"A new Fairy Tail story? But what about Fairy Guar-" Shhhhhhhhhh. That'll be updated soon. This story is a special case. So, some background, a writer that I used to follow uploaded a story called "Just My Colleague" a few months back, but then stopped writing, so I reached out in the hopes that the writer would continue it. They responded a few days later and told me that they got caught up in life and decided to discontinue it, so with their permission, they gave me the story to write and continue.
Yes, I am picking up the baton and running with it... hopefully, I can give it the same spark that they did. So enjoy, this is "The Sweet Colleague".
13 Years Ago...
"Is that really true, Gray?" A pink-haired boy rubbed the snow beneath him, making sure to pat it down and harden it a bit more.
The boy opposite him did the same, but was standing beside the mini snowman that they were building, "Yeah! My father says it's the best place to work at! And considering that it's aiming for the top, he said he'd be the most proud if I got in!"
"So, we are not going to open a restaurant together anymore?" The pink-haired boy sniffed as a bit of snot crawled down his nose. He fixed his checkered-white scarf on his neck and shivered a little.
"Don't be silly, of course we will! We'll figure it out soon, right now... getting into Fairy Tail is where our dreams lay," The black-haired boy known as Gray clenched his fist as he helped Natsu lift the snow-made head onto another ball of snow.
The two stepped back to admire their handiwork, "Trust me, Natsu! We'll make it to the top, together. I promise!"
3rd Person POV - Present...
There are hierarchies and classes in the world of business. Money is what rules the world as they say, and if you don't get with the program, you are sure to be swallowed up whole.
In the prestigious land known as Fiore, a few business heads for the grand Fairy Tail Corporation, were gathered in a private meeting via a virtual meeting.
The main heads of Fairy Tail Corp all gathered in the meeting room, discussing a solution to beat their competitors. These Head Hunchos were the head of the Fairy Tail Corp branches that were located around Fiore, each claiming a set of territory. A woman with long scarlet hair, a voluptuous figure, and a black two-piece suit stood before the flat screen with a remote in hand.
The long table in front of her was a midnight black glass table that had the Finance Manager sitting at the table. The CEO's of each branch and the Chariman were on a virtual call with the redhead and the Finance Manager who called this meeting to go over an agenda.
The man with a lightning bolt scar across his eyes was the CEO of the office branch based in the South Fiore, FT:Z also known as the Fairy Tail "Zeus" branch which is run by this Yellow Beast, Laxus Dreyar.
The laidback, half-drunk yet still capable man in a suit but his top button for his shirt was undone was the White-Eyed Demon, Gildarts Clive, who was the CEO of the office branch based in West Fiore, FT:S also known as the Fairy Tail "Superior" branch.
And now, the Chairman himself, who runs the main Headquarters of Fairy Tail Corp is run by Laxus' Grandfather; Sir Makarov Dreyar, the CEO of Fairy Tail Corp.
"So, remind me why I had to attend this meeting again?" Gildarts groaned as his voice echoed throughout the room from the screen.
"What better things does an old geezer like you have to be doing at this time," Laxus growled at Gildarts
"Now, now, goldilocks, I'm old enough to be your father…" Gildarts smiled and chuckled, "I could probably even fill in those shoes for you if you'd like,"
"Settle down please," The redhead spoke as she looked up at the screen of CEO'S and the Chairman.
And the final CEO; the Queen, and Titania of Fairy Tail Corps' Main Branch, that was located in Fiore also, Erza Scarlet.
"This is just a general meeting to remind ourselves of the competitors we face off against," A black-haired man in a fully blue attire with brown shoes said as he sat at the midnight black glass table, "Whilst it isn't one to be held among the CEOs and Chairman, Mrs Scarlet and I believe that you would want to hear about this, Chairman,"
Makarov let out a heavy sigh as Laxus sunk into his chair and Gildarts slouched over on his own.
"Inform me of this important news then," Makarov clasped his hands and leaned forward towards the screen as Mrs Scarlet and the black haired man prepared to share their new form of info with him.
Meanwhile...
In another part of the office, a few floors down from the meeting room, a small group of employees were gathering and getting into corners of the room to hide.
"Everyone get in your place!" The orange haired man spoke.
"She's going to be here any moment now! Just get into place!"
"We can't mess this up!"
"She's coming guys! She's coming!"
The people in the room all ducked behind their tables, the entire room was decorated to the brim with celebration banners, posters, balloons and a giant cake in the middle.
They heard footsteps heading towards the door and once the door opened, they all jumped up with a loud...
"SURPRIS- UGGGHHHH!" Their surprise turned to groans once the person who entered the room wasn't the person they were excited for. It was just...
"Natsu! What the fuck dude, go hide somewhere! Quick!" A colleague said with his party hat slightly falling off his head.
The one known as Natsu, stood in the doorway with a confused brow raised up.
The 26-year-old wore a normal dark blue jacket, navy blue trousers held up by a simple black belt, and a light blue shirt that was tucked into his trousers with the top button being undone.
This was accompanied by a white-checkered scarf that hugged his neck comfortably.
He was easily the most noticeable person in the workplace due to his pink/salmon-coloured hair.
He held his backpack strap with one hand and shook his head ever so slowly.
"What are you guys doing?" Natsu asked with interest in their current antics.
"What does it look like?! We are congratulating Lucy for her first month here!" An orange haired employee sighed.
"Huuuh? A congratulation surprise?" Natsu's eyes almost bulged out of his head, his shoulders sunk as he gave them an odd yet disappointed look, "I came a few days before Lucy and I barely got a 'well done' from anyone,"
"We only do it for people who have been a great help to the team," The orange-haired man snarled at the pinkette who fixed his posture and growled lightly.
"This is stupid," Natsu pouted as he walked to his desk.
The orange-haired colleague pointed at Natsu as he passed them, "Quit being salty and go hide somewhere!"
Natsu ignored the instruction, shaking his head from side to side as he plopped down in his seat and put his backpack under his desk. He didn't hide or lay his head down on the desk, he just got his desk ready for the day.
The orange-haired colleague looked back at Natsu with an annoyed expression on his face and muttered, "Idiot."
"She's coming, here she comes!" Another colleague shouted and everyone got in their place waiting for the correct person to walk in.
The sound of high heels got closer and closer...
3...
2...
1...
The door handle began to open.
"WELL DONE, LUCY?!" They all shouted as the blonde's head appeared from behind the door.
Lucy.
The office's beloved blonde who goes out of her way to help others regardless of what she is up to, she is a favoured worker among her peers and even the boss' favourite, so favoured that they go out of their way to set up parties like this for her.
"You guys shouldn't have!" Lucy said tearfully as she received hugs from her colleagues.
"We wanted to show you our appreciation for all that you have done for us. Going out of your way to help others and showing no sort of favourite among us all, we are really touched by your actions and wanted to let you know that we are so lucky to have-."
"Get on with it," Natsu interrupted as he typed away at his keyboard.
Grumbles could be heard amongst the crowd of colleagues, some even going as far as to want to punch the pinkette in the face.
"Thank you for everything Lucy, that's what we want to say." The orange-haired male said as he raised a can of soda to the sky, "To the goddess of our office!"
"TO LUCY!" Everyone said with cheers and joy.
Natsu's POV
I watched as everyone conversed with Ms Heartfilia and tried to ask her silly questions that a geek would ask a girl in high school.
They blow smoke up her ass and hope she'll invite them into her pants one day, it's just so pathetic.
The worst of them all goes to Loke though, that orange-haired twit has always been by Ms Heartfilia's side like a puppy that was trained to follow without a leash.
Knowing how he is, he would want to get her in his cookbook of bed-buddies, and can I blame him, who wouldn't?
Lucy Heartfilia, my work colleague, is a natural blonde with beauty like no other, her attire's colour scheme normally consists of reddish-pink or blue, which really makes her noticeable when she arrives to work.
She wears this perfume that drives everyone mad and float towards her like moths to light.
Like any beautiful woman in an office, she's become a delight in a lot of men's eyes. The guys talk about how great it would be to get a taste of her, I don't indulge in it though because it isn't the kind of talk I'd want to have about someone who I work with.
Every now and then, Ms Heartfilia and I would run into each other after everyone went home. I would be at my desk typing away and she would be somewhere near my office room taking care of something.
I don't know what, but I'm not really that bothered to care.
She doesn't have to, but she always comes by to check on me, hand me a bottle of water, and even some food when I'm working late which I find odd, I barely know her for goodness sake.
I sighed. It's okay, I didn't come to work to make friends, just got to keep my distance and focus.
Flashback
"Really?! I got in?" I sat up from the couch with a can of beer in my hand. My clothes were covered in dust and mud from my day at the construction site.
I was completely knackered.
"I referred you, so yes, of course you did." Gildarts said with a smug grin. Gildarts has been a long-time family friend of mine, he and I initially met in my old neighbourhood before I moved out for university.
"I don't know what to say… I get to work in one of the best corporations in Earthland…" My eyes were wide with excitement. This was a game changer for me.
Gildarts wrapped an arm around my neck," I wouldn't leave you to rot away in a construction site, Natsu! Come on!"
We laughed together for a minute before he spoke up once more, "Just do your best there, okay? You've got this,"
End of Flashback
Alright, back to work.
I heard a shuffle next to me and looked up to see Ms Heartfilia holding a plate of cake in her hand, offering it to me with this giant smile on her face.
When I'm deep-diving into my work, I don't notice the things that go on around me, as of now, everyone is staring at the both of us.
"Please have some cake, Mr Dragneel," She said as she held it near my face.
"LUCY IS SO CUTE! SHE'S A GODDESS! A WOMAN WORTH A THOUSAND RINGS!" They all shouted in unison, like a bunch of mutts, "THE STAR OF OUR WORKPLACE, THE SUN TO OUR DAYS, PLEASE LUCY, CONTINUE BEING OUR STAR!"
I looked at the cake for a minute then back up at her, gently waving away her generosity with a small smile, "No thanks, I'm really trying to cut down on a lot of sweet stuff,"
"Oh. I'm sorry," She apologised as she picked up the plate of cake once again.
"It's okay-"
And like a thousand wails from the pits of hell itself, the guys in the office pounced at me and bombarded me with insults of every kind.
"YOU INCONSIDERATE PEST!"
"HOW COULD YOU DECLINE SUCH AN OFFER?! SHE ALLOWED YOU TO HAVE SOME OF HER CAKE! HER CAKE! YOU CANNOT DECLINE SUCH THINGS! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT! NO RIGHT!"
"Like I said, I'm trying to cut down on the sweet stuff-."
"YOU'RE A JERK, NATSU! ROT IN HELL!"
"SAY SORRY! SAY SORRY RIGHT NOW!"
"What? No," I responded with a raised brow.
"FIRE HIM! FIRE HIM RIGHT NOW!" They all continued to scream and shout in my face like a bunch of hungry hyenas.
Is this what our world has come down to? Obsessed males pouncing at anyone who disagrees with their love for a particular woman?
"Whatever, can I please return to my work, thank you," I said as I spun my chair towards my desk and continued tapping at my keyboard.
"It's okay, Lucy. I'll eat that cake if you want," I heard the sound of Loke's voice behind me, "Don't mind Natsu, he's a bit of a cueball when it comes to these kinds of things,"
I clicked my tongue and faced my computer screen.
"Loke you've already had two. It's okay, I'll save it for a friend back at home." Ms Heartfilia giggled and made her way to the office break home.
"LUCY IS SUCH A QUEEN, WE ARE NOT WORTHY ENOUGH TO BE IN HER PRESENCE!" The pile of guys said as they raised their arms in the air in unison and made their way back to their desks.
Loke rested on my desk and flicked my mouse away, "How about you lighten up a little,"
"How about you get off my desk?"
"It is Lucy's first completed month and all we are asking from you is to play along, but nope, you just want to sit here like a prick and not join in with the fun," Loke said as he flicked at everything on my desk, intentionally pushing my cup of pen and pencils to the side and laughing lightly.
"Loke, you can't really expect me to go around flocking with you fools just because you want to get in Lucy's pants. I didn't come here to play 'Let's simp for the beautiful blonde girl in the office', I came here to make money," I said a little more sternly.
"Now you care about work, you pink-haired twit-"
I stood up, face-to-face with him and glared into his eyes, "I always did. Now let me do my work,"
The workplace always has people like this, an opposer and the one who gets opposed, also known as a victim.
Loke has been on my case the minute I joined. I joined a few days before Ms Heartfilia did, but she got more leeway than I did so I'm expected to know much more considering I have 'supposed experience in an office' thanks to Gildarts being my reference – damn you, old geezer.
Loke stood up as well and clashed his forehead against mine. He gritted his teeth as he rested his knuckles by his side, "What are you going to do about it, Dragneel?!"
I gritted my teeth, I've never had issues like this when working in construction. Everyone there were so cool, but I'm getting issues like this in a place of well-respected business like this.
What kind of shit is this?! I tried to keep calm… but, Loke, dammit…
I flexed and clenched my fists. Someone needs to put him in his place-.
"What are you guys doing?" Ms Heartfilia said as she stood behind Loke, "Kissing in the office? Aww, I didn't know you guys had that kind of relationship,"
Loke dusted himself off, he also dusted off my shoulders and put on a calm smile, "Not at all. Natsu here just has a messy desk, so I was giving him some tips on being tidy and what kind of representation it gives the company,"
"Helping your fellow colleagues, I'm impressed Loke," Ms Heartfilia said with her hands on her hips, she gave off this kind of surprised gesture, probably to tease Loke.
"Come on, don't embarrass me in front of my friends," Loke rubbed the back of his head.
"I never knew you and Mr Dragneel were friends," She raised a brow.
"We aren't-."
"Yeah! We both went to the same school or whatever," Loke exclaimed as he threw an arm over my shoulder.
I rolled my eyes. We obviously didn't.
"Could you two please discuss this elsewhere, I have things to do," I politely told them as I started to rearrange my desk that Loke had messed up previously.
Loke tightened his grip on my shoulder, "Don't be such a party pooper, Dragneel-."
"Mr Dragneel is right. It isn't right to disturb other colleagues when they are trying to meet their deadlines." Ms Heartfilia said softly as she tugged on Loke's sleeve.
Thank you.
"Well, if Lucy suggests it then it should be fine," Loke shrugged his shoulders.
Yes, if Ms Heartfilia tells you to hop off a bridge, then I guess it's fine too.
Loke's priorities are all over the place.
Damn it.
Can this Monday get any worse?
Just then, a stack of books landed on my desk on my left side. A stray of light-purple hair passed by my screen, and I already knew that my day was about to get a little worse, but only in an indirect fashion.
"Hope I'm not intruding," My colleague, Laki, smiled cheerfully at me, "Mrs Scarlet asked me to give these to you. I did suggest dividing them equally among your team, but she just wanted you to do it,"
"Well, I am the best of the best, so it's only right for her to deliver the hardest tasks to the greatest worker," I smiled a little.
This humble little worker is called Laki Olietta. She's a part of the IT Support Team, so she's quite close to every member, including myself, she's quite literally the only person I can tolerate in this damn office.
"You should really stop showing off, Natsu, Mrs Scarlet was far too impressed with the amount of data you processed last week, you handed in 12 books on time with no mistake whatsoever, and your work ethic is astounding." She said with awe, "Do you mind dialling it down a bit, please?"
I scratched my nose and continued typing, "No can do, how else am I going to get a raise if I don't go all out,"
I heard her sigh, "At least take it slow, okay? You don't want to hurt yourself now, do you? Stress and fatigue can really creep up on you when you least expect it,"
"I got it, Laki. Thanks,"
She smiled humbly and left with the other books for my colleagues. I smiled to myself as I took in the glory of being praised from the big boss herself, Mrs Erza Scarlet.
It's good to see that my potential is being recognised. Now all I need from her is to raise my pay.
She can't always dump this workload on my desk with no raise but allow Loke to shuffle about in the office like a rodent.
I glanced at the books that Laki brought me.
Twenty-four books with the addition of my own twelve.
I grinned.
This should be simple enough.
3rd Person POV
It was 1:00 PM and the day was moving by swiftly. People in the office got up after locking their systems and made their way to the elevator to go get some lunch, conversations among themselves were ongoing and loud as well.
Lucy and Loke exited one of the meeting rooms and began to walk side by side with one another.
"So, what do you feel like eating now? Sushi? Indian?" Loke suggested as he scrolled through his phone.
"Nothing too heavy. I feel like eating a salad right now," Lucy responded.
Loke groaned, "Come on Lucy, it's your celebration day for goodness' sake! You just completed your first month in this firm and you're fussing about carbs and shit, you should let loose, just take the helm and go wild,"
"And that's how I'll end up like you were during the Office Dinner party last week," Lucy laughed.
"Yeah, yeah, at least I was having fun," Loke chuckled alongside her laughter.
Lucy wiped a tear from her eye, remembering the silly dance Loke did and looked off into the next office room.
There, she saw Natsu continuing to power through the work he was given. He didn't even stop to breathe, just continued looking from a book to the screen, from a book to the screen, from a book to the screen, and over, and over again, he repeated that same process.
Lucy slowed her walking and watched the dedicated pinkette work tirelessly, "Does he know it's time for lunch?"
"Hm? Dragneel? He's a powerhouse, you can't pry him from work, no matter what. Let's get those salads though, I think I might chow down on a lettuce or two. As for beverages, I'm assuming you are going to suggest we get water or something, I would say an energy drink, but since you are the fitness guru here, I'll just listen to... Uhhh, Lucy?" Loke stopped as he noticed that Lucy had entered the room where Natsu was working.
He brought a hand to his face and slowly walked to the door as well, "She never listens to me,"
Natsu's POV
I closed the book I had just read through and immediately started on the next.
With the way I am going, they may as well give me a higher raise considering I'm the only one cruising through two other members' workloads.
Better yet, a Senior position, it would do wonders to be on the same level as that tight-necked bastard, Gray Fullbuster, maybe then this whole Office will stop treating me like a door mat.
Heh, I can't wait.
"Dragneel!?" That annoying voice called out to me.
I turned to see Loke at the door and Ms Heartfilia was surprised by the sudden shout. They must've been calling my name constantly earlier but because of the world I slip into when I'm working, I couldn't hear them.
"Eh heh, thank you... Loke," Ms Heartfilia said with a praying gesture. She turned back to me with a smile on her face and I just turned my head to my screen.
"What's up?"
Ms Heartfilia cleared her throat, "Well, lunch period has begun and I just wanted to let you know that-"
"Don't worry yourself, I'm just going to skip it."
"You heard the man, Lucy. Chop, chop now, let's get going," Loke said as he slapped the face of the door.
Ms Heartfilia looked at Loke and then back at me with this sort of worried expression, "You've been working non-stop since Laki put those books on your desks. For your mind and body, I would advise constant breaks to keep up with the workload you are receiving so you do not break down, water breaks are-."
"Listen, Ms Heartfilia, I've wrestled with crappy weather conditions day in and day out at a construction site. If I can do that back-to-back then I definitely don't need these 'breaks' you speak of, so if you don't mind, could you please leave me alone,"
I said that in the politest way that I could, but of course, her pet is going to say...
"Are you serious, Natsu?!" Loke roared as he marched into the room.
Here he comes.
He stood beside Ms Heartfilia and forcefully grabbed a hold of my arm, "Lucy is spending every little minute of her break time looking out for you and the best way to repay her is to reject her?!"
"Well yeah, if I got work to do, then I've got work to do," I responded bluntly. I removed his hand from my arm and began to type, "Go ahead and enjoy your lunch,"
"You're such a bastard, you know that." Loke spat.
"Look who is talking,"
Ms Heartfilia gently placed a hand on Loke's arm, "Okay, okay, let's calm down here-."
Loke towered above me, "No, no, he needs to know that I'm tired of his shit! We are all trying to make this office as lit as possible and he's always bringing the mood down with his stupid crap! Is it so hard for you to let comply with the mood every once in a while?!"
I stood up to face him eye-to-eye, "We are Adults. This is a place of work, not a place for you to hang about, I don't care what you think of me because nothing will ever change. I'm going to sit here, do my work, and mind my business. I suggest you do the same,"
Loke glared at me with gritted teeth and I just stared back at him with furrowed brows and a neutral face.
"You damn fucking …!" He said through gritted teeth as he raised his fist at me.
Ms Heartfilia got between us and tried to pry Loke away from me, "Okay! Okay! No fighting, we are supposed to be a team."
"Exactly… we are a team, except a few of us are carrying more weight than others," I smirked at Loke who just gritted his teeth even more, I could practically see him gnashing them together.
Lucy bowed before me, "I apologise for interrupting you, Mr Dragneel. Please work hard and take care of yourself. Loke, let's go and get lunch,"
She got a hold of his arm and pretty much dragged him out of the office, once they had left and shut the door properly behind them. I let out a heavy sigh and brought my hands together, I cracked them and pursed my lips with pent-up rage.
"I need to break something," I muttered.
I am not losing this job over a twit like Loke and I cannot afford to damage anything in this office. I decided to take that break as Ms Heartfilia suggested, so I picked up my backpack, threw it over my shoulder and left the office.
I looked at the level that the elevator was on and decided to take the stairs.
I need to focus on why I'm doing all of this hard work anyway. I can't afford to get sidetracked by pretty girls and dickhead colleagues.
Gildarts did everything in his power to get me here, so I can't screw up, not now.
To Be Continued