Aliens (Fraxus AU)

XI.

The phone, hanging just outside the staff room, was ringing. Not very many were still at the thai. Alzack had left long ago, Evergreen's shift had ended hours before closing time as she was supposed to see her parents, and not a single customer had come into the restaurant in over thirty minutes. It was time to close. Laxus was no longer wearing his apron, had the same tired look on his face as always, and stretched his hand out to open the door.

"Laxus!" Bisca said happily from the couch. "Can you pick up the phone, please? Tell them we're closed for today."

Laxus sighed, left hand on the doorknob. He looked at the clock hanging behind him. "My shift is over, Bisca."

"I know, and so is mine."

"Why do I have to take the call?"

"Well excuse me, a woman's shoes are not to take lightly. These boots take me so long to put on you will have walked three blocks before I'm out if I take it."

Laxus walked to the phone and took a deep breath before picking it up.

"Thunder God thai, I'm sorry to tell you we've closed for the night. If you desperately need food at this hour you should go to McDonald's."

"Laxus?" Sting's loud, cheerful voice could probably be heard miles away. "Me and Rogue were wondering if you wanted to join us for a glass of wine and a movie? We got bored with studying and Rogue wants me to keep my hands off of him tonight."

Laxus could imagine the grin on Sting's face, the wink he sent Rogue, Rogue's hitting Sting in the arm with his magazine.

"You shouldn't call my work phone for that."

"You weren't answering your cell!"

"I was working."

"You're always working. Take the rest of the night off. Where's the kid?"

Laxus was starting to get truly irritated. "That's literally none of your business. I don't have time. Anyway, we're closed for the night. Have a nice day."

He hung up the phone and sighed.

When Laxus got to the staff room, Bisca was no longer there.

After locking the doors he didn't go home. There wouldn't be anyone there, anyway, so why go? Instead, he walked through all of the city, to the edge of the forest, into the forest, continuing until he barely knew where he was anymore, but intuition told him it was the right direction.

He felt a water drop on his shoulder. He was only wearing a thin cotton jacket over his t-shirt, he didn't own a proper fall jacket. He started walking faster, but the fall rain caught up to him.

When he finally saw the ship, his clothes were drenched.

Freed had been waiting. He didn't know whether Laxus would come over tonight or not. But he was hoping. Considering they could only stay for two more days, he didn't want to waste time.

When he let Laxus in, the blond looked to frightening to talk to. He looked mad- at what, Freed didn't know. His was wet from the rain, and like a dog he shook his head to get the water out.

Freed didn't know what to do. There was just a single lamp lighting up the hallway, and it was making the water on Laxus face glisten. It was breathtaking, like stars covering his skin.

"Laxus, are you cold?"

"No, I'm just fucking wet. What jerk invented fall?"

"Are you hungry?"

Laxus stomach growled. "I'll manage."

"There's food in the dining room, you're just in time for dinner."