sympathy for the devil

hero of the day

"What the hell does he think he's doing?"

Natsu's voice broke on the last word and he grabbed Sting's arm, staring up at Gray's quickly retreating back as he ran up the hill towards the guild.

"He says he can handle the demons," Sting said, gesturing for Natsu to help move Erza around to the front of the car.

"That idiot," Natsu hissed, settling Erza down gently until she was propped up against the bumper. Mira pressed her sweater over the wound on Erza's leg, and blood rapidly soaked through it. Rogue knelt beside Erza, reaching into their backpack and digging out a roll of bandages.

"What the hell happened?" Erza demanded through gritted teeth. Natsu turned to her, rubbing his face.

"I have to go after him," he said quietly, crouching down next to her and taking her hand. "He's gonna get himself killed trying to keep us safe."

Erza sighed, squeezing Natsu's hand tightly and nodding. "I did the same when it was his life on the line," she said.

Natsu stared at the red mark on Erza's arm and sighed. "I know," he said. "And that's why he's doing this. But he doesn't have to do it alone."

Rogue finished tying up the bandages and looked up at Natsu. "He's stronger than all of us combined," they said softly. "If anyone can do it, it's him."

Natsu shook his head and looked up the hill again.

"I don't care," he said eventually. "I can't just stay here."

Ezra motioned for Natsu to help her to her feet, then summoned her sword and handed it to Mira. Rogue and Sting took both of Ezra's arms and supported her between them, keeping weight off the injured leg.

"Let's go," Erza said, jaw set in determination as she looked at Natsu. "We don't leave family behind."

_____

As soon as Gray crested the hill he broke into a run, sprinting down the road toward the battle. His markings lit up, sharp and black, and the demons immediately turned to him, red eyes flashing next to jagged teeth and bloody claws. The sky was dark and angry, static crackling between whirling portals that kept spilling demons into the world.

"Gaednaees," Gray growled, stretching his hands out, palm-forward at the monsters. Black energy shot from his fingers, coursing across the ground and slamming into the wall of demons. A wild howling filled the air and then they began to disintegrate, drifting into a million pieces of nothing as they were sent back to Hell.

"Yhaeza," Gray said, stepping close to the portal and breathing a small sigh of relief when it shimmered faintly and then collapsed in on itself, leaving nothing behind.

The power that Gray had been trying so hard to ignore coursed through him, burning his skin and buzzing between his ears. He charged forward, shouting at the possessed people in front of him. One by one they fell to the ground, mouths open as black smoke billowed from them and left them as their exhausted, battered human selves.

"AZURON!" Gray yelled, looking frantically around the battlefield and then realizing that he had no idea what form Azuron would have taken. He wasn't sure if she could temporarily materialize here, like some of the lesser demons had done, or if she needed a host. If that was true, she could be anybody.

Ahead of him, two familiar figures struggled against one of the teeming masses of limbs and gaping maws. Gildarts cried out in pain as the creature threw him backward, and Gray could see blood seeping through the sleeve of his shirt. Silver stood next to Gildarts, breathing heavily and holding a sword similar to Erza's.