Hello everyone! I know it's been a long time since I have updated to this story. I have lost the muse for a long while and also tons of life things have made it challenging to keep up with this at the time. Please do know, I will update as often as I can. I do have way more of a muse for it than I did before.
That being said, I'm thinking about starting up a Discord server for those who are interested. If you guys had ideas for this story, this would be a great way to discuss with me there, also helping others with their fanfictions as well. If this gets enough interest, I will set it up and link it to my profile.
Now, about the story. A lot has changed as to how I'm going to take this story. It's all coming to me at once and I'm very excited to share this all with you! Thank you so much for all of your patients. Enjoy!
Disclaimers: I do not own Fairy Tail. I do own the OC's in this story though.
Warnings: Some sex. Heart breaking.
This chapter was beta'd by CulinaryChef
The Fire That Bleeds
It was hard to sleep. Being in so much pain and fear. Laying there on the cold, hard cement floor, Natsu stared up at the ceiling wondering when this nightmare will end. Unfortunately for him, every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was red. Everything that has happened in only a matter of days, has broke him from his normality. He slowly was becoming the weakness he thought he'd never be.
Alongside him, Gray Fullbuster was past right out. He couldn't understand how he could be sleeping. When looking upon the ice mage, he was quickly reminded of the pain in his heart. This pain he was so unfamiliar with. He hated it. Wanted it gone. But… in the end, he knew there was no going back.
The flame mage curled into a ball facing away from the other male. His hands gripping to his chest where he could hear his beating heart which was getting louder with every second of silence. Newly formed tears drip over dried paths down his cheeks. Silently, he laid there and wept.
He was in an unfamiliar state of mind. No. He had to stand up for himself. It was the only way that both of them were going to get out of this alive. Right? But what good would this do him in the end? He was now mated to his best friend. Would Gray even accept this fate of reality? Natsu knew he wouldn't. He couldn't blame Gray for saving him the way he did. He knew if it wasn't the ice mage, it would have been with one of those burly men… or Amarion…
He turned around to look at the dark-haired male, laying there peacefully. Natsu's heart pounding at an alarming rate now. Natsu smiled lightly remembering all of their fights. The rivalry they shared. How much he utterly hated the ice mage, but yet… he still saw him as his best friend. Now… he was falling in love with the male all because of this stupid dragon mating.
"Gray... I'm sorry…" He whispered softly knowing the male couldn't hear him.
Though, now saying it out loud to himself, he became angry. That's right. Fate didn't control Natsu! It never had. Why should he let one redhead control his fate.
The flame mage looked toward Gray's wrists. He still had those cuffs that stopped his magic flow, but Natsu? He didn't have them on. He wasn't even sure if Gnash's magic was still in effect. He looked to the barred door. Quickly he stood to his feet. Stumbling at first, he stormed over to the bars that held them in. Placing his hands on the bars, he closed his eyes and concentrated. He could feel it, his magic was still there, he just needed to believe.
*Boom*
Flames consumed his figure. As he ignited, he felt the fire blistering his skin. Gnash's magic was still there. Cringing in slight pain, he knew this no longer hurt as much as it did before. He pulled out more of his magic. He knew it wouldn't last for long. He didn't have a lot of energy after all.
Centering his flames to his hands, he started melting the bars. His grin grew in size as the metal melted in his hands. Looking out, he noticed no one was on watch of their cell. Now was their chance.
"Gray!" Natsu shouted to wake up the ice mage. Two metal bars now completely melted. As he finished, he let his blistering fire burn out and ran over to the ice mage. His bloody hands motioning the male to wake. "Gray! Wake up damnit!"
The ice mage shook awake from the feel of hot, wet hands. He turned to gaze upon the flame mage. "What is it?"
"I've melted the cell bars! Let's go!" He exclaimed with a weak smile. His hands now stinging in pain.
"How?" Gray stood and saw for himself. That was definitely melted metal. He then glanced down to the flame mage's hands. "Natsu.. You're blee-"
"Never mind that," Natsu cut him short. "We need to get out of here."
Gray nodded and they both dashed out of the jail cell together.
Sweat dripped down the redhead's temples as he thrusted harder. Groaning in pleasure as he could feel himself becoming closer.
"God Gnash! You feel so good!" Amarion grunted out. He leaned down and licked at the dark-haired male's neck.
Gnash gripped onto the sheets beneath him. He waited for this to end, but he knew there was no way of getting out of this unscathed. He just took it without complaining. Breathing out heavily, he felt like breaking apart from how rough Grimm was being.
"Y-you could slow down, Grimm... " Gnash panted out.
"Ha-! Faster you say?" Amarion only took Gnash's gesture as a challenge and sped up his movements.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Damnit!" Amarion groaned and looked to the door. "What is it?! I'm busy!"
The door opens and two guards walked in, unfazed by the scene. "Grimm, Sir. Our prisoners have escaped." One of the burlesk men stated.
Amarion stopped with his motioned into the black assassin as he kept his glare on the guard. "How?" He asked with a harsh tone in his voice.
"The bars were melted-"
Grimm quickly averted his glare from the guards and now onto Gnash. His hands now choking the swordsman. "You fucking told me it wouldn't wear off!" Amarion gripped harder as his anger rouse.
"It d-d-doesn't- ach-" Gnash gripped onto those hands and tried to pull them away.
"Send out a search for those brats! The first to find the pinky can do what he wants with him! Oh and make the ice twat watch!" Amarion ordered as he kept his glaring red eyes upon the dark assassin. Gnash still struggling to pull the man off of him.
The guards smirked and dashed out of the room, sending the entire assassin guild on high alert. Moments after, a siren rang off. Amarion took this chance to let go of Gnash and pull out of him.
"I'm no longer in the mood." Before getting off the bed, he punched the male square in the face knocking the swordsman out cold. The redhead stood and dressed quickly.
Natsu ran up a set of spiraling stairs with Gray closely behind. His sense of smell hopefully leading them to the exit. Unfortunately, they had no idea which way they were going. Some of the halls seemed never-ending. Along the way, they were able to come along some cloth to cover their bottom halves.
The flame mage's ears perked at the sound of footsteps and yelling. He quickly grabbed Gray's hand and pulled him into a dark, empty room. Catching up on his breathing, he turned to look at the ice mage to see how he was doing. Gray only nodded and they waited for the sounds to pass them by.
"I heard something down this way!" One of the burly guards shouted. A group of them stormed by.
Gray took this moment to glance over the flame mage. His hand holding tightly onto a bloody one belonging to Natsu. Guilt slowly filling him, but he knew this wasn't the time to think like this. They had to get out of here first.
The pink-haired mage looked into those dark eyes. "Gray, you okay?"
"Yeah," He nodded. "Let's go."
They both left the room and rushed out to the right hoping the hall was clear for them. It was where his senses was taking them. Adrenaline keeping them both on their toes. Running faster, hand in hand, they both could feel freedom was close. Then…
"THERE THEY ARE!"
"Fuck!" Gray looked back wishing the wrist cuffs he wore didn't exist.
"Damnit!" Natsu followed shortly after realizing they just ran into a dead end. Natsu had no choice. He had to fight. Behind them, there were four guard storming toward them. "Gray, stand behind me!"
"You can't-"
"Shut up! I can!"
"You asshat! You're hurt! Let me-"
"With what?! Those stones around your wrists?! I can at least use magic!" Natsu glanced back to Gray and grins widely. "It's the least I can do for you saving me!"
The ice mage just stood there, baffled. Flames engulfed Natsu's body moments after. Rage helping him fuel his fire. Gray just watched as his friend's body sizzled and bled slowly.
"I'm fired up now," Natsu roared before jumping at the guards. Everything moved so fast. The flame mage flew through the air, striking, deflecting, everything he could. He became numb to the pain once he was punching the men, pushing them back.
"Karyū no Hōkō!" His dragon roar created one huge blast of explosion in the direction of the guardsmen, clearing a path while burning the men in the process.
Four men down and a cleared path. Natsu turned to Gray, holding out his hand to the male. The ice mage smirked knowing his fiery friend is back.
"Destructive as ever, Flame-brain." He then took the hand in front of him.
Instead of a smartass response back, Natsu just smiled softly. His eyes full of happiness and joy. A blush lightly tinting his cheeks. His heart pounding hard in his chest, then... He coughed to get himself back on track. "Let's get out of her-"
Right as they were about to leave, Gray's wrist cuffs started vibrating and suddenly threw him back against the closest stone wall. The cuffs now acting as if they were strong magnets keeps Gray's arms to the wall.
"Gray!" Natsu ran over to the ice mage and tried pulling at the cuffs, but they wouldn't budge. He tried conjuring up his dragon slayer magic, but he had already used a lot of it up and there was no open flame close by for him to consume. "Damnit!"
Gray tried tugging at the cuffs himself, but it was soon becoming clear that it was pointless. They were so close to being free…
"Got you."
Natsu and Gray froze. It was that voice. Judging by the look on the ice mage's face, Natsu was correct to assume who it was. Amarion Grimm. He stood not only 20 feet away with what looked to be a remote in his hand. The red-haired male was barely dressed with thrown on pajama bottoms and an open button down shirt revealing scars dancing over rippled abs.
"Too bad for you, the only person who can get those cuffs off of you, is me." Amarion said harshly. He was not in his normal joyous mood. He was now pissed off. "Oh look!" He pulled out another set of stone wrist cuffs. "A matching pair and guess who is now awarded these medals?!"
Natsu looked back to Gray, fear slowly setting back in. His fists clenched at his sides. He knew he couldn't just stop because he was out of magic power like before. He couldn't let this take over him again. "No!" Anger roused in him once more. He took this opportunity to lunge at the redhead.
Amarion grinned at this, dodging Natsu's strike just in time. "You're exhausted. You should just give up."
Natsu stumbled forward from the dodge. "Fuck you! You're not taking us back there!" He went for a swift kick attack backwards. Amarion caught his leg in time and threw him down to the ground. "Ach!" He felt the hard stone floor against his back. Suddenly all his blisters stung violently where his back hit the ground.
While Amarion still had a hold of the flame mage, he quickly straddled Natsu's legs and waist down. Grimm's hands now holding the other's arms down above him. "Now listen to me, flame brat," He huffed into Natsu's ear. "You are getting far more than just these cuffs for your disobedience. You've now pissed me off!" While stating this, he successfully locked the stone wrist cuffs to Natsu.
"Get off of him!" Gray shouted as he watched the scene helplessly from the wall he was stuck to.
Grimm ignored the ice mage and pressed another button on his remote causing Natsu's wrist cuffs to attach to the ground beneath him. Before the flame mage could say another word, he decked the dragon, knocking him out.
"Bastard!" The ice mage snapped as he felt his heart aching for Natsu.
Amarion click the button on the remote once more causing Natsu's cuffs to release from the ground. He lifted the flame mage's now limp form and rested him over his shoulders. The redhead walked over to the ice mage and threw the limp body to the ground before him. Glaring into dark orbs belonging to the ice mage, Amarion snuffed out, "You're going to pick him up and carry him back. You try anything, his punishment will be worse than what I have in store for him. Got it?!"
Gray didn't want to know what was already going to happen to Natsu, but he knew he had no other choice than to obey. Didn't stop him from being so frustrated. They were so close to getting out of this shitty situation. How long will it be until their friends back at home realize something was wrong? A week? A month? A year?
He looked down to his pink-haired friend. He felt like an utter failure to him. One click of the remote, Grimm released Gray from the wall and watched him fall on his knees at Natsu's side. "C'mon, pick up your boyfriend!" The redhead huffed and gestured.
Gray glared up at the torture assassin in hatred. He was not about to comment on his statement. He did as he was told and picked Natsu up in a bridal style. Heaving him up so the pinkhead was resting on his shoulder. To his surprise, the flame mage was lighter than expected. That's when Gray could feel the male's ribs. He was then reminded that they weren't being fed. Natsu needed more food to build up the energy to use his magic. It was shocking enough that he had any just moments before.
'Damn idiot used all he had left,' He weakly smiled to himself, but now neither of them could use their magic.
"Now walk back to your cell." Amarion firmly demanded. "I'll be following behind, watching you." He made sure to make that very clear to the ice mage.
Thus, Gray started walking in the direction he could halfly remember where they came from. While walking, he noted how warm Natsu's body was against his. Probably from his recent magic usage. A part of him did want to hold him just a bit closer. He wished that his soon punishment wasn't too harsh, but knowing Grimm…
Sighing, the ice maged moved his mouth close to Natsu's ear. He knew he'd hear him even if he was knocked out. "Everything will be okay. Stay strong, Natsu." He said softly following it up with resting his forehead against the male's. He didn't know what made him do that, but a small part of him felt the need to. He wanted to hold on to the flame mage for as long as he could. That way he knew the male would be safe.
"Hurry it up!" Amarion snapped. Gray did as he was told. On their way back down through the halls, Grimm flagged down a few of his guildmates gesturing them to follow.
Before they knew it, they were back down in the dungeons on the guild they were trapped in. Gray stopped and waited for more commands. The jail cell they were in, was how Natsu left it. Amarion walked passed him and continued walking farther down the hall of jail cells until he came across what seemed to be a cement wall.
"You'll be staying in here now." Amarion grinned and opened the large cement door. Gray didn't like this at all. Now if a rescue party were to come, it would be harder to find them. Gray ducked his head low as he tried to control his rage. He had to stay calm. For Natsu.
Walking into the dark cell, the first thing he noticed were the chains on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. There was dried blood splattered on parts of the cement walls and floor. There was only one light bulb hanging from the ceiling. It flickered faintly, barely giving light to the space. Gray could feel the pain and dread that the space gave off.
"Sad, there really is no use for these chains anymore since I've upgraded, but it still gives a nice decor." Amarion gleamed. "Why don't you enjoy it while you can." He slowly walked out of the room with his guildmates. "Oh, that flame brat's punishment will be waiting for him when he wakes."
Gray slowly turned and watched as the cement door closed, leaving the mages alone in their new, semi dark, musky cell. The ice mage fell down to his knees with Natsu still in his arms. At that moment, he found himself in tears. He cried softly into the flame mage's shoulder. 'Thank god he isn't awake or this would have been so embarrassing.'
There had to be a way out. Someone should have noticed by now. 'Erza!'
On a train far out from where Gray and Natsu were, a certain blonde, blue cat, and a scarlet-haired wizard were on their way toward their next mission. Erza Scarlet had her eyes closed, enjoying the nice and semi quick train ride to their destination. Semi only because Lucy and Happy were arguing over something stupid.
Erza opened her eyes suddenly and stood looking every which way. "Gray?" Lucy and Happy stopped their arguing and focused their gazes upon the scarlet wizard.
"Erza? What's up? Why do you look concerned?" Lucy asked watching Erza curiously.
"I thought I heard Gray just now." Erza said bluntly.
"That's silly! How could you hear someone who isn't here?" Happy snickered halfly, but also curious.
"I don't know, but he was… crying."
"Gray crying?!" Lucy and Happy sounded off together in surprise.
"We're getting off." Erza then became stern and started dashing toward the closest door.
"Now?! But the train is still moving! Erza!" Lucy stood and dashed after her. Happy following behind. "Wait! How could you know for sure?" Once Erza found the train door, she slid it open and jumped out without hesitation. "Erza!" Lucy screamed after her.
"Let's go!" Happy said and grabbed a hold of Lucy. He flew them off the train following Erza closely behind.
"You don't even know where you are going!" Lucy exclaimed as Happy landed next to the scarlet-haired woman.
"There's something wrong. I can feel it."
A/N: Please R&R. This will help me with how you guys are feeling about all of this happening. Also, when this is updated, I may end up adding scene to make this flow a lot better unless you guys think it doesn't need it. So, check back to see what I may have changed. For now, peace and see you on the next chapter. :)
