Starlight Blue (Gray x OC x Sting)

White Light

Sting's fist trembled as he backed away, chest heaving. 

The look in his eyes was no longer just rage, it was fury sharpened by fear, by shame.

And Larcade saw it.

"You're angry," Larcade said calmly, brushing dust from his robes

"Because you know I'm right."

Sting didn't answer, he charged again. 

His fists flying in a blur. 

Each strike exploded against Larcade's defenses with a crack, but he barely flinched.

"You want to kill me because I threatened her," Larcade continued, his voice calm even as he dodged 

"But that's not the only reason." He caught Sting's punch and twisted it

"You're afraid of what that says about you."

Sting grit his teeth, twisting free and slamming a punch into Larcade's ribs. 

"I'm not afraid of anything!"

Larcade only smiled, wheezing slightly from the hit.

"Oh, but you are. You're terrified."

"You've tried so hard to be strong."

"The White Dragon. The master of Sabertooth. But deep down... you think you're still that scared little boy who was left behind."

Sting froze.

"You remember it, don't you?" Larcade's voice turned cold

"The guilt. The loneliness. The constant need to prove yourself. You became strong, but it never stopped hurting." 

"Not really."

He moved forward now, slow and deliberate.

"You couldn't save your foster father. Couldn't stop your partner from drifting away. Couldn't stop the guild from falling into chaos."

"Shut up." Sting's breath hitched

"And now?" Larcade's grin widened

"You cling to love; to your friends because you're afraid that without them... you're nothing."

"Shut up!!"

Sting lunged again, but his strikes were shaky. 

Not from weakness, but from everything boiling beneath the surface.

"All that power," Larcade said, parrying cleanly 

"But you're still just a scared, broken boy."

"You pretend it's for them. For your guild. But it's always been about you, hasn't it?"

Sting hit the ground, rolling to his feet.

His heart pounded.

Larcade's voice pierced like a knife.

"You want redemption."

"Validation." 

"Forgiveness." 

"But most of all-" He paused, tilting his head

"You want someone to look at you and say, you're enough" 

"Even when you don't believe it yourself."

Sting's shoulders shook.

He felt the weight of every failure, every fear, every broken part of himself.

But then... he clenched his fists.

Lifted his chin.

And let out a slow, shaking breath.