The First Job
"Come on dad!" Romeo exclaimed as his father Macao Conbolt tried to read the morning paper.
"I already said no Romeo so shut up and eat your breakfast." Macao replied slightly annoyed.
"What does the boy want?" Wakaba asked between puffs of his cigar.
"I want to go on a job alone." Romeo whined as he stared at his plate.
"Come on Macao let him go at least then we get to eat in peace." Wakaba said as more smoke escaped from the corner of his mouth.
"If you don't mind let me parent my own child thank you." Macao said turning to Romeo again.
"You really need to lighten up Macao in fact I know some girls who wouldn't mind your company." Wakaba snickered.
Macao gagged on his orange juice knocking it over before turning back to Wakaba.
"NOT IN FRONT OF MY SON YOU IDIOT!" Macao exclaimed punching Wakaba.
As Wakaba twitched on the ground Macao turned back to Romeo "No." he said once more before taking another sip of juice.
"But Dad Natsu did jobs at my age." Romeo whined again.
Romeo could see he hit a soft spot as his father slowly lowered his glass. Macao would never forget the day Natsu had saved him and he would always owe Natsu for that.
"Romeo" he sighed
"Natsu….didn't have a dad at your age. So he could go on jobs at your age but thanks to him you still have a dad. Therefore again no you can't go on a job alone not yet anyway." Macao said with a small vein now popping from the side of his temple.
Romeo cursed and was about to slam his fist on the table when Natsu's hand swooped under and held Romeo fist.
"Wow hey Romeo what's with you?" Natsu asked chuckling a bit.
"Natsu! My dad won't let me go on a job." Romeo exclaimed leaping up.
Natsu bit his lip he knew fully well it wasn't his place to say anything but he was going to anyway.
"Come on old man you have to remember how Romeo held his own in the Grand Magic Games." Natsu said rubbing Romeo's head.
"Not you too." Macao groaned.
"How about you guys what do you think?" Natsu asked turning around to face his crew.
"I think Romeo is ready." Lucy said smiling.
Gajeel, Happy, Patherlily, Gray, Carla, Wendy all nodded in agreement.
"How do you expect him to get stronger if you aren't willing to let him get stronger? I understand you want to protect him but one day he is going to need to protect himself." Erza said putting a sympathetic hand on Macao's arm.
But Natsu could still see the reluctance still lingering in his eyes.
"And hey he won't really be alone Wendy can go with him. She's been wanting to go on her own job for a while." Natsu said pushing Wendy forward.
"What?!" Gajeel and Carla exclaimed but Natsu and Happy quickly covered their mouths before they could say anymore.
"That is if Romeo doesn't mind the company?" Lucy said nudging Wendy closer.
"No I don't mind a Dragonslayer why not." Romeo exclaimed happily.
With that Macao gave a sigh "Alright fine but I get to pick the job." He said.
"FINE!" Romeo and Wendy exclaimed happily high fiving.
After reviewing the job request Macao chose a simple delivery job which was fine with Romeo. The job was to deliver a package that had been sent to Fairytail to a small fishing village pretty simple and a two day journey at the most. As Wendy was waiting outside saying goodbye to Carla Romeo was picked up by the scruff of his shirt and pulled to side by Gajeel.
"Hey kid listen no funny business on this job deliver the package and come home. No in between got it? Gajeel sneered forming his hand into a sharp steel sword.
Romeo gulped. "G-got it." He choked giving him a nervous smile.
"Good." Gajeel said smiling putting Romeo down and giving him a small pat on the head.
Romeo exhaled and took a deep breath before looking over at Gajeel who was giving Wendy an affectionate head rub. Romeo's sweat dropped but he walked nervously over to Wendy who was more than happy to start the long journey. As they walked into the city Romeo waved to his father who was screaming to be safe, don't talk to strangers, and if anything moves at night to shoot it. Romeo laughed and kept walking till they were out of the city and into the woods. He was holding his arms above his head stretching as he walked it was nice to not have grownups all around him for once.
"Hey Romeo…"Wendy began reaching out for his arm.
But Romeo thinking Gajeel would come flying out of the sky to turn him into a kabob if he so much as touched Wendy leaped out of the way.
"Umm are you ok?" Wendy asked arching her eyebrow.
Romeo's face turned scarlet red and he nervously chuckled before nodding that he was alright. They walked in silence for a while before Romeo regained some of his dignity and decided to talk again.
"What were you going to ask me Wendy?" Romeo said quietly.
"You mean before you almost jumped into a tree?" Wendy asked giggling.
Romeo felt his cheeks flush with heat "Yeah." He replied.
"I was going to ask why you wanted to go on this job alone." Wendy said staring up at the sky.
"For the same reason as you I guess." Romeo said quietly.
"No I don't think you did." Wendy said a bit curtly.
"Ok then what are you reasons?" Romeo snapped back.
Wendy laughed a bit which made Romeo's rising temper go down a bit. Her laugh bounced in the air striking a pleasing tone that was soothing to his ears. Romeo couldn't help but smile a bit as she laughed with her long blue hair dancing in the wind.
"What so funny?" he asked calmly.
"You're just like Natsu same temper." Wendy giggled.
Wendy smiled as she watch Romeo pout he didn't know if he should take what she just said as an insult or not. Wendy found herself contently watching Romeo he was cute when he pouted reminded her a bit of Natsu.
"I guess but..hey don't dodge the question why did you want to go on a job alone?" Romeo persisted.
"I was tired of being the baby of the group even Carla treats me like a baby and I'm older than her. Gajeel too he treats me like his little sister even though he's a big softie." Romeo's sweat dropped Gajeel is not a softie he thought. "So I guess I just wanted to go on a job so Natsu and others can stop treating me like the baby of the group." Wendy finished looking up at the sky.
Romeo was silent for a minute and it made sense now why Gajeel threatened him. Wendy was like his little sister so letting her go on a job alone especially with a boy must have been hard for him.
"What about you?" Wendy asked interrupting his thoughts.
"Oh well it's the basically the same case with me too. My dad's always protected me never letting really show my stuff. To be honest I've never gone full out in a fight before." Romeo said blushing.
"You're kidding." Wendy said remembering the countless of times she fought till she nearly dropped dead.
"No. That's why I want to try going on jobs solo I see you, Natsu and Gajeel going full out and I want to know what that feels like. To go full out and protect what's really important in my life I don't know I guess I just want to prove myself." Romeo finished touching his Fairytail emblem.
Wendy gave a small giggle. "I think that's sweet and your right it feels amazing to give it your all in a fight. To completely go pass your limits knowing you can get stronger it feels amazing. But at the same time you have to remember that when Natsu and others go all out it's to save the guild. So it's really scary because sometimes your all isn't good enough I've seen that plenty of times. But having said that when you do pull that off and you get to see what you were protecting is still safe and sound it's the best feeling in the world." Wendy said happily looking up to the sky.
Romeo smirked Wendy had an adorable smile and for the rest of the way they talked. It was pretty fun Romeo learned plenty of things and laughed a lot mostly about all the embarrassing stories about Gray and Natsu. He couldn't help but admire Wendy he always thought at some point the seven years they missed would come up. Mostly because Wendy wasn't actually 13 technically she was 20 and that made Romeo feel a little weird since he was 13. But she was still so innocent and shy expect in battle then all bets are off Romeo thought thinking back to the Grand Magic Games. Watching Wendy fight even though she didn't want to but because the guild had something to prove inspired him. Romeo always felt like he is body was tingling with electricity anytime Natsu, Erza or Lucy put everything on the line for the guild. After they reached the half way point Romeo noticed how tired he was but he and Wendy were shocked they reached the half way point so quickly. They would be at the town by nightfall and then back at the guild the night after he could hardly believe the job was already over.
"Wow our job is almost done." Romeo said standing in the middle of the road.
"Yeah time goes by fast when you're having fun." Wendy giggled.
Romeo felt a tingle fly up his spine and heat flush to his cheeks why did she have to laugh like that he thought. Suddenly Romeo's stomach growled causing Wendy to laugh again.
"What?!" Romeo exclaimed blushing while clutching his stomach.
"You're just like Natsu!" Wendy exclaimed nearly keeling over with laughter.
Romeo couldn't help but blush as Wendy pulled him over to a tree on the side of the road.
"Here." She said warmly handing him a small package wrapped in brown baking paper.
It was tingling with warmth and as he opened it a buttery scent wafted into the air. Inside was a freshly baked loaf of bread still prickling with heat. Wendy quickly dabbed it with some butter and the butter slowly melted over the flaky crust making his mouth water. As he took a bite the bread immediately melted in his mouth the crust tore away leaving the soft inside which was coated in butter. Romeo grinned in delight much to Wendy's happiness.
"Did you make this?" Romeo said with his mouth slightly filled.
"Carla and I did. Is it ok?" she asked shyly
"Mhmmmm.." Romeo said packing as much of the delicious bread as he could in his mouth.
Wendy smiled as she watched Romeo pack his cheeks in with bread till he looked like a chipmunk. She could feel goosebumps flutter across her forearms as she watched him he was awfully cute. Once they were done they dusted themselves off and were getting up when a roaring ball of fire came hurling toward them. It obliterated the tree behind them and threw Wendy into the air who went crashing down into the ground.
"Wendy!" Romeo yelled running over to her.
She groaned as he shifted her up.
"WATCH OUT!" she exclaimed bolting up tackling him to the ground as a thunder strike rippled across the air striking the place where they had just been.
Romeo leaped up choosing to ignore that fact that Wendy had basically thrown her body on top him.
With a furious red blush he yelled "WHO'S THERE COME OUT!"
Standing with one leg up on the trunk of the obliterate tree was a mage with spiky brown hair whose face reminded Romeo of a weasel. He had a scar running down from his skull to his jaw his piercing green eyes focused themselves on Wendy's satchel which contained the request item. He was quite lanky no real muscle and he was wearing a torn tank top with some black jeans and boots to match. Even though he didn't look like a much of a fighter Romeo could feel the magic energy radiating off him it was strong fire magic. Behind him was a towering hulk of man with a buzz cut that was tinted a slight orange. He had small green eyes just like the man in front of him expect he was shirtless with only some puffy knee high pants like Natsu. Romeo could feel his magical energy which was equal to his partner the fire mage. Whoever they were Romeo knew this wasn't going to be easy or fun.
"Hey kiddies why don't you tell me what you got in the bag?" the fire mage asked snapping his finger letting a single flame dance around his hand.
Romeo instinctively put himself between the mages and Wendy who tucked the satchel behind her.
"None of your business." Romeo answered curtly.
"Oh feisty why don't we asked the cute one behind him Kai?" the thunder mage asked staring at Wendy with hunger in eyes.
"Good idea Arich. What about it sweetheart?" Kai asked stepping toward Romeo.
"Paws off!" Romeo growled igniting his fist.
But he felt Wendy paw his back and his nodded without warning he leaped up clearing the way for Wendy.
"ROAR OF THE SKY DRAGON!" Wendy bellowed as the hurricane of wind roared toward its target.
But the two mages didn't even blink as they jumped back landing on either side of the blast grinning their eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
"Guess we have to fight them." Kai snickered.
"Guess so." Arich cooed in agreement.
Romeo gritted his teeth this wasn't going to be easy.
Meanwhile back at the guild…..
"Oh hello Macao where's Romeo?" Gramps asked as Macao sat at the bar.
"He went on a job with Wendy." Natsu answered since Macao was too unnerved to answer.
"By themselves? Wow didn't think you had it in you getting older has made you soft." Gramps snickered.
"That's the pot calling the kettle black master. Exactly how old are you Master." Erza asked slyly while raising her hand to her lips.
Master scrunched his nose before answering "Old enough to give you a good smack." Master sneered back.
Erza chuckled as Master continued "Anyway what job did they take?" he asked.
"Some delivery job to a fishing village." Gray answered.
Master's face dropped and the color drained from his skin as he leaped off the bar and ran to the request board.
"What's wrong Gramps?" Lucy asked as they all huddled over to Gramps.
"Was the job a two day journey?" Gramps asked scanning the board.
"Y-yes what's this about Master?" Erza asked.
"That wasn't an ordinary job Mira was supposed to inform me when the item came in. That package was an extremely rare item it almost qualified as an S class ranked mission. A duo of mages was hired to steal the item I was going to send Erza to deliver it." Master said numbly staring at his feet.
"ARE YOU SAYING I SENT MY SON ON AN S CLASS MISSON?" Macao exclaimed gripping Master by the scruff of his shirt shaking him.
"Y-Yes." Master groaned his head bobbling from side to side.
Macao dropped Master letting him crumbled to floor before tearing toward the exit. But Natsu, Gray, Erza and Gajeel appeared in front of the door arms crossed.
"MOVE IT NATSU THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Macao growled poking his finger at Natsu's chest.
"Exactly." Natsu said grinning waving Macao's finger aside.
"That's why I should fix it." Natsu said grinning.
"HE'S MY SON!" Macao roared.
"We know that." Lucy said putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"B-but.."he muttered.
"Trust me old man I'll get your son back." Natsu said smiling from ear to ear.
The others nodded in approval but Macao was still stuttering till Master came from behind him and gave him a nod.
"Don't let them touch my son." Macao growled giving in.
"Don't worry I'll pound them in good." Gajeel said flexing his muscles.
Macao chuckled as Natsu, Gray, Erza, Happy, Carla, Patherlily, and Gajeel surged out of the guild hall running out of the city.
"Get there in time." He pleaded.
ALRIGHT THAT'S A WRAP HEHE. Sorry but you have to love a good cliff hanger but don't worry I won't take forever to update it. So favorite the story put it as a notification and at 9pm tomorrow I'll update it again. Already working on the second part Pokémonlovefan out!