I made some changes. Love em or hate em, love me or hate me, I'm gonna stick to my first word. NaLu all the way.

Don't fret young ones. Papa's gonna make it up to you. I plan writing a spinoff story for Gray and Juvia, maybe even a few other couples. And there will still be fluff from time to time. For now, NaLu will have to do. Thanks to the reviewer who criticized me. Much appreciated.

"This... is... amazing..." was all Lucy could say. Delilah brought them to their room at the very top of Akane Hotel. The King Suite it was aptly named. Couldn't have found a more appropriate one.

It had every luxury imaginable. Automated curtains and lights, it's very own kitchen setup, a bar area, a balcony overlooking the entire park, an adjustable, retractable roof, a bathroom three times bigger than Lucy's apartment, and above all that, the bed was big enough for ten people to sleep on. And boy was it soft.

"This... is our room?" Natsu mutter out, in disbelief also.

"Of course. Normally, Princess Hisui or her father, King Toma, would be staying in here. But seeing as you two are royalty for the time being, this is your suite. First come, first serve as they say!" Delilah giggled and clapped her hands. "I will help you myself as often as I can spare. In my absence, this is Quincy. He'll be your butler, housekeeper, chef, masseuse, or nearly any other serviceman you may find need for."

A dark man walked in, wearing a splendid suit made of silk. "Greetings, Master Natsu, Lady Lucy." He put his hand over his chest and bowed. His voice was low and booming, bearing the same accent as Delilah.

Natsu smiled politely for once. "Nice to meet you, Quincy!" He stuck out his hand, Quincy shaking it firmly. "Sorry for asking, but you're probably the darkest guy I've ever seen. Are you from a different country or something?"

"Natsu, that's rude! Don't be like that," Lucy scolded him.

"Oh, no worries, Lady Lucy. I get that question regularly. To answer your question, yes indeed. I'm from a land quite far from Fiore. The same country Lady Delilah is from. Not all people there have my dark skin, but it is more common than here. Trust me when I say, I'm no stranger to questions."

"Oh, my bad. I just thought I was making good conversation. I'll shut up now."

"You misunderstand me, Master Natsu. I take no offense. I simply answered the asked question."

Lucy sighed, shaking her head. "Way to give Quincy the wrong idea of us, knucklehead."

Quincy laughed, his deep voice echoing throughout the suite. "Pardon me. If you wish for me to unpack your belongings and place them into the dressers, I would be more than willing."

Lucy cocked a half smile. "I think we'll manage. I need to talk to Natsu before we do anything anyway."

"As you wish," the refined gentleman bowed once more.

"Quincy is the finest man I've ever met. He is, how do you say, a jack of all trades." Delilah pulled out a small remote with a large button in the middle. "If you need assistance, press the button here. Either Quincy or myself will come to your aid."

Lucy took the remote. "We'll be sure to keep that in mind. Oh, just one more thing. Could one of you give us a tour of the resort? We have been here before, but not since the changes."

"I'll gladly volunteer," Quincy stated politely.

"Splendid! Remember, Quincy. These are our prime guests. Treat them as if they were the king and queen themselves. Shouldn't be any trouble. The actual King has complimented you on many occasions."

"Whoa. You worked for the King?" Natsu asked.

"Yes I have. I've been his personal serviceman numerous times."

"Right on!" chided a beaming Natsu.

"If you will excuse me, I have some business to take care of. Simply press the button if you need anything." Delilah eyed Natsu, slowly revealing her cleavage to the fire wizard. "Anything." She and Quincy left without another word.

Lucy was about to go Erza on a bitch. "Okay. I've already had up to here with that Delilah chick!"

Natsu picked her up and jumped on the massive bed. "Forget about her. She's just the owner."

"That's the problem. I want us to stay here, but if she keeps giving you goo-goo eyes, I might have to set her straight." Lucy rolled on her back, staring at the ceiling.

Natsu had an idea. He was going to test something. "You're not jealous, are you, Lucy?"

Lucy scoffed loudly. "Please. I've dealt with her type before. 'Prim and proper, money and jewelry, sexuality and scandalous.' You have to remember, rich women are greedy. They're never satisfied. Always want more and more. Trust me. I was rich once. She's not the first beauty queen I've seen."

Natsu huffed, his plan backfiring. Or had it? "She had a nice figure, I'll give her that."

Lucy clutched the bed comforter. "I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you."

"Face it. She had a rocking bod." Natsu snickered to himself. In reality, he was digging his own grave.

Lucy scooted off the bed. "I get it. Once a girl gives you a peak, all you want is more." She climbed onto the dresser. "When your old pal Lucy tries to be sexy, you brush me off like a jerk!" She threw herself off, delivering an elbow straight into Natsu's diaphragm.

Natsu coughed and wheezed, every molecule of oxygen forced from his lungs. He sat up slowly, looking at Lucy through misty eyes. He never knew Lucy could bring the pain. "S-s-sorry..." he said before falling to the floor, urgently gasping for air.

"Now then. I'm going to take a shower. If you try to peep, I'll give you another elbow. This time, right to the family jewels." Lucy grabbed a spare set of clothes and walked into the huge bathroom.

Natsu crawled over to a love seat, holding his aching chest. Pulling himself up, he took a deep breath, fresh air filling his lungs. He slowly started coming back to reality, thanking whoever was listening he hadn't smarted off to Erza. She definitely would've killed him.

Despite getting a healthy dose of pain, his mind drifted to dangerous territory. Giving in to the troublesome thoughts, he eyed the bathroom door. If Lucy hadn't crushed his lungs, he probably would've tried to peak in. He kept averting his attention, taking in all he could in an attempt to block the urges once more. However, no matter what he did, he always ended up staring towards the door. Curiosity, among other things, got the best of him. Still clutching his chest, he quietly moved over to the door.

"I'm sure I can get one little peak..." He gently opened the door, his eyes extremely focused.

Lucy was standing in front of the mirror. She was staring at herself with a look of displeasure. "He's got some nerve," she said quietly. She sat down on the little stool and starting tinkering with another remote. Soft music started to play, slow and soothing. The lights dimmed slightly, making it easier on the eyes. "What's she have that I don't? I'm curvy and smart to boot! But what if Natsu only likes girls with dark hair? I don't think I could handle being rejected..."

Natsu continued to stare. Even though Lucy was still fully clothed, her words hooked his interest. "What's she going on about? I wonder..."

Lucy untied her hair, letting it flow. "I'll just have to win him over my way!" She removed her vest shawl and started on her boots and socks.

Natsu started breathing heavy. He covered his mouth, not wanting Lucy to hear. Hopefully the music was loud enough. The lights dimming definitely didn't hurt. The way Lucy removed her thigh-highs made his heart beat faster. His eyes were locked at her legs. The way her socks squeezed her thighs, leaving that little bit peaking over the top, made his inner beast howl with delight. He had seen all Lucy had to offer plenty of times before, but for some reason, this time was different. Never before did his eyes crave to look at her as they were doing then.

"I'm probably just overthinking. He's never really been one for looks anyway. Then again, when you look like me, it's hard not to stare. With my killer good looks and top notch personality, he'll be petty in my hands in no time!" She slid her sleeves off, placing them with her other clothes. She placed her Celestial Keys and whip on the counter next to the sink. All she had left was her skirt and top.

Natsu could feel the blood rushing to his face. If he kept this up, his nose would surely starting bleeding. His male instincts made all sorts of ideas pop in his mind, each one more vivid than the last. He was getting excited.

A knock came from the suite's door, interrupting Natsu's fantasies. Caught off guard, he panicked. What if they came in and saw what he was doing? He couldn't talk his way out of this one. Without a second thought he swung open the bathroom door and hopped in.

"Hey, ever heard of knocking! I'd like some privacy, if you don't mind!" Lucy crossed her arms.

"I can explain... I heard a knock on the door."

"Ooo, scary. Quit being a wimp and just answer the door!" Lucy walked over and started to push him out.

"No, you don't get it! If they saw what I was doing, I'd be a goner!" Natsu put his arms on the door frame, pushing back.

Lucy gasped. "You weren't doing that, were you? That's so gross!"

Natsu's face was still red from his peeping. "What? No! I don't do that!" He spun around causing Lucy to fall into his chest.

"Then what were you doing?" Lucy looked up and saw his red face. His pupils were wide. His intense gaze gave her stomach butterflies. That's when it hit her. She gasped again, this time long and high pitch. "Were you spying on me?"

Natsu's heart jumped into his throat. "Huh? No no no! I... Of course not... Why would... I mean..."

Lucy clenched her fist. "You pig!" She threw a punch, Natsu ducking at the last second. He crawled under her legs to try and escape. "Where do you think you're going?" Lucy grabbed his scarf.

Natsu twirled around, the scarf falling off his neck. Lucy turned around and chased after him. "Just give me a minute to explain!"

"You were peeping! No explanation needed!" She jumped on his back.

Natsu stumbled. They went barreling towards the wall. Before hitting, Natsu slipped on his infamous scarf, sending both him and Lucy crashing into the bathtub. They hit rather hard, Lucy banging her wrist on the faucet, Natsu going in face first.

"Aw, damn it, that hurt!" Natsu yowled in pain.

"First you insult me, then you spy on me and now you're trying to get me in the tub with you?" Lucy gripped her wrist, backing up to the other side of the bathtub.

"I never insulted you! I didn't say I wanted to take a bath with you either."

All of a sudden, mechanical arms came out of the walls. "Voice command: I want to take a bath. Bathing preparations underway," came an automated voice. The arms lifted the two wizards, a waterfall coming out the faucet. In seconds, the water was near the top, the temperature perfect.

"Natsu! What are you doing?" Lucy screamed.

"I'm not doing anything!" The arms started undressing the two. "Hey hey hey, what the heck are you doing?"

"Get your grubby hands off the goods!" Lucy yelled at the arms. "I've got it! Voice command stop!"

The arms ignored her, plopping the wizards in the water, both completely naked. Bubbles began to form on the surface of the water. Jets switched on, turning the bath into a hot tub. "Well this just got real awkward real fast."

Lucy covered her chest, blushing in shame. "You just had to come in here and ruin my private time!"

"What was I supposed to do? I'd rather you beat the hell out of me than get caught by someone else."

"That makes no sense. You were still caught by me!"

"You didn't catch me. You never would've found out if I didn't come in!"

"I still got the truth out of you, didn't I?"

Natsu put his hands on his head. "Alright, fine. Sorry I spied on you. The more someone tells me not to do something, only makes me want to do it more."

Lucy groaned. "Well look where your brilliant plan ended up."

Natsu stopped and looked at the fair girl. Luckily, the tub was massive. She was a good couple meters away. Not thinking, he began to check her out, the bubbles blocking most of the view. He smirked. "Can't say I'm complaining."

"Would you be serious. Do you have any idea how bad this looks?" Natsu wasn't the only one with wandering eyes. She kept glancing over, very naughty ideas flooding her consciousness.

"I don't know why you're freaking out. You've ended in the buff in the middle of a battlefield before. What you got ain't no surprise to me when you go around streaking through war zones all the time."

"You just threw yourself under the bus, buddy. If you already know what I look like, why were you sneaking a peak in the first place?"

Natsu scoffed, looking away. "You're drop dead gorgeous. I thought that was obvious."

His honesty hit Lucy rather abruptly. But that wasn't going to stop her from winning the argument. "So now I'm gorgeous. You were drooling over Delilah earlier, saying she has a nice figure and all that."

Natsu laughed. "Yeah, I guess she has a nice body. Didn't really pay attention. I just said those things to get a rise out of you."

"I can't believe you. You stress me out so much! Why I don't have a break out everyday, I'll never know." Lucy sunk down into the water, leaving only her face poking out. 'If this didn't feel so good, I'd probably get out...' she thought to herself.

"No use crying about it now. I think I'll just sit back and relax." Natsu put his arms behind his back and closed his eyes.

Relaxation was the farthest from Lucy's mind. All of her concentration effort was to keep herself from having a breakdown in front of Natsu. There she was, minding her own business, about to take a shower and in virtually no time at all, she winds up in the bath. With Natsu. The guy she finally admitted to having feelings for. Naked. 'Alright Lucy, no freaking out. Just breathe. It's fine. He can't see anything. You can't see anything. But does he want to see something? Do I want to see something?' That's when Lucy's pure, innocent brain betrayed her.

"Hey, uh, Natsu? Would you mind washing my back?" she asked in a sweet, girlish voice. If she couldn't make Natsu notice her through traditional means, maybe using a more contemporary method would work.

Natsu's face was priceless. He went from pure bliss to utter shock. With his awestruck face not letting up, he nodded slowly, a drop of blood falling from his nose, into the bubbly, pulsating water. "Wh-what did you want me to d-do?" he stuttered out, unsure of his hearing.

"Normally, I'd do it myself. Since I didn't bring my scrub brush, I can't. And I need help. I want to keep my skin smooth and luscious." Lucy pouted her bottom lip, putting her finger off to one side. The time for holding back had passed eons ago at this point. 'That's it! Your feminine charm will have him at your beck and call!' she reassured herself.

Natsu squinted at her. "What are you getting at?"

'This shtick isn't working how I planned. Time to improvise.' "Please, Natsu? Honestly, I need just a bit of help." Lucy turned around, moving her hair out of the way, revealing her bare back. "The water will make my skin dry up. I'll let you use your hands if you hurry." To add more flare, she winked slowly.

Wasting little time, Natsu moved over. His instincts were screaming at him at a primal level. They desperately wanted him to act, but his conscious persuaded him of the opposite. "So... do I use a sponge or a rag or what?" His voice was slightly shaking. Whether out of resisting temptation or nervousness, neither were acceptable in his mind.

Lucy stopped herself from giggling. She was enjoying this way too much. "I already said you could use your hands. It'll make it feel so much better."

"If you say so!" Natsu had conflicting emotions. Should he be full of joy or full of worry? Either way, his body started moving on it's own. He grabbed the nearest bottle and got to work. "Wow. It's so soft. And a bit slippery." He moved to the middle of Lucy's shoulder blades, gently pressing down. He came across a knot and started to press it out. Lucy let out a pained moan, quiet, but in Natsu's mind, powerful.

"Be careful! Not so rough." She wasn't expecting a massage, but since Natsu had already started, why make him quit?

"Oops. Sorry about that." He started pressing again, lighter this time. He moved his thumbs in small, concentrated circles. Feeling the muscles starting to relax, he started spreading out his movements slightly.

Lucy let out a content sigh. "Yeah, just like that. That's the stuff." She put her head down, letting her 'friend' continue to knead out the knots.

"Glad I can help you out somehow." Natsu's nose was about to explode. Soon it would end up like a ketchup bottle being stepped on.

"I didn't realize it was that hard."

"I've heard just about enough!" screamed a voice. Erza kicked down the door, her face matching her hair color.

Natsu yelped in terror. He flinched back so bad it made Lucy fall back, Lucy turning to the side to catch herself with one arm. His hands grasped for anything, potentially looking for a weapon. They found the uncapped soap bottle, squeezing it with great force. A stream of body wash landed on Lucy's face. The worst part about the whole ordeal? It was thick and white.

Erza stomped over to the tub. What she saw stopped her straight. With an expert poker face, she glared at Natsu. "I let you leave with her, knowing good and well what might happen. I put my trust in you. I even threatened you. And after all that, you go and pull a disgusting stunt like this?"

The scene was something to behold. Natsu's terrified expression, Lucy's flabbergasted look and the overall setting combined made it appear quite the steamy session. "Erza! Now just wait a minute!" Lucy tried interjecting.

"Calm down, Lucy. I know you've been through a traumatic experience. I'm here and I'll punish this pervert!" A sword appeared in her hand. She began to prod the water in between Natsu's legs, the before mention wizard screaming in horror.

Lucy stood up. "Erza! Quit it!"

Erza stopped her thrust, millimeters away from making sure Natsu couldn't have kids. "Cover yourself! You'll only provoke him more!"

"Natsu wasn't the one doing the provoking. I was!" Lucy had on her meanest brave face.

Erza gasped, taking a step back. "What? Are you serious?"

"It's a long story. I really don't want to discuss it in here. Please, just give us a few minutes."

The scarlet haired woman closed her eyes and proceeded to the door, closing it behind her. Lucy exhaled slowly, relief filling her soul. Standing up to Erza was not a small feat for any wizard, Fairy Tail member or not. Doing it while utterly vulnerable was suicide. She looked at Natsu. He was paralyzed with fear, his gaze locked on the door. He still clutched the bottle, deep, raspy breaths echoing throughout the cavernous bathroom. Since he was stuck in a daze, Lucy took the opportunity to quickly rid her face of the body wash.

After the thorough cleansing, Lucy dressed herself, keeping tabs on the fear stricken Natsu. She wanted to comfort him, but there were too many reasons against doing so. Erza would grow even more impatient if she didn't hurry, Natsu was still stark naked, and her temporary solid resolve was on the verge of crumbling to dust. Preparing for the worst, she walked out.

Erza was standing in the middle of the suite, arms crossed, sword still in hand. Happy stood next to her, mocking the same position, fish in paw instead of sword. "You got some explaining to do, Lucy," Happy said, patronizing the poor girl.

"Stay out of it, cat. It's none of your business."

Erza stomped. "Enough. Start talking."

Lucy cowered back, a droplet of sweat appearing on her cheek. "Well, you see... I don't know where to start."

Erza made a low growl. "Just tell me why I found you and Natsu in the bath together. And I better like your answer."

"Can I least sit down?" Lucy complained.

"No! Talk. Right where you are," Erza demanded, putting her hand on her hip, the other still holding the sword.

Lucy kept glancing at the weapon. Surely she wouldn't do anything rash, right? "I just wanted to take a shower. Even though I told him not to, Natsu was trying sneak a peek. Someone, probably you, knocked on the door. He knew he'd be in an awkward situation, but Natsu isn't one for common sense. He just barged right in. Of course, he ultimately admitted to spying, so his plan failed in the end."

Erza's eyes narrowed. "How do you explain the-"

"I'm getting to that..." Lucy kept swaying back and forth, clearly uncomfortable. "You see, this suite is like totally awesome and high tech. It's got all these different automatic functions. You can turn the lights on and off, close the curtains, have music play all with the press of a button! Some things even are voice activated. Natsu said something about taking a bath and these weird robot arms came out the walls, stripped us both and put us in the tub. It wouldn't listen to my commands, but I did try to stop them."

An eerie silence deafened the room. Erza kept her disapproving scowl on Lucy, not even blinking. Lucy held her breath, fearing one sudden movement would set off Erza's tripwire. Faster than the she could see, Erza appeared in front of Lucy, her eyes dark as night. After giving the curvy blonde heart palpitations, she finally spoke. "I'm going to ask you one last question. What the hell was all that at the very end?"

"What was what?" she asked, obviously lost.

"I heard the dirty talk; the moans, the howl of painful pleasure, the sheer lewdness of it all! No crawling your way out of this one!"

Lucy thought back to the situation. The more she remembered, the redder her face became. To any right-minded person, that would most definitely sound wrong. Their dialogue might as well have been taken from the page of a naughty magazine. "I... might've tried getting back at him... for spying on me..."

Erza scoffed, standing up straight. "You think I buy that? I know you're fond of your figure, but I'd have an easier time believing Gray broke his stripping habit."

Lucy groaned, rubbing her eyes in frustration. "Is it wrong for me to have a little fun? Or at the very least, some privacy?"

"What nonsense."

"Is it really? I'm clearly single, you know? I finally have the guts to go out on a limb and what happens? I get lectured. Not to be rude, Erza, but what I do behind closed doors, especially in the bathroom or with a boy, is going to stay there. Natsu might be like a brother to you for all I know. But what I do know for sure is Natsu is kind, caring and sweet. In his own way. He'd give his life if it meant one of us could live on. Just one! The fact that girls are starting to see him for the man he is should be no surprise.

"If that's not enough for you, I might as well just say it. Yeah, I'm the love-struck idiot who started noticing. The way he looks at me gives me shivers. His stupid grin. His laugh, his quirks, and even his childish behavior. I like it all. It's what makes Natsu who he is. I wouldn't have it any other way. Whether you like it or not, I'm going to win him over. If that means standing up to you, then so be it! I will! Deal with it!"

Lucy finished her impromptu speech. Tears welled up, slowly trickling down her cheeks. Rivers of emotion swirled around her mind. Anger, frustration, joy, relief, regret, embarrassment, envy, you name it.

Erza turned around, making the sword disappear. She looked back over her shoulder and smiled. "I admire your resolve, Lucy. If that's what your heart desires, follow it. Don't walk, run. Don't ever stop chasing after it." She turned away and started walking towards the door. "Once you have it in your grasp, still run after it. Act like it's too quick to keep up. That'll prove you're willing to work hard to get what you want." Erza reached for the doorknob. "One more thing. The others are waiting for us. Come down when you and Natsu are ready." She left, leaving Lucy in a puddle of joyful tears.

Happy walked over, tugging on Lucy's sock. "Hey Lucy?"

Lucy rubbed her eyes once more and looked at the blue bat. "What is it, Happy?"

"Natsu may not even know it himself, but I guarantee he feels the same way. He's dense so you'll have to get it through his thick skull." He gave Lucy his trademark smile.

"Thanks, Happy. I'll keep that in mind." Lucy's heart was filled. She earned Erza's trust. Potentially even her blessing. Something she'd never even considered possible. And yet, all she had to do was lose her temper a little bit.

"Speaking of Natsu, where is he?" asked Happy.

Lucy walked over to the bathroom, mindful of the splintered door. Natsu was still glued to the bathtub, fear petrifying him constantly. Lucy put her head down, shaking it lightly. "Good grief. Get out of the tub already, weirdo."

"This is where we're staying?" Makarov asked Jason with a bewildered expression.

"It's just so cool!" Jason freaked out and started frolicking around like a maniac.

"Alright, children. Let's not make a mess. We must prove to everyone Fairy Tail's destructive days are well behind us."

"You got it, Master!" shouted everyone.

Delilah strolled over to Master Makarov, her sway attracting all attention from Fairy Tail's male members. "Welcome, Fairy Tail! I'm Delilah, the owner of this fabulous resort! Please, if you all would follow me, I'll escort you to your designated suites."

"You heard the nice lady. Get a move on!" Makarov walked over to Delilah, adjusting his collar fashionably. "Quite a fine establishment you have here, Ms. Delilah."

Delilah smiled at the short man. "To have received a compliment from Fairy Tail's illustrious master fills me with great joy. I always ensure my guests are pleased to the highest level of comfort."

"Not to sound like a worried parent, but I understand Natsu and Lucy are here as well. Would you mind sending someone to fetch them for me? If not, I can always make Gray do it or something."

"I'm not the errand boy, Gramps."

"No need for that. Lady Erza has already seen to them. They should be down momentarily. Until then, may I show you around?"

Makarov's smile rivaled that of a child. "That sounds like a wonderful idea. On the other hand, I must see to my children first. If I let them of the hook for too long, you may be out of a business."

Delilah giggled. "Understandable. Afterwards, come find me. I promised Lucy and Natsu a tour as well. Bring them and any others wanting to come. I'd be happy to show off my handy work."

"Your kindness is greatly appreciated. I'll have them down here soon enough."

"Splendid. Now then, I'll show you to your rooms."

The hoard of guild wizards followed Delilah. The elevator she lead them to was massive. Not quite enough room for everyone, but still bigger than most. All of the ladies climbed in, the men waiting for their time.

"It' must be nice, going first all the time," Gray complained.

"We're gentlemen now. Showing Ms. Delilah how courteous we are will give us a good image. Don't screw it up." Master Makarov was desperate to make a good impression. Otherwise, they may never be allowed back.

Another elevator swooshed back to the ground floor, a man aboard instead of Delilah. "Hello. Ms. Delilah is helping the ladies. I will escort you in her stead."

"Who are you, a butler or something?" criticized Elfman.

"Absolutely. Among other things. Quincy is my name."

"Climb in. Let's not keep the man waiting."

Doing as they were told, the guys piled in, the elevator lifting them up. "I can't imagine Natsu riding this thing."

"Quite right. He took the stairs. Lady Lucy and Ms. Delilah rode the elevator."

"Figures. Just like him."

Quincy raised an eyebrow. "You seem to be agitated with Master Natsu."

"That's none of your business, pal."

"I meant no offense. Only stating my thoughts."

Gray scoffed. "Where is that hot head anyway?"

"He and Lady Lucy are staying in the King Suite. Originally, they would've taken a slightly less tier room, but they arrived well before the rest of you. As Ms. Delilah says, first come, first serve." Quincy grinned with closed lips.

"Hold up, they're staying in the same room? Like sleeping in the same bed and stuff?" Gajeel interrupted.

"I assume so. They seemed rather fond of each others' company. Kids these days can be oblivious to their own feelings."

"How right you are," added Makarov.

"Go back a sec. You're saying Lucy is sharing a room with Natsu? Natsu!" Gray said, putting his hands on Quincy's shoulders.

"Yes indeed. Is that such a hard concept to understand?"

Gray took his hands off and leaned up against the wall. "No, not really. It just seems suspicious."

They came to stop, a ding signaling they had reached their floor. "This will be your own personal floor. Their are numerous rooms. Find a suitable one and settle down. Unfortunately, some will be forced to share. Make sure you like your roommate. Switching will only be allowed for this day only. Please, enjoy your stay." Quincy gestured the group out.

"So much for an escort.." Gray mumbled, earning him stomp on the foot.

Erza walked up to the ice wizard. "Finding rooms already. Good."

"How are Natsu and Lucy?" he asked.

Erza let out a small laugh. "Unusually close."

"What does that mean?"

Erza walked over to a random room and walked in. "Come in and shut the door. This doesn't concern anyone else."

Doing as instructed, Gray walked in, the anticipation getting to him. "Alright, seriously now. What happened up there?"

Erza sat down on the nearby couch, letting the events process. "I found them in the bath together."

Gray scoffed. "So it's just as we thought. They just wanted a getaway from us. Probably to go and take advantage of each other."

"You'd be surprised. Lucy actually stood up for herself. She's not a threat in the slightest, but it was still a touching moment."

"Now this doesn't sound right. Lucy stood up to you?"

"That's what I said. Besides, she has conviction. She knows what she wants and she'll try her hardest to get it."

Gray sat down next to her. "The only thing she wants is Natsu." Gray glanced at Erza, eyes closed in thought. "Am I right?"

"You'll just have to find out for yourself."

"Fine then. I will." Gray got up and left, agitated. Erza knew the truth, but out of respect for Lucy's privacy, it didn't feel right telling someone else. Even if they were a teammate.

"I swear, it was like this close from cutting it off!" Natsu had gotten out of the bath a few minutes prior. Lucy slapped him about a million times before he came out of his terrified stupor. Now he was sitting on the side of the bed in nothing but his boxers, one leg tucked under the other. Apparently, Erza's savage stabbing managed to cut his thigh. "She was trying to cut it off! If you weren't there, Lucy, I'd be a girl by now!"

"Stop being over-dramatic. I'm sure she was only trying to scare you." Lucy was on sitting on her legs, treating Natsu's battle wound. She took a cotton ball, soaking it with rubbing alcohol. Gently, she rubbed it on the cut.

Natsu winced. "You're searing my skin off here!"

"Oh come on. You can survive nearly being burned to death every day, but this burns? Toughen up." Lucy finished cleaning off the excess blood, grabbing a bandage. "Lift it up a bit."

Natsu did as he was told, raising his leg up. Lucy began to wrap his wound, tightening as she went. "Easy. You'll cut off my circulation."

"Quit whining. It has to be tight or the bleeding won't stop. I bet you'd like to go on living." Lucy finished up, clamping it down with a few clips. "Was that so hard, you big baby?"

"Not really. I'm just glad I still have my manhood."

"Get dressed. I don't want another scene. Erza said the others were here so hop to it." Lucy put away the first aid supplies in the bathroom, Natsu watching her.

He let out a short snicker. "Look at us. Not even on a mission. Somehow, we still wind up getting hurt."

"I guess we're accident prone. I know I am. For you, that's a gigantic understatement."

Natsu limped over to his part of the dresser, grabbing a pair of black pants. "It's not my fault. The bad guys always push me over the edge."

"And what happens? You nearly get yourself killed. You should be more careful or you might end up on the wrong end of fatal attack."

"You worry too much, Luce. I haven't came across any life threatening situations in the slightest."

Lucy stopped what she was doing. Natsu just gave her a nickname. "What did you call me?" she asked, blatantly ignoring his fib.

"What? Luce?"

"Yeah, that. Where did that come from?"

Natsu shrugged. "I don't know. Just came out."

Lucy smiled, turning towards him. "I like that."

He smiled back. "Then I'll call you that from now on!"

"Not all the time." 'The others might think it's a pet name.'

"Why not? I say your name enough as it is. Luce would just lighten the load." Natsu walked over and patted Lucy's head.

"Because I said so, alright? For now, just call me that when we're alone."

"Oh I get it. You don't want the others making fun of you."

Lucy let out a small snort. "You're actually right, for once." She grabbed her travel purse. "Let's get going. If you don't hurry up, I'll leave you behind."

"Hey wait up! I'm not even fully dressed yet!"