"Good job Flame-ass, you're actually good for something."
"Shut ya mouth Ice-ass. I'm good for a lot of things."
"You can't use my insult and change it slightly!"
"I just did Frozone."
"I'll take that, Frozone is a badass."
"Well then I take it back!"
The two men stood head to head, bickering at each other through clenched teeth. Before they could start physically fighting, Happy stepped in.
"Guys! Are we gunna go get Lucy or not?"
Immediately the ice wizard and the fire wizard backed away from each other, guilt taking over their features.
"Aye Sir" they said in monotone voices. The group of three turned back to the large prison like building that could be seen rising about the forest that they still found themselves in. Hopefully this was the place where they'd find Lucy. After hours of walking around the woods Natsu had finally picked up Lucy's scent again. Unfortunately it had led them back to the clearing so they'd had to go back into the woods and try again in a different direction. After a few attempts, they'd found the building that looked menacing and dreary enough to house a dark guild. A stereotypical dark guild that is, which they hoped Medusas Wrath was. If not, this was another dead end.
Natsu had seen enough, he started walking towards the building until he was yanked back by his vest. He turned round at an alarming speed to see Gray holding on to him. The fire mage growled and ripped his vest out of Gray's grip.
"Whadda ya doin' Ice Breath? We gotta go get Lucy!" Natsu exclaimed, ready to turn and run off into the direction of the building.
"We can't just go barging in with no plan!" the ice mage reasoned. Natsu's shoulders slumped and he nodded his head. Without a plan, they'd stand little chance against a whole guild full of the dark mages that had ambushed the team earlier. The dragon slayer turned to his furry best friend and sighed.
"Hey buddy? Do you reckon you could max speed back to the guild and get Erza, Wendy and whoever else they wanna bring here?" Natsu requested. Happy's response was conjuring his wings and flying to Natsu's height before yelling out proudly.
"Aye Sir!" With that, the exceed shot off through the forest.
"It's only the next town over Hot Topic, get a grip. He'll be fine." Gray said when Natsu's facial features formed a concerned expression. The boy walked over to one of the many trees that were dotted around and leant against it.
"You realise you just called me hot right?" Natsu chuckled, following Grays lead and leaning on a tree close to his. The ice mage spluttered and held middle finger up to Natsu.
"In your dreams Dragon Breath, I was talking about your magic."
"Yeah right North Pole."
"That was awful."
"Whadda about South Pole?"
"You're making yourself look stupid."
Natsu turned away from the boy and ignored him, instead picking at some of the leaves on the tree above him.
"What are you doing idiot?' the ice mage asked.
"Giving you the cold shoulder." Natsu began to cackle whilst Gray stood glaring at him. Behind the boys, and explosion sounded in the building, causing the two to jerk towards the building slightly. Blinding light poured out of the third floor windows on the side of the building closest to the boys before another explosion erupted, this time the deprie and smoke being viable and joining the light. There was only one person to cause an explosion like that.
"Loke" both boys murmured. They turned to each other and smiled, knowing they were both thinking the same thing. Lucy wasn't waiting to get rescued so they weren't going to wait to help her out. Natsu and Gray ran straight towards the building, readying themselves for a fight. Natsu's fists lit up with scolding hot fire and Gray held his hands out in his ice make position in front of him, ice particles already forming around his fist.
"We should've know that Lucy wasn't going to stay put!" Grey yelled to Natsu over the explosions that continued to go off. Natsu's smile grew as he thought of the girl fighting for her life up there. He couldn't wait to see her.
"Of course she wasn't, she's my partner after all" he yelled with pride.
"In both senses of the word." the ice mage uttered cheekily. Natsu didn't move to defend himself because he was right. He loved Lucy and like hell was he keeping whatever was going on between them a secret anymore. Not after almost losing her again. As the boys reached the building they heard a guttural scream of agony before all of the noises of the destruction ceased.
"Lucy." Natsu whispered, brushing past Gray quickly and reaching for the door. Something had gone wrong.
Really short chapter this time but I had inspiration so I thought I'd post two days in a row! Go me! Next chapter will be out next week so I'll see you then! Enjoy.