Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy tail. It belong to Hiro Mashima.
Chapter 2
"Natsu, what's wrong? You haven't said anything since you ordered your food, which was not even a quarter of what you usually eat!" asked the celestial mage who was starting to get worried about the dragon slayer's unusual behaviour. This caused the dragon slayer to lift his head up from staring at his food intently, as if it would provide him with his much needed answers. "Just thinking…" replied the somewhat subdued dragon slayer, now causing Happy to stop munching on his fish and look up with a face of confusion and curiosity. Happy had never seen Natsu act this way before and couldn't quite identify how he might be feeling. It had always been obvious to Happy when Natsu was happy, sad or angry, but seeing Natsu so deep in thought that he would refuse a free meal from their partner was very strange and very new, leaving Happy very confused. "Hey. Why don't we take a mission! It might make you feel a bit better after bashing some heads am I right? Plus my rent is due so its win-win. You can pick a job Natsu while I go pack then I'll meet you at the guild." The blonde said with a grin on her face, then without leaving time for Natsu to reply she was already running down the street to her apartment. "Happy, can you go pack our stuff and then bring it to the guild?" asked Natsu as he slowly got up after leaving most of his food. A quick "Aye sir!" let Natsu know that the packing would be taken care of. As Natsu walked to the guild he was wondering which guild member would be the best person to ask for advice. He decided Gray was definitely out, he would rather ride the train than ask his rival for advice, who would probably make him look like an idiot. Erza would just be too awkward, Wendy was too young and would probably just blush the whole time. After listing the guild members in his head he decided that none would be able to give him good advice. The dragon slayer felt utterly defeated as he dragged his feet through the guild hall, ignoring the shouts of the other members as he passed them. Natsu then collapsed his head on the bar and sighed. "You look like Lucy when you do that you know?" said a voice from behind the bar followed by a giggle. Natsu looked up to see Mirajane looking down at him with amusement and curiosity as she cleaned one of the glasses. Then, all of a sudden Natsu jumped out of his seat, surprising the barmaid as his trademark grin returned to his face. "Mira, I need your help." Natsu said as his face became serious. Mira was feeling slightly worried about the quick shift in the dragon slayers expression but was also filled with curiosity. She wondered what Natsu needed help with as he often didn't ask for it, especially from herself. "What is it Natsu?" Mira asked as she watched Natsu's cheeks turn slightly pink as he drew in a deep breath, about to tell Mira about Lucy. That is until the mage in question bursts throught the door. Natsu's head whirled around to see the blonde headed his way, wearing something that he never would have thought she'd wear. He'd always thought of Lucy to be quite a girly girl who wore miniskirts and liked thinks that were pink and cute. That is why he didn't expect Lucy to arrive wearing jeans, combat boots, a plain top and her hair was in a high ponytail. Her belt still attached to her waist with her keys and whip. Natsu must have figured he looked like a fish, sitting with his mouth wide open as he stared at her. He could faintly hear giggling from Mira in the background but he couldn't look away. This sudden change left him shocked as his eyes were glued to hear. He also noticed she wasn't rolling along her suitcase, but was instead, carrying a backpack. He was wordering why she was dressed this way until he realised what she had told him earlier. Natsu reckoned she had expected him to pick up a job to defeat some bandits so she dressed appropriately for the mission, which was not like Lucy. Lucy was the girl who wore miniskirts on frozen mountains, she didn't care if it was unpractical as long as it was in fashion, but now here she was in jeans and a top. Natsu wasn't even aware that she owned a pair of jeans. "Natsu!" this call snapped him out of his trance as he looked up to be greeted by the face of a very annoyed blonde. "You haven't even picked a mission yet Natsu, have you?" a hesitant shake of the head from the sheepish looking dragon slayer, who just realised he had been openly staring at Lucy, confirmed the blonde's suspicions as she huffed then stomped over to the board, scanning it for a mission.
Natsu let out a sigh as he turned back around to face the bar, only to be met by Mira squealing something about "weddings" and "33 nalu babies" or something like that. Mira then smirked at him causing Natsu to shudder. He'd seen that look before and Natsu did not want her going all satan soul on him again. "Natsu, doesn't Lucy look pretty today?" Mira asked Natsu in a sickly sweet voice that promised a world of pain for him if he didn't give the answer she wanted. "Y-yeah." Natsu said as quickly glanced over at the celestial mage. Mira noticed the pink tinge on his cheeks and let out a smirk."But then again, she looks pretty every day, doesn't she Natsu?" Mira asked in the same tone of voice as she did before. She was trying not to smirk as she Natsu blush again as he stuttered the same response. As Natsu was looking down at the floor, poking his index fingers together and mumbling incoherent things to himself with a slight blush on his face, Mira noticed Lucy was walking over after having picked a mission and had a devious idea. Mira resumed to cleaning the glasses while Natsu remained completely oblivious to Mira's plan. "Hey Mira, could you put down that Natsu, Happy and I will be going on this mission?" The blonde asked as she reached the bar. "Of course Lucy, by the way, you look nice today." Mira said with a smile on her face as she watched Lucy's cheeks turn slightly pink from the compliment. "Actually, Natsu and I were just talking about how you looked today. What was it you told me Natsu?" Mira asked innocently while she tapped her chin as if trying to remember when in actual fact she was fighting off a smirk that was trying to creep its way onto her face.
Natsu's head shot up at this as he was met with curious eyes from Lucy and a smirk from Mira. Natsu cursed Mira in his mind for putting him in to this situation. "Well Natsu?" Lucy asked. Natsu mumbled something as his blush intensified only for Lucy to lean in closer. "Sorry Natsu, I didn't quite catch that, do you mind repeating it for me?" Lucy asked with a soft smile. Natsu then looked Lucy in the eyes and felt his breath hitch. "You look pretty today." Natsu breathed. Lucy, shocked by this, blushed furiously as she poked her index fingers and looked down at the floor, just as Natsu had been doing moments before. Mira wasn't going let the pair off yet though. "Oh yes, that was it! That wasn't all you told me though was there Natsu?" Mira asked the flustered dragon slayer, barely being able to stop herself from smirking as she watched Natsu stiffen.
Natsu went rigid after hearing what Mira had said. He knew what he was about to say would get him a Lucy kick to the head but the look in Mira's eyes said he didn't have a choice. As Natsu looked up at Lucy he felt his stomach flip as he saw the obvious blush on her face. He didn't know why but with renewed determination he looked Lucy straight in the eyes. "You look pretty every day Luce." Natsu told her as he watched her entire face turn a colour that would rival Erza's hair. He saw her hands clasp in front of her chest as he saw a look in her eyes he'd never seen before but it made stomach do flips again and he felt really light and happy. Mira started squealing again but he paid no attention as his attention was focused on Lucy. So much so that he didn't notice a blue blur fly into him with his backpack. Natsu was about to have a go at Happy for flying into him until the exceed started snickering. Natsu's eyes widened as he realized Happy had probably seen the end of his conversation with Lucy. Before he was able to stop him though Happy was already flying around their heads shouting "He liiiikes you!" Lucy was still in a daze so was unable to yell at him but Natsu chased after him, yelling for him to stop. Mira smirked at the scene, Natsu usually just waved off Happy's teasing while Lucy chased the exceed. Mira reckoned that Natsu was finally figuring out his feeling for Lucy but doesn't really know what they are yet. Mira decided that she was going to help Natsu realise his feelings. "Otherwise I'll never get my 33 Nalu babies." Mira thought wistfully as she continued to watch the scene with amusement in her eyes. She then watched Natsu return to Lucy's side, cheeks still pink, as they picked up their stuff and headed out to go do their mission. Mirajane's smirk then returned as she watched Natsu walk a little closer than necessary to the blonde, bumping her shoulder or brushing her hand every now and then as they walked down the road until they were out of sight. Mira shifted her attention from the open guild doors back to the bar where Macao was asking for beer. As Mira hurried off to get the beer she couldn't help but think about the pair that had just left as she gave a smirk that would send shivers down any ones spine. "Operation Nalu is set in motion."
Author's note: Happy wasn't in this chapter very much but there will be more of him in the next chapter! Mira has been introduced now and she's got a plan, i might have people help her, who knows? The next chapter will be about the job they take. If Natsu seemed a bit OOC with all his blushing that's because this is knew to him and he's quite child like so he's bound to be confused. I made Mira smirk a lot though, I bet her face hurts now! Anyway, thanks for reading and all your reviews, I really appreciate it!