Lucy - Bonus

I twiddled my thumbs, a stupid habit, as I walked into the glass doors of my job. Scanning in at the front desk, I worked to keep my eyes from glancing around to the very man that has been driving me nuts. I focused on thoughts of my best friend instead, wondering where in the hell that bruise came from. Maybe a drunk guy she was dancing with? I cringed with guilt, having possibly been too drunk to notice distress in my best friend. A fear was in her eyes, and it sent my mind in a whirlwind. Then, there was a dejected look in her normally bright eyes this morning. The last time I'd scene such a look was when she was separated from her uncle. I'd seen worse looks on her, but nervousness and sadness lurked there when she left this morning. Almost defeated. I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket. I ignored it as I saw a deadly familiar flash of pink.

My thoughts automatically drifted to him being stark naked and to how amazing he was in bed. I closed my eyes for a second and took a deep breath as he called my name. I stopped as he approached me. I'd almost made it to my cube.

He wore a pair of grey blue jeans and a black jacket with his signature scarf around his neck. He looked sexy as hell with that stupid grin on his face. I could see a confidence in his frame as he caught up to me. I took another breath.

"Hey Lucy. How are you doing this morning?" He said politely. I went to set my bag down with a sigh.

"Ready to boost my day up with coffee from the conference room."

"I can grab that for you while you settle in." He took off before I could tell him that that was technically my job. Regardless, I used that time to warm up my rather expensive computer and shed my coat. I wore a black pair of what I sometimes called fuck-me heels with matching nail polish on my toe nails. Along with that was black fitted dress pants and my favorite sheer white blouse. I quickly checked my phone and was surprised to see that it was a text message from Levy.

She wanted to move. Again.

I messaged her, telling her we would need to talk over lunch and she replied with an okay. Something was going on with my roommate and I needed to know what. I ran down a list of things that could have went down.

The strong smell of coffee pulled me from my thoughts rather effectively as I registered Natsu watching me with his onyx eyes. I didn't understand why I was so attracted to him.

"You okay?" He asked while handing me the mug. His fingers brushed mine and I immediately saw dirty images flashing across my eyes of where and what he did with his hands. I swallowed my blush.

"Something like that."

"Anything I can do to help?" He said innocently with a small grin.

"Not really. It's some personal things I need to sort out."

He tilted his head in deep thought. "Wanna go for lunch?"

"Taken. Levy and I need to clash." I joked, I think.

"How about dinner and my place tonight?" He said with a devilish grin. My skin warmed as I struggled to maintain my self-control. He made it hard to stay professional.

"How about just dinner? We need to talk." I stood up and gave him what I hoped to be a reassuring smile. My phone buzzed again, but I kept it in my pocket as Natsu nodded and flipped into business mode. He eyes glanced over me before he focused.

"Our first appointment comes in about fifteen minutes. I'll have Happy set up the lighting. Let's get our day rolling!" He said out loud as a few more of the staff came walking in. I pulled on a smile.

I walked into the nearby coffee shop Levy told me to meet her at for lunch. I found her sitting in the corner with her eyes looking nervously out the window. I saw two salads and wraps sitting in front of her as she twiddled her thumbs. Frowning, I walked to sit across from her, making her jump slightly.

"Levs?"

"Sorry. I'm so damn jumpy."

"Why?"

She looked down. "He found me. I don't know how, but he did."

I processed that for a second when it hit me. Cole. When she covered her face with her hands, I quickly moved next to her. She curled into my embrace.

"Oh no, baby. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten drunk." A pain filled my heart. I wasn't there to protect her. She shivered.

"I need to leave that place. I need something more secure. More eyes around."

"Okay. We can sort that out now. You need to tell Gajeel." I said as softly as I could.

She froze up. "How? He'll bail on me, Lu."

I pulled back and stared her down. "That man is in love with you, Levy. He deserves to know. He can protect you better than you think. If I was Cole, I would steer clear of Gajeel." She absorbed that for a moment. I could see her anxiety trying to swallow her whole.

"I don't… know. I just don't know anymore." She deflated. I hugged her close.

"Let's start with searching up apartments over lunch. And don't go anywhere alone."

She nodded and pulled out a laptop. I raised an eyebrow.

"Company owned. I don't exactly have a desk right now." She explained. Surely enough, we spent all of lunch looking at more secure and affordable apartments. We settled on the Apartments on 52nd. It had a doorman posted all hours of the day, no doubt seeing every person walking in and out. After arguing down the price, Levy and I were due to be moved in next week. I was happy to see that she looked and felt better already.

I walked her back to her job and she seemed more relaxed than before. Something was still bugging her, but she would open up to it eventually. Walking back to my job, I looked at the sky, watching the puffy clouds drag over my head. I slid my hands into my pockets and soaked in my surroundings. I had to be strong for Levy. She'd been my anchor. I had to be her's.

I was restless as the day continued on. Natsu's flirtive smirks and slick jokes weren't helping. I'd even tried to stay away from him, but my name was the first coming from his mouth when he needed help. I couldn't even distract myself with the beautiful models coming in to have their pictures taken. I was too worried over Natsu's reaction to my true self.

"You look like you could be a model." A half drunken model said while bumping my shoulder playfully.

"So I've heard. I've been considering it." I grimaced as she took a swig of liquor that I ran and got as a request. She'd been drinking all day.

"Cana Alberona. And you are Lucy, right? You're kinda hot, if I might add." She murmured while trailing her eyes down my frame. I did the same, feeling heat rush through me. She wore a bikini top that left not much to imagination as her thin waist sported a tattoo. I couldn't deny that she was hot as hell, but guilt swamped through me, gradually cooling the heat..

"Been told that too." I settled for, eyeing her back. A sly grin built on her lips.

"I'm in town for the next few weeks. How about we go out sometime? You look like fun." I didn't miss how her tongue traced her bottom lip. My skin felt flushed with desire and embarrassment.

"How about any time the next few days?" What the hell was I doing?

She arched a dark eyebrow. "You call me and we'll link up."

She handed me my phone, which I hadn't even noticed was in her hand, and pecked my cheek as if we were long time friends. I watched her walk away, swaying her thick hips and ass as she did so. I turned quickly back to the photoshoot going on and was grateful Natsu was still as loud and excited as usual, causing the model he was photographing to genuinely smile and laugh. He'd done the same thing to me when we first met, but now it pained me to make him upset. When he called my name to give the model her robe, I was quick and quiet.

I stayed like that for the rest of the day, worrying and slightly panicking. I was somewhat minorly pissed off as well. Why in the world was I acting like this? Any other guy wouldn't affect me, but Natsu was different. I actually felt for him, but it wasn't enough to stop me from lusting after women. By the end of the day, Natsu and I were climbing into his car to drive to the harbor for dinner. I texted Levy, telling her what my plans were as I looked out the window.

Even through dinner, I was much more quiet than usual. Natsu tried unsuccessfully to keep up a conversation, but my short answers stopped him. I ate as much as I could, which was a piece of fish and rice, before I suggested we go for a walk. Eager to try and lift my mood, Natsu jumped up and grabbed my hand after leaving a hefty tab on the table. He pulled me to his side as we walked quietly towards the lighthouse. Unease filled my stomach as he cleared his throat.

"What's wrong?" He asked softly. Pedestrians were no wear near us as we walked hand in hand. I kept my eyes straight.

"I have something to tell you." I murmured. He stood walking, catching me off guard. He laced our fingers together, kissing my hand before grinning.

"I figured. Tell me."

I struggled to hold his gaze. "Don't be upset."

He arched a brow. "Try Me."

I looked him square in the face. "I'm bisexual, Natsu."

His eyebrow dropped as his face slowly twisted into confusion. I tried to let him soak that in, but my nerves got the best of me.

"And I don't want to be in a committed relationship with you right now." I clarified. His confusion was swept away with a slight anger and annoyance.

"What do you mean?"

I sighed and went with brutal honesty. "I'm attracted to women. I can't stay committed to just you. I'd probably cheat and that would ruin me to do that to you."

He stiffened. "You'd probably cheat? What about me? Have you considered how I felt? How that may sway you?"

His darkened tone almost made me cower. I huffed and looked away. "I can't just change out of the blue. I don't do committed relationships. For you to just assume-"

"Assume what? I don't just fuck around with the first girl I see, Luce. And I sure as hell don't go out my way to spend time with women like I have you."

"And I'm telling you to stop. I don't want to lead you on. We had sex. I was hoping that would have been the end."

"Then why did you come back? And say it was because I'm your boss."

His hurt tone made me look at him. His dark eyes burned as he stared at me with the most pained look. Shame filled me as I was deliberately breaking his heart.

"Christ, because it was too hard not to. I'm a lustful idiot that doesn't deserve what you want to give me. I love you, I really do, but I don't think I'm in love with you. Not like you are. I hope you understand-"

He cut me off. "I don't understand, but I won't ask. If you don't want a relationship with me, then there won't be one until you think you are ready."

I wanted to cry at his harsh tone as he turned his back on me and started back towards the shore.

"Wait, Natsu! Can't we still be friends?" I begged. I didn't want him like this. I'd already missed the smiling, charismatic Natsu.

"No. I can't be your friend when I'm in love with you. Not when I know that you'd be fucking around with other people. I couldn't possibly be your friend through that."

I didn't know what to say, so I acted. I jumped him, pressing my mouth to his in a desperate kiss. I just couldn't fucking let the man go. A part of me needed him, but the other half didn't.

Regardless, he responded to my kiss, thrusting his hands in my hair and pulling me up against his hard chest. I let his tongue slid into my mouth as I breathed him in. I ran a hand through his salmon locks, keeping his face close to mine, even when we both pulled away for air.

"What the hell was that?" He gasped against my lips. I pressed my lips to his again before responding.

"I just need time. Please give me that."

His eyes were almost an alarming black with lust. "And what are we until then?"

I pressed my forehead to his. "Natsu and Lucy. I know it's not what you want to hear, but that's all I have for you right now."

He took a deep breath and nodded. "Let's get you home."

As we walked back, I looked up at the stars in the sky, admiring how even through the clouds, they shined brightly. I closed my eyes, momentarily thinking that I could really be a thing with Natsu eventually, but my phone buzzed, breaking me from my thoughts. It was a text from Cana. Falling back into my whorish habits, I texted her back with Natsu standing right to me, staring up at the same stars I was looking at.

A/N: Hehehe... I enjoyed writing this, especially with how it will flow with the plot... More details in the Next Chapter...