Sunflower (Clyde Logan x Reader)

Chapter 3

 When Jimmy first came to Clyde with his new cauliflower plan, Clyde had been less than enthusiastic. Jimmy usually only said "cauliflower" when he was up to no good and when he knew Clyde would disapprove but still needed him on board. Thing was, last time Jimmy had uttered that word it had landed Clyde in juvie for six months at the young age of thirteen. While Jimmy didn't seem to think that was a lot, Clyde had been deeply affected by the separation and by his run-ins with the law before that. He had turned away from a life of crime afterwards, probably in a much more honest fashion than the Bang brothers claimed for themselves.

But it had been more than twenty years since that last time and Jimmy had grown quite a bit since then. He had come to Clyde with a plan, a list, and a bribe of burnt bacon (even though Jimmy was not partial to that style of cooking bacon himself).

This showed great growth in Clyde's eyes, and at the very least a solid attempt from Jimmy at being organized. So Clyde had heard him out, if not for the delicious burnt bacon then at least for the fact that Clyde was sure Jimmy would need all hands on deck if he wanted to successfully run a scheme. Not to mention that Clyde would never forgive himself if Jimmy got caught and sent to prison, leaving Sadie behind.

The plan wasn't flawless and it was more led by an itemized list of sayings and wise words than anything else, but it was something and Clyde's intelligent mind could see the potential where it lay before him.

If this worked out then the Logan family would be set for life. Maybe Clyde could even stop pestering the VA for a new prosthetic and get one himself, or he could finally buy out the Duck Tape bar from its current owners instead of just working there and being a partner in the business. That surely would be nice, wouldn't it?

So Clyde agreed. And then Clyde quickly disagreed - because a key part of Jimmy's plan involved Clyde getting locked-up whether he wanted to or not. Why was it always Clyde that drew the short straw?

He guessed it did make sense since Mellie was a woman and wouldn't be sent to the same correctional facility as Joe Bang (which was important for their joint escape on the day of the heist) and also because he was an eternal bachelor who didn't have anyone who would miss him apart from his family when he did get sent away (and his family would know the reason behind it so they wouldn't worry).

Clyde finally agreed, but he wasn't going to be happy about it - not that he was ever too happy most of these days. The Logan family curse, his uncomfortable prosthetic, and his loneliness caught up with him most nights and left Clyde with little to smile for. What was one more bump in the road?

The real question now was how to get Clyde imprisoned for a long enough time that it wouldn't be detrimental to him in the long run. Clyde was a sensitive man and he wouldn't be all too pleased to be spending more than a few months behind bars. Sure, he was broad shouldered, muscular, and tough when he needed to be - but Clyde much preferred being the quiet, gentle, Southern man he'd been brought up to be. Having seen too much violence when he was touring with the military, he was quick to deny that part of himself that itched to fight and start trouble. Peace was much better, if you asked him.

And so this is how, several days later - all in the name of cooperation, an alibi, and helping Joe Bang escape - Clyde found himself before a judge at his sentencing hearing, doing his best to keep his swirling emotions under control. This was for the greater good. This was for his family. This was for Sadie.

***

The judge droned on about how driving a car through a mini mart presented as vehicular mischief, reckless endangerment, and destruction of private property. He was also quick to point out Clyde's license had been suspended two years ago, a fact that Clyde had conveniently forgotten when he and Jimmy decided this was their safest bet at getting him locked up. Damn.

By the time the judge mentioned Clyde's previous run-ins with the law back when Clyde was classified as a juvenile, it took everything in Clyde to not explode as he looked back menacingly at where Jimmy and Mellie sat in the courtroom. Jimmy met his eyes with no hint of regret or guilt in them.

However, luck did finally favor the Logan clan when, taking into account Clyde's service and great sacrifice made to his country, he was only sentenced to 90 days. In Clyde's mind this was just about as great as the Heavens opening up and swallowing him whole. With the way the judge had been speaking Clyde was sure he would have been sentenced far longer.

The deputies who came to handcuff Clyde were much smaller in stature than he, and when Clyde uncrossed his hands from behind his back they were baffled by the prosthetic. Clyde glared down at them from his substantial height and they backed up slightly. Finally, they decided to lead him back instead of grabbing him and escorting him, a wise choice if you asked Clyde. He was in no mood today, even if he had just gotten off easy.

Clyde was led out back to a van that would transfer him to the appropriate correctional facility. Ninety days. Ninety whole days. Clyde would manage, though. He now finally had something waiting for him on the other side. He had you. He would have to let that fuel him - the thought of finding you once he was back out on the other side. Until then? Well, there was lots to do.