Wow - we are already in the eighth chapter.

Just a heads up, I'm planning to finish this story somewhat in between 10 - 20 chapters. I'm not planning for it to extend but if the storyline goes further than that, then we will DO ITTTTTTTT

Disclaimer: All rights belongs to their respective owner(s)

Thanks!

Their aircraft touched slowly onto the runway and the engine pulled the breaks onto the large flying body. Holding down his hand, Lucy smiled warmly at her pink-haired partner who was trying ever so hard to contain his dinner inside his stomach.

"We're here, Natsu." The blonde said softly, watching as he tried to spark a bright smile but the sudden movement of the aircraft clamped his mouth shut. Seeing this happening before him brought a playful look to the blonde's face.

"I had no idea that you had motion sickness." There was a groan and heavy breathing coming from beside her.

"No one knows. Take it to your grave."

"And let you roam free without the hard knock life? Never."

As they shuffled out of the aircraft, Lucy tugged her partner by the collar as he embarrassingly kissed the ground as soon as walking out of the arrival area. After a good conversation about each other's past, a few sleeps here and there and sharing a couple of jokes now and then, needless to say, Lucy felt that they had finally come into a mutual understanding with each other. Especially with their current mission.

"What's so great about Acalypha anyway? I understand that it's so posh and for the expensive." Natsu grumbled under his breath as he finally located his small bag on the conveyor belt whilst the blonde stood beside him, flicking through a device that Levy had given to her.

"This place is also known for a small town down south called Love and Lucky. This is like... the place where singles from around the world gathers for a luck at love. Pretty much." The blonde replied while her partner reach over and grabbed his bag with one swift motion. Nodding that they had all they needed, they proceeded for the exit.

"Any news from headquarters?" Lucy's fingers held the recent apps icon and swiftly moved it all to one side with one sweep of her finger. Her brown eyes skimmed the screen quickly before humming a yes to her partner.

"What did they say?"

"From Erza: tell Natsu he will be having a quick appointment after the mission with me." Both agents felt a shiver after Lucy read that email out. Why she shivered? She didn't know but the thought sent goosebumps down her skin. If anything, her training had taught her that it's always the quiet and pretty-looking ones the best to look out for.

"Dammit. I was hoping she'd forget." The pinkette said, as they both exited the entire airport and heading towards the taxi area. Finding a taxi, he quickly waved it down and stepped to take hold of Lucy's bag, watching surprisingly as she had willingly let go when Natsu gripped onto it. For a deadly blonde, she sure was trusty with him. After assisting with the driver of taxi with their bags, Natsu claimed that they would carry it with them in the car rather than placing it in the truck. Nevertheless, the driver nodded understandingly.

"Good evening, sir and ma'am, where is your destination?" The driver adjusted his rear view mirror to view the two agents in his car. Without looking up, Lucy said the name of the hotel while Natsu looked at the large airport. Taking into account of how vast it was.

"Excellent choice madam." The driver said with a smile before driving onto the road, crossing lanes until it led to the exit of the parking lot.

Lucy placed the device away into her bag before propping an elbow on the handle. Looking outside and gazing at the night lights of the area. It had been such a long time since she last visited Acalypha, gazing lovingly at how much it had changed since she last stayed there.

"Is this your first time in Acalypha?" The voice broke her from her thoughts and she glanced to the mirror. Taking note of the cheerful eyes that glimmered happily at them. Opening her mouth to response, it was only cut off by a sudden hand that grasped hers on the backseat.

"Yes - we're currently travelling on a honeymoon. You know. Newly weds stuff." Her eyes snapped at the pinkette who only stared back at her. Encouraging eyes telling her to follow his story. Their hands entwined sent a shiver up her spine. What was Natsu thinking? Her stomach churned at the sudden realization of how their fingers laced unconsciously.

"Is that so? I'm glad to hear that. Acalypha has one of the best places to offer when it comes to honeymoons. Especially because this place is well known for so many things." A sudden caress on her hand sent the blonde looking at her partner. His jaw was set and his mouth formed a thin line. Was he angry? Maybe because of the turn of events? Feeling silly, she attempted to wiggle her fingers out of his grip but it tightened.

"Is there any specific reasons why this place is called the best? I'm just asking since I've heard so many stories." The driver peeked a look at the two agents that sat in the backseat. Natsu looked towards the driving wheel and took note of the driver having one hand on the wheel.

"I thought you've read them all." The driver said with a light chuckle. Suddenly, Lucy felt Natsu press his index finger into her hand. A few presses until she realized that he was sending a code.

"Oh ~ I wanted to get the best places from a local. You are well acquainted than a few websites, after all." There was a brief exchange of silence until Natsu pressed into Lucy's hand again.

"Of course! This place is well known for it's most famous reasons of a town up north called Love and Lucky. It's where couples gather for a chance at love of course." After one more press onto Lucy's hand, the blonde flailed and smacked the pink-haired agent with her bag.

"Oh darling, I'm so excited that I'm feeling hungry. Can we please stop and get something to eat?" Natsu blinked and was about to retort until her nails dug into his skin whilst batting her eyelashes temptingly at him. Was her eyes always that big?

"W-Well I guess it can't be helped, sweetie." He leaned over and kissed her cheek lovingly. The blonde felt a hue of red dusting her cheeks at the sudden contact. What the hell was Natsu doing?!

"Driver, I'm sorry for the request but my lady is quite famished. We will take it from here." The car pulled over to the side of the curb and briskly, the two stepped out of the car with their bags. Pulling the blonde to his side with a tight grip on her waist, he offered a smile to the driver.

"That's okay sir. Ma'am." The driver bowed lowly before offering a curt nod.

"Thank you and have a good night." He eyed the two warily, eyes locking with the pink-haired male before mucking up a smirk and getting back in the car. After the taxi had driven away, Lucy stomped on his foot and elbowed him brutally in the stomach - releasing his grip around her and leaning forward as the pain circled his abdomen.

"Ow - fuck."

"What was that?" The blonde hissed, memories of their awkward exchange from the hands thing to the kiss in the taxi. The thought sending a light blush and heat on her face.

"The driver was a pursuer. They know we're here. Contact headquarters and switch our hotel." The blonde nodded slowly, opening her bag and grabbing the device from her bag. After typing in some codes that Natsu didn't understand, she switched a few swipes onto the screen before turning the device off and facing him.

"What made you think like that?"

"You were talking about a small town down south called Love and Lucky when we were in the baggage claim area."

"Yeah. And?" His eyes darted to face her face. Somewhat mixed with confusion and interest.

"For a local, it shouldn't be slip of the tongue to answer a simple question. And yet his response was that the town was up north."

They had managed to find a hotel in the most furthermost area from their original accommodation. After checking in, the two had made enough progress with finally settling down into their own respective beds and unloading their bag along with the equipment that had been stored in small cubes, courtesy of Levy. For the rest of the night, they quietly spent it uploading reports and pictures of anything that deemed suspicious in the city.

"I'm done." Lucy let out an exasperated yawn, glancing lazily to the clock that read it was just after two in the morning.

"Get some rest. I've got a few things to do." The pinkette replied, eyes never straying from his laptop.

The blonde stared at him before heading to the bathroom for a shower. After locking the door, the male let out a bunch of air that he didn't realize, he was holding. He swore to himself. Just at that moment when they held hands in the car, his heart throbbed painfully and he was suddenly aware of her. It took a few minutes for him to realize that he had spent probably the next fifteen minutes thinking about his blonde partner.

"No no..." the pinkette muttered to himself angrily, "Lucy is just your partner. Only a partner. Mission. Partner. Mission." He kept repeating in his head like a mantra that wasn't working wonders. He didn't know how long he had been muttering to himself until the bathroom door opened and the scent of coconut and strawberries overwhelmed him like a wave of sweetness.

"Are you okay? You've been spacing out a lot." Lucy called out, using her towel to dry her damp hair. After her warm shower, the blonde took a look at her partner who just stared at his screen. Needless to say, it almost scared her of how dazed he looked. As if he was just a mindless zombie.

"I-I'm fine. Just thinking." The pinkette replied. Looking back at his screen and typing a few things down. Oh god. She even caught him like that. A blush crept up to his cheeks and his face suddenly felt warm. Even whilst looking down, he could see the blonde draping her towel onto a chair and falling tiredly on her bed. He immediately took note of how voluptuous his partner's body was. Especially the large shirt that rode up, exposing her short grey bottoms and a view of her flawless skin.

NO. IT IS NOT VOLUPTUOUS. BAD NATSU. BADDD!

"Get some sleep, Natsu." He blinked as she locked her eyes onto him. Her mouth was pulled into a tight line as she moved to the edge of her bed to face him fully, folding her legs.

"I'd much be relaxed if you sleep. We've got a big day tomorrow and I don't want my partner to drop in the middle of the day." A smug smile broke out on his face and Lucy cringed at the sight as the male closed his laptop abruptly and crawled to the edge of his bed. Their leg knocked slightly at his movements as he sat with one leg propped up on the bed and the other hung down over the edge.

"Say that again."

"Say what?"

"The last thing you just said." A blonde eyebrow raised.

"Why?"

"Just say it!" The blonde rolled her eyes before looking at him annoyed. Finally understanding why he reacted the way he did. Looking back at him, his face held some sort of hope, sparkling in his olive green eyes. With a sigh, she drawled her words slowly.

"I don't want my partner to drop in the middle of the day." This earned a chuckle and the blonde swiftly threw a pillow at the smug smile that apparently stretched a bit to widely for her taste. It was beyond creepy of how Natsu's face could defy the laws of human facial capabilities.

"Heh. You called me your partner."

"Shut it, Natsu."

"How could you be so reckless! It was going so well too!" A voice bellowed and a crashing sound was heard in the lounge.

"I'm sorry! It was a stupid mistake. Please. Give me one more chance."

"A stupid mistake huh..."

"Yes sir."

"... Lisanna, pass my gun."

"-No - wait! Please! I'll do anything. I'm begging you. Please spa-"

BANG

Silence ensued the room and the man turned to face the white-haired girl as she watched the entire event unfold before her eyes. Her blue-orbs sparkling under the light as blood from a wounded civilian pooled towards her feet. She took a careful step back just before the crimson liquid stained her shoes.

"There must be a reason why he hesitated to shoot them." The girl spoke, eyeing the dead man on the floor with lifeless eyes widened, yet at the corner, tears had sprung to the surface, rolling slowly down his face.

"Send for the men to get this body out. Macao was of no use to me. Just as his son, Romeo." Another gunshot was sounded.

Whooooaaaa the driver was Macao?! Why? How? Why is Romeo included?

So many questions.

Keep up with the latest release ya'll.

Lots of love,

B7K