Hair - FriedxMirajane fanfic

Fanfiction series: Odds and Ends
Title: Hair
Pairing: Fried/Mirajane
Rating: K
Word count: 420
Summary: He looked better with long hair.
Notes: Sometimes before chapter 165

"You looked better with long hair, you know."

It was a strange start to a conversation but no one ever said Mirajane was a normal person. Then again, normalcy was what happened to other people, not the members of a mage guild, especially a guild like Fairy Tail. Fried Justine, who was the target of her observation, ran his hand across his short hair self-consciously.

"You think so?"

"Of course. There are people who look good with short hair and there are people who don't."

"And I take it I'm in the second category," he laughed a bit. Mirajane smiled as well.

"I'm afraid so."

There was a lull of silence which was not unusual these days. Natsu and his team had left on a mission and without the two biggest troublemakers - namely Natsu and Gray - the guild was strangely quiet.

"Why did you cut it?" Mirajane asked suddenly.

"I..." Fried hesitated. He could barely understand it himself and trying to explain to someone else... Then again, Mirajane was part of the reason he did what he did so she deserved to know. "It was a symbolic gesture, I think. I was no longer the same person after everything that had happened and I wanted to show it to others... the change in myself and my goals. This was the only way I knew how."

"I think I understand," she said softly and Fried realized that, yes, Mirajane could really understand what it was to change inside completely. After the death of her sister, gone were the leather clothes and tough attitude. Their places were taken by beribboned dresses and kind smiles for everyone.

Mirajane suddenly reached out and ruffled his hair, smiling mischievously.

"You know," she spoke casualy, "It's very soft like this. Nice to touch."

She was stroking his hair as if he was a large cat and Fried didn't know whether to be embarassed or not at the affectionate gesture. He let her do it, though, because she was smiling and everyone in the guild would tell you it was hard to deny smiling Mirajane.

"We shouldn't need outward signs to show our hearts have changed," she said wistfully. "Sometimes they are necessary because we are afraid to speak. But we forget that our friends can tell even if we don't say anything and we are friends, aren't we?" she withdrew her hand finally and then added, "Grow out your hair again, Fried."

And he knew he would. Because he had friends who knew his heart.