Fire & Iron

Natsu Dragneel was in hell.
An annoying, horrible, iron hell.
"Salamander! Move yer feet, dammit!"
And he wanted out.
"Shut up! You metal bastard!" The Fire Dragon Slayer snapped back. His traveling companion bared his abnormally sharp canines at him, which only made Natsu's already boiling anger spike. The Metal Head was pushing him into dangerous territory. Hell, he was already in it.

However, the only reason why Scrap Metal for Brains' face wasn't being smashed into a flaming fist, was because of one person.
A person that the Fire Mage promised that he wouldn't fight against his rival (that much anyway.)
He had promised Lucy Heartfilia. Natsu never broke his promises to her. Like he knew his temporary partner would never break his promises to Levy McGarden.

How entrapped they were to their girls.

"Not like I can walk beside you." Natsu grumbled to himself, even though he knew that his fellow Dragon Slayer could hear it. Keen hearing and all.
"You smell to much anyway."
"That's it!" Gajeel Redfox roared as he spun around to face the Flamie Bastard who already had a smug grin on his face. "Yer dead!" The Iron Mage yelled as he lunged to the all to eager Fire Mage. Natsu met Gajeel with his fist crackling with fire. While Gajeel's was encased with iron, they both cocked back their arms, and let their fists fly-

"Hello!" Both Dragon Slayers froze, their fists still covered with their elements. Crimson and onyx eyes flashed towards each other before finding the source of the voice that had interrupted the boys' fight. Their eyes took in a young looking man wearing a white Business suit and looking down at them with annoyance swimming in his yellow eyes. His purple hair stood out vividly against the off white shirt and pants he wore. A forced looking smile was on his handsome face as his pale eyes took in the two Mages of Fairy Tail.

Although, he kind of hoped that these two were not the infamous Fire and Iron Dragon Slayers that he had sent for. But one look at the fire that licked along the fist of one and the other having his own balled up fist encased in iron, made his hope diminish.
This was indeed Natsu Dragneel and Gajeel Redfox.

The nameless young man cleared his throat, "Mr. Dragneel?-" Natsu nearly snorted. "Mr. Redfox?-" Gajeel did laugh. Seriously? Mr. Dragneel? Mr. Redfox? The Fire Mage though amusingly, Just who the hell does he think we are?

"Umm, yay, that's us." Natsu called out, straightening his fighting stance into a more relaxed one. "Ah, wonderful!" The man's strained cheerfulness made a sharp grin to form on the Iron Mage's lips. "We have a lot to discuss in a very short amount of time." The purple haired man said with false regret in his tone. "So, if you would please, follow me?" Without waiting for a reply, he turned, and strolled along.

The two boys shared a glance before following after the strange man.
Just what have the Metal Head and I gotten ourselves into?
****
In all of Natsu's life, he had only been in two places that were this fancy. The palace and Lucy's old home. And when Natsu said fancy he meant Don't-Even-Breath-In-Here fancy. Every step he took he feared he was walking on something that cost more then Cana's booze...which was saying a lot! With one look at Gajeel's widened eyes, the Fire Mage knew that his Guild Mate felt the same. Natsu could already hear Lucy's voice as if she were right beside him saying, "Natsu, whatever you do, don't. Set. Fire. To. Anything...or anyone.

He let out a amused huff as he ambled along behind the weirdly dressed man that had led them here.
Whatever you say, Luce.
Natsu was brought back to the here and now by a harsh bump in the shoulder by Gajeel. The Fire Mage snapped his head up, his eyes narrowed in anger, "Wh-?"
Gajeel silenced him with a sharp shake of his head and jerked his studded chin toward the man in front of them. Only then did Natsu notice that he had been speaking to them.

"-only a select few have seen the creature." The young man explained to them as he strolled through the empty hallways. "They all say the same thing. It was fast, hideous, and horrific. My people have told me that the creature is a very sickly white color and makes a sound almost like a keening whine mixed with a wail." The Mayor's tone turned grave. "It has already taken so many..."

"How long has this been goin' on?" Gajeel piped up, studying the guy intently. The man paused, "I think...a year now." That made Natsu stop dead in his tracks. "A year? And you hadn't thought to, I don't know, call for help?" The Fairy Tail Mage asked incredulously. A sigh was heard from the Mayor and his shoulders slumped forward noticeably. "I-I have requested Mages before...but they never returned once they got sent up to where the creature has made its home."

Natsu's eyebrows furred as his already midnight eyes darkened to steaming coals. "Mages died?" Disbelief colored his tone as he looked to Gajeel. The Iron Mage had his arm crossed over his broad chest as if he were protecting himself from the words that had just been spoken. Both of Fairy Tail's Dragon Slayers were shocked beyond words. Neither had known just how serious or fatal this job really was.

"This is why I caution you two with great care." The purple haired man went on. He stopped at a large, polished wooden door. He reached out and his fingers curled around the golden door knob before he turned it. The door swung open and he allowed the Dragon Slayers to enter first.
"I will go fetch the supplies you will need, I'll be back soon." The Major paused before he shut the door completely. "Oh, and, please don't ruin-or touch-anything." He shut the door and vanished before Gajeel could snap at him.

"He's strange." Natsu observed as he flopped down onto a very expense looking chair. The Iron Dragon Slayer rolled his red eyes at him.
What did that guy just tell ya, Salamander? Gajeel smirked down at his fellow Dragon Slayer.

"Makes sense. I mean, look at his hair, ya two could be cousins, Salamander."
This is how the two Dragon Slayers had ended up on the Mayor's very expensive, white carpet. Rolling around, trying to pin one another, and at the same time pulling on cheeks and hair. And that's how the Mayor found them. Dirty boys rolling around on his lavish carpet, now with a full set of ugly brown stains.

Natsu and Gajeel only blurted out one thing.
"Please don't tell, Luce!"
"Don't tell, Shrimp!"
"You idiots!"
****
After that disaster of a find, the Major, now deemed the name Anthony Chase, gave them their much needed supplies, and (more then a little eagerly) sent them on their way. A map had been shoved into Natsu's hands before the door to that weirdly haired man's mansion had been slammed in his scowling face.
"Bastard...purple freak...smash his face...ashes to ashes..." Natsu grumbled as his eyes scanned the map that he was currently wrinkling in his to strong grip.

"Talking about yourself over there, Salamander?" Gajeel asked with a smirk shot in the direction of the other Slayer. "Shut it, ya piece of scrap." Natsu seethed as he picked up the pace. If they were to make it through the forest by nightfall, they would have to hurry up. Well, Gajeel did anyway. "Hurry up!" Natsu called out to him. "I know your ass is made out of metal, but pick it up!"

"Salamander!"

"I'm getting fired up!"
****
"This is all your fault," Natsu growled as he limped along the worn dirt path. "My-my fault?!" Gajeel snarled as he shuffled along, taking great care of his burned right leg. "Yes, you!" The Fire Mage barked back, rubbing at his bruised arm and chest. The bones in his arm ached and so did the bones that made up his chest. Sometimes it even hurt to breath.

Gajeel wasn't doing much better. Burn and scorch marks marred his own flesh. His leg that he was limping on was charred, burns dotted his arms, and there was a nasty red mark on his cheek. "I know ya are lyin', Flame Brain."
"You started it!"
"Least I finished it!"
"Liar!"
"Who ya callin' a liar?"
"There ain't nobody else here!"
"Arrrghhh!"
Both boys' foreheads banged together, causing pain to flash through their already bruised skulls. Both Slayers backed off to rub at their steaming foreheads before glaring at each other.

It's not like they wanted to be working together. They were forced into this. Natsu had received the shock of his life when Gramps had called him to his office. Only to find the Metal Head already there. It was like the Fire Mage had been thrown onto a train multiple times as Gramps told them about the job request.
The job request that wanted both Dragon Slayers.
As in, working together, on a team, as traveling companions. Alone.

What demon had Natsu pissed off to let this happen?

So, here they were, tromping through this Mavis forsaken forest, trying to not only kill each other, but also trying to find their way out. This map that had been so graciously gifted to Natsu didn't tell them shit nor help them. Now with the newly fresh wounds that Scrap Metal had given him, this all just became a million times harder. The sun was already setting, casting a fiery orange glow to everything, but also allowing the shadows to come alive.

"We need to stop and make camp." Gajeel muttered as he looked around for a clearing that would make for a good set up. With a nod Natsu agreed with him. It wasn't good for them to travel at night. Even though their senses were sharper then normal, there were plenty of blind spot for them, especially in the dark. With only a few moments of searching, they stumbled upon a clearing that would do.

With a groan and a creak from his bones, Natsu hit the ground on his back, and closed his eyes. He was exhausted, hungry, irritated, and did he mention starving? All he had the energy for was to reach over, ruffle around in his pack, before pulling out some spicy snacks that Lucy had made for him. He missed his, Luce. After consuming half of them, he felt his heavy eyes begin to shut, before sleep over took him.
He'd be with Lucy, soon.
****
Natsu Dragneel awoke to the sound of chattering teeth and heavy shivering. His eyes flashed open and glittered in the pale moonlight. His onyx eyes flashed to where the chattering of teeth was originating from. Only for his eyes to land on the shaking form of the Iron Dragon Slayer.

He hadn't even noticed the cold.

Due to his Fire Magic that boiled his blood and kept him warm, the cold had never crossed his mind. He only thought about it when it came to Lucy.
Natsu released a breath of air that puffed out into a white cloud. The Mage shoved himself to his feet before he shuffled into the woods. He cursed when a rock decided it hated him and cut his foot. With a sharp kick, he sent it flying, where it bounced off a tree and came back to nail him in the face.
Rock; One.
Natsu; Zero.

Cursing the rock and everything in general, he set to work grabbing as much firewood and medium sized rocks as he could hold. "How's that, eh?" Natsu hummed to himself as he walked back to camp to set up the things that he had taken from the forest. "Little Rock? I'm 'bout to set fire to your friends." The Fire Mage paused, he was not only talking to rocks, twigs, and leaves. But he was bad talking a little rock..."Looks like Luce ain't the only weirdo..."

After he dumped his pile in the middle of their camp, he began to move the many objects into what he wanted them to be placed like. After he placed the last rock into place, he made a small flame appear on his finger, then touched a green leaf poking out of the many twigs and other leaves. With a whoosh the leaf caught fire and the small flame quickly spread until there was a nice, warm fire going.

That should stop your damn shivering. Natsu thought as he yawned, he looked over to the silent Dragon Slayer and shook his head. Then, he reached over, plucked the blanket he had been sleeping on, and threw it over the other Slayer. Natsu craned his neck up to look at the tree he had been slumped up against, with a grunt, he leaped off the ground, and onto a thick tree branch.

The Fire Mage settled onto his back and hung one leg off the branch to let it swing in the air. More then once had  he done this, slept up in a tree. When he had been on his own, without even Happy with him, before he even had had the Mark of Fairy Tail on his shoulder, he had always climbed up into a tree at night. It reminded him of Igneel. How high in the sky he was, so close to the sky that Igneel loved to fly in. Now, it also reminded him of Lucy and Happy. How the stars that his partner loved shined down at him. Or how his little Exceed also flew with them.

With a grin on his face, Natsu fell into a dream filled with dancing stars, talking blue cats, and a golden haired girl who's smile shined brighter then the stars she ruled.
****
"Sa-"
"Sa-mander!"
"Salamander!"
Natsu shot up, his eyes going wide, as he flailed around. Momentarily forgetting where he was. All his thrashing caused him to lose his balance and promptly fall off the tree branch. A yelp tore from him as he came plummeting to earth. His arms windmilled around him as he tried to grab at anything that would stop his descent.

Only for his fall to be halted violently.
Natsu gagged as his scarf dug into his throat. "Honestly, can't believe ya fell out of a tree. Gihihi." Then he was dropped onto his ass when Gajeel let go of his scarf. "Ow," Natsu hissed as he got up, rolling his shoulders as he did so.

"What the hell were ya doin' up there anyway?" The Iron Mage huffed out as he reached down and picked up his pack that he had already put his stuff back in. The other Slayer only cracked his neck as he looked around blurry for his own pack. "I was...umm," he yawned as he tried to make sense of his scrambled brain. "Sleeping."
"Oh, I never would have guessed." Gajeel deadpanned as he started walking.

It was only then that Natsu found his pack, already packed and ready to go. Onyx eyes flashed to look at the retreating Iron Mage before he scooped up his pack and slipped it on.
He then took off after his companion to continue on with their mission.
****
"It's because of Igneel and Lucy." Natsu said hours later, answering the question that Gajeel had asked him that morning. It had been silent between the two since they had both started making their way out of the woods. They were now heading straight to the rocky mountains where the creature supposedly lived. "Huh?" The Iron Mage breathed out as he leaped over a fallen rotten log.

"They are the reason I slept in the tree." Natsu grunted out as he also jumped over the obstacle. Gajeel remained silent. Choosing to listen to the Salamander's reasons as to why Gajeel found him up in that tree when he awoke. It made sense, what he was telling him. The waterfalls that the Iron Dragon Slayer chose to train under served as a reminder of his own Dragon parent. Him and Metalicana used to be surrounded by waterfalls. The gentle hum of the water always relaxed him.

He'd be damned if he ever told Salamander that.

A Dragon's resting place was always kept secret. It was a place only for them. A sacred, peaceful place.
That's why only Shrimp and Lily knew.

"Ya know-" Gajeel began but was caught off when Natsu suddenly went rigid. Every bone and muscle in the Fire Mage's body went stiff. His vision sharpened. His hearing heightened. His fire flared up and boiled his blood.
All his senses went on high alert.
Natsu had heard something.
Something, that set him on edge.
A keening, moaning whine.

It echoed through the trees, making crows take flight, forcing animals to run, and making a shiver run its icy fingers up Natsu's spine. Onyx eyes flashed towards the forest. Sweeping over the swaying trees and bushes. Searching deeper...There!

It was only for a second. One moment.
But Natsu's sharp eyes caught it. A flash of white and blue. He didn't know what he had seen. But, he knew one thing.
It moved fast.
Gajeel watched Natsu with tensed muscles. He followed the pink haired boy's gaze until he was staring intently into the dark forest. Right then and there, he saw something whip by. Barely making a sound on the forest floor. The Iron Mage had never thought that the forest looked as scary as it did in that moment.

"Sala-" Gajeel was cut off when a sharp garbled moan came from the dark recesses of the forest. Natsu glanced at Gajeel and the older Dragon Slayer looked back. The message that both their eyes had swimming in them was clear.
Run
They ran.

Both Slayers had felt it. It seeped into their bones, leaving them aching. It clutched at their Magic, rending them powerless. It sapped away their courage, leaving them frightened.
The creature was far more dangerous then any Dragon that either had ever faced. "Run, Gajeel!" Natsu yelled, throwing his backpack off his shoulders, trying to lighten his body.

Gajeel did the same and threw his pack into the woods. Hopefully they could come back to get it later. They needed those supplies to survive out here. The weather was only to get colder and harsher. They had already been trekking through that forest for three days already. Gajeel had promised his Shrimp that he would be back in less then a week.
It had been two.

The Iron Mage ran faster. Kicking up the freshly fallen snow that had begun to fall earlier that morning. Salamander was in front of him, having a little extra speed then himself. Gajeel was weighed down by the Iron that made up his Magic and parts of his body. He was still fast though, looking like a streak of sliver and black as he zoomed by the trees.
Not fast enough.

Something sharp dug into his shoulders and twisted. Bringing him down hard. Gajeel twisted before he hit the snowy ground and instead landed on his side. The breath still getting knocked out of him. The thing that had brought him down gave a loud, raspy groan from somewhere above him. Then he was face to face with the ugly thing.

Milky, sightless eyes stared back at him. Gajeel could see his reflection shining back at him from within them.
White, nonexistent skin was stretched over bone, pulling at it painfully. Blue veins that pulsed were popping all over its body. On its arms, legs, neck, hands, and bare chest. The thing unhinged its jaw to reveal teeth as sharp as glass. Wait...what the hell!
Its teeth weren't just as sharp as glass, it's teeth was glass.

The thing snapped its teeth and gave a screeching roar that made Gajeel's ears ring. It's white talons dug into his shoulders leaving behind torn flesh. Gajeel snapped his own canines back, the creature just blinked its sightless eyes. It wasn't even scared. It looked...bored...bored and hungry.
Shit...

The thing reared back its head and its teeth came flashing down. Right down to the Iron Mage's exposed throat to-
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Gajeel's eyes were momentarily blinded by red and orange light. His face felt the heat of the passing flames before it was gone. The icy wind once again blowing in his face. He looked up to see the Salamander grinning down at him and lowing his flaming fist.

The outraged garbled roar had him scrambling to his feet and spinning around. The creature was crouched down on its fours. It's back arched and its bald head down low, and cocked to the side. It's white eyes seemed to be staring right at the two Slayers.
"How you doing, Metal Head?" Natsu murmured as he watched the creature with unblinking eyes.

The Fire Dragon Slayer feared that if he blinked or looked away, then it would be on him in a second. Ripping and tearing into him like it did to Gajeel. The unmistakable smell of blood filled the cold air.
Mixed with metal and iron.
Gajeel's, no doubt.
Gajeel looked to see how damaged his shoulders were, blood was slowly dripping down his arms and into the white snow.
Forever staining it.
"Ya don't hafta worry 'bout me. Worry 'bout yerself...yer gonna need to."
Natsu snorted as he made his flames bigger and hotter. "Yay, we'll see 'bout that."

The Fire and Iron Mage faced off together against the maimed creature.

The thing hissed.
Natsu snarled.
Gajeel growled.
They all attacked.

The creature shot forward, not even leaving footprints in the snow. Both Slayer's eyes couldn't track it. It wasn't even a blurry streak.
The Fairy Tail Mages didn't even have a chance.

The creature came from Natsu's right, with a sharp slice from the thing's deadly claws, Natsu went flying across the clearing. He landed hard on the ground and rolled, leaving behind a mess of blood. The creature was back before Natsu could take a breath. It lashed out again and instead sank its teeth into his shoulder. Wrenching out a scream from the boy. Natsu quickly set his body on fire, forcing the creature to back off.

The creature stared at him through the wall of fire he had made for himself. Acting as his shield. Natsu clutched at his damaged shoulder, feeling the hot blood of his wound ooze between his fingers. His ruined side was his main concern. A gasp fell from him when his searching fingers struck bone. Natsu raised his shaking eyes toward the unmoving creature.
It had stripped away his flesh all the way up to his rib bones.

The milky eyes locked onto Natsu's dark ones, delight danced in the white depths. It's having fun...

Suddenly the creature's head was being smashed into by a pillar of iron.
A furious roar shook the very ground and caused both the creature and Natsu to look up. Gajeel stood there, black hair sticking upright, red eyes now glowing white, and whole body encased in Iron. Black shadows flowing around him wickedly.
Iron Shadow Dragon Mode.

Natsu smirked with blood dripping down his lips, You're screwed now, buddy. Only, the creature just stared at Gajeel's new form. Seeming to sense no new threat.
"Iron Shadow Dragon's Roar!"
Gajeel roared, a cyclone of shrapnel cloaked in a grayish-shadow shot from his mouth, aiming straight for the hissing thing. Only, when the shadows and snow cleared, the creature was not there.
It had not been hit.

The creature reappeared a few feet away. Faster then the eye of a Dragon could even hope to track, it disappeared. Only to reappear by Gajeel's side, slashing its claws across his chest before vanishing. It was moving to fast. To fast to deliver a blow and to fast for the eye to track.
Gajeel couldn't even defeat it in his Shadow Dragon Mode.
Dammit, this isn't good!

A pain filled yell tore from his raw throat as the creature sank its broken glass teeth into his iron arm. Natsu's eyes widened when he saw that the creature completely tore off the iron that protected Gajeel's skin. The thing got a good chunk of flesh from the struggling Iron Mage before Gajeel managed to throw him off with a 'Iron Shadow Dragon's Club' in the back.

The creature flew off and landed in a graceful crouch on the ground. Cocking its head at Gajeel and hissing.
Gajeel Redfox was in bad shape. He was clutching at his arm that was missing quite a bit of flesh. His chest was shredded and bubbling with blood. Not only that, but his vision was beginning to darken at the sides.
He had lost to much blood.

The Iron Dragon Slayer glanced to where the other Slayer was. Only to find the spot where he had been empty. The only traces left of him were the large blood stains that were left in the snow. Gajeel fixed his dizzy eyes on the hairless, white creature.
"Come on," Gajeel snarled at it, raising a bloody fist. "Ya ugly bastard, come on!"

The creature lunged.
Gajeel almost collapsed.
The thing whined its triumphant.
It's spidery fingers outstretched, ready to tear and maim-
"OI!" The creature stopped midair and jerked it's white head in the direction of the voice. Only for its white eyes to land on the hunched over form of The Fire Dragon Slayer.

"Salamander...?" Gajeel grunted in confusion, taking a step away from the thing that hadn't moved yet. It had its milky eyes locked on Natsu. The Fire Mage stood his ground, his shaky breaths puffing out in front of him, his knees trembling with the effort of keeping him up. His eyes bright with anger and his canines bared. A rage filled snarl rumbled in his heaving chest. Flames licked and dancing around him, daring the creature to come closer.

"You don't want him..." Natsu wheezed out, a smirk pulling at his bleeding lips. "He'll be tough to chew. Come and try me, eh?"
"Salamander!" Gajeel seethed, taking a step toward the other Slayer. "What the hell ya doing?!"
The creatures head shifted towards Gajeel, not liking his outburst, but kept its eyes on Natsu. Black eyes bored into white as he calmly answered the Iron Mage. "I'm saving your iron ass." His eyes took on a haunting look. "Oi, Scrap Metal?" Natsu forced out, the pain trying to take away his ability to speak.

He needed to tell Gajeel this.

Gajeel looked from the still creature to his shaking traveling companion. "I want you-" There was no warning.
No sound.
No sign.
The creature was in Natsu's shocked face before he could blink. Unnaturally white eyes staring into onyx.
The flashing of claws.
Tearing flesh.
A choked scream.
A sickening gurgling sound.
The horrific keening, moaning whine.
Gajeel stood there, in the falling snow, frozen. His body and mind separate from reality. From the here and now. His mind not processing what his eyes were seeing.

Blood soaked talons ripping through Natsu Dragneel's stomach...erupting from his back. Until it's claws hit and shattered bone. His mouth open, a breathless noise escaping him, his eyes wide and unblinking. Shock and confusion clouded them as he stared down at the talons embedded in his stomach. Only for a flash of understanding to light up his dimming eyes. Determination took over his features before he grasped hold of the creature's paper thin wrist. His hand shook but his grip was firm.
Unshakable.
Just like his will.

The creature and him locked eyes.
Something seemed to click in it, because the creature started to thrash about. Desperately trying to get away.
Natsu wouldn't let it.
The Fire Dragon Slayer grinned, flashing his canines.
"I'm all fired up..."
The creature roared.
Natsu's flames overtook him, licking up, and completely dousing the roaring creature in the flames.

The creature caught fire, rasped out one last moaning hiss, and exploded in a shower of ashes.

Natsu stumbled back, the blood pouring out of him in horrifying amounts. In seconds his hands were covered and the snow was no longer white around him. His vision became tunneled and his hearing began to echo. Each gasping breath he took made the pain in his shredded side and stomach dizzying.

Natsu shakily looked up and his fading eyes found Gajeel. The Iron Mage was running towards him. Kicking up snow filled with blood in his haste. Natsu's eyes fluttered. His heart stuttered. His knees gave.
He began to fall backwards. His bloody scarf flying softly in front of his dying eyes.
"Salamander!"
Natsu forced his lips to part.
"Salamander!"
He took a rasping breath.
"S...la...der!"
And Natsu Dragneel forced one last word through his blood filled throat.
"Luce..."
He hit the ground on his broken back.
His eyes sightless and unseeing.
Staring, but never again seeing, up at the grey sky.
Snow fell around his cold body.
No warmth there to chase the cold away.
Heartbeat no longer there.

A gruff voice rose up, shattering the silence that had befallen the clearing, a voice filled with shock, and panic.
The last standing Dragon Slayer.

"Natsu!"
****
Natsu was in hell.
He had to be.
It was the only explanation he had.
His skin was burning, his bones were screaming in pain, and his stomach and back were numb. Forget about moving. Hell, breathing alone was agony. The thought of moving, even just a little, made him sick. However, he knew he had too. His memories as to what happened were fuzzy and broken. Only coming to him in small pieces that made little sense.

Natsu remembered...pain. Oh, yes, he remembered lots of that. There had been screaming...fire...the creature...and-
"Gajeel!" He shot up and immediately regretted it. His numbed stomach and back roared to life. Blinding pain took over his world, making everything brighter, and dizzying. Natsu clenched his teeth to stop the pained groan from escaping him.

Everything hurt his eyes. Too bright.
His eyes took in the blurry objects that were around him. Beds? White beds were scattered around the small room along with white and blue curtains. Giving him the hint he needed to figure out where in the hell he was.
Ah, the Guild then.
Natsu rubbed at his eyes to try and get them to work properly. He had to move and find-

"Thought ya wouldn't make it," Natsu's head jerked up and his eyes landed on the blurry form of none other then the Metal Head. "Salamander," Gajeel Redfox said with his unique laugh as he limped over to the awake Fire Dragon Slayer. "Guess I hafta tell the Drunk that I lost the bet." Even though the Iron Mage was joking, there was a just a hint, just a light dusting of relief that colored his words.

Natsu scowled and then winced when the movement pulled on the stitches he had in his cheek. "Ha. Ha. You're an ass." Natsu shot back, sending Gajeel into a fit of laughter. However, his laughter stopped when Natsu spoke up. "What happened?"
The Iron Dragon Slayer let out a sigh and flopped down in the chair next to his bed. This is gonna take a while. Then, he launched into the story of what had happened once Natsu had...died.
"I died?!"
"Yes, ya dumbass! Ya were a pain in my ass!"
"Oh, I'm so sorry! Next time I'll try not to die so I won't be such a pain!"
"Will ya shut up!"

Gajeel started to tell the past's story.
Natsu listened with rapt attention as Gajeel told him that he had indeed, died. The Iron Mage however, had brought him back. He explained to the other Slayer that he had done CPR-or rather pounded on his still chest with a fist made out of iron-until he heard Natsu's heart kick up its fiery beat again. He then went to work on his wounds. Gajeel had taken his own iron and bended it to match the Fire Mage's wounds. Then he placed the metal on his stomach and back, and sorta stapled the bolts and screws into his flesh.
"You put your Iron in me?!"
"It saved yer life! Stop complaining!"

The metal had stopped the wounds from getting infected and had stopped the bleeding as well. Natsu had been extremely lucky that the creature hadn't punctured his heart.

If it had, then he wouldn't be breathing right this moment.

After he had preformed...'surgery'-putting it lightly-Gajeel had to then, "Drag yer dumbass through shit tons of snow and back to that creepy bastard's home." Gajeel had then literally busted down the door to the mansion and demanded help.
He had definitely gotten it.
A few more days had passed, Natsu had remained asleep, only awakening when he had feverish nightmares, only to fall back into his silent sleep.

"Didja know that when ya have a fever ya set fire to everything ya touch?! Ya kept burning the sheets! We had to put ya in a tub filled with ice!"
"I've never had a fever before..."
"Course ya haven't!"
Gajeel informed Natsu that after they had both recovered some more, they had been put on a train-"Ya were so lucky ya were out during that hellish time, Salamander"- and sent home.

"We've been back for 'bout four days now." Gajeel grumbled as he stretched out his banged up arm. "That Bunny Girl that ya got has been yellin' my damned ear off." Gajeel fumed as he fiddled with the itchy bandages. "Her and the Shrimp both." A smile came to his scratched face when he said Levy's nickname. "Both girls been fussing over us since I arrived with ya."

Natsu's tensed muscles had finally relaxed. He now lay back on his bed as he listened to Gajeel speaking.
Can't believe I died...Natsu sighed through his nose. Luce is gonna kill me! Should have stayed dead to save her the trouble. "Where is, Lucy?" He asked Gajeel, his words coming out croaked. The other Slayer tried to shrug his shoulders but quickly stopped, not wanting to irritate the claw marks on them. "Said something 'bout goin' to make yer favorite food."

Gajeel jerked his chin to where a small table filled with many different bags laid. The scent of all kinds of spicy foods flooded Natsu's nose, making his mouth water.
His Luce was the best.
But, before he could snatch one, Gajeel suddenly started to yell at him, making him jump.

"Has anyone told you how stupid ya are?!" The other Slayer growled angrily at the stunned Fire Mage. "Why in the hell would ya call that thing over to ya? Why did ya have to go and help me? I was handling it just fine on my own!" Gajeel seethed. "What possessed ya to go and do something as-"

"Cause you're my Guild Mate." Whatever other words he had been about to yell went up in flames in Gajeel's mouth.
The Iron Dragon Slayer stared at Natsu. "H-huh?" He managed to choke out. Hehehe, and he calls me the dumb one. Natsu shook his head and closed his eyes. He found them to heavy to keep open anyway.
"I said, cause you're my Guild Mate, Metal Head." A tired grin came to his bruised face. "Ain't that enough?"

A soft hit came to his non damaged shoulder, making Natsu open up one eye. Gajeel had hit-tapped-his shoulder with a fist. "Flaming idiot." Gajeel grumbled out as he looked away with a huff. Natsu let out a broken chuckle before shutting his eyes again.
Closets thank you I'm ever gonna get.
"Oi...don't forget that you...helped me too." Natsu yawned, the welcoming darkness reaching out to him.
"Hated doin' it." Gajeel said, his tone softening just a tad. "Sides, I had to get yer dumbass back to Bunny Girl."
I'll be forever grateful to you, for getting me back to my Luce, Metal Head.
Natsu Dragneel slipped into the darkness of sleep, that comforting thought echoing in his mind, and with the knowledge that Gajeel Redfox and him would always be family.
****
Even though one walked in the purest of lights and the other in the most murderous of darknesses. They both came together and fought with all their hearts.
~The End~