~•*Lucy*•~

I lifted my head from my pillow slowly, faintly hearing my work phone ringing from the office in my city apartment. I got to my feet and buttoned a few of the buttons on my night shirt as my bare feet padded to my office where the phone had ceased it's annoying ringing. I opened the voice mail and listened carefully. I had recently returned home from a haywire mission and was "recuperating" under director's orders. Being a big city undercover officer was not all they had cracked it up to be on T.V. shows and in books. It was mainly lots of training and paper work, and most missions where a drag. Except that one... but that was past and now I was probably about to be called in for office work.

"Lucy Heartfilia this is Director Mavis Vermillion, I have a new assignment for you. Be here in my office by exactly ten sharp or I'll have your badge." The call ended with an abrupt click. I let out a deep sigh and set the phone down before running my hands through my lengthy golden hair, pushing it up the back of my head before letting it drop again. I trekked to the bathroom where I stripped out of my shirt and undergarments before taking a rushed shower. I wrapped my body in a fluffy towel, dried my hair, and scurried towards my closet to grab my uniform and change into it. I put on the black pencil skirt, white button-up top and black tie quickly. After I finished changing I slid my feet into sleek black heels and snatched my work phone and a breakfast bar from the kitchen.

"Mavis..." I lean my head back on the headrest of my seat as I sat at a red light. Traffic was moving a bit slower than I would have liked but I would still make it--barely. Finally reaching the parking garage for the MPD I was able to get in and hurry to Director Mavis' office exactly two minutes before ten. I was safe. She turned around in her black swivel chair with a sweet smile directed my way, her light blonde hair falling over her shoulders in torrents of waves. The monitors in the room where all on, shifting through different databases of information just to look for one particular man. He has always been able to elude MPD for as long as his crime career. Jude Heartfilia.

"Lucy, are you ready to work in the field again?" Mavis asks me, breaking me from my thoughts. Her gaze was even and calculating. Always calculating. When Mavis took a step she knew every outcome of the decision before she made it, so me going on assignment was important--especially since there are other undercover officers available. I nod my head in response, adding a yes ma'am. She holds out a folder to me, containing all necessary information.

"You meet Gajeel in an hour at the warehouse section, " She dismisses me and I make my way to my desk, when I find Levy waiting.

"Lev!" I break into a huge grin and embrace her tightly. Her unruly spiky blue hair is held back by it's usual orange headband, but her eyes sparkle differently today. She spots the file in my hand and curiosity crosses her face. A small laugh escapes me and I opened the file and sift through the documents as Levy looks over my shoulder. She put on her glasses, quickly scanning the papers over, and when she finished looking over the papers she took them off carefully.

"Wow Lu... you've got quite the task don't you?" She murmurs softly, still looking over my documents. I sigh softly but place a smile on my lips.

"I'll have Gajeel and the others with me as well, so I'm not worried..." I begin to place the documents back in their respective places carefully. I brush some of my hair back and stand up from my seat. I glance at Levy and she pats my shoulder before turning to head to her own desk.

"Good luck Lu, don't get yourself in trouble," she drops her hand and heads down to her seat. I watch her until she disappears around a corner before scooping up the file. I place my badge in the drawer of my desk and slam it closed with my hip. Then I saunter out, a slight grin on my face. I would head home, change into some regular clothes and then I would meet Gajeel in the warehouse district of Magnolia. I drove back home quickly and only ducked inside for a few minutes to change into a pair of jean shorts and a white tank top with a blue sleeveless jacket on top of it. I exchanged my heels for boots and then I made my way back to my car, the work phone and file locked in a desk drawer, my key ring jingling at my hip.

* * * * *

I heard Gajeel before I saw him as I pulled my car into a scarcely used parking lot. I got out and headed in the direction of Gajeel's distinct voice. I wasn't sure who he was arguing with but it was definitely a males voice. My thoughts whirled for a moment before I immediately cut them off. The last thing I needed was my nerves screwing with me again. This mission would not go like my last one, not if I had a say in it. I rounded the corner and saw Gajeel glaring daggers at a pink haired guy whom I recognized from the files. I cleared my throat to catch their attention but they didn't hear me. Growing angry, I slammed my fist into the side of the warehouse nearest me, creating a loud metallic bang.

They both looked up with flustered expressions, which they quickly recovered. Gajeel grinned, waving me over to him and the pinkette. Gajeel's appearance hadn't altered much, his multitude of piercings still making me wonder just how much pain he could tolerate to have gotten them in the places they are, but he is an Iron Dragon Slayer so I assumed he had some affinity with metals. I bit my lip as I walked over to Gajeel's side, my stomach rolling a bit as he introduced me to my latest target.

"Lucy, this is Natsu Dragneel."