The Keeper was known in the Underground for always having low-grade black market connections: hackers, fences, dealers, mercenaries. Capricorn had given her a file on the Keeper a few months ago, and she had pored over the information, trying to overcome the dumpy glass cleaner image she associated with Don. But once she reached the part about the Keeper's "pet," so called by the Underground, she knew that it was definitely him. This "pet," known commonly as the Salamander, went with Don to every business transaction to ensure that things went smoothly and stayed secret. In fact, the Keeper was only so well known because of the Salamander's protection; he was nothing without it.

Hence Lucy's father's need to find Natsu: once he was out of the picture, Don would be defenseless. His business would fall in a matter of days without the protection of the Salamander, and the Heartfilias and Cobesons would completely control the monopoly on illegally concentrated liquor distribution in the black market.

Which had begged the question for both Lucy and Capricorn: how had Don stayed afloat this last year?

Lucy followed both men down a cramped hallway she had never noticed before; there was no stench of beer, no stained walls or crooked floorboards. The hall curved into a nicer office, making it feel like they had walked to an entirely different building. It was almost like a spare room in the Heartfilia manor; spacious, luxurious, and totally for show.

"Please, have a seat." Don gestured to one of the chairs in front of his ridiculously large desk, where Lucy spotted a familiar looking file. Intrigued, she reached out for it, only to have her hand swatted away. "No, no. That's not for you."

A low growl from the back of the room startled both Don and Lucy. Natsu was standing threateningly by the door, obviously tense but unmoving as he locked eyes with Don. "Careful, old man. I won't hesitate on you anymore; you lost that right. So treat her right, you hear?" Lucy's heart both warmed and skipped a beat at those words; something had changed about Natsu.

Don clucked from behind her, and she saw that something had changed about him, too. Where he normally cowered at Natsu's—no, the Salamander's— anger, now he seemed merely put off. "Now, now, Salamander. You know that things work differently in this room: I'm in control, and you're not. So be a good boy and be quiet while we do business."

Lucy felt like she'd been slapped. Where was Don the coward? Who always shrunk at the sight of Natsu, who flinched at his slightest movement? This man was no coward; he was calculating, dominating. He had Natsu standing completely still in the back of room, angry yet still. It both amazed and enraged her.

Natsu was only enraged. "Don, we came back here to talk about—"

Don waved a hand. "I'll deal with you, later. I want to talk to your pretty friend here first." His eyes turned on Lucy, who tried to look as defiant as possible. "So, Lucy, was it? Or Ms. Heartfilia? How is your father?"

Lucy blinked at the directness; her mind was still spinning at Don's character change. How did he know her last name? She opened her mouth to answer his question, or ask her own, but remembered a warning Capricorn had given her about the Keeper. "He's called the Keeper for a reason, Miss Lucy. He keeps and guards every piece of information he's ever told. The Salamander only protects him. If you ever get the chance, you need to learn everything you can from him, but don't tell him anything he wants to know. It will be your downfall."

Lucy blew out a breath and reclined back in the chair, crossing one leg over the other. "He's not really relevant right now, sorry. I do, however, have a few things to ask you, Keeper." Don's eyes widened to the size of fine china at his title. Lucy stood, stepping around the chair and pushing it back in, leaning on the back casually while maintaining her control on the situation. "You obviously have an agenda involving both my father's business, and he," Lucy jabbed a thumb at Natsu behind her. "is involved, as well. You have refused to sell to the Heartfilias or the Cobesons for going on two years now, despite the state of your business, and you somehow managed to stay afloat despite your only form of true protection in the Underground being incarcerated for a year. Talk."

Don blinked at her, and she groaned in frustration. She hadn't even stuttered once, and the man could only blink.'So much for perfect delivery,' she thought absently. She tried again. "I've read every file on you, Don Capricho. You are the center of a network so extensive you've buried companies in a matter of hours. My father obviously knows about or wants access to this network, and I'd bet my inheritance that you know why." She remembered a piece of advice from her father: "Never ask for something twice in a negotiation. Don't be desperate, and don't be earnest. Act like you could get what you want from someone else without saying it." It pained Lucy to even remember it.

When it seemed like Don wasn't going to answer immediately, she looked down at her fingernails dismissively, trying to disguise her racing pulse at the situation she'd gotten herself into. She didn't want Don to do reveal any secrets from the past year to Natsu, and she hoped that her unexpected knowledge of his position and actions would keep his mouth shut for at least this encounter.

Don puffed out his cheeks in exasperation. "I must say, Ms. Heartfilia, you've thrown me for quite a loop. I see now why my Salamander is so attached to you." His eyes glinted in the dim light, flicking back toward Natsu. "As for why your father wants to get in contact with a few of my… friends, I'll say,—" Natsu snorted from behind them— "—it seems he's gotten himself stuck between a rock and a hard place." Lucy raised an eyebrow at that, suppressing her racing thoughts.

"And what does my Salamander have to do with this? Well, it's no secret that that boy haunts the waking moments of men like your father. I'm sure he has some scheme of taking him from me, but as for his true motive I have no earthly idea."

Lucy opened her mouth once more, to ask if that was really true, but Don cut her off. "Enough, girl. I've answered your questions in respect to your sudden knowledge of my affairs, but I've overcome my surprise. You will answer my questions now. And my most pressing question is how exactly did you know all of this all of a sudden?"

Lucy knew she'd lost her feeble control on the situation. She pursed her lips and shifted, but didn't say anything. As soon as she did, it was over. Don must have noticed her resolve, and his expression soured. "Trust me, girl, it's in your best interest to answer me honestly."

Lucy choked, her thoughts grinding to a halt. She looked Don in the eye, his cruel gaze haughty. She scoffed, her bravado crumbling by the second. "What are you gonna do? You never get your hands dirty, you two-faced—"

"Ah, ah, ah, Ms. Heartfilia. You know how my business threats work. I won't do a thing to you, true, it would be barbaric of me." He raised his arm, then, finger pointing backwards. "But he can do quite a number on you, I believe."

Lucy followed his finger, dread weighing down her stomach. Sure enough, at the end of his finger was Natsu.