On we go with Chapter 3! Thankyou for the lovely reviews so far, they are much appreciated! Please leave some if you like the story, it's great to hear your thoughts and words of encouragement!^-^

understory burn

"a controlled burn of fuels below the forest canopy, intended to remove fuels from on-coming or potential fires"

It was beginning to cool down outside; the day's heavy heat was slowly receding as the setting sun pulled its warming rays down with her, leaving the alleys and walkways dim. The street lamps would turn on any minute now.

Lucy pulled her leather jacket tighter around herself, trying to stop fidgeting. Was she dressed too casual? No. What she was doing was secret - and very stupid, probably - and not an undertaking she wanted to be caught in the middle of by curious eyes. This would be no interrogation, and she needed no bussiness wear.

Not in the sense of what she had been doing ever since she had been promoted to a detective a few weeks ago.

So she had chosen to dress like she always did when not at work: a little less chaste, a little less confining.

After all, the pizza here tasted best when enjoyed with just the right pinch of carelessness. And she certainly didn't mind the lingering gazes - even if she pretended to.

Still, today she was not here for the food. She was here for information.

But at this point, she feared her gut instincts might have been wrong after all. He probably wouldn't show up anymore. And why would he? She didn't blame him.

He'd probably dumped that card in the next trash can without glancing at it twice.

Her lips curved up in a humourless smile as she wondered just how naive she had been. A cop inviting a criminal out to dinner, actually expecting him to come.

"What're you smiling for all alone? That's creepy, you know."

Lucy's head turned in surprise, eyes leaving the ground to fix themselves on the man standing a little way sideways - an all too confident grin on his face.

Despite herself, Lucy had to take a moment to take him in. From his untied combat boots to the loose t-shirt, or even the leather jacket he had thrown over his shoulder, Natsu Dragneel emanated a sort of rugged handsomeness that made Lucy's breath catch in her throat.

Not to mention the hair. Pink and unruly strands moved slightly when he inclined his head to the side with dark, curious eyes.

Gone was the grumpy man in sweatpants and a boy's dragon print shirt.

Instead, she was greeted by this–this greek god runway model with a dazzling smile.

Great, now apparently her brain had stopped functioning too.

Not like she hadn't thought him handsome before, even then, but now Lucy couldn't help but simply gawk at him for an unbearably long moment. The seconds ticked by, and she wanted to reverse time to start this over with at least a dash of composure and dignity.

But alas she could not, and the charming grin on his face turned mischievous, eyelids drooping down teasingly.

"Hello to you too, detective," he almost cackled.

This level of cheekiness was enough to snap Lucy back into movement.

"Good evening," she answered hastily, hoping her embarassment wasn't audible in her voice. But how could she put on a professional face when her cheeks were burning? "I'm glad you could make it."

"Sure you are," he teased. "Don't worry, I don't blame you. You might be a cop, but you're a…" he searched for an appropriate word, grinning when he found it, "…weird cop."

"…Okay?" Lucy felt like she probably had been complimented… in a very roundabout way. This backhand stab was nothing like the compliments she usually received: overly direct and sleezy insinuations, always accompanied by impure ulterior motives – and more often than not, grabby hands that ventured to unwanted places.

But never had she been called weird, especially not in a good way. With Natsu Dragneel she had to take all she could get, huh? In a way, it was almost refreshing. Though she wasn't really sure what he was trying to get at.

It wasn't like they were on a date.

This was strictly bussiness.

Now more than ever, she became painfully aware of her outfit. What the hell had she been thinking? Because she was dressed like they were on a date. Her t-shirt revealed too much cleavage; her skirt was too short. And the boots—well. At least she kept her hair up in her bun from work. Her conscience breathed a small sigh of relief.

But he didn't look at her any different from before.

It was like he was blind to her efforts, and a part of Lucy almost felt offended – even though she really, really shouldn't feel that way. She should be grateful.

Or maybe… he just hadn't noticed yet? Hope crept onto Lucy's face. Yes, that had to be it.

He seemed like the guy who was blind to details.

Her attention diverted back to him. He was taking in their surroundings, hands in his pockets and an almost curious expression on his face. He seemed to be following has own thread of thought, but snapped out of it when he caught her staring. His brows rose, and that surprisingly bright grin of his crawled back onto his face.

It was weird. He definitely was the same guy she had interrogated, from the way he held himself to the sarcasm that seemed to stick to his face and that was conveyed by his expressions alone.

Still, when she looked at him now, why did he seem so much more… lighthearted, almost? He seemed nothing like the restrained man she had met this morning, his sour face replaced by a suggestive smirk and an almost flirty air playing around him. Though that might be taking it a little too far.

From what she'd seen of him, she couldn't picture Natsu Dragneel as a guy who openly flirted with or chased after women, no matter how good he looked in those cargo pants.

Lucy pursed her lips. It didn't happen often that she couldn't properly place a person into her own personal character chart. Her people skills were naturally strong and very carefully trained. But for some reason it was hard to see through him.

He was a whole whirlwind of contradictory traits.

"Soo," Natsu startled her out of her thoughts, "are we gonna stand here all evening or are we gonna have some fun?"

"Fun?"

She blinked at him as if he had uttered a foreign word.

Natsu almost laughed, because now that he thought about it, this was exactly how he pictured the strict detective's reaction to be, as if those three letters were an entirely new concept to her. Hell, she really needed to let loose once in a while.

Good thing he was here now.

"Well, what is your idea of a date?" he mocked, "Filing reports? Or maybe one of those fancy operas that exist to put you to sleep after mauling your ears for hours? Cause I ain't here for that. You can always go home then…"

He regretted the offer as soon as he said it. What if she really would turn right on the spot? He hadn't been exactly polite. He couldn't even blame her if she did.

Fuck, why did he even care? What did it matter to him if she left?

Natsu grimaced for a moment, trying to shake the feeling of uneasiness. Why did he care?

It drove him insane.

But more than angered, when he looked back at her, she looked… perplexed.

She quizzically furrowed her brows as she leaned her head to the right. Well, at least she didn't seem like she was about to storm off. Natsu breathed a sigh of relief. But when she spoke again, his queasiness was back full force.

"Wait a second - why do you think I'm here?"

His grin faltered for the tiniest bit, but he still raised an arm to point at himself.

"Not… for this?"

The look she gave him screamed are you serious right now?! - and then she burst out laughing.

"Well, I have to give you this: you're funny," she managed after she had collected herself, wiping at her eyes. Then she faltered, catching something in his eyes. "Wait. You're not serious, are you? You didn't honestly think I'm here to date you?"

Suddenly nervous, he plunged his hands into his pockets. "Well, why else would you have scribbled that invitation onto that card?"

"To… talk with you about the case I'm investigating?"

"Oh."

Of course.

What the hell had he been thinking?

She was a successful detective, fixated on solving her mysterious case. He was just one tool of many to achieve her big goal. All he was good for was information. An old case for a new one.

Why would she want to date someone like him? An ex-criminal, on top of that.

He wasn't entirely sure why a part of him felt so disappointed. It wasn't like he had actually considered that something could happen between them - right?

She was a fucking cop.

Their worlds could only clash.

This sympathy he felt towards her would bring him nothing but trouble.

And now she probably thought he was as bright as a broken lightbulb. Good job, Natsu. He could tick off every box on his list of how to conform to every last stereotype of 'the dumb jailbird' .

"Anyways," he scoffed, harsher than he had intended. "Sorry for being late. Coudn't find it right away."

And immediately, his inner self facepalmed. Was this how the evening would go? He'd jump from one embarassment to the next, digging himself deeper and deeper into the ground until it would mercifully swallow him up?

Hell, he'd never cared what people thought of him - so why did he suddenly care now?

What was it to him if that weird cop thought he was as dumb as a brick?

Nothing, that's what. She could think whatever she wanted and see how he cared.

But the look she gave him wasn't depreciative at all, Natsu thought as he snapped out of his inner rant. She looked genuinely confused.

He guessed his emotions might have become a little too apparent on his face.

"Why didn't you just look it up on your phone?"

Now this cheered him up right away, leading his train of thought onto a new track. Natsu snorted, and the reason became all too apparent as he pulled his phone out of his pocket - a Nokia, one of those that had probably been used as tools by stone age men.

"Yyyeahh, about that," he half-grinned, waving his prehistoric device around. "I didn't really get any reception."

Lucy looked to the ground, suddenly embarassed.

The familiar clicking of a pen brought her mind back to the present. Surprised, she looked up.

"Hey, that's my…!"

"I brought you a present." His grin widened, turning mischievous. "Because I thought that's what you do on dates. Guess now I'll have to keep it…"

"I thought I misplaced it. You - you stole my pen!" Her hands flew to her hips.

"I borrowed your pen."

"You didn't even know about this meeting back then. You totally stole it."

"Well, what can I say… sorry?" He did not look sorry at all as he stood there, scratching his neck with the back of her pen. Her favourite one, no less.

She wouldn't admit it, but she'd looked for it all afternoon between meetings.

Why, that jerk. He'd stolen her pen just for the fun of it - just for teasing her.

But she had to say, it was quite the way of getting back at her. He'd showed her.

Lucy felt the corners of her mouth twitch. A true criminal, shoplifting pens from the police as revenge for being brought in for questioning. Fearsome.

He caught the twinkle in her eyes, confused by her sudden change in attitude.

"Well… you brought it back, so I guess…"

"Didn't want you to arrest me over a pen," he cackled.

She gave him a look of which she hoped it would sufficiently express her state of I'm so done with you and your shenanigans. And she'd only known him for a day.

Pray hope she'd be done with this soon - or else she might get sucked up in the pull that seemed to attract all kinds of mishaps towards him.

"So… shall we go inside?"

"Hell yeah. I'm hungry as fu- hell."

Had he just watched his language? Lucy gave him an amused side-glance, and he chuckled sheepishly.

Was he nervous?

If she hadn't known better, she would have thought he was trying to make a good impression.