Lucy sat staring at a blank screen for God knows how long. Now she knew for certain that Dragon was Natsu. Or Natsu was Dragon - Whichever it was. With that, now she also knew that Ice went to her college too, which left her with even more questions. Had she met him? Was he in her classes too?

She heaved a groan and slumped, banging her head onto her desk. Lucy didn't care. She stood up and made her way to her bathroom, where she planned to take a very long, very relaxing bath. She paused as she passed the pile of clothes she had discarded on the floor.

Lucy hummed a little before bending down to shuffle through to pile and grabbing Natsu's scarf. She clicked her tongue before deciding to hang it on the back of her door so that it was safe. What was so special about it? She shook her head at herself before finally entering her bathroom and drawing a bath.

She had successfully relaxed for a whole five minutes before her phone started ringing. Lucy whined before quickly drying one of her hands and reaching over to grab her phone to answer it.

"Levy?" she asked, shuffling a little as the water sloshed around her.

"Lu!" The blunette cried in her ear. "Cana told me – Are you in the bath?"

Lucy swirled the water around with her legs before shrugging.

"Yep."

"M'kay. Cana told me about Natsu."

Lucy sighed. "Of course, she did."

"Are you sure? Like really sure?"

"I am now," Lucy breathed and heard Cana making an 'Ooo'-ing sound in the background.

"What happened?" Levy asked, ignoring her roommate. Lucy hesitated a moment before sighing again and sitting up straighter in the bath.

"Okay," she began. "So, I went to get some books after class, but the librarian was out, so it took forever. It was dark by the time I had to leave and – It turned out Natsu was studying there…"

Lucy heard kissy noises through the phone, then a thump.

"Sorry," Levy said, ignoring Cana's groans. "Continue."

"He asked if I was walking home and when I said I was, he offered to walk me since it was dark."

"That's kind of him," Levy commented. Lucy scoffed.

"That's not even half of it," she remarked. "He carried my bag since it was heavy and eventually gave me his scarf too."

"Aww!" Levy squealed and Lucy could swear she heard Cana make gagging noises. "He must like you, Lu. But wait - How does this confirm that he's Dragon?"

"That's just it," Lucy whimpered as she sat back. "He told me he had to get home to join his friends online, so when I got in, I went straight to my PC. He came on about half an hour later saying he had just gotten home from studying,"

"People study, Lucy."

"And that he walked a girl home since it was dark."

"I – I mean guys do that. It still seems a little farfetched – "

"And that he had forgotten to get his scarf back off her."

It was silent for a long moment before Lucy had to physically move the phone away from her head as to not be deafened.

"You heard him talk about you?" Levy spluttered. "And you listened?"

"No!" Lucy cried. "I turned it off the moment the others started asking questions. It was too weird. It makes me feel like some – "

"Stalker?" Cana offered.

"Yes!"

"Lu!" Levy yelled to regain her attention. "You're not a stalker. This is just a really, really weird situation. It's uncanny."

"Right?" Lucy replied, sitting up so quickly that some water splashed from the tub. "And they're gonna end up suspecting something if I keep just shutting my computer every time that they talk about me or college. I'm lucky they haven't asked questions already."

As Lucy said that, her phone buzzed. She frowned and put the girls on speaker so she could see what it was.

"Hold on, Metal messaged me," she muttered with a frown.

"What, why? How do you know?" Levy asked.

"I have the chatroom app we use on my phone," she said shortly with a frown as she opened the message. "Oh, great."

"What?" Levy gasped and Lucy could hear Cana asking questions too. "What did he say?"

"He said Ice and Dragon have got off and he wants to talk," she murmured slowly, a horrible knot tightening in her stomach. "I am so screwed."

"He might just want to make sure that you're okay," Levy offered, her tone optimistic. Lucy scoffed.

"Sure. I have to get out anyway, the water's getting cold."

"Let us know what happens, Lu."

"You guys just want gossip and to make fun of me," Lucy grumbled. She heard Cana call in the background to confirm her suspicions.

"Ignore her," Levy laughed. "Bye Lu! Good luck."

"Thanks."

She placed the phone on the side before taking a deep breath and getting ready to get out.

"Okay," she muttered to herself as she finally sat in front of her PC. She had told Metal that she would be on in ten, and now she ready but wary. She'd never spoken to any of the guys on their own before (if you don't count Natsu) so she was a little nervous. She swallowed her fears before booting up her computer and entering the chatroom.

Metal wasn't on call, but he was online.

ThatChillGuy: What's up?

ThatMetalMan: That's what I wanted to ask you.

Lucy winced a little; Metal wasn't really one to beat around the bush. A feeling of dread started building in her stomach as she typed a response.

ThatChillGuy: What do you mean?

ThatMetalMan: Stop fucking around. The guys don't notice this kinda shit but I do. Every time they talk about school you get weird and leave.

ThatChillGuy: Every time? You mean those whole two times?

ThatMetalMan: Good one. Gonna tell me what's going on or what?

Lucy whined pathetically and stomped her feet on the floor as she glared at the message. They had been gaming together for a few months now, so she guessed it wasn't too weird that he was checking up on her. But still. Did he have to make an already difficult situation more difficult?

ThatChillGuy: My PC keeps shutting off on its own. DW, I'm getting it fixed.

ThatMetalMan: And it just happens to turn off whenever they talk about college?

ThatChillGuy: Metal, it's cool. It's obviously just a coincidence.

ThatMetalMan: Nah, man. You never come on call, but you are cool with playing with us and listening to those two idiot's bullshit. And now you're acting all weird when they talk about school and leaving in the middle of games. Spill.

Lucy just sat back in her chair, the knot in her stomach turning into anger very quickly.

ThatChillGuy: Fine. You know what? I got weird because I'm actually a girl and I changed my name to a guy one since I got so much grief for being a female and liking games. I freaked out yesterday because you guys started talking about living in the same city as me. I didn't want to hear that any of you lived close since it'd make me feel weirder about lying. AND THEN, Dragon started talking about me on the call today since he and Ice go to my stupid college, so I got a freaked out AGAIN and left. Is that good enough for you?

Lucy furiously slammed on the send button and immediately buried her face in her hands.

"Oh my God, oh my god, oh my god," she moaned into her palms. She didn't dare look at the screen until she heard a familiar melody.

She looked up slowly to see that Metal was calling her. Lucy felt she lost the ability to breathe before slowly placing her headset on answering the call.

"Chill?" she heard Metal's gruff voice ask quietly. She quickly muted herself and heard Metal bark a laugh.

"Really? Cat's out the bag now, lady. Unmute yourself."

Lucy groaned a little before doing as he said.

"Hi…" she said miserably. Metal laughed again.

"Shit, you really are a girl." He chuckled. "So, you really got trouble off people just for being a chick?"

"Yeah," Lucy sighed, speaking up a little. "I eventually just stopped talking when I was in call, but guys could tell by my name that I was a girl and would get weird. So – "

"So, you changed it," Metal hummed in consideration. "It's pretty fucked up that you had to do that just because you're good at games."

"I'll say," she grumbled, her heart still hammering in her chest. "So?"

"So what?"

"You don't think I'm a big freak?"

Metal laughed loudly again.

"Nah, you're fine. I get your reasons but there's one thing I'm confused about."

"Shoot."

"You said Dragon talked about you," Lucy forgot how to breathe again. "What were you talking about?"

"…You know that girl he mentioned he walked home today?" She said slowly and sensed Metal nodded before talking.

"Yeah, but – Oh. Oh."

"Yeah."

"That's fucked up."

"Yup."

Suddenly, Metal burst into laughter again. Lucy felt her cheeks flame in embarrassment before finding her voice.

"It's not funny!"

"No, it's hysterical!" He cackled and Lucy huffed. "Dragon was saying – "

"No!" Lucy held her hands up even though she knew Metal couldn't see her. "I don't want to hear it. It's too weird."

"Fine," Metal said when he finally got his laughter under control. "But this is just insane. What are the actual odds of this happening?"

"I'd say like a billion to one," she sighed. "It's not fair. I wanted to come on call with you guys and come clean, but I left it way too long. Then when I realised that Dragon was Natsu – "

"Wait, wait, time out - Flame Brain's name is Natsu?"

It was quiet for a long moment before Lucy spoke again.

"I didn't say that."

"Mhm."

Lucy frowned gloomily at herself. "This is all really hopeless. It's two weird that I have classes with Dragon and know that Ice is in the school somewhere too - "

"Umm…" Metal interrupted and Lucy froze.

"What?"

"I hate to kick a buddy while they're down," Metal rumbled, but Lucy didn't think he sounded very sorry at all. "But I actually go to your college too."

Lucy felt her throat constrict and she shook her head furiously.

"You are kidding me."

"Nope," he quipped, sounding amused. "I'm just not in your guy's building. I'm studying mechanics so – "

"You're on the other side of Campus," she finished for him.

"Yeah," he said. "We all thought it was really weird too. We've gamed together on and off for years, so to think that we all live so close now…"

"It is eerie." Lucy agreed and Metal hummed. It was quiet for a moment before Metal broke the silence.

"I won't tell them," Lucy frowned before Metal carried on. "Dragon and Ice. I won't tell them that you're a chick."

"You won't?" Lucy's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected that. "Why?"

"You obviously don't want them to know." Lucy could practically hear the shrug in his voice. "And you obviously need to do some thinking about how you're going to tell Dragon. That sounds pretty complicated."

"It is."

"Then, I'll keep quiet. But you need to tell them eventually. And then we can finally go on call and never lose a fucking game again."

Lucy smiled for the first time in the call and nodded to herself.

"Deal."

"Kay," She heard him groan and assumed he was stretching before he spoke again. "Well, this has been very enlightening. Nice to finally meet ya, Chill."

Lucy laughed lightly. "You too, Metal."

"I'm gonna turn in. See you tomorrow?"

"You got it. Night."

"G'night."

Metal left the call and went offline. Lucy stared at the screen a moment longer before pouncing at her phone to call her friends.

Lucy woke up feeling very confused. She had stayed up on the phone with Levy and Cana for nearly four hours telling them about Metal. She was already sleep deprived enough as it is. She grabbed her phone and hissed when she noticed it had run out in the night. She stood to place it on charge when she heard a loud knocking at her door.

Lucy frowned before stepping into her slippers and pulling her hair into a messy bun, letting her bangs fall free and frame her face. She had washed all her make up off last night. Her face was clean, so she was sure she didn't look like a demon. She shrugged to herself before wrapping her silk dressing gown around her and making her way to the door.

When she pulled it open, she immediately regretted not looking in a mirror.

Natsu stood, poised at her door as if preparing to knock again. He looked down at her face and lowered his arm before grinning.

"Sorry," he said as he tucked his hand into his pocket. "I didn't know if you were asleep."

Lucy shook her head wordlessly before her eyes widened in realisation. "Your scarf!"

Natsu smirked again and nodded. Lucy felt her chest clench as she opened the door wider for him to enter. "Come on in and I'll grab it."

Natsu's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he nodded and stepped into her dorm.

"How did you know which dorm was mine?" she asked as she made her way into her room.

"I ran into your friend," he called, and she froze.

"Which one?"

"Um – Brown hair?" Lucy rolled her eyes. She'd have to have words with Cana later. She pulled the scarf from her door and turned to find that Natsu had followed her.

"Oh – Um, here you are." She passed him the white fabric. He thanked her before wrapping it around his neck right away. Lucy couldn't help but think he did look more complete with it on. "I'm sorry I forgot to return it last – "

"Nah, please - I'm sorry for bargin' in like this. I would have waited till Monday but – Oh, wow!"

Lucy followed his gaze to her PC behind her and couldn't help but smile proudly. She did have a pretty cool set up.

"You game?" he asked, staring at the PC but respectively didn't enter her room. She smiled and nodded.

"Yeah," she shrugged when he grinned wider.

"That's pretty cool," he drawled and leant on the door frame, eyeing her set up intently. Lucy felt a little flutter in her stomach. The most attractive man she had ever seen, leaning on her doorframe, and admiring her PC… She shook the train of thoughts from her head and stepped around him to go into the hall.

"You want to stay for a coffee?" she heard herself ask, but Natsu shook his head.

"I would, but I've got to get to my dad's."

Lucy nodded in understanding.

Natsu tilted his head as he watched her, his eyes gleaming. "Maybe I could some other time, though?"

Lucy froze. Any words she had caught in her throat, so she just nodded. She must have looked a sight because Natsu's lips curled into what should be an illegal slow smirk before he made his way around her and towards the front door.

"Thanks again, Luce." He thanked her. She turned stiffly and followed him to the door.

"No problem," she said as he pulled her door open and stepped out before turning to face her.

"I'll see you Monday?" he asked, an amused smile playing at his lips.

"Yes," Lucy breathed, finally managing a smile. Natsu grinned wide before nodding and making his way from the dormitories. Lucy watched him for a moment before quickly closing her door and spinning around to press her back to it.

"What am I going to do?"