Rori's Corner: So, so...a year later...Aha...ha..ha...Late update is really damn late. Anyway! Enjoy! Warnings and everything apply the same as last time! I just haven't gotten around to changing the rating...for now c:
You're My
Chapter 2: Economics
"So..."
Tap. Tap. Tap.
"Help me."
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
"Please?"
Tap. Tap. Tap –
"Pleeaaasee?
Pause.
Natsu cracks open an eye, hands clasped together. He's on the floor in his roommate's bedroom, on his knees, and he's been here, on his knees, for almost fifteen minutes by now. Why?
Because he's nearly failing economics, his worst class by far, the finals are tomorrow, and if he doesn't get at least an eighty, he's in for a F. He desperately needs help. And the only help he can think of – the only person he knows who is an expert in econ is no other than his pervert roommate. He hates to admit it, but he's really got no choice.
He's been begging and pleading and making raw promises for the last fifteen minutes with no result. Laxus has been firmly and successfully ignoring his antics, his attention focused on the mac on his lap, fingers rapidly tapping the keyboard, doing his daily business upkeeping.
Asshole. Pervert. Psycho. Asshole.
He swallows all the insults bubbling up his throat.
There has to be a way. There just has to be.
But he's already tried already he could think of! Laxus merely snorted when he called him "Master Laxus the Magnificent and Great," and then he also had the gall to laugh when he offered to pay for this month's rent.
That just about choked his pride, but he buried the anger, because he did need – does need Laxus's help. He can't afford to fail tomorrow. If he fails, his musical scholarship would be revoked, and then he won't be able to attend the university and debut with the band. He can't allow it to happen.
The economics final is tomorrow, and it certainly doesn't help that he slept through all of the lectures that will be tested on the exam.
Of course he tried to study, but seeing as how he couldn't figure out the first paragraph of his drool-infested and illegible scrawls (also known as notes), he realized he was in trouble.
But it does help that his perverted-sex-maniac-psycho roommate is a business major, economics expert, CEO of his own entrepreneurial company, and heir to a major multinational corporation that annually sends in generous donations to the university.
...But it doesn't help that said perverted-sex-maniac-psycho roommate and rich business expert never, quote, never, does anything for, underline, free.
"Come on, Laxus, you're the number one guy for business and econ. Everyone and their grandma knows that. I need help just this once, okay? Look, I'll pay for dinner – Olive Garden and under price range, though, cause I'm dead broke – anything. I just need help with a few chapters."
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Natsu's nerve pulses, smile twitching.
The perverted-sex-maniac-psycho is currently busy typing away on his chrome laptop, shirtless, as usual, with his legs, clad in loose sweats, stretched out on the king-sized bed, completely ignoring his presence.
Enough of this bullshit, already!
Natsu slams his palms down flat on the carpeted floor, anger boiling and roiling off his body in steam. "Okay!" he shouts, exasperated. "I get it! I'll do whatever you want until I pay back the amount of time I owe you, just tutor me, damn it!"
Tap. Tap...
Laxus's long fingers finally cease the thrumming over the black keys. He turns his head, looking at Natsu for the first time in twenty minutes, mouth slowly drawing a dangerous smirk.
"Anything?" he says, tasting the word bit by bit, taking his time savoring the flavor of triumph.
Natsu gulps.
"Anything."
"I don't get it. Why do we have to learn about perfectly competitive markets if they don't exist in the first place? That's just a waste of time," Natsu complains as he sketches a supply and demand graph, imitating what Laxus taught him earlier. The letters and numbers, before tax, after tax, quantity demanded, quantity supplied, imports, exports, and world price are coming together. They almost make sense now. He will never admit it out loud, but his psycho roommate is a pretty damn good teacher.
That doesn't mean he likes economics anymore than he did half an hour ago, though.
"They do exist, not perfectly, of course," Laxus says as he jots down numbers in a databook.
"Where?"
"In the agricultural industry, mostly. Corn, for example."
The blue databook seems to be an accounting journal that keeps track of his independent company's finances, as far as Natsu can tell. He sneaked a look last time, and damn if he didn't see how many zeroes each page had. Laxus seems to be double-checking the balance sheet. "I told you already. Farmers are price takers. Their products are all the same. If farmer A sells apples, theirs is a perfect substitute for farmer B's apples. This means that consumers, or buyers, like you and me, can easily choose to buy the lower price of the two."
Natsu taps his chin thoughtfully with the top of his pen. "So...demand is perfectly elastic?"
"In a perfectly competitive market."
"Heh! I knew it! I'm getting fired up!"
Laxus frowns, looking at him. "Why did you even pick this class if you hate it?"
Natsu snorts. "I don't particularly hate it. My teacher just has a heavy-ass accent, and she makes econ extremely boring. Plus it's a required course."
"Then why the fuck did you not drop it when your ass is failing hard and obviously not learning shit?"
"Hey! I ain't no econ expert, but I'm pretty fucking OP at business, got that?" retorts Natsu, angrily. He glares fierily at his tutor-roommate, who merely laughs a barking, conceited, laugh. "I'm serious! Not to mention that I understood what you taught me, the whole ride through!"
Laxus continues to laugh in that almighty, "I'm-greater-than-god-and-you're-shit" way.
"You wanna fight?!" Natsu shouts, standing up, beyond agitated. Oh, he's way beyond simply being annoyed by now. He is furious. Laxus can be a real asshole – most of the time.
The hulking dorm host calms down, laughter fading. The expanse of flesh between his jaw, neck, and chest is red with laughter. Laxus breathes in, his pecs flexing and abs sucking in. He looks up at Natsu, signature smirk stretching over his lips and canines showing, like a shark or a wolf – predatory. "I'm the boss here, brat. You have a large debt to pay, so don't get it over your head like we're equals."
Natsu's anger flares up. He pounds his right fist into his left hand and growls, "I might be loading up some debts under my name, but I sure as hell ain't no underdog! Fight me, and I'll prove it!"
"You sure talk big for a mere housecleaning brat."
"That's it! I'm gonna beat you up!"
Laxus evades his punch with his eyes closed, smirking. Damn it, he curses himself, but before he can land his other fist, Laxus grabs his collar and pulls him down, dragging his body over his lap. He finds his legs straddling the large man, perched on his lap, the top half of his body pressed flush against Laxus. He struggles instantly, but he can't move; his arms are trapped, bound, by Laxus's grip, behind his back.
"Let go! Bastard!" he demands, moving and fighting the hold. But it's nearly impossible to do so, because Laxus's strength is overwhelming, and it overpowers his by at least five times. All of a sudden, he feels fingers running through his pink hair and then tugging at the strands, hard. He winces, unable to stop himself from reacting to the pain. The fist clutching his hair forces his head up, and he sees through his ruffled bangs the white ceiling. His teeth grit and clench, and automatic tears in pain threaten to seep from his eyes.
A heat hovers in front of his exposed throat. A wet appendage licks from his collarbone all the way up his neck, and he shivers involuntarily, his clasped hands trembling and feet curling. Warmth spreads all over his body. His cheeks and ears ignite in red.
"S-stop," he gasps, struggling again. "Let go of me, ya pervert!" The vice grip on his arms haven't budged, nor has the clutch on his hair loosened. It hurts. The asshole!
"Oh, shut the fuck up. You owe me," Laxus grunts, attaching his mouth to the slightly tanned expanse of skin, Natsu's exposed neck. A sign of submission, and it's so utterly delectable.
"Get your goddamn hands off'a me!"
Laxus ignores the loud voice, his libido springing to life. He drags his tongue down the length of the column, finds a spot right under Natsu's Adam's apple and sucks.
Natsu gasps, his face reddening at the new sensation. He briefly stops struggling. It feels foreign, as if his skin is being pulled into a warm cavern, caressed, and toyed with. It's hot, tingly, and feels as if every nerve in his body dancing. He can't stop shivering. It feels...
"I'm getting really hungry," Laxus growls against his neck.
He can't trust himself to speak or say anything. He feels weak. He's almost moan – no! Never!
Suddenly, he feels jagged teeth clamp down harshly on the junction between his neck and shoulder, and he winces, gasping, body freezing in pain. No sound escapes his mouth, other than the ragged breaths he take in and exhale. What the hell just...
Laxus bites Natsu's shoulder, canines clamping down, locking into the skin, breaking it, making sure he leaves a crescent mark. He hears the younger boy's gasp in surprise, feeling the trembling body in his grasp arch, and smirks widely, prickles of blood staining his lip. He licks it off, tasting iron.
He then lets go of Natsu's hair and then his arms, permitting the boy freedom.
It takes a full minute for Natsu to process the fact that he's free, and when he finally registers it, Laxus has already shoved him off of his lap, not an apology or explanation in sight. He lands on the carpet with a thump, confused, disoriented, body throbbing in pain and –
What the actual fuck.
Why is his heart racing?
"You're lucky I'm hungry, or else your virgin card would've been gone tonight," Laxus declares, with that shit-eating smirk proudly on display.
"Laxus, I'm gonna kill you!" Natsu screams, and then winces. His hand immediately reaches for the bruise. He can feel inklings of warm blood on his fingers, the indent and shape of the teeth marks, and the dissipating heat. His head feels like a mess.
"Steak," Laxus orders, a triumphant look in his eyes as he gazes down at the shocked and mussed sophomore.
Natsu can only glare back, mentally swearing to beat the crap out of his roommate next time.
Natsu is a ball of all kinds of miscellaneous shit the next day. He's scared, anxious, profusely sweating, trembling, and unable to stop himself from scratching his hair out of frustration. At this rate, he's bound to go bald.
Why?
The reason is obvious.
The econ final! The determinant that decides whether he lives or dies in the pit of failure! If he doesn't score at least an eighty, his life is over. Over. He won't be able to keep up with the tuition fee without the scholarship, and then all the effort he put into the band would just be a waste. Not to mention all of them promised to debut together.
Sorry, Gray, Gajeel, Loke. I might not be able to debut with you guys. But, but, I'll make it up!
He just absolutely, one hundred percent, cannot allow that to happen.
Damn that economics professor with the heavy-ass accent.
Damn him for sleeping through all the lectures.
Damn it all!
The final is over. The score has already been posted. All he has to do is click one little button and find out what he got. Just that one button...!
His eyes wide, twitching, finger on the mouse shaking like a leaf, heart pounding so hard he feels like he's going to faint –
He clicks.
95/100.
95.
95.
95.
"YYYEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS, I PASSED!"
"NATSU, DAMN, SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
"Geez, Natsu, don't be so damn annoying in the damn library, damn it!"
"Hahaha!"
"At least someone's happy with his score."
Natsu can't contain himself, laughing and grinning, feeling utter relief and happy with the world. He throws his arms up and spins around in the swivel chair, mouth split open in all smiles, beaming brightly. "I did it! I got a 95 in econ! I'm the best, woot woot! All right, I'm getting fired up!"
"Jesus, get this guy outta here! Haha!"
"Natsu, damn it, we still have finals to take, so shut up!"
He ignores the complaints, grinning.
"Phew, I thought I wasn't gonna make it, though," he says. Oh well! No use contemplating. He got what he got, and damn if he doesn't deserve what he got!
Oh wait. He should let Laxus know about it too. The guy did help him. Even though he's kind of a huge asshole, he's got his good points, too. Now that he thinks about it, Laxus turned out to be only one who actually helped him with economics in the end; all of his close friends were either useless or didn't have time. So, he owes Laxus, right? Big time.
I suppose I could do something in return. I promised him that I'd do it, anyway. Prepare for the best steak ever, by Sir Master Chef Natsu Dragoneel!
He smiles to himself, leaving the library.
He arrives at the dorm twenty minutes later, running up the stairs. There's just something about doing so well on the exam and the ability to boast it to his arrogant, psycho roommate that makes him feel elated. He just can't wait to tell Laxus the good news, blast it in his face that he is (or can be) top dog. And maybe, if he can get there early, he can get the steaks done and ready before his roommate gets here.
He checks his wristwatch. 5:45 PM. Laxus usually finishes up around six, so he should have enough time.
Natsu whistles, reaching into his sling bag for the passkey. He stops, sharp ears hearing strange noises coming from his dorm room.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Is Laxus back already? He's early.
Oh well. He swipes the pass and opens the door.
"Oi, Laxus! Listen, I have good news – " he breaks off in mid-sentence, freezing. His brown eyes widen in shock, mouth open, hand on the doorknob turning white as his grip tightens, his other hand dropping the bag of raw beef he bought at the convenience store.
The sight of Laxus and some girl together, indecently naked, in the living room, having sex shouldn't be a surprise anymore. He should be used to it by now. He should be used to it, but it doesn't mean he wants to see it.
Rule number one, don't interfere with each other's lives.
He doesn't want to see it, but Laxus has a knack for ignoring etiquette, common sense, and other people's feelings. So he always ends up seeing it, anyway.
Yet, normally, he pushes it aside, throws the disgust in the corner, and carries on. If a girl comes over to the dorm to see Laxus, and they end up doing what it is they always end up doing – sex – he just puts on headphones and ignore them. He's gotten used to it. It's a new girl every week. Sometimes every two days. He's not surprised when they come over, but it doesn't mean he's not bothered by their indecency.
Today, for some reason, he just can't go in and ignore them. He's been looking forward to getting acknowledgment from Laxus, maybe even celebrating it with him. He's been looking forward to it to a point that he doesn't even question why.
Why the hell is he looking forward to seeing the pervert-asshole?
"Oh, you. You're back early."
"Laxus! Why didn't you tell me your roommate comes back around this time?!"
"Shut up, slut. Why the hell should I bother with that? He doesn't care anyway."
"You're such a jerk. But - hehe, that's why you're so hot."
"Stop bitching and continue. I'm pent up."
He can't explain why his chest stings.
Bang!
He slams the door shut and quickly leaves, speeding down the staircase. His footsteps drum and echo down the stone steps.
He can't explain what this feeling is. More accurately, he doesn't know what this feeling is.
All he knows is that –
"Shit. I'm really pissed right now."
Rori's Corner: New development?! Thanks for reading and reviewing and and faving and alerting. Errthang. I love it all.
