Love Sick

Chapter Five: Static Love

Laxus was living his life for all that it was worth. Despite having been forced to eat healthy and give up alcohol. He was milking the limited amount of time rather successfully.

The dragon slayer was living in the infirmary despite his wishes to be allowed to go home because of his failing health and the need to be able to continually monitor it. Though he was able to to lounge about in the Guild Hall most of the time and if he was with other people he could venture into the town.

Constant monitoring was wearing down his patience and making him inhospitable. 

"Frowning again?" Came a soft musical laughing voice. Orange eyes snapped to see his friend. Freed. He was smiling softly and leaning against the door to the infirmary holding a tray with tea and lunch. He had a rather full satchel that Laxus presumed were full of papers and documents.

Freed had been helping him prepare all of his legal aspects that came with his ultimate decision. He was quite lucky. He didn't want his grandfather to have to handle it because he was already asking his grandfather to outlive him and he probably wasn't smart enough to do it himself.

Plus he knew that the green-haired man liked being helpful, liked seeing the smile that he adorned whenever he felt like he was doing something good. And it allowed him to spend a lot of time with the other.

"I don't like being cooped up" he breathed out. Freed walked further into the room and set down the tray. He had a certain finess and elegance as he divied up their lunches and prepared their teas. "I know. You've always hated being in one place too long, especially inside. It's your element" Freed said, mumbling the last part. "My element?" Laxus asked, his brow furrowing. "Lightning. It's clear many wizards are affected by the element they wield. Natsu and Grey have always been signs of that. Lightning storms never stay in one place very long, always moving. Lightning doesn't strike the same place twice after all" He explained.

Laxus nodded along. 

"Anyway, what do you got for me today?" He asked. "An emancipation form actually" the rune mage explained as he took a sip of his tea. The lightning wizard squinted at him. "Legally denouncing your father. It was the master's idea. Even if you don't include Ivan in your will he can likely weasel his way into making sure at least some amount of what you leave behind goes to him. If you get emancipated he can't benefit from you" he explained.

Laxus thought about that for a long while. 

"And I wanted to let you know that Bickslow, Ever and I will need to hold council between us in order to sort out or current finances and figure out a game plan for what will happen to us after..." he trailed off and stared into his teacup. 

"Yeah. Do what you need to do. I just hope that the guild can take care of you for a little while. You can't be as strong as I know you are if you're not allowed to grieve properly. " the blond said. 

It was the moments like these that made Freed wonder how this amazing man could be the same Laxus that he had known all of those years ago. It made him realize how much he had grown. 

Since their last job Freed had spent everyday with Laxus but in order to focus on his future without him he didn't have the time to spend time at the guild until every problem is resolved.

"Heh, I'll try not to die before you come back" Laxus said. Freed whacked him lightly on the head with some papers. "That's not funny".

...

It lasted three days. Laxus and Freed had only been apart for three days. On the third day around noon Laxus was having tea with his grandfather in his office.

"I know that you've made up your mind but have you considered the idea that she might feel the same way, that the rejection was only circumstantial? I mean how did you ask?" Makarov questioned. 

Laxus had to hold back a snort at the choice to refer to his soulmate as a she. 

"Not gonna give in to your prying, old man" the blond said over his drink. He knew that his grandfather had been fishing for details in order to piece together who his soulmate really was. And the dragon slayer knew that it wouldn't be hard to do if he let anything slip.

And if he were to answer honestly, he had pondered that question. His soulmate had acted strangely. Demanding to know who the soulmate was- but that could be an act. Not wanted the guild to coerce them-, getting so upset when he chose to give that he slapped the dragon slayer- even if he didnt want a partner, he didn't want to lose a friend- trying to convince Laxus that giving in to fate wouldn't be so bad- but maybe he was trying to convince himself-. 

But there are ways that the rune mage acted that solidified in Laxus' mind thay Freed knew.

After his rejection Freed avoided Laxus, probably feeling awkward. Avoiding him again and leaving town for a week when they all learned of the cause of his sickness. The way he would shuffle about like he felt guilty about something. And how he didn't question Laxus about who is soulmate was when they were alone on that job. The fact that he suggested taking a job was a big enough hint.

"Is she at least pretty?" Makarov asked to break the silence.

The lightning wizard felt an easy smile take hold. "I don't think I've met anyone more breathtaking" he admitted. Together they slipped into a more natural conversations.

...

Laxus started blinking, trying to clear away the black dots dancing around his vision. His eyesight started to blur and he lost conciousness. 

The master of the guild was horrified to watch as his grandson passed out, falling out of his chair before he could do anything and hitting the floor with a heafty thud that broke something in his soul to hear.