Gray puffed out his chest and stretched his arms behind him until he felt a satisfying pop. Waking up in his bed was amazing after camping under the stars for an entire week. Their team had only been a few hours walking distance from Magnolia, but the mission that Erza had chosen ended up being more tedious than they'd initially thought and no one had wanted to spend their portion of the reward on a hotel room. However, he'd been pretty tempted to check himself into a ryokan after Natsu burnt his pillow to a crisp.
Hungry enough that he couldn't wait long enough to walk to the guild, Gray headed to his kitchen to whip up some breakfast. His mouth watered merely at the idea of sweet, fluffy eggs. Sleepily walking through the living room, he wondered if there was actually any food in his fridge when suddenly he nearly tripped over something, or rather someone, lying on the floor.
Gray's eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out how or why Natsu was sprawled out in the middle of the room, most importantly why he was even in his apartment. The dragon slayer was flopped on his back with his legs and arms spread out in every direction. He actually looked pretty peaceful for someone sleeping on the cold floor of an ice maker mage's apartment.
Battling with his conscience over whether or not to wake the guy up, Gray finally remembered that Natsu had gotten permission to crash at his place. When they'd arrived back in town at nearly two in the morning, since they'd all voted to travel through the night, Natsu had been so exhausted he'd begged his teammate to let him sleep on his couch since Gray's apartment was closer. Although it was only about a ten minute walk to Natsu's house, they were both too worn out to argue over it and barely made it past Gray's threshold before passing out.
Stepping over Natsu's legs, Gray continued towards his dream of breakfast foods or anything edible considering how hungry he was. When he opened the refrigerator, he was pretty disappointed to see only two yogurt containers and some jam.
Well, he decided that he definitely needed to go grocery shopping later that day. Remembering that he'd just finished a job and actually had a good amount of money for food made his stomach all the more agitated.
It wasn't long before he'd finished off both yogurts and found some bread to spread the jam on. Although it wasn't what he'd been hoping for, it was filling enough for him to survive till lunch time. He plopped on the couch as he repressed the urge to do something productive like unpack his mission gear or take a long awaited shower. Running a hand through his hair, he decided that he could probably put of washing it until later, he'd bathed in a stream nearby their campsite just before they'd headed back to town. Sighing out of boredom, he moved to get back up when he laid eyes on his unsuspecting teammate again.
There were instantly so many evil ideas running through his head! Squatting down next to the slumbering dragon slayer, Gray struggled to figure out what would be the greatest prank. Natsu seriously deserved it after lighting his pillow on fire!
Of course there were the classics, like dumping a bucket of water all over Natsu or playing some loud music right next to his head to scare him awake. Then again both would probably lead to his apartment either becoming incredibly wet or destroyed after the idiot woke up thrashing like a crazy person. Considering his apartment was actually pretty clean at the moment, he immediately ditched those ideas.
Gray also considered scribbling some choice words with a sharpie on Natsu's forehead. But if he actually looked in a mirror before heading to the guild, then no one would even get to see anything.
When Gray's eyes landed on the white scarf that was forever wrapped around Natsu's neck, the absolutely perfect idea came to him.
Smirking, he settled himself over Natsu's waist, pulled the sleeping fire mage's arms together, carefully pulled the scarf off, set it aside, and rested his hands inches away from pink hair. It was times like these that he was so grateful that Natsu could sleep through one of Juvia's rainstorms.
Little puffs of visibly hot air blew through Natsu's lips every once in a while as remained blissfully unaware of what was about to happen.
Holding his teammate's wrists in one hand and his chin with the other, Gray leaned down, slackened his jaw, and sank his teeth into the warm skin of Natsu's neck. He didn't bite hard enough to break the skin, but he had to work quickly.
Olive green eyes sleepily blinked open as Natsu groggily tried to make sense of his surroundings. The odd smell of evergreen permeated his nose so he was certain he hadn't fallen asleep in his own house but initially he wasn't too bothered by it. Not being in his hammock was his second clue although not really more helpful. There was some kind of weird biting and sucking sensation on the side of his neck but that was probably just Happy having another dream about fish. It wasn't the first time his best friend had tried to eat him while sleeping and it wouldn't be the last.
Smiling softly to himself, Natsu tried to look down so he could gently remove the Exceed's mouth that was currently suctioned to his neck. Was he sucking the fish's bones clean or what?
However, instead of blue fur, there was dark hair sticking up from the crook of his neck. Another huge whiff of evergreen told him exactly who was on top of him…for some reason.
"Wha, Gray?" he sleepily mumbled. Swallowing dryly, he tried to push the other guy away from him but found that his wrists were trapped beneath long cold fingers.
The ice maker mage grinned against Natsu's skin at how long it had taken the idiot to wake up and pulled back slightly to check his progress. Halfway down Natsu's neck was a dark red splotch that was already bruising purple right where Gray's teeth had been.
"Whaddya doin'?" hollared Natsu as he tried to hike his legs up to kick Gray off of him, however, anticipating the attack, Gray quickly moved in between Natsu's knees and pinned the dragon slayer down with his hips.
Ignoring his teammate's question, he started to nibble on the skin right beneath the first mark. There was something about Natsu's breathy voice, that was spurring him on.
"Bastard! Get offa me!"
Gray's teeth weren't sharp, but Natsu could feel every ridge and dull edge as they nipped at the sensitive skin of his neck. Then there was the cool sensation of the ice mage's wet tongue sliding over the new bites and supple lips dragging across his throat as he searched for another place to mark.
If he hadn't been listening, Gray would've missed the soft gasp that Natsu made when he accidently licked the dragon slayer's Adam's apple. He could feel his teammate's rapid pulse beneath his lips and the heavy rise and fall of the chest pressed against his own.
Although he'd been muttering insults and tried to free his arms whenever he thought Gray might have let up on his wrists, Natsu really wasn't fighting back very hard.
The most remarkable thing was that the man beneath him hadn't set either of them on fire, whether he was too sleepy to think of it or what, Gray wasn't going to complain.
It was supposed to be for revenge, just a silly prank, but…pranks were for the enjoyment of the prankster after all!
And Gray was, for some reason, really enjoying toying with the hot skin of the fire mage's throat. He nipped down to the base of Natsu's neck and tongued the outline of the jagged scar he found there.
"Nnnnngh," Natsu groaned until he managed to choke it off.
Okay, so that particular spot was pretty sensitive.
Gray blinked at the…um…sound and curiously swiped his tongue back over the rough patch of skin.
Natsu exhaled sharply as his muscles contracted in response to Gray's action but he refused to make another…noise. He wondered what the hell was going on and why it was even happening! Was Gray joking with him? Because he sure as hell couldn't figure out what was funny about this.
"Gray, st-aaaaaah…."
Gray smirked at Natsu's failure to bite-back another moan as he sucked on the scar. Clearly, things were getting quite interesting. He hadn't been expecting this kind of reaction.
Well…
Honestly he didn't know why he was still leaving hickies on Natsu's neck anyways. He'd already gotten one good mark before the dragon slayer had even woken up which was already satisfactory. Imagining the looks on everyone's faces when the idiot walked into the Fairy Tail guild hall with that on display, was all the motivation he needed to actually do it. Yes, he'd have to confiscate the scarf in order for the plan to go down, but that would have been the easy part of the plan and he'd already accomplished the hard part!
Then, what was he doing?
Licking up the entire expanse of Natsu's neck, Gray pressed open mouthed kisses along the heated skin of his teammate's jaw. Natsu's head tilted slightly as he felt the warmth of Gray's mouth tickle over his jugular. He shivered at the sensation of breath across his ear.
Then Gray paused for a moment.
Before he could think about it, he knew he was going to say something stupid. He felt it bubble up from his chest, light and airy, before it easily traveled up through his throat till it arrived in his mouth. There, he held it back behind clenched teeth and tightened lips but it was pressing and needy. He wanted to swallow it back, let it congeal somewhere else, a place where he could slowly accept it for what it was. Yet, it needed to be said because it was the real explanation for all this and all he had to do was just…say it. The timing was right…it wouldn't fall on deaf ears…
Natsu shifted uncomfortably being all the more aware of their position when Gray was still. He considered asking what was going on again when—
Gray's stomach growled loud enough to echo through the room. He instantly jolted back and released Natsu's wrists to wrap his arms around his own waist. Apparently, his body had treated his measly breakfast like a mere appetizer.
Leaning back on his heels, he abruptly stood and stepped over the dragon slayer to pick up his discarded shirt and pants. He didn't remember throwing them off but he rarely did anyways. Stepping into his pants, he looked back over his shoulder.
Natsu was lying on the ground, exactly where he'd left him. Arms stretched over his head like they were still trapped, knees apart as though he was pinned to the ground. His face completely blank as he stared up at nothing since his brain hadn't caught up yet.
"You coming? I'm starving over here," Gray mumbled as if none of it had just happened.
"Uh…yeah."
Shaking his head, Gray waited for Natsu to walk past him out of the apartment before stepping outside. However, he was shocked when he saw his teammate standing out in the sun, without his scarf. He bit his tongue as he quickly locked his door and followed after Natsu who hadn't waited for him.
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"Hey Luce! Sleep well?" greeted Natsu casually as he sat at the bar next to the blonde haired celestial mage.
"Like a rock," she agreed as she looked over at her best friend. She opened her mouth to add more but, it only fell open further as she took in bruises on his neck.
"Natsu, y-you—"
"Yeah I slept pretty good for passing out on Frosty's floor, didn't even make it to the couch." He laughed heartily and swung an arm around Lucy's shoulders as he shriveled back around to face the counter.
"Hey Mira, what's for breakfast today?"
Happy to hear another chipper voice in the guild, Mira turned away from polishing glasses to inform Natsu that it was nearly one o'clock so he'd missed breakfast, to see—
"Natsu! Are those—" She tried again. "Is that…"
"Lucy?" Natsu guessed as he took in her wide eyes and gapping mouth. "I mean, I know she's kinda big Mira, but you don't gotta be rude about it."
That earned him a rather hard smack on the head from an insulted fuming celestial mage.
"Dammit Natsu! She's asking about the hickies all over your neck!"
Every person in the guild hall turned their eyes towards the trio.
"Wow I can see them from here!" shouted a half drunk Cana from all the way on the other side of the room.
"Our Natsu has finally become a man!" exclaimed Elfman while flashing the dragon slayer two thumbs up.
There was an all out commotion as people cheered, blushed, shook their heads, or just looked completely confused.
"What are you guys…" began Natsu until the realization dawned on him and he blushed which caused a whole other wave of excitement. Tugging his shirt off, he wrapped it around his neck and huddled into it. He wished he could disappear into the counter or something. Being marked like that and having everyone see, was mortifying!
Erza appeared beside him. "If you didn't want anyone to see, then why didn't you wear your scarf?"
"I…I didn't realize I wasn't wearing it today."
She sent him a look of sympathy. "I can't say that I approve, but if you ask Wendy nicely then she can probably get rid of them."
"Wendy!" he yelled as he jumped out of his chair.
"However she's currently on a mission," Erza continued as if she wasn't interrupted, "but she should be back tonight."
Natsu sunk back dejectedly into his chair.
"Maybe I should just go home," he grumbled. At least Happy would be there to cheer him up.
"I didn't even know you had a girlfriend Natsu," came Lucy's voice.
"I don't." He started repeatedly beating his head against the wood.
"A-a boyfriend?" Erza questioned with barely disguised astonishment.
"I don't have one of those either!"
"Then—"
"Can you please just drop it," he said to cut Lucy off. His head froze mid smack against the counter before falling against it one last time. He sighed as his hands fell from the shirt wrapped around his neck. It fluttered away from his skin like an unwrapped scarf but it wasn't like anyone could see anything when he was facedown into the bar.
"It didn't mean anything to him so it doesn't matter anyways," he grumbled in soft voice. He really didn't want just anyone listening to his conversation.
"Him!" thought Lucy as she looked at Natsu's back thoughtfully. She'd never seen him show the slightest bit of interest in anyone, which made him the last person she'd expect this kind of behavior from.
"But did it mean something to you?" asked Erza as she placed a hand on his shoulder. Normally Natsu wasn't the type to get so flustered over something, considering he always exclaimed that he never regretted anything he did. However, seeing him agitated over someone…was worrisome to say the least.
Pushing himself into an upright position, Natsu examined the counter as he tried to make sense of his jumbled thoughts. He could still smell the fresh red cedar wood as though it was yesterday that the guild hall had been rebuilt. However, the evergreen boards had been stained dark and brushed over with a potent finish. It looked different now, perhaps better, was protected from damage from the chaos of the Fairy Tail's constant celebrations. But it was still that same smell underneath everything.
He could've swore he saw some condensation become frost upon the wood and felt the icy stare of a certain mage only a few seats down from the three of them.
Natsu felt the heat rush to his face but he didn't falter in his words.
"It meant more than I'd like to admit."
L7L7L7L7
