Thanks to everyone who supported this fic, it is really appreciated!
And I do know that Natsu is being really nasty personality wise but that is all necessary. Enjoy!
Natsu whistled in approval as he stepped into one of the private offices of the house of the Heartfilias allotted to Lucy by her father after she begged him, "Nice place you got here, much better than that ugly little room from last week."
Lucy crossed her legs.
The nerve of this uncouth man, she thought, but merely motioned for him to sit in the chair opposite to her.
She had decided after spending the majority of her thinking time trying to devise the best approach to Project Dragneel that the only way to get Natsu to open up would be to make him comfortable, if that wasn't already obvious. So she grudgingly arranged for their sessions to be held at her home to make them seem less formal.
"Good afternoon to you too, Mr. Dragneel," she said, smiling brightly.
Natsu threw himself onto the handcrafted sofa she had gestured to before with absolutely no decorum, slinging his legs over the arm of the burgundy, vintage and extremely expensive furniture carelessly.
Lucy sighed, clasping her hands loosely, hoping that her irritation was perfectly masked.
"So that's why you're so polite, your family is loaded," Natsu murmured as his eyes searched the ceiling for whatever it was that he was looking for.
Lucy cleared her throat; the topic of her parents' wealth never really went down well with her.
"Anyway," she started in a saccharine-like voice, "How are things going with you in uni? I mean, what are your friends like, what do you like? These files are way too shallow for me if I really want to help you, and I do," she said, reciting the introduction she had perfected the night before with the help of Levy.
Natsu straightened in his seat, eyes narrowed and staring, suspicious.
"For some reason I find that really hard to believe, cause as far as I remember, weren't you the one that said that you need this to graduate with honours? And I'm sure that a rich girl like you would never want to disappoint mommy and daddy now would you?"
Damn! He's supposed to be an idiot and blindly agree.
Lucy stiffened. He was spot on, not that she would admit it, but she found herself disliking him all the more now.
"I have a much more realistic proposal than that charade of compassion you want to pull off," Natsu continued seriously, interlocking his fingers to form a steeple, "How about we do nothing, and you write a detailed report about how emotional I was, and that everything was fixed. You get a pat on the back, I get left to myself, and it's a win-win for both of us."
"Do not insult me Dragneel," Lucy snapped, voice strained, "I have no intention of giving up this opportunity for practical work like some sort of spineless fool just because you're going to be a tough nut to crack, so the way I see things, either you work with me willingly, or you don't graduate. You make the choice, you need me; I don't need you."
Lucy met his hard, jade eyes unwaveringly even though she was trembling on the inside, silently thanking her father for teaching her how to hide her weaknesses since she was a child as the heir to the Heartfilia corp.
Natsu frowned, he was sure he said it threateningly, why was this delicate little rich girl acting all big and bad? But more importantly…
"You being so authoritative is a huge turn on," he said plainly, slouching casually once again, "Much better than the nice girl act."
Lucy blushed, caramel eyes widening.
"Well, since you give me no choice," Natsu said, sighing extravagnantly, "I guess my idea is outta the question."
"I'm glad you know," she replied haughtily, barely smothering her gleeful smirk.
Lucy, 1; Dragneel, 0, she thought.
The man opposite to her rubbed his chin thoughtfully, liking his 'therapist' more now that she pulled a devious stunt like that, watching her as she got up to retrieve something from a maid.
"I have another suggestion," Natsu spoke up after Lucy had returned with a tray of tea and biscuits, absentmindedly reaching for the food as soon as it was placed on the coffee table in front of him, oblivious to Lucy's disapproving scowl.
"How about you meet my friends?" he asked when Lucy settled back down into her seat.
She blinked in surprise. He was actually trying to cooperate.
"Really?" she asked enthusiastically, a delighted smile working its way onto her face, "That would be great! I could see analyse your behaviour in your natural habitat!"
"Hey!" Natsu protested, "Don't make it sound like I'm some sort of animal."
"When?!"
Natsu tilted his lips upward a little at her childish reaction, features lightening slightly at the lively sparkle in her eyes and the infectious laugh bubbling out of her lips, allowing his nostalgia to surge for a moment.
"How about tonight?!" he asked.
Lucy frowned, guard back up immediately.
"Why at night?" she asked suspiciously. Being the heir of one of the most lucrative companies on the world had left her target to kidnapping and ransom more than a few times in her life.
He gave her a deadpanned look.
"I'm a womanising delinquent, right? Doesn't the night life fit the description too?"
Lucy nodded in all seriousness, "Honesty is good."
Natsu laughed, this girl was too trusting.
"Alright," she acquiesced, "Tonight it is. Where?"
"Don't worry, I'll pick you up."
Lucy eyed him, torn with indecision before nodding her assent.
Natsu smirked; As if I'm letting you take control just like that.
"What!" Levy exclaimed as she pace Lucy's room, tugging at her messy blue curls in frustration.
After Lucy had told her that she was going to meet Dragneel's friends tonight, the small woman immediately found herself in the Heartfilia's house, infuriated.
"How could you just say yes like that? What if he kidnaps you or something! Don't you remember all the attempts at your life?"
Lucy sighed.
"I know what I'm doing is risky Levy, but if I don't he will never open up to me."
"I don't care about the stupid project Lucy, I care about you!" Levy shouted, "You're my best friend in the world, I'm not gonna let some ass just ruin you."
"Nothing is gonna happen," Lucy protested, accustomed to Levy's explosive temper when it came down to serious things, "I have my pepper spray, I have GPS in my phone, and I have experience with martial arts. I'm not weak anymore."
Levy scowled.
"Fine, you can go," she said like a reluctant parent, "But I'm coming with you."
Lucy smiled, "Thank you."
"You're still too innocent, Lu," Levy said softly as she sank into the bed, feeling a bit drained after her exertion.
"That's why I need you Lev," she replied, voice equally soft.
"Damn straight you do," Levy joked, smiling at Lucy gently.
Lucy smiled back, petting Plue fondly.
Okay, so from here there is a fork in the road of the plot of this fic, I can either make it light but full of drama or dark and still full of drama.
Tell me which you'd prefer please.
Thank you!