Tempt me and I will fall

Chapter 10

Natsu stepped through the door way, and promptly threw himself in the snow. "Gah! It burns!" He yelled into the cold ground.

Grey watched as Natsu ripped his shirt off and then lay in the snow, "Uh...everything alright?" He questioned.

Natsu looked up, "You thought holy light was bad? Try holy tears. Shit, that hurts!" he grumbled. He finally peeled himself away from the cold ground and sat up. The scar from the holy light Lucy had caused before was almost healed, but it still shone in the early morning sun. Above it, on his chest, were new, painful looking burns that had already begun to blister.

"Whoa, holy tears? What'd you do to the poor girl!?" Grey gasped.

"I didn't do anything!" Natsu snapped, "She was sad, and so I gave her a hug. That's it."

Grey smirked, "You're sure that's all that happened?" he teased.

"Why are you insinuating that I am some kind of pervert?" Natsu glared.

"You almost kissed an angel. I saw it, dude. You're completely in love with her, and you have a deal with the devil..."

"I am not in love with Lucy!" Natsu interrupted. He pulled his shirt back on, forgetting about the holy damp spots on the chest. "OW! Not again!" He ripped it off and lit on fire, "Think you can keep burning me, do ya?!" He said to the shirt. He watched in satisfaction as it burned. Grey hung his head and attempted not sigh.

"You're an idiot." He finally said.

"What are you talking about?" Natsu looked up from his victorious burning.

"You. Are. In. Love. With. Her." He said slowly, "It's so obvious. I saw how you look at her. I saw how you interact with her. And she is so in love with you."

Natsu froze, and then looked away, "I'm not in love with her, Grey. Do I like her? Sure. She seems cool, but I am not, and I repeat not, in love with her."

"Double negative, Natsu." Grey kept one eye on the tent, and then proceeded to make mini ice sculptures with his power. He created a mini version of Lucy, and tossed it to Natsu. Natsu held the small sculpture in his hands. Grey watched how delicately he handled it.

Natsu eyed the small figurine carefully. It was an exact likeness of Lucy. Just at the thought of her, he felt his muscles relax and his heart rate speed up.

"Look at how you react just seeing a likeness of her." Grey tried again, "You are into her."

Natsu thought a moment of all the choices he had to make. He had to go back, and kill the Conbolts, but first he had to hand Lucy over to Lucifer. She had vowed no one would hurt them while she was around, so clearly, she had to go first. And once she was handed over, and the family was collected, he and the rest of his friends would all be free to go. And on top of that, he would have Lisanna back. He would have another chance to be with Lisanna.

But Lucy. It was a forbidden love. If he made her fall, would he be allowed to catch her? Would she want to join the devil to be with him? She was an angel. Why would she give up her place in Heaven, to join him in a crumbling church?

He melted the small figure in his hands. He had too much riding on this. There was only one decision to make, and for once, he wouldn't be selfish.

"I have to hand over Lucy." He whispered. "All of Fairy Tail's freedom is resting on this. I have to free Lisanna. I have to. I can't let Lucy distract me. I have a contract to fill."

Grey nodded. He hadn't been expecting this kind of reaction, "Okay." Was all he said.

Natsu looked at him, "I'm going need your help. And if you tell anybody I asked, I will burn you so bad, your ice will turn to steam for the rest of eternity."