Hi all
We are going to cut the pleasantries and head straight for the story. Because I've been very inactive with my stories, please find below a chapter that is 4K words long! Thats right! That's how long it is! And my fingers feel like they are going to shake off the bone soon.

Disclaimer: All rights belongs to their owners

Without further ado,

Please enjoy this chapter!

Lucy laid on her bed with eyes staring dreamily to the ceiling.

It was their second day in Acalypha and no matter how much she looked at the scenery and majestic touristy attractions, all she saw was the drug operations occurring all around them. It was a bright as day and she couldn't fathom why the local police wasn't even trying to deal with the situation first-handedly when they see it. She voiced her concern to Natsu who was just checking his laptop after they had finished setting up the master-plan for the building at the docks.

"Think about it properly. If the police involved themselves on the streets, the druggies or whatever you call them will definitely put revenge on them. Especially in broad daylight. They will be able to identify the officer and his personal connections. All in all, whatever the police does to the underground operations, the drug lords will repay that back a hundred fold." The pinkette responded whilst his fingers continued tapping the keyboard. Eyebrows scrunched in determined focus and mouth set. "Besides, I believe that some officers are druggies themselves."

"Then what's the point of being a law-abiding citizen to a policing organization that is too scared to make moves? They are killing people." The tapping from the keyboard halted and the blonde turned her head to face her partner who only stared accusingly at her as if she grew an extra head.

"You do realize that we're basically killing people too right?" The blonde snapped her head away in a huff. She hated how he always made sense somehow. The sound of the laptop snapping shut caught her attention. There was a ruffling of bed sheets until the padding of feet walking across the floor towards her. Blinking her eyes open from where she laid lazily on her back, the apples of her cheeks suddenly reddened at how Natsu just stood over her looking down with the most shit-eating grin ever.

"W-What?" She hissed pathetically. His grin widened.

"Are you ticklish, Lucy?" Her heart skipped a beat as he leaned down closer to her.

"-No." The blonde squeaked. Was he planning to-? No. He wouldn't dare. Somehow, a lingered thought inside her mind screamed for escape.

"Really?"

"Really!" She squeaked again but going an octave higher.

"Well that's just too bad because I'm going to do this!" Without a warning, fingers were running up her sides in the most torturous manner. The blonde suddenly gasped in shock and utter disbelief as laughter bubbled inside her stomach and expelled in a bright laugh. Her squeals bouncing off the walls making the pinkette grin and running his hands up her hips faster.

"N-NO! S-Stop!" The tears were falling down her face and her hands were already attempting to fight off Natsu's attacks. Failing miserably as her hands would fall weak whenever he touched a certain spot.

"Godammit Natsu!" The blonde yelled when at last, he slowly halted tickling attacks and just rested his hands on either side of her body. Lucy felt her breath hitched as she tried to rest her pounding heart. With a sudden realization that her face must've looked despicable due to the mascara and eyeliner that had been smudged from her tears.

"Finally. You were getting too serious. I don't like it when you get serious." He spoke softly. Eyes lingering just slightly for too long on her face. Was her make-up that bad?

"And I don't like it when you're creepy." The blonde shot back as he smirked almost too nicely for her liking. Suddenly, their room bursted in a fit of high giggles and squeals as Natsu attacked once more.

His eyes watching the way the blonde would tense up and escape him. The way her eyes tinkled in mirth and joy. The way she just fitted so right against him.

The rest of the afternoon was well-spent on the two walking more often around places and familiarizing themselves with the routes and paths on the streets. Taking note of every shortcut and alleyway that may prove helpful if they were to be pursued at some point during their 'honeymoon'.

"I don't understand. You've been walking around like nobody's business, like you knew the place even though you've only been here one before when you were younger. Your memory is like a computer." The pinkette commented as they made another turn. Lunch was brushed to the side as the day where they pursued drew near.

"It's called memorizing the landscapes and routes from the map." The blonde replied as he followed closely behind her. Stuffed his hands into his pockets as he scouted the area. It's like the place moved with every turn and twist.

"I can't even remember my own passport number." The agent commented, running a hand onto the walls of the building where they trod.

Slowly but surely, Natsu's eyes drifted towards the blonde girl who had led them into another alleyway with the map opened in front of her. Eyes focused on the paper and feet taking necessary steps. His eyes wandered to her backside. No doubt about it, his partner was gorgeous. And besides, it's nothing bad just checking his partner out once in a while without her knowing.

"Natsu?" Her voice snapped into his thoughts and the pinkette turned his head up to her frowning face as she had stopped slightly and turned her head to eye him. Did she see him looking at her?

"Are you okay?" He muttered lowly at how he had been swept up in his thoughts before plastering a grin on his face to assure the worried blonde.

"I just called your name to ask if you were hungry. Because you seem to always kick up a tantrum at this time of the day." He blinked as the girl laughed. "That's why I got worried and asked."

"You noticed that?" She stopped laughing and smiled,

"How can I not? You're my partner." The blonde replied dejectedly, with the tip of unfortunately hanging off the tip of her tongue.

Yes. That was he was to her. Nothing more and nothing less. All they had in common was a deadly mission that was kicking their asses. He nodded slowly.

"Of course. Well, now that you've mentioned it. I'm actually getting really hungry." He placed a hand on his stomach and tapped it gently over his shirt. His stomach was rumbling for something to munch. Lucy let out a giggle before turning around fully and walking towards him.

"Since you're been a very good boy, we'll finish this up after we re-fill our bellies." Fingers smoothing out the map and folding it gracefully. Tucking the folded paper now in her pocket, she adjusted her bag and opened her mouth to speak but a grin was plastered on her partners face. And it wasn't the type of grin that assured her. Instead, it made her skin crawl.

"What?"

"What if I don't want to be a good boy?"

"Damn. You whipped that map into a full slapping tool in a millisecond!" The pinkette groaned, holding his abused face and rubbed it lovingly.

After his slight comment that was taken the wrong way, Lucy had not hesitated to slap the boy to oblivion after his sentence ended. As if by magic, the pinkette had watched in amazement and horror as the folded map that once slept in her pockets was suddenly whipped into a full open paper and she slapped him without giving him a moment to brace himself.

"You fail as an assassin." The blonde responded with a huff. Cheeks red and fingers shaking. Her legs were still wobbly after he said such incredulous things.

Their food had arrived almost promptly and the two began to dig into their meals. Occasionally commenting on the things around them whilst they ate. Natsu finished his third serving of fire chicken before something on Lucy caught his attention. Was that always there-?

BZ BZZZZ BZZ BZ BZZZZ BZZ BZ BZZZZ BZZ BZZZZ BZZ BZ BZZZZ BZZ BZ-

A vibrating noise sent the two into slight shock as the phone that Natsu carried for the agency shook to life. Swiftly wiping his hands on the serviette, he switched the decline notification before continuing his meal. Ignoring the pointing look from his blonde partner.

"What was that about? I was so sure that you were going to answer." Lucy commented, reaching for her glass of water on the table and taking a sip.

"Answering a phone call during meals is rude." The pinkette shrugged, continuing with his food. Lucy shrugged her shoulders and followed suit, totally ignoring the way Natsu looked at her once more. He lowered his eyes skillfully at the phone when the blonde wasn't looking.

That vibration was only used for emergencies for him only.

His eyes raised up to look at the blonde who smiled happily to herself as she finished her lunch briskly. There was something that still kept his heart from fully opening to her. Besides the obvious fact that they just met and the overruling topic of the year that she probably still hated him, it was something that he wouldn't want to risk this mission for.

Whatever Lucy was hiding from him, it wouldn't matter anyway. Not to him at the very least. Well, to be fully honest, he didn't think it'd matter now.

"It can't be. There's no way." Levy murmured as her eyes took in the information that shone brightly in her office. The links. The Intel that they had gathered from all other branches and from the other agents. The door for her office was pushed hurriedly and Erza and Gray pushed into the room.

"You needed us, Levy!" Erza spoke, dropping her things as Levy motioned for them to come beside her. The two quickly listened and rounded up to Levy's computer desk.

"This doesn't make sense." Levy began, hovering her mouse over the screen and clicking on multiple tabs, confusing the black-haired male in the room for only a brief moment.

"All my messages to Natsu and Lucy has been intercepted numerous times. After it reaches their locations, the tracking system shuts down and is replaced with a bot. Even after now, as soon as I sent a message, it was quickly intercepted and something else had overridden my coding." Erza viewed the screen,

"There's also the different I.P addresses that is closely affiliated with the message leaving." The red-haired pointed out and a slight sigh escaped the timid blue-haired girl.

"That's what I don't understand." Levy admitted, running a tired hand through her locks and sighing loudly.

"What's there not to understand? You're the bookworm. You're the walking encyclopedia for all things illegal." Gray said with a hint of surprise in the tone of his voice. He watched as Levy shook her head slightly. Silently, the blue-haired woman ignored the minor insult hidden away in his words and focused on the task at hand. Her fingers clicking towards the IP drop box where a series of number followed after.

"That I.P. address throws me off." Raising the pointer and hovering over a certain number.

"Why?"

"It belongs to Lucy's laptop. The Lucy I know has absolutely no experience with technology. She doesn't even know how to use an elevator without freaking out. "

Natsu walked around the bed and settled on the desk and chair provided in his shared room with Lucy. The blonde had left him alone whilst she shuffled over to the shower with her towel. After she had locked the door, the pinkette flicked his laptop open and began to continue his research around the area.

Just as swiftly as he tried to focus on his work, it seemed like his mind would always go back to his blonde partner.

Lucy Heartfilia.

Somehow, that name brought so many questions to his mind. Who is she really? Her name yelled so many suspicions because it's like she just appeared out of nowhere. No background check. Nothing. All it took was hard work into the agency and suddenly, Lucy was pushed in his life.

Who was she? Without noticing, his fingers typed her name up and hovered to the search icon, index twitched to click the mouse. His mind was wondering what else his partner was hiding from him besides her overflowing vibe of not being the type to be swayed easily.

"Who are you really…" He murmured to himself, giving up and finally moving the on-screen mouse with a final click from his index finger.

He knew since the time her apartment was suddenly ransacked, that her father wanted her. But why? Is there a reason why he'd want her suddenly? But she's just a daughter of a rich man. Who? He didn't care. But there must've been something about Lucy that caused her father to go to extreme measures to have Lucy back.

He looked once more at the blonde as she smiled almost too freely for his liking. Lucy had thought about exploring the nightlife and who would refuse such a woman with killer moves hidden underneath that sweet façade? Not him.

"It's been a while since you've last had one of your episodes." Her voice drifted when they walked away from the last stall. It was interesting enough as she led the way to the docks. He followed closely behind, taking note of every eye that followed them. As she said this, he looked at her with a confused yet blank look on his face.

"Episodes?"

There was a moment of awkward silence before the blonde stopped in her tracks. Just at the ledge of the docks, the blonde looked into the water, hands clasped the ropes that prevented any accidental falls. She didn't want to face him at this point. Tomorrow was all they had before they ended their mission.

"You know. Episode with Lisanna." He could tell that she had hesitated at the fore-mention of his ex-partner. He looked down briefly for a moment. Not sure if he should open up his mind to someone that most likely, still hated him after the stunt he had pulled before in Magnolia.

"I'm slowly getting over it. It's taking a while but somehow, it's much easier to move on from the past." He spoke, walking beside her and leaning an elbow on one of the thick ropes. He stared out on the bright lights and silently noted how beautiful those lights were.

"I'm just glad that you're trying. It's been an honor working by your side, Natsu." This irked the pink-haired agent who straightened up as the blonde refused to look at him. Eyes trained down into the water. His eyes bore on her figure.

"Why are you getting all cheesy on me? It doesn't suit you, Luce." He laughed, facing his eyes and looking back at the dark sea. "It doesn't suit you at all."

There was a moment of pondering for two agents who stood silently, embracing the peace between the both of them. Lucy pulled at her sleeves closer for a bit more warmth. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire as she stood beside the pinkette who hadn't uttered a single word since a few minutes ago.

"I'm slowly adjusting to you though."

Lucy snapped her head to look at him. He glanced for a bit before training his eyes strictly into the dark, but Lucy can still see the faint telling tales of red on his face. She smiled warmly.

"I'm glad. I'm doing the same too. It's hard but I'm slowly getting there." Natsu eyed the blonde from the corner of his eyes.

"You lost someone too?" His question caught her off guard but it was one that she was expecting to come after she said something out of the blue. She leaned over the ropes and looked down.

"No. Far from it actually." She took a hesitant breath. "I'm adjusting to the fact that I'm only a replacement in your world, Natsu. I'm just someone that's fulfilling this part until the mission is over." She leaned her head on the ropes.

"Fairy Tail changed my life. I was on the edge of committing suicide. I ran away from home. I wanted freedom so bad, that I was willing to kill for it." Memories began to flood her mind and she desperately pushed down the tears that were crawling up to her face. Natsu noted this mentally.

"But it doesn't change the fact that everywhere I go, I'll always be a replacement to someone." The blonde pushed herself up, dusted her clothes and began to walk away without another word. The pinkette watched her walking away before she slowly stopped in her tracks. Turning around with a smile that was far from perfect. A small smile of the sort.

"Let's go, partner."

He didn't understand what she meant. Even as they joined hands in light of the public, something squeezed his heart painfully as her words replayed themselves over and over again.

"But it doesn't change the fact that everywhere I go, I'll always be a replacement to someone."

He looked down at her.

Lucy Heartfilia.

On the outside, she seemed uncaring, strict and very violent. Just for tonight, she became the most human person than anyone that he had ever met. The way she just briefly opened herself up to him, the way she spoke a bit about her past. The way she turned around and smiled after such a sad confession. His fingers tightened around her hands for a bit. This caused the blonde to whip her face to him in a huffy manner.

"What the hell do you think-"

"I've told you before Lucy." The pinkette said with a small smile, "Being cheesy doesn't suit you at all."

She smiled a bit, a warm color of red and pink on the apples of her cheeks. "Not at all." Her hand squeezed back.

With that said, he led the way through the seats, quite aware of the heat that was settling on cheeks. He silently sent a prayer somewhere, grateful that he had said the weirdest thing at night and Lucy wasn't tall enough to see it. He was very grateful.

He didn't know when he started to see the blonde as no one but a partner for this mission. Just as Lucy mentioned, he didn't know when he stopped thinking about Lisanna. Ever since their shaky start, he'd been slowly accustoming himself to Lucy, almost checking for her. Slowly but surely. His feelings for Lucy suddenly became very apparent and without knowing, he had squeezed Lucy's hand again. For assurance? For safety? He didn't know.

After returning back to their hotel room, Natsu had just pushed away his laptop and took a chancing look at his blonde partner who had her legs folded on the bed. Dressed in her sleeping attire of cotton shorts and a very large shirt that reached her upper thighs. It had been two hours since they returned, changed in silence and began their reports. Since he finished early, his eyes wondered slowly to where his partner sat beside him. Brown eyes focused on the lit screen. Her fingers typing away to her report.

What those finger would do to a man like him.

His eyes wandered down to her long and slender legs. Damn. Were they always that long? Wait. How tall was she? Oh god. Was she taller them him?! He closed his eyes briefly and thought of the many times she had stood beside him? Just underneath the chin? Just at the base of his collar? Or shorter? Perhaps just below the collar then? About the chest area?

"Hey Luce."

"What is it?" He inwardly bit down a laugh. Even whilst looking hot and typing, she sounded just as cold.

"Stand for me."

"I'm busy."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please Lucy."

"I said no, Natsu."

"Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please-"Her fingers stopped. Her face turned towards him with an annoyed scowl plastered on her face. Eyes ready to cry from being tired and interrupted and fingers shaking to console the need of strangling him. He could tell.

"If I stand, you'll leave me alone afterwards?"

"Yes."

She sighed before unfolding her legs and walking to where he sat. He swung his legs over the bed and stood in front of her. Hand raised and patting the blonde on the head – not without the blonde sending a threatening look to him.

"You better watch your h-"

"Shh." Looking down at the blonde who shut her mouth slowly. Eyes glaring at him. Looking at the blonde closely, her brown eyes flickered with slight anger. Nose scrunched up in annoyance and mouth twisted in a scowl.

"Geez. I'm just sizing your height. It's not like you're doing anything important."

"I'm writing to Erza, idiot." His hand softly wavered on top of her head. His smile dropped for a bit.

"Oh. I guess that's pretty important." He replied softly. "Stand a bit straighter." The girl huffed before straightening her back and placing her feet together. Patting her head once more, he shifted his hand across to just below his chest and back to her head with a surprise look on his face.

"Whoa? Below my chest? Luce, you're really short!" The girl in question folded her arms and looked away,

"It's not like I wanted to be short." The girl hissed. "It just happened and here we are. You idiot." Looking to the side, Natsu's eyes skimmed over the muscle at her throat. The way her collar bone poked out and mocked him teasingly. Was her skin that flawless? He wondered where else was just as flawless as her throat?

"Can I touch it?" Lucy snapped her eyes to him. Taking note that his once-olive eyes were slightly clouded. He wanted to touch her head again? She closed her eyes to force her mind to will away the tempting thought of herself hitting him repeatedly.

"Might as well. Because once I sit back down, I'm not planning to get up agai-"her voice went an octave higher. Large, warm and slightly calloused hands were wrapped around her throat. Not squeezing. Just caressing it softly. It slowly reach up to her face and pushed back the hair that resting in front of her ears.

"W-what are y-you doing?" The blonde squeaked but he didn't answer. Instead, his fingers brushed into her hair and brought her face closer to him. Who had slowly leaned down. Hesitant but moving.

"N-Natsu?" Her mouth opened but at the same time, her heart fluttered. Was he going to kiss her? Looking straight at his eyes, the blonde felt her body go weak but a sudden arm was wrapped around her waist. The surprised blonde immediately placed both hands to his chest.

"Hey, w-what's wrong with you?" Instead of answering her, the blonde felt a jerk and she was pulled into his chest. At the same time, the fingers that ran through her locks pulled them slightly, forcing the blonde's mouth to open in pain until a pair of warm lips descended on hers. Stopping all movement within her mind and her body.

He was kissing her.

The sudden thought sent her knees buckling, but his arm held her around the waist.

And not just that, he had squeezed her form tighter to his own. The arm that was wrapped around her body ran up the length of her back, sending the blonde into a breathy moan. As if earning such a feat, the male then proceeded to lightly nibble her lips, coaxing her mouth open digging his tongue into her hot cavern. Indulging into her sweetness.

Their tongues battling for dominance whist his hand stretched down towards her lower back. Squeezing her bottom at the middle. This earned the blonde to throw her head back and moan with such deliciousness. All ample thoughts lost and forgotten. Without missing a movement, the pinkette quickly attacked her throat and laced fluttering kisses down her throat.

"Natsu…" She breathed out, eyes squeezed tight and hands gripping his shirt.

"Luce." He breathed onto her throat. Saliva lingered on her skin and he returned back to her throat. Biting and sucking at what he can grab.

"W-what are you…"

"I wanted to do this for a long time." He breathed out.

He returned his lips to hers and captured them once again. Not wanting to let go anymore and his hands returned back to her waist. Finally, with the need to breathe, they pushed themselves away without letting go. Chests heaving and mouths opened.

"Natsu…?" Her cold demeanor was broken. Lucy felt her body grow hot with such feelings. In any way, the blonde had not felt such a burst of energy before. A rush of feelings. Not once has she ever made out with a man like this before that left her breathless and greedy.

Arms quickly untangling themselves from her and returning back to his side. His face red with shame and embarrassment.

"I… fuck." He said quickly, turning his heels before grabbing his jacket on the edge of his bed and making a run to the door.

"And all preparations are complete?"

"Yes sir." A man replied to Jude Heartfilia, who was walking around the roundtable at their meeting. His eyes fixed on a couple of documents that were laid before him on the wooden table.

"What about Ycul? Have you heard anything from her?"

"Yes. They will begin their movement at the same time of the operations."

"That's good. That is very good." He smiled to himself. Lisanna sat at the head of the table. Identifying each aspect of the plan that might lash back at them if the plan were to fail. A smile was plastered on her face.

Fairy Tail wouldn't know would hit them worse.

First of all, thank you for keeping up with this story. I admit, there are some questions that are still left unanswered but it will be answered in due course. As promised, I still want this to be finished because I have this upcoming story that will definitely knock your socks!

Thank you to everyone who have favorited, follow or reviewed my work. I assure you. They are like money to me. I love money by the way. Who doesn't? Lol, that's probably why I'm going to end up single and alone for the rest of my miserable life. Hahaha.

Lots of love,

B7K