Green Envy in Blue Pegasus

Chapter 2

Soon after that, Laxus was excommunicated from Fairy Tail. He thought he had lost Freed and the Raijinshuu for good. He wandered aimlessly around Fiore, got drunk every night, ended up in many pointless fights, not caring about anything anymore. He had truly hit bottom.

Then he sensed something and headed to Tenrou Island out of instinct, only to get caught up with the rest of Fairy Tail in a time bubble that made them lose seven years. Before he could truly reunite with his friends, they woke up and the world had moved on without them.

Things gradually seemed to go back to normal after that. He was allowed back into the guild, and when Freed, Evergreen, and Bickslow tackled him with hugs, he knew they were only being friendly. Hearing that Elfman and Evergreen were an item was surprising, but he approved. He knew Freed would make sure their relationship did not interfere with the team, after all.

He really wanted to ask Freed if he was also in a relationship, but there were rules. They could not ask about the past without invitation. So nobody asked Laxus what he did while away, and he did not ask them what they had been up to.

Laxus still caught himself watching Freed, but he knew there was no love in return. It was all one-sided. He told himself he would eventually get over it.

However, now that Freed knew Laxus had no interest in women, he became stubbornly persistent about chasing away girls who tried to fawn over him. He chased away so many female admirers, soon rumors spread that Freed did it out of love.

Laxus knew better. While visiting Freed's apartment, he saw that controversial Sorcerer Magazine still opened to the page showing the Trimens of Blue Pegasus. It was pretty obvious that Freed had a sensual admiration of them, especially the flirty exchange student from that one time, Eve. Laxus suspected the two dated at some point, but Freed was strict that relationships did not have room within their team. They did not tease Evergreen about Elfman, and Laxus did not ask Freed about Eve.

Was Eve his type? Small, petite, romantic, eager to adore ... everything Laxus was not.

No wonder Freed had no interest in him.

Fate could play cruel tricks. Although fate was kind enough to call Laxus to Tenrou Island so he and Freed were not separated for seven years, it also caused Fairy Tail to fall apart just as it seemed like they were really coming back together as a guild. Makarov disbanded them, and the Raijinshuu faced a financial crisis.

They needed work.

To get work as mages, they needed a guild.

Freed recommended Blue Pegasus.

... Fuck ...

Evergreen liked their outfits and said a beautiful woman like her should fit in well. Bickslow had no better suggestions and always followed Freed's lead anyway. Laxus had no good reason not to go along with them.

So they arrived at the doors of the other guild and were easily accepted. Laxus had almost hoped his brusque attitude would get them turned away, but Ichiya was a big-hearted man.

Sure enough, Evergreen was good at waiting on men and flirting. Bickslow made a good bartender, knowing drinks from all the times the Raijinshuu hit up pubs, and able to see people's souls made talking to them easier. Laxus just sat on a couch, women surrounding him, the one thing he hated more than anything else. Even though Freed still acted like a bodyguard and made sure the women did not touch him too intimately, he was not always around.

Freed spoke a lot with the Trimens. He looked so comfortable around them, wearing his dress shirt and tie, smiling so easily, and more than once Laxus saw Freed eying Eve. Hibiki and Ren at least were off-limits, one in a relationship with Jenny Realight, and the other engaged to Sherry Blendy. Eve was free, and he had hardly aged over those seven years. He looked so happy to see Freed again and exclaimed more than once how amazing it was that Freed looked exactly like he did back then.