Enemies at Heart // Natsu Dragneel

The 'Failed' Plan (14)

I sat at a table, drumming my fingers on its wooden surface in boredom. I looked across at my 'date' who looked just as bored, if not more bored than I was. I don't know why we thought this was a good idea.

We ran out of conversation topics like three cafe's ago, we're just cafe hopping, hoping that we attract our target. A group of bandits have been terrorising this local town, they sit and wait for a guy to leave his date like he goes to the bathroom or something, then they sneak in a nab his date.

She's then used as bait to nab the guy as well, so far four couples have gone missing, so that's where we come in. Natsu and I have been going from cafe to cafe and pretending to be a couple so we can hopefully catch the bandits.

Lucy walked out in a new uniform, carrying a tray with a couple drinks for us. She's probably got the hardest job of all of us,  walking in and explaining to a manager why she NEEDS a table in full view of anyone who passes and a uniform. She somehow does it though.

"Erza's spotted them and they've finally spotted you, I suggest you make the move," Lucy whispered to us as she placed the drinks on the table. "Here you go! Enjoy!" She nearly yelled to make sure the bandits heard and thought she was just a normal waitress.

I looked over at Natsu who nodded at me, he took a couple sips from his drink and shifted uncomfortably, "Ugh, I've had too many drinks" he laughed before standing up and pushing his chair in like a 'gentleman' "I'll be right back... babe?" He winked, not too sure what to say to me and walked off to the bathroom (where he'll meet Gray and Gray will show him some photo's of the different bandits he'll have to fight).

I sipped my drink in Natsu's absence, looking out for anything suspicious. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something black rustle in the bushes across the street. Bingo. I knew it was them, their signature to lure the girls was curiosity, they make her come to them.

I got up from my table, walking through the restaurant and made eye contact with Lucy, who nodded and went and knocked on the bathroom door twice, giving the boys inside the signal that I was moving to 'phase two'. We've planned everything out. We should have complete control over everything that's about to transpire.

I walked out of the restaurant, explaining that I just wanted some air and I would be right back (I even left my bag so they'd trust that I wasn't dining and dashing). I walked up to the bush, pushing it to the side and closing my eyes in terror, preparing for something to jump out at me, all there was, was a crumpled up sheet of paper someone must have thrown away. Guess it wasn't them.

Suddenly someone covered my head and my vision went black, I scratched and pulled and whatever was covering my head but it was being held down tightly. I squirmed and kicked as hard as I could before I felt a sharp prick in the back of my neck. Then nothing.

Next thing I know I'm being rudely awoken by a hard steel floor of a cage as I'm thrown into it. I hear a lock click and then the bag is finally pulled off my head, I look around, I'm still in my date clothes... thank god. There was a single spotlight on me, as I looked into a crowd I couldn't see.

"Hello gentlemen, we've got some fresh meet for you," Someone laughed into a microphone. The audience hooted and yelled I looked around confused and honestly terrified. "This young lady is a WIZARD, so we'll be placing bets a little higher than usual." More hooting and yelling.

The man yelled out various numbers as they progressively got higher and higher, it didn't take me long to realise what was happening, I had been to enough auction houses on jobs to know what one looks like... but I've never been to one like this. I tried to breathe in and out, calm myself down and work out was I was going to do.

If they're raising the price for me because I'm a wizard, the majority of the people here probably don't possess magic, I can also probably bust this cage because it's built to hold normal people... I hope at least.

I sighed and channelled my energy, I had one shot to get myself out of this situation, if I stuffed this up it's possible they would kill me. Before I could even cast a single spell, A wall of fire appeared behind me and screams erupted from the audience. Gotcha this is all part of our plan, Erza put a tracker in my dress, they knew where I was at all times, we just had to make sure that we could catch the bad guys in the act.

I told you we were really in control the whole time! You've gotta learn to trust... Book characters? Yeah, let's go with that. I rolled my eyes as the stupidity of Natsu's entrance, but I was secretly grateful that he came at all.

"WHAT DID YOU DO??!!?" One of the bandits roared as he pounded on my cage.

"Little old me? Nothing." I was seriously trying to hide my involvement in this, but, it was just too damn funny and I couldn't stop smiling.

"WHO ARE YOU?!" He yelled once again. He was so busy pounding on my cage that he didn't see Erza slowly creep up behind him.

"I didn't do anything, she did," I said before pointing at Erza, he spun around, sadly a few seconds too slow. He was met with an Iron fist to the face and was knocked unconscious almost instantly. "You guys took your time!" I laughed as Erza pick pocketed his body for the keys, and eventually let me out of the cage

I walked out, stretching as I finally had the room to move, I stepped over the sleeping corpses around me. "We should probably tie everyone up and wait for the cops to arrive, I just called them," Gray smiled as he walked through the doors. We heaved the criminals into a massive pile and just watched over them, and hitting the odd person on the head as they woke up.

Eventually, the local police arrived, hauling everyone into the back of a truck and driving them off to prison, they didn't stand a chance in court, they were caught red handed in a human trafficking ring AND I was there the whole time as a witness... suckers.

"You know... It did more work than anyone, I reckon I should get a bigger part of the reward!" Lucy smiled as stars appeared in her eyes.

"EXCUSE ME!! I WAS THE BAIT!!" I scowled at her.

"And I had to dress up in six different waitress costumes," She spat back.

"I. WAS. ABOUT. TO. BE. SOLD. INTO. HUMAN. TRAFFICKING," I yelled, putting emphasis on every word.

"Okay fine you win," She surrendered.

"Could you two shut up! We've got a long walk ahead," Erza groaned, Natsu and I both refuse to take the train so our group is forced to walk all the way back to Magnolia... A certain Titania isn't too happy about that.

"I could always bicker with Natsu if you'd prefer," I laughed as I dragged Natsu into the argument.

"You both know how that will end." A dark Aura radiate from her as she slowly cracked her knuckles. I slowly looked at Natsu who had a similar look of fear in his eyes, we silently nodded and then took off running down the street, with a screaming Erza hot on our tails.

One day we'll have a normal day...

As Always please remember to  vote, comment, and share!!

~Thanks~