Chapter Text
"LUUUUUCCCCY!!!" Happy's high voiced beamed through the guild hall and both he and Natsu burst through the doors, causing the Spirit Mage to become distracted in her search for a job.
"Hey, guys!" Lucy beamed and waved from her position at the job board.
"What's up?" Natsu asked as he got closer.
"Looking for a job, Lucy?" Happy added, "Rent time again?"
"Yea, actually..." She trailed off looking disappointed. "Honestly, it seems like I never get caught up, it's times like this I miss being rich." She joked. "Anyways, I was thinking about taking a high paying job. That way I could just save the money and not have to worry about rent for a while, then other small jobs I do can pay for food and little things."
"Shouldn't you have planned you lifestyle three years ago, when you came to Fairy Tail?" Happy obviously pointed out.
"Shut up, cat! But," Lucy sighed at his insight, "you're right, I should have!" she chuckled. "Let's see what we have here." She resumed her search, continuing where she left off. 100,000, too little. 250,000, only three months. If only I could do an S class. 500,000, that's good, but it says there's a lot of fighting... Hm, here!!
Lucy pulled the poster she spotted off the board at eyed it with intensity. The flyer read:
Magical Anomaly Near Crocus
Recently, surges of magical power have been originating somewhere around the outskirts of the Capitol, Crocus. These random influxes have caused a temporary drain on both magical items and Mages alike. I am looking for a Mage with two qualities. The Mage must be a problem solver and the Mage must also have the ability to operate efficiently without fully relying on the use of their magic. If you are able to help, meet at the palace in the Capitol. Crocus needs you.
Thank you,
Princess Hisui E Fiore
Reward: 2,000,000
This job sounded perfect! Lucy loved detective work, and over time, she had learned not to rely too heavily on her magic. When Minerva beat her in the Naval Battle of the Grand Magic Games, Lucy had never felt more helpless. When she got back, she secretly enlisted in self defense classes, and slowly learned how to fend for herself without magic. And, she had even continued her self defense as well as her magical training during the year of Fairy Tail's disbandment. She was a lot stronger than when she had first joined. She could do this job!
Natsu ripped the paper from her hand. "Awesome!! When do we leave!?"
"What? We don't, I do. I said I was looking for a job, I was going to do it alone..."
Natsu burst into laughter. "Oh c'mon, Luce! That's great, you couldn't do a job on your own!" He continued his laughing fit, Lucy just grabbed the paper back from Natsu.
She couldn't begin to count how many times she had heard 'You're just a Celestial Spirit Mage' or 'You're support.' The comments upset her deeply, she loved her magic, and even though others didn't hold it in high regard, she did. She had trained extensively, even going as far as developing her signature power 'Star Dress' which befitted her with the 12 different powers of the Zodiac. And yes, 12. In addition to training her magic, she had also finally united the Zodiac. Yukino had constantly insisted on Lucy owning Pisces and Libra, that she was fine with her numerous Silver Keys and one Black Key. Lucy continuously refused, however Yukino threatened to forcefully break her contracts if Lucy didn't take them over, and in order to save Yukino, Pisces, and Libra heartache, she accepted them into her collection. As for Aquarius, well, Lucy realized she could just hire a Arc of Time Mage to restore Aquarius' key to its' original condition. A sneaky way to get around a Recompense Summoning. After she had created and distributed hundreds of flyers for all the guilds around Fiore, her first job request, an Arc of Time Mage finally accepted it. A hefty fee later, not only Aquarius was bright an shining, but all 12 looked brand new and polished, no longer ancient, scratched, nor battle worn. She kept the contact information of the Mage in case she ever needed his services again. Lucy thought she had come a long way.
However, there was Natsu, still laughing, belittling her skill without even realizing he was hurting her feelings. When he had said that she felt a sharp sting of hurt, and a wave of sadness, especially, though, since the comment came from Natsu. Over time Lucy had began to see Natsu in a not-so-platonic way. Maybe it was because of all the times they had held each other after battle, maybe it was all the times he had saved her, or maybe it was all the times they had cuddled up when one was upset or even just lonely. But for whatever reason Lucy had fallen hard for the obliviously insensitive Dragon Slayer, who stood in front of her. She loved him, however, She knew it was never going to happen between them. She had thought Natsu was gay for a while. When she first developed feelings, Lucy became overly flirty towards the fire mage, who seemed to ignore it...and then continue to start a wrestling match with a near naked Gray, and the pink hair? Come on. But, then Lucy thought he was asexual, and that probably fit him more, Natsu really never showed any interest in anyone. But over time, Lucy just suspected Natsu probably didn't even know what a girl was, he usually behaved like a 5 year old anyway, if he did know what a girl was, he probably thought they were wrought with cooties. Lucy was currently thinking he would probably end up with Lissana anyway. The choice would probably be between herself and the Takeover Mage, but Lucy never did have much luck. He mother died, her father became a jerk, she lost everything, and she was 20 without ever even having her first kiss. Why would the outcome of who Natsu chose be any different? And besides, Lisanna had a slightly romantic past with him and was sweeter, prettier, and more feminine than Lucy, Lucy felt she couldn't compare. She looked at Natsu. God, even when he was inadvertently hurting her feelings, all she wanted to do was push her lips agains his.
"Whatever, Natsu." She said angrily, turning around to both hide the blush spreading across her cheeks and as well as to give Mira the flyer.
Natsu stopped laughing when Happy elbowed him. Natsu cleared his throat. "If this is about the money, you can have it all, I just like going on missions with you, you're good support." There was another comment.
"No, Natsu." She started sternly. "It is about the money, I need it for my grand rent plan and near every time we have gone together we get nothing. It's always either cheated its way out of our hand, been refused by you, Erza, or Gray, or you've impishly caused enough destruction to wrack up a bill that puts us in debt. Happy, you don't break things, you can come if you want, you only get 25% though." She said sweetly.
"50!" Happy countered playfully
"30, and I'll buy you a ton of fish!"
Happy started drooling "Keep the money, just get me some tasty fish!"
Lucy giggled with happy as they walked to the counter Mita was at "Deal, cat!"
Natsu ran up to Lucy and pleaded "Luuuuucccyyy. C'mon!! What if I'm on my best behavior!? The flyer said I would have my magic half the time anyway!!"
"The flyer also said they needed someone who can think things trough and could be effective without their magic, could you do those?" She inquired seriously.
"If it means spending time with you I can try my hardest!" Lucy Blushed, she knew couldn't say no to the guy that held her heart, the guy who was currently pouting with puppy eyes.
"....fine." Lucy said "But please, behave, I really want this money." They arrived at the counter and Natsu pulled Lucy into a fierce hug, crushing the air out of her lungs.
"Thanks, Luce, I won't disappoint you."
Lucy returned the hug, enjoying the warm firm body Natsu offered, her fingers subtly feeling the tight muscles in her crush's back. Her eyes began to feel heavy as she truly took in the feeling.
"Ahem."
Natsu pulled away, and Lucy's eyes burst open to see a blushing Mira. "Hey.." Lucy got out meekly.
"Hi Lucy," Mira's blush didn't disappear, no doubt she had saw the emotions written across Lucy's face in the few seconds the hug lasted, "did you find a job?" She finished in her usual sweet voice.
"I...uh.. Yea! I did, is it still available?"
Mira took the paper offered to her. "Magical Anomaly? It should still be open, let me go log it. Have a great trip guys!"
"Thanks Mira!" Happy, Natsu, and Lucy said in unison before they sprinted out the guild.
Mira watched them run out with their usual energy. "Oh, Lucy, I hope he returns those feelings of yours soon."
"What was that sis?" An approaching Lisanna asked.
"Oh nothing. Just thinking out loud."
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Somewhere across the continent four hooded figures were gazing into a crystal ball.
"What about him?" The first hooded figure spoke with a male voice. The image on the screen flickered to a man in his 20's with green hair. "He has shield magic."
"But his heart isn't in the right place." The fourth hooded figure spoke up, also a male.
"How can you tell?" The second voice chipped, a female this time.
"Haven't you learned by now, my vibes are never wrong. I'm the best read we have." The fourth replied
"...true." The second conceded
"Next." The third voice resounded, another female. This time the image flickered to a pretty blonde girl laughing with a cat and a pink haired boy.
"Her?" The first asked again. "A Celestial Spirit Mage, she's strong, but she's no where close to her potential."
Four looked closely, he liked what he saw, a lot, but he wasn't about to admit his sudden infatuation. "I like her..."
"Finally!" Two stated
"Good" three said, "so she's the one we will go after?"
They all agreed.
"Thorin," two started, "you should be the one to recruit her, you're the one with the impeccable read on people, after all."
"Lucy Heartfilia," the man called Thorin smiled, "welcome to Suberashi."