Catch the Thunder

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Audio drama: http://chirb.it/fpc8C9

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

[REDACTED DUE TO AO3 RULES] Well, sadly, if future readers want to know what that announcement was, the best I can do is point you to my website, http://shadowstrider.net. It's super exciting news for me, but I guess I am not allowed to mention it here.

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Evergreen cut into her eggs. "So, a week ago, you and Laxus had a ... domestic dispute?"

Freed smiled sadly as he tried to eat. "Yeah, something like that. That's why I'm staying here."

It did not feel like a week had passed. It felt like years! Every day passed so slowly. When he first arrived at the Justine mansion, everyone in his family was gone. His father was away on business, Evergreen was living on campus at the university, Bickslow was still in rehab, and his mother now had a place of her own in Paris. He had the massive mansion to himself, which was probably best: no nosy prying. The staff did not question the young master's sudden return home. He could brood without disturbances.

The previous night, Evergreen arrived and fell asleep almost immediately with hardly a hello. Although Freed was upset that his solitude was over, he at least had time to straighten out his emotions. He was ready for a little socializing at the breakfast table.

"I guess it happens in every relationship," she said lightly, trying to make it sound like this was not something for her brother to worry about too much. "Everyone has a fight now and then. Even Elfman and I have had our little spats. At least you have a place to come home to."

"Yeah." He smiled to himself, glad his family would always be there for him. "So, what are you doing here? What about college?"

"Classes let out for the summer weeks ago. I was in Cancun, but that got to be so boring. All those parties, they're the same over and over. I didn't feel like staying in the dorm, and I missed Nana's cooking." She eagerly dug into the food.

Freed chuckled. "You need to learn how to cook for yourself someday."

"Ugh! Whatever!"

The butler stepped in just then. "Young master, miss, I should inform you that the master has arrived. He shall be joining you for breakfast."

"Father's home already?" asked Freed. "I wonder if the negotiation was a bust."

"We'll know if he comes in fuming and drinking coffee with bourbon, or reading the news and sipping tea."

Freed laughed. They really had figured out their parents' idiosyncrasies over the years.

A few minutes later, the dining room doors opened, and Llewellyn marched in with a tablet in his hand.

"Good morning, son," he said formally.

"Morning, Father. Was the trip well?"

He hummed, then looked up at a maid. "Darjeeling and milk," he ordered.

Evergreen shielded her mouth and whispered over to Freed, "He got the deal."

Llewellyn took a seat at the head of the long table. "Bas said you've been home for a week," he noted, not taking his eyes off the report he was reading.

"Yes. I hope it's not an inconvenience."

"Nonsense. Children should come home as frequently as life allows it."

A plate was set down in front of Llewellyn with a cup of tea. He continued to read some news on his tablet, and Freed tried to put a better effort into eating his breakfast.