Every Time We Touch
Disclaimer – I do not own Fairy Tail
Summary: Natsu and Gray have always hated each other, their relationship being as natural as oil mixing with water. But what happens when they're forced to room together during a spring trip with the Fairy Tail Guild?
Chapter 1
It was just your typical, dull, ordinary day in Magnolia. The evening was cool and breezy, even as the sun set, making the sky's hue a combination of light pink, husky orange and deep red. Shopkeepers eagerly prepared to close up their small stores and businesses while desperate shoppers scampered across the streets like startled mice, hoping to make any last-minute purchases before the weekend started.
Gray walked along the sidewalk—which was gradually becoming vacant now that business hours were ending—wearing his usual dark pants, and no shirt. Where was it, anyway?
Gray wasn't headed in any particular direction, just wherever his feet took him. But it just so happened that they'd led him toward a very tall structure near the end of the city, towering over the smaller and more insignificant buildings like some unforthcoming symbol of power. It was a guild, a fairly productive one known for its extraordinary members.
And he was a part of it.
But why choose to wander aimlessly around when he could just hang out in the guild? Occasionally, Gray enjoyed taking quiet walks by himself. It permitted him to…reflect on situations that occur during the day. Or, simply put, to process the goings-on in his life and just where it might be headed.
Additionally—for reasons unknown—Gray often found himself constantly thinking about a certain Natsu Dragneel, the flamebrain, whom he always seem to pick an argument with at the guild. You'd think he'd pick a fight with Erza instead, seeing as how she was one of the strongest members in the guild. But alas, it is the flamebrain.
It was just so annoying how his thoughts somehow managed to drift to that…that idiot! Gray didn't understand it! But it always seemed to happen, no matter what he did. As soon as he caught himself, he'd try to clear his mind from all thoughts of that moron and contemplate on something else. He was sorry to say that it worked for roughly five minutes, sometimes even less. Why did the flamebrain plague his thoughts so?
Gray passed the guild and walked in the direction of his apartment, which was nearly a mile from his current location. It wasn't that far. And he didn't mind walking from place to place. When you are on a mission for nearly ten hours straight, walking a mile didn't seem like such a big deal.
Furthermore, exerting so much ice magic hurt his back to some degree. Being able to just get up and stretch his legs for a bit seemed like a treat more than anything else.
Gray's thoughts were suddenly interrupted when he noticed a familiar figure headed in his direction. Smirking inwardly, he paused in his steps, eyebrow raised.
"What's up, flamebrain? Miss me already?" Gray taunted. "Come now, didn't we play enough several hours ago?" His smirk was quite visible now. That morning, let's just say Gray gave him a little piece of my mind.
"Shut up, Gray!" he snapped. Natsu responded to Gray's derision by grabbing his necklace. Normally, Gray would have stopped him before he even had the opportunity to touch him, but this time, he took him by surprise.
After the shock of him taking hold of him passed, Gray seized his hands—tightly—and swung him around, not only freeing himself from Natsu's vivacious grip, but sending him to the ground. Why he still attempted to assault him, Gray had no idea. He knew it was impossible, so why bother?
"Stupid flamebrain," Gray said, scolding him as he walked away from Natsu's deplorable form.
Gray heard Natsu mutter something under his breath, but he couldn't really make it out. Suddenly, an idea popped into Gray's head and another smirk soon made its way onto his face.
"That's right, flamebrain. Just keep growling. It's only a matter of time before you get what you really deserve. No promises from me, though. The path you're taking will see to that. But, I suppose, it can't be helped. You were born an idiot; therefore, you shall always be a idiot."
"The only thing I deserve is knocking your invincible attitude down a peg or two. For the record, stripper, I was going to pass by," he stated confidently.
Gray snorted.
Walking past him, Gray decided to just head on home, but as he glanced back, he discovered that Natsu decided to just keep on walking, too. That idiot needed to realize that he couldn't win; not at their little fights, and especially not at life.
Gray reached home just about twenty minutes later. He sighed. "I'm hungry," he mumbled to himself. Heading to the fridge, he found…nothing. "I guess I'm eating out."
Grabbing a new shirt and slipping it on, he decided head to Magnolia Café. That would suit his needs for the evening.
It took him nearly twelve minutes to get there. After Gray arrived, he took in the overall presence of the place. It had been designed to look something like a wooden cabin. The windows were generously proportioned, virtually taking up the entire front of the small structure.
He dragged his feet as he entered the establishment. Gray stood behind the counter and stared at the menu until he realized that the flamebrain was here as well. But not as a customer. Was he here on a job for the guild? It just figured that he wouldn't get some peace and quiet tonight.
Gray realized that while he had been thinking these things, he'd been staring at Natsu. Quickly shifting his gaze, he looked at the menu.
"Coffee. Black," Gray said monotonously. "With a turkey sandwich."
"That'll be ten jewel," Natsu articulated through gritted teeth. Apparently, making a scene while on a job wasn't on his list of things to do, but Gray had other plans.
"If it's not to my liking, I want a refund," Gray said bluntly, tossing him a twenty jewel bill. No reaction. "Oh, and keep the change. Maybe you can use it to get yourself a gag. You know, to keep yourself from sounding like an idiot all the time?"
"Gray," Natsu growled. "Not here."
Was the flamebrain actually trying to keep things civil for a change? Well, this was certainly new.
"What's that, flamebrain? I didn't quite catch that. Go ahead. Speak." Inside, Gray was cracking up. He was ordering him around and he loved it.
Natsu handed Gray his order and slammed the coffee on the counter. "Just take your damned coffee and sandwich and leave me alone."
"Aw, did I make the flamebrain angry?"
"I'm warning you, Gray," Natsu growled again.
"You're warning me? I think you have that backward. Right now, you're the employee and I'm the customer. And as far as I'm concerned, the customer is always right."
Gray thought he made him lose it then, for Natsu slammed his fist down on the counter, flame erupting around his hands. But in his obvious rage, he knocked over the coffee. It fell over, the contents spilling over the pristine marble, down the side, and onto the tip of Gray's left shoe.
"You idiot!" Gray roared. Sure, it wasn't that big of a deal, but he wanted to make Natsu feel like the lowest of the low.
"I'm sorry, Gray," Gray apologized pathetically. He looked frantic. "Did I burn you?"
"Sorry doesn't cut it, flamebrain."
"Is there a problem here?" This was getting good. It looked like the manager had arrived.
"Of course there's a problem!" Gray spat. "This moron spilled coffee on me!"
"It was an accident! I swear!" Natsu stuttered to his temporary boss.
"I'll have this matter dealt with immediately. I assure you this will never happen again," said the manager.
"It had better not," Gray replied curtly. The manager turned to Natsu, looking at him almost sympathetically. What was he—
"I'm sorry, Natsu, but…you're fired from this job."
Well, that was unexpected.
"What?" Natsu looked so devastated.
"My decision is final," the manager said. "Get your things, Natsu…and leave."
Natsu left the front of the Café and went to the back. A few seconds later, he returned, carrying some things. He shoved past Gray and the ice mage could have sworn Natsu had tears in his eyes. Someone else in Gray's position would normally feel remorse or try to assure the manager that such a decision was unfair.
But Gray just stood there and remained indifferent to it all; he didn't care.
Fired from a mission? No. This couldn't be happening. It couldn't. Not now. He needed this job…more than anyone would ever know.
Natsu's thoughts ceased for a moment as he looked at the remains of the house he had lived in Happy. He hadn't meant to start the fire. It was just getting harder to…
Well, at least Happy was safe. He wasn't there when the fire started. Or ended. But the look of devastation on Happy's face when he saw the smoldering remains of their home had been more than Natsu could bear.
So he told the Exceed to stay with Lucy until they had a new place to live, but he made sure to make Happy promise he wouldn't tell Lucy what happened to their house. Not that he told Happy the true story anyway.
He himself for the lie he told his friend. And he hated this place with a passion unlike any other. But did he hate it more than Gray?
Gray. A new emotion surged through him, but he was unsure as to what it was. He felt all the things that he should be feeling right now: anger, hurt, and…fear. However, there was something else deep down inside him that he never thought he could feel. And that…was hopelessness. Was he losing hope? Giving up? That couldn't be, could it?
Brushing those thoughts aside, Natsu trudged through the wreckage of his old home. He swallowed hard as he rummaged through the rubble again before plopping down on the ground. What was the point? Everything was destroyed.
Natsu's mind drifted into hopelessness once again. At least until a sharp pain erupted in his chest. "Not now," he gasped in pain as his left hand clenched his shirt just above his heart.
And then he felt his temperature rise at an alarming rate.
"No, no, no." Flames engulfed his body against his will, burning much hotter than he thought possible. It had to be hot if even he could feel the heat. Natsu almost felt like it was burning him. His own fire?
Natsu let out a pained yelp, instantly covering his mouth with his hands as soon as the sound erupted. He was burning! His skin was burning! He could see his clothes gradually becoming charred as scorch marks appeared on his skin.
Natsu ignored the pain, his mind trying to wrap around the fact that he was being burned by his own fire.
Suddenly, the flames died down and his clothing crumbled to ashes around him; only his scarf remained. The burns on his body, however, stayed.
Taking a few deep breaths, Natsu tried to gather his wits about him. He rose shakily to his feet. Walking slowly toward the pack he normally took on missions, he picked it up, and carefully headed in the direction of the small pond nearby. No one would be there…hopefully.
Why was this happening? This couldn't be happening. It couldn't. He'd lost control of his fire magic somehow, it was now burning him and out of control, and he'd just lost the only job close to home. There was no way he could go on a full blown mission. Not in his condition. What the hell was he going to do now? He had nowhere to go, nothing in his possession, and no money.
Well, that wasn't entirely true. The guild would help him…and his friends. But he didn't want to burden them. Or scare them.
Natsu walked through the forest, desperate to get to the pond. Once he reached it, he gradually lowered himself into the water and let the coolness soothe his burned skin. He wasn't sure how much more he'd be able to handle.
And what was he going to tell his friends? They couldn't know about his situation, especially Gray. He'd undoubtedly rub how weak Natsu was in his face. And he didn't want that.
Natsu pulled himself out of the water and shook himself dry, much like a dog would. Normally he'd use his flames, but he didn't have the energy. That and the fact he was becoming fearful of his own magic.
He knelt down toward his pack and began searching for clothes. He pulled out a pair of pants, shoes, and a long-sleeved shirt…to hide the burn marks. Getting dressed and readjusting his scarf, he pressed his back up against the rough trunk of a tree. Natsu slid down until he was seated on the equally rough ground.
He didn't want to feel this hopeless. But given how the evening was going, that was all he could feel.
And Gray didn't help his situation one bit.
End Chapter