One Job at a Time

by Umabaka

Lucy needs rent money and unfortunately Gray's the only one available. How does he get himself into these messes? A love story told through a series of interconnected drabbles and oneshots. Other couples: Laxus/Mira, Jellal/Erza. May add others.

1. Chapter 1: Coercion

Disclaimer: I own Fairy Tail… pysch… I don't own it

Chapter 1: Coercion

"Please, Gray"

"No."

"Please, I really, really need the money" Lucy continued to plead, her hands clasped in front of her. As if that would change his mind. Pssh, yeah right.

"No. Take Natsu."

"I can't he's on a job with Happy, Charle, and Wendy, so please go on this job with me."

"No. I have better things to do."

"Pretty please with a cherry on top?"

"The answer is – and will always be – NO." there was a note of finality in his tone. Lucy dropped her hands.

"I'm sorry, Gray, I didn't want to have to do this. If you don't take this job with me I will be forced to tell Natsu about that."

"…" he froze, his mind trying to remember what she was referring too. SHIT! She couldn't be talking about that time, right? "You wouldn't…" his sentence trailed off. Lucy's expression was grim, but her eyes sparkled with triumph.

"No, No, No! You can't tell him that!He'd never let me live that down!" He jumped up, his face panicked and his clothes nowhere in sight.

"Wah! Gray put your clothes back on!" now it was Lucy's turn to panic. He paid her no mind, too caught up in his own alarm.

"At least pick a different job." he entreated. It was his last chance. He couldn't afford to ignore her request any longer.

"I'm sorry, but this is the only job left with a reward large enough to cover my rent" she actually sounded a little regretful, but that didn't last long. She knew she had him, and so her mind turned to the job, making her eyes sparkle. He deflated, resigned to his humiliating fate.