Save Me From Myself \\ ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕤𝕦

Lucy's Got A Stalker

Mara P.O.V 

       I slouched with my arms crossed, eyes closed and head back as I sat at the table. Lucy was sitting besides me and Natsu across as Happy sat in front of me on the table eating his fish. Some of the others groaned in boredom around the guild and Mirajane tried to cheer them up. I peaked an eye open, Natsu eating the sizzle from the fire sparkler, before closing my eye again. He was pouting, but I'm not sure why though.
"Man... I could have found that treasure...If only I had Virgo there to help me." He grumbled out. I hummed, opened my eyes and gaze at Natsu.
"Get over it already." Happy said with a mouthful.
"Yeah, would you just forget about that junk and let's try and find a real job." Lucy cried.
"I'm lost... What happened?" I tilt my head curiously, my eyes shifting between them all.
"Well, while you were on your rampage, I asked Lucy to help me with some buried treasure, but she wouldn't help me." Natsu.. again grumbled out. Man, he's really pouting. What was the treasure?
"Treasure?" I asked. He grinned at me, just thinking about it.
"I heard that Master Gramps has a secret photo album with embarrassing photos of almost everyone from the guild buried there, was hoping to show you if I had found them." He chuckled quietly not wanting the others to hear before going back to pouting.
"Lucy- and you didn't help him because?!" I yelled out wanting to see the photos. She sulked and slammed her head on the table.
"Long story." I raised a brow, wondering about her shift his attitude was about. She sulked more.
"I'm never gonna be able to pay my rent." So she's broke?
"So let's go find a job." Natsu said, I grinned as we all stood up, finally!
"Seriously? We can get back to work, you mean it?" Lucy cried out happily. I chuckled as Natsu assured her we can.
"Look, I wasn't trying to be lazy or nothing, I was just waiting for the perfect job." I smiled and looked at Lucy who suddenly seemed out of it. I looked at where she was looking but didn't see anyone there.
"Lucy?"
"What's the matter, you okay?"
"It might be my imagination but lately I've been getting this super creepy feeling someone's been watching me." My brows narrowed at this, as Happy and Natsu went into their weirdness fib. They went to a corner and started trying to figure out what could possibly be wrong with Lucy.
"Is there a term for Lucy's condition?" Natsu whispered harshly.
"I think it's a classic textbook case of expressive ego!" Happy guessed confidently. I giggled at the two before turning to Lucy. She looked at me unamused and I turned away quickly, dropping the humor. Wonder if there's more to this though.. Hope it's not another case like Phantom Lord.

      After Lucy left us, we decided to watch her place, since she felt uneasy we wanted to make sure nothing was going on in case. Natsu and Happy stood there officially as I stood against the wall of her place with my arms closed. Eventually we noticed Lucy slowly making her way towards us. She seems sad.
"All clear on you end, Sergeant Happy?"
"Aye aye Captain Natsu, and you Lieutenant Mara?" I rolled my eyes and smiled at the likable cat.
"Aye, sir!" I confirmed. Happy turned to me with tears, before we noticed how quiet Lucy was.
"Yo, welcome home."
"I'm happy to report no suspicious individual had been detected."
"Everything okay Lucy?" We all asked. She smiled softly at us before dropping it.
"Thanks guys."
"Captain, it seems the buck private is a party pooper, sir."
"Wait, how did I get to be a private?"
"Well you are just a neebie."
"Mara was a Lieutenant though." I gave a nervous grin.
"More experience?" Natsu asked, not sure how to answer.
"Everything alright, you seem upset." Natsu tried this time. We noticed someone poke behind a shed.
"Is it him?" Lucy asked, more herself than any of us.
"Captain sir, we have a creep over here!" Yeah, maybe I would have been more worried if the individual behind said shed wasn't halfheartedly trying to 'shoo' the cat away. I could almost laugh. Natsu yelled he'd take care of it, throwing himself over the building and landing on the person harshly. I didn't need to see to hear it was Gray.
"What's your problem?" I heard as I made my way around the other side. Natsu stood over the barely clothed Gray.
"What the heck are you doing here?"
"It was Gray?"
"I'd never thought you'd be the creep stalking Lucy." Happy conjectured.
"Wait, you got it all wrong." Lucy tried to explain.
"Calm down. I overhear her say she felt like someone was following her so I wanted to make sure she got home safe... Geez I was just looking out for a friend." He explained, pouting in his own way. Happy floated next to Gray.
"You loooove her don't you" My hands flew to my mouth as I miserably failed to cover my laughter. Lucy glared at me and could tell she was mentally sicking Aquarius on me.
"WATCH IT OR I"LL PUNCH YOUR FACE IN CAT!" Gray threatened the cat.
"Ya know, I never really liked ya that much but now, I just lost all respect for you." Natsu seemed to provoke. Gray jumped up at him.
"What do you mean by that?
"I've always suspected you be a pervert because you walk around half naked but now that your stalking cute girls I'm absolutely positive-~" Happy taunted, before Gray sent him flying
"I wasn't stalking her, I was looking out for her!"
"Well, it sounds like someone is in denial."
"Oh, yeah? That's it! You wanna piece of me, you fiery mouth breather?"
"You're just mad you've been caught red handed you pervy popsicle." They started brawling as I stood back and watched the entertainment as Lucy started yelling at them. Eventually I sighed, getting tired.
"Alright, call it a night, boys." I intervened whilst walking between them, and then proceeded to punch them both apart instead as they chose to ignore me. They both fell apart and landed as I started to take my leave.
"Nightnight, boys." I waved. I walked past Lucy who sat who her stairs with Happy.
"Night." I beamed down at them.
"Night, Mara." They replied in unison.

"Hey, Mara, Lucy, it's time for us to go to work!" Natsu yelled excitedly. We stopped and shared a look before grinning. We got there seeing Erza... and her horde of suitcases.

"So, what kind of job are we taking?"
"I don't know." Natsu answered unsure as Gray came back with a flier.
"Let's catch an escaped convict, Belvano." He suggested.
"Hey, I heard of him before, he's also called 'The Guild Hunter.' Wow I can't believe he's on the loose." I grinned as Natsu laughed out.
"Rumor has it his magic is way awesome! I'm all fired up!" I chuckled out.
"Let's do this then."
"And the jewels add up to 300 jewels each, that should take care of your rent for a while." Lucy smiled at Erza, as she did the math for the reward money.
"Like the next six months, you can count me in." I nod at Lucy before looking at Erza and her suitcases.
"Why so many Erza?" I joked with uncertainty.
"You can never be too careful when traveling." I sweat dropped before noticing Lucy suddenly run over to a table with Wakabe, Macao, and Mirajane.
"Where is Alcapia? Tell me!" I turned back to the others, who still hadn't noticed.
"You ready Lucy?" Natsu turns back to question, who then realizes Lucy was nowhere to be seen.
"She took off." I stated. They gave me a look.
"Yeah we see that but where?" I draw my hands up.
"All I heard was Acalypha." I state in defense.
"What, wait, isn't there a hostage going on there?"
"Yeah, Naked Mummy." Happy turned to Natsu.
"Why would Lucy go there?" Gray asked this time. I shrugged.
"Let's go, we need to make sure she's okay." The rest of us nodded at Erza's plan and rushed to the town of Acalypha.

    We came up on the stretch of road the hostage was located, Lucy standing outside with an older gentlemen. The military were loading up the bad guys, seemingly to have the situation under control and under wraps.

"There you are."

"You had us worried sick."

"Lucy!"

"Are you okay?" We stopped running as we got closer, the ground not shaking from Erza's luggage anymore. 

"You were able to diffuse the situation by yourself, color me impressed." Erza praised in her own way. I smiled as did the others.

"Well, thanks-" She suddenly stopped and turned to the man behind her. I examined him further, seeing if I could place him anywhere. It's the man in the window. That's her father isn't it..?

"Take care of yourself dad." She waved lovingly at her father as we turned around to head back. Guess it is her dad. I'm glad they seem to be .. better, even if it's just the start of it.

"You wanna explain why you ditched us?" Gray asks.

"It was no big deal." Lucy shrugged.

"Yeah, no big deal my butt." Natsu grumbles.

"I hope you know we had to cancel our job because of you." Happy lectured Lucy. 

"Yeah, sorry about that." She smiles sheepishly.