ADULT THEMES AND GRAPHIC SCENES AHEAD:
THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EXTREMELY GRAPHIC FANFICTION. IT IS NOT INTENDED FOR IMMATURE AUDIENCES AND MAY CONTAIN TRIGGERS FOR SOME READERS. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A READER TO KEEP THIS IN MIND FOR THE FUTURE. I WILL REPOST THIS DISCLAIMER AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY CHAPTER WITH GRAPHIC CONTENT. I WILL DO MY BEST TO ENSURE THAT IF YOU SKIP THE CHAPTER THAT YOU WILL NOT LOSE ANY OF THE EXPERIENCE.
PLEASE BE KIND AND CONSIDERATE WHEN READING. CRITIQUE IS ENCOURAGED BUT RUDENESS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
THANK YOU FOR READING. I HOPE YOU ENJOY.
EDIT: I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR ANYONE WHO DIDN'T WANT TO READ EXPLICIT PARTS. THERE WASN'T A CLEAR PLACE TO CUT THE WRITING AND INSTEAD OF RUIN THE FLOW OF EVERYTHING I DECIDED THE CONTENT WASN'T SO BAD THAT I'D PUT ***** TO INDICATE WHERE TO FLIP CHAPTERS. YOU SHOULD SEE IT COMING LONG BEFORE IT HAPPENS THOUGH SO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
"Wow, Laxus, you were amazing!" Freed grinned at him behind a waterfall of emerald hair, "Your skills in dispatching dark mages is unmatched!"
"We all really make the best team in the guild," Evergreen crooned, fanning herself as she looked slyly at the blonde. Her outfit was as promiscuous as always, not nearly as beautiful as Mirajane but still projecting a confident attractiveness all her own. Although Laxus had never recognized her as anything other than a teammate, he had to admit she was pretty.
"I can't wait to get back to the guild," Bixlow chimed, his eyes glowing excitedly beneath his helmet, "My babies and I are ready for a good rest!"
"Good rest! Good rest!" his floating dolls tolled happily as they floated around his head.
"I'm sure you're looking forward to seeing Elfman again, huh, Ever?" Bixlow grinned devilishly.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Evergreen brushed her hair from her shoulder offhandedly, just barely not concealing the red that tipped her ears.
Laxus sighed at their antics. His eyes traveling lazily to the horizon where the sunset silhouetted the guild as it overlooked the city of Magnolia. It was quite the amazing sight but Laxus felt far from welcomed by it. How long had it been now since he and Gajeel had spoken? Two weeks? Three? He'd tried to keep his mind off of it as much as he could but to no avail. Every time he saw the Iron Mage it was only for fleeting moments and never alone. The raven-haired Slayer seemed to be doing everything in his power to avoid him. Pantherlily, Levy, Wendy, or even Salamander was always very near. And if he were alone it was always with a purpose. He was leaving on a mission, heading home, or heading back to his seat from the bar.
Even Marijane had made comment on the night Laxus had walked him home drunk. Both had hoped to repair whatever strange relationship the two had but the night had only aggravated the situation and Laxus refused to fess up as to why. Honestly, he couldn't blame Gajeel for avoiding him like the plague. It seemed he'd lost every shred of control he had around the Iron Dragon since…
That goddamn mission…
"Are they upsetting you, Laxus? I will make them stop bickering if you wish," Freed's voice interrupted his thoughts and brought him crashing back to the present. He looked at him quizzically for a moment before realizing how charged he'd made the air around them in his deep thought. He immediately repressed the magical energy.
"I'm fine," Laxus conceded, his deep voice rolling out lazily, "I'm just tired and irritable from the trip I suppose."
"It was a little longer than usual, wasn't it?" Freed smiled over at him, his stance completely at ease, "Maybe you should visit the bath house? It'll probably help to soothe your wounds and reenergize you."
"Eh?" the sore pangs of their fight barely registered; just more casualties from the many that he'd taken so many times before. Although it was true he was tired and the whole endeavor had been taxing, he didn't feel exceptionally fatigued. But then, it had been a long time since he'd used the bathhouse and the medicated waters didn't sound like such a bad idea, "Maybe."
"Well, whatever you do, I hope you feel better tomorrow," Freed chirped happily before breaking off with the rest of the Thunder God Tribe. Laxus stared after them as they disappeared down the street towards the guild, laughing and joking with one another. He let out a sigh and rolled his shoulders, feeling how stiff they'd become even during the short walk from the train. Maybe a warm bath wouldn't be such a bad idea.
When he arrived at the large stone building he felt relieved to see no one was around. He wasn't exactly in the mood to deal with other people. Once inside, he quickly stripped and put his things in a locker before heading down the tiled hallway that headed to the bath. The steam intensified as he approached and he could already feel his muscles relax from the warmth. When he turned the corner he immediately stopped, his grip around his towel clamping much tighter than before.
In the corner across the room, a lone figure was relaxing in the steaming water. Of course it had to be him, here of all places. His raven hair was fanned out around him, clinging to the walls there his head rested, waving gently in the ripples of the water around him, sticking to his biceps defiant to gravity. His tanned body was stretched out, only his chest and knees escaping the heat of the water. His head was against the tile, eyes gently shut where he relaxed in the lazy ripples and piercings glistening gently in the foggy light.
Maybe he was asleep, or maybe he was just ignoring the entrance of the other mage, but he made no move when Laxus entered the chamber nor did the easy swelling and falling of his chest change in the slightest to the intrusion. For a brief moment, Laxus considered leaving right then. He could just gather his things without Gajeel even realizing he was there and completely avoid any problem this might possibly cause. But another side of him, the stubborn one, thought the idea completely stupid. Who was he running from? Certainly not the other man in the room. What was he afraid of?
Another night without control…
He pushed the thought from his mind immediately. He'd be fine. This was a public place. Someone could walk in at any moment. And whatever came over him that night was dead and buried he was sure; caused by whatever few drinks he had had that night and Gajeel's weakened state. This wasn't the case here. He wasn't going to do something like that again. He could be around him without losing it.
The whole hesitation was stupid.
With as much confidence as he could muster, he shed his towel and sat it neatly on the cool ground and then gently eased himself into the warm water. Almost immediately he felt the effect of the magic-infused bath. His muscles released and everything in his body seemed to exhale a sigh of relief. The fighting of the last couple of days, the long journey home, it all melted away in an instant. He sank into it up to his chin, allowing his golden locks to dip into the prismatic ripples. His golden eyes watched the reflection on the ceiling, following how the light refracted and spun waves across the roof.
The hair on the back of his neck rose suddenly and his heart began to pound just the smallest bit faster. He didn't have to avert his gaze to know that Gajeel was staring at him, and most likely not with the most adoring look. If a glare could pierce right through him, he was sure Gajeel was trying it right now. He sat up easily, not permitting himself to glance over at the other Mage, and ran his fingers through his hair.
Shit. Why was he suddenly so nervous? He felt like he was being put under speculation, like this was all a test to prove he could be around the other man. It was frustrating and unnerving. He wasn't going to even regard him. He was going to pretend like he wasn't there. As nonchalantly as possible, he grabbed a bar of soap and casually started to lather it against his hands.
Damn he had to concentrate so hard. He had to make sure the bar didn't slip between his fingers, that his hands weren't moving so fast as to betray his nervousness or too slow as to alert that he was being meticulous. He couldn't look agitated or flustered. He had to retain a cool demeanor lest the other know he was worked up. Why was this suddenly so complicated? What the hell was he even afraid of? Afraid. Who said he was afraid?
The splashing of water could have been a roaring waterfall for how loud it sounded in the silent room and damn him if he didn't jump. It took everything in him to just glance up offhandedly instead of whipping his head around to track the motion's source. Gajeel was leaning over, ringing out his hair and wrapping it quickly into a messy bun before grabbing his towel to secure it around his waist. He took the liberty to watch his muscles knit under his skin with each easy movement, how they stretched and retracted naturally with each shrug of his shoulders and simple intake of breath. It was like he was seeing it from the eyes of some who'd never seen another man before. Curious and entranced, he desperately ripped his eyes away just as the Iron Mage made a step to turn around.
Was he holding his breath? Why was he holding his breath? Laxus rubbed his shoulder anxiously. Couldn't Gajeel just leave already? Why was he taking a thousand years about this? Each step closer echoed off the walls loudly, reminding him more and more of how there was just the two of them there. He was walking closer and closer, having to pass the Lightning Mage in order to get to the exit. He was in the process of damning himself for his poor choice in seating when a noise caught his attention.
Just when he thought Gajeel couldn't get any closer, his footfall faltered. There was the slick sound of skin sliding against tile and then a splash. Laxus skittered back as water hit him in the face and he shook his head angrily to get the hot liquid from his eyes.
"What the hell-?!" Laxus snapped, only to open his eyes and find himself staring right at a semi-supine Gajeel. Shock filled his ruby eyes and he suddenly snapped his head towards Laxus, meeting his gaze immediately and then holding it there.
Laxus froze. Everything was fine and then the metal-headed idiot had to slip and fall right in front of him. For Mavis' sakes the man wasn't graceful by any means but this was absolutely ridiculous. And those penetrating red eyes were staring at him accusingly as if it were he who'd done something wrong!
He had to calm down. He could feel his magical energy releasing static into the air as he became more and more frustrated. He set his jaw and tried to let out a breath, control his magical energy. How was it that this agitating moron could frustrate him like no other in the entire kingdom of Fiore and beyond?
"Watch what you're doing, Redfox," Laxus growled indignantly, shooting a glare in his direction. Gajeel didn't say a word, just slowly sat up and wiped the water from his eyes.
"Surprised you can even handle the water, Sparky,"
"Why don't you move your ass before I decide I can't handle the water, cheeky bastard..."
Suddenly it hit him in the face, the scent that had made him spiral out of control a few weeks prior. It made every nerve in his body twinge and that same primal desire start to surge back to the surface. That was when he noticed Gajeel wasn't moving, that he was sitting at a strange angle to conceal something from the Lightning Dragon Slayer.
"Shit…" Gajeel no sooner got the word out then Laxus had closed the gap between them. Gajeel's hands gripped his biceps, as much trying to pull him close as they were trying to keep him away.
"What the hell is that…?" Laxus breathed. It was filling his lungs again and he craved it, needed more.
No, he needed to stop. He wasn't going to do this again. Whatever the hell this was he wasn't going to let it control him like some starved dog going after a scrap of meat. He could feel the vein on his jaw constrict from how hard he was clenching his teeth. Ruby eyes were keeping him trapped, beckoning him to travel the short distance to his lips… Fuck. No. No that's not what they were saying. He clenched his eyes shut. Seriously, he had to calm down. This was crazy.
"Get a hold of yourself," Gajeel growled.
He sounded like he was out of breath, like he was fighting something as well. Laxus stole a look back down at him, raven hair disheveled from its previous hold and laying haphazardly on his shoulders, chest heaving uneasily as if he had just run a marathon, pupils dilated and beseeching…
It slipped from his lips just as he thought it. It didn't ask permission, just arrived of its own volition, unapologetic and brash.
"You don't want me to, do you?"
Gajeel's ruby eyes widened ever so slightly, a dirty betrayal that was all the permission he needed. They crashed together like a hurricane hitting a well-weathered shore. Like a dragon and a tiger waging war against each other, their lips met in a heated battle for dominance as the two men wrapped their arms around each other. It was glorious and Laxus loved every second! Their canines scraped against each other, nails dug into flesh and tongues darted out to slither against corded muscle.
Laxus was trying his hardest not to leave marks, to leave some semblance of purity left on the scarred skin of his partner. Gajeel didn't seem to care, however, and nibbled on his neck hungrily, scraped his nails down his chest angrily, and sucked on his jaw gently. Laxus pulled the Iron Mage onto his lap, his erection sliding against the raven's backside under the water. He could feel Gajeel's member lying against his abs, the slight pulse of his lust making his kisses more aggressive. Laxus couldn't stand it, he might just release in the water at this rate.
That's when he heard it: voices.
They were coming from the doorway; down the short hall Laxus himself had walked what now seemed an eternity ago. There wasn't just one or two, but several, all that he recognized but at the moment couldn't place. He was still lost in his need for the man who was shivering on his hips. He couldn't stop now, not when he was so close and so was Gajeel. But the raven-haired Mage on top of him froze to his advances, a move that frustrated Laxus to no end and he found himself grabbing a fist full of jet black locks and pulling him down so he could plant hungry kisses on his throat.
"Laxus…!" he gasped, trying to disentangle himself from the blonde's tattooed arms, "Laxus, stop it!"
A throaty growl loosed itself from his mouth. He wasn't going to release what was his. He wasn't done yet. He was just so close. All he needed was just a few more moments and he was sure they'd both be…
A solid punch across the face had him stunned for just long enough for Gajeel to scramble out of the water, grab a towel and cover himself. Laxus, immediately snapped out of the scarily possessive thoughts he'd been having, pulled his knees together in the sudden need to hide the evidence of what they'd been doing just seconds before men from the guild began filtering into the bathhouse. Freed's emerald hair stuck out among them and he shot him an apologetic smile as he approached.
"Sorry, Laxus. When we got back to the guild and everyone asked where you were, they all decided it would be a good idea to go to the bathhouse as well. I tried to dissuade them but it obviously didn't work…"
"Hmm… yeah…" Laxus barely paid attention to his words. His eyes were too busy staying trained on the raven locks that were hastily slinking through the crowd towards the exit, "I was actually about to leave, anyway."
"I really am sorry. I know you wanted to relax. Some help I am…"
"What? It's not a big deal," Laxus' tried to hide the annoyance he so heavily felt. More than anything now he desperately just wanted to follow after the Iron Dragon Slayer, "Say… I've lost my towel in everyone coming in. Mind if I borrow yours?"
"Oh… of course, I'll just grab another one later,"
Laxus quickly covered himself, making sure no one would catch sight of his current problem, and silently strode into the safety of the locker room