Smeared in Colors of Always

Chapter Five

A small groan escaped me as I sprawled atop the bar counter causing Mira to giggle even as she set down my plate full of yummy breakfast and a yogurt smoothie.

Today had started like any other, meaning I had hit the gym to do my morning training, before finishing with my stretches so I could finally head back to the main part of the guild to eat.

It had been two days since I had spoken with Levy.

In that time, I had taken three short jobs in or near Magnolia.

"Feeling sore?" inquired Mira with a soft smile as she reached out to smooth a hand through my messy hair. "I made sure to pack as much nutrients as I could into your breakfast, it should perk you right up!"

That sounded scary, just what had the lovable demon done now?

"Right," I laughed out slowly before turning my head away from her as tears welled up only to jerk into a sitting position as the front doors of the guild were tossed open. "Seems that our idiotic Natsu is back already."

Mainly since he was the only one who ever threw the doors open like that, well, besides me anyway. Not that I did it as often as Natsu did.

"I'm back," called out Natsu loudly before twisting and attacking Vijeeter who shouted out in pain. "You lied to me! Igneel wasn't in Hargeon!"

"It was just a rumor I heard," shouted back Vijeeter while moving back away from Natsu who still looked pretty mad over it. "You're the one who asked us to let you know any time we hear those type of rumors anyway!"

"Always the same," I laughed out only to shriek as Natsu shot over to my side and picked me up into a tight hug. "Natsu! Put me down you idiotic dragon!"

"They seem to get on well," mused Lucy as she continued to watch the two in front of her causing Mira to giggle. "Oh, hello. I'm Lucy."

"He's been like that since she joined," offered Mira with a small smile as she watched me wiggle free from Natsu's arms and begin to tease him about his last job. "You would think that Natsu was the one who brought her into the guild."

"He wasn't?" questioned Lucy with surprise as she twisted to face Mira who only giggled with a shake of her head.

"Nope," answered Cana as she swaggered over to the other with a smirk as she leaned against the bar. "That would be Laxus Dreyar who brought the munchkin into the guild, like a sack of potatoes at that."

"Is anyone going to let me live that down?" I shot back with a huff as I returned to where they were speaking with Lucy even as I shot one last glare toward a beaming Natsu. "I would have joined the guild on my own if I had been given the chance."

That big oaf just hadn't given me one.

Now thanks to him no one would let me forget just how I ended up joining.

"Anyway, are you planning on joining?"

"Course she is," answered Natsu with a chuckle as he placed his arm atop my head making me shoot the other another glare. "It's why I brought her here with me."

"Nobody asked you," snorted Gray as he ambled by catching Natsu's attention quickly, "or are you that much of an idiot to think Carina only talks to you?"

"What was that icicle dick?" snarled Natsu making me hold back a sigh.

"There they go," I muttered as the fight started and quickly caught the whole guild into it while I motioned Lucy closer toward the bar. "Was wondering when that was gonna start."

"This happens often?" whispered Lucy eyes wide and face a bit pale as she watched the guild members around us brawl loudly.

"Every day," muttered Cana with a huff as Mira handed her a fresh barrel of beer causing her smirk to widen. "Nice, now that's exactly what the doctor called for."

"I think it's lovely," mused Mira with a giggle as she also watched the brawl around us before twirling toward where I sat a bit away from Cana to hand me another smoothie. "Here you go, I made you a blueberry and banana one this time."

"Thanks Mira," I stated with glee as I took the smoothie and began to drink it down causing me to tune out the conversation she started with Lucy. "This is great as usual!"

"Enough," called out Makarov as he finally arrived causing the guild members brawling to freeze in place, well, all but Natsu. "Natsu, I said that was enough."

Watching the dork get stepped on was a bit amusing, and so was the complete fear on Lucy's face considering she was seeing Makarov's giant form for the first time.

But he rarely used it around us unless the brawl got too out of hand anyway. Listening to the speech in person, one that had always resonated with me, was truly inspiring.

"Here," stated Natsu pulling me from my thoughts as I looked away from where I had blankly watched Lucy get her guild mark. "I finally remembered where I put it."

In his hand was a celestial key, one of the Fallen in fact.

"Oh," I breathed out while reaching to take the key into my own hands as I looked it over before shooting forward to pull the other into a tight hug. "This means the world to me, thanks so much Natsu!"

"You're a celestial mage?" called out Lucy as she had come over to show Natsu her guild mark, only for him to give a muttered answer while looking over the request board.

"Yep," I answered proudly with a peace sign even as I clutched the new key in my other hand since I knew she was curious about it. "I'm guessing you're one as well?"

That seemed to make her brighten even more.

"Enough chatting," cut in Gray with a snort as he picked me up and tossed me onto his shoulder causing me to grunt. "This one promised to go on a job with me."

"Why does this always happen?" I huffed out while remaining limp on his shoulder. "Is there something on my forehead telling you idiots to treat me like a sack of flour or potatoes?"

Gray only chuckled as we headed for the doors, luckily, he still had his pants on at this point.

Something that hadn't been the case earlier considering Natsu had even stolen his underwear which had freaked Lucy out. But this also meant I wouldn't be here when Natsu went after Macao with Lucy tagging along.

Not that I would have stopped it from happening considering it was the start of their partnership and team. Soon that would also include Gray and Erza as well.

Truly, things were picking up.

"You better not go to sleep," warned Gray as he jerked his shoulder making me grunt. "This job is a pretty simple one, though farther out than usual."

Meaning this was likely the job he was returning from when he ran into Lucy and Natsu.

That meant we would be gone for a week or two at most.