Natsu was pissed.
He moved briskly down the salted sidewalk, fighting the urge to take off at a run.
Lucy's set was almost up, and he was going to be late.
His 8 o'clock meeting this morning had been pushed back four times. He'd only just been able to get out of the office.
If it weren't for Gray he would have been out in plenty of time. But the guy had to have his say, and Natsu had been forced to listen.
It wasn't even Gray's operation, it was Natsu's. But Makarov wanted to consult all the department heads, and that meant Natsu had to sit there and listen to Gray pick apart everything he thought Natsu was doing wrong- which was, apparently, everything.
Luckily Erza Scarlett, who tracked all their government contracts, had backed him up. This case was a grey area, a private client with intent to bring in law enforcement, so it didn't quite fall under her jurisdiction.
But that was why Makarov wanted the whole team.
Natsu knew he'd be just fine on his own. As long as he kept his head straight. There was nothing going on at The Blue Kitten that would be anything he hadn't seen before. It was only Tartaros's involvement that made the situation precarious.
A point which Grey had made when he suggested they should send in a team and stop tip-toeing around. Clean out the club, pick up Ivan, and leave Tartaros for another day.
Leave it to a security operative to want to go in guns blazing.
There were too many things that could go wrong, too many potentially innocent people that could get hurt. And walking the line of what they could do legally speaking, well, they would be playing with fire.
Natsu caught a glimpse of the neon sign and made his way through the front door.
The stale smell of cigarettes and alcohol hit him like a brick wall. Lucy's song had just started. He caught a glimpse of her moving down the catwalk at the far side of the room, her loose blonde hair dancing around her as she swayed.
Natsu headed toward the crowded bar and caught Rob's eye. The bartender nodded at him and went to the shelf for his best scotch.
After grabbing his drink he made his way to his booth, a sign that said "reserved" sat on the table.
He slipped off his snow dusted jacket and slid onto the red leather.
Lucy looked beautiful. Hot as the fire that burned Natsu's throat as he took a sip of his drink. But it was more than just the seductive dance that captivated Natsu. It was in her smile. It was the memory of the sound of her laughter that rung through his ears.
It was the necklace hanging around her neck.
Natsu smiled.
She'd worn the necklace. She'd accepted his apology.
As happy as that made him, Natsu was uneasy when he thought back to their conversation that morning. What Lucy had said, her reasons for staying at the club, it didn't add up.
Lucy was an intelligent woman. She had a confidence that shown through when they would talk. And yet she had basically said she wasn't good enough to get what she wanted on her own.
Something was holding her here. Was she being threatened? Or was she a willing participant, mixed up in a wicked game that she couldn't now escape from?
"Mr. Dragneel," Ivan's voice greeted him from over his shoulder.
"Ivan," Natsu returned, glancing back at him.
Ivan wasn't alone.
"May we join you?"
"Sure," Natsu said without missing a beat. "It is your club, after all."
Ivan gave him a forced smile as he took a seat along with the dark haired man that followed him like a shadow.
Natsu waited patiently, wanting to let Ivan guide the conversation.
"I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine," he said.
But Natsu already knew exactly who the shady looking man was.
"Mard Geer," he said, without giving Ivan the chance to finish.
The head of the Tartaros family narrowed his eyes, sizing Natsu up. He had a calculated look and a thin mouth that turned up at the corner, almost a smile, but not quite.
"Mr. Dragneel," he said in a cold, emotionless voice. "I've been looking forward to finally meeting you. Silver spoke highly of you."
"Did he?"
Natsu had dealt with Silver once before, but it wasn't related to a case. He'd helped the man out of a sticky situation, as a favor to a friend. In return Silver had kept silent about Natsu's identity, maintaining the cover Natsu had been using as being part of the Edolas family. Edolas was a crime family that existed mostly on paper. Fairy Tail had built the reputation of the nearly invisible laundering group to use as a front for their investigations.
Silver was how Gray found out that Tartaros was involved with Ivan. It was a bold move on Gray's part. Even though Silver had kept Natsu's cover, the man wasn't to be trusted. So far, though, he seemed to have kept to his word.
Mard Geer nodded. "Ivan tells me you want in on the deal we've been discussing."
Natsu shrugged casually. "I'd like to think that my skills could be of some service. Ivan hasn't given me much to go on, though."
Mard Geer's half smile flickered.
"Natsu offered to help us with some of the finer points of the plan," Ivan cut in. "He can keep us looking clean on paper, tie up some of the loose ends. And the discreet reputation of the Edolas family speaks for itself."
The ominous looking man nodded, his long black hair falling over his eyes and framing his face in a jagged silhouette.
"We plan on moving some merchandise through Ivan's club. Tartaros has a client base overseas that is interested in our new product."
"I see," Natsu observed coolly. "So you want me to keep everything looking straight on paper, keep track of your merchandise."
Mard Geer nodded again.
"If you prove your worth, there may be other business opportunities for you in the future."
Natsu took a slow drink of his scotch. This was what he'd been waiting for. He needed to step carefully.
"What's the product?"
Mard Geer responded with a short wave of his hand. "That's irrelevant. I just need you to keep the books straight. Show me you can do the job, and then maybe we'll talk in more detail."
Damn it.
Natsu was hoping for more than that. They were planning to keep him removed from the business itself. Getting his hands on some paperwork wasn't enough if they still didn't know what the guys were dealing in.
"I think I can manage that," Natsu said, leaning into the booth and casually glancing back at the stage.
He could feel the sharpness of Mard Geer's eyes like razor blades.
"She's quite lovely," the man observed, following Natsu's gaze. "Sweet little thing, too."
Natsu's eyes shot towards him. Had he met Lucy? She had avoided the question before...
"Perhaps I will take you up on that offer some time, Ivan."
Natsu's hands tightened into fists under the table.
"She's off the market," Natsu shot back without thinking.
Mard Geer arched his brow. "Oh, is she? Funny, that's not what Ivan said when he introduced us."
Natsu's blood boiled as he listened to the arrogant man's voice.
"I made an arrangement with Mr. Dragneel," Ivan finally chimed in, a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Lucy isn't welcoming any other suitors at the moment."
The dark haired man looked back to the catwalk, his eyes crawling over Lucy's body as she exited the stage.
"Pity," he said simply.
Natsu stood up abruptly as the lighting rose, signaling the end of Lucy's set.
"Well gentlemen, that's my cue." Natsu tried to bury the aggression toward the man across from him that was building in his chest.
Mard Geer stood slowly, following Natsu's lead.
"I'll set up a more formal meeting with Ivan. Make sure your there." Then he held out his hand to Natsu. "It's been a pleasure, Mr. Dragneel."
Natsu paused before he shook the man's hand, fighting the sudden urge he had to throw him into a wall.
Without another word Natsu made his way towards a door in the back corner of the club guarded by a tall, muscularly built bouncer.
Bacchus nodded at Natsu. He threw the lock and pushed the heavy door open as if it were nothing.
All he wanted in that moment was to see Lucy. The thoughts Mard Geer's words stirred in Natsu's head made him sick, and he wanted them gone. He wanted to forget what she did. He wanted to see her look at him with that smile of hers that made him feel like he was the only man she cared for.
He caught a glimpse of Cana standing by the bar in the rec room, two beers in her hand.
"Cana," he called out as he came up behind her.
Cana's long, wavy auburn hair swung around her tanned shoulders as she turned to meet him.
"Mr Dragneel, what a surprise" she taunted with a wry smile.
Natsu laughed. "I guess my timing is pretty predictable isn't it."
"Just a little bit," Cana winked.
"Look, that thing I asked you about the other day, I want to do it tonight. Can you manage it?"
Cana's smile evaporated. "Natsu, I'm not sure if that's really a good idea."
"Come on Cana, you said it wouldn't be that hard. Please? For Lucy?"
Cana shifted her weight uneasily. "I..." she started then shook her head. "I guess."
Natsu's smile brightened, grinning from ear to ear.
"I'll owe you a beer," he joked as he turned in the direction of Lucy's room.
"You'll owe me a keg!" Cana called back as he disappeared down the hallway.
Natsu laughed to himself. He liked Cana. She called it like she saw it. And she was the only one here that seemed willing to take any risks.
Natsu drummed his knuckles on Lucy's door before slipping her key from his pocket and undoing the lock.
Across the room the door to the bathroom was wide open. Lucy stood in front of the mirror wrapped in a white towel as she combed out her hair. There was a glint from the gold chain around her neck.
Natsu pressed the door shut as Lucy turned to greet him.
Her eyes were wide and shinning. A bright smile broke across her face like the morning sun.
"Natsu," she greeted him in a breathy whisper.
He felt all his reservations shatter at her feet.
Natsu took the room in stride until he was close enough to slip his hand against her waist. The other swept up over the soft skin of her cheek, his fingers weaving into her hair.
He kissed her, and the fire in his heart exploded through his veins.
There was a clatter as the hairbrush in Lucy's hand fell to the floor. She slid her slender fingers up his chest and curled them around his neck.
Natsu deepened the kiss as she parted her lips for him. The sensation of her tongue sliding against his own shook every nerve in his body. He wrapped his fingers tighter into her wet hair as she pressed her nearly naked body against him.
All he could think about was her touch. The way her body felt against his, the softness of her lips and the warmth of her tongue in his mouth.
Lucy pulled away to catch her breath. She leaned her cheek to his, her shallow breath caressing his neck.
Natsu kissed the line of her jaw until he found her neck.
"Lucy," he breathed her name against her porcelain skin. He felt her whole body shudder against him.
Two sharp raps sounded at the door.
It was Cana signaling the all clear.
Natsu felt Lucy's turn toward the noise as he rested his head against the nape of her neck. He tried to catch his breath. His muscles ached for her. The way his body responded to hers was unshakable. He could barely restrain himself from pressing her up against the wall and taking her right there.
Natsu pushed himself away from her enough so that he could look into her eyes. Gently he brushed a strand of wet hair from her cheek. He inhaled sharply as he saw her large eyes hooded with desire.
"Get dressed," he said in a low rumble, unable to command the strength of his voice. "I'm breaking you out," he grinned.
Lucy's eyes went wide with shock.
"Natsu, I can't-"
But Natsu cut her off with another swift kiss.
"Just for a few hours," he whispered. "I'm taking you on a real date."
She looked at him hesitantly but she couldn't stop the excited smile overwhelming her mouth.
As she changed Natsu went to the sink, splashing ice cold water over his face. He looked up at his reflection in the mirror.
He'd be lying if he tried to say this was all just part of the job. He should be more concerned with getting into Ivan's office tonight. He shouldn't have risked putting off Mard Geer with his hot headed comment about Lucy. Yet here he was. And it felt like the only thing that really mattered, was her.