I Dare You
Chapter Five - Sorrow, Agony, Fear
The snake's screams flowed throughout the room, but soon vanished as he was consumed by the flames of a dragon slayer. He screamed until his voice cracked and with his final breath, Evlen collapsed at the dragon slayer's feet. Natsu looked down at the fallen piece of trash that was beneath him. He slowly knelt down and put his lips to the ear of his prey.
"Evlen Trevicks I hate to say that I will not be the one to kill you…" Natsu whispered as he glanced over to Gray. Looking at the state he was in along with the state the bed was in made him re-think not killing him. He knew he couldn't kill him…at least with Gray sitting right there.
"Just know if someone decides to let you live, even after doing this, I will burn the rest of you without hesitation." Natsu threatened, watching Evlen pass out.
Natsu stood and looked over his shoulder at the still passed out Alekander and let out a breath of relief and accomplishment.
"N…Natsu." Gray tried to stand, but quickly lost balance falling into the dragon slayer's open arms. Natsu's stomach was still bleeding, but not enough to kill the man. Gray was so happy Natsu was there and conscious. He wrapped his arms around the dragon slayer's neck and squeezed.
"Gray. I'm…sorry. I couldn't free myself from his spell fast enough. I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. That they did that to you…and I couldn't do a damn thing…" Natsu placed his bloodied hands on Gray's bare hips and pulled him close.
"I know Natsu. It was killing you. I would have preferred you not have to watch. I'm sorr-"
Natsu pulled back and placed a hand in front of Gray's face to keep him from apologizing, again, for nothing.
"Gray you shouldn't be the one apologizing. You were the one that was hurt and I couldn't save you in time." Natsu said, ashamed, he broke the eye contact with the ice mage.
Gray huffed and looked down only to realize Natsu's hands were on his hips and he was still not wearing any pants or anything at all for that matter. He suddenly felt hot and knew he had to be blushing.
"Uh…Natsu?" He mumbled.
"Hm?" Natsu hummed looking back at Gray.
"Can you…uh." Gray pointed down at his exposure.
The ice mage felt the dragon slayers gaze follow his finger and his heated blush only increased.
"Ah! R-right sorry you probably want pants. But you should wash up first." Natsu said quickly removing his hands from Gray's bare body. He walked to Gray's bag in the corner of the room and found Gray's next outfit neatly folded on top. Gray felt the pain throbbing all over his body, but felt the most intense of it in his lower back and his violated ass. He tried to make his way to the bathroom; barely making it half way he found himself back on the floor.
"N…Natsu?" Gray gasped.
"Gray!" Natsu yelled as he saw Gray sitting on the floor. He quickly ran to his side.
"What's wrong Gray? Are you oka-" Natsu decided that there wasn't any point to finish that question. He knew that he wasn't okay.
"Everything…hurts." Gray said blinking back the intruding tears.
The anger Natsu felt vanished as Gray's tears left his eyes. Seeing his best friend like this made his heart break. He couldn't take it…him being like this, so defeated and in pain. Natsu hung his head and put his arms under Gray's legs and behind his back, lifting him up like a prince does to his princess.
"Natsu. You don't have to carry me anymore. I'll be able to make it to the bathroom on my own…eventually." Gray said forcing the tears to stop.
"Fine." Natsu said walking into the bathroom, grabbing a towel then went back to his bed, still holding Gray.
"What are you doing?" Gray said slight nerves setting in.
Natsu sat down on his untouched, clean, bed and first wrapped Gray in the towel before gently placing Gray on his lap. The fire mage wrapped an arm around his back and placed the other over the ice mage's lap. He pulled the cold body close to his in an attempt to get him warm and make everything better. Natsu just wanted Gray not to hurt for once. He let his head fall, leaning it against Gray's chest. Hearing the quickened heart beat within his chest made Natsu feel uneasy, but he never moved his head away from the sweet noise.
"Natsu?" Gray breathed out.
He didn't care anymore and let his tears fall. Natsu was always there for him and for once Gray had wished Natsu had never been here…to see all what happened. Feeling like he could no longer do anything about it; he let himself cry…he let himself be held by the one person that he truly cared for. Natsu lifted his head and stared into Gray's glossy dark orbs and felt his heart break once again. He gently brushed a warm hand across Gray's cheek in an attempt to wipe away his tears, only then did he realize a tear of his own had fallen. No words were said as the two continued to stare into each other's sorrowful eyes. They were both filled with such pain, regret, and need for vengeance.
After what seemed like forever, Natsu quietly spoke; never breaking the hold he had on Gray's body or eyes.
"Gray. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me, but I pro…promise I will protect you. No one will ever do this to you again. I promise."
"I believe you Natsu. I'm sorry too…I wish you hadn't seen any of it."
"Hate to say it, but I'm glad I was here. Who knows what else they would've done to you. I had to be here to save you and now I'll be here to protect you."
"We won't always be together Natsu."
He didn't understand it, but for some reason those words pulled at Natsu's heart.
"We will until we leave this tournament. I will not leave your side."
"Promise?" Gray whispered letting his last tear escape.
"I promise Gray." Natsu said pulling Gray's face to his so that their foreheads were touching.
He continued to hold Gray until he had the strength to stand on his own.
"Stay seated for another minute Gray. I'm going to start a bath for you." Natsu said motioning for Gray to remain seated.
Gray nodded and slowly sat back, trying to find a position that wouldn't hurt too badly. Chills went up all around his body when he heard a rustling sound behind him followed by coughing.
"Gray Full…buster…" Alekander choked out in a whisper as he towered over Gray.
Gray slowly spun around and looked up at Alekander's face, beaten, bloodied, and bruised. Gray couldn't move; he was terrified. He could only hope Natsu would come back.
"Make sure you understand, you little ice bitch, that this is not the end." Alekander said leaning into Gray's face; noses almost touching.
"G…get a…way." Gray forced the words out, hoping his voice would've been louder for Natsu to hear.
Alekander pulled out a small vial filled with a shiny blue liquid. Quickly popped the lid off and poured it in his mouth. He placed his hands on Gray's shoulders and pushed him back onto the bed.
"No…no. Na…Nat-" Gray was cut off by Alekander forcing their lips to meet.
Gray began to cough as Alekander drained the liquid from his mouth to Gray's, forcing Gray to swallow. Pulling away, Alekander grinned evilly.
"See bitch you know how to swallow." Alekander continued to smile as his hand travelled down to Gray's still exposed bloodied ass.
"Don't-"
"Still pretty tender here aren't you?" Alekander said placing a hand over Gray's mouth and shoving a finger inside, then quickly adding a second, then a third.
"Mmmfph!" Gray struggled beneath Alekander's strength, but soon felt his own strength lessen. He felt weak.
"That's right you will fall to me Fullbuster. I'm going to remove my hand, but you will not speak if you know what's good for you."
Alekander took his hand off Gray's mouth and pulled at Gray's hair.
"Ah! Stop…" Gray tried, but was too weak to barely speak.
"That would be the poison I gave you. It makes you weak at first, but that'll fade."
"What…will it do…?" Gray huffed the words out while trying to hold back his screams.
"Soon after the weakness fades, your magic ability will vanish, then your memory. Not sure which will go first, but that's the fun in all this. The best part of that is it'll drive you crazy not being able to do any magic when you're in a wizard's guild along with losing your memories of your life. Like the lizard guy…you will soon not even know who he is. He'll be a complete stranger. Guess it's not all bad though, you'll forget what happened with Deliora, Ur, Lyon, and what Evlen and I did here. So you're welcome." Alekander said with a smile that almost looked real.
"My…memory?" Gray said in what he felt would've been panic if he didn't feel so weak.
"Yeah I have several poisons. I was debating whether or not to just give you one that'll would immediately kill you, but decided this would be more enjoyable for me. Not being able to do magic and losing your memories…and by the way, you will be completely aware you're losing your memories so that'll probably make it more frustrating for you. Maybe you'll even kill yourself." Alekander said which pure joy.
Tears began again in Gray's eyes and he turned his face away from Alekander and towards the direction of the bathroom. Eyes hoping, begging, and pleading for Natsu to return.
"Come now don't look away." Alekander said forcing a fourth finger inside, quickly regretting it as he forgot to cover the ice mage's mouth.
"AH!" Gray purposely screamed as loud as he could. He had to get out of here…he needed Natsu.
"You fucking bitch. I'll be around watching you fall Gray Fullbuster." Alekander said punching Gray across the face. He pulled his fingers out and ran to the slowly waking Evlen.
"Gray!?" Natsu said running towards their room. As soon as his eyes fell onto Alekander and Evlen trying to escape he exploded in flames, eyes red with a predator's gaze.
"Goodbye lizard boy. Enjoy your bitch while you have him." Alekander said as he vanished like smoke through the door.
Natsu stopped in his tracks so he wouldn't burst through the door. He quickly killed the flames and ran to Gray's frozen form.
"Gray? What happened?" Natsu asked as he pulled Gray up in a sitting position.
"Ah! N…Natsu?"
"What happened?"
Gray hesitantly told Natsu everything that happened while he was preparing the bath. Every time Gray talked about Alekander adding a finger, his screams, or the kiss the room got hotter.
"DAMMIT! WHY DID THAT HAPPEN AGAIN! AND THIS TIME I WAS CONSCIOUS! WHAT THE HELL!?" Natsu screamed, punching the wall.
"Natsu." Gray whispered holding his arms up, not wanting to talk about the encounter further.
"Gray. Fine. The bath." Natsu said running over and carefully lifted Gray from the new blood stain on his bed.
Natsu carried Gray to the bathroom and placed him on the towel draped over the toilet.
"I'm sorry it took so long to prepare the bath. I was trying to get it to the right temperature…pretty difficult when I can't really tell if something is too hot or not."
Gray didn't answer and didn't look away from the floor.
"Gray?"
Gray slowly blinked and met the dragon's eyes.
"What?"
"You okay enough to get in? I could help you."
"Okay."
Natsu was taken aback by Gray actually not fighting to do it on his own.
"First I should try to clean your wounds. Even if it's just a little." Natsu said grabbing a cloth and dampening it with warm water.
Every time Natsu touched Gray with the cloth he flinched. As if he didn't want to be touched, or just the feeling of being touched has now been labeled as his hell.
"Gray do you want to clean your own wounds? Would that make you more comfortable?" Natsu asked wringing out the cloth with new water.
Gray looked at Natsu then back at the floor.
"I can't."
"What? Why not?"
"Because I can't…lift my arms."
Natsu was speechless. He didn't know what to say.
"What do you mean?"
"Alekander…he forced poison down my throat when he kissed me."
"Poison!? Is it making you like this!?"
"He said the weakness would…pass. Then the poison would…" Gray felt the unwanted tears returning.
"What? Is it going to kill you?"
"He said it'll take away my ability to do magic. Then my…memory will disappear. He said I would be completely aware of it fading, but won't be able to do anything about it." Gray said through a sniff.
Gray looked over at Natsu's silent angered expression. He forced his body to move and placed a hand on Natsu's cheek.
"He said I would soon forget…w…who you are. I won't be able to remember anyone in the guild...I won't remember you…Natsu."
Natsu felt unimaginable sadness and anger, but the anger vanished as the sadness intensified when Gray bent over and broke down, hysterically sobbing.
Natsu punched himself for, again, failing Gray when it really mattered. Again Gray was suffering and this time would probably be that last time Gray would know his face.
"Dammit." Natsu his voice sad, unknowing what to do.
Natsu let the hot tears blur his vision…he let his body embrace the broken mage in front of him. He held Gray and continued to sob.
"N…Natsu? I have to tell…you something." Gray choked out, pulling away from Natsu's embrace.
"What?"
"I can't do this anymore. It hurts all the time and there's nothing I can do about it. I don't want to lose my magic and I don't want to forget. I don't want to forget…you." Gray said never looking away from Natsu's swollen red eyes.
"I can fix this Gray. I'll save you-"
Gray put a finger to Natsu's lips and shook his head.
"You want to save me? Then…"
"Gray-" Natsu was cut off again by Gray's intruding finger. He knew what the next words would be and he didn't want to hear it.
"Kill me Natsu. Please."
"No."
"Natsu. Please I can't…"
"No. I can't Gray. I could never kill you. Why would you ask me to do that?"
"Whether it's you or me. I'll be dead."
"Pl…please don't." Natsu was begging him to stop talking.
"I won't forget Natsu. I can't. I want to die with my magic and memories intact."
"But-"
"Natsu."
"Gray I'm not going to kill you. I could never do that-"
"The bath?" Gray cut in, again giving up on the conversation.
"Sure." Natsu dropped the damp cloth and placed Gray's aching body into the warm water.
"Mm…damn that is pretty hot." Gray said forcing himself to get used to it. It felt too good on his bruised body.
"Sorry. I can't really tell." Natsu said with a slight grin.
Gray returned the same small grin and looked down at Natsu's stomach, still coated in blood.
"Natsu. You should tend to your own wounds too." Gray said pointing to the bloodied stab wound.
"Right." Natsu nodded.
He carefully removed his scarf and ripped his shirt off to expose the injury.
"Damn. This hurts a lot more that I thought it did." Natsu said with a pained expression.
"Y…yeah looks like it." Gray said with a grimace.
"You feeling better?" Natsu asked wiping the blood from his stomach.
"A little. Natsu?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you remember the nightmare I had?"
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry." Gray said looking down at the browning water.
"For what?"
"I knew it was going to happen, but I still…wanted you to stay."
"That's not a bad thing Gray. I wanted to stay with you. In your dream he killed me, but here…you called out to me and that saved me."
"I know, but you still got hurt. Even that snake bastard bit you."
"Ah yeah right. Felt that too." Natsu said rubbing his neck with the warm cloth.
"Sorry."
"Gray. You don't have to be sorry for that either. I could still hear everything that was going on while I was trapped. You told them to leave me alone and to only have you. Seeing what you went through for me…you shouldn't be the one apologizing."
"Well since you were trapped and couldn't do anything…you shouldn't apologize either." Gray said while pouring water over his head.
"I could've escaped sooner though. I was weak."
"Natsu. You are far from weak."
That made Natsu's eyes light up and for the first time in a long time Gray saw a real genuine smile on the dragon slayer's face.
"I'm going to save you Gray. So please let me try." Natsu whispered.
He lit his finger aflame and placed it on the wound and burned it closed.
"Natsu? I think I'm done." Gray said trying to stand.
"Wait for me Gray." Natsu said running over with a towel.
He wrapped it around Gray's frail form and lifted him up out of the bathtub.
"Feel any better?" Natsu said sitting Gray back down on the toilet.
"Yeah. The body aches anyways…my a-…back there will hurt for awhile I imagine."
"Yeah most likely. Let me know if there's anything I can do for you Gray." Natsu said grabbing another towel for his hair.
Gray reached out and caught the dragon slayer by the wrist.
"You did enough Natsu. Thank you." Gray's smile was small, but it was the realest thing Natsu has seen since the tournament began.
"Y…yeah." That was all Natsu could manage to spit out.
With the smaller towel, Natsu started drying Gray's hair while he slowly attempted to dry his body. Gasping out in pain with every movement.
"Gray. Let me." Natsu said taking the towel from Gray's shaking hand.
Natsu dropped the towel to the ground and knelt down to Gray's level. He closed his eyes and soon the entire room began to rise in temperature.
"You make a good sauna Natsu." Gray chuckled.
After only seconds Gray was dry head to toe.
"Should've thought of that to begin with." Natsu said rubbing the back of his head, in embarrassment.
Natsu pulled his new shirt back on along with his scarf then helped Gray into his clothes and back to the room. Gently dropping him onto a clean couch.
"We should probably get a new room." Natsu said looking at all the damage, blood, and charred furniture.
"I wonder what happened to Lucy. I told her to get Erza hours ago."
"When?"
"Remember? When your eyes started flaming up."
"Right."
"Why were they doing that by the way?"
"You know me. The first thing I thought to do was to…"
"Burn everything in sight and bust your way out."
"See you know me." Natsu smiled.
"For now." Gray said mood changing to dread.
Natsu's smiled died and he sat down next to Gray. He wrapped a arm around Gray and pulled him close.
"I'm going to save you Gray. Please trust me."
"I let you change my bandages before didn't I? Of course I trust you." Gray leaned his head against Natsu's shoulder.
"Heh. Good."
"So should we go find Erza and Lucy?"
"Yeah we should tell them what happened. Or you should tell them whatever you want to tell them."
"I'll have to tell them everything eventually. Might as well do it all in one go." Gray sighed.
"Wonder why they haven't come back yet." Natsu said tightening his grip on Gray's shoulder.
"Maybe the tournament started back up or something."
"Maybe."
"Hey Natsu? I have another question that's been bothering me."
"Yeah?"
"When I told you about my nightmare. Why did you take me hand and get all quiet? Was that when you got put under that spell or…"
"Honestly, your nightmare frightened me. You were so scared and helpless in your dream and I was there tied up with my own damn scarf. Then you said you watched me die…that that was the reason you screamed out. I don't know, but I just felt scared. Scared for you…scared for what was going to happen. The only thing I felt like I could do at the time was to take your hand and say everything was going to be okay."
"But you never said anything."
"I was going to, but I'm guessing that was when I was trapped. I had no idea what was going on at that point."
"It scared me that you got so quiet. You're never quiet." Gray said with a worry filled grin.
"True." Natsu said with his own emotion filled grin.
"Let me make it up to you." Natsu said while removing the arm from around Gray's back.
"What?" Gray said confused.
Natsu turned his body to face Gray's and looked down at his bruised hand. He slowly took the cold hand in his and intertwined the fingers, gripping tight. Then raised his gaze back up to meet Gray's eyes.
"Natsu?"
"Gray. Everything is going to be okay. I am going to protect you and keep you safe." Natsu whispered looking back down at the cold hand squeezing his.
"Natsu…" Gray's voice was sad, broken, yet hopeful.
Natsu looked back up to Gray's now glossy eyes. He slowly caressed the ice mage's cheek, wiping away any face staining tears.
"Gray…I…I need to say something."
"What is it?"
Natsu nervously look to their connected hands and moved his hand from Gray's cheek to grip the back of his head. Pulling his head to his, their foreheads met. The dragon inhaled Gray's scent. He always had the same scent…and he loved it. Their eyes closed as Natsu spoke.
"I feel the need to protect you from anything because I care about you. You know that right? That I care about you."
Gray opened his eyes; leaning back looking into Natsu's and nodded.
"I want to be the only one that stays by your side. I want to be the only one you're this close with. The only one…who can protect you." Natsu said while trying to make his tone sound less possessive.
Gray just stared at Natsu waiting for him to continue.
"I can't really say when it began, but I've been feeling it more recently. Since you lost the challenge…people insulting you. That made me so mad…I don't even know when I was that mad at a complete stranger for just being in the audience. Then when you were hurt…the anger just increased then worry. I had to get you out of there and get you help. I wanted to change your bandages…to show you that I could. That I could be trusted to that extent and I know I messed up the first time, but you letting me try again was the best feeling. After that with the whole thing with meeting Alekander and his whole back story shit…you were forced to relive you're past and I just wanted to burn the dick to ashes." Natsu laughed to himself for basically doing that to Evlen. He continued.
"I wanted to keep him away from you…to keep you here and not stuck in the agony of your past that continues to haunt you still. I wanted to kill him for even thinking about hurting, let alone, killing you, but you held me back. Then you had that dream where you were still tormented by this…and I couldn't do anything there; which made me think I wouldn't be able to do anything out here. That was pretty much true."
"N…Natsu."
"Then I was stuck, unable to do anything, and they dared to violate you to that extent. I wanted to kill them…so badly. Every time I thought about ending their lives you came into my head and you kept saying "Natsu Dragneel of Fairy Tail doesn't kill." For the first time I hated…you. Because you stopped me again from killing those bastards."
"Na-"
"And after all that shit…I realized I wanted to protect you because I think of you as mine."
Gray's eyes widened. He felt confused at to what Natsu was saying. Natsu smirked at Gray's expression.
"I know. Who am I to claim you? But…I care deeply for you Gray. I want you to be with me forever. I-"
Natsu was interrupted by the sudden connection of Gray's lips to his. He was stunned, but soon melted to a deep wanting desire. He wanted Gray and Gray needed Natsu. The kiss deepened as Natsu pushed Gray back into the couch and hovered above him, being careful not to hurt his already aching body. Gray quickly invited Natsu's tongue to explore the depths of his mouth. Natsu parted Gray's legs and placed his hips between them gently grinding their hips together. Gray moaned, hands tangled in Natsu's hair pushing his face closer then pulling away to breathe. With bruised lips, both faces were flushed with lust. Natsu fought the urge to continue, pulling Gray up onto this lap. Wrapping his arms around the ice mage he squeezed, inside he was claiming that this was his. Natsu let his head fall against Gray's chest and inhaled again taking in the scent that was now forever his.
"Gray. I love you." Natsu said looking up at Gray.
"Why?" Gray said looking at Natsu with pure confusion filling his face.
"Why do I love you?" Natsu asked with the same confusion.
Natsu's confusion soon turned to worry when Gray began to cry.
"Gray? What's wrong?"
"I don't know why you love me."
"Let me tell you why-"
"No. I meant…I don't know why you love me when I don't even know who you are."
Natsu's face fell as his heart broke. The tears fell effortlessly, with no attempt to even slow them down.
"Wh…what? I love you Gray." Natsu almost screamed it.
"I'm sorry. I don't know who you are. I'm so…sorry." Gray said through sobs of his own, holding his throbbing head.
The whole room shook as the door glowed bright then suddenly exploding. Erza walking through in her Heaven's Wheel armor.
"NATSU! GRAY! I've been trying to break down that damn door for hours! There must've been some sort of spell on it." Erza yelled as she requiped back into her usual armor.
She looked at the room covered in dried blood and the floor, walls, ceiling, and furniture were charred black. She looked at the two now sitting side by side on the couch. The mage walked closer to her companions and Gray backed away frightened.
"What-" She cut her words as she stared at the tears overflowing from Natsu's eyes. She has never seen him so broken.
"Natsu? What's wrong? Gray what happened here?" Erza said placing a hand on Natsu's shoulder. She could feel him trembling…it stung her heart.
"Wh…what?"
"I asked what happened Gray."
"Who…are you?"
Erza was stunned, but soon realized why Natsu was in the state he was in. She looked Gray in the eyes and pointed at Natsu.
"Do you know who he is?"
"I don't."
If it wasn't broken before from all the shit that happened…Natsu's heart was being overwhelmed with sorrow, agony, and fear. Sorrow that he had finally said what he needed to…and this had to happen. Agony for the thought of living in a world where Gray didn't know who he was. Fear for the days to come where he would be without him and for the time where he might have to let Gray go.
(A/N) I was tearing up through this whole chapter. Its first good with Natsu beating the crap out of the dicks...then having Alekander to that to Gray sucked again...then a bunch of cute scenes with Natsu and Gray...then I dump that bomb of tradegy on you at the end. Sorry about that, but it was going to happen sooner or later. By the way this is going to be changed again to Romance/Tragedy. I didn't know where to end this chapter had a difficult time finding a place, but it was quite sad. New Chapter hopefully coming soon. :) REVIEW PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!