Gray's P.O.V
"All I see is her," Natsu said from his hospital bed in a bout of semi-consciousness.
"Well, that does make sense, seeing as she's your mate or whatever," I said, having still not left Natsu's bedside despite others coming to help with guard duty.
"No, I see her being murdered by Rogue's shadow," Natsu continued in a whispered voice.
I stayed silent. I hadn't been there during that particular battle after the Grand Magic Games, and my inner most self always felt thankful for that. How could I have ever witnessed Lucy dying in front of me? Juvia had once told me how she felt seeing me die saving her at the Dragon King Festival, and then again during the Alvarez incident. I remember waking up both times and feeling as though I had been reborn from the dead. In return, Juvia has watched me die in front of her twice. Hadn't Natsu experienced the same thing? But Lucy hadn't woken up that time. I had even told Juvia eventually that I felt something similar watching her getting turned into a constellation in the celestial world when we were up against the celestial spirit king and when she sacrificed herself for me. Finally giving Juvia her answer after Alvarez had been difficult, something I never felt ready to give. But, once I told her the truth, it seemed like it was long overdue.
"You know she's going to be alright," I said, not believing Lucy was truly gone despite the horrible visions Natsu had been seeing.
"I know that. I would never lose my faith in her. It's just my head. All I see is her dying in front of me. All I feel is her gone," Natsu said, sounding defeated.
I looked over to see that his eyes were still closed but that tears were falling down his cheeks. We were all assigned to look after Natsu as his madness kicked in. There was still no word about Lucy and Wendy from Laxus or Mira, but they should have arrived by now.
Gray couldn't think of anything constructive to tell Natsu as he clenched against the restraints tying him to the bed. However, Gray was spared coming up with something from a commotion outside the door. Gray stood up, feeling the exhaustion taking its toll on his body, so he hoped the guild wasn't under attack. Instead, the door barged open into the infirmary by Macao and Wakaba. Gray's gaze froze on the limp body Macao was carrying, his son Romeo.
"What happened?" Gray asked, hearing Natsu thrash around behind him.
"His dad found him in an alley bleeding out," Wakaba replied grimly.
"Someone attacked him and left him to die?" Gray asked, feeling angry and disgusted that someone would do that to one of his guildmates.
Porlyusica, Master Makarov and surprisingly Gajeel also followed the two men into the infirmary. Romeo grimaced as Macao set him onto a bed, but Gray felt thankful that the younger boy was still alive. Porlyusica wasted no time attending to Romeo's injuries while the other four men looked from the side in worry. Wakaba was holding Macao back so he would stay out of Porlyusica's way.
"It's because he's Wendy's mate," Gajeel grumbled after several minutes of watching Porlyusica work.
Gray remained by Natsu's side since he was obviously upset by Romeo's state and kept fighting against the magic-cancelling restraints.
"How can you be certain?" Master frowned at Gajeel, hesitant to believe such fatal attempts were being made against his children related to dragon slayer mating.
"Listen, I don't like it any better than you do, but I can smell it on him. Whatever hit him used really dark magic, not a typical knife or anything. And think about it, Bunny Girl could have come home at any point if we just called her back, but she and Wendy land themselves in one of the most dangerous jobs Fairy Tail has seen in a long time apart from Century Quests now that we need them to come home. We haven't heard from Laxus, who is also a dragon slayer by the way, and Natsu is worse than ever. If we look at things now, worst case scenario I'm the last dragon standing in Fairy Tail," Gajeel's grim words reverberated in the room that was only filled with cries of pain from Romeo and panic from Natsu.
"I hate to say it, but what Gajeel says is the most logical explanation. Whoever Lucy and Wendy faced on their job seems to be targeting dragon slayers. I have been in contact with Master Sting from Sabertooth, but he says there has been no odd situations there. They are on high alert, but this leads me to believe Fairy Tail is the target," Master surmised. "Gajeel, you must go bring Levy to the infirmary. None of the dragon slayers or their mates are to leave the guild until we figure all this out. We'll set everyone up in the infirmary, especially since two of them are already here out of necessity."
Gajeel grunted but nodded before he took his leave. Gray knew this wasn't a fair way for Gajeel to admit who is mate was, despite Master having already figured it out. But whoever they were going up against didn't leave much other choice.
"Gray, I'm asking you to continue keeping watch over Natsu, but we will have others keep guard as well. With this many dragon slayers in one place, it does create a vulnerability. But, I think it is much better than having everyone spread out and less protected. Hopefully, Laxus and Mira will bring the girls home by tomorrow and we won't have much to worry about, but we have to prepare for worse circumstances."
"How is Romeo?" Macao asked, watching as Porlyusica finally stood back from his son.
"He's stable for now, but he's not regaining unconsciousness. If I have to give my best opinion, I assume only Wendy can wake him up once she returns."
"Erm—" another voice interrupted as Gajeel pulled Levy into the infirmary before shutting the door behind them. "I think she will have to mark him."
"Mark him? What does that mean?" Gray asked, wondering if Natsu would even be able to mark Lucy if it meant that was the only thing to stop his madness.
"Well, I've been reading the book some more, and well it seems that in order for the mating ritual to be completed, the dragon has to mark their mate. Only then will the dragon's spirit be at peace and stop fighting against their human mind," Levy explained. "But, I think if it's done properly, it's quite an intimate ceremony between the two individuals. The fact that someone is out their disrupting the process with violence is unsettling to say the least."
Gajeel barred his teeth but continued to sit in silence. Natsu had finally given into his exhaustion and was now unconscious while Romeo remained still in his own bed.
"Romeo is only fourteen years old! You're saying he has to do some sort of ceremony that couples him with Wendy forever or he'll never wake up?" Macao asked angrily.
"Listen, this is not the situation any of us dragon slayers were picturing, and I'm sure Wendy won't be any keener about the situation. But know this, she will die for Romeo instead of allowing him to be unhappy or putting in danger," Gajeel barked irritably.
"Gajeel," Levy said softly, feeling empathetic towards him that he was also going through this and watching the others suffering.
"The first thing we need is for the girls to return before any more decisions are made. Porlyusica is keeping Romeo alive which is all that can be done for now. Gajeel, Levy, Natsu and Romeo are not to leave this room for any reason. I will bring news when I find out anything more. I will also send Erza and Cana up to help Gray with protecting the sick," Makarov frowned before he stood up and took his leave.
Gray scowled, praying that Laxus and the others returned soon. His exhaustion got the better of him though as he sat back into his chair and let himself doze off. Sometime later, he woke up and felt something warm around him. He peered his eyes open slightly to see Juvia was sitting beside him along with Erza. He assumed Juvia had wrapped him in the blanket and smiled that she always took care of him when he forgot to take care of himself.
"Gray is pushing himself too hard looking over Natsu like this," Juvia whispered worriedly.
"He feels helpless that this is all he can do for Natsu and the others," Erza replied knowingly. "He is lucky to have you look over him, he can be reckless with not taking care of himself sometimes."
"Oh, no. I am the lucky one to have someone so caring love me back," Juvia whispered.
I smiled at her words, not feeling as embarrassed as I used to over her outward affection. I let her soft words carry be back off to sleep before I woke up sometime later to the sounds of someone barging into the infirmary.
