Lucy quaffed the cold drink she was holding in her hands. It was a cool welcome from the dizzying heat of the dance floor. She hadn't known Natsu could dance. At all. The wink she received from Mirajane told her that the motherly mage had most likely helped that aspect along. Lucy smiled in return, making a mental note to thank Mirajane later.

She sighed contentedly, as Natsu settled in the chair next to her. He hadn't been the only dance partner she had that night, but he was the one with which she had danced the most. His hair was gradually becoming more of its usual mess--the gel holding it down was long gone. Still, she thought, he looked good for a short period of time!

"Thanks!" she gasped as she finished the tingly, fruity punch. "What is this stuff?"

"I dunno," Natsu replied, as he watched Happy interact with his date. Charle had come a long way from the angry feline she had been when the first met her. She had warmed up to Happy--enough so that she agreed to come as his date.

"I think it's cute!" Lucy interrupted Natsu's thoughts.

"Eh?" confusion evident in his voice.

"Happy and Charle. I think they are cute!" she beamed.

"You would," he mumbled.

"What was that?" Lucy demanded, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Nothing," he shook his head, his eyes on the two cats. He couldn't quite place his finger on it, but he felt sort of...hurt, that he hadn't known Happy had asked Charle to come to the gala.

"Mirajane," Lucy nodded toward the odd couple.

"Huh?" Natsu replied, reaching for her glass. He realized it was empty, and tossed it aside into a nearby bush.

"What the--" Lucy began. She shrugged her shoulders, opting to continue her explanation. "I'm assuming Mirajane is responsible for asking Charle to come down here. I can't see Happy actually asking her."

Natsu nodded, neither could he. Lucy kept talking, "She's playing matchmaker lately..."

"Huh? Matchmaker? What's that mean?" he asked, turning to Lucy. So that's why Mirajane insisted that he buy this suit and learn that dance?

"Uh, um, well..you know..." she began to blush.

"No, I don't know," his lack of knowledge evident in his facial features. Part of him did know, but he was hoping that was his imaginative part.

"Shewantspeopletogettogether," Lucy squeaked.

"Get together? We are all teammates. Why would we need her help us get together?" Natsu scratched his already-unruly hair.

Lucy's jaw dropped. Was he really this dense? She could feel the color in her face as it spread to her ears. Had nothing she had done thus far: her hair, her makeup, her dress--had none of it had any effect on the young dragonslayer?

"Not as friends," she growled. "As a couple."

"W-w-we? A c-c-couple?" Natsu stuttered, as if understanding for the first time. "She thinks we would be a couple? Like girlfriend and boyfriend?" he stared at Lucy, incredulous.

She slowly nodded her head. Natsu stared at her, his gaze suddenly becoming more intense. He slowly drifted toward her. Was he...was he going to kiss her? Lucy could feel her heart pounding in her chest.

Suddenly, Natsu's body began to rock with laughter, as he doubled over. "S-she t-thinks that w-we w-w-want to be a coupleeee," he gasped between breaths. Huge tears fell down his face as a second wave of laughter replaced the first one.

Lucy slowly realized what had happened: Natsu found this concept...funny? She, on the other hand, was not amused. Not in the least. She could feel the tears beginning to well up in her eyes as embarrassment washed over her. How could she be so stupid? This was all Mirajane's doing, not Natsu's own free will! How could she had ever hoped for something....no, why had she ever hoped for this?

Over the past few months, she had grown closer to the first Fairy Tail mage she had befriended. Despite his awkward mannerisms and hot-headedness, she found him attractive. Charming, even. Something so innocent had grown into suppressed feelings which she kept at bay. Part of her wondered if it was more of an idolization of the man who constantly protected her. No. She knew that it was genuine attachment she felt toward the oft-rowdy dragonslayer.

But, right now, she was not amused. Lucy held back the tears, as she suddenly stood upright. Her lip quivered with anger and embarrassment as she glared down at Natsu. He was still bent forward, clutching his stomach in hilarity. She looked around: no one seemed to notice her pain. Levy was sobbing into Droy's arms. Lucy could see Gazille stalking away from his naive date, his disinterest evident on his face. Grey was nowhere in sight as Juvia danced with Makarov. Lucy had a feeling that Makarov was being pleasant and distracting the Grey-obsessed water mage. Cana and Macao were--what were they doing? She felt her stomach sink at the sight. She glanced back to the dance floor. She could see that MiraJane was dancing with Elfman, while Adassandra was speaking to Bisca.

Natsu's laughter reminded Lucy of why she was standing, interrupting her silent observations . "You think it's funny?" she hissed between clenched teeth, her own fists tightening.

"Yes!" he howled. "You and me? Who would have thought that, Luce!?" Another wave of howling laughter.

"You moron!" Lucy practically shrieked as she slapped him with an open palm--her hand hitting him on the back of his head.

Natsu looked up in surprise, only to get a glance of Lucy's back as she stalked off. "What's wrong? Luce? Lucy!" he called after her. When she didn't respond, he decided that maybe she had to use the bathroom. He wiped the tears from his eyes as he quickly found Grey near the makeshift bar. He decided he would share Lucy's theory with ice mage. He chuckled a few more times before looking in the direction Lucy has sulked.

Is she mad? he considered. He immediately cast the thought aside. Nah, not Lucy!

"Women," he muttered as he stood, shaking his head. "I'll never understand 'em."

Adassandra was listening to Bisca intently as the ex-quipping mage spoke about Makarov's delinquent grandson. "So you see..it was terrible for Master Makarov," she spoke quickly, her smooth features knitting with concern.

"I see," Adie murmured, as she thought about this Laxus--the grandson of Makarov. "And he hasn't been back since?"

"Oh no! He was exiled. Makarove had to!" her eyes were wide; her tone serious.

"Oh," the newcomer replied. She glanced toward Makarov as he smiled at his dance partner. "That's so sad, to lose a family member under those circumstances."

Before Bisca could reply, a dark-haired male--whom Adie had seen around the guild--approached. "Um, Bisca, would you like to dance?" he asked, his face turning red.

The female gunslinger immediately turned a similar shade of red, as Adie smirked in recognition. These two are too easy to read! she thought to herself.

"U-um, er...sure, Alzak!" she stammered. "I'd love to!" She glanced at Adie. "I'm so sorry--"

"Don't be!" Adie raised her hand. "Dance with the handsome man, would you?" And just like that, she was alone, standing on the outskirts of the dance floor. She watched the happy couples swirling in a blur of fabric as they danced to the music. She looked at the sky--it was such a beautiful night....almost too beautiful.

"You wanna get out of here?" came the warm voice, as it floated across her skin. She could feel the gooseflesh forming on her arms. She recognized that voice.

"In your dreams," she hissed in reply.

"You can quit playing hard to get. I know what you are," he replied calmly, his piercings flickering in the candlelight.

Adie felt her her stomach sink. How could he possibly-- "What am I?" she spoke gruffly, hoping that he didn't mean what she thought he meant.

"You're a woman who needs a little attention," he replied simply, his eyes trailing down her body. "And I'm the man to give that to you," he grinned wolfishly, as he slid a hand around her waist. "Let's you and me get out of here."

She sighed in relief--he hadn't meant that. Adie quickly became annoyed by the narcissistic dragonslayer. "I said, get lost. It's not a difficult concept to understand. Really, I promise," she spoke through clenched teeth. She didn't want to create a scene. Not right here. Not now.

She felt his grip tighten; she could smell the alcohol on his breath as he pulled her closer. His face was inches from hers. "You know you want it!"

"In. Your. Dreams. And even then, I'd have to be out of my mind," she snarled, quickly pushing him away.

He chuckled, his eyes flashing their challenge. "So you want to play it that way?" he sneered.

"I'm not playing it any way, asshole. Don't make a scene. Just walk away," she warned. What was with this pervert? Why was he not getting the hint?

"Is there a problem, Adassandra-san?" Elfman asked, as both he and Mirajane approached from the dance floor.

"No, nothing," she smiled weakly at her date. "He was just leaving."

"Bullshit I was leaving!" Gajeel spat. "You were about to come with me."

"I don't think the lady would want to go with you, Gazille," Elfman replied calmly. "Not in your current state."

"Shut the hell up you fuckin' pansy," the dragonslayer scoffed. Gradually he was drawing the attention of those around them. A few people had stopped dancing to stare. Adie was beginning to regret not walking away sooner.

"Cool it!" she replied over Elfman's arm. She gently placed a hand on his wrist, "Elfman, would you like to dance?" She nodded toward the dance floor.

"Of course, my lady," he replied. "Mirajane?" he looked at her expectantly.

"No, no! Don't worry about me, Elfman! I'm a big girl," she smiled nervously toward Adie, obviously concerned about Gazille's drunken rant. "I'll escort Gazille back to his apartment."

"Fucking no you won't. Not unless that," he pointed toward Adie, "is comin' with me!"

"You know what?" Adie began, her anger getting the better of her. Maybe hitting him a second time wouldn't be a bad idea after all. Before she could finish her statement, Gazille's body was knocked backward through the crowd.

Adassandra stared wide-eyed at Elfman. His suit sleeve was torn, as his arm had grown in size and was completely black. Elfman was staring angrily at Gajeel, "You never talk to a lady like that. It tests my patience." His face was contorted in rage as his arm slowly transformed back into its normal anatomy.

"What was that?" Adie breathed, her amazement still obvious on her face.

"Takeover," Mirajane whispered. "Elfman has the ability to absorb the powers of past opponents in his arm. He can use them, like so," she gestured. "This particular one was his Black Bull."

"Increases his physical power?" the Councilwoman asked, visibly impressed.

"Yes, my lady," Elfman answered. "I'm sorry about that," he blushed. "I can't let him speak to you in such a way."

Adie waved her hand, "No apology necessary." She glanced toward where Gazille was angrily rising to his feet. "If you hadn't done it, I was definitely going to."

Makarov was currently whispering furiously at Gajeel, who gave a stiff nod. With one last glare at Elfman--and a quick one at Adie--he stormed off into the night.

Mirajane sighed, "He really has a bad temper."

"That's putting it lightly," Adie rolled her eyes. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Lucy storming off along a dark-lit path. "Uh, Mirajane?" The white-haired mage looked at Adassandra expectantly.

"Would you mind another dance with your brother?" she asked hesitantly. "I, uh, need to powder my nose. You know!" she mustered her sweetest smile.

"Of course," Mirajane nodded, "Another dance, brother?"

Elfman was picking at the remnant of his tattered sleeve. "Oh dear, this is terrible." He looked from Adie to his sister, registering what had just occurred. "Of course, take your time."

Adie quickly took her leave, feeling guilty at what had just happened. Elfman was such a nice man, and Gajeel had pushed him too far. The pale-haired man was not to be toyed with, it seemed. Moreover, his powers were very intriguing. Adie pushed the guilt from her mind as she headed toward the restroom. As she was about to enter the women's room, she took a small detour.

It was time for business. It was, after all, what she came here for, she reminded herself.

"Stupid Natsu!" Lucy grumbled as she blindly stumbled along the path. The tears were burning her eyes. "No! Stupid Lucy!" she hissed. She stopped, stomping her foot.

"Why is he so dense? Is there something wrong with me?" she asked the silence around her. She had spent years building confidence in her appearance and ability to be cute when necessary. So, why did it not work on Natsu? Maybe it was too much? Maybe he just didn't feel that way about her? Lucy considered herself to be a good observer, and she had definitely not observed his interest in anyone else.

"Who is the first person he comes to find for a mission?" she asked herself. "Me!" She dropped her fist into her hand, sighing in frustration. "Stupid Nastu!" she hissed.

She had been so absorbed in her own thoughts, she hadn't seen the person standing against the wall that followed the path. "W-who's there?"

She squinted into the darkness. No answer. She could see the siloutte: a dress and magnificent shoes. Those shoes!

"Oh!" she squeaked. "Adassandra?"

Wordlessly, the shoes clicked on the cobblestone path as the silent figure slowly walked toward her. Lucy was confused by her cryptic movement and silent demeanor. Adie walked toward Lucy, studying her with cold blue eyes. "Hello, Lucy," she spoke between blood-red lips. Her glasses reflecting the moon's light.

"A-Adie?" she replied, her tone unsure, "Why are you standing in the middle of the path at this time of night?" Good question Lucy, you were doing the same thing! she mentally berated herself.

Adie shrugged her slender shoulders. "I'm looking for something. Something...particular," her voice chilled Lucy to the bone. What was with this sudden change in the pleasant young woman? It was the same feeling that had been elicited when she first arrived to Fairy Tail--as nothing more than a mere Guild Inspector.

"Looking for something?" Lucy echoed weakly.

"Yes," Adie replied, taking another step. Her heels clicked on the stone as she did so. Lucy slowly took a step in retreat. Adie held out a hand, the same, calloused palm that Lucy had shook earlier that week. "Your keys," she whispered.

"My keys?"

"I'm sorry, is there an echo? I thought my request was clear. Yes, your keys. Now. I want them." Her eyes flashed their intent.

"Y-you can't have them!" Lucy replied, taking another step backward. She reached down, clasping her hand around the keyring that was attached to the garter on her thigh. She briefly thought about running--she could still hear the music as it floated through the night air. Her feet were frozen in place. Who--no, what--was this woman? How had she gone from the cheerful, bright inspector to such a menacing presence. Lucy had a feeling they had all underestimated the raven-haired woman.

"Fine," Adassandra shrugged. "I tried to make this easy. If you won't give them to me willingly, I'll have to take them from you. With force."

And so the excitement begins! Thank you to all of my readers! I appreciate the adds!

Thank you to my reviewers, you're the reason I keep writing!

Please enjoy! And let me know your thoughts!

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