Love Sick

Chapter Twenty-Two: Electrical-Current Events.

Laxus walked out of the kitchen with a tired expression. "Just spoke with Bickslow over my communication lacrima. The guild knows that we're both here and safe" the blond said.

He probably hated that. The guild would question why they were bunked together in the first place. They would be pushed to reveal their involbement before they were ready. But Freed was glad that the dragon slayer was prioritizing their safety by telling the guild where they are in case something happens.

Freed was sitting on the mattress as Laxus approached him. "Do you think the storm is magic in nature?" Freed asked as he stared at the wall. The blond shrugged before he got into the bed as well. They had both changed into sleeping clothes already.

"I can't sense a magical signature with it but that doesn't mean much. If it's magic then it wasn't created in Magnolia but it could have been cast somewhere else and then sent an a war path. If the caster is inexperienced it could have gotten out of control and not even meant to be here" Laxus explained. 

That wasn't much assurance for the rune mage. 

Thunder roared and lightning violently crashed down somewhere nearby. As Freed had gotten used to storms by now, he didn't react. In fact he just made himself more comfortable in their pile of blankets. 

"You're not bothered?" The blond asked, peering down at his soulmate. "Not really" he responded lazily. Laxus shook his head like he couldn't believe what was being said. "Usually when there's lightning, there's you." He brushed it off.

They both heard the unsaid part. The fact that Freed trusted him so much that he could be relaxed during such a chaotic moment. He felt safe. 

The blond looked away, his face going pink. Electricty rolled off of his shoulders. Freed thought that the muscular man looked absolutely adorable when flustered like this. Orange eyes snapped down to him and he realized that he had voiced that thought out loud. 

Now his own features were covered in red.

Taking the opportunity, Laxus then leaned over his form, strong hands splayed out on either side of his head. The wild glint in his eyes looked animalistic and predatory. But Freed wasn't scared, fear was not the reason his heart was beating out of his chest. 

"Am I adorable now?" Laxus asked, his voice husky. 

It was easy for Freed to slip into his imagination with this fake life. Easy to pretend that Laxus actually loved him, wanted him. 

His mind was doing mental gymnastics trying to justify his insecurities and create reasons why the blond couldn't be interested in him. He had deluded himself so much that he couldn't tell what was real and what his mind made up.

But he wanted so much to be able to take advantage of these moments because he was sure that they wouldn't last. That the blond would find some way to get rid of him.

Lightning struck down somewhere nearby and Laxus scrunched up his face at the sound of it. Freed let out a breathless laugh and felt his chest warm with affection. "You want to be out in the storm?" He asked with a fond expression. The dragon slayer sighed and had a dopey grin. "So badly" he responded.

"Then go. I'm safe enough here and I have my runes to protect me" he urged. He knew how much Laxus had loved storms.

Freed fell asleep just moments after the orange-eyed man left.

...

After being assured numerous more times, Laxus dressed and headed out to the rain soaked streets. His instincts were at war because he didn't want to leave his soulmate alone but he also couldn't pass up on this chance.

Of all the dragon slayers he had ever met, Laxus by far had the hardest 'element' to find in order to eat. The three youngest had the easies time. Light, shadow and air? You would have to be an idiot to not have access to any of those. Poison? Well, when you make friends with poisonous creatures then how hard can it really be?  

And then Natsu and Gajeel? It's pretty easy to create a fire if you already didn't have access to one and Natsu had started eating magic that wasn't fire. Before he met Gajeel Laxus might have thought that a supply of iron would be hard to come by but then he almost always saw the dark-haired man eating some.

But him? He couldn't just find some spare lightning on the ground. No, there were two ways for him to get his hands on his 'element'. Fight a wizard who uses the same type of magic. Or in storms like these.

...

The world had became monochrome, greyscale. It was absolutely dreary with untamed streaks of yellow breaking out across the quiet scene. Because it was quiet. The wind howled and the sound of rain hitting the cobbled streets echoed but it all fell down to a quiet hum when thunder roared, almost as if it was out of respect. 

Laxus felt at peace. This was the world he lived in, this was his domain. His instincts purred in harmony with the cacophony of the raging storm. 

It also allowed him a different sort of peace. He and Freed had been inseperable lately, literally, so it was nice to be able to have a few quiet moments. He hoped the green-haired man was taking the opportunity as well.

He smiled to himself softly. He hadn't really been able to process that he was in a relationship now, a serious one at that. Laxus needed to take this opportunity to be independent as well as reflect. 

The dragon slayer hoped that he and his soulmate would not come to be entirely dependent on each other. He enjoyed Freed but he would still like to take solo jobs every once in a while and he knew that Freed's chances at being an S-class wizard would diminish in those circumstances. 

Lightning crackled nearby.