A/N: after way too long...I have an update for you all. I didn't just want to give a half-assed chapter that Igaveup on so I kept it back until I found that I had finished it the way I wanted to write it and met my minimum word quota (which is about 2-4k.) So here it is.
(also, please do not write any continuations or etc of my story, I will finish it slowly but surely.)
Natsu walked through the bustling town, various topics laying heavy on his mind. In a very short time, he'd be exposed. Now, that wasn't as bad as he may have thought it to be in the past few months, but something he hadn't thought about before came to mind: what if Mira thought differently when she found out. Yes, she did modeling often but his music was dark. Very dark in fact and despite what Makoto and the others could say, it's still more morbid than he would've liked.
He ran a hand through his hair as he took a deep breath, trying to pick out the various scents in the air to relax. Oranges and other citrus from a stand he just passed, lavender from an incense stand further ahead, and the overall faint musk from the people he wove between to push on. He didn't know why the though of exposure had bothered him so much though. Did he fear the others leaving him over something so trivial? Perhaps. Perhaps he did for whatever reason his mind had thrown at him.
It was one of his fears, but he didn't need to shove it on them. He didn't need to shove his insecurities on anyone else.
He attempted to clear his head as his muscle memory brought him to where Wendy and Carla lived. Happy had been staying with them the last handful of days and since he just arrived back in town, he needed to get his little buddy.
He knocked on Wendy's door before poking a head in, "Anyone home?"
"Natsu! It was about time you came to pick him up." Carla said with her usual cool and collected tone. "Although Wendy is perfectly happy watching him it is still improper to leave with little forewarning!"
"I know, I know and I'm sorry, though we did finish the missions in less time than we thought." Natsu grinned as Wendy leaned into the room from their small kitchen. "So there's that in my favor at least."
"Ah! Natsu, you're back!" Wendy smiled, "How did the missions go?"
"Smoothly, no going overboard this time." Natsu said, holding a peace sign up with his hand. Wendy mirrored it and beckoned him to come in. "The missions weren't long after all, breezed right through."
"Natsu!" Happy pretty much teleported to him, burying himself into his chest. "Don't leave me next time! I wanted to go too!"
"Sorry bud, I would've waited the extra day for you if Erza would've let me." Natsu replied as he rubbed Happy's head. "Did you have fun on the mission with Wendy and Carla?"
"Aye! We got a lot of fish!" Happy replied excitedly.
"Oh really?" Natsu glanced at Wendy who explained.
"The man who was our client let us stay for dinner." She said, "he was very nice and gave us some extra fish to take home."
"Ooohhh looks to me like you guys hit the jackpot." Natsu grinned. "Thank you again for watching him by the way. "
"It's nothing, really." Wendy smiled, "Carla likes his company too."
"Please child, only speak for yourself." Carla scoffed.
"You didn't deny it." Natsu teased.
Happy looked over at her all starry eyed, "Carla~"
Carla groaned, grumbling as she excited the room, "honestly the nerve they have." Natsu and Wendy shared a laugh as she slipped out of sight.
Natsu sighed, "so she is still in denial?"
"Very much so." Wendy giggled. "But how about you?"
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Natsu leaned against the wall, waiting for Happy to get his stuff together. "What could I possibly be in denial about?"
Wendy hummed, a soft smile on her face. "Okay, well, promise you won't get mad."
Natsu frowned, "Why would I-"
"Just promise!" She whined.
"Okay, I promise." Natsu even made a cross over his chest, "Cross my heart, now why do you think I'd be mad?"
"I overheard you and Levy in the library before..." Wendy confessed quickly. "I was going to look up something and I didn't mean to overhear..."
Natsu clenched his teeth but released them in a long sigh, "Wendy..."
"But I haven't told a soul!" She quickly added, putting her hands up. "No one knows because I told them. The only other person in the guild who knows is Levy!"
Natsu tugged at his scarf idly. He supposed that was okay. "It's...fine. It's okay."
Wendy hugged him, "I'm sorry Natsu."
He hugged her back, "It's alright. No harm done right?" He thought a moment and sighed. "It doesn't matter right now anyway."
"Why do you say that?" Wendy asked, stepping back from him a bit.
"I'm going public during the festival this weekend." Natsu admitted, "A local trash magazine has a strong theory on who 'Night' really is and they are going public with their article on me on their next publishing."
Wendy hummed, "Well, if it helps, I rather like your music. Even if it's not a cheery and bubbly as you are in the guild."
Natsu grinned, feeling a small weight being lifted. "I guess I didn't have to worry anyway huh?"
"What do you mean?" She asked, tilting her head a bit.
"Well...I was feeling a bit anxious about my identity as 'Night' getting revealed and stuff. But recently I've been thinking that things are gonna be fine. Better even than I could've thought."
Wendy smiled widely, "I'm positive it will be!"
"I'll just hang in there and figure out what I want to perform. Serenity is still playing that night so maybe we could open for them."
"I'll hope so." Wendy hummed. "But between you and me, I'm pretty sure they could tone down a bit on all of the sappy love stuff."
Natsu froze for a moment before busting out laughing, "I never ever thought I'd hear you say something like that."
"Don't get me wrong, I love their music, but surely they have other positive things to sing about."
"Of course, "Natsu grinned, still chuckling as Happy returned.
"Natsu! Natsu! Can we go to the guild?!" Happy loudly asked, flying around.
"Sure thing bud," Natsu chuckled, turning back to Wendy, "thanks again for watching him."
"It's no problem at all, he keeps Carla in pleasant company." Wendy giggled.
Natsu smiled, "We're heading off now. See you at the guild."
"Bye Natsu!" Wendy waved as he exited her house.
Natsu shut the door behind him, letting out a content sigh. His resolve that things weren't as bad as he thought them to be was even more cemented into his mind.
With that, Natsu and Happy traveled in relative high spirits as they walked the streets to the guild. The small exceed overjoyed to be going to the guild again. (Natsu had the sneaking suspicion that he liked making bets on late night brawls more than anything.) Their walk was mostly in silence, surprisingly even until after they left town.
"Do you think we will get to watch a big brawl today?!" He stretched his little arms as far as they would go, an excited smile on his face. "I wanna watch something really really big!"
"I'm sure we will bud. It will be big enough to hear all across town!" Natsu grinned, relaxing into the familiarity. Happy stood on his shoulders, letting his wing's magic cool off for a bit.
They could see the guild coming into view just a block away. The walk through town felt relatively short these days with the trips between his home, the guild, and the studio. He felt Happy fly around excitedly and into the guild as soon as he opened the door.
"Hey Natsu!" a few members greeted at his return. Natsu noted that his group was seated at their usual table, not looking too happy with him right now with how he has been avoiding their questions. Happy flew over to them, chattering excitedly about their missions while Natsu sat at his usual place at the bar. It was his place now he supposed. He had been seated here enough for it to be now-a-days at least.
"Hey Natsu," Mira's voice spoke from his left as she passed him to walk around the bar. He didn't have to turn to see the smile on her lips, though he did anyway. Her hair was halfway up today, a nice little change, he noted. It exposed more of her face, normally framed by her silver locks. Now, everything from the edges of her face to an inch behind her ears was pulled back into a low ponytail settled above the rest of her hair that was left to free-hang.
He watched her as she stepped over to him, that smile that she gave everyone softening a bit. "How are you today Natsu?"
"A whole lot better now." He smiled, his chest feeling a bit lighter.
"Your team isn't too happy right now, you know?" Mira giggled at him as she made him a drink. "They have been grumbling about you since you went to pick up Happy."
"That sounds about right." Natsu hummed, "I haven't been completely honest to them about a few things and they are not happy about having to wait to get answers."
"Oh? What's got you feeling so secretive huh?" Mira leaned against the counter, pushing his drink over to him slowly. "It's not like you."
"Well, I have a second career going right now. I'm not sure how long I want to continue it but it's a little embarrassing to talk about I guess."
"You? Embarrassed?" Mira giggled, pressing a finger into the middle of his forehead, "That's rare."
"I know." Natsu blushed a little. "But I have more reason to feel like that now more than ever."
"Do tell." Mira hummed, resting her head on the palms of her hands as she leaned over on her elbows.
"Well, I must say that I've been a bit anxious lately." Now or never, Natsu went over what he was going to say in his head slowly.
"Oh? What could you possibly be anxious about." Her smile widened as her mind clicked into an idea. "Is this about a girl?"
Natsu smiled at her, chuckling, "Yeah. A very special girl."
"Tell me about her." Mira asked, leaning up a bit to make some drinks for her helper to take to the few waiting tables. Natsu inhaled, feeling his heart flutter.
"She's sweet. She's got this smile that I find that I cant look away from. Her voice is like the best kind music to never be released. When she moves, it's with this grace I can't find anywhere else." Natsu looked at her, locking their eyes, "Her eyes are to open, shining with every single emotion to be found. She is so beautiful, and I may have been pining for her for a long, long time now."
Mira's cheeks reddened as she looked away. "Will you tell me who she is?"
"You already know who it is." Natsu smiled, sipping at his drink as she stepped away to bury herself into her job further. His face heated up a million times hotter than he thought it could as soon as her back turned. "Oh Mavis help me." He whined to himself.
He jolted soon after as a hand came down on his back, "A bit early for even you to drink, isn't it Natsu?"
The pinkette turned to face the guild master, in all his short glory, beside him. "Heya Gramps."
"You look a bit red boy, are you getting sick?" Makarov said, a bit concerned.
"I haven't been sick in years, I'm fine. Just...preoccupied." Natsu replied, taking another sip from his glass before turning to face the old man. "But you have really good timing Gramps, I need to talk to you about something."
Makarov made a motion with his hand, "Have at it my boy."
"In private." Natsu quickly added, "Please?"
The older man's expression became concerned as he sighed, "Come along to my office then. I hope it's not about any trouble from your missions."
Natsu followed behind him with a chuckle, "No, nothing like that. I would just rather not be overheard is all."
Makarov laughed loudly, "You surprise me often Natsu." He continued as they climbed the steps to the second floor, "Though nothing remains a well kept secret long in this guild."
"Believe me, I know." The teen sighed, "But I wanted this to at least be a surprise and I think I've hid this well enough."
Makarov opened the door to his office, letting Natsu step in, "Well you've gotten me curious. You're normally an open book."
Natsu sighed in relief as the door closed, "Yeah, I know. That may have been why I'm anxious to talk about this idea at all but..."
Makarov hopped onto his desk, settling in a seating position on the edge, facing Natsu. He took a closer look at the anxious yet excited posture the boy in front of him sat in. "Well?"
"What would you think about having Night and his musicians play as an opening for Serenity at the festival?" Natsu blurted out, hoping his nerves didn't carry out into his voice too much.
"You're serious?" Makarov tilted his head, as if contemplating it. "I don't know his rates though, and he's never had a live performance to date."
Natsu fought the growing lump in his throat, "I don't mind having my first live here Gramps." His heart pounded as he spoke. The teen had never told anyone else, or even spoken about himself performing, let alone to the head of his guild. Those that knew found out from either eavesdropping or happenstance.
"I'm sure you do-" Makarov froze, looking at the boy before him that had begun fidgeting around where he sat. Natsu looked like he was trying hard to keep his nerve together. "Are you serious?"
Natsu nodded.
"You are Night?" Makarov sat there a bit stunned. "How did you ever keep this under wraps?"
"For the past few months, I've been working a side career as a singer and I hadn't outright told anyone until now." His voice had gotten a bit shaky, like he knew it was threatening to be while talking to Mira just a few minutes earlier. "I've also been wearing nothing but casual hoodies each time I have to go somewhere as Night. Sunglasses help too."
Makarov just seemed a bit blown away, "Wow, um... just...wow." Natsu tensed a bit, not looking up from his hands at all. The older man could see bits of the child he'd caught in rare moments of anxious excitement. A soft smile played on his features. "To think I've had a star under my roof and I had never known."
"So does that mean?" Natsu asked timidly, not finishing his question.
"Of course you can play my boy."
Natsu instantly looked up, his eyes bright, "What? REALLY!" He stood up and punched the air, cheering. He laughed with bits of joy and pride in himself for actually asking. "Jus-Just wait until I tell the band about this! Oh Mavis! Wow! Just WOW!" He laughed, pulling out his lacrima and pulsing the magic for the call. "Thank you Gramps!" Natsu thanked him with one of the brightest smiles the guildmaster had seen on the pinkette for a while.
Natsu practically jumped down the stairs, putting the lacrima on a multi-way call to contact the entire group. He started towards the doors, making some passing waves to those who greeted him. "Happy! Are you staying here or coming with?" He called to the exceed that was seated beside Cana, he didn't seem to hear him, too into whatever conversation they were having. He just smiled and stepped out of the guild, unaware in his excitement that someone else followed out behind him.
A/N: What better to leave you with than a cliffhanger yeah? Don't worry. I have then next chapter already written and hope to start updating more regularly. I didn't go into this with any sort of plan besides basic ideas. The only issues I had was with connecting the major points I already had set in stone. Feel free to leave ideas in the comments. I'll answer whatever questions I am able so feel free to drop in those too!
(and to the Stingsu/Nalu/etc shippers, sorry. This story is Mira X Natsu. I've had it hinted throughout the interactions the two had and with it being revealed in the last chapter, so yeah. I hope you'll still give it a chance though. I personally prefer Gratsu but I am grown up enough to explore other shippings as well and am always pleasantly surprised.)
Until Next Time!