Together Forever

Her Trepidation and His Transgression

Silence filled them, and no one seems to attempt to differ against the proposal in this foreboding silence. They all knew that if someone attempted to dissent their leader's plan or even question him about it, that someone will either die first or be used on a mission with the risk of being caught by the government. And as shitty as it sounds, they have no choice but to follow. They only have themselves against the whole world. The difficulty of their current situation will only increase if they were to lose another person in their group. And if the risk in that plan will give way to their chance of getting away, so be it.

"So, wherever did you find this guy?"

Dyst, the ever-resourceful torpedo broke the dreadful silence. He threw a piece of cloth at Marin – something to gag their hostage with in case the guy wakes up screaming – and resumed on loading bullets on a few magazines he stole whilst on their escape a few weeks back, already preparing for what is to come.

Caine frowned for having been reminded of the reality of their current situation and did not say a word – too distracted on assuming the background story of their new company. Jackal only grunted as he sat on the remaining space beside Kyōka with his back on his comrades. He doesn't want to deal with the shit and just that thought of how they found their new hostage makes him want to beat him up until he wakes up so he could fucking answer that one question that will determine their fate.

"Doesn't matter. This guy is already out cold when we found him", Marin replied, proving his point by harshly kicking the pinkette on his stomach who did not react and remained motionless.

"He could be a police undercover," Kyōka warily said, indirectly pointing out that if the guy happens to be one, they are at risk for bringing this new stranger near them – that could, and without doubt, get them all caught behind the bars.

Marin snickered, only to receive a glare from the woman in which he returned with a sheepish smile. Jackal just groaned and cursed under his breath while their leader seems to be too deep in his mind to hear what Kyōka has stated.

"He is too young to be in the force, Kyōka-san. He could be a normal teenager, bullied and left unconscious in the woods" Franmalth finally spoke but still busy looking through the contacts in the blonde's phone and carefully listing down some names he could blackmail.

"Ooh~ I wonder how much we could earn from him?", he said, grinning when he came across a very recent message from the blonde's relative.

No one batted an eye and ignored the blabbering of the short guy. Everyone seems to be contemplating and silently presuming in their thoughts about the things that could happen next in which caused them to not notice the slight movement of the body placed by the campfire nor of the eyes that watched them behind the shadows in the woods nearby.

===

As the criminals await the consciousness of their scapegoats, Gajeel returned to the room that the Demon shared with the human he was so attached to, only to find Rogue phasing around the neatly organized room. He returned in search of a quiet place ー away from the awkwardness he feels whenever he is around Juvia's friends. He feels out of place between the exchange of laughter between these new people. He doesn't totally mind being around them but being made fun of regarding his slightly obvious crush to the shortest girl among the group is taxing him. Not only that, he feels uncomfortable with the fact that only he knows of the current situation of the missing blonde and hiding that from Juvia's friends is becoming difficult every minute that passes by ーconsidering that Levy would always notice whenever he broods over the possibilities of what may happen to the demon and the girl.

Without a word, he sat on the bed in silence, beside him were neatly folded clothes he could care less about. And as he listens to the brewing storm, to the rustling leaves, to the large waves hitting the shore, he watched Rogue in silence. He watched the demon phase about who seemed to be distant and troubled.