#thunrian

If he’s honest, Freed’s not sure what motivated him to message his comrade at such an inappropriate hour - what if he had woken him up?- though, as the familiar chirp of an outgoing message pierced the air, he knows it’s too late to take it back.

It’s utterly unlike him and for a moment he considers simply switching his lacrima off and dealing with the repercussions in the morning when his mind still wasn’t fuzzy from the alcohol he had consumed at the guild. Hopefully, if he had awoken Laxus with his inquiry, he would simply fall back to sleep and the whole issue would be forgotten. 

Briefly, he truly considers that course of action, his back and head resting against his headboard as his forefinger hovers over the off button of his lacrima. It would be easy to ignore the situation and come up with some excuse the next morning, however he can’t bring himself to do that. It wouldn’t be fair to worry his friend with no explanation as to his unprecedented message.

Heaving a soft sigh at his decision, the green haired male allowed his eyes to close, only to reopen several moments later at the sound of a notification - so Laxus was awake after all. 

Long fingers ghost the keyboard as he replays the nature of the response in his head, temporarily unsure how to respond. 

What did he need?

Nothing he felt the need to divulge to his sleep deprived friend, he’s sure of that, just as he’s aware that his friend won’t take a blunt dismissal of his message. Perhaps he could blame it on the guild party drinking binge and leave it at that. Just because he was experiencing difficulty sleeping did not mean he should see to it that his friend could not either.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring  {Sentence Starters}

“Of course...” His voice falters for a moment, gaze flickering to Laxus in silent surprise at the topic before he continues, “It was the day I first joined the guild.”

Despite the years that had passed since that day Freed can remember it clearly, from the warm smile quirking the Master’s lips when the boy had requested to join the guild, to the brawl that had erupted through the halls minutes later. At the time the actions had startled the rune mage, but even that astonishing fight didn’t stand out in his memories as much as the grumpy blonde boy sitting alone at a table.

Dodging the flying tables and shouts. the master led him to the boy that appeared to be only a few years older than Freed himself, neither seeming fazed in the slightest by the chaos occurring around them. 

His first impression of the lightning mage had been lackluster, Freed’s polite greeting virtually brushed off by the dragon slayer, yet it was still him that Makarov had requested to watch over his grandson that day. At the time the request had seemed impossible, with Laxus’ apparent lack of initiative to make friends,  yet now here they sat, at their usual table in the bustling guild that they had once attempted to overtake only to now vow to protect with their lives. 

He’d always believed the mistletoe tradition to be a silly one. 

There was nothing particularly romantic or enticing about the plant itself - in fact, he found it rather ordinary in appearance, despite the intimate insinuation that came with it’s name. He’d watched numerous of his guildmates fall victim to a well placed mistletoe throughout the few weeks leading up to Christmas and, by Christmas eve, he had to admit that, if nothing else, he did find the rule the plant brought to be humorous.

The kisses themselves were harmless, a swift kiss placed on a blushing cheek, or, for the more daring, the lips, before the mages would scuttle off to opposite sides of the guild, evidence of their actions only found in the resounding echo of their guildmate’s amused chuckles.

There were a few individuals that made sticking people under the mistletoe into a game, particularly Happy and Bixlow, so Freed couldn’t say he was all that surprised when he discovered the innocent looking plant hanging directly above them, it’s back and forth movement evidence enough that it had purposely been placed there only moments before. 

“It appears as though we’ve fallen into their trap.” He muses with a small smile, his eye flickering to the offending decoration in silent explanation before moving back to regard his friend in amusement, “I suppose that leaves us with no choice but to comply.”

The smile only broadens as the rune mage places his hand on Laxus’ shoulder and lifts himself onto his toes, the slight pressure on the other’s shoulders a silent request to stoop down a bit lower before a chaste kiss is placed on Laxus’ cheek.

“Merry Christmas, Laxus.”

What convenient timing on their part...

Laxus was many things; a strong mage, a dependable friend, a respectable figure, especially to the team that had formed with the sole intention of serving as his body guard, however, a talented cook was not amongst that list. In fact, it wasn’t even close, if Freed was to be honest, and he found himself having to school his expression before the twitching at the corner of his lips threatened to pull into a vague frown at the announcement. 

There was no mere coincidence with their team mates suddenly fleeing their shared apartment after learning that Laxus had cooked because, while they all did love the blonde dearly as a friend, none were willing to inform him that cooking was not precisely his fortay.....

So, instead, it appeared as though they were content with ditching Freed with the burden.