Lucy POV
As soon as she and the boys sat down at the table, Lucy gave them her sharpest glare.
"You will eat like civilized people."
Her tone left no room for argument. Except her boys weren't the best at not arguing.
"But I'm not a person, Lucy," Happy said rather impudently. He smirked and looked off to the side.
"Dummy."
Lucy refrained from gritting her teeth, as that usually wound up giving her a headache and no reprieve from her fury. Instead, she composed her face into a smile.
"Alright, cat," she said, "you will eat like a civilized feline and you-" she turned to Natsu before he could add anything.
"Will use silverware like a civilized dragon-slayer."
Both the blue cat and the pink haired dragon-slayer quaked in their chairs.
"A-Aye sir!" They both stammered frightfully.
Unbeknownst to Lucy, her face was twitching and a dark aura had surrounded her, effectively scaring the life out of the pair.
Lucy returned her attention to their hosts, beginning to feel a little embarrassed by her actions. Mrs. McDoogle had a faint smile, though it was more of a sweet pokerface rather than amusement, while her husband's eyebrow rose up a fraction of an inch. Fiona was staring at Lucy with wide eyes.
"Ahem," Lucy softly coughed into her fist and avoided eye contact with any of the McDoogles.
The whole dinning room was awkwardly silent for a moment. Then Fiona said,
"She's scary."
Lucy's face flushed in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry," she murmured.
Mr. McDoogle cleared his throat before attempting to make conversation.
"So, you are Fairy Tail wizards. Have any stories about life as members of the most powerful guild in all of Fiore?"
Mrs. McDoogle laughed a little.
"Darling, don't pester our guests. You sound like one of those reporters who always buzz around us."
The awkwardness was melting away with the help of the interaction between the husband and wife.
Lucy waved her hand.
"It's fine, Mrs. McDoogle. We'd be happy to describe one of our adventures to you three."
She paused, trying to decide on just one of Team Natsu's adventures.
Natsu decided for her.
"The first quest Lucy, me, and Happy did was get a book for Kabi Melon from this Duke Everlue guy."
Fiona blinked her wide eyes and tilted her head at the dragon-slayer.
"That doesn't sound very exciting," she said.
Natsu snorted and picked up his fork, spinning it idly in his hand for a moment.
"It wasn't really exciting at first. We and Lucy had just become a team and we were learning that Lucy was a weirdo. She made us sneak into the mansion in stead of taking it by storm like me and Happy usually do. We found the book and then Everlue found us and then we had to fight. Of course, I won. And Lucy found out the book wasn't really a story, but a letter to the author guys son. She's smart like that."
Natsu threw a smile at Lucy before stabbing the fish on his plate and shoving it into his mouth.
Lucy's cheeks went slightly pink.
"He isn't the best at retelling stories," she said by way of an apology.
Mr. McDoogle shook his head, a soft smile on his face.
"It's quite alright. My brother is the same way."
Lucy grabbed her fork, warily eyeing her boys.
"Your brother?"
Mr. McDoogle chewed a bite of food he had in his mouth. He swallowed then said
"Yes, my brother. You will meet him later tonight. I asked him to stay at the house while my wife and I went to the summit. I don't want our little Fiona in the house alone without any of her family."
He smiled fondly at his daughter.
Lucy smiled as well. The three McDoogles really did make a picturesque, perfect family. They all loved each other and cared so much for one another. Lucy was slightly jealous of their relationship.
But when her eyes slid over to Natsu and Happy, her jealousy faded away. She had a family. Fairy Tail gave her all the love and affection her father hadn't, and they were definitely more her family than he he'd been. Besides, her father had tried to make up for it later in his life, though it had been too late for both of them.
Lucy noticed that Natsu had already finished his dinner and Happy was nearly finished as well. She sighed softly before looking at Mr. and Mrs. McDoogle.
She was about to ask if the pair could receive more food, but before she could say anything, Mrs. McDoogle snapped her fingers.
"Jenkins, Mr. Dragneel and Mr. Happy require more food."
The butler appeared from virtually no where with a plate in each hand. He set them down in front of the pair before disappearing just as quickly.
Natsu and Happy dug into the food as soon as it was placed in front of them.
Lucy sighed again.
"I apologize. My teammates are gluttons."
Mrs. McDoogle waved her hand.
"It is alright, Ms. Heartfelia. We have more than enough food to feed your friends."
Lucy sat quiet for a moment. Then she smiled a little sheepishly.
"Do you suppose you could serve some lighted torches?"
Natsu POV
Natsu sat in his chair, his stomach barely full. Lucy had stopped him and Happy from getting a seventh plate. During dinner, Lucy and the elder McDoogles had talked about security and the plan for the quest. Of course, Natsu had listened, only when he heard his name, but mostly he ate and entertained the youngest McDoogle.
He was a bit taken in by the little girl. She was just as cute as Asuka, though she wasn't as demanding as the other girl. He grinned as he remembered the way she had stared at him with wide eyes when he had eaten the fire right off the torch.
"You eat fire?" she had asked, her tone full of wonder rather than the usual shock he got from most people.
Presently, Fiona was starting to nod off at her spot at the dining table. Natsu knew how she felt. He was pretty sleepy himself.
He stood up.
"Is it cool if I take Fiona to her room?" he asked the chatting trio.
Mrs. McDoogle startled a little.
"Oh dear, is it that late? I didn't notice the time. It's fine, Jenkins can tuck Fiona in bed, Mr. Dragneel."
Natsu grimaced at the way she formally addressed him.
"Just call me Natsu. It feels weird having someone call me mister. And I want to put Fiona in bed myself, so I can learn how to find her room in case of an emergency."
Happy snorted.
"Natsu is planning ahead. Scary~"
Natsu bared his teeth at his best friend for a second, then he looked to Mrs. McDoogle for her answer. He wasn't usually so keen on asking for permission to do what he wanted, but Lucy would definitely be happier if he asked.
He glanced at the blonde and was pleased to see her smiling proudly at him. He knew he made the right call.
Mrs. McDoogle considered his argument, then she nodded.
"Alright. I'll have Jenkins lead you there instead. Jenkins!"
"Ma'am."
Natsu quickly looked over his shoulder. The butler stood not a foot away, his wrinkled face free of any emotion.
"Take Mr. Dra- Natsu to Fiona's room," she ordered, stumbling over Natsu's name.
Natsu gently picked up Fiona. He cradled her to his chest a little awkwardly and she wrapped her small arms around his neck.
"C'mon Happy," Natsu gestured for the blue cat to follow him.
Before he left the dining room, he took one more look at Lucy. His eyes met Lucy's for a second and he offered her a wide grin before following the butler out of the room.
As he walked, Natsu studied the way the butler was taking him. Yes, Natsu could find Fiona's room through his sense of smell, but learning the layout of the home would help in case something bad happened. It was a little strange for him to be thinking so far ahead, but it was because Lucy was rubbing off on him. Just a little bit though. He still didn't read like she did and he never was going to.
"The world is going to end," Happy whispered to Natsu, a smirk stretched across his stubby snout.
"No, it's not," Natsu snapped.
Fiona shifted in his arms, reminding him he should be quiet. Just before a voice called out behind him, Natsu smelled a new scent that indicated another person.
"Excuse me, who are you and what are you doing with my niece?"
Natsu turned around, a question already out of his mouth.
"Where did you come from?"
The man in front of his was tall and vaguely resembled Mr. McDoogle, with his dark hair and straight nose. He glared at Natsu in suspicion.
"Who are you and what are you doing with my niece?" he repeated with more force.
"I'm Natsu and I'm taking her to her room. Where did you come from?" Natsu asked again.
It bugged him how the man's scent appeared from nowhere.
"Mr. John," Jenkins greeted.
Judging from his tone, Jenkins didn't like this John much. Though, the butler didn't seem to like anybody.
"Jenkins, why is this man carrying my niece as if he is family?" John sniffed.
Jenkins straightened, tilting his head back just enough so that he was looking down at John.
"Mrs. McDoogle allowed Mr. Dragneel to carry Ms. Fiona to bed."
John scowled. He walked forward until he was in within arms reach of Natsu.
"I'll carry her to bed. You can go back to my sister-in-law and inform her that I have arrived."
Natsu took a step back. He did not like the way the man was talking to him. At all.
"No, I got her. Go tell her yourself."
John's scowl deepened. He took another step forward.
"Mr. John, it is customary to greet the masters of the household before parading throughout the mansion and ordering the guests to do your bidding," Jenkins said, his words the harshest Natsu had ever heard them.
John practically snarled at the butler. Then he straightened and smoothed the front of his suit jacket.
"You're right, Jenkins. As always," he growled.
"Take me to my brother and sister-in-law."
Jenkins bowed. Before he took a step, however, he turned to Natsu.
"Just keep going straight until you make it to the stairs. You know where to go from there, yes?"
Natsu nodded, his eyes zipping between the two men. They really didn't like each other. But it seemed like it was more than that. He couldn't put his finger on it though.
The pair disappeared around the corner, leaving Natsu and Happy alone with the sleeping child.
"He was mean," Happy commented casually.
Natsu nodded once again and turned to walk towards the stairs. He could already tell the quest was not going to be a piece of cake.
Alrighty. This took forever and a day to get done. And it's mostly meaningless progression of the story. I mean, the plot developement is a little slow, but hear me out. The fan is definitely going to be hit with poop soon. Sorry it took so long for me to put out another chapter. I wasn't really motivated. But, here you go. I'll have some more soon. See ya next time!