Quest

Lucy groaned and rolled over on her side. She stretched her arm out, reaching for her phone when she felt a soft material with tassels at the end. Like a scarf… She bolted upright and clutched the mattress of her bed in anger. "What the hell are you doing in my bed!" she screamed at Natsu who was lazily rubbing his eyes.

"Morning, Lucy." He said, followed by a loud yawn. He stretched his arms out, nearly punching her in the face.

Lucy gritted her teeth. "You didn't answer my question. What are you doing in my bed?" she repeated, crossing her arms over her chest.

"What's the big deal? I always come here."

She sighed. "Yes, I know. But… why?"

Natsu grinned. "You have a soft bed. And, when you're not scary like you are now, you're a really nice person."

At this, Lucy blushed. "Um…" She started, but was suddenly cut off by a familiar voice.

"He liiiiikes her." Happy chimed.

Lucy snapped her head up. "You were here too!" she yelled, eyes wide.

"Aye!"

Lucy looked thoughtful for a moment, then answered in a much softer tone. "Oh yeah, you two never go anywhere without each other…"

"Of course not. I'm Natsu's best friend!" Happy said, cheerfully. "But, he really likes you too, Lucy." He added.

Again, Lucy's cheeks turned warmer. "Well, I'm going to get ready, so you're gonna have to leave." She said, sliding out of her bed. She heard the door close as Natsu and Happy left her house.

She got into the bathtub and made the water warmer and warmer until there was steam coming up from it. She blushed once more, thinking about the conversation she had with Natsu and Happy.

"What's with them?" she whispered to herself. "Damn it…"

a.a.a.

Later that day, Lucy walked through the guild doors, sitting in her usual spot next to Natsu and Happy. She noticed that Gray and Erza weren't there. "Where are Erza and Gray?" Lucy asked as she took a seat across from Natsu.

Natsu crossed his arms and pouted like a little kid. "They went on a job. They went and didn't take us." He said grumpily.

Lucy couldn't help but smile. He was such a child.

"Stop pouting, Natsu." A voice from behind them said. She turned around to see Master Makarov with a slip of paper in his hands. "There is a job, no, a quest that I need you to go on. It requires a powerful wizard, and so I chose you."

Natsu's face immediately lit up with a smile. "Seriously, Gramps? I get to go on a job? I haven't fought in days and I was getting bored."

"Yes. However, you can't just go alone. That would be too dangerous. You can take Happy, but choose one more person to go with you." Master answered.

Natsu turned to Lucy with a grin. "Up for a job, Lucy?"

She looked at him then turned around to face Makarov. "Depends. What type of job?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"A quest to find out where a dark guild is. We're not asking you to defeat them. Just find out where their headquarters is. It will require some spying." Makarov replied, slightly smiling as he said the last sentence.

Natsu jumped up. " Spying? Cool! We could be like ninjas!"

"Aye!"

Lucy groaned. "Like ninjas? This is Everlue mansion all over again…"

Suddenly, Natsu was serious. "Which dark guild is it?" he asked.

Makarov looked at them. "It's called 'Azerath'. They don't have very many people, but they're very powerful."

Lucy gulped.

Natsu mashed his fists together with a devious smile on his face. "Even better. I'm all fired up!"