A/N: I never really thought about when this series takes place in relation to the arcs, but this chapter takes place somewhere after the Seven Year gap.

Chapter 20: Gone

Natsu caught up to him easily. Following Gray's smell, Natsu found him sitting on the embankment that looked out over Magnolia, covered in drifting fog.

Gray's back was to him, showing off the thick, black bruises layered across the skin. Natsu hated to think what Gray must've done to hit himself that hard. They didn't look right on his lover, even though he'd seen Gray beat-up plenty of times before, in much worse condition. But it was a thousand times worse when there had been no enemy and Gray could've stopped at any point—and chosen not to.

How long had this been going on, and Natsu had been oblivious?

Natsu didn't step out into the open initially, staring at Gray from the cover of the trees. He didn't know what to say. Or whether Gray would even listen. How did you stop someone from hurting themselves and at the same time let them know you loved them no matter what?

It was obvious the ice mage needed to hear both those things.

Natsu had just started to cobble words together when Gray stood up suddenly, shoulders tense and eyes focused below.

As scents shifted, Natsu smelled Erza—followed by one of the few emotions that had an odor.

Fear.

When Erza came over the hill, he wanted to run forward and stop her, even though her expression was frankly terrifying. Because whatever it was, Gray was already in a bad head space. But he and Gray had just fought: Natsu barging in could just make things worse. And then he'd feel awful.

He already felt pretty damn awful.

But what if Erza made things worse? He wanted to protect Gray…but then, he couldn't without making it very clear his and Gray's relationship was more than rivalry. Shit. His impotence was unbearable, keeping him frozen in place.

"What's wrong?" Gray called, and the sound of his normal, non-panicky voice made Natsu more relieved than anything else in the world. If Gray was okay enough to put up a farce of normalcy, that meant something.

"Thank gods I happened to see you up here," Erza gasped, skidding up the embankment. "Where's Natsu?"

"I'm not sure." It took a few seconds for Gray to add, "How would I know anyway?"

A sad little grin slid up Natsu's face despite everything. Almost let things slip. Panting, Erza stayed silent for a long moment.

"What's up?" Gray repeated.

"We need his nose at Lucy's apartment. Someone…someone took her."

"What? But Natsu just— I thought she and the fire-breather were on a job!"

At Erza's pursed lips, Natsu growled low in his throat, fingernails digging into his palms. He'd seen Lucy an hour ago. Dammit, this could not be happening right now. He needed to get to Gray, wrap him up, and keep him safe. He needed to be there for him. He couldn't do that and mount a rescue at the same time. Gray, Gray, Gray…Lucy…

Natsu suddenly noticed he was burning a hole through the nearest tree trunk.

They both needed saving: this was a problem of priority. Which meant… He sighed heavily. I'm so sorry, love.

Dashing forward, he broke onto the hilltop.

"Natsu!" Erza's eyebrows climbed her forehead as she glanced between him and Gray. "What are you doing here?"

"Thought I heard this popsicle hollering."

Gray frowned at him and Natsu met his eyes for a brief moment, unsure whether the frown was aimed at him or simply meant to keep up their act. Fuck, this distance ached. He wanted to settle everything. Later.

"Someone kidnapped Lucy," Erza said. "Before any scents disappear, we need you to come—"

"Got it." Grunting angrily, the Salamander sprinted past her down the hill.

He could hear his comrades behind him as he broke into town, but he didn't stop to let them catch up. As he turned onto a main street, the other end of Magnolia seemed a thousand kilometers away.

Gray's shout reached his ears: "Hey flame-brain!"

Just like that, ice coated the ground beneath his feet, rocketing past him down the road. Before he could fall or even be pissed, someone was barreling into him at high speed, grabbing his arm, and slinging him forward.

Natsu just managed to keep his balance. Gray shot him so fast across the mirror-smooth surface that the wind stung his eyes, but a few seconds later he was crashing into a building and barreling down Lucy's street. His surprise was only outweighed by gratitude. He was going to pounce on Gray for this later—okay, he was injured, so maybe not pounce so much as kiss very gently all over his body. If he lets me—which was not a thought he needed distracting him right now.

Gods, his fears were going to be piled as high as a mountain by the time the sun set.

Lucy. He had to focus on Lucy for now. Maybe, just maybe, he'd manage to stay sane.

Happy and Levy met him at Lucy's flat. On hands and knees, Natsu was scenting his way down the stairs when Gray and Erza caught up. They stumbled into him, both bursting out, "Did you find anything?"

"Yes," Natsu said, avoiding their eyes. "Shut up please. Focusing."

"Natsu." Gray caught his arm. The press of those warm fingers got his full attention. "Will it mess things up for you if we trail close behind?"

"It's fine. I know all your smells enough to filter them out."

Gray blushed and hurriedly cleared his throat.

When Erza yelped, they both looked up to see her on the landing with a horrified expression on her face. Beside her, Happy had both paws over his mouth in shock.

"Gray…what happened to you?" Erza asked.

Both men blinked at her before catching on at the same moment. Natsu tensed while Gray whirled, putting his back out of their line of sight. It meant Natsu had to deal with the horrific view right in front of his face.

He nearly choked.

It was worse up close. The whole surface of skin was black, swollen, and terrible. It made him afraid—irrationally afraid, the emotion quickly transforming into anger. Why? Why did you do it?

"It's nothing," Gray told them, overly casual. "I'll deal with it later. Right now we're finding Lucy."

Erza nodded, businesslike, trusting. When she started giving orders, Natsu tuned them out and got back to work.

Trying not to think about Gray's bruises.

Once they had Lucy back, he could take care of his lover. And figure out what the hell to do. Figure out what this meant for them, whether Gray still wanted him at all. He had to find Lucy as fast as possible, for all their sakes.

Following the smell of fear, abductor, and Heartfilia, he led them on what they realized was the fastest route out of town. Erza forced them to stop and wait for Happy to catch up; he'd flown Levy to the guild to deliver the news. Natsu almost kept going on his own. Determination was a good cover for his dread, but the suppression only worked if he kept moving. Shoving feelings down was fucking hard. How were Gray and Erza acting so calm?

When he growled in impatience, Gray held out a hand in a halting gesture. His smell hit Natsu like a train tearing through his mind, making a mess of his thoughts. The Salamander took a deep breath and discovered he was infinitesimally calmer.

When the Exceed swooped out of the fog, all three humans tensed in eagerness.

"Good," Erza said. "Now we run."

Small claws dug into Natsu's scalp as he took off, the team on his heels. He didn't notice he was growling until he had to inhale.

"Lucy will be okay," Gray breathed, just loud enough for his sensitive hearing. "It's going to be fine, Natsu."

He didn't respond. It was supposed to be his job to support Gray. But the words had the intended effect: Natsu's adrenaline became a tool he pushed through his legs, hurrying onward.

Fear for Gray was still lodged in the prominent place in his heart, aching from lack of attention, but taking care of him would have to wait. Fucking dammit. Someone had stolen his best friend and was keeping him from his boyfriend's side, right when his boyfriend needed him the most.

When they found whoever was responsible for this, the team might just have to restrain Natsu from committing murder.

Chapter 21: In Love With the Flame