Chapter 9
Notes: Fairy Tail isn't mine. There is a song used in this chapter. I DO NOT OWN IT EITHER. It's only there for...well you'll see. The song is "Shut up and Drive" Performed by Rihanna. I don't paste the whole thing in here I have story to tell but if your curious you can find it very easily on the net. I just thought it fit the people and situation and simply couldn't resist. Also it created a wonderful scene I wanted to share.
It's not that he didn't have the situation under control. It was a simple exchange. He hands him the duffel bag he hands me money. Easy. But this asshole is making him wait throwing him off schedule. And he has a tight schedule. Sawyer the"Racer" huffs in irritation at his inconvenience. He had two more stops and this one was a dicey spot anyway. Behind a Gunsmith shop that's often frequented by cops. It didn't help that he was sure he saw a Dragonrider drive past not too long ago either. Nasty S.O.B.'s It's a secluded spot and well hidden but still it made him uncomfortable. Sure he had back up but really? He then hears a car pull up behind his bike. Finally...what kind of man had roses on his car...purple roses?
Whatever. What can I expect from someone who calls himself "Rustyrose? The heck does that mean anyway?
As long as he has the money and the exchange is quick with no snags who's he to talk?
Lucy was having a surprisingly slow day. Her boredom was getting to her. So, for some relief, she decides to turn on the sound system. It's piped throughout her shop, even into the garage. She sets the system to shuffle turning the volume up. An electric bass fills the shop with a sensual throb. "I haven't played this one in AGES~! Good thing I'm wearing my loose pants!" She jokes about her looser fitting black jeans she liked wearing as she pulls her hair up into a high pony.
"I've been looking for a driver who's qualified~
So if you think that you're the one step into my ride
I'm a fine-tuned supersonic speed machine
With a sunroof top and a gangster lean."
Lucy proceeds to swish her hips and begin tidying up around the showcase room all the while belting out the lyrics to one of her favorite songs. Unfortunately the music was so loud that she didn't hear the tell-tale sounds of a sport bike and muscle car pulling up outside.
So if you feel me let me know, know, know
Come on now what you waiting for, for, for
My engine's ready to explode, explode, explode
So start me up and watch me go, go, go, go.~
Nor did she hear the door open. Levy blinks. "*Gasp* this song~!" she drops her bag and runs up to Lucy, who it towards the back of the showroom, and grabs her hand and starts to sing with her and dance as well. At first being surprised at company Lucy quickly adapts and simply laughs and continues to dance, now with welcome company. Getting a brilliant idea Lucy picks up a very long chrome plated big-rig exhaust pipe and starts to 'play' at pole dancing around it while belting out the chorus. Levy is fighting to hold in her laughter.
Got you where you wanna go if you know what i mean
Got a ride that smoother than a limousine
Can you handle the curves? Can you run all the lights?
If you can baby boy then we can go all night
Cos I'm 0 to 60 in three-point five
Baby you got the keys-
Now shut up and drive
(drive, drive, drive)
Shut up and drive
(drive, drive, drive)
The blonde had just finished a rather impressive squat and single leg pivot, (given the unstable nature of her 'pole') when she sees a flash of color out of the corner of her eye. Whipping her head to the side to see she meets the amused but heated gaze of a certain pink haired Dragonrider. His aura flaring quite brightly with a hue she tried not to think too hard about. "If this is how you greet people when they enter your store I'm not sure why there isn't a line." Lucy feels her face begin to burn. "Peircey" was there as well with a smirk.
Blink
Blink
"LEVY!"
She yells in humiliation before running to her side door and disappearing behind it where she squats and buries her head in her arms clutching at her hair. "I cannot believe you let me do that!" Levy who had to suddenly catch the falling product: "Aww come on Lu-chan! We used to always sing and dance to this song!" she gently eases it down to the ground before going to the door and scratching on it like a cat. "Luuu-chan...? Open up."
"No! Let me become one with the concrete floor back here in peace."
"Come on...it's not that bad. Right guys?" Gajeel smirks. "I dunno that is pretty embarrassing..." Levy glares at him. "Gajeel!"
"Gi-he~!"
"UGH! Natsu! Help me out here." she fusses. The man in question simply shrugs. "What do you want me to say? I think you shouldn't worry about what we think. FYI Gajeel here is an asshole. So don't pay any mind to what he thinks. I liked it I was about to grab a pipe of my own and join in." Levy isn't sure if she should be impressed...or irritated at his contribution. But a giggle is faintly heard on the opposite side of the door before the handle does turn and a pair of disgruntled brown eyes peer out of the darkness. "No laughing." Levy shrugs. "We used to dance in our underwear all around our apartment in college. You didn't shock me none." Gajeel frowns. "I can't promise that." Levy glares back at him. "You'd better." He actually winces a bit. "Fine..." Natsu shrugs. "As long as I can smile and the nice memory you gave me." It was true. While it was all very embarrassing to her he found it rather hot and her subsequent embarrassment exceedingly cute.
Emerging from the darkened area she sighs looking down. "I'm very sorry you all had to see that."
"I'm not." Natsu says immediately. Suddenly the shyness is gone and brown eyes snap at him. "Are you trying to make me feel better or piss me off?" The man frustratingly shrugs at her. "I'll take anger if that's all I can get. It's better than you hiding in another room. I like the confident and fearless woman I met before. Though you blushing is kinda cute."
"D-Dragneel-s-san...I-uh."
"Natsu. I'd like us to be friends. Friends don't call each other by their last name."
"Natsu-san...I.."
"Just Natsu. That 'san' stuff makes me feel old."
"Alright. Natsu I wanted to let you know that I run a professional businesses, and that I can assure you that you will not see that again. It was unprofessional of me and I would like to ask for your forgiveness."
"I can't do that."
"What?" Natsu rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Well, I can't forgive you when you didn't do anything wrong. Only thing you did was have some fun with a friend. I'm sorry for interrupting. I've been told I can be kind of dense." The man promptly flashed the biggest grin at her that frankly had her a bit weak in the knees. Oh. This was not good. "Forgive me?" he looks contritely at her.
"O-oh...n-no it's OK." Lucy stutters faintly not exactly sure how to take this man. He wasn't lying. His aura while always moving showed no falsehoods. Levy would be in the same boat as her friend. Who the hell had taught Natsu to talk to girls like this? Not only had he effectively diffused the situation but he's also effectively knocked Lucy off her professional game. Professionalism was Lucy's immediate response to anyone she finds even remotely attractive. Its her verbal armor as she's not very good at talking with men outside of the realms of cars, guns, and bombs. And Natsu was effectively side stepping the shield and using some of her own work ethics against her, much to her frustration. She could see Lucy immediately regrouping to regain her conversational footing.
"S...so to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit...and I knew you where her new beau." she looks at Gajeel then looks at Levy with a slight glower. Levy shrugs. "I wanted it to be official...and he's just a grump most of the time."
"I am not."
"Yeah, that's not what I heard last night about you and how you act when it comes to your bladder." The large man freezes and faintly blushes at that. "I had ta' go!"
Levy rolls her eyes. "Any way, Gajeel Redfox, this is my best Friend Lucy Heartfilia. Lucy? Meet Lug-nut." Gajeel glares at her head. Lucy smiles. "Redfox Courier Services, 'transport anything for the right fee.' I thought you got out of that work a while ago." Gajeel looks at her thoughtfully. "I'm just exclusive now. One employer." Lucy nods. "Ah, well there are only a few options here for organizations who can afford your exclusive services as they don't come cheap. But of the choices I doubt you are of one of them. They have a delivery boy already." she looks off and then back to him smiling gently. "But anyway. It's nice to finally meet you." Gajeel looks a little uncomfortable at being known so easily. "Sorry, buddy your name is well-known in the right circles. Even now your tales are things of legend. Besides, who else has had their eyebrows removed in favor of metal studs and wears a Navajo designed headband on a regular basis? Is it still Kevlar and steel plated by the way? I wanted to ask you last night and I'm awfully curious." Her eyes take on an almost scary impish gleam as she studies him. Gajeel almost takes a step behind Levy in an attempt to hide from those all-knowing eyes.
Almost
Show no weakness.
Lucy just kept looking at him loving the way his 'mood stone' fluctuated into uncomfortable and ever so faint irritation. If it's one thing she did love about her powers is that usually she knew just how far she could push someone without crossing the line. Levy just laughs. "Alright, Lu, you got your chance to mess with him. Enough, is enough." she pats her boyfriends arm comfortingly. "There, there...I won't let the big bad, ex-bounty hunting, bunny-girl get you."
"Bunny-girl?"
"Yeah, because apparently you look like a bunny." Lucy blinks. While it was true she felt she identified with them she didn't really see how she...looked like one. Maybe with her hair in her pigtails. Maybe. "I don't see it. Don't call me that."
"Tch. Bunny-girl is good enough for you." Lucy glowers at him she had wondered where Levy had picked up that particular expression of exasperation and disagreement. Now she knew.
Natsu watched Lucy's actions closely. Hell, he just watched her closely. She hid her gift well and it seemed to be alright for the moment. She had information. He didn't even know that Gajeel's band was reinforced. He smiles as she thinks about her new nickname, plump lips in a bit of a pout as she seems to reject the burly man's logic. "I like Lus." He grinned when brow eyes jump to him startled. "Lus?"
"Yeah short for Lucy. You get the "LU" and first sound of "C" "Lus" Besides Munchkin is using "Lu-chan" and that's not very manly. Nor is "Bunny-girl." So I will call you "Lus"
Gajeel growls.
"Whoa wait a minute, I don't recall giving either of you permission to use nicknames with me, never mind knowing me well enough to give me ones!" Lucy looks irritated her eyes snapping as she crosses her arms over her FOX branded bosom. Natsu looks faintly hurt. "I think it suits you."
"Well I do~!" she freezes.
What is this feeling? From the back? The shop mistress in one smooth move reaches below her counter and pulls out her side arm. Her precious CZ01 Tactical was this weeks gun of choice. She changed it as the mood struck her and for some reason lately she felt happier with this by her size. It was a somewhat older gun but he could smell that she kept it clean and well maintained. Natsu tensed as he saw her freeze and pull her weapon. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Levy reaching into the small bag she'd brought in as she watches Lucy. Levy seems to still be 'in-tune' with Lucy from their skip-tracing days. Something's up.
Just as the blonde opened the door to her garage from the back alley comes the loud and distinct sound of yelling and gunfire. Several people where trying to have it out behind her shop! Everyone in the store immediately gets down out of habit with Lucy and Natsu moving with purpose towards the sound. Lucy stops and look at Levy who acknowledges the look with one of her own as she disappears into a hidden doorway that takes her upstairs. Gajeel following her mainly out of concern for her well-being and confusion. Lucy reaches up and a hidden wall compartment and throws something at him. The rose haired man snatches it well before it hits him his reflexes barely registering the item before snaring it. He glares at the object in confusion. Goggles with VERY dark lenses and strangely, ear pad like things on them. What the...? But Lucy has already moved to the back door and was waiting there with her own pair already secured around her head gun at ready in one hand the other on the knob of the back door. Quickly donning the gear he hears a muffled stomping from above them as Lucy nods her head as if she understood something. Damn, I hope these morons didn't hit any of my clients cars If they did it's going to suck. Somewhere behind her she knows that Natsu's there. She only hopes he's decent in a fight. Levy had counted five guys. Easy. She shoves the door open and all hell proceeds to break loose.
There is a huge flash and ear popping bang that goes off above their heads. Even with the glasses and ear mufflers. Natsu's equilibrium is skewed just a bit causing him a moment of nausea. But his body quickly adapts. He can hear the yells and cries of pain and surprise coming from the areas just ahead of him. Lucy was already moving to the left with gun at ready sighting one of the closest men. Natsu heads right to the larger group. He smells the metallic tinge of blood in the air. Lots of it too. Looking to his left he sees a very thin man sitting against the wall grimacing in pain as blood soaks through his pants leg. With another at his side holding his eyes in pain. He senses one man immediately in front of him. The soon to be victim is rubbing his eyes and stumbling around cussing violently. Natsu scowls slightly and knocks him out. His partner turning to look at him, eyes still pretty much useless as he raises his gun to fire. Natsu easily dodges the bullet moves in decking this guy in the nose then drop kicking him to the ground. Pulling down his goggles so that he can see normally he looks around for Lucy trying to make sure she's OK. He need not have worried apparently for she had the other one crying...or maybe that was the flash bang that had done that. Those things are nasty for normal humans. Hell for people like him and Gajeel. Either way he had both hands raised and was crying. His partner wasn't moving anytime soon with that wound and was loosing too much blood. Suddenly Natsu's instincts screamed at him to move. He jumped out of the way just in time as the car with the purple roses on it suddenly gunned it and came barreling down the alleyway and after running over one of the unconscious men. Lucy looked up as well and actually jumped back out of the way. As it took off down the road. Her eyes watching it the entire way. She looked irritated about something. She looked back down at the bleeding man then looks back at her shop and up at the blue haired girl who was now leaning over the railing looking just as solemn, goggles hanging from her neck and revolver firmly in grasp. He can see a few off duty cops that where inside The Chamber come running over placing calls into their radio. As soon as they started to check on the victims and Natsu could hear the sirens in the distance he walks over to Lucy.
"Hey, you OK?" he asks softly.
"Yeah, I'm fine. But This area isn't. Not anymore." she answers just as quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"This neighborhood, has been neutral territory as it where for a long while now. It's why we set up shop here, Bisca and I. All groups need guns and car parts. From the cops to the crooks. You to shit where you get your food, if you get my drift. But these that new group...with they want to use this territory for something else. And I don't like it."
Natsu frowned down at the two still there. "Attempting to mark territory. They think because it's unmarked it's up for grabs. Not that it's a no-man's land." Lucy looks at him in surprise and with a renewed sense of curiosity. "Exactly." Natsu smirks at her. "Can't let that happen can we? It would put you and your neighbors in a bit of a bind right?"
"It's going to be hard to stop them."
"Not really." Natsu pulls off his jacket revealing a black tank top underneath. All that moving making it really uncomfortable. Or it simply could be the woman in front of him. Lucy attempts not to stare obviously. He had great arms.
"Oh how do you gather?" Natsu throws the jacket over his shoulder and grins. "Because I won't let it happen." She was reluctantly intrigued by this man before her. No it had nothing do with him showing off his muscles and wearing nice leather riding pants.
Absolutely nothing.
Though he certainly made that tattoo look nice.
Where had she seen that before...?
"And you are who, exactly to make such a promise, sir? You are only one man."
His grin morphed into something a tad darker, and more mature as he bows jauntily to her looking up through rose-colored bangs. "A man with many friends, Natsu Dragneel, Captain of Fairy Tail's, Dragonriders. At your service."