#graytear exchange

·        In Era

The first time he saw her he was surprised by the amount of resemblance she had with his master, he couldn't believe that after all those times she was alive, the daughter of his master.

Ultear mentally scolded herself for being careless and seen by him, she wanted to pretend that she didn't recognize and pass by him casually until she heard him..

"Ultear"

She again mentally berated herself for reacting to his calling, she looked at him while thinking of a way to get out of this situation, she showed him a slight smile as she continued to approach him.

Gray still in shock as he saw her reaction, still, he wanted to verify if she truly is Ur's daughter.

"Are you…..who…?" He couldn't formulate a coherent sentence making Ultear chuckle a little bit, she asserted Gray's suspicion "I'm who you think Gray, I'm her daughter."

Regret filled his chest, knowing that his master will never know that her daughter is alive, neither will Ultear be able to see her mother again.

He averted his gaze from her saying "You must loathe me for….." interrupted by finger placed on his lip, he looked at Ultear giving him a gentle smile.

Ultear wanted nothing more than to rip his head off, but she wanted him to trust her, to be indebted to her so that she can manipulate him and use him further down in her plan.

"I know what happened Gray, and I want to tell that none of it was your fault, my mother died protecting her beloved disciple and I could never be angry at person she gave her life to." Ultear didn't mean a single word she said, she wished her mother didn't waste her life for an ungrateful brat like him.

A tear escaped from Gray's eyes as he heard her words, he couldn't believe that after all he did, after all the grieve he caused, he would still be forgiven.

Ultear sighed internally bothered by his actions, she wore a gentle smile and placed her hand on his cheek wiping out his tear saying "Gray, I have wanted to meet you for a long time."

Gray slightly blushed at her gesture but soon recovered from it as he looked her in the eyes "I wish Ur could see you, know that you are alive at least, I would always see her staring at your picture every night and cry, heartbroken for losing you." His confession had caught Ultear off guard, she didn't understand what he meant by 'knowing she was alive',  she wondered if her mother lie to them about abandoning her, but why would she cry about it. She wanted to know more, she wanted to know the truth, "Gray, I know it's hard for you but can you tell me more, about my mother I mean, how she lived with you, how she thought about me." 

Offering her a sad smile "I'll tell you everything I know about my time with her."

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Ultear was shocked by his story, everything she heard from him about her and her mother was contradicting to what she believed, she looked into his eyes searching for any lies, but she knew that he wouldn't, he was feeling immense guilt to lie to her.

'but how did any of this happen' The cog in Ultear's brain begun to move fast as tried to remember everything that occurred ever since her mother dropped her at the Bauru till the time she destroyed it, and it all came to a single conclusion "Brain."

Gray sat silent as he finished telling her about Ur, he wanted to give her a time to take all in, he was taken back by the tone she had when she uttered 'Brain', looking at her he saw the scariest expression he'd ever seen that it would even give Erza a run for her money, he called her carefully not wanting to direct her malice onto him, "Ultear, is everything Okay?"

Hearing his voice, she broke her train of thoughts and replied, "Ya Gray, I'm fine." She gave him her first genuine smile and continued "Thank you Gray, for telling me about my mother. I've never knew how she thought of me."

Gray then suddenly remembered something about Ur "there is one more thing I forgot to tell you." He chuckled slightly before continuing "it is about your name."

"She said that when you were born, it felt like a light had flown into her heart, her dreams were filled with your bright future, she was very happy, the infinite possible futures your tiny body held, your life power, her tears wouldn't stop flowing……you were her proof of life……her tears, Ul tear"

Tears were coming out of her hearing this, as this couldn't be a lie, she realized how much her mother loved her and that her she never abandoned her in that place, 'Brain will pay for this.'

Gray seeing all this felt another pang of guilt in his heart, knowing that he tore her family apart, he wanted to leave and disappear from Ultear's sight.

"I'm sorry for taking her away from you, I won't appear in front of you after today." He was about to leave when he felt her grabbing his arm.

"What did I tell you before? It's not your fault Gray, it was my mother's decision and you should respect it. And I don't blame you at all about." Even though this time it was genuine, She said the last part with a slight hesitant in her heart, she knows that it's not Gray's fault, she truly pities him for blaming himself all the time, and she is truly grateful for him for telling her the truth about Ur, but some part of her still resent him for her mother's death.

She wiped her tears composing herself, "Speaking of blames, I believe you are here to represent your guild in front of the council for all the trouble they have caused" Ultear reminded him with sexy smirk on her face.

Blush crept to his face feeling embarrassed as well as turned on by her smirk, "Ya…well….I was here….." Ultear giggled at his reaction and said, "Don't worry about it, I'll smooth up the council for you this time."

A relief washed through Gray as he heard this, he immediately thanked her for it, "Well then, since I'm not needed here anymore I'll take my leave, again sorry for all the trouble we caused and thank you for everything."

A tender smile appeared on Ultear's lips as she knew what he meant "it's okay Gray, you can come up to me any time you want, I really want to see you more." She was silent for a while before adding "I'm really glad I met today Gray………. please be careful, stay safe". In which he promised her that he will, because he could never deny her.

·        Oracion Seis

 A hooded figure had caught Gray's attention as it passed in front of him, he wasn't sure whether it was an enemy or an ally thus prompting him to follow discreetly until the figure stopped in front of a person he recognize as the leader of the Sies, Brain, he couldn't hear what they were saying but feeling an immense dark aura radiating from the unknown individual he knew that a fight would break out soon, suddenly, taking Brain and him by surprise, a huge magic power exploded in the shape of ice roses binding Brain, followed by swords appearing out of nowhere and impaling Brain who screamed in pain.

The swords kept moving and twisting around torturing Brain further, "This is for everything you have done to me." A twisted smile crept on its face, "I will make this as painful as possible, and you will regret fucking with my and many others li……." "ULTEAR!" she became motionless as she was interrupted by His voice, she didn't want him to see her like this, the merciless, cold hearted side of her, she turned around hoping that she would be mistaken, her eyes locked with his angry ones weakening her resolve in what she was doing.

Gray stood shocked as he saw the Ice and time magic casted before him, she had shown her magic to him once in one of many frequent meeting they had, he couldn't believe that after all those times, where he thought they became something special to each other and even having that special night with her, she would deceive him while he was still agonizing over her supposed death, he had confront her about this, he had to know the truth, coming from his hideout he yelled her name while marching towards her noticing her stiffness and turning around to look at him, his eyes were locked with her pleading ones.

In a cold angry voice, "What is the meaning of this Ultear, why did you…….."

"IT WAS ALL HIS FAULT!" Ultear burst out, "HE IS THE ONE WHO TOOK ME AWAY FROM MY MOTHER! HE IS THE ONE WHO LIED TO HER."

Gray halted his movement hearing her outburst, he didn't know whether she was acting or telling the truth, but as soon as her tears escaped her eyes his doubts were dissolved and his expression had softened.

"he did all that to continue his experiment on me and he tormented me day and night Gray, not only me but others as well, he has to pay for what he has done." Her voice was trembling and tears were flowing.

Gray approached her while looking at Brain with resentment, he stood beside Ultear and took stance to cast his spell, "if that's the case then I also have a bone to pick with him." He said creating a sword that stabbed Brain in the heart ending his life.

Ultear stood with wide eyes as Brain screamed his last, she couldn't believe that Gray had killed for her, she averted her gaze towards him and met with his gentle look.

"He hurt the two women I cherish the most, there was no way I wouldn't kill him." He cupped cheek wiping out a tear, "there is no way I will let you hold that burden alone." A smile appeared on her face as he felt her leaning on his arm.

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The two sat quietly as Ultear was resting her head on his shoulder, hands wrapped around his arm, she felt content and peace, and wanted the moment to last, but she knew that soon she had to proceed with her plan.

Gray knew that Ultear was planning something, and he had to know her part with Jellal, "why did you conspire with Jellal to destroy the Council?" He felt her grab tighten around his hand, telling him that she didn't like the question, "Don't ruin this beautiful moment with favorless question Gray, all that is in the pa……" "do you have any idea how Jellal's action had hurt my friend? If you hadn't helped him out things wouldn't have turned as it did" he interrupted her as he stood up.

Ultear sighed internally she felt that she needed to tell him some of the truth but enough not to expose her plans, she looked at him "about Jellal, he was under Brain's control, I don't exactly know what happened but Brain brainwashed him in that tower, he had taught Jellal everything about his magic. You can tell Erza that Jellal was innocent and that I'm sorry for whatever happened to her." she paused for a moment bringing her hands to her face, "Jellal knew where Brain was and I needed to get close to him so that he discloses Brain's location to me, but it came with condition that I help him taking down the council."

Gray looked at her with doubt, knowing that the last part was a lie. "you really have some weird habits you do when you lie, good thing I know you very well."

Ultear met his gaze and muttered, "I hate that you can see through me." "Ul….." "I can't tell you now Gray, please give me some time. I promise I will tell the whole truth." She stood up, preparing to leave, she looked at him, "I'm sorry Gray, but till I'm ready please wait for me." Then she faded into the woods.

And Gray would wait for her because he damn knows that he could never deny her.

·        In Tenro

Ultear stood in front him propping Zeref over her shoulders, a scowl was apparent on her face not wanting to confront him, not when she is so close to achieve her plan, "step aside Gray." Warning him with a cold threatening voice.  

Anger, betrayal or Disappointment, Gray didn't know what he felt the most, "so in the end, I had to learn the truth like this." Looking at the person she was carrying, he continued sarcastically "so not only that you are in one of the most notorious dark guild, you are also in a guild that worships Zeref! What else are you hiding? That you are a half dragon and Natsu's step brother? No wait here is a better one, you are actually one of the 16 gods of war that guards the damn underw……."

"A time reset." Ultear decided to interrupt him, cutting to the chase and tell him everything on what she has stored believing that he would help her, believing that he wouldn't deny her, "that's what I'm aiming for." Seeing Gray's eyes filled with shock she pressed on, "Using Zeref's power we can go back to the time before we lost anyone. Your parents, my mother." Ceasing the moment of his hesitant she edge him further "join me Gray, and both of us can bring back what we have lost, no more regrets."

Gray couldn't believe what he was hearing, 'a chance to make everything right.' He felt Ultear stand in front of him, her hand grasping his.

"please Gray, all I want is to see my mother again." Hearing her pleading voice broke his heart, he felt that he had no right to deny her this, "it is my fault after all." He muttered to himself but it didn't go unnoticed by Ultear.

She would never blame him for her mother's death just to manipulate him for her cause, not to the man she loves, and not after telling him many times that it wasn't his fault, but her obsession blinded her mind forcing her say it, "yes Gray it was your mistake, but now you can fix it you can make amendments for it." Looking at his sadden state after what she had said snapped her mind made her regret uttering those words. She wanted to fix this but knowing that it might cost her the chance of returning, 'NO' she refused becoming determinant, believing that this won't matter once they turn back.

Pain coursed through his heart listening to what she had said, he knows that she would never say that on her right mind and mean it, her regret filled eyes gave her away, but going as far as telling this lie for her plans. "you know I would never deny you anything." Turning this mind game around on her as the pain began to appear in her eyes for using him, "but answer me this; what would happen to everyone in this time Ultear?"

She knows there is no way she would lie to him further on not after she threw that to his face, "they would cease to exist!" was her short reply, and she knew what would come after it.

His mind was made after hearing her answer, he knows that she is aware of his bond with his guild, "There is no way I would help you this Ultear, I can't do this to them."

A sigh of relief escaped from her lips, because deep down in her heart she didn't want him to join her down to this path, that she herself wanted to someone, hoping to be him, to save her from this, but her mind was too self-absorbed in this plan for many years that it became impossible for it to admit it's flaw, "I knew you wouldn't abandon them, you wouldn't abandon anyone, that's the kind of a man I fell in love with."

Hearing that brought a smile and a small blush on his face, She looked away from him and apologized, "I'm sorry for what I said before Gray, I really….." "didn't mean it, I know you too well that I can figure it out when you lie." A chuckle escaped her lips "yes you do."

Zeref's body was dropped on the ground, both had strengthened their resolve. "Sorry Gray, but I can't abandon it, not after everything I had to go through all these years." Gray glared at her in return challenging her "then I will destroy it and your desire to return to the past."

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Moving his bruised and wounded body clumsily he dropped beside her laying body, both were panting after the fierce battle, Gray took her hand and hooked it with his, a smile was apparent on his face, knowing that it's finally over. A cough directed his attention to its source, looking at her slightly beaten up and having a huge scowl on her face.

"you are quite the jerk for smiling after beating your girlfriend." A small laugh bubbled from his throat and retorting, "didn't know we were a thing, and besides you are quite stubborn for my words to get to you." Pouting at his insult she replayed, "well, you will have to live with it."

A peaceful silence loomed over the two with only the sound of waves can be heard, Ultear smiled peacefully knowing that this was what she truly wanted, "thank you, I'm really glad you stopped me."

Snorting at that, "if you really didn't want to that you could have at least held back a little." Moving his other hand to assess his wounds, he winced in pain as touched his abdomen, "GOD, that fucking hurts." Suddenly he felt a sharp pain on his biceps he jolted slightly from the source, looking at the offender smirking at what she did.

"stop whining you big baby, I did hold back a lot if I went full out on you, you would have been bug pasted under my boots." Not wanting to admit for his huge ego, although knowing that she would truly crush him if she went all out, he groaned as he laid down beside her, "ya right."

"you know your fight still hasn't finished." She pointed out bluntly at him,

A sigh escaped from his mouth, "I know, I just need some rest."

"Hades quite powerful." Worry was latched in her voice.

"I bet he is." He replied nonchalantly.

"be careful."

"I will."

Another silence settled between them. Both of them knowing that they would survive this.

Ultear wanted to confess her fears to Gray, she didn't know what will happen to them in the future, "Gray."

"yes."

"what will happen now? About us I mean."

Gray turned his head to look at her face filled with worry, "well for firstly, I did promise you that I would seal your desire for the past which means I would need to show you a future that will outdo your longing for the past."

"Do I deserve it?" remembering her past crimes and every life she took for the sake of her plan, she believes that someone like her shouldn't have a happy life. Feeling a squeeze on her hand she turned to look at his face, she was drowned in his eyes that gave her hope.

"everyone deserves a second chance; our past will always haunt us but we have each other to overcome it and amend for it."

The sun had set hours ago, leaving Gray to make the trek home in darkness. The dim street lamps barely provided enough light so with a whispered lumos, Gray lit the way with his wand. There was something about the soft glow of white light coming from the tip of his wand that comforted him, that made him forget about the emptiness this time of year brought.

The walk home was long and cold, the rain coming down in a constant stream. Gray couldn’t be bothered to accio his umbrella, he didn’t mind the rain. He felt as though the rain would somehow wash away the desolate mood that accompanied him, he hoped it would anyways. As he approached the apartment building, he was surprised to find the light on in the living room. His roommate, Ultear, wasn’t much of a night owl like he was. For as long as he could remember, even during their Hogwarts years, she’d go to bed early.

Gray took the steps in twos as he hurried to get inside. Thoughts dwelling on the worst, he rushed to make sure Ultear was okay. He burst through the front door to find the living room empty but impeccably clean, unlike the mess he left it in this afternoon. A soft scratching sound came from the kitchen so he followed the noise until he saw Ultear. She was on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor with a brush he didn’t even know they had.

The kitchen was sparkling clean and smelled of chemicals and lemons that caused his nose to wrinkle. Florescent colored bottles littered the counters, cleaners that Gray rarely sees. He had never used actual muggle cleaners before, why would he if he could clean a whole room with the flick of his wand?

“You know what time it is, don’t you?” Gray asked Ultear when she didn’t acknowledge his presence in the kitchen.

Ultear stopped scrubbing and blinked owlishly up at Gray like she was trying to blink herself out of a daze. She looked around the room as if she only just realized where she was.

“It’s late.” Was all she replied before she went back to scrubbing.

It pained Gray to see her like this. It happened every year, on the anniversary of their parents’ deaths. Ultear spends the day in an ultra-cleaning mode, preferring to clean by hand than by magic. Gray never questioned it, the same way Ultear never questioned where he went on the night of the anniversary. She cleaned as though she was trying to clean herself of the memories. Just like Gray tried to take the edge off of the memories using alcohol.

“You should go to bed, you’ll be tired in the morning.” They both knew she wouldn’t sleep much tonight, neither of them would, but she listened anyway.

Gray watched as she stood slowly, tossing the brush into the sink as she passed by it. She met his gaze and held it for a moment, mutual understanding passing between them before she gave him a curt nod and stalked off towards her bedroom. Through the years, they learned to give each other the space they needed to cope. If Ultear needed him, he’d know.

Gray filled a glass with water before retreating to his own bedroom. A sleepless night awaited him. Even ten years later he couldn’t get a restful night’s sleep on this night. He knew Ultear struggled as well. She didn’t like to show it, but he knew.

She had always been the stronger of the two, mentally and emotionally. She was level headed, calm and collected in stressful situations. Gray was jealous of how she always kept it together while it felt like he was constantly coming apart at the seams.

Ultear was… Ultear. They’ve been friends for as long as he could remember, their mothers being friends since their children. Ultear was his best friend, his sister in every way except blood. When their parents were killed, they lost everything other than each other. They stuck side by side through everything, protecting each other and themselves from the ugly world they were thrown into so suddenly.

They were only children when it happened. The ripe age of 8, three years before they received their Hogwarts letters, three years of orphanages.

Those three years were the hardest.

Voldemort and his death eaters were still at large. Death eaters were the ones responsible for their loss. Their village had been ransacked, a muggle village targeted during one of their mass “cleansings.” Their parents had fought tooth and nail to protect the two of them, forcing them to hide and not reveal themselves no matter what. Silver, Gray’s father was the only one out of the four parents that had magic, but it hadn’t been enough.

That fateful night they were dining at Ultear’s house for dinner like they frequently did, laughing around the table. Then the screaming started. Flashes of green light filled the night sky. Gray and Ultear had thought it was fireworks as they rushed excitedly to the window. Ur was the first to act, grabbing the children and leading them to a secret cupboard underneath the stairs.

“Swear to me you will not leave this cupboard. No matter what you hear, do not come out. It is very important that you stay as quiet as you can be. Promise me you two, can you do that?” Ur’s whisper was urgent, her eyes filled with loss.

Neither Gray or Ultear understood the urgency at the time, but they did as they were told. Their parents each hugged them, declaring their love as if it would be the last time. The panic didn’t set in until Ur shut them in with tears in her eyes. Ultear called out for her mother before Gray pulled her closer and hushed her. He had no idea what was happening but he knew they had to be quiet.

Gray played with Ultear’s hair to calm her as she hugged him, sobbing silently into his chest. A loud crash sounded beyond the cupboard door causing Ultear to hug him tighter. Stranger’s shouts intermingled with their parents’ as the crashing continued.

It felt like the commotion lasted for days, forever. The two of them were frozen in fear, trying but failing to not listen to the apparent wreckage happening outside the door. Gray had lost count of how many times the cracks in the door frame flashed green. As suddenly as it had started, it was quiet again. The muffled voices that had been present had gone silent. As badly as Gray wanted to open the door, he kept frozen in place like Ur had instructed. If it was okay to leave, Ur would’ve let them know, right?

Only Ur never got the chance to let them know it was okay. They had been cooped up in that cupboard for two days before someone opened that door. It was a stranger who had found them there. They would find out later, during their time at Hogwarts, that the stranger was an auror, an elite specialist officer who enforces the laws of magic and protects the world from death eaters.

The first year felt like a whirlwind, like life had kept moving forward while they were stuck frozen in that place, in that cupboard. Ultear had taken it the hardest. She cried. She cried more than Gray thought humanly possible. She cried enough for the both of them. Then one day she stopped crying. She steeled that part of her heart off and Gray was almost certain she never cried again, aside from on the anniversary of that day.

They spend the next few years living in a muggle orphanage. Coming from a muggle village, the auror hadn’t known that these two would have magic so he had left them in muggle care. They had to work for their food and board in that place, two eight-year-old children doing chores from sun up to sundown only pausing to eat. They were constantly finding themselves getting into trouble, weird phenomenon occurring around them with silverware floating in the air to items disappearing into thin air. The other children were afraid of them.  

Ultear never once left Gray’s side.

It got easier once they got to Hogwarts. Despite being sorted into separate houses, Gray into Gryffindor and Ultear into Slytherin, they stuck together. Once they learned the nasty truth of what happened to their village and who had caused their pain, they studied together relentlessly to achieve their goal, becoming aurors and protecting the world from evil. It had been Ultear’s idea to become aurors, the hate she held in her heart for those that destroyed their village pushing her to find a way to fight back. Gray had willingly agreed.

Their burning desire to become aurors, to protect the world from situations like the one they lived, pushed them to the top of their classes, exceeding expectations on every N.E.W.T. they took. They didn’t let the fact that aurors weren’t in high demand deter them because they knew that a new generation of evil was sure to show its face. Peace never lasts forever.

After they graduated, head auror, Harry Potter himself, gratefully accepted Gray’s and Ultear’s applications and enrolled them in training immediately. They had found a flat in London and have been living there since. Training had been difficult for the both of them, pushing them to their limits. What one of them lacked, the other one exceeded in. They had each other’s backs even in combat.

Gray would be forever grateful for Ultear because if it wasn’t for her and her unwavering strength, he’s not sure he would be where he was.

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been lying in bed lost in his thoughts before he heard the sounds. They were soft, he could barely hear them through the wall, but he recognized the sobs instantly. He got up quietly and made his way towards Ultear’s room. He didn’t bother knocking, she probably wouldn’t have responded if he did. Through the darkness he could see her curled up on her bed, face buried in a pillow, her shoulders shaking with each sob. He walked over to her and whispered her name.

Ultear responded by scooting over to make room for Gray on the bed. He sat down and leaned against the headboard, crossing his legs on the bed. Ultear rolled over and rearranged herself so her head rested on Gray’s chest. He reached a hand up and began to stroke her hair in comfort.

“I miss them.” Her whisper was barely audible.

“Me too.” He replied.

They sat in silence for a while, both of them stuck in their memories.

“They would be proud, you know,” Gray said, breaking the silence. “We’ve come a long way, we’ve achieved so much. Instead of letting it pull us down, we used it to push us to success. Our parents are watching us with smiles on their faces. They’re protecting us while we fight to protect the world from evil.” The words had come to him suddenly, an attempt to console Ultear and himself. He felt Ultear smile against his chest.