Summary: "You're rarer than a can of dandelion and burdock and those other girls are just post-mix lemonade (Artic Monkeys)." Mirajane Strauss, starting her freshman year of college, works at the Fairy Tail bar and grill to provide for her younger siblings. When her abusive father unexpectedly shows up, she literally bumps into bad boy Laxus Dreyar, who steps in and takes up the role of her guardian and protector. He just didn't expect to fall for her. An AU oneshot series. Mirajane x Laxus.
A/N: I don't own FT. I just write fanfiction, so enjoy this! Feedback would be appreciated.
High Above Me
"She's blood, flesh, and bone, no tucks or silicone
She's touch, smell, sight, taste, and sound
But somehow I can't believe that anything should happen"
-High Above Me, Tal Bachman
Prologue
The first thing she did when she turned 18 was pack her bags and rent out the small apartment just down the block from the bar where she worked. Yes, she had been terrified, but she cared more for her two younger siblings than she cared about her own fears.
"I'm leaving and I'm taking Elfman and Lisanna with me." She declared, standing in the doorway with two bags filled with everything she owned.
Their abusive father had yelled and raged and shouted threats, but one look from Elfman, who was big enough to challenge his authority, and all their father did was stand silently in the doorway, angry eyes watching as the three of them left.
When the door slammed shut behind them, the three of them breathed for the first time, feeling the fear melt off their bodies and mingle with the fresh air outside.
There were a couple miles between their old house and the new apartment, and Mirajane made it this way. They didn't have a car, but none of the siblings minded the walk.
The new apartment was already furnished, and it was small but comfortable for the three siblings. There was enough room to invite friends to come over.
Mirajane was somewhat a combination of an older sister and maternal figure to her siblings. So by the time the siblings had been living together for a couple months without hearing a word from their father, she had a couple rules set for them.
One, if they were going to get jobs (which they insisted on doing to help pay for utilities and groceries), they had to work together so they could look out for each other. And two, be careful.
"Don't worry sis, we'll be fine. We're only working 4 hours! We'll pick you up after work!" Lisanna waved their older sister away cheerfully.
Mirajane smiled. "All right you two. There's leftovers in the fridge and you know where the snacks and drinks are. I'm off now. Bye!"
The siblings waved each other off, and as soon as the door closed, Elfman and Lisanna waited for a couple moments until they could no longer hear their older sister's footsteps.
"You think she's gone now?" Lisanna whispered loudly into the silence.
"I don't hear anything." Her older brother dutifully responded.
The youngest Strauss smiled. "Let's get started on the surprise dinner!"
With a matching grin, Elfman pulled out the ingredients they had bought and hidden, and the two siblings cheerfully worked together to prepare a wonderful dinner for their sister.
Mirajane had been working for Makarov since she was 12. Of course, she wasn't officially hired until she was 16, but she had managed to talk the old man into paying her under the table for her assistance.
In the beginning, she didn't say anything, but she guessed he sensed her desperation, so he would give her an allowance of sorts, paying her on a weekly basis in exchange for her help with stocking shelves. Slowly she learned how to help out in the kitchen, and she eventually learned her way around the bar. The only thing she didn't do was mix drinks, although she could serve alcohol.
It was because of his kindness that she managed to save up enough money to afford the apartment. She scrimped and scraped every spare penny she could, and her siblings contributed what little they could, and she finally went to the landlady a couple months before her 18th birthday and put a down payment on it, and after that she spent every spare moment furnishing the place so she could bring her siblings with her.
Makarov was like the father and grandfather and eccentric uncle she never had, all rolled up in one.
He was the one she eventually divulged her home situation to, and he was the one to offer her refuge at the bar when things got particularly bad, for her and her siblings. He was the first person she showed her university acceptance letter to, and he was the one to cut her hours short or tell her to rest when she overworked herself. He also chased away customers that were too touchy feely or bothering her when she was working, muttering, "That's my granddaughter you're hitting on, you perverts!"
It wasn't her dream job, but Mirajane really couldn't deny that she enjoyed working for Makarov at the Fairy Tail bar and grill.
And it was with this thought that put her in a cheerful mood as she walked to work for her afternoon shift.
"Another beer Mira!" A customer called from the bar.
"Coming!" Mirajane called, heading to the tap to fill up a new glass and sliding it his way.
"Thanks!" The man called, taking a sip of the drink.
"Hey Mira, could you take those empty boxes and toss them outside?" One of the cooks called from the kitchen.
"Sure thing!" She responded, sweeping up the boxes and heading out the side entrance.
"I thought I saw you in here. So is this how you make your living, spreading your legs for those men?" A familiar voice sneered from beside her.
Mirajane dropped the boxes in surprise, looking up to see her father.
"You-"
"I suppose I should see for myself what it is." He mused, a malicious smirk making its way to his face.
"No, that's not-" She felt nauseous. She couldn't believe this was really happening, but who was she kidding. She knew he would find her sooner or later, and she knew that she would rather he find her or her siblings. At least Lisanna had Elfman to watch out for her.
"I should have done this a long time ago." He growled, advancing towards her.
She miscalculated her step back and he lashed out, punching her across the face. She felt her stomach drop as her vision went spotty for a second and her eyes teared up.
"You're sick." She whispered, stepping back and trying to creating as much distance from her father as she could. And then she took another step and hit a wall.
She absently noted that it didn't feel like a wall though. There was a soft sort of hardness to it. She reached a hand back to feel her way along the wall and was startled when large warm fingers wrapped around her wrist in a firm but gentle grip. She froze and slowly looked back.
Her eyes met dark blue ones.
"A-are you working with him?" She whispered, feeling sick.
"I don't know what you're talking about." He responded roughly, but he tugged her behind him, facing her father. "Hey man, it's obvious that she's not interested, so back off."
Her father smiled. "She's my runaway daughter. I've come to bring her home. I've been so worried."
"He's lying." Mirajane trembled, one hand unconsciously fisting the side of his trench coat as she looked up at the dark blond of his hair.
The stranger didn't acknowledge her words, but he reached one arm back to push her a little further behind him. "How about you walk away now and we won't have any problems?" He suggested to her father.
Without another word, her father growled and charged forward, fists out and swinging.
The stranger stood calmly until her father was just feet away, and then he suddenly moved so fast Mirajane missed it.
It was over in seconds.
She wasn't sure what happened, but one second the stranger was standing there and the next her father was unconscious on the floor.
Mirajane stood in silence for a moment and then the stranger turned around.
"You're just a bundle of trouble, aren'tcha princess?" He finally commented, giving her a look over. Under the dim light, she could make out handsome features despite the jagged scar that ran down the right side of his face.
She blushed under the intensity of his stare. "M-my name is Mirajane Strauss. And thank you." She responded softly.
"Laxus Dreyar. Now what were you doing in an alley at this time of night?"
"I work at Fairy Tail."
A flicker of surprise flashed through his eyes at her admission, and then a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Really now."
"Yes."
"Well then let's get you back in there."
With that, he grabbed her wrist again and gently tugged her to his side in a somewhat protective movement, guiding her back into the bar.
At their entrance, the bar fell silent.
Mirajane looked around, confused. Was it really so surprising for someone to show up?
And then the bar burst into cheers.
"LAXUS IS BACK!"
"Laxus!"
"Dreyar!"
"LAXUSSSSS!"
Mirajane turned to the man beside her, confused. Who was he?
Laxus turned to her, ignoring the attention and asked quietly, "Where's the old man?"
Makarov?
"He's in his office. Do you know where it is?" She timidly responded.
He looked at her in amusement. "I daresay I do. Unless my gramps changed his office recently."
At that admission, Mirajane's eyes widened.
Gramps… then Laxus was the grandson that Makarov would fondly tell her amusing anecdotes about!
Seeing that she finally caught on, he gently tugged on some of her hair, drawing her attention to him. "I'm going to see him. Don't let any of these idiots give you trouble."
And then he raised his voice for the first time, his words loud and clear. "Let me know if any of these idiots give you trouble, all right?"
The bar fell silent as everyone heard his words.
Realizing that he was waiting for a verbal response, she jerkily nodded. "A-all right."
He gave her a quick smile, let go of her hair, and turned and went upstairs to Makarov's office, leaving behind a stunned bar.
He had just arrived back in Magnolia City after years, and he had stopped in the alley to take a call when the side door abruptly opened to reveal the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He could immediately tell that she was younger than him, although not by much. Her long white hair fell down her back in soft waves and when she turned he could see innocently sparkling blue eyes the color of the ocean.
When she was approached by the stranger and backed into him, he was inwardly amused. He would've liked to see her reaction to inadvertently feeling him up, but he was more concerned for her, because he could sense nothing but malicious intent from the approaching stranger. Before he realized it, he had gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her behind him. He felt her grab onto the edge of his coat, which he didn't mind, but her fearful whispering bothered him. After that, it really didn't take much effort to take down the man.
"You're just a bundle of trouble, aren'tcha princess?" He finally commented, giving her a look over to make sure she wasn't hurt or injured. He immediately recognized the symbol of the uniform she was wearing. So she worked at Fairy Tail, huh?
She blushed and responded softly, "M-my name is Mirajane Strauss. And thank you."
After she confirmed that she did work for his grandpa, he carefully escorted her back in.
The bar fell silent as the regular patrons immediately recognized them (especially him) and burst into a round of greetings.
Seeing her confusion, he decided to divulge that Makarov was his grandfather. When her eyes widened at the revelation, he gently tugged on some of her hair, drawing her attention to him. "I'm going to see him. Don't let any of these idiots give you trouble."
When she stared at him in stunned silence, he raised his voice and repeated himself for everyone to hear. "Let me know if any of these idiots give you trouble, all right?"
The bar fell silent as everyone heard his words.
He patiently looked at her until she realized that he was waiting for a verbal response and she jerkily nodded. "A-all right."
He gave her a quick smile, let go of her hair, and turned and went upstairs to his grandpa's office, leaving behind a completely silent bar that burst into sound again when he closed the door.
"So you're back." Makarov stated blandly.
Instead of responding, he said, "How old is she?"
Makarov looked at him, a glint of protectiveness appearing in his eye. "Why do you want to know?"
That was a good question, Laxus had to admit. He wasn't quite sure why he even really cared, but for some reason he wanted to know more about her.
"Just do." He muttered, and then he looked at his grandfather. Makarov never did anything without a reason, and to hire her… "You know about her family life."
"That's why I hired her in the first place." His grandfather responded, and then glared at him. "She's like the granddaughter I always wanted. You will leave her alone, Laxus. She already has enough on her plate. She deserves someone who will treat her like she deserves to be treated."
Laxus gave his grandfather a look. "I just asked how old she was."
"She turned 18 a few months ago. And don't think I don't know about your womanizing ways. Stay away from her." Makarov gritted.
Laxus looked at his grandfather for a moment and finally said, "Don't always listen to what you hear, old man. I never go after something I don't intend to keep."
A couple hours later, the bells on the doors chimed, signaling the arrival of customers.
"Hello, and welcome to Fairy Tail!" Mirajane chirped, breaking out into a smile as she saw the familiar forms of her younger siblings.
"We're here to pick you up silly!" Lisanna laughed.
Mirajane looked at the clock. "Well you guys are early! I still have an hour, so why don't you two sit down and I'll bring you drinks and a snack?"
Elfman laughed. "That wouldn't be very manly to have you serve us, sis. Just water would be nice."
"Ah Mira, why don't you take off?" A voice called out.
The siblings turned to look at the figure on the stairs.
Makarov wasn't very tall, but he was a regal old man who carried himself in a dignified manner most of the time except for when his mentees were involved.
"But there's still an hour-" She started, but she was interrupted.
"And I'm willing to bet that you didn't take your dinner break."
She turned to the new voice and immediately recognized Laxus, who was leaning against the wall next to the stairs, smirking in amusement.
"Well?" Makarov asked, latching onto the opening his grandson gave him.
"Um."
Lisanna laughed. "I'm guessing that's a no, sis."
"Mirajane, take the rest of the day and the weekend off. Get some rest, spend your paycheck, watch movies, do girly things. Don't spend all your time studying. Live your life while you're still young." Makarov stated, coming down the stairs and patting her hand in a grandfatherly manner.
At that, she smiled softly and bent down and hugged him in gratitude. "All right, thank you."
When she stood, she turned to look at Laxus, unsure of what to do. "And you too."
"Stay outta trouble, dollface. I can't always be there to save you." He responded, waving a hand over his head as he walked off.
"Surprise!" Her siblings shouted gleefully as Lisanna flipped the light switch on to reveal the dinner that they had prepared.
Mirajane gasped in delight, turning to hug her and then Elfman. "Oh you two…"
They had made a simple dinner of lasagna and salad, but it was the thought that counted, and Mirajane was overjoyed at the thought her siblings put into the simple meal.
"Let's dig in!"
"So who was that guy?" Lisanna asked slyly in between bites of salad.
"Laxus?" Mirajane asked absently.
"Yeah, we've never seen him before! He's hot!" Lisanna exclaimed, causing Elfman to choke on his bite of lasagna.
"Well…" Mirajane gave her siblings a carefully edited version of what happened in the ally, and when she was done, Lisanna looked worried and Elfman looked angry.
"It's just like our father to do such an unmanly thing to a lady!" Her brother yelled in frustration.
"But it's okay, Laxus came to the rescue and I'll take better care of myself next time, I promise!" Mirajane tried to appease him, but he just looked upset. "You shouldn't have to take better care of yourself. You shouldn't have to be worrying about that man in the first place, Mira. That's not all right. I know it's not your fault, but it worries me."
"As long as you two are all right I can handle anything." Mirajane smiled.
Lisanna grinned. "We're still picking you up every day from now on. We only work 4 hours in the afternoons anyways."
Mirajane laughed. "If you insist."
Another female sauntered up to him with a seductive smile. "Hey there."
He glanced at her, bored. "Not interested."
The blonde pouted. "I'm sure I could-"
He pushed her away and repeated himself. "Not interested."
She bristled off, angry and humiliated.
Freed laughed. "That's like… number 10? What's the matter Laxus? Usually you've got a couple you're interested in."
"That's because someone else caught his interest. A certain waitress at a certain bar certain people like to occupy." Evergreen smirked slyly.
"Mirajane?" Bixlow gaped.
"Shaddup." Laxus scowled at his friends, but didn't deny what any of them said.
"Well it's about time!" Evergreen declared. "You need to settle down with a nice girl and she's a nice girl who deserves a little pampering!"
"You know her?" Laxus asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Kind of." She responded, then said, "She's seems to be good friends with Erza Scarlet and her crew."
Ah. Scarlet. That would mean that she would know Natsu Dragneel and Grey Fullbuster, childhood friends of his. But he didn't remember a girl with white hair from his childhood, so that would mean that she met them after he left.
"Tell me everything you know about her." He demanded.
End Chapter 1.