Avatar knew nothing about devil slayers so Gray decides to do more research on his own (his previous research was stopped because of the mission)(AU Julia didn’t follow him and make them share a house). When ft gets back together he decides to ask Levy if the council had any information, but gets nothing. He asks Freed and even goes to saber to ask Rufus. Nothing.
On one of their missions together, Rogue asks how Gray is doing, because Rufus had mentioned he had visited. This prompts Gardel to remember Levy asking him if he remembers the council having any information about devil slayers. Laxus remembers a comment from Freed about his frustration towards lack of information about rarer types of magic. Together (mainly Wendy and Rogue) they put together that maybe Gray isn’t as sure about his magic as he seems.
No one’s heard of it + received from his reanimated father + had for only a year + not his original magic + played it up in a dark guild + absorbed a curse = lost and confused fledgling devil slayer. But just to be sure, they have a period of ‘Gray watch’ to try and confirm their suspicions. Gray watch= subtle (or unsubtle depending on the slayer) watching and questions. Gray’s probably confused, but it’s fairy tail so he’s not too concerned (plus the dragons have done weird things before).
Bonus: Gray being jealous of the slayers all having each other and hanging out, but with their weird behaviour starts to believe he’s dodged a bullet.
Thoughts? Would love to hear your ideas
firstly, anon, thank you for giving me an excuse to talk abt Gray + Dragon slayers again, second, im gonna take this and run
i love the idea of the dragons being protective/taking Gray under their wing so to speak, and i love the idea of them scrambling to try and help him in some way even more
Rogue, even though he technically set off everything, actually didnt know much other than what he observed himself, when Rufus told him Gray stopped by but didnt stay to chat with him or Sting (or Frosch!) he tried to ‘subtly’ interrogate Rufus
Rufus figured out what he was doing and shut him down, saying to ask Gray himself and that it wasnt his business to tell
Although, Rogue also saw Rufus carrying a book on different slayer magic types so he hazarded a couple guesses
When he does set it all off its like their collective braincell goes into overdrive
they dont all figure it put right away, its post mission that they discuss what they know
‘Gray Watch’ as you so beautifully put it, is their clumsy attempt at sussing out info and to help him
Gray noticed something was up fairly quick because, while they were trying, subtly isnt exactly their forte
he first noticed because Natsu was actively trying to get closer and the conversations he started didnt end up in fights
At first when all the questions started he just thought they were curious because he was another slayer, and when most of their questions ended in his lack of answers he thoight they would just stop and go back to normal but they didnt
They just kept coming, if they were asking questions they were giving advice, or even complimenting his new magic and how fast he figured it out
While the Dragons think hes totally lost and confused, he isnt really, Grays used to having to adapt quickly and at least it was ice devil slayer magic, he gets the big picture and the dynamics of it but he just doesnt know what the hell it is? and why isnt there any information on it?
Gray ends up convinced theyre all infected with some sort of virus, a virus that apparently makes them really social, with.. just him? (hes still working on the theory)
Their advice is kinda a hit or miss, they only know the stuff they found out pertaining to Dragon Slayers, and they assume what works for them will work for him too, sometimes it does but a lot of the time it doesnt
Dragon and Devil slayer magic, while under the same subtype of magic, are very different, but they dont have the resources to know that outright
other tidbits my brain came up with
Dragon slayers specifically have a naturally high metabolism and appetite
they assume thats its the same for Gray, Natsu told Mira to start adding extras to his plate when he eats at the guild, and also started offering the snacks he eats during the day
Gajeel would try to inconspicuously ask Levy abt dif slayer type and she happily did even though she knew exactly what was doing
Sting started to pester Rufus for any info on Devil Slayers constantly, while Rogue actually looked himself, they actually went to magic experts and various libraries around town and on jobs when they took them out of town
got a whole lot of nothing
When someone or Gray said anything about Devil Slayers you could literally hear their brains working in overtime while they listened
they probably took notes or something
Wendy would often ask Gray how he was doing with his new physical and mental changes and give tips on what she does when she got overwhelmed with all the sudden alterations to her person, which really confused him bc he hadnt noticed much actually changing about himself
Anything Laxus figured out himself he would relay to Freed to tell Gray, hes gotta keep up his persona hes got goin on yk?
Slayers in general have heightened senses AND emotions
Dragon Slayers, and slayers in general but its most extreme/prominent in the Dragons, have highly protective tendencies.
Devil Slayers have slight possessive traits and jealousy issues, again, slayers in general have this but its more prominent in Devil Slayers,
that being said, Gray being a slayer now means he wanted to spend more time with the others so he didnt try to stop the uptake in attention they were giving him. But since they had the plan to help him they were also spending a lot of time together, which in turn made him feel jealous and upset as if they were ignoring him
But as time went on and the dragons were getting more desperate for info Gray started believing that they were all crazy or sick
actual pictures of the Dragons trying to solve Gray
sorry its short! i didnt want to keep you waiting any longer🙏
