fuckyeahfraxus

[fuckyeahfraxus]

not fraxus but the thing @phoenix-before-the-flame posted reminded me of this and I think it's time to post it hahaha

[fuckyeahfraxus]

Day 3: Hidden Moments

Based off of the painting "Hellelil and Hildebrand, the Meeting on the Turret Stairs" by Frederic William Burton

[fuckyeahfraxus]

Fraxus Week Day 7 : Family

This is clearly my fav prompt for this Fraxus Week !

This panel was pretty clear in my head when I read the prompt list, I needed to give these two an adorable little girl… who can destroy the guild with the others children 🤭 I think she is a good mix of Freed and Laxus !

Her name is simple, but I’m proud of it 😌

[fuckyeahfraxus]

I couldn’t finish this but yuri!Fraxus

[fuckyeahfraxus]

Fraxus week day 6 : Mischief & Debauchery

I feel so sorry for posting is that late,.. I wasn’t able to find time to finish it on time :/

Thanks @eryiss for letting me base my art on his fanfic : “The perils of champagne strawberries.” _ Ao3

It’s always a pleasure to read your stories, I’m not good with words, but you are, and I really love your works !You always describe them perfectly whether it's cute, funny or spicy !

Just …keep writing 🥰🥰

[fuckyeahfraxus]

Actually, that's not the only thing about 100yq's writing that's irksome. I feel like many characterizations of characters get butchered to some extent, it feels chaotic and, and this is another factor why I personally couldn't get myself to sit through watching 100 Year Quest thus far (next to how my favorite characters get treated), is how no episode passes without unnecessary fanservice and sexualizing of one or more female characters. Sometimes multiple scenes in one episode.

I feel like the sexualization + sexual harrassment depiction as joke has been amped up and I can't bear it anymore.

Fairy Tail used to be such a comfort show and it + the characters still are to some extent, but I just personally cannot sit through it anymore.

[fuckyeahfraxus]

The series has gone from establishing ghe Raijinshuu as very powerful antagonists and then went on to constantly ignore, nerf amd treat them like they're incompetent and have lost 90% of their capabilities and power for no reason other then letting other characters get away with wins and let them shine, or so it seems because there is so many ridiculous excuses and inconsistency in the writing of them and their powers ever since they've come back to the "good side".

None of the strong antagonists have been affected by the 'antagonist become good, then shoved to the side and written with terrible excuses for their losses or absence, and not allowed to even use a hint of the power they possess as originally fucking strong characters' as much as them.

100yq made it even worse which I didn't think was even possible but hey. Literally so tired.

[fuckyeahfraxus]

Fraxus Week Day 8 - Videogame AU/Crossover

Local awkward as hell farmer tries to woo a hot bookworm who totally doesn't have secrets that'll be revealed in later heart events <3

So, decided to go with a Stardew Valley Au for the last day, thought it'd be cute.

Anyway, I had so much fun doing Fraxus week this year! <33 and I have so many ideas for my AU it'll be fun getting back into it more :D

[fuckyeahfraxus]

Fraxus Week: Hidden Moments

A/N: I apologize that this is so late! I was inspired to write this after watching the Alvarez arc. When Laxus started using jutsu shiki I expected there to be some exploratory flashback, and there was none! I knew from that moment I wanted to try to write something that could fill that gap. I've found it's really interesting to speculate about the Thunder Legion & Laxus' time in Blue Pegasus and I hope to one day to complete a multi-chapter fic that explores that era for the team (embracing some of the canon content we've received about it, and diverging in other ways). In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this write-up for the "Hidden Moments" prompt.

“Freed what is this about–” Laxus started as the green-haired mage led him by the hand into the darkened, disused Blue Pegasus Library. “You’ve been holed up in this dusty library every day and god knows what you’ve been doing…”

Once Freed had successfully dragged Laxus into the library and slammed the doors, Laxus was finally able to get a good look at the other man. He looked like a wilder version of himself. His clothes were crumpled and his hair was in uncharacteristic disarray with strands every which way; there were significant bags under his eyes. Had he been sleeping lately? His hand was shaking. Laxus wasn’t sure what to expect when—

“Laxus–I finally did it. I finally found something that could save you,”

Laxus let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Hope and relief blossomed within him in a way he hadn’t let himself feel since the day he had gotten his diagnosis in Polyursica’s makeshift hospital bed. Despite that, disbelief still lingered. 

“Old lady Polyursica said…”

“She’s not wrong that there isn’t a cure for your condition,” Freed interrupted, dropping Laxus’ hand. “What I’m planning to teach you isn’t a cure..it’s…” Freed gestured broadly towards the books in the library he had been reading during this final sprint of research, unsure how to express the feelings inside of him that were swirling inside of him like a maelstrom. “It’s–It’s a prayer,”

 Freed wasn’t a religious man, but that was the only comparison that felt was apt to the situation that they’d found themselves in. 

“A prayer?” Laxus echoed stiffly. 

“It’s a prayer that somehow in this vast world of magic, you’ll meet the person that can save you. And they will be able to save you, even if they’re your enemy,”

Laxus put his hands on Freed’s shoulders. He didn’t know what was happening, and frankly he was beginning to get concerned and needed clarification. “Freed, calm down and stop talking in riddles—“

Freed took a breath. “I know this is all a lot to take in. I think it’ll make more sense if I demonstrate it.” He ran a hand through his hair. “It really is all so simple, I can’t believe I overlooked it for so long,”

He gently shrugged off Laxus’ grip, and knelt to the ground. The green-haired man rubbed his hands together, and stretched his fingers out. Laxus recognized the warming up gestures–Freed was preparing to write Jutsu Shiki. 

Freed quickly traced out a series of symbols on the ground. It was an altogether nostalgic and comforting sight for Laxus to see what Freed created so deliberately and methodically, tracing the well worn letters around them. “Consider how when I write Jutsu Shiki like this, I am subconsciously embedding it with bane particles,”

Freed finished writing and a familiar circle of purple writing bloomed around the two mages. Laxus experimentally put his hand out and felt the firm barriers of Freed’s runes.  

“I’ll play along. What parameters did you write this time?” Laxus asked.

Freed smiled. “I kept it simple. You can’t leave this circle until you kiss me,”

Laxus snorted. “No fight to the death? You’ve gotten soft, Freed the Dark,” 

“Only for you,” 

Obediently, he kissed Freed, and the circle collapsed around them, as expected.

“So, is that what you’re teaching me?” 

Freed laughed, despite himself. “Complex condition-based Jutsu Shiki? Laxus, that would take years,” 

“No, consider– what isn’t important isn’t what I wrote, but how it is broken. Traditionally, my Jutsu Shiki can be broken by meeting the conditions like we just did, or by rewriting it, like Levy can. But unknown to most, there’s a third way,”

“A third way?”

“I’ve never personally encountered it but in theory…a particularly strong enemy could cancel the jutsu shiki by destroying the bane particles that power it,”

Freed’s jutsu shiki was powered by Bane particles? Though he didn’t understand all the details, Laxus seemed to be slowly putting things together. “So it doesn’t matter what I write…”

“..It just matters that the specific enemy thinks you are utilizing the Jutsu Shiki as a power-up or a trap and as a result cancels out the bane particles. As long as you can write the runes in a fight and are inside the Jutsu-shiki when the cancellation happens,” Freed took a deep breath. 

“They will be canceling out the bane particles within you as well,”

Freed paused thoughtfully. “Once again, theoretically,”

It hit Laxus all at once. 

“God, you’re fuckin’ brilliant Freed,” Laxus exclaimed as brought Freed into a bone-crushing hug. 

Laxus couldn’t believe it. He had nearly given up, nearly resigned himself to this slow and painful suffering. But Freed, Freed in his stubbornness and determination to save him, had given Laxus his hope back, no matter how uncertain and unlikely and fragile it still all seemed. 

There was so much to say and keep saying–thank you, you’re the best damn thing to ever happen to me. But Laxus knew what Freed wanted to hear at this moment, more than anything else.

“This will only work with a shitton of prep. How do I start?” 

The rune mage smiled brightly. Clearly the sense of hope had infected him as well. “Well, we have a lot of work ahead of us, Laxus. I’m only going to teach you a simple power-up spell, but still–the act of writing runes will have to become second nature to you. That’s the only way you’ll ever be able to use it in combat,” 

“I’m ready to start teacher,” Laxus replied with a smirk. 

Freed rolled his eyes. “You don’t need to call me that,”

“What about master?”

“What about you stop goofing around,” Freed pulled one massive book from his immense pile and plopped it into Laxus’ hands. “And start studying. We don’t have any time to waste,” 

[fuckyeahfraxus]

Fraxus Week Day 3: Hidden moments

It was night, Blue Pegasus was fillled with people, celebrating and flirting, like usual.

The Thunder Legion joined them a few weeks earlier, but it looked like they belonged there already.

It wasn't even that hard. Fairy Tail was a place where parties happened a lot more than there, but without flirting. Nobody, except for Loke, knew how to do that right.

Laxus was looking at them from the window, enjoying the cold breeze outside. He still didn't feel like home there, but he was glad his friends were happy.

At least for now. He knew that sooner or later he would have to tell them about his desease, but the mere thought scared him.

He just came back from Polryusica's cottage, since she insisted he had to come back regularly. Laxus thought she was overreacting, but it turned out she was right. The Anti-Ethernano particles were still present in his body, even after taking the antidote. He was close to death and he had no idea how to break the news to his team.

He was used to be the strong one, the one that protected his friends, but now, he was just some big guy they were going to have to take care of. He promised to protect them, but now, he won't be able to do that.

"Did you go to Polryusica?"

Maybe he was supposed to talk sooner than he expected.

Laxus turned around and found Freed with his arms crossed, waiting for an answer from him. He was wearing the dress shirt and tie that he bought to work at Blue Pegasus and for a while, Laxus couldn't say anything, too busy looking at his body.

"Laxus" he called again.

Laxus realised he still didn't say anything and panicked.

"I don't have a lot of time"

Freed's eyes widened and Laxus was pretty sure he could see a couple of tears forming.

"What?" He whispered. Shit, the dragonslayer didn't mean to start like that. But it was useless, now. He had to tell him the truth.

"She said that the medicine didn't work on me like it did with you guys because I went to fight Tempester on my own. Apparently, it made things worse and now I have like a year to live"

Freed stayed silent.

"Don't be sad, i'm sure we can find a solution" he said, trying to cheer his boyfriend up. It didn't work, Freed's gaze was still glued to the floor.

"Besides, it's won't be that big of a loss" he walked to him and placed his hand on the rune mage's shoulder in a comforting way "I couldn't even protect Magnolia and, after what I did years ago, I don't think anyone will miss me that much"

Freed was still silent, but he raised his head and was looking at Laxus as if he was mad.

Before Laxus could say anything, the rune wizard slapped him so hard that Laxus was sure it would leave a mark.

"I cannot tollerate anyone talking like that about you. Not even yourself" he breathed as his eyes were now full of tears.

His sobs became louder when he felt the other's arms wrapping around him.

"You're not going to die... I won't let you..."

"I'm not going to die without fighting"

He didn't know how long they stayed there, but eventually, Freed stopped crying and tightened his grip on Laxus.

"I will heal you" he wasn't sure if his boyfriend was talking to himself or not, but he couldn't help but smile.

"I'm in good hands, then" he whispered tenderly before leaving a small kiss on the rune mage's forehead.

***

It was over. The battle with Alvarez, the one with Acnologia, finally over.

The streets were filled with people. Mostly mages. Sibling, friends and lover were reuniting.

But Freed couldn't find the one that he whished to see the most. He looked everywhere and asked everyone, but he couldn't find Laxus.

He hasn't seen him since the start of that stupid war. Freed needed to know if the spell he taught Laxus worked, if he actually managed to save him. He could never forgive himself if that wasn't the case.

As he thought, the rune mage was suddently pulled in a hidden alley and pressed against something warm and firm.

He recognised the cologne, so Freed hugged his significant other back immediately.

"You're alright" he sighed, relieved.

"Thanks to you"

Freed looked up, hope filling his eyes. Laxus smiled and nodded. That was all he needed to understand.

They kissed, happy that they could finally stay together.

[fuckyeahfraxus]

Fraxus Week Day 8 - Au/Mythology

Ah yes, the final day! I misread the prompt, but it thankfully ended in a piece I really like!

This fic is a ranch AU, in which Laxus is a rancher/cowboy and Freed is a stablehand. It takes place in the modern day in the American Midwest.

I've had so much fun participating in Fraxus week this year, and I hope you all enjoyed it as well!

[fuckyeahfraxus]

Fraxus Week Day 7 - Guildmates/Family

Kinda took the oppotunity to get some story/lore explained out for the AU.

Long story short, Golden Cutlass was Freed's first guild before he joined Fairy Tail. Unfortunately, Golden Cutlass was ambushed and overtaken causing the members and guild masters to flee, Eloise is the only one who Freed knows is alive as she reached out via a job posting encrypted via rune magic. She gave him this photo when they met.

Although Freed now found family with Fairy Tail and the Thunder Leigon and he's incredibly grateful for it, he can't help but think back to Golden Cutlass and the family he had there.

(lightning indicates Laxus is the one talking the top right and the runes indicate Freed talking on the bottom left)

I might actually write a little something for this cause I feel it's leading in that direction.

[fuckyeahfraxus]

Fraxus Week Day 7 - Family

The penultimate day! I feel like this piece would have been my favorite if I had the energy to clean it up lol. Maybe in the future.

Chapter-specific warnings: Past major character death

@fuckyeahfraxus

[fuckyeahfraxus]

Fraxus Week Day 6 - Mischief and Debuchery

It's the follow up from the last piece I did <3 Laxus is a lucky bastard

I honestly think they found a quiet place at the event and went for it , everyone was probably too drunk to notice.

I'm catching up, I might have to go overtime but so far this has been so much fun!

[fuckyeahfraxus]

Fraxus Week Day 5 : Solace / Haunted

I’m late in my prompts T.T

Day 6 is still in progress 👀 but day 7 is done 😁

[fuckyeahfraxus]

Fraxus Week 2024 - Day 7: Guildmates

Description: Freed kept his private life private. Nobody needed to know he and Laxus were seeing each other. But then Laxus was beaten bloody and unconscious on a mission, and wouldn’t wake up. Privacy meant nothing anymore. Freed would be by Laxus' bedside no matter who saw.

Notes: Day seven, and still this event is hosted by @fuckyeahfraxus. The final day, and a bit of angst and emotions. Also their relationship seen from other people's perspective.

Link: Ao3

The Top Of His List

Natsu – Day 1

Quite a lot of people wrote Natsu off in intelligence, and he didn't mind that. The way he saw it, if people wanted to underestimate him, then eventually they'd be proven wrong, and the longer it took for that to happen, the more embarrassing it would be for whoever had been wrong about him.

He wouldn't exactly say that he was book-smart, but there were other types of ways to be intelligent. He was people smart. He could read them, adapt to them, and know what they wanted from him. He didn't necessarily act on what he saw all the time, and sometimes his mind flickered past his insights he'd picked up on; but he was a busy man with a lot to do, he could hardly handhold everyone in the guild and point out what they hadn't seen for themselves.

But, whatever, he was smart with people. That's how he picked up and Laxus and Freed getting together earlier than anyone else had.

Freed had been the one to give it away, actually. Natsu had cornered Laxus and the Thunder Legion and demanded that Laxus fight him. At this point, he didn't expect Laxus to ever agree, but it was fun to get under his skin. Laxus had, of course, told him to kick rocks, but then Freed had smirked and told Laxus that maybe he should get some training in, or else his muscles might atrophy. Laxus had bounced back and said that maybe Freed was the one who needed some extra work before their next mission. Then, and Natsu never could have expected this, Freed had agreed, and they'd spent the afternoon sparing.

That was all Natsu needed to know. Freed doubling down on annoying Laxus, Laxus showing his own teasingly antagonistic side, and then Freed putting his pride to the side and having fun was like a clanging bell. Those were the actions of two men who had put away their years long sexual tension and were happy and sated. From then on, the little smiles, lingering touches, and whispered words were hard to miss.

He wouldn't tell anyone. He'd just gloat when they eventually went public.

Annoyingly, he never got the chance to gloat. The evening was winding down and there was hardly anyone left when an explosion of power filled the space. Everyone still around was on their feet immediately, ready to fight should they need to. Natsu was at the front, hands engulfed in flames as he waited to pounce. He only just managed to stop himself when he realised who the emerging figures were.

Freed was drenched in blood, with ripped flesh and cartilage hanging from him. His clothes were torn, and his sword blade shattered. His eye pulses with darkness and he looked like he was on his last legs.

Laxus though, looked dead. He was unconscious, Freed holding him up with shaking arms, and cut to pieces. He had at least twenty runes plastered on his skin, and Natsu could only assume they were the only things keeping him together. There were burn marks, bite marks, and blade marks over his body, and Natsu had to wonder what the hell had happened to them.

There was no time for that though. Everyone looked at them in shock, and Freed was hardly in a state to take charge. Natsu glanced around, and glanced at Jet, who thankfully was still there.

"Get Porlyusica," he instructed, removing the flames from his fists. Jet nodded and ran off, as Natsu approached Freed. "Give him to me, man. I'll take him to the infirmary."

"No," Freed croaked out, voice broken. "No."

"Let me take him, Freed," Natsu insisted. He went to try and hook his arm under Laxus' legs, but Freed glared at him, sharp and nasty. "You look like you're gonna collapse on us, and I don't think him falling to the ground and smashing his head is gonna help. Let me take him."

Getting Laxus in his arms wasn't an easy feat. Freed was still reluctant to fully release him but must have known Natsu was right as he let Natsu hold him bridal style, and settled on squeezing Laxus' hand tight as they went to the infirmary.

"You think maybe you should lie down too," Natsu suggested once he'd carefully got Laxus on the bed. "You're not in great shape."

"I'm fine," Freed said blankly. "The blood isn't mine."

There was an undertone of threat in there, and Natsu would put money on Freed having gone all out on whoever had put Laxus in such a state. Natsu had never seen Freed fully unleashed, but had always assumed there would be a howling fury trying to break out into the surface. If Freed and Laxus cared for each other in the way Natsu was sure that they did, then anyone who had hurt Laxus so much would have to face the hell of a quiet man.

But now, the adrenaline must have worn off, because Freed was looking down at Natsu with empty eyes, fear radiating off him. Natsu couldn't imagine what it would be like; to look at the man you loved as he might be dying. If it were happening to him, he'd want to burn down the world.

There wasn't much anyone could do until Porlyusica arrived, but Natsu felt like he shouldn't leave Freed and Laxus alone. Freed was running on fumes, and if he collapsed then someone should be there to help. He grabbed a chair and placed it next to Freed. Freed sat, finger stroking down Laxus' knuckles.

"He's getting cold," Freed eventually said. "There's no heating in here. Would you mind?"

Natsu set his hands on fire again without further prompting, holding them close to Laxus and slowly moving them up and down his body. He risked a glance at Freed, and saw unshed tears thorough the gore still painting him.

He didn't say anything. He just kept Laxus warm. Sometimes, you just needed to shut your mouth, and Natsu could do that.

———

Kinana – Day 2

Knocking twice gently on the infirmary, Kinana pushed open and walked through, a pile of blankets, pillows and hot water bottles hefted under her arm. She saw them both immediately, Laxus still unconscious and plastered with bandages and recovery spells, and Freed sat next to the bed, slumped over and sleeping.

She did try not to wake him, but Freed must have been a light sleeper, as the second she walked into the room his head shot up. There was protectiveness, panic, and sadness in his expression all at once. If she knew him better, she might have offered to hug him.

"Evening," she said gently, walked towards him. "I've got these for you."

She placed the blankets, pillows, and self heating hot water bottles on the little bench at the end of Laxus' bed. It looked like it took Freed a lagging moment to realise what they were, and the moment he did, he was placing a blanket over Laxus and wrapping him tightly up with it. He slid the hot water bottle under Laxus' pillow and looked down at him with rough sadness.

Before she'd gone in, Makarov had took her to the side. Natsu had spoken to him in the morning and said not to be shocked if Freed looked more worried than a teammate and a friend might. Makarov had told her to not make a big deal out of anything she saw, and to keep any secrets to herself.

"Keep one for yourself," she instructed gently. "If you're planning on sleeping here again, you should have something to warm yourself up with."

"He needs it more than me."

"There're four blankets, Freed. At some point it'd be altruism for altruisms sake," she took one of the blankets – the thickest, fluffiest one – and wrapped it around Freed's shoulders. "I'm sure he'll cope without it."

"Yes. He probably will," he laughed quietly. "I expect he'd either mock or electrocute me if I covered him in all of them, actually."

Kinana looked down at him, watching as he stroked the knuckles of the man he probably loved. She didn't know Freed well. Other than when he was ordering a drink, he was just another face in the crowd really, but he wasn't exactly the type to be forthcoming with his private life. Even that little statement, that tiny little window into their life behind closed doors, was more than she'd ever known about a man she saw almost every day.

It was also a silent plea. A signifier that Freed needed something from her, even if he didn't quite know what yet. She did, though. She was a barmaid, as well as having lived without a voice for a fair few years. She knew how to listen.

"I don't really know much about him," she admitted, pulling up a seat and sitting next to him. "Tell me about him."

"Oh, he's a nightmare," Freed laughed, squeezing Laxus' hands. "Socially inept, dresses like he's allergic to quality fabrics, and absolutely terrible with directions."

He looked indulgent as he thought over their relationship, and that only made Kinana feel sad for him. She'd never had love like that, but she liked to think one day she would. Being on the precipice of having that taken away from him must be torture, and yet Freed was smiling anyway. She supposed that's what it meant to be in love; there would always be something you could smile about, even on the bad days.

"I expect you've probably only heard about him at his worst," Freed kept on going, and Kinana leant in to listen. She didn't correct him; he wasn't exactly wrong. "I'm not going to deny he has his problems, or claim that what we did was right, but I do sometimes wonder how many people have a skewed view of him."

"I'm not in a rush to leave."

Freed seemed to consider for a moment, then went on. "A couple of years ago – well, I suppose it would be over ten years for you – the two of us went on a mission together. I was eighteen, he was twenty, and we were both just… just abysmal at communicating. With each other and with the rest of the world. We hadn't met Bickslow or Evergreen yet, so it was just the two of us. We were good at the magical element, less so at the interpersonal side."

He looked lost in the memory, smiling as he gently stroked Laxus' torn up arm. Laxus still didn't move, and Kinana seriously hoped that Wendy would be back soon. Anyone who could bring such open fondness from a man like Freed would rip his heart out if he died.

"There was a month where missions were few and far between. The only A-Class mission required infiltration, and we refused to take anything lower ranked. So we took it, and it ended up with us going to a gay bar. I don't remember how, but they were very exclusive. They didn't think we were gay. How, I've no idea. Our clothing doesn't exactly scream heterosexual, but whatever. Frankly, I got offended. I'd only just realised my sexuality and was quite militant with it and was getting agitated.

"I think Laxus saw I was close to breaking cover. He just grabbed me, kissed me, and walked past the club's bouncer," Freed chuckled. "I was too amped up to process it in the moment. That was our first kiss. He wouldn't look at me for the whole night. He was so red. He stumbled over his words. He was just… such a darling. That's what I started to fall for him, I think."

"That sounds nice," Kinana said slowly, unsure. Freed huffed out a laugh.

"It was terrible," he grinned. "We were standing in slush, the club was revolting, and we ended up having to spend the night in a rune army holding cell. We got the wrong man, and he wasn't pleased. Laxus blamed me. I blamed him. We argued all the way home. But I could feel that kiss for weeks." He ran a hand over his face and sighed. "Nice to have memories, isn't it?"

She couldn't answer that. "You'll make more."

"Perhaps," Freed sighed, and looked down at Laxus' unmoving body. "Could I have some time alone, please? Would you mind?"

"Of course," Kinana left as quietly as she came, and only when the door was shut tight did she let her shoulders slump. She barely knew either of them, and yet seeing Freed teetering in the edge of misery, made her want to weep.

———

Wendy – Day 3

The moment she returned to the guild she was guided into the infirmary. She was given a smattering of information, which all amounted to Laxus being on the brink of death, being plastered in Porlyusica's spells to keep him going, and needing the best of her spells to give him a hope of surviving.

She had been tired and ready to sleep when she got back, but the second she saw how bad Laxus actually looked, she got to work. It was like all her magical reserves came back in full force, and she got to work.

Freed didn't leave while she worked, despite her asking. He wasn't a distraction nor a negative, but he clearly cared for Laxus and seeing him healed might have been unpleasant. People tended to think healing magic was made up of soft lighting and warm glowing, but the reality was less pleasant. Flesh needed to nit together, the body jerked and pulsed and spasmed, and the energy needed to heal often made the patient look closer to death than they had been before. It could be hard to watch.

But Freed watched it all, eyes hard and gaze unmoving. He only let go of Laxus' hand when Wendy got close to it with her spells and was holding onto it again the moment she was done. She hadn't known the two of them were anything – Freed hadn't mentioned it on their occasional missions together – but she saw love and fear radiate off of Freed in every moment.

"All done," she said as she stepped back, exhaustion heavy all of a sudden. Freed snapped his gaze to her.

"Really?"

"Really," she confirmed. "I know he still looks beat up, but he's on his way."

"So, he's okay?"

"He will be," she sat opposite Freed. "The body only has a certain amount of energy in it, and we're using that energy to heal him up. If I cast the spells to fully heal him instantly, the calories and energy would start to eat away at him. But doing it slowly will allow him to catch up. But he's stable and getting better every second. We just have to wait."

"So he's not in danger anymore?"

"He should be fine. So long as we keep an eye on things and make sure the spells are working."

"And when will he wake up?"

"I can't say," she apologised. "But he will, eventually, I'm sure of it."

"Of course you can't," Freed whispered. "Sorry, I shouldn't be putting this on you. You haven't had a moment to catch your breath since you got back and I'm just heaping pressure onto you. I haven't been sleeping well. My apologies."

She hadn't blamed him. She was a healer; seeing people stressed and worried and a little selfish was what she was used to.

"It's fine. I understand."

"I doubt it," Freed exhaled, then screwed up his face. "Sorry, that's dismissive."

"It's fine, but I might actually know a little bit about how you're feeling," she said, watching as Freed's eyes tried to settle on her, only to fall back on Laxus moments later. She pushed on. "When I joined the guild, it felt like being a Dragon Slayer wasn't just my thing, so I started researching any way I could. I found every book, I tome and rumour I could about us. There's this one thing, it's called the Snap. Have you heard of it?"

"No."

"It's a little bit like a soulmate, I think," she fidgeted with her sleeves. "But wider. It doesn't have to be a person. It can be a group, or a place, or anything really. But there's something that's… the word they used is fated. Every dragon slayer has this fated thing, or moment, or person that just sort of snaps into their life. It creates a bond. A link. When it's with a person, apparently it gives a kind of warmth. A completeness. That's in the Dragon Slayer and in whoever it is they've snapped with. And apparently, if that snap is at risk of being ruined, that warmth goes away. Makes you feel hollow and scared. It sounded horrible, really. I stopped reading after that. I think the guild might just be like that for me and the thought of losing that would be…" she winced. "I'm sorry you might be feeling like that. That's all I meant to say."

Freed took a quiet moment to think. "It's nice to think we might be intertwined together. Thank you."

———

Makarov – Day 4

While he wasn't proud of it, Makarov had been avoiding the infirmary since Laxus and Freed had returned to the guild. It wasn't just that his grandson was fighting off death the moment he arrived, there was also the issue of Freed.

Freed, who was apparently dating Laxus, and had been forced to reveal their relationship or end up wallowing in fear and panic until Laxus was back on his feet again. They were both private men, and who knew how long they'd been together before this. Coupling that with the natural high emotions of seeing your partner in such a state and, well… nobody would blame Freed for being volatile and taking out his anxiety on whoever came close.

"He'll be all right, you know," Makarov said in lieu of greeting. "He's strong."

"Strength doesn't really do much against internal bleeding," Freed said without emotion. That meant he was angry. When his emotions were overtaking him, he was sharp and vacant.

"You know what he's like. He'd never let something like this keep him down."

"I'm sure you'd say he wouldn't let a dark guild get the jump on us and nearly kill him on the spot. That happened too."

"Well," Makarov walked over, keeping a wide birth from Freed. "I think you should at least get out of this room and have a sleep in your own bed. There's nothing you can do here that you can't do at home, and I promise that I'll make sure there's someone in here at all times watching him." He tried to put authority in his voice. Freed didn't even look his way. "If he were awake; I'm sure there's no way he'd want you-"

"Why are you trying to pretend that you know him better than I do?" Freed snapped, and Makarov halted.

"What?"

"Let's not pretend you've done anything other than keep him at arms length since he became an adult," Freed kept looking at Laxus and he spoke, quick and sharp. "That's why he was able to plot what we did in the harvest festival without you knowing. That's why he was able to walk away from the guild without any real arguments. That's why I never broached the subject of telling you that we were together. Because frankly, I wasn't entirely sure you'd care."

It was hard not to take it personally. It was hard to remember Freed was consumed with worry. It was hard to contend with the fact that Freed had a point.

"And you also shouldn't suggest that he's in control of his recovery," Freed's hands were fidgeting now. "He had no choice now. No actions. Nothing. He's just a body that's ruined and a mind that isn't working, so don't put his recovery on him. He's not in there anymore."

He did look like a corpse. He did. That's why Makarov couldn't look at him.

"I know him better than you," Freed reaffirmed. "I know what he's like when he's sick, and when he's scared, and when he's excited. I know him and I refuse to leave him. Not now. I refuse. I'm not doing it."

The words came out on a sob, and Makarov suddenly wished he had gotten to know the man fighting back tears. This was the man who his grandson likely loved, and yet Makarov didn't know what to do as he cried. He knew Freed as a member of his guild, and as a friend of his grandson, but he didn't know who Freed was when he was caring for Laxus. He didn't know who Freed was as he cradled Laxus' hand and desperately clung to hope as the days stretched on.

But Freed loved Laxus. Nobody could see Freed and not realise that now.

He also realised that there was nothing he could do. Makarov had been quietly thinking that, out of everyone in the guild, he was the person who would be hit hardest by Laxus' state. But what Freed was feeling – the creeping loss of experiences and memories that might never come – was so much worse than what Makarov felt. He didn't know how to comfort Freed. He didn't know what Freed needed from him. He didn't know what the hell he was meant to do now.

So, he left. Freed was nothing if not private, and would cry when Makarov left. Maybe that's what he needed. Maybe that was all Makarov could do. Let the man who loved his grandson cry and grieve and panic in peace.

He'd never felt more limp and useless but, well, there was quiet comfort in the fact his grandson had found someone who loved him fiercely. At least he had that.

———

Laxus – Day 5

Everything hurt and Laxus longed for the comfort of being unconscious again. He felt the buzz and sting of healing magic bubbling under him, and really wished he could be the kind of man who could fall back asleep once he'd woken up. He wasn't though, so he would just have to deal with the pain until his body decided it was done.

The memories of what happened were scattered and messy. There was a lot of pain. And blood. And fear.

Freed was with him.

Where the hell was he?

The second it took for Laxus to see Freed – sleeping softly with his head on Laxus' mattress – was long enough for Laxus to spiral through hundreds of horrible thoughts that passed through his mind.

But Freed was there, and even if he looked a little bit battered and his hair was a mess, he was in one piece and not in an infirmary bed. So he was fine. Laxus had taken the worst of the attacks. Good. He didn't want Freed feeling like he did. Ever. And he really did feel like crap.

When he let his hand fall heavy onto Freed's head, wrapping up those green hairs and holding them, the pain went away just a bit, and his eyes started to droop on renewed tiredness. In the gap the pain left; a nice little warmness snapped into place.

[fuckyeahfraxus]

Fraxus Week Day 5 - Haunted

It was this or angst - just a silly short comic idea, I figured there's a halloween event happening at the guild and Laxus learns sometimes its worth taking part or I just wanted an excuse to draw vampire Freed again (also oops late again)

I had another idea aswell for this, I might draw that after the event

(also the next day might be the aftermath of this)