Hey guys, new chapter! This one is pretty casual and kinda swet, lil angst. You know, things you guys love. I do not own Fairy Tail or the characters used. Hope you guys enjoy.
What do you do after you say I love you? Now, most would probably passionately make love together. But that phrase 'make love' made Natsu's skin crawl. It was cringey. Having sex wasn't 'loving' it's just simple mating. It's wired in people's brain to have sex with their mate. There's no love to it. Just hormones. What love really was is getting passed that. It was lunch dates and splitting the bill. It's arguing over little things and then rolling your eyes, kissing their cheek and saying 'Fine you're right', even though they're wrong. It's you showering while your partner brushes their teeth and still somehow wants to talk to you with a mouth full of toothpaste.
What Natsu and Gray did after they said it was order pizza, getting in pajamas, smoke a fine amount of weed, and had a Quentin Tarantino marathon. Starting with Kill Bill. This was a week after they spoke those three words to each other. Gray was shirtless, the bong in his lap as he sucked on the mouthpiece and lit the weed. Removing the stem. Gray put his hand to him mouth and coughed a little, some smoke escaping his lips before blowing the rest of it out.
"H-h-h-holy shit!" Gray exclaimed and pat his chest as he coughed, "Goddamn, kill me."
Natsu chuckled, he had a bowl of his own that he was smoking from. He was too much of a light weight to take too many hits from a bong. He took two earlier, Gray had the rest. Natsu inhaled smoke and then blew out slowly. He tapped the ash into a silver candle cap.
"I get that you're trying to look cool, but don't smoke what you can't." Natsu said.
"Shut it, your weed is different than mine. I'm not used to it. Damn, hand me a slice of that pizza."
"Hand me a slice of that pizza what?"
"Now."
Natsu sighed and rolled his eyes, grabbing a slice of cheese pizza for Gray, "I was looking for the word 'please' you unruly child."
Gray grabbed the slice and took a bite. Moaning loudly as he chewed. Sauce got into the corner of his cheek before he licked his lips. Natsu giggled slightly. While being under the influence and how childish Gray was behaving at the moment, it somehow go to him and made him happy. Natsu already had half of his pizza before he was high. So it was expected that Natsu would just get more hungry. Natsu got up from the couch, he wore a Pink Floyd tee shirt and black leggings.
"I gotta get a soda… And make some mac and cheese." Natsu laughed.
Gray tapped Natsu's ass, "Bring another nug while you're at it, babe. You left the baggy on the kitchen table."
Natsu jumped slightly and then walked between the hall and the kitchen, "Haven't you smoke enough?"
"It's for the both of us. Not just me."
"What makes you think I want to smoke more?"
"I just do. Now get a nug and your sodie pop and boil your water for mac and cheese. Okay, baby? Thanks."
Natsu sighed and tipped back his head as his hand hung on the kitchen hallway frame before swinging into the room. He grabbed a pot from under the sink and filled it up with water. He turned on the stove and put the pot on the stove. He got into the fridge and grabbed a Coke zero. Natsu cracked it open and sipped it before grabbing the bag of weed. It seemed like there was this film of comfortability around this room.
Like it was a different planet and if they walked out of this room they would be sucked up into space. It was scary to think about, but if Gray got sucked up with him, then he guessed Natsu would have to pack the bong and start smoking again while they floated among the universe. But for now, Natsu was happy living on this planet, and he would hope he would stay here for awhile. Natsu sat down on the ground and put the baggy on the coffee table. Gray cleared his throat and picked it up, unraveling the bag and grabbing a big chunk of weed. He broke it apart and packed it in the bong. Gray never cared too much for a grinder. Gray turned the bong to Natsu.
Natsu raised an eyebrow, "Oh you want me to take the green hit?"
Gray nodded and waved his hand. His flannel pajama pants were starting to annoy him so he took them off. It wasn't that unusual, "Yeah, go on, take it."
Natsu grabbed the lighter and lit it, he sucked on the mouthpiece as the smoke formed and Natsu lifted up the stem. Smoke rushed to the top and Natsu inhaled. As Natsu held it in, smoke tickled his nose before he exhaled, "God… Why do you wanna smoke so much?"
Gray shrugged and grabbed the bong, "It's a Friday night, I thought we would have some fun, you know?" Gray struggled a few times to start the lighter but eventually did it.
"I guess you're right. Don't let me forget about the water on the stove. I can't tell my brother that I burnt down the apartment high off my ass while trying to make mac and cheese."
Gray laughed, coughing a little after while smoke flowed out of his mouth and nose, "I won't let you forget. You better share. I bought the pizza, it's the least you can do."
"I guess you're right," Natsu rubbed his nose, the inside was burning, "Good God, please finish that. I can't smoke anymore. My head feels clogged."
"Pussy," Gray said and put the bong to the side on the end table, "I'll just save it for later."
Natsu punched Gray's arm, "You're the real pussy. You can't finish it either."
"I said I'm saving it. I'll smoke more later."
"Yeah, like after you have a little nap."
Gray sighed and sat on the ground across from Natsu now instead of the couch. He looked around the room.
"Whatever, hey, where's my guitar? I brought it in here right? It's not in your room is it?"
"It's behind you, dingus,"Natsu pointed behind him. The guitar was against the end of the couch, "What? You feeling musical?" He chuckled
"Yeah, when I get high like this I start to get to a creative point after a bit. Most of it is shit but still. Something might come out of it. Besides, it gives me something to do. I get antsy."
Gray grabbed the guitar. Gray called her 'Del'. 'She' had a few stickers on her. The classic N.A.S.A sticker all guitar chumps had, a rain drop Juvia gave him a long time ago and a 'Cold as Ice' sticker Gray literally found off the ground in the bad part of town. His fingers started fiddling with the strings and tuning it. Natsu softly sighed and looked at the television, blood on the screen. It was rather fantasizing. The blood being a rather ridiculous color of red and the amount watched as Uma Thurman was on her way to kill Lucy Liu. Their battle was so long, so clean. The aesthetic of white, cold snow being present during such brutal, vengeful battle. Natsu hummed and smiled widely. It made his body flutter. The scene seemed to take longer than usual. Maybe it was because he was in a different state of mind.
"Uma Thurman killed Lucy Liu. Took her awhile, huh?" Natsu said as he leaned on his palms.
Gray didn't look up from his guitar, "Uh huh. Check your mac and cheese, Natsu."
"Shit! You're right!" Natsu hopped off of the ground and ran into the kitchen.
Natsu gasped, the water was boiling almost over. He calmed down and turned the fan on above the stove. The water started to settle, he was sure that the macaroni was done. He grabbed the handle of the pot and walked over to the sink. He slowly poured out the water, trying to strain out as much as he could without letting any of the pasta fall out. Natsu hummed, he heard Gray faintly pick at his guitar. Natsu smiled and tried to think of a song, but he wasn't great at thinking of any lyrics. Natsu put the cheese in the macaroni and started to mix it in. The smell flooded his nose of steam and cheddar cheese. He stuck the spoon in the pot and picked up the whole thing.
Natsu came back into the living room and sat the warm pot on the table. Gray really was focused on playing. His mind must have to find something to do, he might go crazy if he didn't. Natsu sat back down in his spot and opened up a pizza box, grabbing a slice and a spoonful of mac and cheese. He put some on the pizza, his eyes brightened before he took a big bite. Gray raised an eyebrow.
"Mac and cheese pizza? Maybe you should make munchie food for a living." Gray laughed.
"Dude, it's fucking great. Zeref would make it for me all the time when dad left pizza money. I told him- since we usually had mac and cheese dad hated us cooking when we were younger- that he should make the mac and cheese too. I had the idea but he was the cook to agree to make it. It's like a comfort food. Do you have anything like that?"
Gray pierced his lips together and strummed the guitar rather hard. He put his hand over the strings to stop the vibration, "Hmm? Oh um… I think Dreamsicles with whipcream might be comfort food for me. Before Ur died she'd give us that as a snack no matter what season it was. It was always a really nice sweet treat. If I was sad she'd give me one and spray some whip cream on top. She'd pat my head and have on with me while I sat in her lap. Maybe I should think of a song about popsicles."
"That's a stupid song idea. I wouldn't do it." Natsu said and took another bite.
"Hey, I'm an English major with creative writing. I can make a song out of anything," Gray started to strum softly again, "How's the internship been going by the way."
Natsu groaned and rolled his eyes, "I'm just going through paperwork basically. Past cases to make sure social workers have actually been checking up on them and stuff. It really sucks, honestly. But hey, I guess I have to get used it, huh?"
Gray nodded, "Yeah, kinda sounds like when schools check out a ton of books at the same time. It feels like busy work doesn't it?"
Natsu scarfed the rest of the pizza. Now chewing on the crust, "Pretty much. I think I'll like it more when I can make home visits and stuff which kinda sounds bad. I mean. Social services doesn't come to your house to just say 'Hey, hello, how are yeah Becca. You look well today. How's the kid you let get into an open oven last month?'"
"Pfft, why did you pick the name 'Becca' for a dead beat mom?"
"I don't know that's just what I came up with," Natsu grabbed the remote and turned off the television. He like the music Gray was improving, "I've been seeing a couple of 'Becca's' in reports I've sifted through.I guess it's a bad parent name."
"Damn, thank God I was left with a Ur and not a Becca,", Gray shrugged, his eyes gazed up from the guitar but kept playing, "And how's Luc been?"
Natsu stopped chewing on the crust and swallowed. He sighed and looked at Gray.
"How do you think, Gray?" Natsu asked.
"I don't know, that's why I'm asking you. Duh."
Natsu sighed and put his elbows on the coffee table, "Distant. Well, we've gotten a little better since I told her about us. It's pretty awkward. It's weird, we've done so much shit together and I've never felt so weird around her. And it's the same from her. At least she's texting me and taking me to work sometimes now, right?"
Natsu ruffled his own hair. His mouth felt dry, he sipped his soda. Maybe he was paranoid. Was it alright that Lucy would message him simple small talk? That after classes Lucy wouldn't mind taking him to work, flashing him a cheap smile that Natsu would save up. Hoping to afford a real one. How could he give back to his community know a Lucy. Natsu needed to provide for her to blossom back into that garden that he knew. Natsu groaned and rubbed his face.
"God… What can do? Just accept this? I don't know when we'll get over this."
"Natsu, people grow up. They get over things. We all do. You went into a Waffle House with me even though you've had bad experience before. But you got over it."
Gray's tone was so blase. So different from how he was acting before. He must have been in a more 'chilled' state now. It's not like he wasn't listening. He was maybe fiddling with that guitar too much. The mac and cheese was becoming cold along with the pizza. Natsu was becoming somewhat heated.
"This isn't a Waffle House, Gray. This is my friendship on the line, this is Lucy. I know you didn't talk to her for long but still… You can get what kind of person she is. She's fantastic. I don't want that to change."
"Time heals all wounds."
"How fast?"
"Depends. Could be in the next minute. Could be a week. Could be two years. It's funny how time works," Gray finally figured out a rhythm he wanted to keep for a moment, "Hey, how does this sound," Gray cleared his throat, "Hot summer day. Boys are coming out to play.
Skinned their knees. The girl forgot her keys. Dreamsicles in the car. And a can of whip cream-"
"I thought I told you that's a dumb idea for a song," Natsu interrupted, "You sound like an indie faggot."
"Hey, here's an idea. Maybe ask Lucy if she wants to come over one day. I'll make all of us dinner," Gray said, "The boys faces are messy from juice and milk. At Least she's gotten her fill. She'll laugh today."
Gray's voice was low when he sang. But it wasn't harsh, it was rather smooth along with the tune of the guitar. It sounded as if he was singing on an old radio station. Singing through a telephone line. Gray probably just wanted to clear the situation he brought up. Or at least make it better. Natsu rolled his eyes as Gray kept humming the song he just created. Natsu got up and grabbed the bong. He decided to finish the weed by himself. Gray didn't seem to mind.
"Like she would like that idea," Natsu exhaled smoke, "How did you learn how to play guitar anyway?" Natsu asked, "Were you in a band or something?"
Gray shook his head, "I bought Del at garage sale for five bucks. I thought it was a steal for a nice guitar so I thought I'd have to put her to good use. I learned how to play by myself. It's easy to find online lessons and stuff."
"Wow… I thought that would have been a way better story. Now you really do sound like an indie fag."
"How about think on that idea that I just told you instead of calling me and indie fag all this time."
Gray leaned over and grabbed the spoon for the pot. Shoveling a few bites in his mouth before he went back to strumming a new rhythm. He shrugged.
"Maybe it is a bad story. But it's my story and I love that story. If I didn't do that then I wouldn't be playing for you right now. And I love you."
"God why do you sound so deep all of a sudden? It's like you're all mystical and wise when you're high. Maybe I just think that because I'm high," Natsu crawled around the coffee table to Gray. He moved to his side and rested his head on Gray's shoulder. He felt tired. He grabbed Gray's cigarettes from the end table and put one in his mouth, "Can you make up a song for me?"
"What right now?"
Natsu lit the cigarette and inhaled, "Yeah right now. You said you can make any song. Put that English degree to work."
Natsu put the cigarette up to Gray's lips and he inhaled.
"It doesn't work like that, I need a minute to think of something."
"If you can think of a song about popsicles you can think of a song for your boyfriend. Now do it."
"You're so rude."
"Bite me."
Gray hummed and started to strum gently. Natsu's eyes closed as he smoked. Natsu's free hand gripped Gray's leg. His eyelids twitched as he listened to the guitar.
"There's this place… Called the ocean. And I'd hope to see you there. You heated boy, who likes to stare. Please take my heart, I know you won't tear it apart. And if you do... Then I guess I'll forgive you. Hopefully."
Natsu's joints became relaxed now. Gray voice rang in his ears, he heard the tapping of Gray's foot on the floor keeping the beat. How did this voice do this to him? It made him forget about the 'Becca' he read about the other day. How she left her kid for hours, sometimes days alone. That brought back isolation memories. But Gray's song swept that under the rug for another day. Even if… It was rather too poetic sounding and too try hard. But still, it meant a lot to Natsu. A silly improv song is what Natsu needed. Natsu kissed Gray's neck as he continued to sing. Then his shoulder, Natsu nipped gently.
"I like to be with you. So tell me what do, I hope I do it well. And if you start to yell," Gray's face pressed against Natsu's neck, "I'll tell you to go to hell." Gray teeth grazed Natsu's skin, making Natsu giggle and shrug up his shoulders. Gray snuck a kiss on Natsu's cheek.
"Did you ever want to be a singer?" Natsu asked, taking a drag from the cigarette.
"Maybe. Ur would sing all the time to my and Lyon at night if we weren't little assholes during the day. She played piano, she never taught me because she knew it would be a bad idea if she did. There's no way I would have sat still to do so. Her voice was really sweet. I do like singing. But I know for a fact I can't make a career out of it. I think I wanted to be an author though more than anything. I used to draw crummy picture books. But that became just a dream too."
Natsu sighed and put his knees to his chest. He stubbed out the cigarette in a candle tin and curled up against Gray.
"When I was little I wanted to be a dragon," Natsu heard a small chuckle from Gray. Natsu nudged him, "Then I wanted to be a wizard. Then I want to be a dragon wizard."
"What a good career choice."
Natsu clicked his tongue and smirked, "I was little, cut me some slack. Lots of kids have dreams like that… But I think whenever Igneel left…I wanted to be a dad. Like, the best dad ever. I want to have a great job, give them kisses at night, help them learn to tie their shoes…I think I still have that dream…. I'm such a buzz kill," Natsu laughed and rubbed his eyes "I bum myself out like this. Sorry."
Gray looked to the side of Natsu and then looked back down. He would just let Natsu talk. Just shut up and listen. He wonder if it was from the weed. Or was everything bubbling up inside and it just started to froth at the mouth. Natsu turned around to where his back faced Gray, he deeply sighed and put his hands on his cheeks.
"It's just… I feel like all this shit is just coming up that it's just making everything else come up. I'm sorry," Natsu ran his fingers through his hair, "I'll ask Lucy at school if she wants to have dinner with us."
Gray smiled and leaned down to kiss Natsu's lips. Both of their eyes closed before pulling away.
"How would that song you made up end?" Natsu asked.
Gray smiled and started to play again. His back against Natsu's. Happy decided to come out of the bedroom and join the two of them. He purred against Natsu's shins before he picked Happy up.
"We would get married and be together til we're old and grey. In a little house at this place… By the ocean. Where you care for a boy who likes to play. Where I'll come home and say 'I love you' twice a day."
"And Happy. Don't forget Happy."
"And Happy too."
When class was over for Natsu he was forced to pass Lucy while he went to her building and while she walked out of it. Natsu saw her in a skirt with black leggings underneath and a pink tee shirt. She always kept her books close to her chest and her eyes usually on the ground if she wasn't talking to anyone. But today she was walking with Levy so she had someone to talk to and laugh with when she went to her next class. It was easy to spot her, Lucy's hair always shined like it was light itself. Natsu sighed before he looked up and began to walk a little quicker.
When they were in their more distant state, it was rather awkward to see her pass by. But Natsu believed both of them kept their heads down so they wouldn't dare to make eye contact. Maybe a shy greeting. Natsu heard Lucy laughed before he got close to her.
"Hey! Lucy!" Natsu called.
Lucy looked up at Natsu and gave a tiny smile and wave, "Hey Natsu, what's up?"
"Can I talk to you for a minute? Um, alone please, Levy."
"Natsu it can't be tha-
"No it's okay, I understand," Levy pat Lucy's shoulder and smiled, "I'll go ahead I'll be late if I don't hurry up anyway. Sucks when you have classes across campus and only get ten minutes. See you Luc, bye Natsu."
"See you Levy." Natsu said and took her spot.
"Bye," Lucy turned her head, "So… What do you want?"
"Well, um. I was just wondering if you're doing anything tomorrow?"
Lucy raised an eyebrow, "In the morning I'm studying with a guy I met in creative writing but other than that I'm free. Why?"
"That's perfect. Me and Gray wanna invite you over to my house for dinner. He's cooking."
"Gray?" Lucy faintly said and looked at the covers of her book, "I-I don't Natsu…"
"Come on, it's a free meal. It'll be like old times."
"Natsu, lately it hasn't been like old times. I just don't know right now."
"Luc." Natsu groaned.
"Natsu stop pushing me to say yes."
"Luc, please," Natsu stopped in front of her and held her shoulders, "I miss you. I miss you you. I just want to have a nice dinner and not talk to you like you're a stranger. I mean.. don't you feel the same about that? Please say yes."
Lucy bit her lip before sighing deeply. She tapped her foot on the pavement and looked into Natsu's begging eyes. She curled her lips and smiled at him. One not out of pity for once. She squeezed her books about if comfort.
"Is six okay?" Lucy asked
Natsu grinned and let up, "Yeah, yeah six is perfect. I'll tell Gray and we'll go shopping tonight so we can make you something great!"
Lucy laughed softly, "I haven't seen you this excited in a while. I feel so important right now."
Natsu kept smiling at her, now not worrying so much about his class anymore, "You are important," Natsu punched her shoulder gently, "So this guy in your class, what's he like?"
"If I said anything about him you might try to date him."
"Oh shut up. I'm only gay for one guy. I'm very picky about men apparently. Come on, spill it."
"I'll tell you at dinner tomorrow okay? Me and you have to get to class. I'll see you later."
"You're just going to leave me on the edge of my seat. You asshole."
Lucy giggled and waved, "Bye, Natsu."
Natsu stopped walking and pouted. He put his hands in his pockets and rolled his eyes. He turned around, heading back to the building he was actually supposed to go to. That conversation… It felt… Natural. It made Natsu feel warm. Excited even. Natsu started to walk a little quicker, like there was a pep in his step. His phone buzzed, Natsu pulled it out and checked the notification. It was a mass email that his professor had sent. His class had been canceled. Natsu blinked and shrugged.
"Couldn't be a better day, I guess." Natsu said to himself before laughing slightly.
Natsu turned away from the building he was heading for and turned towards the path to the library. Since he had some extra time he might as well visit Gray. Just for a little bit to talk about dinner with Lucy. He walked the short path to the library and opened the giant doors of the building and walked in. There was a good amount of students in the building, some were people Natsu knew from his last class. They must have come to study since their class was canceled. Natsu slowly trailed around the building to try and find Gray. He walked through the Self Help aisle and saw Gray on a tall ladder with a cart of books next to him. He wore a white button up shirt tucked into slacks. Natsu came up next to him.
"Hey. Gray," Natsu said and waved, "Yoohoo."
"Oh, hey Natsu," Gray put the book in the shelf and got down from the ladder, "What are you doing here? Don't you have a class?"
"It got canceled but guess what." Natsu grinned
Gray grabbed a couple of books in his arms and looked at the cover. He still had a job to do, "What's up?"
"Lucy said yes to having dinner with us!"
"Shhh, shush. It's a library, you need to be quieter," Gray said, Natsu shrugged up, "But that's great. We should go grocery shopping after I'm done with work."
Natsu nodded, "Yeah, that's what I want to do. I was thinking like a grilled chicken something and frozen yogurt for dessert. Lucy loves yogurt."
Gray laughed softly, "I can make Thai chicken. It's pretty good. You can pick out whatever sides you want."
"What even goes well with that? I think Luc would like rice with that or no, maybe a soup or something? Ugh, I don't know."
Gray put the books away according to the last name. He started to push his cart and Natsu followed behind. Still thinking about everything and anything Lucy would enjoy. Gray put another book away.
"You seem pretty scattered. You've probably have had Lucy over for dinner many times. What makes this different?"
"You're there Gray. And I'm there with you as my boyfriend and….," Natsu sighed and grabbed Gray's arm, "Today she talked to me like an actual person. Like we were. That's so exciting, Gray. So yeah, I'm a little scattered at the moment."
Gray breathed out softly and pulled Natsu towards him. He kissed his forehead before teasing Natsu's hair.
"Stay here for a bit with me. You can talk to me about all of it, alright?"
Natsu smiled softly, "Yeah, alright."
"Oh, before I forget, I have to ask you a pretty off topic question."
"Go for it."
"Would you want a mix tape of like songs that I kinda make up? You seemed to like it during the weekend."
"Like a genuine tape? Like from the 90's or something?"
"Yeah, like that."
"I have nothing to play a tape on."
"Oh shit, that's right. Well um…"
"Dummy."
So I hope you enjoyed. Review, follow, and favorite if you did. Helps me out a lot. See you next update.
