Dragon Family Values

Disclaimer – I do not own Fairy Tail

Summary: A little one-on-one time with Natsu and Laxus.

Author's Note #1 – I'm using the 100 Theme Fanfiction Challenge for this collection. I thought it'd be something different.

Author's Note #2 – This one I am rating T.

Author's Note #3 – These drabbles are pretty much one-shots and are not related to each other in any way unless otherwise indicated.

Foreign (Rated T)

"It's about time you got here," Natsu snapped as he glared up at Laxus from his spot on the grass. "I've been bitten about fifty times by stupid mosquitoes."

"Haven't you ever heard of insectrepellent?" the lightning mage responded as he sat next to him.

"Yeah. But if I used it, you wouldn't come, now, would you?"

"Touché."

"Why do we gotta do this out in the woods, anyway?"

"I would hardly call the park the woods, Natsu."

The fire mage resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I just don't understand why we gotta hide this."

Laxus shrugged. "It keeps people from talking."

"People are gonna talk regardless of what you do," commented Natsu as he lay back on the grass and stared up at the starry sky. Laxus followed suit.

"And the guild? What would they say?"

Sighing, the fire mage blinked, his gaze trying to focus on the constellations. "I don't know. They might think I lost a bet or something. Hell, Gray would probably think you were making me your slave."

It was Laxus's turn to sigh. "They scare me sometimes."

"Why?"

"Because they're stupid."

"When you call them stupid, it's like you're calling me stupid!"

"Your point?"

Natsu grabbed a clump of dirt and grass and threw it at the lightning mage's face. As the earthen residue slid down Laxus's cheek, his eyes hardened as he sat up. "You're going to pay for that."

"Ack! Don't you dare!" the fire mage screeched, making a run for it when Laxus started throwing dirt at him. But his quick steps did him no favors when he slipped on some mud, falling face first into the ground.

Laxus stopped beside him, brushing his hands off by rubbing them together. "Are you finished being a nuisance?"

Raising his head, Natsu spit dirt out of his mouth while wiping his face off with his sleeve. "You started it."

"You're the one who started throwing dirt at me. But I never thought you'd be able to take yourself out, too."

"Shut up, you jerk," he replied, pushing past Laxus as he headed for a park bench. Sitting down, he looked back up at the stars.

As he sat next to him, the lightning mage inhaled deeply…then paused, a frown marring his features as a foreign feeling overcame him. He made to speak a few more times, but couldn't bring himself to do so.

"Is something wrong?" Natsu asked, eyeing Laxus hesitantly.

"Yes…no…maybe. I don't know."

"You said we could talk to each other about anything, so spill."

"It's the last day of summer."

"Yeah. So?"

"My team is back tomorrow."

"Since when did you become Captain Obvious?"

"If you would shut up and stop interrupting, maybe I could get to the point!" the lightning mage snapped. When Natsu held up his hands defensively, he continued. "I don't think I can go back to how we were before."

The fire mage nodded in understanding. "Rivals."

"Yes. I never expected to become…friends with you this summer. And I definitely never expected to…enjoy your company."

"Same here, Laxus. So what do we do now?" Natsu asked, kicking his feet. He poked at the dirt with the tip of his foot.

"We can't go back," started Laxus.

"But you're not sure you wanna go forward?"

"I never said that."

"I know, but that's how you feel, right?"

"How would you know?"

"Because I feel the same."

They both sighed and looked back up at the night sky, only to see a shooting star. "Make a wish," whispered Laxus as he watched the star fade into nothing.

"I already did."

"What did you wish for?"

"If I tell you, it won't come true."

"I thought that only happened with birthday wishes."

"Nope!" Natsu said with a grin. "So what're we gonna do about tomorrow? Are we gonna pretend to be rivals…or really be friends?"

Laxus stared ahead of him, thinking before he voiced his decision aloud. "Friends. I want to stay friends."

The fire mage burst out laughing at that.

"What the hell is so funny?"

"It looks like I got my wish."

Author's Note – I really stretched the theme with this one. Please review!

*Next Theme – Sorrow*