PRIVATE
I do not own Fairy Tail.
Natsu is an undercover agent who has a task to spy on the Heartfilia's daughter. Everything was going smooth until the girl gets a suspicious phone call… and starts to set her eyes on him. College AU.
- O – O – O – O – O -
Natsu immediately stood up and left the café, not looking back to avoid attracting his target's attention.
He took his phone from his pocket and dialed the number of his boss.
A few seconds passed and he received a message that the number was currently busy.
'Who is she talking to at this time?'
What Natsu heard deeply troubled him, especially since it apparently involved Wendy.
Not the cousin he was closest to.
He also heard Gajeel's name but he could care less about him. The guy would beat up anyone, regardless of who it could be.
'Mira never told me about having enemies or outside conflicts.'
Finally, Natsu was convinced there was something more to the job.
Mira was probably just playing him for a fool.
'Who is this Jane she was talking to?'
There was also the case with Deliora.
The mysterious figure was pretty renown in the spying area Natsu grew used to hearing about.
It spelled out an omen no matter how he viewed it.
Just then, a text message made his phone vibrated and he quickly checked it.
It was an unregistered number.
"This is Jane. You're now targeted by one of my students 3"
That was the trigger.
Natsu decided to forego his upcoming classes and focus on this person.
He moved to a different corner and went out of the building to find a spot under a tree.
His fingers fumbled for a reply.
"Okay, who is this?"
"Interested now, eh?"
"Can we have a call? The replies come too slow."
"I'm a busy person. But I'm sure you can look to your left."
Natsu obeyed the message and found Lucy, moving around as if in search of someone.
Another text followed up.
"What do you think is she doing?"
Just as he was inputting a message, Natsu froze.
Making him look left to actually see Lucy, that meant he was under sight of this Jane.
Natsu bit his lower lip.
How slow of him.
He had to be more cautious.
"Don't think too much about it. Just answer me."
The following text only seemed to serve as a mocking statement.
But he had to answer.
It felt threatening to an extent.
"Looking for me?"
"Oh, you overheard our call up to that part. But that isn't the answer."
"Don't you dare involve Wendy and the old lady in this!"
"But they already are. I know it'll get you moving."
How Natsu wished his glare could become part of the message.
"What do you want me to do?"
The conversation paused for a while, leaving Natsu hanging.
Deciding not to tense himself too much over the wait, he inspected the Heartfilia moving around.
She looked like she had a carefully calculating face, not making her wonders obvious to the public eye.
But he knew.
So, if she was not looking for him, what was she doing?
His phone suddenly rang with Jane's number from the other end.
Natsu quickly answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hello, young man."
Natsu gasped. "Wha-"
"Yes, a male voice. Jane is just a codename."
The thought made Natsu think.
What if Mira's name was also just a codename?
As far as he knew, only respectable figures ever got codenames.
Mira would easily be qualified on that.
A deep laughter followed the statement. "Anyway, let me tell you a few things."
Natsu frowned, giving up on trying to recognize the voice.
It was an entirely new character in play.
"You see, Lucy here is basically a foreigner to this place. Right now, she's lost."
"What?"
"You heard me right, silly. Lost. Now, I want you to guide her to her next classroom or else she'll lose a point in attendance."
"Are you trying to get me to interact with someone who's planning to get me?"
"Get you?" The voice from the other side repeated as if incredulous. "You're mixing things up!"
"But she's looking for me because of-"
The man's laughter greatly unnerved Natsu, as if he was under the guy's total control.
"Dragneel's the next one?" said Jane in a disturbing imitation of Lucy's voice. "Yes, she did say that. You see, I was actually planning to have you two meet in the first place!"
"What?"
"Don't kid about that! Silly. I don't know how much of the rest you heard but she told me was looking forward to it." There was a cough before the continuation. "I wanted her to get some friends."
To which Natsu did not know how to reply to. She already had Juvia and Lisanna. "…I don't get it."
"Lucy… For her, Jane is one of her closest friends! It's up to me to get her to socialize!"
"But I heard her mention Deliora and-"
"Nicknames! What else do you want cleared up?!"
Natsu could hear the frustration from the edge of the caller's voice.
As much as he did not want the poor excuses to pass, he certainly would not want to make this Jane angry.
Who knew who he could be connected to?
"Okay… So what happens if I meet with her?"
"You shouldn't ask me that."
The call ended.
Natsu got the urge to ignore it, but he did not know the power and influence of Jane yet.
Plus, he was under surveillance.
He looked around to check for some hidden cameras, to no success.
There was nothing left to do but talk to Lucy.
That was when Natsu realized Lucy was no longer in his vision.
He totally wished he wasn't being graded or something.
His performance would already be downright bad.
"Miss Heartfilia?"
The trace of her last name left an awkward taste in his lips.
"Lucy?"
Now that was more comfortable.
Natsu hoped she would not judge him.
Or take away his relatives.
Or get him confined in a room.
Or…
"Uhh… Did you call me, Sir?"
Natsu blinked. Up close…
Lucy's eyes brightened in recognition. "Oh, you're Natsu Dragneel, right?"
He was right. She was indeed pretty.
Seeing her up close seemed to magnify her beauty and if it was not for some strict training, he would have just lost his mind and be stuttering nonsense.
"Oh, ah, yes." Natsu stretched his hand then offered a shake.
Lucy politely took it with a smile. "So, how did you know about me?"
"I…"
Natsu tried to make a quick decision.
Should he be blunt about it?
Should he tell half the truth?
Should he…
"Just say what's on your mind, silly."
Silly. How many people had called him silly that day?
Was he really acting silly and all that?
What has gotten into him?
Did he actually get unnerved that everything suddenly seemed to fall in confusion?
Next thing Natsu felt was a hand on his cheek.
A warm small hand, coming from Lucy.
"Wh- what?!"
"Back to Earthland. Back to me, Natsu."
Natsu was not sure how to react and allowed the hand to rest on his cheek for longer.
"Okay, it's working. I guess."
"Good. Don't act so nervous." Lucy dropped her hand. "It's like you're trying to flirt with a crush!" She offered a light hearted smile.
Something about her voice eased his senses.
Natsu smiled back. "I don't flirt with lost girls," he said, finally getting back on track.
"Oh, you seem to know a lot."
He noted she did not even disagree. He was only hoping she was enjoying the conversation as much as he was.
"Well, when's your next class?"
"I've got ten more minutes… uhh… So yeah, I don't know where the room is located."
"Hmm?" Natsu raised an eyebrow. "What are you trying to imply?"
Lucy smirked, ready to play the naughty but patient type.
"I need help in anything but directions."
"Oh?" As much as he wanted to continue teasing her, an idea struck him.
He immediately felt a pang of guilt but he just had to. "Well, I can offer a deal."
"I'm interested to hear it."
"I'll lead you to your room but…" Natsu paused for emphasis, looking at Lucy's figure. "You're going to let me sit-in and be with you."
Lucy went black for a few seconds then a small giggle burst out.
"And here I thought, it was going to be something daring!"
Natsu blinked, holding back emotion from his wild thoughts.
Another idea came just before he could mention his real wish, his desire to know what Lucy could possibly be involved with old lady Porlyusica for.
A seemingly stupid idea, but he immediately thought about its additional possibilities.
He had to watch his target now, all the more because of new interferences; but he wouldn't let Lucy know of his position yet.
"So, are you going to take it, Miss Heartfilia?"
"Hmm…" Lucy looked at a nearby clock. "Five minutes. Can you take me there?"
"What's the room anyway?"
"B-101 in this building. I'm fairly sure it's this building."
Natsu grinned.
"May I be your chaperone to the basement?" he said, offering a hand yet again.
Lucy looked at it in puzzlement for a short moment then laughed.
"OH!" Along with her gasp, her cheerful surprise was obvious. "B stands for basement! I'm so-"
"Silly?" Natsu winked.
Lucy took the hand without further ado.
"Wait" Lucy frowned. "Now I realize it's just a short way!"
"Nu-uh." Natsu tightened his grip on her hand. "The deal is made."
Lucy rolled her eyes but did not resist. "Okay, take me there Mr. Chaperone. Before the professor arrives."
"At your service."
- X – X – X – X – X -
"You're at this class too, Lisanna?!"
The white-haired lady in the back of the room looked up with confusion that turned into delight.
"Oh, Ashley!"
Natsu frowned. "Why Ash-"
Lucy nudged him on the elbow to silence him.
She made an expression of 'Nothing suspicious' also rolling her eyes.
She leaned her face to whisper in his ear. "I'm under the name of Lucy Ashley, okay?"
"Hmm?" Lisanna turned her head sideways. "Isn't he the guy from our first class?"
"Ah, yes." Lucy cleared her throat. "His name's Natsu. Natsu, meet Lisanna."
Natsu gave a smile. "Guess we'll be together today. "
Lisanna hummed as the other two took their seats near hers.
"What is it, Lisanna?" Lucy asked.
"Oh, Natsu sounds like a familiar name…"
"Ehh…" Natsu bit his lip.
The younger Strauss wouldn't know of course.
But Mira could have probably blabbed about him some time.
The thought made Natsu uneasy.
"That isn't possible!" Lucy chuckled. "It's the first day of classes."
"Yeah, you're right."
"I'm not your classmate though," Natsu pointed out. "I'm just sitting-in."
"Oh, why is that?"
Natsu smirked. "Lucy here was lost a while ago and we made a deal."
"Now, don't tell her about the deal." Lucy furrowed her eyebrows.
"Heh…" Lisanna smiled, amused. "That's just making me curious."
"Best not be curious about it." Natsu shrugged.
"Why is that?"
His next words were a whisper. "The professor is here."
To which Lucy and Lisanna laughed at, although keeping their voices low.
While the class did start, the three eventually just chatted to themselves and almost ignored the whole class before them.
- X – X – X – X – X –
"I got one more class, Ashley!" Lisanna nodded farewell then rushed to her next class.
"She's quite unlucky, eh?" Natsu said. "Her schedule's up to seven."
"It is quite worrying." Lucy shook her head. "She has a brother who's from the nearby high school building though. She says she can call him."
"Younger?"
"Yeah, but you wouldn't know from his build." Lucy laughed, as if remembering a past cheerful conversation.
It was already afternoon and Natsu was feeling eager to come home.
"Oh, the sun's setting already?" Lucy mentioned, looking at the far horizon.
"Woah! I didn't know the university has such a good view," Natsu said, amazed.
"Hmm? Does that mean you're new here?"
"Yes, I am." Natsu stretched his arms behind his back. "Anyway, the deal is done."
"Are you going home now?" Lucy asked.
Natsu raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. How about you?"
"I'll wait for a friend. We'll have dinner together."
"I see. How about treating me to dessert first?" Natsu teased.
"Silly. Don't act so close now," Lucy joked lightheartedly.
The male agent smiled. "Goodbye then."
"Right. See you tomorrow."
Natsu winked then turned around, starting to walk. "Hope I won't see you chasing me."
Lucy chuckled. "I won't come with you or anything, idiot."
She probably meant it as a joke, was what Natsu would like to think.
But he suddenly thought she could also be giving grave hints.
"Say hi to Jane for me," he whispered to himself.
He realized he had a lot of anger and frustration kept inside of his mind.
Almost wishing his happy interactions with Lucy had all been made up.
Natsu waved a hand goodbye.
But he did not look back.
- X – X – X – X – X -
Natsu went inside the apartment door to be greeted by a young girl, lightly prodding his knees.
"Big bro Natsu, you look tired."
Natsu walked to the refrigerator, searching for food. "Wendy, how are you here?"
"Romeo visited a while ago. I let him in and we played video games."
"Oh, did you have fun?" Natsu's eyes lightened up, spotting a pizza box above the fridge. "Hey, who got us pizza?" The spicy type. Yum.
"Gajeel got it," Wendy informed.
Natsu raised an eyebrow. "Hey, you actually got it."
Wendy pouted. "I've been practicing in front of the mirror."
He smiled at how 'considerate' Wendy was.
Gajeel hated being called big brother or any of such honorific titles.
It had been a while since he insisted Wendy about it, but she clearly was having a hard time about it.
He would rather have his ego rather than respect. 'The jerk.'
Natsu shook his head, intent to keep his mind clean of ungrateful freeloaders and entertained Wendy more.
"So, what did you have today?"
"Oh, I beat Romeo two out of three with the Lacrima card game!"
"Woah! That's nice to hear!"
"Yeah, he kept getting the lucky draws though."
Wendy sat on the floor and continued to tell her story, waving her hands to offer a brighter perspective.
Natsu sat before her, munching on a pizza slice (which Gajeel would probably be angry about later).
"You still won anyway!" Natsu grinned. "And what matters is that you guys enjoyed it."
"Yeah! We could've played for more though..."
"Hmm?"
Natsu's smile broke off upon hearing the next words.
"But we heard the doorbell ring."
- O – O – O – O – O -
Characters:
Mira | Boss
Natsu | Troubled Agent
Lucy | Lost Student
Lisanna | Curious Classmate
Gajeel | Hungry Freeloader
Wendy | Sweet Little Cousin
Porlyusica | Cousin's Mother
Romeo | Playmate
Jane | Scary Male
Got the actually exhausting interactions of Natsu and Jane finally done. It's a needed set-up for our two main protags anyway.
Then there's Wendy. I'm so excited for things to get down (hopefully my words will get down my mind too).
If you see any grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, etc., politely tell me about it.
-IdolizedFan 05/03/16
