notes: what to write here, hmm. i'm actually pretty excited about this. also, things might not be incredibly accurate because i think i have seen about three episodes of marvel: agents of s.h.i.e.l.d. in total, so. i'll try though. it's a pretty cool show, you should watch it.

pairings: natsu ო lucy, gray ო juvia, gajeel ო levy, jellal ო erza, and other possible pairings

dedication: to no one in particular.

disclaimer: own nothing.

please note: this is not a crossover.

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this little bluebird won't come here anymore,

so i went looking for her, and found you

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Lucy Heartfilia is one of the top ten graduates from the S.H.I.E.L.D. Training Academy. It's completely different from any other graduation ceremony that she's ever attended, or been a part of. There are no caps, no gowns, no diplomas—but that's okay. She stands tall and proud in her skin-tight black suit, and watches her fellow 'classmates' from her peripheral vision. It's so hard to keep from smiling, because even though she graduated from an all-girls private academy and then one of the best colleges in the country with full honors, this is different. It's not a feeling she can accurately describe—something like happiness, confidence, and a sense of accomplishment all at once.

It's dizzying and makes her feel higher than Mount Hokabe, but she holds it in.

The graduation 'ceremony' passes by in a blur, and soon her fellow newly instated agents are congratulating each other. Phrases like, 'we actually made it' and 'so what do you think is next?' go over her head and they sound dull and faraway because suddenly all the blood is rushing to her ears, making it hard to hear anything else. The realization strikes her for what seems like the very first time, and her heart beats a thousand miles an hour in her chest.

She is no longer Lucy Heartfilia, S.H.I.E.L.D. trainee, but Lucy Heartfilia, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., and a wide smile finds its way to her pretty face. Because, for real, like, how frickin' cool is that?

(About that black suit that hugs her body in admittedly all the right places, though.)

The blonde smiles at the celebrating agents around her, and leans against the wall. She should be celebrating too, or at least that's what a little voice in the back of her mind informs her, but she doesn't. Instead she wonders, what's next? Most of the people around her will get transferred—to where, she doesn't know, but it's bound to happen. And what about her? She could be transferred from Clover too, and she could end up anywhere. Bosco, even.

She cringes. She doesn't exactly prefer bitter winters, temperatures that drop below zero, and snow all year round.

It's not her choice, though. They are just newbies, after all. They get orders and they follow them dutifully. No one will get sent out on job right away—you have to earn respect, and a position, first. The Academy was the easy part, and it's all uphill from here on out.

But she chose this—or rather, she was recruited for this job—and Lucy Heartfilia is not the type of person to back down from a challenge. She is tough, intelligent, beautiful, and she can be deadly—the perfect femme fatale, and she can handle herself. She doesn't have to worry about the future, because she can take everything life throws her way.

Someone choking on their laughter draws her attention back to her surroundings. Everyone has gone strangely still, and hushed whispers are tossed back and forth between green agents. The blonde blinks, wondering what could possibly make such a rowdy group so quiet.

And then, she sees it.

A glimpse of scarlet between crowded shoulders. The small mob falls into a complete hush and then parts.

Lucy's eyes widen, and she stumbles forward in attempt to straighten her position.

She is greeted with the sight of long scarlet hair, a perfectly ironed navy blazer and pencil skirt paired with a ruffled white blouse, and heels that look as if they could double as weapons. A perfect description of Agent Erza Scarlet—better known as Titania, Queen of the Fairies.

The woman had earned her title a few years before Lucy had joined the Academy, but the blonde knew her story. Erza Scarlet was a legend, and had been since she had taken down one hundred unidentifiable beasts seven years prior. Her legacy didn't stop there though, in fact, it was just the beginning. Most of the work the woman did and most of the cases she was assigned to were classified, otherwise known as way beyond Lucy's clearance level. But there were rumors, and they all proved that Erza Scarlet was a terrifying woman indeed.

On a lighter note, she was the head of Magnolia's sector of S.H.I.E.L.D., which had at some point been dubbed as Fairy Tail, hence the 'Queen of the Fairies' part of her title. Word was, everyone who worked with her feared her.

And here she is, in the flesh.

Lucy Heartfilia can take whatever life throws at her—all except that.

Suddenly, the clicking of heels against the floor stops. "I'm looking for a Lucy Heartfilia. I was told that she would be graduating from the Academy today."

Said blonde freezes, and all eyes turn to her. Everyone takes a step back, leaving a clear path through the middle of the room, with Lucy at the very center. She blanches.

Erza Scarlet takes a step forward. "Miss Heartfilia, I presume?"

"Erm—yes. I…I'm Lucy Heartfilia."

She has to force herself to resist the urge to fidget.

The great Titania doesn't smile, nor is there any trace of warmth in her voice. She is completely stern and professional. This terrifies Lucy. "Congratulations. You've been chosen for a special assignment on the orders of Director Dreyar. We leave in an hour, so please collect your things and meet me at the bridge as soon as possible."

Wait.

What?

"I-I'm sorry, what?" one of her fellow S.H.I.E.L.D. graduates speaks out. Somewhere in the far recesses of her mind, Lucy registers that the voice belongs to Sting Eucliffe. A smart—more like smartass—blond with a tendency to lash out at people. Also, he used to hit on her at least twice a day.

Lucy is too stunned to even care.

Erza turns her head slightly in his direction, and she is all cold calculating glares and stern almond eyes. "Is there a problem, Mr. Eucliffe?"

Sting looks terrified as he shakes his head rapidly back and forth. "N-no ma'am!"

"Good. Come along then, Agent Heartfilia. This is something that's rather time sensitive."

Erza turns on her dangerous heel and proceeds to walk out of the room. Lucy gulps and numbly follows along after her, the hall and its inhabitants spinning before her eyes.

Maybe because a situation like this is almost unheard of, or maybe because she is still scared out of her wits.

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Erza stands by the rather imposing jet that is ready to fly them back to Magnolia, or wherever it is they're going. Lucy drags her luggage consisting of three suitcases piled on top of each other across the tarmac and onto the ramp. The legendary Titania nods at her, and slips into the back of the plane with as much grace as a ballerina. Lucy stumbles along behind like a drunken sailor.

Once they are inside, and the door is closed, Erza gives Lucy a smile. "I apologize if I startled or frightened you earlier, Agent Heartflia."

Lucy blinks, and laughs weakly. "Er, it's okay."

"I want to brief you on your assignment before we arrive in Magnolia." the scarlet-haired woman snaps her fingers and beckons someone forward.

A young man that looks to be around Lucy's age steps out of the shadows, and the blonde's eyes widen. He has dark messy hair, pale skin, and his eyes remind her of a night without stars. He gives her an easy, relaxed grin and a casual wave as he hands Erza a thick file.

"So you're Heartfilia, huh?"

Lucy will never admit out loud that his voice sounds smooth and rich and gravelly at the same time, or that it made her shiver. Instead, she smiles. "I am."

Mystery guy smirks as Erza leafs through the file. "Cool. I'm Gray, by the way. Gray Fullbuster."

She takes in his white button up dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and the black slacks he wears, and raises a brow. "So…are you an agent too?"

He grins. "Somethin' like that, yeah."

"Alright, listen closely Agent Heartfilia." Erza speaks up as the plane prepares to take off. "You were chosen for this assignment because of your high marks that earned you a spot among the elite of the Academy, but also because you happen to possess an amazing amount of patience."

Lucy raises a brow. "Excuse my interruption but, what does my patience have to do with this?"

Gray covers a laugh with a cough, and Erza narrows her eyes at him. "Yes, well, getting to that shortly. Director Dreyar and I went through several assessments before choosing you, but none of them showed the sort of traits and skills that you seem to possess."

The blonde waits, arms and legs crossed.

"You have heard of Salamander, haven't you Agent Heartfilia?" the scarlet-haired woman questions.

Lucy does a mental check, although she doesn't have to. She may or may not have a slight obsession with superheroes, so she also may or may not have read up on everything she possibly could that concerned Salamander back at the Academy. And even before that she might have kept tabs on him.

Salamander, the hero who was rumored to breathe fire and hold it in his hand without being burned. Salamander, the hero who was rarely actually ever sighted, rather was known by the trail of chaos he left in his wake. Salamander, the guy who was considered one of the most destructive heroes ever known to man. Salamander, the hero was also rumored to be incredibly handsome.

Okay yeah, maybe she did know a little bit about him.

"Yeah, I've heard of him. Why?"

Erza sends Gray what Lucy interprets as a small nervous smile. "Your assignment, Agent Heartfilia, is to accompany Salamander and make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble."

"You want me to babysit him." Lucy deadpans, feeling all her importance leave her.

The other woman smiles sheepishly. "Well, when you put it that way, yes. But don't worry, Lucy. You'll get plenty of action, as well as other cases to work on. I know it sounds rather simple, but I promise it will get exciting soon enough."

Lucy smiles. "If you say so."

"Trust her on this one. She isn't lying." Gray sends a half-smirk her way, and Lucy wonders exactly just what he means.

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She finds out about exactly two minutes after she steps out of the jet and onto the roof of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters in Magnolia.

end notes: natsu will come in next chapter.