For you, Hirathe. XD
I do remember seeing this when I had posted the GrayLu one-shot and I have always wanted to try my hand at writing one. It is such a simple concept but as Elegy proves, you can go way into the psychological realm with these two and make absolute gold.
Yes, I am allowed to fanboy just a little. XD
So this is a platonic Gratsu one-shot. Enjoy.
LET'S READ!
::-(())-::
"If you die on me i'll kill you, you ice prick!" Natsu screamed, panic seeping into every fibre of his being.
Looking at his best frienemy in his arms, the ravens black hair matted and soaked in a red substance Natsu refused to identify, even if the repugnant smell of copper filled his nostrils in a painfully harsh fashion, reminding him of how close to dying Gray actually is.
The Dragon Slayer didn't realise it then, but his eyes stung and they felt awfully moist. It took him by a chilling surprise that he was crying. He never cried, never. Crying was Lucy's job not his!
But Gray's deep wound on his stomach and painful looking gashes on his chest and face reminded him of the hell they had experienced and would likely continue to experience. The flashes of his captors faces. The primal screams that they forced out of Gray and the screams that he let out in response.
"Gray, you annoying snowflake… Please, hang on..." Choking on his own words, Natsu's nose picked up on the Ice Mage's scent. He hated Gray, he was annoying, dumb, rude and an asshole.
And he couldn't bare the thought of living in a Fairy Tail guild void of the bastard…
"Erza and Lucy will be here, they'll bring Wendy. You'll be healed and back to getting your ass kicked by me again. You will!" Natsu winced at the pure desperation in his voice, it sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than Gray. He would never admit to himself that he was either, it was odd. He knew he was in need of that hope that he felt was slipping away every second that passed, but he didn't want to convince himself of it.
Suddenly, Gray let out a gurgled cough, loud and wet and bubbly sounding. The shock made Natsu jump and accidentally let go of his head, causing the cough to unleash a torrent of fresh blood onto the dirty grass below the two of them.
Gray's body heaved violently. Spewing out even more of the precious plasma from within his body. The red liquid splash around his mouth and dribbling down his chin as Natsu sobbed, gently lifting his head back up to stop him from losing any more.
Why was Gray so stupid? Did he hate him or himself? His mind raced back to how this all came to be in the first place. Hindsoght was 20/20 is the old saying. Natsu, looking back on the events that had transpired couldn't help but agree.
He hated himself…
::-(())-::
(1 week earlier)
*Flashback*
"I am telling you both, Natsu doesn't even know what colour his hair is." Natsu heard Gray from the mission board, his advanced hearing picking up the whispered "It's pink." and Lucy's giggles which caused him to turn around and glare at the Ice Mage responsible.
"Oops, he heard me it seems." He watched Gray smirked tauntingly, his eyes catching Erza giving Gray a warning look.
"Don't tease him Gray. That is unbecoming of best friends such as yourselves." Erza looked at the Ice Mage, her eyes glinting with a sadistic gleam as her eyes drilled through Gray and into his soul.
"U-Uh yeah, of course Erza! Sorry!" He stuttered.
"That's better." She complied. "I am sure he forgives you."
Oh no he fucking didn't.
No one insults his SALMON hair. Especially not Ice prick over there. Natsu looked away from the group to gaze at the mission board, his resolve to find a mission re-energised and his determination to prank Gray even higher.
Scouring the board like a watchful hawk, Natsu's eyes lit up like fireworks when he had finally found the perfect mission for him and the team… minus Gray.
The request asked for a team of mages to travel to a desert village and eliminate a dark guild that was killing their residents on a bi-monthly basis. The request also warned of the smouldering heat and sand-storms that plagued the area like a highly contagious disease. That and the obvious risk of a murderous dark guild.
It was perfect…
Natsu grinned. No matter how tough the dark guild were, he was confident that Ice Block could take them all on with no sight, no arms and a limited mental condition. He was a bastard, but he was an extremely tough bastard at that.
That and the heat would aggravate the Ice mage to high hell…
Snatching the request off of the board, he moved out of the way of Nab, who was going to do his daily look-over of the mission, before deciding on remaining undecided until tomorrow.
"Hey guys!" He exclaimed, fire spewing forth from his mouth as he tried to get their attention. "How about this one? Sounds like lots of 'fun'." He spared Gray an evil grin, bearing his fangs at the Ice Mage.
Gray only glared back. "What have you done now?"
He handed the mission to Erza, who looked it over for a while before looking back up to meet his gaze and nodding in agreement.
"I believe this will be good enough for us." She looked over to Lucy and handed it over to le ther take a look.
"A scorching desert?" Lucy mumbled, looking downtrodden. "Not again… My clothes aren't washed from the last time we went into one." She whined.
Natsu looked over at his rival, drinking up his extremely sour expression and heavy scowl that was plastered onto his face.
"You expect an Ice mage to go into a desert…?" He asked lowly, almost growling. "One with sand-storms and extreme heat-waves at that?"
"Yeah."
"Well dream on Fire Face. I am not going."
"Yeah you are."
"No, i'm not."
"We need you though Ice Head!"
"Really? How?"
"Umm, we all need to be cooled down."
"I am not your cooler, secondly you don't need 'cooling down', Flametard."
"Quit being a boring snow-princess, snow princess!"
Soon enough the two boys were once again, exchanging verbal blows, soon leading into physical strikes. Hitting each other for all their worth, causing an exasperated Lucy to groan in annoyance.
"Can't they ever get along for just a second?" The blondes lamentations were echoed by a disgruntled sigh from Erza, the redheads face set in a deep frown.
"I suppose they need more time together, they need to curb this issue now..." She observed, watching them both intently.
Lucy raised a brow, confused. "How are we going to go about that?"
She looked over just in time to see Erza's face twist into an evil grin. The mere look was enough to freeze the blood in her veins as she still in complete terror.
"I have an idea" Erza replied, looking down at the mission request.
Where Lucy once felt anger at the two boys, now she could only feel sympathetic…
::-(())-::
"I can't believe I let you all drag me out here!"
"Be quiet Gray!" Erza scolded, giving him the death glare of doom. "This is your punishment for destroying half of the guild!"
Even though Gray knew the damage to be done by someone else… He knew better than to talk back to Erza, such a simple act would spell the end of anybody dumb enough to do so.
That wouldn't stop him sulking however…
"Anyway, we have to discuss the mission before we get their anyway. Teams have already been decided." Erza looked over at the two boys as she said that, causing them to pale at the implication.
"Wait, what?" Natsu began stuttering, fearing what the Titania was trying to get across without saying it. "You want me and Ice block to team up?!"
Erza simply nodded. "You will both be the ones to distract the mages within the dark guild so that me and Lucy can safely escort the prisoners out." It sounded so simple.
"Wait, wait..." Gray chipped in, nervousness seeping into his voice. "You me on the front lines? In this desert?"
"Yes." Erza replied, tilting her head in confusion. "You have a creative and defensive advantage with your magic, it should be enough to keep the mages off of you both. As Natsu attacks at the forefront, you will place traps and keep yourself and Natsu safe."
It made sense, but Gray spotted one thing that kinda hit a snag in the entire plan.
"You want me, an ICE MAGE to fight in a DESERT for Mavis knows how long with a FIRE MAGE who will overheat me even more than the DESERT will?"
Lucy took a look at Gray, she could understand his plight, Natsu had deliberately picked this mission out as it was taking place in the hottest desert in Fiore. She knew he was a more than capable mage, but she had seen him struggle in mildly hot deserts.
This was just cruel for him.
Natsu even had the gall to look slightly guilty as Gray pointed out the problem within Erza's plan.
"What the matter Ice Head?" He taunted. Getting a low growl out of the Ice Mage in response. "Scared of a little heat?"
"Not everyone is invulnerable to heat like you FlameBrain, keep out of it." Gray snapped back. A visible pool of sweat already forming above his eyebrows.
Of course everyone caught it and realised what a stupid idea this was, even Natsu managed to comprehend the potential implications…
"If you want to head back Gray, you're more than welcome too." Erza stated after a while of silence. Surprisingly calm despite being talked back too.
Which everyone noticed of course…
"What?!" Natsu bellowed. Jumping away from Erza in shock. "You can't let him go! Thats not what us Fairy tail mages do!"
Gray admired the idiots balls to take that tone with Erza, but also wanted to slap him. It was like he expected Gray to actually take her up on that offer.
"It's his choice Natsu, now let him do what he needs to do."
"You both talk like you expect me to actually leave." He growled.
"But we don't want you getting hurt over an oversight..." Lucy responded, worry etching her voice. Although her eyes narrowed on Natsu, who appropriately sweat-dropped from the gaze he was receiving. "Or over a prank in that one's case."
"Duly noted." Gray hissed, calming down. "But I am a fairy tail Mage, I will be letting the guild down by backing down, so no, I am staying..."
::-(())-::
(Present time)
Recalling that memory caused the Dragon Slayer to cringe, realising his mistake and watching how his best friend was suffering because of that.
Looking down, he could see that Gray was barely keeping awake, although Natsu greatly doubted that he was 'conscious'. More lucidly aware of his surroundings and along for the painful ride than properly awake.
"You're doing great Ice-Head… T-They will be here soon, I know they will. Trust me..."
Truthfully, he didn't believe a single word he was saying…
He hadn't seen or even heard from his team for ages, another oversight was that they had let Wendy go on a mission with Cana of all people for a simple farming job so they had no way of stabilising Gray unless they happened to bring a doctor with them.
Oh, if Erza was the one to find them she would kill him for not taking care of the dehydrated Ice Mage better. If she managed to stop panicking over their conditions.
Lucy would ost likely go running for help, or Erza. Very predictable.
His mind recalled the bastards who had done this and even if he would never admit it, Natsu truly believe that what he had witnessed from the master was a man who had fallen into the pit of sociopathic insanity…
::-(())-::
"Ice-Make: Wall!" Gray raggedly threw up his arms, his cool magic flowing around him in tidal waves as a haphazardly malformed wall formed quicker than the enemy could comprehend.
"Shit! Not again!" Natsu could hear one of them curse, inwardly grinning. His doubts about Gray's safety slowing ebbing away as he watched the horde of dark mages get caught up in the follow up artillery strikes from the Ice mage.
He seemed to be handling himself just fine and dandily enough that Natsu felt more comfortable spreading a little bit further to take out the particularly troublesome bunch trying to flank him.
"Fire Dragon: Roar!" His stream of intense flames caught the group just about, knocking five of them unconscious and the last two limping and panting as they looked at him in abject fear.
But he wasn't done with them two just yet..
"Fire Dragon: Sword Horn!" He yelled, his body igniting as he charged at the two trembling mages. He smirked as they both went flying through the air, disappearing over the nearby hill before looking back to see the battle behind him.
"Shit." He grumbled, looking at the seemingly new battalion that had appeared out of nowhere. All armed with weapons and magicks that seemed to offend the magic around it with its foulness.
'Dark magic, of course...'
"Gray careful, these guys use really dark stuff!" He yelled over behind his back, almost snickering at the extremely annoyed "I know!" He got in return.
"You guys are gonna get it now!" He boasted, his inflamed fist colliding with his open palm in eagerness. Waiting for the new round of targets to make their move.
But they didn't…
They just stood as Gray threw off the one mage that managed to get past Natsu (much to the dragon Slayers chagrin). The stood unmoving as their allies ran behind them.
"Natsu..." Gray huffed, breathing slightly heavy as sweat practically ran down his forehead in waves. "Those weapons, they don't look like anything I have seen before… Be careful."
Natsu, stared at the Ice Mage for a second before looking at the weapons to see what made Gray stiffen up. But as soon as his eyes caught siht of them, he couldn't help but tense too.
"They can't be..." He breathed out harshly.
"Magic cancelling weapons?" Gray finished, looking just as wary as he looked drained. "Yeah, they are…"
Before Natu could respond, The centre member of the group raised one of the weapons into the sky for a second, before pointing it in the direction of the two mages. Leaving them guessing what he was doing.
Then a bolt of green lighting came out of the sky and was coming down at the speed of sound it seemed.
And it was heading straight for Natsu…
"Dammit!" He grunted, trying to move out of the way before he was zapped to ashes. "That was too close he growled, looking at the glass that replaced the sand from where he once stood seconds ago.
"Yeah.." Gray whispered. "We need to take them out… now.."
"For once Ice Head, you're right." He grimly agreed, eyes locking in on the culprit of the lighting bolt. "Although Laxus would have been nice to have here."
"You scared?" Gray teased, smirking as he put his hands into a weary stance.
"Never!" The reaction was what Gray clearly wanted, but Natsu had his pride on the line! "I'll take them all out on my own!"
"Not… Before I take more out than… y-you..."
So, they both charged, arguing and insulting one another as they fought through the heavily armoured Mages. However, these mages were clearly skilled in their respective arts, posing more than a challenge and by extension- problem for the two but easily wearing them down to heavy breathing.
"We need help Natsu, lets jut go now, we have given the others enough time to get the prisoners out, now lets just re-group." Gray grumbled, his breathing now more harsh than Natsu had heard it before.
"Our prisoners have been rescued?" Drawled the muffled voice from behind the helmet of the final mage standing. Standing where he was when he fired the lighting bolt. Natsu could practically feel the mage raise a brow at his words.
"Yeah, and now you are coming with us!" He bellowed, his usual cocky tone taking centre-stage and his fist alighting into its brilliant reddish yellow flames once again…
The mage only chuckled from behind the full plated armour he was wearing, a dark sound, one that seemed to reach into Natsu's very soul and taint it with its voice. He looked over and saw Gray wince too.
He didn't know what it was, but something about this mage made Natsu feel like running away, as if he was not prepared for what this mage had in store for him and Gray.
"Doesn't matter to me, I think i've found a few who will fill up the vacancies…" He explained in a mild tone. As if he were discussing the weather. "Come on, follow me." He ordered, before turning and walking away in the opposite direction.
"Hey! You're not going anywhere!" Natsu shouted, hoping to get the mage to stop in his tracks, however, realising that wasn't working he made a mad dash for the mage. "Fire dragon: Iron Fist!"
He was within striking distance…
And suddenly, he was face-planting the sand beneath him, a painful throbbing around his head and the sound of not only the air around them rippling, but the magic too.
"Natsu!" He could just hear Gray's voice above the intense ringing sound. Had he really been hit that hard? He was even barely able to lift his head up when he had tried.
Gray didn't look good either, but at least he hadn't been hit by the guy yet. But, his hopes for that were dashed when the mage came crashing down on his friend, the huge marble staff's green orb slamming directly down on Gray's head as he was sent to the ground with a large and loud crack and crunch…
Somehow his body just wanted to sleep, as if that ONE hit had been enough for him to require healing.
But even as he fought it, he could see the cruel smile that played under the scarily powerful man's helmet.
He could only hope that either Erza and Lucy arrived quickly, or that they'd die a painless death.
::-(())-::
Of course, neither of the two happened…
Himself and Gray seemingly attracted bad luck wherever they went…
"You're doing great, keep listening to me… You're doing great, keep listening to me… You're doing great, keep listening to me… You're doing great, keep listening to me… You're doing great, keep listening to me… You're doing great, keep listening to me… Please..." He whispered, gently cradling the limp body in his arms. Unaware of any outside stimuli, even as a blur of red and blonde rushed into his unfocused view, even as the red blur as whimpered and gently took his friend away.
Or even when the blonde did the same to him…
He was going home… But he wasn't truly going be at home for a long while…
::-(())-::
So I wanted this to be more ambiguous, like more of a 'fill in the blanks' kind of story. Let me know if I did that good or bad yeas? :D
I am pretty sure it's obvious that I no longer hate Natsu to the extent I did a year back. I mean, I still heavily dislike him, but that can be chalked up to the Alvarez arc now more than anything. I thought that I would try and write him a bit more to give him a proper character. Of course, without taking from Gray. :)
Anyway, that was the Gray/Natsu request.
Remember to leave your requests in the reviews or PM's or whatever. XD I have a few more I need to do to but you're request WILL be done at some point. :) So keep a look out.
Anyway, thank you for watching and stay cool,
-Viperhat