Characters: Natsu Dragneel, Gray Fullbuster

Genre: Angst, friendship and Family

Rating: K+

Warning: Spoilers for chapter 436 onwards

Summary: Natsu reveals to Gray the identity of E.N.D.

Notes: This was for or FT Angst Week on Tumblr, bonus day one: Cross My Heart; inspired by Taleen777's gifset for the same.

"It's me."

Of course Natsu would choose to speak quietly the one time Gray wanted him to be his overtly enthusiastic self.

This really wasn't expecting when he was dragged away from the guild by an impassive Natsu to the edge of the forest, right before Cana had some announcement to make.

He had protested the whole way there, not quite liking how silent the the dragon slayer had been, offering none of his typical comebacks.

So the sudden declaration did take him by surprise. Very unpleasantly.

"What?" he asked, not wanting to believe what he had heard, dread steadily crawling up his spine.

"I am END," Natsu repeated, clearer. His head was still lowered but his eyes were boring through his, steadfast, but occasionally flitting over his face and body as though trying to look for any sign of what he felt in reaction to the revelation.

Gray had always been good at hiding what he felt. But he sheer gravity of Natsu's confession made him feel he wouldn't be as inexpressive as usual.

He realised they had been staring at each other for a while now, Natsu expecting a response from him. The flame mage didn't seem scared or worried or even shameful. There was nothing to give away any emotion he was feeling except for a lingering sadness in his eyes.

Like he had already made peace with the fact.

Now that pissed Gray.

Stomping over, letting his rage take control, Gray caught him by his precious scarf and the scruff of his torn collar pulling him to the tips of his toes to look him in the eye.

Natsu offered no resistance.

"What the heck, flame-brain?" Gray spat. "What kind of new attention seeking tactic is this? You think you can get spew shit like that and get away with it? I think you forget, ash-breath, but we're in the middle of a war here!"

Gray let go of him roughly, but Natsu didn't seem too shaken by it, his countenance still a steady calm that was unnerving the ice-mage, even as he started speaking again.

"His name is Zeref Dragneel. My brother. He made me END. Etherious. Natsu. Dragneel," Natsu explained matter-of-factly.

Gray tried to comprehend what he was saying. There was a ton of explaining required still, but his gut traitorously felt he was telling the truth.

And so Gray punched him. Again and again, over and over.

And Natsu took each punch, offering no struggle against the onslaught. He had expected this. He was glad Gray wasn't it denial anymore.

But it had been unsettling to finally vocalise it. He hadn't told anyone else. Happy knew simply because he was there when he had found out. He hadn't had the heart to speak to Lucy about it yet. But Gray, he felt, had to know. He knew how important keeping your word to your old man was like.

And so he endured. Punch after punch, till they got weaker and Gray eventually stopped.

There was no denying it, Gray finally realised. Natsu wouldn't lie about something as grave as this.

Gray's head dipped and shoulders sagged as the new finally caught up to him. He was doing his best to hold back as the urge to cry overwhelmed him, his frame quivering at the effort. He clutched onto Natsu's scarf again, this time as though using it as a tether to reality.

After struggling for sometime, Natsu mournfully watching, Gray finally lifted his head. He hadn't won in his battle against his tears, but when he spoke he did so with conviction, his voice clear, loud and unwavering.

"You're no demon. You're the flame-brain who's been a pain in my ass since he showed his ugly face at the guild." His eyes grew more resolute as he left go of his scarf to jab a finger on Natsu's chest, right over his heart.

Natsu's eyes widened.

"And you're gonna continue being that pain in the ass. You're not gonna let it win, you hear me? The guild doesn't deserve that. Happy doesn't deserve that. Lucy doesn't deserve that. Do you hear me?!"

Eyes still wide, Natsu only replied with a firm nod. This wasn't how he was expecting things to go.

Gray fumed silently for a moment, before turning around to head back to the guild.

"One more thing," he said, pausing but not looking back. "You better ensure I don't have to keep my promise to my Dad, Natsu."

And, as though fearing what he would hear, he bolted away from there before Natsu could answer.

The dragon slayer hadn't moved an inch. As the dust Gray had raised began to settle, he looked up to the sky, closed his eyes and let out a long suffering sigh, a small smile curling his lips.

'Yeah, you're right. When the time comes, I'll do my best,' he decided, his smile growing wider and more determined.

'Cross my heart.'

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