"Exactly! Good job, Rocco! Here's a chocolate as a reward!"
The cookies were long gone, so Rocco casually pushed his now-empty plate aside.
Laxus, noticing this, plucked a piece of chocolate from the remaining stash and held it up to his mouth.
Rocco didn't need to be fed, of course.
He was perfectly capable of eating on his own.
Still… rather than argue, he simply took the chocolate and popped it into his mouth.
Mmm.
Delicious.
"But you see," Laxus continued, his voice practically dripping with mischief, "Sylas and I had a brilliant idea after listening to you talk just now."
Something about his tone made Rocco pause.
He looked up and tilted his head slightly in curiosity.
Laxus, wearing the brightest of grins, dramatically spread his arms and announced.
"Behold! The ultimate, foolproof, heart-melting 'Super Adorable Rocco Crybaby Appeal Strategy'!"
"...What."
