Natsu was jolted from his sulking when a heavenly scent invaded his nose. He raised his head from where it rested on the table and came face to face with Gray. He inhaled sharply, savoring the scent of his childhood crush.
"What d'ya want?" Natsu slurred, his breathing still uneven.
Gray huffed and sat down beside Natsu, their bodies nearly touching. Natsu tried his best not to writhed, but his body acted on its own. He let out a slight groan at the feeling of emptiness that had taken over. Gray seemed to notice, and he gave Natsu a worried glance.
"Are you okay?" The ice mage asked the fire user as he eyed him. Erza had no doubt forced him to check on Natsu since she always tried to make them get along.
He scoffed and glared at Gray. "Does it look like I'm okay to you?" He snapped, wishing Gray would just leave him alone.
Instead, Gray leaned over and rested his hand on the dragon's shoulder. He was shocked. Natsu was burning up! The touch made a high-pitched whine tear its way up Natsu's throat. Gray quickly removed his hand and stared at the pinkette. Natsu offered no hints as to what was happening to him. Gray scoffed, grabbed Natsu by his shirt, and dragged him out of the guild hall.
Natsu followed Gray in silence as he led them down the streets and to a tall apartment building. They walked inside, heading up to the third floor. The dragon-slayer watched in confusion as his comrade unlocked the door to his flat and pulled him inside. Gray shoved Natsu onto his couch and pinned him with a glare.
"There. No one else is around, so will you just tell me what's wrong already?!" He snapped at the dragon.
Natsu tried his best not to get hard as Gray's scent flooded his nostrils. His whole body was tense, and he was fighting every urge in his body. He didn't want to ruin his friendship with Gray. The two were comrades and had even become something close to best friends. They always had each other's back and comforted each other when they needed it. They had known each other since childhood, and even though they had a rivalry, they cared deeply for one another.
Natsu sighed. There was no way he could admit to Gray what was happening to him. "I can't tell you."
That wasn't what Gray wanted to hear. He had enough of the dragon-slayer always being too stubborn to tell someone if something was wrong. He never wanted to appear weak in front of anyone, even his friends. It angered Gray more than anything. He wanted Natsu to know that he would be there for him no matter what, even if they fought a lot. Truth be told, he was beyond curious. He wanted to know why Natsu would suddenly vanish for a while at the exact same time every year.
He scowled and grabbed Natsu's shirt, slamming him into his living room wall. "You're lying! I know there's something wrong, so just spit it out already, flame-brain!"
Natsu flinched as the coolness of Gray's skin came in contact with his burning skin. "I-I..."
Gray's grip loosened, and his eyes became softer. "I won't make fun of you because of it, Natsu. I can tell you don't want to talk about it. I just want to help. We're guildmates, after all. I promise I won't tell anyone."
Natsu locked eyes with the ice mage as hope rised within him. Then, just like that, it vanished. "You won't be able to help me with this." He mumbled.
Gray was angry. Who was Natsu to decide what he could or couldn't help with?! "I wouldn't know unless you tell me!"
Natsu flinched and looked down. He blushed, scared to tell the one he liked that he had gone into heat. "I...I'm in...heat." He whispered quietly.
Gray took a step back in shock. There was no way he heard Natsu correctly. Humans couldn't go into heat. He analyzed Natsu. Not unless... "Does this have something to do with your weird dragon instincts?"
Natsu nodded, feeling ashamed. Gray noticed and sighed. His hand brushed against the dragon's flaming cheek as he leaned in. "Okay...yeah, I'll help you."
Natsu's eyes widened in shock. Gray was actually offering to help him?! His heart sped up, and his breath left him. He must've heard wrong, because there was no way Gray would actually help him with something so intimate.
"After all, we're guildmates, and no one needs you messing anything up because of this." Gray told Natsu.
The dragon felt his hopes shatter and his heart break. Of course Gray would only help him so he wouldn't be in anyone's way. Bitterness rose within his chest as he pushed Gray away.
"I don't need your help." He snarled. If the heat hadn't impaired his magic, flames would have been licking at his skin.
He stormed out, leaving a confused Gray behind.
*****************************
Tears trailed down Natsu's face as he slammed the door to his house. He had actually thought he might have had a chance with Gray. So stupid! Of course Gray didn't want him like that. He just didn't want Natsu to ruin everything like he always did. Natsu was hurt; he felt betrayed. He knew he should have expected this, but it didn't make it hurt any less.
He had at least hoped that there was even a tiny chance that he could be with Gray, but that hope had vanished once Gray said those words. No one needs you messing anything up because of this. Gray's smooth voice echoed in his head. Natsu growled and punched his bedroom wall, leaving a hole in it. Any hope he had that Gray wanted him too vanished. Gray would never want him. He would never love Natsu like the dragon-slayer loved him. Natsu was merely a partner to Gray. Nothing more, nothing less.
Natsu decided then, as he cried himself to sleep, that he would tell Gramps about his current state and then take a break from the guild until his heat was over.
