New chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter 7:

"Wendy was top of her class to get into Fiore's Military, which shocked a great deal of higher ups because of her gender, so they put her in our group, one because we had never lost a battle and two we weren't taken very seriously because we were so young, but our record stood for itself and after Wendy joined we just got even better. So much so other teams where asking for us to transfer to them. We refused and stuck together, Wendy and I started dating even though it wasn't allowed, no one on our team would snitch, though they happily teased us at every chance" Lucy watched the others slight blushes of shame.

"But six years ago we were on a mission overseas, on our own, just recon. I don't know what she saw but she shouted for us to get down, we listened on instinct and Wendy jumped in front of us, saving the rest of us from a huge landmine that somehow got triggered" Rouge has to take a deep breath before continuing.

"She died in front of us, protecting us…command gave us a week off but another commander offered us a new job, one that would only go for six months, give us a change of pace, all of us together. He joked that it'd only be six months unless we die. A bad joke at the time, worse when we figured out the real job was as lab rats" Rouge shook his head like it would shake the memory loose, so Sting took over.

"At first it was just ordinary tests, getting a base line on how fit we were, out combat abilities, endurance, sleep deprivation, swimming ability, stuff like that. Then it got kicked up a notch or eight when they forcibly strapped us down to punch chemicals through us that made us sick for days only to get up again and go for another round of tests, then back to more drugs, more tests, and days of being sick over and over again.

The end of six months felt like years and the commander that got us to join wanted 'real' results and to send us out into the field, we didn't even need to speak to each other to think the same thing, we accepted. The second they put us on the ground we ran for it."

"It took them two weeks to find us and deem us unfit to continue the testing, and of course the commander couldn't risk us exposing him so he had us throw in separate prisons, while they would silently monitor us, from a distance in case we showed any signs of their treatments working. We made sure they didn't" Natsu finishes.

"How did you escape then?" Lucy asks.

"How about we keep it to one story a night" he says with a slight wave.

"When's dinner?" he adds, Lucy rolled her eyes.

"In two hours at least" she says anyway, Levy went back to her computer after a sad look with Lucy, she felt the same these guys went through hell right after they'd lost someone important to them, and to top it off they were then imprisoned for five years. No matter what she was going to make sure that commander and anyone else involved would pay dearly.

Lucy made dinner for everyone, they were all quiet the most noise came from Levy on her computer tapping away or Lucy cooking, even the TV was on low, no one had said anything after the revelation. The guys went back to watching TV like they had when the cricket was on, Levy was at the counter and Lucy in the kitchen.

"How you going Lev?" Lucy asks quietly.

"Slow I'm sorry to say, since I have to work from each case individually, and they were good and making this look accidental I'm hoping I can spot the mistakes, after all I doubt they were looking for suspicious causes, but Lu this will take some time" Levy says though she obviously loathes to admit it.

"Its fine Levy, they've waited five years they can wait a week or two longer" Lucy says with a smile.

"They are going to go stir crazy in here" Levy warns.

"They were in solitary confinement for five years I'd like to think my apartment is slightly better"

"Yeah but there's less space, in prison they could walk outside one hour a day, they have the TV and each other to keep themselves company, but they're not locked in anymore they can go out and temptation may over rule common sense" Levy warns, Lucy nods she had to admit Levy could be right, but then again they were soldiers they had to have patience, though if Lucy had been in solitary confinement right after being trapped in a lab testing facility for six months yeah she'd be tempted.

"Dinner" Lucy announced with a smile already having served them in bowls with utensils ready, they got in a line, each thanking her before returning to their prearranged seats, Lucy watched them mechanically eat and watch TV with glazed expressions, Levy was right they needed to get out of here or they would explode.

"Hey guys" Lucy gains their attention.

"I was thinking tomorrow, if you guys wear your cloaks we could go out to a coffee shop I know of, there's rooms inside so you won't be seen and it'll give you a chance to stretch your legs" Lucy watched the life return to their eyes and happiness break through.

"It wouldn't be wise" Laxus Killjoy says.

"It might be dangerous yes but your only other option is to wait in here for who knows how long until we get enough information to get you your lives back, it won't end when Levy finishes what she's doing now, there's still a lot more, it's just one time, you guys deserve a break and I trust the owner with my life"

"And ours apparently"

"You will too" Lucy says confidently Laxus looks away turning back to the TV and eating his food.

"I say we risk it, one outing should it kill us will be worth it" Sting says, Rouge silently agrees.

"Blondie and Shrimp have to come too though" Gajeel says.

"Stop calling me blondie!"

"I'm not a shrimp!" Levy and Lucy oppose, Gajeel laughs.

"Gihihi" like he was snickering and Lucy returns to the kitchen happy they all had higher spirits even Cobra who seemed to be eating his food faster like that would make tomorrow come faster too. With a smile to Levy they too get back to what they are doing with renewed vigour.

Levy stayed over that night, she didn't even ask to leave, just said she'd sleep with Lucy in her room and the guys took their place on the ground or the couch in Natsu's case.

They were all nervous and excited to leave the next day, Lucy got Natsu a clock of hers so he had one too and with the six guys hooded up they headed out of her apartment.

Lucy walked in front with Levy and the others followed close behind, they were discreetly trying to look around while not showing their faces, it was quite amusing although Lucy admitted to looking out for police herself. She lead them around the back of Mira's coffee shop and lead them in, Levy pulled open the door to a large room they could have coffee without people coming through, since it was always reserved for special people, Lucy was going to go find Mira but Natsu took her hand.

"Don't go" he said in a slightly pleading way, she nodded.

"Levy could you go?" her best friend nodded.

"Sure what does everyone want?" she asks pulling out her notepad she wrote down the orders like she was a waitress.

Lucy: Cappuccino, White, Two Sugars.

Natsu: Turkish coffee, Black, One Sugar.

Laxus: Caffe Americano Triple Shot, White, Three Sugars and a dollop of cream.

Gajeel: Macchiato, No Sugar.

Cobra: Chai Latte, No Sugar.

Sting: Latte, One Sugar.

Rouge: Flat-White, One Sugar.

For herself she'd get a Mocha with One Sugar.

Levy headed out to give their order to whoever was at the register and say we're having our drinks in here. Lucy took a seat on a couch and Natsu sat next to her, they all talked for a bit for only a minute before the door banged open. Mira was standing there like an Avenging Angel, Levy was right behind her and closed the door, everyone was standing but she ignored everyone and went right to Laxus, who's hood he'd let down and slapped him, hard.

Uh Oh…

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