#rulufre

[isabellafoster13]

This wasn't requested, just something that I wanted to write because I thought that it was an interesting idea. 

If you aren't aware of what charity dating is, it's a process of raising money by auctioning off the chance to go on a date with another person. I thought that this would be a fun idea to write about. I might also put one in one of my planned stand-alone fics. 

Also, I'm a little surprised I haven't written a Freed x Lucy x Rufus oneshot yet. 

I hope you enjoy!

Auction (Freed x Lucy x Rufus)

Lucy sipped on her milkshake as she read a book. She was enjoying the rare calmness of the guild as she waited for her two boyfriends to arrive for a date, one of them returning from a job and the other making his way from his own guild. She was looking forward to seeing them, having not been able to do so for a few weeks. 

As she turned to the next page, she heard Mira sing, "Lucy!" 

The blonde looked up nervously, knowing that nothing good can come whenever her friend said her name like that. She watched as Mira slide over and smiled at her in an innocent way that was meant to deter others from catching onto whatever it was that she was plotting. 

Lucy hesitently asked, "what are you plotting?"

Mira tilted her head to one side and batted her eyelashes innocently as she questioned, "what do you mean?" 

Lucy sighed and closed her book as she sat her milkshake onto the bar, "what do you want?" 

The barmaid clasped her hands in front of herself as she exclaimed, "the Master and I came up with a good idea to raise money for repairs to the guildhall whenever it's damaged from a brawl!" 

Lucy raised an eyebrow. She would be a complete liar if she said that she wasn't interested in hearing this idea. So, she prompted her friend, "which is?" 

Mira's blue eyes sparkled with proud as she happily announced, "we decided to auction dates with Fairy Tail women!" 

Lucy stared at her for a few moments before she smiled and responded, "that sounds like it could be fun." That wasn't a lie, it really did sound like something that her guildmates could enjoy. Although, she wasn't sure about doing it herself. 

Mira nodded before she continued, "I'm sure that everyone will have fun! Do you have an outfit that you could wear for it? I was thinking something formal!" 

Lucy raised her hands, her palms facing Mira, as she said, "wait, wait. I don't know about me being in it." 

"Why? It would fun, and I'm sure that you'll get us a lot of money." 

"But, I'm already dating." She wasn't sure about participating in the auction. Sure, it sounded fun, but she didn't think that her boyfriends would be keen on the idea, nor was she interested in going on a date with someone who she probably didn't know.

Mira begged, "please, Lucy! I just know that you'll get us a lot of money! It'll also be a guilds only thing, so whoever it is won't be a complete stranger. Plus, it isn't strictly a romantic date! It'll just be a hangout, really!" 

Lucy thought about it. It really didn't sound bad. If only people from other guilds could attend, then she'll definitely know whoever it is that will win a date with her. Also, if it was only a hangout rather than a date, then that wouldn't be too bad. She never minded getting to know members of other guilds. She still wasn't sure how her boyfriends would feel about it, but since they were both very laid-back, she didn't think that they would be very bothered by the idea. 

She sighed and gave her answer, "I'll think about it." 

Mira clapped before she informed her, "the auction will be next Monday at six! Get dressed and on the stage before five, okay?" 

Lucy nodded and watched her friend walk away, now doubt to try in convince their other female guildmates to take part in the charity dating auction. 

"Master Makarov and Mira did what?" 

Freed looked up from his tea and stared at Lucy, and eyebrow raised. He waited as Lucy repeated in response to his question, "they decided to put on a charity dating auction for money that would be used to repair damages to the guildhall from brawls." 

He sighed, "are there not other methods of raising money?" If he was being honest, he didn't think that it was a terrible idea, but he didn't see why it had to be the first thing that they would go with. Couldn't they do something else before auctioning off members of their guild? 

Lucy shrugged and took a bite of her blueberry muffin, chewed, and swallowed it before she responded, "I don't know how those two think. The point is, the auction will feature the women of Fairy Tail and Mira wants me to be in it as well." 

Freed gave a short hum. He didn't think he was fond of that idea. Rufus spoke up from where he sat at the round table in between Freed and Lucy, "and the purpose is to have money for damages that are caused by brawls?" When Lucy nodded confirmation, the blonde man questioned, "why doesn't your guild just stop having brawls?" 

Lucy chuckled into her hand as Freed smiled to himself, trying to hold back the urge to laugh along with her. Upon noticing the confused look on Rufus' face, he answered his question, "that's a little too much to ask of Fairy Tail." 

Lucy agreed, "it's a bit of an unrealistic request." 

Rufus sighed, "in any case, are you going to participate?" 

Freed turned his gaze to his girlfriend, waiting for her answer. The blonde stirred her tea and was silent for several moments. The green-haired mage watched her closely, noticing that she was hesitant to tell them about how she felt about the idea and whether of not she was wanting to do it. He was about to assure her that she could tell them truthfully, but his girlfriend answered before he could, "I think that it could be fun. It's guilds only, so whoever wins a date with me won't be a complete stranger. The dates also aren't strictly romantic, more like hangouts, if anything." 

After hearing that, Freed didn't think that it was a bad idea. He wasn't fond of the idea of Lucy being auctioned off to someone who she probably doesn't know very well, their intentions not entirely known, but he knew that Lucy was capable of taking care of herself. 

He took a sip of his tea as Rufus spoke, "well, I don't think it's a terrible idea." He then asked her again, "do you want to participate?" 

Lucy nodded, "I would like to do it. I especially like that it'd be a chance to meet members from other guilds." 

Rufus responded, "well, if you'd like to do it, then I say you should." 

Freed nodded, adding, "we'll, of course, be there." 

Lucy gave them a short giggle when the door to the cafe they were sitting in flung open, drawing the attention of the three mages. Happy flew to Lucy, calling her name. Lucy took him into her arms and questioned, "what is it Happy?" 

The exceed stared up at the blonde woman with alarm and worry as he exclaimed, "Natsu got his head stuck in the second floor railing again!" 

Freed pressed a fists against his mouth to keep himself from snickering while he heard Rufus give a stifled chuckle. Lucy sighed and turned to her boyfriends, telling them, "I'll be right back." She then ran out of the cafe with Happy. 

Rufus then turned to Freed and asked, "what do you think?" 

Freed looked over at him, answering, "if she wants to do it, then she should do it. Although, I'm not a fan of her going on a casual date with someone who she doesn't know very well." 

Rufus nodded, responding, "I'm worried about whatever intentions the highest bidder could have." 

Freed raised an eyebrow, inquiring, "and I will be bidding for her then, yes?" It was a question that he didn't need to ask. He already knew the answer.

Rufus took a sip of his drink after he answered simply, "of course we are." 

The following Monday evening, the male mages of Fairy Tail were joined by the mages of Sabertooth, Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, and Mermaid Heel in their guildhall. The mages were conversing while the women of Fairy Tail were getting ready for the dating auction. 

Freed and Rufus sat at a table alone, neither interested in interacting with other mages. They were just concerned with making sure that whoever won a date with Lucy wasn't someone who was practically a stranger to her. 

Rufus took off his hat and sat it on the table as he asked, "do you know of anybody who may wish to bid on a date with Lucy?" He then added, "I don't recall any other mages who have been interested in her." 

Freed answered, "not that I know of. Laxus was interested in her in the past, but it was never deep and was very short-lived." He internally grimaced at the memory, also feeling a twinge of guilt for not helping when Phantom Lord attacked. He then looked around, taking note of the mages who surrounded them. "I'm curious as to who is planning on bidding." 

Rufus chuckled before he stated, "Sting said that he's going to bid on Erza." 

Freed raised an eyebrow, "does he have a death wish?" 

"Maybe." 

"Did Rogue or Orga mention whether or not they plan to bid?" 

"Not that I remember. I doubt that Rogue would. Orga might." 

The conversation was stopped then Master Makarov cleared his throat on the stage. Once he saw that he had the attention of the gathered mages, he accounted, "welcome to Fairy Tail's Dating Auction! Tonight, you will be bidding for a date with one of Fairy Tail's amazing and beautiful young women! If you want to bid, then simply raise your hand to place your bid! With that covered, let's begin!" 

The auction went by smoothly, with Makarov announcing each woman and give short praises of their looks and skill with magic. It didn't take long for the amount of money raised to reach the millions. It was interesting for Freed and Rufus to see who would win dates with each woman. 

Alzack, unsurprisingly, was able to win a date with Bisca, Cana was won by Bacchus, Wendy was won by Chelia, Juvia was, won by Lyon (much to her own disappointment), Lisanna was won Orga, Mira was won by Laxus, Laki was won by Eve, Levy was won by Gajeel, Kinana was won by Millianna, Evergreen was won by Elfman, and Erza was won by Minerva. 

Eventually, they got to the last female mage, Lucy. Freed and Rufus both tensed, ready to begin bidding against anyone else who were interested. Makarov began speaking, "last, but not least, we have Fairy Tail's own Celestial Spirit Mage! She's beautiful and smart, two things any man would like in a woman! But, don't think that she can't fight! As a member of Team Natsu and Natsu's best friend, she's more than capable of taking care of herself in a fight! Lucy Heartfilia!" 

Lucy walked to the center of the stage, smiling and waving at the crowd. She was dressed in a midnight blue dress that was form-fitting. A slit ran up one leg, reaching just below her hip. The neckline dipped low, revealing quite a lot of cleavage. Freed and Rufus felt their cheeks warm at the sight of her. She definitely made an excellent choice when choosing this particular dress to wear. 

Makarov continued, "let's begin with a thousand jewel!" 

Freed and Rufus each raised a hand, prompting Makarov to announce, "a thousand jewel from Freed and Rufus! It appears that Lucy's boyfriends aren't planning to let anyone win a date with her! Do I have two-thousand jewel?" 

Unsurprisingly, someone raised their hand, prompting Fairy Tail's Guild Master to continue, "Sting offers two-thousand jewel! Do I have three-thousand jewel?" 

Rufus shot a glare at his own Guild Master, who returned his glare with a smirk. He turned back around and raised his hand with Freed. It didn't matter that someone else is bidding for her, Freed and Rufus were skilled enough at magic to complete jobs in teams or solo, along with not being the types to spend money recklessly, which meant that between the two of them, they had enough money to out bid anybody who dared to try. 

The auction went on for several minutes, with the bidding being primarily between Freed and Rufus, and Sting, who was just doing it to bother the two men, if his shit-eating grin was anything to go by. 

Lucy watched with a smile as the bidding alternated and the bidding amount climbed, amusement dancing in her dark brown eyes. She was expecting her boyfriends to bid on her, but didn't expect Sting to do it too. Although, she supposed that she shouldn't be too surprised since she's able to see his grin, which clearly said that he just wanted to piss off Freed and Rufus. It was funny, really, seeing Sting's mischevious grin grow as Freed and Rufus became more and more visibly agitated, and yet, they both try to keep their anger contained. 

The auction finally concluded with her boyfriends out bidding Sting, the final amount being a million jewel. Lucy walked around the stage to stand behind the curtain and wait with her friends for her boyfriends to retreive her. Her female guildmates teased her, as well as each other, until the mages who won dates, started stepping behind the curtain to set up date plans with the women whom they won a date with. 

When Freed and Rufus made their way behind the curtain, Lucy bonded up to them and threw her arms around their necks, giving them both a tight hug, which they both returned. Lucy stepped away from them and crossed her arms over her chest, teasing, "didn't want me to go on a date with another guy, huh?" 

Freed stepped forward to stand beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist, and responded, "we we simply didn't want you to go with a stranger." 

Rufus stepped into place on Lucy's other side and took her hand into his in a tight but comfortable hold. "Besides, is it a crime for us to want to go on a date with our girlfriend everytime we are presented with the opportunity?" 

Lucy simply giggled as she let her boyfriends walk her off of the stage and out of the guildhall.