[0.9]
1859 Words
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As Laxus walks towards the job board to confront the rune mage his heart beat begins to quicken.
"Oh, come on" He grunts, his calm strides becoming rigid and tense.
"Oh, Laxus!" Freed greeted.
"Errr...Hey?" Laxus replied hesitantly.
"What's a matter?" Freed questions.
"N-Nothing, look it doesn't matter" Laxus sighed. "You wouldn't look at me the same way again."
"Laxus, I don't know what's going on but I'm no longer just your friend, I'm your best friend" Freed smiles.
"Huh?" Laxus questions.
"I don't think you remember. But the first time you accepted that I was here for you, a couple of days ago, I considered that our friendship grew!" Freed explains.
Laxus finally registered what Freed was talking about.
~
"You can tell me if something wrong" Freed responds.
"I know" Laxus simply replies.
~
"That meant that much to you?" Laxus asks with a confused expression.
"Erm, y-yes" Freed stutters a blush adorning his cheeks. 'Cute' Laxus thinks to himself.
"Well, what job we're you thinking of taking?" Laxus questions.
"Oh, yes... Well there was this job about finding the last page of some sort of book. It got my interest" Freed elaborates slightly the blush vanishing from his features.
"You want to do it?"
"Yes?" Freed responds, his reply turning more into a question.
"Then we'll do it" Laxus states, giving Freed a rare smile. Freed stares at Laxus for a moment before breaking into a smile of his own.
"Alright I'll get the rest of the thunder legion then!" Freed states turning around before Laxus grabs his shoulder. "How about we do this on alone?" Laxus offers.
Freed pauses for a moment before turning back around "We'd better be going then."
~=~
The dragon slayer duo walk down the streets of Magnolia. They decided it would be a good idea to have a walk through town before they go to the guild to search for some answers.
"Hey...Rogue" Sting calls hesitantly.
"What's a matter?" Rogue questions.
"What do you mean? You make it seem like I'm upset" Sting asks, looking at Rogue before turning around slightly. Looking at Rogue from the corner of his eye. Rogue sighs, knowing Sting is being stubborn and stops walking. Grabbing Sting's hand he continues to drag Sting to a small café, situated by the canal.
"Woah, Rogue! What are you doing?" Sting freaks out slightly, not really understanding what Rogue was doing.
"Let's talk this over the proper way" Rogue expands slightly, a frown on his face.
"T-Talk this over?" Sting stutters slightly.
"Yes, I want to figure out what's wrong with you. It's clear you're bothered by something" Rogue points out, letting go of Sting's hand to open the door. Sting immediately felt the warm sensation of Rogue's touch vanish, leaving an empty feeling on his palms.
"It's just the stupid mating season" Sting mumbles.
"We're best friends, you can tell me anything" Rogue states looking Sting in the eyes.
'But I want to be more than that' Sting thinks to himself. Not realizing that he was spaced out, too lost in his thoughts.
"Sting? Hello? Sting?" Rogue questions shaking him slightly.
"Huh? What's up?"
"You were staring into space...Are you sure you okay?" Rogue asks in a worried tone.
"Yeah I'm fine Rogue. No need to worry" Sting reassures.
"Come on" Rogue responds dragging him over to a table.
"I'm not really hungry..." Sting trails off.
"Then just get a drink. I want to know for definite that your okay. You have been acting strange ever since the plant pot incident. Did you cut yourself on a shard?" Rogue replies leaning over the table slightly. Sting could feel Rogue's hot breath on his face causing a blush to dust on his cheeks.
"N-No!"
"Your not very convincing... Maybe we should check after" Rogue states, quickly looking over the menu before standing up.
"What would you like?" Rogue asks, noticing Sting was staring again.
"Sting?"
"Oh, erm...I'll go and order" Sting responds.
"I'd prefer it if you stayed here. What would you like?" Rogue repeats. Sting sighs knowing that sometimes that Rogue can be just as stubborn as him.
"...Water?"
"You hate plain water. I know that. You always complain about it being bland" Rogue reminds him putting his hands on his hips. Looking at Sting expectantly.
"Sparkling water...?"
Rogue rolls his eyes before going to order. Sting stares at his retreating figure before putting his face in his hands. 'He'll never feel the same way.'
Rogue comes back with two coffees, placing them on the table. Looking over at Sting, Rogue sighs before giving him a small hug from behind.
"What's wrong with me?" Sting questioned.
"What?"
"Something's wrong. I'm getting upset over the slightest things" Sting responds. Rogue swear he saw a tear but Sting quickly wiped it away.
"I bet it's the mating season" Sting comments.
"You know what? I agree...it is the only explanation. "
"Thanks Rogue" Sting thanks before gently moving Rogue's arm from around his shoulders.
"What are you doing?" Rogue questions.
"I'm going to the bathroom" Sting mumbles before running off into the men's toilets. Rogue let another sigh, shaking his head at how stubborn Sting can be.
Sting comes back after a few minutes, looking at the two coffees on the table for a moment before looking at Rogue.
"You didn't have to wait, you know that right" Sting asks after a moment of silence.
"I know, I chose to wait" Rogue smiles, causing Sting to smile to.
"You know...Your smiles are contagious" Sting comments, sitting back down. Taking a sip from the coffee. "And your good at picking coffee too."
Rogue only chuckles in response, but inside his heart was swelling up in happiness.
~=~
Natsu left the guild with Gray shortly after the conversation with Lucy.
Gray could clearly see something was bothering him; but it wasn't the usual kind. The usual kind consisted of beating the crap out of each other until it goes away. If Gray had a awful nightmare about Deliora, he would go to Natsu and they would brawl it out until it didn't matter to him anymore. If Natsu found another dead end with his search for Igneel he would go to Gray and get all of his anger out. It worked; and Gray enjoyed having the kind of relationship they have. It may sound weird, but having someone to go and release all of the negative energy comforted Gray. Knowing that they didn't have to talk it out, he didn't have to explain himself. Natsu just knew, and it works both ways. It's a weird friendship, maybe. But it's something they both don't want to throw away. And that's what was bothering Natsu... how would Gray react if he found out? Would he hate him?
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Natsu takes a seat on the river bank. Gray stands there staring at Natsu.
"Are you going to stare at me all day? Or are you going to take a seat ice princess?" Natsu teases.
"He loooovveesssss you!" Happy chimes causing both of them to blush slightly.
"Will you put a lid on it?" Gray sighs, taking a seat beside Natsu.
"Something's bothering you. Not the usual kind of bother either" Gray states looking at the river. Natsu's gaze hardens, knowing he's going to have to lie to Gray. "I'm serious...what is it?" Gray finishes.
"...What's the stuff with Lyon?" Natsu questions.
"So you don't want to talk about it huh? I get it. And Lyon- I don't even think you want to know" Gray replies, his face quickly changing from calm into one of frustration.
"Well I do want to know because I asked ice-cube" Natsu countered, a small smirk playing on his lips.
Gray rolls his eyes in response, but gives the fire dragon slayer the information he wanted. "He's been all over me lately, and not in a friendly way. I think- I don't know. I can't really say. I just get the feeling Lyon wants to be a bit more than friends. And, I don't like it. I want him to back off. He won't get the message; I think of him as a brother. Nothing more."
Natsu grits his teeth slightly. The idea of Lyon pestering Gray drives him insane. Gray catches this notion but doesn't make a comment.
"I get it" Natsu murmurs.
"Do you like someone" Natsu blurts out. "You know...the romantic way?"
"...Yeah" Gray replies hesitantly.
"Who's the lucky girl?" Natsu questions, hiding the jealously he's feeling.
"Would you judge me if I tell you honestly?" Gray asks, his onyx eyes finding their way to his hands.
"No" Natsu replies simply.
"Guy. Not girl" Gray admits, looking down ready for rejection. Natsu's eyes widen, a strange glint appearing in them before replying " Why would I judge you? And would you mind me asking who?"
"A bit too far Natsu" Gray responds.
"Nah, I understand" Natsu comments, finally feeling a pull on his line. "Finally! I got a fish!" Natsu cheered pulling it out of the river falling over in the process. Gray snickers slightly causing Natsu to glare at him.
"I know! Let's have a competition!" Natsu thinks out loud.
"You know what? Not a bad idea" Gray responds thoughtfully, "Oh and I'm already winning. I'm gonna win for sure!" Natsu states confidently.
"We'll see about that Flame-brain!"
~=~
Wendy lay in bed that night, not being able to fall asleep no matter how hard she tried. 'And I know it's not an effect of mating season' Wendy thinks to herself. With a heavy sigh she turns towards the wall. Not noticing Chelia who was staring at her from her sleeping bag.
"Hey Wendy?" Chelia asks causing Wendy to freeze.
"I-I didn't mean to wake you up!" Wendy stutters still facing the wall.
"Don't worry silly, I've been awake for a while" Chelia replies. Causing Wendy to breathe a sigh of relief.
"As long as I didn't wake you up."
Silence approached them quickly, the moonlight shining through the curtains illumining their silhouettes gracefully.
"...Wendy?" Chelia calls un-certainly.
"Yeah?"
"Could I...get in with you? You know...maybe cuddle or something?" Chelia questions, a blush painting over her features. Chelia could just about make out Wendy's shocked expression before she smiled, also noticing the heavy blush on her face.
"S-Sure" Wendy stutters, moving across allowing Chelia to climb in. Getting out of her sleeping bag; Chelia joins Wendy a smile dancing across lips.
"You know Wendy? Your eyes are really pretty. Like chocolate, a soft chocolate" Chelia comments with a smile.
"T-Thanks, yours are a ocean blue, a deep ocean blue. They're really nice" Wendy compliments.
"You really think so?"
"Mhm" Wendy hums, closing her eyes. Suddenly finding it easier, she would go as far to say she was calmer.
"I was wondering something" Chelia continues "Do you ever wonder what we will become in the future?"
"Sounds silly, but- I do" Wendy admits.
"I was hoping I wasn't the one" Chelia smiles. Closing her eyes too. Just before they allowed sleep to consume them, Chelia whispered, "Night Wendy."
"Night Chelia."
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- Writer
