It was a common misconception that to be in Fairy Tail meant to be involved in the drunken brawls, property destruction, and overall delinquent behavior, but that was simply not the case. Many members of the guild left themselves out of the debauchery, at least, more often than not.
Max, Laki, Vijeeter, Levy, Nab, Reedus, Mira, Laxus, Juvia, Lucy, Lisanna and plenty more were among that number. Many of those such people were prominent members; in fact, if added together, their prominence might prove to rival those of the trouble makers; they certainly outnumbered them.
Truly, the attention that came with their destructive nakama more often than not made many of them uncomfortable. Mira, Laxus and the like might be fine, but for Nab and Reedus, it was tolerated, at best.
They were nonetheless loved by the guild for their reserve --and they loved their guild in return-- they just preferred to watch the "children" in much the same way your great aunt watches you at family get-togethers. At least, that was how Nab chose to think of it. Really, he wasn't always sure what exactly Reedus was thinking, but hey, that's what you get when dating one of those artistic types.
They had always been the ones in the background, and while Reedus liked to use the opportunities this presented to capture memories onto his canvas, Nab preferred to watch everyone around him. The almost predatory aspect of it appealed to him, and, his guildmates were better than the soap-operas on LacrimaVision!
Really, it was incredible just how often they forget that Nab was there. He and Reedus saw it all, and while his artistic boyfriend might not really get the appeal of his people watching, he had no complaints. He enjoyed their time spent just sitting together in their little back corner.
'Though', Reedus thought, 'it certainly doesn't hurt that Nab's enthusiasm in relating all he'd seen that day is so adorable.' It was one of the few times Nab really relaxed, really let down his barriers.
As an animal seith mage, Nab had to constantly compromise, balancing his wishes with those of his spirits. Unlike Bickslow, whose spirits were both human and stored outside his body, Nab used animal spirits, and they stayed inside of him.
It was for this reason that he was so cautious when choosing jobs. While he always felt the push of his spirits, it was so much stronger while using his magic. Normally he could force himself to ignore the animals, though it took its toll to do so; however, when he called upon their power, they were the ones who took over. If both human and spirit weren't perfectly aligned in their purpose, it could cause disaster.
Reedus understood this, or, at least, he tried to. He knew he didn't really get what it was like to have a bunch of extra souls crammed inside his skull, all with different thoughts and agendas, but he at least tried. That was one of the best parts of their relationship: their willingness to try to understand, and their understanding that it was just that, trying.
So when they got home that night after a long day at the guild and all Nab wanted to do was present the fruits of his "hunt" for information to his mate, Reedus simply sat down at the table to listen.
Wasting no time, Nab immediately began, a specific smug smile on his face that meant whatever gossip he'd gathered today was especially good. Despite himself, Reedus couldn't help but be intrigued. Nab had been following after something specific for weeks, arriving before the guild even opened and coming home only after everyone else had left. While this sort of behaviour wasn't unheard of, this was the first time it had reached this level of intensity and the first time it had lasted this long.
"Mira's been sniffing around Max, his ability to hide his pining has apparently grown dull."
Had he been anyone else, having never experienced this same scenario before, Reedus would have been disappointed with Nab's words. The two of them had known about Max's little crush for years, that was old news, and anything regarding the Straus siblings was run of the mill as the takeover magic they utilised made it even easier for Nab to get a read on their body language. However, Reedus was not every one else, and Fairy Tail's resident artist knew the game being played right now. His lover would build the anticipation until Reedus could no longer stand it, playing with Reedus until he was almost ready to beg, until he simply had to know.
Now Reedus was no needy gossip hound, but he was an artist, and a hopeless romantic. What exactly this had to do with getting him to such a point of desperation he had no clue, but his love insisted that it was the cause. Reedus personally thought that it was simply Nab; he'd always been able to understand Reedus in ways no one else ever had.
"It also seems Ichiya's reached Erza's limit; she's filed for a restraining order. She must think it's likely to go through, as she's definitely relaxing. On the other hand, Master's had no such luck: he's ended up locking himself in his office and putting up barriers to keep everyone out. Mira and Laxus are quite worried about him."
Well, that was even less satisfying than the bit before it. Not only did everyone in the guild already know about the unlucky duo of stalkees, but it wasn't even romantic in nature! He gave Nab a look that clearly told him exactly how unimpressed he was, to which the seith mage responded with a slow blink.
"Is something wrong?"
Reedus simply held his look, not breaking eye contact with the man in front of him whose smile now held a distinct hint of a smirk. He knew Nab knew exactly what he wanted.
"Well, if you insist… are you sure you're fine?"
Reedus let out a little huff, "Wee."
"Alright then…where was I?"
Nab couldn't help but give a internal chuckle at Reedus's narrowed eyes. Really, he just didn't get how other people had a hard time understanding Reedus! Sure he didn't talk much, but he was so expressive, and not just with his paints. 'Really, he might as well be an open canvas for how easy he is to read.' He let out another internal laugh. 'Hehe, canvas.'
Another tiny huff brought Nab back to the present. "Well, Erza's just returned from the magic council where she was filing a-"
The huff his mate let out this time was louder, letting Nab know just how he felt about his teasing.
"Oh I see, have I already said that? Silly me. Ok, so I told you about Erza, how about Master? Max and Mira?"'Oh he's definitely wound up now,' Nab thought, 'still, I bet I can push him even further.'
A trickle of trepidation filtered through the haze of exasperation Reedus had descended into at the predatory glint entering in his amore's eyes and the smirk now firmly etched on his face.
"Let's see then...Mira and Max, Erza, Master, who else? Freed has been limping lately; it seems those two have made up. What else was there again? I just can't seem to remember!"
Again, Reedus felt a surge of loving irritation. He loved Nab, and he wouldn't be Nab if he didn't do this, by must he string him along so?'At least those two are happy again, I wouldn't want the disaster at Tenroe to ruin what they have. Also' he admitted ruefully to himself, 'it would be a shame to split up that color palette, purple and green!'
The sound of a throat clearing pulled him off the path of risque images his mind was traveling down at the thought of all of the lovely pictures to be made with such a pallet. He always did like painting the natural form.
"Oh, I remember one! Lisanna's relationship advice service seems to be going great, though I'd say she might be in need of it herself based on the way she's still following Juvia around."
'He has a point,' Reedus thought 'except that I'm fairly certain that personal interest isn't so much a factor as wanting to help her. Lisanna always did like helping others.' While Nab was the unchallenged king of reading people, he didn't always understand what he read. Between his spirits coloring his perceptions and his growing up in a very different culture, people as a whole weren't always the easiest for him to understand. "All the more reason to stick to the back", he'd say when Reedus expressed his concern over keeping his lover back from mingling with his guild and learning, "everything I want is already here."
"She's not the only who needs to rethink her actions. If Elfman keeps up his current pace, he's going to end up trapped in one of Erza's 'interventions.' Not that it would be uncalled for. I don't think I've seen him totally sober in a week! Cana's thrilled, of course; she's totally taken him under her wing, her 'new apprentice.'"
Reedus made a mental note to stay clear; Ezra's interventions were things of terror. Everyone in the guild -- nay, everyone who knew her -- knew how god-awful stubborn she was. And when she was doing something to supposedly "help" her newest victim, err, benefactor, it became all the worse. Granted, sometimes it was helpful, but, as Natsu could tell you, that didn't really make up for the method.
"Hmm… do you know, Darling? Was there anything else?"
Instantly, all the anticipation and frustration returned with a vengeance. Nab had distracted him from being distracted, and damn if it hadn't worked!
"Well… I guess there's... but, you couldn't possibly care about that. I mean really it's not that big of a deal..."
The look Reedus sent his way was nothing short of venomous, that is, if the one describing it had never seen anything scarier than a venomous animal. One that had seen something that succeeded in inducing more fear than the aforementioned animal would undoubtedly describe that. Afterall, it was a very scary look, one promising pain, retribution, agony--'That's it, I'm hiding his war paints and replacing them with color-changing dye! We'll see how he likes it when his face is covered in colors that would make Asuka jealous. I'm thinking a nice shade of rose would compliment his skin tone nicely.'
--Agony.
"I mean, I guess I can tell you, you know, if you really want to know. Do you?"
"Wee."
"Are you sure? I mean, it's really not that important, It's really no big deal… Well, actually, Mira might care."
'Come on Reedus, If I've ignored all your glares thus far: why would I suddenly stop now? You can do better than that.' Reedus, for his part, didn't let up on the look. Sure, it hadn't worked so far, but it wasn't hurting, and might even be wearing him down! A few moments past, the two neither breaking eye contact nor expression, fake earnesty and almost-anger unwavering.
'Ok, it's totally not wearing him down.' If anything only made his eyes narrow further, how dare he remain unintimidated by him!
"Lucy might care too, Erza, certainly Natsu! Oh Juvia will definitely have something to say, and Jet and Droy will be ecstatic! Levy will want to know, probably Max too-" here he cut himself off, making a show of considering something for a moment, ticking off a list on his fingers whilst muttering names under his breath. Finishing with his little show, he nodded. "Yup, basically the whole guild!"
Reedus was on the edge of his seat; what could it be that would interest such a wide variety of people?! Whilst Reedus was squirming, a slow look of realisation was passing over Nab's features, the ruse belied only by the smirk dancing in his eyes.
"Wait, if everyone in the guild would want to know...and, you're part of the guild…That would mean -- Reedus, do you want to know?"
Had it been anyone but Nab, and had he been any less aware that the animal-seith mage would not go forward till he got his desired response, he would have remained silent. Unfortunately, long years of experience had taught him his lesson, and so, with a huff that would send any nearby pigs running for the nearest brick building, he replied.
"Wee."
'Did he just smirk?! Oh I can't believe that man, we'll see how he likes the couch for a few nights, see if you're smirking then!' Reedus ignored the fact that there was no way he would make it a few nights, not to mention that he highly doubted Nab would allow himself the banishment in the first place. It was better to allow the self-delusion.
Across the room, Nab had abandoned the pretense, a full blown smirk washing over his features. 'Oh, all this buildup is going to lead to a great time for both of us tonight!"
"Really?" he said, phony doubt still clouding his tone, while the smug look on his face only widened further.
"Wee!"
"Well you see -- wait, is this an invasion of privacy?!? I couldn't do that! But, well, I mean, it's not like I stalked them or anything: anyone with eyes can read the sexual tension between those two! Really, if Gray and Geejel didn't want people finding out they like each other, they should keep their psudo-dates somewhere more private, don't you think Reedus? I mean, as long as I'm only telling people what I've noticed, it should be fine. Don't you think, Reedus? I can tell you, right?"
Reedus opened his mouth, a full, angry, actual tirade that covered exactly what he thought of all this nonsense preparing to spew itself out of his lips, when just what Nab had said caught up to him. He froze, lips still parted. "Did he just say… Gray and Gajeel?!? OH MY MAVIS!!!' He squealed, a real, full-blown sequel passing his lips. 'The palette, the palette!!! Oh my, all those cool shades, they'll contrast so nicely with the passion. I can see it, the height contrast is perfect! Oh, what position should I paint them in first!?'
Nab couldn't help laughing at Reedus' expression: this was priceless! Reedus stood, so deep into lala land he didn't notice boyfriend's amusement at his sake -- which was admittedly likely for that best -- and ran off, intent on locking himself in his studio until each and every one of the risque images floating through his mind was captured on canvas.
As the painter began to run off, Nab quickly stopped laughing.
"Hey, wait! Where are you going?!" So deep into his mind, Reedus didn't respond, completely unable to hear him. "Wait, what about-" The words never had a chance to escape his mouth as the sound of the studio door slamming and locking cut him off. Nab stared blankly in the direction Reedus had run, trying to figure out how his plan to get Reedus in bed that night, which had been going so well, had ended in this way.
"But, but-Gahh!"
--
Marie Raven drooped, the hammer falling out of her hands as she placed the last nail into the unusually difficult ship before her."Finally, "she murmured, exhausted. The various crew around could only nod in agreement. Their ship master had been so very busy lately with both the new ship and everything else she hadn't even had the time to shoot cannons at any of them recently, and they were starting to have an overpopulation issue in the barracks." I think, I think I'm ready for bed... "The crew stared in shock as the woman before them collapsed unceremoniously, asleep before she even hit the dock.