Chapter Text
Huffing into her hands to warm them, Lucy Heartfilia glanced at the clock and made a face. She'd not worn gloves, assuming she'd have a dragon slayer to help her stay warm. Unfortunately, her train had been stalled by snow, and Lucy felt horrible about getting in later than planned. She'd promised her partner she'd be in three hours ago. She couldn't even be mad that Natsu and Happy were nowhere to be found, leaving her to make her way home alone.
Now, she yanked the hat from her head and sighed, disappointed. She'd been looking forward to seeing Natsu. She'd been away for a week, having chosen to take some time off to see some of the staff that had once worked for her family at the estate her family had owned. While Lucy had enjoyed every second of it…they weren't Natsu and Happy. It just wasn't the same.
Lucy unwound her scarf from her throat and shrugged off her coat – only to stop halfway through. She eyed her apartment critically. There was no way someone hadn't broken in in the time she'd been away. Natsu had to have at least tried to do so.
Sure enough, when she did a little searching, she found that a note had been placed on her coffee table. She plucked it up with fingers still numbed by the winter weather, pausing when she recognized the writing. Mirajane would have never broken in without a reason.
Frowning and a little worried, Lucy pried the envelope open and scanned the letter quickly.
Lucy,
I know you've not been with us for Christmas just yet, but there's an important tradition Fairy Tail celebrates that I was hoping you'd partake in. I don't want to ruin the surprise too much since you missed last year, so I'll just assign you your number, and you can come talk to me about it in private next time you come in! No jobs until after Christmas unless they're in town.
You're the twelfth day.
Don't say a word about this. Don't show this note to anyone. You will regret it.
Mira
Lucy snorted softly, tucking the note away with a small whistle. "Okay, Mira…not scary at all," she muttered under her breath. She dropped to sit on her sofa, resting her head back. She was exhausted after the long trek back from the station.
She'd deal with it all in the morning.