In a dark room, a little ways from the majestic guild that was Fairy Tail, a man with salt and pepper colored hair sat. Surrounded by maps and planning boards, his brown eyes burned into his two charges. Crimson Flag needed Lucy Heartfilia, as his master had told him a little while ago. So, he had done any logical thing, and had taken two of their soldiers, kids raised to be fighting machines and had used them for his own mission. Both were exceptionally skilled, great at deceiving and finding an enemy's weak spot.
"Ritsu-sama...I did what you asked..." A child's voice spoke, a round, pale face peering up at him. Even through the kid-like appearance, one could spot the harsh gleam in her eyes. Her partner, though he was older, was more soft-hearted and stubborn. He had the appearance of a strong male, but even as a teenager, he still fought the way of the Crimson Flag. He refused to accept his fate.
"Great. Have you found a way to capture Lucy Heartfilia, Lila?" Ritsu questioned sharply, his cold gaze lingering across the girl with the pale blue hair.
She swallowed thickly, a grim smile in place. She had used her memory reading magic on Lucy when she had hugged her. So many terrible, scarring memories. But...fodder for opportunities. People had been cruel to Lucy, especially the people right beside her. Her fellow guildmates weren't so family-centered after all. Lila already had an idea sparking in the back of her head. She knew how to get Lucy to their side. All it would take is for them to hit her breaking point. Distrust for her guildmates was already in place, showing through her memories and thoughts.
Lila almost felt sorry for her. The girl had already suffered enough but would be put through the same pain Lila and Kaden went through if their plan succeeded.
"Yes...I have, boss. But, I'll need some time to gain her trust, Kaden as wel-"
She flinched when her voice was rudely cut off, her master rising to his feet in a spur of anger. She nearly threw herself to the floor when he approached her in quick, lumbering steps. She saw Kaden stiffen beside her, using every ounce of his strength to not rush in and block her from sight. He would just be punished harshly for disobedience.
"We don't have "time"! You have only a week to get this girl, or the boss will have our heads! Master Kuriso is impatient!" Ritsu snapped, spittle flying from his parted mouth, splattering on her face. She resisted the impulse to wipe her face.
"Of course..." She whispered, forcing strength into her words.
"We will have her on schedule, master," Kaden said, sarcasm tinging at the word master.
Lila sucked in a shaky breath when the echo of a harsh impact shattered the quiet exterior of the room. Kaden stood there, his proud scowl never wavering, his will never cracking. His cheek had a massive hand imprint, the affected area already tender and a bright apple red. There was even a bruise forming, it's pear yellow shape fading into a dark violet.
"Watch that tone around me, boy. If you weren't ideal for this mission, I'd have you whipped."
Kaden sneered, thinking of everything he would be forced to do on this so-called mission. He thought of Lila, of her forced matureness. Of how fast a sweet girl had to grow up, and how she'd have to hurt someone she'd already come to like. He thought of Lucy, someone so scarred and pained by the past, but strong and positive. Someone so happy, despite such peril. A girl who, despite being his enemy, made him confused. Despite being his enemy, he couldn't help but see beauty in her. In the way, she laughed, or the way she smiled and complimented Lila. He in no way liked her that way, at least, not yet, but he couldn't help but see an innocent girl, who he'd end up hurting more.
"Lucky me then," He barked at Ritsu. Ritsu barred his teeth at him but backed away.
"Umm...Master? I was thinking the best way to get Lucy to join us, wouldn't be kidnapping someone for blackmail. After I viewed her memories, I came up with the perfect plan using one of her weaknesses."
Ritsu smirked, suddenly glad he had picked such an intelligent child for this job.
"What is it?"
"Using my plan, Kaden and I could make her come her willingly." Lila described her plan to Ritsu, making sure to have an in-depth description. Kaden shriveled at every word. The plan was so horribly acute to Lucy's fears, that it even made him sick. What if she never recovered from what they were going to do?
"I'm positive it'll work..." Lila said softly.
Ritsu grinned, his evil, chilling smile making every bone in Kaden's body tense. He looked exceptionally pleased with Lila, especially from the loaf of bread he snatched from the table and tossed to her. She stared at the bread in surprise. The food they were usually given wasn't fresh, nor was it pleasant tasting. On missions, they could eat freely as long as they had money, but they hardly ever obtained jewels. So, Lila felt her mouth water at the freshly baked bread, it's toasty scent wafting through her nostrils.
"That plan's brilliant, squirt! You're the first rat I'm proud of!"
Lila forced a small smile, clutching the loaf of bread to her chest like it was her child.
"T-Thank you, sir! I'll be sure to make Crimson Flag proud!" She stammered, saluting him. Kaden internally scoffed, never fooled by the whole "Crimson Flag pride". What was there to be proud of? Being kidnapped by dark mages as children? That was considered an unlucky fate. He had been one of the lucky ones who had gotten to grow up with their real parents before being stolen. That is if you considered remembering everything you once had and lost, lucky. But, kids like Lila were born at the base. They never knew of a mother's loving touch, or of a father's protective glance. The leaders of Crimson Flag found that children who never experienced a family were less resistant and more obedient. After all, who can miss what they never had?
"You two are dismissed. After all, you both have a mission with the target tomorrow. You both must earn her trust if this plan is to work."
Both Lila and Kaden nodded, both stalking out of the dark meeting room, to their quaint quarters, or barracks in the back of the base. They were cellmates, and Kaden was like Lila's older brother. They had been together since Lila had been born.
"Here..." Lila said sweetly, ripping her reward in half. She waved the massive chunk of bread in front of Kaden's nose, and he resisted the temptation to snatch it from her hands like a lunatic.
"No." He pushed the bread back at her. " You need your strength," He said sternly. She pouted, giving him a heated glare.
"So do you! For this plan to work, YOU have to be at full strength. You're the deciding variable in all this. If Lucy-nee- I mean, Lucy, trusts you, then everything will go smoothly. You'll have to lay on the charms. Not to mention your magic is the one we'll be relying on. You and I are a lot more powerful than we let on to everyone." He visibly deflated at the mention of the plan again.
Halfway to their rooms, guards rushed towards them, activating the guild mark branded on each of their backs. It was shaped like a flag, with a snake wrapped around the hilt. Of course, the color was a blinding crimson. Lila collapsed to the floor, writhing with agony, only having enough brain power to clutch her bread to her chest. Kaden fell to his knees, the sensation of electricity ripping through his body like a forked tongue of lightning had struck him. The guards cuffed them immediately, dragging the two back to their rooms. Once there, the guards deactivated the lightning.
After handcuffing them to their beds, and laughing at Lila's smashed bread, the barbarian-like guards left. Kaden's whole body was numb, the lightning leaving him exhausted. Even after everything, he still wasn't used to their method of keeping their prisoners in line.
Both of them settled on their beds of straw, and he finally relented and accepted her kind offer of a chunk of crumbling bread. Munching on their dinner, they both stared at the stars, which were visible through a hole in the roof. They twinkled and sparkled, the moon overshadowing them. It was a truly beautiful sight.
"Kaden?" Lila said in a sleepy voice. He never understood how she could fall asleep so soon after they were tortured by that electricity.
"Yeah?" He responded quietly.
"I don't want to hurt Lucy-nee..." She whimpered, clutching her raggedy cat doll to her chest. Its lopsided body was lumpy and frayed, only one of its jade green button eyes still sewed on. Its clumpy black fur was fraying, and its tail was loosely lagging. But she loved the thing, choosing to name it Chat Noir, a name French for black cat.
"I don't want to hurt her either..."
The rest of their sentences weren't said, but both of them knew what the other was thinking.
'But we don't have a choice in the matter...'