Work Text:
It was common knowledge that everyone in Fairy Tail has been through their own traumatic experiences. It was also common that on those certain occasions those involved would mourn or remain a bit more closed off for a temporary period of time. Except for one particular person, that even through his pain he would smile. Fairy Tail's fire dragon slayer Natsu Dragneel, never wanted his friends to see him in pain. He wanted to be a beacon of hope for them.
"Lucy, I might have something that will get your mind off things." Natsu smiled as he ran over to the Celestial Spirit mage who was sitting in a booth with Loke. Natsu knew how important this day was to Lucy and how painful it was for her to remember. He just wanted to help and get her mind of those dark things.
"Not now Natsu." Lucy said, placing her head on the table.
"Oh, okay. Well that's okay! Here." Natsu said trying to hand her a flyer.
"I don't want to go on some job. Today is already painful enough. I don't need anything else added to it!" she snapped, shoving the flyer back to him.
"I just wanted to take your mind off of it. I didn't mean to hurt you even more." Natsu said as he turned away to leave the two alone.
"You wouldn't understand what I was feeling anyways." Lucy said defeatedly. Natsu paused for a moment then shook his head and smiled at her "I hope you feel better Luce." walking out of the guildhall.
"Luce, I don't think that was necessary." Loke said. "I understand this is the day your dad died but Natsu is only trying to help." he added.
Lucy whimpered a little placing her head on the table once again. "I know, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at him like that." she answered.
"I think, once things have settled down that you apologize to him." Loke said. Lucy looked up and nods "I will. Thanks Loke." she smiled. The spirit nodded his head before turning back to the book he was reading with Lucy leaning against his shoulder.
-------
It was now July 7th, a day that everyone in the guild dreaded. All the dragon slayers got in a weird mood on this day, well everyone except Natsu. He would act all innocent, as if nothing had happened. Though this year was different, he could bring himself to leave his bed at all that week. Whenever Happy asked if he was okay, the dragon slayer would tell him that he was fine and that there was nothing to worry about.
That night Happy woke up to the sound of crying and he peeked out to find Natsu sitting beside his bed holding his head and tears running down his face. The exceed felt his heart break, listening to the sobs that were coming from his best friend. He didn't know what to do, he had never seen Natsu cry so hard before, he had no clue how to comfort him.
That was when Happy decided that enough was enough and was going to get Natsu the help he needed and deserved. The morning on July 7th, Happy flew into the guildhall calling out for Gray.
"Gray! Are you here?" he called out. He saw the ice mage peek out from the team table and the blue cat flew over.
"Happy, is everything okay? Where is Natsu?" Lucy asked.
"Gray, I need you to come with me." he said.
"What? Why me? Is Flame-Brain okay?" Gray asked.
"I just need you to come with me." Happy begged.
"If Gray is going then we are to." Erza said.
"No!" Happy said quickly turning to Erza. It was as if time just stopped. Everyone in the guild froze and looked over at the table and at Erza. "I'm sorry Erza but if you guys come it'll make the situation worse. I just need Gray. That's who Natsu needs right now." Happy answered.
Gray sighs a little before nodding "Alright I'll go." he said quickly, wanting to get out of the dark presence of Erza when Happy snapped at her.
-------
The two were walking along the path to get to Natsu's house. Every now and then Gray would glance over at the exceed to make sure he was doing okay but by the worried look on his face, something was really wrong with Natsu, and the stubborn fire breather was too stubborn to tell anyone he was hurting. "So, do you know what is wrong with Natsu?" he asked.
"No, it started earlier this week. He was more tired than usual he had bags under his eyes. I know he is usually up to watch the sunrise, but I don't think he has been getting any sleep lately. I tried to get him up to at least go to the guild, but he told me to tell everyone he went on a solo job." Happy explained.
"Wait! So that idiot has been at home all week?" Gray asked, he was a little shocked by the news. Natsu never lied about going on missions. Natsu was very rarely found in his own house. He usually spent a lot of his time at Lucy's or Gray's house, it was also common to find him in the woods but the pond with Happy.
Happy nods looking down. "I've tried getting him out of the house, but he won't leave. I woke up last night and he was crying. I've never seen him cry so much. It was worse than when Igneel fell." Happy whimpered. Now Gray was worried. He slightly picked up his pace to get to the house sooner.
When the two arrived at the house it was quiet. Happy opened the door and flew over to the couch. When Gray walked in, he found Natsu curled up on the couch facing the back of it. He must have passed out from exhaustion. "I'll make him something to eat." Happy said, flying over to the kitchen.
Gray sat down on the floor in front of the dragon slayer examining him. Happy was right there were dark circles that covered the underneath of Natsu's eyes. Gray sighed a little resting his head on the couch running his hand through the untamed pink hair, he wanted to take away Natsu's pain it was the least he deserved. That's when it finally clicked for Gray.
Natsu was there any time anyone was hurt. If they wanted his help or not, he would still be there. Years ago, Natsu helped Romeo find Macao and brought him back after he was missing for three days on a mission, on Galuna Island, Natsu helped Gray by telling him what it meant to live. Natsu was the reason he could finally start to heal. Back at the Tower of Heaven, Natsu saved Erza. He protected her, he told her that family keep each other safe, they don't die in order to do that. They keep on living. Natsu has been Lucy's shoulder to cry on, she had blamed herself for Phantom Lord and the fact she was a part of the Heartfilia family, was the reason why the guild hall was destroyed. Natsu has always been there whenever someone needed him. So, why did he never reach out when he needed someone.
He acted so innocent and oblivious towards his own heartache so he could help the people around him.
"Gray? What are you doing here?"
Gray looked down again noticing Natsu had woken up and was now looking at him. If it wasn't for the bags under Natsu's eyes, that innocent look would have been present.
"Gray?" Natsu asked once again.
His body moved before his mind was able to process anything but the next thing he knew, his arms were wrapped around the dragon slayer holding him close to his chest. "I'm sorry." he mumbled.
"Sorry? Sorry for what?" Natsu asked.
"I'm sorry that I didn't notice how much pain you were and have been in." Gray answered tightening his grip around Natsu. He heard a quiet gasp then small whimper erupt from the dragon slayer's throat as he moved and wrapped his arms around Gray. It made the ice mage's heart shatter from the broken noise. The last time he heard anything similar to the defeated slayer that was laying in front of him was when Igneel was killed in front of Natsu.
The sensation of something wet fell onto Gray's shoulder and he heard the small sobs that were coming from Natsu. Gray moved onto the couch and adjusted himself and Natsu so that he could be more comfortable while holding the fire dragon slayer. Once Natsu had calmed down Gray gently pulled away and wiped the remaining tears off his face. "Why didn't you tell anyone that you were in so much pain?" Gray gently asked.
"I don't like everyone seeing how broken I actually am. I want to be their beacon of hope. If they saw the pain, I was in that title would hold nothing. Especially now that I am a monster." Natsu mumbled.
"You aren't a monster Natsu. It's okay to hurt and feel pain. It shows that you are human. Now tell me what's wrong." Gray pleaded.
"I just miss him so much. I had so much hope for finding him again, I thought once I got to see him again that he wouldn't leave me. But Acnologia ripped him away from me again. This time I can't go looking for him. At this point I was going just as a form of closure. I-I think a part of me knew that if I did find him then things wouldn't have lasted but I still held on. I held on for so long." Natsu whimpered.
Gray held Natsu tight, hoping that it would reassure the dragon slayer in ways that he couldn't always do. Gray wasn't always sure what to say to Natsu when he brought up Igneel. It was such a fragile subject that he was scared it would shatter him. "I-I know you miss him, and it scares me to death whenever he is brought up. I'm scared I'll make it worse, but I do want you to know that even though I never got to meet him, I know he loved and cared about you so much. If it wasn't for Igneel, you wouldn't be here with us. I know it hurts and it will hurt for a long time. But you need to start to let yourself heal. You are Natsu Dragneel, the fire dragon slayer, having that magic you can hold him close to you no matter what. He'll always be a part of you."
Gray felt Natsu nod a little. The ice mage gently pulled Natsu closer to him placing his head under his chin. "I'll be here whenever you need to talk. It's okay to feel sad and to be in pain. Even the light can fall to darkness." Gray said. There were a few moments of silence before Happy flew out of the kitchen with a small bowl and handed it to Natsu. "Thanks buddy." Natsu said taking the bowl from him.
Happy smiles at him and curls up in Natsu's lap. After Natsu finished eating, Gray shifted so now he was laying on the couch with Natsu still in his arms and Happy was next to the dragon slayer's head. "Feeling better?" Gray asked.
The dragon slayer looked up at him and nods a little. "Yeah, I am. Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me Natsu. I love and care about you so much. I just want to make sure you are happy." Gray said.
"You won't leave me?" Natsu carefully asked.
"No, never. I will never leave or abandon you." Gray answered. Gray heard the dragon slayer release a breath that he had seemed to be holding and Gray tightened his grip around him. "I won't ever abandon you Natsu." he said again.
A small yawn came from Natu as he cuddled into Gray's neck take in the scent of peppermint and fresh pine. "I love you pyro." Gray grinned.
Even though Gray couldn't see Natsu's face he could see the pouting expression that flashed across his face. "I love you to Ice Princess."