Lucy all but ran down the posh hallway to Don's office. Don looked less frightened now that they were away from the pub's population, but he seemed on edge. He must have seen Alyssa, too.

When they got to the door, Lucy put a hand on Natsu's chest to stop him from coming in. "I need you to keep her out here. At least until I'm done with Don." Natsu gave her a wary look.

"Luce, be careful." Lucy smiled and patted his cheek. Then she reached into his pocket, snatched the lighter, and ducked inside before Natsu could take it back. She saw his eyes light up in panic, but she hoped his forgiveness would extend to her stealing it. But if Don wanted him to use it, he knew what it could do. What she could do with it. If she could figure out how to use it.

She heard Natsu bang on the door, but he didn't open the door. Alyssa must have found them. She knew he could handle her, though, and turned to deal with her own problem. It was time to end this. "Don, I'm here for some answers. You and my father have been skirting each other like damned children for two years, and it's ridiculous. You're grown men." Don looked shocked at how she was speaking to him. 'Take Natsu away, and look what's left,' Lucy thought idly, amused.

"Ms. Heartfilia, I don't have a clue what you're—"

"Give me a name that can help me with my father's problem. Or any information you may be keeping," she sneered, proud when he flinched. His eyes were looking everywhere but her, panicked and flighty. She sighed; would she even need to show him the lighter behind her back?

"Don, I swear—"

"You know what I never liked about you, girl?" Don said out of the blue. He still looked panicky, but he was looking her in the eye. "You act like you know what you're doing. You think you're strong and confident—"

Lucy had blanched at first, but now she was cutting him off with a bitter laugh. "Like I know what I'm doing? Are you kidding?" She laughed again. "Two years ago I walked in here, I had no idea why I was even here. Then the cops showed up and I got dragged away by a stranger with blood on his hands, and now he's pretty much the only reason I keep getting up in the morning. But as soon as I meet him, and things start going well, shit hits the fan and my father wraps me up in a business scheme. Then it turns out that stranger is a legendary illegal fighter who works with a crime boss that my father desperately needs to contact to escape a shady business contract!" Lucy was out of breath, and figured she might sound a little crazy. "So forgive me if I think your analysis is a little off; I haven't know what was happening since I was seventeen."

Lucy shook her head and ignored Don's blank face. "Now give me a name before I make you wish you had." She locked eyes with him, and he swallowed obviously. He inched toward his desk, but just as Lucy felt relieved he stopped. He shook his head, then started laughing hysterically. It was a little dramatic in Lucy's opinion, but he kept laughing for a good minute.

"Whoo, I'm sorry girlie. It's just, I almost did it. I almost gave you a whole damn file." Then his smile fell away, and the sharp look was back in his eye. "But then I remembered that the Heartfilia heiress can't do shit to me."

Lucy cocked an eyebrow and pulled the lighter out from behind her, and Don became nervous again. "Oh, really?" Lucy flicked the lid up, the little nozzle visible. While she talked, she scanned the device and tried to figure out how it worked. Seeing as to how she'd only barely seen it used five minutes ago, the odds were not in her favor. "Well, while the helpless heiress may not be able to do all that much," Lucy's finger caught on a lever, and a spark lit into a flame, "your Salamander's girl might be able to do quite a bit of damage."

Don eyed the flame fearfully. "You don't know how to use that," he said, voice trembling slightly under the false bravado.

Lucy cocked her head. "What do you think we do behind closed doors, Don? Not braid each other's hair, that's for sure," Lucy said, despite that being just about all they did in Natsu's room. "He taught me how to defend myself a long time ago, maybe knowing you'd become a problem."

Don stood still, and Lucy prayed he wouldn't call her bluff. Because she still had no idea how she'd lit it in the first place. Finally, he shuffled over to his desk and pulled out a ring of keys. He opened a drawer in front of him and pulled out a thick file. He opened it and read through a few pages before slamming it shut and putting back.

"I can't give up this contact, his name's too big for me to just drop it. But," he said when Lucy opened her mouth. "I will call it in as an anonymous tip to her office. I'll get her out of your hair. Deal, kid?"

Lucy closed her mouth; it wasn't a bad deal. But she couldn't know he would follow through. "Fine, but if you don't follow through, I'll leave." Don looked confused at that threat.

"I'm going to do it, but you need to work on your threats. How would you leaving do anything to me? It's ideal, honestly."

Lucy shut the cap of the lighter, hoping that the flame would go out. "Really? No one would mind if I just left, didn't say a word about where I was going or when I'd be back?" Don froze as he caught what she meant. Natsu would go absolutely off the walls; Don wouldn't be able to get him under control enough for business to go on. Everything would crumble at his feet.

He nodded worriedly. "Gotcha, kiddo. I'll make the call tonight. Now go do damage control somewhere else." Lucy nodded, and walked back to the door. As her hand was on the knob, Don spoke up again. "Oh, and girlie, you're pretty good at negotiations. Better than your old man, honestly. If you need some help later along, drop me a line."

Lucy smiled to herself and walked into the hallway.