I'd like to thank everyone for being supportive of my fanfiction, it really made me feel good. I do apologise for the short chapter, college is really hectic and taking a lot of my time.
In case any one wanted to know, the name of the fic has nothing to do with it. I was staring at my printer while thinking of a name and those two words popped out to me, thus was the birth of Fine Canon. Also, EVERYTHING in this chapter has a part to play in the future development of the plot so do pay attention. And if any one has a better name for the fic, don't hesitate to put it in a review (although you don't really know what the fic is about yet).
Lucy swallowed nervously, eyes wide and glued onto the bent man, heart skipping a beat when his untamed onyx orbs met her brown ones. She knew that she should've been running away, but it felt like his gaze was physically holding her in place. She took an unconscious step back, realising it only after she had felt the cold of the sludge creeping into her foot.
A low rumble rolled out of his throat, shocking Lucy out of her mental captivity. She made a movement to turn and run away but stopped when she noticed something she didn't during the initial panic; the man was trembling, barely noticeable, but he was trembling. She paused, sympathy welling up and struggling to dominate her simmering fear. The man growled again, but this time Lucy remained where she was, partly because her legs were feeling like jelly but most of it emanating from her resolve.
Shoving rational thoughts of how unlikely it would be for any sane man to roam naked at this temperature out of her mind, Lucy unwrapped the scarf draped around her shoulders and bundled it up. Her mocha eyes flickered with uncertainty as she gently tossed it towards the man, rejoicing slightly at her managing to evade the puddles of sludge. The man flinched before snarling at the white strip of cloth threateningly. Lucy almost sighed, she really did love that scarf. She would've smiled at the man's reaction if she weren't so shaken up; he was staring at the innocent bundle suspiciously while tentatively reaching out for it.
Deciding to make an escape now that the man was distracted, Lucy turned as softly as possible and sprinted out of the alley, glad that her legs had re-solidified. She stopped after emerging from the alley, breathing hard.
I really should exercise more often, she thought while catching her breath. She glanced back into the moonlight-illuminated alley, heart pulsing a little when she realised that the man was staring at her. She ducked away from his sight and hurried to her apartment, figuring that the long way wasn't that long anymore.
Lucy's curiosity was peaked.
Who was he? Why was he in an alley naked?
She suppressed the blush that wanted to colour her cheeks, he certainly didn't have the body of a homeless man. He wasn't acting like a normal man either. Normal men didn't growl, well occasionally Loke did purr at her but Loke couldn't be categorised with normal men.
Lucy shrugged the strange man out of her mind as she dragged her tired body up the stairs. She collapsed onto her bed as soon as she stumbled through her apartment, glad for the welcoming warmth of the duvet.
The insistent knocking at her door finally roused Lucy out of her dream-less sleep. She struggled out of the possessive grip of her sheets, tripping as it continued to cling to her feet.
"Shit!" she swore after banging her knee on the wood-finished floors. She scurried up; grabbing her bedpost for support then quickly limped to the door, wrenching it open after undoing the locks she didn't know was done the night before.
Levy blinked at her in surprise, hand still poise to continue her knocking. She eyed Lucy's disheveled appearance but chose not to comment, brown eyes sparkling mischievously. Lucy stared at her suspiciously.
Something is definitely up, she thought as if the fact that one of Levy's hands was hidden behind her back wasn't enough to confirm her hypothesis.
"What is it?" Lucy asked slowly, wary of the answer.
"Well," Levi started, "Remember what you were telling me yesterday about how you were bored? I do know how that feels, I used to feel the same way until I found Gajeel, soooo, I found something for you. Don't worry it's not a blind date or anything."
Lucy was about to reply until she heard a scraping noise from behind Levy.
"Levy," She started, voice low and slightly threatening, "What was that?"
Levy glanced away guiltily before bringing what was in her hand to the front of her.
"Please don't refuse him!" Levy cried out, tears that were obviously fake welling up in her eyes.
Lucy stared at the thing for a few seconds before bursting out in disbelieving laughter.
"Where the hell did you get that thing?!" Lucy exclaimed, "You expect me to keep it?"
