Hot and Cold

Jellal Falls

~*****~

"Unbelievable. Natsu, you really dropped the ball, didn't you?" I complain as I carry him up the stairs.

"Aw, shut up, ya jerk..." Natsu grumbled, his face pressed into the junction of my shoulder and neck. "Aw man, my head is still spinning..."

I giggle. "Well, you did just get eaten by birdbrain." I mention. "You're lucky Gray was able to save you. I had my own problems to handle."

"Oh, great..." He groaned.

"He defeated the owl, but he was badly wounded during the fight," I mention as I glance over the ledge. "Happy and Ballad are taking him to a safer place."

"WAIT, I LOST TO THAT OWL FREAK BUT GRAY WAS ABLE TO BEAT HIM?!" Natsu suddenly screamed in my ear.

I hobbled and nearly sailed over the edge but managed to right myself. "I didn't say you lost. You just got swallowed whole." I shrug. "And he exploited the weakness of motion sickness, so it was child's play to do so."

"It doesn't matter what happened, he's still gonna hold this over my head for at least the next month!" Natsu cried. "Man, this sucks!"

"You're missing the point," Metal Jaw commented.

"I WON'T STAND FOR THIS! I DEMAND A REMATCH!" Natsu shouts. "BRING THAT BIRDBRAIN BACK AND LET ME SHOW HIM WHAT I'VE GOT!"

"Do not tug on the scarf when you're trying to get down!" I snap at Natsu.

"It's my scarf!" He shouts back.

I jut my thumb at Metal Jaw. "Yeah? Well Metal Jaw ripped my top straight off my body while getting sucker punched by that birdbrain, so I need it."

"Uh... do we even know him?" Natsu asks.

Metal Jaw shook his head. "I'm Simon. I was friends with Erza back when we were kids." Simon explains.

"Oh, then that case, it's nice to meet you, Simon!" I chirp.

He suddenly leans over, grasping his midsection. "Are you okay, big guy?" Natsu asks.

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine. I just got word from Wally." Simon mutters. "He and Milliana found Lucy and Juvia, but they're in bad shape. He said it looked like they took down one of the Trinity Raven all by themselves."

"The two of 'em?" Natsu hummed.

"They hadn't heard that we're not enemies anymore." Simon states. "So, they were confused when I asked them to take the girls to safety. Sho's also informed me that the last member of Trinity Raven has been defeated."

"Well, at least I'm not alone in doing nothing..." Natsu murmured.

"Your friend actually took down Jellal's right hand, Two Ton, while you were having trouble with Fukuro." Simon explained.

Natsu glanced at me, and I held up my hand in a salute, chiming, Yo. "I DIDN'T GET TO DO ANYTHING!" Natsu complained.

"Now that they're out of the picture, that just leaves Jellal. Erza's gone to find him." Simon mentions.

"By herself?" Natsu and I snap.

"She's got a score to settle and whether we like it or not, she wants to do it on her own." Simon explains. "I'm sure you're aware she and Jellal have quite a history. It's as if they're destined to fight each other. I'm worried about her because Jellal's stronger than she knows. I beg you. You two have to help her fight him."

"Not gonna happen." Natsu flat out says.

"What did you say?!" Simon bellows as I begin to chuckle. I hold my hands up as Simon shoves Natsu against the wall with a destructive force. "What's wrong with you!? You claim to be Erza's friend, but you refuse to help her?!"