It was early. The sun hadn't even risen yet and the cellblock doors were still closed. Gajeel could pick out the faint mutterings and snores of men still reluctant to wake up. Soon he knew the call for everyone to be at their cells would echo throughout the entire building and he'd be thrown into his compulsory routine. Laxus had called him early and it had startled him. Even more worrying, though, was the news he'd brought with him. As tired, husky voices progressed through conversation, Gajeel found his blood running tepid and fretful.

"You're goin' ta get yerself killed," Gajeel growled, baring his teeth at the receiver.

Laxus's from shivered briefly before stabilizing. His arms were crossed and Gajeel had a nice view of the slash that was peeking over the red scarf he'd kept neatly wrapped around his throat. It was clear he was trying to hide it and Gajeel was still debating on whether or not he should draw attention to it, the worry of what had happened to cause such a thing gnawing at him almost as much as the thought of his lover gallivanting into a place that held nothing but painful memories.

Bianca's lab… he couldn't believe Laxus was actually going back there. His stomach rolled viciously. He couldn't think too much about it or his blood would chill and his heart frenzy. His wrists itched.

"So little faith in me," Laxus cooed softly at him, not seeming concerned in the least, "There ain't anything Davian can throw at me that I can't handle."

Gajeel chewed at his lip, breaking free the tang of his own blood with worrying teeth, "That's what we thought about Bianca."

"He isn't Bianca."

"Right… he's probably worse. He'll make it look like an accident."

Laxus rolled his eyes, "I survived last time, didn't I?"

Gajeel snarled and immediately Laxus's blasé façade cracked. Maybe Laxus only remembered the pain but Gajeel held onto more than that. The thought of him, the formidable Lightning Slayer, slumped against the wall as Bianca drove a serrated blade into his shoulder felt like an old wound that had never healed properly. He remembered how close Laxus had been to death. The smell…

The smell of death… ground slicked with thick scarlet… yellow eyes that never shut…

The memories waited for him with black hands grasping but he pushed them to the back of his mind. He couldn't do this here. If he let it fester his night terrors would return and in a place like this he'd rather die than have men hearing his screams in the middle of the night. Violently red eyes bore into the screen, overt and raw.

"I ain't gonna be there to stop a blade this time, Sparky…" he muttered darkly and Laxus averted his eyes, clearly trying to think of something to abate his worries, "…an' don't think I can't see you've already met the business end once."

Laxus reflexively let fingers brush the fresh laceration. He clicked his teeth and the dismissiveness was enough to make Gajeel clench his fist.

"If our places were reversed…" Laxus was choosing his words carefully, a habit he'd picked up recently that Gajeel didn't like in the least, "…what would you do?"

He scoffed, "I dunno."

"Doubt you'd be sitting around waiting for answers to fall in your lap."

Laxus's words were cold but Gajeel didn't want to fight. There was no way he'd be talking him out of his decision and he knew it. There wasn't anything he could do from behind bars.

"You're right…" he growled, relenting, "…I'd be out doin' my own dirty work."

Laxus tried a grin. That was another thing Gajeel hated. Laxus didn't smile anymore, not even when he won an argument. He was reserved, almost as if he were waiting for Gajeel's permission before allowing himself to show positive emotion.

"You say it like that's not what I've been doing."

"Hell no," he forced a smirk, daring to let himself be a little playful and ease some of their quiet tension, "Ya had ta have Krew help ya. I'd've tracked that bastard down myself."

"Mmh? I'd like to see you try."

Gajeel chuckled nervously, remembering missions from Phantom Lord that felt like eons ago. He saw curiosity spark in Laxus's eyes in his sudden change of mood, "There are ways… if yer desperate enough…"

"You holding out on me?" Laxus's tone was laced with feigned accusation.

He scratched at his collar, running his tongue against the backs of his teeth, "Only 'cuz what I would do and what you shoulddo are two very different things."

"Tell me," Laxus leaned closer to the screen, his smile vicious.

Gajeel's eyes widened and he suddenly felt warm, "It ain't nothin' interesting…"

"You dug yourself into this hole," the blonde pressed and Gajeel could already tell he wouldn't let up, "Now tell me."

"Listen… there are some people that don't leave scents an' tracks an' shit," he huffed, surrendering once again and feeling all the more uneasy for it. He couldn't force himself to look at Laxus as he spoke but somehow he could still sense the Thunder God's eagerness, "Everybody has iron, ya know, in their blood… an' it's like a fingerprint. Everyone is a little different…"

"Please tell me this isn't going where I think it is."

Gajeel wrinkled his nose, "If I taste it I can pick it out just about anywhere."

"That's disgusting," Gajeel's eyes snapped up at the sound of Laxus's laughter. Despite knowing exactly how strange and repulsive his confession had been, Gajeel felt light at hearing just the simple noise. His pulse quickened when Laxus's eager eyes met his, "What does it taste like?"

"Grenadine," his words dripped with sarcasm and Laxus was laughing harder. Gajeel couldn't help it, he smiled, "What the fuck do you think?"

"How in the hell would you even think of shit like that?"

"Hajime an' I used to talk about stuff like that," the tension had faded and Gajeel felt easy, normal, and he slowly let himself forget he was sitting on his cot in a prison cell, "He's a Lightning Mage too, ya know."

Laxus quirked an eyebrow at him, "That right?"

"Yeah. Used ta talk about stuff he wanted to try. He was pretty smart about it too. He told me once that people, animals, most things, have natural electricity, right? T's called something…"

"Bioelectricity," damn, Gajeel could practically feelLaxus's smug purr.

"That, right. He used ta wonder if he could use it in a fight… against his opponent."

"Of course n-…" Laxus stopped and blinked for a moment, his brow crinkling as the idea began to sink in, "…actually…"

"Wait, really?" Gajeel's eyes widened and Laxus shook his head slowly.

"It would be… dangerous…" he said at length, although Gajeel could see his wheels turning, "I'd have to disrupt my own electric field to do something like that."

"What does that mean?"

"Oh… you know…" Laxus shrugged simply as if it were some trivial thing although Gajeel immediately got the feeling it wasn't, "It could cause me to… say… fry my entire nervous system."

"Shit."

"Yeah," Laxus grinned, "Nice idea though. I'll have to try it out one day."

Gajeel huffed, returning his grin with one that was a little more cynical, "Or not?"

"Oh, in a controlled environment, of course," he raised his eyebrows at Gajeel, "I can test it on you."

"Oh yeah? An' do what? Turn me inta a fuckin' magnet?"

"Make your whole body feel nice," he dropped his voice to a tantalizingly low tone and Gajeel felt his blood get hotter.

"Mnh… don't think ya need magic ta do somethin' like that," Gajeel purred back at him, glancing to his cell door just in case someone walked by as he spoke. His smile faded and he glanced back to see Laxus's golden eyes waiting for him.

"Something wrong?"

"Nah… It's just…" Gajeel's words stuck in his throat for a moment. Laxus waited on him patiently, all humor or mischief missing from where it had once been. Gajeel pursed his lips, hating that he'd ruined the good mood. He took in a breath, "I've been wonderin'… how, uh, how ya been feelin'?"

"What do you mean?" Laxus returned dumbly and Gajeel couldn't tell if it was a front or not.

"Well… t's springtime, ya know."

Laxus glanced to the side and then back, "…right."

"You ain't felt different at all?" Laxus still studied him silently, not following, and Gajeel found himself chuckling mirthlessly, "Hornier than usual?"

Laxus opened his mouth to say something arrogant but his expression immediately softened as the realization slowly sank in, "Oh."

"T's been about a year."

"You're not kidding…" Laxus muttered.

"I take it you're doin' alright, then?" Gajeel pressed and Laxus shrugged.

"Guess so."

"Hmph. Well that's… good."

"Should I be keeping an eye out for anything?" Laxus sounded awkward and a little worried. Gajeel gave him a gentle look, "I've only been in heat once…"

"You're fine, Sparky," Gajeel's smile was soft, understanding, and he tried to be light, "If ya ain't felt any different at this point I'd guess yer fine. I usually see it comin' a mile away."

"Sort of happy I'm second generation."

"I'm sure Mira would have given ya a hand," it was meant to be a joke but Gajeel realized a little spite had snuck into his tone. Laxus's eyes widened.

"Mirajane is over me," Laxus's lip tugged into a wry grin, "and besides, you have bigger things to worry about."

"Than a demon woman seducing my man while I'm away? Probably so," Gajeel sighed and he noticed the slight red that touched Laxus's cheeks at his possessiveness. He tried to sound a little more indifferent, "Don' mean I don't think about it."

"I'm not going anywhere, delinquent," Laxus's words were sweet and gentle and loving and it made Gajeel's heart beat faster to hear them, "I love you."

Gajeel ran his fingers through his hair, pulled his tresses over his shoulder as if it could somehow hide the warmth that was creeping up his neck. He pressed his ring to his lips, "I love you, too."

"And onlyyou," Laxus's voice was turning sultry and heavy again. His eyes shone with sincerity, "and I'm gonna get you out of there. Soon."

"Yeah… I know," he let himself feel hopeful and believe those words for just a moment, "Just don't get yerself killed while you're at it."

"Have more faith in me," Laxus growled before pulling his eyes away to glance at something, "I gotta get going. I have a date with a snake… and the bastard has a thing about punctuality."

"Get a hold of me when it's over, yeah? I'll worry otherwise."

"Whatever ya say, Gramps," Laxus sneered and Gajeel rolled his eyes.

"Until tonight," Gajeel pressed and Laxus waved at him dismissively before vanishing.

Gajeel rolled the receiver around in his hands for a while, feeling the warmth from it as the magic vanished. He tucked the crystalline thing into his pocket and stood, grabbing his shirt from where it hung on the side of his bed.

"5:30 headcount. Be at your cell door in five minutes or receive a citation."

"Just another day in Hell," he muttered as the sounds of grumbling inmates and equally agitated guards began making themselves known.

He was tucking his shirt unto his trousers when his cellblock opened and the lights flipped on, causing the pale grey cement walls to flash white for just a moment before his eyes adjusted. A man in navy uniform with sandy hair was flanked by two Rune Knights. He called out names as he wrote checks on his clipboard.

"Redfox?"

"Mornin' Serrill," he drawled lazily, "No Major today?"

The lieutenant didn't even glance at him, just continued down the line.

"Prick."

His morning run and workout were as welcome as they were insipid wastes of time. A heavy restive smog clung to the air he breathed, the people he passed, the things he touched. It fogged his mind and made him want to fight, to get aggressive. It was when he found himself contemplating going after a guy who'd cut him off in the breakfast line that he realized just how close he was to acting on the impulse and he quickly abandoned the search for food. He got some coffee and headed for his cell, desperately needing to change and mellow before he went out to the scrapyard. In his need to be mindless he didn't feel the necessity to recognize faces that regarded him as he made his way to his cell.

"Hey, Kurogane."

"Redfox."

"Kurogane."

More and more people had come to recognize him as of late. A massive transfer of prisoners from a nearby minimum-security prison had brought with it over two-dozen Phantom Risers, all with various charges that didn't merit the kind of security this prison offered seemed the only place large enough to hold them all. The old Phantom and Southern Wolves' boys had taken them in and now tensions were even higher around Ember Island. If a fought broke out they had the largest numbers. What was worse was they still wanted him. Once the Phantom Risers divulged he'd taken out Unaven, their offer for him to step in as some sort of leader became more persistent. He hardly did anything without someone trying to get close to him.

The whole thing was putting him on edge. He had no desire to be involved in gang politics. Remembering that there was a time he would have been elated with this kind of thing made it all grate on his nerves even worse. Damn, he'd been ignorant. Now he would do almost anything just to disappear…

"Yo, Redfox."

He glanced as his cell door, drawn from his thoughts whilst in the middle of pulling on a new shirt. It was a guy named Kellen from the Southern Wolves. They'd worked together once but neither of them seemed to remember what the mission was. He was quiet, reserved, and didn't stare at him with the same starry-eyed reverence some of the other guys did.

"Shift is starting," he grunted, crossing his arms and leaning against his cell door, "Gonna be late."

Gajeel didn't reply, just brushed past as he straightened himself up. Gajeel found himself able to relax slightly, innately sensing Kellen had his back despite his standoffish nature. People were filtering in and out of the cellblocks, most headed for their respective jobs. Guys with nothing to do were reclining in their cells and they'd pass small clusters of people muttering as they walked in complete silence. He wasn't particularly trying to be nosy as they passed a block of cells and he noticed a figure pressing himself into the wall. He did, however, recognize the scar that dashed down the tanned throat of a kid that couldn't have been much older than nineteen. It was Ezal, the kid from the Phantom Risers, and he was clearly uncomfortable. Another step and Gajeel could see there was a guy looming over him, greasy and visibly menacing, trying to box him into a corner.

Gajeel stopped walking.

Kellen slowed and followed his gaze, "Shift is starting, Redfox."

"I know," Gajeel growled, "But he's just a kid."

Kellen was silent for a minute before he sighed, "I'll cover for you. Make it quick."

Gajeel did just that. There was no one around, something the larger man was taking full advantage of. He didn't notice as Gajeel wordlessly slunk up to the cell door and crossed his arms, barring the exit. Gajeel couldn't remember the larger guy's name but he seemed content to pay him no mind so he cleared his throat, earning a snarl. Ezal's silvery eyes snapped from the threatening inmate but it wasn't relief Gajeel saw there, just barely restrained dread.

"Leave him alone."

The guy turned his head slowly and straightened, "Mind your own business."

"The kid's, what, barely legal? Guess that makes you a pedophile, don' it?" a wicked grin slowly began to crawl across Gajeel's face and the guy's eyes widened. He clenched his fist and Gajeel glanced down at it an back up to him, making it clear he wasn't frightened in the least, "Word gets around an' who knows what'll happen…"

The guy snarled and Ezal's eyes widened. He suddenly seemed even more panicked. Had he not realized…?

"He's one of them Phantom Risers too," Gajeel purred as the guy stepped away from Ezal, eyes severe as he approached, attempting to square up against him. Gajeel felt a thrill shoot down his spine and his heart picked up pace, "wouldn't it be a shame if someone let it slip ya were goin' after 'im?"

"Yeah? You gonna be a fuckin' snitch?" his breath smelled awful and Gajeel sneered at him.

"You wanna take the chance?"

His heart was hammering in his chest now. He wanted to fight, he neededto fight. His mind began racing as he stared the other man down, body tense and desperate to spring. Red spots started to fleck into his vision.

Give me the excuse. Hit me. Do it. Do it. DO IT.

"Feh…" the guy broke from Gajeel's intense glare and pushed past him, angry and defeated but not willing to fight, "He's all yers."

It took a moment of Gajeel staring at the ground, arms crossed and teeth clenched, before the red haze slowly began to clear. He dragged his eyes to Ezal who was staring at him with eyes like a scared deer's.

"You alright?"

The kid scratched at his scar and averted his gaze, "I didn't need any help."

"Right… ya were just lettin'him jump ya in yer cell," he snuffed and Ezal cringed slightly at his words, "Yer young, kid, and these guys can smell fear a mile away. Want some advice? Get with some of yer Riser buddies. Safety in numbers."

He turned to leave when suddenly an alarm sounded over the PA system. He froze and turned his eyes skyward.

"All inmates report to the courtyard immediately. All inmates to the courtyard or receive a citation."

Gajeel sighed, "Well… shit."

"What… what does that mean?"

"Hell if I know," Gajeel hummed, pushing his hands into his pockets and moving away from Ezal's cellblock, "Might wanna stay close, kid."

"I don't need protection," he muttered, but nonetheless Ezal was at his side, nearly standing on top of him at times. He was young, Gajeel reminded himself, and probably in on small crime charges. With a collar around his neck, thrown in with a bunch of murderers and radical anarchists, he'd probably felt like a toddler playing with the big kids for the first time. He pushed down his agitation.

A flood of bodies shambled out to the courtyard, a large open area surrounded on all four sides by forty-foot walls, watchtowers, and barbed wire. The track was out there as well as the only chance they got to see of natural sunlight. Over three hundred men skulked out and stood together, hastily pushed and prodded into semi-neat rows as roll was called. Anger and boiling fever rose from the group of men in a concentrated hum, filling the air with its fervor and acridity like a rotten smell. Gajeel felt like a dog with hackles raised, red eyes trained at the white and navy coats at the head of the group, refusing to acknowledge anyone around him. At one point, he became aware of Kellen at his side who was in an equally uncharacteristic fierce and frigid state of anxiety. Gajeel felt like he could choke on the sinister anticipation all around them. Something was about to happen.

Gajeel narrowed his eyes, realizing the lieutenants were addressing them, "…aware we have routine random cell searches. Until further notice, no one is to leave the courtyard. Violations will be met with force and credited a citation. Resistance will see an inmate placed into solitary for upwards of two months…"

"…talks like Major but he's just a lieutenant," three men in front of him were talking, something that caused the inmates around them to become edgy. Rune Knights were patrolling the lines, looking for insubordination.

"Lieutenant Serrill. He's the Major's pet," the one in the middle, with long violet hair that was tied loosely at the nape of his neck, stood with apparent authority. To his left was the first one who'd spoken, a man who was slight in stature and with black hair that was slicked back. Gajeel could see sweat beginning to dot at his neck. On the right was a monster of a man, massive and with arms the size of tree limbs. Gajeel recognized him from the gym. The guy was a quiet one, something that was always a bad sign, although Gajeel still had yet to determine in what way. Taking a guess, though, the man relied far more on his physical strength than any magic ability and so a prison like this was his ideal.

Gajeel glanced at Kellen who returned his look. Hastily, he grabbed Ezal's wrist and swapped him places. Ezal opened his mouth in protest but a harsh look from Gajeel had him slamming his mouth back shut and he stood pressed between the two men's shoulders.

Gajeel took a deep breath and let it out steadily, trying not to let his heart race too much. His stomach rolled weakly, his magic not enough to sustain anything close to a roar. But something, somethingwas in the air, and despite him pushing his attention to anyone else in the crowd, he kept being drawn in by the man in front of him with violet hair.

"He's the biggest Knight with the Major gone," his tone was still and quiet and it made Gajeel's hair raise, "He specializes in Reinforcement Magic."

"So, he ain't got any real power…"

"On the contrary, he's the biggest threat here."

"You two, quiet down," a Knight stopped, brandishing his spear.

"How bothersome…"

Gajeel was suddenly aware of their placement in the crowd. They were in the middle of the field, having been forced deep into the pack of men during the chaos of everyone trying to get to the courtyard. He gritted his teeth and glanced over at Kellen who had his head craned back, eyes sweeping over the mass of bodies in search of allies.

"Get ready ta move, kid," Gajeel rumbled and Ezal looked startled.

"We can't move," he breathed, "They'll put us in solitary…"

"I said, quiet it down!" the Knight took a step down the line, headed for them. The men around them were shifting from foot to foot, the air snapping with violence.

A fight… there was going to be a fight…

It wasn't one of the three Gajeel had been eyeing that made the move, but a guy from their line who jumped forward and slammed into another inmate in front of the Rune Knight. He in turn snatched the guy next to him and threw them into the guard, and yet someone else joined in. Bodies were suddenly thrown into motion and the air filled with the sounds of fists meeting flesh. Riotous dissonance filled their blood and bones with madness and Gajeel had to wrestle with himself to keep in control. He felt the beast in him clawing, screamingfor violence. He forced himself to keep eyes on Ezal, to watch his growing terror, and give himself a different goal. He glanced at Kellen who met him with a mutinous grin.

"Get on tha ground kid," Gajeel growled and Ezal seemed appalled.

"What? No!"

"It's a fight, kid, t's all," Gajeel grabbed a hold of his shoulder and pushed him forcefully to the dirt, "Trust me, ya don't wanna be throwin' fists when they come ta break it up."

A figure came barreling at them and in a flash Kellen was meeting him, wasting little time in throwing a fist to his sternum with enough force to cause bone to fracture. The man gasped and Gajeel gripped his arm, throwing him into the writhing mass of fighting men. Gajeel felt a rush, enjoyed being able to let loose his pent-up energy and be destructive. His breath was ragged as he forced himself down from the sudden high and he could practically feel Ezal's eyes on him, full of wonder or adoration or something equally as infuriating. Kellen put two fingers to his lips and whistled, gaining the attentions of two mages near to them who broke rank and raced over. The fight was growing, pulling more and more men in as bodies ran into bodies. Shouts and screams were rising above the raucous as Rune Knights rushed in with tasers and batons, beating inmates senseless whether they were actively violent or just attempting to defend themselves.

"Hands in the air!"

The Knight approached and Gajeel pretended he didn't notice three pairs of eyes turning to him. They were looking to him for guidance, to tell them to fight or surrender, and it made Gajeel grit his teeth. He was immediately obedient to the officer, holding up his hands in submission and tucking them behind his head. He could hear Kellen and the others follow suit and the Knight walked to each of them, dragging them into line and forcing each of them in turn to their knees. Row at a time all of the inmates were forced to do the same until a sea of prisoners were completely still and compliant. Gajeel saw stretchers in his peripheral vision and could hear the sounds of officers instructing prisoners to haul their comrades to the infirmary.

For a moment, everything was still save for the sounds of heavy breathing and the heat of a crowd of people existing in the same space. Then, Gajeel could hear the decisive thud of boots against grass and dirt. Step, step, step, they came closer as guys were pulled from the line in front of them. Gajeel felt his heart begin to pick up its harsh beating again as the flutter of white and navy stopped right in front of him. He glanced up and but knew better than to look a Lieutenant in the eyes.

"Get up."

Gajeel didn't move from where he knelt, "Can I ask why, Lieutenant Serrill?"

"Because you saw what happened."

Gajeel slowly rose to his feet and followed quietly as the lieutenant walked him a row up. There was a line of men standing, bleeding and with bruises quickly forming, all except one who looked startlingly immaculate compared to the others. Violet hair was still tied loosely at the nape of his neck and Gajeel saw sharp, pale features, and eyes that were every bit as brilliant purple as his long tresses. Immediately they locked gazes with one another and a slow, cruel smile tugged across the man's face. The air around him look unbearably hot.

"Who started all of this?" Serrill prompted and Gajeel glanced over at the blonde, studied him from the corner of his eye, and looked down the line.

"Dunno."

Serrill let out an annoyed sound, "Redfox, do you enjoy your calls to outside the prison?"

He felt his chest begin to get tight. He kept his fingers knitted tightly together. He forced himself to speak through his bitter pride, "Yes, sir."

"Well then, you'll tell me who started the fighting or you'll lose communication privileges."

Gajeel glanced at Serrill again, still trying to feign ignorance, "Don' wanna give ya tha wrong guy, Lieutenant."

"If I have to ask you again, you're losing communication privileges."

Gajeel openly growled and saw Serrill's controlled reaction, a hand landing gently on his sabre. Again, his eyes fell on the man with violet hair but something about the guy made him sick to his stomach. He was quietly sinister and his gaze was intense. Gajeel had to tear his eyes away and center them on the man at his side, the guy who had first spoken out.

Gajeel stated his words calmly and slowly, "Tha guy with the greaser hair was talkin' an' one of yer men went to get him quiet. Someone from my line started the fight after that. Dunno what he looked like but I don' think he's here. Maybe he was dragged off in a stretcher already. He was sorta in tha middle of things."

"Who was he talking to?"

Gajeel slowly dragged his eyes over to Serrill, "Sir?"

"Who was he talking to, Redfox."

His heart was pounding. As much as he didn't want to lose his communication he also didn't want to be a snitch.

"Himself."

Serrill scoffed, "Himself, Redfox? And you expect me to believe that?"

Gajeel shrugged helplessly, "You asked, Lieutenant."

It was clear the lieutenant didn't believe him for a moment but the call came back that the random search was over. He begrudgingly dropped the subject, possibly realizing that he wasn't going to get useful information or possibly because he didn't care to continue. The Rune Knights evacuated to their usual posts and slowly inmates began rising to their feet. Gajeel finally dropped his arms, eyeing Serrill as he turned and made his way out of the crowd.

"Mavis's sakes…"

"Well done, Redfox," Gajeel clenched his fists and turned his head to the current bane of his existence.

"Well done? Bastard is a snitch," the shorter mage raged, teeth clenched as he glared up at Gajeel, "You'll regret-!"

"Fross," lips turned into a sharp frown at his companion and Fross flinched, settling immediately. Strange, purple eyes turned to Gajeel once again, "You do well under pressure, don't you? Either that or you're a marvelous actor. You didn't seem frazzled in the least."

"Thanks," Gajeel grunted, still on guard.

"I don't believe we've been formally introduced. This is Fross," he motioned to the shorter man and then to his other companion, "and Oria."

"What do I call you?" Gajeel watched him pointedly, not moving his full attention from the man once. A slick smile spread across his pale features.

He laughed dismissively and reached out hand, "How silly of me. Yes, you can call me Zahir."

Gajeel looked at his hand and then glanced back up to Zahir. The latter man laughed before taking a step closer, "So suspicious, aren't we? Come now, aren't we all in the same boat?"

He knew it was a trap but he took Zahir's hand anyway. As soon as he did, heat seared his hand. Zahir's grip tightened and he wrapped fingers around Gajeel's wrist and pulled him close. Gajeel set his jaw as Zahir was suddenly in his space, so close his breath was searing against his cheek. Gajeel reeled back at the sudden wild look that flooded the man's eyes and face. Glittering purple worked its way up the man's neck, flushing his veins with muted light as his eyes seemed to catch fire. Gajeel tore his eyes to the collar round his neck, to the place where it should be penetrating Zahir's skin and put the magic-cancelling agent into his veins only to see that the mechanism was mangled and melted, although keeping its shape enough that at a glance it looked normal.

"You're interesting, Redfox, and I sincerely appreciate what you've done for me," his words were slippery and as hot as fire. The heat flared against his hand and Gajeel ground his teeth as he tried desperately not to cry out, to stay stoic and strong despite the burning pain, "I'm going to call on you in the near future. Make the right choice."

Suddenly, he released his hold and stepped backward. Gajeel opened and closed his fist, testing the pain but not willing to look down and assess the damage. Zahir turned and walked away, his two followers on his heels, all of them as calm as if the exchange hadn't even happened. Gajeel let out a tattered breath.

"Fucking hell…" he shuddered. He picked out Kellen and Ezal standing among some Phantoms and Wolves. Kellan narrowed his eyes at him and Gajeel slowly shook his head. He was heading back to his cell, ignoring the fact that he should be heading to his shift on the scrapyard. He'd had enough excitement for one day.

Author's Note:

Ok, so, hear me out.

Laxeel

But an Aladdin AU in which Gajeel is the street rat and Laxus is the prince.

Does anyone else think that sounds frick-frackin' great or is that just me?

Anywho, thank you for reading! Things are getting heated. (HA! GET IT?! *the throwing of tomatoes and a chorus of boos is heard*)

As always, I hope all you lovely beans have a wonderful week!