Phoenix

Questioning

"Hm? Why put me behind you when I can take care of them myself?"

Sting blushed a bit before blaming it on instinct. Emi hummed before stepping so she was beside him and smirking at him. She placed both hands on the ground.

"Fissure."

A huge crack formed beneath the group and they all fell into a canyon-like terrain. Emi turned around to Sting and gave him a look.

"Okay, okay. You can do it yourself. Just hurry up. I'm tired."

"But Sting," Lector chimed in, "you slept the whole train ride!"

Emi walked up to the fissure and saw that the guys were crawling up the sides to try to escape. She sighed before telling them that she would let them out if they gave back the girl. The guys laughed in her face, so she decided to add another spell.

"Cataracta."

Water started pouring from the top of the fissure, creating a double waterfall and washing the group back to the bottom. They started panicking when they found that they wouldn't be able to get out.

"Fine! We'll give her back, but please let us out!"

Emi shrugged her shoulders before calling off both spells. The group hurried to catch their breath before being approached by Sting.

"So, uh, can we take your word that you won't mess with this town again?"

"How on earth do you travel with a monster like that!"

"Hey!" Emi defended. "I'm not a monster. You guys are for kidnapping an innocent girl."

"That was a pretty effective strategy back there."

"A bit of emotional torture goes a long way."

"Lady Emiko is scary, Sting!"

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"So how was the job?"

"Boring and insulting."

"What did you do to her, asshole?"

"I didn't do anything!" Sting yelled at Kira. "The guys from the dark guild insulted her again so she's a little pissed right now."

"Wouldn't you be if you were called a child?"

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"Mister! Can you help me?"

Sting and Emi looked behind them to see a little girl standing at their feet. She looked like she was about to cry, causing Sting to kneel down to her height and pat her head. He looked into her teary eyes with ones of concern.

"Why are you so sad?"

"I can't find my mommy!"

"Hmm," Sting started as he sat down in front of her, "I could definitely help you find them. Just give me a second, kay? Emi, do you mind if--"

Emi laughed, "You don't need to worry about it. I'll meet you at the bakeshop."

Sting gave her a quick thumbs up before lifting the little girl on his shoulders.

"Here we go!"

"You're actually really good with kids," Lucy observed.

Rogue countered, "It helps a lot when he's a kid himself."

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"Hey sorry about that. I didn't think it would take that long."

"Were you able to find her mother?"

"She went all across the city looking for her. It was just luck that we ran into her by the palace."

"So what did you want to talk about so bad that you told Lector to stay home?"

Sting's face flushed as his ears burned. He stumbled over his words for a minute before looking over at Emi to see that she had raised her eyebrows at him.

"Um, I know we've been on a lot of dates, and I was just wondering if--"

"Oh my gosh. You're totally asking her to be your girlfriend!" Mira exclaimed.

Everyone laughed at the Fairy Tail wizard as she looked on with heart eyes.

"Hey losers, what's up?" Kira asked as she sat down next to Emi.

"No!" Mira screamed.

Sting looked at Kira, clearly annoyed.

"Where's Lector?"

"I don't know," Sting stated through gritted teeth. "Why don't you go look for him?"

"He's your cat. You go look."

"Um, Kira? Sting said he had something to tell me, so Lector stayed home."

"Something to tell you? What would he--"

Kira smirked before winking at Sting and leaving the shop. Sting sighed before putting his head on the table.

"Sting? Are you alright?"

Sting groaned before looking at her.

"It's every time. I have something to say and every single time someone interrupts."

"Uh, Sting?"

"Am I cursed?"

Emi giggled before trying to coax the dragon slayer to continue what he was saying before Kira came in. Sting sat up and took a breath before carefully taking one of her hands. Emi blushed at the sudden action and looked up to Sting's scarlet face.

"Will you--"

"Okay kiddies," the waitress cheerfully said, "I saw you come in so I got your usual ready!"

"Thank you very much, miss."

Emi turned to Sting to see his defeated faces and giggled.

"Will you please--"

"Hey Sting?"

Sting looked at Emi with his mouth open.

"Now you're interrupting me?"

"I just thought you would want to know that Mich and Rin are watching through the window."

Sting's head whipped around to see the two Phoenix Wing wizards giving him a thumbs up through the window. The dragon slayer narrowed his eyes at the pair before turning back to Emi.

"Would you want to be my girlfriend?"

Emi's face immediately turned bright red, but her hood was covering her face so nobody could tell.

"Okay."

"I mean I know that we...wait, really?"

Emi giggled before tapping his hand and motioning for Sting to look out the window. The dragon slayer turned around and saw that all of Phoenix Wing was standing at the window. Sting's mouth fell agape as they both walked out of the shop.

"Master Rue? You were in on it too?!"

"I was here with Yuuki and Zack and I'll be here with you and Emi. I love watching my children grow."