Natsu was excited.

He just had to wonder what it was the raven-haired man planned for him tonight. The news that Jeremy was finally going to be caught, arrested and most definitely beaten the executed brought forth a surge of excitement inside the pinkette that he didn't think he ever remembered feeling before or having and adding a nice romantic dinner slash movie date between him and Gray, made the pink haired boy feel tingly all over. He couldn't help giggling and squirming in the backseat while Rogue and Freed talked quietly outside the car before Rogue decided to unleash the now overly happy pinkette upon the green haired man.

"Salve Natsu," Freed grinned. *

"Salve Freed!"

"So I heard from Rogue here you're going to be treated to a rather romantic night out on the town tonight. Correct?"

"Yep," Natsu grinned wide, which Freed oddly enough returned. But Natsu decided not to think too hard on it. "And guess what else Freed?"

"What?"

"They've got that Jeremy bastard! They cornered in a bunch of warehouses!" Natsu couldn't keep his excitement contained. He placed his hands on Freed's shoulders to steady himself. "They're gonna beat the shit out of him! I'm finally gonna get my revenge!"

"That's wonderful!" Freed beamed, placing his own hands on top of Natsu's shoulders in return. "You know what that means right?"

"I finally get to beat him to death for all he's done to me?"

"Well, yes, that too," Freed chuckled, kneading the pinkette's shoulders. "But it means, you're free, Natsu! You're finally free!"

Natsu grinned. "Free..."

"Well, I'm going to head off," Rogue smiled, smoothing the front of his dust-gray sweater. He placed a gentle kiss on Natsu's temple. "Enjoy your night tonight and please remember the doctor's orders; No stressing your limbs too much okay?"

"Yes, Mama," Natsu rolled his eyes, chuckling. "See ya tomorrow?"

"Yes. See you tomorrow."

Rogue gave them both a wave before he turned and got back into the car, bringing the engine to life before he backed out of the driveway and down the road, disappearing out of sight once he turned the corner at the far end of the road. Natsu watched him drive away, farther and farther away before disappearing from sight. Natsu blinked when he felt Freed gently pat his shoulder, he turned to face the smiling green haired man, who gestured toward his house.

"Shouldn't you get ready for your special night young man?"

Natsu blinked before his face split into a huge grin. "Huh? Oh yeah! I'm gonna get a shower!"

Freed chuckled. "You do that."

Natsu trotted toward the house, followed closely by Freed, who watched and was chuckling at the pink haired boy's antics. They entered the house, throwing their shoes off by the front door before Natsu sprinted toward the stairs. He halted and quickly looked to Freed, who was watching him rather curiously, devoid of emotion. Natsu gulped.

Natsu had to be careful here.

For if he did anything that the green haired man would consider 'stressing' or 'exerting', he would no doubt, immediately call up and tell Rogue and or Gray and report it. Natsu really didn't want any more lectures tonight so Natsu slowly and carefully, while holding onto the railing, began climbing the stairs taking his time, showing that he did listen and obeyed. Hoping to the Twins above he was doing what Freed would deem acceptable.

It worked.

Freed smiled and nodded as Natsu reached the top of the stairs. Before the pinkette could disappear into the dark landing, he paused upon hearing Freed calling to him, earning Freed the pink haired boy's attention.

"Would it be alright if I helped myself to some of the snacks in your pantry?" Freed asked. "I have a test in less than two days and I hoped to use the time here to study."

"Sure," Natsu replied, his face peeking over the railing. "Does that mean we'll learn more Latin stuff?"

"If you hurry, most certainly."

"Alright!" Natsu cheered dashing to the bathroom. "Be down in 20!"

Freed chuckled at the pinkette's reaction before he turned away from the stairway and made his way toward the kitchen just as the door shut and the shower came on. The minute Freed's bare feet padded onto the linoleum tiles of the kitchen toward the pantry hand outstretched was the minute he felt a sense of alert, awareness and an unsettling feeling. A feeling he didn't think he was ever going to feel.

Something wasn't right.

He paused, eyes narrowed, he brought his hand back toward his body and toward the hem of his shirt to his hip, slowly raising the hem of his cream colored turtle neck shirt, revealing a concealed gun in its holster clipped to the waistline of his faded jeans as his instincts began to tell him to move toward to the sliding glass door.

His instincts were proven correct.

He studied the almost non-existent glass, eyes roaming over the the clear surface finding that there were small prints on its smooth surface and it was opened ajar with a piece of fabric thread wedged between the lock and the door frame. His eyes moved down slowly to the dark granite-like tiled floor and found a trail of almost unseen watery but muddy footprints. His head snapped up, visible ocean blue eye wide and immediately turned and began looking around, scanning the area around him as his heart began to beat rapidly and fear coursing through his blood.

They weren't alone.

There was someone else in the house with them and judging by the looks of the trail, there was two of them.

He pulled the gun from out from the waistline of his jeans, out of its holster and rose it eye-level as he slowly made his way from the door, away from the kitchen and down the hallway, following the muddy footprints that became more noticeable in the carpet as they lead into the dark living room. Freed quickly glanced toward the ceiling, hearing the shower water still running before he turned his attention back toward the living room, creeping forward quietly with his gun still raised.

Hopefully, he can handle this without the others here to help and without Natsu knowing.

"Hello?"

No answer.

Of course, Freed didn't expect an answer but if he gave these people a sense of his supposed 'paranoia' then they might drop their guards. He reached a hand out and flipped on the switch, flooding the living room with light allowing his eyes to do a quick scan of the area. Nothing seemed to be out of place or even out of the ordinary. Freed's eye narrowed dangerously as he slowly continued to follow the now very visible muddy footprints that guided him further into the living room before he halted right in the heart of the living room, eyes scanning and searching as he continued to stare at the ground before backing up upon discovery that the footprints split into two different directions in the room.

"What the-?"

Before he could move or even reach his cellphone, a hand slapped itself across his mouth, yanking his head back, his body stumbling backwards from the sudden movement and one of his arms was yanked painfully behind his back, forcing the green haired man to drop not only his weapon, his only defense but also his cellphone, which bounced across the floor and underneath the sofa. His entire body was held tightly against his captor's mildly muscular body, his arm being held tight by the wrist and crushed inbetween their bodies, his head resting against broad shoulders. There was something familiar about this person's form but Freed didn't pay it any heed as he shut his eyes tight and began to struggle frantically to escape the man's hold while clawing desperately at the hand around his mouth, trying to scream.

"Well well well... What do we have here?"

"Mmpf?!"

Freed paused in his struggling to come face to face with the man, who tortured, raped and basically stalked the poor boy since, from the sounds of it, his childhood; Jeremy Valmen. Freed glared harshly at the man, breathing heavily through his nose from his struggling while his hand remained clasped tightly over the one on his mouth.

"Aren't you quite the catch-" He took a hold of Freed's jaw, moving the scholar's head to face him. "Shame your eyes aren't what I'm looking for-"

Jeremy blinked before releasing his hold on Freed's jaw and bent down to retrieve whatever caught his attention. Freed's eyes widen in horror as he watched Jeremy stoop down and pick up his gun, examining it with a whistle which in turn, helped Freed renew his efforts into escaping the bruising grip that held him. He couldn't let that bastard have his gun.

It would spell disaster!

"This is quite a nice weapon we have here... Mind if I borrow it?"

Freed felt fear crawling up his spine. His efforts of escape were rewarded by having his entire being rattled, harshly but a bit of odd tenderness, in the man's grip like some rag doll. He felt the mystery man that was holding him walk forward, pushing him closer to Jeremy, who smirked. Freed snarled behind the hand, trying to sound threatening.

"Oo~ That's a scary look," Jerome sneered as he pulled a length of rope out of seemingly nowhere, tossing it to the man that held the green haired male. "Tie him up."

The minute the hand left his mouth to snatch the rope out of the air, Freed immediately opened his mouth in an attempt to scream, yell- something! He had to warn Natsu somehow, who was still in the shower, water still running about these men only to have his captor to realize this and shoved Freed face forward, ass in the air as he bent over the arm of a nearby couch, all the air ripped from his lungs . Freed blushed a bright red, thankful for the fact his face was buried into the couch cushion, the man that held had pressed his crotch hard into his ass as he yanked both of Freed's arms behind his back and tied them tightly by the wrists with the coarse item. He was eventually ripped from the couch by the collar of his shirt and was pulled back into the chest of the unknown man, once again facing Jeremy, who was wadding up a small piece of cloth in his hands.

"Can't have you screaming and waking the sleeping world, sweet mint," Jeremy said as he walked up to the panting Freed, who growled at the nickname. How dare he- "So I'm gonna need you open your mouth and say 'aah'."

Freed's eyes landed back onto the cloth in the man's hand and pushed himself into his holder, mouth closed tightly. He wasn't going down without a fight. Jeremy sighed in annoyance as Freed moved his head away, left to right, avoiding Jeremy's hand.

"Bickslow."

Freed froze.

Did- Did he just say Bickslow? It wasn't a common name but surely- just surely he couldn't mean-

"Sorry about this, Freed baby," came an eerily familiar voice. "But I gotta do this..."

Freed felt his very blood freeze in his veins. He slowly made to turn his head, praying and begging any and all deities that the person that held him, who was helping this mad man, wasn't the person he thought he was. Before he can see the man, his thought process was shoved out of his brain when he felt a hand tangle itself into his long green hair and gave it a sharp yank, pulling Freed's head back forcing the green haired male to open his mouth in a soundless cry that Jeremy was quick take advantage of and stuffed the cloth into his mouth. Freed attempted to spit the cloth out of his mouth the minute the hold on his hair was released only to have the man behind him to wrap another cloth around his mouth, tying it tightly behind the back of his head into a cleave gag keeping the other cloth in place before Freed was pushed forward causing him to stumble, lose balance and fell onto the couch, groaning when he landed on his side painfully.

He turned his head to glare at both his captors only to be shocked and feel utterly betrayed, tears shimmering in his eyes.

He couldn't- No, he wouldn't! It was impossible-

But the second man was indeed none other then the Bickslow Freed knew. Or at least, he thought he knew him.

He knew those dark green eyes and that blue and black hair, with the black parts being almost shaven and the blue ones, occupying the top and the sides of his head, being much longer, with the one of the top being styled in a mohawk-like crest, and the ones on the sides pointing backwards anywhere. The tattoo on the upper part of his nose and his forehead was stylized as a man extending his long, curved arms outwards and was unique, something of Bickslow's own design. Not something that can be copied. And those prominent eyelashes ending in a spiraling curved motif, each placed at one of his large eyes' sides; the pair of eyelashes pointing towards his nose are headed downwards, while the outer ones jut upwards are indeed the very same as with the curved lines pointing downwards under his eyes. He flashed a toothy grin as Freed trembled and struggled to hold his tears back.

"Ya' know- That's a good look on ya', Freed baby," Bickslow smirked, tongue lolling as he began to giggle madly. "Didn't know you were into that kinda fashion. Wonder what Laxus would say-"

"Mmmhm," Freed snarled, glaring darkly at the raven-blunette as he tried blinking back his unshed tears.

How dare he-

"Unfortunately we won't know," Jeremy sighed in mock despair as he cocked the gun. "Cause sweet mint here will be dead and you and I shall be long gone with what I seek from Natsu before Dreyar shows up with that cheating little-"

He pointed the gun right at Freed, who froze, eyes wide as the muzzle of his own gun was pointed right at his face. Or at least, his forehead if he guessed the angle correctly...

"Hey hey woah now," Bickslow suddenly said, waving hands as hoping to somehow halt the man. "Don't you remember the deal we made?"

"Deal? What deal?" Jeremy seemed just as confused as Freed was.

"The deal that if I helped you, I would get a little something out of it," came that mad giggle. Freed didn't think it was possible for him to be so scared of a man he thought he could trust. "My reward, if ya' will-"

"Wha-" Jeremy lowered the gun slightly staring at the man in front of him as though he had never seen him before in his entire life. "What are you? High?"

"You're not the first person who's asked me that- Keep in mind, Jeremy, I just betrayed all of Fairy Tail and gave you every bit of info that was quite sensitive so think I deserve a little something," Bickslow sneered.

Jeremy managed to regain his posture as he glared angrily at the man, "If you think you're getting pink haired sl-"

"No, not Pinkie Pie. Though, I can't deny that I did have a few fantasies of him a few years back when we were freshmen in high school," Bickslow chuckled waving his hand, his eyes settling upon Freed, who trembled under that tense stare, "What I want for my services-" He licked his lips. "I want Freed baby."

Freed froze, eyes wide. He couldn't-

Jeremy put his weight on one leg as he folded his arms across his chest, eyebrow raised as he regarded his partner carefully.

"Sweet mint huh?" His eyes narrowed suspiciously, "Why him?"

Bickslow's face grew dark as a smile spread across his face, a smile that would make the Joker from the DC comics proud, "Because just like how you craved Pinkie Pie's eyes- But a little different. See, since senior year of high school, I've wanted Freed baby for just about the longest time."

Bickslow swung his leg over the arm of the couch, sitting his butt upon it, practically looming over the helpless green haired man with a look that had tears flowing down Freed's face. He attempted to squirm and escape from the that look. He didn't like it one bit. It was only okay if Laxus was the one giving him that look, but if was Bickslow- who was a traitor this whole time-

"Mmhm!"

His eyes widen in fear as his attempts were rewarded with him being dragged back toward the raven-blunette when an oddly gentle hand yanking him up and onto his lap by means of the back of his shirt collar, his back flushed against Bickslow's chest, Freed's cheek pressed tightly Bickslow's own as his hands wandered down Freed's body and latched themselves onto his hips, holding them tightly in place and grinding his crotch sensually into the green haired man's backside. Freed whimpered as the tears he couldn't hold back escaped as he felt a hand wander down toward his inner thigh, parting his legs apart as his other hand came to rest on his neck, forcing Freed to bend his head back and away from the touch with poor results. He sobbed as Bickslow dragged his abnormally long tongue up Freed's cheek to the corner of his eye, licking away the tear trail.

"Mm~ Taste just as good," Bickslow sighed in relief, throwing his head back slightly. "So what do you say, Jeremy? I get Freed baby in exchange for my services?"

The smirk Jeremy had painted on his face caused poor Freed to become even more of a nervous wreck.

"All right then. I accept your terms- He's all yours, buddy."

Bickslow gave off his trademark mad laugh before he fell silent, both he and Jeremy looked to the ceiling. Freed felt his very heart stop dead and every last blood cell in his veins turn cold and freeze in place. The house had fallen silent saving for the sound of a door opening and closing followed by another opening and closing of a door as Natsu's humming voice pierced the still air. The shower had stopped running, meaning that Natsu had finished his shower and was now in his room. Jeremy smirked that was shared with Bickslow and had the tears flowing more freely and thickly down Freed's face.

Natsu was in danger and Freed had no way of warning the poor pinkette.

He didn't have any way of getting a hold of Laxus or Gray either!

"Guess it's time to collect MY reward," Jeremy smirked as he made his way toward the stairway, briefly looking back to Bickslow, "You enjoy yours in the meantime."

"Oh~ I will~" Bickslow sneered, rubbing his face against Freed's neck and cheek while grinding his crotch into Freed's ass. Freed arched his back trying to escape but the hands on his hip and neck kept him in place.

Bickslow watched as Jeremy moved out of the living room, Freed's gun at his side as he crept up the stairs, silent so as to put a cat to shame and once he disappeared onto the dark landing, Bickslow's dark smirk disappeared replaced with a rather solemn frown. He quickly but gently placed Freed on his side onto the couch before he bent down and pulled out Freed's smartphone out from under the couch and began to swipe his index finger across the smooth surface, confusing the helpless green haired male. He raised the phone to his ear and waited patiently before he finally spoke.

"Hey old man," Bickslow said, turning his attention back to the stairway, his back to Freed, "Yeah. It's Bickslow. Yep."

Freed blinked through his teary eyes. What is he planning? What was he up to?

"Yeah. Freed baby's safe," Bickslow spoke to his mysterious caller, "But Pinkie Pie's in trouble and the bastard's got Freed baby's gun. What do you think I should do?"

Bickslow paused, listening to the person on the other end. He nodded several times, green eyes landing on Freed who shivered under that stern gaze.

"Alright. Got it," Bickslow nodded, "Did you want me to tell Laxus about the old abandoned sawmill? Yeah, the outside of town."

Bickslow smiled as he lowered himself to Freed's level.

"Alright then. You got it."

He hung up, smiling as he tossed Freed's phone onto the couch near Freed's hips before he started to reach out toward Freed, who's eyes grew wide.

This was it.

He was going to die.

He quickly scrabbled to get away. Bickslow chuckled as he continued to reach his hand toward Freed. Freed backed away as best as he could til his back hit the opposite armrest, earning him a soft chuckle from the raven-blunette who continued to reach out for him. Freed shook his head left to right, trying to avoid the hand that came closer and closer toward his mouth.

"Come on now, Freed baby," Bickslow sighed before his hand snagging the cloth around Freed's mouth. "Hold still."

Freed shook his head but it didn't hinder the blue-black haired man's attempts as Bickslow's fingers finally snagged the cloth and gently tugged the article down to rest around Freed's neck like a very odd and loose scarf. Freed spat the cloth out of his mouth before fixing the man before him with a harsh glare.

"I need you to listen and lis-"

"No."

"No?" Bickslow blinked, completely lost.

"I refuse to listen to anything you have to say," Came that quiet hiss. "You two-faced, back-stabbing-"

"Now wait on-"

"You betrayed Fairy Tail! You betrayed Natsu!" Freed breathed as tears clouded his vision, "You betrayed me! Once Laxus hears of this-"

Bickslow sighed, "You're not gonna hear me out on this are you?"

"Never!"

Bickslow sighed before rolling his eyes and picking up the damp cloth that Freed had spat out previously, to poke it gently back into the green haired man's mouth.

"Mhnmn!"

"Now will you listen?"

"Mhm *cough* mnmm *cough*!"

"I'm gonna take that as a 'no'..."

"MMHN!"

Bickslow sighed, placing his head into his hands. He wasn't sure how he was going to explain this and if Freed wasn't willing to hear him out... Okay, he supposed he had it coming for not at least dropping hints or clues to the Raijinshu and he may or may not have molested Freed that may or may not earn him free ticket for a horrible mauling slash neutering by Laxus but it had to be done. It had to be convincing- But it seemed to be a little too convincing. He ran a hand through his hair as his brain tried cooking up an explanation when a little ray of light shined upon him.

Well, the sudden glow in the couch and soft buzzing to say the least.

Bickslow quickly dug his hand into the couch and attempt to fish out Freed's cellphone, that somehow buried itself during the exchange and caused the green haired man to panic and attempt to stop Bickslow only to fail miserably and flop onto his stomach and utter a rather annoyed huff that the blue-black haired man to laugh. He finally pulled the phone out and his smile grew wide as he read the caller id, answered and placed it on speaker phone.

This should help clear things with Freed if nothing else will.

"About damn time! You almost scared me to death," Came the unmistakable voice of Laxus Dreyar that had Freed tremble. He was going to find out about the horrible betrayal. "But never mind that! Freed! You need to get yourself and Natsu out of there! NOW!"

"Hey Laxus, I don't think he can do that..."

"Bickslow?" Laxus's nervous panic morphed into surprise then anger, "How the hell did you get Freed's phone? AND WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN YOU ASSWIPE?!"

"Long story short," Bickslow replied, gaze quickly landing on the stairway. "It starts with your old man sending me on a recon mission and somehow ending with me here-"

Freed blinked, his anger at the man before him subsiding.

A mission?

"Yeah, well- Whatever," Laxus huffed, "Where's Freed?"

"He's here. Safe with me," Bickslow answered, "Though, he's kinda sorta a little mad at me right now..."

Freed glared at him.

Anger was such an understatement.

"Can't imagine why- But nevermind that! Since you're there, get Freed and Natsu out of there!" Laxus sounded desperate. Scared even. "The Jeremy bastard tricked us! He's-"

"'On his way'? Yeah, I know. He's already here. Fun fact, He's part of the story," Bickslow muttered, looking up to the ceiling. "He's already got Natsu trapped."

"Wha- Then what the hell are you doing? Sitting on your dumb ass!" Laxus roared but not loud enough to give Bickslow away. "You fucking-"

"He was going to kill Freed baby," Bickslow explained hastily, "I had to talk him out of it or he would have blown his brains out! But I got a hold of your old man and he said to contact you."

"For what?"

"A rescue plan," Bickslow replied, looking back toward the stairway, "He said, and no offense but I actually agree with him that I can't just barge in there, guns ablazing! I might hit and kill Pinkie Pie. Or he'll hit and kill Pinkie. He's already armed with Freed baby's gun."

"Fuck-"

"So what should I do?"

There a pregnant pause as Bickslow slowly and absentmindedly reached out for the gag in Freed's mouth, gently pulling it out causing the green haired man to cough a couple of times gingerly.

"Disgusting," Freed muttered, Bickslow nodding without any attention payed.

"Okay. I think I have any idea so here's what I'm gonna have you do," Laxus said after a long while. "You're gonna try and get Natsu out of there and hold Jeremy off as best as you can. Get Natsu to Freed and have the two of them escape through the back door."

"And the back-up?" Bickslow asked as he began untying Freed.

"Did you by chance tell the old man of Jeremy's plans? Did he have any plans other then ripping Natsu's eyes out and running?"

"Yep," Bickslow nodded as Freed sat up and rubbed his wrists. "There's an old sawmill he planned to take Pinkie Pie to... Apparently, after his escape from prison, he spent quite a lot of time there before he told about the cabin in the Dark Woods by some random guy."

"The one outside of town?"

"The same."

"Alright. Do what you can and hopefully Gray and I should be there in 10-20 minutes."

Freed's eyes went wide. Laxus couldn't be serious- It was too dangerous! He was about to open his mouth and argue when he cut from his thoughts the minute he heard a startled cry followed by the sound of broken glass and the creak of a bed, he and Bickslow looked to the ceiling in horror before both men exchanged looks and stood up. They really had no choice, did they?

"Alright then. See ya'." Bickslow nodded before he ended the call and stood up himself and pulled out his own gun. He turned to Freed. "Freed baby- I need you to stay here okay? In the dark! I'm going up there and I'm going to try and do what I can to get Pinkie Pie out this Hell, okay?"

Freed nodded.

"Once I detain Jeremy, I'll have Pinkie Pie run down the stairs to you! Do not go to him!" Bickslow pressed. "I can't stress this enough! If he reaches you, both of you exit out through the back door and get to Sting and Rogue's place! If I remember right they actually don't live very far! If you hear running, and out the front it goes; Remain where you are! No matter what! Got it?"

Freed nodded again.

Bickslow smiled brightly before turning his attention to the stairs.

"Welp- Wish me luck!"

* = Hello in Latin