Tell Me Lies
Summary: Laxus returns to the guild to find Freed under the influence of a truth spell, which forces him to answer all questions truthfully and as fully as he can. Laxus takes it upon himself to help Freed navigate the potential embarrassment the spell can cause, but his own crush on Freed and a slip of the tongue might change their relationship forever.
Notes: This is my main piece for Fraxus Day 2022, hosted by @fuckyeahfraxus. This was a fairly last minute idea for me but I really liked the concept, so I hope you all like it too. Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoy it.
Links: Ao3
Tell Me Lies
Laxus would deny any accusation that he sought Freed out when he entered the guildhall, happenstance simply made it so that Freed was the first thing happened to see. He would also deny that he felt a flush of relief when he saw him uninjured and safe from the mission that he'd been on for the past month. He would most definitely deny how his lips turned up into a proud smile as he saw Freed surrounded by guild members who, years prior, Freed would never have spoken to
He wouldn't deny, however, that he stumbled when he caught the expression on Freed's face. His pissed off and barely holding back expression.
It took time to know Freed's mannerisms and expressions, but Laxus had known him long enough to notice it. Something was happening that Freed didn't like, and if it kept happening, Freed was going to snap, and it wasn't going to be pretty. It made sense that he was annoyed - he was surrounded by Natsu, Cana and Gajeel; how could anybody not be annoyed - but he actually looked pissed off. The last time he'd been pissed was when Bickslow was going through one of his pranking phases and Freed's coat had been caught up in the crossfire, stained with a slime that had been intended to go over Gray's head. That hadn't been pretty.
The look of tension irked Laxus and pushed him to walk forward. As he did, he noticed that, while only Natsu, Cana and Gajeel were speaking to Freed, many people were watching. It was like a show. Laxus joined the crowd, glancing at Levy. She wasn't the type to bullshit, and she was watching with a small look of pity.
"What's going on?" He demanded quietly.
"Laxus," She startled, looking up, then towards Freed. When she spoke again, it was louder. Clearly, she was speaking to the crowd Freed had around him. "You're here."
Everyone looked towards him, a mixture of emotions on their faces. Everything from guilt, to amusement, to a shock of fear. Laxus narrowed his eyes at all of them before settling on Freed, who was still tense but there was a glimmer of worry in his eyes. "I asked you what's going on?"
Laxus didn't miss the tint of gold behind Freed's eyes before he spoke. "I have been put under the effect of a truth spell, and they've decided that they're going to make me the subject of their jokes and ask personal questions about me."
Tensing his jaw, Laxus looked at the crowd. "Leave. All of you."
"Come on," Natsu laughed, nudging Laxus on the arm and completely missing the anger Laxus was feeling on Freed's behalf. "It's fun."
He was dragged away by someone smarter than him, and Laxus glared at him until he was as far away as he could be without leaving the guildhall. Only once the brigade of idiots had scattered throughout the guild, and Laxus had made his opinion on them clear with nasty glares at them all, he turned to Freed. Some of the tension in his shoulders had left, but he was still holding onto a mug with a white knuckle grasp and looked like he wanted to leave. Why hadn't he left already?
"Couldn't you have stayed at home?" He asked as he took a seat.
"No, the spell has a failsafe in it. If I don't answer a certain number of questions per hour, then I go into a trance-like state and confess secrets," Freed sounded resigned as he spoke. It did sound like him, rather than his voice running without his control, so maybe he had control over the wording at least. "Or, at least that's what I was told. I haven't allowed myself to risk testing it."
"Can you control how you answer the questions?"
"Somewhat, but I can't talk myself out of answering them. Supposedly I have to be honest and whole in my responses."
"Shit."
"Yes."
Neither spoke. This was kind of a nightmare for Freed, Laxus thought. Freed was the kind of man who could break down the walls of privacy when he wanted to, but still liked to have them as a defence. While not exactly a control freak, he had always needed to be the master of his own destiny in both big and small ways, and what he allowed people to know certainly was something he needed influence over. It was bullshit that it had been taken away from him, and Laxus felt a flush of anger hit him.
The fact that the guild had been taking liberties pissed Laxus off. He could only hope that they hadn't been too invasive with their questions but didn't have too much hope. Fairy Tail members were good people, but often assholes. If they took things too far, Laxus was going to deal with them. But not now; Laxus needed to actually help Freed out.
"Anything else you know about the spell?" Laxus asked, before faltering. "You want me to stop asking questions? I didn't think."
"The questions you've asked me so far don't bother me," Freed assured him, with the smallest of smiles. That was good, at least. "And the spell states that I must answer all questions truthfully and as completely as I can. If I don't answer at least fifteen questions every waking hour I go into the trance which I mentioned earlier. Any attempt to circumvent the spell - such as putting myself to sleep until it's over or writing runes on myself that would force me to lie - also induce this trance. The spell lasts for forty-eight hours, twenty seven of which have already elapsed. The spell was placed on me in an act of revenge, which I personally believe was petty, unwarranted and overall, rather pathetic."
Laxus grinned a little. Freed definitely had a bit of control over what he was saying then. "Would you be okay if I asked what you did that warranted revenge?"
Freed paused and looked at Laxus with a hint of thankfulness. "I would be okay with that. But, again, I insist that the revenge was not warranted."
"Of course, you don't," Laxus huffed with a smile. "What did you do?"
"The couple who commissioned me for the mission were wealthy and had no class about it. Throughout my work they required daily updates which hindered my progress greatly. Once I had done everything that they needed, I returned to their home for payment. Rather than getting what I was promised, I was given a reduced rate because, and I'm quoting this, 'my work was slapdash and my updates laughable and filled with poor grammar.' None of that is correct, particularly the part about my grammar, which was perfect."
"I'm gonna guess you told them that?"
"I did," Freed nodded, tension slipping away further. "Apparently the old bitch didn't like that and cast this spell on me."
"Old bitch?" Laxus grinned.
"There's a chance that my self censorship abilities might have slipped," Freed averted his gaze, and Laxus laughed. "I believe that the intention was to humiliate me as some form of punishment. But once they'd explained the spell to me - rather gloatingly I might add - I knew everything I needed and teleported back to Magnolia."
"Sounds like you," Laxus commented, then frowned. "Wait, did you not get paid at all then? You were out there for a month, right? That's bullshit."
"I was there for thirty four days, and I was paid two thirds of what I was owed," A second of self satisfaction rushed Freed's face and he leant forward slightly, almost conspiratorially. "I also saw a rather fetching pocket watch, which I took before I left. That has more than made up for the deficit in my pay."
"You stole from them?" Laxus laughed. "Ain't you worried that they'll come here and start shit with you."
"I did steal from them, and I don't think they'll do anything. The spell they cast on me is highly illegal, much more serious than stealing something. If they're smart, they'll avoid the rune knights just like I am."
"You're a devious son of a bitch," Laxus praised, and Freed raised his mug as if to toast the sentiment.
Now that the anger and tension that had been bubbling up inside Freed was gone, Laxus found himself glancing around the guildhall to everyone who had been taking liberties with Freed's situation. When he did, he saw that half the guild was watching them as if waiting for something. Laxus felt a snap of rage break inside of him; did they think he was going to pull the same crap that they had and were waiting for some blackmail or private information that Freed would never willingly tell them? Assholes.
It was when he noticed how quiet they were all being that Laxus' patience died, and he stood up with a huff. Freed looked at him with a quirk in his brow, and Laxus jerked his head up tinstructing Freed to do the same.
"You need someone askin' you questions, don't need an audience. We'll haul up at your place, I'll ask you a bunch of lame ass questions until this shit's over. That okay?"
"That sounds very nice," Freed answered, and Laxus didn't miss the slight falter in his movements. He didn't know what caused it and thought it best not to ask.
Once Freed was standing, he swung his coat - devoid of all pink slime after Bickslow had been tasked in scrubbing it all out using his toothbrush - on. They had just walked out of the doors and onto the streets when someone ran up behind them, the clatter of his feet barely covering the 'Natsu, stop it!' that Lucy yelled. They both turned to see Natsu with a shit eating grin that made Laxus nervous.
"Before ya go, Freed, who was it that you said you wanted to date because you thought he was hot as hell? I forgot."
Motherfucker.
He saw panic and dread overcome Freed and acted on instinct. At least fifteen strong bolts of lightning slammed into the ground in a thick cylinder that surrounded them, striking Natsu at the same time. It was a thunderous explosion and overbearing crackling filled the space, and Laxus made sure to look away from Freed so that he couldn't read his lips. He could hear nothing but the sound of his spell, and once a few moments had passed, he looked down at Freed to see he was no longer speaking, he let the lightning go.
"Thank you," Freed said quietly.
"Don't mention it," Laxus shrugged. "Natsu's an ass."
"He is."
Laxus nodded, and they walked in silence towards Freed's house. He didn't mention that Freed's cheeks were redder than they had been before. He didn't linger on the fact that Freed definitely had someone he wanted to get romantic with. He didn't allow himself to think about how much it would hurt to hear it was anyone other than him.
He needed to get Freed through this, and then deal with his own crap later. It'd be fine.
----
The day, once Laxus had seemingly taken charge of it, got significantly better for Freed. Despite the man's usual stoicism, Laxus had more than enough questions to fulfil the spell's quota and none of them had been the least bit invasive of his privacy. He had thanked Laxus a few times over the day but, as expected of the blonde, he had brushed it off and told Freed not to mention it.
As the day went on, Freed found himself becoming less stilted in his conversation. While the spell hadn't controlled everything he said, it was hard not to be cautious. With Laxus, the ease of conversation they usually shared was slowly coming back.
"Okay," Laxus said, checking his watch when one hour turned to the next. "I'm gonna make dinner."
"Why?" Freed asked with an edge of amusement in his tone. "That is not where your talents lie."
"I know, that's why I'm doin' it," Laxus shrugged, standing up and going towards the kitchen. Freed followed him, hoping for an explanation of his logic. "I don't know what I'm doing in the kitchen, right? You do. I'll probably have a hell of a lot of questions to ask ya. Seems to make sense."
Freed didn't falter, but he smiled slightly at Laxus' back. The man was more thoughtful than people would ever give him credit for, including himself. Freed was never sure if he, and the other small group of chosen friends, were the only people to see this side of Laxus. He both hoped that wasn't true and hoped that it was. Yes, Laxus deserved to be appreciated in his fullness, but there was something so… satisfying about being in this group that Laxus seemed to hold dear.
Not one to mince around things, Freed had never shied away from his feelings for Laxus. They had developed slowly, but surely, and once Laxus had returned from his banishment it had exploded in intensity. He had a calmness to him, an honesty that he'd previously lacked. He had mellowed into someone that Freed not only crushed on but felt like he could love.
Of course, the crushing hadn't stopped either. Looking at the broad expanse of the man's back, the narrowness of his waist, the bulging biceps and tuggable hair, Freed found it impossible to imagine anyone not crushing on Laxus.
Acting on it was off the table, though. It was a risk he wasn't yet prepared to take.
The process of cooking was somewhat a mixed bag of competency. It certainly got the hour's questions completed, but also served to highlight the difference between Laxus and Freed. Whereas Freed was partial to a stringent set of instructions and enjoyed the process of making a pile of ingredients into a full meal, Laxus seemingly got annoyed at each step of making the dish. He was snappy to the point of childishness, and Freed sat at the kitchen table holding in laughter as Laxus cussed at a pan of frying onions. There was also the onslaught of rhetorical questions aimed at the process - Why the hell does it need this much garlic? Why does it need to be exactly this much sauce, what does it matter? Who the hell was the first person to sauté anything, it's bullshit? - all of which were exponentially more amusing when Freed found himself answering them due to the spell's effect reacting to his words.
When the meal was finished, they sat opposite each other to eat it. Freed couldn't help but give note to the domesticity of their actions. They spent the day together, reading and talking, and now they shared a meal that they had cooked together. There was something homely about it. Something new.
Their friendship was not one of homely delights and gentle domestic bliss. They were close, that was never in doubt, but they both needed time alone to recoup their energy. Whenever they weren't on a mission, they would usually spend their evenings in their respective homes. Freed sometimes would spend an evening at the guild - that had been a goal he'd set for himself after the harvest festival to become a more well rounded person - but Laxus leant towards seclusion. This simple coexistence was new for them both.
"They didn't pry too much, did they?" Laxus asked suddenly, and Freed looked up from his food in confusion. "Earlier, in the guild, they weren't taking liberties. And you don't need to tell me what they made you say if you don't want to."
"They were not kind," Freed said slowly, and felt a tugging from the spell that made him keep going. "They knowingly asked questions I would not have answered without the spell. They wanted to embarrass me."
"Who was the worst?"
"Natsu, Cana, Gajeel, and Loke."
"I'll make sure they regret it," Laxus promised. He said it casually, like Freed didn't need to be assured because he should expect it anyway, and the implied certainty of Laxus being on his side made Freed smile.
"You don't need to do that, I have my own plans laid out already," Freed smiled.
"Is it gonna be bad?"
"It will be, but I think fair when considering what they have done," Freed smirked, and Laxus grinned at him.
With the issue settled, they went back to eating. The meal was a good one and, once it was finished, Freed insisted he would wash the dishes and clean the kitchen as Laxus had done most of the work in preparing their food. He dismissed Laxus to his living room, knowing that talking all day would start to wear away at Laxus and he would need some time to recoup his reserves. Laxus took some convincing, he had made a mess of the kitchen and seemingly felt guilty about it, but Freed insisted.
Once the kitchen was in a usable state again, Freed glanced at the clock and sighed. The cooking and cleaning had taken over an hour, and they'd not gotten close to the new hours' number of questions. He would have liked to give Laxus more time to himself, but needs must, and he hoped Laxus would understand.
When he walked back into his living room, he saw Laxus had been looking around. Laxus didn't often come to Freed's house, so he wouldn't begrudge the man the smallest bit of snooping. When Laxus turned to him with a teasing grin, Freed suddenly regretted leaving Laxus alone at all.
"So, put together Freed Justine - dignified and stoic - has a gossip magazine," Laxus taunted, holding something up that made Freed's pulse quicken. "Why the hell do you have this?"
It was unintentional, Freed knew it, but Laxus had just asked him a question.
Panic rushed through him. He knew what that magazine was, and he knew why he had saved it. It had been a drunken thought made in a weak moment, one forgotten about almost immediately, but the spell hadn't allowed him his dignity so far. He felt the magic in his skull tugging at him, forcing him to speak. He wanted to break through it, to push the spell away or even just leave, but he couldn't. The spell wouldn't allow it, and Freed found his mouth opened without his consent.
"It's the issue where you did a photo spread, I thought I should keep it," Freed forced the words out, trying to control the words. That was believable. That wasn't overly humiliating. That was- he kept talking. "You wore a variety of swimsuits in the shoot, your body looked incredible, and they flattered you perfectly. I found it too hot to simply throw it away."
Neither spoke. Freed's humiliation festered.
"Freed," Laxus began. "Shit, I didn't mean to-"
Freed turned on his heel, walked to his bedroom, and locked it with a rune.
----
Laxus paced up and down Freed's hallway, cursing under his breath. How the hell had he let that happen, he'd been so fucking careful in not asking stupid questions all day. He had gotten sloppy - all the casual time spent with Freed must have made him stupid, dammit - and now he'd hurt Freed. Freed was a prideful man and making him confess something like that was a massive fucking mistake.
"Come on, Freed, open the door," Laxus said into the locked door. "It ain't that big of a deal and, well, just let me speak to you face to face. It ain't a problem, just open the door."
He knew he wouldn't get a response, nor would the door open. Freed hadn't openly responded to anything he said, other than the questions he had shouted through the door so that the spell's other effect wouldn't take place. He'd made sure they were simply factual things - trivia and nowhere near personal - and Freed's responses were quiet and subdued. It had hurt a lot to know that was his fault.
What were they going to do? Freed was the kind of man who would not get over this if Laxus handled it badly. Laxus couldn't let that happen. He just needed to make Freed feel less embarrassed. He could do that. He didn't know how, but he could.
Fuck, he was bad at these things. He could fight, that was all. If Freed was facing a dark wizard, then all Laxus would have to do is jump in front of the spell and let it hit him instead. He could take the pain himself, fall on his own blade if he had to, but when it came to emotional crap, he didn't…
Fall on his own blade. That… that might work.
"I'm leaving, but not for long," Laxus said into the door. "Just remember that this ain't as big a deal as you think it is, and I'm gonna prove it. Don't put up runes around the house."
Again, no response, but Laxus hadn't expected one. He hesitated for a moment, placing a hand on the door and giving it a gentle push to see if Freed's runes had been taken down, but they hadn't. He sighed, walking down the hallway with a glance over his shoulder. There was no point to it. He left the house and covered himself in lightning, letting it engulf him and transport him to his own house.
He spent as little time as he could looking for what he needed, and the moment he had, he stormed back out of his house and travelled back to Freed's house. No runes had been placed to keep him out, at least, so Freed hadn't gotten worse. He walked back up the stairs, sat down with his back leaning against Freed's bedroom door, and sighed.
"I'm back," He said gently. "And I'm gonna show ya something that should make you feel a little better."
Slowly, he reached into his coat and pulled out what he'd taken from his house. It was a small pile of pictures, cut out from various magazines, all of Freed. Every time Freed had been involved in a photoshoot since Laxus had been kicked out of the guild, Laxus had been sure to get a copy and save the pictures. They ranged from serious and powerful looking pics of him using magic, to a sultry spread of Freed wearing the tightest briefs Laxus had ever seen and being more fuckable than any man Laxus had ever seen.
Before he could talk himself out of it, he slid the pile under the small gap under the door. He saw as Freed took them and heard the sound of paper sliding against paper. He was looking at them, and possibly sitting down too.
"I realised I loved you when I was kicked out of the guild," Laxus said quietly, but loud enough for Freed to hear. "I was thinking through a lot of things, trying to figure out who I was, and I kept going back to you. You were important to me, I didn't exactly get what that meant, and then I saw a shot of you in a magazine stand. You looked so fucking good, and it made me feel warm. Safe, y'know. And I just kept thinking, how the hell am I gonna live without ya. I thought I'd have to. Thought I'd never get to see you again."
Still no response. Laxus rested his head on the door and kept going.
"I wallowed, for a while, then I got my shit together. I knew I needed to be a good man, so I could come back. You deserve better and I knew I could be. That's why I have the pictures. When I knew you'd been photographed, I bought the magazine and cut the pic out. It kept me going, made me sure that I was making the right choice. It kept me right."
Laxus let out a breath.
"I didn't just keep them for that, though. Not all of them; even if it took a while to admit to it. You had a phase of taking real smutty pics, and it was fucking great. First time I saw one of them - it was the one in those boxers you were advertising - I wondered how I didn't know I was hot for you before," he shook his head. "What I'm trying to say is, well, I get you didn't want me knowing about that magazine, but don't be embarrassed by it. Whatever you did, I bet I did it worse."
"Are you just saying this to make me feel less embarrassed?" Freed's voice was small. Laxus hated it.
"No, this is the truth. All of it," Laxus' cheeks tinged with red. "Freed, I've been shit scared of admitting this to you for a long time now, but I'm not losing ya to this. I'm in love with you, I'm real fucking attracted to you, and I'm not gonna let this ruin what we have."
"But what I did-"
"Was nothing compared to what I've done," Laxus cut him off, cheeks flaming red now. He needed to get the next words out, to put a stop to all of Freed's embarrassment. "I've pulled myself off to that picture of you in those briefs more times than I can count. That time you yelled at me in the cathedral, when I was at my worst, that's a fantasy for me now. You being firm, keeping me in line. Fucking hot."
"I still shouldn't have kept that magazine."
"I'm fucking glad you did, I should have told you this ages ago," Laxus sighed, standing up and facing the door again. "If you want me to leave, I'll leave, but I don't want to. What I want is for you to open that door and talk to me. Really talk," he then smiled ruefully. "Maybe we can get to a point where we discuss our attraction, rather than hoarding pictures of each other half naked."
There was a beat of quiet, before Freed spoke with a slight tease. "I only have one picture, you've at least six."
"Seven. Had to throw one away, I was, erm, using it too often."
"The one with the waterfall?"
"Yeah," Laxus laughed. Of course, Freed could guess that. Freed laughed too.
"I want to open the door, but I need you to promise me something before I can," Freed spoke calmly, but with a hint of his usual confidence in his voice. It gave Laxus a shot of hope, and he straightened his back. "Everything you said, about what you felt for me, was that just you trying to make me open the door, or did you mean it?"
"I meant it," Laxus said firmly. "If I was under the spell you are, I bet you couldn't shut me up for how much I want ya. It'd be fucking pathetic but worth it," he felt sure in his words. "Can I ask you a question? A personal one?"
A beat of silence. "Yes."
"You sure?"
"Yes. I think I know what it would be."
"You think you'd ever be able to feel like that for me?"
"I think it would be easy."
Laxus felt relief flush through him, and the moment the door opened, he let out a breath that he hadn't known he'd been holding. Freed was standing on the other side of it, holding the stack of pictures - with the one of him in those briefs at the top, dammit - but looking at Laxus with assessing eyes. They stood for a moment, neither knowing what to do with the situation, before a jolt of pressure hit Laxus. This was the closest he'd been to acting on his crush, and he wasn't going to miss this chance.
With two steps, he was in Freed's space. One hand rested on Freed's waist, the other on the back of his neck, and he pulled Freed into a slow, needy kiss. It was electric, like fireworks exploding in his mind. Fizzing and cracking, and Laxus was weak.
Freed was pushed flush against him, the pictures dropping to the floor as Freed's hands ran through Laxus' hair and gently tugged in a way that made Laxus' legs go to jelly. He pulled Freed closer and opened his mouth, feeling Freed's tongue butting against his and groaning in pleasure. This was perfect. Freed was kissing him, and it was perfect.
"Damn," Laxus panted slightly as they pulled away, though not so far that Freed's lips didn't graze against his own. "That was, erm, really good, right?"
"It was," Freed whispered, body still melted into Laxus'. "Better than good, actually. Spectacular, you might say."
"Yeah. That's, er, that's a pretty good word for it," Laxus nodded slightly, grinning without need to stop. "The picture thing didn't bother you, though? Cause I get that it's kinda weird."
"No, not as much as it probably should. Though I would be a hypocrite if it did," Freed smiled a little ruefully. "And you mentioned talking? So, we don't get to this point again, is that something you'd still like to do?"
"Yeah," Laxus nodded again, then his grin took on a naughty slant. "But I'm keeping those pictures either way, that a problem?"
"So long as I can keep mine of you, then no," Freed smirked. "Although yours outnumber mine quite a lot. Seems unfair."
"I could be convinced to model for you," Laxus laughed, bliss making him silly apparently. He couldn't be bothered to care about that, not with Freed in his arms. "I could give you a taste of it now, if you'd like?"
"Oh, gods' yes," Freed panted, and Laxus grinned. "Though, if you think I'll be satisfied with a taste, you'll be proven wrong."
"I can deal with that," Laxus grinned. "You think you can handle me?"
With no prompting from the spell, Freed grinned and said "Oh I'm sure of it."
