Natsu sat at a table with two chairs, the room he sat in had nothing except the table and chairs. The chair nearest the door was empty and Natsu was clearly irritated by that fact.

'Nobles!' He thought the word as if it were a curse, 'Why do I have to work for these bastards so often, I mean is the occasional ganger or smuggler to much to ask?'

Natsu's mood was soured even more by the fact that he wasn't aloud to talk to his partner until the meeting was over, in fact it was ruining his day.

He was pulled out of his dark thoughts by the door opening, and his mood darkened as he saw that Lady Tal had brought two guards with her.

"Get those two out'a here. This is a private meeting." His voice was cold and sounded as it it were addressed to a slug instead of a beauty.

The lady was taken aback by his tone. It was her first time meeting with a wet worker and she was not quite sure what to expect but she was certain it wasn't this.

"Excuse me?" Her voice low and insulted. "A lady is never without retainers."

"Get those roid enhanced paper weights out of here, or elts I'll use them as an example of my skill."

"I'd like to see you try!" One of them yelled in a heavy north eastern(Russian) accent.

The lady however tapped them both on the shoulder, and told them to leave. Then she sat down at the table to begin business.

"Alright now who's the mark?" Natsu asked starting the business off simply.

"Mark?" The lady asked puzzled.

Natsu sighed, "Who do you want me to kill?"

"Oh, there are two people, actually."

"Are you going to tell me or make me guess, because I'm NOT in the mood for a game." He emphasized this by growling deep in his chest wale he spoke.

"T-the Grand Dukes, Nori and Cato."

Natsu began to laugh, "If I had a dime for every one who's asked for that assholes death I'd be a millionaire. Grand Duke Nori must have a talent for pissing people off."

"So you'll kill him?" The lady seemed hopeful.

"Nope, but I'll kill Cato for ya."

"What, but why?"

"Nori's head has another's name on it, but don't worry, he'll be gone soon enough." Said the still laughing Natsu.

"How long?"

"Within the next year or so, it depends."

"On what?"

"Many reasons, but none you'll understand. So how do you want Duke Cato to die, or do you have a preference?"

"As long as they both die within a year of each other then I don't care." She stood from the table and started to walk towards the door.

"We need payment of 2,000 jewel for Cato. But the other will die for free."

"Where do you want the money dropped off?" She asked.

"One of the lower south brothels, it doesn't matter which. Just label the bag meteor-Cato and we'll get it. One of your two body guards will be able to find one."

She stalked out of the room.

Natsu waited for the door to close before going over to the wall and opening a concealed panel in the wall where Lucy had bin hiding.

"A bit quick on the accept there don't you think?" Lucy smiled at him to let him know she was teasing him.

"Oh shut up." He grinned back.

"Make me." Her voice was soft and slightly teasing but held something elts, something Natsu couldn't figure out.

'One day, I will, and I hope that when I do you will kiss me back.'

'Kiss me you ass!' Lucy silently screamed at him.

"Want to go home, Luce?"

"Sure. Why not?"

Natsu grabbed her hand as she left the hide space, and then kept hold of it, until they reached there hideout. He then gently released her hand to open the door for her.

Lucy felt the loss of his hand long after they separated for the night, and knew that her sleep would be a lot less restful than it should have bin. But that was nothing new.