Author's Notes: Sorry I've been gone so long, life just gets the better of us. In order to say sorry, here's an extra long chapter. Now that AP testing and winter guard is finished my life will be a lot less stressful and I can get to regular updating. Let me know what day you guys would like to see a new chapter!
Lucy POV
"He's countering? What a persistent old man."
"Yes apparently the navy contracts stalled, so he's throwing it in with his employees." Lisanna grunted in her disgust..
"He still needs someone to underwrite the contracts. Do some sleuthing and I'll meet you there in an hour."
"Lucy you seem distracted."
"I'm just trying to figure things out Lisanna."
Hanging up the phone in distaste, I turned to meet Natsu's eyes from across the room.
Adjusting my blazer self consciously, I strode over to where Natsu was being waited on.
"Alright Natsu, you're on your own. I have to pop into the office for a 'mo. See you soon."
Looking at me, a plea of desperation in his eyes, I shot him a look of sympathy and walked out the front door.
As soon as I returned to the hotel, Natsu badgered me with a million questions. "What's going on with Porla?" Was a prevalent theme woven through his mile-a-minute speech, so I decided to let him finish his rambling and took a minute to slump down in a large armchair.
After he had calmed down, he slipped off the bed to come sit in front of me. He settled down into a kneeling position, looking up at my exhausted figure. Knowing full well that he wouldn't budge until I filled him in on Porla, I disgruntledly sat up straight to look him in the eyes.
"He's mortgaged every single thing he owns and maybe even things he doesn't to get a loan from the bank."
"Ah, you've really got 'em now!" He said smiling wide.
"Natsu, I'm not really in the mood right now, I just want a hot bath." I said sighing heavily. It had been a long day.
His eyes narrowed as he studied me. The tension in the room was suddenly opaque, like the only way it would break was with the cut of a knife.
He started moving his body, slowly from where he kneeled to an almost standing stance, his arms across my body digging into the cushions, causing me to back further into the chair.
"I want you to take your clothes off." He whispered─ face inches from my own.
Inching his form to the skin near my ear. "Including your painties." He finally said added, his hot breath making me shiver.
"Wait here, then come to the bathroom in about five minutes." He added in a voice an octave below normal.
Dazed, I watched him swagger off to the large master bathroom.
I sat there stunned until I remember I was given an order to remove my clothing. Suddenly full of energy, I started by shucking off my blue blazer and laying it on the bed. Accompanying that was my blouse and my slacks, all neatly folded. Now clad in only my undergarments, I stole a quick look in the mirror. Damn, I chuckled. Natsu is one lucky man seeing all this. Smirking to myself I ran my hands down to my hips to where my underwear rested. I made quick work of both that and my bra, leaving me entirely bare and a little chilled. It had probably been five minutes right? Steeling my courage, I walked nervously to the door of the en suite.
Knocking, I heard a muffled, "Come in." I opened the door cautiously, not sure what was waiting on the other side. Fully in the room, I see Natsu in the tub with a full bubble beard beckoning me to join him.
Unable to contain my laughter I burst into giggles at the sight until I hear a whine coming from the tub.
"Lusssheee. Come join me." He whines wiping off his bubbles.
Once again racked with nerves, I walked over to the base of the tub. Come on Lucy, you've already slept with this man twice. Why is the tub so different?
Dipping a toe in, I stand fully in the hot water so Natsu's about eye level with my─ oh.
"Breathtaking angle." He exhaled. Realizing I shrunk down into the tub out of embarrassment.
"Hey don't be like that, look at me." Raising my eyes to meet his, he turns me around so my face is tucked under his chin and my body is nestled into his partially bent legs. I felt his shaft on my back, I rubbed against it experimentally.
At first it was an accident but by the third time I the noises I spurred on unintentionally were intentional.
"Lucy, if you keep doing that─ this bath won't continue being so relaxing."
Pleased with myself, I snuggled into him contently.
He grabbed a lofa and began to wash our bodies slowly keeping in time with the tempo of the relaxing atmosphere.
"Hey Luce, will you tell me about your parents." Natsu said breaking the silence.
"Well my mom was this beacon of love. She was this amazing light that warmed my childhood. But she died."
"Oh Luce."
Ignoring his sympathies, I continued. "My dad. Well... he never recovered. We both loved her too much and I looked too much like her. He was cold ever since. Forced me into relationships I didn't want, and business I never cared for. I wanted to write stories and he wanted me to write contracts."
I paused trying to collect my emotions.
"I was angry with him for a long time."
"Well Lucy, I'm all the therapy you need."
Natsu POV
"Lucy, I don't know if I can do this."
"Natsu, you'll be fine. You told me you used to ride horses."
"Yeah, wild horses! This is completely different. I don't even know what polo is let alone trying to play it!
"You hit the ball with the stick, it's not rocket science. Besides I don't even need you to do well, just make an appearance."
"Fine." I whined.
God... she's making me play polo?
Dressed and on a horse in what seemed like a blur, I was on the pitch and waiting for the game to start.
Two teams of four moving to score a goal. It's like croquet soccer, right? I can do this. I'm the one concerned with goal scoring, apparently this is played by the lowest handicapped player on team. i mean tht makes sense since I've never done this before, but the don't have to be so smug about it. At least I have Gajeel here to help me.
An air horn blows signally something. Is the game starting? I deduce yes because people are moving towards the center of the pitch. I'm suddenly ushered into a line centering the field and facing against another line of four. Some intense looking guy with crimson hair is across from me, his sharp canines fabricating a sneer a moving his finger across his throat.
What is with this guy?
"One, Two, Three!" The referee shouts.
"Oh crap." I think as the strange man hits the ball away from me with his mallet, galloping away. Quickly turning my steed around to see where the ball went, I was rushed by the opposing teams defense.
"Dan Straight of The Legion Corps steals the ball from Dragneel."
This is nothing like riding wild horses. Riding bareback is definitely the way to go. Getting an idea, I quickly unbuckle the saddle, sending me and the saddle swinging underneath the horse.
"Dragneel seems to be... undoing his saddle?" The announcer said bewildered.
Chuckling to myself─ upside down I undo the other side of the saddle and fling the offending item to the side of the field.
"Better." I breathed, righting my body on top and using the reins to direct my horse into the fray of players.
Lucy PoV
"This is a bad idea." I thought. No. Have faith in him.
Air Horn blowing and the game begins. Please whatever deity is out there, help this go well.
"One, Two, Three!" The referee shouts. "Dan Straight of The Legion Corps steals the ball from Dragneel."
Dan? Oh shit, he's here? Stomach dropping with unease, I watch as he makes his way to the other side of the field towards the goal. Completely blanking, my concentration only breaks when the announcer mentions Natsu.
"Dragneel seems to be... undoing his saddle?" WHAT?!
Watching horrified as Natsu rides bareback on a polo field, he snuck up to the other players, hit the ball and was now moving down field with it. Stunned, I watched as he scored goal after goal on actual skilled professionals, teams changing ends each time.
At half time, the traditional divot stomping commenced where the spectators go to stomp down the field because of the horses tearing up the dirt. The score six to four, the legions having six─ two more points till they win. As I assisted with the stomp, I contemplated as to why Dan would be here; he was supposed to be in New York working on a deal with an electric company, not playing polo in L.A. Did he have business here?
"Lucy." I heard, walking back to the sidelines. Turning, I was met with the smiling face of Lisanna and her husband.
"Lucy, this is my husband Bixlow." Lisanna gushed as her husband and I shook hands. Looking out again to the pitch, Lisanna called my attention again to badger me with questions for who my new "boy-toy" was.
"Oh, he's the one in the pink."
"Shirt?"
"No hair."
Leaving Lisanna flabbergasted, I quickly excused myself to continuing watching the game. I liked Lisanna but her naivety and demeanor could be a bit trying at times.
Natsu PoV
Alright. This is almost over, only two more points till the other team wins.
Damn pride getting in my way. I've got to win this for Luce.
Raising my mallet into the air, I swiftly brought it down on the small white ball causing it to arch over to my teammate. He carrying it towards the goal─ scoring.
Success. One down three to go.
The last two goals were an easy steal, but the final shot was a battle. I was in the line of the ball as Dan rode up onto my left flank, trying to ruin my shot. He physically moved into me, causing my shot to sputter off the field. With the ball out of play, we all had to line up again in parallels. Dan once again gave me his unforgivable grimace, though this time when the ball was tossed into play, I was prepared. I swung down onto the target with all my strength, the ball shot up over the other team and rolled straight towards the goal. With the teams stunned I galloped into the rolling object sending the ball through the goal, winning the game.
The crowd erupted in cheers, sending me and my team to the victors circle.
Seeing Gajeel, I trot over to his horse to congratulate him on the game.
"Fancy seeing you here." I called out to him.
"Gihi, new clothes Natsu?"
"Yep they're new."
"That's good, how's Lucy?"
"She's great!" I said giving him a full mouth grin, "but I should be getting back to her."
Lucy PoV
The game over, I met up with Lisanna again.
"How'd you meet Natsu, Lucy?" Lisanna asked me, waiting for our dates to return.
"Oh, well I needed directions and there he was." I said fondly remembering our first night together.
"So you ran into him? That's amazing! What does he do?"
"Um… he's in sales." I quickly countered.
"Thats good. Good stuff, What does he sell usually?"
"Um...well." I started before Lisanna cut across me with, "You know Lucy, I've noticed a change in you this past week. You're smiling more. I can't help but think it's not because of him. Especially because he seems so friendly with Porla's grandson. "
"They met at dinner the other night. I introduced them."
"Now they're best friends? This guy appears out of nowhere." She huffed indignantly, "and now she's talking to a guy whose company we're trying to buy. That's pretty convenient, don't you think?"
"Don't be ridiculous." I laughed. Lisanna's so funny sometimes.
"How do you know that this guy hasn't attached herself to you because she's bringing information back to Morse? Lisanna pointed out frustratedly. Whining she continued with, "this happens in industrial espionage Lucy.
"He's not a spy. He's is a hooker.
"Oh..." She teetered off uncertainly.
Laughing I added, "I even picked her up in your car!"
Giving me a look, she walked towards Natsu─ leaving me to deal with approaching associates.
Natsu PoV
Finishing my conversation with Gajeel, I tried to make my way back to Lucy only to be stopped by someone with very white hair.
"Having a nice time, Natsu?
"Yeah, this is great!" I said grinning.
"Must be quite a change from Hollywood Boulevard, hmm?" She practically purred at me.
"What?" I said, my smile fading completely
"Yeah, Lucy told me. She said, "But don't worry; you're secret is safe with me." Laughing she stood closer to whisper: Listen, maybe, uh, you and I could get together sometime...after Lucy's business here is finished."
"Yeah, sure. Why not?" I shrugged. It's not like I have anything else to do.
"We'll just have to do that, hmm?"
More Notes: The reviews you guys leave really fuel my writing! You are all so nice :). I have also been thinking about maybe starting a new multi chaptered fic set in the canon-verse (NaLu of course ;) ) let me know what you think!
Also definitions:
Bareback-riding without a saddle.
Polo- two teams with four players on each side. The members are designated as "attack" or "defense" and each has the job of furthering their own goal tally while preventing the other side from scoring.
Ride-off- When one player rides his pony alongside and physically connects with his opponent to lead him away from the ball, it is called a ride-off.
If you guys are confused about what polo is here the field picture I had in mind: greenville poloclassic wp-content/uploads /2012/06/Polo-field .gif (ignore spaces).
I also don't know a lot about polo so if you can educate me that'd be wonderful.
I know lot's of fanfiction author use songs to dictate the mood of the chapter so I'll do that too. Please listen to Billy Joel's Uptown girl on repeat while reading, thank you.