Gray was bored to say the very least. He sat alone in a booth at the guild hall, which was much quieter than usual. Around that time everyone seemed to be running low on money and the request board was completely barren. Gray hoped an interesting job would come up soon, not that he needed money like the others, he was just desperate for something to do. For the first time in forever he kind of missed having Natsu around, at least then he could always start a fight; the fire dragon slayer never backed down from a fight, and Gray had to admit sparring with him was occasionally enjoyable. The flame brain had left to do a solo mission about a week ago because apparently he had little money himself. Lucy had asked to go on the mission with him but Natsu politely declined, not even Happy went with him. Gray had found it a little strange but didn't care enough to dwell on it. After Natsu left, Erza suggested that herself, Lucy, Lisanna, Wendy and Carla should go on an 'all girls mission'. Gray was a little annoyed he was being left behind but instantly felt better when Juvia also decided to go with them, at least he would get a break from his crazy stalker.

Gray sighed and his eyes drifted over to the request board for about the one thousandth time and there was still nothing. He looked around to see if anyone new had come in when he wasn't paying attention. Mira had gone on a mission with Elfman so only Cana tended to the bar and of course she was wasted as usual. Gajeel was the only other person at the bar and Gray didn't recall seeing him there earlier, maybe he could entertain Gray somehow. Just as the ice mage went to get up the doors swung open and Levy raced in with a massive book clutched to her chest. She shoved the book in Gajeel's face and began to ramble about how she stayed up all night reading it and it was super amazing. The iron dragon slayer obviously wasn't that interested, but he still took it and lazily flipped through the pages as he listened to the much smaller girl babble on excitedly. Gray wasn't the only one who sensed a budding romance between the two and decided against going up to them and ruining their cute little moment. Gray then realised he hadn't hooked up with anyone in well over a month, that was something he could go do.

Just as Gray decided to go find some chick, or dude, to mess around with the doors swung open again and to Gray's surprise Happy flew in with a worried look on his feline features. "Gray!" Happy squeaked and propelled himself towards the ice mage.

"What's wrong Happy?" Gray asked with concern.

"It's Natsu! He came back last night and went straight to bed without speaking to me. I thought he must have just been really exhausted from his mission but he was the same when he woke up this morning. He seems really depressed and I don't know why!" Happy cried out and his lower lip trembled. Gray's heart softened for the little blue exceed, he really did love Natsu a lot.

"I'm sure he will talk to you soon, don't worry about flame brain," Gray tried to reassure Happy with a smile and pet on the head. It was Natsu, Natsu never got depressed, how bad could it be? Happy furiously shook his head.

"He always talks to me straight away when he's sad, I'm his best friend! I was hoping Lucy or Lisanna would be back so they can try and help him. He's really, really upset," Happy sniffed and wiped his eyes with his paws.

"I haven't seen them I'm sorry, I don't think they're back yet," Gray replied with a frown.

"Can you check on him?" Happy asked hopefully and Gray was taken a back.

"What the hell can I do!?" He retorted in confusion.

"Even though you guys fight a lot you're still best friends and maybe he'll talk to you!" Happy exclaimed.

"If he wont talk to you then I doubt he will talk to me," Gray huffed.

"Please try! I don't think there's anyone else here he trusts!" Happy pleaded and stared at him with wide, teary eyes.

"Fine. I've got nothing better to do anyway, but no promises I'll find out what's wrong," said Gray with a sigh of resignation.

Happy stayed back at the guild as Gray strolled over to Natsu's cottage; the closer he got, the more his curiosity grew. The only times he'd ever seen Natsu sad was when he was moping over Igneel, not that he could blame him; everyone in Fairytail knew how much Natsu missed his father. Gray gathered that was why he went on the solo mission in the first place, he had most likely found another lead on Igneel and went to follow it up. If he came back empty handed yet again it would make sense that he was upset. Gray hoped it was that simple at least, he was never good at the whole comfort thing and he'd have even less of a clue how to help Natsu of all people.

It didn't take long before Gray reached Natsu and Happy's little abode. He raised his fist and knocked on the door before waiting a few moments. He pressed his ear up against the door to be met with complete silence from inside the house. Maybe he'd been lucky and Natsu had gone out. He knocked again more loudly just in case but there was still no reply. He shrugged it off and was about to give up when the door suddenly opened wide.

"I'm not in the mood to spar right now Gray," Natsu mumbled and went to close the door but Gray quickly stopped it with his boot. Gray studied Natsu with slight worry; he was wearing nothing but his scarf, boxer shorts and a rather large, black t-shirt that hung loosely from his slumped shoulders and his facial expression was absolutely miserable. His lips were drawn into a deep frown, his skin was a little paler than usual and his eyes were red and puffy which could have only been caused by crying. Gray picked his memory, had he ever seen Natsu cry before? "Quit staring at me. What do you want?" Natsu snapped and Gray noticed his voice sounded a little rough, also caused by crying no doubt.

"Happy wanted me to make sure you're okay," Gray stated in his usual icy tone, he didn't want Natsu to know he was concerned as well. Maybe Happy was right in saying the two were best friends, but they had never showed that they cared about one another or been nice at all really.

Natsu rolled his eyes, "I'm fine. You can leave now," Natsu tried to close the door again but was surprised when Gray's foot didn't budge.

"You don't look fine. You look like you've been crying for hours," Gray still tried to keep up his tough, uncaring facade but it was starting to fall. He really wanted to know what was wrong with Natsu, and he had a feeling it wasn't Igneel related.

"I have not! It's just, um, allergies," Natsu stumbled over his response. Gray raised an eyebrow.

"Since when did you have allergies?" Gray scoffed.

"Since when did you give a shit?" Natsu growled and his eyes narrowed. Gray asked himself the same question and he realised even though Natsu annoyed him to death sometimes, he was his best friend and he did care, their rivalry just stopped him from expressing it.

"Believe it or not, I do care, and Happy was really torn up," Gray's tone had softened and Natsu looked really confused. Natsu sighed and bowed his head, Gray could no longer see his face behind a curtain of pink hair. "What's wrong?" Gray persisted.

"There's something wrong with me, Gray," Natsu said, barely above a whisper.

"What do you mean? Are you sick?" Gray didn't even bother hiding his true emotions any longer. Natsu looked up at him again and a single tear rolled down his cheek. Gray felt a stab of pain in his chest, he decided he didn't like seeing Natsu cry. He looked so sad and abnormally tiny swimming in the oversized t-shirt.

"Not.. physically. Do you really mean what you said?" Natsu asked quietly.

"That I care? Of course I do. Yes we're rivals, yes we fight a lot, but you're still my fellow guild mate and best friend," Gray felt a little awkward and a light blush dotted his cheeks. Natsu's eyes widened and he gave Gray a watery grin.

"Who knew you could be nice?" Natsu chuckled. Natsu's small burst of happiness was short lived as his face fell again and another tear escaped the corner of his eye. Gray didn't even think before he reached forward and wiped the tear away with his thumb. Now Natsu was blushing and Gray couldn't help but let out a small laugh himself.

"Now, will you tell me what's wrong?" Gray asked tenderly. Natsu reluctantly nodded and silently invited Gray inside. Gray hummed in approval, Natsu's house was much cleaner than the last time he had come over, not that he visited Natsu often.

Natsu shuffled into the back corner where he had made himself some sort of little nest out of pillows and blankets and crawled in, wrapping himself up like a burrito with just his face sticking out. Gray actually thought Natsu was acting a bit cute but instantly shook away the weird thought. He cautiously sat down on a cushion in front of the dragon slayer and waited patiently for him to say something.

Natsu cleared his throat and shifted nervously. "There's something wrong with my head," he muttered. "If I tell you, can you promise you wont judge or tell anyone? I don't want everyone knowing I'm a freak-" he cut himself off with a small sob that hurt Gray to hear.

"Whatever it is, no matter what, I promise you can trust me," Gray assured the dragon slayer.

"This probably isn't a surprise but I have never had sex with anyone, never even kissed someone," Natsu began and Gray was still just as confused, how had Natsu not even kissed a girl before, he was certainly not ugly by any means. "I know you've had a lot of experience, so has Erza and even Lucy isn't a virgin, I've heard Mira gossiping about it. I didn't want to be the only one who hasn't even had their first kiss, that's so lame!" Natsu buried himself deeper into the blankets.

"It isn't lame. Your first kiss isn't something you should rush. I honestly don't even remember the first person I kissed, and I regret it. I'm sure you'll find the right girl in time," Gray tried his best to give advice but it was never his strong point, he just hoped he wasn't doing too terrible.

"That's the problem," Natsu spoke so quietly Gray just heard what he said.

"What's the problem?" He asked, he was really curious.

"I didn't really go on a mission. I went to try and find a girl to have sex with or something, then maybe I thought I could stop worrying about all this. It didn't take long for me to find a girl that was interested, for some reason chicks are always all over me. She invited me back to her place as soon as we got in the door she dropped to her knees and began to try and you know… I only felt nervous and sick to the stomach, it didn't feel right but I forced myself to let her continue but… nothing happened Gray, she tried for ages and it was so embarrassing! I ran back to the place I was staying with my worst fears confirmed.. I just don't- forget it! I don't even know why I'm telling you this! You're just going to make fun of me," Natsu hid his face into his hands shamefully and Gray was sure he was crying again.

"Natsu I would never make fun of you for this. I promised I wouldn't judge and I'm not at all. Honestly if I know anything about anything it's sex," Gray replied with a small smirk.

Natsu slowly raised his head, "you really wont make fun of me?" he asked shakily. Gray nodded and motioned for him to continue the story.

"I don't like girls. Whenever I have had wet dreams or touched myself it's always.. it's always been guys. Girls don't interest me, but boys do and I've tried so hard to deny it and make myself like girls like I'm suppose to! If people found out that I was gay I'd be a laughing stock. Who would imagine that Salamander of Fairytail, the Fire Dragon Slayer, likes guys and not girls," Natsu spat with obvious self loathing. Gray had to admit he was shocked, he never would have guessed Natsu was gay, asexual maybe, but not gay. It didn't matter though, he honestly couldn't have cared less about anyones sexual preference. It made him furious that Natsu felt like he couldn't be himself and that he'd be ridiculed. Gray had never been ashamed of his sexual orientation and he could only imagine the struggle Natsu must have gone through to keep such a secret.

"No one will laugh at you Natsu, don't be silly. I'm openly bisexual, I've had sex with guys and girls alike. Freed is openly gay, no one makes fun of him either. You don't have to like girls and there's nothing wrong with you if you don't. You aren't any less strong and awesome if you like boys. I promise you it's completely okay and no one will judge you. Be yourself Natsu," Gray hoped so badly that Natsu would listen to him.

"You're bisexual?" Natsu had stopped crying and he stared at Gray with surprise.

"Uh yeah, how did you not know that?" Gray couldn't help but laugh, he had thought it was impossible for anyone in Fairytail not to know he swung both ways, he was definitely way too open about his sex life at times, especially when drunk.

"Oh.. I don't know, I just didn't," Natsu mumbled and he hid his face again.

"Are you going to make fun of me for it? Do you think it's wrong for me to like girls and guys?" Gray feigned anger and attempted some reverse physiology.

Natsu's head shot up again, "No way!" He shouted. Natsu was offended that Gray would even think that. Gray smiled and Natsu realised what the ice mage was getting at.

"If it's okay for me and Freed, then it's okay for you," said Gray kindly.

"Yeah.. I guess so," Natsu sighed.

"Do you want to try it?" Gray suddenly asked. Natsu furrowed his eyebrows.

"Try what?" He asked.

"Try it with a guy," Gray didn't really know why he was asking or why he suddenly had the urge to help Natsu that way, but he knew that he wanted him all of a sudden and really bad.

"I don't know anyone who would want to," Natsu pouted. Gray moved forwards and cupped Natsu's face gently in his palms. Natsu gasped and his eyes widened before they met Gray's intense stare.

"I want to, if you do," Gray said in a seductive, low voice. Natsu's eyes widened to the point Gray was scared they'd fall out of his head.

"Gray," the dragon slayer breathed and his eyes began to flutter shut. Gray took that as a yes and inched his face in closer until their lips met in a gentle, innocent kiss. They melted into one another and continued to lock lips passionately, Gray suddenly felt like that was where he was meant to be, with Natsu. He had never even dreamed about doing anything of the sorts with Natsu, but now he wanted to do everything to him and no one else ever again. Natsu's nerves and inexperience were evident as he refused to open his mouth, content with just their lips, and despite that it was by far the best kiss Gray had ever experienced in his life. Natsu's lips were surprisingly soft and also so hot, but he didn't mind the heat at all. He wanted to stay conjoined like that forever, but his lungs begged for oxygen and he had to break away. Natsu's eyes slowly opened and met his yet again.

"Now you've had your first kiss," Gray smiled widely. A sense of euphoria had washed over Gray and he felt happier than he had in a long time.

"That.. that was amazing Gray… I'm sorry for making you do that," Natsu whispered and looked like he was going to cry again.

"What are you talking about? You didn't make me do anything. Actually I thought it was pretty amazing myself!" Gray exclaimed.

"R-really?" Natsu stuttered.

'How have I never noticed how cute he is!' Gray thought with a blush.

"We should do it again sometime, if you want?" It was Gray's time to be nervous, what if Natsu didn't want to do it again and his new found feelings would be rejected?

"Yes!" Natsu blurted out with excitement and Gray's blush deepened. Gray grinned and butterflies tickled his stomach. Natsu let out a small yawn and Gray almost melted into a puddle at how insanely cute it was.

"Maybe you should get some sleep?" Gray suggested sweetly.

"Only if you cuddle me," Natsu mumbled sleepily and Gray's heart skipped a beat.

"You're adorable," the words slipped out of his mouth before he could even register them.

"Huh?!" Natsu squeaked, clearly embarrassed. "I'm not adorable!" he pouted.

"You so are," Gray retorted cheekily.

"Am not!"

"Are so!"

"Am not!"

"Okay flame brain, enough arguing and more cuddling," Gray laughed and snuggled next to Natsu in his nest and wrapped his arms protectively around his waist. Natsu stiffened for a moment before his muscles relaxed and he let out a sigh of content.

"I've never been spooned before," Natsu hummed sleepily.

"Is it okay?" Gray asked nervously, hoping it was.

"It's more than okay," Natsu mumbled happily. Gray felt the dragon slayer slip his fingers between his and clasp his hand underneath the blankets. "Thank you so much Gray. I feel so much better," the pinkette whispered.

"No need to thank me Natsu. I feel great. We'll talk more in the morning, but for now get some rest 'kay?" Gray was being so uncharacteristically sweet and Natsu could definitely get used to the way his kind words made his heart dance.

"'kay. Goodnight, Gray."

"Sleep well, Natsu."