Hot and Cold

Imprisoned

~*****~

"Just relax, will you?" Lucy pleaded. "You're going to end up hurting yourself. I know your pissed--"

"I'M DOWNRIGHT FURIOUS!" I bellow, my scream echoing out through the dark cell they have us in. "We've done nothing wrong! We were just bystanders! This is the kinda crap I'm talkin' about when I say don't trust those slimy bastards who hold any sort of power!" I bellow again, shaking in the chains they have me in.

Lucy uncovers her head and sighs. "I know. But I know the others won't give up on us." Lucy states softly.

I spit on the ground and grimace. "I feel like one of 'em knocked a tooth lose getting me trussed up like a pig."

"You did kinda curse him and his mother to be reborn as tiny little bugs you're going to find and hold a magnifying glass over." Lucy retorts.

I snap my gaze onto her, and she immediately covers her head, saying sorry. "I never wanted to you to get dragged into this," Yukino murmurs after a moment of silence. "I'm so sorry. But I've always been a bad luck charm."

"Don't beat yourself up," Lucy smiles. "Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves, let's figure out how to get out of here!"

"You're right, but..." Yukino trails off.

"And the first order of business when we blow this joint is getting our keys back." Lucy hums.

"I'm sorry I let this happen," Yukino continues.

"Seriously, it's totally not your fault," Lucy retorts.

I scoff. "Yeah, don't worry about it. It's just another one of those days, ain't it?" I mention to Lucy.

Lucy chuckles. "Yeah. It seems to me like we were caught up in some kind of power struggle in the government. Aren't they just fighting over whether or not that Eclipse Project or whatever should be happening? To be perfectly honest, I don't know enough to have a real opinion on it."

"It should... They should go forward with it." Yukino mutters. We gazed at her curiously. "A long time ago, I had a big sister... Her name was Sorano. I was always messing things up and getting into trouble... My parents were constantly getting angry with me. But time after time, my sister stood up for me. She was so sweet... And beautiful. I was so lucky to have a sister like her. But then one night, my village was invaded by a cult that worshipped Zeref... They killed our parents and took my sister away. I wanted to help, but all I could do was run for my life. The Eclipse is the only hope we have of defeating Zeref. I just wanted to have my family back... That's all."

"So, if he was gone... they might never have been taken away..." Lucy hums.

I hum lightly. I didn't think such a thing was possible. There's been so many bad wizards since Zeref, who's to say someone else wouldn't take his place if he was taken out? Then we'd be back at square one. Dealing with the aftermath in a world where good and evil will always exist in harmony. If you could call it that.

~*****~

My nose twitches almost violently when I recognize a familiar smell. My head snaps up, my ears beginning to ring at the harsh clanking of the chains still restraining me. My eyes adjust to the dark quickly, peering out of the cell where the subtle orange glow of the torch sat. The silhouette of Natsu, Wendy, and Mira appear before my eyes. "You came?" I murmur delicately.

Natsu beams as my vision gets clearer and clearer. "Course we did! You didn't think we'd leave you guys to rot, did you?" Natsu chides as he grasps onto the bars of our cell. "Man, she's totally passed out if she ain't wakin' up to us talkin' like usual." Natsu mentions as Lucy lets out a soft snore.