The first time he showed up, he had come on a whim. He had just come out to Erza and, instead of having a long conversation about support and what dating would be like, she took one look at him, grinned lecherously and told him she knew exactly the person he should talk to. She had written down an address, and Natsu had gone, not having the slightest clue what he was getting into.

The place her directions led to had been a shop on the edge of a shopping center that people averted their eyes from or came out of with plain black plastic bags. 'Ask for Gray,' she'd said. At first, he hesitated going in because he was scared that Erza had sent him to ask for a hooker, but people didn't come out of a whorehouse with plastic bags. At least he hoped not. He'd never been to one. He was eighteen and still a virgin because he'd been too nervous to actually tell anyone he was gay. And shy and socially awkward and how is it that you have so many friends when you're constantly offending them on accident?

He'd only told Erza because he overheard Mirajane talking to Lucy about how she was trying to be happy for Erza and Jellal and the thing her and Erza had had just been a fling. A summer romance that Erza had moved on from even if Mira didn't. Realizing Erza was bisexual meant he had someone to talk to. Not that Mira wasn't a good friend, she just liked to gossip a little too much for his liking and she might burst out squealing if he said anything, a sight that he'd never see with Erza. But then she sent him to some random location telling him to ask for 'Gray.' You don't even know this so-called 'Gray' and you're going to look like a fool if you walk in… whatever this place is and he's not even there. It could be Erza playing a prank on you… even if that would be a weird thing for Erza to do. People change. You can never be sure.

He'd taken one step into the store, the sex shop, and prepared himself to turn right back around when a buff man with far too many piercings in his nose walked in and Natsu had decided to linger around the shelves for a minute or two until the doorway was clear of people who gave off homicidal vibes. One tall lean blonde who was louder than life, a man with red eyes and dark hair brushed over half his face, a tall blonde man with a lightning shaped scar over one eye, one green-haired suited man, a man with the majority of his tongue hanging out, a woman with a deep glare and very revealing clothes, a half-naked woman lugging around a small barrel of beer, and twenty minutes later, he was still stuck in an aisle in front of what was labelled 'anal lubricants and toys,' blood rushing to his face.

"Can I help you?"

Natsu jumped a bit and turned around. The sight in front of him was the most drool worthy sight he'd ever seen. The guy in front of him was wearing a skin tight sleeveless mesh top, he had two piercings through his left eyebrow, ripped skinny jeans and black leather, lace up combat boots, the exact same shade as his hair and just a tad darker than the deep blue of his eyes. He was drop dead gorgeous and Natsu's jaw dropped open slightly. The man was looking at him expectantly and then confusedly and Natsu realized oh shit, he said something, what did he say, what am I supposed to say-

"What?" he asked unintelligently. So fucking eloquent you are. He probably thinks you sound like an idiot.

The man searched his face for a moment and then asked again, "Can I help you?" His tone was slower, and Natsu felt his worry was confirmed. Yeah, he definitely thinks you're stupid. Way to make a great first impression.

"No!" Natsu snapped defensively. The guy's face went taut, eyes shut, inhaling deeply before he let out a slow breath and walked away. And now you've scared him away. Of course you did. Why can't you be smooth like the people on tumblr? They're flirting and getting paired up together and you're just scaring off anyone you think is cute. But he asked… if he could help me so he… works here?

Natsu walked down the short aisle and surely enough, there the man was walking behind the counter and arguing with… Jellal? Natsu did a double take and yep. That's Jellal. Erza's boyfriend. He works at a sex shop. Oh my gosh the mental images of them, ew no, Erza, why? He would be scarred for life.

"Already?" Jellal asked. The gorgeous man rolled his eyes.

"I tried to help customers. They didn't want my help," he grumbled, standing at the second register. Natsu felt so embarrassed. The guy was trying to help you and you were so rude because you can't have a normal freaking conversation with a guy just because he's hot. What is wrong with you? Jellal heaved a tired sigh.

"Gray-" Gray? His name is Gray. Erza told me to ask for Gray and holy shit, is he gay? Is that a tongue piercing? It is. It's a tongue piercing. Erza is trying to give me a heart attack.

"No," Gray stated, loudly. Jellal tried again, actually turning his entire body toward Gray which was a rare enough sight. Jellal didn't usually think people warranted that much effort for a brief conversation.

"Listen-"

"I don't want to," Gray interrupted him again. The blue-haired man turned back to the counter, causing Gray to narrow his eyes at him suspiciously.

"Going up to the one guy you find attractive isn't customer service," Jellal finally muttered irritably. Natsu turned red and walked right back down the aisle and toward the exit, missing the glare that Gray sent Jellal's way and the tinge of pink dusting across his cheekbones.