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A raven head glanced up from his toiling, disturbed by the potent rumbling shaking his makeshift prison. The chains clamped around his ankle smashed together, creating a metallic symphony. He glanced over to a series of heavy steps plowing down the wooden staircase in the room. He forced his exterior to remain utterly emotionless as he watched his current captor reenter the room.

"Looks like those guild mates of yours are giving them a show."

Gray refrained from commenting. His imprisoner crossed the room, plopping down on a nearby chair. His hard eyes were glued to the door at the top of the stairs that led to the ice mage's way out. The knife that had sliced the raven earlier remained in the man's hand, continuingly being flipped and twirled in his hand, a motion Gray was positive was a warning to him.

"You picked one hell of a hideout,"

Uncaring eyes slid over to the raven before returning to their previous position. Gray bit his lip nervously, counting on the stranger to prolong their small talk. Won't be long now…

"I thought it was appropriate."

The ice mage let out a huff in relief. "It's clever, I'll give you that. No one would think of looking here." The other didn't add on. Gray couldn't help but notice the emphasis on the dried blood when the blade spun and landed in his guard's hand. The raven briefly flicked his eyes back down to the cuff holding him down. "So what's it to you with using one ice mage over another,"

"Not my idea," The indifferent eyes moved back to the raven. "I think you know the reason why you were picked."/

"You could say that,"

The raven boggled his head for a moment trying to find something else to distract him with. A light jingling drew his eyes down to the chains bouncing together. He stiffened as the trembling grew to a mini earthquake. He grinned, recognizing the power only a certain scarlet was capable of producing.

A low hiss was let out, bringing the raven back to reality. His abductor was patting out the flames that were dancing across part of the room. A knocked over candle flickered, leaving a puddle of wax underneath.

"They'll be dead at this rate," The free figure in the room rose back up, having conquered the raging sparks. "Unfortunately for me I need them a bit longer." The black abysses of the man's eyes glazed over, landing on the raven. A mien that showed the next move had a verdict flashed in his face.

"Two tokens here…both of which will gain me influence."

The raven became inaudible, forcing the shiver threatening to run down his spine to still. His attention turned to the knife that had been suddenly stopped in the middle of a gyration. The thumb of his captor rubbed the thin metal of the instrument in circles. The air became stale with contemplation as the apathetic gaze of the killer in the room moved from the blade to the raven.

"Two tokens here…one of which is too big to carry."

The eyes moved one last time following the echo. They arrived at the tips of a dark mark peeking out from a miraculously still worn shirt. Gray froze. An unpleasant memory overtook him. He could already picture a slab of marble tearing loose…

Coarse fingers gripped his hair. His head was snapped back, close to cutting off his breathing at the sharp angle his neck bent. The raven blinked his navy eyes; he could just make out a gleam of silver poised above his guild emblem.

Gray threw his hands up in defense. He could feel the metal rush straight through his palm, leaving him recoiling in agony. The razor pulled back, repassing through his wound, slicing it over again. The knife was lifted back above his chest. The raven filled with terror. He lashed his hand out, working on impulse.

His fingers closed around the blade, blood flowing as the metal bit into the flesh. He pushed back the pain as he twisted the weapon free, tearing his hand in the process. A bright light exploded before his eyes as something cold erupted in his chest. His head snapped back and the grip on his hair released. His skull slammed back on the table. His eyes closed and teeth ground together in response to the force. He lost hold of the blade and whatever had his him was no longer there. He braced himself, waiting for the soon to come impact.

He cracked one eyelid, not feeling anything. He searched about, now finding no one near him. He glanced at his chest, his mouth falling open as he gawked at the sight to be found. Icicles had sprung from where his heart could be found, glistening in the dim light. He placed his damaged hands on the surface, the ice breaking away under his touch. His surprise turned to his palms. A thin layer of frost was coating his skin, extending by the second. He could feel the cold, but it didn't unsettle him.

Gray shot up into a sitting position. He stared at his hands in disbelief and mistrust. A groaning slammed him back to his predicament. He twisted his head to the side to see his tormentor collapsed against the wall. A trail of blood ran from his temple, down his cheek, and on to the floor. A dagger made of ice had lodged itself into his forehead.

The ice mage sat frozen for a minute before grasping his bounds in his hands. Rime quickly covered the surface and the metal shattered when he press his weight on it. The raven swung his legs over the edge of the table, taking extra care to land on the kidnapper's skull when he stood.

Gray hurriedly made his way up the stairs and out of this basement prison. He slammed the door shut behind him. An abandoned room filled with scattered forgotten chairs and tables greeted him. The raven barely acknowledged this as he ran out the front entrance-

Right into somebody else.

…

Thin strands of sakura flailed in the dense sunlight. A local dragon slayer ran across an uneven paved stone path. A fierce fortitude was present in his eyes that could be mistaken for a livid fire. His fist were balled up, smoke rising from the appendages. He poured on his speed tenfold. Weeds and sprouts of grass that had managed to survive between the tight rocks turned to sweltering charcoal masses underfoot.

A snarl flared in the back of his throat.

His vision distorted and twisted as each of his senses individually explored for a familiar feature. His left flank stiffened as a weight blindsided him, sending him smashing to the ground. The air left him in a whoosh. His back scraped against the rocky surface, jagged pieces of rocks stabbed into his skin. He clenched his jaw as the back of his skull slammed and bounced against the ground. The weight from earlier crashed onto his chest, making it hard to breath. He felt the not fully healed wound on his stomach strain.

The bulk partway lifted itself off. He sucked in a fast breath. Flames swarmed his hands in response. The weight fell back on him, ignoring the fiery threat. Arms encircled him, hugging him more than hurting. Natsu managed to open his eyes, blinking to clear his dizziness. He sat up, the heaviness somewhat between kneeling beside him and sitting on his lap.

Soft strands of raven hair tickled his neck. The dragon slayer felt his gaze linger on the frost covered ends chiming together. Natsu dumbly wrapped his arms around the form, pulling him closer. Blood spotted the scarred body, but he'd seen the raven in even worse condition. Ice coated the pale skin of the other, spanning out to creep over the fire mage. The dragon slayer gazed at the icy trail leading from the raven. A set of doors hung of their hinges, swinging open and closed. The pinkette lifted his gaze towards the sky, fixing on a red-orange banner fluttering in the breeze, a white symbol printed onto the fabric.

"I knew you were okay,"

"Ditto," The raven left out a small chuckle at his inability to say more. Natsu bent his neck, burying himself into the thick hair, breathing in the sweet scent of his ice mage. "I heard you this time."

A rumbling brought them both back. The dragon slayer glanced back in the direction of town. A black dust cloud was billowing into the air, debris visible from their spot on the hill. The raven tugged at the pinkette, pulling him to his feet. "Come on," Gray let his signature smirk run across his mouth. "I don't want to let Erza have all the fun."

Natsu grinned at him. He twined his fingers in the raven's and started pulling him forward. "You're damn right we can't."

The fire mage stiffened when he heard footsteps appear. For one of the handful of times in their lives Gray reacted before he did. He felt the ice mage slam his hands into his body, screaming a demanding "Get down!" The raven let out a scream and fell to his knees next to him, a knife lodged into his shoulder blade. The dragon slayer spun around, just in time to see a crimson-covered figure limping towards them, another dagger in his grip.

A growl was let out from the dragon slayer. Flames roared to life, teeming from his skin in the sky. A smoky fog surrounded him as his narrowed in on his victim.

A shaky hand placed itself on the fire mage's leg. Natsu didn't turn his gaze away. "Gray, get out of here." From his peripherals he could see the raven trying to get back to his feet. Blood was flowing from his back, a piece of metal, hanging loosely in his hand. "Gray, I said get away."

"I don't need a hero, Natsu," Gray forced his legs to still under his weight. He could feel ice quickly covering over the gash, building a dam for the gore. "Don't think I'll let you fight him alone either."

…

Lucy could feel her chest raise and collapse as she sucked in air. A sharp pain dug into her side, a sure sign of a broken rib. A dark ebony bruise was growing on her cheek, spotted with blue. Her knuckles whitened as her grip tightened on the leather end of her whip. Out of the corner of her eye she could see a wave of blue hair smashed against the concrete. She gritted her teeth in frustration.

"His movements are slowing."

The celestial mage gave a tight nod. She could hear the distinctive panting of her orange haired spirit behind her. A still standing, partially mangled form stood some distance away. Glass vials shook in his hands, chemical mixes that left nasty results on the victim.

"When you hit him on the right earlier he didn't fully recover."

Loke pulled his glasses off. A lens cracked when it landed on the cobblestone. "Think you can draw his attention?"

The blonde rubbed her thumb over the worn leather. "I can try,"

…

Erza bent her knees, softening the impact. The bottom of her boots scraped against the pavement. Her wild scarlet hair tangled, falling in front of her line of sight. The metal of her armor was dented inward, stabbing into her shoulder. The milky flesh on her left calf was mostly torn off; revealing a bloody shell, a bit of bone could be seen in the disaster.

A faint glow surrounded her, leaving a new set of coverings in place. Purple stockings came up her thighs, one instantly becoming drenched in crimson. A more exposing defense was situated across her breast and hips. The former adorned with an animal print cloth.

Her chest collapsed with each pant. Her body was visibly tensed, poised like a viper about to strike. The warm brown of her eyes had turned into boiling masses. She swept herself to the side, balancing her blade in front of her body. The silver of the edge raced towards its target, finding empty air as a substitute. She expertly dipped her foot down, spinning back around. She moved to a frontal attack, leaving her easily damageable stomach open for a blow, all the risk for getting nearer to the enemy.

…

Natsu's knees sunk into the dirt.

His body slammed forward, his palms barely held out in time to lessen the blow. His vibrant hair draped across his face. Red droplets fell from his eye, dotting the ground beneath. A mixture of mud formed, tinted a sordid hue. His finger curled, digging further into the earth.

He could feel his body trying to repair itself. He could vaguely make out a knife entrenched into his side, running parallel to the original abrasion. He could sense someone next to him. Fragmented light shined down on him through a crystal wall. The shield lasted but a moment, quickly chipping away and shattering. A blade clanked to the ground on top of the pile of ice.

…

Gray gripped the dragon slayer's face in his hands. He wiped the trail of blood soaking the mage's face away with his thumb, a river of cerise immediately flowing back down. The sound of footfalls made him look away.

His eyes widened at the approaching figure. He slammed his fist back into his palm and held the position. A thick dome of ice encased them, thickening in a furry of snow. The raven's breathing became ragged as the ice became wider on all sides. A razor sailed into the icy wall, cracks appearing as it hit. The ice mage went taut. He turned back to the fire mage, ignoring the growing crevices and projectiles finding their way in the crystal.

Natsu eyes were empty, looking at nothing. Streams of blood flowed down his cheek, the other half of his face turning paler by the second. Panic flooded him as he felt how cold the dragon slayer felt under his touch. For the first time since meeting the dragon slayer he was warmer than the other.

He could feel the cold spreading, trying to overtake the fire. He sensed he uncontrollable flame slowly being tamed. The warmth was sinking away. The tanned skin became frozen, unable to hold any more heat.

The raven wrapped his arms around the fire mage. He buried his face in the crook of the pinkette's neck. He snaked his fingers through the spikey hair and gently pulled the other's head down to do the same to him. He could feel the hilt of the knife still in the other man's gut brush against his side. The sticky red substance smeared onto his skin. He raven shut his eyes trying to block everything out.

He could perceive the swelling coldness consuming the fire mage. He became numb as he focused on the dragon slayer. He mentally pulled the cold away from the fire mage, forcing it upon himself, just like when he used winter weather to his advantage. A coat of ice glazed over him. The raven tightened his grip on the other, digging his nails into the mage's flesh. The frost grew rapidly, burying him. The fire mage remained still. The raven could feel the other's temperature change. He wasn't cold anymore, nor warm. He was hollow.

The raven couldn't stop himself from shaking. His icy dome was still standing, but even that was about to give away as well. The ice mage's shoulders rose and fell as he placed his ear to the pinkette's unmoving chest.

He felt the last hint of warmth against his cheek and gently pressed his lips to it. He exhaled over the spot, trying to get his hot breath to spread to the other. He ferociously rubbed his hands over the man's skin, letting friction work. He concentrated on expelling his body heat. Natsu didn't move at the gesture.

The raven pulled his head back the gawk at the fissure about to split their fortress in half. He turned back to the dragon slayer, practically screaming his name. Natsu's head lolled back and forth as the raven shook him hysterically. Gray stopped when something hot dropped onto his chest. The ice mage looked down in time to see a drop of blood sizzling, burning into his flesh. He watched as the scarlet seeping from the dragon slayer's eye began to bubble and steam. The blood oozing out from around the lodged knife boiled.

Gray repressed his body to the fire mage's. He felt the heat roar back to life. The liquid crimson tumbled onto him. He could feel his skin searing and turning black under the intense temperature building up.

The last of the icy dome crumbled downwards. Scorching flames danced up to meet it, evaporating the water on contact. A raging inferno burst into existence on all sides. Flames licked the surrounding forestry. The adjacent building was consumed in mixtures or reds and oranges. The ice mage could hear a scream from behind him as the conflagration mowed down every breathing being in the proximity. A knife wobbled through the air towards them, missing with room to spare. The sound of a body dropping soon followed.

A hand came to rest on the raven's back. Gray glanced at his lover's face, the eyes of which were still void. The raven pressed their foreheads together, focusing on soothing the firestorm.

…

"They're really sweet together."

Erza glanced over to see a curvy blonde leaning in the doorway. Bandages were wrapped around her thin limbs and head. Bruises cluttered her skin but a smile could still be seen on her face.

"Should you be standing yet?"

"You're one to talk," The celestial mage walked over, eying the bindings layered around the scarlet's leg. "What are you doing back here anyway?"

"Hmm," The knight looked back over to the two slumbering mage's in the guild infirmary. A pinkette was laid out on his back. Dressings covered his eye and circled his abdomen and chest. He had one arm thrown around a sleeping raven. Gauzes were place loosely on his bunt skin, making both men be on equal footing when it came to damage. He had his hand placed on top of the dragon slayer's chest, unwillingly to be any less distant. The two had originally been on separate beds so their wounds wouldn't get jostled, but that idea quickly ended when a distraught dragon slayer woke up early in the day and wouldn't stop fuming until one of them was moved.

The scarlet couldn't help but admire the two. Even if they hadn't always wanted to admit they were protective and loving of the other they were close as could be, same as when they were kids and the three of them were inseparable.

"Just thinking, I suppose."

Lucy hooked her arm around the scarlet and pulled her away from the sickbay. "You know, Mira made strawberry cake to celebrate. If you don't eat now there's no guarantee it'll be there later."

Erza's soft expression was replaced with one of determination. "It will be." The blonde gave a laugh as the knight stormed away. She gave one brief glance at the two mage's before following.

…

Natsu twitched and woke up in time to see his two female comrades leaving. He could feel pains lace through his eye and middle, even with the medicine Porlyusica had given him to ebb it away. He looked down to find a mop of raven hair still settled on him. He brushed his fingers though the dark, spiky locks. The ice mage gave a small sound and nestled closer.

A grin came to the pinkette and he bent down to place a kiss on the raven's brow. He felt a shuffling and another pair of lips met him instead. A set of anil colored eyes were watching him as he pulled away.

"Hey Flame Brain,"

Natsu let his smile widen. "Hey there… Ice Block."

"You feeling any better?"

Natsu gently feathered the bandage over his devastated eye. "I think its fine, we'll see about the long term."

Gray rested his head back on the fire mage's chest. "You know, I might just have a thing for men with eye patches."

"I always knew you had exotic taste." Gray snorted and began tracing circles on the other. The dragon slayer remained silent and touched the bandage once more. "Gray…could you, maybe…"

The raven's cobalt eyes blinked at him. The ice mage slowly placed one hand over the fire mage's eye. His fingers gingerly lifted up the edge of the gauze. An unreadable expression crossed the ice mage's face as he replaced the binding. "That bad, huh?"

Natsu let his head drop back down on his pillow. Gray watched him silently for a moment before lying back down beside him and went to retracing the crevices of the other's chest. "It'll be fine. Porlyusica took care of Erza all those years ago…I see no reason why she can't manage the same for you."

"I know but…" The pinkette let his remaining eye close in exhaustion. "I'm not exactly thrilled she needs to in the first place."

Gray let his hand trail up to lay over a tanned chest, right where the mage's heart would be. He could feel a rhythmical throb steady as a metronome under his touch.

"What about you? Feeling any less overcooked?"

"I'm a little warm but…it's a good warm."

"I'm sorry," Natsu's voice was just above a bare whisper. The raven had to lean forward just to make it out. "I messed up again. You were just getting better too. Maybe if I-"

Gray punched his arm none too gently. "Shut up with that sounding noble crap. If you hadn't done what you did neither of us would be here right now." Natsu didn't reply, and from this angle the raven couldn't make out his expression. "Besides, I'm sick of you worrying about me. Let me worry about you for a change."

"You know Ice Block…I really love you."

Gray let out a huff and buried his face in the tanned chest. "You better. I'll have to kick your ass otherwise." Natsu chuckled and ran his hand soothingly through the raven hair once more. "I love you too, Ash Brain."

The ice mage closed his eyes and let his breathing even back out. Natsu continued rubbing circles on his back. His hand slowly came to a stop and he let out a breath. He listened to the raven's heartbeat for a minute longer before letting his own breath become perfectly even. He nerves prickled against the coldness of the other's skin.

Tada! It's finished (finally!).

So I have other story ideas, but at the rate I'm going they probably won't be written for quite some time (unless it keeps bugging me). Plus I want to finish my other story.

Thanks everyone who (or maybe it's whom, I can never tell...) favorite/followed/and review.