By the time dinner is over and they're sitting with a pile of empty plates between them, Natsu's made up his mind.
He's going to kiss Gray tonight.
"That was... interesting," Gray says, setting his napkin on the table and downing the last of his wine. Natsu's foot finds the back of Gray's leg under the table and Natsu's stomach leaps when he hears the hitch in Gray's breath.
"Did you like it?" Natsu asks, and Gray stares at him. "The food," Natsu clarifies, dragging the toe of his boot along the back of Gray's calf.
"Oh," Gray says. "It, um…" Natsu can't look away from the curve of Gray's throat as he swallows. "Yeah." Gray looks away from Natsu at the stack of plates. "I've never, uh... had caviar before." Natsu makes a face and Gray laughs. "Yeah, it was kinda gross," he admits.
"Glad you don't think I'm completely uncivilized," Natsu says, grinning and nudging Gray's foot under the table. "This—" He gestures around them at the lights and crystal cups and people in suits "—isn't exactly the kind of place that I ever expected to end up. I don't even own a tie."
"You don't need a tie," Gray says. "You look…" He trails off and Natsu quickly looks away, heat creeping into his cheeks. "Amazing," Gray says eventually. He fiddles with his napkin, keeping his eyes on the table.
"Oh," Natsu says. He looks down at his hands, at the tattoos across his knuckles and the frayed edges of his sleeves, and the dark polish on his fingernails. The sensation of inadequacy that's been tingling under his skin all night dissolves slowly as Gray's words hang in the air between them. "Thanks."
Gray glances up at Natsu, giving him a shy smile, and Natsu bumps his shin again before standing up. "Let's get outta here," he says, nodding toward the door.
It's just the two of them in the elevator, and as it starts to descend, Natsu feels Gray tense. The walls aren't glass like the restaurant, but they are fifty-six floors above the ground. Natsu steps closer and rests his hand lightly in the small of Gray's back.
"You okay?" he asks, stomach jumping when Gray leans back into the touch.
"Yeah," Gray says, tipping his head to look at Natsu and give him the same shy smile as earlier. Heat flushes to Natsu's cheeks, and he's ready to push Gray up against the wall and kiss them until they're both dizzy when the elevator dings and the door slides open.
"C'mon," Gray says as he steps out into the lobby. When he turns back to Natsu, the lights outside make a soft halo around his hair, and Natsu's sure Gray can hear his heart pounding as he stares.
Later, he thinks as he pushes the door open and they both step out into the cold. I'll kiss him later, but it's going to be tonight.
The warmth of Natsu's hand on Gray's back doesn't fade when they leave the elevator and separate to walk down the street. Despite the late hour, it's still busy, and the lights of the city are bright around them as they make their way through the crowd. It's colder than it was on the way to the restaurant, and Gray shivers.
"You should have brought your mittens," Natsu says when Gray blows on his hands to warm them. Gray nods, hunching his shoulders against the wind.
"I forgot them at the hotel," he says, trying to pull the sleeves of his jacket down over his fingers. "Didn't expect it to be this cold."
"It is December," Natsu teases. "Here." He tugs off one of his gloves and holds it out for Gray.
"Are you—"
"Yes," Natsu says, reaching out and grabbing Gray's wrist. Gray's heart stutters at the contact, and when Natsu pulls him closer and starts to slide his glove onto Gray's hand, Gray prays that Natsu can't feel his pulse slamming under his fingertips.
"Thanks," Gray manages. Then he looks at his other bare hand and frowns. Natsu gives him a grin, then takes Gray's hand, tucking them both into his pocket.
"Better?" he asks. Gray swallows and he stares at Natsu's pocket for a second before nodding. "Good." Natsu squeezes his hand gently, then tugs on his arm and heads off down the street.
It's crowded, and Natsu keeps Gray close to him, using his gentle grip on Gray's hand to guide him around lampposts and between couples laughing under the Christmas lights. The wine bubbling in Gray's head makes him warm and comfortable, and it feels natural to slip his fingers between Natsu's, savoring the soft hitch in Natsu's breath when Gray runs a thumb over his knuckles.
As they step off the path and down toward the river, Natsu's eyes widen and his expression slips into that same look of wonder that he'd had at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Gray can't look away from it.
"This is amazing," Natsu breathes, tugging Gray down to the barrier that separates them from the river. It's snowing lightly, tiny white flakes drifting through the streetlights and dusting across the water. Christmas lights hang from the awning above them, pale and bright against the dark of the sky.
"Thank you," Natsu says softly. Gray shifts closer to him, pressing against his shoulder. He's comfortably warm, now – a combination of the champagne and the heat that Natsu radiates.
"For what?" he asks.
"This," Natsu replies, tipping his head back and looking up at the sky. The moon is blunt, cutting through the sky and falling in thin, silver ribbons across the water. It brightens Natsu's face when he turns to Gray and grins. "Guess what?" he asks.
"What?"
"'s Christmas."
Gray squints at the clock across the river. Natsu's right – it's 12:02 a.m.
"I guess it is," he says softly. Natsu's smiling at him, hair sticking out from under his toque, cheeks flushed pink from the cold. Gray's stomach flips, just like it did when he peeked over the edge of the Eiffel Tower. He can't tell if it's because Natsu's just as pretty as the view of Paris, or because Gray's just as terrified of heights as he is of what he's about to do.
Probably a bit of both.
"Merry Christmas," he says softly, then leans in and kisses Natsu.
Natsu immediately kisses back like he's been waiting for Gray to do this since they met. Maybe he has. Either way, he's soft and warm, and he quickly takes charge, pushing Gray gently back against the railing as he tips his head and runs his tongue over Gray's bottom lip.
Gray's skin sparks under Natsu's fingertips, cheeks flushing hot as Natsu's hands slide up his arms. They're both moving, surging against each other as tiny white flakes melt on their cheeks.
Gray slips his hands under Natsu's jacket, touching the small of Natsu's back and pulling him closer, shivering when Natsu's tongue slides tentatively against his, like a question.
Yes, Gray thinks, always yes. He feels light and a bit unreal, like he can't quite get enough air, but he really doesn't care because he's finally kissing Natsu, and it's exactly as good as he'd imagined.
Eventually they break apart and Natsu presses his forehead to Gray's, breathing shakily. "Hey," he says softly, rubbing their noses together.
"Hey," Gray says, exhaling as he wraps both arms around Natsu's waist and holds him tight.
They're quiet for a minute. The only sound is the soft flow of the river behind them, and footsteps on the bridge. Everything else is muffled and calm under the snow and the dark winter sky.
"So," Natsu says eventually. He pulls back and looks at Gray with wide, dark eyes. "That, uh—"
"I really like you," Gray interrupts. His cheeks are burning, and it's not just from the rush of kissing Natsu. "I'm happy you're here. I mean, here in Paris and also just… with me." The words tumble out of him in a rush and he feels Natsu's fingers tighten on his forearms as he keeps going. "I didn't think—I mean, I'd hoped, but I didn't want to, y'know, assume, and I'm… really bad at this. Talking, I mean, and the—"
"Gray." Natsu touches his chin, tips his head up until they're looking at each other. "I really like you, too."
Gray can't stop the smile that creeps across his face as Natsu leans in and kisses him again. Then the wind picks up and Gray shivers, pulling Natsu closer.
"Wanna go warm up?" Natsu asks, pressing another kiss to Gray's cheek. "I think there's a Métro station near here."
"Yeah," Gray says, stomach leaping with excitement and anticipation. Natsu leans back and takes Gray's hand again, squeezing gently and then nodding back toward the street.
"C'mon," he says, eyes bright in the moonlight. "Let's go home."
They're barely back in the room before Natsu's hands are on Gray's arms and they're kissing again. Gray stumbles back against the bed, pushing himself up on one elbow as Natsu separates from him for just a second to throw his jacket on the floor.
"Off," Natsu says, tugging at the laces of Gray's boots and eventually tossing them aside. Gray shifts back onto the bed and Natsu follows, straddling Gray's thighs leaning over him, hands on either side of his head.
"What?" Gray asks as Natsu's eyes search his face. Natsu laughs, shaking his head and leaning down to kiss Gray again.
"Nothin'," he says between presses of their lips. "Just wanted to do this since I saw you at the—mmn—the airport."
A thrill runs through Gray, sparking in his stomach and travelling down his arms until every touch feels electric. Natsu's mouth is hot and so's his skin, and Gray can't choose where to touch so he settles for everywhere.
"Gray," Natsu whispers against his lips, moving one of his hands up so he can cup Gray's cheek. Gray can't quite breathe, and not sure he minds. He traces a path up Natsu's spine and across his shoulder blades until he can slip his fingers into Natsu's hair. "Gray," Natsu says again, and Gray breathes him in, tugging gently at his hair until his neck is exposed and Gray can move his kisses there.
"I wanna…" He exhales, pushing himself up on one elbow and kissing just under Natsu's ear. Natsu makes a soft, pleading sound and tips his head to the side, leaving Gray with a view of dark brown skin and the bright ink that colors it.
This time, instead of fingertips, Gray traces the curve of Natsu's tattoo with his lips and tongue, pressing kisses to each flower petal and scraping his teeth along the delicate leaves. He can feel the sounds Natsu's making, taste the shapes his name makes in the vibrations under his lips.
There are so many things Gray wants to tell Natsu – you're gorgeous, I love your smile, you've made my life brighter, I've never felt this way with anyone before and I never want to stop. But the words are stuck behind the frantic pounding of his heart so instead he keeps kissing and touching and pulling Natsu closer.
"C'mere," he murmurs against Natsu's skin, grabbing his hips and shifting until Natsu's lying on his back and Gray's settled between his legs, fingers resting on the hem of Natsu's shirt. "Can I…"
Natsu sits up just far enough to tug off his shirt, tossing it to the side and humming contentedly when Gray pushes him gently back onto the bed.
Gray stares down at Natsu. He's gorgeous – hair bright against the dark sheets, lip caught between his teeth, eyes wide and wanting. He's wearing a binder again so Gray runs his hands across Natsu's ribs instead, tracing each tattoo until he's touching the ones on Natsu's hips that he's wanted to kiss all week.
"Can I?" he asks, brushing his thumb over the bright ink. When Natsu nods, Gray slowly leans down and presses a kiss to Natsu's hip. He hears Natsu's sharp intake of breath, feels it beneath his lips as he kisses across the tattoo. When Natsu reaches down and touches the back of his hand, Gray slides their fingers together and presses them against Natsu's other hip, squeezing gently as he keeps kissing.
"Gray," Natsu whispers again, and Gray thinks he could listen to Natsu say his name forever.
Gray kisses Natsu for a long, long time. He traces the outline of both tattoos across Natsu's hips; kisses the soft curve of his stomach and the hollow of Natsu's throat where he can feel Natsu's frantic heartbeat beneath his lips. Eventually Natsu takes over, tugging Gray's shirt off so they're touching in as many places as possible and he can draw soft patterns across Gray's shoulder blades with his fingertips.
When they finally come up for air, panting and trembling, it feels like it's been hours. Natsu's smile is wide, and he's backlit by the stars and the bright lights of the Eiffel Tower that shine through the window.
"Gimme a sec," he says, kissing Gray's nose before sliding over to the edge of the bed. He turns away from Gray, tugging the binder over his head and pulling his t-shirt on instead. Then he rolls back over to Gray and pulls him close.
Exhaustion suddenly takes over Gray's body and a yawn catches him by surprise. Natsu laughs, tucking his knee between Gray's legs and wrapping an arm around Gray's waist. "We should probably sleep."
"Mm." Gray rubs his face, then brings his hand up to run his fingers through Natsu's hair. He presses his forehead to Natsu's, kissing his cheek as he shifts as close as possible.
"You're..." Gray trails off, because while there are a hundred words he could use to describe Natsu, he can't think of any while Natsu is this close to him. "I really..."
"I know," Natsu says, tucking his head under Gray's chin and sighing happily. "Me too."
When Gray wakes up the next morning, Natsu is still curled up against him, gentle fingers tracing patterns on Gray's bare stomach.
"Hey, you," Natsu says as Gray yawns and rubs his face. "Sleep okay?"
"Mm." Gray stretches, pressing himself back into the pillows and then looking up at Natsu. His hair is sticking up in every direction, and there's a crease on his cheek from the sheets. "Your hair is ridiculous," Gray says, reaching up and running his fingers through it.
"You like it," Natsu teases, tipping his head to the side and kissing Gray's wrist.
"I do," Gray says, and Natsu's grin turns into a soft, fond smile. It makes Gray's chest fill with tiny bubbles. "I like you, too."
Natsu runs his thumb across Gray's cheek, then curls his fingers around the back of Gray's neck and leans in to kiss him. It's soft, almost tentative compared to the night before, but Gray can still feel the weight of it. Natsu's touch is sweet and purposeful, and it feels like a new beginning. A promise.
One that Gray intends to keep.
When he pulls back, the morning sun spills through the window, highlighting the freckles across Natsu's cheeks and the bright green of his eyes. "Merry Christmas," Gray says softly, brushing a few wayward strands of hair out of Natsu's face. "What do you wanna do today?"
Natsu grins, flopping back against the pillows next to Gray. "We've done enough sightseeing this week," he says, pulling Gray close and kissing him again. "I think we should spend today in bed."
