Natsu keeps Gray safe from his nightmares.


Gray doesn't remember a time before the nightmares.

He knows that they started after Deliora – after the fire and blood and screaming that tore him to pieces. Before that, he thinks, there must have been nights of peace. He recalls his mother singing to him, fingers combing through his hair while she whispered words in a language he barely remembers. But those nights of dreamless sleep are a thing of years past, taken from him along with everything else he loved.

"Why won't you spend the night?"

Natsu stands in front of Gray at the door to his house, arms crossed over his chest, frown drawing his eyebrows together.

"Stop pouting," Gray grumbles, trying to nudge Natsu out of the way so he can leave.

"I'm not pouting," Natsu says, refusing to move. "You're brooding."

"I'm not—" Gray sighs, rubbing his face. "Look, I just want to…"

"Want to what?" Natsu uncrosses his arms and reaches out, brushing his fingers across Gray's arm. Gray tries his best not to flinch. "Why won't you stay?"

Gray keeps his eyes on the floor, because if he looks up at Natsu, he won't be able to leave. Ever since they started this thing – whatever it is, Gray's afraid to name it – he hasn't been able to say 'no' to Natsu. Not that he could before, either, but at least then, he could pretend.

"Hey." Natsu's voice gets softer. "Gray."

"Don't." Gray shakes his head.

"Don't what?"

"Say my name like that."

"Like what?"

Like you love me, Gray thinks.

Natsu sighs, wrapping his fingers around Gray's bicep and tugging him forward until their foreheads are pressed together. He runs his hand up the back of Gray's arm and across his shoulder, then curls Gray's hair around his fingers. "Please stay?"

Gray sighs. "Okay," he says, tipping his head up and letting Natsu kiss him. Maybe tonight will be different. Maybe tonight, he won't dream.

Gray wakes up screaming in an explosion of ice.

"No!" He sits up, scrambling back and holding both arms out in front of him, expecting to find his hands soaked in blood. The warmth of it still clings to his fingertips, wet and sticky, but there's nothing except snowflakes on his skin.

"Gray." The voice is familiar. Safe.

"I…" Gray shudders, clenching his hands into fists and looking around. He's surrounded by ice, sharp edges tearing in every direction, thick frost creeping up the walls in beautiful, deadly patterns. "Where…"

"Shh, it's okay." It's Natsu's voice, calming the terrified pounding of Gray's heart. "It's okay. You're all right." Gray squeezes his eyes shut, exhaling sharply when something warm touches the back of his hand. "You're safe now."

"No," Gray whispers, shaking his head. "Never… it's not…"

"C'mere." Warm arms wrap around him, melting the ice, soothing the fear.

"I didn't mean to." He shivers and burrows closer to Natsu's warmth, pressing his forehead into the crook of Natsu's neck.

"I know." A kiss on his temple.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"Did I hurt you?"

"Never."

Gray listens to Natsu's heartbeat, strong and steady, and lets Natsu pull him back down until they're lying on the bed facing each other. "Is that why you didn't want to stay?" Natsu asks gently.

Gray nods as Natsu tucks a knee between his legs and pulls him close. They're both quiet for a while, just breathing against each other, and then Natsu starts to hum. At first Gray doesn't recognize the melody, but when Natsu adds the words that he hasn't heard in years, Gray starts to cry.

ae'd dh r'asti lriis
ha'oi'si lephi aet dh'esl
esl'tas ta nyaja
t'jaus

Natsu's fingers are in his hair, just like his mother's, brushing away the dreams.

sleep, my love
i'm here with you
you're safe in my arms
always

"How do you…"

"Levy taught me," Natsu says, kissing Gray's forehead. "She found a book from Isvan. I was gonna surprise you; I wasn't sure if you remembered any."

"Not much," Gray admits. "But I know that song." He wipes his face with the back of his hand. "My mom used to sing it to me."

"I'm sorry," Natsu says, voice uncertain. "I didn't—is it okay that I—"

"Yeah." Gray nods against Natsu's chest. Here in the dark, when Natsu's not looking into his eyes, it's easier to be vulnerable. To trust. To ask for the things he needs. "Can you—please?"

"Of course," Natsu murmurs, and quietly starts to sing again.

This time, when Gray falls asleep, he doesn't dream.