed and I didn't see anything when we went on our trip."

"Still, there might be some small clue you saw."

"There was nothin' but burnt buildings and bodies."

Makarov sighed walking over to him. Laxus frowned looking out the window. He knew his grandfather was beginning to worry about him, and he didn't want to see it on his face. He was doing fine. He'd seen worse during the time he was away from the guild. A wizard without a guild, especially one with a history like his was a moving target and there were a lot of dark guilds out there that had a grudge against Fairy Tail. He had to fight off the worst of them many times.

"Listen my boy, we have to find out who these people were. We know they were more than likely working for your father, but he wouldn't use his own guild to get this work done. He worked too hard to make his guild look good to the council. He wanted to have Raventail to be seen as an official guild. We need to figure out what guild he hired because they may come back for Eliana. She was left alive for a reason."

Laxus sighed closing his eyes. His grandfather was right and he knew it. It was the thought that kept him awake most nights. He was afraid he'd wake up to find Eliana missing. In the last few weeks he'd grown very close to the small girl. He still struggled with the simplest of tasks when it came to raising her, but he wanted to do right by his daughter. He'd already missed more than six years of her life, he wanted her to know she was safe at his side. He needed to be able to protect her, and to do that he needed to know who he was facing.

"Okay old man. But maybe we're goin' about it the wrong way."

"Oh?

"Maybe we're looking at it the wrong way. We're looking for guilds that are connected to Raventail. He wouldn't hire someone so obvious."

"No, I suppose you're right."

"However, were there any dark guilds that tried to work with Fairy Tail during his time here?"

"Well, there were many dark guilds who tried to hire Fairy Tail wizards because of our tendency for violence."

"Maybe we should start lookin' into them. Find ones that father was known to work with before he left the guild."

"That might actually work," Makarov said thoughtfully walking back to his desk opening a book.

Laxus nodded walking back to his chair sitting down with a sigh. All the research was definitely getting to him. He'd never been one for research before. That had always been Freed's forte. He was always the one to go in swinging, not knowing anything about the people he was taking down. Freed always made it his duty to know everything about their enemy before they went in blind. He missed that meticulous behavior at the moment.

"Go home Laxus."

"I…"

"It's almost seven. Go home, you have a child and mate waiting for you at home. They're probably worried."

"I'd like to know when my life became so…domestic," he grumbled standing up.

"Enjoy it. When we find out who this is, we'll more than likely need you to go out with a team," Makarov said quietly.

"Of course. I wouldn't send anyone else. They went after my family," he growled. "I'll make sure they pay for it."

Makarov looked up at him with a sigh. Laxus averted his eyes. He hated that the old man could read his thoughts just from a look. He needed to learn how to stop being so easy to read.

"How is your family?"

"Fine."

"And how is Freed adjusting to the idea of being your mate?"

"He…doesn't know. Not yet."

"What!?"

"I thought it was best to ease him into it," Laxus sighed.

"He needs to know Laxus. You shouldn't keep a secret like that from him."

"I'm not hiding it from him. I'll tell him."

"When?"

"When I feel like it."

"Laxus…"

"It's none of your business. We're doin' fine."

"Laxus…"

"I mean it, old man. We're happy. Things have been fine."

"Laxus! Listen to me. You need to tell Freed. All relationships need to be built on honesty."

Laxus frowned standing up walking to the door. He didn't need to listen to this any longer. His grandfather was poking his nose in where it didn't belong. His relationship with Freed was fine. They'd been doing well since they started seeing each other. It had been surprisingly easy to adjust to a relationship with another man. Though, admittedly, it wasn't difficult considering they didn't have any time to go past beyond kissing with Eliana running around, and he hadn't been attracted to the women he'd been with in the past. Things between them were going well, despite it being the first real relationship he'd ever had.

Freed slowly paced the kitchen as he waited for dinner to finish. He'd been pacing ever since he'd put the roast in the oven. Laxus wasn't back from the guild with Eliana yet, and Bickslow and Evergreen weren't home yet, which left Freed with entirely too much time to think. Ever since he'd gotten home from his afternoon with Levy his mind had been occupied by their conversation about Dragonslayers and their mates. He almost wished Eliana had wanted to come home with him when he finished working with Levy. Instead she wanted to wait back with Bickslow and Evergreen for Laxus to finish working with his grandfather.

He sighed again running his fingers through his long green hair. He had known better than to get attached. Laxus had been sweet, and almost loving, since the day he'd asked Freed if he wanted to be in a relationship with him, but he'd known it was too good to be true. Laxus was their Thunder God, and he certainly deserved better than Freed. It was one of the many reasons he never told Laxus how he felt.

Freed took a deep calming breath before returning to the stove. There was no point in dwelling on the situation now. He had agreed to date Laxus, and relationships needed trust, he needed to trust in Laxus. He had never found it hard to trust Laxus, even in the worst of circumstances. It was his trust in Laxus that had destroyed his relationship with his sister. His devotion to Laxus had begun to wear thin on her before Laxus left the guild. One of the last times they were together was just before the Battle of Fairy Tail. He had taken her to the capital city to enjoy the sights, and told her of the plans Laxus had for the guild.

"Is he insane!?"

"He knows what he's doing Freya," Freed said with a sigh, looking out the window of their room, at the city down below.

"He wants to break up the guild!"

"He wants to make the guild stronger."

"You actually believe that!?" "Why wouldn't I?" Freed asked simply, turning to look at her slowly. "This is Laxus. He's a good man Freya, I don't know why you don't see that. He wants to help take care of the guild. Makarov is getting to old to handle the guild, and the members are getting out of hand. We've become a laughingstock."

"You're just regurgitating his bull shit Freed!"

Freed sighed closing his eyes. Of course she wouldn't understand. She was too blinded by her own hatred of Laxus to see the truth of his words. Fairy Tail very rarely got recognized for its members victories or feats of magic. The papers only focused on the brawling members got into and the destruction they caused. Laxus wanted to change that. He wanted Fairy Tail to get recognition for the things it should.

"Freya…"

"No Freed, this is delusional, even for you! I know you have some sort of obsession with the man, but this is going too far!"

"Freya!"

"No Freed! What the hell is wrong with you!? He's never going to love you, you know that right!? No matter how much you give to him, how much you sacrifice, no matter what sick twisted plan you go along with, as soon as he's done with you, he'll toss you to the side. You're nothing more than a tool, something he could bend to his will!"

"He isn't like that Freya!"

"Oh yeah? He wouldn't be having you do this if it wasn't who he was! He wants you to attack your friends!"

"He just wants us to test them!"

The look Freya gave him was so full of contempt and disgust that Freed had to look away. She had never looked at him like that before, and now it was painful to see. She was his little sister, they weren't meant to be so cruel to each other, but he needed her to understand that Laxus wasn't nearly as bad as she thought he was.

"When we get back to Magnolia, I'm moving out," she said quietly.

"What!?"

"I can't living in that house and watch you fawn over him and be his little slave."

"I'm not his slave. Evergreen, Bixlow, and I are his friends, his equals."

"People like him don't have equals, they have minions."

"He's not like that!"

"You're just too blinded by love to see it! He's not stupid you know, he knows how you feel, and he plays you like an instrument Freed. He pretends not to know, and uses your feelings to get you to listen."

"Laxus wouldn't do that. He doesn't know how I feel, and he never will," he told her sitting down on the couch.

"Oh he knows. You wear your heart on your sleeve. Everyone sees how upset you are every time he comes stumbling home from screwing some nameless bimbo that night," she ground out. "But, he's your God alright. A drunk power hungry womanizer. Sure, he's perfect..."

"Freya, just shut up!"

Freed buried his face in his hands trying to calm himself down. He knew she was right. Over the last couple years Laxus had changed a lot. He'd always been awkward around people, and tended to avoid social situations however, he'd been spending more time at the bars lately. He'd return home, or to whatever inn they were renting during a job smelling of booze and sex. What Freya didn't know about were the nights Laxus got drunk at home. The nights he spent curled up on the couch in self-loathing. Those were the nights Freed stayed up all night to care for him and assure him there were people who loved him.

"Freed, I'm sorry. I...I just hate seeing what he's putting you through," Freya said softly, taking one of his.

"He's not doing anything to me Freya. I choose to be here with him. This is my fault."

"But why?"

"Because I love him. I will follow him on any path he chooses. Good or evil. No matter what he does, he will always have someone who loves him by his side."

Freed forced himself from the memory slowly, focusing on the roast in front of him. It wouldn't do to burn dinner. He had a small family to feed, including Bickslow and Ever. He didn't know when it happened, but somehow in the years since he created the Thunder Legion, he'd been put in charge of the domestic work. No one in their home could be tempted to clean, leaving it on him, not that he minded. It wasn't that they took advantage of the fact that Freed would do the house work, they knew he enjoyed it. Having something to do kept him occupied when he wanted to keep from focusing on something too much. He'd been letting the housework slide the last couple of days though, too caught up in his own worries.

He sighed putting dinner on the table, drawing a rune to keep it warm, sitting down to wait. It didn't take long, he assumed everyone had been at the guild, Bickslow and Ever waiting for Laxus to finish his work with Makarov before walking home. Eliana grinned when she walked through the door, running to Freed wrapping her arms around him.

"Welcome home Eliana."

"Hello Freed," she cried happily.

He smiled wide standing up as the others walked into the house. Bickslow and Evergreen bickering quietly, like siblings, Laxus behind them doing a poor job of hiding his annoyance. His expression cleared up slowly when he saw Freed waiting for him in the living room.

"Welcome home Laxus," he said softly before turning to the others. "Dinners on the table."

"Sweet," Bickslow said, cutting off his argument with Evergreen abruptly.

"Guess what Freed? After I trained with Wendy Miss Erza let me stay by her side! I got to learn about her requips and everything! Then Natsu and Gray got into a fight! Natsu threw a table at him, and it hit Erza!"

"Oh? Is Natsu still alive?"

"Barely," Eliana snickered. "Erza beat him up so badly Happy had to fly him home, even after Wendy healed him."

Freed laughed softly leading her into the dining room.

"And then Lucy showed me some of her Celestial Spirits. They're so weird!"

"Mm, especially the one that was a guild member, Loke."

"He's really nice though! He told me I was beautiful!"

There was a low growl from behind her and Freed looked over her shoulder to see Laxus scowling.

"He wouldn't flirt with a child Laxus."

"He better not."

Freed shook his head with an exasperated smile turning back to Eliana.

"Come on, don't want your dinner getting cold, do you?"

"But it can't get cold, can it?"

"Alright, who let her in on that secret?"

Bickslow scratched his head, averting his eyes.

"My bad."

"Now it's gonna take her forever to eat," Freed sighed.

"Nuh uh, it looks amazing!"

"It always does kid. Now come on, let's eat," Laxus said quietly, pulling out her chair.

Freed looked down at his own bowl flushing at the easy compliment from Laxus. He very rarely commented on Freed's meals, it was nice to know he appreciate the effort Freed put into them.

"Freed, it looks amazing. You overdid it this time."

"Thanks Ever," he said softly, before beginning to eat quietly.

Dinner passed in companionable silence after that. Aside from laughing at Eliana's antics at the table there was very little conversation. Freed, for his part, was trying not to confront Laxus at the dinner table. He knew it was a conversation best held privately, and he certainly didn't want Eliana to hear.

He started to clear the table as the others got up to leave the kitchen. He was well aware of the other man waiting as all the others walked out, Ever promising to braid Eliana's hair. He quietly put the dishes in the sink, filling it with water.

"Why don't you make one of us do clean up, when you obviously exhausted yourself on the meal," Laxus' rough voice asked, from right behind him. He jumped turning to Laxus slowly.

"I...I don't mind," he said softly, slowly meeting Laxus' gaze.

"Is everything okay?" Laxus asked putting his hands on Freed's waist.

"W...we need to talk Laxus."

"About?"

Laxus was beginning to feel nervous. Freed had been acting odd since they got home, despite the happy front he'd put on for Eliana. He'd refused to meet Laxus' gaze all through dinner and now his anxiety was coming off him in waves.

"Dragonslayer mates."

Laxus swallowed slowly looking down at Freed's determined face. The rune mage looked incredibly sad, and Laxus had to force himself to look away, unable to stand it. Perhaps his grandfather was right and he should have told Freed from the beginning. He just didn't want Freed to feel pressured.

"Give me a minute," he said softly.

Freed followed Laxus confused as he walked into the living room, grabbing a small bag off the coffee table tossing it to Bickslow, who was sitting in the chair.

"I need you and Ever to take Eliana for ice cream or something. There's a couple hundred jewel in there."

"Sure," the confused Seith mage said standing up looking between Laxus scowl and Freed standing in the doorway, arms folded across his chest. "Everything okay?"

"Just do it Bickslow, please."

Whether it was from the command, or the shock of hearing the Dragonslayer say please for the first time in ages, Bickslow spurred into action. He shot up from his chair, hurrying upstairs to get Eliana and Ever. A few minutes later and the two confused mages were leading an excited and oblivious Eliana out of the house.

"How did you hear about dragon slayer mates?"

"Levy."

"What did she say?"

"The little she knows. That a Dragonslayer has a mate out there. That they have no control over who this mate is. They don't choose them, she didn't know a lot of details, and only what she learned from Gajeel."

"I see."

"Where you ever going to tell me that one day you would have to leave me?"

"What?"

"I looked it up when I got home, Laxus. If either a Dragonslayer or their mate rejects the bond then the Dragonslayer loses their magical power. So tell me, were you ever going to tell me you would leave me one day?"

"Freed…"

"What was the point of starting this with me Laxus? Do you enjoy the idea that one day you'll break my heart? Would you have even told me when you found your mate, or would you have just let me think it was my fault?"

"Freed."

"I don't understand Laxus. Why didn't you tell me? I would have understood, if you'd been honest with me. I get that you don't have any control over this magic. I understand that. It's like a curse on Dragonslayers, but you should have told me! Why would you even start a relationship with me, knowing it wouldn't last? Did you feel sorry for me? Were you tired of seeing me pine after you?"

"Freed! Shut up for a damn minute!"

Freed jumped out the sound of Laxus' shout and fell silent looking at the floor. He had wanted to stay calm when he asked Laxus about things, but once he opened his mouth, all his insecurities slipped out. Now he sounded even more pathetic than he felt and managed to anger Laxus.

"It's true dragon slayers have predestined mates," Laxus began, as he started pacing the living room. "I wasn't a true dragon slayer, having been given my powers through a lacrima and not an actual dragon, so I wasn't sure how this magic affected me. A dragon slayer won't sense their mate immediately. They could live alongside them for years before knowing whether or not they were their mate. I'm not sure what triggers the magic that causes the bond. Many people think it is simply puberty, others think it is an emotional bond that forms that then triggers the spell. I think it's the latter, personally. And yes, you're right, if the dragon slayer or the intended mate reject the bond the dragon slayer will lose their powers."

Freed watched Laxus quietly. It was unlike the dragon slayer to speak so much and he was speaking incredibly fast, as if he were forcing the words out. It was as if he was still reluctant to tell Freed all of this.

"Obviously a dragon slayer has no idea who their mate is, or even what gender they'll be, before the bond is activated. And sometimes it can take some time before the dragon slayer realizes that the bond has been activated, especially if they didn't know what to expect. However, the bond isn't cemented until a dragon slayer claims their mate."

"Claims? How do they claim their mate?"

"It's an ancient spell Freed. The same way many of the oldest dark spells were activated, sex."

"Oh." He said softly looking away. "So, your mate can show up at any time, meaning you'll have to choose to be with them, whether you want to or not."

"Some Dragon slayers in the past went their whole lives without finding their mate."

"Oh?"

"But…I already know who mine is," Laxus said quietly, averting his eyes.

He managed to get through the whole speech without losing his temper or losing his nerve. He'd memorized most of it in preparation of telling Freed, but what he was about to tell him now, he was completely unprepared for. He knew Freed loved him, but he didn't know if the man would want to be stuck at his side without a choice.

"Y…you do?" Freed asked softly, and the tone of his voice broke Laxus' heart. He sounded crushed.

"Yes Freed. I just haven't told him. Dragon slayers don't get a choice in the bond. They have to act on it, or lose their powers, and the bond draws them to the person. It can't make them love them, but it makes them notice their mate more than anyone else. Honestly, Dragon slayers don't feel real attraction unless it's their mate. At least, for me I didn't. Sure, I fooled around. I won't deny it, but it wasn't because I was attracted to anyone. I was trying to force myself to be attracted to them, tryin' to keep up an image. But normal people, they get a choice. Though…once the bond is activated…"

"Once they have sex?" Freed asked hollowly.

"Yeah…both people are stuck. They're mates, forever."

"So…when will you be telling them?" Freed asked softly.

Laxus looked at Freed slowly. The pain was so clear in the rune mages eyes that it struck Laxus as strongly as a physical blow. It was obvious he didn't understand what Laxus was trying to tell him. He would have laughed if Freed wasn't in so much pain. The man was a complete genius, and yet completely oblivious.

"I'm telling him right now." Laxus said softly.

Freed's eyes shot up to his face so quickly Laxus had to smirk. The light was returning to Freed's eyes quickly, and his face was a picture of disbelief.

"I…"

"You're my mate Freed. I've known for a while now. I just didn't want to throw it at you so quickly."

Warmth spread through Freed's chest as he heard Laxus' words. His entire body had gone cold when he heard Laxus had already found his mate and now, he couldn't keep the smile from spreading across his face.

"You ass!" He cried loudly slapping Laxus' chest. "How could you hide that from me? I deserved to know!"

"Hey! Knock it off!" Laxus said wrapping his arms around Freed to hold him still. "I'm tellin' you now."

"Only because I made you."

"I would have told you. I just wanted to wait a bit," he said quietly running his fingers through Freed's long green hair.

Freed sighed softly, eyes sliding shut as he soaked up the feeling.

"H…How long have you known?" Freed asked quietly.

"Well…I…"

"Laxus?"

Laxus sighed pulling away quietly running his fingers through his spiky blond hair.

"I started suspecting before I left the guild. But when you kissed me I knew for sure."

"I…I see."

"But, I didn't want…"

"Didn't want what?"

"You to think I'm only with you 'cause I have to be."

"Oh…"

The thought hadn't even occurred to Freed. He was certain it would have eventually. Laxus' options were to be with him, or lose his powers. There was no way Laxus would ever give up his powers. Even if he hated Freed he would be with him so he could keep his strength. That was the type of man he was. His powers meant everything to him. Did that mean he would never truly love Freed, and only settled with him? But then, something else Laxus had said slowly slipped into his mind. Laxus had never truly been attracted to any of the women he'd had sex with. The curse had prevented him from feeling attraction. But now, as his mate, Laxus was attracted to him. It was archaic and wrong, but it made what they had together…special in a way Freed was unaware of now.

"Trust me Freed, I…I…" Laxus cleared his throat and looked away, but Freed saw a small blush forming on the man's cheeks.

"You want to be with me?" he asked softly.

"Yes…and…not just 'cause your my mate."

"Laxus…"

The Dragon slayer smirked at him slowly pulling him back into his arms. Freed went willingly, wrapping his arms around his neck with a small smile. He could feel his own cheeks grow warm.

"Is there anything else I should know about this?"

"Mm, well, I think our powers grow stronger due to the bond. But, it…has to be activated first," Laxus said softly as he leaned in to kiss him.

"Well…that'll be awhile, we've barely got passed the hand holding stage."

"Tch."

Freed looked up at him slowly raising an eyebrow. That was not the response he had been expecting from the man.

"Laxus?"

"I've only been taking it slowly because you didn't know you were my mate. Wouldn't have been right otherwise."

"You mean…"

"Well, ya know…whenever you're ready."

Freed's jaw dropped and he was certain his face was as red as Erza's hair at this point. He couldn't believe Laxus was being so casual about this conversation. The man had been having sex with women for years, and was acting like Freed was the one who should be nervous. Freed didn't want to admit he was right. Freed had been in love with Laxus since the day he met him, that left him very little time for experimenting with others. However, the idea that he'd be bonded to Laxus, that they'd be tied together for life, was an idea that he couldn't get out of his mind.

Laxus grinned at the look on Freed's face. The rune mage embarrassed so easily. Between the green of his hair, and the red blush to his face, the man looked like a Christmas decoration. He chuckled leaning down to kiss him, trying to distract him. He knew Freed had always been shy, but the man had to be told Laxus had been taken things slowly on purpose. They'd been dating nearly a month! The bond had been pulling at Laxus since they'd had their first kiss, he was going crazy that Freed still slept down the hallway from him. He wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to hold out, but he knew this choice had to be Freed's.

"So…"

"Relax Freed," he said quietly reaching up to run his fingers through the man's hair. "Like I said, whenever you're ready. I'm not gonna pressure you into anything. Besides, this means more than in a typical relationship."

"I know," Freed said smiling slowly, his eyes dancing a bit before leaning in to kiss Laxus deeply. "I think that's why part of me really wants to take that leap, immediately."

This time it was Laxus' jaw that nearly hit the floor. There was no way this was his shy rune mage. Freed Justine wouldn't act so impulsively. The only time the man acting without considering the consequences was when Laxus asked him to do something. He completed those tasks without hesitation. Laxus slowly reached down to run his fingers over Freed's cheek.

"You…you do?"

"I…really think so."

"I…I see. Well, then you should really know, that once we do, not only would the other Dragon slayers be able to tell that we are having sex, but they'll know we're mated."

"That's possible?"

"Yeah, I don't understand how, but it is."

"You should really confront Gajeel or Natsu with these questions…Probably Gajeel."

"I'd rather not."

Freed sighed shaking his head before smirking playfully.

"But what if the bond can make something really weird happen, like I dunno…male pregnancy?"

"It can't."

"How do you know?"

"Because the human body doesn't work like that," Laxus said dryly and Freed laughed loudly kissing him.

"You need a sense of humor."

"Coming from you…I'll take that with a grain of salt."

"Ass."

Laxus just shrugged running his fingers over Freed's side slowly.

"So…is this really going to happen?" Freed asked softly pressing his forehead against Laxus'.

"If you're certain you're ready, and that you won't regret it in a couple years when I annoy the hell out of you and you can't leave."

"Laxus, you've annoyed the hell out of me since the day we met. You're an arrogant, egotistical ass, and that hasn't stopped me from loving you," Freed said, his cheeks flushing softly. "I don't think that's ever going to change."

"Freed…"

"Yes?"

"I…" Laxus sighed looking away from and Freed grinned slowly. The sentiment was there, if not yet fully. Laxus was falling in love with him, he was sure of it. That's why the man hadn't told him he was his mate. He wanted to give Freed the opportunity to leave if he wanted to. He hadn't understood that short of being forced to leave through magical means, there was no way Freed was ever going to leave Laxus' side. He loved the man more than he ever loved himself. Sure, he understood that to many people his feelings could be seen as obsessive but it was how he felt. He couldn't change it, no more than Laxus could change who he was.

"I know Laxus," he said softly, slipping his hands into the Dragonslayers. "I mean it. I want to take that step with you. I want you to know that your mate isn't leaving. You said I had a choice in this, but you were wrong. From day one there was only one choice for me, and that was to love you. I just never thought there was a chance I could actually be with you."

"You're a sap you know that."

"Keep talking and I'll make you wait longer," Freed snapped lightly as he walked towards the stairs.

Laxus smirked slowly following him to the second floor. The rune mage always tried to act tough when he was feeling nervous, but this was the first time Laxus actually found the actions endearing. The constant flush to Freed's face certainly helped that feeling along. The rune mage was talking tough, but he was still uncertain of his actions. Laxus stopped at his door and slipped his hand into Freed's slowly leading him inside, closing the door behind them, pulling him into his arms. Freed looked up at him slowly looping his arms around his neck kissing him deeply.