take my hand (take my whole life, too)

2. the safest place

TW for mentions of child abuse

-----

age ten

"You're late."

Natsu huffs, scrambling up the last few branches and squirming up beside Gray. The sun is hot, and the sky is clear and blue, and sweat drips down the back of Natsu's t-shirt.

"'m not late," he argues, shuffling next to Gray until they're side by side. Gray bumps him with his shoulder and Natsu sighs.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothin'." Natsu kicks his legs, looking down past his bare feet, through the branches to the moss-covered path back to his house.

"Liar." Gray nudges him again, then holds out his hand. Natsu takes it gratefully. "What happened?"

"I don't wanna talk about it," Natsu says softly. It's so quiet out here. The only thing he can hear is the quiet breeze through the leaves and the sound of water trickling down the stream on the other side of the trees. It's so different from his house – from the raised voices and slammed doors and angry words.

Gray nods, squeezing Natsu's hand and turning to look back out across the trees toward the mountains. "Okay," he says. "Wanna come over and watch Star Trek?"

Natsu shakes his head. Lyon and Aunty Ur are nice – although Lyon likes to pick on them sometimes – but Natsu doesn't want to be around people right now. Up here, he can pretend that he and Gray are the only people that exist.

Gray doesn't push, just slides his fingers between Natsu's and keeps his eyes on the horizon. Natsu likes holding hands. His dad says that boys aren't supposed to hold hands, and when he'd caught Natsu and Gray doing it, he'd been very clear on exactly what he'd do if it happened again.

It never had. Not where Natsu's dad could find out, anyway.

"I got the new X-Men comic today," Gray says after a minute. He points at where his backpack is hanging off one of the shorter branches. "Wanna read it?"

Natsu nods and Gray lets go of his hand to unzip his bag and pull the comic out – it's still wrapped in the plastic cover. "I wanted to wait for you," Gray says, and for some reason that makes Natsu feel like crying.

He takes the comic in both hands and runs his finger under the seal. When he opens it up to the full-page spread of Wolverine, Gray shuffles closer again and presses their shoulders together so they can both see.

By the time they're finished the comic, the sun has started to set, and Natsu feels a little bit lighter. "Thanks," he says roughly when they get to the bottom of the tree. Before he can change his mind, he pulls Gray into a hug.

"For what?" Gray returns the hug, wrapping both arms around Natsu's shoulders. Gray usually hates hugging people, but Natsu is different.

"I dunno," Natsu says, shrugging. "Hangin' out with me I guess."

Gray nods. "I like hanging out with you," he says as he lets go of Natsu and steps back. The simple words make Natsu feel a little less lonely and afraid.

"I like hanging out with you, too," he says quietly, then watches Gray disappear into the trees before turning around and heading home.

~

Three weeks later, Natsu shows up with a scrape on his cheek and a bloody nose.

"What happened?" Gray helps him up onto the branch, and when he moves to let go of Natsu's hands, Natsu won't let him. He's shaking, and Gray can see tear tracks on his face.

"I..." Natsu lets go of one of Gray's hands but keeps a death-grip on the other. He rubs his face, sniffling and swallowing hard, but his voice shakes when he says, "My dad left."

"Left?" Gray's stomach starts to hurt.

Natsu nods as more tears spill down his cheeks. "He... Uncle Igneel m-made him 'cause h-he made a—he said—he, he..." The rest of the words are lost in the sob that tears out of him and Gray quickly shifts closer, wrapping his arm around Natsu's shoulders and squeezing his hand. Natsu turns and presses his face against Gray's shoulder, crying so hard he can barely breathe.

"Did he hurt you?" Gray asks quietly. Natsu doesn't say anything, just holds Gray's hand tighter and curls as close as he can while still balancing on the branch. He can't stop shaking and Gray doesn't know what to do.

"'m s-sorry," Natsu manages finally, taking an unsteady breath and letting go of Gray's hand so he can wipe his face with his sleeve.

Gray shakes his head. "It's okay." He frowns at the scrape on Natsu's cheek. It makes him feel sick. "Did your dad hit you?"

This time Natsu nods, wrapping his arms around himself and sniffling. A chill breeze ruffles the leaves around them as the sky darkens, and it smells like rain.

"That's why Uncle Igneel said he had to leave," Natsu says quietly. He stares down at the hole in the toe of his shoe. "They were yelling, and it was s-so loud, and Erza was crying and I wanted to tell Uncle Igneel 'cause she wouldn't say what happened, but dad was m-mad and..." He swallows. "Uncle Igneel says he can't come back."

"Do you want him to?" Gray asks.

Natsu nods, then shakes his head, then sighs in frustration. Gray takes his hand again because it's the only thing he can do, and they sit on the branch in silence until the rain starts to patter down around them.

"Do you wanna come sleep over at my house?" Gray asks. "Aunty Ur's making tacos."

Natsu nods. "'kay."

Gray watches the rain make dark spots on Natsu's t-shirt, then tips his head up to stare at the drops as they fall from the sky. He sticks his tongue out to catch one and Natsu laughs when it hits him in the eye instead.

Gray likes Natsu's laugh, so he does it again, and again, until Natsu joins him and their faces are wet, and they're both smiling.