A request from Tumblr by Dragonshost. For those who don't know (or forgot like me), Daphne was a Dark mage who kidnapped Natsu to power her artificial dragon. It was an anime only filler arc. I don't know, I thought her character could fit.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.
Mard sighed lightly as he turned the waitress away for the fourth (or was it fifth?) time. He could feel the pitying stares burning into his skin from the other customers in the restaurant. Of all days for Daphne to get sucked into her work...
He had no idea why he put up with the conceited researcher when all she cared about was her work. He did admit that what she was looking into was interesting, analyzing extinct species with the goal of replicating their DNA, but they truly had little in common. Their meeting had been purely accidental - they had been at the same lecture on ancient literature (translation of ancient works was one of his specialties as a Professor of English Literature and one of her hobbies). They met for coffee afterwards and, as they say, the rest was history.
After three years together, and an endless string of excuses and apologies for missed dates, parties, anniversaries, Mard was seriously considering breaking up with Daphne. Of course, he could not discuss this desire with his friends, since the ones he would choose to speak to were Tempesta and Kyouka and they had made it quite clear from the beginning that they hated her.
With a final sigh, Mard prepared to leave. He had tried calling Daphne, but her phone was either dead or turned off. As he was about to stand, a stunning white-haired woman slid into the seat opposite him.
"Sorry I'm so late, sweetie, traffic is crazy right now," she loudly proclaimed for the entire restaurant to hear. She winked at him before leaning in and whispering, "I'm Mira. Just go with it, okay? Whoever didn't bother to show up is an arrogant bitch."
Mard felt a small amount of surprise at hearing Daphne being described that way, but had to concede it was a very apt description. So he stayed and enjoyed a meal with Mira who he found was a bartender at a pub down the street and that this was her night off. She also did modelling on the side, and it turned out that she was friends with some of his students, Lucy Heartfilia, Levy McGarden, and Sting Eucliffe. He learned about her two younger siblings, Elfman and Lisanna, and she listened to him complain about Jackal. All in all, it was a wonderful evening.
Mard insisted on paying and the two left together. Once the two had left the restaurant, Mard turned and smiled at Mira. "Thank you for sitting down."
She laughed before beaming at him. "It was nothing! I couldn't let someone as attractive as you get stood up." Her face quickly turned bright red with a blush. "Um, I-I mean - "
"It's fine, Mira," Mard interrupted, an amused smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "So, when is your next night off?"
"Next night off?" Mira repeated, looking confused. "Next Tuesday. Why?"
"For our next date, of course. I'll pick you up from Fairy Tail at seven." With a small wave goodbye, he turned and walked away, leaving behind a dumbfounded Mira.
