Chapter one: Darkness

Natsu grew tired of tossing and turning and eventually ended up at the fire pit outside of the home he shared with his best friend Happy. He was staring at the fire he started and desperately trying to let go of the nightmare he had before giving up on sleep and coming outside for the night. It was the same as always. He would get drunk at the guild, Happy would fly them home and he would pass out for an hour or two before his demons would surface in his subconscious. He sighed. Atleast Happy remembered to leave the lamp on this time. Natsu felt an involuntary chill creep down his spine when he pictured the damage he caused the last time he woke up in the dark. Just a few weeks ago he forgot to put more oil in the lamp and it burned out shortly after he fell asleep. Waking up in a pitch black room had not been good for anyone. He rubbed his eyes, wiping away the tears threatening to escape. Would he always be so weak? He slammed his fist down, barely registering that it was engulfed in flames.

"Maybe one day I won't need it."

"Need what flame brain?"

Natsu jumped up and spun around, sending a punch flying before recognizing who it was. "What the fuck?! Gray? What are you doing here?"

Gray easily dodged the punch and shot Natsu a smug smile before responding "I was heading home from Juvia's and saw fire coming from this direction, I wanted to make sure it was controlled this time."

Natsu rolled his eyes. No one was going to let him live that down! The fire lasted all of five minutes before Happy barged into his room screaming and splashing water on him. The only real damage had been to his bed (not to mention his ego)and he needed a new one anyways. He quickly got it under control and Happy took responsibility for buying oil and refilling the lamps so it wouldn't happen again. He took it seriously too. Happy didn't need to know why he needed light, he just understood it was a necessity and wanted to help make sure his friend didn't freak out again. However that didn't stop the talkative blue cat from telling everyone in the guild what happened, so of course Natsu was being ridiculed.

"That was one time! When is everyone going to let that go?! And besides their MY flames I can control them, I was just caught off guard.."

"Whatever you say idiot. Still, it's three in the morning I assumed I was the only one awake in Magnolia. I saw the fire and figured I would come and be sure. Happy stayed with me for DAYS after that incident and as much as I enjoyed his company I much prefer other company if you know what I mean!" The ice mage said with a wink.

"...you're disgusting." Natsu spat.

He turned around and sat back down. Great. Just fucking great. Gray was the last person he needed to see right now. His dream was still fresh in his mind and he knew how violent he could get if he wasn't given proper time to sort through whatever fucked up thing his mind decided to remind him of. He needed to be alone and he needed it now.

"Well you've seen me, it's controlled and I'm fine. So why don't you fuck off?"

"What the hell fire crotch?! I just came to check on you!" Gray walked around to look at Natsu and figure out what the hell his problem was. As soon as he saw his face however he was immediately worried. Natsu was slightly hunched over and had his fists balled up so tightly his knuckles were white. But what scared him was the wide eyed look he had on his face. Gray knew that look, although he didn't see it often. He still knew it. Natsu was scared. Moving slowly the ice mage walked around and kneeled in front of the dragon slayer reaching his hand up to rest it on his shoulder. "Hey...You okay?" he mumbled. Never once breaking eye contact.

As soon as Natsu felt that cold hand touch him he jumped up. "Don't you fucking touch me. Don't ever touch me!" he growled in such a deep voice if Gray had not been directly in front of him he would have missed it.

Gray staggered back from the intensity of his voice, noticing his hands were still on fire but the flames were steadily getting hotter, he backed up slowly. He remembered something Happy once said on a mission. Natsu had nightmares, pretty bad ones at that. Which was why he stopped arguing about turning the lights off when they shared a room on missions, he just bought a sleeping mask and respected it was something Natsu needed. Keeping that in mind and without saying a word Gray walked around the fire and added firewood to the dwindling flame and sat down across from Natsu. On the other side of the fire, he figured that Natsu might need some space.

He took a deep breath and remembered something Ur used to tell him when they traveled together. "Ya know I used to have nightmares. Pretty bad ones actually. When Deliora k-killed my family, my friends, everyone I knew and cared about it left a scar. Not just in my heart but in my mind. Ur used to say we all have scars, and sometimes it's better to open up and tell someone what is going on." He looked up at Natsu and noticed the flames were gone and he no longer had his hands fisted up. He continued, "I know we are rivals, but that doesn't mean I don't care about you...I d-do." Natsu popped his head up tears streaming down his face.

"What? You...c-care...about ME?"

He could hardly believe what he was hearing! Gray cared about him! How long had he wanted to hear those words? How long has he been pining, waiting on a miniscule hint that the ice mage had any feelings for him whatsoever. And here he was admitting it! Granted not at all how Natsu wanted it. He imagined it would be after one of their many fights. Gray would be hot, sweaty and panting... his droopy eyes dilated and focused on just him. He would be shirtless as always and-

Natsu was interrupted by a scoff. Gray started laughing, "Of course I do, just because we fight doesn't mean I don't care! You're just a good sparring partner. The best one since Lyon isn't around much anymore. Also, you're my best friend, I mean we grew up together we're like brothers!"

Brothers... brothers...brothers. The word echoed in the dragon slayer's head. BROTHERS?! Ugh. Great the sibling zone, where romance and boners come to die. It hadn't happened to Natsu often. Only with Erza and Lucy. Yes Erza. Way too many shots of fire whiskey and Erza showing off her many armors had ended up with a bent boner and a pissed off redhead. Natsu learned the hard way that day, she does NOT like to be touched. Also she tries to hide it but she is definitely dating someone.

Natsu stood up again and turned so his back was facing Gray. Damn he didn't expect him to say he loved him but that hurt. So of course he lashed out. "Well next time you want to check on someone you care about how about you stop at home and shower first!"

Gray was stunned! He went out of his way to check on this idiot and he was complaining because he didn't like how he smelled! He stood up and came closer to Natsu stopping when he felt got close enough, he still didn't want to invade his private space. "What are you talking about you flaming asshole?!"

"I'm talking about your smell! You said you just left Juvia's right?" He turned and looked at the ice mage in disgust. "I'm a dragon slayer Ice Princess, I have a heightened sense of smell. And right now you smell like. Like.."

"Like what? Whatever it is can't be that offensive that you yell at me for trying to be nice and help yo-"

"SEX! You smell like sex and Juvia and...someone else I can't quite place. Who the hell is that? It smells kinda masculine...ugh! That's not the point! The point is next time you want to 'check' on me, keep in mind I can smell basically everything on you!"

Natsu could feel his cheeks getting hot, he turned around and tried to walk off but before he could even take a step he heard Gray start laughing.

"You can smell if a scent is masculine or feminine? That's gotta be weird. I mean yeah there was a guy, it's no secret that I am bisexual. But seriously? That's what this is about! Me having sex? What you jealous? I mean Juvia isn't that hot but I guess for a virgin like you she isn't bad. Want me to put in a good word for you? She IS obsessed with me but she knows what this is. It's not like I have feelings for her. And we have never had sex alone. She is more than okay just warming my bed every now and then and whoever I bring along is just fine with-"

Before he could finish his sentence Natsu had punched him right in the face, sending him flying backwards and into a tree. "You fucking icy bastard! How could you use her like that? She loves you! Not that you deserve it since you're willing to basically whore her out to me! You shouldn't pervert someone's trust like that, and I can't believe you of all people would do that! You don't know what that does to a person. It makes you feel like less, like your feelings don't matter. Dammit Gray it's hard for someone to break out of a cycle like that. You just keep being used thinking one day maybe he will care and eventually you begin to hate yourself. So even though it started that way, no I am not jealous of her, I pity her, she deserves way better than you."

With that he turned and ran away deeper into the woods with his entire body on fire. Gray could do nothing but sit and watch as that flame got further and further until finally he could no longer see it. Why did he even bother coming to check on that emotionally stunted idiot! He assumed Natsu would insult him and maybe they would fight for a bit but not have Natsu belittle him and then run away.

Shit he was looking forward to it, his night left him wanting more than sexual satisfaction. What he needed was a good fight. He had half a mind to chase after Natsu when it clicked. Jealous of her? What in the hell did that mean?