Author Notes:
One of the fun chapters that scream ROMAAAAAAAANCE~~~~~ I had a hard time writing this one... I HOPE it turns out to be okay.
Warnings: Swearing - Sexual themes/Content.
Genre, in depth: Male/Male Romance, also known as, Yaoi.
Story Cover Art: Astrovique.
Beta Reader: enjoys literature. This dude made me laugh like crazy from his comments on this chapter!
Disclaimer: Dear reader, I'm not the owner of Fairy Tail's characters. If they were mine, Gray and Natsu would be boyfriends.
O.o.O Chapter Four O.o.O
Atonement.
It does wonders. It forces one to make amends for their conscience's satisfaction, and the Defense Intelligence General wasn't an exception.
He garnished a plate of two eggs and grilled cheese sandwiches, prepared a glass of orange juice, served it all to the falsely accused-civilian, un-cuffed him, and provided extra water glass to ensure he isn't detested.
"What can I say? Not enough sleep, mind pretty jumbled, plus, I have mad reflexes…"
The blonde sprinkled a pinch of excuses and completed the recipe for reconciliation. The reason Hibiki went to such desperate lengths to apologize, was one grumpy ambassador whose smile brightened, nodding in satisfaction at Hibiki's efforts.
His target was easy to please, given the fact he was dizzy and relieved he wasn't accused of a crime he didn't commit. And that's where Gray needed someone to kick him in the ass. When he first met with Natsu at the airport, he berated and doubted him. If the dignified Defense Intelligence General, Hibiki Lates served Natsu breakfast like a random waiter, then pray tell, what was Gray supposed to do?
They sat around the kitchen's island waiting for Hibiki to settle before the ambassador initiated the conversation.
"Apologies for the lame attitude. Is it fine if we talk, or do you need more rest?"
Natsu's sharp eyes were dull, and the bruise under his eye changed color to a deep blue. Was he conscious? Did he remember what happened? He stared at them, needing orientation of any sort.
Gray opened his mouth to object, but Natsu beat him to it.
"I'm okay." Shit, he sounded like he hasn't spoken for days, "Thanks for the food, but... Ah-who are you? And where is this place?"
Hibiki and the ambassador blinked. Because introductions were forgotten, they put Natsu in a position where he thought they were his kidnappers.
They chuckled, looking at one another, then Hibiki explained, "Hibiki Lates, Defense Intelligence agent. This is Jellal Fernandes, the ambassador who got your attested paper. And… this is my safe house."
"Thanks." Natsu bowed to Jellal Fernandes, who waved off the act.
"If you don't mind me asking," The ambassador said, "Why didn't you bring up Ondrej at the airport? That would have made it easier for you."
Has he mentioned he hated this 'Ondrej' topic?
Natsu rubbed his disheveled hair, bit his lips, then faced the ambassador.
"Whatever… there is between Ondrej and me… he didn't want us to be official, and all the procedures were confidential," Natsu's voice wavered, "When he… proposed, I freaked out. We were happy, but I still freaked out, and… I sort of ran off. I-I wanted to apologize, but he was in Italy and I didn't want to bring up our relationship at the airport… he'd hate it. I knew the paper would take time, and I was ready to wait. I broke his heart, so I deserved what happened."
'We were happy…'
So that's what Natsu has been up to? Those years he disappeared from his life were spent with this Guinean guy and Alzack? Gray was fine before he hears the logic behind the case, but, he wanted this conversation to stop. He couldn't meet with Natsu's gaze while the boy gushed about how 'Happy they were'.
"Understandable." Jellal lowered his tone to match Natsu's.
Natsu's eye-contact and interaction with Jellal proved that he felt safe around him. Naturally, he trusted him more than Hibiki, who almost blew his brains in the afternoon. And maybe, he trusted him more than Gray. He couldn't say since he avoided looking at the boy in favor of focusing on the attested paper and its silver emblem.
"Away from the whole gay soap-opera, you know you were attacked at the airport, correct?" Hibiki asked.
Natsu's chest rose and fell with faster breaths, his knee bouncing under the counter at a slow pace.
"Yeah... of course."
"Do you remember specific details about those attacks? Faces, names, anything?"
That line of questioning robbed comfort from the pink haired who wiped beads of sweat from his forehead, "Yeah, it's… fresh in my mind. Um…" He licked his lips, "I… was asked, where's Ondrej Jeremiah?"
Gray knocked off pretending he was immersed and intrigued with the paper. His gaze met with the guys who weren't expecting that answer.
"In the hospital… again, where's Ondrej Jeremiah?" Natsu swallowed, knee bouncing quicker. He smelled of terror and his pale face signaled he was about to faint, "I… couldn't betray him so I said go fuck yourselves."
"Wait…" Hibiki's arms stretched over the counter, "This is ridiculous, and doesn't add up."
"I… they spoke to someone on the phone and, a man asked me, where's Ondrej Jeremiah? And… I said, go fuck yourself. I think whoever is targeting Ondrej knows about our relationship and that I'd pin his location on a map."
Hibiki rubbed at his blonde eyebrow as he exchanged looks with the ambassador and Gray, who folded his arms over his stomach. They had different pieces of a humongous puzzle. If anything, those pieces deepened the complexity of the case.
"You said a man right?" The blond asked.
"Yes." Natsu swallowed.
"Old man, middle-aged man, young man, a boy?"
"Not a boy for sure. It was… a middle-aged man."
"Hmm." Hibiki nodded, the information settling in his brain.
"What do you think Hibiki-san? Internal infidelity or something else?" Jellal asked.
"Hmmmmmm." Hibiki said, "Infidelity, most likely. A 'middle-aged man' in the force has business to settle with Ondrej Jeremiah, and… yeah, a middle-aged man is pretty much half of the force, if he's in the force to begin with, amazing."
The ambassador whistled and closed the pink folder with Natsu's details, gave it to Hibiki Lates, and raised both of his hands, surrendering. "I'm done here. Your turn's up buddy. This is hardcore your forte."
"We'll stay here until we catch the motherfucker who bribed my men. All of your co-operation is required. Questions?"
"Wow. That was fast." The ambassador, said with a small smile.
So yeah, he won't be back to work soon.
The Sunset scene elaborates and emphasizes clouds. There's always a fuss about how the sun sinks into the ground or the sea, but he loved how the clouds glow atomic tangerine, rose, and royal purple. So freaking beautiful.
"Whatever… there is between Ondrej and me…"
He stood watching the wondrous display behind the glazing, hoping that it'd soothe the internal bruises he had received. A Guinean guy was close to marrying Natsu, and he wouldn't have known shit about it, if this shitty incident hadn't occurred.
Those three years they spent it apart, his heart was numb. It petrified till it became a piece of an ugly Glacier ice-rock, expanded and prickled his lungs so that breathing was challenging. Ondrej's name and identity stirred pain, anger, regret, guilt, and relief, which all ground him at once. Behind the cracking Glacier ice-rock, a shadow of a bleeding heart with strong feelings kicked, throbbed, and fought to make him human once more.
His lips curved in a bitter smile, and a hint of wetness stung his eyelids. Turns out, he can still feel. He can still hurt even more.
How does Natsu feel about him? Did it change? What would've happened if he traveled to Italy? Was he only going to apologize, or accept the proposal and get married?
What the fuck is he doing? He should stress about the danger lurking. He promised he would protect Natsu, and he intends to keep it.
But-
"Can I intrude?"
Gray leaned on the curtain wall. He maintained his smile and let his eyes pleasure in the rose-pink hair of Natsu. He missed this, he missed Natsu more than the younger can fathom.
"There's room for you." He said, crossing his arms.
"Good…" Natsu stared at him first. When Gray's obvious intensity lasted for seconds, his eyesight stretched beyond Gray, cheeks shifting color to a faint pink as he fiddled with the bandage on his neck, "Man, I'm really sorry. This is all complicated shit, and... I…"
"Can't believe it. You're apologizing?"
Natsu blinked.
"I treated you like shit. I ridiculed every word you said and thought you were lying for sure. More than an apology, I expected a bitch slap or something."
"Oh… haa!" The pink haired boy chuckled, beaming at him. So long since he indulged in one of those smiles, "True. You're still the jackass I know, so let's get that out of the way. I thought that ah... you didn't give a shit anymore, but I was wrong. You were there for me, and that's… more than enough. I'm the one shell-shocked here."
He shrugged and felt heroic all of a sudden. His endangered career, his lack of sleep and exhaustion, nothing mattered. If it's only one of those breathtaking smiles, nothing mattered.
"That's what best friends do. They protect each other's backs, right?"
"Right… um." Natsu's gorgeous smile dropped, "So… Where did we go wrong? Heck, where did I go wrong?"
"Natsu. I'm not doing this now, no."
"Why?" Natsu took a step closer, "I… deserve to know! You-"
"-Not doing this now."
"You can't do this. It's not up to you to-"
"-But I don't wanna fight now." He pleaded Natsu with his weary eyes, "And I haven't slept since yesterday and... not now."
"…" Natsu retreated, and whipped his head in the other direction, "Unbelievable."
His arms itched to wrap Natsu in a bear hug. To tell him he hates himself for hurting him, that he lived those three years as an empty shell. But he lacked the courage to accept blame, or no signs of forgiveness.
"Sooo," He needed to skip this topic and quickly, otherwise, Natsu won't smile for him again, "Ondrej Jeremiah? Why didn't you marry him after what he did for your sorry ass?"
"This is stupid."
Gray blocked Natsu from leaving, "Answer."
"This process goes two ways, no? You're not answering me, why should I answer you?"
"…"
"See?"
"You're right." Gray unblocked Natsu's way and leaned back on glazing, "I have a reason. A strong one. And I promise, when this is all over, we'll sit over a peaceful lunch, and I'll tell you everything."
"You promised." His friend said, "I'll hold you to that."
"Cross my heart. So… would you tell me why?"
With the viciousness of a wolf, Gray's intense stare circled around Natsu, the helpless beaver who scratched the right side of his neck where a small scar existed, searching for a way out.
He was curious, that's all.
"What's it to you?"
"Just curious."
"He's a great guy… wasn't the right one for me. There were issues."
"If he's such a great guy, why didn't you compromise?" Pull yourself together, be cool.
Natsu's body squirmed invisibly under Gray's interrogating gaze.
"… Guess we're not meant to be. I felt that, so… yeah."
"Hmmmmm." He teased Natsu with his there's more to it-hum, and got himself an eye-roll.
"Shut up."
"Said nothing."
"You don't have to, asshole."
"Natsu, could you come over?" Hibiki Lates called from upstairs, "There's an elevator on your left."
"Ok."
"I'll come with you." He walked by Natsu's side.
"This is gonna be a medical session, so unless you're okay with seeing blood, don't." Hibiki warned.
"I'm okay."
He hadn't had enough sleep, and Hibiki's mansion didn't help. It made him double-check his sanity, or what's left of it.
As soon as they entered the room operated by Hibiki's fingerprint, they officially left the classicism downstairs. Hello science-fiction. It was all LCDs, computers, and exotic devices lit by striking fluorescent light. Multi-colored wires extended underneath the perforated aluminum raised flooring and several power boxes popped up too.
Fuck, this was a sick dream. One that had Natsu as a Guinean, then he was inside an alien spaceship.
Gray said he was okay with seeing blood. He never mentioned he was alright with a mini-operation of digging, removing stitches, and patching.
Actually, he took a minute to mourn for Hibiki's poor career choice. The blonde could transform from a detective, to a soldier, to a skilled medic and it irked him. What else could he transform into? Disinfecting a minor scratch and slapping a pitiful band-aid on it was tough and stressful enough, Hibiki deserved a round of applause.
The almost ten inches long slash across Natsu's chest showcased the violence his friend endured and the loyalty he offered to Ondrej which meant, they were serious. As in, marriage-serious.
'Cool.'
When the pink haired squirmed a few times, Gray interfered to stop Hibiki, at least to give Natsu a minute or two of a deep breath, but the blond continued his work as if Gray wasn't in the room, Natsu wasn't in pain, and he didn't have a human heart.
"Ok. We're done-"
"-Can we put it on later? I wanna shower, so after?"
The blonde nodded, and refrained from wrapping the bandage on the bruised neck, "That's fine. You don't have to put it on anyway."
"Wow." Natsu said, "The world sure is spinning." Natsu used the handle in the elevator to lean on as he held his head, like he was about to stumble and faint.
"Should you really shower now?" Because really, he shouldn't.
"It has been four days since I last had a decent shower, I smell like a cat that hopped off a mega trash container, so really, I should. The fuck if I'm staying in these hospital pajamas any longer."
"First of all, it's closer to a traditional dress than pajamas-"
"-Asshole."
"And you smell divine. You need to rest more."
His friend humph-ed with arrogance, raised his nose in pointless pride, and stomped out of the elevator.
That brat.
"Idiot…"
The elevator dinged, and they were out.
"Don't follow me." Natsu said.
"You wish! I'm coming for my phone!"
The ambassador chuckled at their childish interaction and resumed working on his laptop in the living room.
What's with that attitude? A sigh burst out of his lungs as he sat on the bed and checked his phone. Natsu grabbed clothes from his handbag, stumbling on the way out of their room.
'… Is he gonna be fine? That idiot.'
The few dry texts and blinking missed calls from Ur made him prefer that he was the one targeted for a successful abduction scheme. Drowsiness was one reason he refused to call. He couldn't talk to her and sound like he had been doing drugs. They got the paper, Natsu was free to go… but something held him back. Until the blond uncovers what went on in his department, which shouldn't take time, the matter wasn't done yet.
Hibiki Lates ran a tremendous search on all the 'middle-aged' men in the force, focusing on their whereabouts, and their recent contact details, but that wasn't all. His colleagues in the defense Intelligence agency were interrogating the two men who attacked Natsu in the medical center which should be more fruitful.
Apparently, the man could have not used his real voice. Also, maybe he's not a man. Voice wasn't an accurate evidence to lean on, thus, Hibiki took other precautions. Gray got out of Hibiki's way because he didn't fancy being involved in this kinda shit.
Thud.
He locked his phone and strode towards the bathroom.
What did he say? Resisting the urge to yell, Gray glared at his friend who fell on the bathroom floor, his hand rubbing his pink head.
Natsu struggled to stand and retrieve his tough front.
"Trying to shower. Who said you can come in here?"
Gray tapped his foot on the dark honeycomb ceramic floor pattern, "I can see that happening without severe bone fractures."
Not waiting for approval, Gray took off his shirt and glasses, "Gonna let me help now?"
'What the fuck were you thinking?'
Gray was so drowsy that he walked himself into a trap. It was supposed to be two friends helping each other shower causally, nothing freaky about it.
But everything was wrong and alarming that the sleep haze cleared. Those small water crystals that raced at Natsu's well-defined back towards his towel-covered butt, they instigated drought in his throat. How would they taste while being licked off that mole-sprinkled caramel skin?
He sweated, swallowed again. Fuck, he was the worst mess.
As his hands incorporated the peppermint shampoo over the damp pink hair, he couldn't help but shiver at the blaring contrast between their skin tones. His paleness and Natsu's crème beach sands complexion. If at all, those back scratches proved hard work and harsh weather and they were beautiful.
For a long time, Gray wanted to add his own set of scratches. To leave his own print engraved in someone he cared about way more than he should.
All of Natsu's muscles turned rock-hard under his touch, except for when a light shiver vibrated as Gray's finger traced the moles on his back, pretending to cleanse the shampoo foam. He couldn't resist. The boy was tight-lipped and Gray couldn't tell if his ears reddened because of him or the hot water shower.
The bathroom with its searing steam and peppermint scent felt suffocating. He exhaled and inhaled in the efforts of purging the malicious virus from his veins and lungs, but it was in vain because when he inhaled, it came back stronger.
If Natsu was a girl, he wouldn't have waited until they got to the showering part. It consumed too much energy and self-discipline not to pin Natsu against the marble wall tiles, touch his cheek, kiss him with all his might while his hands ghost on all wonderful parts of his hot body.
'Fuck you. How could you do this to yourself? You should've just let him stumble his way through it.'
He had to focus on the task at hand and survive this tough one. He had to.
His fingers pushed Natsu's chin upwards and earned a breathless gasp.
"What…?"
"Idiot, I'll stick my fingers in your eyes and blind you for life so push your head back."
Natsu complied, and again, under Gray's touch there was a shiver. Was it because of him or the cold air? Gray's son of a bitch heart felt like a group of mountain rocks tumbling down on his chest, leaving pain and bruises behind. If Natsu paid a little, just a little of attention, he might hear it, and it was frightening.
While his left hand held the side of the boy's moist neck, he stared at the closed eyes, the water drops falling from the sculpted nose's slope and how it settled in between Natsu's lips.
It was a good thing Natsu sat facing the wall because his jeans couldn't conceal how hard he was. The fucker denied him not only the pleasure of sleep, but also aroused him when he totally didn't want to be aroused by Natsu fucking Dragneel.
'Think logically, you can't attack him. You just can't.'
"So…" Gray paused, rinsing his voice from the desire sticking to it, "Does it hurt? The thing on your chest…"
Natsu shrugged, licking his lips.
"Stings a bit, but nothing I can't manage."
"… Was Ondrej the kind of person worth sacrificing yourself for?" The question was out before Gray could stop himself.
Natsu's eyes were closed, but a grunt and a scrunched nose told Gray that Natsu wasn't happy with the question.
"Muusat… yahii."
"Hmm?" He continued his kneading through the pink hair.
"I'd never sell any of my friends, let alone boyfriends… what are you talking about?"
Boyfriends?
"Ya dum, ya dum, ya dum!"
Natsu tapped his hand on Gray's one on his shoulder, urging him to let go.
"What did you say?"
"…" Natsu chuckled with nervousness, "Just a habit."
"A habit? Lower your head, yeah, that's it."
"It's… uh, how I used to speak for three years. Comes out now and then."
"HUH?" Gray sprayed water all over Natsu's head, "Fuck me, Guinean?"
"Yeah."
"Fuck…" Natsu speaks another language? The idiot faced challenges learning the English language, you gotta be kidding, "Asami-sensei will choke and die if she heard this bullshit."
"Heh… people adapt, even idiots." Natsu shrugged, "Was hard at the beginning, but I couldn't stand there and watch them talk all the time that language, it made my head spin, you have no idea how that feels like."
Gray left the soap for Natsu to scrub himself and helped him with spraying the water.
Because he won't help him scrubbing. Absolutely not. There was one way that was gonna end. And he refused to be called a rapist.
"Of course I won't. Didn't go to Africa or obtain their Guinean citizenship, my head doesn't work that way."
"Gimme that and get out."
"Sure thing." Gray planned to go the minute Natsu didn't need help because GOD, being with him naked was terrible planning. To detox his veins from the yearning that soaked in them, more than unicorn images were required.
So much more.
Gray wiped his chin with the towel and put on his shirt. He thought he moved on, why did it come back? Shit, it scorched him stronger than before, so what the fuck was going on? Why aren't you keeping your heart baby in line?
Natsu could do it. He got himself a nice… black hunk, and almost got married, yet why couldn't you? Fucker, forget about him already! He wasn't even yours. Why the hell are you jealous of someone courageous enough to take what he wanted… even if what he wanted was Natsu Dragneel?
Since Ondrej was brought up, his mind visualized him with Natsu so many times, against his wish, and it cut through him with a sharp knife. That guy… did he lay his hands on Natsu? Did he see Natsu naked?
'He did, and it's you to blame, no one else.'
The inner fever of hatred intensified and increased the pace of his breathing.
Another thud.
No. Please, not again.
Peeking into the bathroom, Natsu was decent. At least, he had his pants on. He leaned on the sink as if he had recovered from a fall.
Shit.
He hurried inside and helped the boy stand, "What happened?"
"I dunno…" The boy pants were harsh and slow, "The world sure is spinning…"
"Hey, hey, easy. You gotta breathe okay? Fuck, I knew this was a bad idea." Gray braced himself, carried the pink haired who had lost his footing on his back, and headed to their room.
No protest came out of Natsu whose breathing was screwed. Fuck, was he hyperventilating?
He planned to inform Hibiki about it after he laid him on the bed, but Natsu's held his arm and swallowed, his dull eyes pleading him.
"Don't leave."
"I gotta go-"
"-No."
His steel grip around Gray's arm and his firm no-arguing-about-this tone surprised Gray. The joy of Natsu needing him was fantastic, but it was horrifying too. What can he do for Natsu? What can he offer? Nothing. Exactly like before, just nothing. He's all imperfections and arrogance.
"I mean, please?"
His knees weakened at the look Natsu gave him. What do you want? What did you really want from Gray? Why don't you ever speak up? If you don't, how on earth was he supposed to know?
His throat dried and trapped words, and Gray had to pull them out, "Hibiki has to know-"
"I'll be fine… please…"
Well, that's decided. He couldn't go against Natsu's please.
Natsu was brought back to life with the fanning Gray did. He was right, there was nothing alarming. Since Natsu was strangled in the airport, his breathing process has been unstable, and being exposed to steam or strong fragrances wasn't recommended by the KMC doctor. Natsu being Natsu, he blew the fuck out of those recommendations, Hibiki's warnings, and did what he wanted.
"Why did you leave?"
Gray turned his back on his shirtless sleeping hot friend, shifting to sit at the edge of the bed, as far as he can from a confrontation. He stared long at the table lamp lighting up the dark room. A mini-wave of nausea hit him as his arms formed a V-shape between his knees that bounced slowly, trying to rid himself of the sick sensation.
"Tell me why."
Gray would fly over multiple districts to save Natsu, he would participate in a secret-transfer missions to protect Natsu, he would take a bloody shot in the heart for Natsu, but he can't tell him why. He promised he would, but he regretted that promise, and may come across as a liar.
But again… he would lie to Natsu for none other than Natsu.
"It's all complicated."
"It's not. Gray, for the love of God…" Natsu groaned and rolled on the bed, using Gray's shirt to push himself to sit, "You're making it complicated. You complicate everything... when it doesn't need to be…"
His heart was seconds close to detonation. He became too conscious of Natsu's weight stuck onto his side, his melting touch over Gray's shoulder, his spicy scent of soap. Natsu filled the emptiness thermometer in Gray till it reached the top and spilled on his chest. The substance was a vital sensation Gray hasn't felt for a long time.
'I beg you, stop. I can't…'
Natsu's tingling breath on his neck crumbled the last piece of self-discipline. It was faint, nonetheless, it canceled Gray's speech and restored his contained arousal.
He whipped his head to say fuck off, to shove Natsu away. Instead, he committed the felony of looking at Natsu's lips. They were too close, too alluring.
'Get the fuck off me, or I'll kiss the shit out of you.'
Calm the fuck down. Calm. Breathe. Don't let his handsomeness sweep you away. Remember, he's your friend and you can't damage this friendship more than it already is, stay grounded and strong.
He was officially screwed. Because when he looked away from Natsu's lips, Natsu's innocent gaze held his and cancelled his breath.
Enough was enough. Gray forced himself to speak up after he had gathered the remains of his voice. He was sure he'd sound pathetic, but hey, he tried.
"I told you to wait if you wanna know."
"Why not tell me now?" Their lips got closer, "I don't… understand."
This hypnotism has to stop, it has to.
As if it was a godly interference, Natsu pulled away as quick as he can to sneeze, feet flying in the air. Gray's tense as fuck muscles relaxed, especially his abdomen ones.
'Thank you… wherever you are, you fucking saved my life.'
He gave himself a minute to breathe away from Natsu's gaze. When he heard the second sneeze, he almost laughed.
"Where's your shirt?"
"Ugh… bathroom…"
Gray went to get it. Phew, that was close.
But hang on. Did Natsu know he was gonna be kissed?
'Idiot, now you're being a deranged asshole.'
He was supporting Natsu to dress up when his phone vibrated.
Multitasking? Gray put it on speaker mode. His phone has always been a source of inconvenience because of the high volume, but for once it came in handy.
"Hello?"
"What's up? Gonna be in Narita forever?"
Gray chuckled as he tugged the shirt over Natsu's head, "Not really. I didn't get the time to update you with all what's happening, it's… it's crazy."
"Tell me about it. It's crazy here too. And we miss the junior electrical engineer of ours."
Jeez, he could see his managing director's glare from the phone.
"I get you're helping your friend and everything, but kiddo, think about your career as well."
"I'm… terribly sorry for the inconvenience. Right now, I can't come back."
"Too bad. Erik-kun misses you."
"He does? I do too. You have no idea."
"I think I do. He laughs here and there and he's hosting a party because he felt like it. So I guess the feeling is mutual."
"Hoooo. Tell him I wouldn't miss his party for the world."
"What's that? Hold up, kiddo. Sorry, what's that?"
Gray remained on hold for a minute before Gildarts answered him, "Gotta go. I would like to have a report on what's happening later, understood?"
"Sure."
Gray hung up and turned to see Natsu, who had a towel above his head.
"Aren't you gonna dry your hair? We don't want you getting sick."
When he touched the towel on Natsu's head, the boy slapped his hand away.
'Huh…?'
As inhumanely as possible, Natsu punched a hole in Gray's stomach, putting a stop to Gray's breath. The pain shot and dispersed towards his back, blurred his vision, and landed him on his knees.
The next thing he knew, Natsu bolted outside.
Natsu… was he so upset Gray wanted to touch him?
Don't be ridiculous, that was past rejection.
One: Natsu was injured somewhere in his body, so where did his demonic strength come from? Impressive.
Two: Natsu punched Gray.
Three: Natsu fucking punched Gray then ran off.
Gray was on the wooden floor processing, but failed. He held his stomach, groaning as he chased the pink headed freak after seconds of contemplation.
"What the…?"
"Eh?"
The ambassador and the blond jerked themselves away from their laptops, watching the scene dumbfounded. A loud siren echoed in the house, and his breath hitched.
Where the fuck did Natsu get the gun? The pink haired faced a high wall, then turned where Gray was, panting. Hibiki Lates wasn't kidding when he said the house was secure.
That's why, Hibiki Lates was the last one to show up outside the entrance door, while the ambassador stood as alarmed as Gray.
'What is he fucking doing?!'
Natsu pointed the hole of the gun towards them.
"Natsu?" Jellal Fernandes spoke as if the boy wasn't a threat, "What's wrong? What happened?"
Sweat dashed on Natsu's forehead, his hands, under his lips. His narrowed alligator eyes had a dangerous red gleam that pierced through the trio.
"WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU?!"
Hibiki stopped Gray from dashing forward, "Are you insane?!"
"I'm not an idiot, guys." Natsu panted, "I don't know why you'd think like that."
"Who said that?" Jellal asked.
"Nice try." Natsu laughed, "You all stay away from me. Let me out or I'll-"
"You'll what?" Hibiki chuckled, "Kill us? Did you kill before? Do you know how that works?"
Natsu gritted his teeth, "Son of a bitch, let me out or my finger will slip."
No… No no no! He decided not to lose Natsu again. He decided that he would help him, save him, protect him against everything! How can he do that now?!
"Let's discuss this, ok? Violence is-" Hibiki began.
"Stop bullshitting and let me out!"
"Hibiki-san…" Jellal sighed, "You… why did you leave your gun around like that?"
"Oh, so it's MY fault?!"
"You know you have civilians in the house and stuff, so yeah."
"Unbelievable!"
A huge CLACK echoed in his eardrums. His hands flew to his ears to block the noise.
Fuck…
When he opened his eyes, Hibiki was holding a gun, and the gun in Natsu's hand rested on the ground.
"Happy now?" The blond asked the ambassador.
"Much better."
Natsu reached out for the gun, but Hibiki was there next to him, bending his arms behind his back, and successfully cuffing him.
"What the fuck has happened?!" Gray and Hibiki questioned Natsu, "Like SERIOUSLY?!" That was Gray yelling, "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT, HUH?!"
"Tell me I didn't put my career's future in the dumpster because of this guy! This is insane! That's how he pays me back?!" Hibiki yelled too.
Jellal Fernandes was the rational, quiet one. "Guys," His amber eyes twitched, "There's a duct tape on his mouth."
"You know what, I don't wanna hear it." Gray kicked the chair next to Natsu and glared at him, shouting in his face, "I skipped work, I let everything important in my life be on the sidelines for this idiot!"
Natsu's hands were above his head, cuffed to a hook dangling from a steel column—in the living room. His feet were cuffed, and no matter how much he squirmed or shot them those filthy looks, he wasn't going ANYWHERE.
Jellal removed the duct tape with one painful move. His usual calm gaze shifted to stone-serious as he spoke, "Alright, you have five minutes to explain yourself. Five minutes, that's it. If you refuse, I'll put this back on and Hibiki-san will ensure no one hears from you ever again."
The pink haired laughed a ridiculing laugh, sweat visible on his forehead from all the running and attempts to break out. He bit his lip, then yelled at them.
"If you guys want me dead, then why am I not dead yet?! Get over with it and cut the crap! Cut the bullshit and do it!"
They all looked at him like he was crazy. Because, hello~~~
HE WAS!
"Why would any of us want you DEAD?! I saved your ass! Do you want me to-"
"-Hibiki-san! Please, calm down." Jellal tried.
"Fuck, I'm losing my cool and because of a kid. I need more sleep man…" The blonde laid his gun on the table, earning a scolding glare from Jellal. Apparently, the whole drama happened because someone throws his guns around like pieces of home accessories.
He cleared his throat, picked it up.
The ambassador sighed.
"No, you know what?! Screw you! DUDE! WHY WOULD I WANT THAT?!" Gray yelled back.
"YOU WERE TALKING TO THAT GUY!"
"What guy?! I was talking to my director! I was talking to Gilda-"
"-And he just so happens to be my kidnapper?!" Natsu panted, "He's the one… if he's the one then… Why are you keeping me here? What do you want with me?"
Gray Fullbuster, Hibiki Lates, and Jellal Fernandes, became motionless. Their minds exerted so much effort to understand Natsu's statement.
"Come again?" And Hibiki Lates didn't understand.
To Be Continued...
Next Chapter Release: In 10-15 days.
See? I told you, this chapter screams ROMANCE. But then... it's not so much Romance, hahaha.
BUT NO WORRIES. More romance to come. My romance comes when you least expect it *Winks!* I hope this story's first 'Intimate, emotional' scenes has earned your liking.
Special thanks to: Kori no Koibito (You asked a question in your review, I hope this chapter answers it? I know it's still vague, but will clarify soon! You made my day, hot girlfriend ;)), JChrista (Well, guess what? Gray's about to really lose it, you were right. Everything is so overwhelming... at least he sees Natsu, right? Hehe, thank you for your sweetness!), I. LOVE. UKE. NATSU (I'm working myself, and I know how hard it is! No worries! As long as you're reading it and enjoying it, I'm happy! I hope you got a chance reading Chapter 3!), mdelpin (Honestly? I love reading on my phone. When I read on my laptop it's suffocating. Phone allows you to sleep, chill while reading! So don't worry, and don't ever apologize! Just enjoy and chill on your sofa!)
You guys made my day!
Thank you ALL for reading. Feel free to share criticizing comments on the romance in this chapter. I'd like to know if it went wrong, it makes me learn more about writing in general. If you have enjoyed it, let me know!
Alright, till next time!
Flame-Belt