Love Sick

Chapter Nine: Rainy Day Revelations

"So. You're not my captain anymore, right?" Laxus asked, still holding Freed in his embrace. The rune mage pushed himself away from the other man, surprised at his comment. "I- what would I be if not your captain?" The green-haired man asked. 

Laxus smiled and drew the other man back into his arms. "Freed" he said in a hushed voice. "You would be my Freed" he whispered into the shorter man's hair. 

"But I guess you were right. I'm not happy er at least I wasn't" he admitted. Freed tilted away to be able to look up into his eyes, searching. "That's why I manned up and confessed. The other dragon slayers have their people and Ever and even Bickslow have relationships of their own. And I'm older than them all" Laxus explained.

"You were jealous..?" Freed asked hesitantly. "Longing more like" the blond corrected.

"I was greedy but I know better now. I'm lucky to have what I have. Friends, family. I've learned to be happy with that like I should" Laxus said sadly. "There's nothing wrong with being happy with that but to think that seeking love is asking too much? There is nothing wrong with wanting a relationship." The rune mage tried to soothe.

"Not really convincing when it comes from you bud. You don't go on dates and you turn down everyone who has ever hit on you or asked you out. All for the sake of profesionalism" 

'Because none of them have been you' 

"Maybe they just weren't my type and I used that as an excuse to not be rude" Freed shrugged. That stabbed Laxus straight in the heart, stinging him like a swiftly moving poison. He had rejected Laxus on the terms of professionality. Any thoughts he had of re-approaching the swordsman were turning into smoke before his very eyes. He felt ill. "I mean everyone believes that I want someone similiar to myself. Probably because I spend a great deal of time with Lucy and Levy. I'm not into small bookish people" the green-haired man continued.

"Um, what are you into?" Laxus asked. The shorter man blushed a deep scarlet. "Don't make me answer that" he muttered. 

...

Back at the guild.

Gajeel knew. The other dragons hadn't shown any inclination of being on the same page but he knew.

Wendy was still a child, she had no idea what it was like to have a soulmate or to have the full force of dragon slayer instincts. As for Natsu...

It wasn't too odd, the way he shielded Freed. The two of them had been fighting and the salamander could be unpredictable as well as stubborn when it came to a good-natured fight. And the dragon slayers could be protective over more than just their soulmates- especially if they formed packs-. 

Natsu was guilty over it, he was protective of the guild as a whole but he was very protective of Happy, Macao, Romeo and of course Wendy. Gajeel was also protective of Wendy as well as showing signs whenever in the same room as Rogue. The iron dragon slayer was also very pack-like with Juvia- more so towards the beginning when she was the only real safe thing in the guild. And Laxus himself had acted in such a manner himself. Pacing around the guild hall once when Ever had been in the infirmary after breaking her leg.

He thought that he was just looking out for his pack.

Gajeel knew better. He supposed that it was because he was so like the other dragon slayer. If he had been fighting Natsu and say Juvia was the one who interrupted him he would have ignored her... just like Laxus did when Evergreen and Bickslow had tried earlier. 

But to stop the fight immediately, guard them and willingly be lead out with no force or threats... that's something that he would only do for Levy. Something he imagined the lightning mage would only do for his soulmate. 

He was in an odd position. He sulked in the corner as he pondered over his options. Speaking out would be against what the blond wants and not doing anything wouldbe aiding in the death of a guildmate, a friend. 

Levy was speaking with the rest of her team of Lily. Her back was turned to him. She was so smart, she would know what to do. He crept up behind her and rested a hand beside hers, leaning against the table.

"Ah! Gajeel" she said, jumping slightly. "Levy I need to talk to you, privately" he said. "Hey! We're kinda busy" Jet proclaimed. The black-haired man glared silently. "Oh well! We can entertain ourselves. Levy why don't you go talk to him" her boys chimed in sync.

The blue-haired woman nodded at them and followed her boyfriend outside.

"What did you want to speak to me about?" She asked curiously. "Laxus. I figured him out. Figured out who his mysterious someone is" he said in a low voice. "That's great! We can- oh. But he doesn't want anyone to meddle. He wants to accept his fate" Levy said. "That's my dilemma" Gajeel said after a beat.

"Who?"

"What?" He asked. "Who. Who is it. I mean. I promise I can keep a secret, promise" Levy said. He sighed. "Freed" he breathed.

Her eyes went wide. "Him? But that means he rejected Laxus... Why would he reject Laxus?" The solid-script mage mumbled. "Maybe he's not into guys" he shrugged.

Levy burst out laughing.

...

Levy had tea and bookclub with Freed. Lucy was of course usually apart of this but she had been too busy with jobs with Natsu. Apparently her rent went up. 

She and Gajeel hadn't decided what to do with their information yet. Honestly she was blindsided by the fact that Freed, the guy who practically worshiped Laxus, had rejected them. Levy vowed to get to the bottom of things.

"You look tense" Freed voiced as he poured their teas. "I am. I'm having a dilemma" she admitted. "Mind sharing things with me? I might be able to provide a more logical outlook" he asked.

"Gajeel worked out who Laxus' soulmate is. He said it was by accident er something about picking up on instincts and mannerisms of the other dragon slayers. I asked him to tell me and he did. Gajeel wanted my opinion on things" Levy admitted.

Freed stopped silently. He took a moment and brought his tea closer to himself with shaking hands. "Oh?" He asked.

"We don't know what to do with that information. I mean it would be breaking his trust and undermining him to do anything with it but if we sit in on it and his soulmate wanted something to with him..." she broke off.

"I shouldn't... I shouldn't ask. It would be against Laxus. I respect Laxus but... tell me?" His voice was quiet and frail. She felt bad for him.

"I'll tell you their name but nothing else, okay?" She asked. He nodded solemnly. 

"His name is Freed Justine"