Chapter Text
His entire body was complaining, as Gray slowly made his way down the street as his apartment finally came into view, aching. HIs legs shook ever so slightly, threatening to cave in right there in the street as fatigue swamped his body and pushed him ever closer to the void of sleep. He was so tired, he just wanted to...sle...
No! If he finished that word, he might actually fall. He was nearly there anyway, he could make it the last few steps. Turning into his apartment building, he unlocked the door and made his way groggily towards the stairs, and beginning his rise up the stairs, as he bit back the thirtieth yawn today.
Just as he reached his apartment door, the last few, fading parts of his consciousness suddenly darkened as he got the gut feeling that his apartment wasn't quite empty. Slowly, he twisted his key into the lock and pushed the door open, glancing around his apartment. His eyes fell on his couch, and he suddenly clutched to the door handle as his legs very nearly buckled beneath him.
So...tired...
Quickly realising that he didn't care if anyone was in his apartment due to his exhausted state, the Ice Mage entered his home, closed the door and flopped on the couch just in time for his eyes to slip closed.
Evil laughter sounded from the kitchen, as the intruders glanced around the doorway to watch their dark-haired friend sleeping deeply. The blue cat flew forward slightly, waving some wind into his friend's face to make sure he really was asleep, before flying back into the shadows to remain hidden. Just in case.
No response, other than a pleased sigh came from the unconscious man. He turned to the other intruder with a wicked grin. His pink-haired friend returned his grin easily, and he snuck forward with two markers and plate full of whipped cream. Happy took one of the pens, and uncapping it, he pressed the nip gently to their unsuspecting victim's face. Moving the pen gracefully and messily over the skin, he sketched out fish bones on his forehead.
Then Natsu moved in, he drew a sweet little message across his rival's cheeks that said oh so lovingly; 'Natsu is the best and I suck tits'. Oh, how Gray would appreciate his friends.
They then moved on to the cherry on top of their prank - the plate of cream. Happy took it and was about to splash their rude awakening into Gray's face, when Natsu suddenly hissed,
"Stop!"
"What why?" Happy complained, lowering his arms and looking pointedly at his friend for an explanation.
Natsu didn't respond right away, as he looked closer in the darkened room. Was it just him or did Gray look a bit red? With a totally-not-concerned frown, the most hot-headed of the three crouched in front of his now generously painted friend's face, and tenderly pressed the back of his hand to his friend's face, his frown deepening when he realised that Gray felt too warm.
"I think he has a fever." The pinkette whispered to the feline.
"Really?" The blue cat frowned, placing the plate on the coffee table, and landing next to the ravenette and copying Natsu's actions. "You're right."
"Well great! Now I feel bad." The fiery personality groaned, chewing the inside of his mouth as he wondered what they should do.
"What should we do?" Happy asked, hopping off the couch.
"Well there's only one thing we really can do." Natsu replied. "We'll take care of him until he's better."
"Should I go get Wendy?" The blue cat fidgeted.
"I don't think that's necessary. It's only a fever." His partner replied. "If he isn't better or is any worse by tomorrow, we'll get Wendy."
"Okay." Happy nodded. The Fire Dragon Slayer smiled calmly at the sweet exceed, before getting to his face and going into Gray's bathroom, where he got some flannels and a bowl full of cold water. He placed them on the floor, before going to find some blankets. After collecting everything necessary, he returned to his sitting position on the floor.
"Should we leave the pen?" Natsu asked his friend.
"No...it's not funny if he's sick." Happy shook his head, looking dejected.
"It's alright Happy, Gray's strong and our friend. He won't mind." The pinkette pet his friend.
"Okay..." The blue cat nodded, unsure.
Natsu rocked forward, onto his knees where he took a flannel and soaked it into the water that was already warming up, before turning to Gray who's temperature was beginning to soar. He gently wiped his friend's face, cleaning off the marker ink. The Ice-Mage tensed up for a second as the damp cloth touched his skin, but he quickly relaxed into the touch, trying to follow it when Natsu moved it away to be re-soaked and sighing contently when it returned. Despite his face being ungodly warm, Gray was still shivering.
"I think he's waking up." Happy whispered, leaning in closer to look at Gray's face.
Suddenly, the Ice-Mage shot up, panting and sweating as his eyes darted around the room and focussing on the pinkette's face. His eyes were unfocussed, Natsu could see that, so he froze and let Gray figure out who he was before he scared the sick man. Steadily, Gray's eyes cleared and he focused properly on Natsu. As he came down from the adrenaline rush, his arms shook with exhaustion that he still had yet to sleep off. The Fire-Mage scooted forward and held his arms out beneath Gray's chest just as his arms gave out. Without the support of his arms, the dark-haired mage fell heavily into the waiting arms, still shaking and panting, he tried to lean into the warmth, only to have his tired body rendered useless as he simply laid limp in his friend's arms.
"Are you calm now?" Natsu whispered, as he watched the fear flickering in Gray's eyes, but the flames didn't quite die down. With a frown, he maneuverer his friend, until he was lying in Natsu's lap.
"G-get o-o-out-t..." Gray stammered, but making no attempt to move, and melting into the comforting warmth.
Just as Gray melted against him, Natsu could've sworn he felt his heart melt for the sick mage. He looked up to Happy who had fallen asleep, Natsu took one of the blankets and moving Gray again so he was resting against the Fire-Mage's chest, he covered them both up and let his magic flare and cover Gray in the warmth.
"Do you really want me to go?" Natsu asked his friend gently.
"...No..." Gray looked away, his cheeks lighting up even more in a blush. "Please don't leave."
"I won't." He reassured, wrapping his arms around Gray, he dropped a gentle kiss to his rival's forehead. "I'll stay as long as you need me to."
"How about forever?"
"It's a date."