Update? Okay!

BroTP: Grayza

Summary: There were always two shoulders ready for her.

Note: I've wanted to write this!

Gray was used to hearing the little sniffles coming from the sleeping bag next to his, or from behind the bathroom door when she thought no one would notice her. Erza had demons; they both did.

When they were little, before the fairy dorms were created, the two best friends slept side by side in sleeping bags on the floor, compact with all the other children that didn't have a place to stay. Ever since Gray caught her crying on the riverbank, he was there for her as often as he could be. He'd be woken up by her sniffles or small gasps for breath and would wrap his arm around her, snuggling closer to let her know she wasn't alone. She wouldn't move, wouldn't slump into his touch or cuddle up with him. She'd just tense at the sudden touch, and then relaxed slightly when she realized it was Gray, and he wasn't planning on letting go.

Sometimes she didn't even know she was crying. She wouldn't wake up even with the tears streaming down her face.

When Fairy Hills had been designed with separate buildings for the men and women, he found himself sitting up some nights wondering how she would cope alone.

He knew she still cried, just when he wasn't around. She would come back after fifteen minutes secluded with either one puffy, red eye or two, and he would look at her, telling her he knew what she was doing, but she'd always shoot him a small smile and say, "Let's go," before leading him and their team somewhere.

This time, he was coming back late from working out mission details with Juvia and heard Erza's gasps for breath when he passed her room. He looked both ways before gently trying to turn the knob and realizing it was locked.

"Typical Erza," he thought. "Always the safety precautions."

He did another check down both ends of the hall before freezing the door handle and lock. He thought about just walking away,—he knew she'd stop eventually—but he never left her before when he was conscious of what was going on. Without another thought, he quickly and quietly jerked the handle, effectively breaking the lock and allowing him to tip-toe in. He'd pay for it later.

Sure enough, Erza was still curled up on her side crying almost silently, her tears pooling onto the arm tucked underneath her head.

Quietly, Gray crossed the room and snuck into bed next to her, wrapping himself around her like he used to do. Before she was completely tucked in his embrace, Erza rolled over rapidly, pinning Gray beneath her with her hand at his throat.

She was wheezing and wide-eyed, glowering down at Gray without actually seeing who was beneath her. Gray tried to remain as calm and motionless as possible until she came to her senses, despite the lack of oxygen.

After what felt like an eternity of staring each other down, Erza slowly calmed down, the gears in her head finally turning enough for her to realize it was Gray. She quickly gasped and snatched her hand away, rolling over to free him. He gasped for air and massaged his neck, giving both of them a minute to recover before attempting to roll over and grab her again.

She was shaking, terrified with her back to him.

"Why are you here?" she choked out quietly.

"I didn't want you to cry alone," he answered, tightening his grip on her when she tried to shrug him off.

"It's not your problem," she said, effectively shrugging him off. He rolled onto his back.

"I care for you, Erza; it's what's I do. You can't change that."

She stayed silent, sniffing and rubbing her eyes as her tears continued falling. Of course he always did things for her without her asking.

"Look, I know you didn't mean it, and I know I shouldn't have overstepped my boundaries, but could you please just let me in for once, and let me care for you?"

After a moment of silence, she muttered, "I'm sorry, Gray."

"Don't worry about it, Erza. I'm sure I would have done the same thing."

"I hurt you."

"I get hurt all the time. You and I fight a lot, you know?"

She sniffed, a small chuckle escaping before it turned into a cough.

"Come here, Erza," he told her, rubbing a small circle in her back. "You know I always have two shoulders open just for you."

She didn't move, so he wrapped his arm around her and rolled her over, effectively rolling her on top of him so he could hold her with both arms. She was tense for a minute, and then slowly collapsed around him burying her face in his shoulder and neck and bawling as he gently rubbed her back and rocked her.

After what felt like hours, she finally started to breathe normally again, but stayed in her position on top of him.

"You cry, too, Gray," she whispered into his neck.

"I know," he said, smoothing her scarlet hair. "I'm not one to judge you at all, and I don't. You don't have to sneak into my room and make sure I'm okay. I do this because I want to."

"My shoulders are open for you, too," she said, her hand finding and caressing his cheek without looking. After another moment of silence, she asked, "But, how did you get in my room?"

"You may or may not need a new lock."

"Gray!" she chastised, rolling off of him and giving him a kick in the hip.

And just like that, everything was normal again. They both had demons, but they fought them together.

Open for suggestions!