Chapter 3: Breaking-In

( - - - - )

Tossing his jacket into his car before rolling up his sleeves, Natsu shut the car door as Levi sat inside the interior with her laptop displaying the blueprints of the mansion they were parked down the street from. The rosette, already removed the wig, ran a tan hand through his hair in an attempt to bring life to held-back locks.

"Ready Levi?" He whispered with adrenaline rushing through his body as he backtracked towards the building where intel stated Lapointe resided as his comrade gave him a confident 'mhm'.

"Heh, seven guards... Taking my notice a little lightly, isn't he?" Cobalt eyes watched from a spot blanketed in shadow before dashing away to avoid detection from several guards with flashlights.

"Don't get cocky-just get the job done quickly," He rolled his eyes at the wariness in her voice; he knew he could be a little cocky especially when his notice wasn't being taken seriously by his opponent but that trait developed when he successfully completed a mission that had too much security. Thank god for paranoia!

Getting inside was no problem with Levi in his ear telling him, which room would help him accomplish his mission without much of a gun fight; he only had his personal handgun and two magazine clips - if a fight broke out, he'd be at a serious disadvantage. He grabbed his gun from its holster on his leg before whispering, "Where to?"

"Exit the room - the living room is your first left," Her words signaled him to start; Natsu made his way silently across the room he entered, which he deduced from what little he could make out was a sort of personal room for Lapointe.

Slowly turning the doorknob, Natsu's fingers prepared for the worse as he glanced into the next room - no guards and with a soft 'tch' he entered the new room just as quietly. The new room was nicely lighted, bookcases adorning the walls that were painted a deep maroon color; it caused the rosette to make a mental note about doing something for Levi's workplace - the bare white walls can't be exactly the best work environment.

"ne Levi, how'd you like to have your work area's walls painted?" He whispered as he peeked out the archway, which lead to a long corridor with one guard patrolling.

Cobalt eyes watched until the guard turned his back on him before dashing towards him and slamming his gun into the back of the man's head with enough force to knock him out. While he dragged the man into the nearby bathroom on his right, he listened as Levi spoke of Gajeel often suggesting she change the colors of that room before mentioning if it was painted she'd imagine it to look like a library from a rich person's home.

Cracking a smile he whispered again, "Don't worry once Gajeel is back, we'll all pitch in and help you girls... I know Lucy wouldn't mind the change," before taking a peek into the room on his left.

With his gun ready Natsu noted three guards in, what he assumed after being in so many other mansion, the waiting room for guest; a grin that might have seemed a little out-of-place stretched itself onto his face as he would have to act fast and time it right. Eyeing the guard at the far right end of the room, he timed his next move for the next moment he stepped out once more. At the very second he exited the room, the rosette raced over to the guard closest to him and repeated his earlier actions before dragging the limp body out into the hallway. Once there it wasn't long before he heard voices asking about the mission guard coming towards him; he headed partway down a nearby hallway and slipped into an unoccupied room right before the other two guards left the waiting room to find their friend slumped over on the floor.

"Call for back-up," As one turned his back on the other to do as he was told, Natsu dashed out and hit the man remaining with the butt of his gun before going after the next. When all three were down and out for the count, Natsu whispered for Levi to give him more directions.

"The room to the far-left is the master bedroom, if he's like every other corrupt asshole out there, he'd be where his safe is" Natsu chuckled after hearing her words; he was quick to the far-left room but slow enough to dodge a warning bullet that shot out from inside the next room.

"I don't know who you are but you're not taking me down!" Lapointe's voice was heard from the rosette's left, which only widened his grin to an abnormal size; adrenaline racing dangerously through his veins he took a quick peek to see a guard standing on one side of the room in the perfect spot to shoot.

The man went down, clutching his side; not missing a beat, Natsu stepped into the room with his gun pointed at Lapointe who was shakily holding a semi-automatic pistol. His cobalt eyes hardened as he stared down the corrupt man, who seemed content with forcing a child to grow up without a father and likely on the streets. Ignoring the nagging feeling in his gut, he drew his mouth into a thin line before beginning, "Lapointe, you're a corrupt man... You hide behind lies of helping the less-fortunate with your insurance and aim to play god over other's lives... You're a despicable-"

A gunshot resonated off the wall as cobalt eyes widened in surprise while pain burst throughout his body; he could heard Levi's voice in his ear filled with worry and before he could decide his next move, he found himself jumping through a nearby window. He raced as far as his feet could take his pain-riddled body while ordering Levi back to the house.

"But Natsu-"

"That's an order... Levi, I will meet you back there... I promise," No further argument came out of the petite girl's mouth; he took out his ear piece and stuffed it into his pocket.

Natsu needed to get as far away as he could from that mansion; he stumbled from street to street as his vision grew cloudier and cloudier - it wasn't long before he was dragging himself to rest in front of some random small SUV. He lifted a hand to inspect but it fell back down onto the ground in defeat and then everything went dark.

Natsu P.O.V:

I knew back then that it was all too easy...

Gajeel was one of the best we had and taking down Lapointe was his mission originally...

Something had to have happened for that corrupt bastard to get a shot on me like that... I hadn't even sensed the other shooter until it was too late...

( - - - - )

Csilla: Just let me die happily... :D I'M ON CLOUD NINE, BABY!

Next Chapter - Fateful Encounter