A bit shorter chapter this time but I feel like after this I can actually start the difficult writing process.
I'm sorry for not answering the reviews that you have left, I do read them all and I appreciate every single one of them.
Many seemed to be wondering why Gray is so cruel. He is isn't he? Sorry about that. Things will be different in future. Not yet in this chapter, unfortunately.
Enjoy
-

Natsu felt absolutely miserable when he finally got out of the train in Magnolia and he collapsed onto the platform as his head and stomach kept spinning.

Soon he noticed that he was having the worst day of his life as he heard a voice which he hadn't wanted to hear.

"You look terrible." Natsu turned his head towards the voice and saw an annoyed-looking Gray staring down at him.

"Thanks for reminding me." The pink-haired mage answered with sarcasm and didn't even make an attempt to get up. He felt like pressure was building inside of his head from annoyance as the older mage gave a light kick on his side.

"You should move, you're in the way." Gray said harshly. Natsu paid him no heed.

"Don't you have a mission or something?" Natsu wondered, "since I'm guessing you didn't come here to welcome me home."

Gray removed his foot from the younger one's side and turned away from him.

"It's none of your business."

Natsu stayed quiet for a while and remembered what he had been told as the reason for Gray's bad mood. "It's pretty stupid to be all pissed because of some girl."

In a flash, Gray had grabbed Natsu's collar and pulled him up. He then stared the fire-mage coldly. "What would you know? You have never been in love with anyone! I bet you have never even cared about anyone." After those words he pushed Natsu away.

The younger felt angry and unusually offended and sad about Gray's words and he found himself thinking as an answer: 'I do care, even about you!' He then realized his words and stayed silent, just staring at Gray's back as he approached the train.

The older looked at Natsu over his shoulder with those dark, cold eyes once more.

"You disgust me, Natsu."

After those words the older was gone. The train left along with the stormy youth as a bewildered Natsu stood at the platform, just staring ahead where the other had just been at.

Gray's angry words still kept ringing in his ears over and over.

"You disgust me, Natsu."

Natsu's throat suddenly felt tight, as did his chest. He felt weak and he wanted nothing more than just sink into a corner and... Surprising even himself, Natsu noticed that he wished to cry. He was tired, shocked and sad.

He felt the first teardrops leave his eyes. 'No, no...not here, in front of everyone..!' Natsu thought and hugged himself. He started to shake and he knew that he wouldn't be able to stop his outburst.

As the first drops wetted the gray stone beneath him, also the first sob tore from him. He held his head low and tried to become as small as possible.

It was humiliating, but he was crying in public. He had no idea if people were looking at him as he closed his eyes tightly.

Soon, he was rescued by the best way possible.
"Natsu! I knew you were back! I could just feel it-!" Happy cheered as he flew right next to me. "-Huh? Natsu? Are you crying?" The cat sounded scared and worried as he floated closer. "You're hurt! Does it hurt that bad?" He asked and he placed his soft paw on the quivering mage's shoulder.

Natsu felt unbelievable relief. He let more tears fall and a small smile rose to his face.
He nodded at his question but didn't look at him. "Yeah, Happy. It hurts. Can you... take me home?" The boy realized that he sounded really tired, but he knew that his best friend would understand.

"Alright Natsu, I'll take you home!" Happy said and grabbed Natsu's shoulders tightly before taking off.

Natsu was glad to notice that Happy flew higher than needed just so no one would see his weak state.
The young mage still continued to sob silently through the whole journey all the way to their house until he could finally rest in his hammock.

He was feeling completely drained. His body hurt and he felt saddened by Gray's words and so he quickly fell asleep, his eyes still red from his salty tears.

–

Not even the morning sun had risen when Natsu woke up. His head felt heavy but he was glad that he had slept most of his tiredness away.

He remembered what had happened the day before and he sighed. He still felt insulted and sad about Gray's words.

He also knew what he had been about to say at the platform. He was going to admit something he himself hadn't quite realized. He had feelings for Gray. Because of those feelings, his insults had hurt much more than usual.

But how was it possible that he cared about the biggest jerk around? The other had done nothing else but insult him every day lately and now he was finding that he was falling for him? And Gray was a guy to boot! He had never, ever, had romantic feelings towards any guy before but apparently this time was an exception. It was mad in every single way, but Natsu could not deny his feelings.

Natsu shifted in his hammock and after a while he lifted his body up and swung himself down on the floor while trying not to make much noise.

He was surprised to find that his friend hadn't been sleeping next to him like usual but had made a bed for himself from a blanket on the floor. Taking pity on the little cat, Natsu lifted him on the hammock as gently as he could so he wouldn't wake him up.

After doing that, he noticed how terribly hungry he was.
He was about to go out to fish some breakfast, but then he glanced at the table and saw that there was an untouched meal. It was clearly left for him to eat when he woke up.

Thanking his little friend quietly, he sat down and ate the meal happily. It made him feel a lot better, even though he knew that he would need to eat something more later to truly fill him up.

He glanced back into his apartment before he left into the slightly chill night air.

The young mage wasn't really sure where he was going to be headed now and so he just found himself walking towards the town.

There weren't a lot of people around the streets but for once Natsu enjoyed the silence.

He soon found that his feet had taken him to the guild. The lights were on like usual as the guild was never really closed. Natsu just shrugged and walked in. The exhibitionist wasn't going to be there so maybe he was going to get to have a nice, calm morning without anyone making fun of him?

To his luck, there really were a little people present, some had just returned from a mission as some just liked spending time at the guild.

Natsu went to the counter and ordered himself a coffee from the girl who was working the night-shift. She smiled and turned around to make the order. Natsu didn't really drink coffee often, but as unusual as the very early morning had already been, it seemed to be in place.

As he got his hot drink, he took it and retreated into one of the tables. He could hear some girls chatting a few tables ahead and found himself listening to their conversation.

"I have gained so much weight lately! It must be the sweets." The other girls gave an understanding hum.

"Me too! I feel like one moment I was all pretty but then the next, all this extra fat had appeared in my legs and ass. It's so gross!"
Natsu wasn't really sure why he even continued to listen as he really wasn't interested about girl-talk.

"-And the worst of it is that my boyfriend noticed it! He even pointed it out, asking:

'Have you gained weight lately?'" The other girls commented about how rude the boyfriend had been. Natsu really didn't get their point, he had just asked a question, right?

"Tell me, do you keep yourself fit and looking nice for yourself or your boyfriend?" One of the girls asked the other two.

"I do it for him. Isn't it obvious to want to look your best for the one you love?" The other girls agreed and continued their conversation.
Natsu wasn't listening to them anymore. He only repeated the sentence in his mind: "Isn't it obvious to want to look your best for the one you love?"

Was it that obvious? Did... he have to do so too now that he knew who he cared about?

For Gray... did Natsu need to become someone who he would appreciate?

Not ugly.. not someone who Gray would despise...

He got up from his seat. He would do it. He would change himself.

Maybe then Gray would notice his real feelings?

–

I have to admit, this is a bit difficult story to write.
Natsu is.. well, Natsu. His personality is so against everything depressing or self-conscious that trying to turn him into a person who has an eating-disorder is challenging to say the least.
However, I will try my best as it seems like many people do read this.