Quest for the Eighty-Eight Keys

Chapter Six: New Keys and a Mission

WARNING: MENTIONS OF TORTURE AND PTSD!

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Freed stared unblinkingly at the doors of the guildhall, his arms crossed over his chest. He had taken up position at the bottom of the steps that led to the doors. Previously, he had taken care to not let anybody besides his three closest friends find out about his feelings for Lucy, now, however, he didn't care. Who knew what the blonde woman was going through? He wasn't going to sit down until he knew of her state.

Evergreen and Bixlow stood a small distance behind their friend. Their guildmates, though extremely worried, were also very confused. It wasn't like Freed to act so openly concerned for a guildmate. They didn't doubt that he cared about Lucy and was thus concerned, but the way he was staring at the closed entrance was one of almost petrified concern. Nobody needed to look closely to see that the green-haired man was shaking and his fingers were being dug into his clothed arms to such a degree that if his arms weren't covered and his fingernails not filed, he would have drawn blood.

Cana crept closer to the rune mage, cautious, appearing as though she thought that if she made one wrong move, the slightest error, then the distressed man would snap at her fiercely. The card mage peered at his face, brow furrowed. It seemed that she was trying to figure him out. Freed soon shot her a glare that sent the brunette backing away to where she had been sitting at the bar. The rune mage then returned his worried gaze back to the doors.

Evergreen stepped forward, placing a hand on her friend's shoulders as she whispered to him, "maybe you should sit down."

Freed pushed the woman's hand off of his shoulder less than gently. He grumbled back, "not until I know that Lucy is safe and unharmed."

The fairy mage took the hint to leave him be before he did or said something he'd regret and walked back to her original position next to Bixlow. She sighed, staring down at the floor. She flicked open her fan and held it in front of her face, not wanting anybody to see her cry. A few tears slipped down her cheeks. She felt a hand rest on her shoulder, causing her to look up at the seith mage by her side. Bixlow gave her a sympathetic smile as her whispered to her, "once Cosplayer comes back and goes on that date with him, he'll be back to normal." Evergreen nodded, but she didn't answer. She hoped that Bixlow was right. She didn't like seeing her friend so distressed.

Rufus narrowed his eyes at Freed. He sat with Rogue and Orga. His stomach turned with concern and he felt a need to stand up and pace anxiously. He was itching to know about the conditions of Yukino, Sorano, and most of all, Lucy. Even though, he couldn't stop this suspicion that the green-haired man held more than platonic feelings for his guildmate.

He never would have pegged Freed for being interested in Lucy, or even in women. He had heard quite a few rumors that the rune mage was gay, and was probably romantically interested in the Lightning Dragon Slayer that he followed faithfully.

Could he be mistaken? Of course, rumors are often times merely fabrication, but surely there was some degree of truth. The memory-make mage crossed his arms over his chest as a feeling of jealousy began to bloom alongside the worry that had long settled itself into his gut. He would have to keep an eye on Freed, make sure that he wouldn't try to pursue the celestial wizard that he had his eye on. It would be troublesome to have to fight him over the blonde woman in question.

Rufus shifted his gaze to the guild's doors. His dark green eyes softened as concern took the place of jealousy. He felt the large man next to him elbow him gently, attracting his attention. Orga smiled comfortingly and said in a low tone, "I'm sure she's fine. Just watch, pretty soon she'll walk through those doors perfectly fine."