Rocco could vaguely hear Laxus mumbling something like, "Hehe… heart racing… heart racing, huh?" But since it was so muffled and hard to make out, he quickly gave up on trying to listen.
"Ahem… It's a little troublesome when you two flirting so openly in front of me," the Crown Prince muttered while looking away awkwardly.
"Wha—! W-We're not flirting!" Rocco squeaked, his face instantly turning bright red.
He squirmed out of Laxus's embrace, turning away with a pout.
It's not like he was embarrassed or anything.
Nope.
Definitely not…
"Oh, Rocco, you've got mud on your cheek. It's about to get in your eye," Laxus suddenly pointed out from behind him.
"Wha—! P-Please wipe it off!" Rocco yelped. "I don't want mud in my eye!"
He spun around in a panic, squeezing his eyes shut and tilting his face up in silent pleading.