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Larcade Dragneel was a misconceived birth child of Mavis and Zeref, but that didn’t stop the man from still harboring deep love for his “father,” and an equally deep-rooted hatred for his “uncle.” Zeref never spared an ounce of interest in Larcade. All he cared about was E.N.D, the formerly deceased younger brother, Natsu Dragneel. Nothing in the entire world matter more to his “father,” than death and his sibling.
That seed of hatred grew and grew, till it became a twisted, rotten tree, starting at the roots and branching out into gnarly misconfigured branches. The very embodiment of his resentment burning at the very core of his being.
He wanted his “father’s” love, he wanted the pedestal that Natsu occupied, he wanted to be seen. The glory, praise and expectations that he himself would never have, even through hard work. It was all thrown at Natsu’s feet, but his “uncle” could care less. Natsu trod upon the very soil he (Larcade) worshiped like it was a vile plague of the earth. All he wanted was a simple gaze, a word of affirmation, an acknowledgement from his creator. But no matter his efforts, strife, blood sweat and tears, he was simply a failed experiment that had over stayed its welcome.
His insides were blackened and tarnished. His very being a crimson pool of envy, that damn near boiled with passion to see Natsu bleed! However, he wanted Natsu to bleed through figurative lashes at the heart, rather than physical manifestations of harm. He was a being of light magic. He would dare not bloody his pure soul. So, he instead used “love” and pleasure to fell his enemies because that was his inner most desire; to receive back which he gave out.
Even if his enemies were undeserving, he gave them a pleasant end. Wasn’t he a saint? He was the perfect star child to carry on his parent’s legacy, even if they themselves were forever immortal and a staple to history. Through eternity, he wished to live beside them, forever leaving his mark on the world. But in order to accomplish his dream, Natsu must die. However, a simple death was too merciful for the years of suffering he had to endure always being mere table scraps.
How could he exact his revenge? How could he hurt Natsu so badly, that it tarnished them from the inside out and made them just as ugly as he at the core?
And then it hit him. Or rather, walked into his vision. Gray Fullbuster ran into frame. They were scared, desperate and so full of darkness, it was damn near all encompassing. Whatever had occurred, they appeared frantic and searching and then like a ring of many tidings, he heard a named growled under their breath. “Natsu… E. N. D.” Each letter was emphasized with pure unadulterated hatred.
Natsu’s best friend and trusted rival who, for whatever unimaginable reason, was enraged with his “uncle”. He would do perfectly.
The plan started to churn within his mind as he followed the raven-haired mage. They were racing with purpose towards the man of his wrath, leading Larcade right to them. To meet his “uncle” was everything he could ever hope for!
The two chased after their target with haste till a familiar presence quickly made itself known on the battle field. The air was hot and heavy, brandishing all who came near with second degree burns. It was painful for humans to be anywhere near the vicinity. Luckily for him, he was anything but human. Momentarily, he worried his plans would crumble under the intensity of the heat, but like a true ice devil, Gray pressed on, unperturbed by the otherworldly heat. Larcade smiled pleased. Soon, he would have his revenge.
Gray homed in on Natsu far more quickly now. All he had to do was follow the heat to its source. Within moments, Natsu was in visual sight and Gray wasted no time summoning forth a pair of whitish blue translucent blades of ice. Gray lunged at Natsu with no hesitation, aiming for the artery in the neck, hoping to end the fight quickly before it could escalate.
That wouldn’t do.
Larcade lashed out a crescent blade of light, striking Gray’s hand and subsequent blade, throwing off his aim. Gray cursed as his slice missed the vital point of Natsu’s neck and instead lashed a thin slice into Natsu’s shoulder. Just as he appeared within Natsu’s peripheral, the dragon slayer punched an arm into Gray’s stomach, while the other hand grabbed at Gray’s back and tossed him full body over.
The blade on his arm connected with the ground first. Upon impact, the ice shattered and the kinetic energy traveled up his arm, about fracturing the bone. A cry of pain momentarily left his mouth as he felt the tension rise up his arm. It was certainly going to swell up, but thankfully nothing was broken. The ice absorbed most of the impact. However, a laceration split the skin between the wrist and thumb, causing a steam of red to leak freely.
Whoever intervened was clearly behind him, but Gray’s eyes were pressed forward on his real prize. Etherious Natsu Dragneel, E.N.D. The demon above all demons, part of the retched kin who continuously stole everyone and everything he loved. It was finally his turn to exact revenge and put a stop to it once and for all. Natsu would die today! Even as he thought this, the thing that stood across from him donned a look unbecoming of Natsu. It took a moment of stunned silence to realize what he was looking at. Instead of soft, human hands, Natsu’s entire arm was clad in red scaly armor, and his fingers now sported sharp claws. A shadow was cast across Natsu’s face, and his eyes were void of light, looking like bottomless pits that lead into the depths of Tartaros. He was right. Natsu was just another demon born from the pits of hell.
“Gray-“ When Natsu spoke his name, it was deep, chilling and unnatural. Clearly Natsu still recognized him, but Gray certainly couldn’t. Or perhaps wouldn’t.
Whatever the frost mages beef was, this was Larcade’s moment to shine. How foolish to ignore the threat from behind. He moved from out of the shadows, walking with the serene grace of an angel, and carrying the false facade of a holy worshiper.
“Let my pure light cleanse this darkness that taints these grounds. Be at peace you twin devils. I have brought salvation!”
Gray glanced from the corner of his eye at the man who had spoken. They were so arrogant to think they could interrupt his fight with Natsu. He recognized that light magic from what struct him earlier. They were the culprit that threw off his aim. He’d pay them back later. Right now, he had other things to focus on.
Larcade’s brow twitched as the ice make wizard hardly spared him a glance, looking down on him like the grim beneath his boot. Another one. Just like his “father”. They saw him as an inconvenience. Larcade’s smile grew with the size of his anger and he looked to Natsu with cold cut fury. What drove others to his “uncle” so? He was the playwriter, they were the cast. It was his story and he wasn’t about to be overwritten!
A lash of white energy struck Gray across the back, marking his skin with red welts from the whip that materialized out of blind anger. This wasn’t the kind of magic Larcade wanted to harness, but his anger was getting the better of him.
Gray dropped to a knee as the white-hot pain cleared his head. This wasn’t an enemy he could ignore. Natsu looked unstable but they weren’t immediately retaliating. If anything, they appeared rooted in place, and under their breath, Gray could barely make out one word being uttered on repeat. “Zeref. Zeref. Zeref…” It was like a broken mantra. Natsu had officially lost it. But they could wait. For now, he had to take care of the nuisance.
“I see that finally got your attention, sinner!” The whip was pulled tight and Larcade flashed Gray a shit eating grin. He had stollen that gaze away from his “uncle.” If only this was as affective on his “father.”
“You are really starting to piss me off!” Gray grit his teeth together and held his fists up, ready to take on a new fighter.
“I’ve merely come to bring deliverance to you sinners, to offer you release in the form of pure pleasure.” It was said so matter of factly, that the choice of words didn’t quite register on Gray’s brain. It sounded out of place on a battlefield.
“Huh?” The dumbfounded words left his mouth as he tried to understand what in the blazes this other man meant.
“Fear not. I don’t bring pain to my enemies but rather a sweet blissful release.”
Gray scratched the back of his head with a sigh of incertitude. “I’m not sure whether to be creeped out at your poor choice of words or just dismissive to the rantings of a madman.”
Larcade maintained his air of pose perfection as he sent out a wave of white light. He kept it contained to their corner of the war zone, trying to focus his intent on the two before him.
Gray tensed for a fight but the magic passed through him seemingly harmlessly. What was that? What were they hoping to accomplish with that pathetic display of magic? Was this all part of some poor taste roleplay?
“Give in to your pleasures and grovel on the ground beneath my feet.”
Just as those words were uttered, Gray felt a heat unlike any other pool in his belly and a red flush of color dusted his cheeks. His body was wracked with tingling nerves that sent impulses of pleasure to his senses and all strength was lost to his body. It felt so good that he had to bit his bottom lip to suppress a moan. What foul magic was this?
A moan from behind and off to his right had him gasping in shock and he glanced back quickly. The once crazed Natsu was now panting on the ground and twitching from invisible stimuli. The mouth that so often spouted out contention was now spewing lewd sounds. Gray’s eyes started to burn from the growing arousal and his dick swelled, stretching his boxer shorts and making them feel so unbearably tight. On impulse, he stripped himself bare as he was so often prone to do and grunted from the exertion the one simple action caused. Nothing felt better than when his dick rubbed against the dirt, furthering the signals to sing in praise at the action. Gray bit hard into his lip till he tasted copper, enabling him to break free of his impulses and then he blasted a current of cold air to encompass the surrounding area. The chill quickly evaporated the heat in his body and he felt his self-control returning. He was no slave to his desires!
“Oh-ho~” Larcade sneered down impressed. Gray was quite resilient. However, Larcade had barely started to exert his power. The light pierced back against the ice, causing steam to rise up against the onslaught of hot and cold. Gray tried to summon a line of spears, sending them hurdling back at the mage, but they were deflected by a line of crescent light blades that blasted the ice magic away. Gray scrambled to his feet, trying to get a proper stance to take his opponent on but then a sudden hunger struck his gut, weakening his knees and he fell to all fours, eyes wide with shock. Who was this enemy? Where had they even come from? This was unlike any battle he had ever fought.
“Do you feel that hunger growing inside of you? Do you want that pain to go away? Would you like to feel your stomach full again?” Larcade approached Gray with unhurried steps. He knew his power. He knew this fight was over even before it began. He was a wizard born between the two most powerful mages of all time. He was an unstoppable force!
Gray wished to be snarky back but his words were cut short when a hand was grabbing onto his ankle. Gray glanced back to see the source and the red keratin armor that clad Natsu’s arms was currently wrapped tightly onto his foot, sending warmth coursing through his skin.
Natsu’s mind looked far gone. What he was looking at wasn’t his life long friend. This was one of Zeref’s demons, and yet, as his eyes met Natsu’s, a familiar jade of green met his sight, not that empty blackhole that lacked all semblance of the friend he grew up with. The next thing he noticed was that those eyes were blown wide, staring at him with blind hunger.
Larcade watched on entertained by the idea that soon, his “uncle” would be tarnished just like him. Though perhaps not in the same ways. He would be sure to relieve his “uncle” of their trance just at the right time so that everything would set in clearly. Larcade set his plan into motion as a new light enveloped Natsu’s body.
Gray caught a whiff on the air, a sweetness unlike any treat he had ever known, drawing him in and teasing his crying stomach on the promise it would be filled. Gray followed his nose and found the sweetness to be emanating from Natsu’s body. Gray turned his body to face the dragon slayer, who was eyeing him in turn like a morsel to be eaten. He should have known something was awry, but it was hard to think through the cloud of hunger and need. The fingers on his ankle were caught in his hand and with hardly any strength, they were pried away so that he could crawl the last of the distance and close the gap between them. Whatever spell they were under seemed to affect Natsu the most, as he was easily crowded in and pushed back by Gary.
Gary pressed over Natsu’s body and they willingly fell back on their rear, opening themselves up to the presence over taking them. Gray parted his teeth, breathing in the sweet scent and getting a good taste at the same time. Whatever was beckoning him promised to fill his belly and sate his hunger.
Heated pants had Natsu’s chest rising and falling in quick succession and sweat glistened across his skin. This should easily burst Gray’s bubble and snap him out of this delusion but somehow, he just found Natsu to look unbelievably hot and sexy. A line of drool dripped down Natsu’s jaw, and Gray could only stare transfixed in wonder. Was this what it would be like to have the fire mage in bed?
At this close of distance, the sweet scent became overpowering and Gray leaned in to sniff at the dragon slayer’s neck. Natsu subconsciously bend his head back, exposing the neck Gray just moments prior tried to slice open in offering. Gray pressed his nose against the scent glade lining his rival’s neck and inhaled deeply. The sweetness was prevalent but not the prize he was after. His investigation brought him further down. Down, down, till he met the seam lining Natsu’s pants. Just below that waist band, his prize waited. Gray licked his lips eagerly and drew that offensive clothing down a pair of surprisingly supple hips, till Natsu’s member sprang free of their confinement. Gray should feel repulsed to be inches away from another man’s sex. But instead, he leaned in even closer and pressed his nose against the vein lining the member and inhaled deeply. This was what he was after. Without delay, Gray sank down on the treat and sucked eagerly. Natsu threw his head back and wailed in pleasure as nothing else in this world mattered other than that tight heat enveloping him. The flavor Gray was greeted with was unlike any taste he had ever been blessed with. It was rich, like buttercream, a bit spicy and woody like cinnamon, and topped over the softness of fresh baked bread.
Natsu threaded a hand in Gray’s hair, pulling him further down, and clutching on for dear life. The sensations were just too much.
Gray purred around the dick in his mouth, sending vibrations through the sensitive skin. Natsu bucked up in surprise, but Gray settled a hand on Natsu’s waist, halting any further jabs at his throat so he could avoid gagging.
“Graaaaaaaaaaaay!” Natsu screamed his name as his dick hit its peak and it started spewing a thick glob of semen down Gray’s throat. The bitter, tang was a bit shocking compared to the sweetness he was first greeted with, but somehow the two flavors created a unique harmony that tasted even better together and he was swallowing the release greedily. Followed by licking every drop of excrement that lingered off the member. Natsu’s thighs shook from the exertion of his release and the over stimulation each drag of the tongue brought to his hyper sensitive skin.
Gray pulled back to catch his breath but as he stared down at his handy work, a strange sense of pride filled his chest. Natsu’s member was still very hard and stiff. And just remembering the supplement he received for his piercing hunger, he was eager to gobble up more but then his eyes traveled downwards to where he could see Natsu’s hole clenching at the air and something inside of him shook with desire. His gaze lingered on that small hole and a single finger pressed around the ring of muscles curiously.
Natsu’s eyes flew open in shock, knocking some sense into him as he realized what that searching finger was after. A flying fist coated in fire was aiming for Gray’s face, but he saw it coming and in the nick of time, he deflected the blow.
“Don’t you dare!” Natsu’s eyes were no longer clouded with lust but instead he looked afraid and angry.
That spark of alertness seemed to shake Gray from his stupor and he pulled back, feeling a deep seeded sensation of disgust. Did he really just suck Natsu off and enjoy it! He felt the sensation of revulsion and the need to puke but then a foot was stamping on his back, pressing him forward into Natsu and the pair collapsed in a heap, to weak to resist the weight pressing them down.
“Did I say you could stop?” Larcade loomed above them, looking domineering and pleased with himself. Seeing humans give in to their basic impulses was so incredibly satisfying. It was by his power that they felt such raw pleasure. Nothing in this world could compare to his splendor and good deeds!
Gray pushed himself back up onto his forearms with as much strength as he could muster, forcing the foot on his back to recede a bit and he summoned forth another blade of ice, only this crystalized magic was a deep blackish crimson color, a culmination of his blood and ice. The blade struck his mark, cutting through the fabric of Larcade’s pants and piercing his thigh. Larcade cursed as he was brought down to one knee and then another slash was aimed for his face. He narrowly leaned back to avoid that deadly blow, before he channeled light energy into the ground around them. Out of the ground sprouted light tendrils that snagged Gray’s arms and constrained them with crushing strength. His arms were spread eagle wide and he was forced back down into a crouch over Natsu’s rear, as the dragon slayer was promptly flipped and pinned to the ground. Four tendrils coiled around Natsu’s ankles and thighs, keeping them strapped to the earth, while his arms were pulled above his head and clasped together.
The magic that clouded their minds returned and this time it was even more alluring and powerful. His face dropped down into the crack between Natsu’s ass cheeks and he felt his revulsion turning into a craving. That same sweetness struck his scent glands, and he had an inkling of a thought that he should fight this, but then that ass pressed back against his chin, quickly dispersing whatever hesitation he had left. Gray parted his teeth and slide his tongue out, letting it press between the folds and licking along the curvature that defined his rival’s rear.
Natsu cried out at the shocking pleasure and he started to struggle against his restraints again, riding the waves between alertness and clouded judgement.
Each buckle of Natsu’s hips would drag his ass away and Gray would follow it greedily, refusing to let his target escape and Natsu could only whine in protest before it was overtaken with a moan of excited pleasure.
Gray lapped more earnestly at the crack before his tongue crazed that puckered skin leading to the inner walls of Natsu’s asshole. Gray zeroed in on that hole, slathering it with saliva and started pressing against the folds, forcing the opening to part enough for his muscle to press inside. Just as he broke through the first ring of muscles, Natsu thrusted back against Gray’s talented tongue and cried out his name.
“Graaaay! Please…” Natsu wasn’t even sure what he was pleading for anymore. To Gray’s ears, it was like a symphony of music. It excited his soul, sped up his heart and drove him mad with lust.
Gray drove his tongue in and out repeatedly, stretching that puckered entrance for something bigger that he was far to excited to deliver.
Above him, he heard an arrogant chuckle and a part of him wanted to shield his partner in a barrier of ice to protect them from prying eyes, but for some reason his magic didn’t want to respond to his will and he was to focused to try and figure out why. Damn it. Well, let the bastard watch! Soon he was going to be seeding Natsu and making them his. The onlooker would just see that Natsu belonged to him. Why did he want this? He couldn’t remember. He just instinctively knew that his body wanted this and his partner needed relief.
His attentive care finally came to a close as he pulled back to instead use his fingers for the final stretch. He had a strange inclination that his hands were free now so he could retaliate, but he couldn’t quite recall what he needed to retaliate against. Shrugging it off, he pressed his pointer finger against the hole, and it easily spread open, sucking his finger in. Seeing that his tongue had done a great deal of stretching already, he entered his middle finger and stared with awe as both fingers disappeared into the warm cavity inside. He could feel the pulse and sucking of the muscles, as they adjusted around his fingers and tried to greedily pull them in deeper. The real test was the third finger and this was met with more resistance. Natsu cried out at the stretch, making Gray work slowly. It was agonizing having to wait but he knew this was important if he didn’t want to hurt his bed partner. As he felt the tension leaving Natsu’s body, he finally pulled his fingers free with a pop. The pyro mage groaned at the sudden emptiness that was left in their place.
Gray brought up a hand to his face and he spat out a glob of saliva that he quickly lathered over his cock before sparing no time pressing it against Natsu’s hole. The dragon slayer took in a deep breath of air as they knew what was to come and then in one slow, but solid push, the cock filled the confines of Natsu’s chamber, filling him to the brim and making his stomach stretch around the intrusion. Gray rocked his hips slowly, getting a feel for the tightness that now enveloped him and giving his partner time to adjust.
At this point, Natsu had grown strangely quiet. That should have been concerning but all Gray could think about was how damn good this felt. Drawing his hips back till just the tip of his cock remained in the rings of muscle, he took one last look at his handy work, seeing the puckered skin pulled stout and hugging onto his cock, almost as if to beg it to return into the chamber in which it belonged. The ice mage stared down with hunger and traced a finger around where they were connected, mesmerized by how perfectly suited they were for each other. Natsu shivered but otherwise no other reaction followed. Gray should have noticed it by now but still the haze over his mind was even more suppressive. Withdrawing his hand, he angled his body and then slammed his cock back in before repeating the process with increasingly hurried snaps of his hips. The silence quickly turned back into moans, but they were more muffled than before. He wanted to see the cause for the stifled noise but then he felt something halting his movements, keeping him restrained in place. He growled in annoyance but it could wait. That wasn’t important right now. The ice mage bucked up into Natsu over and over again, feeling pressure building in his balls, increasingly drawing him nearer to completion and in subsequence, leaving a claim over his rival.
Just before he could fill his partner up with his seed, he had a last spur of adrenaline to lean down and mark Natsu over the back of his neck and he spared no time doing just that. Natsu threw his head back in shock, aiming to plow Gray in the face, but a hand caught his head and he was suddenly staring up into the face of a man he didn’t recognize. That shock was like ice piercing straight into his heart. This stranger had just bore witness to Natsu being fucked senseless by his best friend out in the open. But Natsu’s fears were not received by Gray who bit down with success over the dragon slayer’s most cherished vital area, forever sealing them together as a mated pair and then warm milky seed spewed into Natsu’s chamber, furthering the claim to his soft insides. The rush of sperm sent Natsu over the edge as his own release coated his stomach and the dirt beneath his belly in the juices of their love making. Gray stayed burrowed in the warm chamber, as he brought hands around Natsu’s middle and he peppered kisses along the pinkette’s spine. It was so damn enduring and traumatizing all at once.
At some point, Natsu had become increasingly aware as to what was happening with his body but for some reason he couldn’t struggle or voice his panic. It was like an invisible force had him completely at its mercy. The fire mage so desperately wanted to rouse Gray from whatever illusion they were under, but now it was too late. He was marked. A dragon only has one partner for life, and that partner is sealed by the binding of a bite on the nape of the neck and now his neck had Gray’s teeth forever engrained.
As the high slowly drained out of Gray’s body, the shroud of pleasure receded to the back of his mind and he became painfully aware of who exactly he was deeply seated in, as well as the glaring problem lining Natsu’s once unmarred neck.
Gray cursed loudly, now being fully aware and in control of his own body again. His line of sight narrowed in on the feet standing in front of him and he glared up till he met the eyes of an all too pleased Larcade.
“Did you have fun?” They sounded rather pleased with themself. Like they’d just had the ultimate satisfaction of a life long dream. What a sick bastard!
As soon as control returned to their bodies, Natsu immediately pulled himself free of Gray’s cock and they both winced as it pulled out with a wet pop and semen poured out of the now vacant cavity. Natsu scrambled to his feet and threw a blinding punch at Larcade who had hardly any time to react, but just barely managed to bring up an arm to receive the blow. The flames burst against his skin, leaving gnarly misconfigured, dead skin in its place. The heat emanating from Natsu’s fist was like the molten sun, scorching his body with nasty third-degree burns. Never in all of Larcade’s life had he felt something so painful. The skin quickly turned ashen and flaked off, revealing bubbly welts that started to bled out the pores.
Gray’s eyes widened in alarm. Never in all his years had he seen Natsu deliver such a high intensity punch like that before. Clearly his rival was out for revenge. A sharp pang squeezed his heart as he noticed thick streams of tears leaving Natsu’s tear ducts. Natsu was crying. But it was silent and reserved, almost like he was trying to endure but the pressure was too much to bear.
Gray had fucked up.
Larcade stumbled back from the scorching heat, trying to put distance between them, but Natsu closed that distance in one launched step and another fist pummeled into his gut, sending him flying backwards into a building. That blow would easily kill a human in one punch, but Larcade was just another demon created by Zeref, so he endured. All the same, pain filled Larcade’s body and dread set in. He was going to die. In a last-ditch effort to escape, a blinding white light encompassed the area, momentarily stunning Natsu and Gray but it gave Larcade more than enough time to retreat.
Natsu spat out flames of fire, raging to exact revenge and knowing he could so easily follow their scent but then those watery eyes focused on Gray. Oh shit. Gray swallowed thickly, expecting to be on the receiving end of the next blow, but instead Natsu walked over and knelt down, resting a hand on Gray’s shoulder.
“Are you alright.”
Gray’s bottom lip quivered with emotion. Idiot! Am I alright?!? Shouldn’t that be my question!? He had ravaged Natsu’s body, stole their virginity and forever claimed them as his. He had ruined Natsu, but his stupidly sweet friend was more worried about him. Even as he stared back at Natsu dumbfounded and disgusted with himself, he felt his spirit quake to see the softness meshed with devastation in Natsu’s eyes. Of course, Natsu was devastated. He was forcefully taken against his will and stripped of his right to choose his own mate. To someone like Gray, he was merely human. The consequences of his actions were minor compared to the everlasting affects his part played on his companion.
Gray brought up a shaky hand, resting it on Natsu’s cheek. The pinkette flinched back from the touch, further crushing Gray’s heart. “What can I do to make it better?” That was the only question he could think to ask.
Natsu’s vision blurred a bit around the edges but them he drew back his fist and slugged himself across the face. Gray stared on in shocked silence. What the hell?
A forced smile overtook Natsu’s expression and he stood upright before extending out a hand to gray. “We kick his ass!”
Gray slid his hand into Natsu’s and the other hoisted him onto his feet. His legs felt a little wobbly but a quick jab at his thigh helped him stabilize a bit and he was quickly gathering up their strewn about clothes. “Gladly…!”
Natsu charged ahead of Gray at nearly impossible speeds and the ice mage struggled a bit to keep up but he wasn’t about to let Natsu handle this threat alone. His drive for redemption spurred him to push his limits and in less than five minutes, they caught up to the fleeing trash that tarnished their lives.
“Get your ass back here!” Natsu and Gray shouted in sync, sharing the same thought process.
Larcade looked behind himself in surprise, not expecting to be overtaken so quickly. He burst forth a blast of light magic, but a red clawed hand clutched the magic and shattered it in the palm of Natsu’s devilish transformation. The black mass that coated Natsu’s face was back, along with black markings that stretched across his shoulder and collar bone. The demonic markings reminded Gray of his own and he let his own darkness seep out to mirror his partners. How foolish was he to think Natsu was just E.N.D, the bane of his existence. Natsu was his best friend and even after getting rapped by Gray, still showed concern and care for his friend. How pitiful was Gray? He tried to end his pure friend all because some enemy told him Natsu was the great evil he was searching for. He had some serious reconciling to do.
Larcade’s face drained of color as they realized they were no match for their “uncle.” He tried to blind them again with another flash, but Gray acted quicker and summoned forth a wall of ice to seal them all in together and shortly after, a claw enveloped Larcade’s head, yanking them backwards and slamming them into the ground, head first. The world spun from the impact but as their vision cleared, it was to the sight of gnashing teeth and spewing flames between the gaps. Natsu snarled down at them, looking every bit the beast he was known for. The fake son of Zeref felt his world collapsing as fear overtook their mind. This was it. This was where they met their end. Larcade closed their eyes, accepting their fate.
A silence stretched on, but nothing happened. Larcade dared to crack open an eye and he met the sorrowful eyes of his victim. They no longer held the same bloodlust as before and he was puzzled, till he noticed a hand on their shoulder belonging to Gray. The ice mage seemed conflicted on just letting him live but also not wanting to taint their friend with the blood of their enemies and so a silent agreement passed between the two Fairy Tail wizards. Larcade was free to go. The ice boxing them in dispersed as Gray let his devil blood recede.
Larcade couldn’t believe his luck but he wasn’t about to stick around and test their mercy. The light mage hastened on his way without a single glance back. He instead rushed to his “father” seeking solace.
“Father!” Larcade rushed into the guild hall of Fairy Tail to see his parents staring each other down in a tense standoff. Larcade looked between them in confusion but against his better judgement, he stepped forward. As much as he envied his “uncle,” he now understood why his father held such revere for them. “Father, E.N.D is everything you had hoped for! He is powerful and destructive. I tested him for you and I find him worthy to-“ His words were cut off as he felt magic encasing his very being, strangling it from the inside out.
“I am no father.” Zeref spoke flatly, not even sparing a glance at the new presence in the building.
“But father-“ And then that tension became crushing, like a fly swatter snuffing out a bug. The last thing Larcade saw was his father strangling his “mother” around the neck, before he disappeared into nothingness.
…….
Natsu was shaken up and angry. He wanted to exact revenge but he was also a wizard who didn’t take the life of others. His mind was at odds, while his body was still flushed and sweaty from his previous activities. Even just admitting to his mind that he had sex was hard to do. He couldn’t believe it. Some random wizard forced his best friend to fuck him. What had he done to that mage to receive such a disgraceful humiliation? They had acted with purpose and real intent. He knew they had a motive, but for the life of him, he couldn’t recognize them from anywhere!
Meanwhile, Gray watched on nervously as he saw the emotions playing out in his friend’s mind. Was now a good time to apologize?
The pair were silent for a time, each trying to organize their own thoughts. Natsu’s mind was reeling in circles, getting nowhere so he screamed in annoyance and slammed a flame coated fist into the ground, causing a plume of dirt to puff up around them. Just punching something would do the trick for now. Natsu closed his eyes and took a deep breath, calming his unease.
“I'm so-“ Gray barely got a word out before Natsu was back on their feet and in his face.
“I do not want an apology! Everyone already knows you are a pervy asshole, ice boy!” The insult was childish but it felt normal. That was what Natsu needed. To feel normal.
Gray growled in annoyance and slammed his head against Natsu’s. “I’m not a pervy asshole! That light mage did something! Who would want to touch a flame for brains idiot like you!”
“What did you say!” Natsu pressed back against Gray and took a swipe at their head. It no time at all, the two broke out into a fist fight. No magic. Just pure test of strength.
“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU TWO ARE DOING!” Two fists came pounding down into the top of Gray and Natsu’s heads. Both mages dropped to the ground in surprise and looked up to see Erza's gaze flooded with tears. That immediately halted the boys. Erza was crying?
Both wizards were back on their feet and looking at Erza with trepidation. Something was very wrong if she was brought to tears.
“It’s Makaroz. He’s…” Natsu and Gray placed a hand on either side of Erza's shoulders, giving it an affirming squeeze. She didn’t have to say more. The message was loud and clear.
Everything they’d just endured could wait. Their family needed them.
………….
Mavis had found Happy, Gray and Lucy together and had given them a book with the initials E.N.D. printed on the front. It was Natsu’s book. This little thing was the very essence of Natsu’s being. A stab of regret hit Gray’s gut as he considered today might be his last day with Natsu. To try to assassinate, rape, and then have their rival die all on the same day was too much to bear.
Lucy stroked the book sadly, knowing that if nothing was done, then Natsu would disappear forever with Zeref. The three discussed what should be done and they agreed they had to open the book and read its pages. Determination urged Lucy onwards as she opened to the first page and out poured lines of text that rose up into the sky. All this from one single page? She had her homework cut out for her!
As they were pouring over the contents, characters within the text suddenly disappeared.
“Did something happen to Natsu?!” Lucy and Gray exchanged a look of fear, both sharing the same idea but not wanting to voice it.
“Natsu…” Happy wanted to fly to Natsu’s side to aid him but he was locked in place, knowing that this book was Natsu’s soul and it was the most important thing that needed protecting.
“I think I can write back in the characters that disappeared…” It was a long shot but the best they had. Gray was unsure of what his role was to play in all this. Mavis had said Natsu’s fate rested in both their hands and yet he was just sitting her watching Lucy read, translate and modify the book. He was useless!
Just as Lucy finished putting back the last deleted character, ugly, red magic started to pour in and clot her veins, followed by an intense heat that scorched her body as it crawled up her arm. Gray rushed to her aid, providing a chill to ease the burn. Part of him was scared that he would lose both Lucy and Natsu in one day but another part of him wanted to urge her on at the chance of saving Natsu’s life. In the end, he bit his tongue and kept quiet due to his internal conflict. It wasn’t right of him to expect much more of Lucy, but he didn’t have to. The celestial wizard grabbed her pen and resumed writing, now with an objective in mind. Her altering had worked, even if she was in pain. This was her chance to set Natsu free!
As Gray watched Lucy work, a thought suddenly occurred to him. Wasn’t this his chance to undo the wrong that had been forced upon them. He didn’t want to alter any memories, he wasn’t entirely sure how complicated that might be, but to just remove the claiming bite. At the very least, let him have this! But in order for Lucy to make that change, he would have to come clean and tell her everything. His pride hurt to confess such a sin but this went beyond his pride!
“Lucy. Do you understand these characters.”
Lucy fixed him with a pained stare. He could see the ugly marks threatening to overtake her but her resilience was winning out so far. How much more could she push? Would this be asking to much?
“I’m getting the hang of it. Why?”
Now Gray was put on the spot. It physically hurt to get the words out but once he started to talk, he suddenly couldn’t shut up. It was like he was at a confessional booth and he had to get it all out at once before he lost the nerve. Lucy listened quietly but as he talked, her eyes got wider and wider, till she looked horrified. As Gray finished his explanation, he squeezed his eyes closed and turned his head away, unable to face her.
A hand on his shoulder had him flinching slightly but that touch wasn’t hard or imposing, rather it was soft and he felt Lucy thumb his shoulder blade in a gentle stroke, almost like she was trying to console him.
Gray looked to her in surprise and instead of finding judgement, he found gentle, caring, concern, not just for Natsu but for him as well. They were both victims.
“I will try.” And with that, Lucy focused her attention on the new adjustment that needed to be made. They had little time so she had to hurry, but she also had to pour over the material to even find what she was looking for. A burst of light lit the guild hall from further off into the distance and Lucy felt a change in the magic around them, as well as a lifting of a spell on the very book in her hand. Her eyes widened in panic, recognizing what this meant. She was out of time. Lucy felt tears starting to form, till on the next page flip she found it! “HERE!” She jumped into action, now driven with haste and panic. As she started to erase and write in the new characters, the book started to fade in her grasp. No no no! Not yet! Please! Just one more second! She pleaded with the universe but the book was almost gone. She flicked her pen, hoping this last stroke on the character would mend what was broken before it disappeared completely. Lucy’s adrenaline left her body and she collapsed, but Gray caught her body, just before she hit the ground.
“Did… did you do it?” Gray was scared to know the answer. Lucy gave him a sad look and his heart was suddenly in his stomach.
“Maybe.” While it wasn’t a definite yes, at last it wasn’t a no. So, there was a chance! Hope leapt in his chest.
“Gray, Lucy, Happy…” All the wizards whipped their heads at the sound of their names to see a battered and beaten but otherwise very real Natsu. So, Lucy’s changes had worked! Then maybe…!
Natsu walked unsteadily over to them, and Happy quickly flew over to help keep Natsu stable. The pyro mage smiled at him appreciatively. He only stopped when he was within reach and fell to his knees. The four of them wrapped their arms around each other’s shoulders and put their heads together. It was finally over. Zeref was gone and Natsu was no longer bound to that book.
They stayed like that for a while, none of them saying anything or bothering to move, but as Gray sat there, he curiously brought his hand from around Natsu’s shoulder and stroked the back of his neck. The skin was smooth and lacked any divots. Natsu shuddered at the touch but then it suddenly dawned on him as well and he jumped to his feet. Lucy, Happy and Gray stared up at him curiously but to Lucy and Gray, they caught on quickly as Natsu was touching along the back of his neck in wonder.
“How?” Natsu asked with wonder.
“Lucy.” Was all Gray needed to say and the pyro maniac was tackling Lucy to the ground.
“Lucy! You did it!” He was so full of mirth that Lucy couldn’t be upset with Natsu knocking her over. Instead, she just felt relief.
“Aye!” Happy cheered alongside his companion, doing excited flips in the air.
Gray felt exhaustion suddenly hit him and he fell onto his back. The sky was clear. It was a beautiful day. And then chills suddenly ran down his back.
…….
Meanwhile, Juvia felt like a new love rival stole her man.
“GRAY-SAMA! You were supposed to give Juvia babies!”