Disclaimer : I do not own Fairy Tail nor do I profit from writing FanFiction.

Pairings : Natsu/Gray (main), LyoRay, NaLu, LoLu (so minor you won't even notice it)

Rating : M for sexual content.

Warnings : Yaoi, Shounen Ai, BL, whatever you call it. If you are triggered or disturbed by images of two guys kissing, I apologize and suggest you leave.

Natsu x Gray, established (and broken) relationship. Unbeta-ed. Multi-chaptered.

Chapter 10 - Empty

"You... You monster! What the fuck are you?"

Natsu trudged forward in slow motion, a sinister grin never leaving his face.

"I am... A dragon slayer." His dragon slayer. "Sweet dreams."

As the supposedly professional and hard-to-capture criminal screamed his head off, a blazing fist passed clean through his abdomen.

"Three-year-mission, my ass." Collecting the reward, a happy and satiated dragon slayer counted the jewels one by one. "Okay, that's four... Five thousand? Million? Whatever, it's not like I can count that well anyway. Well, I'll be going!"

Wanting to take the quickest route home to tell Gray the good news, he had deemed boarding a train worth it. He yawned lazily and turned his head to the view outside. Although the usual queasiness in his stomach was unyielding, he couldn't be having a better day.

You're a monster!

It was abrupt, with no warning whatsoever.

Memories of what had been running though his mind earlier that day invaded so suddenly Natsu doubled over and retched. Disgusted with himself. He was hit with realization so great, he almost regretted his actions. Almost.

I had honestly wanted to kill him. That criminal.

Natsu could taste the bile welling up in his throat as well as the vomit at the tip of his tongue.

What would you say if you saw me like this? I nearly killed for you today. Nearly spilled cold blood that wasn't mine. I can't live without you. In your absence, all that is left of me is emptiness. Ne. What would you say, Gray...

"What the-" Gray was speechless. "Lyon!"

The silver-haired man chuckled at the look on his lover's face. "I take that you like it?"

"Oh my god. I freaking love it! I love you! But dammit Lyon, you didn't have to!"

Lyon shrugged. "It's not a big deal."

Gray was spluttering. "Not a big deal? Do you see this? It's a freaking palace!"

The black-haired teen was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace. "It's your palace, Princess."

Blushing, Gray retorted, "I'm gonna be the better man and let you off just this once, okay?" He pulled away naturally and continued marveling. "Gosh, just how much did this cost? And more importantly," he coughed. "Why the sudden gift?"

"Gift?" Lyon laughed. "We're paying for this together, silly."

.

.

.

The words echoed in his head.

Gray paled.

"...Sell this shit. I don't care how much I love it, sell it."

Lyon couldn't stop laughing.

"Oi, Lyon! I know we earned quite the sum from all those S class missions, but I was sorta planning on having a nice, low-key life for the rest of my years, ya know? I was saving up. Are you even listening to me?"

Lyon blinked away tears. "No one's telling you to pay with Jewels."

Gray stared at the other for fifteen seconds before it clicked.

"Wha-?" And here you have a rare, bright red ice Mage. "Lyon, you pervert! Like hell am I paying you with my sexy body!"

Stifling his laughter, Lyon voiced playfully, "Oh? Who said anything about sexy bodies? Look who's the pervert here that misunderstood."

"Wait, that's not it?" Gray cocked his head to the side in confusion.

"I want something that is worth so much more." Lyon turned Gray around and wrapped strong arms around the smaller body, pulling the other flush against his chest. He whispered at Gray's ear, his cold, chilly breath tickling him.

"I want your heart. Your love. Can you promise me that?"

Gray shivered. But he lowered his head, his bangs shadowing his expression. "Lyon... Don't. You know that I'm trying. And you know that I still love him."

That didn't deter Lyon in the slightest. "I know. You don't have to pay me in full immediately, you know. You can pay me bit by bit, and one day I'm going to have all your love and attention. Is that okay?"

Gray breathed out a sigh of relief. "Okay."

Lyon had no idea why he was lowering his voice. "Hey. Are you completely sure? This is the promise of a lifetime. Non-refundable. Do you honestly-"

"I do." Gray cut him off. "I do, alright. I told you before." Gray shifted in the other's arms until he was facing him directly. "I want to be with you." With that, he grabbed Lyon's face and kissed him.

Between kisses, Gray murmured, "I don't deserve you, Lyon."

"No, you don't." Lyon replied honestly. "But I sure as hell deserve you." That said, he returned the kiss with fervor.

After a few minutes, they separated, a thin string of saliva connecting their lips.

"As an afterthought," Lyon remarked, "Your sexy body doesn't seem so bad, I'll be taking that too."

"Lyon!"

The two ice mages had moved to the bedroom somehow while making out, and they fell onto the soft sheets.

Gray hadn't felt this happy in ages.

"Hey, Lyon."

Unbuttoning his shirt, Lyon looked up and asked, "What?"

"We're actually living together now then."

"That is the idea." Lyon smiled.

"Lyon..." Tears were welling up in his eyes.

Taken aback by the unexpected and uncharacteristic display of emotion, Lyon inquired worriedly, "Are you okay? What is it?"

"Nothing. I just..." When Gray smiled, it was sincere and gentle. "I have a home now. And I'm happy. Thank you, Lyon."

Lyon leaned over and placed a chaste kiss on his forehead. "You're welcome."

"Is Gray still in Magnolia?" Natsu burst into the guild.

After a moment of surprised silence, Mirajane spoke up, "Yes, he is."

"To be exact, he left but he returned again." Erza looked the dragon slayer up and down. "You look... Healthy. And you're back early. Plus you're grinning. Good news, I presume?"

"Yeah!" Natsu was grinning from ear to ear. "I've got a surprise for him! Do you know where he is, Erza?"

The scarlet Mage smiled approvingly and supportively. "He's right in the neighborhood. I'm surprised you didn't notice the house. Just a bit to the north of our guild. You'll recognize it immediately."

As Natsu hurried out, he felt a strong sense of unease brewing in his belly, but he ignored it.

I can't wait to see his face when he realizes he has a home again.

A smile made its way across Natsu's features. "A home had always held great significance for him."

He rounded a corner, sweat trickling down the nape of his neck.

True to Erza's word, he recognized Gray's place at the first glance.

How could he not?

The place was huge. Scratch that, it was colossal. The walls seemed to be made of something akin to glass or ice, and glittered in the sunlight. The temperature was colder than normal, an obvious giveaway.

But most importantly...

Natsu's stomach tightened, and his hands balled into fists.

Adjacent to the doorbell was a plate. On the plate was carved three words in beautiful cursive - "Lyon & Gray".

"What the fuck."

Natsu turned on his heels and started running. He didn't know what to do. It hit him too abruptly.

It was magnificent. But Natsu just couldn't see Gray living in a place like that. It didn't fit.

You don't belong there.

You shouldn't be living there. Living with him.

It didn't sit right with Natsu.

In the first place, didn't you say that you weren't coming back to Magnolia? And all of a sudden you're staying here? Staying with Lyon? What. The. Fuck.

When he finally ran out of stamina and strength, he crumpled to a heap on the floor. Croaking out bitter laughter, he choked out, "Well look where my feet took me."

Gray's house, the house he had just spent every Jewel he earned on, was staring at him. It was like a slap to the face. No, that wasn't it. It was like a hammer to his heart.

Shit. It fucking hurt.

Pulling the house keys out of his pocket, Natsu placed them on his palm.

"Guess you don't need these after all, Ice bastard." The other words were left unspoken. You don't need me anymore.

I can't really say anything. It's been a busy month. Gosh, I'm so sorry! I know that this is once again an unsatisfactory, short chapter, but I have good news! The school holidays have finally arrived! So I'll be updating more frequently. At any rate, I promise to update within the week. You have my word!

Shout out to everyone who PMed me about this story, you guys really pushed me off my lazy butt. Thank you so much. And thank you to all those who favorited, followed or reviewed.

I'm still way too busy so I apologize deeply for not being able to reply personally to all the reviews as I have been doing previously.

Once again, sorry for the month-long wait!

Please R&R! :)

- Dreams