A/N - This is a bit of a shorter chapter - It had been a few days since I have been able to get time to write, so I didn't have both Lucy and Natsu's experiences as one chapter here. Next chapter I do have to be longer!

Former Arrangements

By Genavere

Chapter Nine

The dryness of his throat and the inability to produce any spittle to wet it was the first coherent thought Natsu had as he began to come to. His pounding head was next, but he figured all of them were tied together. Dehydration was normal for them after several rounds of sex, drinking, or harsh battle, so it was not uncommon to wake with either of them.

He tried to think of what had happened the night before and, he felt the pressure on his wrists and noticed the lack of magic coursing through his body, who had caught them off guard. Taking a long sniff, the first scent he found was comparable to most dungeons he had found himself in through the years. Musty, wet, with mold and moss growing in the corners.

Somewhere a leak had sprouted and a constant drip reminded him of the ticking of a clock. It meant that there was either water around the place they were in, or it had recently rained. Since his clothes were dry and he had not been able to use his magic to dry himself, he went with the former option.

With the wetness, it made the air cold and heavy with moisture. Not ideal for him, but he had worked with worse, and if needed, he had other options he could call on.

The next scent he picked up on was Lucy's. That brought a sense of relief to him. Even if they were in a cell, if they were together, it meant they had a better chance of getting out.

With a tight grip on the chains above his head, he pried his sore eyes open and tried to blink away the blurriness. Slowly, the events of the night before came back too him and he remembered the scarred man he had challenged. Then the pain in his neck.

Bastards had drugged him! A growl pulled from his throat. If he had been smart and not ready to challenge those men, he should have taken Lucy and ran. Had he learned nothing from Guiltina, he berated himself. After nearly losing her so many times, he should have been a better partner and push his own selfish ego to the side. Fighting be damned! Had Future Lucy, Igneel, the time freeze, or Ignia's attempt taught him nothing?

Death was permanent, it did not matter what magic they had. Once someone was gone, they would never come back. Why had he risked fighting when he knew he could not tell how many surrounded them? The memories of seeing her burned and bloodied body reaching for him through the fires that surrounded them rushed to the forefront of his mind. Heat spread through his chest and a different kind of magic pulled forward as his chest heaved.

He would not risk her this time.

"Awake, I see."

Golden, reptilian-like eyes snapped up to glance at the owner of the voice. The blurriness from before cleared and the scarred man from the forest stood by the bars of the cell with an arrogant smirk.

"I wouldn't bother, Dragon Slayer," he said with a cocky grin. "I did my research on you, and I know even dragon magic cannot be used with that much seal stone."

It took a moment, but Natsu realized then how securely they had contained him. Not only were his hands held up by the stone to the ceiling, there was a collar around his neck, a belt-like collar around his hips, and more cuffs around his ankles. Any magic would have been subdued with just the cuffs. He growled darkly, glaring at the man.

"If you know so much 'bout me, then ya should have known to have left Lucy alone." He snarled at the thought of this man touching his partner. "What do you even want with us?"

That smirk only grew, which made Natsu's eye tick. "Nothing from you, just need to keep you out of the way," he shrugged. "Really, if keeping you alive had not been useful in keeping that bimbo in line up there, there would be no reason to keep you."

"Wha—" He looked to the side her scent was the strongest, expecting to see his Lucy hung up on the wall with him, but to his horror—rage and small bit of relief, the only thing that hung against the wall by him was the dress she had worn. It still carried their scent, but it was covered in dirt and sand.

"You bastard! Where is Lucy!?" He pulled at his restraints, feeling the chains pull taunt and the cuffs bite into his flesh. "If you dared harm her, I will burn you all!"

Scar Face, what Natsu dubbed him, threw his head back with a laugh. "You really are a treat to deal with, boy. Oh, to think we would harm the merchandise. That's a good one." He acted as if he was tossing a tear from his eye and continued to chuck. "Now, what that girl's husband decides to do is up to him."

Natsu's blood ran cold. "Husband?" Lucy had never married. There was the time he remembered her telling him about an arranged married her father had tried to force her into, but she had basically told her father to fuck off back then. Who was delusional enough to think she was married to them? If she was getting married, it was to him, dammit!

"She never tell you that her ol' pops married her off to Duke Sawarr? Poor bastard you are." Scar Face pulled a needle from his pocket and looked at it carefully. "Contracts and legal bullshit, but in the end, all women agree to money."

"Not Lucy," he growled. "She is not that type of person, and she would never agree to marry some old duke guy."

"Ah, maybe not normally," he said. "But, there's a reason to have you around." The needle in his hand stood straight up in the air and hoovered for a few seconds. "Sleep tight, boy." A flick of his fingers sent the needle flying towards the fire mage. With his restraints, his body could barely move an inch to avoid the projectile before it embedded itself into his shoulder.

The drug from earlier was still in his system and helped settle the effects into his system quicker. "Damn bastard…!" He pulled at his chains as his body went numb. "Lucy…"

He had to get out, to save her and burn all those who took her from her family. Grinding his teeth, he pushed himself to delve inwards before the drug could take over. If he was to get out of here, he needed to focus, and he would not be able to focus if unconscious. There was only one place he could go to ensure he could get out and save Lucy.

As his body fell to the drug, his eyes opened to his Beta Heaven once more.

A/N - Wanted to make mention of this again, this story is set after the 100-year quest, so I am taking a lot of liberties with it. Yes, in the manga it said that he probably wouldn't remember it, but I think he would subconsciously, and if he has to do anything to save Lucy, he will.

What is he doing in his Beta Heaven? You'll see!