Paperwork, it was always paperwork. Budgets, finances, insurance claims, grocery lists, written apologies for destruction caused, letters of polite refusal to those asking for interviews or for fangirls wanting to date Bixlow and Laxus… It was tough work being captain, but someone had to do it.
Freed shut the ledger he was working on with a loud snap and moved on to the next item in his stack, but before he could get to work someone sat across from him.
He ignored them. After all, he still had a whole stack of papers to get through and they had the whole guild to occupy them.
Half an hour passed before Freed finished his second item, but the interloper was still there. Another paper, another hour, and still his tablemate did not leave. While the rune mage was used to working in hectic environments, that this person insisted on sitting so loudly was starting to get on his nerves. He slammed his pen down, ready to tell them off.
"Excuse me, you're-" Freed started, but froze when he looked up. "…Laxus?"
"Yes, I am. What of it?"
"…Uh.. Just- Just checking…"
The rune mage returned to his work as if nothing had just transpired, heat rising in his cheeks. When did Laxus even get there? And why hadn't he said anything when he arrived?
The minutes passed in peace, the only sound between the two mages made by the scritching of pen on paper. The stack of ledgers and letters steadily shrank, forming a neat outgoing pile to the left of the captain. Soon darkness began to filter through windows and cracks in the front door, kept at bay by flickering candlelight and hearthfire - and the occasional stray lamp.
"Freed."
"Hm?"
"Look at me."
The mage in question lifted his eyes from the table to see Laxus staring at him, piercing sky-blue eyes boring holes into his own. How long had Laxus been staring at him? Before Freed could ask, however, Laxus licked his own thumb and reached swiftly for Freed's face. The rune-mage flinched and squeezed his eyes shut by instinct, but cautiously peeked out after all he felt was a wet pressure on his left cheek. Laxus withdrew after rubbing his captain's cheek, looking nearly as confused as Freed himself.
"…What?"
"That thing on your face. I thought it was dirt."
"…Oh. It's not."
Silence. It was Laxus' turn to fidget - Freed would say he blushed, but that wasn't a thing gods did. It must've been a light pink dusting from the candlelight.. Yeah, that was it.
"Do you want me to cover it up?"
"No, no.. Leave it there."
Again, silence. After a few moments Freed cleared his throat and returned to his work, but with a smile on his face. Maybe having a tablemate around wasn't such a bad thing after all.
"….Freed."
"Hm?"
"It looks good on ya."
Assuming he didn't die of glee, of course.
