Try Not to Be Too Jealous

Yukari exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of her nose.

That little blue menace just ruined my life.

Before she could murder him, Mirajane grabbed her wrist. Yukari barely had time to react before she was dragged out of the guild hall, through a back hallway, and into a small storage room. The door slammed shut behind them.

For a long second, there was only silence.

Then—

Mirajane crossed her arms, stared Yukari dead in the eyes, and said, "So."

Yukari blinked. "Uh—?"

Mirajane's sweet smile was gone.

Her lips were pressed into a thin line. Her hands were clenched just a bit too tightly around her arms. And most importantly her usually warm blue eyes were practically glowing with poorly disguised irritation.

Yukari had fought monsters. She had faced gods. She had stared into the abyss and laughed.

Yet somehow, this situation was infinitely more dangerous.

"Is there a problem?" Yukari asked slowly, carefully.

Mirajane's smile returned.

It was not a friendly smile.

"Of course not," she said sweetly. "Why would there be a problem?"

Yukari squinted. "...You're mad."

"I'm not mad," Mirajane said immediately.

Yukari tilted her head.

Mirajane twitched.

"I'm not," she insisted.

Yukari smirked. "You're jealous."

Mirajane scoffed. "Jealous? Me? Oh, please."

Then, without warning, she reached out—

And pinched Yukari's arm.

Yukari flinched. "The hell was that for?!"

Mirajane huffed. "Nothing!"

"...Yeah, totally not jealous."

"I'm not!" Mirajane repeated, folding her arms with a pout. "Why would I be? It's not like we're together or anything."

Yukari raised an eyebrow.

Mirajane looked away, puffing out her cheeks slightly.

Yukari took a slow, measured breath, trying very hard not to laugh.

"Okay," Yukari said, smirking. "So you're not jealous."

"Exactly!"

"And you totally don't care that a few demon women flirted with me."

"Not. At. All."

"Then why do you look like you want to throw me through a wall?"

Mirajane's eyebrow twitched. "...Force of habit."

Yukari chuckled. "Right."

Mirajane huffed again, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Look, you can do whatever you want. It's none of my business."

Yukari watched her carefully.

Mirajane wanted to sound casual. She wanted to sound indifferent.

She was failing spectacularly.

Yukari smirked. "Mira."

"What?"

Yukari took a step forward, lowering her voice slightly. "You are jealous."

Mirajane immediately took a step back. "I am not!"

Another step forward. "You totally are."

Another step back. "Yukari—"

Another step forward. "Admit it."

Another step back—except this time, Mirajane hit the wall.

Yukari grinned, leaning in slightly.

Mirajane's breath hitched.

Yukari lived for this.

"Why would I be jealous?" Mirajane muttered, shifting slightly. "I just think it's interesting how you let all those demons throw themselves at you."

Yukari smirked. "Interesting, huh?"

Mirajane glared. "Yes. Interesting."

"Not frustrating?"

"Nope."

"Not annoying?"

"Nope."

Yukari chuckled. "Then why is your face red?"

Mirajane gasped and immediately covered her cheeks. "It is not!"

Yukari laughed.

Mirajane groaned. "You're annoying."

"Yet you still dragged me in here alone."

Mirajane huffed. "Don't flatter yourself."

Yukari grinned. "Too late."

Mirajane rolled her eyes but finally sighed in defeat.

"...Fine," she muttered.

Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Fine?"

Mirajane crossed her arms again, shifting her weight slightly. "Maybe... a little."

Yukari smirked. "A little?"

Mirajane pointedly looked away. "Just shut up."

Yukari chuckled.

For a moment, they just stood there.

Then, in a rare moment of sincerity, Yukari softened.

"Hey," she said.

Mirajane glanced back at her, still pouting slightly, arms folded.

Yukari tilted her head, her smirk softening into something more playful. "You know I wouldn't leave you for some random demons, right?"

Mirajane huffed, looking away. "I told you—I don't care."

"Right," Yukari drawled. "That's why you dragged me in here, pinned me against a wall, and pinched me. Because you don't care."

Mirajane's eyebrow twitched. "...I should've pinched harder."

Yukari grinned. "Go ahead. I like it rough."

Mirajane's face flushed instantly. "YUKARI!"

Yukari threw her head back, laughing. "You're too easy, Mira."

Mirajane groaned, covering her face. 

Yukari chuckled, stepping closer. "C'mon, don't be mad."

Mirajane didn't move.

Yukari smirked. "I mean, I get it. If I were you, I'd be jealous too."

Mirajane slowly peeked through her fingers. "...Excuse me?"

Yukari leaned in slightly. "I mean, come on. Look at me. I'm strong, I'm hilarious, I have abs who wouldn't want a piece of this?"

Mirajane let out a slow, suffering sigh. "I am going to commit a crime."

Yukari laughed again.

But then—

She softened.

"...For real, though," she murmured, tilting her head. "If it bothers you, I'll stop messing around."

Mirajane blinked.

For the first time, she looked… genuinely surprised.

Yukari just shrugged, stuffing her hands in her pockets. "I don't want to upset you, Mira. It's more fun when we're laughing, y'know?"

Mirajane stared at her.

Then—

Slowly—

She smiled.

It wasn't her usual teasing smirk.

It wasn't a forced, fake sweetness.

It was gentle.

"...You're not always annoying," she admitted quietly.

Yukari grinned. "Wow. High praise."

Mirajane giggled.

Then—

Yukari took another step forward.

They were close now. Too close.

Mirajane's breath hitched.

Yukari tilted her head, her violet eyes flickering with something unreadable.

Mirajane swallowed.

Slowly, Yukari reached up, brushing a strand of silver hair behind Mirajane's ear.

Her fingers lingered.

Mirajane exhaled shakily.

Neither of them moved away.

Yukari smirked slightly. "Still mad?"

Mirajane licked her lips. "...Shut up."

Yukari chuckled.

Her hand trailed down, gently resting against Mirajane's jaw.

Mirajane's eyes fluttered.

Yukari leaned in.

Closer.

Closer.

Their lips were almost touching—

"YUKARI!"

They jumped apart like guilty teenagers caught sneaking out.

The door slammed open.

Erza stood there, arms crossed, her usual terrifying expression in place.

Yukari cleared her throat. "Ah. Hey, Erza."

Mirajane was bright red.

Erza narrowed her eyes. "...What are you two doing?"

Yukari thought fast.

"Uh—"

"NOTHING!" Mirajane practically shouted.

Erza raised an eyebrow.

Mirajane immediately schooled her expression into a forced, too wide smile.

Yukari, for once, decided not to push her luck.

"...Right," Erza muttered. "Anyway. Get out here. Natsu and Gray are about to start another fight."

Mirajane cleared her throat. "R-Right! Coming!"

Erza gave them both a suspicious look before turning and walking away.

The second she was gone—

Mirajane whipped around.

"You!" she hissed, pointing at Yukari. "Not a word!"

Yukari smirked. "Aw, come on. You were totally into it."

Mirajane grabbed her by the collar. "Yukari."

Yukari grinned. "Mira."

Mirajane glared.

Yukari winked.

Mirajane groaned. "I hate you."

Yukari laughed. "No, you don't."

Mirajane shoved her toward the door.

Yukari just smirked the entire way out.