I own nothing, all characters belong to Hiro Mashima

Previously…

Freed was broken from his musings with Laxus slamming his hands down on the table.

"Freed, I've been calling your damn name for five minutes now. What the hell!" The lightning dragon slayer said.

"Pardon my rudeness, I seem to have been woolgathering." Freed said with a shrug, putting down his now empty drink, not even realizing that he had finished it.

"No shit. Come on up to my office, we need to talk." Laxus said making his way up the stairs, not bothering to wait for Freed.

Chapter 3 – More Secrets

"What is it you wanted to discuss?" Freed asked, taking a seat in Laxus's office after shutting the door, the Lightning Dragon Slayer was already seated behind his imposing desk. The excessive piles of paperwork certainly explained his friend's rather unpleasant mood.

"Whats up with you? Mira just came in here freaking out saying you were acting strange. You goin' dark man?"

"Sorry for troubling you. No I am not, on that front things with me are as per usual." Neither one spoke of the secret that lay between them, the dark lacrima implanted in Freed's right eye that could cause dark magic to overtake him one day. While Freed remained in control of it as of now, the darkness was always slithering around the edges of his mind, waiting for any sign of weakness. He couldn't mince words with Laxus by just saying he was fine, for that would be a lie and only cause Laxus further distress.

"Then what's bothering you, you never drink this early. Did you finally get that musty old book you were rambling on about the other day?"

"I did…" Freed hesitated. Knowing Laxus was concerned, he felt the need to explain himself but still Freed paused before telling his friend of Lucy's notebook.

"And?" Laxus questioned further, the lightning dragon slayer known for his lack of patience was in full form today.

"Someone from the guild dropped a notebook." Freed started to explain slowly, not wanting to get into specifics and reveal Lucy as the author. "While it was rather improper of me to intrude into something so personal, I couldn't help but read a bit of it, in it were rather erotic musings."

Laxus laughed, gripping his sides as if trying to contain his mirth. "That's what got you all twisted up." He finally said.

"Well, they were extremely personal imaginings and I was the subject of the author's fantasy." Freed said, a blush staining his cheeks.

"Do you know who wrote it?" Laxus asked, all humor drained from his now serious expression.

"Yes." Freed answered.

"Who was it? Do I know this person?"

"You do but I'd rather not reveal her identity, I would hate to be the cause of her embarrassment."

Freed noticed Laxus's teeth clench and his knuckles go white as he gripped the desk he was sitting at. "Is it Mira?"

Freed now understood Laxus's sudden change. While it was something the two never spoke of, he knew the reason his friend had been so distant as of late. Their relationship had become strained ever since Mira had shown a marked interest in Freed. He had observed for years now, the way Laxus's eyes would follow MiraJane any time she was near and while Freed couldn't deny an unexpected attraction to her, he would never allow himself to betray his friend. Unspoken or not, it would be dishonorable to trample over Laxus's feelings to a pursue a relationship with MiraJane.

"No, the notebook is not Mira's." Freed finally answered, watching as the weight Laxus had been under lifted and his entire presence seem to calm.

"So then what's got you all dark and broody then. Wait– did you like it?" At Freed's bright red blush, Laxus laughed again. "Oh my god! You did!"

"Haha!" Laxus said, calming himself down and struggling to regain his breathing. Freed sat there in stony silence when finally, Laxus broached. "And knowing you, now you feel guilty."

"How could I not! This is something I never expected, especially from her. Now my thoughts, even my dreams are consumed with her!"

"Damn man, it sounds like you go it bad." Laxus said looking away, his hand absentmindedly rubbing the back of his neck, unable to make eye contact with Freed.

"You know; you could always tell her how you feel." Freed said after a marked silence.

Laxus looked up sharply. "I'm pretty sure that ship has sailed. Besides, last I checked she has feelings for someone else." He finished giving Freed a pointed look.

"I wondered about that myself but then again, I theorized it to be just a ploy to finally get your attention. Especially since the only time she acts in a more than friendly manner towards me, is whenever you're around. I'd be pretty ingenious," Freed continued, his left hand rubbing his chin as if in deep thought, as his friend's features took on a shocked expression. "If it weren't so devious that is, then again you do have a tendency to be rather daft at times and well... she is Mira the Matchmaker." He finished with a tilt of his head.

Laxus, sat there in silence for a few minutes processing as a bevy of emotions played across his face before he finally looked at Freed with a scowl. "Did you just call me stupid?"

Now it was Freed's turn to laugh, as he stood getting ready to leave, somehow talking to Laxus about the lightning dragon slayers feelings for Mira was helping him process what he'd begun to feel for Lucy. Now anxious to return home, he changed the subject. "I see you have quite a lot of work to get back to." Making his way to the door, Freed paused with his hand on the doorknob. "While I've never asked her outright, that would rather ill-mannered of me after all, from everything I've noted over the years I'm fairly certain MiraJane does have feelings for you, Laxus. Don't let your fear of rejection hinder your actions or you may miss the opportunity to be with her."

As Freed began to exit the office, he heard Laxus say. "And don't let guilt hold you back, if you're this twisted up over what some chick wrote, then she is definitely worth getting to know better."

Freed turned to close the office door behind him, making eye contact with Laxus one last time before nodding in affirmation and then departing. Making his way down the stairs to the guild's pub area, he said his goodbyes in his normally neutral manner. Bickslow, Evergreen and even Mira, seemed relieved. Now reassured he was back to his normal self after speaking with Laxus, worry no longer clouded their features and they returned his departing words happily. His walk home was uneventful but his steps were somewhat hurried. Already deciding he would continue reading the celestial mage's notebook. For she wasn't in Magnolia nor was she expected to return soon, the only prospect he had to get to know her would be through her writing. Once settled in his office, he pulled out her notebook, turned to the next entry and began reading.

I'm lonely. I have friends that I absolutely love and adore but I still feel hopelessly alone. My whole life I've always felt this way, at least since my mom died anyway. My father shut me out, maybe because I looked so much like her but once she was gone it's like he couldn't be bothered with me anymore. My friends don't necessarily shut me out, but there is so much they keep to themselves, it hard to bring up anything personal.

Mavis, I sound so pathetic! I guess in a way I should be happy I was such a lonely child. If it wasn't for my solitude, I might never have discovered my greatest passion - writing. All my time was spent in our massive library, devouring books, fueling my imagination and ultimately making me the writer I am today. I guess if I wasn't so broken, then I really wouldn't have anything worthwhile to write about. And another part of me is glad, because if it wasn't for my love of reading and writing then I wouldn't get to spend so much time with Freed.

Speaking of Freed, he's not here today sadly. Yesterday, he was working on what I can only assume is a text that needs to be translated. I heard him muttering something about archaic Fiorian and having the correct text at home. I wonder if he knows he talks to himself while he's working. I'm smiling so hard my cheeks are hurting right now, because I think it's absolutely adorable!

You know, everyone thinks Freed is so 'perfect', wouldn't it be hilarious is he was a complete slob at home. I very much doubt that, seeing as not even a single hair is ever out of place on that man. Even when he thoughtlessly pulls his hair back into a bun, before starting a book or whatever he's working on, not a single lock dares to fall. Part of me just wants to run my hands through it and mess him up a bit. To see someone so orderly in disarray, that would be too funny! Then again there's a part of me that thinks he likes to have absolutely control in all things.

I have to wonder what it'd be like, if he was like that in the bedroom. Cana, made a comment the other night while we were drinking that she thought Freed was 'into some seriously freaky shit.' When I asked her what she meant by it, all she would say was she thinks 'he likes to be in control' waggling her eyebrows drunkenly, looking like a lunatic. It'd taken me a few moments to really grasp what she was getting at and I'm not going to lie, at first it'd shocked me. Cana laughed so hard at the expression on my face, she fell off her bar stool. Again her influence was making me think of things that never would have occurred to me. But, I'd be lying if I said I didn't let my imagination wonder what it'd be like and what exactly goes into that sort of thing.

I mean what does that even involve, tying someone up? It'd have to right? Otherwise how could they physically control the other person. Would it be hands and legs bound or just hands? And would they be positioned above the head or behind the back? The possibilities were endless… Damn, but Freed seems like he'd be the type that would want to see everything, just from how thorough he is with his books. Hands above the head then, bound to a bed frame (maybe), completely naked. I don't even have to close my eyes to imagine my breasts thrust up and together proudly for him. He'd be slow, meticulous, drawing out every moan, making me beg but ignoring my pleas. His lips and tongue would move over every inch of my flesh leaving nothing unexplored. I would be a shuddering mess! I wonder what it'd feel like if he explored me below. I mean, I know how good it feels when I touch myself. No one else is here in the library but me and I doubt anyone will come in. Thinking about all this, I really want to touch myself now! But, I can't take the chance, plus all the dragon slayers in the building would know, it's bad enough they can probably smell my arousal. But if it feels that amazing when I touch myself, how much better would if feel if Freed did it for me. Using his fingers or maybe even his mouth and tongue here. Mavis, I need to go home NOW. I think have a date with my shower and my bed asap!

Until later,

;) Me

Freed's breath was coming gasps. While he may be a virgin, having discovered he could easily sate his own lust without the messy complications that involved sex and relationships, he hadn't realized how naïve he really was in these matters. And yes, Freed definitely found the inner workings of Lucy's mind quite brazen but they also fired his blood in a way he'd never experienced before. On the contrary to Cana's suspicions, he'd never thought to control a sexual situation in such a way, but what Lucy had described had completely overtaken his mind and shaken him to his very core. He could easily imagine her in his bed tied down, waiting and willing. With a groan he pushed himself up from his desk, pacing around his study like predator. He wanted her, there was no denying it. And not just for her dirty imaginings of their coupling, no he wanted Lucy for her loneliness which he knew all too well, he wanted her for her and that truly petrified him. His hard won control threatened to crack, Freed fought off the darkness that threatened to overtake his mind.

"No!" He said aloud, "It's time I choose a mission." Anything to reign in the need and ever growing panic fighting it's way to the surface, which could easily disintegrate his hard-won control over the darkness. Using his magic, acted as a way to relieve the darkness within him, syphoning out his own emotions he kept bottled up, Freed decided he needed a mission that would resort to physical violence, as vulgar as it may be, it was time to get his hands dirty.

A/N: So next time there might be a bit of a time jump. I really don't want you guys to get bored waiting for Lucy to get back, especially because she's only been gone about 24 hours now story-wise. Hell, even I'm getting bored and I want to get to the juicy stuff already. Anyway, I wanted to apologize, in my haste to post I feel like I gypped you on the rest of chapter 2 and left the story hanging in a place I shouldn't have. What can I say, it was Easter and my family kept complaining I was being antisocial. The constant distractions don't make for a good time writing! As for this story, I think I'm going to post a new chapter once a week until it's finished, probably on Friday's. I should hopefully be posting other stuff, I have something finished for another anime/manga I love but geesh it's dirty. So, let me know your thoughts so far, everything helps! Have a great day, I hope you enoyed the story thus far. Happy Reading!