Chapter 12
Outside Lucy's apartment, Natsu and Sting were facing off each other. Natsu was trying real hard to keep his anger in check which he found quite challenging while Sting was infuriated. For the first time, Natsu actually thought before diving straight into the fight; for the sake of his best friend, he calmed himself down.
After glaring at each other for a while, Natsu calmly states "Sting, I suggest you go back before you get smacked down. Stop butting into her life."
Sting was confused; he had never seen Natsu so calm and collected especially during a fight but he slowly became outraged after hearing what Natsu had just said to him. He lets out a battle cry and charges at Natsu, his fist alight. Natsu dodges and decks him in the face. Sting quickly gets off the ground and readies himself to attack when Natsu advances towards him fast and elbows him in the chin, sending him flying back crashing into a wall. Sting emerges from beneath the rubble and charges forward. They engage in a fierce battle for some time, with Natsu having the upper hand. Right when Sting was about to exhale a roar at Natsu, Rogue steps in.
"Sting! That's enough." He yells angrily at him.
Sting stops in his track and frowns at Rogue "Rogue, why are you siding with them? I'm your best friend. Your brother. You should side with me, not them."
Rogue then comments matter-of-factly "This isn't about you or me or them. It's about Lucy. And like I said to you before, I won't just stand by and watch you break her again when she has finally let go of the pain you caused her."
Sting growls in anger "And I told you I made a mistake. People make mistakes. I want her back. And I'll make her mine."
"The hell you will!" Natsu raises his voice, slowing losing his cool.
Rogue was agitated "Sting, stop this nonsense at once and let's go back."
"No. If I have to go through you too, then I will." yells Sting, readying himself again.
Just then "Sting Eucliffe!" The three guys hears Sting's name being called from somewhere along the path and turns their heads towards it.
Natsu immediately pales recognizing the terrifying annoyed voice.
Erza was furious. All she wanted was to visit Lucy and eat her cake peacefully while chatting with her. But then she noticed the one person she never wished to see around again. She looked ready to kill; re-equipped into her Heaven's Wheel Armor, summoning a large amount of swords and pointing it at Sting. "You have exactly ten seconds to explain what you're doing here and why I shouldn't kill you." she growls dangerously at him.
Sting gulps nervously.
"Look, I just came here to talk to Lucy." he replies calmly but inside he was trying to keep his heartbeat normal knowing that Natsu and Rogue would be able to hear it.
"Not good enough." Erza gives him a black look.
Rogue decides to cut in, feeling pity for his idiot friend "Erza, spare him just this once. I'll take him out of here and make sure he doesn't return again."
"What? No. I said I came here to talk to Lucy. I'm not going anywhere until she gets back with me." shouts Sting, slightly exhausted. He was a little worn down from his previous fight with Natsu which was totally one-sided since Natsu was repeatedly hitting him.
Erza's gaze darkens "What did you just say?"
"Sting, Shut the fuck up!" Rogue glares at Sting, then hits a pressure point on his neck making his fall unconscious. Sting clearly wasn't expecting that.
"Erza, Natsu. I'll take him back now. I apologize on his behalf."
Erza sighs exasperatedly and says, "It's not your fault. You don't have to apologize. But make sure he doesn't cause any more trouble like today. It's only because you're our friend that I listened to you. This is the first and last time."
Rogue nods, thanking them and walks away dragging a knocked out Sting along.
