Stuck in Runes

Chapter 51

Freed POV
The night before

I let my eyes linger on the page in my hands.
Love...
I love her...
That's the first time I'v said it...
well wrote it...
Laxus told me I loved her back in the cave but I... I haven't said it...
Damn...
I lay back on my bed letting my hands holding the paper fall to my chest.
Sophia
The girl I love...

Present time
I stand on the balcony at the guild having left Laxus alone in my apparent to sleep off his hangover. I know he can drink and all, and I trust him, but sometimes worry that sending him home with Mira isn't a great idea. Not that I think he will do anything to her. But I know drunk he can be stubborn... and last time he went with her he tried to take her the wrong way and they walked in circles until he passed out and she ended up ditching him to go home. Witch I thought was fair. So I tend to take him if it's really bad, or If i need to talk, because he knows I won't let him give directions drunk or sober so when he comes with me it's not as much a fuss.

Though it was still early the guild was busy. People heading out on one day jobs, or coming back in from night ones. My table still sat empty, but that's not a huge surprise, Evergreen rarely if ever gets up early, and Bixlow always runs in the morning unless we have to leave early for a job, so he will still be a bit.
I walk down to the bar seeing Lassana working away.

"Good Morning, is your sister not well?" I ask politely as she finishes makes an order of drinks.

"Oh hello freed! No she is fine! She sent me a message this morning saying she was taking Sophia out shopping, they should be in by lunch I think!" She smile warmly sliding me a cup of tea, seeing as that's all I really drink in the morning.

"Ah, ok th- HuRg" I choke on my tea as a pair of arms rap tightly around my torso.

"Frreeeeedy Boy!" The ever-so familiar voice greets.

"Bixlow. Short run?" I ask setting my cup down on the bar.

"Yah! I wanted to try and beat you here, but it didn't work, I thought you might have slept in, most do when they have a nightcap." He says, nudging me.

"Nightcap! Nightcap!" His dolls repeat, drawing the attention of anyone in earshot.

"I did NOT have a night cap! I took laxus to my apartment to sober him up!" I growl, causing Bixlow to frown.

"Dammit, I owe Ever thirty bucks thanks a lot." He whines.

I shrug his response away and walk over to our table, Bixlow following a few minutes later with a stack of alternating pancakes and ham slices.

"So how was the mission? I heard it went well?" He asks mouth full, spraying saliva as he speaks.

"It was fine, only sophia got an injury but it was taken care of." I Explain also adding in bits and pieces of what happened, not indicating my feelings for the girl he forced me to spend time with.

"Ok ya ya, you saved people, put the shit in jail, ok whatever. How is sophia?" Bixlow asks propping his elbows on the table and head on his fists in a childish manner.

"I told you the injury she sustained was taken care of. She is fine." I say plainly.

"Oh good, good. You fixed her heart brake." He says nodding thoughtfully.

"I used her healing cloth, and addressed a gash in her leg." I snap back.

"Then what's all the shit I keep hearing about a hickey!?" He pouts, crossing his arms like a child.

"Hickey! Hickey!" The dolls chant, I feel my face flush, what hickey? Did someone else touch her? I didn't...

Shit

The bruise.

"I see I hit a nerve." Bixlow smirks seeing my heated face.

"N-no! I w-wou-" I start defensively, holding up my hands.

"It was a bruise Bixlow. My cousin isn't that kind of person." A small voice growls, followed by Bixlow being hit in the back of the head with a newspaper.

Wendy!

"Ow! Ok! Sorry, I get it! I was just screwing with Freed!" He whimpers to the tiny blue haired girl behind him. She glares at him as if to say that changes nothing to me, watch it. Then skips off to the bar.

I finally let go of the laugh I had been holding in. "That's what you get for relying on rumors!" I taunt the large man who joins my laughter.

"Fine fine. I get it, but like really dude. You gonna make a move? Or wait and loose her to another guy? She's kinda getting a fan club..." he asks. I guess my confused look must have given my lack of understanding away."Oh you didn't hear? Well ya... you've been away..." He grumbles stroking his chin.

"Get on with it mate." I roll my eyes at him.

"Sorry! Ya. So after she took down that guy her first day, a few of the guys around the guild were fighting over who could ask her out. And then it kind just formed into this weird group of guys who are betting on who she will go out with." He chuckles.

"Like hell they are! She is too good for any of the guys in this guild!" I growl standing up my hands pounding on the table, Bixlow leans back in surprise.

"Calm down dude. Just ask her out before they do." Bixlow says putting his hand on my shoulder to get me to sit down.

"No, like I said no one is good enough for her... not even me... weather or not I love her I could never..." I panic coving me mouth, realizing what I said. A stupid smirk glides onto Bixlow's lips.

"I got you man." He says chuckling triumphantly.

"You mean the guys fighting was a lie to make me talk?!" I growl.

"Oh ya, no that's real, you need to seduce her or something so she doesn't date one of her weird fan boys." He says bluntly. "But don't worry buddy I can do it for you!" He grins looking around, I assume for her.

"No! You can NOT tell her. I will kill you." I say as seriously as possible.

"Oooooo-kayyyy... what if I heeelllp?" I asks cautiously.

"No, I will do it on my own." I sigh.

I don't have a plan. I don't even know if I will be able to. But... if I do it... I want to do it on my own...

{{ Some of y'all may have notice the absolutely stunning new cover we have. On an earlier chapter the lovely damnallgoodnamesgone commented and offered to make it for me and I'm so happy they did! They are an amazing editor, and have other fantastic work you should go check out!
I am absolutely in love with it and I hope y'all are too!
Please go show them some of the love 💕
~<3 El}}