Catch the Thunder

One Day More

"One Day More" is the title of the first act finale in Les Misérables. Using song titles is legal under copyright law.

Whenever Freed was not home, Laxus pulled out the theater tickets and looked at the date. He did a little prying online. Sure enough, that day was Freed's birthday.

How could they have been dating for this long, and he did not know Freed's birthday?

For that matter, did Freed know his? They never bothered to mention things like that.

Freed had a calendar hanging up in the kitchen. Although he kept times and dates in his phone, for some reason he really liked also using a paper calendar. He was meticulous about writing everything in it, and Laxus had teased him about this little old-fashion quirk. He looked at the calendar and flipped to the next month. Sure enough, Freed was so thorough, he even wrote in a reminder for his own birthday.

Laxus flipped through the calendar to see what future dates he had written in. There, he saw it.

Our anniversary.

Laxus smiled to himself. He remembered.

"I'll get you something good that day," he muttered to himself.

Yet he realized, Freed had not written in his birthday as well. Considering how fastidious he was with jotting in dates, that had to mean Freed truly did not know. Laxus grabbed up the pencil Freed used, hanging from the calendar by the string, and wrote in his birthday. At least then, Freed would not feel bad about having to ask when it was.

At his work, Freed was already getting presents on Friday, since his coworkers would not see him on his actual birthday on Sunday. He even got a gift basket delivered to his desk from his father. It was rather thoughtful of him, especially since his father included a bottle of Blue Label so Laxus would also have something. Freed knew his father was not petty enough to flirt with Laxus through gifts disguised as a birthday present for his own son, plus the basket contained Freed's favorite gin. The card attached said, 'Dear son, I'll be out of town on business on your birthday, so please have some drinks with your boyfriend on me. My apologies, and enjoy your special day. Proudly, your father.'

Oh well. It wasn't the first time he missed a birthday due to work.

When Freed came home with gifts loaded in his arms, Laxus rose from the couch looking confused.

"Ya win a company lottery or something?" he asked as he took some of the more precariously held gifts.

"No, it's ... um ... actually, it's my birthday on Sunday."

"Is that so?" he said, sounding mildly astonished. "Damn, I better get you something."

Freed flinched as he realized he never brought it up. "You didn't know, did you?"

"You never told me," he pointed out as he set the presents aside and emptied the rest of Freed's arms.

Freed dropped his head as Laxus set the gifts on the dining table. Of course Laxus didn't know! How could he have? Freed just did not want to make a big deal about it, but now he felt bad for not forewarning Laxus about such a big event.

Awkwardly, he muttered, "I don't want you to feel like you have to go out and get something. I just want a quiet day at home, just us, no parties, no cake, no trips to Europe. Just us."

Laxus jolted. "The fuck? Trips to Europe?"

He nodded with a slightly rolling of his eyes in annoyance. "Every other year since I turned twelve."