Chapter 9

Notes: I'm back again with yet another chapter. YAY! I want to first kindly thank all the reviews and follows and faves. It is very humbling to know that people actually enjoy reading the odd things that come out of my head. This chapter is kinda boring compared to the others but nessicary. The puzzle pieces have to all be present before I can let you lovely readers put them together again. I have been asked if there will be a lemon. I have honestly never written such a thing and I'm not sure I'm comfortable doing so. But I will implicate it in many cases strongly. It might sound strange but the characters tend to write themselves in this story if they make it 'public' yeah it might happen. Lol but so far When I 'hear' them they don't seem that way. :( I know it sounds crazy but that's how its coming to me.

Natsu smiles softly and looks thoughtful as he drives. His mind speeding along around the same speed as Igneel. He silently thanked the forces that be that circumstances played out the way. Now he had a reason to hang around. The best protection, as far as he was concerned, would be if she would commit to being apart of Fairy Tail. The company fiercely protected their own. The trick, however, would be to convince someone as firmly independent and brilliant as Lucy that joining such a organization wasn't akin to being protected by the 'mob.' However taking into account what Levy had told him about her he could make some educated guesses... Though they never shook people down for money or other stereotypically 'mob-esque' actions, the description isn't that far off. He snorts slightly in amusement, causing a slight cough as some of the pungent smell tickles the back of his throat.

Pulling up to city hall he sighs in slight aggravation as he eyes Ur parked in a space by herself. "here we go again..." He eyed the leather riding jacket on the bike. Picking it up he meanders inside in search of his second. He was always nearby on Saturdays hoping to use the city's highly abbreviated work hours to his advantage. Natsu boredly accepts another article of clothing from one of the security guards and nods his thanks. The man smirks and waves him by the check point. Taking the elevator to the fourth floor Natsu comes out only to stop at the third door on his right and lean against the wall, not even bothering to peek into the open door.

Waiting.

It wasn't hard to hear what was being said. Even someone without his hearing would be able to pick up the sounds.

"J-Juvia..?"

"Ah...hai, Grey-sama?"

"Ah...I...I was wondering..."

"Yes?"

3...2..1...

"If you would like to go out for dinner~!?" Natsu watches in faint amusement as another article of clothing comes flying out of the open doorway. Followed by a very loud squeal and unfortunately the predicted thump. "Juvia? Juvia? Why does this keep happening!?"

"Because you keep stripping every time you get nervous, fucking pervert." Natsu comes in throwing his clothes at him. The poor blue haired girl in question is passed out behind her desk, her face a deep shade of red. Natsu looks down as Grey tries to prop her up. "She overheated." As usual... This strange cycle of events kept happening every week or so for the last month. Juvia was a nice (read: "Odd") girl who has for quite sometime harbored a bit of a crush (I.E. creepy obsession) for his roommate. After sometime (and harassment) later Grey had to admit that he had developed a strange attraction to her (Natsu still couldn't figure out why). Natsu had to admit though that stepping out of his room only to be greeted by a person staring into the balcony window was a bit of a disturbing experience...but then Grey was presently only in his boxers and holding said unconscious girl. That in it's self is pretty disturbing. Picking her up the nearly nude man places her on the couch. Natsu then takes the opportunity to throw his clothes at him. "Get dressed. How you peeled out of leather riding pants while walking, I'll never know." Grey growls. "You know I have this issue!"

"It's more like have subscriptions." Grey had a horrible habit of stripping when he was nervous, and he's seriously nervous when dealing with his emotions. Most especially those of a romantic nature. Maybe that's why they could work. Juvia's strong emotions where worn on her sleeve while Grey's usual visage remained largely subtle. Natsu shrugs. "When your finally done I'll be downstairs. We gotta talk."

"Is it about that Hawkeye girl?" dark blue eyes follow the stalking form. "Yep."

"figured out how your going to do this?"

"Sure have."

"Do I even want to know?" he sighs, his voice muffled from inside his undershirt shirt as he pulls it on.

"Nothing big. I just plan on becoming irreplaceable." He smirks over his shoulder black eyes almost twinkling in mischievousness. Grey pauses and blinks as he pulls his hands through the sleeves. "I almost feel sorry for her." he chuckles. Natsu just grins.

Lucy stops and stares at Freed. "Chill. It's fine. I'm fine! I happened to have friends here to help me." He just continues to silently glare at her. "UGH! FINE! I am sorry I didn't immediately call you and gush about the gun fight!" She sighs and marches off to the back hanging the goggles back up and closing the hidden door. Her nerves where already slightly on edge from all the bursts of negative energy. One guy shot another one that gets run over. Those kind of auras are always disturbing to watch nevertheless. Usually she'd leave Freed to man the shop and go up to take a nap and decompress.

Usually.

But not this time. Something had changed...well more like someone was there who usually wasn't.

Natsu

He had insisted on standing very close to her when she had been questioned by the cops. Whenever she felt a bit strained he'd brush past her or lightly touch the small of her back to whisper something. Frankly, under normal circumstances, she'd find his touches to be too personal and would demand some space. However...it was those very same touches that made the whole ordeal bearable. He was also strangely warm. Almost abnormally so. It was...nice.

Don't get too comfortable girl. Don't become dependent he doesn't even know what he does. She frowns, probably best he doesn't know. She sighs as she thinks about all the clean up that was done in the back ally. Amazingly none of her cars where hit. But there where some bullet holes in her back walls and doors. That kinda pissed her off a bit but nothing that she didn't feel added a bit of character..but still it was just the principle of the matter. She, Bisca, and Levy should be the ones to have christened the back of her shop not some two bit delivery guys during a bad exchange. But it added to their "victim" status so the cops didn't ask too many questions. Thankfully, Levy remembered to wear gloves so the flash-bang would yield no prints. Their goggles could prove nothing really since Lucy had them specially commissioned. Even if they did find something it wouldn't matter. She had her fair share of connections and no few people in the department owe her and Levy some favors.

"Lucy, you know I would..."

"Never forgive yourself if something happened to me, I know I know. Nothing did happen to me. I'm fine. I'm safe, and due to some new acquaintances this area shouldn't become another target..." Freed's expression darkens even more. Lucy was not even sure that was possible. "Acquaintances?" she sighs and nods. "Yes...I met Levy's boyfriend. He's a bit grumpy but ultimately nice. And their mutual friend."

"Mutual friend?" Lucy sighs. He had that tone... "Yes, he's got a list of things he'd like to order and he plans on doing that tomorrow."

"You usually don't open on Sunday..."

"He is ordering enough parts for a entire bike, Freed. Think of it as an appointment." Freed "He?"

"Yes, it is a male." she watches in morbid fascination as Freed's aura flares with protectiveness. "I will be coming in tomorrow."

"Freed."

"I am coming and you cannot stop me. I refuse to allow you to be here alone with a unknown male!"

"He isn't entirely unknown. I've met him twice before today. You saw him Friday evening out on the patio..." Freed blinks and suddenly bristles ever so slightly at that. "That plebeian boy?"

"Well he's a bit older than a boy..." she chuckles then stops frowning at Freed's left hand. "Hey, where did you get that tattoo done again?" He stops looking at his left hand. "It's from several years ago while you where in college. I forget, some little shop downtown." Lucy blinks as his aura closes off to her. He's hiding something?
"It just looked familiar to me is all. He had it too."

"Who is this mysterious 'he'" Freed's voice had taken on a slightly impetuous and commanding tone that Lucy wasn't used to and was frankly a bit irritated at. "Natsu. Natsu Draganeel. Why?" Freed stiffens and his eyes actually flare in time with his aura's light of recognition. "I will be here tomorrow. I will not leave you alone with him." Lucy glares. "Freed."

"End of discussion." he hisses at her before marching out of the shop. Brown eyes follow the retreating form in confusion. Freed only ever used that tone when he was livid. Of which she's only seen happen a handful of times. What was that about? They both have the same mark...does it mean something? And if so, what?"

Outside Freed stands in front of his car his phone to his ear.

"Laxus? We need to talk. Its about Lucy."

Erza looks up from all the reports given to rub her head. If what they said where correct then they could have a problem on their hands. All over town there have been reports of gang rumblings. The only problem is that they are two separate gangs. None of them members of Fairy Tail. "Are they trying to draw us out and divide our forces? Or perhaps simply draw us out to try and incite a all out gang war. We've worked far too hard to earn the respect and trust of the citizens here, to have these other gangs come in and mess it up for us. We may have to visit Master Hades or Brain. Master will have to be involved in this and I may have to call back into action the Raijinshu, though they will not be happy about it, one in particular I'm sure.

"Erza?" the red head looks up at her office door and blinks in surprise. "Azlack? It's been a while, to what do I owe this unexpected visit?" The gun specialist simply scrubs a hand through his hair in nervousness. "I wish I could say this was a pleasure visit..but it isn't. You probably have the reports already right?" She nods in concern. "I do..are any of them yours?" The man smirks and hands her a folder. "No this one is. You should read it it's very interesting. Especially the one about who quelled the fight." Serious eyes scanned over the paper widened and then narrowed. "Is this right?"

"Saw it with my own eyes."

"I...am not sure how master will take this."

"Shouldn't he be happy?"

"Maybe, but he is very protective of his own."

"Even from the best of his own?"

The woman was silent for a very long moment.

"That... I cannot say."