Fanfiction - Odds and Ends: Fish Makes It Better
Fanfiction series: Odds and Ends
Title: Fish makes it better
Pairing: Happy/Charle
Rating: K
Word count: 1297
Summary: Because Happy isn't a type to give up on his fish-gifting.
Notes: Adorable couple, made even more so because they are cats. Everything's better with cats :D
Charle's claim of being a princess of Extalia might have been false but her behaviour was certainly that of a lady. That was the reason for her coming off as snobbish during her first days with Natsu's team. And it was part of a reason why she was so angry with Happy and constantly spurned his advances.
Of course, her anger stemmed mainly from the fact that the annoying male-cat didn't remember a single thing about their mission but there was also the little fact that a fish, no matter how fresh or how prettily wrapped, was not a proper present for a lady. Especially if that present's purpose was to communicate one's feelings for the said lady. It was simply not done.
Many things had changed since those fateful days of fighting Oracion Seis. She and Wendy found a new home with Fairy Tail and they even visited her home world of Edolas and her birthplace Extalia. She learned of the extent of the plot that had brought her to Earthland all those years ago. They had to fight for the freedom and lives of their friends. And throughout it all, she had come to know the other side of Happy. The side that was full of hope and courage, the side that never gave up. It was that side of him that helped her to go on when things seemed hopeless. And Charle promised to herself that once it was all over, she would be nicer to him. He deserved a chance from her.
All of that resolutions and promises seemed to evaporate as she gazed at his latest offering.
"What is that?" she asked, dismayed. The fish must have been at least four times the size of Happy and Charle had to wonder just how he was able to hold it off the ground.
"It's called marlin," Happy replied, clearly proud of himself. "It's one of the biggest sea fish and it's delicious. This one's fresh. The ship that had caught it came to the port just half an hour ago. I brought it to you as a gift," he added shyly.
Charle stared at him, unsure of what to do. If she refused it, she would hurt his feelings. But if she accepted, he might be encouraged to continue with his fish-gifting. And she didn't relish the thought of receiving fish every single day.
And then her salvation walked into the room.
"Wendy!" Charle cried out. "I need to talk to her. I'm sorry male-cat, I can't take the fish now."
And she almost ran off to her human companion, leaving slightly dejected Happy behind. Then again, she didn't refuse him outright, so that had to count for something, didn't it?
Wendy was rather surprised when Charle came to her as soon as the young Dragon Slayer entered the guild and almost literally attached herself to her side. It might have been the remnant of the Edolas' induced paranoia but Wendy had a feeling there was something else behind it this time. However, there was no private place to ask her about it in the noisy guild building.
The opportunity to talk came only after they returned to Fairy Hills and settled down for the night.
"Charle?"
"What is it, Wendy?"
"Is something bothering you?"
Charle was silent for a moment before answering.
"Not really."
Wendy sat up on her bed, looking at her friend.
"What is the problem, Charle?"
The female Exceed sighed, debating with herself whether to tell Wendy about her troubles with Happy's gifts or not. Finally reminding herself there was no reason to act cold and distant with her closest friend, she poured all of her feelings out.
"I wouldn't mind so much getting gifts from him," she finished, "If only it wasn't fish. What kind of gift is it?"
"I think," Wendy said after listening to her, "That you should talk to Lucy about it."
"Why her?" Charle wasn't happy about sharing her troubles with anyone else.
"Because she is older and she knows Happy. I'm sure she will be able to give you some advice."
"Maybe you're right," Charle acknowledged. "I'll talk to her tommorrow."
To her credit, Lucy didn't laugh when Charle seeked out her help. She instead listened patiently, wearing a thoughtful expression.
"So the only issue you have with Happy's... affection... is the way he shows it?" she asked the female cat. Charle nodded.
"Yes. A fish is not a proper gift for a lady," she said decidedly.
"But isn't it the thought that counts?" Lucy countered. Charle gave her her patented 'stupid human' glare.
"Would you be happy upon receiving a fish from someone who admired you?"
"Well," Lucy hedged. "Probably not. But he means well, Charle, he's just hopeless when it comes to things like these. He's doing his best."
"I know. But he has been around humans for so long, he could have learned something."
Something occured to Lucy suddenly.
"Maybe he did."
"What do you mean?"
"Well," Lucy blushed. "I once told him that the best way to show you care for someone is to give up something for them. Something that means a lot to you, be it your time, your favourite book or food or even your life."
"And that is the reason for the fish-gifts?"
"I'm afraid so," Charle's look of confusion prompted Lucy to explain further. "Happy is obsessed with fish. Before you came along, fish was the only thing that he was interested in. So when he gave you his last fish when you first met, I knew it was serious."
Lucy smiled at the memory but Charle didn't share the amusement. She was too busy thinking just how to solve this situation. In the end, she decided that honesty was the best approach. With this in mind, she marched off, searching for Happy.
She found him sitting with Natsu, feasting on what her nose told her was a - surprise, surprise - fish.
"Male-cat," she called out and winced when he turned too quickly and lost his balance. He didn't fall, though, because he managed to grow his wings just in the nick of time.
"Charle?" he asked hopefully.
"I want to talk to you. Now."
She turned with a flick of her tail and left for the small library that was left of the main area. She knew he would follow her immediately and was right. Happy was close on her heels and he was holding a fish. Gift-wrapped fish. Charle closed her eyes and counted to ten. She would not lose her temper with him. His tenacity and unbreakable optimism was a part of what made him so likeable, after all.
"Male-cat," she started but then she corrected herself. "Happy. I don't want you to give me any more fish."
He visibly drooped, looking miserable. Charle's conscience twitched.
"It's not that I don't appreciate the thought but a fish is not a gift for a young lady. It's simply not."
"Really?" he asked, obviously confused. "But Lucy said-"
"I know what Lucy said," Charle interrupted. "But Lucy is a romantic. I prefer more traditional approach."
"So that means-"
"-that I shall accept your gifts if they are of a more traditional venue. Flowers are good. Chocolate is as well. Fish, however, is not acceptable."
Happy took it all in and brightened up.
"Okay. I'll go and get you something right now. Wait here!"
And before she could stop him, he was gone. Charle sighed. He could be so simple sometimes. At the very least she would be rid of the fish-gifts. But then she looked down.
Lying there innocently, still wrapped with a bright ribbon, was a fish. Charle couldn't help it. She laughed.
Title: Fish makes it better
Pairing: Happy/Charle
Rating: K
Word count: 1297
Summary: Because Happy isn't a type to give up on his fish-gifting.
Notes: Adorable couple, made even more so because they are cats. Everything's better with cats :D
Charle's claim of being a princess of Extalia might have been false but her behaviour was certainly that of a lady. That was the reason for her coming off as snobbish during her first days with Natsu's team. And it was part of a reason why she was so angry with Happy and constantly spurned his advances.
Of course, her anger stemmed mainly from the fact that the annoying male-cat didn't remember a single thing about their mission but there was also the little fact that a fish, no matter how fresh or how prettily wrapped, was not a proper present for a lady. Especially if that present's purpose was to communicate one's feelings for the said lady. It was simply not done.
Many things had changed since those fateful days of fighting Oracion Seis. She and Wendy found a new home with Fairy Tail and they even visited her home world of Edolas and her birthplace Extalia. She learned of the extent of the plot that had brought her to Earthland all those years ago. They had to fight for the freedom and lives of their friends. And throughout it all, she had come to know the other side of Happy. The side that was full of hope and courage, the side that never gave up. It was that side of him that helped her to go on when things seemed hopeless. And Charle promised to herself that once it was all over, she would be nicer to him. He deserved a chance from her.
All of that resolutions and promises seemed to evaporate as she gazed at his latest offering.
"What is that?" she asked, dismayed. The fish must have been at least four times the size of Happy and Charle had to wonder just how he was able to hold it off the ground.
"It's called marlin," Happy replied, clearly proud of himself. "It's one of the biggest sea fish and it's delicious. This one's fresh. The ship that had caught it came to the port just half an hour ago. I brought it to you as a gift," he added shyly.
Charle stared at him, unsure of what to do. If she refused it, she would hurt his feelings. But if she accepted, he might be encouraged to continue with his fish-gifting. And she didn't relish the thought of receiving fish every single day.
And then her salvation walked into the room.
"Wendy!" Charle cried out. "I need to talk to her. I'm sorry male-cat, I can't take the fish now."
And she almost ran off to her human companion, leaving slightly dejected Happy behind. Then again, she didn't refuse him outright, so that had to count for something, didn't it?
Wendy was rather surprised when Charle came to her as soon as the young Dragon Slayer entered the guild and almost literally attached herself to her side. It might have been the remnant of the Edolas' induced paranoia but Wendy had a feeling there was something else behind it this time. However, there was no private place to ask her about it in the noisy guild building.
The opportunity to talk came only after they returned to Fairy Hills and settled down for the night.
"Charle?"
"What is it, Wendy?"
"Is something bothering you?"
Charle was silent for a moment before answering.
"Not really."
Wendy sat up on her bed, looking at her friend.
"What is the problem, Charle?"
The female Exceed sighed, debating with herself whether to tell Wendy about her troubles with Happy's gifts or not. Finally reminding herself there was no reason to act cold and distant with her closest friend, she poured all of her feelings out.
"I wouldn't mind so much getting gifts from him," she finished, "If only it wasn't fish. What kind of gift is it?"
"I think," Wendy said after listening to her, "That you should talk to Lucy about it."
"Why her?" Charle wasn't happy about sharing her troubles with anyone else.
"Because she is older and she knows Happy. I'm sure she will be able to give you some advice."
"Maybe you're right," Charle acknowledged. "I'll talk to her tommorrow."
To her credit, Lucy didn't laugh when Charle seeked out her help. She instead listened patiently, wearing a thoughtful expression.
"So the only issue you have with Happy's... affection... is the way he shows it?" she asked the female cat. Charle nodded.
"Yes. A fish is not a proper gift for a lady," she said decidedly.
"But isn't it the thought that counts?" Lucy countered. Charle gave her her patented 'stupid human' glare.
"Would you be happy upon receiving a fish from someone who admired you?"
"Well," Lucy hedged. "Probably not. But he means well, Charle, he's just hopeless when it comes to things like these. He's doing his best."
"I know. But he has been around humans for so long, he could have learned something."
Something occured to Lucy suddenly.
"Maybe he did."
"What do you mean?"
"Well," Lucy blushed. "I once told him that the best way to show you care for someone is to give up something for them. Something that means a lot to you, be it your time, your favourite book or food or even your life."
"And that is the reason for the fish-gifts?"
"I'm afraid so," Charle's look of confusion prompted Lucy to explain further. "Happy is obsessed with fish. Before you came along, fish was the only thing that he was interested in. So when he gave you his last fish when you first met, I knew it was serious."
Lucy smiled at the memory but Charle didn't share the amusement. She was too busy thinking just how to solve this situation. In the end, she decided that honesty was the best approach. With this in mind, she marched off, searching for Happy.
She found him sitting with Natsu, feasting on what her nose told her was a - surprise, surprise - fish.
"Male-cat," she called out and winced when he turned too quickly and lost his balance. He didn't fall, though, because he managed to grow his wings just in the nick of time.
"Charle?" he asked hopefully.
"I want to talk to you. Now."
She turned with a flick of her tail and left for the small library that was left of the main area. She knew he would follow her immediately and was right. Happy was close on her heels and he was holding a fish. Gift-wrapped fish. Charle closed her eyes and counted to ten. She would not lose her temper with him. His tenacity and unbreakable optimism was a part of what made him so likeable, after all.
"Male-cat," she started but then she corrected herself. "Happy. I don't want you to give me any more fish."
He visibly drooped, looking miserable. Charle's conscience twitched.
"It's not that I don't appreciate the thought but a fish is not a gift for a young lady. It's simply not."
"Really?" he asked, obviously confused. "But Lucy said-"
"I know what Lucy said," Charle interrupted. "But Lucy is a romantic. I prefer more traditional approach."
"So that means-"
"-that I shall accept your gifts if they are of a more traditional venue. Flowers are good. Chocolate is as well. Fish, however, is not acceptable."
Happy took it all in and brightened up.
"Okay. I'll go and get you something right now. Wait here!"
And before she could stop him, he was gone. Charle sighed. He could be so simple sometimes. At the very least she would be rid of the fish-gifts. But then she looked down.
Lying there innocently, still wrapped with a bright ribbon, was a fish. Charle couldn't help it. She laughed.