Freed and Laxus meet in real life, but it doesn't go the way Freed had hoped.

tw for transphobia and misgendering

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Nine and a Half Years Ago

"Freed! Stop flirting with your boyfriend and give me a hand!"

Freed glanced up from their phone and shoved it hurriedly in their pocket, saving the rest of Laxus' messages for later. They peeked their head around the stairs and looked down to see Ever glaring up at them.

"He's not my boyfriend," Freed said petulantly, sliding around the bannister and taking the steps down two at a time. Ever gave them a look and rolled her eyes affectionately.

"Sure he isn't," she said, gesturing for Freed to grab the end of an enormous dog kennel that she was trying to pull into the house. "You moped for days when he went to that town with no wifi and couldn't message you."

"I wasn't moping," Freed insisted, pushing their hair out of their eyes and grabbing the end of the kennel. Between the two of them, they managed to maneuver it into the far corner of the living room.

"So, how is he?" Ever asked, setting the kennel down with a sigh and stretching her arms up until her bellybutton piercing showed. Freed shrugged. "You're such a teenager," Ever complained, and Freed glowered at her. "Alright, go write sappy messages to him. But Bix is gonna be home in an hour with Lily and we're having dinner together, alright?"

"Yes, mom," Freed grinned at her, letting her hug them briefly before dashing back up the stairs and into their room.

The spare room had been converted into an actual bedroom, complete with a double bed and a small desk for Freed to do their schoolwork. Bix had managed to get them into an 'alternative learning program' to help them complete high school – even though they were technically not a Canadian citizen – and over the last six months they'd nearly finished their diploma.

Freed flopped onto their bed, digging their phone from their pocket and swiping to Laxus' most recent message.

greasedlightning . 27m
Sorry I haven't written much. Dad's been really nosy lately so I've been writing to you from the bathroom of the RV. If he found these messages... well, it wouldn't be pretty. I can't wait until we're not on the road anymore and I can get more time away from him. Waking up in the same place every morning will be nice, even if he's still around.
I hope things are okay for you. How's your schoolwork? I think about you every day.
Love, Laxus

Freed sighed, frowning as they pictured Laxus hiding from his father in a tiny washroom. Over the last six months they'd messaged each other nearly every day, and Freed had slowly started to realize that they were more than a bit infatuated with Laxus. They couldn't remember the first time one of them had signed their message with 'love', but it still gave Freed chills to see it.

runique . now
I'm sorry your dad is such an asshole. I wish you could come here and...

Freed shook their head, deleting the message and starting over again.

I'm sorry things are shitty with your dad. It's exciting that you're finally going to stop somewhere for a while – hopefully it's somewhere warm and sunny! The beach here is beautiful right now and I think you'd like it...

Freed groaned, dropping their phone on the bed and burying their face in the pillow. Everything they wrote sounded idiotic. What was wrong with them? It wasn't as if Laxus was going to end up here – Canada was an enormous country, and the chance of them even being in the same province was astronomically low. But every time Freed's phone buzzed, something flipped in their stomach, and their cheeks flushed red. They liked Laxus, and even though he migh-

Bzzzt.

Freed snatched up their phone.

greasedlightning . now
I've been sitting here with my thumb over the 'send' button for half an hour now and I'm just gonna do it. Freed, I really like you. I know it's stupid and we've never met and maybe you're just some... I dunno, forty-year-old woman who likes to play games with gay kids. But maybe you're not. The chance of us ever meeting is next to nothing, but you mentioned before you were by a beach. The place we're settling down is on the ocean – it's called Magnolia.

The air rushed out of Freed's lungs and they were fairly certain that their heart stopped. Was this a joke? Was the universe cruelly taunting them? They glanced around the room, half-expecting to find Ever popping out of their closet to laugh at them. Taking a deep breath, they returned to the message.

Anyway, maybe you live nearby. Probably not. I just... if we're ever in the same corner of the world, I'd love to take you for coffee. If you wanted to, that is. So just... yeah. I'm hitting send now.

Freed sat up completely, setting their phone down on the center of the bed carefully before grabbing their pillow and covering their face while they shouted in excitement.

"Holy shit," they whispered, feeling a burst of warmth spreading out from their chest. Freed picked up the phone again and stared at the message, reading and re-reading it. Their brain was going a million miles a minute, but when they finally ended up responding to the message, it was just one simple line.

runique . now
I live in Magnolia.

A response popped up almost immediately, and Freed's face curved into a smile.

greasedlightning . now
Holy shit, seriously? What are the chances? That's... wow, I can't even think right now. We're going to be there in two weeks. Can we meet? I know that's forward but I just... I want to see you in person.

runique . now
Yes, yes, yes. It's not forward, I've been thinking the same thing but I was scared to say anything. Two weeks. I can't believe you're actually going to be here.

Freed stared stupidly at their phone, unable to stop grinning. Was this actually happening? Everything felt surreal, like they were walking through a dream. They rubbed their hands over their face, jumping when they heard Ever's voice on the stairs.

"Freed! Supper!"

"Be right down!" they shouted back, typing out one last message to Laxus.

runique . now
I have to go now, but I'll talk to you later and we'll make plans. I can't wait to meet you.

~

"So... Laxus is moving to Magnolia."

Freed toyed with the chow mein on their plate, twirling it with their chopsticks and then dropping it back into a pile. Both Bix and Ever were oddly silent, and Freed glanced up at them. Bix was giving them a small smile, but Ever looked concerned.

"You told him where you live?" she asked carefully. Freed rolled their eyes.

"Magnolia's a big town, it's not like I gave him our address," they said sullenly, bouncing their knee under the table. "Besides, he told me where he was moving first. He wants to meet up."

"That could be d-"

"Ever," Bix chided gently. "Lots of people meet online these days. As long as Freed's safe about it, I don't see it being a problem." Freed stiffened a little at Bix's choice of words – he made it seem like Freed needed their permission to meet Laxus. And while Freed was eternally grateful for the home Bix and Ever had given them, they weren't Freed's parents.

"I'm not... asking for permission," Freed said, frowning. Ever's expression hardened a bit, and Freed sighed. "Can't you just trust me? You're not my mom."

"Freed," Bix warned gently. "Don't be rude." Freed deflated a little, dropping their chopsticks and running a hand through their bright green hair. It had grown out a bit in the past six months, and they'd taken Ever up on her offer to help them dye it. It really did look good on them.

"Sorry," they said quietly. "I just thought you'd be excited. I really... I really like him." They swallowed, feeling their cheeks turn red. "And I know he might be some guy living in his dad's basement, I'm not stupid. I'm gonna meet him somewhere public. But why would he lie about everything? He feels... real."

"And he probably is," Bix said, popping a piece of shrimp into his mouth. Next to the table, Lily looked at him imploringly. "No begging, Lil," Bix chided. "What's your plan?"

"I was going to meet him at that café on the beach," Freed said, shifting uncomfortably in their seat. "There's lots of people there. He said he's never seen the ocean."

"That sounds like a good plan," Bix said, leaning back in his chair. "Freed, we know we're not your parents. Hell, we're only five years older than you." He scratched at the stubble on his chin. "But we're responsible for you right now. We didn't take you in because we wanted to control your life – we want you to be happy."

Freed looked down at the floor, embarrassment blooming in their chest.

"You've only gotta put up with us for another year and a half," Ever joked, reaching over and resting her hand on Freed's arm.

Freed took a shaky breath. That wasn't what they wanted – they didn't want to leave here. Bix and Ever were their family now.

"Once you're eighteen your aunt will help you get your citizenship and you can do whatever you'd like," Ever added. "But for now, we just want to make sure you're safe."

"I know," Freed whispered, feeling foolish and frustrated. "I'm sorry."

"No need to be sorry," Bix said gently. Lily whined in agreement. "Now, when is he moving here?"

~

"I think I'm going to die."

Ever rolled her eyes at Freed's declaration, brushing the hair out of their eyes. She was standing in the middle of their room, looking over the array of outfits that Freed had thrown on the bed.

"You're not going to die," she said dismissively, waving her hand at them. She picked up a collared dress shirt from the bed, held it against Freed's chest, and shook her head. "You binding?"

"Yes," Freed replied immediately. When the counsellor from the Pride Centre had introduced them to the concept and helped them get a second-hand binder, it had been life-changing. Suddenly, baggy hoodies hadn't been their only wardrobe choice, and they'd been able to fit into the clothes they liked without feeling uncomfortable. They didn't wear it every day – sometimes they didn't mind having breasts – but most days they found themself binding under their clothes.

"Breathe," Ever said gently, holding up another shirt and rejecting it. "Seriously, just wear shorts and a t-shirt. You're going to the beach."

"It's not... it's hard to feel good in something today," Freed said, waving their hands in the air. Of course today had to be a day where Freed hated every single outfit they tried on. The room was littered with rejected clothes. "I don't... feel right." Ever gave them a sympathetic look.

"All right, here." Ever shoved a pile of clothes into Freed's hands. They looked at them with trepidation – khaki shorts and a green-and-blue patterned short-sleeved button-up. "Wear those canvas shoes with it. And the green sunglasses." She gave Freed another once-over. "And do something with your hair."

Half an hour later, Freed was standing at the front door, hair styled messily, feeling incredibly self-conscious and playing with the arms of their sunglasses.

"You look awesome," Ever said gently, patting Freed on the cheek. "Don't they, Bix?"

"Oh yeah," Bix replied sarcastically, leaning against the doorframe. Ever laughed, nudging Bix gently. "If he's a good guy, he'll like you no matter what you look like." Freed rolled their eyes and Bix reached a foot out to kick them gently in the shin. "I can hear it when you do that." Freed snorted.

"Alright, I gotta go." Freed tapped their foot nervously against the floor, trying to shove down the hundreds of butterflies that were currently doing gymnastics in their stomach. Ever had been right about the outfit and they were feeling pretty good about how they looked, but the idea of actually meeting and talking to Laxus was still terrifying. "I'll text you once we meet up." Suddenly a pair of arms were around them, and Freed let out a soft oof.

"Good luck," Ever said, squeezing Freed tightly and pressing a kiss to their forehead. "Just remember to breathe."

The walk to the beach took about twenty minutes, which gave Freed plenty of time to a) get much sweatier than they would have liked, and b) panic about their impending meeting (date?) with Laxus. He had arrived in Magnolia yesterday morning, and they'd spent all of yesterday talking about their plans for today.

The sun was high and hot – a perfect day to walk the beach – and Freed could hear the sound of kids playing before they could see them. The sand was littered with umbrellas and families having picnics, and Freed shivered as they watched a brave few souls venture out into the ocean.

The café where they were meeting was situated just before the beach started, at the end of a wide, vehicle-free area littered with pop-up stalls selling various items.

Freed glanced down at their phone – 1:58 pm, two minutes before their agreed-upon time. Were they supposed to show up on time, Freed wondered suddenly? Was that normal? Or was it fashionable to be late, so they didn't look too eager? What if Laxus was already here? What if they didn't recognize each other?

The thoughts and questions whirled around in Freed's mind, paralyzingly them and making them seriously consider turning back and fleein-

"Freed?" A tall, muscular boy with close-cropped blond hair and a deep scar through his eye was standing in front of Freed on the street, hands shoved into the pockets of a pair of khaki shorts. He had a thick leather bracelet around his left wrist, and a pair of headphones resting around his neck.

"I, um... y-yes. Freed. Is me." Freed swallowed, part of them hoping that a black hole would open beneath them and devour them so that they didn't have to be awkward around this... incredibly attractive boy. Holy shit, he was hot.

"Hey." The boy's face transformed into a lazy smile, and he shifted from foot to foot. "It's me. Laxus." He held out his hand and Freed took it carefully. His grip was strong and his fingers were warm and soft.

"It's... nice to meet you," Freed said shyly. They suddenly felt like crossing their arms over their chest, or finding a dark corner to hide in. What business did they have being interested in someone so exponentially more attractive than them?

"I'd..." Laxus frowned, giving Freed a more thorough once-over. Oh no, their outfit was probably stupid. Or did they have something on their face? Or maybe their hair was horrib- "Wait, a-are you a girl?"

Oh, fuck. A sick feeling started to grow in Freed's stomach, accompanied by an uncomfortable heat flooding over their face and chest. Their hands started to tremble, and they clenched them tightly at their sides.

"N-no," they said, but their voice was soft and hesitant. Laxus raised an eyebrow and took a small step back. "Y-you... um..."

"I thought you were a boy," Laxus said gruffly, expression growing more and more uncomfortable. "Your profile... it said you were a guy."

"M-my p-profile? Oh, s-shit, I... they didn't have a... neutral option," Freed stammered, mind whirling with panic.

Didn't they tell Laxus they were non-binary? They'd assumed it had been discussed at some point, but now that they thought about it, Freed realized that the topic might very well have been skipped over if Laxus made the assumption that Freed was, in fact, a guy.

"A neutral... what does that mean?" Laxus' posture was becoming more and more closed off, and Freed shrank back a little, trying to keep their embarrassment under control.

"N-non-binary," they nearly whispered, dropping their gaze to the pavement. "I s-swear, I th-thought we talked about it..."

"No way," Laxus asserted. "I would have remembered that conversation. So, what, you're... like a cross-dresser or something?" Freed winced, on the verge of tears.

"N-no, I just... I use 'they' and 'them' as p-pronouns," they explained, trying to keep their voice steady. "I'm not a boy or a g-girl."

"But you are a girl," Laxus insisted, gesturing at Freed's body and resting uncertainly over their flat chest. "Aren't you? Like, you don't have a..." He made a vague gesture to his crotch.

Freed squeezed their eyes shut and took a step back, bringing a hand up to their face. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Where was the sweet boy who sent them kind messages in the middle of the night? The one who listened to them talk about missing their family, the one who wrote them silly limericks when they were sad?

"That's... you..." Freed wrapped an arm around their stomach, feeling like they might be sick. They suddenly remembered that they were outside, in the middle of the market, with people standing all around them. "I'm the s-same person."

"No, you're not," Laxus said, eyebrows furrowed. "You lied to me."

"I n-never lied," Freed swore, forcing themself to look up at Laxus. "Y-you didn't ask, I would have t-told you. I thought we... I'm sorry. But I'm still..."

"But you're not," Laxus insisted, shaking his head. "I'm gay. I don't like... girls." Freed flinched. "Whatever you call it, you're not a guy."

Freed couldn't hold it in anymore – they started to cry. They backed up another step, looking around for a way out. They couldn't do this anymore. This wasn't the boy they thought they knew.

"No, I'm not a guy, but I'm not a girl, either," Freed said, sniffing and wiping at their face. The confidence they'd felt leaving the house was shattered now, and all they wanted was to get home and burn this outfit. "Y-you're a d-dick. I'm leaving."

Laxus actually looked surprised, running a hand through his hair and sighing. A look of guilt flashed across his face.

"Look, I'm sorry, I-"

"Don't bother apologizing," Freed interrupted, anger slowly replacing their embarrassment. "It's clear what y-you really think of m-me." They dug into their pocket and pulled out their phone, thumbing through to Bix's number. "S-sorry I wasted your t-time."

Coming home. Didn't go well. They typed as quickly as possible with one hand, then turned on their heel and started back towards home.

"Freed, wait," Laxus insisted, reaching out for them. Freed yanked their arm away, turning to glare at him.

"Fuck you," they hissed. "I never want to hear from you again."

~

Despite their heated words to Laxus, Freed lasted only two days before opening the app and checking their messages. They were both disappointed and relieved to see that not only had Laxus not sent them anything, he hadn't even been online since their "meeting".

"He doesn't deserve you," Bix had said, holding Freed tight while they had cried. They hadn't even made it home before the tears had turned into sobs. Both Bix and Ever had spent the evening cuddling with Freed on the couch and eating ice cream – after they'd convinced Ever to not hunt Laxus down and kill him.

The next few weeks went by in a haze. Freed kept themself busy – between finishing their diploma, working at the used bookstore where Bix's friend let them get paid under the table, and going to group at the Pride Centre, they should have barely had time to think about Laxus. Yet somehow, he managed to take up most of Freed's waking moments. The confusion on his face, the frustration he'd exuded... all of it hurt.

Why had Laxus been so different in real life than he had been online? He had only ever been kind when they'd written to each other. And had they really never talked about Freed's gender identity? Part of Freed wanted to go back and read every message they'd sent each other, but Bix had talked them out of it, and in the end, Freed had decided to delete the app altogether.

"Freed, Jamie needed to take a break, can you cover the till for half an hour?" Freed looked up from the pile of books they were pricing, blinking as they realized that their boss was talking to them. It was nearing the end of July, one of the store's slower months, and Freed had been taking advantage of the downtime to skim through the new arrivals.

"Sure," they responded, pushing themself up from the floor and stretching. They brushed their bangs out of their eyes, tugging at their tank top and moving up to the front of the store.

Freed could smell the salt of the ocean on the breeze through the open front door and they closed their eyes, smiling at the sensation. The bell dinged as someone stepped into the store, and Freed looked up.

"Good afternoon, can I h-" They stopped, putting both hands on the counter. It was Laxus.

He was much more tanned than he had been a month ago, and his blonde hair was a bit longer, but it was definitely him. Freed couldn't help sweeping their eyes up over his impressive shoulders and tight t-shirt, then shook their head.

"Freed?" Laxus looked up at them, eyes wide and hopeful. Part of Freed was tempted to turn on their heel and walk away into the back room, but the other part of them was horrified by the bruise that ran down Laxus' jaw.

"What happened to your face?" They asked before they could help themself. Laxus raised a hand to the mark self-consciously, then shrugged.

"It's... not important," he said, taking a cautious step towards Freed, as if they were a wild animal he was trying his best not to frighten. "Listen, I am so, so sorry. I was a complete asshole, and what I said was completely inexcusable. I wanted to write to you, but-"

"But what?" Freed asked coldly, crossing their arms over their chest. "It's been a month. You've had plenty of time to say you're sorry. Get out." They swallowed, feeling their stomach churn.

"Please, I'm... I couldn't use the app anymore," Laxus said miserably, face crumpling. "My dad took my phone away – the morning we met up. He saw that I'd been messaging you." Freed's eyes flicked down to the bruise again and their heart dropped.

"Did he..." they nodded their head at Laxus' jaw. Laxus didn't respond, just looked at the floor.

"Look, I just... can we talk?" Laxus glanced up at Freed, who returned the gaze uncertainly. Ever would likely kill them for even considering it, but Laxus looked so... sad. "Preferably not when you're working?" Bix might be disappointed too – he'd been the one to listen to Freed rant about what an asshole Laxus was.

"Fine." The word escaped Freed's mouth before they could stop it, but before they could take it back, Laxus' face brightened a bit. "I'm done at eight. Meet me out front." Freed uncrossed their arms and leaned against the counter. "And don't think I've forgiven you. You said some really awful, hurtful things."

"I know," Laxus said, picking at his thumbnail. "And I'm so sorry. I'll try to...I can't excuse that I said but maybe I can explain it." Freed nodded, then gestured at the walls.

"Can I help you find something?"

~

Eight o'clock couldn't come soon enough. Freed was so distracted for the rest of their shift that Kristin had ended up sending them back to pricing books instead of interacting with customers. When the shop was finally closed and the till counted, Freed grabbed their bag and made their way to the front of the store, terrified that Laxus might have changed his mind and wouldn't be there.

Freed's fears were unfounded. Laxus was leaning against the brick wall, hands shoved deep in the pockets of his shorts, staring intently at the pavement. When he saw Freed, his face lit up.

"Hey," he said awkwardly, standing up and scuffing his shoe on the sidewalk. "I, uh, I thought you might have changed your mind." He swallowed, visibly uncomfortable.

"Me too," Freed said, playing with the rainbow pin on their bag strap. Now that they were here, they weren't sure what to do. "I guess we were both wrong."

"I guess so." An awkward silence stretched between the two until Laxus finally looked up and made eye contact. "Want to... walk down to the beach?"

Freed hesitated. They didn't want Laxus to think he was forgiven for his cruel words – the assertion that Freed was a girl and that somehow them not having a dick was Laxus' business still stung. On the other hand, Laxus seemed genuinely sorry, and Freed was curious to hear the explanation for his behavior. And, if they were being totally honest with themself, they missed him.

"Sure," they said finally. Laxus looked surprised, but nodded and fell into step beside Freed, hands still in his pockets. The sun wouldn't set for another hour, and the beach was busy with families soaking up the last rays of sun.

When they reached the sand, Freed took a quick right, then led Laxus down a barely-visible path until they ended up at a large area full of driftwood. The logs were so old they were turning white, and Freed hopped up onto one of them, gesturing for Laxus to take a seat as well.

"This is... wow." Laxus took in their surroundings – the soft sand, the driftwood, the sun hanging low over the ocean. "I'm still not used to it. We'd... I'd never seen the ocean before we came here."

"Me either," Freed admitted, thinking of their first days in Magnolia. "Wisconsin is pretty far from the coast." They hesitated. "I like living here."

"Me too," Laxus said quietly. "My dad... he wants to leave again. He had a 'visitation' and apparently God wants us to keep moving." He rubbed his thumb and middle finger together nervously. "I think he's... got a warrant out for his arrest, or something. He's always running."

"You're leaving, then?" Freed asked quietly. Their immediate reaction was dismay, even though they had told Bix and Ever that they never wanted to see Laxus again.

"No," Laxus said, kicking off his shoes and digging his toes into the sand. "I convinced him to stay. There's a church here that he's involved in. I promised I would go with him if he promised to stay."

The sound of gulls fighting over picnic scraps was a background to the loaded silence that followed. Finally, Freed sighed.

"He hit you." It wasn't a question. Laxus made a face, and for a moment Freed thought he would deny it, but he merely shrugged and hung his head. "You should-"

"Tell someone?" Laxus said bitterly. "Like who? The cops?" He sighed. "My dad's... influential. I tried to leave once and it didn't go well." He rubbed at a thick white scar on the inside of his left wrist and Freed's heart sunk. "When you told me you left your family, I was so... jealous. I mean, I know it wasn't easy for you, but..."

Freed was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry," they said eventually. Laxus shook his head.

"No, we're here for me to apologize, not you." He took a deep breath and looked Freed in the eyes. "I'm so sorry for the things I said. They were ignorant and inexcusable." He rubbed the back of his neck. "This isn't an excuse... I just..." He exhaled loudly. "That morning, my dad found my phone. Found my messages to you. He was furious. I'm sure you know what that's like." Freed nodded sadly. "I spent hours locked in the bathroom, convincing him that it wasn't a phase, wasn't just some teenage rebellion, that being gay was who I was and he couldn't beat it out of me. Eventually he fucked off and I came to meet you."

The sun was dipping lower now, spreading orange ribbons over the water. The shouts of children were fading, replaced with the soothing crash of waves against the beach.

"I was so excited to meet you," Laxus said quietly. "Writing to you was one of the only things that kept me sane on the road. And then... I thought..."

"You thought I was a girl," Freed supplied, tucking their legs up against their chest. They rested their head on their knees and gazed at Laxus curiously. "When you'd just spent your morning convincing your dad you were gay."

"Yeah." Laxus sunk down off the log until the was sitting in the sand and began to draw it through his fingers. "And I'd... I know this sounds stupid but I'd never met someone... like you before." He began to make piles with the sand, the crush them with his palm. "I'd never met someone who was transgender either. I grew up pretty sheltered... dad wanted to keep me away from those kinds of things."

"But you know better now?" Freed asked hesitantly. This boy seemed more like the gentle one they'd messaged with for all those months. He was soft and vulnerable in the rays of the setting sun.

"I did some research," Laxus admitted. "There's a computer at the youth center and I read a lot. I can't believe how... cruel I was." He rested his chin on his forearms and glanced up at Freed. "I know I can't make up for what I said, I just wanted you to... understand." He sighed. "And I get it if you still never want to see me again."

Freed groaned, running their hands through their hair. A day ago, it had seemed simple – Laxus was an asshole who had been awful to Freed, and they were no longer speaking. But now... Laxus had still been awful, but Freed was beginning to see that those words had come from someone in terrible pain.

"I don't know," Freed admitted, leaning their head in one hand. "I get it. But I was so hurt, and so embarrassed. Being called a girl is humiliating. I'm not a girl."

"I know," Laxus said quietly. "I get that now. And me acting like it matters if you've got a dick or not is just..." He covered his face. "Fuck, I just feel like the worst person."

"You're not... the worst person," Freed said begrudgingly. "At least you apologized. I just feel..." They chewed their bottom lip, trying to figure out how to word it. "I really liked you. And to find out that you can't – don't – feel the same was just..."

"But I do," Laxus whispered, and Freed looked over at him, frowning. Laxus kept his eyes on the sand. "I do like you. It's just... confusing, and I'm an idiot." Freed's heart skipped a few beats and they dug their fingers into their arms. Laxus liked them? But...

"But you said..." Freed swallowed. "I mean, I have... a... a girl's body." Their voice wavered and they bit their lip, willing themself not to cry.

"I know," Laxus said. "But maybe... I dunno, does it matter? Should it matter? I've been thinking about this so much, trying to... to figure out what I am. If I like you, and you're not a guy, am I gay? Are you gay? Can you even be gay or straight if you're neither? Is it even... important?"

Freed took several deep breaths, trying to calm their racing heart. These were questions they'd considered, but they'd never expected Laxus to rethink his own sexuality because of them.

"I'm... I just call myself queer," Freed said, shifting until they were sitting cross-legged on the piece of driftwood. "I like people." Laxus looked up at them.

"Maybe that's a good philosophy," he said thoughtfully, brushing sand off the fine, blond hair on his legs. "Or maybe I just like you and it... doesn't matter what you are. It's just you." He buried his head in his arms, embarrassed. "You're just... you're funny and thoughtful and you made me feel like I wasn't alone. And I fucked that up so badly, and I won't ever be able to make up for it-"

"Kiss me." Freed nearly slapped their hand over their mouth after the words burst out. Laxus looked up at them, eyes wide with surprise. Freed's stomach felt light, suddenly, and they dug their fingers into the fabric of their jeans as they stared at Laxus. They wanted him to kiss them. His apology would never undo what he'd said, but it was honest.

"What... are... you sure?" Laxus looked terrified, but he had shifted his body so he was angled slightly towards Freed. Before they could change their mind, Freed slid down from the driftwood and settled into the sand next to Laxus.

"If you're sorry, prove it," they said, realizing that Laxus had a smattering of freckles across his nose. "Date me. Treat me kindly. Apologize to my roommates for making them worry." Freed swallowed, hoping that Bix and Ever wouldn't be too upset with them. "Make me believe that you want this."

"I do," Laxus whispered, bringing a hand up to tentatively touch Freed's cheek. Freed leaned into the touch, exhaling softly. "And I will."

He leaned in slowly, giving Freed plenty of time to back away. Their lips brushed hesitantly at first, and Freed's stomach felt like it had dropped out of them completely. Laxus' fingers brushed through their hair as he kissed them, each touch firmer and more confident, until Freed was breathing soft sounds into his mouth.

"Wow," said Laxus, resting his forehead against Freed's and exhaling softly. His cheeks were flushed pink and he bit his lip. "That... was the first time I've kissed someone." Freed blinked. Someone as attractive as Laxus had never kissed anyone? Even Freed had made out with a few boys – and girls – from the drama club at their high school.

"Well, you're not bad," Freed teased, hesitantly resting their hand on Laxus' chest and leaning in again.

As they kissed and kissed under the backdrop of the sunset, Freed felt a rightness settle inside of them. The anger that they'd been holding onto faded away, and all they were left with was the sound of the waves, and the feeling of Laxus' lips on theirs.