"What the?" Gajeel growled, regaining his feet quickly and going on the defensive.

Natsu had searched all over for the iron-studded man and, upon locating him, had smashed his fist into the side of his face. Not speaking, Natsu lunged at him again. Gajeel was prepared for him this time and met his fist with his own. Hissing against the pain of his uncovered and vulnerable hand clashing with Gajeel's hardened one, he spun around and kicked the other dragonslayer in the gut.

Gajeel fell back with another angry growl, "What's gotten into you?"

Their fight was serious. It hadn't been this serious since the man had kidnapped Lucy and provoked his rage. Realizing that Natsu was giving it his complete all, Gajeel returned the same effort.

At one point he had gotten cornered by Gajeel and could only snarl in pain and anger as the other man rained punches and kicks down on him. When he got a chance, Gajeel caught his arms and tried to hold him down. His body burned with anger and scales were starting to appear under his eyes and on his shoulders. Being held down and unable to do anything was something too familiar to him lately and he quickly escalated into full on fury.

"Tell me what's going on!" Gajeel shouted. Natsu glared up at him, initiating a staring contest of sorts. After several long moments, Gajeel caved. "Fine. I think I understand now."

He let go of Natsu's arms and hardly gave him a second to collect himself before kicking him with enough force to send him crashing through a fence on the other side. With that hit, he'd made it clear that he didn't consider this a typical fight between guildmates. Without laughing his usual stupid laugh or smirking his usual stupid smirk, his face set in a serious line as his skin turned silver.

They sprang at each other at the same time. Natsu predicted his extended arm and ducked out of the way just in time. Tracing his palm down the extended arm, he followed it to the base and sent a brutal uppercut to his chin.

Gajeel retaliated with a kick to the top of the head that faceplanted Natsu into the dirt.

The fight continued until they were both unable to move another muscle and fell to the ground. They hadn't refrained from using dragonslayer powers and his skin felt raw all over from when he hadn't been able to avoid his breath completely. He hadn't been beat up this badly for an extremely long time. And, he'd felt better then.

Gajeel coughed. Natsu turned his head, wincing at the pain, and met Gajeel's bruised eyes.

"Go back to your woman, Salamander," he rasped.

Most of the anger and frustration in Natsu had left with his energy. Dead tired, he forced himself to his feet and stumbled his way back to Lucy's apartment. The light was on in her window. She was probably wondering where he was. He hadn't left her side for this long since before he found out she was dying and had kissed her.

He used his remaining strength to jump to her window and ease it open. She was still reclined on the bed, but when she turned and saw him, she jumped up to meet him at the window.

"No, no," he insisted. "You're sick."

"What happened to you, Natsu? Did you get jumped?" Lucy asked, bewildered at the state of damage he was in. "We need to bring you to…well, Wendy's not here…"

"I fought with Gajeel. And, don't worry about it. I heal fast," he said. He didn't know how to explain it to her, but he needed the pain. Hell, he couldn't understand it himself. Maybe he was punishing himself for not being able to fix it. He didn't know. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, her face still set in concern. He tried to smooth the worry lines away, but they remained. She made him lay down and then tucked herself in with him.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Lucy twined her fingers in his hair and kissed him carefully. She tasted of mint toothpaste and tears. She was crying again.

Hugging his head close to her chest, she said, "No, Natsu. I'm sorry."

#11 Sorry