Phoenix

So Are We?

Emi had barely made it back to Oshibana Town on her own. She had quickly found the town's doctor after asking for directions. The doctor gave Emi an antidote and told her to get some rest at the infirmary for observation.

"Don't worry, doctor. I'll be able to handle myself in a couple hours. I have a high resistance to poison."

"I'm more worried about that gash on your leg, miss. It looks pretty deep."

"Oh this?" Emi weakly laughed. "I'll be able to heal that once I regain some magic energy. I actually have healing magic myself, but I used basically all my mana up defeating the creature in the forest."

"I'm sure I don't have to tell you this, but make sure to stay off the leg for a while longer while it heals. I would like to thank you for ridding the forest of the creature. Hopefully the forest will become lively once again."

Emi smiled brightly before thanking the doctor one more time and leaving, poison free and leg bandaged. She groaned as she was slammed to the ground.

"Oh no! I'm so sorry!"

"Lucy, look. It's you!" Natsu shouted.

Lucy smacked him before scolding him for shouting.

"Ow."

"Are you okay? I didn't hurt you too bad, did I?"

Emi struggled to her feet, still weak from her encounter with Lust.

"I'll be fine. Thank you."

Emi waved Lucy off before turning and heading to the inn where her and Sting checked in earlier. She took in a breath as she calmed herself before entering the inn. Sting was sitting right next to the door inside, so he jumped up as soon as she walked through the front door.

"Emi--"

"I don't really wish to speak with you right now. I'm injured and I just want to go to bed."

"I'm not letting you sleep until I can apologize to you."

Emi stayed silent. Sting took that as a sign to continue, so he stood in front of her and looked her in the eyes.

"I don't expect you to forgive me for how I snapped at you, but I do want you to know that I instantly regretted saying those things and that I never wanted you to ever feel bad because of me. I'm supposed to be here to protect you, but I--"

"Protect me? Why would you need to protect me? I can handle myself perfectly fine."

Sting laughed before he continued, "I have no doubt in my mind that you can handle yourself in battle, but I mean more in an emotional way."

"Emotional? Like what?"

"I want to be here and make sure you're never sad. I'm here to try to prevent you from ever feeling like you need to cry."

Emi stared at him for a minute before nodding and walking towards the bathroom.

"Where are you going?"

"To bathe. I have dirt and blood all over me."

"You weren't listening to me at all, were you?"

"I was, but unless you want me to get into bed all gross, I would like to take a bath."

----------------------------------------------------

Emi walked back into the room with her wet cloak on.

Sting laughed, "Did you seriously bathe in your cloak?"