A/N: Whelp, bye bye writers block. It gave me a lot of trouble during this chapter but I managed to reach the minimum word limit I place on my chapters. Thank you to those who gave suggestions and feedback. I really appreciate it! You guys are awesome!
As always I how you enjoy!
It wasn't until he was on the train home when he truly regretted telling them. Of course it wasn't like they weren't always talking about it while moving between jobs or trying to get information out of him. But by the time the final ride home was underway, Natsu really wanted to break a wall...with his head...a million times over.
After all, how stupid was that move to even tell them. He knew better than that. Seriously, if he could go back in time he would. Because right now they were insufferable. So much so that trying to tune them out was useless. He would probably move seats if he wasn't currently handicapped by his motion sickness.
"I bet it's you Lucy." Gray said, breaking a longstanding silence. Natsu nearly face-palmed, people were always trying to pair them up. Then, if it wasn't Lucy, they always went straight to Lisanna too.
"What makes you say that?" Lucy hummed. "It's a bit worrying for you to immediately pick me."
Gray looked over her for a moment before shaking his head, "Yeah your right, you've got Loki."
"Of course I do. Besides Natsu is just a friend." Natsu mentally thanked her for saying so.
"A friend who likes to sneak into your apartment." Gray smirked back at her. That had earned him a slap upside the head from both Lucy and Natsu. "Ow! Why'd you both hit me?!"
"No reason." They chimed together.
"Natsu, you did say it was someone we know right?" Lucy asked turning to the pinkette.
"Uh, yeah." Natsu said before the train hit a bump, making him curl in on himself a bit more.
"Well that's a given since he had mentioned that it was someone he saw regularly." Erza pointed out.
"Well, how many girls in the guild are single?" Gray asked. Natsu sighed and leaned against the window, watching the landscape go by. He tried to mentally prepare himself for being shipped with everyone but he knew it would still be awkward in every way.
"Well I think Lisanna and Cana are still single." Lucy said and by the sound of her voice, Natsu didn't even have to turn to see that she had a shit eating grin on her face.
"Yeah and there's Juvia, Laki, and Kinana." Erza listed with a nod. Natsu barely held back his laughter. They couldn't be anymore off. Of course they were a little more informed on the guild's relationships than he was. But to suggest Juvia of all girls...he wondered just what type of girl they thought he was into.
"And also Mira." Gray chuckled, "You can't forget about her now."
"Of course you can't forget her. She's been single for a while hasn't she?" Erza said. Natsu sat there and prayed that his checks weren't as red as they felt.
"I asked her about it before but she didn't say anything about it." Lucy smiled, "Maybe she's waiting for someone special."
"She has had many guys try and pick her up recently too." Gray added, a amused tone in his voice. "A lot of which have been after her for a few weeks now."
An involuntary growl crept up into Natsu's throat. The image that had fazed into his mind made him want to break some necks. His fingers twitching from the very urge. It took him a second before he realized he was even growling at all. He shifted his position as naturally as he could to try and play it off as his usual groans he made when his stomach shifted. He could only sit and hope that it had worked.
"I don't think Mira has to worry about that to much. Elfman is watching her back for those guys." Lucy said after what felt like a few minutes.
"Well yeah, anyone who wants to date her has to go through him anyway." Gray huffed, "Remember that guy from Blue Pegasus?"
"Oh yes. The poor guy was traumatized." Lucy replied with a sympathetic tone. "I could only imagine what Elfman told him."
Erza smiled, "Well, whatever it was it was enough to make him think twice."
"No kidding." Gray said crossing his arms. "Poor guy ran off with his tail between his legs."
"If Natsu was after Mira, he may have some trouble." Natsu knew this already, he didn't need them saying it.
Thankfully, it was only a few minutes later when the announcement came that the train was nearing Magnolia. It was a god send for his sanity and his stomach. He eagerly stood as soon as the train stopped and left the train, ignoring the other's shouts at him to wait on them.
The town was bustling -as it would be at this time of day- excitement around each corner. Natsu grinned, it was always the thought that their guild was hosting a festival that made things so happy around this time. He could see a few of his guildmates at a couple shops, arms laden with items for decoration for the guildhall and other spots around the city. It was only a few days until the festival and he couldn't be more anxious. After all, now he had to go into the guild and ask out his date.
No; first he had to ask her brother. Lucy and Gray were right in the fact that he'd have to go through him. He had played the scene in his head a million times. The images that played through his mind of every possible way this could go. From acceptance to outright refusal, he had it all planned. Of course he didn't want to have his hopes up just in case she did say no on the chance that he got through her brother.
Natsu entered the guild hall not five minutes later, glancing around for the large man. It took him a moment before he spotted him, walking over to where he sat with Evergreen.
"Hey Elfman." Natsu grinned, sitting across from him.
"Hi Natsu, welcome back." Elfman greeted, "how were your jobs."
"They were easy enough," Natsu replied as Evergreen said something to Elfman before standing and walking off. Natsu leaned forward before adding, "How is your relationship with Ever going?"
He blushed lightly, running his hand through his hair. "Really good actually."
"Are you going to the festival together?"
"That's a given, yes I am." Elfman grinned.
"I have a serious question for you involving the festival." Natsu said. He was starting to get anxious now, knowing that it was very likely for him to say no.
"You being serious? That's rare." Elfman grinned, "Go ahead."
"Well...I'm just going to be straight with you." Natsu said, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I've liked Mira for a while and wanted to ask if you might let me ask her to the festival this week."
There was a silence as Elfman leaned back in his seat. Natsu but at the inside of his lip, holding back from saying anything that might hurt his chance.
It felt like he'd been sitting there for hours, waiting for the silence between them to break. Which it did a few minutes later when Evergreen returned to the table, setting two glasses down on the table.
"Well well, what happened here?" She smirked, leaning against Elfman. "Do tell."
Elfman let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Well Natsu here just asked permission to court Nee-san..."
"Oh? They'd be so sweet as a couple! But not as much as us." She hummed, looking Natsu over. "And imagine the cute children they'd have."
"Please Ever...and Natsu" Elfman groaned, before looking at Natsu. The pinkette squirmed a little in his seat, not liking how he was set under his gaze like a criminal before the judge. "Make sure to walk her home. It's not man to make a woman walk home by herself."
Natsu looked up in shock, "what? So you mean?"
"Go ahead and ask her. Just...treat her right." Elfman grinned, pouring arm arm around Evergreen.
Natsu smiled widely, standing up with new energy. "Thank you!"
"One more thing Natsu; while you're walking around at the festival, look for the little figurine stand with the mini crystal flowers. Mira likes those."
Natsu thought for a moment, "Alright, I'll keep it in mind." Natsu felt little butterflies in his stomach, he was excited and nervous. He knew the stand that Elfman was talking about, he had often caught Mira staring at the little flowers last year. Natsu had been hanging around the food stands, leaning against a table that had been set up. He couldn't help but watch when Mira wandered by, often stopping at the little stand.
He had debated buying one of them right then, as a gift of sorts. But at the time he hadn't bright much money with him, just enough for food and one or two items. He'd definantly do so this year though.
So with that thought in mind Natsu stepped over to the bar. He had honestly thought Elfman would say no, it was definitely a pleasant surprise. He found himself smiling again as he sat down on an open stool.
"Hi Natsu, welcome back." Mira said not but a couple minutes later, "Is your team not with you?"
"I might have left them behind at the station." Natsu grinned mischievously.
"I don't think they will be very happy about that."
"They'll live." He looked her over a moment, "Things are looking busy in town. Everyone is excited for the open house and festival aren't they?"
"That they are. We may give the townspeople trouble but they are rather fond of us. They are excited to spend the day with us." Mira hummed, glancing around the guild. "But before then things are going to get more hectic. I won't be working the bar as much since I'm in charge of overlooking decorations and such."
"Will you be off for the festival at least? You work hard whenever these events come around. You should be able to enjoy them too."
Mira nodded with a smile, "I'm only in charge of decorations and the bar this year. During the festival, which the town is majorly holding, I'm free to walk around."
"Why don't I join you then? I'd hate to let you walk around alone."
She giggled, "We'll see."
"I can take that answer." Natsu smiled.
"By the way Natsu, you seem to be busy recently. Have you taken a side job around town or something?" Mira asked.
Natsu coughed lightly, "Something like that."
"Oh really? Now I'm curious."
"That's dangerous." Natsu teased lightly.
"Hey!" Mira giggled, taking a sip of her drink. It was a moment before she spoke again. "It's nice to see you doing so well and being more active."
"C'mon Mira, I'm always active." Natsu chuckled, "but I could turn that back onto you. Ever since Lisanna came back, you've been much happier. Not just that but you also seem to have this extra bounce in your step now, it's nice."
"Yeah." She smiled with a small blush. She wasn't used to Natsu being so observant.
Natsu smiled, stretching after a moment. "Whelp, since I'm here I might as well get a drink."
"You might need one once your team gets back."
Natsu put his hands in his palms, "ugh...don't remind me..."
Mira giggled, fixing him up his favorite cinnamon whiskey, lighting the drink on fire for him. Natsu grinned widely when he saw this, "Damn Mira your the best."
If Natsu hadn't been taking a drink of his whiskey right then, he may have noticed the blush that crossed over her face. Perhaps he had more of a chance then he thought.
A little note to those who don:t know yet, but there is a poll on my profile that you can vote on for my next major story project after this is over.