Never Ending Nightmare

Chapter 11: Only One

"Ice Make: LANCE!"

Time seemed to stop the moment Erza's eyes locked on to Gray's raging features. His brows were furrowed; his teeth pulled back into a snarl, and his eyes...those obsidian orbs that she were always drowning in, were not pinned on her, but on Mystogen. The blood drained from her face.

Mystogen half turned towards the intruder, but Erza was faster. She had to be. Adrenaline and instinct took over, melting away whatever intoxication was left. She quickly slid off the chilled balcony railing, requipping as she did so, and placed herself in front of Mystogen.

Ice shards fiercely battered against her adamantine shield. After a brief moment of silence, she hesitantly lowered the barrier. She had the faintest urge to hide behind it to keep from seeing his face. Those eyes that could tear her down in a instant, not that she would let him see it.

He stalked towards them, seeming more predator than human. His fists were clenched so tight, she could see the white of his knuckles even against his pale skin. Titania's gaze slid over his bare torso before she could stop herself. His muscles rippled as he moved towards them, every movement steady and calculated.

She fought the urge to back away, and hardened her features, requipping away her shield.

"Gray," she growled, "you could have killed us!"

But he wasn't looking at her. He was looking past her.

She could feel the heat emanating from him as he approached. An icy shiver ran down her spine. Suddenly, Gray's hand shot out, roughly grabbing her forearm, and all but threw her behind him. His strength had caught her off guard.

Erza stumbled a few feet behind Gray, who's fists were already clenched around Mystogen's lapels.

"How dare you?!" Gray growled.

"How dare I what, ice mage?" Mystogen replied. His features expressionless.

"How dare you touch her?!" His grip tightening on the lapels.

A sly smile grew on Mystogen's face, "I don't seem to recall her rejecting."

"That's enough!" Titania took a few strides towards them and placed a hand on Gray's shoulder. "Gray, stop."

The ice mage roughly released the blunette with a shove, before turning to glare at her.

His eyes pierced hers, stabbing at her heart. His fists clenched at his sides. She flinched, regretting the decision to turn his attention to her.

Guilt and bile rose in the back of her throat. The sudden urge to vomit was almost unbearable.

Erza opened her trembling lips but the words disappeared from her mouth.

"She didn't kiss me because she wanted too," Mystogen folded his arms across his chest. "We got word from one of my men that someone looked like they were headed this way. We were playing the couple-on-the-balcony role."

Gray's eyes never wavered from hers. She wondered if he could see the lie on her face. The guilt that was behind her brown eyes. Unfortunately,he made no inclination of whether or not he believed the fable.

The ice mage hesitantly tore his gaze from Titania's to rest on Mystogen's.

Suddenly, Gray's fist collided with the blunette's jaw with a sickening crack. Mystogen stumbled back against the balcony railing, clenching his face.

"Touch her again, and I WILL kill you." he growled.

"Gray!" Erza exclaimed, her eyes wide.

"You are lucky I didn't kill him, Erza." he hissed. His tone convincing her it wasn't a joke.

Gray glared at Mystogen, making sure he wasn't going to retaliate back, before turning back to her. His features were unreadable. His eyes roamed her body before meeting her eyes.

"You look beautiful," he muttered.

Tears burned the back of her eyes. She wanted to wrap her arms around him. Tell him she's sorry. She took a step towards him. He backed away. A stab pierced through her. Stay with me. Im sorry.

Gray turned his back to her and headed towards the door. Her heart was breaking with every step. She wasn't sure what it was. The way he was walking away from her. His posture was tall, shoulders straight. Everything controlled. But something bothered her about it. It was as if he was walking away from her. Her gut clenched.

"Gray!" she cried out, taking a step towards him.

He stopped, his muscles rigid.

"Gray..."she whispered. She had nothing to say. No excuse. But she didn't want him to leave. Everything was screaming in her for him not to go.

Mystogen's presence fleeted from her mind as she closed the distance between Gray and herself, but she couldn't face him. She stood behind him. Her gaze on his back, his muscles flexing and unflexing. She gently placed her palm on his shoulder blade. His body stiffened but didn't shrink away from her touch.

A shaky sigh of relief escaped her lips. She placed her other palm flat on his back. His soft skin felt warm under her finger tips. She gently slid her hands down his back, feeling the contours and ripples of his muscles.

He turned towards her, catching her wrists in his hands. She hesitantly met his sorrowed gaze.

Her throat choked on words, "It meant nothing."

She couldn't help but wonder, once again, if he believed her. Believed the lie that she was trying to force feed him. Believe the lie that she is trying to feed herself.

His lips pressed into a firm line, swallowing hard.

She tried to reach up and touch his face. His hands tightened around her wrists.

"You should have told me," his voice barely above a whisper.

"Told you what?" Thoughts rushed through her mind at the possibilities, some worse than others.

"You should have told me about the dark guild."

Relief and guilt wash over her, "Master said we couldn't tell anyone, wait, how did you know about the dark guild?"

His cheeks turned a light pink hue, "Natsu and Lucy were in Master's closet."

Erza's brows furrowed, "They were hiding in the closet?." After a moment of silence, her eyes widened, "THEY WERE IN THE CLOSET?!"

He let out a brief chuckle. The hint of a smile was gone so fast, that she questioned if she even saw it at all. "Yes. They heard everything. They were concerned for you, so they told me. When I didn't see you at the house, I got worried about you."

"I'm sorry. You shouldn't have seen..." She couldn't say it.

"I don't want to talk about it." He growled, seeming to regain his anger.

"Gray..." Her eyes pleaded with him.

"Stop." His hands released her wrists as he took a step away from her. "We should go." His hand motioning to the door.

As the memory of Mystogen's presences came to mind, she turned around, her eyes searching the balcony. No one was there.

xXx

They left the party quickly, slipping into the courtyard and onto Gray's motorcycle without causing notice. Erza tightly wrapped her arms around Gray. His warmth spreading like fire over her cool skin. She closed her eyes as she rested her head on his shoulder, cherishing the ride. She wasn't sure if she would be able to hold him like this again. Wasn't sure if he would let her.

The wind ceased; the cold air stopped whipping across her face. She opened her eyes to realize they were parked outside her home. When she didn't release her hold, he gently gripped her wrists and pulled her arms from around his waist. Another searing pain pierced her chest. She hesitantly swung her leg off the bike. Standing next to him, she had never felt so far away from him. When he began to rev the bike, her hand grabbed his.

"Don't go." She choked back tears.

He paused, "Why?" His voice flat.

A tear trickled down her cold cheek, "I'm afraid of what will happen if you leave."

His eyes bore into hers. She was breaking in front of his eyes. She never admitted to being afraid of anything. Fear was something she rarely ever experienced, she couldn't afford too.

"Erza..." His voice cracked, his grip tightening on the handlebars

"Please," She whimpered, "Don't leave me."

His face turned away from her. His eyes buried behind his hair.

The silence thickened the air around her. Her breath caught in her lungs as she waited for his reply. When did she get so wrapped up in him? One single word from him could bring her world crumbling. She wasn't sure when it happened, but she had fallen for this ice mage. He was everything she could ever need. And she didn't deserve a damn thing from him. It wasn't fair for her to ask this of him. To ask anything of him.

He turned off the bike and dismounted. Erza's hand tightened around his, trying to hold back the relief that washed over her. She quietly led him into her home, through the foyer, up the stairs, and into her room.

She turned to him. His unsure eyes were on her. She gulped hard and raised her hands, cupping his face. He closed his eyes and leaned down, resting his forehead against hers. His hands enveloped hers.

She clenched her eyes closed, as tears escaped from the corners. Erza wanted his forgiveness. Wanted to pour her heart out to him as he did her. But she wasn't good with words. Wasn't good at expressing how she felt. But in , she wasn't even sure what she was feeling anymore.

His hands slid down her forearms, up her biceps, along her slender neck, and rested upon her damp cheeks. His thumbs lightly swiped at the tears. He gently tilted her head towards him, and grazed his lips across hers. Her heart skipped and fresh tears fell.

His hands caressed down her sides before wrapping around her, gently pulling her against his hard frame. Her arms wrapped around his neck, deepening the kiss. His lips were trembling and soft against hers.

She wondered if he was as scared as she was. Afraid of losing each other. Afraid of what would happen.

"I was so worried about you," he mumbled against her lips, before pulling away, "When I saw you with...I thought I lost you..."

"I'm here," her hands shifted to cup his face, "I'm right here. With you. If you'll have me."

His conflicted eyes burned into hers. His lips formed a thin line.

"Will you unzip my dress?" She whispered, slowly turning her back to him.

He paused for a moment, before his trembling hands grasped the small metal piece. He slowly lowed the zipper, his knuckles caressing a trail down her back.

"Erza..." he whispered.

She turned towards him, letting her dress fall to her ankles.