Natsu managed to catch Gray just before he hit the floor, laying his head on his lap as he sat on the ground. He gazed down worriedly at his rival. Taking note of the dark bags under his eyes and sickly pale completion. 'He's always been pale but never this pale!' Natsu thought worriedly. He felt Maria drop down to her knees beside him along with Wendy.
"What wrong with him?" Natsu asked sounding scared, brushing the inky black locks out of Gray's eyes. There was a soft glue glow beside him as Wendy worked her magic, determining just what was wrong with their beloved ice mage.
"His body is slightly malnourished and dehydrated. He's also worked himself to the point of exhaustion. There are no other problems that I can see. He just needs to rest, along with something to eat and drink when he comes around and he'll be fine." She reassured, petting his arm as he let out a relived sigh.
Lucy gazed down at the scene before her. Noting the open worry being displayed on Natsu's face, matched with his soft caring gestures he was giving Gray unconsciously. She thought back the day she had found the ice mage crying...
Flash back
Lucy was taking a nice relaxing walk through the forest close to the guild. Breathing the fresh crisp air, enjoying the feeling of peace that filled her. When suddenly she heard the sound of soft cries, breaking the serenity of the place. Worried that someone might be hurt and needing help, she followed the sounds to a clearing. Looking around she saw a boy sat on the rock in front of the pond. He had his face buried between his knees. His shoulders shaking with the force of the sobs.
The blonde carefully approached the upset boy. Wincing when she stood on a twig causing it to break and make a noise. The boys head shot up, turning to face her with a startled look.
"G-Gray?" She asked shocked.
Gray looked surprised to see her before trying to cover his face, looking ashamed at being caught in such a state. He probably looked a mess with his hair sticking up all over the face with red rimed eyes and face covered in snot and tears.
"Hey it's okay, everyone cries, nothing to be ashamed off" Lucy comforted, making her way over and sitting beside him. "Wanna tell what's got you so sad?" She coaxed gently. Gray looked at her hesitantly
"I'm not going to tell anyone, I might even be able to help" she encouraged. He still looked unsure but took a calming breath before speaking.
"I- "his voice cracked slightly. He cleared his throat and started again. "I'm in love with Natsu" he confessed, keeping his eyes fixed on the water.
"Why are you so upset about that?" The bubbly blonde probed lightly, confusion colouring her voice.
"Because he sees me as nothing more than his rival. I've been in love with him since the day we met. I didn't know what it was until I was older, that it was love. When we went to fight Tartaros I met my dad and had to fight him. When I... when I defeated him, he gave me his demon slayer magic, awakening the demon already inside of me.
The thing is, demons have mate's just like dragon slayers do. I was ecstatic when I found out Natsu is mine, but it seems like he wants nothing to do with me!" he burst into tears again "I've tried everything to get him to notice me but nothing works, all he does is pick fights and degrade me. I've tried seeing if he wants to hang out or do something together but he never wants to. He's rejecting me before I even get to tell him he's my mate" Gray wailed in despair.
Lucy reacted quickly. Pulling his head to her chest, running a soothing hand through his hair. She felt her chest constrict at the utter heartbreak and pain on his face. Not being able to do anything but hold him, offering the comfort he so desperately needed. Inwardly calling Natsu every nasty name under the sun she could think of.
End flash back
After that she'd watched Natsu's actions towards Gray more closely. Watched as Natsu rejected every attempt Gray made to get close to him, and saw Gray's face fall, tears welling in his eyes before putting on a blank mask. However, she noticed something else. She noticed how for a brief second Natsu would look so excited when Gray spoke to him before a flash of sadness crossed his face, quickly covering it with a cocky grin and insulting Gray.
She thought back to all the times she and Natsu hung out and realised that 90% of their conversations had Gray mentioned in some way. The blonde was sure Natsu was in love with Gray too. Perhaps helping the ill boy get better would destroy any hang ups the slayer might have about them being together.
Making a snap decision she went up behind Natsu and placed an encouraging hand on his shoulder. "Natsu take Gray home and look after him. Maria and I will trop by later with some food for you both" Lucy told him receiving a nod from Maria as she stood up.
"Okay Lucy" He agreed subdued. Gently picking Gray up and cradling him close. Taking careful measured steps as not to jolt him as he left the guild.
'Oh, Gray, why aren't you taking better care of yourself?' Natsu sighed sadly. Now he was carrying Gray, he could feel how thin he had gotten but also how bigger his muscles had become. It made him both proud and sad at the same time. It meant Gray had been hurting himself to get stronger but also that he wouldn't need Natsu to have his back any more.
It was showing in their fights too, how much better he had gotten, only losing two out of the eight Natsu challenged him to. He wondered what could have set Gray off to train so hard. 'Did something happen on one of his missions?' Natsu wondered before shaking his head 'Nah snow globe would have told me' he brushed the thought away.
In no time at all Gray's house came into view. It was a simple looking house with a pointed roof and wooden veranda out front. The front of the house was filled with mostly windows with bricks building the foundation. A little way from the house was frozen pond. The grass and tress had a light layer of frost on them, not enough to kill any plants just enough to make them glimmer in the light. Almost as if crystals had been delicately placed upon them.
On the far-right side of the house stood a statue of a mighty dragon, sitting majestically and staring up at the sky with an almost wishful look upon its face. On the far left stood another statue, this time of a wolf curled up asleep, if you looked closely you would just be able to make out a small smile crossing the wolfs muzzle. Upon its shoulder it bore the fairy tail mark. Natsu briefly wondered how they had not melted with all the sun they had been having recently.
Looking back up to the house Natsu spotted the biggest ice statue he had ever seen, causing him to stop in his tracks and stare. Up on the roof was a sculpture of a phoenix. Its sharp talons gripped the roof as its head leaned over the side to peer down. Its pointed break gleaming in the light as the beady eyes stared down at him. The wings were stretched out as if ready to attack and its tail fanned out behind it. Natsu swore it was really looking at him.
Shaking of the feeling he hurriedly made his way inside. He looked in each room as he passed, trying to find Gray's bedroom. They passed a library, a games room, a living room, a kitchen and an art studio but no bedroom.
Natsu was about ready to give up, convinced Gray didn't have a room and slept on the floor or something when he spied a hidden door from the corner of his perceptible vision. He contemplated opening it, not wanting to make Gray mad but shrugged it off. What he didn't know won't hurt and if it is the bedroom then no harm done.
The fire breather gently pushed the door open and let out a soft gasp of surprise. Gray's room was a mixture of blues, whites, yellows, reds and oranges. Painted in such a way that it felt like a fire in the middle of a snow storm. There was no bed that he could see, just a massive pile of pillows and blankets. Covering the majority of the floor Placing Gray gently in the middle he covered him over. Letting out a soft smile as Gray nuzzled in.
He slowly stood up and began to investigate the room. There was a lot of cuddly fluffy things that confused Natsu, he'd never seen Gray as the cuddly type, maybe he was a closet snuggler. A second glance around revealed a large window on the end with a ledge big enough to sit on and look out. The sides of the window looked to have a thin layer of ice on it. Looking close Natsu breathed in awe of the intricate designs made onto the glass with only ice.
Leaving the window, the dragon wondered around the rest of the room. Finding some wooden carvings. There were many of different animals and people. He spotted a miniature figure of him and happy along with Lucy and Ezra. He also saw carvings of Ur, Lyon and his father Silver. Just as he was about to turn away a flash of red caught his eye. Peering more closely at it his breath hitched. Hidden behind the rest was a small carved and painted Igneel. He gently picked I up, feeling the smoothness of it, before putting it back where it belonged, lost in thought.
Natsu slumped to the floor, gazing over at the sleeping princess, back resting against the cabinet the carvings were on. He'd noticed Gray hadn't been right for a while and he had hoped he would bounce back on his own. Seemed he had been wrong. Every time he had to turn Gray down or start a fight his chest ached. He never wanted to hurt his mate but he had to let him go.
Gray would never be happy with him and if it meant sacrificing his happiness then so be it. 'You fool! He is your mate, he can be happy with no one but you! Stop pushing your destined away' his inner dragon roared in rage making the slayer wince slightly at it reverberated through his head
'That is not true, he can be happy without me, just accept it. Soon he will see the love he has for Juvia and be with her' he argued back.
He heard the dragon snort 'You, young one have much to learn if you are that naïve, talk to your mate. Found out what made him this way' The dragon demanded before returning to its slumber.
His dragon did have a point though. He'd have to find out what had upset Gray so he could make sure it would never happen again. Just as he was thinking up a way to ask. He heard a groan. Looked like Gray was waking up.
Ooo0ooo
Hey guys. So, I wanted to thank Artemis Reiko for the inspiration behind this story. After reading her amazing creations I just had to write my own so I would like to thank her for the encouragement and thank all you guys for reading this and to check her out.