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 Twenty Two O.o.O
"Wait, wait, wait, you got it wrong…" Gray cursed the cinnamon roll in his hand, fucking shit downgraded him to a food thief, "This is mine. I got it from the bakery, I swear."
Gray believed ten replicas of him existed because Natsu's posture shifted to stone. He hasn't raised himself from the floor. His eyes were puffy and continued to widen as he focused on Gray's presence in his living space that canceled his voice.
When he snapped out of it, his ears reddened, and he retreated in a slow pace. As soon as he reached the door, he bolted to escape the apartment.
Ohhhhh no you don't.
Gray dragged Natsu by his long scarf, choking the amazing runner, but preventing him from disappearing again.
"Don't. Even. Think. About it." Gray warned as Natsu coughed, holding his knees, "You offend me."
Natsu leapt to the door with all his strength, but Gray kicked it shut. In the end, he faced a closed door, and Gray behind his back like a devil.
He banged his fist on the door and rested his forehead against it, panting as if he has just returned from a marathon.
"No. No!"
"Dude, you're totally misunderstanding this! I'm neither a rapist, nor a burglar, so let's-"
"Shut up! What the fuck…?! I'm gonna strangle that fucker!"
Natsu stormed to his room, past Gray. As long as he was away from the door, it was fine, so he took his sweet time walking up to the double-size bed with the messy navy covers. It was time to try the tempting triangles of sweet love. Apricot or strawberry though?
"Come on, come on, come on!" Natsu stomped back and forth in the room, keeping his phone close to his flushed ear, "Pick up! Pick it up!"
"Wanna try one of these? They're too AWESOME!" Unlike the panicky pink-haired, Gray chilled with the box of pastries.
'Wow. That is a wonderful patisserie… They paid attention to the sugar taste too…'
"You know what? You're so full of shit! We've had a deal! How could you do that?!"
At Natsu's deafening yell, Gray felt bad for Hibiki. Anyway, he deserved it for hiding Natsu's location, and for agreeing to Natsu's stupid suggestions. Eat shit Hibiki, eat lots of shit.
"I'm gonna devour them all you know." Gray loved the apricot triangles. LOVED.
"You told me that before! Is it because you're the government that you can easily screw me over?! I trusted you! And YOU told me it was for the best! We've had a mutual understanding; how the hell… did you do that? I can sue you for this!"
Clearly, Natsu wasn't up for trying sweets. Guess what? His fucking loss.
'Cool. More for me...'
"Excuse me?! Who the hell will want to see you again?! CALM DOWN?!"
He fulfilled his cravings and stretched with a smile on his face. It was time to work. He fetched the big empty suitcase he brought along, went back to the room, and cringed at Natsu's loudness. He opened the medium size beige closet and started stuffing Natsu's belongings into the suitcase.
'Perfect, we'll be done in ten minutes.'
"What the hell are you doing?!" Natsu shouted behind him, "NOT YOU! FUCKER, STOP!"
"Pants done. PJs done. Shirts… shirts…"
"Shit!" Natsu hung up and dragged Gray away from the closet, throwing him off to the other end of the room, "What are you doing?!"
Gray balanced himself, "Taking you back to Narita."
"God! Do you think I'm gonna go along with it?!"
"Ah, yes."
Poor Natsu, Gray saw the fumes ascending above him.
"Think again! Listen, listen to me now!" Natsu's hand did a sharp air-chop, "I appreciate that you have come all the way here, I do! But it's never gonna work between us! I accepted it, and you should too!"
"What's this? You sound like a crappy interviewer who's not giving a persistent employee the job." Gray munched on his pastry.
"Really, now isn't the time for your-" Natsu's cheeks flushed.
"How could you abandon me like that? Do you know how hurtful it was?"
"Exactly! I'm a cruel piece of shit! So-" Natsu fetched Gray's handbag, the bakery's box, and handed it to him, "-leave and never look back! You're better off this way, trust me."
Gray placed his stuff on the arm-chair and walked to the closet. Something that rigged Natsu with irritation.
"If you fucking touch my things-"
"-and that lovely shirt is going there."
"Gray!" Natsu yelled and threw the bakery's box at him. Gray dodged both of the box, and Natsu's punch, which collided with the wooden closet.
The boy squirmed, opening and closing his abused fist.
"Look." Gray started, "You're coming with me to Narita tomorrow."
"I decided I'll forget about you! I decided I won't see you again… why..."
"So? That's stupid and has nothing to do with me. If anything, I should beat the shit out of you."
Natsu glared, but Gray wasn't threatened since Natsu held his pained fist like a kicked dog.
"This is for your own-"
"-no one said you're my mother. Heck, my mother didn't object." He approached Natsu, who glued his back to the closet. Gray held the boy's abused hand and looked straight into the other's freaked out green eyes.
"You know… there's a method used in my profession to analyze any problem. You have to ask the five whys."
"Wha-?"
"Why're we in this situation?"
Natsu shoved Gray's hand off, "Because I acted like a good friend and called a sociopath to come and destroy us and hundreds of other soldiers as a bonus! Wake up, moron!"
"… Cool. Why did you do that?"
"-the hell?!"
"-Because he was your lover. But why? Because you met him. Why's that? cause you went to Guinea, why? 'cause I ignored your feelings for me, crushed them, and didn't have the balls to clarify things between us."
Natsu faced a breathing difficulty.
"It's all on me. If I… hadn't abandoned you years ago, we wouldn't have gone through this bullshit. It's not you, and it's not anyone else."
"Stop…"
"I need you. Even if you tell me you don't, say it all you want… I don't care. I came here to take you with me and you're not gonna change that."
Natsu's voice was reduced to split whispers, "This… is so hard for me. You're making it… so so hard… you don't understand shit. And you're being selfish!"
"Let me understand then." Gray moved closer, his words coming out gentler than he intended. Hearing rejection wasn't what he came for.
"Ondrej isn't done yet! If he comes for me again, then you'd be-"
"-that doesn't matter, I'm not gonna lose you because of him-"
"-stubborn bastard-"
"-I'm not gonna lose you because of him."
"Th-there are things about me which has changed! I'm not like what I used to be back then and you've seen it-"
"-I don't mind." Past and present Natsu, Gray liked both. They were stupid, impulsive, and cheerful for no good reason, "I don't think there's much difference. Maybe the weird language… but it's not like I haven't changed either… we can't do anything about it."
Natsu opened his mouth to talk, but he had enough. Gray pulled Natsu's shoulders towards him.
"Stop. Thinking. Forget everything and come with me."
Natsu froze, and has he heard him at all? He imagined a light shiver underneath his fingers, and couldn't pinpoint what he said wrong.
"… Say something."
Natsu pushed Gray off and stepped out of his bubble, as if protecting himself against it.
"What's with you?! I can't believe how much of an asshole you're being right now." Before Natsu got far, Gray held his arm, with no intention of letting go.
Karma. That was karma. Because he has hurt Natsu plenty. He was collecting the results, and he hated it. His resolve to reconnect with Natsu was strong, but the rejection he faced crumbled his confidence to pull off that simple task.
His grip loosened around the boy's arm and was more than ready to let go… forever.
"Stop thinking. Forget everything and come with me..." Natsu repeated his words earlier with deep red coloring his cheeks and ears, "How did you know?"
Gray whispered, "What…?"
Natsu tried to speak, and Gray was giving him the time to do it, but it irked him.
"That…" Natsu chuckled, but also cracked.
"I pushed too much-"
"-you've always…" Natsu's speech fought against his harsh intakes of breaths, "Said that… in my dreams… my wildest fantasies during college..."
That revelation burned Gray's head, warmed his blood, and above all, his heart needed medical attention because it would explode out of his chest and bounce all around.
'That fucker… he wants to kill me!'
"You're not fair..." Natsu pulled his arm out of Gray's grip.
Please, that was bullshit.
"Then stick around with me more. Maybe you'll get to hear more… if it makes you happy."
"And if you're hurt because of me, again, how can I be happy?" Natsu trembled, "You-you left once. You left for me. Because it was the right thing to do, right? Why can't you let me do the same? This is the right thing for me to do too!"
"Natsu, I was a fucking idiot, and a coward who chose not to fight back for what we—had. I'm not your benchmark for this kinda shit!" Gray closed the space between their feet, "Don't make the same mistake."
"Then what?! Be with you and get you killed for real this time?"
When Natsu wore his stubbornness suit, he was irritating. But Gray understood him. He lived the same situation years ago, and he knew that stupid mindset.
"Nothing's gonna happen. If Hibiki wasn't certain that this," Gray pointed between them, "Will work, he wouldn't have let me step a foot outside Japan. Major Laxus Dreyar too-"
"-That asshole?"
"He's not an asshole, but that's not the point." Gray didn't want to pull at his hair, "You're worrying about this way too much. And let's assume your concerns are valid, I'm not gonna live a minute more without you, and you won't too. Understood?"
"Gray-"
"-Understood?"
The pink haired grumbled and searched for support against Gray's argument.
"Now, come here. To where you belong." Gray opened his arms and smirked at the Natsu's flushed cheeks.
"I'm not your fucking dog."
"What's the matter with dogs? They're so fucking cute!" Gray wrapped his arms around the boy, not waiting for long.
Natsu hugged him back, reluctant, "You'll regret this for the rest of your life."
"You're wrong. I'd regret it if I let you go. Like I did all those years. You asked me once to stay, and that's what I'm doing. Staying."
When the vanilla and fresh sea breeze settled in his senses, he felt like he was home and safe.
"I missed you, idiot."
Natsu melted at his words. He smiled and pulled him closer. "You didn't cheat on me, did you?"
"No. I didn't…"
"Good boy."
"My dog has died is written all over your face. Is this how you reward me for chasing your ass? Lighten up, will you? Jeez, you're hurting me, ouch."
Gray's long shower cleaned the fatigue of the 24 hour journey and soothed his injury's pain. Both decided they needed food, a late dinner. While Gray skipped on the pavement, the pink haired shunned him, gloved hands in the brown jacket pockets.
Natsu guided them to the Georgian restaurant he was familiar with, two buildings far from the Apollo building Apartments. By the law of 'more experience', he also ordered the food because Gray was in a quandary when it came to the menu, plus, he trusted Natsu's food-related hunch.
"Why tomorrow? That's very rushed…" Natsu removed his gloves and faced Gray, "Packing takes time, you know."
"I know." How can he explain this? "It's not up to me. I have to be in Narita tomorrow. Specifically, KMC. Since I don't trust that you'll follow, you have to come with me."
"KMC? Is that thing still in a bad shape?" Natsu said.
'Shit, what else does he know?'
That topic in the back of his head needed unfolding. Did Natsu know about his mental problem? Was this a good time for him to bring it up?
'Not really. Not before dinner.'
That was his other self, the scared one. The pussy one. Natsu needed to know. And before Gray puts them together, as in together.
"You know." Gray stated.
"If I don't know, who will?" Natsu sighed, "Does it still hurt?"
"Ahhhhhhh, well," Gray smiled, "Nope."
"Liar."
"I'm okay. You're here now."
Natsu chuckled, pretending to fumble with the table accessories, "Smooth. Real smooth. So tonight we pack and sleep for like two hours?"
"Probably."
"Just great."
Gray jolted from sleep, pained as if a freight train had collided with his feeble body and tossed it away from the track. Fuck, FUCK. That was horrible. His hard pants quickened as he sat, one hand over his abdomen, while cold sweat covered his bare upper half.
Sleeping together on a tight double-size bed with Natsu has put him at a disadvantage. His friend stirred, but couldn't open his eyes yet.
"Bad dream?" Natsu landed one tough pat on Gray's back and yawned as he sat. He was stinking of sleep, eyes still shut.
"Yeah… very, terrible." There was no point denying.
"Mmmm." Natsu got up and came back with a glass of water. His voice was smudged with sleep as he handed it to him, "Here."
"Thanks."
When Natsu pulled the covers over him to continue his slumber, Gray removed them and patted his arm, "We need to talk."
"Do we?" Natsu hoped 'yes' won't be the answer.
"Yes, we really do."
God that was hard. Wearing nothing but sweatpants, Gray sat on the bed, crinkles under his eyes, a bit of sweat, and a sprinkle of raw terror. He was drained, sleep loomed around him, but this? This was important. This, he needed to clear.
Anyway, if he wanted to sleep, it won't be that easy. The same thing would happen again.
Natsu rested in the armchair, disoriented and smelling of sleep that Gray felt guilty. They relied on the moon and building signage outside for light, which eased Gray's tension.
"Uhm," He rubbed his hands together, "I… I felt everyone depended on me to make things work, and… I made a stupid mistake, and fell a long way, back then."
Natsu nodded, understanding what he hinted at.
"I thought I died, but I didn't, I know. I can't help but to see myself stuck in that situation over and over, the fear increasing each time." His voice wasn't as strong as he wanted it to be and it sucked, "I… have issues-big mental issues, I'm fucked up, shit-"
"-Yeah. I saw your medical reports." Natsu rubbed his right eye, then yawned.
Gray froze, "… you what?"
"Uh-huh. Is this important? Dude, let's just go back to sleep-"
"-If you knew, why the fuck didn't you say anything? Why are you going along with this fucking plan?"
His outburst knocked Natsu awake.
Why… was it sympathy? Pity? Guilt? Why did Natsu accept returning to Japan with him? And why the fuck did Hibiki leak his medical status without asking the patient himself?!
Natsu scratched the scar on his neck lightly. In the two minutes his friend hasn't spoken, Gray couldn't breathe. Nervously, he wiped his feverish forehead.
'Please… say something… Oh god!'
Why was this freaking him out? He couldn't tell if this was freaking him out, or the visual remnants of the nightmare. It was dark, but the subtle neon lights of pink and orange showed Natsu getting closer. Even with the light's absence, he would recognize Natsu from his warmth.
Natsu was all what Gray focused on. His steps, his pause, the small groan Natsu thought he was concealing. Three men raved before the pub under their apartment, a girl busted out laughing, two cars honked, but none mattered.
Natsu was the sole living thing. Natsu was… Natsu was…
Please… Natsu.
Natsu exhaled, thinking Gray wouldn't hear it. His cozy touch on Gray's moist cheeks lingered before Natsu's mouth greeted his own.
'Huh…?'
His back fell against the dampness of the sheets, where he had his nightmare. Soon, the weight of his friend's perfect body settled on him, and even if he loved it, his mind was all what, why, who, and what?
The pink color of his face darkened at the honey vanilla taste and deepening of the series of kisses they exchanged. Though they haven't kissed a lot, their lips knew how and where to go.
Gray tapped on Natsu's chest until their noses were a breath apart.
"Natsu, what…"
A small glare came his way. He couldn't see Natsu clearly, but was certain his face was red. That's how hot it felt. Shit, he craved kissing him already.
"Sometimes… I wished terrible stuff happened to you so you lose your head's toughness… stubbornness, memories. Then I come along, convince you we're lovers—laugh the evil laugh and make you mine. Trust me, you're the man anyone would want for their body, not the content."
Should he feel happy or frightened as fuck? That bastard wished for what?
Natsu faked the anger tone. The slight stutter gave him away. The weight pressed more into him, exposing their growing desires between their legs.
"I'm not interested in anything… happening here." Natsu's hand dug into Gray's black hair, "Not even one bit."
Gray's lower lip felt the butterfly touch of Natsu's tongue. There was one at his neck, his left ear, his abs, then around his nipple. His mouth opened wide, his heart drums shooting high. Thoughts that has been tormenting him disappeared because it was impossible to think while Natsu's tongue played him.
'God… Is this a dream?'
He didn't deserve someone as angelic as Natsu. He gave Gray so much. His lips made Gray's fears evaporate. For that, he answered the passionate warm press of mouth with one that was the same. Then it turned violent, urgent. Natsu's flavor was addicting he couldn't stop.
They filled the quiet void of the room with shared groans and rustling of sheets. On the tight bed, Gray managed to flip them without falling off. He tugged Natsu's irritating shirt above his head, and discarded it on the floor.
"It's cold."
Natsu's hands had slipped from the sides of Gray's neck, resting on his chest. His erratic, clipped breathing signaled he was nervous as hell.
"Soon it won't be." Gray smiled fondly. His hands rested on Natsu's contemplating ones.
God. Natsu's cheeks sweltered. He looked at Gray as if he was the only one vulnerable, but he was wrong. The bravest in the room was him. A shard of the nightmare plucked into Gray's brain, and it slowed him, made him skeptical about their escalating relationship. If he should do it with Natsu.
"Gray…" Natsu called, his hand petting Gray's hair, "Stop thinking and come with me."
His eyes widened, then he chuckled, "Touché."
"I'm gonna make you sleep…" Natsu promised.
Gray has dragged Natsu's fingers to his lips, kissed them, licked their tips and spread Natsu's legs.
"Really, how?"
"You'll see."
Natsu stop. Unless you want Gray dead. This guy… shit. Gray leaned, kissed Natsu's cheek, his nose, under his eyes, then claimed his mouth. Damn his fucking heart. It ran miles and slammed on the walls of his chest that he thought it'd explode. Natsu's skin was a gentle burn on his own, and under his hands. The smooth but rigid feel of muscles had shot straight to his hardness.
Gray was so into licking his friend's tongue that he got easily flipped over. Natsu had straddled him, kissed his jaw, chin—and tipped Gray off when hotness covered his right earlobe. Because of his flinch, Natsu chuckled, loving the reaction, then pushed one knee between Gray's legs, rotating, rubbing, teasing.
"Shi…t."
Things got messy from there. They bit each other's lips, Natsu's hands brushed every inch of his skin, and his tongue licked the hollow of Gray's throat.
Confined. He suffocated beneath his pants, and beneath the friction of Natsu's knee against him. Either Natsu's knee and hip needed to work faster, or he'd reach down and do it himself. He couldn't bear it anymore. His hips moved on its own.
"Oh god…"
Natsu chomped Gray's cheek then smirked, "Someone's enjoying themselves."
"I'm not the only one. I can feel you too."
Natsu blushed and before he denies it, Gray pinned him underneath, stripped his own pants, followed by Natsu's.
"Wa-it.."
"No way." Gray returned the smugness earlier, "Let's see…"
"Mmnn-wait-"
Gray's fingers teased Natsu onto his boxers. And wow, he didn't think it'd be oozing stickiness, much like his own. "You're wet."
"Y-you… remember your nnnnnn… n-nightmare…"
Natsu's back arched when Gray's hands wrapped around him and stroked to throw him off.
"Like hell I would…" Gray sweated, lowered their boxers, then kissed Natsu, pushing him up, "Come here."
Fuck. Because Natsu was sopping wet, he slid around him up and down smoothly. While he stroked, his finger pressed on the head and Natsu cried out as if in pain. Only it wasn't. He couldn't contain his pleasure in this throat. Like the sticky fluid dripping from his mouth, the pleasure overflowed and spilled everywhere.
Gray blushed. Sweet Natsu was so hot. He almost came watching him struggle with ecstasy. The coconut-scented neck invited him, he sucked on it greedily, leaving a red mark.
"Touch me." Gray pecked Natsu's lips.
"Thou-ght… you'd never… ask…"
He gasped as warmth and tightness jerked him off.
Their grip around each other clashed when they kissed. It was urgent and needy that their bodies danced with their stroking rhythm. Gray then smirked into the kiss and removed Natsu's grip on him to take them both into his hand. Seeing that he couldn't rub them both, he pushed Natsu back on the bed, and frotted against him to assist his strokes.
Natsu's hands dug into Gray's shoulder, his body thrusting forward into Gray's hand.
"This is… insanne-"
Gray had sealed Natsu's lips with a long kiss that turned into a lovely fight for dominance. When a musical gasp broke Natsu apart, Gray knew where Natsu was going, because Gray was going there too.
"I'm… shit, I'm-"
Gray tasted the sweet skin of Natsu's neck and groaned, "Me too..."
Tacky thickness trickled down his fingers, soon coating them, spurting onto Natsu's stomach.
'Shit…'
Natsu's slippery orgasm has provoked him to come. Emptying himself onto Natsu's warmth. For long seconds, they panted, kissed, moved themselves against each other, riding their ecstasy, then Natsu buried his nose in the side of Gray's cheek. Boneless, they tumbled on the bed, glued to one another. Gray's eyes shutting as he felt the warmth on his fingers and skin.
"What a mess…" He said, a chuckle vibrating in his chest.
"Ummm. Loved every second." Natsu came across as drunk and thirsty for sleep, "Fuck, you feel so good…"
"So I've heard." Gray helped Natsu to settle on a comfortable side on the bed and hugged him. Gray loved how uncomfortable, hot, messy, sticky it was. The best feeling ever. He wouldn't complain if they stayed in that form.
"I'm so gonna sleep Gray… I don't care if you have another nightmare… fucking don't wake me up." Natsu shivered, still pulsing against Gray's knee.
"Not arguing with that."
He thought he was calm.
When the alarm drilled their ears at dawn, they cringed and Gray wanted to throw his phone out of the window. Then again, that flight to Japan was important, and he needed to haul ass not to miss it because if he does, there're six people who would legally murder him.
Starting with Loke.
Eyes half opened and dazed, it fell on the tousled rouge-pink locks on cream pillows, the mouth he had exhausted kissing the night before, and beautiful form of Natsu's shirtless core. What more could anyone ever hope for? That's paradise next to him, and he was thankful for the shit he did right to be rewarded that way.
That's why his mood did nothing but improve. He was calm further after that awkward moment in the bed where they stared at each other like they were awkward high school kids. But, seriously, he thought something was royally fucked up with his face because Natsu stared at him for too long.
"What?" See? He had to ask.
"Hm?" The deep sleep's ghost-hum of Natsu questioned back.
"Stop staring. I can see you." Their noses weren't that far.
"I can see you too." The boy blushed, "So why can't I?"
OK. Taking Natsu's chin in hand, Gray moved to capture his lips. "You can. As long as it's me."
Triple WOW to the morning he had.
They had to smack themselves literally to resist their urges, shower, and get the hell out of the apartment.
See how that was calming and flowery?
Then dread broke his neck.
The taste of coffee elicited a grimace out of him. Shitty thing was sugary. He tossed the whole cup in the trash basket.
"You've just bought that!" Natsu shot him a look of disbelief.
"Tastes like shit. Am I supposed to live with that? I'm not a negative house wife, so no. Moving on."
The huge glazing of Tbilisi's International airport's boarding lounge revealed planes landing and departing, people getting onto airport buses, and technicians driving specialized vehicles. Though it wasn't crowded compared to Narita's airport.
Why did people invent flying things to reach two different continents faster? They could've developed other means of transportation—worked more on the amazing deserted concept of Hyperloops. If humanity had focused more on Hyperloops, and stopped their psychotic interest in birds, it could've progressed faster than planes did.
"Ok STOP." Natsu's hand landed on his left hip, "Really, stop."
Natsu had seized the unintentional bounce of his legs. Ok, first, he had no right. Cold sweat ran on the back of his neck as the darkest black-tinted sunglasses (ever produced) shielded Gray's eyes.
"Cool." He stopped like the other wanted.
"No, not cool. What's the matter? Don't tell me you're chickening out now."
"Like… what's wrong with ships? They sound fun. We could celebrate our honeymoon like those people who take off in fancy yachts—anyway, Hibiki's paying-"
"Do you realize that what you said is so wrong? ONE, we're not married, two, I'm the one who should bitch about transportation! Relax man, we're gonna be in Narita in no time-"
"A day isn't 'no time'. Hell, after that we're riding another fucking airbus to Kyoto, ANOTHER ONE Natsu."
"How did Loke do this with you?"
"I had to knock him out." The Sergeant narrowed his eyes at Gray after he had walked up to them with a cup of coffee, "He didn't stop bitching all the way from Narita—did he tell you about the history of Hyperloops? Btw, nice hickey you got there Natsu."
"No, but he brought up the yachts." Natsu gasped, his hands flying to his neck. Then his cheeks reddened, "It's-not what you think!"
"It's exactly what I think. He'll also try to harass flight attendants sexually, then he'll pretend his seat is taken by someone, he'll shout 'A BOMB' and everyone's gonna evacuate."
Gray pretended he heard nothing as both individuals fried his skin with their obnoxious stares.
"… Is that… the pilot?" Natsu asked.
A team of seven flight attendants and a man walked up in the boarding bridge which faced the boarding lounge. The man was tall with strong cheek bones. He had platinum blonde hair and a pair of azure cheery eyes.
"Yes." Loke replied. "They don't usually come here, but there's a problem with their lift."
"Hooooo." Natsu adjusted in his seat, "Must be my lucky day."
"Don't tell me…" Loke didn't want to laugh when he was drinking coffee, "The pilot? Man, the PILOT?"
"Yeah… I've a list of things I want to do before I die, and one of them is to hug a pilot-"
"-Liar." Loke smirked.
"-Ok fine, have sex with one. It's not my fault all of them have broad shoulders… hot and… strong and…"
"You're drooling."
Natsu's heart-shaped eyes followed the man until he boarded the plane. He bit his lips, "Or... if not sex, then at least sit on his lap or something…"
"I'll go ahead." Loke escaped.
Fucker wants to have sex or sit on a pilot's lap. Fucker was daydreaming of being with another man when he was sitting next to his—GUY. Gray had a gun in his handbag, and he didn't want to use it in blowing up the brains of his love interest.
"What?" Natsu appeared careless about Gray's unforgiving glare.
"Why don't you go fuck with the pilot? I'll wait here for you."
"Come on now, don't get it wrong. I'll tell you what this is like-"
"-cheating?"
"No. It's like having a crush on a celebrity or something-"
"—except that your to-do-list says something else other than sleeping with me."
Natsu's face reddened, but he went on casually, "I can't help it dude! Tell me right now you don't/didn't wanna sleep with a female flight attendant. I know I do."
"I'm an electrical engineer, OH, that's a problem. And now that we're together, how are you gonna accomplish that item? Make it two, including the flight attendant."
"Like… I didn't tell you if that item is checked or not, right?"
'… FUCKING BITCH PUSHING MY BUTTONS!'
Gray took off his sunglasses, "You're fucking bluffing. It's not funny."
"How do you know if I'm bluffing…?"
"You know I have a gun right? Want me to shove it down your throat?! I bet I'll get a quick straight answer that way."
"Are you threatening me…? In the airport where cameras monitor every nook and corner?"
"I prefer going to jail than letting you anywhere near that pilot."
This argument has lasted even after they were buckled in their seats in the airplane.
"—It's not too late you know? You can still join aviation." Natsu smirked, "You'll be so charming flying a plane. You'll be my pilot. That's… my skin shivers just thinking of it."
"Why waste years of my life doing aviation when perverted humans invented something practical called role-play?"
"…?" Natsu's head whipped, and stared baffled at him, swallowing thickly.
"I'll put on the hat, tie, and tight shirt, call you up to sit on my lap while you're naked, and I'll force you to ride me while you're at it. No wait, I'll let you wear my hat, and my tie, then have you ride me—why are you drooling now?"
"God! Man, please! Shut up!"
"Look at how red you're. I didn't think you were so dirty."
"This is coming from you?!"
"I'm not the one thinking of sleeping with a pilot."
"I'm not gonna go along with this conversation anymore."
"Because you have nothing to say."
"No, because you've a stick shoved up your ass. Normally, you'd go, why not?"
"Dickhead."
"Dumbass."
"Fuck you."
"Anytime."
Gray scoffed, "Since when did you have this good sport?"
"Since he has to distract you until the plane takes off." Loke winked from the seat in front of them, "Now, kids, shut the fuck up 'cause you're embarrassing me, and enjoy the flight."
"You're…" He stared at Natsu who avoided his gaze.
Eventually, Natsu shrugged and tried to put on a careless front, "What?"
"You'd have a fight with me, for me? God, that's so sweet I feel I'll puke."
"Thank you. At least you didn't scream 'BOMB', right? You're buckled in your seat, and we're taking off."
"It's time for me to puke or break down in hysterics, oh god… I feel so queasy."
The plane moved. Gray grimaced at the friction between the wheels and land, and took a napkin, putting it on his mouth. "I hate this…"
Natsu slid Gray's sunglasses off. He took the napkin from his hand and wiped the sweat on his cheeks, his warm touches easing him. They paused a minute to stare at each other, and Gray was certain his overall appearance was pathetic.
"I think you deserve a thank you… for bearing to come all the way here… and back again…"
He stared at Natsu's complexion and lips with fondness. He stuttered feeling his frantic heart beats when the plane prepared to take off, "It's… no problem. Worth it."
Survival was hard. The trip was over twenty-four hours, and worse, a transit flight, thus, it stretched to twenty-seven hours because of flight delays. Because he didn't want a certain bitch doctor to do more harm than good, he had to visit Kameda Medical Center after their arrival at Narita International Airport.
Natsu had insisted to go with him despite his fatigue. They had to stay in a hotel in Narita until they've finished Gray's doctor visits, and they spent four days doing nothing but eating and trying to sleep (miserably failing).
Before returning to Kyoto, Hibiki had set up a meeting with them, and saying 'no' to him wasn't an option. They both wanted to finish their businesses with the government (HIBIKI LATES), but it dragged.
"Upper management…" Hibiki started thinking then shrugged, "Well, I'm upper management, so I and our director have an offer for you."
He exchanged looks of bewilderment with Natsu and shifted in his seat, crossed his legs as his hands rested on his lap.
"Me?"
"Yup."
"Ok?"
"Relax." Hibiki said as Levy stood next to him, "Your work with the pressure magnificator is brilliant, and we'd like you to work for us. We have a division for special weapon development, and we want you to be one of the team members."
'Holy shit. What is this guy saying?'
"That's not gonna happen." Natsu commented calmly.
"Pros, you'll forget about the mundane package and work you received from your previous company, and as an engineer, this is an excellent opportunity for career growth. You'll be learning a lot from us which makes this offer mutually beneficial."
"No." Natsu pressed.
Levy appeared worried.
"Cons, People working for our research facilities are often targeted. We've had many kidnapping incidents, gruesome ones."
"Yeah. So, no, thanks." Natsu insisted.
"And in case they ever quit, they can't work for an opponent facility, instead, they can move freely within the local boundaries of the country. Like from Narita's branch to Fukuoka's military base, and so on. Even though it's a career boost, I wanted to give you what it entails. Now, it's up to you to think about it."
"He's not accepting it."
Man… shit. He took his time to analyze Hibiki's speech, and…
"Do you want to be followed everywhere? Do you want to be targeted by criminals? Your healthy civilian life will transform to paranoia and limitless stress. That's not all. You might be asked to give up your profession and work waiter, receptionist, other bullshit, why? Because today we have a director that understands the situation, but tomorrow, when he's gone, another one comes in and the council views you as a potential threat and ties up those skilled hands behind your back."
-Laxus's warning to him three months ago rolled as hard as mountain rocks and smashed his consciousness. Hibiki's offer showed him the progress he's done, and the potential he has. Working for the government's intelligence? That… how does it work?
"You don't have to give us an answer now. That kind of decision takes days."
"I beg to differ." Natsu scoffed, "Again, what's there to think about?"
"It's up to the person of interest."
"That's right, but that person of interest has a partner and that means sharing. If I'm not okay with it, then he has to take my point of view into consideration, if not, we're officially over right here, right now."
"Gray!" Levy interfered, bothered with Natsu's intrusion, "What… what do you think about this?"
Diplomacy would never be one of Gray's traits which caused a humongous problem. The minute Natsu dropped that bold statement, he forced Gray to be diplomatic about his answer because he risked everything if he said the wrong words. And that means… everything. The Japanese government and Natsu Dragneel.
To begin with, Natsu and Hibiki were alright towards each other. With the current flow, said alright had potential to escalate to animosity, especially after Hibiki had given away Natsu's location to Gray (He had tried explaining to Natsu that he had to pretend he was physiologically dysfunctional, but Natsu still kept a grudge).
Such a pain in the balls. What on earth was he supposed to say?
"I have one inquiry."
Hibiki and Levy gave him their full attention, and Natsu's scorching gaze.
"Am I in trouble or…? I need to know so I'm not pressurized into taking the wrong direction."
Hibiki sighed, "You were. I've spoken with the director, we convinced the other parties to get you off their hooks because of your service, but judging your performance at the mini-war, we see potential in you. I thought no harm done if I get this offer out on the table."
"Cool. Thanks for offering… we've never got the chance to rest after Georgia's flight, so can I maybe get back to you later? We'll be going to Kyoto tomorrow, but maybe a phone call?"
"Yes. I'm not expecting you to decide now. Take your time, discuss it with your partner, and I assure you it's okay if you don't accept."
"Cool."
They discussed other stuff, like how Gildarts Clive is one of the team leads now in their division of specialized weapons.
'So that's what the sucker has been up to…'
Natsu maintained his silence until they reached the hotel, and Gray saw something cooking in his brains. They had to pack for their travel the day after, and so they had a nice brief conversation while debating whether Natsu should keep his hotel candy or not.
"You're not taking this offer, and that's that." Natsu kept them in the end, "We're going to another district, to live a normal life. Finally, yaaay!" He clapped.
Gray raised an eyebrow, pushing his glasses up on his nose.
"Or not?" Natsu stopped clapping, "What's that scowl for?"
"I want to think about it and you should give me that. Why are you against it?"
The boy grunted, "What? Gray-"
"—I know, ok? I know, but I…"
Natsu tossed the candy on the bed, "We were in a war zone, and we survived. The least you can do is to never go back! Normal days, normal routines, normal jobs… Like… normal people! Normal people don't go working in a governmental research facility where their lives are endangered!"
"Wait, wait, wait! Since when were you Mister S&S first? You went Guinea, and you worked in the mines where people died daily because of various accidents?"
"The fuck's S&S?"
"Sex and salt."
"… You're not-"
"-Safety and Security idiot. Your nature is reckless, why do you want me to live risk-free?"
"Fuck you! Because I've seen you almost dying! You're suffering mentally and you want a rewind of all that?! Fuck you! Don't even think about it! Not if I'm around!"
"There's no point living a life without risking something. You of all people know that! Hey! Where're you going?! Are you serious?!"
Natsu walked out on him.
He rubbed his head, annoyed and furious. He knew Natsu had a point in his instant rejection, but Gray couldn't help the slight sting of joy when people saw potential in him to grow. Life meant constant progression, and without that, there's no meaning of living.
"Natsu!"
The boy entered the elevator and disappeared.
"Are you—he fucking walked out on me! Oh you little-!" Gray kept pressing on the elevator's buttons, and got into one, "-Bastard!"
As soon as the elevator opened again, Gray strode after the pink hair running out to the hotel's garden.
"Bastard!"
Natsu smacked his grip and stepped back, "I—I don't want to have this conversation with you—just no. I feel what we have just started is gonna end if I do."
"Don't be ridiculous! You'd do this to us for something like that? You can't."
"…" Natsu gritted his teeth, "I wanna support your decisions, and I hope for your success, but this? No! I can't and I won't encourage this! I can't find it in me to do that! I saw you fucking dying ok?! You didn't see me dying! You'd do the same if you were in my place."
"Ok, there's-"
"-Stop! No! I beg you no!" Natsu hugged Gray and tightened his hold around him, "No! Just no! Before you have an obligation towards them, you have one towards me! You told me you'd stay. Please… I can't experience that again."
Natsu warmed Gray by his concerns, and excess guilt showered him. He held Natsu's waist and kissed his neck, inhaling his scent.
"Let's go back, ok?"
Natsu squirmed, not wanting to budge.
"I promise I won't speak about this for now. Let's focus on getting our stuff sorted out for tomorrow, agreed?"
"…"
"Come on, let's go." He guided them inside, "Let's hope we didn't lock ourselves outside."
"Shit!" The dumbass gasped.
"Exactly."
To Be Continued...
Next Chapter Release: In a week, more or less, subject to change.
Hi Guys!
Okkkkk, Gray's in a tight spot. but yeah.
Special thanks to: Wavy, (He CAN be. Only, he won't do it often. But, from now on, i will force him to be! hehe, thanks for reading.), Ren (OMG. Apologies. Originally, I have written that first part as a brawl happening, not really wanting people to figure out who is who. But, I should've taken into consideration that readers would actually want to know. So sorry, hope it didn't ruin your experience of the rest of the chapter...), Kori No Koibito (Trust me, he's only getting gayer from now on! Which is where we writers are most excited.), JO (Yes... I feel those characters were the creators present to us! I thank him for it!)
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