I was in the midst of writing for a prompt for this pairing, when instead THIS popped into my head and refused to leave.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.

Preceptor: an instructor, teacher, tutor.

"So, Ms. Strauss." The reporter scribbled away in her notepad, at the end of her questions for Fairy Tail's S-Class mage. Ever since the return of her power, interviews with the demon-class Take Over mage were highly sought after. As such, there had been a great number of topics discussing during the interview thus far. But there was one question remaining.

"The readers of Sorcerer Weekly are all curious – what is your ideal guy?"

"I-Ideal guy?" the model stuttered. Though she had been asked this question on a number of other interviews, she had always managed to avoid or redirect the conversation. This time, however, memories flowed through her head, unbidden. Like as not, it was probably due to the reemergence of the demon souls trapped within the cage of her own.

"Yes. The editors have received a great number of letters inquiring on this topic!"

Mirajane did not doubt the truth of the reporter's statement. "Oh."

"So? Do you have a type?" the woman pressed, sensing a story.

"Well, well, well."

"Is there something the matter, Ms. Strauss?"

The Take Over mage blinked, startled out of her thoughts. How long had she just spaced out for? To cover up her inattentiveness, she gave the reporter a brilliant smile. "Mirajane, please! Ms. Strauss is way too formal."

"Ms. Strauss, is it. I see."

"Mirajane, then," she agreed.

"I'm sorry, but could you repeat the question?"

"Certainly – what is your ideal man?" Pen poised to take notes, the journalist waited expectantly for Mirajane's answer.

"What a curious magic you have."

"Um… I'm afraid I don't really have a specific…" Mirajane began, not especially comfortable with answering the question. Then she hesitated. Did it really matter if she kept it to herself? It was… so long ago, anyway. "Wait, do first crushes count?"

"Of course they do!" Nodding enthusiastically, the reporter urged her on. "Please… what sort of person were they?"

"Ms. Strauss. You can do far better than that. Are you even putting for the effort? Try again."

"Hmm…" Mirajane tapped her chin with a long, pale finger. Her cerulean eyes were unfocused, her thoughts far away from the park in which the interview was being held. "I think he was the type to look down his nose at others, unless they were able to prove themselves in his eyes. He wore his long, dark hair in a high ponytail. Red eyes. He smirked a lot. I don't really recall his face clearly beyond that, though."

"Really? What was it about him that attracted you to him?"

"Focus, Ms. Strauss. You are capable of far greater power than you are bringing forth at this moment. Dig deeper within your magical container, and let it flow over you."

She giggled. "I don't think attraction is quite the right word!"

"How do you mean?"

"I was rather young, and it was just a crush. The kind little children get sometimes, you know? When they look up to an older person."

The reporter wrote this down. "Really? How old were you? What was the age difference like?"

"How old am I? Very. And you are very young. Your point?"

"I asked him once, but he never gave me a straight answer. He couldn't have been older than his twenties, though?" Mirajane reasoned, based upon her dim recollection of the man. "I was about… ten or so at the time, I think."

"Pardon me for saying so…" Tentatively, the journalist met Mirajane's gaze. "But it strikes me as somewhat odd that a man of that age would want to be around someone of yours."

"Why? Because I find your magic amusing."

Mirajane shook her head, dismissing the other woman's words. "I think you're misunderstanding. This was relatively soon after I had absorbed a demon's soul for the first time. I struggled for a long time, trying to control it within me. He saw, and understood what I was going through."

"He was a mage?"

"I travel. That's all you need to know."

He had never outright stated as such, so all she had to go on was personal conjecture, but Mirajane answered, "A traveling mage, yes. He taught me how to control my demon, and helped to train me in my magic. I assure you that he was nothing but a perfect gentleman, if brusque at times." That was putting it mildly, if she were to be perfectly honest with herself. He could be downright rude and caustic when the mood struck him.

"Oh, so you had a crush on your teacher, then?" the reporter pointed out the stereotype.

This made Mirajane laugh. "I guess I did, didn't I?"

Continuing, the journalist asked, "Did he have any hobbies?"

"You are to never touch this book. It is dangerous, and it was entrusted into my safekeeping."

"He liked to read," the She-Devil replied vaguely.

"Did he ever give you good advice?"

"Stay vigilant always, Ms. Strauss. The demons will always seek to devour you from the inside. And if your control should slip, even for a moment… you shall be lost."

What sort of question was that? Mirajane had to wonder.

"Too much to count! Seriously, the only reason I am as powerful as I am today is because he took the time to teach me," she found herself confessing. It was… oddly freeing to talk about this for the first time. "I then took his lessons, and taught my siblings how to properly control their own Take Overs."

"It sounds like you owe him a lot," observed the reporter.

"Ms. Strauss. You will hurt your family if you continue as you are. And yourself as well."

"More than you realize."

"Pay me back? What utter nonsense. I did not do this for you, from the beginning. If you wish to repay my selfish actions, you are the fool."

With a nod, the woman smiled at Mirajane. "Do you hope to see him again, someday?"

"Then someday become an opponent worthy of my time."

"Of course! I need to properly thank him!" she replied.

"I only have one last question for you." After Mirajane nodded for her to continue, the journalist asked, "Do you happen to remember his name at all?"

She openly scoffed at this. "Of course I do!"

"Never forget it, little demon."

"Can you share with us what it was? Maybe someone knows him, and could give him word that you're doing alright."

Shaking her head, Mirajane rejected the idea. "Nope! If he sees this interview, he'll know. If he doesn't… it won't matter."

The reporter blinked, curious. "Why do you say that?"

"I know I'll see him again someday!" Her words were firm, with no room for doubt.

"How can you be so certain of that?"

I am the King of the Underworld."

Mirajane pressed a finger to her lips and grinned, winking mischievously. "It's a secret!"

"You may call me Mard Geer."

I kind of headcanon this now.

I rather enjoyed writing it, too. I love this pairing.