Chapter twelve; My partner.
To answer the guest reviewers question, no they don't know that its Natsu. I'm merely using irony by using his name, indicating that the reader as well as the author(Me!) know who the Flaming arrow is while the characters don't have a clue! Also I'm trying my best to update as fast as I can XD, but school gets in the way since I hav to study 24/7 for programming. So I'm so so so sorry if my updates are slow.
Natsu pulled himself up with his one arm as he hung from a pipe above his training area. He was currently in his lair, as some people called it, watching the security camera that he placed in Fairytail. He was currently watching a young celestial mage who was currently looking at the guild's request board. She hadn't been on a job since last week's and she needed money to pay rent. Before Natsu could smile at the way she stood staring at the request board his phone rang.
"Hello?" He answered wearily, not checking the caller I.D.
"Natsu Dragneel! Where are you! Your body guard has been searching for you for the past hour!" At the sudden noise in his ear he got a fright and slipped from the pipe falling straight to the ground. He muttered a soft 'Ow' before he answered her.
"Damn it mom! I don't need him." Natsu growled in irritation. "I'm a capable wizard who can take care of himself." Natsu growled as he continued with his pull ups.
"With that attitude you're not. I'm not going to lose you again, Natsu. Either you come home or I'm sending Erza to come and find you." With that said the older woman hung up. Natsu sighed as he let go of the pipe and dropped to the ground on both his feet. Looks like he didn't have a choice. He walked over to his discarded coat and pulled it on.
"A job at the guild will do me some good." Natsu sighed as he made his way to the exit.
It wasn't long before he reached the guild hall, but when he entered there was a shock waiting for him. Doranbolt was sitting at the bar, lazily lying against one of the chairs. Everyone else was going about their business.
"It's nice to finally see you, sir." Doranbolt stated as he took a sip of the glass in his hand.
"Oi, I can have some privacy, you know?" Natsu stated as he walked over to the man.
"Whatever you say, sir."
"And stop calling me that. I'm just Natsu." Natsu stated as he sat on the bar stool next to him. Natsu turned his attention to the blonde standing in front of the request board. He wasn't in the mood for his bodyguard's lecture, so he decided that he might as well talk to her. He stood up once more and made his way to the young wizard.
"Hm, I wonder what job I should pick?" Lucy mused to herself as she continued to state at the request board.
"You know, if you keep staring at the request board you are going to turn into Nab." Natsu stated as he jabbed his thumb towards the large man a few feet away.
"Well, it isn't my fault that I can't find the right one." Lucy pouted. She and the pink haired dragonslayer had more than one conversation before and was starting to warm up to each other. "Why don't you help me pick one?"
"Sure. Where is Erza and Gray?" Natsu asked as he pulled a flyer off of the board.
"The two went on a job earlier this morning. They did ask me to go with, but I want to do a job on my own for once." Lucy sighed. "I mean I did basically hold them back with the Lullaby fight a few days ago."
"Yeah right. You were the one that practically did all the work." Natsu chuckled as he held out the flyer towards her. "Here. This one is a small enough job for the two of us and the reward also includes a celestial key." Natsu smiled mischievously.
"For the t-two of us?" Lucy stuttered as she stared at him.
"Hey, just cause my family is rich doesn't mean I'm high and mighty." Natsu growled as he gave her a look.
"S-sorry." Lucy apologized sheepishly. "Is he coming with us?" Lucy asked as she looked towards Natsu's bodyguard.
"Unfortunately, yes, but it shouldn't be too hard to lose him." Natsu smiled. When the young woman nodded and turned to give Mira the flyer, his smile left him. Now that he was home after so long, he was beginning to change in more ways than one. He needed to focus on the mission at hand. The reason why he took that flyer is because it mentioned Duke Everlue. Another name he needed to cross off of his list. "Oi, Gajeel!" Natsu shouted gaining his stepbrother's attention.
"What do you want, Salamander?" Gajeel growled from all the across the room. He was currently sitting with Levy and her two watch dogs. His arms was lazily draped around her shoulders.
"I'm taking Luce on a job. Just tell my mom I'll be gone for a while." Natsu stated lazily.
"You're always gone, Salamander. Why bother telling her if she's already use to it." Gajeel returned.
"Just do it metal head." With that he followed in Lucy's tracks.
"Are you taking anyone with, Lucy?" Mira asked as she took the flyer from the celestial mage.
"Actually, yes. Natsu said that he wanted to go with me." Lucy smiled as she cocked her head to the side a bit.
"Really? He hasn't gone on a mission since he came back." Mira mused as her head shot towards said mage.
"Yeah, well I figured it was time." Natsu smiled slightly as he looked at Lucy. Mira smiled sadly at him. She knew that she needed to forgive him sooner or later, but it was harder than it looked. "I'll meet you at the train station in half an hour, Luce." At the mention of the nickname, Lucy's heart stopped.
"You have no idea what you're capable of, Luce." The young man's voice rang in Lucy's head. For a moment she couldn't move, couldn't think.
"Oi, Luce? You alright?" Natsu asked as he cocked his head to the side a bit.
"Y-yeah I'm fine. I-I'll meet you there." With that she took off. Natsu frowned slightly at her reaction, but shrugged it off. He then turned to Mirajane.
"Listen, Mira. I'm sorry for what happened to Lissanna." Natsu started with a solemn expression. "It was all my fault and I don't expect you to forgive me..." Mira cut him off before he could continue.
"It wasn't your..." This time Natsu cut her off.
"That is bullshit and you know it." Natsu stated firmly. Mira only nodded knowing that he wouldn't allow her to dismiss his belief.
"Just tell me one thing. Did she suffer when she died?" Mira asked with a sad smile. A flash of a distant memory flew in front of his eyes. The memory of where everything went to hell. Just as the ship in front of him began to sink he shook his head.
"No she didn't." Natsu smiled lightly. With that he turned and left.
I am so sorry that my update took so long! Exams are coming up and I study 24/7! When the holidays come my updates should go back to normal!