Seventh Heaven chapter 12
Title: sprinter
Type: Chaptered fic, Seventh Heaven 12/16
Pairing: Natsu/Gray
Rating: T
Warning: Natsu angsting a bit
Length: ~1621
Summary: Natsu’s a bit too impulsive during a mission and puts the group at risk. Then he has to face the consequences…
Disclaimer: Not mine TT.TT
Chapter Twelve - sprinter
When Natsu first met Gray something strange happened.
It was like he was catapulted into a dream, almost as if an eternity passed through them in just one second.
Of course that when that moment passed the dream was shattered. And they started fighting.
However, despite the constant fights, bickering and sometimes urge to just hit the other, Natsu found himself thinking, calling him and willing him to notice… what he wouldn’t say.
And lately he had awoken a couple of times from stupid and disturbing dreams. Dreams that made him want to protect Gray (that didn’t need any protection, he knew that) and where he saw himself embracing him - his battered and injured body - and his hands were shaking.
What the hell was that?
~^~
Right at this moment nothing else mattered. Natsu’s breath was coming quick and harsh.
He had gotten separated from the group in pursuit of a couple of bandits. As usual, Natsu had be the first one to react, to jump to the chase, but his position of pursuer quickly turned to the one of the pursued. Ha had no idea how that had happened and the enemies had showed a weapon that had already injured Natsu.
He ran.
The bushes and brambles were scratching all over his arms and legs and making thin red lines emerge, painting a bloody picture all over his body.
But he didn’t mind. All he wanted to do was find some place to catch his breath and regain some of his strength. Natsu slipped and fell on the ground. He laid there, left hand coming to his right side. Feeling something moist, he lifted his hand.
Blood.
‘Perfect.’ He couldn’t help but think, sarcastically.
He crawled until he was resting the large bark of a tree, some parts digging uncomfortably on his back. He only-he only needed a minute before he could continue. But Horas knew if he was tempted to let out his rage. Because, most of the time a wound like this wouldn’t be anything but there was something that had him unable to do a thing, to move. He felt himself losing his strength, his sight was blurring already.
Ha managed to lift a hand, trying to reach - to reach him.
As he lost consciousness the reasons for his unbridled run fluttered to the fore of his mind. The destruction of what might tempt him but that would only lead to despair.
His life was spiraling and he had to run to catch the enemies but also to lose himself.
After that, darkness took over.
~^~
There was something strange about this field. There could be seen an undulation on the vegetation far away but no wind swept over Natsu. The sun was shining brightly in the sky but the heat wasn’t reaching to Natsu, it was almost as if something was interfering.
All of a sudden there was a force pushing him down and Natsu was feeling so far away though he was struggling to get up. He knelt on the ground, the invisible force still pushing him down and in such a way that he crushed the little herbs beneath, releasing their sweet scent to the air. A shadow stopped in front of him and when Natsu raised his eyes he saw Gray, who was looking attentively at him. Ready to drop a biting remark, he choked up. There was something about seeing Gray like that, outlined against the sky-
Natsu felt the strangest urge to make Gray look up too, to share this and not feel alone anymore.
A sweet voice sang, far away,
‘katidihara ikata tadiha
ata imiya adeiha’
Natsu’s heart started beating faster. What was the truth? Just something that he had pushed back until the breaking point. This was it. If he didn’t do anything, things were going to overflow and the outcome was unpredictable!
The weight disappeared from his shoulders and Natsu was alone, once again. He scratched the ground, the hard dirt. Unfortunately the pain wasn’t enough to ground him despite his bloodied fingertips. He had to do something!
Natsu hit the ground, hard, and yelled.
Then he stood up with a jump. He had reached a decision. Quickly looking back, he waved briefly towards the forest that was on his back. He knew that place too well and the mists that were covering it, tinting it with a grey tone, were welcomed there - he had another direction to go now.
With a first step onwards, the landscape changed to a desert where the sun was beating down ruthlessly, he could feel it. Natsu took another step and another. He was walking faster and faster, surpassing even time with his run.
He had to run away, forge his way and be a-
‘Sprinter!’
A myriad of voices coming from everywhere supplied.
There was a light and then-
~^~
Natsu woke with a gasp, his hand outstretched. He was to sit but hands pushed him down.
“Finally you’re awake.” Lucy’s relieved voice made him focus in something other than the wooden ceiling. He looked to his right and there she was, sitting on an old wooden chair. She looked a bit anxious but smiled at him.
“Has he woken yet?” Erza’s voice came from the doorway.
Natsu tried to turn to the side, towards her but a sudden piercing pain made him gasp and curl over his bandaged torso.
“Hey! Be careful.” Both girls helped him lie down on his back on the small bed (that wasn’t all that comfortable) and the lecture began.
Erza was admonishing him for being so careless; after all, who in his right mind would run like that towards the unknown? And despite having acted that way so many times before and ending up victorious and with minor injuries, there would be a time when that wouldn’t happen. And this had been a close call, too close for the liking of any of them.
Natsu heard all this with half an ear, his attention elsewhere. Then he decided to ask.
“Fine, I got it.” He mumbled as he tried to sit up. “By the way, where’s Gray?”
He saw them exchange looks before Lucy sighed and answered. “When we finally found you and got you to this place, Gray volunteered to keep on and go after the bandits.” She didn’t say everything and that made Natsu wonder.
Silence fell on the small cabin, only the sound of the rain and howling of the wind were heard.
Erza went to the door, standing on guard. Lucy busied herself by going through their bags, looking for something to eat and Natsu was left to look at the far wall. He was feeling strangely cold - maybe he was in worse condition than he thought.
The sound of gravel crunching on the outside made Erza perk up. Holding a sword, she opened the door, slowly. On the outside Gray was standing, drenched, the wind slicing through him and making his coat whip around. He arched an eyebrow and Erza ushered him in.
They were all inside but Natsu felt a sort of emptiness. He wished that Happy was there. Unfortunately he had had to stay behind…
Lucy placed a loaf of dry bread and cheese on his hands and Natsu looked up at her, quizzically.
He could hear Erza and Gray discussing something on the background but was unable to focus on it.
Lucy went back to the others, distributing the rest of the food. They started talking and Natsu felt like he had been forgotten. He wasn’t being involved in the conversation - did the others not trust him?
Outside, the rain stopped.
The meager meal ended and plans were laid out, nobody paying attention to Natsu - what made him wallow in his somber thoughts.
“That’s it. I think we’re good to go.” Gray slapped his leg as he got up energetically. He quickly surveyed the room, ending up looking at the girls again.
Natsu had been looking at Gray so he noticed that the other hadn’t looked at him, really look, since he had returned. Was he that mad at him? Shaking his head, Natsu stopped that train of thought. He really had to move on, move beyond this spiraling mess his life had become. Despite knowing that, there was something that kept stopping him, something that was deeply rooted within. And it was stomping his foot down, demanding to go back, to go see Gray because he missed him and wanted to hold him, somehow.
He saw him talking to Lucy, helping her, by the door of the cabin. And in that moment he called him, willed him to look back at him so that he could see that sign, that something that showed that he had meant anything, that he had been there…
Gray never turned.
And it hurt Natsu, being ignored that way…
Erza helped Natsu up, the food having helped him regain a little bit of strength.
There wasn’t anything he could do but going against what he wanted. Things weren’t the same (at least not to him) but he could only hope at normalcy. He couldn’t do anything but continue with his life, the way things were - and be there…
As they walked through the wet foliage, towards home, Natsu was able to hear the murmurs of the forest. They surrounded them and seemed to wash over his skin.
He could hear them and just wanted to run - but he was unable to. The voices were calling him - them - and, mockingly, saying,
‘Esta iviya’
Natsu just wanted to cover his ears but had no other option but clench his teeth and bear it.
There was nothing he could do.
A/N: Back to updates! Yes, I am. And we’re almost at the end of this story, only two to go.
Okay, honestly, I don’t know why I wrote this oneshot like this, so confusing… but hopefully you’ll like it…?
Unbeta-ed, so it probably helps to the confusion… ^^’
I would love to read your thoughts, so, review…
Type: Chaptered fic, Seventh Heaven 12/16
Pairing: Natsu/Gray
Rating: T
Warning: Natsu angsting a bit
Length: ~1621
Summary: Natsu’s a bit too impulsive during a mission and puts the group at risk. Then he has to face the consequences…
Disclaimer: Not mine TT.TT
Chapter Twelve - sprinter
When Natsu first met Gray something strange happened.
It was like he was catapulted into a dream, almost as if an eternity passed through them in just one second.
Of course that when that moment passed the dream was shattered. And they started fighting.
However, despite the constant fights, bickering and sometimes urge to just hit the other, Natsu found himself thinking, calling him and willing him to notice… what he wouldn’t say.
And lately he had awoken a couple of times from stupid and disturbing dreams. Dreams that made him want to protect Gray (that didn’t need any protection, he knew that) and where he saw himself embracing him - his battered and injured body - and his hands were shaking.
What the hell was that?
~^~
Right at this moment nothing else mattered. Natsu’s breath was coming quick and harsh.
He had gotten separated from the group in pursuit of a couple of bandits. As usual, Natsu had be the first one to react, to jump to the chase, but his position of pursuer quickly turned to the one of the pursued. Ha had no idea how that had happened and the enemies had showed a weapon that had already injured Natsu.
He ran.
The bushes and brambles were scratching all over his arms and legs and making thin red lines emerge, painting a bloody picture all over his body.
But he didn’t mind. All he wanted to do was find some place to catch his breath and regain some of his strength. Natsu slipped and fell on the ground. He laid there, left hand coming to his right side. Feeling something moist, he lifted his hand.
Blood.
‘Perfect.’ He couldn’t help but think, sarcastically.
He crawled until he was resting the large bark of a tree, some parts digging uncomfortably on his back. He only-he only needed a minute before he could continue. But Horas knew if he was tempted to let out his rage. Because, most of the time a wound like this wouldn’t be anything but there was something that had him unable to do a thing, to move. He felt himself losing his strength, his sight was blurring already.
Ha managed to lift a hand, trying to reach - to reach him.
As he lost consciousness the reasons for his unbridled run fluttered to the fore of his mind. The destruction of what might tempt him but that would only lead to despair.
His life was spiraling and he had to run to catch the enemies but also to lose himself.
After that, darkness took over.
~^~
There was something strange about this field. There could be seen an undulation on the vegetation far away but no wind swept over Natsu. The sun was shining brightly in the sky but the heat wasn’t reaching to Natsu, it was almost as if something was interfering.
All of a sudden there was a force pushing him down and Natsu was feeling so far away though he was struggling to get up. He knelt on the ground, the invisible force still pushing him down and in such a way that he crushed the little herbs beneath, releasing their sweet scent to the air. A shadow stopped in front of him and when Natsu raised his eyes he saw Gray, who was looking attentively at him. Ready to drop a biting remark, he choked up. There was something about seeing Gray like that, outlined against the sky-
Natsu felt the strangest urge to make Gray look up too, to share this and not feel alone anymore.
A sweet voice sang, far away,
‘katidihara ikata tadiha
ata imiya adeiha’
Natsu’s heart started beating faster. What was the truth? Just something that he had pushed back until the breaking point. This was it. If he didn’t do anything, things were going to overflow and the outcome was unpredictable!
The weight disappeared from his shoulders and Natsu was alone, once again. He scratched the ground, the hard dirt. Unfortunately the pain wasn’t enough to ground him despite his bloodied fingertips. He had to do something!
Natsu hit the ground, hard, and yelled.
Then he stood up with a jump. He had reached a decision. Quickly looking back, he waved briefly towards the forest that was on his back. He knew that place too well and the mists that were covering it, tinting it with a grey tone, were welcomed there - he had another direction to go now.
With a first step onwards, the landscape changed to a desert where the sun was beating down ruthlessly, he could feel it. Natsu took another step and another. He was walking faster and faster, surpassing even time with his run.
He had to run away, forge his way and be a-
‘Sprinter!’
A myriad of voices coming from everywhere supplied.
There was a light and then-
~^~
Natsu woke with a gasp, his hand outstretched. He was to sit but hands pushed him down.
“Finally you’re awake.” Lucy’s relieved voice made him focus in something other than the wooden ceiling. He looked to his right and there she was, sitting on an old wooden chair. She looked a bit anxious but smiled at him.
“Has he woken yet?” Erza’s voice came from the doorway.
Natsu tried to turn to the side, towards her but a sudden piercing pain made him gasp and curl over his bandaged torso.
“Hey! Be careful.” Both girls helped him lie down on his back on the small bed (that wasn’t all that comfortable) and the lecture began.
Erza was admonishing him for being so careless; after all, who in his right mind would run like that towards the unknown? And despite having acted that way so many times before and ending up victorious and with minor injuries, there would be a time when that wouldn’t happen. And this had been a close call, too close for the liking of any of them.
Natsu heard all this with half an ear, his attention elsewhere. Then he decided to ask.
“Fine, I got it.” He mumbled as he tried to sit up. “By the way, where’s Gray?”
He saw them exchange looks before Lucy sighed and answered. “When we finally found you and got you to this place, Gray volunteered to keep on and go after the bandits.” She didn’t say everything and that made Natsu wonder.
Silence fell on the small cabin, only the sound of the rain and howling of the wind were heard.
Erza went to the door, standing on guard. Lucy busied herself by going through their bags, looking for something to eat and Natsu was left to look at the far wall. He was feeling strangely cold - maybe he was in worse condition than he thought.
The sound of gravel crunching on the outside made Erza perk up. Holding a sword, she opened the door, slowly. On the outside Gray was standing, drenched, the wind slicing through him and making his coat whip around. He arched an eyebrow and Erza ushered him in.
They were all inside but Natsu felt a sort of emptiness. He wished that Happy was there. Unfortunately he had had to stay behind…
Lucy placed a loaf of dry bread and cheese on his hands and Natsu looked up at her, quizzically.
He could hear Erza and Gray discussing something on the background but was unable to focus on it.
Lucy went back to the others, distributing the rest of the food. They started talking and Natsu felt like he had been forgotten. He wasn’t being involved in the conversation - did the others not trust him?
Outside, the rain stopped.
The meager meal ended and plans were laid out, nobody paying attention to Natsu - what made him wallow in his somber thoughts.
“That’s it. I think we’re good to go.” Gray slapped his leg as he got up energetically. He quickly surveyed the room, ending up looking at the girls again.
Natsu had been looking at Gray so he noticed that the other hadn’t looked at him, really look, since he had returned. Was he that mad at him? Shaking his head, Natsu stopped that train of thought. He really had to move on, move beyond this spiraling mess his life had become. Despite knowing that, there was something that kept stopping him, something that was deeply rooted within. And it was stomping his foot down, demanding to go back, to go see Gray because he missed him and wanted to hold him, somehow.
He saw him talking to Lucy, helping her, by the door of the cabin. And in that moment he called him, willed him to look back at him so that he could see that sign, that something that showed that he had meant anything, that he had been there…
Gray never turned.
And it hurt Natsu, being ignored that way…
Erza helped Natsu up, the food having helped him regain a little bit of strength.
There wasn’t anything he could do but going against what he wanted. Things weren’t the same (at least not to him) but he could only hope at normalcy. He couldn’t do anything but continue with his life, the way things were - and be there…
As they walked through the wet foliage, towards home, Natsu was able to hear the murmurs of the forest. They surrounded them and seemed to wash over his skin.
He could hear them and just wanted to run - but he was unable to. The voices were calling him - them - and, mockingly, saying,
‘Esta iviya’
Natsu just wanted to cover his ears but had no other option but clench his teeth and bear it.
There was nothing he could do.
A/N: Back to updates! Yes, I am. And we’re almost at the end of this story, only two to go.
Okay, honestly, I don’t know why I wrote this oneshot like this, so confusing… but hopefully you’ll like it…?
Unbeta-ed, so it probably helps to the confusion… ^^’
I would love to read your thoughts, so, review…