Author: A lot of talking in this one. Puzzle pieces are clicking and trouble is closing in.

Hawkeye 24: Fresh out of Food for one too many guests

She really didn't care how it happened, why or anything else, for that matter. The fact is that it *did* and that alone was making her irritated. Standing in the doorway of her shop she stares at a very smelly protein spill that was littering the floor. It had looked explosive and fresh.

Frowning at the green haired man hunched in over squatting and head between his legs and groaning. Levy was nearby rubbing his back soothingly and holding a glass of water. Cana was looking grossed out and sitting on a pile of tires in the corner, her glass of amber liquid forgotten dangling from her fingers.

Laxus was holding a laptop looking very angry and just a bit green himself.

"What, the hell is going on?" Natsu glares between them, voicing Lucy's concern before she could. Though she argues that it's because of his project bike was almost in the splash zone.

Cana looks up in surprise then looks at Natsu then Lucy. "You don't want to know, just be sure...I mean...we'll let you know." she glances sharply at Laxus who quickly closes the laptop. Lucy narrows her eyes at him.

"We had a talk about trust."

"Yeah, and you need to trust me that you can't handle this, and that Natsu can't either...at least not without killing someone or destroying something. We don't need anything else happening, understand?"

The blonde starts to retort when Levy looks over. "Please...Lucy, don't push this time." Gajeel takes the laptop from Laxus before Natsu could think about snatching it causing the shorter man to narrow his eyes thoughtfully.

"Will it effect how we have to handle what's to come?"

"No." Gajeel answers without any hesitation.

"Then I guess, we'll trust you.."

"Natsu..."

"We need a clear head Lucy. If this is isn't going to help us solve the problem, it's unnecessary. Right now we need to share what we know and hope that it connects the dots. Right now this is going to be a tactical meeting before we leave, we need a plan. I called Gray, he should be here soon. We need this finished. I am tired of this shit hanging over my head. I have...other things I want to focus on."

Lucy isn't sure but she could swear that green eyes glanced at her before back at everyone else in attendance.

"We should go upstairs, I'll cook, while we eat; we plan. Be ready for rundowns when I'm done." he opens the door that leads upstairs. He looks back at Lucy and smiles softly and holds out his hand. "We need some sides...if you don't mind..."

Blushing faintly she smiles and takes his hand. "Not at all. I think I could whip something up..."

Following him up the stairs she stares at his back in surprise. She had never seen him quite so...commanding but not overbearing. It was kind of a bit distracting...in a pleasurable way...unfortunately now was not the time for that.

But oh, if it was...

Erza sits quietly waiting for the orders. She was sure that the order to eliminate would be delivered. Unfortunately without any known information it would be impossible to do anything about the threat. It was very upsetting and she'd much rather prefer to deal with things head on. Looking at her phone she absently wondered if she should try and perhaps get into contract with Natsu. The Riders where always more in touch with the front lines than they.

She missed street work, sometimes. Sitting around working out and sitting in front of a computer like a good business woman rubbed her the wrong way when such situations arose. She itched to get her hands around the throat of this Pretch, but could do little unless he was right in front of her. She didn't even get to deal with Brain.

It was all so unfair.

"Erza." The small man finally decided to speak after a long (seemingly infinite) moment of thought. "There are things you need to know before you are allowed to do anything...things that might change the way you think about what must be done."

"I highly doubt that it will but it may change the way I execute it, Master."

"Ah, perhaps you're right." He laughs softly to himself. She was ever the stoic woman...unless cake was involved.

"Laxus and Freed have taken out Obra, I just got the notification last night they found something on him that may help us in our investigation, however I too am waiting for information as well. I believe they took it to Levy to decrypt. Also my granddaughter...Lucy, is directly related to this situation. I do not doubt that she is nosing about as well. She's not really happy with me right now, not that I blame her, but I would not be surprised if she is about as well."

"We can find a cell to lock her in if that is more efficient. "

"Uh...I'm not sure that would do well to make things workout with her."

"It would be for her own saftey."

"She's no souch either but she does have a form of protection already in the head of the Dragonriders that has seemed to ah...moved in in the mean time."

"Between him and Freed she should be alright. Wait...moved in?"

"Ah he's sleeping in another room of course."

"Of course."

"You doubt his honor?"

"No, I doubt that he's not emotionally compromised in this."

"Yes...he is attracted to her...but their all going to be in this. And I suspect they will move with or without you. You may want to meet with them instead of working alone."

The red head frowns in thought worried that they would make things more complicated than a simple snap of the neck. "Very well. I will arrange a meeting with them at my earliest convenience."

Markalov nods "And while you do that I'll attempt to find out if there are any higher ups that can help us with this when it all goes down. I suspect that our opponents plans are bigger than we give them credit for."

Azuma carefully used his pin to check off the points of inspection as he wandered from furnace to furnace. The tests had been good. The idea of forming a gas and piping it out of factory pipes was a impressive one but then Master Pretch was always trying to better himself. The idea of pressuring Ivan for more one on one results wasn't a waste. They already figured out that such concentrated doses of the drug did not give the body sufficient time to adapt, thus rendering the subject unusable. Watering down the solution seemed to have produced better results but not by much. It appears the most successful survivors of this where: those that needed the drug due to their condition, second hand contact (those giving the medication or creating it without the proper protection) or the highly adaptable ( like children).

The mass test over Magnolia would be carried out carefully, based upon the second premise. Since those administering it did not take the pills or liquid internally or willingly, it had to be airborne and entered via their respiratory system or skin contact. Starting up the factory again and sending the gas out via the four large smoke stacks would effectively produce both. Especially once the rain starts up this week for the rainy season. There would be no avoiding it. It would be the most effective way to test a large group of people without drawing attention and since the city's records where open books to them thanks to their contacts it would be a simple matter of figuring out who exactly was effected and how to obtain for a more in depth experiments...

But first, furnace three is off by ten degrees, and that needed to be addressed.

Not by him of course.

He paid too much for this suit and getting soot out of his locks was not on his agenda. Ans with that thought he waved to a nearby worker.

Grey parked his Ur behind Natsu's Igneel and pauses in pulling off his helmet as he sees a familiar silver car pull up. Pulling off his helmet he idily straddles his bike and watches thoughtfully. He didn't think Natsu called for the N-gage unit...but then it wasn't impossible. He watches a familiar woman get out and stride towards him. Judging by her nice suit and bunned hair she wasn't expecting to come here either.

"Erza. Didn't expect to see you here."

"Likewise. Are you paying a visit?"

"Of a sort." he answers vaguely before finally dismounting.

"I need to speak with Natsu and Laxus about somethings."

"Huh, they know you're coming?"

"...No."

"I see." He simply opens the shops front door for her and leads her in.

Cana is reclining behind the cash register and perks. "Erza! Long time no see! Magic Mike! You too!"

"Cana?"

"Don't call me that!"

She rests her forearms onto the counter and leans in. "Their expecting you upstairs, Gray. Erza...not so much...at least not for the moment...they will soon, though."

"What do you mean?" Erza's eyes narrow.

Cana simply shrugs before pointing. "Take the door in the garage on the right wall, go up the stairs not down. I'll just lock up down here and join you in a minute."

Lucy blinks and pauses as she covers the potato salad to set out on the impromptu buffet she'd set up. Frowning at the new auras she picks up she walks to stand next to a surprisingly quiet Natsu.

"I think, the person you called is here...but there are two."

"Two?" Natsu frowns.

"Not a threat but...I thought we only had one more person?"

"We did." He frowns and sticks his head into the dining area to look towards the door. Sure enough Gray walks through followed by a woman he was sure he did not call.

Though truth be told he should've.

Gray glances around the room taking in the table of various cold drinks absently before scanning back to the captain watching them as he steps inside from the oddly grassed terrace.

"Stripper."

"Matchstick."

"Erza..."

"I see you had something planned, I hope I'm not intruding. I have things to ask you about this...issue with Grimoire Heart."

"Hn. I'm having a information meeting after we're done preparing food. You're welcome to stay."

"I doubt she would've left anyway..." Gray mutters.

Lucy leans in shyly from around him. Earning surprised glances from both new arrivals. "Erza, Gray, this is Lucy Heartphilia. My Girl. Lucy this is Erza Scarlett head of the N-gage unit of Fairy Tail and my second in command Gray Fullbuster."

The pretty blonde had simply blushed hotly but nods gently at them. "H-hello. Mr. Fullbuster, I remember you."

Erza looks surprised but smiles sending Natsu a curious glance. Gray looks irritated and continues to frown faintly before pulling Natsu out side with a muttered 'excuse us' tossed over his shoulder.

Lucy blinks and stares awkwardly at the ruby haired beauty before her at a loss. She was stunning and the fact that Natsu said she was the head of a unit meant she was something else too in a fight. Even if he hadn't mentioned such a thing the way she stood, her aura and the way she looked about said that she was not to be trifled with. Shifting nervously Lucy spoke first.

"Uh...would you like something to drink?"

"Do you have tea?"

"Freed would never work here if I didn't."

"That would be lovely."

Natsu opens his grill and glares down at the contents. "What? I'm kind of trying to ease Lucy into this. She's already a bit off today, I don't need you starting shit."

"I ain't starting anything. Look, you sure you want her in this?"

"Erza? I should've called her before but...it slipped my mind..."

"Not her...Lucy. You're really in on this girl, do you really want her in the middle of it?"

"I can't exactly keep her out of it."

"Uh, yeah you can. You tell her to stay here or at her Gramps house and go handle business."

"Ah. And see that's why you're still struggling with Juvia."

"Huh? What's this got to do with my relationship!?"

"She is not property or a dog I can tell to come to heel. I'd probably die with several gunshot wounds to the groin. Lucy is not 'just' my girl she's also a *partner.* We work together and even though she's just as much apart of this as any of us she and I make decisions together."

"That sounds tedious. And you're the captain..surely there are more reliable men you know well."

"It isn't really. Takes some getting used to but...I don't dislike it. Perhaps...but none can do what she does. Something she doesn't even realize yet... You where having such a issue with asking Juvia out because you got so wrapped up in your own head that you forget how excitable and sensitive she is. Which produces varying results on her end and one constant on yours...loosing clothes. Do not take that shirt off." He glares over his shoulder as he heard Gray starting to shift.

Gray stops mid lift and glares over the bottom edge of his shirt at being caught mid-strip.

"See? Soon as I brought her up you just lost sense of where you where because you got nervous."

"Am not!"

"Whatever." The Captain shakes his head. "Point is, Lucy's been in this from the beginning. Even before some of us. She wouldn't stay behind even if I told her to. Actually she's very valuable and I think after our talk you'll see why."

"You sure you're not blinded by..."

Natsu cruelly steps on his foot.

"AH! YOU SH-!"

The door slides open to the terrace and a blonde head leans carefully out.

"Ah...sorry, I just thought you guys might like something to drink." she holds up a small tray with two tall glasses one filled with, what appeared to be Lemon-aid, the other Fruit Punch on it. The Lemon-aid has ice the Fruit Punch does not...

"Uh I was passing out drinks and I thought you'd like something...You like tart things right?" She looks at a startled Gray.

"Uh...yeah...how'd you...?"

"Then have some!" She smiles at him as he carefully takes the sweating glass. Natsu, however doesn't hesitate to take his glass and kisses her cheek absently. "Thanks babe."

She simply brushes her fingers across his cheek before going back inside to the tune of a whistling kettle.

"You told her."

"She surmised, more like. She isn't terribly open about it but I've been watching her...she's excellent at her job simply because she reads people extremely well and their likes and dislikes at an initial meeting. I don't think she's even aware that she picks up on as much as she does. It's almost like mind reading. Though that is not her gift...just...watch. You'll see."

Erza had been surprised at Lucy. The young woman was much more astute than even she herself seemed to notice. The girl had held up three teas for her to choose from all of them excellent quality that spoke clearly of Freed's doing. She had told the woman whichever she felt best inclined to provide...even though the Berry black tea had sounded amazing. She would not impose, after all she was a bit of a surprise guest...

"Here we are. I hope its not too hot. My kettle is a bit of a over achiever." she laughs softly as she sets the tray down on the new coffee table. Both men had made good on redesigning her living room and she had to admit it was much warmer with Freed's influence than Laxus' modern edge...

Lucy had chosen the Berry black tea that had caught her eye and brought out a tray with sugar, honey and the like for her to work with. Erza was confident she gave off no inclination that she had wanted that particular tea...but the girl had come out confident in her choice. "I hope it's not too hot." not "I hope this one is ok..." or anything of the sort.

She smiles to herself.

Natsu always found the most intriguing people...

Seating for eight had been a bit tricky until a bit of rearranging of the sofa to face the moved dining table to make talking a bit less neck wrenching. Natsu had sat towards the center of the kitchen table with Lucy to his right Gray to his left and Erza and Freed on each end. Laxus and Cana curled up together on the facing couch she drinking a whiskey he drinking a beer with Gajeel and Levy on the other end of the couch.

Natsu glances at Erza thoughtfully before setting down his glass. "So Brain, was killed but his syndicate is still active under Grimore Heart's control but keep their original name."

Lucy thinks quietly and nods. "So the Oración Seis, was at the meet because they think they are supposed to operate as normal. But they did seem upset the last I was there with a air of...the unknown."

"There?" Erza blinks.

"The meet up. I made rounds to each major group chatting them up. They where very upset, but I could not find out for what reason. That solves that."

Natsu sighs and looks at Laxus and then over to Freed. "This Orba...he's from Raven tail right?"

"Didn't they disband a while ago though?" Cana frowns.

"Yes but apparently they operate under Grimoire and have for quite some time now." Erza frowns over her second cup of tea. "That means the Grimorie is uniting disbanded groups."

"Groups that, if you are right about, Grimorie has been taking out themselves." Natsu leans back and drapes a arms about the back of Lucy's chair eyes cast upwards in thought.

"If he's trying to run experiments why not use these groups?" Gray asks curiously.

Lucy thinks, "Who's to say he isn't?" She looks thoughtful before speaking again.

"If what Hibiki told us is true, lets say that Grimoire has all the information it needs and one of it's front companies, BlueNote, is using excuses to use people like me who are results of the drug as agents... Then I would be looking to see if I could get constant results on a larger scale, in a means that I don't have to study the results as closely. I mean if the few people I choose where a flop but I needed a larger populace and this area seems to produce the most effected people...wouldn't I just see if I could find a way to spread the stuff about here and watch? I mean I'd already have medical information on the general public here in Magnolia and old records of those who originally took the drug or where exposed to it would be open to them as a matter of course. Even if Kotobuki didn't release them we all know that Ivan probably kept copies for himself."

"Wait, wait...you think that they're going to come back here or ARE here and going to release it on a mass scale? What are they going to do? Something comic book cliché like put in in the water?"

"No it would be easily traceable then and probably far too concentrated." Lucy glares at a skeptical Gray.

Distantly she catches Natsu and Laxus both frown faintly and look around before focusing again on the subject at hand.

"She is right that it seems that most of the people who are LIVING with the after effects of this drug are concentrated in Magnolia. That would encourage special investigations..."

"If I was them and *I* wanted to trigger a investigation on the effects but didn't want to spend money on it I'd find a way to get everyone in the highest success area affected. If people started getting sick any reports done would mostly be a matter of public knowledge and so long as I stayed out of the way the only person to come under scrutiny in the end would be Iciya." she shrugs.

Erza's eyebrows rise. "Alright, so lets say that is his plan how would you do it? Water is too easily traceable back to the plant. How would you spread such a thing?"

Lucy thinks. Levy for the first time pipes in. "I'd find a way to make it airborne." Everyone looks at her. "Think about it. It's much harder to track that way. EVERYONE breaths while some have shower filters and drink only bottled water. And it's season change, we always rain like crazy when it rains which also invites concentration and skin contact."

"So make it a gas?" Cana frowns. "But things like mosquito trucks would be easy to track."

"It would be something that reaches high and no one questions." Gajeel rumbles from around his pop bottle.

There was a long period of silence as everyone processed what they knew and the theories drawn from it. The idea sounded like it would be from some cheesy movie plot but even fiction was based in fact so it couldn't be discounted yet.

Lucy blinks and sighs standing up.

"Well, lets take some time to think on it. Anyone want anything else? I need to go to the basement and resupply my mini fridge." she shoots a sharp look a Cana and Laxus. Both of whom have the grace to look a little sheepish. She places her plate into the sink and goes to go down stairs. Natsu moves to stand. "I'll go with~"

She waves him off with a smile.

"It's ok. I promise. I'll be right back. I even have a bag for this sort of thing, besides you guys need time to talk this over." and with a wave she starts down the stairs shutting the door firmly behind herself. Natsu looks at Laxus who meets his gaze.

Absently Lucy pulls her hair up into a single pony tail. She takes a detour into her shop to grab a few things before heading farther down. Strapping her dual shoulder holsters on and pulling on a pair of fingerless leather gloves she silently wished she'd wore more than black yoga pants, slip-on sneakers, and a white t-shirt for the impromptu gathering.

Opening the door she glares at the unwelcome guest while flipping on the single overhead light of the downstairs apartment.

"If I'd known you where coming I would've had a few gifts waiting for you."

Steely blue eyes glare from the dimmed overhead light from the far corner. "I'm sure they would've been oh so nice too." The white haired woman looks down her nose at the shop owner. Though she was taller, she was somewhat thinner as her white pants suit and matching ballet flats showcased.

"I was warned I wouldnt' be able to hide from you. Surprising from a girl who always hides behind her grandfather's money and her brother's fists and now...you're using your wiles to seduce and add another protector in that pink-haired man. It's amazing what batting your eyelashes and spreading your legs will do for your lot in life isn't it? Have you EVER done something for yourself? I've seen your kind before and frankly I think you're just a good actress. Poker face to end all others. But in the end you're very predictable."

Lucy felt the faint brush of a familiar power and hardens her mind to the attempt. It was a poorly delivered attack at that. Her accusations where baseless and her attempt was ham handed.

Lucy was not impressed.

Nor was she at all influenced even if some of it was what she asked herself on occasion. The other was wild guesses and more than likely assumed...wrongly so. But that was neither here nor there. She had drinks to get and to report back upstairs before the very men she was 'hiding' behind come down and cause more problems than she needed. So...

"Lovely. Then you know what I'm about to say don't you?"

"Something boring and appropriately helpless like 'get out before I shoot you.' If you're going to attempt to hold that poker-face something along the lines of 'if you try anything I'll scream" to get your cavalry to come running.

"Cute. But completely wrong."

"Oh? What then?" She pushes herself away from the wall in amusement as she unbuttons her jacket.

Lucy's smile is bright and cheerful."That 'I'm terribly sorry I didn't save any food for you, we had an extra unexpected guest. However I do have plenty of bullets all with your name on them."