Chapter 44:

"Put these on,"

Gajeel threw a black bag at Laxus. They were back at the hotel and the sun was setting. Laxus had started to think that maybe Gajeel hadn't had anything planned for their second day in Edelweiss and all the talk of keeping his plans a secret was just a ploy. He hadn't been too concerned until his partner had started digging through his pack in search of something with maniacal smile on his face. He eyed the bag in his hands suspiciously. It felt like clothing but he was a little scared to look inside.

"What is it?" he glanced up at the raven who had a wicked grin plastered across his face and eyes as wild as a jungle cat's.

"Gihi… I don't know," he said audaciously, placing his fists on his hips as he waited impatiently, "Why don't you find out."

Well that did nothing to ease the Lightning Slayer's doubts, "If this is some weird shit you're into…"

"Well, you don't have a choice so you might as well stop being a coward about it," he retorted and grabbed a similar black bag of his own and headed to the bathroom to change.

"Like hell I don't have a choice," he muttered and pulled out the contents. It was indeed clothing but nothing he'd ever be caught dead wearing. It was a black sleeveless shirt with what looked to be splatter-paint of different neon colors and white fur around the neckline that steeped into a sharp V as well as circling around the arms. The pants he pulled out were skinny jeans, also black, and also covered in splatter-paint along with x's painted down the outside seams. He wrinkled his nose, absolutely disgusted, "Gajeel! What the hell is this?"

"You have to wear it!" he called out from the bathroom and Laxus snorted.

"Are you fucking with me right now?" he growled, "This is gaudy as hell!"

The door to the bathroom opened and out stepped Gajeel and Laxus thought he might fall over.

"I have never been more serious in my entire life," he smiled like a fiend over at him in white, straight-legged pants with black stripes up one of the legs and a black shirt with neon pink words spelling out 'All I Do Is Fuck And Party' in large print. He even had neon pink fingerless gloves and had braided brightly colored strands into his hair.

Laxus was dumbfounded, "What in the hell are you wearing?"

"Put it on Sparky! We have to leave in ten minutes!" he barked as he walked over to slide on his black boots.

"Where in the hell are you taking me that we have to dress like this?" he growled, reluctantly taking off his shirt.

"Gihi… you'll find out soon enough," his stupid grin never left his face and his eyes were bright with barely-contained laughter as Laxus actually put it on. He felt immensely stupid wearing the bright ensemble. He crossed his arms miserably and followed him out of the hotel. Everyonethey passed on the street stared. They stuck out like a sore thumb and every step they took made Laxus want to run back to the sanctity of their suite. Gajeel walked as if he didn't notice a single odd glance their way, a proud look on his face as he kept repeating the same mantra: that Laxus needed to loosen up, he was about to have a lot of fun.

Gajeel steered them towards some decrepit buildings. The factory district in this town was worse for wear since they mostly thrived off of tourism. In particular, Gajeel was headed for a massive brick building with crumbling smoke stacks and broken windows. Laxus was cold wearing the skimpy shirt in the freezing weather and the foreboding feel from the decaying factory was enough to sour his mood even more.

"I feel so stupid," he hissed, coming up beside him, "Where are you taking me?"

"Can't tell, ya, Sparky. It'll ruin the surprise,"

"Mavis' sakes, are you going to kill me?" he growled as they walked up to the rusted metal doors, "Why did you dress me like an idiot if you were taking me to a chop shop?"

"If I wanted to kill ya I would have done it while you slept," Gajeel snapped, gripping the heavy door and easing it open. It groaned on its hinges, protesting the rude stirring from its deathlike slumber, "Would've saved me all yer whining."

There were three men standing towards the back of the factory. Laxus's skin prickled as he followed Gajeel in. The door slammed shut behind them and with it Laxus's last hope for escape. Gajeel didn't seem perturbed in the least, just strode ahead in all his neon splendor towards the standoffish brutes. Laxus felt like he was walking into a bad drug deal and he followed close on Gajeel's heels, silently cursing the man as they went.

"Is this where we pay to get in?" Gajeel piped, gaining the three's attention. One looked them up and down before nodding and pulling out some papers and instructing them to sign. Gajeel didn't hesitate and Laxus complied, albeit begrudgingly. They looked like waivers and Laxus furrowed his brow as he read the fine print.

"Have you two been here before?"

"Nope," Gajeel muttered as he started pulling out jewels.

"This is open to mages and non-mages so no magic is allowed. There's a magic barrier once you get in so don't be alarmed if you suddenly realize you can't use any magic. And, of course, if you act out of hand we reserve the right to remove you… any questions?"

"Sounds good to me," Gajeel grinned, "What about you, Sparky?"

Laxus seethed, "Great. Sounds great."

"Go down that hallway to the elevator. You'll hear the music as soon as you cross the barrier,"

Laxus followed after Gajeel. Their footsteps echoed off cement walls as they made their way to a rickety elevator at the end of a long corridor. Gajeel pulled the rusty metal cage shut and hit the button. The whole contraption shuddered as wheels and gears groaned to life and jolted them down the shaft.

"So, ground rules," Gajeel smirked, "I'm buying all the drinks and you're not going to take anything from anyone else, got it?"

Laxus regarded him coldly, "Where in the hell have to kidnapped me to?"

"Oh, come on, Sparky. You ain't guessed it, yet?" he taunted up at him, "Where else would you wear this kind of shit? With music? And drinks?"

"You took me to an abandoned factory on the outskirts of town. You tell me,"

Gajeel rolled his eyes as the elevator juddered to a halt. He pulled the door open and stepped into the dimly-lit basement. Laxus could see bright colors and strobe lights flashing against the wall up ahead although he heard nothing. The guy up top hadmade mention about a magic barrier. Maybe it kept the sound in as well? He noticed purple runes inscribed on the floor and walls, making a visible line where Gajeel stopped. He pulled something from his pocket and offered it to Laxus.

"What is this?" he growled warily. Gajeel rolled his eyes yet again.

"Tranquilizers," Gajeel spat sarcastically, "It's aspirin, in case you get a headache."

Laxus gritted his teeth before taking the tablets and chewing them, following Gajeel across the border. Immediately, the music hit him like a solid wall. The vibration shook his body and the sound of a throng of people made his eyes widen. They rounded the bend and were almost immediately greeted by a mass of bodies, jumping and grinding and dancing to the bass that shook the entire room.

"You. Took. Me. To. A. Rave." Laxus yelled, barely able to hear himself over the discord.

"Bickslow told me you secretly love party music and you've never been," Gajeel yelled back, his voice almost completely lost to the music. Everything on him glowed from the black lights and his studs reflected neons up at him. Laxus crossed his arms.

"I'm leaving,"

Gajeel grabbed his arm, "You mean to tell me you're running from the opportunity to grind on my ass for three hours to loud music?"

Laxus narrowed his eyes at him but it seemed to be all the permission Gajeel needed. He stepped forward so that they were chest to chest.

"Loosen up, Sparky," he grinned salaciously, "I'll buy you a couple drinks, we'll dance for a few hours, and we'll go back to the hotel shitfaced and fuck until we pass out. It'll be fun."

Laxus's armor failed and Gajeel rejoiced in his victory by linking them arm-in-arm and towing him in the direction of the bar. Trying to navigate through the scrummage of chaotic dancers was like walking through a windstorm battering them back and forth between walls of gyrating, writhing, sweating bodies. Gajeel's iron grip kept him tethered to him as they pushed their way through the fray and hauled him up by his side at the bar. There were a few barkeepers trying to keep up with the orders and Gajeel motioned one over and pointed to something on the board, yelling a name Laxus didn't catch.

The keep nodded and pulled out three glasses and two double shots. His hands worked quickly, flipping the first glass over and leaving the other two upright. He filled them first with a blue liquid and then with a yellow and finally finished it off with a couple clear liquors. It glowed bright green in the black light and Laxus raised a brow at Gajeel who just motioned for him to watch. Next the man filled the double shots with a different, purple mix and flipped out his lighter and lit them both, balancing them atop the rims of the two cups. He tapped the first shot and it fell into the glass, knocking into the other as well and causing it to fall also, the reaction turning the drinks an almost fluorescent yellow. Laxus's eyes widened when Gajeel slid one of the drinks over to him.

"You chug it," he grinned, "Ready?"

Laxus wrinkled his nose but picked up the glass anyway and at Gajeel mark he tipped it back and swallowed it down. The alcohol was cheap but the mix was sweet and he quickly got the whole drink down with no issue. He heard Gajeel slam the drink on the bar just before he did and the Iron Dragon laughed as blush started to rise to his cheeks from the rush. He signaled at the barkeep who pulled out four shot glasses and filled them each with vodka. Laxus grinned down at the raven who's eyes were already ablaze.

"Two shots," he hollered over the noise, holding up two fingers for emphasis, "First one who downs 'em, wins."

"Wins what?" Laxus smirked to which Gajeel grinned devilishly.

"We can figure that out later. Ready?"

Laxus laughed, "Fuck it, sure."

"Go!"

Like the true alcoholic he was, Gajeel downed both shots without hesitation and slammed them both on the counter almost a second before Laxus could. Laxus couldn't compete with his mastery. Two more shots later and he was even slower than the raven who just laughed and punched him playfully in the shoulder before sliding his money across the counter and getting a couple cups of beer. He grabbed Laxus's hand and pulled him back into the melee, this time heading for the stage.

The music was insanely loud. It drowned out all other noise and the bodies surrounding them pulsated with it, bumped and grinded into each other, pulled each other in and wrapped themselves together to it. They were encircled by people, the disorienting smells of sweat and lust and perfumes and liquor made Laxus's head swim even more than the poison in his system. Gajeel's body was pressed to his, the words on his shirt jumping out more than ever with the lights blaring overhead. He couldn't even make out the lyrics to the song that was playing, just catching tidbits of words singing about getting drunk or high.

It was so hot in the room and Gajeel's body was like a fire on him. Toned muscle was chest to chest with him, hips bumping and grinding against his own to the beat of the music. At some point some girls ended up dancing beside them, grinding their asses and hips against them and threatening to get in between them. Laxus didn't have any intention of losing Gajeel in the mass, though, and neither Gajeel he. They ended up back to front with Laxus grinding against his ass while some girl danced against Gajeel. He didn't really care. Gajeel kept his hands to himself and he was getting a thrill from thrusting against his partner. It wasn't long before he was breathless and hungry and so ready to just leave with Gajeel and tow to ravage him back at the suite. Gajeel seemed to feel his frustration. He stopped his dancing to glance back at his partner, hair disheveled and a licentious smile playing on his lips.

"Another drink?" he mouthed up at him and Laxus nodded before quickly leaning down to kiss him. He dared to slip his tongue out to run across Gajeel's lips only to feel them part and nip at him greedily. Laxus smiled against his roughness and tipped his head to the side to growl into his ear.

"I'm ready for the part where I fuck you until you pass out,"

"I thought we were getting shitfaced first?" Gajeel teased and Laxus just ran his hands down his back in reply, eliciting a shiver from the shorter man, "Another drink then, and then we'll leave."

"Sounds good," he rumbled as Gajeel plucked the mostly-empty cup from his hand and disappeared into the crowd. The girls were all over him then as soon as Gajeel left. He hadn't noticed before but they were talking to him, eyes lusty and breath smelling of alcohol.

"Was that your boyfriend?"

"He's so hot."

"I love your tattoo!"

One of the girls came up with four drinks, handing one to each of them and then shoving one into Laxus's hands. She winked at him as they all tipped back their glassed. Laxus refrained at first, his bleary mind remembering something about Gajeel not wanting him to take drinks from anyone else. But he couldn't remember why so when they watched him expectantly he also tipped the cup back. He didn't drink the whole thing, just a few gulps, but they cheered and jumped up and down to the music again, pulling him with them deeper into the dancing bodies.

After a while he started to feel like his heart was pounding harder than it should have been. The lights and sounds were a little hazy and he had to blink a few times before he could focus on the girls in front of him. One of them had taken their shirt off and was pressing her chest into him, eyes large and pupils expanded so wide he almost couldn't see her irises. Another one was pointing to his cup and goading him to drink the rest of it. He glanced at it, back to her, and shrugged. Right when he was putting the cup to his lips something hit it and it flipped from his hands to hit someone off to his right. The girls shrieked and smiled but Laxus felt something grab his hand and pull him away from them.

He was so confused. They were just having some fun.

He felt jostled and dazed every time someone ran into him, whoever had a vice grip on his hand was dragging him towards the back of the room. When they broke from the mass of people his eyes finally focused on Gajeel's hair and he pulled back, stopping the Iron Dragon in his tracks and dragging him back. Gajeel turned, his eyes agitated and not nearly in as high spirits as he was. Laxus grinned and stepped up to him, pulled him close and crashed into him. So voracious was his appetite for him that he laced his fingers into his hair to keep him from being able to pull away. He sighed into him, grinded his hips against him. The sound of the music was making him shudder, as if it were alive and caressing every part of his body. He didn't want to stop, could have taken the raven right there if he hadn't bitten his lip to the point that he flinched away from him.

"Ah! Gajeel!" Gajeel had him by his wrist, was pulling him after him out past the barrier where all sound dropped to startling silence, "Wait! Wait! Gajeel! Stop!"

Gajeel turned on him, his eyes fiery but not with the kind of heat Laxus thought should be there, "You're fucking high, Laxus."

"What?" he didn't understand why he was so angry. Of course he wasn't high.

"I told you not to take drinks from other people," he growled. Laxus raised a brow at him grabbed his hand and pushed his hips against the raging Iron Dragon's. He tried to run a finger down his jaw but Gajeel batted him away, getting angrier by the second.

"Gajeel… calm down…" he teased, trying to lean down to kiss him, "I'm not high, I just drank too much."

"You're fucking…"

"I'll fuck you, if you let me," he growled, finally finding his lips before Gajeel pushed him away again.

"The only thing you're getting is a long walk in the cold to sober the hell up," Gajeel snarled, grabbing his wrist yet again and pulling him into the elevator. Laxus laughed, unable to not find the whole situation funny. Gajeel was always so serious. He needed to lighten up… which was even funnier because Gajeel had been the one yelling at him to lighten up just an hour prior.

"It's been more than an hour," Gajeel rolled his eyes and Laxus grinned.

"What? Really? Holy shit…" he laughed, "Time flies."

"Yeah, time flies," Gajeel muttered, stepping off the platform and walking past the bouncers. Laxus hurried after him, through the heavy metal door, and out into the chill.

He didn't understand much of their trip home. He felt like he was floating or flying. It was both hard to keep up with Gajeel but also he was leaving him in his dust. He felt warm, like his whole body was blushing. The air on his skin was crisp and alive and forming microscopic snowflakes on the hairs of his arms. Occasionally, Gajeel would touch him and his flesh would light on fire from the touch. He wanted to kiss him so badly but Gajeel wouldn't let him, just kept telling him to get back to the hotel. His heart just felt so full he couldn't stand it. How do you contain yourself when you love someone so much? He found he kept asking how far back to the hotel, he couldn't wait to put his hands on Gajeel, to feel his heat, kiss his lips, finger him, fuck him, just bewith him. Several times Gajeel got flustered and his cheeks would flush bright red as he pushed him along.

He glanced up and caught sight of the moon. Dear gods, it was beautiful. Everything it's light touched was striking. It even formed a halo around Gajeel's jet black hair. When he let out a breath the particles were miniscule prisms refracting the tiniest rainbows at him. It was like the whole world was washed in silver. Maybe it was the silver from the mines from a time long ago…

Gajeel gripped onto his collar and dragged him inside the hotel. Shit, when did they get there? He didn't remember walking by the bamboo forest. He was washed over with the scents of them mingling together in the space and even the hairs on his neck stood on end with elation from it. He walked over to the bed and fell into it. It was so soft, he could have sworn he could feel every single strand as it ran across his skin. He felt hands grabbing at his boots, pulling them from his feet and stripping them bare of his socks. Hands tugged at his belt and he grinned, pushing himself up onto his elbows to look down at Gajeel as he worked to tear him apart.

"Are we going to fuck now?" he grinned and Gajeel shot him a venomous look.

"Yer going ta bed," his voice was gruff as he ripped the belt off of him and his hands when to unbuckle his pants.

"But I don't want to go ta bed," he dropped each word in the exact same way Gajeel did, with that strange rough accent he picked up from time to time when he was exasperated, and he noticed Gajeel's eyes narrow up at him, "I want to have sex."

Gajeel rolled his eyes as he shimmied his jeans from his hips, "You'll thank me tomorrow."

"Mmm… I don't think I will. This is the last night we'll be here. I'm sure I'll just be pissed,"

"Then you'll get over it, won't you?" he bit up at him, leaning a knee onto the mattress as he reached for the bottom of Laxus's shirt. Laxus lifted himself up the rest of the way so that his face was just a few inches away from Gajeel's. Gajeel didn't seem the least bit startled, just ripped the hem of his shirt upwards over his head and arms.

"Lay down," he instructed and left him, walking over to the sink to draw a glass of water.

"Gajeeel…" Laxus called after him, "Please?"

"No."

He tilted his head back and watched the ceiling, noticing finite details he hadn't seen the night before. He just felt so alive, so happy. Why did Gajeel have to be such a killjoy? He just wanted to have sex. He could just imagine how amazing it would feel since he was like this. Just thinking about it sent a thrill through his groin and he smiled, lulling his head to the side to watch Gajeel out of the corner of his eyes. His studs glittered in the faint light. His muscles were taught under his skin and a scowl was set into his face. Was it really so bad that he was high? He didn't care, so why did Gajeel care so much?

Gajeel lumbered back over to him and placed the glass of water on the nightstand. He laid a hand on his shoulder gently, some of his frustration finally starting to abate.

"Let's go to bed,"

Laxus felt like a child, giddy and restless and definitely not ready to go to sleep. He leaned over and kissed Gajeel's hand, "But I want to have sex,"

Gajeel rolled his eyes, "Why do you want to have sex so badly?"

"Because I love you… and that's what you do when you want to show someone you love them,"

Gajeel's eyes widened and he was silent for a minute, "Laxus, you're very drunk and you're veryhigh."

"Ehh?" he leaned forward as if to put emphasis on his words, "So what if I am? I love you when I'm sober, too."

Gajeel's face became stoic as he looked down at him but his eyes spoke volumes. They were dancing like candles hidden behind rose-colored glass. They were overwhelmed and full and beautiful. Gods alive, his eyes were beautiful.

"Does me loving you scare you?" he pressed, unable to control himself in even the smallest bit. What would happen if he didn't like Gajeel's answer? Then what?

"No… no it doesn't," he muttered, not moving his eyes from Laxus's, "I just… I think you're making a mistake."

Laxus snorted, "A mistake? Why in the hell would I be making a mistake?"

"There's a million better people in this world for you, Laxus. People who aren't murderers, or thieves, or… fucked up…"

"You're not fucked up," Laxus hissed, for some reason still unable to stop smiling up at the raven dumbly, "Why don't you believe me?"

"This isn't a conversation for when yer high off your ass, Sparky," Gajeel muttered but Laxus refused to let up.

"Why do you think so highly of me? I've done bad shit too,"

Gajeel's lip curled up in a snarl, "Ya mean when you got inta a fight with your granddaddy and threw a tantrum big enough to involve the entire guild?"

"I threatened to killthe people of Magnolia," he was still smiling. Why in the hell was he still smiling? This wasn't funny anymore, this was an actual fight.

"But you didn't, Laxus. That's the difference between you and me. I did and you didn't. Do ya understand that? You love a murderer," Gajeel's eyes were wide and his pupils small slivers floating like helpless boats in a sea of blood red as he held Laxus's gaze, "And ya don't think that maybe ya can find someone a little better for you than a murderer?"

Where he found the confidence Laxus had no idea but he somehow had absolutely no qualms with smirking up at the hopeless raven staring down at him, "I love you, Gajeel Redfox. Do you love me?"

"Do… do I love you?" Gajeel seemed incredulous, "What do you mean, do I love you?"

"It's a yes or no question. It's pretty fucking simple," Laxus pressed and somehow Gajeel's eyes widened even more.

"Simple? You think it's simple?" Gajeel's voice had a touch of feverish rage bubbling up despite how he was trying to remain calm, "Laxus… to me, you're… you're…"

"I'm what?" he waited patiently as Gajeel fought to control his emotions and align them with what he wanted to say. Laxus was jealous. He was so articulate when he wanted to be. He always figured out how to voice what he really wanted when prompted to do so. Laxus felt he always seemed to just freeze up.

"You're like a godto me," Gajeel was angry and also suddenly incredibly fragile. Laxus was surprised the words had actually come out of his mouth and he was stuck in a shocked silence as the Iron Dragon finally unfolded before him like some origami creation returning to its original raw form, "You're this untouchable thing. I can't look at you without thinking about everything wrong I've done and how I haven't answered for it and yet here you are, wrecking through everything I thought I knew I was by saying stupid shit like you love me. Love you? Fuck, I dunno, Laxus. Does… does the moon love the sun? It couldn't shine at night without the sun, it wouldn't be beautiful or wax and wane the way it does without the sun. But does the moon love something it can't be on the same plane of existence with? It could worship the sun, maybe, adore it even. But love? Not healthily. Not like maybe the sky would or the clouds or the earth."

Laxus didn't miss a beat, just smirked. He had to give the raven credit. He was so extremely lost in his own self-hate that he thought that meant he couldn't love someone else? Or accept love in return? How intense does loathing have to be to cause a person to be like that? Did Laxus have to chase it away every single time? He could do that, he concluded. He was stubborn too. Maybe Gajeel had a silver tongue and could speak poetically about things he obsessed over, call it the songwriter in him, maybe. Laxus couldn't be eloquent like that, but he could sure as hell try.

"Can the moon love the sun?" Laxus grinned, "Sure it can. There's a legend that comes from some of the old cultures down south that believes the moon not only loved the sun but she loved the sun enough to die for him. Back in the time when gods walked the earth, she was a princess who fell in love with a warrior. Her father killed her because she wanted to run away with him and scattered the pieces of her body into thirteen trees. The sun, also madly in love with the moon, searched for her broken pieces in all thirteen trees and finally found her reborn in the last tree. So he reclaimed her and eventually they were reborn as the sun and the moon that we see in the sky."

Gajeel seemed speechless. He dropped his eyes to the ground and clenched his teeth, casting about for something to retort back to him but coming up short. Laxus basked in his own glory while he waited.

"Bet ya didn't expect shit like that outta me, eh?"

Gajeel sighed, placed his hands on Laxus's knees and a look of resignation came to his face, "I don't deserve you, Laxus. You're too good for me."

Well, that did it. The smile that had been glued to his face finally disappeared.

"You don't deserve me?" he snorted as if the entire idea was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard, "What is this? You don't deserve Levy, you don't deserve me… who do you deserve, Gajeel? Who? Someone who will berate you? What about someone who'll beat you? Rape you, maybe? Did you forget, I've done terrible things to you, Gajeel, not just the guild?"

Gajeel's eyes widened and a laugh snuck it's way past Laxus's lips.

"Did you… did you forgetthat I hurt you, Gajeel?"

Gajeel straightened to his full height then, completely recoiled from him, "You… you weren't yourself,"

"But I still did it, Gajeel. It doesn't matter what state of mind I was in when it happened, it still happened. Just like you, right?"

"That… that was nothinglike me… you were drugged, Laxus."

"And you didn't think you had any other choice, Gajeel," Laxus was shaking and he was sure that in the silence Gajeel could probably hear his bones knocking against each other as his body tried to contain the swell of emotions he felt. He could tell Gajeel was shocked. He didn't know what to say anymore, just stared at the ground with disbelief.

"I think… we're getting off the subject," Laxus finally resumed, collecting what was left of his frazzled thoughts, "I'm not asking you to love yourself. Loving yourself is hard and ugly and sometimes seems impossible. That's not something I'm asking you to do because, hell, that's not even something I can do."

Gajeel's eyes were locked on him. He was stunned, like a mouse caught in the gaze of a predator before it had a chance to dart away. He couldn't believe the words coming from the blonde on the bed before him. Laxus couldn't love himself? This man who walked and lived like he believed he was a god among insects didn't love himself? How could that even be possible? And over something like what he did when he was drugged out of his mind? Gajeel just couldn't believe it and he felt like his heart was bleeding for him. He knew so viscerally how that felt.

"I'm asking you a simple question: do you love me? You can say you don't, that's fine. I won't think any less of you,"

For some reason, this time Gajeel didn't feel the need to hesitate, "Of course I love you."

"You… you do?"

"Absolutely," Gajeel's voice held conviction and it threatened to make Laxus's smile creep back to his face. But he had other things on his mind; a point he wanted to make. He was going to be cruel again.

"Then make love to me,"

"I… make love to you?" Gajeel was confused.

"Make love to me," Laxus stated it sternly, almost as if it were a command. He took a steadying breath; he could do this. He leaned back on the palms of his hands and summoned some more of the endless courage he seemed to have and met Gajeel's gaze steadily, "Come and touch your god, Gajeel Redfox. Find out for yourself that he's a man just like you."

For a moment, Gajeel just stared down at him, his mood sinking ever lower from the angry point it had been at until finally the rest of his irritation dissipated with an exasperated sigh. He crossed his arms, then, and looked off to the side as he thought to himself. Laxus didn't want him to think himself out of it again so he clicked his teeth.

"Does making love to your god intimidate you, Gajeel?"

Those red eyes snapped back up at him and the rest of what was holding him back seemed to melt away from the ire Laxus's words awoke in him.

"Fine…" he growled and a strange powerful aura started to seep from his pores and into the air. It wasn't like the scent of their lust the past day. It was different and strikingly familiar. Laxus recognized it immediately as the same scent he'd experienced from the Iron Mage deep in the forest, a time like ages ago, "But you'd better remember this, Laxus Dreyar."

"Or else?" Laxus smirked up at him even as green sparks danced from Gajeel's fingers. He took hold of Laxus's wrists, crossed them above his head and with iron sealed them together. Laxus toppled backwards onto the bed, forced to watch Gajeel strip from the very bottom of his line of sight.

"I'll have to fuck you twice as hard next time."

He approached Laxus in the same way a panther does its helpless prey, deliberately and mightily. After seeing Gajeel at his weakest he had forgotten how terrifyingly domineering this man could be. He was carnivorous and insatiable, his eyes raked across Laxus's body as if he were his fresh victim. He moved smoothly onto the bed. He wasn't scared of the fair body beneath him anymore and for the first time was allowed to conquer it, so he sat astride Laxus's hips and leaned down over him. Those ebony locks were like a curtain blocking the outside world. For a short while, all the earth was going to be was just the two of them. Laxus's heart shuddered at the tortuous way Gajeel pressed his lips to his throat, almost like a threat. Laxus arched his back at rough fingers enfilading his ribs.

"So if I'm a god does that make you a devil?" Laxus rasped as Gajeel's lips desolated his neck. He swirled his tongue in a circle around his soft flesh, bit into him and sucked ravenously at him. It sent heat to his groin and already his member throbbed with lust. Laxus had to bite back the need. He had been at this man's mercy once before, but only briefly. He hadn't incited some frantic affection from an infatuated lover. Gajeel didn't want him to burn in a brilliant white flame the way Laxus had done to him last night. This man wanted a slow, merciless possession that brought rapturous torment.

Gajeel smiled against the curve of his jaw and pulled back, perching atop him proudly as he thought about Laxus's words. Those lips curled into an indecent grin so wide his sharp teeth glistened down at him menacingly.

"I can be a devil if you want," he pushed his hips into Laxus's, making the blonde swallow hard. He leaned over him slowly and kissed him deeply, as if he were trying to steal his soul directly from Laxus's mouth. His tongue invaded and swept against his own and the entire time he grinded his hips against the blonde's. He started gently, sliding his member up the full length of Laxus's before retreated to stoke up again that fire with more ferocity. He pressed harder, swept up his hips faster, kissed him deeper. Laxus thought he was being consumed deliberately, passionately, and he frantically climbed towards the euphoria he knew well. He was breathing raggedly, was so ready to blow when Gajeel retreated again except permanently this time, and he growled from the indignation of it, pushing his hips up to try and catch the orgasm that fled from him just when he was about to taste it.

Gajeel's lips found themselves back at his jugular, digging sharp teeth into soft tissue and making Laxus hold his breath. His hands caressed his chest as his mouth made its way down, sucking onto his pale skin purple marks as he headed for a new deprivation to unleash. He found his way to his nipple, licked at it gently and sucked, drawing a desperate moan from the blonde as his body craved more. Gajeel complied, running canines down the sensitive flesh and licking over the tender trail with his tongue before sucking hungrily again. Laxus shivered, licked his lips and gritted his teeth to try to contain the desire that was building in his groin. It was painful, this demand, and it gnawed at his sanity with every sensational pull from Gajeel's mouth.

He left him again, this time letting his fingers mark the trail for his next target. Gajeel dug his nails into Laxus's skin, down his ribs, stomach, naval, and with them too did his body slip from the bed to kneel at Laxus's feet. He gripped his thighs roughly and spread his legs, gazing at the raging lust that had so shamefully been begging to be satisfied. Gajeel didn't touch it, though, still didn't allow Laxus the release he needed. Instead, he let lithe fingers slip down to grips his knees and lift his heels so they rested on the edge of the bed.

"Don't move," he growled as he dug his teeth into the soft skin of Laxus's thigh. Laxus moaned disgracefully as Gajeel disappeared between his thighs, felt his hot breath as he travelled down to run his tongue against his heat.

"Gajeel…!"

He gripped his ass severely and revealed his opening, helping himself. He licked against his heat, pressed a finger against it and eased in. Laxus arched his back in an attempt to move his hips from the invasion but Gajeel twisted inside of him and pushed in another finger, stretching him and allowing him to get deeper penetration and sweep against the nerves that had him rolling with pleasure just a few hours prior.

"Gajeel…! That hurts!" he breathed but Gajeel didn't stop, he fucked him slowly with his fingers until he felt he was stretched enough to handle another.

"Relax, fairy, it gets really good if you relax…"

He hit it, that sweet spot that made Laxus's entire body shiver with pleasure. Gajeel grinned and pressed against it again, licking his lips when a strangled moan from the blonde filled the air. He became more aggressive, pushing harder and faster and held Laxus's hips down as his legs shivered more and more violently from his applications. The air was filled with his voice, moaning and shaking as he became further and further lost in his ecstasy.

"Fuck, Gajeel, stop!" he begged, his voice shuddering past his lips.

He disregarded him entirely. In fact, he brought his other hand up to fondle his balls and leaned forward onto his heels so that he could press his lips against Laxus's stiff member. He ran his tongue up the length of his tender flesh, sucked at his vein and then took his head into his mouth. Laxus's voice let loose a strangled cry as Gajeel slipped down his length just as he brushed his sweet spot. It was sinfully erotic to hear the Thunder God completely at his mercy, so lost in his own pleasure that he didn't even care to restrain his voice anymore. Gajeel relished it, sucked him harder and fingered him in rhythm. The shivering in his hips was delicious and Laxus felt he was going to go mad from the extreme pleasure. He wanted to bite into his knuckle but he couldn't, his hands bound in iron that didn't relent against his wrists when he tried to bring them down. He was rocketing towards and intense orgasm, a pleasure he already knew he'd not experienced before. He was so close, almost at his breaking point when once again Gajeel pulled from him.

The frustration was too much for him to bear. He didn't even care that a curse sang from the back of his throat at the sudden drop.

"Goddammit! Gajeel! Fuck!" he was furious. He was right there. His dick throbbed painfully, needed him to release just as much as he wanted to. But Gajeel was a malevolent lover and he wanted the Lightning God to beg before he got what he wanted.

"Mm… a god that takes his own name in vain… how sinful of you, Laxus," his words dripped like melted wax from his lips and made him shiver. He pressed his dick against his ass, slipped it up and down his heat before pushing into him slowly. One. Inch. At. A. Time, "Maybe you are just a man, after all."

Laxus pulled in a gasp of air as Gajeel slowly sheathed himself inside of him. The bastard didn't seem riled in the least, just held his position as he waited for Laxus to relax. He pulled out with a tortuous slowness that teased Laxus's molten core back to life. His member twitched, anguished by a dissolute thirst so fierce it made Laxus see red. Gods alive, Gajeel was a sadistic tormentor. He grazed his spot, glided over it gently and slowly began to crash into it. Laxus was lost in it, that building pressure making him moan every time he hit a new height. The previous instances were nothing compared to this scorching wildfire Gajeel stoked back to life.

Gajeel forged into him ruthlessly, gripped his ravenous shaft and made him let out a wanton cry. He was an animal devouring him alive until there was nothing left. His hips were shivering and he felt the liquid fire pooling in his groin, cursed as he thought that Gajeel might steal this from him yet again. Finally, this didn't seem the case and Gajeel let him tumble into an ecstasy so consuming he didn't think it possible. It exploded through his veins and every muscle in his body tensed as he released, a curse hurling from his mouth at the ferocity of it all. His hips trembled relentlessly and he peeked up just in time to see Gajeel's head dip between his legs.

"G-Gajeel…! Fucking hell!"

The Iron Dragon sucked his member hungrily and his entire body shook from it again. His dick was still so sensitive that his tongue licking up his length made him see stars all over again. When Gajeel released him he was breathless and exhausted and finally sober. Gajeel delicately removed the makeshift cuffs from Laxus's wrists who didn't even have it in him to complain about the soreness or even clean himself up. He was exhausted and every inch of him almost painfully tender. He collapsed into the sheets, the licentious ring of a devil's laugh in his ear as he pulled the blankets around himself. Gajeel's body was beside his in an instant and Laxus mumbled quietly to the raven as he started to drift to sleep.

"Gajeel?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too."