Natsu wanted to punch something and badly. It's been only about 20 minutes since his last argument with his best friend. Stalking back and forth in an alley way he grumbled angerly under his breath.
"TO HELL WITH THIS!" Natsu yelled and kicked a crate over.
"Hey moron- some people around here are trying to sleep." A voice called out to him. "They don't need your moody ass disturbing them."
"Shut up Grey." Natsu did not want to see that snowflake's stupid face right now.
"What makes you think I'll listen to you mouth breather?" Grey kicked him squarely in the back causing Natsu to stumble forward.
Natsu quickly spun around to punch him.
"You're gonna pay for that ice popsicle!" He growled before lunging at Grey. He was already pissed but seeing Grey's arrogant and mocking grin he was even more pissed off now.
"Awww what's the matter? Am I too fast for ya?" Grey was egging him on, Natsu knew but he didn't care. He just wanted to beat him senseless right now.
Natsu didn't notice that Grey had lured him out of the alley and into the deserted street.
"Stop moving and fight me ice Princess!" Natsu moved forward to kick Grey but he jumped out of the way.
"Ehhh… I'm not really feelin it.." Grey continued to lead the fight down the street. Skipping out of range of the frustrated fire mage.
"Coulda fooled me," Natsu scowled before landing a punch on Grey's face. "cocky bastard"
Grey punched Natsu in the stomach as a retaliation.
"So… you gonna tell me what's got you all riled up?"
"Like hell I'd tell you!"
"Lemme guess… is it… Lucy?"
Natsu faltered before scowling at his frenemy.
"NO!" He landed another punch on Grey.
"Oh yeah? Then why aren't you with her right now?"
Natsu grunted in response as he let out his frustrations on his sparring partner. "Usually you'd be sticking to her side like glue at times like this…"
Grey managed to put Natsu into a headlock
"Is it… cuz she's with Sting right now?"
Natsu kicked him and escaped his grasp.
"I don't wanna hear about that bastard!"
Grey dodged an incoming attack. He stopped one of Natsu's punches with his fist.
"Natsu could you be… jealous of that guy?" Grey looked at him seriously, without a hint of mocking.
"Hell if I know. All I know is his face pisses me off." Natsu gritted his teeth and yanked his fist out of Grey's grasp. There was something about Sting, Natsu didn't trust those cocky blue eyes. And he certainly didn't trust him next to Lucy.
"Natsu… answer me honestly now." Grey relaxed from his fighting stance and stuck his hands in his pants pocket.
"How do you really feel about Lucy?"
Natsu groaned out in frustration and dropped down to a squat. Natsu buried his face in his hands. Why was he talking about this with Grey of all people?
Grey watched him silently for a moment.
"You're in love with her aren't you?" He sounded surprised. Natsu gave the ice mage a look that said
'No shit genius.'
"Really? I didn't think you even knew what romance was."
Natsu stood up and stalked away from him. He wasn't in the mood to be insulted right now.
"So when'd it start?" Grey easily kept in pace with the pink aronsinist. Natsu slowed his steps for a moment frowning.
"I dunno a while ago I guess…". He shook the question off and continued walking.
They had entered a town square. A water fountain sat in the middle and the street lights were the only things that shined that night.
Natsu looked up at the sky, frowning when he couldn't see the stars.
"You never told her anything?" Grey sincerely asked.
"No! I just-" with a huff Natsu sat down on the edge of the water fountain. Arms crossed.
"Lucy… well.." gritting his teeth.
Grey sat next to him, letting his elbows rest on his knees. He waited patiently for Natsu to form a sentence with his pea sized brain.
After a sigh Natsu glared at the cobble stone street.
"I don't know how Lucy would react… if I told her something like that."
Grey nodded as he studied Natsu's body language. Agitated, frustration, anger… but most of all… he looked tired.
"You're afraid of ruining your relationship with Lucy huh?"
Natsu jerked his chin down in a short nod. Grey turned his attention to the deserted streets as he chuckled.
"Well yeah.. ya know you aren't exactly'Prince Charming'"
Natsu elbowed him in the ribs harshly.
"I know that." He hissed. "Lucy… she probably wants a guy who writes poems and stuff for her. Someone who likes books as much as she does… and I well…"
"You aren't exactly a genius when it comes to words." Grey smirked and Natsu scowled.
"Not to mention the guy she wants most likely are those snobby uptight guys who look like peacocks with their noses stuck up in the air. Lucy always complains about my manners and stuff." Natsu put his hands behind his head, eyebrows knitted into a glare.
"Well ya know the guy you just described sounds like the people she knew in her old life as a rich girl." Grey offered. "And I've got a feeling she won't be falling for someone like that, she left that world behind for a reason ya know?"
Natsu said nothing to this.
"I've seen how you two are together. I've known you longer than she has but I've never seen you click with someone so well before. And Lucy has a great time when you're around, you're her best friend"
If Natsu wasn't so tired he would have laughed. droopy eyes here was reassuring him? Too damn funny.
"So?." The ice wizard prodded.
"So… what?"
"Idiot." Grey smacked him."are you gonna tell her?"
"No."
"What why?"
"You're forgetting one thing."
"Oh yea?"
"Sting."
Grey scoffed
"Since when has an obstacle ever stopped you before?"
Natsu was quite a moment.
"Lucy and I… we've been arguing lately.."
Grey raised his eyebrows.
"Oh?"
"Both of them have been about that arrogant prick." Natsu scowled at the memory and smacked his fist into an open palm. "I swear I'm gonna beat his ass and kick him off his high horse."
"Was that what you were mad about when I saw you assaulting old rickety alleyway crates?"
"She keeps siding with him. Grey, he's a stranger and yet she trusts him more than us… more than me" Natsu sincerely spoke his mind.
Grey was silent for a minute before he stood up in front of Natsu. Natsu looked up at him confused before Grey kicked him into the cold water fountain with a loud splash.
"HEY WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR YOU ICE PRICK?!"
"Get this through your thick skull flame brain. There's no one Lucy trusts more than she does you."
Natsu glared at his teammate.
"Well she coulda fooled me…" he muttered.
"Do you need me to get you Erza?"
"No!"
"That's what I thought."
Natsu climbed out of the water fountain annoyed. The water did help clear his thoughts but hell if he's gonna tell Grey that. He let his body temperature increase to dry himself off.
"Look. If you've got some insecurities or some shit you need to actually tell Lucy about em. She's not gonna know unless you tell her." Grey ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
Why was he wasting his time talking to him about this? Natsu would rather ride a train for 2hours than admit he was jealous.
Natsu's shoulders sagged as he pouted. He knew Grey was right but…
"Ok." Natsu finally nodded. " I'll talk to her tomorrow and.. apologize."
Grey raised an eyebrow in surprise. Huh, maybe he's finally growing up...
Natsu then socked Grey in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. The pyro grinned
"Thanks ice Princess." Natsu laughed before running in the direction of their hotel, Grey chasing him while shouting obscenities,