Chapter Text
Sometimes Freed felt more like the mother of his teammates instead of their captain. Having Bixlow’s weight draped over his smaller form was one of those times. Bixlow turned and smiled into Freed’s face, wafting the putrid smell of alcohol towards him. Freed pushed his face away and Bixlow just laughed. He didn’t know what had happened to Bixlow’s helmet but he’s sure someone at the guild held on to it. Freed would get it back tomorrow, one way or another. Lisanna had used their communication lacrima to ask Freed to come and pick up his comrade from the guildhall. Apparently Bix had joined a drinking game and had been very invested in winning. Unfortunately, he lost 50,000 Jewel and got drunk off his ass instead.
He made his way slowly and steadily across town to the house that the Thunder Legion shared. Bixlow was keeping up a constant stream of words, talking about anything and everything that captured his attention in his drunken state. Freed had a bag slung over his shoulder with Bixlow’s babies tucked inside. They would buck every once and awhile or repeat the narrative Bixlow was giving of the scenery. Peppe kept on trying to escape, or maybe it was Poppo? Honestly, even though he put in an honest effort, Freed couldn’t tell them apart. Sometimes he wondered if Bixlow really could, or if he was just making it up as he went along.
Luckily Bixlow was pretty good about holding his liquor and he was a friendly drunk. The only problem was that he didn’t like to follow directions well. In fact, he became quite contrary when anything was suggested to him. If you wanted to take him home, he’d want to go to the river. If you wanted him to take off his armor, he’d wrap himself in blankets and refuse, or just run away. Freed had learned over the years that it’s best not to talk to Bixlow when he’s drunk because he will only end up trying to do the opposite of what you want. There was one frightening time where Freed had yelled at him to get up and come home and Bixlow had run away from him cackling, “I do what I want!” He didn’t come back till noon the next day.
Freed didn’t even know if that’s going to be a problem tonight. Bixlow was drunker than he usually allowed himself to get. He couldn’t stand up straight at all; Freed was mostly carrying him home and it was becoming exhausting.
“Freed, I loooovvve you!” Bixlow said for the fifth time.
“I love you too,” Freed said, placating his friend and trying to stop him from lying down.
“Momma Freed!” Bixlow cooed.
“I have told you not to call me that,” Freed said tiredly, but Bixlow only cackled.
“But Freed! Freeeeeeeddd. We’re like a perf-perfect family. Ever’s the annoying sister and you and Laxus are the parents.” Freed lost his grip and Bixlow nearly took a dive in the river. Freed closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he pulled his friend back to his feet.
Bixlow decided five feet from their front door that he wanted to sit down. Freed lets him with a sigh. He pulled one of the babies out of the bag and handed it to the seider mage, hoping it would distract him from crawling away. Bix clutched it to his chest—smiling happily—while Freed unlocked the door. Bixlow’s room was on the lower floor of the house and Freed didn’t even consider trying to get him down the stairs. Freed’s room was on the main floor, so Bix would sleep there. Freed managed to prod Bixlow into the house and then into Freed’s room. Bix kept trying to talk, so Freed casted a Silence rune so that they didn’t wake up Laxus and Evergreen. When they got to Freed’s room, Bixlow heads for the chair by the bookshelf and Freed doesn’t try to stop him. He locks the door as he goes out to the kitchen to get water and crackers. Bixlow is curled up in the chair around his doll (Puppu?) when Freed comes back. Freed pulls off pieces of armor while Bixlow is mostly asleep. And then when he’s just in his sweater and pants Freed pokes him awake to see if he’ll eat or drink. Bixlow eats four crackers and drinks about half the glass of water before Freed is satisfied. He leaves Bixlow in the chair because he knows he’s not going to get him to move again, and despite how energetic Bixlow is awake, he doesn’t move too much in his sleep. He drapes a spare blanket around him, and stacks his remaining babies on his nightstand. Freed cards his fingers through Bixlow’s hair. Bixlow makes a pleased sound and pretty soon he’s fast asleep. He casts another Silence rune when he remembers how loud Bixlow snores and then he gets himself ready for bed.
When Bixlow wakes up the next morning his head is pounding and the room is spinning. He doesn’t remember much of last night. He winces as he realizes he’s in Freed’s room; it must’ve been bad. He groans and sets Peppe free, his other babies are floating around his chair and it’s not really helping the dizziness. It’s a good sign though; he must not have gotten very sick if his magic was working fine. That was probably thanks to Freed too; he almost always got Bixlow to eat something when he was drunk so that he didn’t get sick.
Bixlow looks up as the door swings open and Freed walks into the room then carrying a tray of food. Bixlow brightens, realizing the house smells like bacon and pancakes. But when Freed sets the tray down he see that there’s only fruit and toast.
“No bacon?” Bixlow whines.
“I didn’t know how you’d be feeling this morning.” Freed says fixing the plates on the table next to Bixlow, shooing his babies out of the way as he does so.
“I feel fine!” Bixlow protests.
“Then consider it part of your punishment.” Freed says sternly. “Do you have any idea what happened last night?” Bixlow sticks his tongue out and looks away.
“You lost 50,000 jewel in a drinking game.”
“How much!” Bixlow yelps. His babies circle his head anxiously.
“That’s what I was told.”
“Crap,” Bixlow started to feel sick now. “ But that means…”
“You lost your share of this months rent money.” Freed finished for him. They lived in a rather high-end house. It had three floors, five rooms, three bathrooms, kitchen, dinning room and a living room on the main floor and downstairs and I rather nice backyard. Each of them paid 50,000 jewel a month for it.
Bixlow frowned at his fruit and groaned.
“Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to cover your rent since it’s due this week. You’re going to eat, and then shower, and then you’re going to go down to the guild and find a job to pay me back.”
Bixlow nodded even though he hated going on jobs without the rest of the thunder legion. “Thank you Freed.”
“And while you’re there your going to find Lisanna and ask her what happened to your helmet, and ask her out so I don’t have to deal with you getting drunk to impress her anymore.” Bixlow only smiled a little ruefully. He reached for the mug next to his plate and screeched when he took a sip.
“No Coffee?!”
“Don’t want you to get even more dehydrated.” Freed said cheerfully. “Get moving!”
“Freed?” Bixlow asks softly. Freed looks back at him, raising one questioning eyebrow. “Did–um, did you tell the others?” Bix has his head down and his babies are shifting nervously back and forth. Freed lifts the corner of his mouth in a half smile. Bixlow is asking if Laxus knows he made a mistake. Freed understands. Laxus was the uniting force of the Thunder Legion and every single one of its members would never want to disappoint him. Freed shakes his head once, “You better get going its almost time for me to serve breakfast.”
“But–”
“I’ll figure out something to tell them while you’re on your mission.”
“Thanks Freed.” Freed smiled and left the room.