Love Sick

Chapter Twenty-Four: Eye Of The Storm

When the storm cleared up Laxus returned the house to it's usual state and Freed went outside to check for damages. He was just climbing down from the roof when he saw Makarov walking up to the door. 

His heart stopped. He wasn't ready for this.

"Freed? What are you doing out here?" He said with disbelief. He felt like cowering and running to Laxus. There was no easy solution to this predicament. "Master! I didn't see you, forgive me" he greeted nervously. He was tactfully avoiding the question until he could recieve some input from his blond. Speaking of...

"Laxus is just inside. Would you like me to go tell him you're here" His smile was forced. "No no, that's fine. I'll speak with him in a moment. I hear you were here during the storm?" The old man asked.

The rune mage felt like he was being interrogated. Like he was vulnerable. "Yes, I was visiting when the storm hit." He answered carefully. In this moment he wished the dragon slayer really was a god, if only to be able to hear his prayers of being rescued from this situation. 

"How's the roof looking?" Laxus asked as he opened the door. Because of the angle he was temporarily oblivious to his grandfather. Before the green-haired man was able to respond, Makarov snapped.

"You have a guest at your home and you're giving them chores!" He sounded outraged. He calmly turned his eyes to him. "It's Freed" he responded plainly. Freed did a lot of little chores and tasks for him, often unprompted.

Makarov just raised his brow like he was speaking to an insolent child. That was surely pissing Laxus off. Freed considered offering a backrub later to get rid of the tension. "Why don't you come in, old man?" Laxus offered.

...

Freed shuffled nervously in his seat. He was reminded of the awkwardness of when they told the rest of the Thunder Legiom. Except this was way worse. Ever and Bickslow had loved them both as their friends and while Makarov cared about him as a guild member, he obviously cared for his grandson way more. 

And his anxiety spiked remembering how that last interaction had ended with a conversation about how the master might resent him.

He was holding back tears as he feared for the worst. What would happen if Makarov disapproved? Or if he truly was angry with him? Freed could lose everything. He hadn't realized that he had started to shake slightly. In fact the dragon slayer seemed to be the only one who had.

Laxus placed a reassuring hand on his thigh. Luckily they decided to have this conversation at the table so the action went unnoticed. 

"Go on. I don't have all day" the old man urged after all the stalling. The blond cleared his throat. "Freed is my soulmate. You're the fourth person outside of us two to know that. Porlyusica and the Thunder Legion also know. End of conversation" the last sentence was almost a growl. 

His expression hardened. "So everything could have just been avoided?" He asked. The energy became tense. Freed felt like he needed to duck his head and apologize but Laxus tended to be quicker. Lightning fast reflexes and all. "Going senile already old man? End of discussion. You don't get to make comments like that, about that time" The hand that was still resting on the table was almost splintering the wood.

"I believe a change in topic would be good for the both of you" Freed piped up. He could see the popping veins and there was already the smell of ozone in the air. He felt emboldened by the lightning wizard's quick defense. 

Makarov paused for a moment befoe reverting to his normal jovial self. "I didn't realize you were attracted to men" he directed that comment to his grandson. Laxus just shrugged. "And you're happy now? With Freed?" The old man asked.

"I'd be happier if I could go back to bed honestly" the blond laughed but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

...

Was he happy? Obviously he was ecstatic to be with Freed but... he was weighed down. Because he could be happier. He never wanted to be the person who trapped someone in a relationship and well, he didn't know if Freed really wanted to be with him. 

...

Laxus ended up closing himself off and brooding for the rest of the day. A part of him knew that he wasn't being fair to Freed but he was just too lost in his own head.

He had to tell Freed that there was a way to severe their connection. He couldn't just keep Freed in a relationshio he may not want. If you love something then let it go. It doesn't mean it was easy though. 

The rune mage interrupted his sulking and they took a bath together. It was all mostly done in silence until Freed was drying his hair. "Do think the guild knows yet?" He asked hesitantly. It made orange eyes snap up to look at him. 

"You know what? Probably but I don't think I care" Laxus said. The green-haired man turned to look at him with wide eyes. "This whole thing is none of their business anyway. As long as you trust me to do what's best for you" the blond said. He was about to broach the topic but was interrupted.

"I've always trusted you with that" 

It was so honest and so open that the dragon slayer didn't really know what to do with it. He felt his heart stuttering in his chest. He was afraid of having to let go.

"It's been a while since I've been to the guild anyway. Can we go?" And how could he refuse this man anything. "Yeah, we can go. Might finally be able to drink a beer" he laughed. 

He didn't catch the way that Freed paused in the doorway, nor did Freed catch him do the exact same thing. They were both scared of taking the next step. Of shattering the illusion.