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.

Dammit! Didn't these Blue Pegasus guys age? Couldn't they get married, have kids, settle down, and be totally unavailable?

Then Laxus saw a sensual woman in red approach Freed. Although he once admitted to Laxus that he was bad at being romantic around women, it was obvious that flirting was not the reason she came here. She was after something far more boldly intimate, and her eyes captured Freed.

Laxus bolted. Literally. His magic burst out of control, and he was instantly out the door. He could not watch, and he could not put up with those women any longer. If this was Blue Pegasus, then it was not for him. He could leave again. It was not like they cared. Freed had Eve again. Evergreen had the attention she always wanted. Bickslow was happy.

They were all so fucking happy.

He heard Freed shouting after him. If he really wanted Laxus, he could chase after him for once. The Dragon Slayer had been staring at Freed out of the corner of his eye for too damn long.

It was easier in Fairy Tail.

He did not have to watch people flirting in Fairy Tail.

No one assumed his sexuality one way or another in Fairy Tail.

Shoving women away worked in Fairy Tail.

And no one flirted with Freed. No one ever flirted with Freed!

Why the hell was it so different here? A guild was a guild, but these people … a fucking host club … women all over him … and Freed flirting with others…

"Laxus!"

He stopped at Freed's shout. Had he really come after him? He looked back around and was surprised to see all three of the Raijinshuu on his heels.

"What happened back there?" asked Bickslow.

Laxus hesitated. How could he admit it? If it was just him and Freed, maybe he could come out and say it, admit that he was envious and wanted Freed all to himself. No … he doubted he could outright say it anyway.

"I just thought that … you guys are amazing."

He bullshitted his way through an explanation, something about Fairy Tail. He really missed his home now. Unlike the others, Fairy Tail was all Laxus had ever known. He had been born there, grew up there, and had hopes of inheriting it some day. Everything in his life had been destroyed. He felt so weak, unable to protect his family.

At the very least, he wanted to get stronger, strong enough to protect these three. If no one else in this world, at least them!

He wanted to be a man worthy of Freed. Then maybe he would loosen up his damn rules. If Laxus could just prove himself!

Sitting around being a statue for women to fawn over was not a way to gain strength.

Freed looked like he saw beyond what Laxus was actually saying.

"Laxus … could it be…"

He glanced over. Did he finally understand? Did he get just how much he wanted to be strong enough to be worthy?

"… you don't know how to get along with the people here?"

Dammit! No!

How could Freed misunderstand it so much?

Of course, he was not wrong. That was just as much of an issue. So Laxus went with it. And they laughed at him. Of course they would find it hilarious. He was awkward around people, he knew that already.

"Don't laugh! To begin with, why is a magic guild also a host club? Unbelievable!"

Not to begin with. That was his biggest complaint. Out of all the strong guilds, why this one? They had briefly debated others. Lamia Scale was second on their list, only because it was farther away and no one in the team actually knew the guild master. Laxus had wanted to join Sabertooth, mainly to fight Orga, but Evergreen said they should aim for a guild without other Dragon Slayers—something about male egos and their need to prove themselves all the time. Quatro Cerberus had been discussed since it was nearby and their guild master was also a former member of Fairy Tail so he might take them in; however, Laxus was not all that impressed with them during the Grand Magic Games. If their ace Bacchus was taken out by a runt like Sting, and even Natsu could beat Sting, then Laxus was not interested in fighting such a man.

Laxus had not even considered Blue Pegasus at first, despite their close relationship with Fairy Tail. Now that he had spent time here, he was more convinced, and he listed off his complaints. Ichiya was a disgusting little creep, and he had no clue why Erza said he was strong. Master Bob … fuck, he couldn't tell if the man was male or female and it freaked him out every time the bald geezer tried to flirt with him.

The worst, and the one thing he could not say, was seeing Freed so comfortable here, like he knew the place, like he belonged here more than he belonged in Fairy Tail. Back home, Freed had always been a bit standoffish, but here he socialized so easily.

Laxus worried that if Fairy Tail ever regrouped, Freed might want to stay.

No … he feared Eve might win him over.

He was scared Freed might fall in love. Maybe he had always been in love. Maybe he and Eve really had been dating, even up until Tenrou Island. Had the island ripped them apart for seven years? Was Freed eager to get back together? Had he insisted on coming here mainly for that purpose?

Before he could explain anything, the Trimens came. An emergency. They were whisked off, and with the adventure that followed, Laxus almost managed to put the issue out of his mind.

They were here. They might as well make the best of it, and if Freed wanted a relationship with Eve, then…

Nope.

Laxus refused to accept that. Maybe it was stubborn, even cruel, but he felt a deep possessiveness over Freed. Nobody could have him! Or at least, he knew he would be unable to sit around and watch Freed slip away.

He hated that tears came to his eyes late at night whenever he thought about Freed with someone else.

He missed Fairy Tail, where no one flirted and he could pretend Freed was a perfect idol to be admired from a distance, untouchable and unblemished.

End of Chapter 2