notes: remember when we were five and things were so much simpler? i miss those days.
dedication: to liz and shado, my two partners in crime and all that is marvel. cheers to you guys.
disclaimer: own nothing

in other news: please take note that this is an interconnected drabble series that may actually develop some plot along the way.

title: better the second time around
summary: Lucy Heartfilia meets the legendary Salamander, only to discover she's met him once before.

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let's not make it harder than it has to be

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Lucy closes her eyes and breathes in the fresh Magnolia air. The town was one that she'd wanted to move to when she had been younger—while she still held her dream of becoming a famous author. SHIELD's headquarters in Magnolia are located in a discreet area, but she can see the tops of colorful buildings from her spot above the trees.

"Welcome to Magnolia's SHIELD division, Agent Heartfilia," Erza Scarlet sends a small smile her way and hands Lucy a manila envelope. "This will be your new home from now on."

The blonde stares down at the thick and somewhat heavy package in her hands. "What—,"

She is effectively cut off when the door to the roof slams open, and everything goes silent for a moment.

Lucy uses this opportunity to take a good look at the agent standing a few hundred yards away from them. He is tall and has a shock of bright orange and untamed hair. She resists the urge to snicker, because it reminds her of a lion's mane.

The man is probably a year or two older than her, with a light complexion and a bright smile that quickly morphs into a look of horror at the sight of them. His eyes are hidden behind blue sunglasses, but she suspects that they're a dark shade. His sleek black suit is neatly pressed, and his red tie is perfectly straight and Lucy can't help but think that he's like the poster boy of SHIELD.

And that maybe she's seen him before, just less…sheet white.

His eyes slowly trail from Gray, to her, and finally Erza. He freezes.

Then suddenly he turns on his heel and bolts back through the door, and she hears shouting and panicked voices.

There is a long pause before Lucy turns to Gray, who looks strangely smug.

"Am I…missing something? And, what exactly is in this envelope?"

He gives her a half-smirk, and stuffs his hands in his pockets. "Survival tips, sweetheart. Y'know, if you wanna live through your first day and any assignments that may follow."

The blonde blinks, having absolutely no idea how to respond.

Gray tugs at the collar of his shirt, like he isn't even aware of what he's doing. "And also some stuff about your first assignment as an agent. The one you were handpicked for and all." he sighs. "Damn, I feel sorry for you, having to be around that hothead twenty-four seven."

"I'm sorry, I don't think I—,"

The door is opened again, this time with much more force, and Lucy promptly clamps her mouth shut. The three turn toward the sound of stomping, and the blonde notices the helicopter pilots scramble away from her peripheral vision.

"GRAY, YOU FRICKIN' ASSHOLE!"

And that is how Lucy's first meeting with her 'new and not to mention first assignment' goes.

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Whatever Lucy is expecting Salamander to be like, he isn't.

All her heroic visions of an albeit stereotypical superhero crumble and break into a million pieces the moment she meets him. The stars full of childhood fantasies in her eyes shatter and slip away, leaving wisps of dreamdust and traces of a hopeful little girl in their wake.

It is her second letdown of the day, and she feels ridiculously disappointed. She really had no idea what to expect when she was informed only a few minutes prior that her 'classified, eyes only' assignment was just to babysit a destructive hero, but she still had some ideas in her mind of what it would be like.

Those are immediately stamped upon and tossed out the window when she is actually introduced to her new 'charge.'

Salamander—whose real name is Natsu Dragneel—is nothing like she expected and she really has no idea what to do. He's loud and possesses the manners of a neandrathal and is more of a pyromaniac rather than an acclaimed hero.

She has to admit though, he's extremely handsome and slightly exotic. His personality seems to match his bright and messy rosy hair, and she realizes that if anyone was to actually ever see him as Salamander, they'd be able to pick him out from among a crowd in a snap. She can't see him in a cowl or a mask or anything like that, and the thought leaves a strangely sour taste on her tongue.

He's strong, and she can tell that just by looking at him from a hundred feet away. His muscles are well-defined and most likely drool-worthy, but she pushes that particular thought away before she wanders into dangerous territory. He's shorter than Gray is, but while the dark-haired 'something like that' is pale, Natsu is tan—like he just came back from a week at the beach.

His jaw is firm and set, and anyone who looks at it can tell that he's strong. His dark eyes radiate confidence and laughter, and they burn like embers. His grin is wide and almost blinding at times, and his teeth look sharp and more like fangs then anything.

He looks familiar, but she can't figure out why.

"Who the hell are you?" he questions, looking straight at her, once they are actually inside headquarters and seated around a table in some kind of meeting room.

Erza slaps him upside the head without ever losing her composure. "That is no way to talk to Agent Heartfilia. Especially since she'll be spending so much time with you from now on. It's best if you two get along."

"What are you talking about?" Natsu asks harshly, rubbing the back of his head.

Gray begins unbuttoning his shirt, much to Lucy's discomfort. "We've been over this how many times now, flame-brain? She's like your chaperone."

Lucy wants to crawl under the table and never come out.

"What the hell do I need one of those for?"

Erza picks up a pen and begins to sign off on some documents, seemingly unaffected by Natsu's attitude and discontent. "Well, after that last incident with Erigor and Lullaby, Director Makarov decided we needed someone to oversee you and make sure you don't do too much damage. Because while you may remember taking out a terrorist and stopping him from killing half the population of Fiore, all the Director can remember is the half of Clover's protected forests you burned down while doing so."

So she was damage control now, huh?

Natsu scowls and slides down in his seat. "Yeah well, what else did you want me to do?"

"There are better ways to handle such matters." Erza straightened the papers and handed them to an agent standing nearby. "Anyway, I believe you two have met before. The Hargeon Port incident, am I correct? You were chosen specifically because of that. I guess you could also say that was the moment SHIELD decided to recruit you as an agent. It was really a defining moment, Agent Heartfilia."

Lucy takes a few moments to go through her memories and personal accounts in search of any information regarding Natsu Dragneel having been with her during the Hargeon Port fiasco.

"That was you?!" she screeches, pointing an accusing finger at the startled man sitting across from her.

Gray watches in amusement. "You two fought together or something, right? I heard about that. Too bad I wasn't there to see it."

Erza nods, and Lucy groans and drops her head into her hands. It all made so much sense now. The Hargeon Port incident had been close to three years ago, and honestly she hadn't really given it much thought until now because of everything that had happened since then.

"Wait…Luigi?!" Natsu's jaw drops and he points at her.

The blonde's head snaps back up and she glares defiantly at him. "It's Lucy, idiot! L-U-C-Y!"

Perhaps she should toss one of her boots at him for good measure.

Gray sits back in his chair and grins lazily at Erza. "This should be interesting."

The scarlet-haired woman only nods in agreement.

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end notes: hargeon is their budapest.