Chapter Text
"Fuck."
Laxus thought to himself as he sat with the thunder legion in all of their respected and mighty glory. Freed went on and on about how Laxus single handedly led their team to victory in a mission the others were too weak to complete on their own. Of course, their knight in shining armour was there to protect them. He always was.
But right now, as he was trapped with his own boredom, he wouldn't be able to protect them quick enough.
"There's nothing to do around here.." he mumbled out loud, not really caring if the others heard. Evergreen looked up from her book. "How about we-"
"No."
Evergreen huffed, throwing her book down on the table. "You never let me finish!" Laxus looked over at her. "I just did. And I don't feel like working again right now, I need a stress reliever, not a stress maker." She rolled her eyes and opened her book up again.
"Would you like me to make you some tea, Laxus? I know you don't fancy it, but I could possibly make it to your liking." Freed asked.
Laxus put a hand up and shook his head. "Thanks but I'll pass. It'll make me tired, and that's not what I'm aiming for right now." Freed nodded, sipping his own tea that had been made by Mirajane.
Laxus looked over to Bixlow, waiting for him to interfere. Bixlow realized the awaiting stare, and cleared his throat. "How about we chug till we're brain dead." Bixlow smirked, licking his lips.
Laxus rubbed his temples in disappointment of his teammates. "If I wanted to have a hangover in the morning I would've already been at the bar." Bixlow chuckled. "It was worth a shot."
Laxus looked around the guild. Team Natsu was out on a mission, so Natsu and Gray were left to argue and wrestle on their trip rather than in the guild.
Cana drinking as usual and talking with Gramps.
Levy, Jet, and Droy had been sitting at their known table, as Levy was trying out small spells just for fun. Pantherlily sat on the table, not minding to be the test subject for once.
Laxus glanced towards the bar, seeing Mirajane cleaning a few glasses like usual. He scanned the seats, soon finding someone at one of the very last seats, next to Levy's table. He glanced up, looking for their eyes, when he saw ruby red orbs watching Levy's movements. They were sharp, almost the same as a threatened cat.
"..'S that Gajeel?"
The other three he sat with looked up, looking for the said boy. At once all of their eyes landed on him. Evergreen nodded slowly. "Um- yes that appears to be him. Why?" Laxus blinked. "I'm not sure..I just never realized his eyes.."
Bixlow chuckled. "Someone looks like they've got a crush!~" He sang, as his babies decided to chant "Crush! Crush! Crush!"
"A very odd one at that.." Evergreen stated. Freed put a hand on his chin in thought. "Interesting crush, I would put it."
Laxus grimaced. "Knock it off, that's not what I meant." Bixlow shrugged.
Laxus turned his attention back to the red eyed man, who's eyes happened to wander over to his own. Laxus felt his face heat up in the slightest, as he knew his cheekbones had been tinted pink. He wasn't expecting to be caught staring, and he assumed Gajeel wasn't either, as his face seemed to slightly blush as well.
He tore his gaze away from the other man, looking back at his table. He glanced down, thinking to himself. "What the fuck was that? The lightning god doesn't get embarrassed. Let alone turn away first." He rubbed his temples once again, but his mind was soon fogged with the sight of the eyes again.
He knew his mind was playing tricks on him, it had to be. He'd looked at Gajeel many times, and not once did he appear as..intriguing as he did now. Maybe it was because he was calm and settled down, not smirking like a feral animal or a cheeky bastard. Although he still was one.
Laxus slowly turned back towards Gajeel, seeing his focus was on his hair. He pulled at it slowly, as though it was a bit of a stress reliever. God, did he look unintentionally cute. Laxus sighed, glaring in confusion. "Why does he look like that? He never looks like that!" He thought to himself.
Laxus looked at his eyes again, the light shining over them, emitting a beautiful glow. Laxus put a hand in his hair, as his brain came up with the most despicable idea it could ponder.
Go flirt with him why don't ya?
What the absolute hell? Why would he do that? There was no way he was doing that. He couldn't possibly be that bored.
Evergreen nudged him to get his attention. He looked over at her. "Are you sure you don't want to go crush skulls like a badass?" He sighed, and sat up. "Actually.. I could use it right now..so sure." The others cheered, and stood up to find a job request. They chose not to mention their curiosity on his sudden change in decision.
Once they found one, they brought it over to Laxus to look at. "Take out a few bad guys for a cash grab..sounds good enough to me." They nodded and started to pack up their things from the table.
Laxus thought to himself as he put his fur jacket on. "I mean..it wouldn't hurt to just smile here and there at him..what's the worst that could happen?" He was tapped on the shoulder by Freed, signalling that it was time to leave.
He stood from his seat, and started to walk towards the door with the Thunder Legion by his sides. He happened to turn back to the red eyed beauty, who was also looking at him. He sighed inaudibly, found the red eyes, and winked, smirking.
"...I can not believe I just did that.." He thought to himself.
Gajeel's face flushed red, and his eyes widened. His mouth was slightly hung open in surprise. Gajeel looked so lovestruck it was difficult to keep looking at him. He bit his lip and turned away.
Laxus' face flushed red as well, as he quickly turned away in embarrassment. "Did I ju- did he..are my eyes fucking with me right now??" He thought, as he walked through the door quicker than expected. He speed walked away as his blush slowly died down.
He hadn't realized he left his entire team behind. Too embarrassed to walk back, he made his way to the train station. "They can catch up but there's no way in hell I'm walking back in there right now."
-
Soon after his disappearance, his team caught up with him in the line to be seated on the train. They huffed and puffed in relief, making Laxus think they had either been panicking, running, or both.
"Where the hell did you run off to?!" Evergreen yelled. Laxus glanced at the moving line.
"The train station obviously." He said blankly.
Evergreen groaned.
"Laxus..if I may request...could you wait for us next time, maybe?" Freed asked, trying to catch his breath.
Laxus sighed. "Alright, I'll wait for you next time. Now stop whining and start moving your ass' on this train." He growled, stepping onto the train that would lead them right outside of Magnolia for their mission.
The others sighed and complied.
Once they were all seated, Bixlow decided to pop the question that had been swimming in the thoughts of Evergreen and Freed.
"What had you in such a rush back there?"
Laxus shut his eyes gently. He exhaled, attempting to remember- oh, Gajeel. He remembered the way he winked at him, the way Gajeel looked so flustered, so surprised, those ruby orbs piercing through his veins warming his heart, giving him goosebumps…
*snap snap snap*
Laxus opened his eyes, to the sound of Evergreen snapping her fingers in front of his face.
"Uh uh mister, you're not going to sleep without explaining why you had me running in these heels!" She glared, though he could tell she wasn't entirely pissed.
Freed cleared his throat to interrupt. "Sorry to interrupt, but Laxus, your face is a bit..red. Are you feeling okay?"
Laxus' eyes widened slightly. He bit his lip, shaking his head. "I'm fine..just thinking about stuff."
Bixlow searched for his eyes, hoping to find the truth out of them.
Laxus avoided eye contact, looking out the window of the train. Bix sighed, looking out the window as well.
Evergreen grunted, rummaging through her bag and pulling out a magazine. Freed closed his eyes, crossing his arms.
Laxus sighed, putting his head against the window. "It was nothing, wasn't anything to get mentally worked up about. Or emotionally. Or physically. At all for fuck sake." He watched as the station disappeared behind the upcoming tunnel.
He thought back to how flustered and shocked Gajeel seemed, the utter confusion he read like a picture book. He smiled the slightest bit.
"Maybe this could actually be fun."