::Disclaimer: Fairy Tail and all its Characters are property of Hiro Mashima::
Nine Days before Christmas.
Gajeel Redfox sat on the dining table, brows furrowed and his tongue captured between his teeth in concentration.
Concentration he usually spared for two things only. Fighting and fidgeting with all kinds of metal gadgets. But in his hands was something more delicate than a metal gadget.
And definitely not an opponent.
It was small and soft, like the person it was meant for. Calloused hands tried to fold it neatly for a certain amount of time now. Every time he failed he ended it with a heavy annoyed grunt and a mutter of curses. The mutter getting longer each time he failed.
Fairy Tails Iron Dragonslayer had a certain image of how it had to look like when folded in his head. And by all means he had no intention to step back from this. Not even the tiniest step. He even had a instruction how to fold it.
He. Would. Not. Step. Back.
It had to be perfect. He had promised himself to make it perfect.
A drop of sweat crept its way down one of his brows. His long, thick, black hair was tied into a messy bun in the back of his neck. Stands got loose by the time. Mostly because he had ruffled his own hair more than once in exasperation.
A small dark feline creature, could see the mans patience slowly slip away. All the way from the sofa.
Pantherlily sat on the cushions. He had been engrossed in polishing his sword, but always looked up when his partner cursed. The curse words getting heavier and meaner every time. Gladly it was only them in the apartment.
An amused smirk had crept its way onto the Exceeds lips. His partner was stubborn, he gave him that one.
It had been hours since he started to try and fold that thing. Not to mention he wanted to wrap it today as well. And if he did not make it today he would start a new attempt tomorrow. Oh well.
The cat slid down the couch, walking over to the dining table. And he arrived to a fit of curses.
The mage threw up his hands in defeat.
"The hell? I can't do that shit!" he groaned.
PantherLily knew how much he had tried. And it was difficult after all. Folding cloth could be a challenge. Especially with it being that small. The dark feline climbed up onto the table looking around.
The small green cloth lay sprawled in front of his partner. Gajeel had leaned back, his arms folded in front of his chest, pouting for all the world to see. He should be allowed to, after what felt like one hundred failed attempts. To be honest, the Exceed had thought Gajeel would give up after two tries. This was truly an accomplishment.
Slowly he approached the place his friend sat. Knowing very well, that if not wanted, his partner could leash out at him in frustration. No swipes at him, encouraged the cat to sit down beside the instructions.
Reading them over with his whiskers twitching, he looked at the cloth on the table.
With a glance directed at his partner he silently asked if he was allowed to help. Handling the dragonslayer could be a pain, and difficult, but he got the hang of it.
Their eyes met briefly before the mage nodded. A short movement, barely noticeable, but the feline knew.
Cautiously he grabbed the cloth from the table, and started folding it. His paws as well failed their first attempt and he heard Gajeel chuckling in amusement. This time a small glare was directed at his partner, before he tried again. That just made the man laughing harder.
That was what he got for helping.
Nine days before Christmas Gajeel Redfox and his Exceed partner struggled with folding one piece of cloth.
::Thank you for reading~ Reviews are welcome! :D::