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~Remedy~

Chapter 8

"If our love is a tragedy, why are you my remedy?"

Gray dashed down the hall, following Lucy's scent. He had to get there fast. He had no idea what was under that bastard's sleeve, but one thing for sure was that he didn't want Lucy anywhere near that guy.

The building shook, causing Gray to lose his footing. He caught himself and continued sprinted down the hall. Another tremor shook the building, bigger than the one before. Gray swore as he dodged falling debris from the ceiling. He was going to kill Natsu later.

Gray's long white coat flapped against the violent wind as he sped to catch up to Lucy. He felt the cut on his forehead sting as the wind blew on it. He gritted his teeth. He was sure that would leave a scar.

He skidded to an abrupt stop as the wall on his right exploded. Gray squinted his eyes, seeing a figure lying among the rubble with a knife sticking out of his stomach. Erza then emerged from the hole and thrust the blade out the rogue's stomach.

"Finally," he heard her sigh.

"Erza!" Gray called. The red-head snapped her gaze to him with slight surprise. She wasn't expecting to see him anytime soon.

"Gray?" Erza said. "Where's Natsu?" As if on cue, the building trembled and swayed. Erza pressed her hand on her forehead in irritation. "That idiot..." she hissed under her breath.

"You look for Natsu. Right now I have to find Lucy," Gray said urgently. Before Erza could protest, he was already gone. The tailwind of Gray's speed whipped Erza's hair all over. She rubbed her eyes and blinked several times to see if her eyes were deceiving her.

Damn...he's fast, she thought, observing with a hint of jealousy before running off in the other direction to find a pink-haired flaming idiot.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit," Natsu cursed under his breath as a tremor shook the building. He dodged falling rocks and crumbling walls, running to the exit like no tomorrow. Erza was so going to kill him when he got back.

Speak of the devil... He suddenly crashed into an iron wall. Or so he thought... He glanced up to see the menacing Titania glare down at him.

"Natsu, you fool!" she bellowed, grabbing him by the collar. He shrieked, fainting from terror and felt his soul rise out of his body. Erza raised a brow in disbelief at the floating white soul. She grabbed it without mercy and stuffed it back in Natsu's body. Natsu gasped and woke up eye-to-eye with Erza's grim face. He broke out into a cold sweat.

"Erza," he greeted meekly with a shaky smile.

"Natsu," she hissed back with a forced smile. "How many times do I have to tell you not to destroy stuff?"

The pink-haired boy gulped and said, "A lot."

"How come it doesn't get through you're thick head?"

He stayed silent as Erza sighed in irritation and set him down. He involuntarily took three steps back from the fuming huntress. He heard her mutter incoherent words. The only things he caught was, "Natsu...idiot...impetuous...stupid..." He sweat-dropped.

"Uh...Erza?"

She cleared her throat and stood up straight. "Yes, moving on. Let's get out of here." As she said that, the building shuddered and the ceiling above them collapsed. Her eyes widened in horror. "Move!"

Both of them lunged to the side as the giant rock cascaded down in between the two. Erza coughed, inhaling too much dust and dirt. She stood up and whirled around looking for Natsu.

"Natsu! Natsu!"

"I'm over here!"

She climbed over some fallen rocks to his voice and froze where she stood at what she found. She cursed. There was a wall in between them. And a leftover rogue.

"Natsu! Can you hear me?!" she yelled, catching the rogue's attention.

"Yes!"

"I trust you to make it out alive without my help! I'm a bit busy! I found a rogue!"

"There's another path! Don't worry!" She heard his muffled footsteps disappearing as she pulled out her sword. She pointed it at the rogue, who glowered at her with hostile eyes.

"Vanish," Erza said, lunging at the creature.

"My my...you've grown into a fine young woman," Midnight commented, his eyes glinting hungrily at her voluptuous curves. His red orbs rested on her gifted chest for a moment before looking back at her frightened chocolate orbs.

Lucy swallowed thickly, forcing herself to stay where she was. If she wasn't stubborn, she would've already backed up a few steps and cowered in front of him. "What are you doing here?" she asked harshly, startling herself with her voice.

Midnight chuckled, appearing before her in an instant. He twirled a strand of her golden hair. "How cute," he teased at her angry mood.

"Answer me," Lucy growled, swatting his hand away. "I'm not eighteen yet."

"I know," Midnight replied. "I just came to get rid of some things I no longer find useful." His eyes drifted to the side. Lucy followed his gaze with a frown. She widened her eyes and the bloody mess on the floor that was supposedly Erigor.

"And," Midnight continued, leaning closer to Lucy, "I came to check on you."

"How'd you know I was here?" Lucy asked, involuntarily taking a step backward. Midnight followed her, taking a step forward as she took one back. Lucy inwardly swore when she felt her back touch the cold, hard wall.

Midnight smirked. "Oh Lucy," he said wistfully, pulling her close, "I can smell you miles away."

Lucy stiffened as he buried his head in the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent. His lips ghosted over her skin along her shoulder and stopped between the junction of her neck and shoulder. Lucy roughly bit her lip accidentally drawing blood, holding back a scream as she felt something wet and hot trail down her neck.

"You still have no reason," Midnight stated with a wicked grin on his face. He was winning. With the small amount of time that Lucy had left, there was no chance for her to escape his grasp.

"Just submit to me know, Lucy," he said huskily. "That would be so much easier for the both of us. You'd get more sleep and I'd get what I want." He smoldered her eyes with his own before smashing his lips to hers, licking the blood off her enticing, full lips. The kiss was rough and passionate without love but pure want and lust.

Lucy knew she couldn't push him away. He was stronger than her. If only he was distracted for one moment, she could surprise him.

Midnight pulled back, not forgetting she was human. She had to breathe after all. His eyes narrowed when he inhaled a familiar scent moving fast toward them. He chuckled. It was Ultear's younger brother Gray. He hasn't seen him in quite some time. So he knew Lucy? Interesting.

Lucy watched him lose focus on her and concentrate on something else. That was her chance. Now.

She angrily pushed him away and then punched him in the chest. Midnight flew and crashed into some file cabinets and then she ran for it. She zoomed down the hall, jumping over piles of rubble. She could feel him behind her. Just like in her nightmare.

Lucy panted as she ran. Her muscles in her legs burned in effort and fear gave her an extra adrenaline boost. Even with the added adrenaline, he would find her. No matter how fast or far far she would run, she knew...and he knew that he would always catch her.

Lucy took a sharp turn to the left only to collide against something hard and stumble backwards and eventually fall on her butt with her legs spread apart and knees bent inward. She looked up to see Midnight towering over her with diabolical eyes.

In a flash, she felt the cold, hard ground pressed against her cheek and felt like the air was knocked out of her. Midnight's foot was on the middle of her back, pressing down to make sure she couldn't move and escape his grasp this time. He watched as she squirmed under the pressure and coughed violently from lack of air.

"Now that wasn't very nice," he chided, eyes gleaming with malice. Lucy shut her eyes, wishing she would disappear. She hated those eyes.

"Lucy!" Gray's voice called from a distance. "Lucy!" he called again, much louder this time. Lucy snapped her eyes open to see Gray appear a few feet away. Lucy eyed him with a weak gaze. His face was expressionless and indecipherable, his mouth set in a grim line, but his eyes were stormy as his gazed passed from her over to Midnight. He looked furious.

She heard Midnight chuckle. "Nice seeing you again, Gray," he said. "It's been quite some time." Lucy felt her eyes widen. They knew each other?

Gray's voice came out low and firm. "You should be dead." Midnight snorted, his arrogance settling in.

"Your pathetic sister couldn't kill me. She brought me close enough to the brink of death that it took me a while to restore all my power." He gave a wicked, crooked smile. "Besides, I'm the one who brought her to Hades when she was having issues after your father's death. Being the ungrateful brother you are, you let her fall to darkness."

Gray clenched his fists angrily. He hated to admit it, but Midnight was right. If only he was more vigilant and perceptive back then... Gray shook his head. He couldn't let Midnight get in his head.

"Let her go," he snarled. Midnight feigned surprise, his eyes growing wide.

"Who?"

Gray growled impatiently. "What do you want from her?!"

"Oh, Lucy?" His red eyes looked down to see the immobile blonde beauty struggling to breath. He loosened his footing slightly. "I just wanted to remind her of a small bargain." Midnight then pressed his foot harder to put emphasis. The still silence broke when a sickening crack was heard. Lucy's painful scream pierced the air, echoing down the hallway. Midnight smirked sadistically. The sound was music to his ears.

Gray clenched his jaw, trying to keep calm. If he did anything irrational right now, he could indirectly kill Lucy with his own actions.

The building shook and more walls that were supporting the building fell apart. Midnight released Lucy and stared at the slowly crumbling building with a deep frown. "As much as I'd like to stay," he said with a sigh, "I have to take my leave." And with that, Midnight disappeared in a blink of an eye.

Lucy groaned as she lifted herself up to a sitting position. She winced as a sharp pain shot through her ribs. She wished that she could stop breathing because it hurt so much. Her arm wrapped around her rib cage as she tried standing up. With success, she stood slouched over in exertion. Before she knew it she felt herself leaning on Gray's shoulder for support.

"Do you think you can walk?" he asked with slight concern showing in his eyes.

"Yes," she said with a huff. She could handle herself just fine. Lucy took a step forward and wobbled but caught herself. If she continued walking at this rate, they would never make it out before the building collapsed on them. Her stubbornness would be the death of her one day. She knew it. Lucy bit her lip. This was so going to ruin her pride. "On second thought...we won't make it out alive if I did," she said, defeated. All thanks to Natsu.

In an instant, she was swooped from the ground and in Gray's arms bridal style. Lucy felt heat rush to her cheeks.

"Close your eyes," he said, his deep, smooth voice relaxing her. Lucy didn't know why, but every time she heard his voice it soothed her with its velvety tone and she felt safe and secure in his arms. Like she had nothing to fear.

She happily did as she was told and felt fast, cold wind rushing against her. She now understood why. He didn't want her to get nauseous. Lucy opened her eyes as she felt only a slight breeze a few seconds later. They were outside.

"You both made it. That's good," a voice behind them said. Erza appeared in front of them and waved for them to follow her. Gray walked after the red-head and found medical supplies laid out all on the ground. Gray set Lucy down carefully and slumped next to her, running a hand through his raven hair.

He watched Erza nimbly tend Lucy's small wounds. Erza's eyes made contact with his and she threw him some disinfectant and a big white bandage. Gray caught it and gave her a questioning glance.

"Your forehead," was all she said before turning back to Lucy.

Gray raised his brows. He totally forgot about that. His finger automatically touched his forehead above his left eyebrow. He winced as it stung to the touch.

A few minutes later, after the burning disinfectant and horrible strong smell from it, Gray let his raven locks fall back over his forehead, slightly covering the white bandage that was neatly placed their.

"Thanks," he said, handing back the medical equipment back to Erza.

Before Erza could say "your welcome" a scream filled the air. The three of them whipped their heads to the falling building to see Natsu sprinting out of the open doors in panic and leaping away from the crumpling building. When he landed on the ground, a few feet away from safety, the headquarters of Eisenwald came crashing down behind him with a final dirt cloud rising in the sky.

Natsu crawled to them and slumped on his stomach with a exhausted sigh.

"I made it," he said, relieved.

"Idiot, don't scare us like that," Lucy chastised, hitting him upside the head. Gray chuckled in amusement.

"If you ask me that was funny."

"Hey!" Natsu exclaimed with a comical glare.

"Enough," Erza said calmly with a small smile. "We should get going and report this back to Queen Ur."

"Oh come on Erza! I just got here!" Natsu complained. "I need to bandage by wounds."

"Well hurry up," she said impatiently.

"Hahaha! I feel invincible!" Natsu laughed. "We defeated Eisenwald!" Lucy face palmed at his idiocy while Gray sweat-dropped.

"NATSU!" Erza boomed. "I SAID HURRY UP!"

"Aye!" he squeaked.

Lucy frowned as she helped Natsu tend his wounds. He basically left all the work to her as he bickered with Gray when Erza wasn't looking. They had quite the character.

Natsu, an energetic pyromaniac. Gray, a mysterious vampire who unconsciously strips.

"Gray," she called, "you're shirt."

Gray blinked and looked down to see his articles of clothes missing and thrown beside him. He gave a confused expression, wondering when that happened, and pulled them back on without saying anything.

She was surprised when he stripped at Magnolia when they battled a group of rogues. She didn't mind, really. Seeing him shirtless, oh God... Words can't even describe how she felt when she saw the washboard abs.

Moving on... Erza, a strict, easily tempered woman, who scared the living shit out of people.

And then there was her. Lucy, the most sane and normal person out of all four.

She smiled.

Yup, they made an interesting team alright.

Okay...um...here's chapter 8. I'm sorry to everyone who expected more out of this chapter...

I know it was short! Please don't kill me T_T

Anyway, I was thinking of changing the summary (again) and the title because it no longer fits the plot. Just wanted to let you know ahead of time. I'm trying to think of a good title, so it might constantly change throughout the story.

Ja ne!