I Dare You
Chapter Seven - Remember
"No." Every time Gray shook his head more tears would fall dampening his pants.
"Why?" She said feeling dread for the answer.
Gray didn't answer. It's not like he didn't have an answer, he just couldn't say it. Erza looked from the two boys, both who were crying and she couldn't do anything about it.
"Natsu. Come with me." Erza yanked Natsu off the couch with, to her surprise, little to no effort. He was completely out of it. Gray started to walk towards the hole in the wall, which used to be their door. That's when Natsu snapped.
"GRAY!" Natsu yelled. He pulled away from Erza's grip and jumped on top of Gray, pinning him to the charred floor.
"L…let go! I don't know who you are…so just let…me go. Please." Gray pleaded to the dimming fire in Natsu's eyes.
Natsu loosened his grip on Gray's arms, but refused to let him go.
"You can't leave Gray. We're your friends. We're going to try and fix your memory." Erza whispered, trying not to scare Gray.
Although hesitant, Gray slowly nodded.
Erza placed a hand on Natsu's shoulder, gripping it tighter to make him release Gray. Natsu hung his head and forced his hands to…let go.
"I'm sorry." Natsu mumbled as he walked back to the couch.
Erza held a hand out for Gray and he hesitantly took it. She sat next to Natsu and motioned Gray to a chair next to the couch. She sighed.
"Okay Natsu tell me exactly what happened. I have to know who did this to Gray."
"I don't want to talk abou-"
"If you don't…he may never get his memory back."
"That's…not such a bad thing. Trust me."
Erza turned towards Natsu and took his hand, squeezing. He looked her in the eye…her eyes pleading.
"Natsu. Please." Erza whispered.
He nodded.
"Okay. Well you said the door wouldn't open. That is because there was a spell put on it so no one could come in or out…we also couldn't hear what was going on outside it. Alekander said everyone outside would be able to hear though."
"You were trapped?"
"Yes."
"Okay Natsu…tell me what happened after I left."
"After you and Lucy saw me frozen…gripping Gray's hand. It was because Alekander Cross had his…friend…"
Natsu took a deep breath to keep from setting the room on fire…again.
"…Evlen Trevicks put a spell on me to trap me inside my head. I couldn't speak or move, but I could still hear and see every…thing that was going on."
Erza could tell this had to be hurting Natsu, but she had to know what happened to her friends.
"I could hear Gray telling you what happened. He told you about his dream…and me dying in it. Then he told you about Alekander Cross wanting him dead."
"Yes and his reason for why is pathetic." Erza spat.
"I heard you leave after Gray told you Cross wanted him dead. Then it was just me, Gray, and Lucy. I heard…them both…crying and they were both looking at me like they were waiting for me to wake up and help. I wanted…to. I…tried."
"Natsu I know it must've been hard, but we all know how hard you actually do try."
"I remember attacking whatever trying to get free from the spell. I heard Lucy yell about my eyes being on fire. Then Gray…"
Natsu looked over at Gray, who was staring at Natsu; completely mesmerized by his story. Natsu smiled slightly.
"Gray started shaking my body…I tried so hard to say his name, but all that came out was…anyways Gray then figured out I was trapped by someone's magic and he told Lucy to go find you. Lucy left and Gray tried to get me to talk, but he came back."
"Alekander?" Erza hated saying his name.
"Yes. He told Gray that he had his friend Evlen do this since he wasn't a mage. Evlen was a guy with black hair and snake eyes and he uses dark magic learned by reading about the dark mage Zeref."
"Zeref? Great." Erza huffed.
"Evlen said he helped Alekander because he said he was his friend and Alekander gave him permission…to mess with…Gray. That's when he starting walking towards him and he touched his face…Gray panicked and fell backwards on to the bed, but that only excited Evlen more. He couldn't get away because I was still holding his hand. I couldn't help him, but I managed to trap him. Great friend aren't I?" Natsu hated himself for trapped Gray. He felt disgusted.
"What did he do to Gray?" Erza needed Natsu to continue.
"I remember…Evlen lying on top of Gray, turning his face to the side. He…bit Gray's neck hard. Until he was bleeding…screaming." Natsu breath was shaky.
Gray flinched as Natsu spoke. He unconsciously moved his hand to his neck and felt the circular indentions in his skin. Gray, still, never removed his eyes from Natsu.
"Even though my entire body felt like it was on fire I couldn't do anything to help him. Gray knew I could hear and see everything that was happening…and he told me it would be okay. He told me that it would be okay." Natsu choked on his words, forcing back tears. Erza took his hand in hers.
"Evlen ripped his shirt then asked Cross how much time he had. Cross said he had all the time in the world and to "mess him up." Evlen started touching Gray and Gray tried to use his ice magic, but again I prevented him from protecting himself. He couldn't use magic without both hands. Gray began yelling at me…telling me to let him go and to break out of whatever I was trapped in, but no matter how much I wanted to…I couldn't do either. He begged me to help him…kept yelling so Evlen tied his other hand to the bed and gagged him with a cloth."
Gray looked at his left hand. There was a slightly red ring that circled his wrist. He gripped it tightly and wished Natsu would continue.
"He continued with groping Gray's body and he bit his neck again…he said he loved it…all of it. Then Evlen looked at me and he seemed surprised that my gaze was so focused on Gray. He then turned my head to the side and bit me."
Natsu gripped his own circular wound on his neck and continued.
"I could hear Gray screaming as loud as he could against the cloth and the entire bed shook from him thrashing to get free, but he couldn't do anything. Like me."
Erza flinched as if she could hear Gray's muffled screams.
"I could feel his teeth in my neck, but of course couldn't do anything."
Natsu looked directly at Gray.
"Gray then told Evlen that he could do whatever he wanted…that he could have him if they left me alone. Evlen said he would." Natsu almost glared at Gray for doing such a thing, but he knew he didn't remember. He hated that.
"Evlen moved all over Gray's body…I could feel how tense Gray's body was. That's when Evlen said it would…hurt more if he was so tense. I wanted to bash his shitty face in. I…could feel how…scared he was. Gray's body was shaking the whole bed. Evlen then asked him…if he was…-"
"A virgin?" Erza cut in with anger filling her gaze.
Natsu nodded and looked at Gray, whose face showed the fear he was just talking about. There it was again. He hated that he had to continue this damn story.
"Cross was overjoyed that he would be able to see his first time. He told Evlen to put him on his side…facing me. His head was practically in my lap. I saw him cry. I felt him squeeze my hand. All I felt like doing was…crying…and I did. I saw my tears meet his face and he looked at me then he hid his face with my hand." Natsu didn't care anymore…he let the tears fall again. Erza squeezed his hand and forced her tears back…she knew she had to be strong for them both.
Natsu shut his eyes and took a breath. His eyes shot open when he heard Gray sniffle. He looked over at Gray and he was crying. He looked like he was in pain, but Natsu couldn't get his hopes up…he didn't remember…this story just hurt.
"Cross told Evlen to make it hurt. I saw it about…to go in and then Cross stood up and removed the gag. He said he wanted to hear him. Evlen…was about to…but Cross said he was…taking too long…so he pushed…him. Gray screamed." Natsu ripped his hand from Erza's and pushed them to his eyes pushing the tears…forcing them back in.
"Natsu. This isn't your fault." Erza reassured. Still trying not to cry.
"He…screamed and pulled on my scarf. I fell on over and he pushed his forehead to mine. I felt him calm down…even if it was just a little bit. Just the fact that I could do something helped. He told me he…needed me and he begged me to get free. I fought and fought inside my head trying to blast through every single wall, floor, ceiling, and crack I saw. Cross told him he wanted to kill him after this, but he thought death was being too soft so he said Gray could be Evlen's…bitch for awhile."
"Natsu." Erza sighed.
"Gray then told him he didn't care what he did. He told them I'd get free and kill them and that he wouldn't stop me this time. Cross said he'd kill me before I got free so I'd be able to see them both fucking Gray over and over while I choke on my own blood."
"Natsu…" Erza had to hold on. She wanted them to die. She had to find them, but she had to hear the whole story first.
"Cross tore me from Gray's hand and sat me next to him so we could both watch Evlen fuck Gray. Cross then tied me up with my own scarf…and remembering that from his dream, Gray started freaking out and yelling at him to untie me. Cross took out a knife and held it at my chest."
Erza looked at the patch job on Natsu's stomach, not his chest. She couldn't believe he was still alive, but wondered why his stomach was hurt.
"Cross said he'd kill me then join Evlen. He was going to stab me, but Gray yelled…it was so loud and desperate that my whole body kind of shocked itself out of it and I jumped making Cross stab me in my stomach instead. Gray screamed again and both Cross and Evlen were surprised at what I did. Evlen wanted to leave so he got out of Gray, but Cross wanted me dead. He pulled the knife out again and the last thing I remember while being trapped was Gray yelling "stop" but he didn't finish."
"Why?" Erza, leaning forward, was trapped in his story.
"I felt so angry. So much anger and death filled my head. I was free. I stared into Cross's eyes trying to set them on fire. Cross was terrified and he told Evlen to kill Gray. I saw the snake pull out his own knife and yank Gray's head back and he held a knife to his throat. I heard Gray call my name… he was still only worrying about me. Cross yelled at Evlen to kill him and I snapped. My entire body lit with my flames and I broke Cross's bloody knife in two and threw that pretty boy rich dick across the room."
Erza felt a tear of pure elation escape her good eye. She had hoped this had a happy ending, but looking over at her clueless crying friend Gray. She knew it wasn't going to end good.
"Evlen still held the knife at Gray's throat, but he couldn't kill him with me standing there. I walked towards them until Gray was just out of arms reach. I looked him over. Saw the bruises…blood…and pain that cover his body. New anger filling me…I had to kill them." Natsu gripped his knees and looked at the ground.
"Natsu?" Erza said with a concerned look.
"The room was so hot…I could even feel how hot it actually was. I tried my best not to burn Gray…but with Evlen being so close it was hard. As I got closer Evlen threatened to kill Gray if I took another step. So instead of doing that…I reached forward and grabbed his dick."
"Wh…what?" Erza was shocked at that.
"Not like that Erza. I dared him to kill Gray. I told him he deserved to burn…starting with his dick."
"Oh…my. Excellent Natsu." Erza praised her friend's bluntness.
"I lit his dick on fire and watch him cry and scream. Begged for mercy when there wasn't even the slightest hint that I'd give it. I…couldn't kill him though. Not with Gray standing behind me…watching me. Because of what he said before…I couldn't do it. Regretting it now. I told him if someone let him live even after what he did…I'd find him and burn the rest of him. I got to Gray and he collapsed in my arms. He continued apologizing for nothing and I apologized to him for not saving him in time-"
Erza held her hand up to Natsu to stop him. She looked at Natsu then at Gray.
"Natsu. Gray. Everything that has happened to the both of you…none of this is either of your faults." She knew Gray didn't remember, but she still kept her face and eyes stern…to let them know that there wasn't a debate over this.
Natsu blinked a few times to attempt to make the tears stop. He looked over at Gray, tears still falling from his clueless eyes, and he slowly nodded to continue his story.
"I wanted to get Gray cleaned up before we came to get you so I started a bath…that was when Cross woke up and attacked him. I'm guessing that was when he forced Gray to take the poison."
"Poison!?" Erza said, alarmed.
"Yes. The poison that took away his magic and his…memory. The next thing I remember was trying to get the bath water warm enough and then suddenly Gray started screaming. So I ran. Cross was on top of Gray's body. I saw his fingers…in…" Natsu couldn't finish the sentence. He figured Erza knew what he meant so he continued on.
"I tried to kill him, but he grabbed Evlen and vanished through the door before I could catch him. Gray told me everything that happened…and I just felt completely useless for not being there even though I was there. He wouldn't let me be pissed about it though…so I carried him to the bathroom and cleaned him up. The painful part of it was that every time I'd touch his skin with the cloth he'd flinch. So I asked him if he'd like to clean himself…" Natsu looked back at the ground.
"And…what next Natsu?" Erza said, urging him to continue.
"He told me…he couldn't because he couldn't lift his arms. That's when he told me about the poison and what it was doing to him. He told me that he couldn't stand the though of forgetting…so he told me to save him…by killing him."
Erza looked surprisingly calm about that. Gray had asked her to do the same when he told her about his dream. She knew Gray was suffering, but she couldn't do it. Even though he didn't know who they were…she was glad he didn't remember his past…or any of this.
"After I refused and told him to shut the hell up…I put him in the water and tended to my own wounds." Natsu proudly gestured to his patch up work on his stomach. That caused Erza's face to crack a smile…even if it was only a small one.
"Then we got dressed and sat down on the couch…and talked about anything and everything. I told him about what happened when I had first gotten trapped under Evlen's spell. I told him that I was going to tell him…that everything was going to be…okay." Natsu fought back the urge to breakdown. Instead he shakily got to his feet and walked towards Gray. Gray's eyes never left his. Natsu knelt down and put his hands on Gray's knees, like he had done many times before. Erza watched as the two just stared into each other's eyes, waiting for the other to speak. Natsu broke through the silence in the room. Without breaking their eye contact, he slowly took Gray's hand and fought back the tears that wanted to show.
"Gray. Everything is going…to be okay. I am going to…protect you and…keep you safe." Natsu couldn't hold back the tears any longer because he knew that he had said that to Gray before…and even then he knew he'd fail.
"Natsu?" Erza put a hand on his trembling back. She had never seen Natsu so…broken.
Gray looked down at the many pieces of Natsu Dragneel and still couldn't remember any of what he said happening. He didn't know who these people were and he didn't know what Natsu was saying, but he knew that his story was true because…everything hurt. Gray felt something inside telling him what he should do. He took his hand from Natsu's grip and put both his hands on the sides of Natsu's face. Natsu was shocked at the sudden contact that his tears slowed as he looked up at Gray. Tears continued to pour from Gray's eyes as he pulled Natsu's face towards his until their foreheads were touching. Natsu let out a shocked gasp at the connection, but didn't pull away.
"I…I'm sorry that I don't remember you Natsu." Gray sobbed through his words. Natsu could feel that he truly was sorry for forgetting.
"It's n…not your fault…Gray." Natsu could barely form words without breaking down again.
"Natsu?" Gray whispered and pulled away so he could see Natsu's face.
"Yeah?"
"Remember…when I first forgot everything?"
Natsu nodded.
"Remember what you said when I forgot?"
Natsu didn't answer. Gray looked at the ground.
"You said…you loved me. Then I asked why?"
Natsu felt Erza's hand on his back grip his shirt tighter. Erza knew that losing a friend would have devastated Natsu, but now knowing that he loved Gray…that's why he was a complete mess…and so broken. She relaxed her hand.
"I did…I do." Natsu confessed.
"Why?" Gray tightened his hands on Natsu's face as he felt him try to pull away.
"I…can't-" Natsu gasped.
"Why? Please tell me."
Natsu started to panic. He couldn't say it again only to repeat the outcome of Gray not feeling the same because he couldn't remember feeling the same. He took Gray's wrists and pried them off his head.
"I said I can't Gray." Natsu said…anger filling his tone.
"Why not?" Gray's tone also filling with anger.
"Why the hell is it so important to you when you don't remember?"
"Because I want to know why you loved me! I want to know what we had! Why was I so important to you!?" Gray fell off the chair and to his knees in front of Natsu.
"I care about you Gray, always have. You are my best friend and I think of you as being mine."
Gray lifted his head; eyes wide with confusion. Natsu laughed at the same reaction Gray gave him the first time. He thought it was beautiful.
"After I told you that…you kissed me. Then I said…I love you…and you asked me why…then…yeah you know the rest."
"I kissed you? Why?"
"How should I know why you kissed me? I guess you just liked what I said."
Gray looked Natsu over like he was scanning, analyzing, everything about him. Gray placed a cold hand on Natsu's warm cheek and caressed the tear streaks away.
"I wish I could remember…you." Gray whispered.
More tears fell as Natsu pulled Gray into a hug. Erza watched as her two partners, comrades, and friends cried while they desperately hung onto each other. Her heart stung with unimaginable pain and she, too, couldn't hold back her tears anymore.
"I'll be right back." Erza stated as she slid off the couch. She requiped into her Purgatory Armor and left the room through the hole she created hours before. Erza turned to look back at the two broken souls beneath her and her goal for revenge was clear. She took a breath and walked down the hallway, the building shaking with every step she took. She would make them pay for hurting the ones she loved…she had to fix this…to get Gray's memory back. She just wanted to see her boys smile again.
(A/N) Well...I'm embarrassed...Sorry it took this long for a new chapter, but I had no idea how to write this one and I'm already struggling with Chapter Eight so it may be awhile, but hopefully not as long as this one took. I'm rambling. Good news though...as promised this one is longer than Chapter Six, but shorter than usual, I know. Anyways...not very proud of this one. I do hope you enjoyed reading it and please review. They always make me want to write a new chapter sooner. :)