Disclaimer- I don't anyone except Gray here. There.
Oh, hey there! Uhaa uhaa... I know, I know. Slash these days is not coming in as interesting manner as earlier. That's why Unhealed Wounds is here again, presented in a totally different version! Tadda!
On a side note, please only proceed you don't mind reading something way too different from the old version of Unhealed Wounds.
Hope you give it a try. Oh, and almost none of the characters introduced in this chapter behave like they earlier did. Except Gajeel, maybe. Laxus, Natsu and Gray are not at all like what they used to be. Gray is bolder, Laxus is shyer and Natsu is...an asshole.
You shall proceed now, my warrior!
"This is our area."
"I can't see your name written here."
"Aren't you a spitfire?" Cocking an amusing brow up, he asked. The teen in front of him shrugged. Natsu took in the appearance of the male in front of him – 5''10, pale, few abs and an otherwise lean body with blue eyes and black locks.
Natsu smirked, yelling over his shoulder, "Hey guys, see the pretty boy here? Brave, no?"
The blue eyed boy glared at Natsu, his arms wrapped around himself. His lips were tugged down unapproachably.
"Do you frown all the time?" Natsu chuckled, giving the teen another once over.
"Do you show your idiocy all the time?" The teen retorted, smirking. Natsu jumped off his bike, his face scrunched into disgust.
"You're a brat, boy. Don't you know what you're getting into?" Natsu walked up to the boy, smirking at the fact that he towered over the teen by a few inches.
"I might be a brat. But being a brat is far better than being a jerk like you." The raven haired teen retorted, letting his arms drop by his sides.
"What's your name, boy?" Natsu asked, walking around him in circles.
"I don't think it's any of your business."
"It is. Anything in our area is ours. Right now, you've stepped in our area, which makes you our as well. And as the leader of my team, I am the one in charge of taking care of my business. So, I repeat the question, what is your name, boy?" Natsu stopped in front of the teen, looking down into deep pools of angry cobalt.
"Gray."
"Just Gray?"
"Just Gray."
"Dull." Commented Natsu, patting Gray's cheek with his finger. The latter gritted his teeth, clenching his eyes shut. Behind Natsu, a blonde walked up to them, amused green eyes fixed on them. He stood beside Natsu, slinging a jacket-clad arm around the man.
Natsu grinned, "Hey Loke, Mr. Dull here is kind of feisty, no?"
Gray opened his eyes, glaring directly into Natsu's amused ones. He raised his fist, aiming it at the taller male's face. With a chuckle, Natsu gripped the wrist, slowly brining it near his lips, pecking the knuckles lightly.
"So soft… Hey, you are a guy, right?" Natsu left the wrist, laughing loudly with Loke.
Gray's eyes hardened, then slowly, a smirk formed on his face, "I don't need to prove my manliness by bullying others. I'm not that insecure about my manhood, unlike you, of course."
Natsu's eyes hardened for the first time then, glaring at the teen in front of him.
"Wanna play with big boys?" Natsu leaned closer towards Gray's face, copper eyes daring stern blues.
"Big boys?" Gray snorted, crossing his arms once again and looking away, eyes staring at the cracked window of a white house, located few meters away. His gaze returned towards Natsu, smile plastered on his face, "How old are you exactly? Thirteen?"
Natsu removed Loke's arm away, lifting Gray up by his shirt's collar, "Definitely more mature than some fifteen year old."
"I'm nineteen." Gray gritted out, eyes still hard, daring the taller man to take his actions further.
"Natsu, dude, leave the guy." Loke patted Natsu's shoulder, urging the latter to loosen his grip.
Natsu released Gray, sneering, "You better take your ass away from here before I kill you."
"What if I don't?" Gray asked, still smirking.
"Then my fist will be connected with your smashed face. Now, before I count to ten and break your pretty face into shards, fuck off."
Natsu walked back towards his bike, counting over his shoulder, "One. Two. Three." He jumped on the red vehicle, removing his jacket and tossing it back over another bike, blue in color.
Gray glared, and leaned down. A sudden pain in his back made him clench his eyes shut. He released a shaky breath and picked up his purple colored bag, stuffing a shirt back in it.
"Four. Five. Six." Natsu grinned, his eyes following Gray's leaning form. Behind him, he heard Gajeel complain, "Dude, your jacket is on my face."
He saw Loke roll his eyes and walk up to the red-eyed man, lifting the jacket up and folding it on his arm.
Natsu shook his head, "Idiots." He looked down at his hand, inspecting a silver locket with a cross and a stone on it. He lifted his eyes up to look at Gray's retreating figure. Good, the brat was out of the boundary.
"Hey! Just to remind you," He yelled at Gray, attracting attention of his companions and the teen, "this expensive thing's gonna stay with me."
Gray's eyes widened. Laughing at the frozen teen, Natsu shook his head. This day was fun. He jumped off his bike again, walking over to Loke and Gajeel, "Hey fucktards, see this? Quite expensive, no?"
Loke's eyes narrowed, inspecting the silver locket similarly.
"Dude, I don't know who this brat is, but one thing is for sure. He's loaded."
Suddenly, the locket was snatched away from Natsu's hand. They all looked at Gray, whose face was practically radiating rage. Glaring, he stated, "This is mine, and no way in hell is it going to stay with you."
Natsu puckered his lips, batting his eyelashes, "Really? I'm so scared, Mr. Pretty boy."
Gray sneered and turned around, halting when Natsu gripped his shoulder. Sternly, Natsu said, "I said it's gonna be with me, and that's final. No one dares to take what I claim."
"Then maybe-
Natsu straightened at the sound of police sirens. "Fuck." He muttered and got on his bike, driving off with Loke and Gajeel following him.
Gray stood there, face panicked and eyes wide. He looked around frantically, searching a place to hide. He ran towards the house he saw earlier, intending to jump through the window.
Someone gripped his shoulder and he cursed, "Shit."
"Gray Fullbuster, turn around, and face me." A stern voice ordered. Gray sighed and jumped down, looking up to stare at a tall and remarkably muscular blonde man.
"Look, Laxus, I can explain-
"You'll explain everything when we're at home. Right now, get into the car." Laxus ordered, his hand still resting on Gray's shoulder. Gray rolled his eyes, "Sir, yes, sir."
The blonde rolled his eyes and gripped Gray's hand, leading him towards a black BMW.
"Get inside. I'll go and thank the cops. And don't you dare run away this time, because you know it, Gray, I'll find you even if you're in hell."
That said, he approached the policemen, engaging in a conversation Gray didn't bother to listen. The teen stuck his tongue out, pouting after that.
"Guess I'll just have to follow Mr. Billionaire's order." Gray sighed and opened the door, stepping inside the car.
"Home sweet home!" Natsu kicked the door open, entering the house. The man stared confusedly at the empty house. Footsteps echoed throughout the house. Natsu looked up, only to find a woman clad in purple and white descend down the stairs.
"Erza?" His eyebrows furrowed. The scarlet haired woman stopped in front of him, looking straight into Natsu's eyes.
The latter swung an arm around her shoulder, leading her back inside, "Long time no see, sister. You could have informed me about your arrival here. Loke and Gajeel just went away-
"Oh, please Natsu, don't you dare to lie. I very well know what you would have intended if I had informed you beforehand. You would have just gone with your street friends to bully innocent people. Isn't that correct?" She removed Natsu's arm. The scarlet haired twenty three year old frowned, "What are you staring down at?" She followed Natsu's gaze, only to see her heels.
"That explains why you look taller…" Natsu mutter. A vein popped on Erza's forehead. She smacked her younger brother, "You idiot! I'm talking about something important here!"
Natsu rubbed the attacked area and sighed, "Look, I know you don't like me fighting. But that's all I'm good at and-
"You are well-educated! Stop making excuses, Natsu. That's not how I raised you."
"You're acting like some annoyed woman in her mid-twenties…"
"That's because I am a twenty six year old woman who is very much annoyed because of her twenty-one year old brother." Erza crossed her arms over her chest.
"So what? You want me to go and find a part time job?" Natsu rolled his eyes. Erza stared back sternly at him.
Natsu groaned, "You can't be serious, sis!"
"I am. Now, I have to go back to Fiore. My train is about to reach in half an hour. Try to stay away from gang-fighting, even though I know you're gonna call your companions the moment I leave."
Natsu chuckled, "Your fault. You're the one who spoiled me by gifting this house."
Erza smiled, "You're unbelievable." She got a cheeky grin in a reply.
Erza planted a kiss on his tanned cheek and looked into his eyes, "I'm serious, Natsu. If you really can't handle a full-time job, then at least take care of the bakery shop."
Natsu rolled his eyes, "Yes, sir."
"Shut up. Take care." She left the house.
"What were you thinking exactly? Did you even have a reason to leave the house?" Laxus asked, driving the car. The blonde turned the car in another direction, a view of lush green gardens and fountain present outside. He drove the car straight towards the large black entrance gates. Laxus continued, "I'm tired of your childishness, Gray. You know I care about you. And I just don't get what the problem-
"The problem's that you don't return my affection I want you to." Gray pouted, looking outside. Laxus sighed. The blonde stopped the car in front of the house and got out quickly. He came and opened the door on Gray's side.
"Come out already." The blonde grabbed the teen gently by his arm and dragged him out. Gray pouted, standing quietly beside his older brother.
"Thames! Park the car." Laxus tossed the car keys towards one of the guards. The young man quickly followed his orders. Laxus turned around, only to find Gray's tongue stuck out. The blonde raised an inquiring eyebrow.
Gray closed his mouth and gave him a nervous smile. Laxus rolled his eyes and held Gray's hand and led him inside.
"My ass still hurts, you know." Gray grinned as Laxus' eyes widened and a pink dusting appeared on the blonde's pale cheeks.
"Shut up, someone will hear." He murmured, glaring at his younger brother. The latter giggled in reply.
"If they find out you pounded hard inside me-
"Gray!"
The teenager chuckled at the hissed tone used by his brother. They climbed rest of the stairs silently. Laxus opened his bedroom door and entered, dragging Gray with him as well.
"Hey, bro, are you planning to rape me?" Gray teased, just to see the red flush rising on Laxus' cheek. The blonde seemed to do this a lot more these days.
"Can you just forget about last night? I told you it was a mistake!" Laxus sighed, plopping down on his large bed. Gray sighed and settled next to him.
"Maybe it's time for you to accept your feelings for me, Laxus." He mumbled.
"Maybe it's time for you to get the fact stuck in your head that we are brothers and I certainly do not harbor any such feelings you are fantasizing!"
Gray stood up angrily, "We are step-brothers and just stop denying it, Laxus, but you do harbor feelings for me which are way more than just 'brotherly'! And what are you scared of, anyways? The society talking about the blonde businessman having a relationship with his brother? Or-
"Gray, just shut the fuck up!" The blonde stood up, towering over the boy by several inches. He gripped the startled blue-eyed boy by shoulders, and continued, staring into pools of scared cobalt, "Don't you get it? I am your older brother! We've been together for far too long to even consider having a romantic relationship. I was drunk, you were drunk, and it was a mistake. A goddamn mistake, you get me!? Case closed!"
Gray stood there, dumbfounded. He nodded slowly and gently removed the blonde's arms away, stepping back from him. Laxus sighed, rubbing his temples. After regaining his calm, the blonde started, "Sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you. Gray, I'm just really frustrated."
The latter nodded, eyes downcast. Laxus groaned, stepping forward and pulling the younger male in his embrace. He kissed the top of his head, whispering, "Hey, I said I'm sorry, no? Stop sulking."
He still got only a nod in response. "Gray…" The teen pulled away, silently walking out of the room.
Laxus sighed and sat on his bed. One of the reasons he hated having this argument was that he just couldn't answer Gray, mainly because he didn't know the answer himself.
Hell, Laxus wasn't even sure if he like Italian food more or Chinese! For God's sake, how the hell was he supposed to know whether he loved his brother or not? And he couldn't just keep on leading Gray on when there was no guarantee if he would ever return the feelings.
"Hey, ya comin'?"
Natsu tossed the towel on his bed, walking towards the door with a cell phone cradled between his ear and shoulder. He replied, "Nah. I'm tired right now."
"Tired or pissed?" The female voice on the other end chuckled.
"Both." Natsu sighed, descending down the stairs. He entered the kitchen then, reaching for the door of the refrigerator.
"And why are you facing such situation? Finally facing love problems?"
"Shut up, Luce. You know I and love problems have no relation even in a faraway future." He pulled out a bottle of water, and continued, "Mind it, no chick on this Earth is ever gonna reject me."
"What if you are facing love problems because of a guy, huh?"
"Has anyone ever told you how stupid you are? I thought they just called blondes ditzy without any reason!" Natsu grinned. He walked back towards the living room, plopping down on his couch.
"Shut up, you dumbass! At least I'm not having pink hairs like you!"
"Salmon, Luce, salmon." Natsu corrected. The blonde on the other side faked a feminine laugh. Natsu chuckled.
"So?"
"So?"
"Natsu!"
"Lucy!"
"You jerk! Now tell me why you're pissed."
Natsu laughed, "Nothin' much. Just met an infuriating boy today."
"Aha! I knew some boy was troubling you-
"Luce, it's nothing like what you're thinking. It's just that for the first time, I met someone as bratty and arrogant as me. Just surprised, that's all." Natsu sighed, running a tanned hand through his spikes.
"Oh, so you don't know how to handle people who are like you. I understand. Even I don't know how to handle people like you!"
"Luce!" Natsu rolled his eyes, but a smile still sketched across his face. He shook his head, "I'll see you tomorrow. Inform the gang that it's a meeting. Later."
He disconnected the call and stretched his arms over his head, crossing them later and leaning his head against them. Closing his eyes, he muttered, "Fuckin' brat."
"Hmm…"
"You didn't say anything?"
Gray sat upright on his bed, rolling his eyes, "What was I supposed to say, idiot? He will ask me to have dinner out at my favorite restraint tonight, I'm sure about that."
"And how exactly are you sure that my boss is gonna ask you out?"
Gray smirked, "Mira, you do know how my kicked-puppy look works on him, don't you?"
"You're a devil. But honey, it's already 7:30 and you guys argued about an hour ago. Do you really think he'll come now?"
Gray grinned, "Damn sure, Mira! He's my brother after all, I know him very well."
"Geez, it feels weird when you call him your brother. Anyways, I've got to finish my work. What if your brother just keeps on sulking in his room? He'll yell on me tomorrow and I don't want that to happen. Talk to ya later, take care, honey."
Gray chuckled, "Alright, Good night." He disconnected the call and lay down on his bed.
The teen stared up at the ceiling, recalling the event of the day. He had…run away. Why had he run away, anyways? Oh yeah, the college thing…
Gray sighed, massaging his temples. He suddenly remembered about the arrogant biker who tried to steal his locket today.
"Fucktard…" Gray muttered. The teen looked around the room, searching for something to amuse him. His eyes landed on the mirror. His lips etched into a smile. He liked mirrors. He liked mirrors very much. Grinning deviously, the blue-eyed boy stood up, and walked over to the mirror.
"Hmmm… it was somewhere here only…" Gray mused, opening his drawer. He kneeled down, running his hands around all the crap he had stuffed inside. After a bit of struggling, he found the required object, and holding the sparkle pen up, he grinned, "Found it!"
Standing up, Gray looked at his image in the mirror. Whistling, the nineteen-year old grinned, "I'm hot."
He held up the marker, and with his eyes focused in the actions reflecting in the mirror, he ran the pen over his collarbone, drawing an average-sized star over the skin. He quickly filled it. Grinning, he exclaimed, "Fabulous!"
The doors burst open. Laxus entered hesitantly, eyes fixed on Gray. The teenager crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow at the blonde.
"C'mon… you aren't angry anymore, I know that." Laxus said, walking over him and slinging an arm around the latter's shoulder. Gray pouted, burying his face in the man's well built chest.
"Hey, you wanna go out?" The blonde asked, leading the teen towards the bed. Gray licked his lips, pretending to think.
"Like going on a date?"
"No… but at 8 Islands. Oh, and I've heard there's a bakery shop near the restaurant. We can buy a cake or something."
"Cake?"
"And you can sleep in my room tonight."
"Let's go!" Gray stood up, grinning. He grabbed the blonde's hand and started walking. Laxus pulled the teen back.
"Not like this, young man."
Gray looked down at himself and grinned after looking back up at Laxus.
"Wait for me till I take a shower?"
"Just be quick. And stop drawing on your skin, it's dangerous, baka."
"Oh, I love you too."
Laxus' eyes widened, and he yelled, looking at Gray's retreating figure with horror-stricken face, "There was no such thing and I never confessed in the first place!"
A/N: See? I wasn't kidding when I said they're entirely different from what they used to be. *sigh*
Anyways, this fic is gonna contain everything which was left pending in that story. The Oracian Seis fight and stuff... and then there's this big load of drama liquid I'm gonna wash you with. Over all, if you were expecting the same Gray and Natsu who called each other "Natsu-Chan" or "Gray- Chan", then, my humble apologies, but this fic is not meant for you.
I'll still wait for reviews, though. Although I have this sinking feeling that not everyone is glad with my decision of posting this version. Oh, and please point the errors. I tried to correct them but if you still find some, don't hesitate to point out.
FFN is being a pain today. It took me two hours just to upload the chapter!
Thank you.