"Yes," Hisui nodded, glancing out the window at the frosty street beyond. Mira was hanging Christmas lights in the window of her shop. "Coming tomorrow?" Hisui frowned, "What time? … Perfect. I'll be here bright and early… thanks! Bye!"
The shop bell jangled as she set the phone back on the receiver, and the familiar form of her police officer stepped in. He had on his uniform and fur coat. His nose was pink from the cold.
"Good morning," he smiled, setting a little paper bag with pastries into her hand. His voice sounded funny, like his nose was stuffy.
"Good morning, Detective Dreyar," Hisui teased, and then she frowned, "Do you have a cold?"
"No," he groaned, "This time of year—Christmastime that is—I always get allergies. My nose is just stuffy, same as always."
"Then I will kiss you," Hisui laughed, leaning across the counter to gently kiss his lips.
"What?" Laxus asked, teasing, "You don't want to get sick?!" His voice did sound funny with such a stuffy nose.
"I have a big delivery to the shop tomorrow—and then I have to sell all the new flowers. It's Christmastime! I can't get sick!"
"What kind of flowers?" Laxus frowned.
"A big order of poinsettias."
"Poinsettias?" Laxus mused, "Are those the red ones that are everywhere during the holidays?"
"Yeah," Hisui nodded, "There are different colors, of course, but red is the most popular. It's always a very important flower for any shop to have during the holiday season! Everyone wants poinsettias for Christmas."
"That'll be good for your shop then," Laxus smiled.
"It should be."
"I need to head out… work…" He groaned, standing up straight, "I'll call you tonight?"
"Yes, please!" She beamed.
"Talk to you then!" He turned, heading towards the door.
"Hey!" Hisui huffed, "Where are you going?" She reached out to catch his arm, and rell him back in towards the counter, grabbing his collar and pulling him close.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he teased, "Did you want a goodbye kiss?"
"Something like that," she grinned, pulling him closer by his collar.
"'Something like that,'" he scoffed, before titling his head and kissing her tenderly.
The bells on the door jangled. "Ohoho!"
"Mira!" Hisui jerked away form the kiss, still clutching Laxus's collar. "What are you doing here?!"
"You asked me to come help hang lights!" Mira said. "You two are so cute!" She let out a sigh, "It was meant to be."
"Mira!" Hisui groaned.
"I'm going to be late," Laxus whispered, drawing the flower shop owner's eyes back to him. She let out a sigh.
"One more kiss?"
"I did say you could kiss me whenever you want."
She laughed, pressing another kiss to the corner of his mouth.
The moment he slipped out, Mira let out a squeal from where she was standing—already on a ladder by Hisui's window—almost knocking over a pot of monkshood which Hisui kept on the top shelf. "You two are perfect!" She gasped.
"What about you and Freed?" Hisui rolled her eyes.
"Tsk," Mira scoffed, "What about me and Freed? There's nothing to tell."
⁂
"Stay," Mira whispered. Freed's eyes were wide, his cheeks flushed from either the cold or the way she was smiling at him. She loved to make the police officer all flustered. "Just for coffee."
The snow was beginning to dust the sidewalk, and cling to Freed's green hair. "Alright," he nodded. "I'll stay." Mira led him into the shop, which was now fully decorated for the holidays. She brewed a bit of coffee, and they talked for a while, side-by-side on one of the benches by the wall.
"It's late," Mira sighed, "I know you have work tomorrow. Besides, look at that outside… if you stay much longer you may be stuck." The snow was blanketing the streets and the sidewalks.
Freed nodded sensibly. "I'm usually in bed by now. You probably already know that I like to stick to a strict routine."
"Someday we should change that," She smiled, teaching out to brush a stray strand of his hair behind his ear.
"Change my routine?" Freed asked, looking rather dubious.
"No. Change you sticking to your routine."
"Wh—" Freed blinked, "What?"
"Sometimes," Mira murmured, "It's fun to be spontaneous. Like, for example…" she pointed above them to where green leaves hung across the ceiling. "You know what that means, right?"
"Mistletoe…" Freed whispered, his whole face turning bright red.
Mira laughed, reaching out to take his hand. "She we follow through with the tradition—"
Freed's warm hand cupped her cheek, serious blue eyes studying her face—ending on her lips. And then he leane forward until his forehead rested against hers, their noses brushing. She clutched his shoulder, fingers brushing through his hair.
"Kiss me," she demanded, her voice low.
A smirk twitched at the corner of his mouth, "Ask nicely," he growled.
She was surprised, but she wouldn't ask again. She leaned forward, kissing him hard, fingers running through his hair, pulling him close, until she was pressed up against him. He deepend the kiss, and she let him lead, hungry for more of him. He pulled away, pressing heavy kisses against her jaw, down her neck. She let out a soft breath, "Freed…" fingers tightening in his hair as he kissed lower. "Freed…" And then she laughed, and he paused, sitting up, his eyes full of stars.
"What?"
"I got you," she giggled, still out of breath. His touch made her almost dizzy with delight, maybe she should have let him continue…
"What do you mean?" He frowned.
"It's not mistletoe."
"W h a t."
"It's… holly and cedar," she laughed, dropping her head against his shoulder. "Isn't it fun to do something spontaneous every once in a while?"
He didn't respond for one moment, catching his breath, and then he kissed her temple, lips lingering there for a moment. "Yes…" he whispered, "I guess it does… but…"
"…you have work."
"Yes."
"That's okay, I do too!" She laughed a little, sitting up, and reaching out to fix his disheveled hair.
"Goodnight, Mira," he whispered, her name sounding so good on his lips.
"Goodnight."
⁂
Laxus stood outside the shop as Hisui unlocked the door for him. It was freezing out, and almost already dark in the streets—pouring snow once more. Things were going to be slow the next morning before the plows came through.
"I'm so sorry!" Hisui groaned as she swung the door open. Her sleeves were rolled up, her muscles taught. He found his eyes following her biceps. Get a hold of yourself. "I've been trying to figure out what to do with all these poinsettias!"
Laxus stepped into the shop, as Hisui rushed back over to the counter, setting down the particularly large potted plant. The shop was practically overflowing with the classic, red Christmas flower.
"Wow," Laxus said, his eyes watering—stupid allergies!—"when you said 'big order'…"
"They sent me way too many!" Hisui gasped, exasperated. "Way, way too many! I don't know what I'll do with them all!"
He was trying to listen, but something was wrong. His eyes watering, and he suddenly felt dizzy—breathless. He took in a shaky breath. His lungs hurt. Can't… He turned, reaching for the door. What the hell is…?!
"Laxus?" Hisui said, "Are you alright?" She sounded so far away, like everything was underwater. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears—too fast.
"I— I can't—" Can't breathe!
He stumbled, coughing, his lungs burning, eyes watering, and then he fell. Breathe… breathe… but his lungs wouldn't listen.
"Laxus!" Something crashed to the floor, shattering. And then footsteps. "Laxus?! Y-yes! Please send an ambulance, my boyfriend—"
Everything was fading. Breathe! The flowershop, the dozens of red flowers, and Hisui… fading away… away…