I'm back with another chapter! This one is pretty short but is a buildup the the end of this story and into the next. I'm no where near done with this story now that I've gotten past my original writer's block. Look forward to more frequent chapter uploads or even more than one upload per day. Who knows...I may get several chapters up this weekend alone :3
_-Gray POV-_
I had him in my grip, he wasn't getting away without giving me an answer. He watched me with a look of shock that melded into a light shade of the determination I knew so well. I felt like breaking or melting away so I didn't have to hear his answer. But I stayed steadfast in my determination. I wasn't letting him go until I heard those words.
"Gray." Natsu's voice was gentle, holding a tone I have never heard him use. He reached a hand up, gripping my shoulder tightly and tugging me down to his level since he was slightly shorter than me. We stood there for only a moment like that before he leaned in, connecting his lips to mine in a warm kiss.
I blinked, confused before breaking away, deep blush creeping into my cheeks. "W-w-what?! why?!" I stammered. He was watching me with a soft expression, a small smile playing at his lips.
"Did you not ever think that it could be you?" Natsu, in that moment, looked super adorable.
"To be completely honest..." And I was telling the truth by saying this, "No. I didn't think I would ever hold your affections." He looked down, eyes holding both confusion and anxiety. I never thought I'd ever see the day I could call Natsu Dragneel cute.
"But what about you...do you..." He looked away. "You know..."
"You first. You didn't say it properly." I teased. Natsu's face was turning a darker shade than his hair by the time he looked at me again.
"I...you..." He mumbled, trying to put his feelings into words. "I...I..." Natsu's olive eyes met mine and held my gaze. He tugged on my shirt for me to lean over again, which I did, earning a light kiss in return.
I smiled, "That's sneaky." I leaned over, kissing him again, savoring the light scent of cinnamon and vanilla as I did. I released his wrist in favor of his waist which was more slender than it looked.
"And this isn't?" Natsu sighed after we parted, both breathing heavily.
"Not a bit." I replied. I moved slightly, hearing Natsu gasp as the sudden movement. I looked up, making sure I hadn't hurt him somehow. "What is it?"
His face then turned so red I thought he'd pass out. "N-n-n-nothing!" He tried to hide his face in my chest and something click in my mind. An urge for action, to touch the flustered pinkette and without me realizing; my hands had begun to travel. Sliding from his waist up his shirt, I could feel him jump sharply as my fingers ghosted up his sides.
"Gray, that tickles." Natsu said in a voice halfway between stress and laughter. His face slightly turned away as if he was trying to avoid my eyes, his hands trying to push mine away with half-lived effort.
"So? You don't seem to hate it." I was shocked at my own actions, letting my hands travel up to two perk pink buds, pinching lightly. I smirked when I heard Natsu take a sharp breath only to cover his mouth in embarrassment.
Just before I could say anything further, a familiar voice called out through the house causing us both to jump.
"Natsu! I'm home!" Happy's voice rang out from the hall. Me and Natsu moved, perhaps quicker than we had ever moved in battle, away from one another. Natsu returning to cleaning the dishes and I ended up leaning against the counter. He came floating in and landed on the counter beside me. "Are you staying over Gray?"
I glanced towards Natsu with a questioning look. He nodded so I took it as a sign that I could so, "Yeah. It's pretty late and I'm getting tired." To further confirm this, a yawn escaped my lips with perfect timing. I could laugh by how perfect it was. But I didn't, just holding my tongue as we settled into a comfortable mood as Happy began to explain everything we missed until he decided to come back.
"Eh? Loke and Lucy are together now?" Natsu said in a shocked voice, wiping the excess water off his hands. "It took them long enough."
Happy nodded, "And Gajeel and Levy are apparently engaged as well." A smug grin tugged at Natsu's lips.
"I called it!" He laughed, "Loke and the rest owe me now."
"How much did you bet?" I asked. I was kind of curious since I never really saw him as the betting type.
"250,000." Natsu said flatly. I turned so sharply that I banged my arm hard on the counter I'd been leaning against. I cursed and rubbed it all the while wondering why Natsu would bet the same amount three good jobs could give him.
"250K!" Even Happy was surprised. "Why would you bet that much?!"
"Because I knew I'd be right." He jumped onto the counter, settling himself to sit. "That's what everyone else's bets added up to anyway..." He held a look of indifference towards our reactions but the hidden amusement still shined through.
I flicked his forehead, "Idiot. If you had lost you'd be out of money for months." Honestly, there should be a limit to how reckless someone can get. Although his choices about relationships and things of that matter tended to be on point.
"I knew I wouldn't so it doesn't matter." Natsu hummed, kicking his legs out slightly.
With that Happy let out a huge yawn which spread to me and Natsu. I glanced out the window and noted it was getting lighter outside. "I guess we should take that as a sign and get our asses to bed."
Happy hopped down from his seat, waddling into the other room. I took this as an opening and quickly captured Natsu in a kiss. "Happy birthday, Natsu." I smiled before leaving the room for the guest bedroom.
_-Natsu POV-_
Even after Gray had exited the room, I sat there, one hand over my mouth where the feeling of Gray's lips lingered. The scent of mint and freshly fallen snow lingered along with Gray's magic aura that was naturally expelled from him. The memory passed through my mind again, bringing tears to the rims of my eyes, present but not overflowing.
I believe it was in that moment I realized exactly how much I loved him. At the same time, a tugging feeling pulled at me from the edge of my mind. I pushed the feeling away, just brushing it off as the threat of falling asleep where I sat.
I slid off the counter just as Happy appeared again around the corner. "Natsu, are you coming?" He asked sleepily. I chuckled lightly, picking up the exhausted exceed and headed for bed and dreamland.
That night, a premonition came to me. Well...that's what it felt like.
I stood in a clearing in the middle of an unfamiliar forest. A sense of unease filled my senses. Something was wrong...very wrong. I looked around me, spotting someone walking through the forest to my right. I couldn't see who it was but as soon as the figure walked into the clearing my heart seemed to stop.
The grass and trees began to turn black and shrivel where they stood, the sounds of nature that had been so prominent before had fallen silent, the sun being covered by dark clouds that threatened to burst, and finally...the feeling of dread and terror envelop my senses as I realized exactly who it was.
"G-Gray..." was all I could managed to say as I made my way to him, frantic and scared. He looked my way, his beautiful blue eyes holding both agony and relief as his legs buckled beneath him.
I just barely made it to him in order to catch him, gently falling to my knees as I laid him down. He was deathly pale and covered in bruises. I could feel a wet stickiness of his blood on my chest as I cradled him close, tears running freely down my cheek at my helplessness to do anything for him.
A deep, gaping wound in his side bleed profusely as I tried holding it with the shirt I had just shed in effort to stop the bleeding. Gray cried out in pain as I did so making me instantly regret it.
"Natsu..." He whispered his breathing rough and shallow.
I shook my head at him, begging, "Don't speak...You need to save your strength."
Tears came to his eyes as he tried speaking again, only to end up in a coughing fit. "Just stop it Gray!" I cried, barely holding myself together. Why was he so persistent? He needed to rest until Wendy got here. He needed to live, not just for me but for everyone.
"Nat..su...I..." He finally managed to get a good deep breath before continuing. "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize to me until you're better!" I said, my voice cracking. "I-" I was cut off by a shaky. bloody hand touching my cheek gently.
"I'm sorry Natsu." He said again and I watched in horror as his tear-filled eyes began to close.
"Gray?" I shook him a little, I had to make sure he stayed awake. "Stay with me! Gray!" I felt my body begin to tremble, "You need to stay with me." I begged. "You can't leave me! I love you. I love you. I love you soo much!"
"I...love...you..." Gray echoed as his eyes fully closed. I felt my heart stop as he took one shaky breath and didn't take another.
I woke with a cry, looking around frantically, finding that I was in my own house. I sighed and stood, meeting Happy's worried glance. "I'm fine. Just a nightmare." I reassured him. Although he didn't seem convinced.
I ignored him and moved out of the bedroom to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face. I recalled the dream instantly wishing I hadn't as I felt hot tears threaten to escape. What had that dream been about? Was it a premonition of some sort? I couldn't seem to figure it out but whatever it was...I didn't want to ever be in that situation.
I sighed, turning on the faucet and splashing the chilled water onto my face, enjoying the feeling of contrasting temperatures as I pushed the dream from my mind. I focused fully on the day ahead and remembered that I had just turned 18. I could finally drink fire whiskey in the guild without Gramps yelling at me.
With that thought, I exited the bathroom with a smile on my face and almost ran right into Gray. I froze for a moment before remembering that he had stayed over. I grinned, "Morning."
"Morning he replied with a sleepy yawn. I was happy to see him but couldn't seem to shake the image from my dream from invading my thoughts. So, in effort to distract myself, I suggested a trip to the guild for breakfast.
"Sounds good. Maybe you and me can get into a drinking challenge later today now that you're 18." I blinked at him, why not? I nodded, feeling excitement flow off me in waves as we prepared to leave. "But..." I looked him over. "Get some clothes on first Gray."
"Fucking how?! I've been awake for five damn minutes!" He growled at himself, heading back the the guest room in search of his clothes.
When he was finally dressed we left for the guild, walking in silence as Happy flew ahead to meet up with Carla. Our fingers lightly brushing together, giving me the urge to hold his hand. As if sensing my feelings, he took hold of my hand, intertwining our fingers together. I could feel my face heat from this action. Yep.
I really loved this ice head.
Thanks for reading and please take the time to review. I enjoy hearing your opinions and any ideas you may have for the stories direction.