Day 32 they had their first visitor. A knock on the door woke him. Gray stirred from sleep and sat up, looking to the side, surprised to see Natsu still fast asleep. Another knock.

Gray made a beeline to the door and swung it open, Erza standing in the doorway. Gray placed a finger to his lips and ushered her inside. "Natsu is still asleep." He said and Erza nodded. Gray went and closed the bedroom door, walking back into the main room.

"So how has it been?" Erza asked quietly and Gray sighed.

"Honestly?" He scratched his head. "It's kinda felt like being here alone. Natsu doesn't really talk, and now that he's calmed down on the attempts on my life and the threats, it's sorta like having a statue around. Or a pet. Or something." Gray sighed. "I don't know if he's better or not."

Erza sighed. "I really don't know what to tell you."

Gray scratched his head. "Honestly Erza I don't know how long I can deal with being pent up in this house stuck with that. He isn't Natsu, I don't know if we'll ever get Natsu back. Well the real Natsu I guess you could say."

The creaking of a door made both Gray and Erza look up. Standing in the doorway to Gray's bedroom was Natsu. Gray immediately noticed the tears running down his face. "Shit." He said and made a beeline for the door but he was too slow. Natsu slammed it closed.

He tried to open the door, but he could tell Natsu was holding it shut. Erza sighed. "I guess this is my cue to leave. I'll tell Master you need more time." Gray nodded and continued to try to pry the door open even as she left. It was to no avail. The little fucker was still strong.

He tried again an hour later. The door opened. He cautiously walked in and looked around. He didn't see Natsu. Then he saw the lump in the bed, under the covers. Gray sighed and sat down.

"Hey." There was no response, not that he expected one. "I want to apologize. I didn't mean what I said earlier." Still no reply.

Gray put his hands in his head. "I'm sorry. This is just really hard for me. I grew up with you Natsu. I know you. But right now I feel like I don't know you at all. I don't know what's wrong with you. And yes it is frustrating me because I don't know how to help you. And I want to. So please Natsu tell me how to fix you."

No reply.

Gray sighed and stood up to leave when a hand reached out from under the coverlet and grabbed his arm, pulling him back onto the bed. Gray couldn't help the smile that pulled at his lips as he slowly ran his hand over the small ball of Natsu that was still hidden by the heavy blankets. He drew circles and comforting pats and heard a sigh.

"I really am sorry. I didn't mean what I said earlier." Gray repeated. The grip on his arm loosened a bit, and slowly Natsu emerged from under the covers only to throw himself into Gray's arms. Gray ran his hand through the pink hair. "Everything is going to be alright." He soothed, trying his best to convey optimism through his voice.

Honestly he didn't have a clue if that was truly what was going to occur. But he swore to do everything he could to bring Natsu back to him. To bring HIS Natsu back to him.

It wasn't bad. Living with Natsu. Gray thought that he would like it, if Natsu was actually Natsu and they could fight and use their magic and if they could understand each other. He wouldn't mind waking up to the pink haired hot-head and he wouldn't mind cooking breakfast or reading together or doing things that people do when they aren't lonely.

Because Gray was lonely. Gray knew if he wanted to he could find a girl or something but where was the fun it that. Natsu didn't make him feel lonely. Natsu made him feel like himself. Natsu was fun and Natsu was funny and he was kind and irrational and insane and he was everything that Gray was and wasn't. They were both passionate in a manner of speaking but Natsu was so bright, he was always so fucking bright.

He made Gray feel heat when all Gray had ever felt was cold. Not that he minded. That was the way he knew he was, how he is, how he will always be.

But sometimes it was nice to feel warm. To feel alive (so he'd heard).

It was silly though because him and Natsu would never live together and they would never read books and they would never be that close. Because that was the kind of friendship where you can admit to it and embrace it and Natsu and Gray would never be like that.

He could say it was nice while it lasted but again, that wasn't Natsu, that was just a shell of Natsu and Gray thought it better to be alone with normal Natsu still in his life rather than to be living here trying to fix whatever went wrong.

Fix what went wrong, whatever that even was.

Day 37 Gray finally had a breakthrough. The leaves outside were falling off the trees, he could see that much from inside through the windows. The sign that winter was nearing.

Perhaps Natsu would enjoy going outside. He remembered back, years ago, when the fire dragon slayer would light piles of leaves on fire as entertainment. It was a rather funny memory he had to admit.

Natsu was still in bed regardless that it was mid-afternoon. Gray crept into his own room and cautiously poked Natsu. The pink haired boy turned over and glared straight at him. "What." He growled and Graay warily smiled.

"The leaves are falling. I was going to see if you wanted to go outside." Natsu nodded and got up, following Gray to the door.

Gray glanced in the mirror as they passed it. The burn was still a greyish twinge but it was fading by the day into pink, new skin.

He opened the door and let Natsu outside. Completely forgetting the anklet.

Natsu stood on the slightly yellowing grass for a few minutes, staring into the sky. A cold breeze wrapped itself around the two of them while red leaves danced through the twisting wind. With a smile Natsu ignited one of the passing leaves, Gray watching as it burned, drifting to the ground before crumbling into pieces.

"Gray I know you like the cold, but I'm not looking forward to winter." Natsu stood with his arms close to his body as another cold wind swept through his hair and made his scarf wave behind him.

Gray smiled. "I know Natsu but next thing you know summer will be back and it'll be hot again. And then you'll be the happy one, hot-head." Moments like these gave Gray hope. He was slowly bringing Natsu back.

With a sigh Natsu leaned in Gray's chest. "Well I don't like being cold you bastard. It's not in my nature."

Gray chucked and unconsciously pulled Natsu closer. "Yes I am well aware of that." He didn't miss the way Natsu's eyes closed, the way he practically burrowed into Gray's chest, the light dusting of pink across his cheek.

Natsu must have been either very cold or coming down with something.

"You look a little too cold." Gray said. "Let's go back inside. I'll make hot chocolate." Natsu followed him back into the house, but before he entered the house he turned to look out across the changing town. He lifted two fingers and smiled as all the drifting leaves began to burn.

"Natsu hurry up and close the door or you're going to make the house cold too! And I know you won't like that." Natsu smiled and turned back into the house as his cheeks turned bright red, closing the door behind him.

Gray and Natsu sat on the couch, drinking the hot chocolate together, in silence. Gray opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself. He didn't want to ruin the moment.

Little did he know Natsu shared a similar issue.

Natsu's mind had been hazy for the past few weeks. He remembered being angry with Gray, he remembered hurting and burning Gray and he remembered constantly trying to do the same. But he couldn't remember why, or what he was exactly feeling for the last month. He sure didn't feel like himself, not even now. But peeking looks at Gray from the corner of his eye, he realized he felt no hatred anymore.

He felt worn out and tired and mellow and shy. He didn't feel like Natsu. Gray glanced over at the same time and their eyes met.

Natsu looked down into his mug, his cheeks ablaze and the pit of his stomach warm.

Maybe he was ill? Maybe that was the issue at hand?

He knew that technically they could leave the house now. He wasn't a danger anymore. But Natsu really didn't want to break the spell just yet. Him and Gray spending all their time together. Being together. Being home.

He shook his head. What the hell was wrong with him. Where was his rage, the fire the burned brightly in his belly. He couldn't really feel it. It was like, all his anger was being sucked away and with it his passion.

Natsu didn't feel right.

Day 40 was, as Gray would put it, pretty abnormal. It started with him waking up flailing due to the very warm body pressed up against his back. He turned to yell when he realized that he was the one who had invaded Natsu's space. Gray sighed and got out of bed. He needed a cold shower, he couldn't stand the heat.

While he was in the bath, soaking nicely in the cold water, the door was yanked open and a groggy Natsu stumbled into the room. Gray waved and Natsu's eyes widened. "Who's the pervert now?" Gray taunted but Natsu ignored him and brushed his teeth.

'I'm used to your nudity." He grumbled as he walked out of the bathroom and shut the door behind him. Gray laughed. Over the last few days Natsu had been more like himself, he wasn't back to full power yet but they were getting there.

He walked out into the main room, a towel draped over his head as he tried to prevent his hair dripping over his bare chest. He wasn't a total pervert. He was wearing pants.

He was surprised to see Natsu cooking breakfast. It had been a while since Gray had caught him in the act of cooking. "How'd you sleep?" Gray asked and took a seat at the counter.

"You know how I slept." Natsu replied not bothering to turn and face him, Gray missing the pink that coated his cheeks.

"Oh yeah haha." Gray smiled sheepishly.

"How did you sleep-" Natsu said sarcastically and Gray interrupted.

"-oh don't even." He heard a snicker emerge from the pink haired boy.

Natsu finished up cooking and handed a plate to Gray, sitting next to him. "Hey can I ask you something?" Natsu asked and Gray nodded.

"Go for it."

Natsu sighed. "When are we going to return to the guild?"

Gray looked at him, startled. "Well when you're back to normal right."

Natsu smiled. "Well aren't I better?"

Gray looked him in the eyes. "Are you telling me that you feel 100% back to normal like you did before you picked that fight with me?" Natsu shook his head. "That's what I thought. I know you Natsu. I think I'll know when you're ready." This time Gray didn't miss the pink that dusted across Natsu's cheeks, or the way he looked away from Gray when he said that. But he ignored it.

Day 43 is when things changed.

Gray woke up again to an almost uncomfortable warmth, this time covering his back and part of his stomach. He opened his eyes and turned his head to see Natsu almost spooning him, one arm draped across his side and onto his bare abdomen. The other arm rested above Natsu's head. Gray couldn't help the smile that flitted across his lips.

Natsu looked so peaceful. Gray turned so his body was facing Natsu's, Natsu's arm still draped over Gray. From here Gray could see Natsu in detail. The way his pink eyelashes rested so delicately on his tan cheeks, the soft curve of his lips and the harsh chiseled line of his jaw. His dark eyebrows not furrowed nor drawn in an angry expression, instead they were soft and relaxed, the natural arch giving him a contented look. His hair contrated with the white pillow it rested on, a few strands on his neck and bare chest. Gray was a little impressed. Even sleeping Natsu was perfection speaking on behalf of his body. Even when relaxed his arms were firm and chiseled, Gray following the harsh line of the muscle from his arms to his chest down to his abdomen, the toned yet lean muscles visible beneath the tan skin. Gray drew his eyes further down, following the pink trail of hair starting right below his navel and

Shit. Gray jumped out of the bed, Natsu's arm unceremoniously falling onto the bed, previously having been supported by Gray's body.

Gray needed cold water and fast, this time for a completely different.. er.. issue at hand.

Shit shit shit. He locked the door behind him this time.

When Gray emerged from the bathroom, Natsu was lying on the couch reading. Just seeing him there Gray felt his cheeks slightly heat up.

He was more than a little mortified about what had just occurred. It was probably being pent up in this house for so long, with no "outlets" for his sexual frustration. It was just coming to a boil, that was all.

He really needed Natsu to get better before Gray was the one to go insane.

Natsu looked up and saw Gray. "Good morning." He murmured softly and Gray nodded in reply.

The day passed pretty slowly, neither boys being in the mood to really talk; Gray was still a little confused from what had occurred earlier in the morning and Natsu just wasn't feeling very sociable.

With all the silence in the house, Gray couldn't help but begin to nod off, stretched out on the couch.

Natsu was standing above him with a smirk on his lips. For some reason the only thing that Gray could really focus on were his lips that were coming closer and closer. He felt his heart beating faster and faster, his palms began to sweat, a deep need pooling is his stomach the closer Natsu came. Gray leaned his head up until they were inches away. All he could see were Natsu's lips. Natsu smiled and closed the gap and then

Gray snapped his eyes open to see the ceiling above him. He tried to calm his racing heartbeat.

Had he just dreamed of kissing Natsu?!

And he thought Natsu was the crazy one.

A big thanks to all my readers, followers, reviewers and favorite-ers! You guys are the best!

I hoped you liked this new chapter

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