Alright everyone! Time to get this party started! Short chapter this time, but next chapter, I promise it will be worth it.
Incendiary fire.
An intentionally set fire.
Erza's warning rang in Natsu's ears, a reminder that Jackal was a killer. It was something they saw before, when someone a little too crazy - a little too unhinged, got a taste of something forbidden. The power of taking a life.
His stomach churned at the thought of how close he came. Even seven years in the past, it still sent a tremor running through him
But he wasn't like Jackal. Never had that disregard of human life ever fueled him to do the things he was certain the bomber would keep doing.
'Be careful Natsu, Jackal isn't the type to leave only a few bodies behind. He's going to want more,' Erza's voice rang in his head, 'You don't want to be the one he sets his sights on.'
So let him. If they didn't take the bastard down here, he was going to keep building up fires until the entire downtown block became a charred parking lot. As much as the place was a genuine shithole, that was his hometown, no matter where Natsu sat in life.
His fingers dragged over the smooth metal of his lighter, the protector creaking up under his thumb. Never removing his hand from his pocket, he took comfort in the small memento before dropping it back into the depths of his pants.
Switching a lighter with his phone, Natsu dragged it from his pocket and began to weave through the writhing bodies that served as a maze.
Through flashing lights and the heavy beats of music, Natsu staggered through the dancers that formed a practical barrier between him and his target. Who even were all these people? Natsu was willing to bet Jackal didn't know a tenth of them.
Not that it was a surprise to Natsu. The man always liked things loud and flashy. Natsu held a certain appreciation for obnoxious lights and colors as well, but that was only because he thought they were more fun. This much noise just hurt his ears and nose. Since prison, he couldn't say he was a huge fan of so many people gathered in one place.
Shoving his way forward, Natsu managed to get to the side of the pool shaped like a … hammer? Finding it odd, but not thinking too much about the oddness of Jackal's design choices, he made his way over to the freckled arsonist.
"Yo Jackal," Natsu shouted in greeting over the dull roar of pounding music, "This is some party you've got going on!"
He caught the blonde's attention and Natsu almost threw himself into the pool at the sight of two scantily clad women draped over each of his arms. Really, did Jackal have to fulfill every stereotype about rich criminals?
Jackal rolled his arm-candy away from him as he caught sight of Natsu.
Revealing that he was wearing a fur lined coat.
Sweet holy lord.
Was the man really dressed like a pimp from the 1960's?
Biting the inside of his mouth, the sharp points of his canines dug into the soft flesh. He kept his expression neutral, eyes following Jackal as the man moved over to him, hands sliding down into his rich coat.
"So, you made it Salamander. Where's the hot chick you were makin' eyes at?" Jackal's eyes flashed behind him, as if wondering where he was hiding the attractive woman. Natsu barely resisted the urge to grab Jackal by his stupid ears and fling him head first into the pool he seemed to love so much.
Barely.
"You mean my girlfriend, Lucy?" He drawled out, swiping his thumb over the screen of the borrowed phone he was using. Police issued and a lot fancier than the brick he normally carried at home. Lucy claimed showing up with his piece of crap flip phone from the last decade wasn't going to have precisely the same effect as a sleek touch screen.
Unfortunate though the truth was, Natsu had to admit he wasn't going to be impressing Jackal if he showed up in his threadbare clothes.
After all, the idea was to make him jealous. Not to get laughed out of the city.
"She's got better things to do than come to some loser's party," Natsu drawled, turning his attention back to the screen and navigating through the menus with only a hint of confusion. Why the hell did they have to make the buttons so small for his fingers?
Peaking up through his fringe, he saw a flinty look enter Jackal's eyes, his lips turning down in a scowl as sharp teeth bared at him. Good. If there was one thing Natsu excelled at without pause or complaint, it was pissing people off.
Detective shithead could attest to that.
Natsu managed to navigate through towards his recordings, not even looking up at Jackal as if he were barely worth the attention, "Word is going around that says you botched your last job, Jackie."
He made no effort to hide his sardonic grin, "I gotta admit, I didn't take you for the type to be so sloppy."
A warning hiss emerged from the bomber, his explosive temper right on the surface. Natsu could almost reach through and touch it, it was so transparent, "If you ain't here to party, get lost. I'm not interested in hearing you talk shit when you don't got nothin' to back it up."
Natsu's thumb jabbed the play button, and Everlue's voice crackled to life over the speakers of the phone. Actually taken aback by the clarity of the recording in a loud party, Natsu resisted the urge to whistle as the most important part of his conversation with the wealthy man re-emerged.
"I don't need to hire an amateur, the police would be all over me with a messy investigation if someone died on my property."
"The work you did at the strip mall a few weeks back was perfect, I had a few contacts in the station pull reports for me. The way you started the fire was exactly what I need."
"You might have missed the spark up," Natsu smirked at Jackal, ending the recording and sliding his phone back into his pocket, "I did say I was out of the game, trying to go straight and narrow didn't I?"
Stepping into Jackal's personal space, Natsu's eyes flashed with well remembered taunts and jibes. He could see Jackal unravelling behind gritted teeth and boiling fury. And he just couldn't resist poking the bear. After all, Natsu was turning Jackal's plan on its head.
"But then you had to piss me off in front of my girl," Natsu smiled, a vicious grin that was all sharp teeth and danger, "So ripping off your rich ass client to remind you of one little fact was well worth getting back into the game."
Jackal's face was pale with rage, but he made no movement.
"And what 'fact' would that be?"
One more push.
Natsu stepped in close to Jackal's face, crowding into him as if preparing to deliver the last nail. Jackal was shaking, his eyes wide with brimming rage. As uncontrollable as the fires they sparked.
"This is my turf," Natsu snarled quietly, "And I'm just letting you play in it."
Jackal's fist came out in a flash and nailed Natsu right under the chin. He narrowly avoided stumbling backwards into the pool, even having expected such a reaction like that. Hell, if Jackal hadn't punched him, he would have been more worried.
Still, the fucker punched him.
Heat and adrenaline pounded through his veins, sparking that fight or flight instinct. Natsu had always leaned heavily towards the 'fight' aspect, preferring instead to grind his opponent's faces into the ground. Otherwise, how else would they know not to mess with him or his crew?
If he weren't on a sting operation, that would have been precisely what he would do. But the idea that Lucy was waiting for a confession, not a fist fight, tempered his rage. At least temporarily.
His knuckles brushed against his jaw and a taunting smirk twisted across his face, "Damn Jackal, the bitches in prison swing harder than that."
When Jackal came after him a second time, this time Natsu was prepared. He caught the man's furred sleeve as he sidestepped him, using the man's own wild momentum to throw him into the pool behind Natsu. He straightened his tie in amusement at the sight of Jackal sailing into the water.
Slowly, he crouched down by the side of the pool, ignoring the scene he was causing around him by the party goers. His smile was razor edged and sharp, unbelievably satisfied when he saw Jackal bob back to the surface looking like he was wearing a hundred wet cats.
Who knew police work could be so much fun?
Humiliating Jackal at his own party and grinding his face into the fact he had stolen his job and moved in on his territory.
"Enjoy the party," Natsu smirked at the furious man, "It might be the last one you have for a while."
Natsu moved his weight back onto the heels of his feet, pushing upwards and rising. He looked down at Jackal, green eyes smug as he eyed his rival.
"You know, I think I like you down at my feet. I might keep you around," Natsu drawled and turned his back to Jackal. His hands slipped back into his pockets and he wove back through the crowd of guests, laughing.
He heard Jackal roaring in the background, pushing away the hands of people trying to help his waterlogged ass out of the pool. Natsu smothered a giggle at the frantic sounds of splashes that followed him all the way out of Jackal's property line. He leaned onto his borrowed ride and glanced at the opulent mansion.
He grinned.
Now all they had to do was watch and wait.
He swung his leg over the bike, slipped his jacket back on and jammed the helmet over his hair. The fireworks were about to start, and Natsu wondered what the grand finale would look like.
THERE! Natsu finally picked a fight with the asshole that deserved it. XD Hope some of our more bloodthirsty readers are satisfied. I know it was immensely pleasing to write, as Soprana-Snap says... 'Macklemore-Jackal'
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THANK YOU EVERYONE! SEE YOU NEXT TIME IN THE NEXT CHAPTER: CONDUCTION