Notes: Still don't own Fairy Tail. Sorry.

Another long chapter. But hopefully that's a good thing...this scene is rather long.

Chapter 6

"YOUR THE LITTLE POSTER BITCH FOR THEM YOU'LL SEND A MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEA~!" they all wince as they hear a clear distinct gun shot go off only to blink stupidly as the gun that was once in his hand skitters across the floor away from his hand and slides to a stop a good 10 feet from the would be attacker. But...where had that shot come from? The man was clutching his hand in shock as he bleeds profusely from a new wound. They all hear a sigh as the blonde walks towards him holding up a badge. "Don't move. " she says with a easy authority. She was unmoved by all the scattering people who where now giving her a wide breth as well. The man that had come with her is on his cell. "The police are aware of the situation and are on their way." he informs everyone with a calm but easily heard voice. Lucy doesn't lower her gun until she sees that two very large men have the man firmly in their gasp and have forced him down into a chair. She lowers the gun but keeps it at ready before her as she is well versed in unexpected circumstances. She was rather glad she wasn't called to run. Damn heels are not what she wants to run in... This is why she kept her licence up to date just for such possible instances that stupid falls right into her lap...

"Byard. Ex-member of the now disbanded Eisenwald gang. I had heard that you managed to skip town right before your court date. Read about you on my phone before we came in today. Funny. The cops thought you'd come to Magnolia so they emailed me. I hadn't planned on doing anything about it *buuuut* since you decided to ruin my night, I'll make an exception." Levy is already up and smirking. "I thought you'd retired, Hawkeye?"

"Shut up. Mini." Lucy snapped over Levy's laughter.

"I'll sue you. " Byard snarls at her.

"You where causing a disturbance and had a fire arm which you where aiming at an unarmed civilian. Shall I continue?" She walked closer to the man her walk still way too sexy for many of the watching male's frazzled nerves. He lunges at her trying to bite at her and only succeeded to get a gun aided punch to his jaw. "Sit your sorry ass down. You're in enough trouble as it is. Your lucky I caught you and not Fairy Tail. How do you think they would take it had you succeeded?" she speaks oh so softly to him. the man sits back looking up at her dumbly. "I promise you probably wouldn't have survived. At least not with all your limbs in tact. You should be thanking me really."

Natsu had frozen at how everything had played out. He was stunned...shocked...turned on?

Lucy looks over at the door as the sirens sound. "Oh look your ride is here. Good because I forgot my bracelets at home. No thanks to Freed."

"That's right I took them out of your purse. You don't need those when you're having cocktails Lucy."

"Your no fun. I could use those for...other activities..."

"Ugh. I refuse to hop a ride on that train of thought."

She kept handcuffs in her purse? Whoa wait a moment...you need to calm the fuck down! Natsu looks down at himself in irritation. This is not the time for that! Are you listening!? Think nasty thoughts, nasty thoughts...NOT THAT KIND OF NASTY! You cannot meet her like thi~

Natsu edges closer and stops as he eyes this woman. No wonder she seemed familiar...it was that chick. The Hottie who owned Hardbodies & More. Lucy.

It was in that very moment that he came to a decision. Two of them actually.

1) This woman must join the Dragonriders. She was too good to pass up. Her calm under pressure, perception, and decisiveness was appealing and valuable.

2) when she joined she was going to be his. Those certainly don't have to be in that order either. Whichever comes first would certainly be just fine by him.

Lucy sighs as she goes through the hoop jumping that's necessary when dealing with these things. Luckily Gildarts was one of the detectives sent and knew how to get her in and out fast. "I didn't think you'd take me up on that email..." Lucy sighs in irritation. "I didn't want to. But he was just right there...doing stupid things. How could I resist?" He laughs. "Well you know the paperwork you have to do. He's got a nice reward on him. You should do something nice with it. Maybe have a girls weekend with Bisca and Levy?" Freed chooses to interject at that. "I would only suggest that if we can make sure that they do not take any fire arms or explosives."

"Where would be the fun in that?" Lucy looks at him as if he's stupid.

"Not getting arrested usually ranks pretty high on my list of "having fun."

"See? And that's where we'd differ. It's not a party until someone has to call the police on you." He knows that Lucy's just joking but sometimes he really wonders about her. Levy is listening in and laughs. "I thought you would've forgotten all about Lu-chan ever since she 'retired.'" The tall and powerfully built man laughs, shoving his hands into his brown trench coat carelessly. "How could I? She was the best at what she did in all of Fiore. And you two made a great team...why I remember this one time..." Using Gildart's favorite pastime of telling stories to her advantage, Lucy casually walks over to the bar to get her drink. She then turns to look directly at Gajeel, who had attempted to stay away from Levy so as to not give away who he was. But with a creepy air of knowing about her "Hawkeye" simply picks up her drink and downs it. "You'd better treat her well." she says softly when he glances at her. "I could confront you now but I won't. She's not ready to introduce us, and I will respect her wishes. Just don't fuck up. Piercy." She glares at him before walking back over to where she came from. Gajeel simply stared after her. Dumbfounded. Usually, he didn't care two shits about if someone was recruited or not for the Shadow Division. But in this case, he really hoped she was brought in. Not because she was all that amazing...though she was impressive. But more to the point that if they didn't succeed in winning her over...what would happen if someone else managed to?

Lucy sits out in the cafe area watching as the last police car pulls away nearly 2 hours later. Standing she stretches only to turn around and nearly run right into an excited Miranjane. "Ah! Mirajane-san..."

"Mira"

"Pardon?"

"Just call me Mira. I wanted to thank you for what you did! It was amazing." Lucy blushes faintly, not at all used to such things. She was used to cussing dirt, grease, sex jokes, name calling, and other kinds of derogatory remarks being heaped upon her from those who don't know her...not...gratitude. The Bail Bondsmen where grateful but all they did was deposit money in her account as thanks. Not...this. "W-well, Mira-san you are very welcome. Though you seem to have some pretty fierce bodyguards as it is. I think that had I not been there you still probably would've been fine."

Mira smiles down at the blonde as she speaks. She had immediately liked her upon entrance and after tonight really wanted her to come by more often...after all she's got to keep her matchmaking service going... she stops her train of thought for a moment as she glances over the girl's head towards a certain Biker who was waving frantically at Mira and pointing to Lucy then to himself in an exaggerated attempt to get her to introduce them. All the while he's getting tugged at by a frantic Levy. "Speaking of matchmaking...OMG...these two...would be PERFECT together!" an instant later Lucy is struggling to hold up a suddenly catatonic Restaurant manager who was muttering something about "weddings" and "babies."

Lucy shudders at the information that tried to flow into her at the bodily contact. She was getting a bit strained around the edges. So many shaken hands, hugs, and slaps on the back (a few on her ass too, much to her irritation) had effectively put her almost into over load. Rubbing her head absently she took a few deep breaths to calm her mind.

"Uh...what just happened?"

"Stop it Natsu!" Levy pulls at his arm. "She doesn't need your drama on top of everything." Natsu frowns. "Drama? I'm not Drama. Wait. You think I'm drama don't you?" Levy looks at him with a kind smile. "Good drama."

"What's good drama?"

"When your around I know that good things tend to happen...excitedly. Loudly...you know..."

"I don't get it."

"Look you might overwhelm her. She's never met you before try to tone it down. A lot has happened tonight." Natsu scratches the back of his head. "Uh...ok...she doesn't seem shy or nothin' She seems nice why don't you want me to meet her? I gotta check her out to make sure she's a good choice you know."

"Part of me really doesn't like the way you said "Check her out."

"I meant it in a purely business sense."

*glare*

"Mostly."

"I can't stop you can I?"

"Nope. I met her before anyway. Max introduced us yesterday afternoon. I just didn't recognize her all dressed up. SHE'S a mechanic huh? Any good?"

"Yes and she's great. Max? Wait *he's* the bowl cut perv~Do not change the subject! You can't just walk up to her and start bombarding her with questions! You'll scare her off."

"She isn't a wild animal, Levy."

"No but YOU are!"

"Hey!"

"She's right Salamander." Gajeel appears next to him. "You are kinda animal like." Natsu glares up at him about to ask him how he had the right to talk. Levy beats him to it. "So are you, Mister."

Gajeel stares down at her intently causing an answering blush and a shiver snake down her spine. "And you like it." She stutters and looks away. Gajeel cuts her a break and looks back at Natsu. "But she has a point. She made me. Knew who I was without anyone giving anything away. It's down right creepy. Shrimp. What is she?" Levy suddenly bristled. "A human being. A person with thoughts and feelings. WHY?"

Natsu and Gajeel both knew that tone. He had somehow hit a nerve. Now...how to back off this land mine and not have it go off? "She just...uh...startled me...that's all. Have you told her what I look like?" Levy's eyes harden just a hair more. "No. Why?" Gajeel stops talking immediately knowing that until Levy herself decides to diffuse that mine he was a dead man no matter what he tried to do. Natsu glances back over as Lucy watches Mira be carried away by her brother. She rubs her head faintly almost as if in pain. She then blinks a few times before looking right at them and focusing on Levy. She sighs straightens her shoulders, clears her face into a practiced mask of calm and starts to walk over.

"Shit. This might not be good. Angry girl herds are never a good thing." But *this* would be worst . Not only could it be two angry women but two angry women who were armed with guns and grenades. The chocolate eyed blonde surprises him for the *third* time today by gently hugging Levy and whispering something in her ear. Both men wouldn't have heard it if it wasn't due to their superior hearing.

"Easy Levy. I'm a big girl. Don't worry I can handle a few insults, intentional or otherwise. Don't alienate your friends on my account. I can survive alone, I'm used to it. Just let it go. Breath and start again with him." and with that she leans back smiling down at her. Levy looks up at her faintly sadly. "Lu..."

"I saw your righteous rage from across the patio. Calm down." Taking the opportunity presented Natsu jumps forward towards Lucy offering a hand. "HI! I met you yesterday..!" Lucy blinks at him. "I remember. You where...Natsu right?" she seems tentative to take his hand now. But he takes the initiative and grabs it. At first worried about another overwhelming sensation like the first meeting all she got was a familiar dulling of her senses this time. It's as if the first initial burst of info was a one time deal. It...It was just like when she met Laxus...except this time she felt much warmer. A comforting heat that was not going away. Laxus's was like a static shock that had numbed her hand and senses. Natsu's was more like a warm compress creating a gentle relaxing atmosphere to her mind's eye. Just who exactly was he? Taking a moment to *really* look at him she had to admit he was easy on the eyes. Toned without being too big, tall, almost 6ft. and interesting, almost feral looking dark grey eyes. He was smiling brightly showcasing pearly whites and...very sharp incisors. "Their almost like fangs...wouldn't mind peeling him out of those riding leathers a few times...ugh FOCUS LUCY."

Natsu watched her with open curiosity. Her expression, which had been slightly pinched before, suddenly became completely relaxed, calm and her smile spread into a real one at his touch. The eyes that had seemed guarded before lightened and was almost sparkling. Oh hell, she was even more beautiful up close.

"Yeah...Natsu. Natsu Dragneel." He reminds her almost absently. He had felt something strange the first time but now...it was like he was all revved up to go...but at the same time calm. It was weird. Nice. Very nice. But very very weird. Levy blinks and looks between the two curiously. If she didn't know better she would say that they where having a moment. Levy was at a lost for words...there was no way Lucy was being taken in by Natsu. She'd met way more attractive men and had never had any issues before. Why him? Oh they where going to talk tonight...video conference with Bisca "This bitch better pick up her tablet too."

"Lucy! We should get you home! I'm sure your probably a bit tired from dealing with this." Freed easily slides into the picture and in such a polite and practiced way that, when he detaches the Lucy from Natsu, the Shadow Division Leader can't even summon the desire to be angry at the action.

Yet.

"I'm sure you'd like to go home and rest. It's really been lovely meeting you all But really we have to go now."

The instant Freed had detached her, the warm compress buffering her mind was snatched away and the colors came rushing back to their full intensity causing her to almost squint her eyes as she re-adjusted. However Freed, ever the proficient escort already had her purse and all his things and before she knew it they where already rounding the corner beyond the front gates of the restaurant before anyone could even process what he was doing. Natsu who was still processing what happened snapped out of it as soon as she was out of sight. A growl rising up in his throat at the interference. "Wait!" he runs after her and the man only to find her already seated in the car holding her head in her hands looking faintly pained. The man was already pulling out. Levy walks up not far behind Natsu. "Don't take it personally. He's always like that when he thinks she's being too run down."

Watching him drive off with slightly predatory eyes Natsu stands up straighter. "Who was that? What is he to Lucy? I want to know clearly." Levy stares at the back of his head confused. Natsu the carefree dunce wasn't anywhere in sight. The only thing she saw was the Dragonrider commander that was studying a target. "He's like a brother to her. He was asked by her brother Laxus to look after her. They are far from romantically involved. You don't have to worry about that."

"Maybe. But that doesn't mean he will just turn a blind eye to me."

Gajeel has been silently thinking. "Wait...Hawkeye...Hawkeye Heartfilia? I kinda remember something now that I think of her name together. I'd never met her before so I didn't know what she looked like. Or that it was even a girl. But I do know that Hawkeyes' was a bounty hunter you never wanted to meet. They where quick on the draw and had connections in both law enforcement and all circuits of the underworld. They could see through lies and was often called in by both sides as a negotiator for deals for their non bias when it came to business." The little woman sighs looking off. "Yes and it was a stressful, tentative balance, for her. But she was excellent knew the laws on the books and the laws of the streets. She got tired, especially after her brother had to move away for his job."

Natsu processed all this. Many people underestimated his level of tactical prowess and social understanding. He didn't maintain his position by brute strength alone as many seem to assume. And his friendly, if oblivious way, with most things was simply what he choose to show to the world. Ever since he discovered that playing up his hot-headed tendencies (he DID have a temper and Grey DID have a gift for annoying him) and his oblivious nature (which wasn't really obliviousness but rather a willful ignoring of things he deems unimportant at the moment) would keep him from getting MORE work...well it wasn't hard to decide what he did and why. Keep up the act and stay where you are and still have a life? Or act 'normal' and get more work and less life? Seems like a no brainer to him. But on occasion when he focused his mind and dropped his mask he was like a force of nature easily consuming that which he desired. And now his mind was focused on obtaining the very thing that had just slipped through his fingers not even 5 minutes ago.

Lucy "Hawkeye" Heartfilia