Chapter Text
Leafre
“Wow, you have a lot of stuff cramped in this one room.” Phantom remarked as he looked around the study. He had wanted to see where Freud had lived before they had met. Turns out despite how studious the Dragon Master was, that didn’t necessarily mean he was always the most organized person he has ever known.
“I liked things a certain way.” Freud brushed off. “Besides I was more obsessed with experimentation then I was on cleanliness all those years ago.” The mage began sifting through the old instruments and books left across the floor. He hadn’t been here in a while, and when he had left it, Freud had gone to make the spirit pact with Afrien. After that, time led him away from this home for a while.
Phantom looked at the many titles of the books as Freud put them back on the bookshelf. Alchemic Constructs, Ways of Draconic Magic, Arcane Research 101, and a bunch of other boring things. Nothing interesting as far as he could see. A much more captivating sight was just watching Freud sort through the piles of books he had teleported into a stack.
He remembered mocking Freud the first time he saw the mage do this. Phantom had no concept of organizing anything himself. Even before he became the Master Thief he is today, he never understood why people had this obsession with making everything neat. Not even when Freud tried to tell him why he liked doing this, did he understand.
The Master Thief had servants to do that sort of thing nowadays. So even doing it himself was an unfamiliar sensation. But watching Freud do it now, made it feel completely different.
The light that sparkles in Freud’s eyes when he recognizes a book that he enjoyed, or that little pout he has before tossing on the shelf. Without saying a word, Phantom can imagine what his friend’s life was like in his younger years. What he liked, what he disliked, and how much wonder he must have felt when he discovered something new.
It’s what made him stop teasing the Dragon Master for enjoying sorting things.
A few moments later, Freud had finished clearing the cluttered room. The books all properly put on the shelf, any old artifacts put safely away, all magical equipment fixed, cleaned, and put on their correct space on the desk.
Freud wiped his brows, “Ah, much better.” Looking at the straightened workshop, memories of the past flooded his mind. Of discovering the history of the Onyx Dragons, learning the basics of magic, seeing different reactions between ingredients. A simpler time before he had all this responsibility. Not that he couldn’t handle the work he did now, but this was a nice remainder of what he did before.
It also reminded him of something he had to do later, but it could wait for now.
“I’m surprised you didn’t peek into the other rooms while I was cleaning.” Freud looked back at Phantom.
“Oh? Was there something special or hidden you wanted me to swipe?” The thief winked.
“No, but I could show you what’s inside if you want.” He approached one of the study’s doors. Phantom followed behind, curious to see inside.
What he saw was actually completely different compared to the study.
It was a simple bedroom with an open window. Nothing was out of order, nothing littering the ground. But what was on the still made bed was what had him truly shocked.
A plush doll of a dragon sitting perfectly against the pillow.
“Y-you liked dragons that much? Even when you were young?” Phantom asked, flabbergasted.
Freud had always seemed like the wise type that never even spent time on hobbies. The study outside proved that, even if it was a mess when they got here. Just imagining Freud as a kid holding that doll was difficult.
The Dragon Master must have loved it a lot because the stitching on it was a little worn down.
Freud nodded seriously and picked up the slightly worn doll, “I love dragons, aren’t plushies the most innocent form of that love?”
Phantom just shrugged in surrender. He had never even held a stuffed bear as a kid, though he didn’t want to remember those days.
A yawn escaped Freud and he sat on the bed, patted a spot next to him. “Want to join me for a nap?”
The request surprised the Master Thief for a second, though he didn’t hesitate for too long. Quickly joining Freud under the sheets.
They had shared personal space before but usually neither had verbally asked the other for it. Phantom recalled the times when Freud had fallen asleep on his shoulder after too much work. Or vice versa when Freud told him some kind of calming story after he had been stressing too much.
This was completely out of Phantom’s expectations and yet he fully went along with it.
As soon as the pair settled in the bed, Phantom was caught off guard by Freud’s expression. His crystal blue eyes looked back at him with an intense emotion that he had never seen before. Causing him to blush at the Dragon Master.
This moment was the culmination of all the time they had spent together over the last couple months. Phantom getting used to Freud’s little quirks, and Freud showing a godly amount of patience for Phantom’s constant questions. No one else in Phantom’s life had both intrigued and confused him at the same time.
And this was the time for him to reveal just how important he was to him.
Please don’t laugh in my face…
Phantom stuttered out softly,
“I-I love you Freud.”
Freud’s eyes widened in surprise, immediately scaring Phantom.
Oh no. Maybe he doesn’t feel the sa-
Before Phantom could try to say anything else, Freud grabbed the other man and kissed him deeply.
The action causing Phantom to freeze before returning the gesture, putting his arms around the Dragon Master.
They stayed like that for what felt like eternity for Phantom, until finally, Freud slowly pulled away. Leaving Phantom gasping for air, Freud smiled gently at him.
“I love you too Phantom.”
His words made Phantom smile widely and the two embraced each other once more. Till the pair finally fell asleep in each other’s arms. The dragon doll in between them.
While an unseen shadow watched through the window…