Dragon Family Values

Disclaimer – I do not own Fairy Tail

Summary: Prequel to Seeking Solace.

Author's Note #1 – I'm using the 100 Theme Fanfiction Challenge for this collection. I thought it'd be something different.

Author's Note #2 – This one I am rating T.

Author's Note #3 – These drabbles are pretty much one-shots and are not related to each other in any way unless otherwise indicated.

Tears (Rated T)

Natsu grinned maliciously at the defeated bandits. This solo mission had been a piece of cake! And he hadn't even destroyed the town!

Much…

He turned on his heel and immediately approached the mayor of the small town. "Mission accomplished!" he said, giving the mayor and townspeople a thumbs up.

"M-Monster!" the mayor stammered, pointing an accusing finger at him.

"Huh?" Natsu began when he noticed the frightened looks on everyone's faces. "I'm not a monster. You hired me to take out the bandits."

"Take whatever you want!" stammered the mayor before he turned to his citizens. "Run! Hide! Before he destroys us, too!"

Natsu took a hesitant step forward. "But…" He flinched when people began screaming and racing inside, slamming doors shut behind them in the process.

The town now looked deserted. Why had the townspeople reacted like that? He was just doing his job like they'd asked him to.

But he'd been called a monster. He wasn't a monster…was he?

His heart heavy with dark thoughts, he left the town and made his way home.

"Welcome back, Natsu!" greeted Happy when his friend entered their house. "How was your mission?"

The fire mage dropped his bag on the floor and grunted in response. "I'm going to bed."

"But…it's not even lunchtime yet," protested Happy as he watched Natsu trudge upstairs to his bedroom.

"I'm tired," he replied. "Can you let the guild know I completed the mission?"

"Sure," said Happy, confused by his friend's behavior. "Get some rest."

The Exceed's only response was the bedroom door slamming shut.

"Hi, Happy!" Lucy welcomed. "Is Natsu back yet?"

"Yeah. He just returned," answered the Exceed. "I'm gonna let Mira know he finished the mission. Natsu was too tired to come here and do it himself."

"That doesn't sound like Natsu," Erza stated, putting a forkful of strawberry cake in her mouth. "Is he feeling all right?"

Happy just shrugged. "I don't know. He came home and went to bed. He didn't even want lunch," he said before heading to the bar.

Erza, Lucy, and Gray stilled. Natsu denied lunch? That was like the sign of the apocalypse.

"Should we go check on him?" Lucy voiced, worry seeping into her tone.

"Do we really have to?" asked Gray, not liking the idea of checking up on the flamebrain. He didn't want to seem like he cared.

"I'll do it," said Erza, finishing off her cake. "You and Gray can go on that mission without me. It's only the next town over. It shouldn't take more than a day. Take Happy with you."

"That sounds like fun!" said Happy, returning from his talk with Mira. "I wasn't with Natsu on this last one. It'll be good to stretch my wings a bit."

Lucy still looked concerned. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," said Erza, standing up and pushing in her chair as she made to leave. "It'll be fine."

Erza couldn't remember the last time she'd been at Natsu and Happy's house. It hadn't changed much save for some extra plant growth that desperately needed trimming.

Approaching the door, she knocked.

No answer.

So she knocked again, this time a bit harder.

Still no answer.

She crossed her arms and huffed. If she knocked any harder, she'd probably destroy the door.

"I wonder if it's unlocked," she muttered under her breath. Grabbing the knob, she twisted it, and it turned easily. She'd have to reprimand Natsu and Happy of the dangers of leaving their door unlocked. Anyone could get in.

Stepping inside the small house, she looked around, surprised for once that it didn't look like a dump. At least Natsu had listened to her about something.

Taking the stairs two at a time, she reached the fire mage's bedroom. Rapping lightly on the door, she expected an immediate answer.

She received none.

Was Natsu even home?

Opening the bedroom door, she peered inside and noticed a mound underneath the blankets on the bed. Erza frowned.

Stomping up to the bed, she was about to give Natsu a piece of her mind when she noticed a cringing expression on the fire mage's face.

Natsu was asleep. And if she didn't know any better, she'd say he was having a nightmare.

"Natsu?" she called, pushing a few strands of hair away from his sweat-soaked face. He didn't wake, but the slight touch seemed to calm him somewhat. His breathing evened out, and he settled back down.

At that moment, Erza wasn't sure what to do. Should she try waking him again or let him sleep? The latter choice seemed to win her over, so she sat on the floor near the edge of the bed and watched Natsu.

What had made the fire mage fret so in his sleep?

Sighing, she continued to stroke his face, hoping it would give him some comfort. Eventually, her eyes grew heavy, and she dozed off next to Natsu.

Heat.

That was what roused Erza from sleep. Why was it so hot? It was almost as if she were…burning?!

Her eyes shot open just in time to see Natsu's bed erupt in flames. Scrambling away from the bed, she spotted Natsu in the middle of it all; however, he was still asleep.

"Natsu!" she shouted.

The fire mage stirred and gradually opened his eyes. Realizing what was happening, he immediately dissipated the flames. Sitting up, he looked over at Erza, who was staring at him apprehensively.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked softly.

Erza shook her head, watching him as he sighed in relief.

"That…happens sometimes," he said, knowing Erza would ask. "It's why Happy doesn't sleep with me anymore. He uses the hammock downstairs."

Natsu got out of the bed and started pulling his burnt blankets off it. "Can you open the window?" he asked.

Erza turned around and opened it, letting the smoky air out. When she looked back, she noticed that Natsu had dumped the blankets in a corner and lay back down on his bed.

"What're you doing here?" Natsu asked as he stared up at the ceiling.

"You didn't come to the guild after your mission," Erza replied sternly. "We were worried."

"You were worried," he repeated as if mulling over the words. "About what? Whether the mission was a success? Whether I destroyed the town?"

Erza frowned at the negative tone that had seeped into his voice. "We were worried about you. It's not like you to avoid the guild."

"I'm just tired," sighed Natsu, curling onto his side so he didn't have to look at Erza.

The requip mage was at a loss for words, so she decided to change topics. "Do you often set your bed on fire?" she asked, hoping to lighten his mood.

"It was an accident," he said sharply. "I didn't do it on purpose."

"I never said you did. Does it happen often?" she repeated.

Natsu sighed, grabbing a pillow and hugging it. "Only when I have nightmares," he admitted.

Nightmares? Erza thought. "You have nightmares? About what?" This was new to her. She'd never known Natsu to have nightmares. Gray, yes. But never Natsu.

Natsu clenched the pillow tighter to his chest. "You wouldn't understand," he said, voice cracking.

"You don't know that for sure," Erza replied as she stepped closer to the fire mage.

"No, you wouldn't. You're not…"

"Not what?"

Natsu let out a shaky breath as he tried to keep his tears at bay. "Can you go? Please?"

Erza paused. She'd never seen her friend this upset before. It tore at her heart. "Why would I leave you when I know you're hurting?"

"Because you wouldn't understand!" he snapped, a few tears escaping his eyes. He reluctantly let out a choked sob.

"Then explain it to me," she begged, placing a hand on his trembling shoulder.

That single touch seemed to be his breaking point. "I-I want G-Gajeel!" he sobbed.

Erza had to resist letting her jaw drop open at Natsu's surprising demand. "What?" Surely she had misheard him.

"I-I…w-want G-Gajeel!"

"Are…Are you sure?"

"I w-want Gajeel-nii!" he cried, burying his face into his pillow, sobs wracking his body.

"Fine. I will get you Gajeel," she said as she nearly flew out of the house. This was too much for her. Something was seriously wrong with Natsu if he was referring to Gajeel—Fairy Tail's one and only Gajeel Redfox—as his big brother.

"Why do you look so…irritated?" Levy asked when she noticed Gajeel kept tapping his fingers relentlessly on the table.

The iron dragon-slayer let out a strained groan. "No idea," he said, tapping his fingers even harder. He wasn't really irritated, per se, but more like…worried. Maybe even anxious. He just couldn't figure out why he felt that way.

Growing frustrated, he slammed his head on the table with a resounding thud.

"Feel better now?" inquired Levy, eyebrow raised.

"No," he replied, turning his head so that he could look at the guild doors. He felt the urge to go somewhere. But where?

His thoughts were soon interrupted when the guild doors banged open, revealing a freaked-out Erza.

"Hey, Erza. You've been gone awhile. The mission went great," said Lucy. "How's Na…tsu?" She was confused when the requip mage ignored her completely and made a beeline for Gajeel.

"Gajeel!" Erza snapped, drawing the attention of nearly everyone in the guild.

The dragon-slayer raised his head and looked at her in confusion. What could she possible want with him? "What?"

"Go see Natsu. He's at home."

Whatever Gajeel had been expecting, it wasn't that. "Why?"

Erza exhaled slowly, the action making her look weary. "He wants you."

"For what? A fight?" he said, placing his chin in his hand. "If he wants a fight, he can bring his sorry ass here."

Erza's expression became troubled. "He doesn't want to fight with you. He's been…asking for you. He needs you."

Gajeel looked skeptical. Since when did Salamander need him? Before he could speak, however, Erza cut him off.

"Natsu's not himself right now. I'm worried," Erza stated seriously. "He just keeps asking for you. Go to him. Please."

Salamander…is askin' for me? Gajeel thought unsurely. Why? Taking a deep breath, he said, "Fine. I'll do it."

"Thank you, Gajeel. I know Natsu will appreciate it."

The second Gajeel stepped outside the guild, the anxious feeling intensified. As he began walking, he noticed that he quickly picked up his pace, heading in the direction of Natsu's home. Was this feeling he had because of the fire mage?

When he finally reached Natsu's house, he opened the door, not bothering with knocking. He allowed his nose to lead him to the fire mage's location, which was the center of a charred bed.

"Salamander?" Gajeel called out hesitantly when he realized Natsu was clutching a pillow and crying.

The fire mage lifted his tear-stained face from the pillow and looked at Gajeel, fresh tears starting up again. "G-Gajeel-nii!" he cried, sobbing once more.

The iron dragon-slayer froze. Natsu had never called him that before. Sure, he looked to the fire mage as a younger brother and had even teased him about being the older of the two slayers, but Natsu had never referred to him as his older brother. Never. Natsu was always too embarrassed to acknowledge that.

Gajeel approached the bed and sat down on the edge. His voice was cut off, however, when Natsu threw himself at him. The iron dragon-slayer barely had a chance to catch him before Natsu latched onto him and started a whole new wave of crying.

Gently, he placed his arms around the younger slayer. "What's goin' on with ya?" he asked.

Natsu took a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm down. "I keep having nightmares," he said quietly.

Gajeel resisted the urge to bang his head against the wall. This shit was only about a nightmare? "What's your point?"

"I-I…k-killed everyone," he gasped, gripping Gajeel's shirt tightly.

The iron dragon-slayer was surprised by the admission. Where the hell had that come from? "Hey. Look at me," he said firmly, trying to make eye contact with the fire mage. When they finally locked gazes, he continued. "Why is that workin' you up so much? It's just a nightmare. It ain't real."

"But it feels so real," Natsu said, averting his eyes.

"What brought this on?" Gajeel asked, wanting to get to the bottom of this.

"E-Everyone…calls me a…m-monster," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's not just from the bad guys we fight on missions. Other people…c-call me that, too. Like the ones who ask for help…and all that. Everyone calls me a monster. So what if…what if it's true?" Natsu asked, returning his gaze to Gajeel's.

"That's what's causin' the nightmares?"

The fire mage nodded. "I get called a monster so much, that I feel like it's true. What if I'm becoming a monster? And what if I hurt my family because of it?"

"If you're a monster," started Gajeel, ruffling Natsu's hair, "then so am I. I've already hurt our family. I've been called a monster and worse, even before I attacked Fairy Tail when I was in Phantom Lord. And let me tell ya, you're far from the monster I am."

"Why…do people call us that?" Natsu asked, honestly wanting an answer. "I don't mean any harm. People have called me a monster since I was a kid. Sometimes I can't help but feel it's true."

"I understand what ya mean, but ya can't let it get ya down," said Gajeel. "People will probably always call us that, but it doesn't mean we're monsters. Got it?"

Natsu placed his forehead against Gajeel's chest and nodded.

"Don't fret about it anymore," added Gajeel, rubbing Natsu's back. "You've got your dragon family and Fairy Tail. None of them think you're a monster."

"Thank you, Gajeel."

"No problem," he replied. "Can I ask ya somethin'?"

"Hm?"

"Why'd ya want me?" That was the one thing Gajeel couldn't figure out. Out of everyone in the guild, Natsu had asked for him.

The fire mage snuggled deeper into Gajeel's embrace and yawned. "Big brothers always chase the monsters away," he answered, making the older slayer blush profusely. "Goodnight, Gajeel-nii."

"Hey! Don't you dare fall asl—shit," he grumbled. Sighing, he readjusted himself so that he would be more comfortable with Natsu in his lap. "Goodnight…baby brother."

Author's Note – I forgot to mention I'm a fourth of the way finished! Please review!

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