Lucy stared at the man with pure hatred as he looked down on her.

Wondering why she was stupid enough to come and talk him out of this ‘vengeance’ he sought when clearly the man was too proud to give it up.

Then they heard it.

Two floors below.

The sound of an angry motorbike.

And a minivan’s engine coming after it.

One of the followers came running into the room’s open door,

“He’s here! And he’s not alone!”

The man broke off eye contact with Lucy. Still with a smirk on his face as he turned to face the other,

“Then show him and his boys what you’re made of.”

.

There was a sound of a knuckle smashing into a cheekbone. Loud enough to echo in the hall of the first floor.

It wasn’t just once.

Natsu swung his fist again as he held one of the enemies by the shirt.

“WHERE IS SHE?!” he shouted with his teeth clenched. He was enraged. But of course he was.

“Answer,” Gray, who was standing beside him, gave the man a threatening look.

“Th-third f-floor,” the man stuttered as he struggled to answer, his face hurt from the punches Natsu was giving him.

Getting what he asked for, Natsu threw the man aside like garbage that effortlessly landed on the floor.

By the time they started to the stairs, a bunch of thugs were running in the hallway. All carrying bats and sticks, headed towards them like there was going to be some street fight.

Gajeel cracked his knuckle joints as he looked at the advancing team,

“Could use some exercise right about now,” he said smirking.

“Let us handle this,” Jellal said to the others. Indicating for them to go ahead.

Without hesitation, Natsu continued on towards the second floor with Loki, Gray, and Sting. At times like this, you need to have complete trust on your own team.

Loud smashing and collision of fists and body parts echoed through the halls behind them as they continued on, not looking back. There were screams of pain as well.

But that wasn’t the end though, when they reached the second floor, another set of small fries were already waiting for them.

“I got this!” Loki shouted and started running to the lion’s den. Literally.

“Go!” Sting shouted at Natsu as he joined in with the brawl. His first brawl exactly. And damn it felt good when you have a good fighter by your side. Loki was punching faces like he was dancing smoothly.

Now it was just him and Gray.

Natsu was boiling up. Very looking forward to meeting the frontrunner and getting it done with him.

Finally, the third floor.

Just when they thought it couldn’t get any easier, men were already there as well.

One was even impatient enough that he lunged towards Natsu with his bat in hand.

But before he could take a swing, his face had already collided with the wall. He wasn’t able to dodge Natsu’s firm backhand. He probably thought he had the upperhand since he carried a weapon and all that.

Now there were three enemies blocking their way.  But one decided to run and head towards the room, which Natsu bet was where they kept Lucy. Now there’s just two. Two trembling idiots stupid enough to think they can hold him off.

“So this is like a shitty ‘boss level’ on some arcade game huh?” Gray said as he chuckled. Seeing the shaking boys in front of them was rather amusing, “You worried yourself for nothing, Natsu.”

He didn’t reply. He just continued to stare in front.

“Well,” Gray sighed, “Keep going, man. I’ll deal with these kids.”

“Once you’re done, wait with the others outside,” Natsu finally spoke, “Don’t interfere with my fight.”

.

The man stared at the door, anticipating Natsu’s arrival.

And sure enough, a figure appeared. He was staring back at him, not happy.

“You finally made it,” the man mockingly said as he gave a grin at him. 

But like the frontrunner didn’t matter at all, Natsu’s attention instantly went to Lucy who was at the far corner of the room.

She was staring back at him, her eyes moist.

She was trembling.

Why?

Easy. Another man held her with a knife on his hand pointed at her throat. She couldnt do anything, her hands were tied.

“Natsu…” she whispered.
Not sure if he heard her or not. But she didn’t fail to see his brows twitch when she said it.

A single tear ran down her soft cheeks.

Lucy was afraid.

And he was going to take that fear away from her and get her out of that forsaken place.

It was no place for a queen. His queen, damn it.

Natsu didn’t move his eyes from her, and his voice was gentle and stern at the same time when he spoke,

“Don’t cry.”