Fan Club
Disclaimer – I do not own Fairy Tail
Author's Note: And even more school spirit! This is Part Four.
Chapter 7
"We're here, little bro," announced Lyon as he pulled up to the school. But it didn't appear that Gray had heard him. He was too frozen in place.
Nervous eyes peeked out the window of the car, eyeing all the students scampering about in Gothic clothing with trepidation. He looked down at himself and mentally groaned. Why did it have to be Goth Day?
In the beginning, he hadn't even known what Goth was. And after a very elaborate description from Lyon—how he knew in the first place was beyond him—his brother had decided on this very outfit himself. Lyon had said it was a Victorian Vampire costume, but they'd altered it somewhat so that he didn't actually resemble the stereotypical vampire.
Gray wore a silver and black vest with attached white sleeves, silver chain trimmings, a dickey with an attached cravat, and a cape. All in all, he was embarrassed. Lyon had said he looked good, but Gray begged to differ.
Well, there was only one way to find out.
Stepping out of the car, Gray slammed the door shut and took a few steps toward the school. When several girls swooned as he passed them, he figured Lyon had been right. But he wasn't too sure if that was a good thing or not.
"I have to admit, you actually look pretty good today," said Sting, crossing his arms as he glared at Gray.
"I could say the same about you, but then I'd be lying," Gray retorted with his signature smirk. That comment got him frazzled.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're a bastard?" he snapped.
"Yes, but not nearly as many times as you've been called an asshole, I'm sure." He was getting a real kick out of this. Maybe if he pissed him off enough, he'd leave him alone. "Are you sure your costume is appropriate for today?"
"Huh?" responded Sting, sounding confused. "What do you mean?"
"Well, if you're trying to get Natsu's attention, don't you think he might get the wrong message based on what you're wearing?"
What was wrong with what he was wearing? He looked down at himself. Sting wore a black widow themed top, matching pants, satin gloves, a head and eye band, and a necklace. If anything, he looked pretty damned sexy.
"That fact that you're passing yourself off as a black widow will more than likely turn Natsu off."
"What do you mean?"
"In actuality, after a black widow mates, she kills her partner. Just what kind of message are you trying to send him?" inquired Gray. When realization dawned in his eyes, Gray knew he'd won.
"You're lying to me!" he declared, pointing at him accusingly.
"He's not lying, Sting. It's true," stated Rogue as he approached them with Natsu in tow.
Rogue wore a short sleeve zip-up jacket with a bare midriff and tails. The jacket was purple with a rose design and featured a high crushed velvet collar. There was also a pair of black pants hanging just off his hips, and the bottom was trimmed in the same material as the jacket.
"Sting?" Rogue called, waving a hand in front of his face. Glancing over at Gray, it looked as if he was in the same frozen position his friend was currently in. And the reason seemed to be over Natsu.
Natsu wore a midnight black coat with a high satin collar and built-in cape with matching pants. The coat featured seven gothic-styled buttons in the front and three on each cuff. But the part of his outfit that seemed to be so distracting was the fact that Natsu wasn't wearing a shirt underneath his coat; in fact, his chest was exposed all the way down to his navel.
Gray swallowed convulsively. There was definitely no way he could deny his feelings now. He really was attracted to Natsu. Sexually! He just wanted to grab him and…molest him! What the hell was he thinking? He was getting as bad as Sting!
"Hi," said Gray. His head was spinning. All that thinking and that was the best he could come up with? What was wrong with him?
His chest. It had to be Natsu's chest. He just wanted to touch it!
Gray sighed. What was he going to do? Natsu looked at him as an rival. Nothing more, nothing less. How could he change Natsu's perception of him? He needed help.
But was there really anyone to ask?
There were so many squeals erupting from the girls outside that it sounded as if they were standing in the middle of a pig farm. The day's lunch activity was the reason behind all of that.
It was at this point in time that Gray wanted to slaughter whoever had come up with this idea. It had to be Cana. No one else would have come up with a Demonic Tunnel of Love. It seemed to be a cross between your typical Haunted House and a Tunnel of Love. Who thought up things like this?
"They're splitting everyone up into two lines," started Natsu. "I guess they'll be sending everyone in as pairs. I don't think I can do this."
"Why not?" asked Gray, looking interested.
"I don't do creepy stuff. I'm not stepping one foot in there."
"It's not mandatory to go inside. I suppose I can wait out here with you until your friends have had their fun."
"Huh? Don't you want to go in?"
Gray narrowed his gaze and frowned. "And get stuck with one of those fangirls? No, thank you."
Natsu laughed. "Yeah. I guess you're right."
"No!" Sting cried. He was pissed. He didn't want to stand in line and then suddenly get paired off with some random person for the Demonic Tunnel of Love. He wanted to be paired with Natsu. He was afraid of all things haunted, so it would have been the perfect opportunity to get in some free groping.
"Why am I here again?" Rogue asked.
"Because if I have to be here without my lover, then you have to be here, too. And you're the Vice President."
"The first part doesn't even make sense."
"It does in my head."
"Whatever," Rogue sighed. "It looks like you're up next."
Sting groaned and trudged over to the entrance of the Demonic Tunnel of Love. Who was he being paired up with, anyway?
"Why does it have to be you?" Gray exclaimed, his jaw dropping. Curse those stupid fangirls for shoving him and Natsu into the line!
Sting raised an eyebrow. Well, it could have been worse. "What do you mean by that?"
"Why do I have to be stuck with a pervert like you?" he shouted.
"I'm not a pervert!" he yelled.
"Yeah, right."
"Although, if you want me to be, I can. And I'll show you, too," he ground out, his expression becoming serious. Gray bolted for the Demonic Tunnel of Love, Sting right on his heels.
"It's our turn now."
Rogue turned his head to see Natsu smiling at him. He had to go with Natsu? Nodding, they both made their way down the darkened entryway.
"So…do you like these kinds of things?" asked Natsu.
"What? Creepy stuff? Yeah, I guess so. But the stuff in here is far from creepy," he said as they walked by what looked like a skeleton bride and groom. "Shouldn't a place like this be scarier? I mean, it would literally have people jump into each other's arms if it was."
Natsu chuckled. "Is that your way of saying you want to be held?"
"No. But you're going to."
"Huh?" The teen turned around to see what Rogue meant and came face to face with a demonic looking clown that suddenly swooped down at them. "Holy shit!" he screeched as he jumped away from it.
"Let me know when you're ready to let go," Rogue said with an amused grin.
"What? Oh!" Natsu then realized he'd latched himself onto him after running away from the damned clown. "I'm sorry!" he insisted frantically, immediately releasing his grip on him.
Rogue laughed lightly in response. "It's fine. You're such a scaredy-cat."
"I am not scared," Natsu stated defiantly.
"You're just like Sting."
He was about to protest when they suddenly heard a high-pitched scream coming from deeper within the tunnel. Natsu's hand lashed out and grabbed Rogue's, subconsciously seeking comfort. Rogue looked down at their hands curiously before giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.
"As I said. Scaredy-cat."
Natsu fidgeted. "Just don't tell anyone," he whispered.
"Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me. Now let's go save Gray. I'm pretty sure that was him we heard screaming."
Things weren't looking so well for Sting. Or Gray for that matter. He was currently being restrained by a set of chains on the wall inside of the Demonic Tunnel of Love. And Sting was chained to him in a way that definitely made it appear inappropriate.
Hence the scream he gave earlier.
"What the heck do you think you're doing?" Sting roared as he glared at Gajeel, who just smile back at him. He stepped closer so that they could see him better.
"I'm getting my revenge," he said.
"Revenge? Revenge for what?"
"For yesterday!" Gajeel growled.
"That's what this is about? But you guys got me back yesterday! You dumped water on me, remember?"
Gajeel crossed his arms. "I'm afraid a kick to the family jewels warrants no mercy."
"You asshole!" he screeched.
"What's going on?"
"Rogue!" Sting exclaimed, happiness clearly evident on his face. "Help me!"
Natsu and Rogue approached the scene with a mixture of amusement and disinterest. "How do you even get yourself into these messes?"
"I don't do it on purpose!"
"Keep them here for about fifteen more minutes then let them go," said Rogue as he dragged a gaping Natsu alongside him down the tunnel. "See you later, Sting!"
"What?" he screeched. "Unchain me, damn it! You traitor!"
Gray sighed in relief when he finally made it away from Sting. Soon, he spotted Natsu and approached him cautiously.
Gray fiddled with his hands as he stood next to Natsu, waiting for everyone else to return from the Demonic Tunnel of Love. He glanced over at him and found Natsu staring at him intently. "What?"
"It's nothing," Natsu replied quickly, averting his gaze.
"Seriously, what?"
"Um. It's just that I didn't think you'd actually do this stuff," Natsu started unsurely. "All the dressing up and participating in lunch activities? I never thought you'd do stuff like that. I figured you'd fight everything tooth and nail."
Gray took a deep breath as if contemplating his words. He wanted to make sure whatever he said next would earn him some kind of brownie points with Natsu. He needed to change his image around him. "I decided that since this is our last year of high school that I'd…have no regrets. Even if that meant doing things I wouldn't normally do. Everyone will go their separate ways after this school year ends and…"
"And you want to make memories or something?" Natsu questioned. At Gray's sharp nod, Natsu smiled. "It took you long enough. And who knew you could be so sappy."
"I'm not sappy!"
Natsu chuckled. "Sure you aren't."
"I'm not!"
End Chapter
