Author's Notes:

She's late. She's long. She's sexy. She's emotional. Welcome to chapter 84, where Laxus battles toxic masculinity with arguably the best weapons he has at his disposal: his unending love and his nonpareil dick.

Chapter 84:

Laxus didn't have much experience with horses in any sense. In fact, the time he and Gajeel had gone hiking together in Edelweiss had been one of very few encounters he'd ever had with horses. He certainly didn't ride them for sport, and definitely never faster than a walk or possibly a canter. But these weren't horses bred for ferrying tourists up and down a mountainside at a leisurely pace. These were gaited horses, which meant nothing to a seasoned veteran rider, but to Laxus meant that the animal he was on the back of was running entirely too fast, constantly, for miles.

"You doin' ok, Sparky?"

"Fuckin' great," Laxus growled from his perch, noticing the way his horse's ears swiveled back at him as if to point out accusingly that he was very obviously not great. And really, he wasn't. His legs ached, his hips ached, his lower back ached, and Laxus was now very acutely aware of how out of shape he'd allowed himself to get over these past months. Feet shifted their weight beneath him as he gripped the reigns tersely, his mouth set in a snarl. His hips were tired and he desperately wanted to stand on his own two feet, to walk out his bow-legged-ness, "Horses… great way to cross Fiore."

"You'd rather walk?" Gajeel smirked, looking far too at ease on the back of his gelding. Gajeel's body seemed to rock seamlessly with the motion of the creature beneath him, as if he were just an extension to the movement. He smiled genuinely, a reticent but still placid look that Laxus was surprised to see when he glanced over.

"At this point, I'd rather a train."

Gajeel chuckled his response mildly, a sound almost as warm as the sunlight that burned his eyes to cinders. He didn't show his teeth, but the corners of his eyes wrinkling just slightly with his grin, humor coloring him a shade that Laxus found himself adoring and immediately wanting to inspire more of. He smiled meekly at him in return, nudging his knees in just a little tighter as they went over an especially rough bit of pathway. He wanted to see his love more at ease, even if it cost him a bit of his own comfort. Truly, he wouldn't have traded this for even a lightning-fast flight to Magnolia simply because he knew at least this would be a start to guiding the brightness back onto Gajeel's shoulders, cheeks, and irises.

Even now he seemed younger, to sit up straighter. Laxus knew that Gajeel enjoyed the forest, knew that he enjoyed nature and being a part of it. That was the whole reason Laxus had thought it a good idea that they walk. As soon as they spotted the trees in the distance, when he could smell the lichen and moss, Laxus felt the raven's energy buzz. And really, Laxus couldn't blame him. How long had he been cramped behind rigid lines of grey and black, of white cement? Towers spiraling into the skies crowned with barbed wire and the watchmen on post in all hours of the night? He'd been bleached white, cold and aching, and rough like the impurities in brick and mortar. His nerves had been ground down from jagged bone to smooth rocks and now he could finally hone himself sharp again. It was a wonder he'd been so patient.

Laxus's only regret was that he couldn't completely share in Gajeel's enjoyment and peace.

"Want to set camp?" Gajeel asked softly, chancing a look to the blonde.

Laxus glanced up to the sky, "Already?"

"It's hard on you, yeah? 'Sides, we're not in a hurry..." he hummed, sniffing at the air. He turned his eyes up to the dogwoods and their blossoms, stray petals snowing down on them as a breeze picked up overhead. Without a second thought, he tugged on his horse's reigns and trotted off the path.

"Eh?"

Laxus blinked after him, eyeing the uneven ground into the trees, before letting out a groan and following suit. Gajeel was breathing deeply in the air and glancing around him, meandering his way down a slope. Laxus could hear the sound of water and it wasn't long before they came up to a river. It wasn't particularly wide or fast, but that didn't stop Laxus from shouting out when Gajeel turned his horse into the water.

"Oi! What are you doing?"

"There's a good spot over there," he nodded ahead, still pressing onward. Laxus watched warily from his perch, crossing his arms and waiting for calamity to strike, either the horse to bolt or suddenly sink, but neither thing happened. The gelding was sure in its footing and the water only ever made it to its chest before it climbed back up the other embankment, "Coming?"

Laxus didn't even get a chance to think enough about the prospect to say no, because at his hesitation, Gajeel had already jumped down to the ground. Shucking off his boots and throwing them over the saddle, the raven began wading into the water.

"Careful, you might rust," Laxus jibed nervously.

"They're good horses," he griped, "It ain't gonna bolt."

"It's a horse," Laxus replied as if that was all the explanation he needed. Gajeel rolled his eyes but it wasn't spiteful and Laxus handed him the reigns so he could lead them through the river.

Gajeel hadn't been wrong, it was a good spot. Just a short way through some brambles and the trees parted to reveal a small clearing of soft grass where bloodroot, blue phlox, columbines, and bluebells were running rampant. The horses were already pawing at the ground in anticipation for the rest and food and Laxus couldn't deny the place looked increasingly inviting. He had just finished releasing his horse from its saddle and discarding it unceremoniously to the ground when he heard a sharp gasp.

"Laxus!"

"Hm?" he snapped his head over to where Gajeel was standing, wringing his shirt dry with a shit-eating grin plastered across his face.

"We need to have sex right here," he nodded ahead of him and Laxus raised his eyebrow as he chanced a look past him.

"Why?"

"Why?" his eyes widened and he stepped purposely forward, taking care to avoid stepping on some mushrooms scattered at his feet, "What do you mean why?"

Laxus walked up to him, looking him up and down, glancing at where he was standing, trying to figure out what exactly was so special about that place in particular. The grass didn't look particularly soft and the magnolia and dogwood trees were far enough away that it wasn't notably scenic or romantic. There wasn't an excess of flowers blooming here, nothing fantastical that caught his attention… only some mushrooms. When Laxus obviously didn't catch on, Gajeel sighed in exasperation.

"Laxus, it's a fairy ring."

"What in the hell is a fairy ring?"

"Your guild is named after fairies and you don't know what a fairy ring is?" Gajeel laughed before motioning at the circle of mushrooms, "It's where fairies come out at night to dance."

Laxus put his hands on his hips, already seeing where this was going, "And you want to have sex here…?"

Gajeel's smile turned devilish, "Because I want to dance with my fairy in the moonlight."

"You're insufferable," Laxus purred, stepping past the ring and cupping the sides of the raven's face, "you know that?"

"Suffer me…" he growled against his lips.

"Mm… after we make camp."

"Camp can wait…" Gajeel's hands were slipping to his waist and Laxus took a smooth step back from him, not even attempting to hide his smile.

"You're still wet."

"Well someone was scared to take their horse into the water."

"Doesn't change that you'll be freezing after the sun goes down if we don't have a fire ready."

Gajeel huffed and Laxus refrained from making a comment about his pouting, instead going to retrieve his bedroll to lay it out where Gajeel had decided they'd be spending their night together. It wasn't long before wood was gathered and flint struck. Gajeel laid out some small snares although neither of them were betting on catching anything. The sun was just starting its dive to the tree line before Gajeel stripped himself down to his underwear and hung his clothes on a low-hanging branch. Laxus, poking gently at the fire that was still struggling to chew through the green limbs they'd tossed together, watched him as he eyed the river thoughtfully.

"Something wrong?" he murmured, knowing full well the raven could hear him despite his dropped tone. Gajeel tipped his head back to glance at him over his shoulder, a sparkle in his eyes that made him look all too kiddish.

"Come swim with me."

"Swim with you?" Laxus chuckled, "It's cold, isn't it?"

"The sun is warm," he replied, pacing back over to him with a look that said he was going to make the blonde come whether he liked it or not, "C'mon Sparky..." his voice was a dulcet purr, "Have some fun with me."

And how was Laxus supposed to deny him when he looked at him like that, his ebony hair flowing over his shoulder and eyes shivering with his own mirth? He didn't resist, just let the raven pull him to his feet and waltz him over to the lazy river. He didn't need help taking his clothes off but that didn't stop Gajeel lending him his hands. Tanned and damp-chilled fingers glided up over Laxus's stomach as he made his way for his belt.

"Hasty," Laxus smiled softly at him.

Gajeel's return was sedate and almost sheepish, with crimson dotting his cheeks. Laxus furrowed his brow a little when he stepped away and turned his back to him, making his way to the water. Had he said something wrong? Why was Gajeel acting so restrained? Laxus tried to run through his mind their past few conversations, but he wasn't quite sure what could have caused the reaction. Maybe it was just his overall dour mood? But he'd been joking around just earlier?

Ultimately, he gave up and resigned to finish undressing in silence as he listened to Gajeel slink into the river. He slung his clothes next to Gajeel's damp on the tree branches. He took care to straighten Gajeel's tunic so it would dry quickly in the afternoon light. By the time he was heading to the water's edge, Gajeel was up to his waist in the slow-churning water.

"The water's nice," he said quietly, running his hands over the surface as if it were delicate glass he didn't want to shatter.

"It's cold."

There was a moment of tense silence and Laxus was sure he'd said something wrong. Gajeel was staring into the water in that forlorn way Laxus had seen in old paintings of sirens bathing by the seaside, like he was pining for something he knew he couldn't have, legs instead of fins or a love drowned in the ocean. Then he blinked and pulled up a carefree expression that didn't quite make it to his eyes and mouth, turning to look up at the blonde with what should have been a mischievous grin that only seemed to make him look sadder.

"It's fine ya damn priss," he laughed, splashing the blonde for good measure. Laxus flinched back, wrinkling his nose at frigid droplets that dotted up his legs. He took a step in, and he didn't smile. Instead, he waded in with purpose and reached out to the raven, grabbing a hold of his bicep and dragging him close.

"O-Oi!" he tried to pull back but as it turned out Laxus had the upper hand, and he was running them up over the raven's shoulders, resting them in the heavy tendrils of his hair. They almost looked like long fingers of black smoke fanning around him, or maybe more like indigo ink bleeding out around them.

"I'm glad your hair is long again," he hummed, "I missed it."

"Y-Yeah... " Gajeel stammered as Laxus carded his fingers gently through it, gathering it all to one side so it could drape over his shoulder, "It was weird having it cut… lighter…"

"They didn't make you keep it short," Laxus stated. Gajeel shrugged.

"T's a control thing. They make you cut yer hair when ya get there so they can drive home that yer not yer own person anymore. You belong to tha prison," he ran his fingers through the snags and tangles, gently working them out, "Ya can grow it back out later, though."

"Hm... guess that makes sense," Laxus muttered, running his fingers through his own spikes, weighing them down with the water still clinging to his fingertips.

"It'll grow faster as I eat more iron."

"Really?"

"Yeah... it's kinda annoyin', actually," he muttered. He turned his eyes up to him, question suddenly surging into his features, "Have you...? Do you eat lightning?"

Laxus smirked.

"I ain't never seen you do it," Gajeel defended, "But ya have to, right?"

"I mean... I've never... I've absorbed my own power back before," Laxus hesitated, thinking back. Had he evereaten lightning before?

"You don't crave it?"

"Lightning?" he laughed, "Of course not."

"I crave iron," he crossed his arms, "Natsu craves fire."

Laxus shrugged, "You're also first generation."

Gajeel glanced to the side, thinking, "We should try it."

"Try it?" Laxus tried not to sound bemused, "Why would we try it?"

"You should know what it feels like, yeah? Yer a Dragon Slayer," he insisted, his voice practical as if the suggestion wasn't at all bizarre.

"Second generation."

"First, second, fifth, one-hundredth. Doesn't matter. Yer a Dragon Slayer. You need to eat lightning," Gajeel had a bit of fire in his eyes when he looked back at him, "You never had anyone teach ya..."

"Are you going to be my dragon?" Laxus smirked, "Does that mean I have to slay you?"

Gajeel shrugged, his smile crooked.

"That's easy enough," Laxus growled, not even attempting to hid the wicked grin that surged to his lips. Gajeel's eyes widened but he wasn't able to push his hands away. Laxus grabbed his shoulders and with a solid push, he thrusted the Iron Dragon up and into deeper water. Laxus immediately backed away from the splash and laughed when Gajeel came sputtering back to the surface, "Told you it was cold."

"You asshole!" he was all teeth, his eyes flashed, "Get the hell over here!"

"Come and get me, dragon," Laxus widened his stance, "If you dare."

"Cocky bastard," Gajeel muttered and then lunged. Laxus dodged back from him, only slightly impeded by the water. Gajeel fled from his next attack, barely dodging the small wave he'd kicked up. He was laughing like mad when he rushed forward and grabbed Laxus's wrist. Golden eyes widened as Gajeel literally threw him down into the water. The shock made him gasp and he shot back up with a sharp breath, shivering. Gajeel was giggling up until he met Laxus's gaze, when it cut off with a startle.

"You'll regret that," Laxus growled.

Gajeel was already swimming away from him, but not fast enough. He grabbed a hold of his ankle and dragged him back, jumping up to grab his shoulders and push him under. He sank like a stone and twisted from his hands, emerging a few feet away with a grin plastered across his face so wide his canines were flashing.

"Secret Dragon Art: Splash!" he spun, kicking up water into Laxus's face so he was forced to turn and cover his eyes. He blinkled rapidly, trying to get the water from his eyes and make a strike of his own, but he felt something force up under his foot. He lost his balance and tried to step back but a palm hit his chest, pushing him back under. He flailed, grabbed a fist full of something, and down they went together.

Gajeel was smiling gleefully, a mixture of red and murky water in his eyes. When their gazes locked underwater, his delight shifted and settled into something more like gratitude. He took Laxus's hand as they sank to the floor, equal parts weightless and immensely heavy. Laxus was really wishing he didn't need to breathe, pushing the nagging feeling of his lungs demanding air to the back of his mind. He wanted to appreciate the moment for what it was, an escape. Gajeel seemed to, too, as he intertwined their fingers together and just stared down at him.

Laxus let out the last of his breath and they surfaced, gasping and shaking. While he was still trying to catch his breath, Gajeel snaked his arms around his stomach. He pressed his studded ear to his chest and didn't make a move or sound when Laxus began weaving his fingers through tangled and soaked locks, twisting the unruly strands into a rolling curl over his shoulder.

"I think I caught a dragon," he mumbled into his hair.

"Aye… good job."

"Now what do I do?"

"I guess you kill me. That's sort of the point, isn't it?"

Laxus mulled that over. For a moment, he thought about pushing Gajeel back into the water but decided against it. The last time Gajeel had confronted him with an allusion like this, he'd handled it rather masterfully (despite being higher than the price of luxury). The problem was, there were so many dragon tales about the dragon dying in the end.

He must have taken too long to think, because Gajeel had tipped his head up to look at him.

"Before I kill you, dragon, I'd like to try something first," he forced himself not to smile.

Gajeel raised an eyebrow in suspicion, "Hm?"

"Do you have a belt?"

Gajeel narrowed his eyes.

"Don't be a pervert."

"...yes, I have a belt."

"Do you have a sword?"

"M'sure I could."

"And I already know you have a ring," Laxus purred, "So… that just leaves one thing…" he leaned down and kissed him, "One…" again, "Two…" and again, "Three… oh… look at that. Not a dragon anymore."

"Eh?" Gajeel furrowed his brow, completely befuddled. He laughed nervously, "And what am I now?"

Laxus grinned, "A fair princess."

Red rushed up Gajeel's throat and he snorted, "Fuck's sakes… you're cheesy as hell."

"Fiore is cheesy as hell. How haven't you heard of Kemp Owyne? Dove Isabeau? The Laidly Worm of Spindleston Heugh? Child Ballad 34 by Francis James Child? It's a fable. A kid's bedtime story."

Gajeel stared at him blankly and Laxus was in a particularly showy mood, so he leaned closer than he needed to and dropped his voice to a menacing growl:

"I weird ye to be a Laidly Worm,

And borrowed shall ye never be,

Until Childe Wynd, the King's own son

Come to the Heugh and thrice kiss thee;

Until the world comes to an end,

Borrowed shall ye never be…"

He had expected Gajeel to be impressed or at least amused. He didn't expect the deadpan look to cross his face one moment and then in the next his nose wrinkling and a snarl to twist his lips, "Why in the hell are ya a Wizard?"

"What…?"

"You memorized that?"

"It's a bedtime story," Laxus said, incredulous.

"How old?"

"What?"

"How old is it? Your bedtime story?" he demanded.

"Like… I dunno… two hundred years? Older probably?"

"I know shit about two hundred years ago. Yer so… yer so intelligent! And you want to bash heads together fer a living? Laxus… fuck! Is there anything you're not good at?"

"Writing songs… playing bass…"

"Don't fuck with me," Gajeel snapped.

"I'm not," he defended as Gajeel pulled away from him. Laxus couldn't tell if he was angry or sad or just confused. How had the conversation turned so sour? He didn't understand. What had he done wrong? "I don't-there… there are a lot of things I'm not good at…"

"You're strong and skilled enough to be a Wizard Saint. You're fucking smart. You walk into a room and people respect you. You're beautiful. You always see the best in people, in me. Laxus… fuck. What do you see in me?" his voice cracked and he clenched his jaw, trying reign in his emotions. Laxus waited patiently, letting him have his time. Gajeel sighed, "I'm a mess, ain't I? I'm always making mistakes…"

At least now Laxus understood. At least now he had a face to what had been happening all day. So, he framed together his resolve and crossed his arms, prying down slowly his walls that always kept him safe. It was easier after all this time to be gentle, soft, to be delicate. Gajeel was still learning, and to be fair, he was too. He'd still missed the signs when they'd been shown to him, but that didn't mean he couldn't set them straight again.

"You know why I went to school, don't you?" he asked quietly and Gajeel stilled. His eyes darted to the side as he tried to remember and after a while he finally shook his head, "Because I was no good at magic as a kid, Gramps wanted me to be good at something so he put me school. And when he found out I liked music, he tried to get me into all sorts of things…" he shrugged, "Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to be a great Fairy Tail wizard. As soon as my magic got stronger, I dropped out. I'm not as smart as Freed, and Levy, she's self-taught and is smarter than I am. Even you, Gajeel, you know a lot of things I don't."

"I don't…"

"You're good enough, Gajeel," he reached out and ran his thumb across his jawline, "and every time you tell me you're not, I'm going to tell you that you are. One day, you'll believe me. Until then…"

"You'll wait?" Gajeel scoffed but Laxus only smiled sincerely at him.

"I'll wait. As long as it takes," he took a step closer, wrapping his arms around his neck, "Want to know why?"

"Why?" he sounded skeptical, as if anything Laxus had to offer he'd have an excuse for.

"Because I love you," he said smoothly. Red inched its way up the raven's cheeks again and he averted his gaze to the water, "Do you believe that?"

"Course I do," he muttered, "I love you too."

"My sweet princess…" Laxus crooned sweetly. Gajeel shoved him playfully, "…laidly worm."

"I like dragon better."

"Fair enough," he smiled gently, tucking a rogue strand of hair behind a studded ear, "My dragon."

The evening stayed warm even as the sun disappeared beyond the tops of the trees. Laxus always forgot how loud and bright the night could be out in the middle of nowhere. Crickets and cicadas sang to each other from the tall grasses, the raccoons and foxes chattered as they set out in search for field mice and wild berries. The high-pitched chittering of bats dipped to and from the trees alongside the shadow-silent swoop of owls. It wasn't long before magenta skies faded to purple and ultimately deep navy and punctured with the brilliance that only the heavens devoid of city light can give. The sky was so clear, Laxus felt like he could reach up and fall into it. He watched as the stars made a canyon across the blanket night and Gajeel sat next to him, stoking the fire.

"What did the dragons think that was?" Laxus found himself asking, pointing to the band of faint stars that cut the sky.

Gajeel craned his neck back, his gaze distant as he tried to remember, "Dunno, really. Dad told me a few things, that it was the seam where the two halves of the heavens are joined, or coming apart, like a split in the ceiling of a house that lets in the light from beyond," he motioned vaguely upwards, "Or it's the souls of heroes that ascended to heaven. He told me once that it was the track where a great dragon once flew, ruffling the sky with its wings."

"I sorta like the seam one. Makes you think there's something else up there," Laxus mused.

Gajeel sounded amused, "Nothin' else up there, Sparky. Just stars."

"You don't believe in gods? A god? Nothing?"

"I think if the gods are up there, they ain't done anythin' fer me," he replied with a quiet sound to his voice, "You?"

"There are god slayers aren't there? Can't really have a god slayer without a god," he thought out loud, "But I guess people will believe just about anything under the right conditions."

"You don't sound convinced."

"Dunno. Davian believes in his god and I've seen him do strange things because of it. Guess that means it has to be real."

"Or he's borrowing that power from something else and calling it a god," Gajeel pointed out, "A lacrima, a relic, or maybe just a really strong Mage. Ancient magic is complicated like that… dangerous. Look at Zeref and his demons."

"I suppose that's true," he sighed, leaning back to gaze up at the stars, "Still, it's hard to believe there's nothing up there."

He felt a hand smooth across his bare thigh and squeeze gently, "Well, the only god I see right now is you."

"Oh no…" Laxus grinned as Gajeel shifted to settle between his legs, a hand resting on each of his thighs possessively, "that was smooth."

"Thank you," he smiled cheekily, leaning forward to place a kiss on his chest.

"I bet you were biting at the bit to say that, huh?"

"What can I say? I'm opportunistic," his eyes glinted up at him devilishly, "and I really, really wanna fuck you in this fairy ring."

"Damn, and here I was hoping you'd forgotten..."

Warm lips pressed flush against his chest, marking a fresh trail down his stomach. His hands slipped down his thighs and anchored themselves in the crooks of his kness, drawing his hips up how he wanted them. He stayed for a moment like that, eyes trailing down the blonde's figure, when his gaze landed softly on where his hands framed the soft bend before his calf. He leaned down and kissed the side of Laxus's knee.

"Something wrong?" Laxus asked, still leaning on his elbows from where he had awaited expectantly for something that definitely wasn't a simple, sweet kiss to the side of his knee.

"I... I um..." Gajeel's face bloomed with scarlet, and he rubbed his thumbs in circles on Laxus's skin, "I like... this place... like how my hand fits here."

"Behind my knees?" Laxus teased, and Gajeel shrugged. His smile turning equal part roguish and bashful.

"Yer skin is just so soft here... I could write a poem,"

"A poem? About my knees?" he laughed and Gajeel leaned into him, his voice dropping to a purr.

"Ode To My Lover's Knees," he sighed dramatically even as he somehow turned a deeper shade of red, dropping his voice to a purr as he leaned his face against Laxus's right knee.

"Gajeel!"

"An ethereal warmth, I at once attain

When your two limbs wrap 'round my waist,

Ivory pieces transcending space and time,

Quivering and soft, the feeling is divine."

"None of those words rhymed."

"It's freeform."

"It's freeform," Laxus was laughing so hard he'd let his head fall back. He sort of felt dizzy so he dropped back onto his bedroll, "I'm glad my knees can inspire such beautiful poetry."

"What can I say? You're my muse," Gajeel snickered through kisses placed steadily up his thigh.

"Your muse. Your god. Your lover…" his mind fuzzied at pressure placed squarely against his groin. Laxus could feel the victorious smile being pressed into his thigh as soon as Gajeel realized he'd made him forget what he was going to say, "You're such a bastard."

"I still can't believe…" Gajeel was shimmying down his boxers and Laxus felt his pulse constrict in his throat when hot breath ghosted against his skin, "…I'm the one who gets to do this to you…"

He pressed the rough of his tongue against the underside of his shaft and Laxus let out a low moan. He pulled himself up to watch the raven as he made a show of wetting his index and middle fingers, his eyes sparking with danger and pride as his tongue paid generous attention to each before he rubbed gently at Laxus's entrance. Laxus arched his back and relaxed, letting his breath hiss out in a curse when lips pressed hungrily at the base of his head. A curl of two fingers made his mind spiral as Gajeel played his sensitive places like he'd found a way to master him; a minstrel and his instrument of choice.

Hasty and efficacious, he pushed Laxus towards his edge with well-timed strokes and the flat of his tongue. Through the reeling of his mind and hips, though, Laxus wasn't able to shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right. The taste in his mouth wasn't one of pleasure that he couldn't contain, but like a means to an end. Not a sonnet, certainly not a symphony, barely even a song. A period, a scale quickly escalating up its tempo and crescendo. Even as Laxus's back was arching and his eyes were rolling back, he felt strangely unsatisfied.

But they'd done this so many times. The entire time Gajeel had been in heat, he'd strived to make Laxus come undone effectively and as many times as he could. Why was today different? Laxus rocked back up onto his elbows, catching a gasp as he watched and felt Gajeel take him in to the hilt. His core bunched at hitting the soft of the back of his throat.

"Fuck… Gajeel…" his breath was shaking. Red eyes flashed open, pupils wide from lust or the darkness or both, and they rolled back when he went down again. Laxus's thighs shivered, "Gajeel…"

Stop. That's what he wanted to say, even when those devilish fingers rocked steadily inside of him, pushing him to his height. He balled his fist into ebony hair and Gajeel moaned around him, charging his bones. Wait. Another finger buried into his heat and his spine curled. Dizzy, dizzy, he couldn't wait to come crashing down. Gajeel would swallow him whole and he'd be left shivering in the stars overhead soon. He knew exactly what to do to get him off, which was incredible and erotic and so easy to take advantage of…

"Gajeel… shit… slow-slow down…"

Gajeel curled his fingers again and Laxus cried out, an encouragement for him to blaze on. But Laxus wanted to stop. He didn't want to be precipitated towards being unravelled. He wanted something a little more than that…

"Fuck… Gajeel, stop," he was sick of the hasty, the desperate, the drive, the unbearable need that couldn't be quelled; fires that burned brilliant and bright and collapsed suddenly, like the death of a star. Why couldn't they burn hot and livid and strong?

Gajeel hummed around him and he almost lost it. He was right there, muscles drawn tense with white edging his vision. He bit his lip, stifled a curse, and yanked his head away. Gajeel let out a growl at the sudden, violent twist and he blinked in surprise at whatever look was plastered across his face. His brow furrowed.

"Hold on a sec…"

"Did I hurt you?" he was immediately retreating, eyes searching across him as if expecting to see a wound.

"No, you didn't hurt me..."

"Did I do something wrong?" his mouth was set in a tight line, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," Laxus reassured quickly, placing a hand on his, "You're fine I just… we don't have to go so fast."

Gajeel frowned, "Fast?"

"You're just… you're just ready to get down to it," Laxus chuckled lightly, trying to ease him even if just slightly, "I know you like to get me off but… we can take our time, yeah? You don't have to hurry…"

"Hurry?" he said the word like it left a bitter taste in his mouth, "I just… I thought…"

"It was great. You were doing great," Laxus felt awkward heat marching up his throat, "Fantastic, I mean… you're really good, I just... I wanted…"

"Just 'cuz it feels good, doesn't mean it's what ya want," Gajeel's words were still and cold. Laxus's eyes widened, "I should know that more than anyone, shouldn't I?"

Laxus felt the color drain from his face, "No, I didn't mean… you didn't force me…"

Red eyes shifted up to meet his, silencing him with something serious but soft, and he lifted his hand to let it rest lovingly on Laxus's thigh. He didn't seem sad, which was what Laxus was afraid of, but he did look sincere. Laxus's heart started to beat a little harder.

"What do you like?" he breathed, his eyes dancing with what little of the firelight could make it there, "I've never asked, have I?"

"We don't have to do what I like," Laxus argued, completely unable to stop a nervous smile from pulling at the corners of his lips, "We can do whatever, I just…"

"You don't have to tip-toe around me. You've done it for a long time, right? Aren't you tired of it?" his hand was insistent, his thumb vying for the impatience still resting between his legs, "You always do what I want."

"Right, well…" Laxus breathed, suddenly feeling far warmer than he did before, "I don't want to do anything to… to trigger…"

"I'll tell you…" he licked his lips but Laxus could tell it wasn't in hunger, "…if it's something I can't… handle."

"I just get carried away and I can't…" he felt strange saying it out loud. His stomach twisted and his thoughts became erratic at just the remembrance of forcing Gajeel against the wall, of taking what he wanted even when he was begged to stop, "…there's something about you. I can never seem to control myself and it always hurts you…"

Gajeel frowned and looked to the side, gazing somewhere past Laxus's shoulder as he remembered, but Laxus wasn't sure what, "I don't…"

"That night at your apartment, when I… you were begging me to stop, that I didn't want to do that to you. The night at the onsen, when I was just… going to fuck you even though our guildmates were walking in…" Gajeel's eyes widened slightly, "…the other time at the onsen, in the shower, you had to make me stop. Or in my room when you walked in on me… jacking off…"

"Laxus… I don't think, I mean," Gajeel was blushing furiously, refusing to meet his gaze, "You… we were still new at… things."

"That's not an excuse."

"Well, but, that night at my house I was… oh fuck," somehow he was even redder and Laxus cocked a brow at him.

"What? What am I missing?"

"I was in denial, fuck, I was in denial. I mean, you gotta understand, where I come from men don't… and being attracted to… having sex with another man… you'd have to be submissive, weak…"

"You think I'm submissive and weak?" Laxus smirked and Gajeel sort of smiled and cringed at the same time.

"No but… I was in denial. I thought I was straight and you had to be straight because you're… you…"

"I don't follow."

"Of course you don't, because it's stupid," Gajeel mumbled, clearly embarrassed, "but I thought, I don't know, you can't be masculine and gay and you can't be… fucking strong and… like you. You had to be girly and shit, like a woman… you know… not a… man…?"

"Oh," that rang a bell.

I'm sorry my change from misogynistic asshole is taking too long. Ignoring the fact I came from a place that believed women were more objects than people…

Gajeel didn't think he could be gay because he hated seeing himself as weak and in his mind women were weak. And, well, that explained some things, didn't it? A lot of things, actually, like Gajeel muttering about not needing alcohol to kiss him. Or when they spent their first night together and he'd apologized for not being feminine. Or how when they'd brought up going steady, he insisted on getting the rings because he refused to be the girl in the relationship.

"Oh."

"Anyway, it wasn't all you. It was me and my… pheromones. Fuck, I'm an idiot," he was pressing his palm to his forehead, looking more and more like if he could he'd just sink into the ground. Red had even started to color his chest, "The night at my house, I was so turned on. You were there, and I'd heard you sing? And that did something to me but I was just… of course it must have been because shit had happened between us before and it was just my body getting confused. And then you said you could smell me…"

"Gajeel, you said no."

"Yes, I said no but… you could barely control your magic after your senses got sharper and then here I am just… my entire body screaming not no at you," he laughed nervously, "and the onsen I was just a couple of days before I went into heat, and I blamed it on that…"

"And the other time at the onsen?" Laxus smirked, feeling a strange sort of mix of pride and curiosity at hearing how much he'd turned Gajeel on back when he didn't even think a man could turn him on, "Was that when you realized you weren't straight?"

"Um… no,"

"No?" he was incredulous, "You jacked us both off… at the same time."

Gajeel was red again, "My eyes were closed."

"Your eyes were closed." He was trying not to laugh, honestly, he was.

"I was sorta worried about other things at the time," he itched at the back of his neck, "That was… it was the first time doin' something like that wasn't… terrifying. And I actually wanted to make you feel good… it was when I walked in on you that it was… that I guess I couldn't be in denial anymore. It wasn't you doin' things to me and me just lettin' it happen or doin' it because I thought I should. It was… all me," he laughed nervously, "and it was creepy as hell."

"It wasn't that creepy…"

"Anyway, I told you no because I wasn't being honest with myself. You were reacting to what my body was telling you. It's confusing… I don't blame you for what happened. It was my fault."

Laxus gritted his teeth, "See… I was with you up until that last bit."

"But…"

"Even if you're turned on, even if the scent of it is driving me insane… I should be able to control myself. If you tell me no, that's where it should end, not after I get my way," Laxus leaned forward, raising an eyebrow as he tried to drive home his point, "Just because it feels good, doesn't mean it's what you want. Remember what I said? I'm never going to make you do something you don't want to again."

He sighed, looking down at his hands, frustrated and sour, a snarl fighting its way to his mouth, "I don't want you to have to walk on eggshells. It's a two-way street, isn't it? If I love you, then I'll do things you like, too."

Laxus bit down his argument because… well, because Gajeel had a point. It was a two-way street. He just didn't think there would ever be a problem if he denied himself his own side. He loved Gajeel, a lot, more than he'd ever loved anyone. And it showed, he thought, in the way he held himself back, in the way he was willing to adjust and change and shift to him. Laxus by no means was a patient man and yet he was willing to be as slow and lenient and undemanding as possible as long as it menat Gajeel was happy and thriving. They'd work their way through their relationship together, with time, and that was perfectly fine.

There had been times he'd pressured Mira for things she wasn't willing to give and vice versa, in fact, that had happened in most of his past relationships. Until Gajeel, he just figured that was how things were. Sometimes couples just didn't agree, sometimes they took greedily things they really had no right to. It was actually the things Gajeel had lived through that had shone a new light on all of that for him. It was why he was so willing to do whatever he could to make sure he never lived through it again. Laxus had denied himself indulgences… and he really shouldn't have been surprised that Gajeel noticed. He noticed so many things, after all. But he also understood that there were a lot of things he liked that made Gajeel uncomfortable. That was the last barrier, he guessed, they would need to get through.

"That's… yeah, that's fair," he conceded, and his heart stuttered at the odd look that flashed in Gajeel's eyes at being told he was right, "but… what if what I want makes you uncomfortable?"

Gajeel's jaw tightened, "My wrists?"

"No, no not that. I would never ask that," he assured him, before taking in a hesitant breath, "You just have a lot of pride and I don't want to fuck with that."

Gajeel narrowed his eyes at him, "I know yer not inta anything weird…"

Laxus huffed, agitated and awkward, "You still think that sex has to be with a man and a woman. So, when we have sex, one of us has to be the woman… so if I ask you to do something womanly it might turn you off."

"Oh... yeah…" he replied eloquently, "I'm working on it."

"I know," Laxus rubbed his thumb against his scar and immediately noticed the way Gajeel averted his gaze when he did. There was a long moment where they both say in silence, both trying to figure out what to say to move forward. Laxus was sort of worried the moment was over, that they'd end up just going to bed in a cautious and delicate silence. That was until Gajeel plastered on a blasé façade and forced his eyes back up to him.

"What um…" he ran his tongue over his bottom lip again, "What were ya thinkin'?"

Laxus paused, trying to gage whether or not he was being serious, "You're sure?"

"Laxus, you're vanilla as hell," Gajeel said sternly, although to Laxus it sounded more like he was talking to himself, "There's not a damn thing you can ask me that I haven't already done."

"If you're sure…" he rested his hands on Gajeel's legs, finding a bit of rogue warmth still puttering around in his chest as he thought about his request, "I want you to ride me."

"That... that's it?" but his smirk quivered slightly. He said it again, attempting to sound a little steadier, "That's it."

"That's it," Laxus's voice shivered in his excitement. He slipped a hand up to cup the side of Gajeel's face, pressed his thumb to his lips and stared at where they parted. The moisture waiting there, how he wanted to taste it, "and I want it to be you."

His easy-going laugh was jittery and weak, "Who else would it be?"

"You know what I mean," Laxus's voice took an accusing edge and he leaned closer, letting the hand resting on Gajeel's leg slink upwards towards his inner thigh, "you like to pretend you're something you're not. You talk so people can't see your teeth, you change your accent, hold yourself back. I want to see the animal that you hide so well…"

Gajeel almost looked stricken, his eyes wide and nostrils flared, "Laxus..."

"I know why you hide it. You think it makes you less. Less of a person, less human, like you're underserving just because your instinct sometimes screams louder than your thoughts," he could feel the heat emanating off the man in his grasp. Gajeel, still shocked and helpless, let his neck be craned back so Laxus could press his mouth to his Adam's apple and breathe in his musk, his scent, what he now knew to be his arousal, "I think it's wild," he ran his tongue against his skin, "and savage," he could feel Gajeel's throat shake with a growl barely contained, "and beautiful…"

When he let the raven back up, his blood-filled irises were brimming with reserved fire and his breath was quick. He studied Laxus's eyes for a moment before the words finally left him.

"Fuck," he breathed, "and here I thought this would be easy."

"You don't have to," Laxus relented just slightly, trying to keep quiet the disappointment that made his stomach flop, "we can just have regular, vanilla sex in your fairy ring."

"Wouldn't that be a letdown," he bit the inside of his cheek, worrying it over before he was finally able to make his decision. Laxus didn't even attempt to hide his contentment when the raven finally tossed his own boxers to the side. He leaned back on his elbows again, enjoying the view as Gajeel lowered himself down to crouch over his hips, when he noticed the strange set to his jaw.

"What's wrong?"

"I…" he hesitated, "I need you to… I'm not very… flexible."

"I don't know what you mean," Laxus grinned, "If you need me to do something, you'll have to ask me."

"I need you to…" despite his snarl and rolling eyes, he was blushing, and Laxus was absolutely endeared by it, "…get me ready."

"You want me to finger you?" he asked shamelessly, much to Gajeel's chagrin, "Put your hands on my shoulders."

"Yer such a bastard when you want to be," he huffed.

"I know."

Laxus ran his thumb over Gajeel's lip, coaxing it open, and despite the iron dragon being off-balance, he knew what Laxus wanted. He ran his tongue up his two fingers, let Laxus trace the inside of his mouth, feel the ridges of his teeth and rub hard against his sharp canines. To his surprise, one ruby eye opened to look down at him, purpose and a bit of satisfaction lingering there as he closed his mouth around his digits and sucked gently, running his tongue up and down them in that masterful way he'd done earlier on a much more sensitive part of Laxus's body. Laxus hummed his encouragement, adoring the way his nails began digging into his shoulders. Gajeel licked up his fingers once more for good measure before releasing him, shifting to spread his legs just a little wider so Laxus could have free reign. His eyelids fluttered slightly when Laxus rubbed against his opening and then shut completely as he eased inside.

"Do you like that?" Laxus asked gently and felt him stiffen slightly, "Be honest."

He watched the battle play across Gajeel's face, as if admitting he was having a good time would somehow make him seem weak. Laxus knew, of course, he didn't want to look like he was begging or emulating some male power fantasy. But Laxus also wanted him to relax and realize that things were a lot simpler than what he had swimming around in his head. Not everything had to be a battle for dominance.

"Gajeel…" he coaxed against his mouth, pressing his fingers as far in as he could, "…does it feel good?"

"Yes," he hissed through his teeth, "It's… it's good."

"Do you like it when I fuck you slowly like this?" he whispered and Gajeel clicked his teeth.

"Why do you have to say it like that?" Laxus could feel him heating up.

"Why do you have to act like such a virgin?" he teased.

"Fuck. You." His teeth were gritted and his eyes flashed.

"If you think you can handle it," Laxus challenged, pulling his hand back. He laid back and shifted his hips so his erection would rub against Gajeel's ass. Red eyes watched him closely, nearly glowing in the darkness. Maybe it was because Laxus was being provocative and Gajeel, at his heart, was competitive, but something new gleamed in his eyes. Defiance, maybe?

Laxus went to put his hands on Gajeel's hips to help him but the raven swatted him away. Taking a hold of his shaft and stroking him until he was fully hard again, he aligned himself to him and edged slowly onto him. The way the concentration on his face melted and shifted to the loose-jawed, hazy look of being stretched and filled, made something absolutely licentious roll in Laxus's chest. The raven tilted his head back and sighed, rolling his hips back to take more of him. Laxus's breathing hitched.

"Take your time..." he swallowed hard as Gajeel relaxed and took more of him with another languid roll of his hips, "…you're not used to this."

"Now you're considerate," Gajeel simpered from his perch, "I ain't glass, fairy."

He grinded down his hips and they both gasped as he was fully seated onto him. Laxus felt him shudder on top of him and ruby eyes melted and flooded with liquid ecstasy. Laxus ran his hands up tanned thighs, rested his fingers on his ass and kneaded at him gently as he waited for him to adjust. It was tighter than he'd expected, and even he was left a mess at the pressure and heat surrounding him. Gajeel grinded down on Laxus delicately, testing if he was ready, and a curse caught in his throat.

"You alright?"

"Stop asking if I'm ok," he bit down at him, his voice heavy and rough. He eased his eyes open just enough for Laxus to see how desperately he was trying to contain himself, "It's deep."

"Yeah?" something lecherous sparked in his veins, "Deeper than taking it from behind?"

He wrinkled his nose before he swallowed his pride, "Yes."

Damn, Laxus was getting too excited. His pulse started to race. This time, when Gajeel raised his hips up to grind back down, Laxus met him. A groan broke free from the raven's tight grasp and he glared down at Laxus for making it happen.

"Come on, baby, I know you like it rough," he dug his nails into his ass, "I want to hear more."

"Yer so fucking arrogant," he ran his hands down Laxus's chest, digging red trails across his fair skin. He raised his hips and arched his back as he came back down, his thoughts scrambling when Laxus thrusted in sync with him. The friction alone was incredible. Gajeel could angle his body to feel as much of Laxus rubbing against his sensitive areas as he wanted. Each time he rolled his hips, his blood sang and his mind frayed. His eyes rolled back, the hands he was using to keep himself steady were starting to claw into soft skin, and each time Laxus rammed into him harder, relishing the sound when he'd gasp and shiver.

"Gajeel… louder,"

Gajeel's voice caught in the base of his throat. It wasn't that he didn't want to or he felt they'd get caught. He just wasn't loud. But Laxus was insistent. When he didn't comply, he felt Laxus's hips shift beneath him as he pushed himself up to sit. Gajeel started but a pale hand was suddenly against the side of his face, his thumb pressing against his lips and forcing its way inside. His thumb rolled ardently against his canines and Gajeel, despite himself, whined at his mouth being invaded.

"Gajeel," his gold eyes were swimming with violence and demand. Something about the stillness in his voice made Gajeel's stomach bunch, "Show me your teeth."

He thrusted up into him and Gajeel cried out at the pleasure that rocketed up his spine. Laxus pressed his tongue down with his thumb as his lips searched up his jaw, planting seeds of fire up to his ear before he bit onto his studs.

"I said I wanted you,Gajeel," he growled into his ear, "I thought you were going to give me what I wanted?"

"Fuck…!" Gajeel shivered and Laxus thrust again, deeper, and Gajeel arched his spine, "I'm… I'm sorry…"

"Then do a good job for me, hm?" his voice was tense, commanding, and it struck Gajeel in his chest. He clutched at his back, raked his nails down his spine, and buried his face into his neck. He didn't want to disappoint.

"Laxus…" he moved with him, grinding down as Laxus surged up, and the pleasure spidered through him like veins of electricity. He shuddered and heaved, rolling back into him again, and Laxus rewarded him by biting down on his neck. His hand circled around his dick, roughly adding to the height he was chasing.. Gajeel gasped, "Laxus…! Stop, you'll make me…!"

"Cum? Are you going to?" he thrusted even harder, his pace frantic and he matched it with his hand, only stopping to run his thumb across Gajeel's head and make his body reel against its borders, "Go ahead." He could feel Laxus grinning into his throat and he fucked into him harder, "I won't stop."

Gajeel's breathing was tattered when the frisson seared his bones into ash. His hips were quacking and he bared down on Laxus's dick, taking the full length of him as he came undone and staggered into his own ruin. He relished the way Laxus swore, barely able contain himself as Gajeel came brilliantly on top of him, legs shivering and heart hammering as if it could jump its way right into his lover's chest to rest there.

Laxus didn't allow Gajeel a chance at reprieve. Suddenly, the world tilted. Gajeel was thrown back onto the grass with the blonde towering over him, a merciless look shifting in his eyes that instilled a sense of danger in Gajeel's wasted mind. Instinctively, he brought his hand up and Laxus caught it, sliding his hand down his forearm until his fingers curled just above his elbow, and then he forced it down to the ground. Gajeel curled his spine back, bared his teeth, and watched expectantly as Laxus seemed unsure of what to do next.

"Tell me what you want," he growled against Gajeel's mouth.

The raven felt like he could barely breathe. He sank into the grass and just felt the presence of his lover above him. He felt small but he didn't feel weak, and even though having Laxus over him like this, controlling him, demanding and dominating him, he didn't feel like he was being controlled. He felt safe, like Laxus was a fortress over him that nothing could break and he could be anything he wanted to be here any way he wanted to be here. Laxus was impossibly still, the melted gold in his eyes shaking as he stared down at him, drinking every ounce of him in with restraint despite the passion bidding him to keep going.

Gingerly, Gajeel placed his hand on Laxus's wrist and steered him forward, leading strong fingers to be flush and protective at his throat. Laxus leaned down to him, constricting and releasing his grasp as he tested what he could do.

He swallowed and knew Laxus could feel it, "Make me yours."

Laxus eyes were dancing with excitement, nearly unhinged, "You don't want me to be kind?"

"No."

A grin broke across his face, "Of course you don't."

Laxus slid back into him and Gajeel could have sworn the stars above them swam with the motion. He moaned at feeling friction when his nerves where still so enflamed and raw. In just a few short strokes he was nearly coming undone, his insides fighting over whether it was pain or pleasure he was feeling. He lovedit, the desolation that galvanized his entire body with each jolt of delectable and agonizing pleasure.

"Laxus! Fuck!" he choked, his eyes rolling back He couldn't help but get lost in it, especially when Laxus was holding him to tightly he knew there'd be bruises left dotting his infallible skin. "Leave marks."

"Yes…" he snarled, "…anything, anything you want.."

"Anything…?"

"Anything…" Laxus squeezed the base of his neck, dug his nails into his arm, and Gajeel wanted to scream, "You're so fucking good, Gajeel."

Good.

Laxus wasn't tender or light or delicate, he was ferocious and frantic and greedy. Gajeel wrapped his legs around his waist to keep him from slowing down, to prove he could keep going. His pelvis ached and it was divine. He rocked with every motion. Pinned down and razed, he could hardly think, just feel every bit of Laxus as he overpowered his senses.

"Gods alive… you're amazing…"

Amazing. Gajeel heart stammered.

He released his hold on Gajeel's neck to take hold of his shaft, still unrecovered from just moments ago, and Gajeel felt radiant. His entire body was quivering, struggling against its boundaries, enraptured in the euphoria and desolation Laxus had him captured in, tortured him with, completed him with.

"You're perfect… fuck, you're incredible…"

Perfect? Incredible?

"Laxus..." he felt his eyes burning, the white-hotness of it streaking down the sides of his face and into his hair.

Yellow raced into his line of sight, sparks Laxus couldn't control escaping into the air, the ground, even where his fingertips dug into his skin. It didn't hurt, because Laxus would never hurt him, not when he was so vulnerable, not if he could help it. Scorching light streaked from the sides of his eyes, igniting gold and turning it platinum, and Gajeel was absolutely breathless at the sight. Gods alive! He was beautiful! And he was gazing down at Gajeel like it was hewho couldn't believe what was shaking in absolute rapture beneath him, like somehow Gajeel was the one who looked horrifically devastating and ecstatically sublime at the same time; knives covered in rose petals, or an incandescent voice that left him as nothing but ashes burned sudden and violent.

"Gorgeous…" he breathed, "…you're so gorgeous…"

Gorgeous... he wasn't gorgeous…

"Laxus..." why did his name stick into his throat? Why did he feel like his bones were leaving him to nothingness on the ground? He was shaking, shivering, writhing. Tears stole down his face, "…Laxus…"

"One more time, Gajeel, can you cum for me one more time?" his breath was falling against his face exquisite and intoxicating and Gajeel felt completely wrecked. He gritted his teeth and nodded, knotting his fingers in his blonde spikes and pulling him down.

"Please…"

"Please?" Laxus demanded into his mouth.

"Please..."

Laxus abandoned forcing him to say it out loud and instead lost himself in spellbound greed until his body stiffened and he buried his face into long cords of his raven hair. Gajeel gasped at the searing heat that filled him after he'd been ravaged so harshly. His stomach bunched, his back arched, and whatever that was left in him he spent onto Laxus's avid hand and his own stomach. For a while he couldn't do much else than shiver beneath Laxus as the blonde slowly fell down from his blazing height.

Gajeel just listened to him breathe; each heavy draft drawing the air deep into his lungs before being sighed back out again, ebbed and flowed with the static charged all around them. He realized tears had streaked down his face and Laxus hadn't said anything, hadn't belittled or stopped or made a fuss. In the heat of the moment, when he'd wanted to force Gajeel's hands down, he'd had the wherewithal to hold onto his arm instead of his wrist. Even now, trying to catch his breath, his body lorded over him in a protective way, like there was some integral need within him to keep the raven well-guarded, sheltered, secure. Gajeel felt strange and warm. He freed his arms just so he could wrap them around Laxus's torso and draw him close until they were chest to chest. The blonde sighed and settled between his thighs, pulling his face back just enough to try and catch his scarlet eyes. Gajeel refused to look at him, instead stared up into the spiraling night sky and it's cloudless, sparkling void.

Why was he crying?

"You ok? Er… I mean… what, um, what's going on in your head?"

Oh fuck, his throat was so tight it hurt to speak, "You don't feel like you have to fix me, do you?"

Laxus nuzzled into his hair, "I didn't know you were broken."

"Laxus," his voice cracked. He didn't really know what to say, he just knew that phrase wasn't right and Laxus would argue with him if he said otherwise. But of course, Laxus had gotten keen to him and he pushed himself up to gaze down at him, his eyes nearly as brilliant as the stars overhead and still sparkly dimly from the magic he hadn't properly let go of.

"You let me have my way with you..." he hummed around him, contented and calm, "And you were as beautiful as I thought you'd be."

Gajeel felt a crack forming in his torso, splitting his sternum in half and spreading fingers across his ribs. He felt the pressure to splinter and break, like something fundamental in him was being compromised.

"Stop it…"

"Mm? Stop what?" he tangled his fingers into the fine hairs at Gajeel's temples, staring straight through him as he ran his thumbs over the traces of what he couldn't keep contained. He smiled, a simple understanding there, "Giving you what you deserve?"

"I don't…"

A sharp look in those glowing eyes silenced him, "Are you going to fight me?"

"I…"

"I beat you in the cathedral and I'll beat you now," yellow veins laced across his vision, silent and striking. They didn't bite, only displayed his power and patience.

"You're so cocky. What happens if I'm the death of you?"

"You won't be," he said simply, that easy smile never diminishing.

"How can you be so sure?"

"I know when I'm right," he shrugged, "and I know that I love you."

"I love you too."

Gajeel leaned up and kissed him. He didn't fight to be freed, didn't try to gain an upper hand. Laxus cradled the back of his head and stole his breath away. For such a clear and blemish-less night, there was an oddity of thunder rumbling across the treetops. The horses spooked but didn't go far. The two masters were laying undeterred by the echoing rumble, one covered in the searching branches of lighting and the other shattering into the starlit sky.

Some people say that love is made with gold and roses

But when your heart is breaking I'll be there to hold it

Some people hide their devils deep inside their souls

With me, you're safe and sound, let all your demons go

Oh, I saw, oh, I saw

The archangels they fell from the sky

They were falling right into your eyes

Oh, I saw, oh, I saw

You were made from the holiest wine

So all I do is try, try to do my best

But nothing ever measures up to all the world expects

'Cause I'm not like a god, no I ain't heaven sent

All I am is human, loving you the best I can

- Best I Can, American Authors and Seeb