Fighting Oblivion

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

We'd been traveling through Bargo for a few days now. I didn't want to let Lucy out of my sight after the attack. When they materialized from the shadows below the bar I cursed Rogue for startling Minerva, she'd spilled her drink when she felt him grab her leg to pull himself up. But then I noticed he was holding Lucy in his arms. Dafuq? I'd just got more and more pissed when they told us what happened. We all slept in the same room that night, rotating the watch, keeping an eye out on the street through the window. We'd left the town first thing in the morning.

Since then, whenever Lucy wanted to wander away from the group I made sure she took me, Rogue or her over protective kitty cat with her. She tried to put her foot down when I told Rogue to follow her to the tree line so she could use the bathroom. But I knew how to give an order. I wasn't a guildmaster for nothing. I usually got my way, this time was no different.

We'd just set up camp for what I'd hope would be the last time, never thought I'd be wishing for a train, when I stopped her from leaving camp by herself again.

"Where do you think you're going?" My voice stopped her in her tracks as she was trying to sneak away.

"Sting," she whined. She had a cute whine. "This isn't fair, I'm not a little kid! I can take care of myself!"

"What's that got to do with anything?" I challenged.

"I can go get water on my own! I don't need a baby sitter." She stomped her foot...like a child.

I stood up to my fullest height, crossing my arms and raising a brow at her, skeptical.

"That assassin was targeting you, Lucy."

"You don't know that!" She protested. "I told you it could've been—"

"I know, I know, shiny white coat." I'd heard the argument before. That they only aimed for her instead of Rogue because her clothing was more visible in the dim street. I wasn't buying it.

"I don't give a shit if you were wearing flashing neon lights, you got shot. You're not to go anywhere alone, period. You need someone watching your back."

"But—" I held up a hand, silencing her.

"I don't want to hear it!" I was pissed now. Why couldn't she just fucking listen for once! I needed to protect her. Whoever took a shot at her knew about the coats now, they wouldn't be aiming below the neck again. I shuddered at the thought.

"Lucy," I rasped out, letting a little of the anxiety I was feeling enter my voice. "Please." I wasn't above begging anymore. "I...I can't lose you."

Her eyes snapped to me and her cheeks warmed.

"Sting..." I stopped her again, sniffing the air.

"Wha—"

"He's right, Lucy," said a familiar voice from the shadows. I smiled, relieved. I knew it.

Out stepped Gray Fullbuster, followed closely by the lovely Juvia Lockser.

"We wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you."

The rest of our group was overjoyed at the additions. Apparently Yukino's letter to Gray reached him and Juvia the day we left Crocus. They'd been one step behind us ever since. I hadn't seen Lucy look this happy since the night of the ball right after the GMGs. She was clearly thrilled to have one of her teammates back. And the river of tears that nearly flooded our campsite as her and the rain woman hugged each other tightly didn't bother me as much as it normally would. I was just happy to see her smiling like that.

"Don't worry, Lucy. Juvia cries tears of joy."

"I know, Juvia," she said hugging the water mage, "I missed you too."