Hey! Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Honestly, I expected 3 reviews, if I were lucky and now I have 15. Seriously, you've made my month. Ok, this is a warning: I'm literally overseas and am writing on a tablet, so you will have to excuse any technical errors and please point them out to me. Also, I decided I hate my plot and am now rewriting the next chapter so there will be some delays. Oh, and I can't write anything at the bottom, so don't forget to review. Plot suggestions welcome: such as do you want an evil villain or not? With this chapter... Well, I had to put in NaLu! :D Now it's 3 am in the morning and I just want to get to the airport and be done with it. Enjoy!
"Ah! That was fun!" Lucy said, sighing in peace. She had let the time get away from her, and before she knew it, it was already sundown. Strangely, Sting hadn't raised any complaint at the overtime he had put in. Ah well, better for her.
They sat down in a field, too tired to walk anymore. The fireworks were set to go off at 7p.m and the field had the best spot. Honestly, she didn't mind skipping dinner; she could consider it a diet, and as for Sting… well, who would be hungry after that lunch? She sighed again, content, enjoying the cool breeze.
"Hey, Lucy…"
"Yes, nii-chan?" She loved doing that, though it seemed to be having less effect.
"What's your relationship with Natsu?" Her eyes snapped open, and she could feel a slight heat on her neck.
"W-W-What d-do you mean? We're just partners," she replied, trying not to give anything away.
"Partners in combat, or partners in life?" Sting asked, looking at her with a smirk. Lucy gave a forced laugh.
"Ha-aha! Combat, of course!" It sounded strained even to her.
"Sure, there's not something… more?" Sting pressed on.
"You're starting to sound like a girl."
"And you're avoiding the question."
"Well, obviously! I'm not gonna answer when the person in question is barely 10 metres away from us!" Sting looked around. Natsu was here? How had the blondie noticed that and not him? He spotted a flash of pink going around a nearby tree in the field. There he was!
"And how did you notice that?" he asked.
"I-I-… Any dimwit would notice him!" The insult just slid off him like water off a duck's back.
"Or any dimwit in looove!" He replied, rolling his tongue like Happy. Lucy's face was really becoming red now, and she knew it. She started squirming uncomfortably.
"Shut up!"
"HA! You liiiiike him!"
"Shut up! Geez, you're really acting like my brother now!"
"What if I am?" Sting said, his face suddenly serious. Lucy assessed his expression, but she couldn't read it. What was going through his head?
"Well… I guess it wouldn't be too bad. I mean, you're not the worst brother in the world," she said, averting her eyes.
"Wow! A compliment from a fairy!"
"HEY! DON'T MAKE ME TAKE IT BACK!" she yelled.
"Sorry," he said, serious again. "I guess…" he continued, "you wouldn't be horrible as a sister."
"HEY! I've been an awesome sister today!"
"Yeah, making me carry your shopping, paying the bill-"
"You chose to pay the bill! And don't little sisters torment their older brothers, anyway?"
"I guess…"
"See! Awesome sister right here."
"Anyway, back to the topic-"
"Yeah… you were the one who changed the topic…" Lucy muttered.
"What are you going to do?"
"What do you mean?" She battered her eyelids and feigned ignorance. Sting's eyebrow twitched.
"You know what I mean!" She just turned away and sighed, looking towards the tree that Natsu was hiding behind before turning back.
"Nothing, for now. You know how dense he is."
"Thank goodness! I no longer have to worry about anyone dating my little sis."
"NII-CHAN!" Wow. It was really becoming a habit for her. Sting just chuckled.
"Whatever," he replied. "But seriously," he started as his face grew solemn. "Do you want me to punch some sense into the kid?" Lucy did not even dignify that with a response, choosing instead to punch his shoulder.
"Sheesh, Blondie." He rubbed his shoulder. "Punch a little softer would 'ya?" Lucy just crossed her arms and looked away.
A little further away were the Strauss siblings sitting on the grass: Elfman yelling about being manly with Lisanna and Mirajane just laughing along. But that wasn't what caught Lucy's eye. It was all that white hair. She turned on Sting, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"So, nii-chan." Sting looked up at her and a slight wave of panic flew over him as he took in Lucy's expression. What was she planning?
"What's up with you and Yukino?"
He was completely thrown. "W-what do you mean?"
"Oh, you know what I mean. I know you like her." And just like that the roles were reversed.
"How the hedge did you know that?!" Lucy looked at her nails.
"Mira." She replied by way of explanation, throwing a glance at the white-haired woman. Sting's gaze followed her line of sight and he saw Yukino approaching the family, waving her hand in greeting. A red flush rose to his face like a helium balloon to the sky. Lucy nodded knowingly.
"So, what are you going to do?"
"Same as you, nothing." Lucy stared at him incredulously.
"Nothing?! You're a guy. Act like it and court her!" Sting threw his hands in the air in exasperation.
"She hates me! I didn't do anything when Master Jiemma threw her out of Sabertooth. She probably won't want anything to do with me."
"Then, you apologize."
"A simple apology won't do any good."
"Of course it will. She has the hots for you too."
"And how do you know?" Lucy fixed him a hard stare, and realization dawned on his face.
"Mira." He said, shaking his head. "Okay, so let's say I apologize. Then what do I do?"
"Goodness, you're hopeless. You be her friend first, then take it up a notch later."
"Hey, I'm not hopeless! I'm not the one who likes a pink-haired idiot named Na-" Lucy clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Nii-chan! No saying the N-word."
"Bu-"
A sharp sound burst threw the air and a sudden light was thrust upon her face, interrupting their conversation. The night sky glowed and it was seven already. The time was really getting away from her.
"Pretty…" The glittering colours of the fireworks reflected beautifully in her brown eyes, and not just hers but Sting's as well. The last time he'd seen something like this was… never, he realised. He'd always considered it a waste of time. He stole a sideways glance at Lucy. She just sat there staring at the sky. Maybe this festival was a good thing.
In other locations everywhere, Fairy Tail stared up at the sky. Rogue shifted his eyes from the siblings on the grass up to the sky. Nothing had happened except that little bout when Lucy found out Natsu was stalking her, but even then Sting hadn't been in danger. Sting was like a brother to him... And if he had found his real sister, Rogue would be happy for him. He glanced back at them. They seemed like a pair of happy siblings, at least.
Covered by the thick density of leaves, Natsu sat on a sturdy branch of the tall tree, Happy sitting next to him. The blue exceed's eyes were on the sky but Natsu's eyes were on something else. Or someone would be more appropriate.
His eyes were fixed on an awed blonde head of hair. Lucy… The wind that had been blowing had blocked out all the words that came out of her mouth. His eyebrows furrowed. It certainly hadn't helped that she was saying it in the opposite direction away from him. But with all that blushing red… Sting had to be harassing her!
Natsu punched his fist against his other hand. Sting will definitely get it!
"Natsu!" Happy's voice came cutting through his thoughts. "Stop being so noisy! I'm trying to enjoy the fireworks."
"Sorry Happy." A comfortable silence settled between the pair as they admired the fireworks.
"You know." Happy broke the silence. "I wish we could watch this with Lucy." Natsu's eyebrows shot up. What brought that on? Happy sighed and continued, "It would really feel like a family. And then we would walk back home together. Just like a family." A pause.
"Me too, Happy. Me too."