Faster than the speed of love

Yes, the title is truly ironic in every sense of the word; ( watch?v=CqrWCGbDD-E ). So this is the first thing I've ever written. Like it? Hate it? Was it meeh? Well, leave a response, any form of review/reaction is appreciated will be really appreciated. NOTE: the first chapter is much longer than the other chapters. So don't expect me to write a bible for you every week. As mentioned; it's mainly focused on GrayZa and NaLu, so here it is guys.

NOTE: Not set in Fairy Tail universe, and I don't own any of these characters nor franchise.

Rated M for foul language, adult jokes, drugs and violence.

Chapter 1 – so what are you up to these days?

7.30 pm. Friday, 10 October, year 2012.

Mirajane crossed her legs, as she pressed the click on her ballpoint pen. Gray sat with his hands gripping his knees tightly. The little spinning fan in the rear end of the psychiatrist's office did very little to hinder Gray's uncontrolled sweating; leaving big puddles under his armpits on his white shirt. He had to keep his elbows cocked inwards, so that the rings of sweat would remain unobserved by the platinum blonde psychiatrist. Not that he really had anything to be ashamed of. After all, he and Mira were friends from school. Maybe not friends, associates would be the better word. She was one year older than him.

But he still felt that he didn't want to show the whole world he was sweating like a lunatic. Mirajane looked up from her notepad and smiled warmly at the dark haired young man. Gray tried to twitch forward a genuine smile, but it was easier said than done.

''So… Gray'' said Mirajane, before she cleared her throat. '' I think you know better than anyone else why we are both here, right?''. Even her eyes seemed to smile at Gray. The blue and luscious color together with her bright hair made something about Mirajane literally shine. Gray nodded slowly.

''I do…'' he mumbled quietly. He had meant to speak louder, but he wasn't quite comfortable with his situation yet.

''So I hope you understand, that whatever we talk about; it is something that will just stays between you and I. And it dosen't matter whether or not my education is finished or not. What I will write in my report is simply how you progress throughout the period of time you come here. So your anonymity is protected. Are we clear on this?'' said Mirajane. She still had that beaming smile on her lips. Gray stuttered a little bit, before he cleared his throat.

''Yes'' he said.

''Good!'' Mirajane looked down on her notepad and scribbled something. ''Now Gray. I'm gonna begin with asking you take with me on an average day in your life. And remember to give me everything. Like I said: You have nothing to be ashamed of. So you can be blatantly honest with me.''

Gray sank down in his chair and leaned his head backward.

''I wake up 5 am every morning to prepare myself for each day….''


5 am Thursday 9th october, The alarm clock on his iPhone rang out recklessly, with a monotone and frustrating ringtone that Gray couldn't edit. He just had to live with the sound of old church bells, every single time he had to get up from his bed and be slung out into a dark, empty apartment. He kicked and twirled a little bit, before he snoozed the alarm. '' ten minutes… just ten minutes'' he thought. But he knew for sure that he needed every last, miserable second of every morning to prepare for the new day. Regardless, he took the extra 10 minutes to rest up, before finally hurling himself out of the bed like an athlete. Gray strolled ghoulishly around in his little room in search for the light and hit the switch. He went to the kitchen and filled up a batch off coffee. As the machinery began purring, Gray took off his boxers and went to the bathroom. He threw the underwear on the increasingly big pile of dirty laundry, put the toothbrush in his mouth and stepped into the shower. He knew for certain the landlord had not fixed the waterheater yet, but he simply didn't care anymore. He was already used to shower in cold water. And he actually quite liked it.

While rubbing his hair in shampoo and brushing his teeth, Gray thought about the reports he would have to write. His boss's fake smile and smelly breath. His whiny, boring and socially retarded co-workers. The dry sandwich he would have for lunch and the inevitable, stinky t-shirt he would have to put on at the gym. When he was done showering, he put a towel around his waist and went to pour up some coffe in his mug. It was blacker than his hair. Before he poured the milk in it that is, and it sort of reminded him of the hair color of one of his old classmates; Cana. He remembered the first time they had gone out together. At the age of 14 she could already floor a whole bottle of Jack. She was the one who helped him get home when they celebrated their graduation; the last happy day of his life. That woman could drink like a maniac. If anything, she should be working as a bartender these days. He hurried his breakfast down in an instant, poured his coffe out in the sink and ran down to the bus stop. A cold, windy morning and he could see his breath dance intensively in the air as he walked with swift determination to the bus.


Mirajane scribbled intensively on her notepad.

''So… just what do you work with, Gray?'' Mirajane's faithful smile was still glued to her face. Gray exhaled, as though he would rehearse a long speech.

''I sit by a desk for 11 hours and write statistics about the operating systems that my company update. So, you know, if we get a set of computers that are to be updated from windows vista to say; windows 8, then I am the one who tell the programmers which computers should have which systems. So I write hundreds of reports every day about which computers should have what, when it should be done, which digits this computer have, I also write about the computers we send back.''

''Well, Gray… That sounds…'' Mirajane made a tormented expression in solidarity to her subject.

''yes, it's excruciatingly horrible. ''

Mirajane smirked. It almost looked like she took pleasure in Gray's misery. But the way he described his situation sounded almost to dire to be real. Kind of like american comedy shows about white collar workers in their 20s doing meaningless paperwork and hating their lives. Ironically, this was probably not very far away from her patient's situation.

''It's okay, you can laugh'' said Gray. Mira chuckled a little bit, before moving on.

''So why do you work for so long, Gray? I mean, most people work for 8 or 9 hours a'day.'' Asked Mirajane.

''Because my boss is a greedy, old asshole, who hold us at work every last day to do this cleaning. He always make us work overtime. What happens if you don't work overtime? Well… then you are out. My average day should be 9 hours, but every goddamn day, he makes us go overtime. No exaggeration: every day.'' Mirajane wrote something down.

''Okay, so we can almost certainly conclude that the job is related to a lot of your misery?'' asked Mirajane.

''Yes…''

''So let's just get back to that later. We'll go through what you do the rest of the day. You told me you workout. What is it you train? Boxing? Football? Tennis?''

''I go to the gym down the street from my job. Some days I really, really cant stomach to do it. But I know that I litterally have to. It is the only time in the day I get to be alone and do whatever I want. .''

''Hm-hm. You mentioned something about a roommate?''

Gray's skin color literally shifted. ''Yes. Natsu….''


Thursday 9.30 PM

Gray stood in hesitance with his hand resting on the doornob. He really wanted to go home, but at the same time, he didn't want to enter. It was just that one little detaill about going inside; the detail that could be spelt out as a pinkhaired lunatic he shared his home with. Gray took a deep breath before slunging the door open. The hallway was dark and messy, shoes were piled on one another and jackets lay spread around the floor. The apartment was small, it was basically the livingroom, Gray's room, a very small kitchen and restroom. Natsu had taken the livingroom because he wanted to sleep on the chairbed. Natsu sat on the couch with a drumstick in his mouth and an X-box controller in his hands. Gray entered the room and took a seat next to him.

''Arent you supposed to be at work?'' asked Gray. Natsu could not hear him: he blasted tasteless power metal on loud volume in his earphones. ''ARENT YOU SUPPOSED TO BE ON WORK?!'' repated Gray, this time he nearly shouted. It took Natsu a few seconds to notice Gray. He turned his head towards him and took his headphones off.

''What did you say?'' asked Natsu. Gray sighed and repated himself:

''I SAID aren't you supposed to be working now?''. Natsu shook his head.

''Nope. Don't feel like going today.'' Natsu put on his headphones again. Gray could feel a blood vessel pop in his forehead.

''oh yeah? So how are you going to pay your part of the rent?'' his voice was shaking in anger. Natsu sat motionless on the couch.

''Ohh… About that, can you hook me up?'' asked Natsu ''I don't really feel like doing it this week''. Gray tought he was joking. Or hoped he was joking at least. But Natsu had said it with a straight face. Without missing the beat Gray, hurled himself over Natsu and hit him with his clenched fists.

''Im gonna kill you motherfucker!'' Gray landed punches on Natsu's sides and arms. Natsu tried to push Gray away to the best of his ability, he put his palms in Gray's face.

''Raaaaaape! You're raping me you pervert! Raaaaaape!'' Natsu tried to untangle himself from Gray's grasp and finally managed to throw himself of the couch. Natsu mounted himself over Gray's chest, and put his knees on Gray's arms, hindering him from fighting back. A sadistic smile spread across Natsu's face.

''Guess what time it is, Gray-chan?''

Mirajane wrote something on the note pad.

''so he…?''

''Yes'' Gray interrupted Mira. ''He sticks his fingers into my mouth, because he know I have strong gag reflexes. It's really degrading and repulsive.'' Mira almost chuckled, but she managed to turn it into a cough instead, saving some face in the process.''So how's your contact with your parents then?''

June 18th 2012,

Gray's mother smiled widely.

''Well sweetie, what do you think?!'' she asked him with a broad smile on her lips. Gray looked around in what would be his apartment.

''I can still see the chalklines from a dead body here.'' His mother just waved it off.

''Ohh, nonesense! You should just call aunt Ur and thank her for renting this place for ya!'' His mom gave Gray a broad smile.

''Cant I just think about it for a while? I mean, it's kind off a big decision.''

''That uhm… would also be a good idea, if it wasn't for the fact that Ive already paid for this appartment for you. '' His mom put an insuring hand on Gray's shoulder. He was much taller than her. He had outgrown her in his early teens.

''Mom… You shouldn't have…''

''with your savings of course''

''WHAT THE F-''

''So your mother took the money she had saved up to buy an apartment against your will?''. Gray nodded.

''Yes, the day after I graduated she essentially threw me out of my house. She said I was grown and she had hired mathematicians to prove that one big investment in an apartment would be more economically efficient than keeping me around another 5 years.''

''But… she did buy you an apartment?'' Gray frowned at Mira.

''Yeah, but with money she had saved up so that I could use them for something I wanted. Not a stinky apartment miles away from where I grew up. Especially not one where I live next door to drug dealers!''

''But… it was her money she saved up right?'' Gray glared at Mira. She realised she had gone to far this time.

''Okay…'' Mirajane closed her notebook and put it in here lap. '' so here's what we are going to do: Im gonna have to ask you to come back next week. Then we will evaluate all of my conclusions. Do you think that you can perhaps try to keep your head up until then?''

Gray muttered. ''Do I have any choice?''

Mirajane smiled; ''Well, I cant meet you every day Gray, and one meeting every week is all I can entitle you too. But I can give you some advice based on what I learned from here. Does that sound good?''. Gray shrugged.

''It depends on what you have to say''.


Gray snarled, as he shouldered his way through the crowded streets. Mira and Gray had discussed a few thing she thought would help him break out of his routinpadded lifestyle. Mira wrote down a couple of tips for him; She told him to just screw the cleaning when he get's home. Screw eating healthy, ''just buy yourself a pizza and slab it in your face, be as disgusting as you can.'' She adviced him to just lie in his bed for 5 minutes every morning and think about things he is grateful for, before heading to work. Gray had protested, because he couldn't, In this moment think about anything to be grateful over.

That a psychiatrist would recommend these kind of things seemed really strange to Gray. But then again, they had gone to the same school once in a time. Strictly speaking, Mira was also not a shrink just yet. Gray exhaled loudly. The music from the headphones thundered in his ears and he couldn't really tell what song was play. Nor did he really care. He was just so tired, and the only thing he wanted was to get home. But in all of this commotion of thoughts, music and fatigue he could hint a voice saying his name. Instinctively he took off his headphones and looked around. Gray looked around after someone. Maybe he had just imagined what he heard. But then he saw someone he recognized and she seemed to be looking back at him.

''Is that you… Gray?'' it was a blonde with big blue eyes, with her hair put in a pony tail. She was wearing some really ugly and green working clothes; Indicating she had her job at a coffeshop somewhere. It was Lucy. One of his old classmates. At first she would appear to be a stupid slut, but she was really a smart,caring and nice girl. At least from what Gray remembered. The boys had flocked around her, especially Loki, one of Gray's older friends. But for some reason it had never worked out. According to most of the people he knew, Lucy and Loki had a thing going for quite some time.

''Ohh, hey, Lucy! It's been a while!'' Gray sounded less awkward than he really felt. Of course, she didn't really know what was up, but still. She should probably see that something was different with her old classmate. All the more empty of charisma and joy.

''Uhh, yeah! So where are you heading?'' she asked him. Gray motioned down the road ''well Im going home actually. I uh… take it you work here?'' Gray tilted his head towards the coffeshop they were standing next too. It was leprachaun green as well. Just like Lucy's tasteless working garment. Lucy nodded. ''Yeah, I was just… closing up, kind off. We just have to count the cash now, so I shut everything down. But, would you like to… uhm, have a cup off tea?''

''Uhm… Are you sure you are allowed to serve people at this hour?''. Lucy looked around.

''Well… No, of course not, but I make an exception. We need to catch up don't we?'' she gave him a heartwarming and cute smile. Gray chuckled, for the first time in a long time he showed some kind of happy emotions. He had to admit it; allthough he wasn't the clingy type, Gray understood what other guys saw in Lucy and why they were clinging on her. It was more than just her ridicolously curvaceous body and gorgeous face. It was also the fact she seemed so innocent and full of life. Most of the other girls in his class had been goodlooking women. But none of them showed as much soul and personality as Lucy ever did.

''Yeah, let's see what you have.''

The tea was almost boiling. Gray blew on the hot fumes and took a microbic sip from the hot water. To be fair, he had never really liked tea. His mom used to make him drink it when he was a child. But it never really stuck to him. Tea was always rather dull. But he didn't feel like complaining too Lucy. Granted it was free and Gray wouldn't be a douche about it in the first place.

''So what are you doing these days then?'' Lucy opened up a small milk carton and pour it in her cup. Gray shrugged uninterestingly.

''I work at an office and clean my apartment. That's essentially all I do in a week. '' Gray regretted he made himself sound so dull, what he said was almost an instant conversation stopper.

''Uhu- weekends too? You never go out or anything?''

''Well, no. I just play X-box with Natsu and that's about it. We eat junkfood, watch movies and play videogames.'' Gray touched the teawater with his lips a second time. ''Then it's back to work again.''

''Wa- wait. Natsu? As in Natsu-'' Lucy made a gesture with her hand as if she was asking Gray to tell her his last name.

''yes. THAT Natsu. We live together, didn't you know that?'' Gray put his cup on the table and pour a little milk in it. He put his spoon in the cup and swirled around.

''Uh, no. I uhm, I didn't know you guys knew one another in that way.'' Lucy took a first sip of her tea and savoured her perfect work.

Gray shrugged. ''It's kind off always been like that. We fight a little, but we always get along in the long run.''

''Oh.. Gray, I didn't know you guys were… uhm, when did you find out?'' Lucy put her cup down enthutiastically and looked deep into Gray's eyes.

Gray frowned, seriously perplexed about the question. ''What do you mean?''

''I mean uhh— You know… I don't know if I want to break it out so bluntly.''

Gray couldn't understand a thing. What was she going on about? He didn't get it. ''Lucy, what the hell are you talking about?''.

''Well how long have you and Natsu been uh-'' Lucy scratched her head, looking for the right way to put it.

''We've known eachother since we were both five or something. We went to kindergarten together. That's how much I know.''

''Ohh… Okay, I see. So it's kind off been, uhh friendship from the start? So to say?''

Gray nodded. ''Yeah, I think so''

''Lucy, we really need to close up, so can you perhaps ask the guest to finish up? Otherwise the boss is gonna complain.'' A female voice exclaimed from somewhere Gray didn't see. He looked around and couldn't see anyone in the store except for Lucy.

''She's in the bathroom'' said Lucy with a broad smile on her face. ''You know… Girl week.'' Lucy almost whispered. ''Yeah! I'll send him away!''

Gray cocked his eyebrow. ''Really? You're sending me home so soon?''

Lucy smiled in an excusive way. ''Yeah, Im really sorry. We cant be seen serving people when we're closed. Our boss would kill us. You know''

''Who's in there?'' Gray cocked his body to the side so he could see behind the bardisc. But before his question was answered by Lucy, he witnessed the other employee opening the restroom door. It was a redhaired young woman, with her hair in a topknot. He remembered her at once. And all of the sudden a rush of memories hit him like a punch in the gut.

''….Erza?'' he exclaimed. Gray would be lying if he had said he was totally expecting to see not only one, but two of his old classmates working at the same place.

''Hello there… Gray'' Erza spoke in a rather cold and dismissive way. It was her way of communicating with him. It had been that way ever since they were kids. But especially since their early teens. They just couldn't communicate anymore after they both had hit puberty. Gray was a rebellious child who couldn't take orders and Erza was a bossy and routinedriven individual who couldn't handle people not following here orders. For some reason she had managed to befriend Lucy, which was strange to young Gray. As persoanlities, they were completely polarized.

''So, how did you guys hook up on this… uh job?'' Gray's voice was lower and less determined than when he had talked to Lucy alone. You always communicate different, with different people. And Erza was the person Gray could amount to show least emotion towards. Every attempt to be energetic or ambitious about talking to her came off as insinicere. Erza untied her hair from the knot and tousled it. It was almost unnaturally red. He had always wondered if her hair color was the namesake of her family name, or the other way around. Regardless, of their rather unexisting relationship, Erza had amazing hair, and that was something Gray could admit. Even if she was scary.

''Long story, we decided we would look for a job together after we graduated.'' She sounded like she tried her best to stop the conversation. ''So how long are you planning to stay?'' not only did she stop the conversation, she sent Gray flying out.

''Uhm… So, I'll be going now I guess.'' Gray pulled his coat over his arms and put his wollen hat on his head. ''Thanks for the tea Lucy. I'll uhm… I'll stay in touch!''. Gray walked up to her and gave her a soft hug, by just pressing the palm of his hand against her arm. He turned around and looked at Erza and simply waved her goodbye.

''Tell Natsu I said hi!'' Lucy shouted after him. Gray smiled at her and waved his hand. ''So are we ready to pack up now? Now that you've put us in deep shit once again?'' Asked Erza. Lucy looked preplexed. ''Deep shit? What do you mean?''

''Well, Lucy, what do we say if the boss find out that we gave away free tea?'' continued the redhaired woman.

Lucy almost looked frightened. ''Okay Erza, I'll take the blame if that happens, this isnt on you, I promise'' Lucy smiled widely. Erza looked back at Lucy and shook her head. ''I can always count on you huh?'' Erza took the seat Gray sat on earlier. ''So should take 5 minutes to just chill out, before we close down?'' said Erza. Lucy shrugged at the question ''yeah, why the hell not?'' she said. ''But I'd really like to go home.'' Silence grasped the little coffeshop.

''But Erza, what's the beef between you and Gray?'' Lucy finally asked. Erza looked a little surprised.

''Uhh, there's none, why do you ask?''

''So you're not angry with him or whatever?'' Erza scratched the back of her head.

''I really dont understand, why would I?''

''Cause... Well, you sent him away a little too sudden. You didn't really sound super happy when he came in.'' said Lucy, ''it's just an idea! I mean, if you have no problem with him, I wont question it.'' Lucy stuttered just a little, as though she excused every last word she uttered. Erza chuckled.

''I really did send him away cause we need to close up. So if you feel like you wanna make a good gesture, invite him over tomorrow or something.'' Erza stood up. She smiled in the kind way she usually do when she's not in the mood for pushing people around. The kind Erza Lucy had gotten to really know. ''Let's go, I don't wanna sit here more than necessary'' she finally said.


Gray tried every key on his ring to fit the door and every last one of them was wrong. He cursed under his breath, as the last one finally clicked. He opened the door up and went straight for the bathroom. As he put the toothpaste on his brush, he could see the lights from the TV in the living room flinger. Gray went in there to check what was going on. Natsu laid causally with his whole body spread out on the couch.

''Hey…'' said Gray while brushing his teeth.

''Hey.'' The pinkhaired tried to focus on the tv.

''What are you watching?'' asked Gray.

''Terminator 3.''

''Do you like it?''

''No, it sucks. But I have nothing else to do, you know.''

''Uhh… how about… Going to work?''

Natsu shook his head. ''Nothing up today. Mr Akiyama only need me occasionally.'' Gray took a seat next to Natsu.

''Must feel good to have a few days off at least.''

''Yup, it helps you recover. I can tell from looking at you that 9-5 isnt exactly a dream''.

''Well, someone has to pay rent.'' Gray cracked his fingers triumphantly and looked around in the living room for something to eat. ''Can I have those pop tarts?'' he pointed at a plastic bag lying on Natsu's chest. The pinkhaired one shook his head.

''I'm gonna kill you if I don't get one.'' Gray glared at Natsu with the angriest face he could muster.

''Try me.''

END NOTES: Son of a bitch! 11 PAGES O.o, never expected it to reach so long. Allright, but in the future, Im gonna try to scale it down somewhat. Im sorry if this isnt top notch, first time I ever write fiction, but I've always wanted too. so Im not quite into the mood yet.

The relationship building between our protagonists begin next chapter, so if you thought this was a little too much talk, you're excused. I hope you enjoyed it! R/R