A/N: Hello my peeps! I'm sorry I've taken so long to upload a new chapter T^T Writer's block hit me hard (it made me re-write this chapter many, many times). But anyway...here's a little filler chapter while I re-watch some episodes~
-Gray POV-
I stirred slightly as the morning rays touched my eyes. The brightness being just enough to rouse me from my sleep. Slowly opening my eyes, I tried to quickly shield them from the brightness only to find that I couldn't move one side of my body. But as the object holding me in place moved, I quickly relaxed and turned to face my pinkette with a grin.
We had been staying in this house for a week now. Nothing else besides Senji's arrival had brought any interest to the our days. Besides the first day that he appeared, no talk of danger or dark sides of the past had surfaced. Not that I minded. I'd rather not talk of those things either. Instead, we sat around the house or sparred. (Well, me and Natsu did anyway).
"Natsu," I rocked him lightly, trying to wake him so I could get up. "Natsuuuu."
"What?" The dragonslayer replied lazily.
"Mind letting me up?" I sighed, earning a sigh and huff in return before he rolled over, letting me up. "Thank you, Na-chan."
Natsu threw a halfhearted punch at my arm and gave me a sleepy glare. "Don't call me that..."
"Why not? It's cute." I teased. "Just like you."
I watched him turn bright red, his skin darker than his hair. Yep, he really is cute. "N-n-no I'm n-not!" he tried to hide in his scarf but it was sitting on the nightstand, neatly folded. "Stop staring!"
I leaned over, pushing Natsu's shoulders to the bed beneath me. I watched his expressions cycle through several different phases with a smile. "Why should I? I should be allowed to stare at my boyfriend, right?"
Natsu opened and closed his mouth, gaping like a fish, trying to think of something to say but he ended up huffing and turning his head away, perfectly revealing his pale neck and thin little scar. I leaned over further, kissing his scar and hearing him gasp lightly in shock and perhaps something else.
"W-wait, what are you-" I cut him off by taking his lips in a deep, slow kiss. I could feel his resistance morphing into need as he wrapped his arms around me in effort to draw me closer to his half bare chest. It wasn't long after that air became a need and we had to part, our breaths intertwining together.
"You are really...something else." Natsu sighed.
"Speak for yourself Natsu..." I laughed, feeling my heart race beneath my skin as if I'd run a marathon.
"Well, well. Maybe I should just leave you two alone for a while." A voice spoke from the bathroom doorway. Senji walked into the room clothes sticking to his body as he must've been still decently wet and his hair dripping onto a towel around his neck.
"Damnit Senji!" Natsu cursed. His brother letting out a short laugh at his reaction. "Such bad timing," he grumbled. Natsu patted my side for me to move as he went to stand up. Blush still faintly tinting his cheeks at being caught. "Can't you at least dry your hair?" he sighed as he moved towards his brother and lit a hand aflame and dried his hair without a single singe.
"Sorry," Senji grinned before stepping away and coyly added, "Na-chan~"
Although there was a smile on his face, Natsu was slightly pissed at the teen's interruption and ended up chasing his twin out into the hallway and by the sound of them running down the hardwood stairs, into the bottom floor. I chuckled lightly, enjoying the simple morning routine we'd settled into for the past few days. I ran a hand through my hair in thought. After all, we had to go home soon and I'm pretty sure that something big was going to happen. Besides that even; there was the issue of this 'Lucian' person that made Natsu have that kind of expression.
The morning after we'd arrived and Senji showed up, Natsu had some kind of night terror as he had frantically checked both me and Senji for injuries. But I could tell, even when he said he was fine after he calmed down; it had affected him. When we walked around the client's land, he would keep looking around and over his shoulder. Although he hadn't yesterday so he may be getting over whatever he had dreamt of.
"Gray!" Natsu shouted. I jumped violently away from the sudden noise in shock before seeing Natsu standing before me. He damn near gave me a heart attack with that stunt. "I was calling you."
"Huh? What?" I sighed as my heart began to calm. I took a breath and stretched, "What is it?"
"Are you hungry? We're going out to eat today." With narrowed eyes, he had pretty much dared me to say no. But, luckily for him, I knew that Senji must've suggested the idea so I nodded. If I had a say, then I'd rather eat Nat...Sweet Mavis! What the hell am I thinking about? No. I don't even want to finish that thought. It's too soon or that kind of stuff.
Although if Senji hadn't walked in when he did...
"Sure, I don't mind at all." I finally said. Trying to push all my perverted thoughts away.
Natsu grinned, "Well hurry and get dressed."
He went to leave but I was at his side in a second, blocking his way. "Don't you want to watch?" I teased, knowing he'd get flustered by this and right on que, he blushed and ducked under my arm and out the door. I laughed and turned towards the dresser I had placed my clothing in and pulled out a pair of jeans and a simple top. But I don't know why I bothered since I'd strip them later anyway.
A few minutes later, I walked into the living room where I'd been expecting to find Natsu and Senji, only to find that no one was there. I could hear laughter from the front porch and sure enough they were sitting there talking about the guild for the 50th time this week.
"There's never enough stories to tell of the guild is there." I chuckled. "You tell at least 20 stories per day."
"Don't act like you don't enjoy them." Natsu smiled, "You're in half of them stripper boy."
"Don't act like you don't like my stripping habit." I teased as Senji held his stomach in laughter. Natsu turned away from me to shake sense into his brother.
"Haha, by the way you two were this morning I'd think that you're right Gray." Senji said between breaths as he'd begun to regain some control while Natsu sat beside him pouting. "Don't be like that Na-chan, I'm just messing with you."
I ruffled his hair as I stepped around him, "Come on pouter, let's go eat. I'm hungry."
-Natsu POV-
I won't lie. I did like Gray's stripping habit but now that the reality of us not being just friends but a couple set in; I reacted differently. Thing's that used to seem gross were now either cute or arousing. Things I would have been pissed about just a week prior ended up as playful banter. Nights I would normally sleep dreamless through ended now in a fantasy. I've woken up a couple times now with a little *cough* problem. But I like it better than the night terror I'd had before. Definitely more than that nightmare.
I had tried to forget it after I'd calmed from my panic. Every once and a while I'd see a flash while glancing out the window or making dinner. Although I hadn't had a flashback in a while so I assumed that I'd been getting over it.
"Natsu!"
I jerked my head up to see Gray and Senji standing a few feet away. I blinked a few times before realizing that they were waiting for me. I stood and followed after them, shaking my head to empty my thoughts.
"We were about to leave you behind." Gray teased.
"You wouldn't dare." I replied, sliding my hand into his like we'd done it our whole lives. "That wrath you'd incur is too great."
"Yes, the all-powerful dragonslayer, Na-chan." Senji grinned, "Against Gray, the all-powerful ice mage and Dom."
"Eh? Dom?" I tried to asked before being cut off again.
"And me." A new mystery voice said from in front of us. "and to think I was worried about whether you two were getting along."
"ERZA!" Me and Gray shouted in union. Great. Just perfect. I could only hope she happened to be traveling through on a job of her own. Which she confirmed only a moment later.
"The one and only." Her eyes drifted down, catching sight of mine and Gray's intertwined hands and grinned. "I really didn't need to stop by here at all, did I?"
It was then she looked to my side and noticed Senji. It was amusing how many different expressions crossed her face as she looked between me and Senji. "Hi, I'm Senji." He led out a hand, "Senji Dragneel."
"So...you have a brother?"
"Yes."
"And I had never seen him before?"
"Yeah."
Erza surprised us by rushing Senji and lashing out an arm that he quickly ducked under. But not before he'd prepared a counter-strike of his own, a little silver dagger placed neatly beneath her chin. After a moment of tense silence the two burst out laughing. Me and Gray shared a look of confusion before Erza looked back to me, "Do tell me he's going to join the guild."
"I hope so," especially since I didn't want him to ever leave again.
"Of course, I want to stay with Natsu." Senji confirmed as he slipped his dagger back into a holster hooked to his belt on his back. "Besides, from everything I'd been hearing, I'd never want to leave again anyway."
"That's good." Erza then looked to me. "Maybe then you can keep that house of yours tidy." I looked down with a small chuckle and glanced over to Senji who invited Erza to join us for breakfast.
"No thank you, I only wanted to check in and make sure those two weren't destroying the place they were supposed to protect."
We walked her to town and said our good luck's to one another before heading off tho where we'd be eating. It wasn't a large restaurant, just a little shop squashed in between a clothing and grocery store. One inside though, it seemed several times larger. Each of the furniture seemed designed more for a simple cafe but was set for full course meals. We were greeted at the door by a nice woman who led us to a little table near the window where the sun shone through satin curtains, leaving a light blue hue against the tablecloth. We gave her our order and settled back, Gray, who was settled behind me, sighed and I could easily understand why.
These chairs where so damn comfortable!
We didn't end up talking much. Mainly about things to grab while in town like certain groceries and bathroom supplies, a couple souvenirs and some clothing for Senji as he came with almost nothing. I had choked on my drink a little when Senji teased about Gray buying some 'protection.'" By all that could be considered holy, I already had enough of a shock when Elfman game me a box of the damn things. Now it was Senji suggesting it. Seriously, I wouldn't mind me and Gray going further but it had only been a week. Jeesh! Give us a little time to progress on our own. Like really!
So, without much further teasing and many 'Na-chans' later, we trailed our tired asses back home and put away our things. I closed the cupboard with a sigh, only to glance outside to see it had gotten dark. This day flew by quickly.
And just like that. So did the rest of the week.
Erza had stopped by again while passing through from her job. Besides her, the rest of the job went by without a hitch. No one had tried to break in, no one had come near the house at all. It was a quiet mission but I'm glad I did. When the client came home on the 13th morning, we had our bags packed and ready. Gray worked out all the reward details while me and Senji stood outside, enjoying the slight breeze on this early summer morning.
Before long, we were already heading out. Not even the train trip but a damper on my mood. I just couldn't wait to be home knowing that Gray and I were dating and Senji would not be leaving again.