Gray didn’t know what to think.
Sure Natsu was whatever he was, but there was something weird going on. Especially in that conversation he was eavesdropping on.

He could have swore that the dragon looked him straight in the eyes with a burning sense of protection. 

The only thing he was sure of was that he was meant to kill Natsu.
He didn’t believe he was...that, at least not at first.

Not when he saw his smile, and his laugh. 
Not when he would die for him.

Only did he believe it, was when his own eyes betrayed him, and the book of end fell into his lap.

It was like Destiney enjoyed twisting his heart and ripping into the species that it layed in his soul.

He knew this was coming, he knew he had to kill END, but he didn’t expect that to be Natsu.

Hell, even Natsu didn’t seem to know.
Gray didn't know how that made him feel.

But he knew damn well that he would keep his emotions in check.

He found a grave, one of a girl with dozens of flowers. Sharing a sur-name with the flame fisted fairy.

He  took the headstone, not because he was a monster.

“Ice make-” Gray made his own version.

He wondered how it would help, if at all. Yet the greatest weapon to harm flame’s heart was made of stone.

Like a dagger made of stone with the edge of a razor being plunged into a beating heart. Tears and wails emanate from it’s beats and how it weakens.

Would this be a mistake, or just another fight.

Fight, fight, fight, not flight.

Gray had never seen Natsu choose Flight over fight.
It was like something had awakened inside him.

Gray chose not to linger on what was said by the dragon and Natsu.

Mate. Mates. Was that what he was? He’d heard about this from books. Dragons and their slayers had mates, which were essentially the equivalent of soul-mates.

Gray shook thoughts out of his head not to give himself hope.

Hope for change, Hope of dreams. Hopes of peace, Hopes of a happy ending.

It didn’t matter what he felt. 
This was a job.
Just a job.

So why was he crying, why was tears streaking down his face, why was his heart pounding?
Why?
It was just a job.

But Gray couldn’t help but think of all the memories. When Gray saves Natsu, when Natsu saves him. Battling together, Looking out for each other. When they used to play together. When they Trained together. When they supported each other. When they laughed together, cried together. Teased each other. When they were friends.
When they were best of friends.
When ignorance was bliss.

Rivers drained from his eyes and heart, making his mind melt into his throat and lungs.

Hands to ground, face facing down, knees hitting with a bound, and tears  hit the brown.

He didn’t really want to kill Natsu.

He really didn’t.

But did he have a choice?
Does it even matter?

Who said Mates had to end in happiness? Couldn’t things grow sour and wilt?

Love based on destiny is doomed to fail.
Doesn’t mean that it couldn’t be real, but do you want to test the trail?

Bloody evolution, hard choices, hard battles, but he was crying over a boy with pink hair. Someone who opposes his goal.
He’s the enemy, Gray tells himself but does he really believe it?

Does he even want to be his enemy?

Gray follows his mind but his heart is what keeps him alive and human.

Gray said he needed to make one last attempt to fight Natsu, if he even agreed.

Gray didn’t think Natsu was evil, or a monster. He was kind, and brave. He was the most human person he had met, so how could he be the least human of them all?
Or has humans evolved past empathy and sympathy?

Gray’s hand was shaking, What even was he?

He’s fighting his friends, he’s changed.

Maybe Gray himself has been the monster, and he just fights from his own point of view.
Maybe Gray is the one who’s lacking humanity.

Or is he simply inheriting humanity’s posiounus discrimination. 

He looked at the icy gravestone that he made a copy of, was this past a line?

It's not like he dug up the grave.
Right?
Right?
but he still didn't feel great about it.
   
-
When Natsu saw him with the ice-made copy the first thing he felt was betrayed. Then sad, then angry.
Very angry.

Gray saw how he reacted, it was almost as if the line was 3 feet behind him.

Natsu couldn't believe Gray had gone that far to hurt him, he remembered the death of his little sister; then he felt sick to his stomach and it curdled. Sour milk turned sour as he glared at gray.

"Why?" 

At that moment gray knew he messed up.
Big time.

"Natsu, I-"

"Save it. That's too god damn far Gray!"

Gray couldn't kill him, he couldn't.
There was no way.
No way in hell.
Not with his heart screaming out, his humanity smacking him with guilt. 

"I'm sorry." Gray said with tears welling up.

"Me too. I- I- I can't stand you right now. You wanted to kill me, but instead you brought up something that was NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS-"

"I REGRET IT-"

"I'm not talking to you." Natsu said turning to go, "you didn't have to do that." 
 
He was gone.
Gray's heart was shattered on the floor like glass in his hands, cutting and stinging him. All whilst immense regret welled up inside
Gray.

Why did he think that was a good idea?
Why did his brain allow him to make a mistake when every part of him knew it was wrong.

Why did he-
Why couldn't he-
If only he-

If only Gray listened to his heart when it was screaming inside the silence of his brain.

Why did he lead himself astray?
He regretted it.

He couldn't kill Natsu.
Not in a million years.
And now he will spend a million years trying to earn back the shattered trust and heart of the pink haired boy who smiled brighter than the sun.

A/n it's a head cannon of mine that Natsu has a dead little sister who was the nicest person and is like super similar to wendy.
And no it's not wendy.