This is the prologue to a multi-chapter Gratsu centric fic. I've been playing around with this idea for a while and it's finally formulated into a state which I am rather happy with :) no matter how angsty it will get D:

The title comes from an Imagine Dragons song, 'Smoke & Mirrors'. I absolutely love the song, and for me the lyrics to the song resonate with the themes and plot of this fic, but that is all I'll say for now…

I hope you liked the start and enjoy the other chapters as they come!

Smoke & Mirrors
Prologue
Giganto

"Deep in my heart, deep in my mind, take me away, take me away. This is my word; dream maker, life taker, open up my mind."
- Smoke & Mirrors, Imagine Dragons

As Gray's eyes flickered open the first thing he noticed was that it was impossibly dark. He knew he wasn't blind, Gray could make out shapes in the glow of the moon, but the darkness still clung to him. As he slowly regained control of his senses a dull ache in his hip was brought to his attention, along with a sharp pain on the side of his head.

Gray tried to shift himself so to not be leaning that same painful hip on the cold, rough ground but found both his wrists bound in cuffs and even more pain than before. No moving then… A hiss escaped his lips as the rusty metal pinched the skin of his wrists. The Ice Mage didn't even bother to try and use magic to get out, he knew his power was cut off from him, that was if he had any left.

Gray flinched as he heard solid footsteps heading his way. So, bars, not a door. Jangling keys and creaking hinges, then rough hands grabbed him under the arms and half dragged him down a stone corridor towards a brightly lit room. His lack of physical strength meant Gray didn't struggle as he was shoved onto a chair and tied down.

Keeping his head lowered, Gray's dark fringe covered his bruised and bloodied face. He couldn't help but squint in the bright light of the room, but Gray wasn't given much time to focus though as his head snapped round painfully from a backhanded slap.

"Pathetic little Fairy." The beefy mage spat the words at his prisoner, "all frail and broken so far from the group."

"Let me go and you'll realise just how pathetic I really am." Gray was satisfied with the amount of fire he could put into those words despite how little energy he had left. Staring up at his captor, Gray smirked. "Where the hell am I? And who are you anyway?"

The size of the man towering over him would put Elfman to shame, but he had none of the same friendliness and warmth which Gray's guild mate had. The giant had jet black hair which spiked away from his square head, there was a jagged scar running diagonally from his right eyebrow to the bottom of the ear on the same side. His lips were thin, and his eyes cold and narrow.

The giant of a man let out a gruff 'ha' of laughter. "They won't find you if that's what you're thinking, and you don't need to know who I am. You won't be leaving here alive."

Judging by Giganto here, I hope they don't. Gray thought. I don't know what magic he uses. Not yet anyway. "Really? That's good to know," Gray retorted flippantly, "what do you want?"

"Don't try and be smart." Giganto snapped.

Gray grunted in pain as he received a punch to the jaw. Despite this he kept looking up at the brute of a man in front of him.

"You are going to tell us, who and where the demon E.N.D. is." Giganto's eyes flashed dangerously, "and we know that you know who it is Gray Fullbuster. Mr Ice Devil Slayer."

Gray spat out a spray of dark red blood. "Fuck you."

"You will tell us what we need to know," Giganto growled in anger, "or, we will kill you.

A smug grin flickered over Gray's dry but blood covered lips. "Then kill me."

Gray was out before he could even register that he'd been hit.