Author Notes:

Warnings: Swearing - Sexual themes/Content.

Genre, in depth: Male/Male Romance, also known as, Yaoi.

Story Cover Art: The Amazing Astrovique.

Beta Reader: The one and only enjoys literature.

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 Eighteen O.o.O

A massive headache seared into Gray's skull (Something that's happening a lot). He wished the invisibility cloak from Harry Potter was an actual thing. Gildarts Clive's/Demon-debut aroused many controversial conversations, and if he uttered a word, he was so damn sure the militants and Natsu won't grant him a peaceful death.

"Not a minute. NO. God, outta my way!"

"WTF General?! Yeah you heard me, mother-fucking bitch! Director my ass! Is he so old that he lost all his senses? If so, where are yours?!"

"The fuck are they out of their mind?!"

"I gave Gray the weapon, and Hibiki is giving him the means, I guess that gets me out of trouble."

"Nee-chan, I knew this was a terrible idea…"

"For the record, it's not our fault, right? Like we only contributed in transporting the marvellous man. And the orders came from the higher-ups."

"Madness. Hibiki is outta his mind, I'm telling you. He won't surprise me if he sent out more criminals for backup. Did you verify if the ones coming are OUR people?"

"Natsu… Natsu wait!"

"Honestly, I don't know Erza. He showed up super dressed like he always does and goes: escort this man to Unit 8. I didn't know, alright? Why would I question him? I thought, Hibiki Lates knows what he's doing."

"Fucker, do you realize what you've done?"

"Blondie, when is my team coming? Forget Ondrej, I wanna take them and fucking apprehend Hibiki."

Natsu Dragneel wanted out. An immediate exit. He pushed and shoved around Sergeant Loke who blocked his way at the door, and their argument lasted over 30 minutes of Gildarts's arrival. Sergeant Loke refused, manhandling Natsu with his military strength, not when Natsu was as sick as a dog and spiking a merciless fever.

The criminal addressed, sat handcuffed and was threatened with losing one of his organs or eyes if he tried scratching behind his ears or ass, with Sergeant Sting Eucliffe by his side, ensuring that he's comfortable in his new cell.

A massive CRACK of thunder echoed… three times in a row, encouraging his heart to jump out of its place. Laxus Dreyar had his gun pointed up from a window. It hushed everyone.

"I swear to GOD… PEOPLE. Are we in a high school? What's the matter, Sergeant? Can't drag him inside?!"

"I'm not staying where this monster is! To hell with all of you!" Natsu huffed pants within Loke's arms that tightened around his feverish frame.

"Ouch, that hurts." Gildarts commented, eyes shut and with two of his fingers brushing his forehead to demonstrate the fake amount of hurt.

"HE TRIED ABDUCTING ME! TWICE! HE SHOT MY FRIEND TWICE! SHOULD I LET IT HAPPEN A THIRD TIME BEFORE YOU ALL ARE SATISFIED? I WON'T BREATHE THE SAME AIR HE DOES! NO FUCKING WAY!"

Another thunder CRACK echoed, drilling everyone's eardrums. Natsu made a little shrieking sound as he flinched in Loke's hold.

"Here's what will happen." Laxus commanded, "You're gonna get inside this instant and wait until the military's doctor arrives. Gildarts Clive will be under my surveillance, and I swear on my honor that I'll protect everyone in this room, including you, from his harm. Meanwhile-"

The doorbell interrupted Laxus, and Erza was the one who reached out to reveal the second batch of the back-up teams.

"Good-" Laxus stiffened for a good minute before his tone commanded once more. Something or someone of the new-coming team affected him… god only knows what more surprises they were getting tonight. If Laxus Dreyar was affected, then what the bloody hell did that mean?

"Excellent. I don't have to repeat since we've nearly everyone. Technical support! You can have the extra room upstairs if needed. Lieutenant Freed's division is independent. I promised Hibiki I won't interfere with you people, but I'll be overlooking the overall process. You two will be in the study room, working on the General's demands, LIKE IT OR NOT. Also, you are to estimate the time frame and materials you'd need for this mission-"

One guy dared to intercept the Major's directions. He had a green short, Mohawk hairstyle, and a mole underneath his left eye. In contrast to Laxus's attitude that stiffened air particles around humans, this guy calmed it with his creamy voice, and softer look (That wasn't demeaning like Laxus's).

"-If I may. I'm Lieutenant Freed Justine. I'd like to say that sending Gildarts Clive here was an extensive discussion in our headquarters and it was well-studied." Lieutenant Freed explained, regarding everyone in the room with a small smile, "Myself, Hibiki Lates, and several others have seen the capability of the weapon which this good man here is customizing, and I facilitated things so it's possible to have Gildarts Clive on board."

"Lieutenant-" Laxus started with a clenched jaw and a death grip over his gun, "You facilitated it-"

"-this man has ten nano-chips inside of his body in several locations which, if he acted up in an interesting way or God forbid, the other, he would cause himself paralysis. In other words, I made sure he'll be good so worrying about his intentions is a waste of time and energy. We have bigger problems at hand, so please give us your full cooperation."

"We-" The Major almost barked.

"-and the doctor's here. Who's the patient again? Oh, that one."

"Natsu, let's go inside." Loke coaxed the boy and pushed him.

"No! That's unfair, NO!" Natsu pushed back.

Lieutenant Freed Justine walked up to Natsu and Loke let go of the pink-haired boy's hand when his superior officer gave a commanding look.

"It's ok. The world isn't fair, it's cruel, it's life. And sometimes, we have to live with it. Remember, you started it, and you're given a chance to right your wrong by choosing to oblige and accept the assets we offer. If you leave, you'll be running away from the mess you created. A poor choice, I believe."

"…" Despite of the wane in Natsu's health, he collected every ounce of hatred in his cells and stabbed Gildarts with it in a shape of fire blasts.

That Lieutenant, how manipulative was he?

"You with me kiddo?"

Fucking piece of shit.

"First off, if you want to experience paralysis and uncontrollable pissing, shitting, and drooling all over yourself, you'll call me that one more time."

"Cooooool." Gildarts chuckled, "Where did your innocence disappear? I like you that way now."

"If you provoked or did as much as touching a hair on Natsu's head, I'll fuck you up with those two hands before they could cause you paralysis."

"-My my, so defensive over-"

"-I'm setting the rules here and now. If you don't comply, the whole Justice chamber of Japan can kiss my ass when I call this deal off. Rule number three, don't fucking go anywhere near Natsu. Show as less of yourself as possible, am I understood?"

Fucker. His calm demeanor made Gray's fist itch to strike one punch that would fracture his stupid skull. As if sensing Gray's ill intentions, the man crossed his legs and nodded, agreeing to Gray's terms.

So Hibiki thought Gildarts Clive didn't intimidate Gray as much as he did to Natsu? He abducted Natsu twice, but he shot Gray. He SHOT him. Those injuries that were a few inches to recovery throbbed fast and gave him a false sense of pain with Gildarts's presence three meters away.

He even puffed his chest, stiffened his tone, and did everything he could to hide the fact that his hands were shaking.

"Let's get to business."

"Yes, I believe that's better." Gildarts lips cracked a smile, "Honestly, the information I have is insufficient and I'm looking forward to learning more about my role."

Gray adjusted his safety glasses and his seating on the leather armchair of the study room. He sighed, irritated, uncomfortable, and irritated. This-this mother-fucking—he should've thought a hundred million times before his mouth so carelessly utters the name "FUCK".

Why Hibiki? Huh? Why?

The rumbles in the sky outside continued as both parties stared at each other, one calmer than he should, and one wishing his cold blue eyes could freeze and shatter the other's.

"Look." Gray intertwined his fingers over his crossed leg, "I don't have a clear idea either. However. There's a special weap-device that you and I need to develop. We need to bring out its maximum capability to help the teams, or not. I'm sure you're aware they're luring Ondrej here to take him down."

"Interesting." An unfazed expression hid Gildarts's inner thoughts, "So I get a chance de-balling the fucker. Fantastic."

"You don't get to de-ball anyone, alright? Calm your shit down. We're testing this prototype, that's all there's to it."

"My information says that Ondrej thinks Natsu Dragneel is abducted by me."

Wow. "What? Hibiki said that he's a threat to Natsu… at some point."

"That's bogus. Won't be for long if Ondrej finds out Natsu is cooperating with the guys who want his fatty drugged up ass."

"I wanna ask…" The guy has shot Gray's ass twice, and it is weird he still wanted to ask him questions without strangling him first, "This Ondrej character… how is he like? I got the unicorny version of him because Natsu's the source, if you know what I'm saying."

"How much are you willing to pay for it?"

"Too much. How about your life? Fuck you."

"Ki-Gray, Gray, Gray. Don't be so serious." Gildarts' faked a nervous laugh, then pursed his lips for a good minute. "When they told me your friend did the whole play-with-the-wang shit, I gotta tell you, I was flabbergasted that that man has let Natsu touch his wang."

"…"

"Homophobia isn't my problem. Ondrej doesn't have… feelings... or human blood. These principled people planted nano-chips in my body… he chops people's limbs like he's cutting vegetables for his sandwich. His work/drugs are significant to him, and if your friend had tried to oppose him by something as much as words, his corpse would've been floating somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. Or maybe buried in one of the mines he worked at."

Gildarts leaned to the front and continued, "Have you ever asked your friend about the dynamics of their relationship?"

"… No." For what joy?

"Ask him then. Most likely it involved abuse. If not, something worse, cause you know, I can't wrap my head around the idea that a beast can love."

"Well… for every beast-"

"—Disney wonderland doesn't exist, we're living reality." Gildarts dismissed Gray's comment by a wave of his hand.

"Like… anything can happen, that's what I learned so far."

The criminal refused to answer; instead, he shot Gray a look of disrespect.

"On with work."

Gildarts crossed his legs. "If the weapon is magnificent, then why do we mess with it?"

Shit. He shouldn't have slipped and said irresponsible shit.

'Really? Of course they told him.'

"Problems. Technical ones. For starters, it's fucking heavy, it's hard to navigate, and it has to be at a certain distance of the target, etcetera. Also, functions and programming, and embedding this idea in my head into the whole system… It's hard."

"Tricky." Gildarts said, "I got a solution to the heaviness... Just came to me now."

Hoooo. Smartass. "What do you have in mind?"

"Drones." Gildarts pointed out, "Griff 800, or something like that."

Humans have developed several fields like agriculture, architecture, shoes, and shoelaces. Drones loitered around for years, and Gray's concerns for other technicalities blocked his creative side—or giving birth to practical solutions, plus, he expected Vance to serve as a study material… warfare purposes? That's overwhelming.

"Drones." Did he sound lost?

"Drones. Griff 800 series." Gildarts confirmed.

A little laugh echoed. Ladies and gentlemen, Gildarts Clive. Gray has an unhealthy admiration for the man's brain and personality as a manager, even though he posed as a role model for villains.

He grants the tools and assets nicknames like Gray—now THAT calls for applause.

"We'll… have a chat with the Major."

"You wanna ask me something else?" His ex-manager asked.

"Hexadecimals and shit, I-"

"-You suck."

Gray raised his hand to emphasize Gildarts's point, though it kicked his pride in the ass, "Exactly."

"Oh god." Gildarts grunted, "Kiddo, listen up. My stuff is in here," he patted a giant handbag on the floor next to his foot, "We have work to do. Shall we?"

"After you."

Boss.

It was such a great shame that an abductor like Gildarts Clive is made of genius. Before the whole incident blows, Gray has always respected him for his brains and for the many times he stood by Gray's side in the working environment.

"Gray, one more thing." Gildarts stood holding his bag, "I know what I did to you. I know it can't be forgiven, but you need to know I had a daughter to protect. I couldn't let him steal life's meaning from me."

"-life to you-"

"-I'm sorry. That's all I'm trying to say."

Pardon? This-this man. He thinks a 'sorry' would make Gray forget how humiliated he was? How the dirt of earth tasted in his mouth? How sharp were the needles coated with pain prickling all over? How his face was covered in tears? It's so good he came out of this incident mentally stable.

'Don't make me laugh, old man.'

He wanted to hold his ex-managing director by the collar and beat him till he forgets his name, but chose to grunt and put his hands in his pockets.

"Doesn't mean anything to me. Unless it's about work, I don't wanna hear bullshit. And when we're done from this, I hope we don't cross paths again."

Prostitution.

Across the years, people viewed prostitution as an overstepping dangerous phenomena that ruined lots of families, not to mention morals.

THE People, soldiers, or whatever, filled their house, which turned out pretty similar to a special campus of sorts with the last team's arrival. Gray tried calm. Tried cool. Maintenance of calm and cool proved difficult when one of the newcomers (a.k.a the fucker) used his Coffee mug to drink instant soup.

The mug, HIS mug was for Coffee, not for soup. Coffee, not soup.

Hence the prostitution phenomena.

If the dipshit had used his mug for tea, hot chocolate, or heck, hot milk, that's a different talk there. Excuse me, does he have to bear with this until someone uses his toothbrush? Allowing his belongings to be open for prostitution won't HAPPEN. He can fuck with them as much as he wants, but others?

He wasn't particular about anything. In fact, that's how every individual should feel about their stuff.

Gray crashed against someone. His long raging strides, and the pillows and blankets he carried blocked his vision and caused this unfortunate mini-incident.

"My bad." He apologized, taking the hand of the dazzling brunette soldier and pushed upwards, "My bad."

Her mouth opened, sagging, and her glasses drooped. Was that offending in the army world or the police? "Something… wrong?"

"No… no, no." A dangerous gleam shone in her eyes. She moved closer and put her soft hand on his exposed chest, "You… have... How'd you get those?"

Jeepers creepers. Oy.

"Would you… like to impress me… help me see more of it tonight in my tactical Van?"

Her fingers loosened the top of her uniform, exposing the fair skin of her chest that begged to be caressed. His eyes travelled, following its trail that led down to the big, low, and full pair of breasts.

The difficulty of decision making exceeded the norm because: one, what's the meaning of rejecting a female soldier? Will he get punished?… spanking and bondage, maybe? Two, If she got rejected, wouldn't it be awkward since they're staying together—and three… look at those… perfect melons…

"… Ah." He held her hand and guided it away from his abs, "Kinda tired… and busy so-"

"—Oh no no, I understand. Shameful me." If she'd looked like the part, he would've believed her, "Keep those naked around… I like it. And if you change your mind, you know where to find me."

"Ah…" Gray shivered when a heated gaze seared into his back (not the lustful gaze of the four eyed girl). Pinpointing the source wasted his time, so Gray shrugged it off, "I'll take that as a compliment. Thanks."

Good to know a free bitch was around. Where the fuck was his shirt?

Gray saved himself the search and ran upstairs to get a fresh one, which he immediately wore and insured that it won't come off.

Jeepers. Jeepers. Jeepers.

The three teams occupied the upper level of Unit 8, some of them occupied part of the ground floor. The sleeping arrangement was messed up. Gildarts slept in one van parked outside so he's far from any kind of intelligence (laptops, phones).

The teams acquired the right to sleep on the upper floor in shifts.

Gray's sleeping arrangement implied sleeping on the L-shaped sofa on the ground floor… with Natsu Dragneel whom he shunned since the glorious fight.

Natsu tossed the sheet and kicked the sofa so it's aligned with what the fuck ever he thinks it should be aligned with (Ondrej's asshole position probably).

A pillow flew and hit his arm.

Here we go.

Natsu snatched one pillow from Gray's hand and tossed it on his part of the sofa. Gray stood, his teeth gritted and his hand fast to grab the nearest solid object (his alarm clock), which he aimed at Natsu's back of the head.

"You take what's yours and fuck off from here!" Natsu shouted and rubbed the back of his head.

"Impossible son of a bitch." Gray snatched his beddings and stormed off to the study room. Good to know his instincts work. He foresaw a fight the minute he was designated to sleep there.

Gray watched the non-stop heavy pour and worked on calming his raging breaths. Natsu's had no right, he just didn't! He rubbed his hair, fingers digging deep till it reached his scalp. That's it. Sick or not, that bastard needed to be taught a lesson and no one on this earth was stopping Gray from taking that initiative.

He strode out of the study room and targeted Natsu, who still rubbed his head where Gray hit him with the clock. Gray sunk his fingers into Natsu's arm and pressed on his bones as he gritted his teeth and dragged the dumbfounded pink haired towards the study room.

"Fuck—!" Natsu didn't allow himself to be dragged. He snatched his arm, his right eye shut from the sting there. "Want your death date closer? Shit…"

He's so not having it. After shrugging, Gray carried him fireman-style, striding to the study room before Natsu had the chance to think or yelp.

"Haa!" Natsu's breath hitched.

He kicked the Study room's heavy wooden door to a close, and tossed the weight off his back on the sofa, both panting.

"Damn… heavy… asshole…" Gray breathed.

Natsu's back laid flat on the couch, the dark blue cardigan slid off his left shoulder. Staring at the ceiling in disbelief, his cheeks burned and his breaths came accompanied with two coughs ripping through his lungs on the way out. His narrowed eyes shifted from the recessed ceiling to Gray, scratching through his skin with the best glare they could master.

He dared him to do one more offense. As if he gave a shit.

"You've decided to go to the hospital tonight." Natsu hissed as he supported himself and lunged forward. Gray rooted his feet to the floor, both of his hands meeting Natsu's fists with determination. Fucker, where does his strength come from? He was sick with a fever that could fry eggs to perfection.

"You started it."

"You… deserved it!"

"Come on, what's this all about, huh? Come on!" Gray barked.

"Of course you don't know!" Natsu pushed against Gray's grip and verbal attack, "Like you haven't welcomed a damned psychopath here! Where we live!"

"Oh yeah?!" Y'all should scoff at that, "Yeah? And who the fuck is bringing the other one? I hope you didn't call and warn your beloved husband."

"Fuck you!" They both stood strong, shooting down the idea of losing to one another after they banged their heads. Then Natsu drove Gray up the wall fast, "I didn't even know what I was doing! But you?! You freaking asked for him to come! How—how could you do that to me?! Tell me how!"

Gray gathered his genuine strength and pushed Natsu forward, floundering him across, and breaking their violent physical contact that reddened his palms and showcased their veins.

They took seconds to pant and exchange threatening glares. "You scared, coward?"

Natsu's breaths hitched, chin trembling. Yes, Natsu deserved a beating, but the look that he pinned Gray with forced him to swallow the full list of insults he wanted to rain down on his friend.

"Yeah." The glare creasing Natsu's face earlier faltered and his trembling chin obstructed speaking, "I'm scared. And you bet I'm a c-coward. I hope you're s-satisfied with your decision. You know, to bring him over and get back at me for making an honest-to-god mistake-"

"-Fuck, I didn't!" What was wrong with everyone?! Why is he to be blamed over and over for this? Among all the people, Natsu should've understood that! Why is he called a friend again? His defensive tone heightened, as the blood flooded his brain, "I'd never get back at you this way, and you know that! It was just a thought he was talented! I never said oh I need him, or bring him over because I wanna fuck Natsu over-"

Natsu moved closer, not with violent intentions, but for emphasizing his point, "-look at you. Always acting like the perfect smartass, but you're not!"

They were in each other's space, each smelling the other's frustration, expecting a blow and putting up their guards.

"You think I'm scared for myself asshole?!" Natsu pointed at himself and huffed a bitter chuckle, "Do you know who matters to me the most? The one who can make or break me? You and YOU. How many times do I need to say it?!" Natsu's chin trembled more, and tears welled up in his eyes, "Gray! I can't leave you with him for a minute! He almost killed you in cold blood in front of me! I wouldn't let him take you from me—you-you wait and watch! If I've to strangle the motherfucker in his sleep with my bare hands, I WILL!"

'Holy… fuck!'

That. Right there, that. It always happens. Gray was always focused on his narrow point of view and never spared Natsu's a glance. It was always easier to dump accusations on his friend than understanding or showing patience with him. In contrast, Natsu thought the world of him.

He wished he was under the cold rapid-falling raindrops outside to quench the heat and passion of Natsu's words that burned throughout and jellied his limbs. It was funny. He thought he was obsessed with Natsu, with his unspoken deep care for him, but moments like these highlighted Natsu's obsession with him. That it wasn't his wishful thinking or imagination.

That raw fondness of him was there. In each chest-jab, insult, shout, and in those tears that fought so badly to fall. Goddammit, it radiated in Natsu's bones and figure in front of him.

Natsu sniffed and walked past him. Yeah, right. He urged himself to snap out of his dumbfounded self and raised an arm to block his best friend's way. That extended arm pushed Natsu towards him, and his fingers touched the cardigan's soft fabric covering Natsu's arm with care, unlike when he dug them in earlier.

"What… now?" Natsu's tone thickened, but didn't shake off Gray's hold. His body was limp and his tears broke.

Natsu made Gray one crazy son of a bitch. He made him angry, considerate, happy, then furious. Much to Gray's dismay, he disturbed his frozen sleepy emotions when they interacted, and converted them to spiraling storms of destruction with a hint of a fire spark.

Gray swallowed the huge cork in his throat. One arm has held Natsu's waist on him, his free hand wiped the warm stream of silent tears on the blazed cheeks, and from under his eyes. Shit, Gray was shaking and he had to stop, and be firm. The familiar tingling on his heart signaled for the old marking awakening.

Because Natsu was on him, and it needed to pull them apart, forbidding Gray from being swept by his friend's tear-wet lush lips.

This time, no matter how hard the curse tried jerking both bodies apart, it just couldn't.

Not when they both were in each other's breathing space, not when Natsu's hands cupped Gray's face and leaned even closer. His ears had blocked the rain, and as his nose inhaled the sea-breeze vanilla scent of Natsu, his mouth watered.

Not a second later, they pressed their lips on one another.

He tasted Natsu's salty tears, a painful reminder of the foolishness he had done. He imagined kissing his friend so many times with a passion that could burn rainforests, but never once did he imagine it'd be an apologetic act because words weren't enough.

It went both ways. When Natsu pressed his wet messy mouth on him, it was to say, 'I was a fool, don't be mad.'

Their presses were soft caresses, as gentle as it can be. It never showed the slightest hint of violence, but Gray's insides were all floating and shaking like an earthquake has hit him.

With one last peck, he pulled back and licked his lips.

"I'm…" He took a minute to collect himself at the sight of his kisses trail on Natsu's red lips and pomegranate cheeks, "… sorry."

Natsu swallowed and sobbed one time as Gray kissed his forehead and pulled him close.

"Don't think I'm happy about this—him being here… don't, okay?"

Natsu coughed then panted, hugging Gray as tight as he could, "We need to run—we can't go along with their crazy wishes, we have that right!-"

"-hey." Gray patted his friend's back to calm him down, "Nat. First, you need to get better. And, don't worry about him much, they have him under control. Let's-"

Natsu pulled far enough just to look at Gray's face, "You think I'd depend on anyone if it comes to your safety? Your life?!"

"You're crazy." Gray chuckled, wiping away more tears, "You should stop caring so much about me. It's gonna get you killed. I'll be fine—don't get me wrong. You have the right to worry yourself over this because even I'm stressed. It was tough talking to him and… I kept remembering and it's difficult. Guts tell me it's gonna be alright though."

"-Guts telling you it's gonna be alright-are you fucking serious? Am I s-supposed to trust your guts now? Who's the c-crazy one here?"

Although Natsu nagging twisted his nerves, his concerns were valid, and oh my god, he was so adorable worrying sick over him. His baffled stare from Gray's statement was fixated on him waiting for an explanation and Gray's throat closed. He leaned and pressed his mouth onto the other's, this time, a little harder than before, just to calm him down as he pushed the back of Natsu's head forward.

Natsu's hands were quick on Gray's chest, with the purpose of pushing away, to stop fooling around and be serious about such a huge matter, but the groan he gave out in Gray's mouth destroyed his efforts at conveying that.

Just when Natsu's muscles relaxed in his hold and under his intimate touch, Gray broke the kiss, barely finding his voice to speak, "… remember when you thought Hibiki and Jellal were conspiring against us, and you wouldn't listen to me they're not? The same thing is happening now. You should trust me more."

Natsu was all wide-eyed and red to the ears. His body froze in Gray's arms, it was a miracle he nodded, obedient.

Nice. If he knew the perks of kissing the idiot, he would've done it long back.

'Such a moron…'

Natsu drifted to the world of dreams after his feet wobbled and consciousness disappeared from the fever. Luckily, Gray got him to the military's doctor in time (and who has blown the incident out of proportion). Erza Scarlet scrutinized them, suspicious that they may have fought again, but Loke interfered and cleared that misunderstanding.

'I'm a moron too.'

It was better for Natsu to sleep in a place less cramped with people and quiet, thus, the current sleeping arrangement, in the study room, Natsu on the couch and Gray on the floor.

Gray promised himself a neck-ache and back-ache the day after. That fucker. Natsu wanted Gray to be as close to sight as possible, and that's the only reason he accepted taking the wooden floor as a bed for the night. A more honest side of Gray has revealed that although it was uncomfortable, Gray didn't mind having Natsu want him there.

He sat next to the sleeping figure, fingers going through the moist pink hair.

'Will it ever stop?'

He loved the sight of the rain washing down everything. Tonight, the rain was heavy pebbles that stroke the glass. But, serious? Two days in a row?

When Natsu stirred in his sleep with a scowl, Gray's hand brushes soothed his arm, and calmed him almost instantly.

'You don't understand me, you know. The reason you're not mine until now… What If I hurt you? When we're friends… anything can be fixed. But if we're together… it's not that simple. I'm so flawed you can't imagine…'

Gray leaned over and kissed the crook of Natsu's neck.

'Anyway… too late to think now. You will suffer a lot and I'm sorry… but I can't do it anymore.'

He stroke Natsu's soft cheek.

"I'm sorry… you're mine. No one else's. Just mine."

To Be Continued...

Next Chapter Release: Next week, Wednesday 20th May.

Special thanks to: deboome (He's been annoying me too cause I have to write him like that haha. Thank you so much, I hope you enjoyed this very special chapter.), Kori No Koibito (Heyyy. Broooo, I hope you're doing good. They fought, but it won't be their last fight! Its Natsu and Gray after all. Can't believe how I'm obssessed with them...).

Thank you ALL for reading. Feel free to share any comment, inquiry, or advice. I'd love that. AND stay safe, stay home.

Alright, till next time!

Looooooove,

Flame-Belt