ElfEver week!
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail Hiro Mashima does.
Flowers
Today was thatday.
The day that she could just break down crying at any moment, and not have to have a reason for it.
She was making her way to the Guild, as usual, when she noticed a small flower shop. An array of violets, roses and hydrangeas draped over the doorway, and along a small sign.
'If friends were flowers, then I'd pick you' it was the name of the quaint store and, quite frankly it suited it. She turned to the display in the window and smiled sadly to herself.
'Roses', she thought, 'Always, roses.'
As she admired the delicate blossoms she didn't notice that another mage from the Guild happened to be passing by. Elfman stopped, raising his eyebrows as he saw Evergreen knelt next to the window, he started towards her, but froze as he saw tiny stone beads drip down her cheeks and fall with a clink! against the floor.
"Ever…." The word was lost in the breeze as a loud sob escaped her lips, one hand pressed against the glass, as if she was trying to get through and take the flowers. He restrained himself from going to her; she needed time to calm down. Evergreen, composed herself- taking a deep breath and whipping away her tears- before standing and giving the flowers one last longing glance and turning back to her trip to the Guild.
Once she entered the hall it was almost as if a blanket of silence had been placed on the members, not even Natsu and Gray were fighting, just sitting next to one another talking in hushed whispers. She made her way to Freed, Laxus and Bickslow, sitting down at the bar stool.
"Hey, Ever." Freed gave the girl a sad smile and slung one arm over her shoulders in a small hug, "Are you alright?"
"I've seen better days," She new better than to lie to her closest friends, and knew they could see the red rims lining her eyes, so she just told the truth, "Have you guys seen Elfman? Not that I want to see him, of course, I was just wandering."
"He went out earlier." Mira-Jane piped up, her eyes down cast and a ghost of a smile printed on her lips. Freed took a seat next to Ever as she thanked Mira and ordered a martini.
"So Ever, what do ya wanna do?" Bickslow asked, usually on days like today they would go on a short mission to take her mind off of things, but for some reason Evergreen felt like staying home.
"I don't really feel like doing much actually, I think, after I've finished my drink, I'll just go home." The blue haired mage raised a brow under his visor, but shrugged and nodded.
"If that's what you want." She took a sip of her cocktail and swirled the glass in her hand. When she had been at the flower shop she had sworn that she had seen the white haired take-over mage in the reflection, but when she looked again he was gone. She had been doing this a lot lately, seeing Elfman almost everywhere that she went: in cafes, clothes shops, the bath house, even in her own home. After a week or so, she came to the conclusion that she was just having delusions and that he was on her mind due to their constant bickering. She took another sip of her martini and turned to Freed.
"Freed, do you remember what my mom was like?" No-one outside of the Thunder God Tribe knew this, but Freed and Evergreen were cousins. Freed had never had a father and his mother had died in labour so when Evergreen's pregnant mother heard, she took the year old in, unfortunately her parents had died from a town raid three years later. The murderers had been a disbanded dark Guild; they had left Evergreen with amnesia and Freed with no-one but his cousin, so he was very protective of her.
"Yes," He smiled and rested his head in one of his hands, "She had the most gorgeous honey-brown eyes, and the most amazing smile. Whenever there was a thunderstorm, I remember she used to hold us close and sing to us until we fell asleep." Evergreen smiled, and tipped her glass back, downing the last drops of her drink.
"Thank you, Freed." She lent forwards, kissing her cousin's cheek and standing to leave, "I'm going to head home, see you guys tomorrow."
"See ya, Ever." Laxus called, nodding to her and turning back to the bar. When Evergreen arrived home she went to her room and dragged her massive duvet to the sofa, then went to the kitchen to make herself some lunch. Just as she had finished eating there was a knock on the door, she quickly dumped her plates in the sink and went to answer the door.
"Elfman?" She blinked in surprise and raised an eyebrow, "What are you doing here?"
"W-well I know what today is," He paused, a slight blush on his face, "And ... well it wouldn't be a Man if I didn't do something nice... so... Would you like to go on a walk with me?"
"Go on a walk with you?" Elfman scratched his neck bashfully and nodded, "Not that I like you or anything... but... It could be nice."
They made their way into town and walked along the river side by side, sometimes starting up a small conversation, but overall just enjoying each others company in a comfortable silence. It was around five o'clock when they reached the grassy banks next to the stream; they sat down and watched the lowering sun. It wasn't quite dusk, but it was nearing.
"Ever, I have something for you." Elfman reached into his pocket and pulled out a singular Rose. A smile tugged at Evergreens lips as he fixed the flower in her hair, behind her ear; he leaned forwards slightly, staring into her honey-gold eyes. Although they were shielded by her glasses- and if they hadn't been he'd be nothing more than a stone statue by now- he could see every painful detail that laced her heart. Their faces inched closer hesitantly. Evergreen's eyes slid shut, the setting sun's auburn rays dancing along her porcelain skin, she waited for the fireworks to start, she waited for the warm feeling of Elman's lips on her own, she waited, and waited, but it never came.
Her eyes fluttered open to see Elfman staring blankly at the water in front of him, she felt as if she had died a little inside. She could feel the, already fractured, walls of her heart begin to break, but held back her tears.
She was like a Rose. Beautiful and enchanting on the outside, but when you tried to get close, she would lash out with her thorns, she was cold and cruel, but it was all to protect herself.
For who could ever learn to love a Rose?
A/N: Sad ending to this chapter, I know! DON'T KILL ME! But there will be more fluff! If you hadn't realized: 'today' was the anniversary of her parent's death...
Erza: HOW DARE YOU IMPLY THAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO KISS AND MAKE ELFMAN DUCK AWAY LIKE THAT!
Fred: *Cowers in a corner* Aye sir!
Erza: TILL NEXT CHAPTER! REVIEW OR ELSE!