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Summary
Three days on the mission from hell, undercover at Lord Ashworth's gaudy estate. Lucy disappears behind the Heartfilia mask and runs the mission like she was born to it - because, technically, she was. She's poised, polished, brilliant, taking care of everyone and everything while no one takes care of her. Natsu is forced to watch with an aching jaw as the woman he loves performs a version of herself that doesn't belong to her and he's unable to do a damn thing about it.
When the job ends, Lucy copes by being *herself* - and by taking Natsu apart with a full day of targeted, devastatingly effective teasing with an expert poker face. She expects him to give in to the passion the way he usually does, and let her have what she wants without asking for it.
But he's seen the pattern now. The way she can push but can't ask. The way she takes care of everyone but won't let anyone reach her. The way wanting things openly is the one fight she's never let herself win.
So when she smirks and says 'whatcha gonna do about it', he doesn't break this time. He takes her home, and for once in her life, Lucy Heartfilia doesn't get to run the board.