Good morning y'all! I hope you're enjoying the summer heat. *snorts* Also, I hope y'all are enjoying NaLu Week 2017. I most certainly am and not just because I'm participating. Seeing so many different Au's. So many takes on my favorite couple is amazing. I have a friend, ShanaHollows, who is participating in a 21 prompt challenge with her friends Quite a riot and Words are my spells. Anyway the reason why I'm saying this is because all of their oneshots are absolutely fabulous and I highly recommend you go read them. For now that's it, go read the chapter and I'll see y'all later.
Chapter 10
Natsu P.O.V.
When Luce steps out of her room I immediately notice the dark bags under her eyes. One look at her tired smile and I push the thought away. Instead I grin in return. "Morning Starlight."
"Morning." The greeting is cut off with a yawn and I tilt my head in curiosity.
"Long night?"
She snorts, coming to stand beside me at the railing. "More like the sun rises too soon." She looks over the railing and I hear her groan, most likely at the sight of the styrofoam bowl each inmate has on their tray.
"Look at it this way, Luce. This is the final day this week we'll have to worry about being the fields." My words apparently do nothing to cheer her up because she pushes away from the railing with a pout.
Without another word I follow her down the steps. After we get our gruel, we sit down at the table in the back of the pod. The first thing I notice is the two new guards.
The tall lanky one hovers near Erza and Gramps, his ear to their conversation while his rifle rests at his side. A plan that would be too easy to execute comes to mind and I have to snort in amusement.
"What's so funny?"
I tear my eyes away from the guard, turning it on her. "Just the fact that these new guards are dumbasses." She perks up and I jerk my chin toward the guard adding lowly, "Look at how he holds his rifle."
She downs the rest of her gruel then looks in the direction I am. When she sees it, she laughs dryly and looks back at me. "Are you seriously thinking of taking it?"
I huff, offended that she would have to ask. "I'm just pointing it out. These guards don't know shit about what they're supposed to be doing."
"Speaking of guards. Do you see the other one?" Her question makes me stop and I turn my head up, my eyes scanning the pod.
When I don't see the pudgy fucker I frown. Something isn't right with the two, but just what that entails is a question I have to answer another day.
The bell rings and hurrying, I throw my gruel back before getting up and grabbing my tray. We dump our trays then make our way to the already growing line at the doors.
This time when the set of four guards come down the line the one in the lead takes down our numbers without question and the chains are wrapped around our ankles. Ten minutes after that we're walking around to the gates.
While we're waiting for the ponies to show I hear Luce yawn again. Frowning I look down at her. "Are you sure you're okay, Luce?"
She scowls and readily meets my gaze. "I told you, I'm fine. Just a little tired."
I open my mouth to retort but close it at the sound of another bell ringing. We look over to see the ponies finally walking out of their pod and it's only a couple minutes more before they're coming to a stop in front of the gate.
On their side of the fence I notice the blonde, Jenny, and the guy from last time talking to four others standing near them. Two standing in front of them while the other two stand behind them.
One of the guys in front of them whose short, pudgy, and looks like he wears his nuts for his chin glances at us before speaking to Jenny. His words, unfortunately, are washed over by the din of the other inmates.
The gates roll back, allowing us to march through and group by group we make our way past the sheds. When it's mine and Lucy's turn one of the guards hands Luce two shovels and the other hands me a basket of moist black dirt.
Like the other day we head down the field. Only when we reach the final row does she speak.
"Is one basket gonna be enough?"
I snort, setting the basket down and taking one of the shovels from her. "No, each row needs two baskets to be covered. We'll have to head back to the shed five more times to get it refilled."
Digging the shovel into the soil, I carry it over to the bed and start sprinkling it around the plants. A minute later, she copies my movements and it isn't long before we start moving the basket down the row.
Toward the middle of the row the basket is empty. Taking my shovel, I throw it into the dirt so that it stays standing and pick up the basket. After Lucy plants hers in the dirt we walk back down the row and up the field to the sheds.
As we pass the blue posts she breaks the silence. "I've been meaning to ask. What is it you grow?"
My eyes land on the group of six from earlier, my gut warning me of a threat. What that threat is, however, remains unclear.
"It's a mixture of different vegetables and squash that will be ready to harvest come this fall. The three I work are Zucchini, Squash, and green peppers, but there are rows of pumpkins, tomatoes, and broccoli." My voice is steady, giving away no sign of what I'm thinking.
She lets out a low whistle eyeing the different plants. "How can you tell the difference?"
I allow a small smile, looking down at her and tilting my head toward the rows. "The plant itself tells you. You just have to pay attention to the details."
We come to a stop at the end of the line of other inmates waiting to get their baskets refilled. The line moves slowly but eventually we step up to the shed. A guard takes the empty basket while the other hands over a full basket.
When she tries to grab the basket she accidentally lets go of one of the handles and I reach over, grabbing it before the dirt can fall out. She takes the handle from me then we turn away, stepping out of line to walk back down the field.
When we get back to where our shovels still stand in the dirt, I kneel down, picking up one of the leaves for her to see. "This row is mostly green peppers. See how the leaves are narrow and shaped more like an arrow head?"
"What is that under your hand?" I tilt my hand up as she sets the basket down to see a small green ball no bigger than a marble.
I grin, dropping the leaf and picking up the green piece instead. "That, my dear Starlight, is a green pepper. They've just started to grow so it'll be a little while still until they're ready to be picked."
Even though her expression remains stoic, I see the flash of intrigue in her eyes and climb to my feet, clapping the dirt from my hands. "Come on, Starlight. Let's get this row finished and I'll show you the zucchini."
The day passes by surprisingly quickly after that. Even with the sun at my back and the sweat dripping into my eyes from my hair, it doesn't bug me. By the time the sun starts to set and the guards start to wander further down the field, we've covered all three rows.
After I dump the last shovelful around the plant on the end of the third row I pick up the basket. While Luce uses her shovel almost like a walking sticking walking back to the sheds I throw mine over my shoulder.
Stepping past the last of the orange posts my senses hop into overdrive. Two of the men from Jenny's group step out of the ponies' row to walk behind us. A couple more rows go by then the man with the weird ass chin and the guy he's chained to step out of the rows in front of us.
A growl rumbles in my throat. "Starlight..."
She scowls, picking up her shovel to hold it parallel with the ground. "I know, E.N.D."
Finally, finally, the blonde bitch appears with the same guy from the other day chained to her. Both, I note with satisfaction, have bandages over their noses.
Six people versus two. Not odds a sane man would bet on but they're my favorite. I grin throwing the basket to the ground and swinging my shovel over my shoulder with one hand.
"I'm not gonna waste time with pleasantries today, Starlight. You will die and so will your boy toy." She smirks, holding her hands out to show off the 'power' she holds over the five men.
I sigh through my nose, my eyes going to the dumbass in front of me. "Starlight, you do realize we're gonna end up in solitary because of your mistake."
She turns around, her back to mine and through her words I hear her smirk. "Better than having to listen to you argue with the stripper all day long. Now shut up and kill these fuckers. The blonde cunt is mine."
As we speak, completely ignoring Jenny, the men seem to grow more scared. Any second I expect them to take off running, but Jenny seems to have too good a hold on them.
The white haired bitch attached to the short dumbass brings his shovel up as if to swing and I beat him to the punch by shoving mine forward. He squawks, jumping back to avoid the edge and the nutsack for a chin tries to grab my shovel.
I smirk, yanking my shovel back then raising my foot, kick him in his face. He falls out, barely conscious, and I take the chance to turn and smack the ginger haired guy behind me who's trying to get at Luce.
The sound of metal meeting skull rings through the air. Truth be told. As I swing the shovel back around to aim at the white haired bitch's hands, I've forgotten how great it feels to get in a fight and not have to worry about holding back.
Fighting in the pod and with Lucy is one thing. I can't kill. But here and now, I bring the shovel up just a little higher and ram it forward in between his chin and shoulder.
He falls out, now dead weight slowing the shorter, dumber, Peter Griffin midget lookalike down. When he steps forward I throw my shovel out, hooking it onto his chain and pull.
Faster than a sack of rocks sinks in water he hits the dirt and I bring the shovel down hard enough to cave his forehead in. Just as I'm turning around to go after ginger haired guy again bells start ringing. I hook my shovel under his foot, pulling it out from under him and turn my head to see a group of fifteen to twenty guards rushing at us.
Twenty guards means only one thing.
"Starlight, we gotta make this quick." She turns to look at me, her shovel partially buried in the black guy's shoulder.
"Why? What's going on?"
I spin the shovel around, knocking the ginger haired guy across the ribs with the handle before spinning it back around and pulling his feet out from under him completely. "They're putting the prison on lockdown. If you want to kill the cunt you have to do it in the next minute or you won't have a chance for a month or more."
She nods, turning to face Jenny head on while I throw my shovel in the air and grip the handle like a bat.
The remaining guy connected to the, now dead, ginger pales as I grin. "Batter up!"
I swing and the guy's head turns almost past his shoulder. Almost. It's crude, not as fun but the guy's neck is broke and he's dead when he hits the ground.
Turning I see Luce slam her shovel down then Jenny's head rolls away, toward one of the planting beds. Even though they ain't my rows I still feel bad at the sight of blood getting into the dirt. The four plants closest to the head won't be any good in a couple days.
Then enters the stampede of guards. They surround us and our latest kills, guns aiming at either our chests or our heads.
The head guard, a guy I hate very much that goes by the name Byro, steps forward. He raises his rifle, aiming it at my head. "E.N.D., Starlight, put the shovels down, your hands behind your heads and get on your knees."
Luce looks at me with an eyebrow arched. I shrug, throwing my shovel at the dirt. It stands up straight and I get to my knees, my intertwined hands resting behind my head.
Off to my left but slightly in front of me she copies my movements. Only after her knees touch the dirt do I feel someone grab my hands and force them down as cuffs are locked.
Once the cuffs are tightened securely on the both of us Byro speaks again. "Bring the heavy chains."
The chain around my ankle disappears and I'm pulled to my feet as I hear the sound of more chains clinking behind me.
"Ah, fuck!" At the sound of her voice I turn my head to see the prison guard that had patted her down holding up a shank. The sight of it exasperates me. Lucy, on the other hand, looks pissed as hell.
Before I can snap at her about having a fucking shank in the fields a clear mask is placed on my face. The bottom of it comes up right under my chin, not giving me any room to move my mouth, let alone speak.
The mask is normally used for inmates that spit but I swear Bryo does it just to get at me. Which, as the chains are wrapped around my waist, I can say it's working.
The gray haired asshole walks around to stand in front of us. He sneers at me while the guard tightens the chains around my ankles.
"E.N.D., I've heard rumors that the Warden Council is getting fed up with your little," he tilts his head, his eyes narrowing. "attacks. Tell me, is it true that they plan to send you for lethal injection after your third strike?"
I can only glare because he's right. Unless Gramps can sweet talk the Warden Council into giving me another chance then I'll be marked for lethal injection and live in the same solitary cell until the set date. From what I've heard it could be anywhere from days to years before the date actually comes.
Killing Gildarts was my first strike. I understood that from the beginning. The problem with Jet came up from nowhere and yeah I lost my cool. But now, helping Starlight equals three strikes.
So either Gramps pulls a hail mary and I'm saved to see Starlight again another night or… I'm fucked.
"Take them to Solitary Confinement." His order draws my mind back and I continue glaring at the arrogant asshole even as two guards grab my arms, turning me around to start walking.
Alright, so um. Y'all are gonna hate me for this but after NaLu Week is over I'm taking a three week hiatus to get ahead with my writing. The week of July 26th I'll return with new chapters but between now and then there will be no updates for Life Behind Bars. The same will be happening for The Shifter's Journey and The Magnolia Crews. Like I said earlier I'm enjoying NaLu Week but because of prepping for it I've let my other stories fall. I've been behind for a little while now, writing the chapters only the weekend before I need to send it to my editor and now I need to take a step back.
HEAR ME NOW! In no way whatsoever am I abandoning my stories. I love them and y'all the readers too much to leave. I've put too much time into this to give up now. This is just a break from updating.
Now that I've said that I'm gonna hop ahead to the reviews and the sneak peek.
Darkness670, I'm glad to hear it.
Kimyona, Hmm, that's a very good theory but you'll just have to wait and see.
Sam, I think you are very close, but you're off. Love the theory though. I honestly didn't take you for the trucking kind. Then again I also didn't take you for the kind of using M.R.E.'s for flashbangs until we talked. Don't tell me about family. My entire family is crazy. Hell, my grandmother was certified crazy by a court judge. Had the ceritificate and everything. Sadly your second theory for this chapter was off… by chapter number. Option one was right on the money though. Hey, I said Jenny would be back. Now she's done lost her head. As for the christmas specials I may, I definitely may. What's your opinion of me taking the hiatus?
Shana, Aye sir, Lisanna doesn't know what she's getting herself into.
Pixie Pixel! I'm still trying to decide if having loyal readers like you is a blessing or a curse. You read my mind like all the time. Nice theories btw. Very, very close to the eye of the needle. When I started writing this that's the impression I wanted to give. That Natsu and Lucy had no freedom as younger children. I mean Natsu was stolen from his father when he was seven and raised to be trained, tactical killer with no free will. Lucy was sold. Literally sold to Zalty. Which you'll learn more about further in. You say you're ready but when the storm sets in will you stay safe or will the hurricane rip you away as easily as it can pull up a building? Thoughts on the hiatus?
FlameDragon, Did they escape?
CodenameMise, No, this is a modern nonmagical Au. I read this one prison au, incomplete, abandoned, grammar was eh, but it was about both Natsu and Lucy being in jail. I loved the idea behind it and combined with the E.N.D. personality a lot of writers having been using in their stories it just turned into what you're reading. Truthfully, if I hadn't found that prison au I probably would've never written this one.
Meow Orbit, Zalty's pet wouldn't have mattered to E.N.D. He finds pleasure in killing, in a person's life blood coating everything so he should've killed her without a second glance. Killing Zalty's pet would've just been icing on the cake. These two crazy as hell Mafia bosses are allying and all of a sudden he's got competition to look the best. E.N.D. is low down, dirty. He'll want to get rid of the competition and be the only one in the lime light. Your first theory, however, is spot on.
And now, onto your regularly scheduled sneak peek.
A bell rings causing the door to slide open and Gajeel bites back a grin as he takes the chance to get away from his obnoxious bunkmate. He's only been here for less then a week and already he wants to throw his bunkmate down the three floors from their tier to the ground floor.
He pushes the idea away for another time, allowing a twisted grin to fill his features as he walks to the ground floor.
Guards in this pod aren't as armed as in Fairy Tail and yet they're more vigilant. One or more sets of eyes follow him as he approaches the lunch line.
Grizzly out for the night.