GRAY
Every night it was always the same. Gray would dream of the demon that murdered his family and relive the horror of that awful night. He would wake up in cold sweat hearing the screams of his sister and parents as they were torn from this world. Sometimes he would be crying so hard that he would bite down on his tongue, so the sound of his sobs would not reach his comrades. This was his problem to deal with and his problem alone. He would not allow anyone else to die for his cause. For his revenge.
He knew that the path he was on would probably lead to his death but he didn't care. Gray stopped the last thought. No, there would be one thing he would miss. One thing he not could bear the thought of losing. Natsu. Even though they did not always see eye to eye and were rivals, he had always had a soft spot for Natsu. Even though other men found Natsu's tomboyish demeanour intimidating, he found it an irreplaceable part of her personality. She did what she thought was right and damn what other people thought. He respected her for that. To him, she was perfect.
He snorted as he wondered when he had become so soft. Slowly he rose from the bed, tiptoeing out of the bedroom into the fairy tail bar. Natsu, after copious amounts of drinking for a dare, had fallen unconscious on the bar table top. The sight was quite funny, with Natsu sprawled across the table top muttering insults to an unknown person, while happy tried (but unsuccessfully ) to shake her awake. As he looked closer at her striking face, she smiled peacefully, a smile that had not a care in the world. It was such a rare, beautiful sight, which made his heart flutter and madly pound. One day he would tell her how he felt.
One day he would be worthy enough of her affection. He felt it would be a slim hope and he was always a one for trying.
NATSU
Natsu strutted into the guild with pride, a full bag of reward money and another quest successfully completed. On her way, she past Gajeel and Levi discussing their next date and smiled. She was awesome, that was her doing that got them together, though it wasn't too hard. Levi liked Gajeel. Gajeel liked Levi. Everyone else knew but they didn't, the idiots. Natsu didn't know how anyone could not know that someone liked them. Like, how could you not.
Natsu dumped the money on the desk in front of Mirajane. Mirajane smiled deceptively and asked "I assume all the money is there for the broken furniture in the guild. Don't take Laxus dumping you too hard. He never stays in a relationship too long. But please next time try not to break anything" Natsu scowled at Mira, wincing, annoyed at the memory of the recent break-up. What was Laxus thinking, dumping her at the drop of a hat, with no explanation, except for "I would be taking someone else's woman". She flexed her biceps in anger, but stopped midway, as she spied Gray shuffling through the door. He sat down at the bar, ordering his usual drink and absentmindly, started taking off his pants. One look on his face and she knew something was wrong. She lowered herself gingerly onto the seat beside him. She was still quite tender from the battle she won in her mission.
"What's up, Gray" Natsu shot the question at Gray, in a no nonsense manner. He looked up in surprise and uneasiness.
"What, what do you mean Natsu " he coughed, fiddling with his hands, making little snow sculptures with the tips of his index finger and thumb. He looked her in the eye, and then looked away in discomfort. Natsu's right eyebrow rose to a frightening level with disbelieve as she countered
"Spill moron, I know something's wrong, because you look like shit, you're not giving me eye contact and you took off your pants before your shirt. Now spill or face my awesome, wrathful, awe inspiring, fire dragon slayer magic."
Gray snorted at the last comment, choking on his drink and turned his stool to face Natsu. This made Natsu smile, a smile she only showed to Gray.
LAXUS
Laxus did properly care for Natsu but he realised early on in the relationship that he wasn't the one for Natsu. She was, in his mind a perfect woman, if a little young but that hadn't stopped them from dating. He had wanted to live a little longer in delusion but he knew the longer he put it off the harder it would be to break it off. Even if she didn't realise it, Natsu was in love with Gray.
It was an oblivious fact between the both of them that they were made for each other even if they were perfect opposites. Fire and Ice. He had seen the look of hopelessness on Gray's face, when it was made official that he and Natsu were an item. He respected both too much to get in the way of a perfect couple.
And that was the reason he had ended it with Natsu. He could find another woman but he doubted that Gray would be so obliging.