sin & sorcery

10. it's death or victory

The team make their way to Acropolis to get Earthland-Gray and Natsu home and hopefully destroy the Purging stone for good. Gray faces some painful memories.

tw for graphic violence and death

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make no apology, it's death or victory
on my authority
crash and burn, young and loaded

They weren't being followed. Gray sighed with relief as they ducked through the streets, weapons drawn, curious eyes following them. Nobody was hostile, though – no shots were fired. Maybe the Magehunter had been telling the truth after all. Maybe she was the only one who knew. Gray prayed that was true, because if Joekel and Faust found out about Otherworld...

"This way," he hissed, ducking into a narrow alley between two buildings and shimmying through it. The back opened into a sprawling area of dead undergrowth, stunted trees, and garbage. They picked their way through it, careful to avoid the larger brambles that grew spikes long enough to slice through their clothes.

"Is that the ship?" other-Natsu whispered, pointing to a slight shimmer in the air ahead of them.

"Good eye," Gray said, gesturing for them to move ahead of him toward the invisibility field. "Hop on, quick. We don't want anyone following us." He turned and scanned behind them one more time before following everyone onto the small craft.

"Ready?" Erza gave Gray a concerned look and he nodded at her sharply, moving to the back of the craft. He tucked his weapon into his leg holster, then settled into a seat near Sting and Rogue. He hadn't been in this ship since she'd rescued him from Imperium. The memories were vague and hazy, and filled with pain.

The craft took off slowly, moving through the crevasse that eventually opened up over the ocean. Gray swallowed heavily, keeping his eyes closed as the tiny ship rocked back and forth, battered by the wind.

"We've got a bit of a storm to contend with," Erza shouted as other-Gray and Natsu stumbled into seats near the front of the ship. "Everybody sit down, it could get bumpy. We'll be there in a about fifteen minutes, so get ready to jump."

Jump. Right. That was what they were here for. Gray stood again, stripping off his shirt, jacket and pants and leaving only a thin undersuit designed to keep out the water and cold.

"Ĉu vi estas bone?" Sting asked, reaching out and touching Gray's elbow gently. Gray jumped at the touch, then sighed, relaxing and sitting down next to Sting. "Close your eyes." Gray shook his head, accepting Rogue's hand when it snuck into his.

"I'll be fine," he said, voice still hoarse from the smoke. "But they found the hideout."

"What?" Rogue's eyes widened and he sat up, alarmed.

"This perfulido betrayed us," Gray growled, looking up at Kanan, who was sitting in the farthest seat in the back, head in his hands. "Brought a Magehunter to us. Tried to let her take Nat—other-Natsu. And other-me."

"You whoreson," Sting growled, moving to stand, but Gray shook his head and nudged him back into his seat.

"They've got his daughter," Gray said quietly. "I folded too, when it was Lyon's life at stake." Sting sighed, leaning his head against Gray's. "Frak, I'm just so tired of fighting. Tired of killing, tired of being afraid." Gray rubbed his face, then squeezed Rogue's hand. "This ends today."

"This is as close as I can get you," Erza said, glancing at the dash of the ship. The invisibility field outside flickered dangerously. "Everyone ready?"