Pairing: Lyon x Gray

Warnings: Angst. Still lots of it to come. And a bit of fluffeh fluff between our cutiepies~

Chapter rating: T

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its characters (but I think we can all guess what would happen if I did~)

A/N: Alright, another chapter. Things are progressing fairly fast, I know, but I really don't want this story to drag out. If it does, I'll end up dropping it somewhere along the road for other projects and I don't want that! OTL I actually hope some of you out there can relate to either of the characters in this story. This is already more than just a fanfiction to me. I need to stop getting so attached to these characters. If I don't watch out, Gray will end up becoming as much part of me as Jellal and Zeref already are OTL
And it looks like I took WAY too long in updating again, doesn't it? Well, life happened to keep it short. Stress and constantly being sick has kept my creativity at a low. On a positive note, I've finally begun drawing and writing again and I'm getting ready to actually put up fanfictions from other series up as well. Particularly Hakkenden and Gintama has had me interested as of late. I'm working on something from Gintama ATM, so if any of you know the show, prepare yourselves~ /shot
DreamscomeTRUEEE: Yay, someone actually knowing the seiyuu! But yeah, you'll know who I was talking about in a later chapter, trust me. And thank you for the kind words! I'm so glad that you like what I write! I just feel that Gray and Lyon needs more love, ahahaha. They're lovely. AND REVIEWS ARE NEVER POINTLESS. You're taking the time to comment with your thoughts on something and I couldn't ask for more!
Alright, onto the story. I'm writing too much here OTL

As much as it irritated me that Lyon was dragging me along like a disobidient child, I appreciated that he at least had the discretion to go somewhere more private to have this 'talk'. Instead of hanging around Magnolia, we went outside the town gate, heading for a small clearing along the river.

"Alright. Sit down."

No sooner had Lyon let go of my arm before he pushed me down to sit on the grass. Looking up at him, he stood with his arm crossed and a very impatient look on his face.

"Talk."

"About what?"

Putting a hand under my chin, I looked away from him, pretending I did not know what he meant. Already I could feel the unnerving thoughts of my dreams returning. The sooner Lyon would stop being there, the better.

"Don't act more stupid than you already are. You're obviously having trouble sleeping." Lyon kneeled down in front of he, grabbing my head with both hands to force me to look at him. "Unless you've suddenly gotten yourself a mysterious lover who keeps you awake at night, I can't see why you can't tell anyone what is going on with you."

"You don't think I have a secret lover?" I smirked, not bothering to comment on his insult. That was just typical Lyon-behavior. "I'd say it's a possibility."

"And I say it's not. Juvia would certainly be on a rampage to find that 'lover' of yours if that was the case. She might be following you around all the time, but even she couldn't tell me what it was."

"Perhaps because it's none of her business. Neither is it yours."

Sighing, Lyon put his hand on top of my head, ruffling my hair. I could feel my body start trembling again as he did as a vision flashed before my eyes.

Fire. Ice. Demon. Destruction. Death. Nothingness.

I flinched at his touch, feeling my blood run cold. I could truly not rid myself of the nightmares even in my waking hours anymore. I let out a soft chuckle. Surely, I was going crazy.

"Gray?"

I did not respond. Lyon was hardly even present any longer. The entire village was burning. The houses were collapsing. People were screaming for help as the monstrous demon let out a roar so terrifying that the sound alone made me wish that I was already dead. Dead like the rest of my family.

"Gray!"

I was brought back to reality by a rough shake of my shoulders. Blinking a few times, I saw Lyon's face in front of my own, an unusual expression of shock upon it. I was confused, shaken, afraid. What had just happened?

"You're bleeding."

"Huh?"

Wiping my mouth, I was stunned to find traces of blood on the back of my hand. I had bit my lip hard enough to draw blood, yet I had not even noticed. I was really starting to lose control of the situation.

"I'm not having any more of your excuses. What the hell was that about? You went completely blank for a minute there."

Glancing up at Lyon and back at my hand, I was unable to speak. It was as if I had suddenly forgotten how to. Just like back then, when I found out I was the only survivor. Just like when I lost her. I lost them both.

"You can't keep this up," Lyon growled, firmly grasping both of my shoulders. "You're endangering the lives of your comrades. I heard what happened with that Heartfilia-girl. What will you do if you actually hit the wrong person next time? What if you-"

"-kill them?" Something snapped inside of me, setting ablaze the frustration I had kept to myself thus far. "Don't you think I've thought about that?! Don't you think I keep worrying that might happen?! 'Cause I do! I don't want to put my friends in danger, but I do! All because... because...!"

Lyon said nothing while I vented out the pent up feelings I had withheld. I had only just finished shouting at him before I felt myself gasping for air, entering a state of hyperventilating. Then came the tears, rolling down my face uncontrolled. I wrapped my own arms around my body to regain just a bit of safety.

And once Lyon pulled me close, I lost all control.

My head hurt from crying for so long. My jaw hurt from gritting my teeth so hard. I thought it would have been impossible to become even more exhausted than I already were, but I had been wrong. I was so tired that did not even care that I was using my the shoulder of my rival - one that was not even in my guild - to cry on.

My sudden fit had now died down to a series of muffled sobs, my forehead resting against Lyon's shoulder while he kept his arms around me. So far he had remained silent, although I almost expected him to make fun of me at any given time. He never did such a thing.

Instead he gently stroked my hair, allowing me to let out what I needed to get off my chest. Feeling confident enough to speak up, without breaking into tears once more, I raised my head, awaiting some sort of ridicule at this point

"Fuck. I can't believe this. Just... forget this ever happened, okay?"

"I'd rather not."

Surprised, I looked Lyon in the eyes. The serious, not to mention worried, gaze that met me left me speechless. Lyon had not even let go of me yet. I was starting to believe that he was actually giving a damn about the situation and maybe not just for Juvia's sake.

"This is still none of your business, you know..."

"I'm making it my business now." Shaking his head slowly, Lyon gave me a warm smile - something I was not used to see him do. "I want to help you in whatever way you need."

"Why?"

"Because, Gray," Lyon replied, putting his hands on my cheeks, "I told myself that I would look after you. I made that promise when I first met you. Back then I failed terribly, but this time, I promise you that I won't give you up."

For a moment, I thought the tears were going to come back. I sort of wanted to punch him for saying something that stupid, but somehow it felt reassuring. I felt reassuring that not everyone was going to back out, just because I pushed them away - that someone were persistent enough to hold on.

And yet I also wanted him to stay away. Of all people, the last person I would want to know about the nightmares was Lyon. For that, I had my own very good reasons.

"...I still don't want your help."

"But you have it whether you like it or not. And you're going to listen to what I say from here on out." Noticing that I was trying to raise complaints, Lyon put a finger in front of my mouth. "No protests. You're going back with me to Lamia Scale and you are not returning home until I'm positive that you're good."