Dragon Instinct

Chapter Nineteen

Laxus woke slowly, drifting in and out of consciousness. His mind was still fuzzy, and his throat was sore, but finally he managed to fight himself into full awareness. He opened eyes, scanning the room around him warily. It took him a moment to realize he was in an infirmary, and there was someone close to him.

He looked down pausing as he caught sight of green hair through the corner of his eye. He smirked a bit seeing Freed sitting in the chair beside his bed, face laying on the mattress on top of his folded arms. He had his jacket draped over the back of his chair, and his hair pulled back from his face in a ponytail that Laxus rarely got to see, despite the fact that Freed looked fantastic with his hair up. He'd never seen the rune mage look so sloppy.

"He's been there all night."

Laxus froze hand barely raised off the bed to reach out for Freed. He turned to the bed across the room from him. Freya was sitting cross legged on top the covers looking at him. He put his hand back down on the covers clearing his throat.

"Has he?" He asked, surprised by how scratchy his voice sounded.

"Yes, he was supposed to meet us downstairs, but he never made it. According to Eve he'd been worrying about you since they'd returned from battle."

"He has a habit of doing that," Laxus said, slowly reaching down putting his hand on top of Freed's head.

Freed jerked a bit. He'd always been a light sleeper, and Laxus knew that was all that it would take to wake him. He raised his head slowly, blinking the tiredness out of his eyes. Laxus took a second to enjoy the sleepy look on Freed's face. Freed was always awake before him. By the time Laxus crawled out of bed in the morning Freed was usually showered, dressed, and ready for the day. The minute he realized Laxus was looking back at him a large grin spread across his face.

"Laxus!"

"Mornin'." Laxus said with a smirk.

Freed lunged forward throwing his arms around Laxus' neck kissing him deeply. Laxus paused in surprise for a second before pulling Freed in closer and kissing him back. Freed sighed happily into the kiss, holding onto Laxus tightly.

"Well this is a new development."

Freed jumped back as if he'd been burned, face turning a bright red. Laxus cleared his throat looking away. He'd already forgotten Freya was in the room with them.

"F...Freya, good morning." Freed said turning to her slowly.

"When did this happen," she asked looking between the two of them curiously. "Last I remember, Laxus was pretending to be blind to your affections."

"It...it's fairly recent."

"Calm down Freed," Laxus said with a laugh as he turned back to them. "I doubt your sister is gonna freak out."

"I...I know, I just..."

Laxus raised an eyebrow curiously. He hadn't heard Freed sound so nervous since before he'd left the guild. Was it possibly he didn't want Freya to know they were a couple? Freya hadn't ever hid her dislike of Laxus in the past. Freed could have wanted to keep things quiet for now, until she'd settled back into her own routine.

"I hadn't told her yet, and I didn't want her to find out like that," he finally said softly.

"It was just a kiss," Laxus said laughing loudly. "There are worse things."

"I...I'll go get you some breakfast," Freed said jumping up running from the room, turning red again.

Laxus watched him go before laying back in bed slowly.

"He's still so easy to rile up," Freya said with a smirk, watching him leave the room.

"Thankfully."

Freya looked over at him, head tilted to the side thoughtfully.

"You sound almost fond of him," she said softly. "I never would have guessed."

Laxus felt himself smirking a bit. She would definitely be surprised if she knew how serious things were between them.

"A lot changed in the short time we were away."

"Short? It was seven years!"

"Not for us," Laxus said shaking his head. "Time froze for the seven years we were missin'."

"Well, that explains why Freed doesn't look any different," she said softly before turning to him. "Laxus...I...I'm sorry for what I did."

"There ain't any reason to be sorry," he said shaking his head. "It wasn't you."

"I nearly killed you, of course I should be sorry!"

Laxus smirked shaking his head.

"It's not like you haven't been threatenin' to kill me since you met me."

She shook her head, slipping out of her bed walking over to his.

"That's not the same," she said sitting on his bed, looking up at him. "I never would have actually killed you back then."

"And you wouldn't kill me now, there was someone else controllin' you."

"That doesn't change the fact that I did some awful things."

Laxus paused looking up at her meeting her gaze. He was struck by the amount of guilt and anguish in her face.

"You remember it all, don't you?"

She nodded slowly looking down at her lap.

"How can Freed stand to look at me now? He acts like nothing has changed between us, but I did horrible things to him. I could have killed him!"

"But you didn't Freya, and that's what matters," Laxus said quietly. "Freed would never turn his back on you. You're his family."

She paused looking up at him speechless.

"You really have changed a lot, haven't you?" She asked softly. "Freed said you did, but I know how he felt about you, well feels obviously. I know you jumped in front of my curse to save his life, but I didn't realize exactly how much you changed."

"I suppose I have." Laxus said with a shrug.

It wasn't something he paid attention to, but he knew he had to have changed or else Gildarts wouldn't have let him back into the guild.

"I'm glad. I was really worried when I woke up and Freed was fretting over you. I was worried he was going to get hurt again."

Laxus nodded slowly looking back at the door for a moment. He didn't know what to say to that. Of course Freed would be worried about him. Freed was always worried about him. Sometimes he drove Laxus nuts with how much he stressed over Laxus' well being. It was why Laxus had been surprised when Freed was angry by his concern over his safety.

"He said you're a dad."

Laxus looked up quickly.

"Yeah, her name is Eliana," he said with a smirk. "She's six years old."

"So, she was born when you were on the island?" Freya asked softly.

"Yeah. I found out after I found her village destroyed."

"I see," she said biting her lip thoughtfully. He could tell there was something on her mind that she wanted to say but that she was holding back.

"Spit it out Freya," he said beginning to grow annoyed. "You never held your tongue before."

Freya sighed running her fingers through her hair agitated.

"You aren't with Freed because you pitied him are you?" she said quickly. "Everyone knew about his feelings for you long ago, and you never once indicated you were interested in him, and you obviously never had an interest in men. That was never a secret. It just seems so...unexpected."

"It ain't like that," Laxus growled getting out of the bed.

Laxus needed to get away from her for a moment and clear his head. He could feel his anger rising and it wouldn't do to lose his temper and alienate Freed's sister so soon after Freed got her back.

"Then what's it like Laxus?" she asked turning to watch him as he opened the window looking outside.

"Freed's...different?"

"Different how?"

"We're together, and we're happy, what else do you need to know?"

"Is it serious? God knows my brother is head over heels for you, has been since he met you according to him, what about you? Can you really say you're in love with him?" She asked standing up crossing her arms. "I just...he's my brother, he took care of me after we lost our parents, he deserves..."

Laxus knew what she was going to say next, even if he did cut herself off. It was something he told himself every day before he and Freed got together.

"Someone better than me?" he asked turning around.

"I..." Freya fell quiet looking up at him.

Laxus opened his mouth to reply but was cut off as Freed walked into the room. He was carrying a tray that had a plate full of breakfast and a glass of water on it. He stopped in his tracks looking between the two of them when he noticed the tension in the room.

"What happened?" He asked putting the tray down slowly.

"Nothin' you should worry about." Laxus said walking up to him. "You should lay back down, you look exhausted."

"I'm fine."

Laxus sighed shaking his head.

"Fine, but we'll be headin' home soon, and it's a long way."

Freed nodded looking between Freya and Laxus slowly. He knew he missed something. He could feel the static coming off Laxus and the muscle in Freya's jaw was twitching like it always did when she got angry. It didn't make any sense. He'd never seen two people, aside from Gray and Natsu, that could get on each other's nerves so easily.

"I'm going to go find Eve, give you two some privacy," Freya said softly before walking out.

Freed watched her go before turning to Laxus who had begun to eat his breakfast. When Laxus noticed him staring he put his fork down and looked at him.

"What?"

"What happened?"

"Nothin'. Your sister was just givin' me the shovel talk. She's pretty awful at it."

"The shovel talk?"

"You hurt him and I'll kill you, basically."

Freed sighed sitting down slowly.

"I wish you two could get along."

"I know. But she's got years of hatin' me to get outta her system. She just woke up. Her mind is probably a mess right now."

"You aren't angry?"

"Not at her. No."

Freed sighed again, relaxing in his chair a bit.

"You gonna eat some of this?" Laxus asked pushing the plate towards him slowly.

"I...I figured you'd be starving, I'm fine."

"Freed..."

"What?"

"You're skin and bones, you need to eat." Laxus said looking at him with a rise of his eyebrows. "I'm not gonna starve if you eat a little of my breakfast. 'Sides, I'm sure there's more downstairs."

Freed nodded before beginning to eat quietly. Laxus stood up stretching before walking around the room quietly, locating his coat on one of the beds.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm okay. After you done eatin' we'll get ahold of Eliana on the communication Lacrima. I'm sure she's worried."

"That's probably a good idea," Freed said softly. "I didn't contact her while you were under Freya's enchantment. I didn't want her worrying when I wouldn't let her talk to you."

"How long has it been?"

"Two days."

Laxus groaned scrubbing his hands over his face.

"Good lord, she's gonna to be terrified."

"She'll be okay. She's your daughter, she's made of tougher stuff than that."

"I hope so. She's already been through hell. I don't want her to suffer anymore."

Freed nodded pushing the plate aside. He was no longer hungry. The thought that Eliana was sitting at Mirajane's worried about them made his stomach churn.

"We can go contact her now, if you want," Freed said softly.

"Are you sure? You've barely touched that," Laxus said gesturing to the plate.

"I'm not really hungry anymore." Freed said shaking his head. "Come on. I've missed her."

He stood up leading Laxus out of the room. Laxus shook his head slowly following. He'd almost forgotten how attached Freed was to his daughter.

They walked down to the sitting room of Blue Pegasus. Laxus paused at the door when he looked inside. The room was full of Fairy Tail members, and they were certainly treating it like it was home. Gray and Natsu were in the middle of a brawl, while Lucy tried to avoid being caught up in the middle of it. Bickslow and Evergreen stood up when they walked into the room, walking over to them.

"You finally woke up," Evergreen said grinning at him happily. "Thank god. I don't think we could have handled anymore of Freed's pacing."

"Yeah, I'm awake. What's goin' on in here?"

"Natsu picked a fight. Didn't hear why, but it's Gray and Natsu, does it really matter?"

"Not really," he said quietly. "Where's everyone else?"

"They haven't woken up yet. What're you doing up and about?"

"We came down to use the communication lacrima," Laxus said. "But, there's no chance of us bein' understood with all this noise."

He stepped forward sending lightning at both Gray and Natsu. They fell to the ground looking up at him stunned.

"What the hell was that for?!"

"You're destroyin' someone else's guild hall. Take it outside." Laxus said crossing his arms. "And put some pants on Gray."

"Huh?! Where the hell did they go?"

Laxus groaned shaking his head as they ran out the room. It was way too early and he hadn't been awake long enough to deal with their idiocy. He walked up to the lacrima with Freed putting his hand on it. It glowed faintly under his hand before clearing and he saw into Mirajane's dormitory. Laxus waiting for a second and Mirajane's face appeared in the lacrima.

"Laxus! We were wondering when you were going to contact us."

"Sorry Mirajane, it's been crazy, where's Eliana?"

"Right here papa!" Her voice called out.

Laxus smirked as Eliana appeared in front of the lacrima, but quickly disappeared.

"Mira...why is my daughter wearing makeup?"

Freed bit back a laugh at the anger in Laxus' voice. Eliana was wearing a bit of makeup, but nothing extreme. She looked adorable.

"Oh don't be such a spoil sport Laxus, she asked, and I think she looks great!"

"She's six."

"So? Lisanna was experimenting with makeup at her age."

"She's not Lisanna."

"Papa! Look at the pretty dress Miss Mira bought me!" Eliana said twirling around, ignoring the argument going on between Mira and Laxus.

Freed groaned when he saw it. He didn't think anyone could spoil Eliana more than Laxus had been since they brought her home. She was wearing a gown that looked like it belonged on Princess Hisui. It was bright green and bejeweled, and he could see the way Laxus' jaw tensed when he looked at it.

"Mira..."

"Awe come on Laxus, it's been a long time since I had a little girl to spoil, and she looks beautiful doesn't she?"

"Papa?"

Freed glanced at Laxus and smirked when he saw the way Laxus' jaw was twitching. Laxus was trying so hard not to lose his temper.

"You look great kid," he said finally.

"Thank you!"

Freed chuckled stepping forward putting his hand on Laxus' shoulder.

"You look wonderful Eliana," he said smiling. "Don't mind your papa, he just woke up."

"On the wrong side of the bed again, of course," Eliana said with mock seriousness crossing her arms.

"What have you guys been sayin' about me?"

"Nothing," Eliana said with a grin.

Laxus looked between them slowly. Freed just looked up at him with a grin, and he wasn't getting anything out of Eliana.

"Eliana, there's someone I want you to meet," Freed said softly turning back to the lacrima.

"Who?" She asked excitedly.

"I'll be right back," Freed said hurrying out of the room.

Laxus turned watching him before looking back at the lacrima. Eliana grinned at him and he smiled back slowly.

"Are you okay papa?"

"I'm okay kid."

"I was worried about you. You were supposed to reach us more often."

"We had some trouble. But we're comin' home soon."

"You are?!"

"Yeah, soon as we're all up to travelin' we'll be headin' back to Magnolia."

"Good! I've missed you so much papa."

"I've missed you too kid."

Laxus looked up as he heard footsteps coming back into the room. He just turned around when Freed walked into the room pulling a disgruntled Freya with him.

"Freed, what is the hurry? I'm sure whatever it is will wait two more seconds," she groaned trying to keep up with him.

"I want you to meet Eliana," he said pushing her in front of the lacrima. "Eliana, this is my sister Freya."

Eliana gasped pressing her face to the lacrima glass on her side. Laxus could tell by the way her nose scrunched up. He could hear Mira's gasp of surprise on the other side of the lacrima.

"She's so pretty! She looks just like you Freed!"

Laxus smirked a bit trying not to laugh as he turned to Freed.

"I think Eliana just called you pretty, Freed."

"Shut up."

"Thank you Eliana, you're awfully pretty as well," Freya said with a small smile.

"Does this make you my Aunt Freya?" Eliana asked curiously.

"N..."

"Yes," Laxus said cutting of her denial, looking at Freed over the top of his head.

"But, you two aren't married," Freya said turning to him slowly.

"It doesn't matter." Laxus said shaking his head. "We're family."

Freed smiled slowly putting his hand on Laxus' on the glass. Freya looked between the two of them, a confused frown spreading across her face.

"Are they being all mushy again," Eliana asked Freya rolling her eyes. "They're always like that."

"Are they really?"

"Uh huh, it can really be annoying. Bickslow makes fun of them all the time."

Freya smirked crossing her arms.

"I'm sure he does. Bickslow likes to crack jokes."

"You know Bickslow?"

"Yeah, I used to live with them."

"Why don't you anymore? Is it because they were away for so long? Did you get lonely?"

"No. My brother and I got in a fight and I left."

"A fight like Natsu and Gray? They're destructive Mira says."

"Mirajane?"

"Hello there Freya, I didn't think we'd ever see you again," she said putting her face next to Eliana's with a wide smile. "You look good."

"So do you," Freya said with a grin.

"There's someone you should see. You'd left Magnolia before we found out," Mira said stepping out of the line of the lacrima before coming back, pulling LIsanna with her.

"Lisanna!"

"Freya!"

"I...I thought you died," Freya said softly, stepping closer to the glass.

"I could say the same about you," Lisanna said putting her hands on her hips. "Freed was a wreck. Where have you been?"

"It...It's hard to explain. But we're coming back to Magnolia for a few days, so I'll explain when I get there." She said softly, blinking back tears.

Laxus looked at her surprised. He'd forgotten Lisanna and Freya had been close friends before they thought Lisanna had been killed.

"I can't wait to see you in person," Lisanna said with a smile.

"Hello! Can I talk to my papa and Freed now?!" Eliana asked loudly. "I haven't talked to them in days!"

"Oh, of course honey." Mira said with a laugh.

"Don't be rude kid," Laxus said. "Mira and Lisanna haven't seen Freya in a long time. Much longer for Lisanna, they were just excited."

Eliana crossed her arms, pouting.

"Don't look at us like that," Freed told her. "You'll have our undivided attention when we get home."

"I better," she said sitting back.

"Just a day or two kid."

"Oh?" Freed asked looking at him.

"It's not like we got anymore leads on my dad," Laxus said looking at him. "Unless your sister knows something."

Freya shook her head slowly.

"He kept everything secret from us. I don't know where he's hiding." She said softly.

"And we took out the rest of your guild members," Laxus said before turning to Freed. "I assume Blue Pegasus called the council while I was out."

"Ichiya took care of that after we returned from the battle, while we focused on breaking the curses on the two of you."

"Then yes kid, we'll be back tomorrow." Laxus said turning back to the lacrima.

"Good!"

Laxus chuckled slowly at the look on her face.

"Listen, I'm gonna let go for now. I don't wanna take up Blue Pegasus' lacrima for too long. You be good, and knock it off with the attitude. Seems like Mirajane has been spoilin' you a bit too much. We'll see you soon kid."

"Okay...love you papa."

"Love you too kid."

"Love you Freed," she called out softly.

"I love you too Eliana. Have fun," he said smiling before Laxus disconnected to them. "Are you okay sister?"

"I...I'm fine," Freya said softly. "Eliana seems like a sweetheart."

"She's a Dreyar, nothin' sweet about us," Laxus said with a laugh.

"I'm gonna go pack our things. If she stays with Mirajane much longer she's gonna be a terror when we get back," Freed said.

"I'll be up there in a minute," Laxus told him.

Freed smiled kissing him before hurrying out the room. Laxus watched him go before heading for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To get some fresh air for a minute, it's too crowded in this buildin'."

"I'm coming with you," Freya said following him outside.

Laxus looked over his shoulder at her as he shoved his hands in his pockets. He could tell she had something on her mind, but she wasn't ready to bring it up yet. She obviously wasn't going to leave him in peace until she brought it up.

"You called Freed your family," she finally said.

"He is."

"I thought your relationship was a recent development."

"It is. A month or so."

"Then how is he your family?"

"He's my mate."

"Mate?"

"Dragon slayers have mates. One person they're meant to be with. The only person they're every really attracted to. Dragon slayers have no control over who their mates are." he told her, forcing the words out before he clammed back up.

"What does that mean?"

"It means the relationship between Freed and I is permanent."

"Whether you two want it or not?"

"It's a good thing we're happy, then, huh?" He said sharply turning to look at her.

"Are you?"

"I think so."

Laxus could see the emotions playing over her face. She wasn't sure what to think about his confession. He knew it sounded like madness. He'd thought so when he first heard about the bond between dragon slayers and their mates. Finally she took a deep breath and stepped back.

"Take care of him, please Laxus."

"I plan on it."

"I guess I better go find something to wear for the trip. I'm sure my clothes are packed up somewhere," she said softly turning to walk away.

"Freya!"

She turned back to him slowly.

"Welcome back," he said.

She smiled slowly before hurrying back into the guild hall.