Author's notes - hey everyone! I've been stuck for a while and also I started school and really couldn't find the time to write between school and sports. However, I finally got some ideas and I sat down and wrote out everything. This probably makes no sense. But we're going with it.
Leave reviews please!
The only sound was the rain pelting the cloth like material covering the bed of the truck that was currently taking Gray away from the only home he'd known for over six years. He sat tucked away in the corner, as far away as possible from the other two passengers in the back. His eyes slid shut as he leaned his head against the cold metal of the truck, trying not to think of the last couple days.
He'd tried to talk Macao into leaving a day early, solely to get him away from this town and leave it all in his past. Macao had explained that the truck wouldn't be there to pick them up until it was scheduled to, but Gray nearly begged him for an early departure.
It was true that Macao had felt sympathy towards Gray. When one of his close friends handed him the phone stating there was someone on the line for him, he hadn't expected it to be the young man he'd tried to talk into joining them. Maybe his own son, calling from home, asking when his father was coming back, but not an almost hysterical Gray calling to beg for help.
"She's gone." Gray's voice was hoarse, like he'd been screaming at the top of his lungs.
"Who's gone? Gray, is everything okay?
"I left the house, I was gone for not even five minutes and they found her. They found her and now she's dead. I was supposed to protect her, and now she's dead because of me."
"Listen, son, you need to calm down." Macao's voice was full of concern, drawing the attention of Wakaba. "Do I need to come and get you? Do you need help?"
"Oh god, Lyon. What am I going to tell him? He's gonna kill me when he finds out. Oh fuck what am I gonna do?"
"Macao, is something wrong?" Wakaba stood in front of him, arms crossed over his chest.
"Kid, you need to calm down. I'll be over in five minutes, alright? Keep your head on and wait until I get there."
Macao motioned for Wakaba to follow and grabbed a young man with salmon colored hair by the collar, dragging him out behind the two older men. "Come on, Natsu. I might need your help with this one." Macao shoved the teen in the back of a jeep and jumping in the driver's seat. No sooner than Natsu straightened in his seat Macao shifted the vehicle in drive and sped off down the road.
It had taken a little over five minutes to find his way back to the house, and he was visibly shocked by the state of the house. When he'd arrived just this morning, it was a beautiful white house with flower beds on each side of the stairs and in the perfect condition. Now, the house was filled with multiple bullet holes and broken windows, as well as the door being missing.
"That ain't looking good, Macao." Natsu's voice brought Macao out of his shock.
"Be prepared for anything." The three soldiers climbed out of the jeep, weapons drawn and at the ready as they approached the house. The door had been torn off its hinges and was laid flat on the blue carpet, bullet holes littering the wood.
"Gray?" Macao called out, waiting to hear a response. Wakaba filed into the room on the left, checking for intruders.
With Natsu trailing behind, Macao made his way into the kitchen, where the unfinished breakfast sat cold on the table. Just this morning, he'd enjoyed a cup of coffee and a homemade breakfast with Gray and his sister.
"Macao, take a look at this." Natsu was looking at the table, the exact spot where Macao had sat earlier that day. The sergeant made his way over to the salmon haired teen, glancing down on the table. Red stained the table, as well as small splatters of water.
"This doesn't look good."
"Clear this direction, Macao." Wakaba stood in the threshold of what appeared to be the living room.
"Keep your eyes open. There may have been a murder."
Doors had been thrown open carelessly, leaving sizable dents in the walls or doorknobs embedded into the walls behind them.
"Nothing here but a bed and a desk." Natsu called from Macao's right.
"All clear here." Wakaba responded from the door across from the room Macao was in.
"I think I found the murder victim." Natsu's voice echoed through the hall. Macao walked out of the empty room and found Natsu standing in the hall in from of one room. The younger man stepped inside, allowing Macao entrance into the room.
The room appeared to belong to a man, as the walls were painted a dark blue and everhthing else inside the room was metal and black or gray in color. The bed was a mess, the duvet a crumpled ball on the sheets. Peeking out from the end of the bed was a pale feminine foot, the toenails painted a deep purple.
Macao holstered his weapon and walked around the bed, taking in the bloodstains on the desk and the carpet, as well as shell casings littering the ground. He stopped beside the girl's foot, looking down at her lifeless form.
"This is Gray's sister. Ultear, I believe her name was. She's been shot multiple times in the chest and abdomen."
"Where is the kid?" Wakaba had joined his fellow soldiers in the room, standing beside Macao observing the body.
"Hey, there's a closed door here!" Natsu called from farther down the hallway.
"Call the police. I'll go check out the rest of the house with Natsu." Macao handed Wakaba his cellular phone and unholstered his gun, trekking into the hall. Natsu had his back pressed against the wall, eyes glued to the door beside him. Macao nodded and Natsu tucked his gun away, hand encircling the doorknob.
Natsu turned his hand and shoved, throwing the door open. Macao entered the room, scanning it for an attacker, but finding the room free of danger. The room was spotless and dust free, the bed was perfectly made, the white curtains swaying with the wind blowing it around through the open window.
Small shelves screwed into the pale blue walls held books or vases of flowers, though one held a picture frame. An empty picture frame.
A small noise akin to a sob startled both soldiers, causing both weapons to be drawn once again. Macao pointed at the open bathroom door to the right and Natsu gave a curt nod, heading in that direction. The older man edged closer to the bed, rounding the other side.
He found a young man, knees drawn to his chest, holding a picture in his shaking hands. "Natsu, I found him." Macao placed his gun in the bed, barrel facing the bedroom door and knelt down beside Gray. "Are you hurt?"
Gray shook his head, his grip on the picture tightening. "I failed her."
"Who? Your sister?"
"Not just her. Lyon. Ur."
"Ur?"
Gray held the picture out to Macao. "She took in Lyon and I. Our village was attacked and neither of our parents lived. Ur found us and brought us home with her. We promised we'd help her keep her daughter safe." Gray fisted his hands in his hair. "I failed her. I failed my family for a second time. I couldn't save either of them."
"You know what they say about three time's a charm, right?" Natsu's voice was full of hope, of optimism.
"Do you want me to call your brother?"
Gray shook his head. "He'll kill me the second he finds out what I've done." Gray reached beside him, handing Macao a pistol. "You might as well save him the trouble."
"I'm not gonna shoot ya, kid. Come with us, and we'll show you how to protect your family."
"What family? My parents are dead. My sister and guardian are dead."
"You'll be a part of our family, Gray." Macao placed his hand on the gun in Gray's shaking fist, lowering it to the ground. "We won't let anything happen to you."
A sob broke through Gray and his hands were fisted in his hair once again.
"My companion called the police to report the attack. They'll want you to answer some questions, as you're the one who found her. Then we'll take you with us, if it's okay with you."
"Take me away from here."
"You aren't listening to a damned thing I'm saying, are you?" Wakaba's voice brought Macao back from his thoughts.
"Sorry. It's just been a strange couple of days, hasn't it?" Macao looked around the sleeping Levy to see his life long friend shaking his head.
"I suppose so." Wakaba shrugged. "Think General will be upset we only brought back the kid?"
"He's always happy with whatever amount we bring back." Macao sighed and looked through the back glass and sighed. "They're at it again."
Wakaba laughed. "Do I need to pull over?"
"I don't think. It's nothing to serious yet."
Macao had no idea what went down between the two, but Natsu and Gray always picked a fight with each other. It was nothing to turn around and see them brawling it out, even after knowing each other for two days. He recalled when he first found them fighting, and how hard he'd laughed after the fact.
Macao sat at the table trying to enjoy his drink when he'd heard a loud crash. "What did you call me?" Who was Natsu trying to pick a fight with now?
"Do I really need to say it again?" That voice wasn't as familiar as the rest.
"Is that the best insult you can come up with?"
"Nope. Just the first one that I thought of when I saw you." Whoever the voice belonged to, they seemed to be pretty calm.
"That's it. You done pissed me off. You're gonna get it now, droopy eyes."
"Bring it, squinty eyes."
Natsu let out a battle cry and there was another loud crash. With a sigh, Macao turned around to yell at Natsu, only to have his jaw drop.
The person who mouthed off Natsu was Gray.
And he currently has Natsu on the ground punching him in the face.
Macao began laughing, followed by Wakaba, and the rest of the people inside the building.
"No one ever gets the better of Natsu like that unless it's Laxus, Erza or Gildarts!"
"He's never gonna love this one down!"
"Sergeant Macao, shouldn't we break them up?" Levy's tiny voice said from his right.
"Nah," Macao patted the tiny blue haired girl's hand, "no one ever gets the drop on Natsu like this. Plus, he's new. They'll tire of it eventually."
"I'm not so sure..." Levy's voice trailed off, glancing at the fighting duo. Natsu managed to slip out from under Gray and land a solid blow to Gray's left eye, sending the teen stumbling back. Natsu went for another punch, but grunted as his fist punched nothing but the rock hard wall. Gray delivered an elbow to Natsu's right eye, sending him tumbling to the ground.
"Enough!" A feminine voice tore through the air, drawing the attention of the entire building for a second time. Armor clinked together and soon there was a shrill cry and a startled gasp following.
In the middle of the room, where Gray and Natsu had been fighting, were both young men, held by their shirt fronts. Between them, a girl in armor, her long red hair reaching the middle of her back.
"That's enough fighting between the two of you. You're to be friends, not enemies, got it?"
"Y-yes, Erza!" Natsu stuttered out, his hands grasping onto Erza's wrist.
"Apologize, Natsu."
"I ain't apologizing to the likes of him! Are you jo-" SMACK. "I'm sorry Gray! I didn't mean it and I'm sorry I gave you an ass kicking!"
"It's a good thing they're just butting heads now, if it was a fight I'm sure Erza would break it up in an instant." Macao chuckled.
"I'm still wondering now she hasn't split them up yet if they're still butting heads."
"Me too."
Wakaba let go of a content sigh. "I know we haven't been away but for a few days, but I'm glad to be getting back to home."
"I agree, Wakaba. It's not the same being away from our home with only a few of our family." Macao patted little Levy's head as it fell against his shoulder.
"We should be home within a few hours."
SMACK. SMACK. "Aaaaaaaaaah we're sorry!"
Both men chuckled. "Sounds good for us, but even better for Natsu and Gray."
"It seems that Natsu and Erza have taken a liking to Gray." Macao shifted in his seat.
"A what? A liking?" Wakaba laughed. "Sure, a liking to fighting with giving him bruises."
"If you think about it, that's how Erza and Natsu became close. I remember him always trying to fight her, and now look at them. Anyone who tries anything with her or tries to hurt her, he's right there knocking them to the ground."
"That is true. Erza always being there for Natsu sure has helped him a lot. Maybe they can be there for Gray the way they've been there for each other."
"When we lost Lisanna, Erza was right there with Natsu, making sure he wasn't being too careless."
"How long has it been since we lost her now? Two years?" Wakaba rubbed his eyes on the backs of his hands.
"Yeah. The anniversary was just before we left. That's why Natsu came with us. He didn't want to be there."
"And I'm assuming that's why Erza came too. To make sure he was okay. Which surprises me, because I figured she'd stay to be with Mirajane."
Macao sighed and rested his head against the window. "Erza knew she had Elfman and everyone back home. Natsu didn't have anyone."
"I hope the kid's doing alright."
"Which one? Natsu or Gray?"
"Both." Wakaba turned on the radio and tuned out the rain.
"If you two don't sit down so help me, I'll punch you both again so you can have two matching black eyes instead of one." Erza didn't even have to open her eyes to know the two were head to head about to start another brawl.
The duo cried out and separated, stuttering out apologies as they sat down in their rightful seats.
"So, Gray, I don't know a lot about you, other than you like fighting with Natsu."
"There's not much to tell." Gray stated stoically.
"Then tell what you can." Erza shifted forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "I know you know my name already, but I want to properly introduce myself. Erza Scarlet."
"Gray Fullbuster."
"I'm Natsu Dragneel." Natsu chipped in, a wide smile plastered across his face. "The guy who can and will always beat your ass."
Gray rolled his eyes and leaned back against the seat. "I could beat you any day."
Natsu jumped to his feet, only to be pulled back down and slammed into his own seat.
"So, Gray, how did Macao convince you to join us?"
"He refused to kill me when I asked. Figured joining him and going into battle to get myself killed was the next best option."
Erza visibly paled, and then she moved so quickly it was barely registered until she had Gray by the collar and pushed her face close to her own. "Don't say such a thing ever again. Do you understand me?"
"That's the only reason I'm-"
A fist connected with his jaw. "Do you understand me?" Erza all but yelled at him.
"I understanding! Now let go of me!" Gray grabbed her by the wrists and pried her hands off his shirt, but he didn't miss the way she stared at him like she was afraid.
Erza walked away from Natsu and Gray both and sat near the back of the truck bed.
Another set of hands grasped his shirt and lifted him from his seat, holding him against the cold metal of the truck. "Don't you ever say anything like that in front of Erza or I will personally make sure you suffer."
There was a fierceness in Natsu's eyes and it made guilt bubble up in his chest. Natsu shoved him back and settled in his seat, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
Gray leaned back once more and closed his own eyes, hoping to sleep a little more before they arrived at base.
Gray was awoken by a loud groan.
"Ungh, I feel sick."
"Forgot to take your medicine, didn't you?" Erza's voice sounded different than it had earlier.
"Stop this thing from moving. Get me off here now." Natsu groaned.
A pill bottle rattled and a plastic bottle crinkled, followed by the sounds of both items having their lids put back on. "Try to go back to sleep, Natsu. We'll be home in a little over an hour."
"Why did I agree to coming on this death trap?"
The noises settled and Erza sighed. Her armor clanked as she made her way back to where she had been, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them, unbeknownst that she was being watched. It was apparent on her features that she was struggling with something.
It wasn't until the third sob escaped her that Gray got up and walked over to her, plopping down beside her. She wiped at her eyes furiously.
"My parents were killed when I was young. My whole village was attacked by Deloria and his army. This woman named Ur found me and other boy, Lyon, and took us in. All my life she taught me how to fight, how to defend. Once I thought I'd learned enough, I found Deloria's location and went to confront him."
"Do you mean Ur Milkovich?"
Gray nodded.
"Ur and Lyon followed after me. I thought I could stop Deloria, avenge my parents. He would've killed me, had Lyon not stepped in. That bastard. He got clocked over the head and was unconscious whenever Ur showed up. She'd been fighting off soldiers and was covered in stab wounds.
"Deloria gave her a choice; kill me or Lyon and she would live. She chose neither, and attacked Deloria. She yelled at me to take Lyon and go home, to protect Ultear, her daughter. I tried to fight with her, but she kept shoving me away and telling me to run.
"Eventually Deloria played dirty, and stabbed her right through the chest. She yelled at me one final time, and I finally listened to her. I dragged Lyon for about a mile before some police officer found us. I told him about Ur and he just shoved us both in the back of his car and took us back home. The officer got in contact with the army and arrest Deloria, but Ur didn't make it out alive."
"I'm so sorry." Erza sniffled.
"Lyon and I worked to buy back Ultear's home and we did it eventually. We swore to protect Ultear, knowing his men would come for us all. They killed her two days ago. And that's why I'm here. Natsu and Macao told me to come with them, that a third time's a charm for a family."
"I was enslaved as a child. I made my best friends while I was there. I wasn't made into a fighter until one of them, Jellal, told me that I had been stripped of my freedom, that we all had. We led an attack together, and one of the guards shot at me, but Grandpa Rob saved me. They tried to torture me for leading the attack, but Jellal took my place.
"Somehow he managed to kill the slave owner and told me to leave. He wasn't the Jellal I'd known my whole life. Even though he saved me, it killed me to not be able to save my friends."
"I'm sorry, Erza."
"Natsu was abandoned as a child. A man by the name of Igneel took him in and raised him, then dropped him off on the doorstep of the General's cabin. He's been with us ever since."
"That's terrible."
"We've all experienced loss, Gray. I lost my parents too, and my second family, Jellal, Simon, Milliana, Grandpa Rob. Natsu lost two different families, too. But Macao and Natsu, and everyone back home, they're my family. All of us know loss of some type, and we bonded over that. We're a huge family, and we stick together, we protect each other." Erza's hand reached out and squeezed Gray's. "You're a part of that family now, Gray."
Maybe they were right. Maybe this would be his third chance. His third family, the one he would be able to protect.
He knew one thing that was absolutely certain.
He would protect Erza and Natsu with his life.