Lucy stared out over the river as she leaned against the cold metal railing. The stars twinkled brightly, despite the lights from the city, as the storm clouds took a brief reprieve from their work.
When Natsu had told her he was taking her out on a date, Lucy had imagined him taking her to a fancy restaurant like the ones she visited when Ivan was entertaining an important client.
This was better.
First Natsu had taken her to his favorite all-night, hole-in-the-wall Indian food place. She tried everything he ordered her, devouring the flavors and spices of the foreign food that lit up her taste buds.
They sat talking for hours until the scrutiny of the owner's gaze made it clear it was time for them to give up the table.
It was so easy being around him. He made her laugh until tears welled in her eyes. Then he'd grin, and she would melt.
The way he had kissed her earlier shook her to her core. She hadn't wanted him to stop, and yet this was worth it.
He told her about his family. Not his blood family, but his closest friends. Lucy could relate. Her friends were the closest thing she had to family, too.
In return Lucy told him about her own family whom she had cut ties with years ago. Her mother had died when Lucy was young, and her father had been cold after that. He was overbearingly controlling, and Lucy couldn't take it anymore, so she had struck out on her own.
After the restaurant they had held hands and walked the streets of the city, the neon lights casting colorful shadows over the pavement. The noise of traffic and busy people brushing past them was drowned out by the sound of his voice.
Now he had taken her to his favorite spot in the city.
An inlet from the ocean carved its way through the center of the city, growing narrow as it led to a small lake in the middle of town that was bordered by an evergreen park.
They stood looking out toward the ocean on a small bridge that arched over the narrow water before it opened up to the lake.
"I didn't even know this was here," Lucy said quietly as they watched the current of the shallow water.
"I found it a while back. I come here when I need to think, or when I need a break from work."
Lucy tried to hold back her repeated desire to ask him what he really did.
She'd seen him speaking with that snake of a man, Mard Geer, at the club. It made her insides turn.
Natsu looked over. She could see the gears grinding behind his eyes. Things he wanted to say, and yet something kept holding him back.
"Why won't you talk about what you do?"
Lucy could see his jaw clench, the gears still spinning.
"It's dangerous," he said finally, seeming to pick his words carefully. "I don't want to put you in the middle of it. I..." he paused, looking back at the water. "I don't want to see you get hurt, because of me."
"I live in a dangerous world Natsu. I doubt it would make much of a difference."
Natsu contemplated his response as he leaned his weight against the railing.
"My father died when I was young," he said finally, opening up to her in a way he had never done before. "He was a federal agent, and I guess someone had targeted him out of revenge. He was killed protecting his family."
Lucy reached out and folded her hand around his. Natsu was letting his guard down, he was finally letting her in and it filled her with love for him.
"I'm sorry," she said gently.
Natsu shrugged his shoulder, brushing away the memories. "I made a promise to myself a long time ago that I would never let anything like that happen to the people I love."
Lucy leaned her head against his shoulder, offering consolation in her touch. Natsu squeezed her hand in his, as if trying to show her the feelings he couldn't say aloud.
"Have you ever thought about walking away from it all?"
"It's not that simple," he said quietly.
Lucy smiled, "Well that sounds familiar."
Natsu moved so he could look into her eyes.
"What does Ivan have on you? What's really keeping you there?"
Instinctually Lucy turned away, looking back out to the ocean.
"I would think you already knew that," she said, a note of resentment creeping into her voice. "You are doing business with him, aren't you?"
"We have an arrangement," he said slowly. "But he's keeping me at arm's length. I still don't know exactly what I've gotten myself into."
"Then you should walk away," she said, returning her eyes to him. The desperation she suddenly felt to protect him from getting himself hurt swelled in her chest. "Before you get in any deeper, just walk away."
"Lucy," Natsu said, his voice turning serious. He took her by the shoulders and turned her towards him. "Do you know what Ivan's side business is?"
Lucy wanted to tell him, she wanted to trust him. But could she, really?
"Like you said," she whispered back. "I don't want to put the people I love at risk."
"Look, it's only a matter of time until Ivan brings me into the fold, I'll find out whatever's going on. So just tell me now, you can trust me."
Oh god she wanted to. She so badly wanted to trust him.
"Natsu, if Ivan were to find out I spoke to you-"
"He doesn't need to know." Natsu's tone was earnest. "What's keeping you there, did he threaten you?"
Lucy felt tears well in her eyes. Very slowly she nodded at him.
The anger that flashed in Natsu's eyes was startling. For a moment it frightened her.
"Tell me the rest."
Lucy crossed her arms over her chest, a sudden shiver rolling down her spine. Immediately Natsu slipped off his coat and wrapped it around her, his warmth encompassing her.
"He brings girls into the club, dancers..." she started out slowly. "But then they disappear... He said if I told anyone the same thing would happen to me."
"What do you mean they disappear?"
"They go missing, they don't leave. They're just... gone. And then he brings in a new bunch of girls, and it all just happens again. There are a few of us he's kept, like Cana and Juvia, but the others..."
Lucy's lip quivered as she spoke, tears beginning to escape down her cheeks.
The anger in Natsu's gaze had filled his eyes with a blazing fire.
"What about Mard Geer? Did they tell you anything about their plans?"
Lucy shook her head. "You know more than I do, I saw you talking to him and Ivan tonight."
Natsu's posture straightened his jaw flexing. "They want me to help cover their tracks," he admitted, "but they never said what the merchandise was."
"Merchandise," Lucy scoffed in disgust. "I don't understand how you could be involved with them, Natsu."
"It's complicated." He reached up and used his thumbs to brush the tears from her eyes.
"I'm not taking you back there," he said suddenly. "I won't."
"Natsu you have to," Lucy nearly begged, "If I don't show up, he's going to hurt the other girls. He told me that's what he would do."
Natsu grimaced. He ran a hand over his brow.
"Fine," he said grudgingly. "For now," he added. "But I will get you out of there Lucy, I promise."
Lucy reached out to him, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his chest, fresh tears darkening his silk tie.
"I wish I could believe that," she said helplessly.
"I promise," he repeated in a whisper, placing a gentle kiss against her hair.
Lucy closed her eyes, listening to the sound of his heart beat. She wanted to believe him. But she couldn't. It would hurt too much when it never happened. It was a promise she knew he couldn't keep.