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Catch the Thunder	By : Rhov Category: +. to F > Fairy Tail Views: 17789 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: Fairy Tail is the property of Hiro Mashima. I make no money, I just do this for my own pleasure.

Chapter List
- 65
- 66
- 67
Audio Drama: https://chirb.it/nDM88h
Chapter 66
Watches and Stones
August burned through the days with heat waves and back-to-school sales. Laxus realized that his and Freed's anniversary was fast approaching.
He had been planning this for two months. Their actual anniversary was on a Thursday, which was awkward with Freed's job. He had already taken time off for the camping trip, so he could not risk missing even more work. Still, they planned a trip after the anniversary day. Laxus already had plane tickets to Italy, although it was actually Freed who bought them. It would only be four days, so they had to plan smart. They found a flight that left very early Friday morning in order to touch down in Rome by noon. With an eight-hour flight, they would simply sleep on the plane and hopefully be rested for a day of madcap tourism, a "greatest hits" exploration of Rome.
They would stay Friday night there, and Freed really spared no expense. Since this would basically be their belated "anniversary night," he booked a suite at Hotel Eden, and Laxus wished he had not seen the price tag for the room.
On Saturday, they would take a train down to Positano, spend a romantic night on the beach with fine food and lots of historic places to explore. They chartered a boat to sail them to the isle of Capri on Sunday. Then they would take a train to Naples, have a few hours to explore, only to fly eight hours back home to Magnolia, sleeping on the plane, touching down very early Tuesday morning, so Freed could have enough time to shower and get to work.
As for Laxus, he had plans of his own. He had reservations for Le Sirenuse, a high-end restaurant in Positano with the best reviews on Yelp — he figured if it was good enough for the internet, it was good enough for him. He also hired two photographers, one in Rome for some touristy-romantic pictures around the ancient sites, and one in Capri, a photoshoot on the beach to commemorate their year of love: when he had mentioned that idea to Freed months ago, he really seemed to like it, and Laxus always kept that in mind. A photoshoot in Italy!
Laxus had just bought a bespoke suit at the mall, and now he was browsing through stores. These were all romantic ideas, but he felt that something was missing. After all, Freed paid for the plane tickets, the photographers, the suit that now draped over his arm, and Freed would likely be the one to pay for the meals.
What could Laxus do that was just from him?
The mall was crowded with people in summery attire. Parents walked with unruly kids, teens hung out with their friends while they still had free weekdays, and serious bargain shoppers went store to store looking for the best back-to-school sales, with cash registers cha-chinging away. Laxus hated shopping, and the mall was the worst. Still, it was the only place with a bespoke shop that was also on a bus route.
Not being able to drive seriously sucked sometimes.
He paused by a jewelry store and glanced in. Two ladies were fawning over earrings. A couple hanging on each other's arms were in serious discussion with a diamond expert while trying on engagement rings. A man was scanning the watches, holding his chin with a serious expression to mask the fact that he obviously had no clue what he was looking for.
Laxus drifted in, hoping to be inconspicuous, although that was impossible when you stood a head above everyone else and had a scar on your face that no one ever forgot. He was drawn to a display of rings for men, brightly lit so the jewels in the rings flashed in rainbows.
He saw one ring made of white gold, with a giant emerald surrounded by dozens of tiny diamonds, studded around the emerald and down along the band, lighting up the green gem in the middle like dozens of spotlights shining on a featured star. It was so elegant, an art deco style that he just knew Freed would like, and the huge emerald reminded him of Freed's hair.
"It's perfect," he whispered, imagining slipping it onto Freed's elegant finger.
Freed's face came to him, cheek flushed, as he said the marriage safeword: "Fini."
A stab of guilt pierced his heart. "Shit."
It was like the ring was taunting him to make up his mind, right when he felt most guilty. Freed had said that sacred word, letting Laxus know, without actually proposing, that he was ready for marriage. Now it was up to him, and … he just couldn't … not yet…
In a swoop, a clerk was in front of him. "May I help … you!"
The shocked cry made Laxus look up, and he saw a blond man with piercing blue eyes and a dangling earring.
The man coughed and pulled himself together. "Pardon, you look … familiar."
Oh shit…
He must have been a patron of the South Pole Club. That was when something clicked. Take away the suit and put on a leather jacket … it was one of the Twin Dragons, two biker gang members who used to have sex in the strip club. They had weird code names. Rogue? Sting? He could not recall which one was which.
"That was another life," Laxus grumbled.
"Yeah, haven't seen you around in ages," he whispered. "I figured you either quit or died. I think I heard that one of the dancers was killed, and another arrested, so … fast turnaround in a job like that, I guess. Anyway! How may I help you today, sir?" he asked, trying to sound professional.
Laxus lowered his eyes to the rings on display. "Just looking."
"Here's my card," he said, slipping a business card over. "I'll help in any way I can."
Laxus picked up the card. "Wait … Sting is your real name? Like the singer?"
He shrugged. "My mom was a big fan of The Police back in the seventies."
Laxus shoved the card into his pocket. "Don't tell me that other one really is named Rogue."
"Who knows?" he said with a mysterious smile. "So, planning to buy something special? What's the occasion?"
"Anniversary," he grumbled.
"Congratulations." Sting glanced at the men's rings. "Something for your partner, or matching?"
"We have matching promise rings already. I was thinking of getting him something … more."
"Ah!" Sting said with a wink. "Are you thinking about asking something important?"
Laxus scowled.
"Whoa, sorry if that was intrusive." Sting backed out of that subject quickly. "Anniversary, huh? We have this sapphire anniversary band on sale, or over here are rings with birthstones. They could be sweet for an anniversary. These tungsten carbide rings with scenic depictions are very popular and come with a lifetime warranty."
"No, we've got the promise rings, and any other ring … Forget it," he said in irritation.
Sting jolted as he worried about losing a potential customer. "We have a sale on—"
"It's too early," he snapped. Laxus gazed down wistfully at the emerald ring and whispered dejectedly, "It's too early."
"I see," he said sympathetically. "If rings are too personal, we have a fine selection of watches and custom engraved wrap bracelets that are really trendy now. Does your lucky someone wear earrings?"
"No, but that'd be hot." Laxus rubbed his chin. "I wonder if I could convince him to get his ears pierced." He was drawn back to the emerald ring. "Hey, how much is this one?"
"Ah, this is a 4.88 carat Colombian emerald in 18k solid white gold, with 60 round diamonds surrounding it, totaling 1.03 carats. It's a real beauty, handcrafted! It's on sale for $3,000."
"Fuckin' that's on sale?" Laxus shouted, and he instantly pulled over the attention of everyone in the store. He slouched down and snarled quietly, "No way can I afford that."
"We have some synthetic emeralds that sell for around $300."
"No! Not fake, not for him. He's used to the very best, and I'd sure as hell get him a real gem." Laxus' heart sank a little. "Just didn't realize it'd be that much."
Sting really did sympathize with him. He had seen many customers come in, thinking they would simply buy jewelry for their partner, only to slouch out grumbling that the entire jewelry industry was a ripoff. "I can get you a special in-house deal of an additional 20% off, and we can set up a 12-month payment plan. That works out to…" Sting did quick math in his head. "$200 a month."
"Shit," Laxus whispered. He drummed his fingers on the glass counter, staring at the ring and the way it gleamed. It was so perfect! And so out of reach. In a way, it was much like Freed, only he got lucky there. "Would you say that's an anniversary ring, or a wedding ring? Because I don't want him thinking anything weird if I give it to him and I just mean it as a normal gift."
Sting looked down at the emerald surrounded by diamonds and let out a little sigh. "I'll be honest, it's labeled as an engagement ring. If my guy gave me a ring with that many diamonds on it, I would immediately assume he's about to get on one knee."
"Then not yet." Still, Laxus stared at the ring. "Something to think about." Later. When he was ready. "What did you and your guy get for your anniversary?"
"Matching tattoos."
Laxus rolled his eyes. "He'd never go for that."
"Let me check something." Sting pulled out a book and flipped through. "How long have you two been together?"
"A year."
"Okay." Sting read out of the book. "Traditionally, a first anniversary gift should be paper or wood, and clocks are also appropriate."
"I don't want fuckin' paper," he snapped, thinking that was the lamest gift ever. Then again, a lot of cool things were made of paper. "A book, maybe? He likes books," he muttered to himself, "but he seriously has the Library of Congress in that big-ass house."
"Well, if you go with clocks, how about a gold watch?"
"He has a hell of a watch now. Maybe a pocket watch, though?" Laxus mused. "He sometimes wears these Victorian get-ups that require a pocket watch. I don't know if the one he has now is some antique that's dear to him, or just junk he found at a steampunk convention." He hummed as he thought about it. A pocket watch definitely fit Freed's style. "Show me your pocket watches."
"Gladly!"
They browsed together, and Laxus found one that was so perfect, he really did not care if Freed already had a valuable pocket watch or not. This one would become valuable, because it was an anniversary present. Sting mentioned free engraving, and Laxus knew just what to have etched into it.
"Time will never dull my green angel."
Sting lifted an eyebrow. "Green angel? Wait, are you saying he's that green-haired guy who used to come into the club? He was a total regular. It was obvious he had a thing for you. That guy would run off to the restroom to rub one out almost every time you danced."
Laxus chuckled as he imagined that, getting Freed so turned on from his erotic dancing that he had to masturbate in a public restroom. "He's an angel who saved the soul of a poor sinner like me … and he's a devil who enticed me and owns my soul now."
Sting shook his head. "You don't look like the poetic sort."
"I ain't! But maybe he's changed me a little."
Sting sighed with a sappy smile. "I bet you two are perfect for one another. Invite me to the wedding," he teased.
Sting had the engraving done, boxed the watch, gift-wrapped it, and put it in a bag so Laxus could carry it home on the bus.
"Thank you for your patronage. I hope your anniversary goes well. Are you going anywhere?"
"Italy," he said offhandedly.
Sting's mouth dropped. "You make that much as a stripper?" he whispered.
"Hell no! My guy … well, he's got money."
"Ah, a sugar daddy. Sweet."
"He ain't my fuckin' sugar daddy," he snapped, although it was true that Freed treated him without care for money.
"Hey, I used to treat my partner to some high-end stuff. It makes me really happy to see him enjoy it, and I'm sure your partner gets thrilled to treat you to things like Italy. You hold onto him!" he said with a wink. "Well, you have my card, so when you think you're ready to pop that big question, give me a call and I can walk you through it."
"Yeah, thanks. See ya around."
"I hope so. Oh hey, uh…" Sting glanced around, but no one was in the men's jewelry area. Still, he leaned across the display counter and shielded his mouth with his hand as he whispered, "Do you still dance?"
Laxus' eyes narrowed. "No," he thudded out.
"Ever thought about, y'know … a private show?" Sting saw rage building in those electric blue eyes. "Sorry, sorry, just … well, something happened, and I'm in a … tricky situation with my life. I can't go to the club, and Rogue—my boyfriend—really misses it. We were thinking about hiring someone online, but you really take a risk when you do that sort of thing. You, though! You always seemed serious. You and that black-haired guy who always opened the show: you two were the best dancers there, and you didn't seem like you were snorting coke backstage, y'know."
Laxus muttered, "We were probably the only sober ones on that stage."
"Exactly! Listen, it's not anything weird, it's not like we want you to interact with us. Just dancing. You can even bring a friend, or security, whatever makes you feel comfortable and safe. Seriously, we're not looking for anything other than a dancer."
Laxus gazed hard at Sting for a long time, then slowly looked aside. "I'd have to ask permission."
"Right, Mr. Anniversary. Bring him along. Maybe he'd like it." He gave a sly wink.
Laxus thought about that. Freed actually did like when Laxus gave demonstrations. He had attended a few at the Blue Pegasus fetish club and squirmed in his seat. Plus, the sex after every show was awesome. Freed had also really liked when he himself was on the stage, although that was too dangerous, given how well-known he was becoming.
"A private show, huh? He might like it, so long as you two don't do anything weird."
"Well, I can't promise we won't do stuff together, but we can set up limits."
"Yeah, like if you fuck one another in front of me, I remove your dicks with my shoe. I'll think about it, but if my boyfriend says no, then forget it."
Sting grinned despite the threat to his manhood. "You can call or text me on the number on my business card, but please don't email. It's a private phone but a business email."
"Gotcha, but I'm warnin' ya, I don't want to get back into that sort of shit. I ain't gonna be in your service, if you know what I mean."
"I get it, and I'm sorry for intruding. Here I am, at work with a customer, and I'm basically propositioning you for questionable services." Sting laughed quietly and shook his head. "Rogue would kill me if I get fired from another job."
"Well, don't expect anything, and don't worry about your job. I don't talk about what I saw during that time."
Sting muttered, "I bet you saw a lot that could be used as blackmail."
Laxus let out a sardonic chuckle. "You have no idea." He turned and waved as he left. "Take care, and thanks for the help. I'll call ya."
"Have fun in Italy," Sting called out, waving with a bright smile.
Laxus stepped outside the jewelry store and looked down at the little bag holding the pocket watch. Freed would love it, no matter what. Laxus got a warm feeling in his chest as he thought about the brightness in his eyes and massive smile as Freed opened the box.
Was this the same feeling Freed got whenever he bought something for Laxus?
"Hey!"
Laxus looked up and saw Gray coming out of a store with a bag.
"Gray, what's up?"
"The opera house is having some TV spot, and they asked the dancers to have suits to wear for an interview." He glanced at the bag in Laxus' hand matching the name of the jewelry store. "Getting something for Freed?"
"Yeah, it's our anniversary next week."
"Whoa, wait," he cried out. "You're not planning on proposing, are you?"
Laxus flinched hard. "N-No! Idiot, of course not."
Gray's eyes narrowed, not at all believing him. "Hey, look, if you're ready—"
"I'm not," he snapped. Then Laxus' shoulders sagged. "But he is."
Gray slowly shook his head. "That's rough. Don't get married just because he wants to, though. You do it when you're both ready."
"I know that. I was just hoping that maybe I would be."
Gray folded his arms. "In one week?"
Laxus grumbled a cuss. He knew that was ridiculous, or at least wishful thinking. "I … I got him a watch," he muttered, giving the store bag a shake.
"Okay, that's pretty good. Normal, though."
Laxus' eyes flashed up. "The hell d'ya mean, normal?"
"I'm sure it's fine, it's an appropriate gift, and Freed is the sort to like standard things."
"Hey! Yer pissin' me off."
"I'm just saying, you should figure out something he'll really like, something only you can give him. A watch … I mean, doesn't he wear a Rolex already?"
"It's a pocket watch, for when he dresses up fancy and shit." Then Laxus grumbled, "Did I just waste a hundred bucks?"
"No! Hey, I just mean it's something you picked up at the mall. That's totally fine, but … well, maybe you could give him something more, something you simply can't buy. If not an item, how about an experience? What is something he really loves to do, or something he misses?"
"He loves fancy restaurants and the theater."
"I can get you tickets to the ballet now."
"Nah, his family has a box seat of their own." They walked past a bookstore. "Hmm … he likes to read, and that clerk said something about first anniversary gifts being paper and wood. Maybe a book?"
Gray cringed. "That's not exactly an anniversary gift, not unless it's a signed first edition of his favorite book. This needs to be about you two. Does anything come to mind? Something you two have done together that he really enjoyed?"
Laxus' eyes glinted for a moment. "Yeah, but I can't do that anymore." Freed had really enjoyed going to the fetish club, but with the risk to his reputation, that was not possible anymore. "Your one-year passed already, right? What did you get for Natsu?"
Gray let out a wry laugh. "Well, it happened right in the midst of that whole arson fiasco, so I sorta didn't realize it had passed. I gave him a necklace that was very precious to me."
"The sword one Jellal always gave you shit about?"
"Yep. I also made him dinner."
Laxus grumbled, "I'm not exactly Martha Stewart."
"Then something you're good at."
"Stripping and fucking."
Gray glanced around, hoping none of the shoppers heard that. "So how about … I dunno … a private show? Give him a lap dance he'll dream about for years to come."
Laxus rubbed his chin. "A show, huh? Dancing … private … hey, are you busy next Thursday?"
Gray was confused by the question. "No, besides rehearsal in the morning. Why?" he asked suspiciously.
"I'm thinking of something, but I need some help. Hold on one second." Laxus rushed back into the jewelry store. "Sting!"
The blond looked up from where he was wiping prints off a glass display. "Yeah?"
Laxus went right up to him and leaned in so other workers would not hear. "Thursday night, my house, I'll text you the time and address later. Ice Prince will also be there."
Sting's mouth dropped, but before he could ask any questions, Laxus rushed out and back to Gray.
"Thinking of something?" Gray asked, amused by the urgency in Laxus now.
"A party, but small, intimate, a group of people we can totally, explicitly trust, those who … know about us."
Gray chuckled, and his eyes gleamed with excitement. "I think I see where this is going."
Freed felt down Thursday afternoon. Although Laxus had woken up early and gave him lots of kisses in the shower, it still felt wrong to be working on their anniversary. Laxus assured him dozens of times over that whole week, it was fine, he had packing to do and he wanted to make sure everything for Italy was prepared. Still, he wanted to claim Freed as his the whole day, and he did so by caging him. The golden cock cage came out, and it now held Freed's manhood. Laxus teased that maybe he would give him something special that night to make sure he could sleep through the long flight. That got Freed's imagination running, although he sort of hoped it was nothing to leave his ass sore. They had a lot of walking that weekend.
He was just finishing an email to a client when his father walked up to his desk.
"You've been quite diligent this week," Llewellyn praised. "I heard you're flying to Italy tomorrow."
Freed did not feel like making anything awkward at work by talking about his and Laxus' anniversary with his father, of all people, so he merely nodded. "I hope it doesn't inconvenience the company."
"You're really taking a lot of time off," he had to admit. "You haven't exceeded company paid time off, but I really must advise that you take no more vacations until next January. Just realize that I can't give you extra vacation time because you're my son."
"I understand."
"I already accommodated you by allowing you a whole week of vacation time for Colorado. Normally, workers must be here three months before they can take vacations."
Freed gulped. Surely someone was complaining that he was getting special treatment as the CEO's son, or else Llewellyn would not be bringing this up. "I can take it without pay, if that would be better."
"Your request for time off was already approved. It's just two days this time. I personally approved your request for the trip to the cabin. I heard from Evergreen, the trip was … rather exciting."
Freed still shivered when he thought about that bear and how close they came to being mauled. "Y-Yeah, exciting."
"I'm glad you're both safe. I have Laxus to thank for that, it seems. Scaring the bear away with a rifle?" He shook his head, finding it nearly impossible to imagine his children in that level of danger, and yet totally able to imagine Laxus facing off with a deadly bear. "So, since I owe him for saving you and Evergreen, I'm going to repay him right now." Llewellyn's professionalism changed into a gentle, fatherly smile. "You could have said it was your anniversary today, you know. Something that important, I would have granted you the day off."
Freed's mouth dropped. "How did you know—?"
"I can't do anything about today," he cut in, "but I can help you make it up to him. I already arranged for you to spend two extra days in Italy. Go up to Florence, see Pisa, get pictures by the statue of David and the Leaning Tower. I've rearranged your flight home, booked you a hotel in Florence, and you'll fly back Wednesday night." He sighed and shook his head with a faint smile. "A year," he muttered. "That means you two were dating when he was still…" He let the thought fade away.
Freed fisted up his hands. "I didn't want to bring it up, because … well, because this." The fact that his father would realize he and Laxus were a couple while Laxus was still taking clients.
"That's in the past," Llewellyn said firmly. "Italy is a good choice. Has Laxus been to Paris? Perhaps make that for next year, and at that time, make sure you have enough vacation time saved up to ask for the whole week off." He gave a knowing wink. "Spoil that man, Freed. For all he put up with over the years, spoil him rotten."
Freed blushed and nodded, glad his father was still encouraging him like this.
"You may leave early today."
"Oh! We have reservations at six, and Laxus was going to meet me here—"
"I know! He's down in the lobby, dressed like a mobster. Security brought it to my attention, and I went down there to talk to him just now. Please do see him out before someone accuses me of Mafia connections … again," he added, rolling his eyes.
"Thanks, Father!" Freed finished the email and grabbed his stuff to leave. Llewellyn watched him go with a proud but regretful smile.
"He put the company ahead of his anniversary," he muttered to himself. "Seriously, Freed, don't make the same mistakes I did. Live for him, not the job." He looked around at a personal assistant tailing him. "What is the appropriate gift for a one-year anniversary?"
"Paper and wood, sir," she replied tactfully.
"Paper, huh?" He stroked his chin, then a scheming smirk raised his lips. "Contact Ms. Rowling. I need her to sign a book for me."
The assistant's eyes went wide. "R-Rowling? As in…?"
"Yes. The dear owes me a favor. Have it shipped express from Scotland to Florence. I want it to arrive at Freed's hotel room on his last morning there." Llewellyn chuckled smugly. "Oh, he'll like that gift!"
Freed rode the elevator down and rushed right up to Laxus. He was wearing the bespoke suit he had just bought, his blond hair slicked back with copious amounts of gel, yet he had a scowl as he held his phone out, apparently texting someone. He hurriedly put his phone away as Freed trotted up.
"It ain't five," Laxus said in surprise.
"Father said he spoke with you."
"Sure did. I told him I was here early because I wanted to be sure I wasn't stuck in traffic and miss our reservations. Sorry, I think I let slip that it was our anniversary."
"So that's how he knew," Freed muttered. They headed out to the parking garage together. "It's fine that he knows. He even told me he rescheduled our vacation a bit to give us two extra days."
"Shit, that's nice of him. Maybe shoulda told him earlier and we'd be sipping wine on the Mediterranean right now."
"Yeah," he muttered, wondering if Laxus actually was upset at spending half their anniversary day apart. "I didn't want to impose on the company that much, especially after taking a week off last month."
They got to Freed's Corvette and settled in.
"Ya got an appetite?"
"A bit," Freed said, honestly not that hungry, "but we have some time. I was thinking." He leaned over in the car to drag a finger down Laxus' tie, giving it a seductive tug. "Maybe we could go back home for a bit, have a little fun—"
"Hell no!"
Freed jolted back, hurt by the rejection.
"Don't get me wrong, but if we head back now, we'll definitely be late for dinner, because if I get out of this monkey suit, it won't be for a little fun." Laxus leaned in with a predatory smile. "It'll be to ravage you for hours, have my way with you until you beg me to stop, and by the time I've had my fill of that sexy ass of yours, all the good restaurants will be closed."
Freed groaned as the sensual threat made his penis throb.
Laxus slid his hand up Freed's thigh. "Ya still wearing your cage?"
His face went solid red as he nodded.
Laxus groped him and felt the metal contours of the chastity device. "I won't free your dick until after dinner." He leaned in close to Freed's ear and whispered warmly, "Keep my angel from sin, keep you locked up safe for me, and tonight … you'll be Freed."
Another shivering moan rippled through the car.
"You're right, though. We have an hour to kill, and knowing you're wearing my cage makes me wanna tease you. You're too tempting, you whore," he said as he tapped one of the metal bars of the cage. "That's why I have to lock you away, because I'm the most dangerous thing to your dick."
Freed bit his lip and quivered. He had almost completely forgotten about the chastity device until now. Laxus rubbed along the cage's bars, his eyes glinting hungrily, and Freed almost felt like begging, only he had been warned he would be punished if he did. Not a good punishment, either. Laxus had flat-out said there would be no sex at all if he begged, so Freed suffered silently as Laxus teased him.
"Do you remember our first night together?"
How could he not! Everything about that night, from the humiliation of that ill-fated lap dance to sadness of waking up alone the morning after, was etched in his mind.
"I was remembering one part in particular on the bus ride here. At the Pole Palace, that shitty motel we started off in, I remember going in there thinking I had some new young client, thinking maybe it could be a nice change from the old men who normally hired me, and you were driving that nice car, always dressed in fancy-ass clothes, ordering martinis and chartreuse. I pinned you as just another rich bastard, only thirty years younger. Then there you were, saying you didn't want to pay anything. I thought I had some cheapskate slut on my hands hoping for a free night of fun. I almost walked right out that door probably a dozen times, and I would've hated myself if I had. Then you asked something: if talking was free, and if kissing was free. To be honest, I hadn't kissed someone since high school. I was really blown away by that."
"So that night, when you made me drink alcohol from your mouth, that was your first kiss since you were a teenager?"
Laxus laughed and blushed as he remembered that part. "Yeah, that was a weird thing for me. That whole night was full of firsts."
"I had given up on anything romantic until you did that," Freed confessed. "I was really worried that I was just using you, but that kiss … I think I fell a lot more in love with you when you did that."
"Yeah?" Laxus slid his hand across Freed's cheek and traced his lips with his thumb. "It just took a kiss to win your heart, huh?"
Freed shivered at the gentle touch sweeping over his mouth. "It took a lot more," he muttered.
"Remember when you asked to be friends?"
"You yelled at me," Freed recalled.
"Well, yeah. I wasn't sure what your deal was. I went there thinking I had a client, and you wanted to be friends. Shit, I hadn't had a real friend since … I dunno when! I had a rule, you see. No friends with coworkers or clients. If you were a client, it would've been easy to say we can't be friends, but you didn't want that. Fuckin' blew my mind."
"I remember, you said you weren't gay."
"I wasn't. I still don't know what I am," Laxus admitted. "If there's a Freed-sexual category, sign me up."
Freed's arms slid around him. "There's only room for one name in that category."
"Oh, I dunno. I think loads of people are into you. I know for a fact you turn many men on."
Freed puffed out his cheeks and turned away with a blush. "Shut up. I do not."
"You sure as hell do, and I'm proud that you're that appealing. I sometimes wish I could show you off again."
Freed bit his lip and thought about the kink exhibition, being blindfolded on the stage with Laxus, dressed in little more than angel wings.
Laxus leaned forward, enthralled as he watched the memories play across Freed's face. "You liked that night, didn't you … Green Angel?"
Quietly, he confessed, "It was … intense."
"Of course it was," he said smugly. "Can I dress you up as an angel later tonight?"
Freed did not even hesitate to nod, really wanting it now that Laxus mentioned it.
"My green angel," he whispered in adoration, tracing Freed's chin. "But seriously, we need to drive somewhere or else I'm going to demand you give me a blow job right here."
"I can," he offered with a sassy smirk.
"You keep your mouth shut, bitch." Laxus reached forward and pinched Freed's lips closed. "I'm making you wait until tonight. I have something special planned."
Freed pulled back from the pinching fingers to give Laxus a stern look and a warning. "We do have to catch an early flight."
"I know, and I don't plan on fucking your ass. Not yet. When we get to Italy, though…" Laxus leaned in close, his blue eyes glaring. "Your ass is mine, and I plan to ravage you so hard, you'll be limping around St. Peter's Basilica."
Freed whimpered softly.
"Let's go," Laxus ordered, leaning back in his seat, satisfied with making Freed hungry for something other than food.
The ride there was torture for Laxus, as he tried not to vomit and mess up his suit. They arrived at a high class restaurant, which Laxus knew was one of the best in town. Somewhere, there was a person in a tuxedo playing romantic songs on a violin. They had a private booth, so they could eat away from the clattering noise of the regular diners. Candlelight glowed in the booth, making a dreamy environment.
Indeed, this was like a dream for Laxus. One year! He honestly never would have thought he and Freed could last this long.
"I can't stop thinking," he muttered. "All the shit … uh, crap, that we've gone through." He struggled to keep his language polite. "That first night, and all the misunderstanding, almost walking out on you when I realized your father was a client, that damn trip to Greece and leaving you," he whispered, still angry at himself for that one.
"And when I walked out," Freed added in regretfully. "You thought you were abusing me, and I couldn't get through to you. I had no idea what to do, so of course I ended up doing the worst thing ever. I left you alone."
"I needed it." Laxus reached across the table to hold Freed's hand. "You doing that shocked the hell out of me, kicked my ass into gear, got me into therapy, and that's been a huge help." Then he quietly confessed, "Although, for a moment, I thought I had really fuc- … uh, screwed up, and that I lost you for good."
"I'm sorry—"
"No, I'm sorry," Laxus cut in, squeezing Freed's fingers. He let out a sigh and shook his head. "Sheesh! Seriously, how did we make it to a whole year? I'm amazed you've stayed by me through all this."
"And I'm amazed you stuck around."
Laxus' thumb rubbed across the silver promise ring, and a warm smile drifted onto his lips. "Of course I'd stick around. There's no other person I'd rather be with."
Freed's hand tightened around Laxus' rough fingers. That soft smile on such a rugged face made his chest tighten. "I love you so much," he whispered.
Laxus reached his other hand over, cupping it around their clasped hands. "Aishiteru."
Freed tucked his head down, feeling his cheeks warm up. He remembered the first time Laxus said that to him. "Je t'aime à la folie!" he replied back.
"Well, since we're going to Italy … ti amo. I googled that one; easy to remember."
Freed laughed quietly, loving that Laxus would actually look up how to say I love you in so many languages.
Laxus told Freed in a firm, resolute voice. "Any language, any country, any year, and for many years to come—I love you, and I'm gonna keep on loving you, no matter what troubles we face in the future."
Freed sighed with his chest burning with love. "That's a pretty nice oath."
Their food arrived, and conversation switched to the meal. Being in a private booth, Laxus felt more at ease, less like he had to impress strangers around him. It was just him and Freed, with a waiter checking in on them from time to time.
Laxus loved to watch Freed drink wine. It was so refined, so elegant. He was like a classical painting of a nobleman. Deep in his heart, he knew he was so lucky to have found a man as gallant and urbane as Freed.
After dinner, they relaxed with their wine, letting the food rest before driving, since Laxus definitely did not want to vomit up such good food.
"I … um … I have something for you." Freed's fingers trembled as they reached into his suit coat's inner pocket.
"Oh? Are you exchanging gifts now?" Laxus asked in amusement, privately glad he had brought along Freed's gift.
"Well, we can later."
"Nah, now is fine." Laxus accepted a small box and pulled off the lid. Inside was a watch made of mahogany and marble. "Damn," he whispered. He had never seen a watch as beautiful as that.
"Y-You see, for a first anniversary, the traditional gift is paper or wood, and that's mahogany, and clocks are also traditional, and it's a watch, and we're going to Italy with all those marble statues, and the face is marble, and…" In the midst of his rambling, he heard Laxus chuckle. "Is … is it not good?"
"It's awesome." Laxus took the watch out of its box and put it on, admiring the masculine elegance. "Rather suits me, right?"
"I thought it did," Freed said quietly, still wondering if a watch was stupid.
"Seriously, we've been together so long…" Laxus' voice trailed off as he pulled out a wrapped box from his pocket. "Happy anniversary."
Freed went from worried to giddy as he took the box and ripped off the wrapping. When he pulled the lid off and saw the pocket watch, his mouth dropped.
"Are you serious?" He slowly pulled it up. It was chrome with Celtic designs in gold and silver. When Freed popped open the face, he saw it was a steampunk style, with the watch gears clicking away as they moved slender black hands. Rather than numbers, the hours were marked by tiny precious stones. "Laxus, that's … it's beautiful."
"Read the inscription."
"Inscribed too?" he said in astonishment, and he held the watch closer to read what was etched into the back. "Time will never dull my green angel." He looked up to Laxus, looking already ready to cry.
"Hey, it's just a watch. Don't look like that," scolded Laxus.
"Thank you." He laughed as he looked down at the intricate Celtic knot work on the watch. "We had similar ideas. I can't believe you went so far as to research what a traditional one-year gift was, and you got me something as beautiful as this. You must have really put a lot of thought into it."
Laxus just smiled humbly, not wanting to tell him he just picked it up at the mall because a worker there said clocks were appropriate.
Freed took a deep breath to calm his flustered emotions. "Thank you, Laxus."
"Thank you," he replied, lifting his arm up a little to show off the wristwatch. "Happy anniversary, Freed."
He grabbed forward and clung to Laxus' hand, his heart aching with joy. "Happy anniversary."
Next Chapter: "The Best Sub"

FYI: Laxus and Freed hooked up on August 30th. Loke mentions that Freed goes to gay clubs on Saturdays, so he had gone to the South Pole Club on the 29th, but it was after midnight when he actually went out with Laxus, so technically their "first date" was on the 30th.
I found the perfect anniversary gifts online. They really are beautiful, and I would LOVE to have that pocket watch, seriously.
This is the inspiration for the emerald ring Laxus wants to buy. - http://soperfectjewelry.com/product-153868-art-deco-4-88tcw-colombian-emerald-diamonds-in-18k-so.html
This is the inspiration for the pocket watch Laxus got for Freed. - https://www.kjbeckett.com/products/woodford-glit-celtic-skeleton-chain-pocket-watch-silver-gold-063633
This is the mahogany and marble wristwatch Freed got for Laxus. It's not some cheap watch, either. It costs $490. "That is mahogany!" - https://www.world.holzkern.com/en_world/dubai-mahogany-marble.html
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