A/N: I present the tenth chapter! I think this is one of the most awaited bits X), so hopefully I delivered it decently at the very least.

I'm not sure if the way I wrote it was clear enough or if it instead came off too messy, so I would really appreciate your opinions and constructive criticism on this chapter!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Fairy Tail or anything that it owns. The manga/anime and its characters (as well as anything originating from it) belong to its rightful owner. The following fanfiction is purely for entertaining purposes by a fan. Thank you.

WARNINGS:

AU, Yaoi (boyxboy romantic relations), a bit OOC character for Natsu (tad less self confidence, ect.), Gratsu pairing (GrayxNatsu), swears (cuzz words)/profanity, bullying and/or assault, suggestive scenes, mentions, and angst

I apologize if any of the listings under warnings offends you but it is purely for writing purposes for this fanfiction. I apologize if it is offending in anyway. It is purely fictional. I also apologize if any of the language used may be offensive, I try my best to keep it tame and there are no offensive intentions behind it.

Warning: This is going to be a messy chapter along with bits of self-deprecating moments and some action.

-disgurlruvs

CHAPTER 10

Someone He Loathed

Natsu immediately shrunk back from the figure. This wasn't happening. This is impossible. Why would he be here?!

His feet stumbled one after another as he tried to step back. His mind was blank. He didn't know what to do. Images, memories, emotions, pain surged through his brain as he was suddenly lurched back to that day.

That day where it was dark with shadows and there was an old ally. That day where it reeked of trash and there was dark mold growing on the brick. That day when his head pounded and pounded against rough, horribly rough brick. That day when his cries were ignored.

Cobra was there; in front of him, over him, behind him, pressed against him...

Natsu's breathing quickened as the onslaught of terrible memories continued their relentless assault. He grew dizzy with his eyes glassy and round as his thoughts raced past one another, not giving him a second to think.

He'd made him dirty! He'd given him marks and invaded him and terrorized him and ruined him!

His marks covered him, bandages covered him, his scent covered him!

Releasing a mix of a gasp and whimper, Natsu grabbed onto his head as he tried to calm down. He felt light-headed. Wh-Where was Sting? He needed Sting. Sting was the only one who knew-

"Oho? There you are. I was looking all over for you baby pink."

This time when Natsu eyes shot up, they were brimmed with tears of terror clinging to his lash-line and blurring his vision. Only that voice could cut through his mushy thoughts that clearly. That same voice is what whispers to him in the depths of the night, when he's sleeping, when he's alone.

Completely and undeniably, alone.

Suddenly he heard thunderous, echoing footsteps (Is it only in his head how excruciatingly deafening they are?) and he could barely make out the towering shadow with his gaze stuck to his shoes. What should he do? What could he do? Could he do anything? Should he do anything?

He didn't want this. Why, oh why couldn't he just leave? Why was he here on this amazing day?! Just go away! Natsu wanted to scream and cry and kick.

"You know what I never forgot from that day?" Natsu trembled at the slow sneer, "That voice. That melodic, sultry-"

"Step the fuck away."

Natsu's eyes widened. He felt insane as all his buzzing and desperate thoughts suddenly numbed into the background at the sound of that simple voice.

How could Cobra's single sneer throw him into hysteria, but Gray's bold words shut it all away?

Natsu was insane, simply insane! He wanted to laugh. He wanted to cry.

He wanted to go home.

He finally dared to look up when another shadow stepped up, the dark image falling over him and hiding him like a safe blanket along with utter relief. Gray had finally spoken and Natsu was just glad there was another person. I-If he was ever alone with Cobra again...

However, he didn't want to get Gray involved. The last thing he ever wanted was to get Gray involved!

But he didn't want him to leave either.

He slowly blinked the tears out of his vision and tried to clear himself of his thoughts. It wouldn't do good to freak out here. Look at him! He had a panic attack and a moment of self deprivation just from a few words uttered by these men! He just needed to leave.

He needed to go home, shut himself in a closet and calm the fuck down.

Breathing deeply, Natsu tuned back to the other males and their conversation. Stay calm Natsu.

"-uster. Don't tell me you don't remember me you fucker."

Confusion started trickling into the cluttered mix in his belly. Huh? That didn't sound anything like what Natsu was thinking of the situation. Natsu rubbed his eyes quickly to clear his vision and scooted to the side so he could catch sight of Cobra from a safe distance.

"This is gold! THIS IS JUST FUCKING GOLD!" Natsu winced at the booming voice. Wh-What was he talking about?

"I finally found you. I finally FUCKING found you Fullbuster dick." Cobra laughed maliciously, "I finally found you and what? What the fuck did you say to me?" he voice dropped to a growl which made Natsu tremble in fear.

Trying to control his respirations, Natsu pursed his lips when Cobra stepped back. The towering male covered his face with one large hand and grinned. In a low voice which made Natsu strain his ears, he murmured, "You don't remember me?"

The man looked back up at Gray and stomped forward to grab his collar and lean in his face causing Natsu's heart to almost leap out. "W-Wait!" What's going on?! Everything was happening too fast!

Natsu chewed on his cheek as he looked on worry; the second he was able to look at the situation a bit more clearly, they were discussing something else?

Gray's face was hidden by his bangs as he looked to the side to the floor, his hands deep in his pockets. He didn't say anything for at least a full minute until Cobra pulled him closer and sneered into his face, "Say something you fucker."

"...I do remember..."

Natsu grabbed onto the hem of his shirt, trying to pull it down in anxiousness. His gaze was stuck on Gray's expressionless stare in concern. 'What's happening?' he chanted silently in repeat, as if that could bring him the answer.

Immediately, Cobra violently let go of Gray's collar, causing him to stumble back. "Ha... That's good." he murmured. "That's great!" he yelled before running at the unmoving man and delivering a strong punch straight to his face.

"Gray!" Natsu screamed, running towards the male who'd fallen against one of the pillars. The raven spit out some blood before keeping his gaze lowered. Natsu ran to him and dropped by his side, shoving down his fears. Instead, he turned to glare at Cobra who looked amused by him as rage overwhelmed the boy. Fuck his thoughts, he just needed to do something!

"You bastard! You cold, terrible, stupid, horrible fucking BASTARD!" Natsu yelled in fury.

This man was a jerk! He'd done... terrible, awful things to him! And now he was hitting his friend! He hated- loathed him!

"Oh?" And with that single syllable, Natsu's adrenaline fleeted away from him. He was just a mess right now. Natsu flinched when Cobra turned to him and his human shield, he realized, wasn't shielding him like before. "You still have the guts to stand up to me?"

With his heart beating furiously against his chest, Natsu unconsciously scooted closer to Gray and steeled his eyes on Cobra. Why was this idiot just laying there?! They should just run! It was two against one, and didn't he always brag about the fights he would get into?

Cobra took another step forward, scaring the shit out of him. "D-Don't!" the words ripped out of his throat before he could stop himself. Gulping nervously, Natsu couldn't help but grow angry at himself for being so frightened and having his thoughts in such shambles just because of one horrible man.

He trembled as Cobra rose his eyebrows at him and took another step towards them, "Don't what sweet cheeks?" he asked innocently.

Natsu tried to calm himself by taking a deep breath, but he was kept from doing so when Cobra insisted on coming closer. Feeling his hold on his clutter of emotion, and practically his sanity loosen once more, Natsu murmured, "Don't... come closer..." He screwed shut his eyes immediately after he said that, as if that would shield him from whatever the other man would try in response.

Why did he have to show up? Gray and he were just about to leave. They were almost gone!

His eyes snapped open when he heard a chuckle. Glancing up, he lost the rest of his measly confidence and grip on his emotions as Cobra smiled that fucking creepy ass smile at him. This man utterly terrified him.

"Yes... that's good. That's the voice which kept me occupied in my dreams days after our delicious encounter."

Natsu's lips started quivering and he screwed his eyes shut for the nth time that day. He didn't like this. He didn't like what he was hearing. Please stop!

"What..." Natsu snapped his eyes open again in shock when he heard the male behind him finally speak. No... "What are you talking about?"

The youngest boy felt his stomach sink. Nothing... Nothing! Gray doesn't need to know. "I-" he tried in a trembling voice but found that he didn't know what to say. Instead, he just shut his eyes once more as if it would make this whole situation disappear.

"Oh?" Natsu turned in dismay to the only man standing. A wide grin stretched onto those lips that once roamed his body.

"You don't know?" Cobra blinked in shock, before turning towards and Natsu making him jump, "Fullbuster doesn't know?"

When all that met him was a weak glare, he chuckled. He chuckled for a while before he started laughing insanely.

"He doesn't know!" He shouted, "This is great! This is wonderful!" He turned to Gray who, Natsu noticed, was finally looking up wearily.

In amidst the laughing, Gray turned to the trembling pinkette, who jumped in surprise and was trying oh so hard to keep himself from falling apart. Suddenly, Gray looked a lot more serious as he felt a terrible feeling travel up his being.

Natsu timidly looked at Gray as he searched his eyes, "Natsu." He spoke, making him wince. "What. Happened."

Now it was Natsu's turn to turn silent and peer down at the concrete ground for a while before he finally looked up with a lost expression. "Nothing-"

His heart lurched to his fucking throat when he was suddenly grabbed roughly and pulled up in a stumbling clutter. A heavy arm wrapped around him while a hand grabbed ahold of his face tightly and a nose pressed against his skin. That same stench-filled breath entered his nostrils when Cobra sneered. Natsu's eyes grew impossibly round in terror as he felt himself huddled in the same, awful embrace as that horrific day.

"I invaded his body." Cobra groaned erotically.

Tears filled Natsu's vision at the reminder and he turned to see Gray look at them in absolute shock. "What?"

Natsu held his breath and tried to squirm away as those terribly familiar hands roamed his chest again, "This delicious, tan body. I licked, abused, and felt it all. I felt everything my dear Gray! Every-fucking-thing~" he sang happily when he realized his teasing was more than effective on the now seething college student.

Gray's face slowly blurred in Natsu's eyes as the tears increased. He remembered that day so clearly. How he felt being smashed into the wall. How Cobra bit into his skin, slapped him raw whenever he refused. He remembered struggling and screeching until he saw white, but despite it all, he remembered most clearly how he was stripped down bare. How he was exposed to those eyes. And how those hands abused him and violated him. Touching places no one had ever seen before. Cobra had seen it all. All...

He remembered every second.

Gasping, Natsu let out a heartbreaking sob.

He wanted to sink down onto the ground and just curl up into a corner but those disgusting, vile hands held him up tightly. He was stuck. Stuck in a situation he never wanted.

"You're lying", Gray spoke with gritted teeth.

Cobra laughed, "You wish I was don't you!" Natsu gasped when he suddenly pulled up his sleeve and slid his other hand up one of his legs revealing the bandages. "If I remember correctly, it's been about a week and he still has these gorgeous bandages covering his body!"

"Erik-"

"SHUT UP!"

Suddenly those hands were squeezing him tightly. So tightly that he couldn't breathe.

"St-Stop!" Natsu gasped.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"

Natsu cried out as those hands suddenly dug into his shorts and back over his chest roughly and quickly, now under his shirt. They were touching him all over again, pinching, pressing, pulling, groping. Natsu froze when a hand pulled at the band of his underwear, "W-Wait.." his voice cracked when it surged past the band, "No! STOP!" he screamed in horror.

He wrestled his arms free only for them to be wrung back as he was put into the spot he was in only a week ago once more.

Why did this keep happening to him? What did he ever do to Cobra or even any of the bullies at school?!

He barely talked to anyone. He kept to himself. He never even told anyone about how people hurt him.

So why?!

"NGH!"

The hands were in that moment snatched roughly out of his clothes and off of him. The body which had previously been pressing into him had been thrown onto the ground and Natsu winced when he heard a resounding crack. He stumbled and felt his legs buckle under him, watching numbly as he was headed for the ground.

However, before he could reach it, hands reached for him and pulled him back. Back into that chest which he had been pressed into multiple times as a blushing, giddy wreck. That familiar, endearing scent wafted into his nose and he stumbled into the warm embrace, tears spilling from his eyes endlessly. Tears that he couldn't identify which would associate with emotion by this point.

In the second that embrace enveloped him, it was gone. Instead, Natsu watched numbly as Gray threw himself at the sneering male and punched him. When he grabbed him by his hair, Natsu's eyes widened as he saw Gray wear the most terrifying glare he's ever seen. "Tell me it's a lie before I kill you."

All Cobra did in turn was smile despite the blood smeared on his mouth and spit on him, "I never lie. I would've fucked the bitch too if Eucliffe hadn't gotten in the way."

Sneering with a thirst for blood, Gray grit his teeth in fury before kicking Cobra to the ground. He reached down and went in for a round of punches, seeing only red while Natsu could only watch on in horror.

H-He was gonna kill him. Gray was gonna kill him!

As he received those punches horribly, Cobra suddenly grabbed Gray's shirt then pulled him closer. He met Gray's thunderous glare with a mere smirk, ignoring the blood trailing down his nose, "Does it feel good punching me? Well it's nothing compared to how amazing I felt grabbing his-"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" the enraged student howled.

"Gray! Stop!" Natsu immediately threw himself atop the raven who had pulled his arm back, aimed perfectly for the wounded's man's already-broken nose.

"Natsu-"

"No! No! No! Stop! You'll kill him! You'll do something you regret!" Natsu shouted, trying desperately to pull Gray away.

Gray in turn, just growled before turning back to the man on the floor, "I don't give a fuck."

"Well I do! I won't forgive you if you hit him! He's already bleeding and on the floor. This isn't you Gray! You aren't A BAD PERSON!" Natsu screamed trying his utmost to get his point across. Gasping for breath, Natsu fell to the floor, glaring at Gray, daring him to continue.

Gray met his glare with a blank stare, letting the bloodied collar go. "Why are you defending him?"

Natsu frowned and looked down at the bandages unwrapping from his own aching body. Gently tugging on them, Natsu whispered, "I'm not. I'm defending you." He looked back up at him. He could never bring himself to look at Cobra willingly. He hated him. He hated him so much. He was a terrible person- yes, absolutely absolutely absolutely! But Gray wasn't.

Gray wasn't.