Hey Everyone!
I have finally rewritten the first chapter of 'Puzzle Pieces' I can begin branching it out into mini-fics that would help explain it's beginning, it's end and it's name supporting it down to it's finale which means I am considering deleting the previous one. Although the updating chapter process will probably be the same.
Bummer.
I have the mini-series all mapped out in my head, don't worry- although, the only catch is that it needs to be typed onto the nearest Word Doc and the completely addicting new Fire Emblem game is going to have to learn to take a back seat to my writing and draws- or I need to learn to control my desires a bit better- one or the other.
Nintendo! Y u make too many hot husbandos?!
But here you are! Enjoy!
HeathNils
Spring.
Slowly, a pair of eyes opened as the gentle rays of the sun's light began to filter through the cracks of darkness he called his room. He groaned before tossing over to one side, wrapping himself deeper and deeper into his overly large comforter before finally succumbing to the calls of the waking world and began to sit up, throwing the large blanket off of his body and blinked the sleep from his eyes. He gave off a large yawn, ruffling his messy hair as he pushed himself off of the king-sized bed and sluggishly made his way, in a way would make even the most mindless zombie proud, toward the window, throwing aside the curtains and allowing the bright light filter in.
He was a slender, lean young man of an average height with a soft almost feminine figure to him despite the muscles that clung to his frame. His vibrant pink hair was messy, tousled from the pillow, his beautiful doe-like golden eyes twinkled with delight and his skin, a gentle sun kissed tan, seemed glowed under the sun's rays with the exception of the scars he owned, with one located on the right side of his neck and the other, a cross-shaped scar on the left side of his abdomen, that remained paper-white.
His face cracked into a large smile, exposing his abnormal canine teeth as wakefulness entered his mind more and he reached out and threw the window open, allowing the cool morning air to enter and he took a deep breathe before exhaling the breathe with a sigh at the rich smell of the most wondrous thing moving in and around the air in his room on a gentle breeze while he stood there, soaking up the sun's warm rays in just his sweatpants, arms open wide.
Oh how he just love Spring.
He didn't know what he loved more about the gentle season exactly; Was it the smell of the flowers waking up from a long sleep, was it the feeling of the atmosphere around him that seemed to have become 'healthy' and 'lively', reinvigorating the pink haired man as it pushed the crisp air of winter out and replaced it with rich fresh air or was it the colors that seemed to spread across the landscape replacing the dreary white, blue and grey?
He didn't know and if he was honest, he couldn't pinpoint a favorite even if he tried.
He raised his arms high into the sky and stretched, bending slightly backwards as he did so until his back gave a satisfying pop, his golden eyes widen when a sudden thought flashed past his mind's eye.
Today was just begging for him to go out and run around the nearby park, like a giddy child.
With that in mind, he quickly ran toward the large walk-in closet that was barely a stone toss away from his bed and window, quickly changing out of the sweatpants he wore and into a simple white tee, faded blue jeans, with a hole in one knee and wrapped his treasured scale-patterned scarf snug around his neck. Still grinning madly, he ran back down the stairs, making a quick pit stop at the hallway table next to the front door long enough to grab his set of keys, his cell phone and jumping into a pair white trainers before he fled out through the front door. He nearly jumped with joy and let out a whoop the minute the front door closed behind him and he stood there upon his doorstep.
It was as if winter had just simply disappeared overnight. The temperature was warm, like he was wrapped carefully in a soft fleece blanket, the snow seemed to have melted during the night exposing the soft lush green grass and releasing its damp earth smell, some of his neighbors already pulled out their lawnmowers and began cutting the grass allowing its scent to intertwine with the wet earthy scent. The small male took as many deep breaths as possible until he was sure he had the smells of Spring engraved into his brain.
Gods, did he love Spring.
"Hey Natsu!"
The young man, full name Natsu Dragneel, blinked owlishly before he turned his to the right and found himself grinning at the sight of his favorite next door neighbor waving merrily at him. He quickly jumped off his porch and trotted over toward the fence that separated the two houses where the other man was.
"Hey Valerian!"
The man, Valerian, was a rather tall fellow with a muscular body that was shown nicely in his heavy-duty dark jeans and corduroy shirts that also set off his slightly messed dark hair and matching warm eyes. A local trucker while rarely was seen home, he was still there all of Natsu's life, an ever present figure watching him grow up and was a rather good man. He chuckled.
"Where you headen off ta?"
"To the park," Natsu grinned. "It's Spring!"
"Is it now? And what's nothing wrong Winter? I thought you liked it."
"I do," Natsu's cheeks puffed up. "I just like Spring and Summer more."
"So I see." Valerian chuckled, shifting through the papers in his hands.
"I don't mean to be rude Valerian, but I'm gonna get to the park now," The sunny smile returned to his face. "I wanna enjoy this sun before Mr. Needy and Gloomy comes home and demands my attention."
"Oh right, today's the day he comes home huh?" Valerian laughed. "Well, I'll let you go then, have fun!"
"Will do!"
And with that, Natsu sprinted off. He didn't have anything against Winter, really, he didn't, since the season brought the scene of beautiful freshly fallen snow that looked like powdered sugar, icicles that were so beautiful, colorful in the right ray of light and the breezes that smelled crisp and mingled with peppermint and pine wood. He just couldn't stand the sub-zero temperatures that often came with the package that made his throw on gods know how many layers of clothes on before he even set foot out through the front door. But his boyfriend on the other hand did.
He smiled when his mind wandered to his boyfriend of six years, Gray Fullbuster. A man he had known since they went to the same elementary school together and come to spend every moment having, if he thought back on it, a foul name calling banter that would eventually led to a challenge of one another to various feats of strengths or just a downright brawl to prove who was the real man, until they got themselves tossed at the principal's door, well up until they reached high school. By then, both men had completely, as another one of their friends called it, mellowed out, though neither could resist a good name calling or brawl for old times sake.
As he walked down the block watching the trees bare branches slowly bring in small buds of green leaves and pink white flowers, he wandered left into a large and open field. He found himself pausing in his stroll, staring at the long grass that overgrew the corners of the rotting fence, a vast dirt paths and the few abandoned rusty pipes and lumber as a wonderful memory popped into his mind. He smiled. He remembered this place. This was the place Gray and Natsu often went to fight and try to rip each other's throats out without any interference, until one fateful and most unforgettable day, Gray had decided to pop a question that completely blew both men out of the rut they had made and lived in since 1st grade. He sighed.
Back then, it looked so much bigger.
He still remembered that day 6 years ago so perfectly and so clearly, one of the many memories, when he was just a freshman to Gray's Junior, he ran into some trouble while walking home, attacked by four burly and shady men with a lot more then testing his fighting prowess on their minds, jumped out at him when he walked home late from an school activity and passed by a supposed empty alleyway and proceeded to chase him into his fighting fields, where he then retaliated with his fists by knocking two of men's lights out. What it was they after or were looking for from him still remained a mystery to the pinkette, since Gray refused to elaborate it every time he asked but Natsu, though he would never dare to admit, was starting to become overwhelmed by his attackers especially with their leader, Aloise, he said his name was, as he was countering Natsu's blows like they were nothing and would have been victim to whatever that bastard planned for him... If Gray hadn't come in to save the day.
Flashback
He dusted himself off just as the dust cleared and his rescuer came walking back to him, dragging one of the attackers, Aloise he assumed since it was hard to see through the blood and bruises, by the back of his shirt. He felt his face heat up in both anger and embarrassment as he tried look anywhere or anyplace that wasn't Gray Fullbuster. The bastard- Why did he butt in where he was not needed? He totally had it under control- but oh no, he just had to involve himself.
He watched as Gray stormed back, somehow and somewhere in the chase, he lost his shirt, leaving him only in his dark slacks and shoes, exposing his chest that was toned and muscular that was show quite nicely with the setting sun making his hair darker and had the poor boy flushing. What threw him off was the angry heated look in his usually laid-back dark blue eyes. Granted, he was used to such a look from the dark haired teen but there was something completely different about the glare.
"Natsu are you okay?" Gray asked, his hard glare changing to soft look, as he threw the unconscious man to the ground next to the others. He dropped to his knees in front of the pink haired teen, hands on his cheeks moving his head around, checking him for any and all bodily injuries. "Did they hurt you? Did they try to pull anything on you? Did they touch you?"
"I'm fine!" Natsu growled rolling his eyes and slapping the hands off of him. "Okay? They did nothing other then chase me and attempt to beat me. I had it all under control and then your dumb ass showed up."
"And if you didn't?" Gray asked, icy tone returning. "Do you know what would have happened to you if you didn't have control Flame for Brains?"
Natsu folded his arms and turned away, huffing and cheeks puffing. "They would have beaten me and then robbed and I wouldn't know it until I woke up in a nearby hospital... Uh duh."
"Natsu Dragneel! No more games! I need to know and know now!" He growled, as he suddenly grabbed the startled pinkette by the collar of his school uniform, yanking him close to the raven haired teen's face. "And you better damn well give me a straight answer!"
"Excuse me?" He struggled slightly his grasp, his hands clawing at Gray's own. "I just told you, you damned stripper! Weren't you listening?!"
"You dense little prick..."
Natsu felt his temper rising and his temple throbbing. "What is your-"
What happened next put him in quite a loop. Natsu was about to finish his threat slash demand when Gray silenced the angry outburst by pressing his cool lips against Natsu's own warm ones in a chaste kiss, allowing the taste of sweet peppermint to invade his senses before he pulled back, leaving both men wearing bright pink blushes.
"Do you- Do you want... Can I be your boyfriend?"
End
Now, he always had a crush on the dark haired man for the longest of time, probably starting since junior high school when his hormones started kicking in but due to his stubborn pride, fear of losing the valuable friendly rivalry they shared and a mixture of other emotions, he said nothing. As grateful as he was from being saved, it didn't deter the youth from biting Gray's head off about the whole knights and damsel and distress effect that he was trying to imply. That was when the dark haired man popped the question on him. So naturally, despite the long air of awkwardness and loss for words, he bound to say yes.
And then somehow, somewhere, it turned into a fight about his physical appearance and then it turned into an actual fight.
Natsu chuckled at the memory as he continued his trek through the lot, down the street into the neighboring playground, watching with a soft expression as the small children played on the play equipment while their parents kept close watch over them as he walked over to the swing set, settling himself into the left one and began to pistoning his legs and began swinging. Enjoying the simple feeling of like he was flying. Somehow, he was immediately reminded of Gray. Thank the gods above he was coming home today.
Diggin' Minecraft Style-
The sound of the phone ringing brought him back to reality, just as he felt a small droplet of rain hit his face. He waited a bit longer, swinging a bit longer, making sure it wasn't just his imagination acting up. When the phone gave off another rang and was located in his back pocket, it confirmed that he did hear something and caused him to jump off the swing, landing somewhat gracefully on the ground below thanks to sharp pain in his ankle and began to walk away from the playground while groaning. He reached around for his back pocket for grabbed his phone, eyes shut tightly just as another droplet of rain hit his face, hoping to any and all deity above it wasn't Ezra with another mission. He peeked open an eye and felt himself blush a bright pink as he quickly made his way back home, thumb swiping across the surface to answer the call.
He can live with this.
"Well, well- If it isn't my favorite Ice Block."
"Hello to you too, Flame Brain."
He couldn't help but smile at the familiar voice and nickname. "Whatever could I owe for the pleasure of your call, Queen Elsa?"
"Ha ha... Funny."
Natsu giggled. "So- Whatcha calling about?"
"Just wanted check in." Came the simple reply. "I miss you. I missed hearing your voice..."
Natsu could feel his face heat up. "Is that so?" Natsu turned back into the fields just as a soft mist of rain began to fall, trying hide his embarrassment from what, he wasn't sure he just knew he had to hide it. He was rather desperate to change the subject. "When are you coming home?"
"Dunno. Loke said that our best bet was later this afternoon." Natsu could hear the smirk in the man's voice. "What? Do you miss me just as much?"
"Let's not get funny ideas," Natsu defended. "Are you stuck in traffic?"
"Like you would not fucking believe..."
Natsu had to stifle his laughter as Gray launched into a rant about shitty traffic, the dumb people that clearly had no idea how to drive that yet still somehow gained licenses that were stuck with them and the equally shitty driver he was stuck with, earning the ravenette a distant 'Oi!' while Natsu made his way down another block. He halted a few feet in front of the bus shelter as Gray continued to rant, taking a deep breathe allowing yet another scent to enter his senses. The smell of the first Spring rain.
Maybe that was his top favorite.
He eventually continued his trek home just as the rain began to pick up, turning from a gentle mist to a soft pitter patter on the street and the quiet breeze turned into a gentle wind. He let out a laugh as Gray continued his rant that now involved some ass that cut them off with little to no warning nearly killing him and the others in the car with him.
"Fucking idiot!" Gray roared. "Man, if we're tasked capturing criminals, why the fuck can't capture small time offenders too?!"
Natsu muttered his agreement absentmindedly as he began to fumble for his keys. His mind preoccupied, so excited to spend some time with Gray before Ezra decided to call him up with another bullshit mission. Maybe he oughta surprise Gray.
'Maybe with that schoolgirl outfit he likes so much.' Suggested a mischievous part of his brain. 'Or the helpless slave boy routine- He'd like that better-'
Oh gods above...
Natsu's brain suddenly began to fill with up with rather 'interesting' images, all of them viewing Natsu being pleasured and devoured by Gray leaving his face a bright and burning red as he reached the front door with his keys in hand. Gods he wanted Gray to come home and fast. He suddenly paused, the red in his face vanishing rapidly and his train of thought derailing as he blinked and turned his head to face the parked 2009 dark blue Toyota Tundra truck in his driveway. He could have sworn he saw something move near or by the truck. He stared at the vehicle for a couple moments more, before finally shaking his head. There was nothing there.
"Natsu? Natsu? Oi! Fire Ass!"
Natsu nearly jumped out of his skin at Gray's sudden voice. "Oh hey... Gray."
"Jeez Natsu, what's got you so distracted?" He could practically hear the bastard smirking through the phone. "Are we thinking something dirty now? Planning something special for me~?"
"Wha- Hell no!" Natsu felt his face heat up, voice rising and squeaking in embarrassment. "No! Just- No! That's not it! Not it at all!"
"Oh~ Are you sure?" came that purr, "I'm hearing something different~"
"Is sex all you ever think of?"
"Pssh- No. I think of other things." Gray defended. "Like bills, taxes and how they kick my ass. I think of how the jobs we get suck sometimes and you. I think of you. A lot. Like how much I miss you or how good look underneath me, naked and with that pretty pink face- Those large eyes filled with want... Heh, I love it better when you're on your back, legs spread-"
"GRAY!"
"Sorry Luce." Gray sniggered.
Natsu rolled his eyes, face bright red at Gray's response. He was going to punch this ass the minute he walked through the door. "Wow- You sure got me convinced..."
"Hmm hm. But to be honest, I love you more then just for the sex you know that... Right?"
"Yeah... I know you do-" Natsu couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips as the sound of the door unlocking entered the air briefly. "Listen Gray-Bae... I need to let you go."
"Hm? Why babe?"
"I have things to do..."
"Oh... Did Ezra call you up with another mission?" Gray asked, sounding a little disappointed and it tugged a little at Natsu's heart.
"Oh no no." Natsu replied feeling his face heat up as he pushed open the front door. "I just- I just have a lot things to do before you get home tonight, okay? You should- uh- see the kitchen."
"Oh really~?" Gray replied. There was that smirk again. "Well then, I guess I won't keep you. I'll see you when I get home, Flame Princess."
"Yeah yeah. See you... Ice Prick." Natsu quickly walked inside his house, slipping off his shoes and reached to close the door.
"I love you."
Natsu paused, door a barely an inch from being closed shut as a blush forming across his face before he turned to look to the kitchen before turning to the dark living room. He took a deep breath, a smile slowly spreading across his face alongside the warmth in his heart.
"I love you too."
Just as Natsu reached his thumb over the screen to hang the phone up, his door was suddenly and violently kicked open, causing the pink haired man to stumble back in a mixture of shock and surprise and landed hard on his ass, skidding a few feet back with part of his door while his phone hung up and skittered out his reach and farther down the hallway. Natsu looked up, eyes wide and found himself staring at a hooded individual, his face completely covered with the exception of that eerie toothy grin and stood where half of his door now stood, before the attacker suddenly reached out for the sprawled pinkette, who quickly moved away from him. He was quick to jump back onto his feet just as the man began to reach out for him once more.
"Who the hell-"
Before he could even finish his sentence, he was greeted with a fist aimed straight at him only to miss his head by a mere few inches all thanks to his quick reflexes but in turn caused Natsu to stumble backwards in order to not only avoid having his head smashed in but to regain his balance. Once he regained it, he quickly aimed a punch of his own that connected to the man's jaw, knocking him back a few feet and knocking his hood in the process.
"Who the hell are you?!"
The intruder stood a foot to two feet taller then himself, with dark shoulder-length hair kept into a low ponytail, he wore dark and heavy clothing allowing him to blend into the rest of the darkness but what seemed to scare Natsu the most were the eyes. His eyes seemed to be so dark, dark like a narrowed and light devoid tunnel that they seemed to be devoid of any warmth. He paused in his attack to regard Natsu carefully before his face split into wide smile, causing the pinkette to shiver and narrowed his eyes at him.
There was something oddly familiar about this man, like he had seen him somewhere before...
But when? And where?
"Well, aren't you just the little wild cat-"
Natsu took a step back as the man took a step forward toward him, a growl resonating from deep down his throat.
"Who are you? I won't repeat myself!"
"My my- You truly have grown," He smiled, completely ignoring the question as he continued moving forward while Natsu moved back. "Hmm. I see the years did wonders for you. You're more beautiful then I last remember."
"What are yo-"
"It's shame you're not going to make this easy for me."
Before Natsu can process the exact message of what was being said to him let alone even ask for the meaning behind what was said, the man suddenly came dashing at him startling the pink haired man into stepping back into the living room, knocking over a lamp, magazines and nearly tripping over the coffee table before his mind kicked back in just as the man swung his arm directly at the pinkette's head. Natsu quickly brought his own arm up and blocked the blow before aiming his fist directly at the man's face having it connect once again and send the man once more skidding back a couple of feet. Natsu grinned at the sight of the man wiping blood from his mouth only to have that wiped away when he smirked, his face growing dark.
"Oh~ Feisty. Not at all like the first time we crossed paths."
Natsu blinked. He was at complete loss as to what this bastard was talking about, Natsu strained his brain trying to figure out what when and where he supposedly crossed paths but it seemed for the life of him, he couldn't recall ever seeing him in his life. He was violently torn from his thoughts when his phone began ringing down the hallway distracting Natsu from his thoughts long enough for him to escape back toward the front door before rounding the corner just as the man attempted make a jump at him and entered deeper into his house and away from his intruder.
A move his intruder clearly didn't anticipate.
"Fuck!"
As much as Natsu hated the very thought of running away from a fight with his tail inbetween his legs like some coward, he needed to think of a plan and keep this freak entertained long enough for Gray to get home or for him to seek help. His phone was still blaring at him from the hallway, as he pressed his back into his kitchen counter. He prayed to the gods above it wasn't Ezra, if it was, he was screwed once he escaped this predicament, but if he was lucky enough,she might just very well show up. He mentally began to chart out a map of his house.
"Where the fuck are you, brat?"
Natsu ignored him, from what he gathered by the sound of his voice, the bastard was back at the front door and he was in the kitchen, and between the two of them, there was the living room and hallway. Now, if he could somehow get the bastard to move a bit closer to the kitchen, then he would be able to swing around through the living room and make a run for the door and probably give him a swift kick to his ass along the way. Thank god, his older brothers lived a couple blocks down from theirs. As much as he hated the idea of running to them for help but as there seemed to be, there was no other option for the pinkette.
Of all the times to leave your work issued firearms upstairs in your bedside table...
"Here kitty kitty..."
His phone still continued to blare at him from the hallway, just as he poked his head up from his hiding place. It seemed to be that the bastard was creeping in closer and closer to the kitchen as he hoped and was a bit irate. Natsu carefully moved himself toward a nearby pantry, opening the door and carefully, ever so carefully, reached for a nearby frying pan so as not make a noise and alert the man to his location. His mind suddenly made think of a movie character for Disney movie for whatever reason as he held the cooking ware close to his chest. His phone went off for what must've been the fifth time as he moved a little ways from his hiding spot and began to stand up.
"There you are, pretty kitty." The voice sounded a lot closer then it should be, startling the pinkette. "Fucking finally!"
As Natsu turned to face the source of the voice's location clutching the frying pan tightly in his hand when he suddenly felt a sharp pain on the side of his head, as something large but blunt object connected itself to the backside of his head.
Hard.
"Ngh!"
He staggered, dropping the frying pan with a deafening clatter, as he tried to keep on his feet before dropping back down to his knees with one hand while placing the other over the throbbing pain on the back of his head, the man's footsteps, his cellphone and the sound of the wind picking up sound faint and filtered, like he was underwater. The ringing in his ears grew louder as his vision began to blur while he began lowering himself closer to the cold floor, as if hoping the pain would be soothed and disappear quickly by then. Through his clouded vision and position on the floor, he could see his attacker walk over and pick up his cellphone looking at it before smirking at the struggling pinkette.
"Seems like your boyfriend's really desperate to reach you." His voice seemed so far away even though he right in front of him. "He must have called you- What? Six times now?"
"Gray..." Natsu whispered.
Darkness.
Better or Worse?