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Snowflakes fell in a silent flutter amongst the chaos of the market. Stalls bustling with shopkeepers holding all sorts of trinkets and goods as locals hurried around searching for the perfect gift.
Upcoming gift giving season meant the Fairy Tail mages were no exceptions to the hustle and search. Though, in comparison to world-ending missions and ferocious monsters, busying patrons through tight marketplaces on snow-slicked ground was a welcomed change of pace.
Lucy and Wendy, two mages who grew up outside of Magnolia were especially content to take their time as they browsed from stall to stall. The two girls held warm cups of hot chocolate as they happily chatted with each other. Wendy was on the search for a gift for Carla and Lucy happily offered to help her look. Natsu and Gray had to separate when they complained the girls were taking too long so Erza hauled them off elsewhere before they caused a scene.
Lucy was grateful for the small break. She adored her guildmates to no end, that was no question, but it was nice to have a gap in the chaos.
An upcoming display caught Lucy’s eye, and she gently guided the younger girl over to the vendor. There were glittering ornaments of all sorts, it seemed to be just what they were searching for.
While Wendy chatted with the vendor, going over details, Lucy browsed over the various ornaments. She still had a few guildmates to select presents for and though she walked over for Wendy’s sake, it could not hurt for her to look for herself. After her mother passed away, gift giving and holiday celebrations were not a priority in her household. Her father cared little and the staff of their mansion did not accept gifts, citing it would be inappropriate of them to accept any tokens from her.
To be a part of a guild, a family, that embraced celebrations and opportunities to recognize their bonds and appreciate one another, it was all she wanted growing up. So, Lucy sort of went overboard when it came time to gift presents. She had a lot of years to make up for.
Eventually Wendy settled on a brilliant, glittering crystal, that had a set of glass wings inside. Elegant, simple, beautiful, she thought Carla would love it. Lucy purchased a few of her own. Soon enough, the pair was on their way.
“So Lucy…” Lucy glanced warily towards her younger guildmate. She did not love the tone in which Wendy spoke to her. It was moments like this where she had to give an eye roll towards the resident dragon slayers. They were their own bonded pack at times and clearly the older men had their own influence on the sweet sky dragon slayer.
Still, Lucy gazed towards Wendy with a sweet though cautious smile, “What’s up Wendy?”
“Are you getting Natsu anything special this year?” Wendy gave Lucy a knowing smile that caused the blonde to release a sigh.
“Interesting question Wendy, I’m getting all members of our team something important. Natsu isn’t the only one to consider.”
Wendy released a hum, “Sure. But there’s no way you consider Natsu the way you consider us. I see you as my big sister Lucy, same for Erza. I also consider Natsu and Gray to be protective older brothers at times. Which, the protectiveness Gray displays for me, is how he behaves with you. You two banter like siblings, fight like them. But Natsu, that man does not look at you how Gray does. You certaintly don’t look at or behave with him the way you do with Gray.”
Lucy hid her blush behind her scarf, tucking her face as she glanced away from Wendy to take in the stalls again, “I think you spend too much time people watching. We must need to take higher risk jobs; we’re clearly not challenging you enough.”
Wendy merely giggled, “Whatever you say Lucy.” Though she dropped the topic, regarding Lucy’s dismissal and denial of the obvious. The most obvious couple that refused to acknowledge each other as such. For all the comments about Natsu’s obliviousness, his partner at times matched him just as well. Sure, Wendy was younger, but with the missions the team went on, her emotional intelligence grew. The sky dragon slayer was far from a typical teenager.
The two decided to begin looking for the rest of their team as they headed out of the busy section of the market. Lucy deposited her empty hot chocolate cup as they walked away from the vendors. There was a food stall area that came with tables and open space. The pair knew their team would not leave without them, so food stalls were their best bet. Besides, if Natsu was not following Lucy, he was following his stomach.
As they entered the food stall area, there was a group of older teenagers engaged in an intense snowball fight. Lucy gave a quick glance towards their commotion til she spotted a head of salmon, and bright red in line at one of the stalls.
With her purchase in one hand, she gently grasped her guildmate’s forearm.
“I think I see them in line up ahead-“
“Oh! Lucy, watch out!” Before the blonde knew there were multiple snowballs hurling right at her. Wendy quickly shifted to tug Lucy out of the realm of fire. Though with the ground slick from snow, and both her hands carrying items the younger girl slipped and headed towards the ground. Lucy’s grip on her arm tightened as she tried to catch Wendy, while simultaneously staying balanced on her own. Unfortunately for Wendy, to catch herself she released her ornament before she toppled fully into the snow. A wobbly Lucy stood over Wendy as her hand braced the ground and she stopped the rest of her body, which meant she watched as the crystal ornament cracked.
Lucy stared wide eye as tears began to pool in Wendy’s eyes. She had been so excited about her purchase, only to watch it crack within an hour of ownership.
“No, no, no.” Lucy shook herself of the surprise and set her own purchase on the ground before using both arms to fully haul Wendy back to standing. She picked her items back up to turn her glare on the group of boys. Who she noticed was hunched over laughing, staring in their direction.
Laughing while Wendy just stared in distressed at her broken gift. Which, frankly, pissed Lucy off. Without a word to Wendy, Lucy marched over to the group of boys. They were turned away from the scene loudly gesturing with one another. A recreation of the incident that had just occurred.
“Just, what is your problem? Do you really find harassing people, ruining their peaceful days funny?”
One of the boys turned to her, a smug look and uncaring eyes, “Listen lady, it was an accident. You going to fault us for bad aim? Last I checked that wasn’t a crime. Besides not our fault you two couldn’t have better awareness. I thought old people weren’t so stupid. And maybe little girls should stick to shopping with their parents if they can’t handle a little snowball. I mean come on, you really blaming us for the dumb girl falling?”
Lucy could have crushed her gifts in her hand she was seething with rage, “What did you just call her?”
The boy turned to his friends, clearly satisfied with his comments, “Come on, you really going to get so upset over a kid? I mean you’re really yelling at me in public over a brat.”
The air thickened with Lucy’s temper. She took a step towards the boy as he shot a quick glance towards his friends. His confidence faltering as the tension and magic energy in the air rose.
Lucy took another step forward with the intent to show the naïve boys that yelling at them in public was the least she was willing to do over some strangers insulting her family. Except, in the next moment arms were encircling her waist and pulled her back.
Even through her thick winter coat, she felt the warmth seep through of the chest she was suddenly braced against. A tickle of air against her ear, and then, “That’s enough Luce. I think they got the message.”
“Gentlemen. I suggest you find a new place to play in the snow. You’re disrupting the public’s peace, and as members of Fairy Tail we simply cannot allow this disruption to continue.
“Dude, we pissed off Fairy Tail?”
“This isn’t good guys.”
“We should go.”
“Um. Look, it was all for fun. Uh- sorry miss- I mean ma’am.” Then the teenagers turned and were gone, hesitantly glancing back towards the scary red head glaring them down.
Lucy stared as well, her lips in a frown, “Alright, alright, I’m calm Natsu. You can let go now.” There were few, very few people Lucy Heartfilia would let handle her in that manner.
Her eyes rolled as he chuckled in response, “You sure Luce? I was ready to place bets with Erza on if you’d skin them before we reached you. You don’t often lose your temper, am I rubbing off on you?”
At that, she brought her arms up to pull his grip off herself, in order to turn and face him head on. There was no malice or judgement in his gaze as Lucy faced her partner. Only amusement. She wasn’t sure which reaction pissed her off more. She glanced at her other guildmate, “Sorry you had to step in Erza. I really should have kept my cool.”
Erza gave her a soft smile, “It’s alright Lucy. If they managed to upset you, I trust it would have been worse had any of us been closer to the conflict.” Her confidence managed to calm Lucy down. It meant a lot that despite them stepping in, it was not out of judgement or anger. Rather support and the sake of keeping the peace.
Lucy and Natsu watched as Erza began to walk back towards Gray and Wendy. The former had started to make small ice scultpures to calm Wendy down and distract her from the broken crystal while he let Natsu and Erza handle the other situation. As Lucy started to take a step as well, there was a gentle grip on her wrist, halting her.
“Natsu?”
“I- I just wanted to check in, privately. Are you okay Luce? It really is strange for you to lose your temper. Especially on some bratty kids.”
Lucy felt her face warming; it wasn’t often her partner’s softer side came out. Though, it typically was in moments like this. Where it was just the two of them. Moments reserved only for Lucy to be a part of. Hopefully the cold was enough to disguise her reddening cheeks.
“Thanks, Natsu. I’m good now. They insulted Wendy, and I know they were baiting me I just couldn’t help it. They could call me all the names they want, but to insult my family, especially someone younger than them. It got to me. Considering all the grief I give you for your impulsiveness, I wasn’t much better huh.” She stared at her boots. Now that it was over, it was sort of embarrassing how out of sorts she let them make her.
A gentle, calloused hand kindly cupped her face. Natsu guided her gaze back to his, “You acted exactly how any of us would. A Fairy Tail wizard being impulsive? That’s just a given. Let’s head back to the group and you can show me and Happy what you got later tonight. Besides, I have so much to tell you about all the food Gray and I just tried. It was delectable Luce!” She allowed him to guide her back to their friends, all the rage dissipating from her earlier encounter. The cool air was unnoticeable as warmth spread through her at her best friend’s comforting words and gestures. For a known hothead, no one could calm her like him.
It brightened her to see all her friends in good spirits by the time they reached them. Lucy glanced at Wendy who was smiling brightly, holding an altered version of her ornament. Glittering ice filled in any cracks and added some new details as well. Perhaps her family was chaotic, but above all they were a family first. A family that looked out for one another in various ways. Though family or not, Lucy ignored any knowing smiles sent her way as she approached with her partner. Natsu began talking through his meals of the day, oblivious to the other’s reactions. Despite the small incident, the Fairy Tail mages left the market feeling fulfilled and joyous over the experiences shared with one another.