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“There’s only one bed,” Laxus grunted as he entered the inn room. He shouldn’t have been surprised, the owner had told them there was only one room left and that they would stay tight. But they weren’t just going to stay tight there, they weren’t going to sleep at all. And Laxus had no intention of sleeping on the floor or sharing a bed with anyone. Certainly not with people he barely knew and had teamed up with just because they weren’t as unbearable as other guildmates.
Evergreen snorted loudly. “And an old sofa,” she observed. Then she walked up to the mattress and sat on it. “Well, the bed is mine.”
Laxus raised an eyebrow. He wanted to fight but he bit his tongue, he couldn’t argue right away with the only decent guys in the guild. Although technically their first meeting had already been a fight.
“Here we go again,” Bickslow said rolling his eyes as Freed walked over to the sofa and sat on it, testing it as if he had to check if it was holding up enough. Laxus crossed his arms in annoyance, trying to find a way to get a seat either in the bed or in the sofa. Well, those three had created a team for him, so technically he could decide, right? They would do what he wanted without complaining.
“You could take the sofa, it’s not very comfortable but better than sleeping on the floor,” Freed said suddenly and Laxus frowned realizing he was talking to him. Laxus didn’t want to complain, but if Evergreen could be alone on the bed...
“And we’ll stay on the bed!” Bickslow said cheerfully.
“What? No!” Evergreen exclaimed. “I will not sleep with you again.”
“The right side is mine,” Freed said.
“Ok, I take the left one,” Bickslow nodded.
“We will not share a bed,” Evergreen repeated stubbornly.
“We always do, I don’t see what the problem is,” Freed retorted as he rested his coat and sword on a side chair.
“The problem is that you snore and Bickslow moves around all the time,” the girl complained. “I won’t be able to sleep with you two in my bed.”
“You are the one who clings like a koala to me or him while you sleep,” Bickslow smiled in amusement.
Evergreen blushed slightly. “I don’t do it”.
“You do, and let me tell you it’s annoying, it’s already hot enough,” Freed said.
“I don’t, I just get crushed against you because Bickslow moves in his sleep,” Evergreen justified.
“Just say you’re in need of hugs,” Bickslow grinned.
“I don’t need hugs!” Evergreen exclaimed, banging the fan on Bickslow’s helmet.
Laxus looked at them a bit confused, wondering if they really had already slept together. Wasn’t that strange? And Evergreen was complaining just for the fun of it or did it really bother her sleeping with those two? Judging by how she gave up shortly after, Laxus speculated that she didn’t mind that much. Maybe she was just embarrassed to admit something like that to him. Not that he was interested in it, it just confused him a little.
“At least take a shower! And if you start snoring, I’ll throw you out of bed” Evergreen said.
“I don’t snore” Freed growled.
“You do”.
“Who goes to the shower first?” Bickslow asked.
“Me,” Evergreen immediately said jumping to her feet without even thinking about it. Laxus wanted to complain about that too, but the conversation the three wizards had had on the bed still confused him. Eventually he shrugged and decided to settle down on the sofa, the important thing was that he didn’t have to share a bed with one of those three guys.
***
“So, this is your home?” Laxus asked entering the living room, looking around curiously. He knew that the Raijinshuu had recently taken a house together thanks to the money they had saved from the missions, but he had never been there yet. Not that he was curious, not at all! He only went there because Bickslow insisted on showing him the house. There was really no other reason.
“Yes, nice right? The books belong to Freed, but Ever arranged them by saying that sorting them by color is aesthetically more beautiful. They’re still fighting over it,” Bickslow said, showing him a huge shelf full of books. Laxus didn’t know what to say, instead he watched the plants filling the living room. Bickslow must have noticed because he explained that too.
“The plants are Ever’s, Freed enjoys moving them to the least suitable places only to take revenge for what she did with his books. That’s why that is dry, it shouldn’t be in the sun,” the boy said, pointing to a vase with flowers that were actually drying out.
Laxus frowned, really Freed and Evergreen were so childish? He would never have said that.
“Well, it’s... nice,” Laxus muttered just to say something.
“Of course it is, and those knick-knacks are all mine,” Bickslow showed, pointing to some decorative objects. Laxus nodded as he looked around the room, then Bickslow dragged him into the kitchen, showing him the small table and the mess of pots that were still to be washed in the sink.
“It would’ve been my turn to wash, but since Freed hid my painting somewhere, I’m leaving them there to annoy him,” Bickslow explained.
Laxus frowned. “You draw?”
“Of course! I colored all the wooden ornaments and my dolls. And I did that painting” he said, pointing to one on the kitchen table. It was actually very beautiful, it was a landscape of a stormy sea, and the colors were spectacular. Laxus had never known that Bickslow could paint.
“Come on, I’ll show you the rooms,” Bickslow said dragging him out and Laxus followed. Bickslow first showed him his room, which was actually very tidy, contrary to what Laxus had expected, full of tubes of paint and with a painting in progress. Evergreen’s room was filled with plants, and had a huge mirror and some fairy-shaped knick-knacks. Freed’s, on the other hand, had a desk with so many books and papers on it that it looked untidy, even if it really wasn’t.
“He complains that there aren’t enough shelves, but he keeps buying books”. Bickslow muttered as he closed the door. “Oh, here’s the bathroom,” he said, throwing open the door.
Laxus, a little awkward, just leaned out because it seemed that someone was inside. In fact, Evergreen was standing in front of the mirror and was putting on makeup. In addition, he could hear the water from the shower flowing.
“Don’t open the door like that, or you will have my makeup ruined. Hi Laxus,” the girl said.
“I showed him the house,” Bickslow smiled.
“You like it?” Evergreen asked.
“Um, yes, it’s nice,” Laxus muttered.
“Did you also show him my room?”
“I showed him all the rooms”.
The water in the shower stopped.
“I hope you washed the pots before showing him the kitchen!” Freed’s voice exclaimed and Laxus blushed slightly as he saw a silhouette behind the shower curtain. What the hell? Did he shower while Evergreen was there? And did Bickslow come in so casual?
“No, I won’t wash them until you get the painting back,” Bickslow said crossing his arms over his chest. Laxus heard Freed mutter something, probably swear words.
“In any case, get out of here, I’m washing!” Freed yelled when he finished muttering.
“I brush my teeth and go out,” Bickslow said.
“Not now, I’m putting on make-up,” Evergreen complained.
“Just get out of here, I was there first,” Freed growled.
“Lock yourself next time”.
“I swear to God Bickslow, I petrify you if you get close to me while I do my makeup.”
“That lipstick looks great on you, Ever,” Bickslow said.
Evergreen smiled and looked the mirror, gazing at herself satisfied. “Thanks, it’s new, I bought it yesterday. I don’t know whether to put some lip gloss or not”.
Bickslow took the toothbrush without Evergreen noticing it and winked at Laxus, who continued to look at them confused in silence.
“I wouldn’t put it, your lips are already beautiful like this,” Bickslow said starting to brush his teeth.
“You’re right,” Evergreen nodded, looking pleased. At that moment Freed peeked out from behind the curtain.
“Can you get out of here?” he growled. Then his gaze fell on Laxus and he widened his eyes blushing like mad. “What the fuck Bickslow, why are you letting Laxus into the bathroom?”
“What’s the problem?” he asked confused with the toothbrush in his mouth. “It’s Laxus, he’s now part of the group.”
“Get the fuck out!” Freed barked, drawing runes in the air. Laxus hurried out before he was hit by anything. Shortly thereafter he saw Evergreen and Bickslow teleport in midair in the middle of the living room, both of them fell to the ground. Bickslow with the toothbrush still in the mouth and Evergreen with a strip of lipstick on her cheek.
“I will kill you!” Evergreen yelled.
Bickslow instead chuckled as Laxus watched them upset. The only thing he could think about was that he was happy not to be part of that group.
***
Laxus smiled smugly as he walked towards the Raijinshuu house. The three boys had just returned from a mission and judging by the rumors they were called the strongest team in Fairy Tail. They had destroyed an entire dark guild and everyone was surprised. Laxus could only be proud of it, as they were his bodyguard.
He went to the house of the three friends and knocked.
“Whoever it is, throw them out,” Laxus heard Evergreen say thanks to his hearing and he frowned.
“It’s Laxus”.
“Come in!” Bickslow yelled loudly. Laxus raised an eyebrow wondering why they didn’t come to open the door but shrugged: those three were weird. When he walked into the living room, he quickly realized why they hadn’t come to the door.
Evergreen was sitting comfortably on the sofa, and she was brushing and braiding Freed’s hair. Meanwhile Freed was sitting on the carpet and busy putting the nail polish on Bickslow’s nails, so he was unable to move. Laxus smiled slightly, almost not believing that those three were the same people who had taken out a dark guild.
“Hey!” Evergreen exclaimed.
“Did you hear how we carried out the mission?” Freed immediately asked instead.
“Yes,” Laxus said, smiling a little. “You’ve been great”.
All three lit up their faces.
“Of course we were baby, did you have any doubts?”
“Anyway, those wizards were really weak,” Evergreen commented forcing Freed to bow his head.
“It was actually boring,” Freed considered. “Some even called themselves S-class wizards, I wonder based on what.”
Bickslow and Evergreen nodded in agreement and Laxus approached them observing them a bit curious. He sat down on the sofa and asked about the mission, letting them brag about their abilities. The three deserved it and it was fun to listen to them anyway. Laxus didn’t wonder since when he got along well with those three guys, instead he observed the way Freed painstakingly put black polish on Bickslow’s nails.
“Uh, do you want too?” Bickslow asked suddenly, perhaps noticing his gaze.
“Huh? No,” Laxus said quickly.
“I mean if you want me to do something to you. Ever and Freed are already busy but I can do something else for you. Hair, beard, makeup, tattoo,” he shrugged.
Laxus frowned. “Tattoo?”
“Yes, I do tattoos. I made one myself on my calf, I show you”.
“Now don’t show him anything, because I won’t put your nail polish back on if you ruin it,” Freed clarified right away.
“Quiet baby, it’s dry”.
“It is not,” Freed said moving forward to grab his friend’s wrists. At that gesture Evergreen tugged Freed’s hair back.
“Stay still or you’ll ruin everything.”
“Don’t pull, it hurts,” Freed snapped.
“You’re the one who moves”.
“Because Bickslow doesn’t stand still.”
“Anyway, I can get you a tattoo, Laxus”
“Not now, wait for the nail polish to dry.” Freed said. Bickslow snorted and rolled his eyes as Laxus smiled slightly. Having a tattoo would have been cool.
***
Laxus felt the mattress move and opened his eyes sleepily, unable to hold back a yawn. He looked around and it took him a few seconds to realize he wasn’t lying alone on the bed. He frowned in confusion as he watched the three boys. Bickslow was lying next to him and was drawing something on a pad of paper, Freed was sitting cross-legged on the end of the bed and was reading a book, while Evergreen was resting his feet on Laxus’ legs applying the nail polish.
“What are you doing in my room?” he grunted as he pulled the headphones off his ears.
Freed looked up from the book. “Actually, I should ask this question since it’s my room”.
Laxus frowned but a glance around was enough to understand that this was indeed Freed’s room. Had he fallen asleep on Freed’s bed? How the hell had that happened? And why had no one woken him up and instead they were all on the same mattress? Laxus also wondered how they all could fit, since Freed’s bed wasn’t that big.
“Oh”.
“If you have to move, tell me. I don’t want to ruin the nail polish,” Evergreen said closing the bottle of pink nail polish and Laxus wrinkled his nose at the annoying smell. He didn’t move, however, so as not to annoy her, although he wondered when the girl took that liberty with him.
“What time is it?” he asked sleepily, running a hand through his hair.
“Five, you can sleep more if you want, we have nothing to do,” Freed said, looking down at the book again. Laxus nodded briefly, even though he didn’t think he’d be able to sleep with the three of them in the same bed. Maybe it was a stupid thought to have since he had just done it.
“Can I have a headset?” Bickslow asked and Laxus hesitated. He was about to tell him that he wasn’t giving his headphones to anyone but when he saw what the friend was drawing he stopped. Bickslow was drawing a picture of the four of them, all sitting together on the roof of a house. Laxus had seen Bickslow drawings before but he had never seen him draw anything on them.
“Uh, ok,” he said handing him a headset. Bickslow happily took it and began to move his head as he continued to draw. Laxus shifted his gaze back to the ceiling, thoughtful of how he had ended up in that situation. Then he felt the mattress move again.
“Does it bother you if I put myself like this?” Freed asked stretching his legs and tucking his feet under Laxus’ thighs. Laxus wanted to tell him that yes, it bothered him a lot, but in reality, it wasn’t true. To tell the truth, he didn’t even mind that Evergreen was using his legs to rest her nail polish or whatever it was. Not even sharing headphones with Bickslow was annoying.
“Do what you want,” he muttered. Then he closed his eyes and buried his head back on the pillow.
He didn’t even understand why being so close to those three weirdos was pleasant, but he wasn’t going to think about it too much. Two minutes later he was already in the dream world.