Story Title: Magnolia's Shounen Ai
Rated: T (For now...)
Pairings: NatsuXGray
World: Anime World/Canon
Beta Reader: Gothpandaotaku
Warning: Shonen AI/Yaoi. Language...
I don't own Fairy Tail.
O.o.O Magnolia's Shonen AI O.o.O
Chapter 17:
To be intimate
Gray was sitting down looking outside from the large window in Natsu's home whilst the curtains occasionally messed with his hair as he rested his face on the palm of his hand. Because it was damn hot in Natsu's home, he had to come up with a solution, and that is, fresh breeze. He could see the kitchen in front of him as well as Natsu who was flaming red.
Gray didn't smirk at this.
After working on calming Natsu down and getting over their embarrassment of the sudden initiated intimate gesture (the kiss), Natsu continued to work while the other stole glances at the flushed boy every now and then. He didn't smirk at this because he was actually too deep into it. He liked it because at least it proved that Natsu felt something for him even if he almost screwed up everything. That red coloration on Natsu's cheeks was both wonderful and dangerous. Gray wasn't sure if this was the right time to begin fantasizing about his new found partner. And this adorable behavior was just acting as a fuel for his active imagination.
The door was knocked several times, and Gray stood up stretching forgetting about his shirt. "I will get it." He told Natsu who nodded while trying to finish the meal.
"Yes?" Gray opened the door and was slightly surprised from the visitor. Loke was standing in front of Natsu's threshold with a scanning look that crept Gray out a bit.
"Hm. Please tell me you lost your shirt just because of your habit and nothing else."
Gray blinked for about five seconds before he realizes what the other was implying. "I don't see how it's any of your business either way, you pervert!"
The brown haired man laughed lightly then adjusted his glasses. "Can you step out a bit, I don't want Natsu to hear this."
"Ok, that's creeping me out." Gray closed the door and went over with his friend, "He's gonna pick up some words you know. Natsu's pretty capable of hearing our entire conversation if he wanted to."
"Oh it's nothing that I want to hide from him. It's something that I want to inform you."
Gray shrugged, an uneasy feeling stirring in his stomach. "Alright, fair enough. What's the problem?"
"There is no problem. First, congratulations. Even though I don't know what happened between you both, Jesse informed us that you were gonna fix things, and I think from the look on your face that everything is going well."
"Yeah kinda."
"Anyways, I wanted to know if you were the one who told Natsu to come to the guild today to apologize to Juvia in front of all the guild members."
"Yeah-Wait. Wait. Wait a second. What did you say?" Gray paled as he heard Loke's thought, and needless to say, he was more than shocked.
"You heard me. He came today, just like some idiot, and apologized for causing her trouble, claiming that it was his fault that you and she didn't… get along."
Gray stared at Loke's face, while the words seemed to pierce through him, and from the tone, Gray could feel that Loke was actually a little bit irritated. "That's bullshit!"
"I know. I thought so myself. However, I thought that he might have listened to you because no one would humiliate themselves like that unless there was a proper motivation."
Gray's hands went to the sides of his head and cursed in aggravation. "Dammit."
"Alright, Looks like it wasn't your idea. But now that you know, you should do something about it." Loke tapped Gray's shoulder while walking away. "So good luck."
"Wait, where are you going?!"
"Ahh, I promised Lucy that I will be there for some meeting, plus, I don't want to be there when you two destroy each other. Goodbye."
Gray stood there thinking about it. So that's what Natsu wanted to do when he mentioned he was going out before he fell asleep? So actually when he was sleeping like a log in bed, Natsu was apologizing to Juvia of all people… why?!
Then he remembered their heated argument this morning and how Gray blamed Natsu over and over again for getting in a relationship with Juvia. Yes, Gray was spouting nonsense in the heat of the moment, but that doesn't mean that it was true!
The black haired boy entered the house again with hidden anger as he approached Natsu who was wiping his hands with some kitchen towel, immediately catching the pink-haired's attention with a glare.
"You heard this conversation, didn't you?"
Natsu laughed nervously, and Gray could see the other's anxiousness when he looked around the room not wanting to look at him straight in the eye.
"Not really, it wasn't so clear."
"I think it was clear."
"I know what I heard-"
"-Which is all the conversation-"
"-And I don't care about what you think but-"
"-Do you want me to punch you? Do you really want that?"
"Ah, no?" Natsu was not totally serious, with a stupid smile on his lips.
"Then you'll explain why you did this shit. And If I didn't like the answer-"
"-Let me guess, you'll throw me in the deepest ocean?"
"Just answer and then we'll decide that later."
Natsu huffed throwing the towel on a nearby chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "Weren't you the one who told me that it was my fault? How do you expect me to be with you if I feel that I made another person miserable? It didn't settle in my stomach, ok?"
"Natsu. You know I was telling you a load of shit, just to make you feel guilty, right? Because really, you should be used to that right now after all the fighting and all the other crap we did in the past."
"Yeah, one problem."Natsu's voice got higher. "This is not an ordinary fight. These are feelings. And I hate to think that I am toying with another person's feelings, especially if it was my friend. If you didn't like it then fine, it's not like you were the one who went and apologized which by the way you should-"
"-I have already done that."
"Good. And I did. So now we're even and I don't feel guilty. I don't see the problem."
"Unbelievable." Gray's hands were pressed against his waist and he stood bewildered.
"Yeah whatever, food is going to be cold, so sit down and eat." Natsu didn't wait for the other as he sat beginning to eat food like nothing has happened.
Gray went over to the table and sat down slowly, still staring at the other, and not touching the food and it made Natsu put the fork down and stare back. "Gray. I might be a lot of things. A hot head like you use to say, an idiot, dumbass-"
"-Airhead, moron, imbecile, floor mat-"
"-Ok that's enough!" Natsu punched the other's arm and Gray's face remained neutral. "What I mean to say is… I am not a jerk. And I'd hate to be a jerk to Juvia. And Loke was wrong. I didn't humiliate myself. I didn't do anything wrong either, so just let it go."
Gray took a deep breath and rubbed his hair, resting his arm on the round small table. "I-"
"Oh no you don't. Stop saying you're sorry already. Honestly, it was nothing that big. I just felt that if I wanted to be with you, I have to do it the right way."
Gray's blue eyes were a bit tired as he gave a half-hearted smile. "So… You admit that you want to be with me?" He whispered.
Natsu blinked, then his bird size brain seemed to register what he has just said to his… rival. Surprisingly enough for Gray, the boy didn't get so red, in fact, his eyes held a strange determination. "Yes. I would like to be with you. If that's okay with you, of course."
Gray almost grunted at that. While the words came out tough and bold, Gray took one glance at Natsu's hands on his knees from under the table, noticing how slightly they were shaking and sweaty, and thought that Natsu didn't really understand this relationship very well. Gray was the one with the slight insecurities since Natsu never really admitted (bluntly) that he likes him or anything, so Natsu should know that he has nothing to worry about.
"I don't know. How much would you pay me?" Gray asked stifling a laugh.
"I would pay all the money in the world for you to stop being such a jackass."
Gray gave Natsu a mocking look then took the fork and began eating, maintaining his seat next to the opened window. "Hmm. Not bad."
"Will it kill you if you just said it is good?"
"Who said it's any good?"
"I SAID. And you know what? I don't care about what you think. At least I showed up for those cooking classes."
"Yes, you did. Stop annoying me, I am trying to eat. If it was bad, I would have spat the thing back on the plate."
Natsu didn't say a word after, and they ate in silence, only hearing occasional bird chirps. Natsu took several glances at Gray who was eating in an arbitrary way, and noticed how his friend seemed to be in a way, exhausted. Then he took a moment to think about it. Gray has just woken up from a long sleep, plus they haven't really fought or anything, at least, nothing that demands a physical challenge. And that's why it was strange.
"Hey… you okay?" Natsu was genuinely worried.
"Yeah, why do you ask?"
"You look… a little bit tired."
"So now you care, huh?"
"…" Natsu glared then shoved the food into his mouth ignoring the other.
Gray grunted at the childish act, then put the fork down and went to the bathroom.
Natsu sighed taking all the plates back to the kitchen and storing the rest of the food in the fridge, going to the bathroom. He was met by the sight of the other's head under the cold water of the basin and wondered if Gray really wasn't feeling well. Ten seconds later, Gray shut the water off and raised his head allowing the cold droplets to trace its way back down on his neck, face and bare back. Natsu handed him the towel and the other accepted reluctantly, his gaze seemed to be off somewhere and the pink-haired boy's skepticism was confirmed.
"Yeah… I guess I am feeling tired." Gray's voice was muffled as he wiped himself. Natsu shook his head and washed his hands. He looked the other who was still having a moment with the towel and gave him a sympathetic look.
"Hey. Your towel is fluffy, so don't give me that look."
"Indeed." Natsu snatched the towel to dry himself, then returned it back, and turned to the other.
"What?" Gray asked raising an eyebrow.
Natsu silently stepped forward and slowly took the other's hand in his, flinching at how warm it felt. Not just any normal warm, it was… hot. "Do you… have a fever?"
"Who? Me? No. Absolutely not. Don't be ridiculous-OW!" The hand holding Gray's grabbed strong enough and Gray glared.
"I said, do you have a fever?"
"I don't know. I just feel a little hot that's all."
Natsu smiled happily. "Yay, finally."
"Wipe that smile off of your face, you disgust me." Gray took his hand back and went out of the bathroom followed by Natsu until he collapsed on the sofa, while his head dripped water everywhere he went.
Natsu sat on the floor looking at the other with no idea of what was he supposed to do. He wanted to do something for the ice-mage, but as he sees him slightly tired and sick, a small part of him was very delighted that the bastard got what he deserved.
"Stop humming, you make me sick." Gray almost punched the pink-haired moron.
"Aww, but it's a rare occasion! When will I see you like that again?"
"Shut up, dumbass."
"Sick people shouldn't talk."
"I am not sick."
"You call an ice mage having a fever not sick?"
"Just because I am an ice-mage, doesn't mean that I am not a normal human being."
Natsu grinned. "Oh I am sorry. Are you?"
"Man, you really want to be punched again, don't you?"
"You are just angry that you are helpless right now."
"No, I am not. And I assure you, this isn't a fever. And whatever it is, it'll go soon. So stop mourning over me."
Natsu scoffed and didn't reply. When Gray closed his eyes, Natsu watched how his face was relaxed, how the frown was no longer evident and how contentment was showing on his features. Natsu's hands unconsciously touched the black-haired's forehead and earned a slight 'tsk' from the other.
"I am not asleep yet." Gray didn't open his eyes and Natsu's cheeks turned red.
"Wha… I know that!" Despite how his hands were slightly trembling, he didn't take them back, pressing harder on the forehead making the other groan. However, Gray didn't try to shove Natsu's hand away, and that was a good sign.
His hands rested on the warm forehead for a second, then went down to the side of the cheek, brushing it softly as it ended tangled in the messy short locks of the black hair that Gray now has. Natsu didn't know why Gray changed his hair cut, but it's not like he didn't like it. In fact, it added to Gray a bit of the charm that he DOESN'T have whatsoever. And yes it was a lie that he used to tell himself because he didn't want to surrender to Gray completely.
"You… are really warm."
Gray opened his eyes slowly, and stopped Natsu's hand shoving it away. "Yeah, I should get going. I will feel better when I am in my own house."
Natsu watched as the other stood putting his shirt on, and looked a tad dumbfounded by those words.
"Why don't you stay here for the night?" Natsu offered, a little hopeful that Gray would accept.
"Ah no. I don't feel like it."
Natsu stood up as well, then rubbed his hair nervously. "Okay… well um… take care."
Gray went to the damaged door and opened it, just to stop and look back at Natsu who gave him a questioning look. The black haired boy shook his head and went back just in front of Natsu who retreated a few steps back only to have Gray getting closer. "What?! Wanna fight?!"
The other had a drop of sweat falling off. Of course, leave it to Natsu to think that any type of a get-close is a fighting initiation. It's not like Gray could blame him. They never once tried to get close without a hidden murdering, destroying, hitting, or a pranking intent, so instead of trying to initiate with Natsu a certain act, Gray's hand scratched a little behind his own ear, and went back into his pockets as he felt that any mood for anything special was ruined.
"No, I am not trying to have a fight, but never mind, I will see you later."
Gray turned around, releasing an angry sigh. How he ever succeeded in kissing Natsu earlier was a mystery to him. With another door slam, he thought that it'll be a while before he can gather enough courage and violate the other while he posted that foolish naïve look on his face. Things would be easier if Natsu could just catch the meaning behind his movements. Imagine if it was Loke instead?
Ok, not the person, but the brains. Never mind, not even the brains of a womanizer. If he could just switch Natsu's brain with a more… basic one. What a dumbass.
He didn't realize it was a problem until the next day, and the next, and the next. Three days he had seen Natsu in front of his eyes, supposedly that the pink-haired moron accepted his feelings, but Natsu was very aware of Gray. Very, very, and in an annoying way, AWARE of Gray. Their friends were the first to congratulate them for their newly found connection (Gajeel getting his fair share of beating courtesy of Natsu Dragneel), and Gray was not very surprised, but he was still caught off guard. He didn't imagine that people in his guild would accept such a relationship, but unknowingly to him, they did. As if he and the other was something that deemed to happen.
However…
He seemed to be having all of his time talking to all the people except for the one who he should really talk to. Either Natsu was running away, or he was just a fool. Gray wasn't ignorant of how the other's ears turns easily red by just noticing that Gray entered the guild, he wasn't ignorant of how the other avoided any sort of a physical contact, and it was a miracle that none of them fought over anything, Gray wasn't ignorant either to how uncomfortable or uneasy the other felt if they were alone.
Fuck it. Gray was dealing with a damn virgin. Couldn't Natsu just post 'A VIRGIN' sign on his forehead?
Anyway, it was annoying. Because before, they could have a decent talk with insults, but now, Natsu doesn't do anything but stammering and tripping over his own words especially if Gray was standing close. It was irritating yes, absolutely, no one can change that, but it was also tempting. Very tempting. And that's why Gray thought that he should make Natsu at least used to his presence without being overly alarmed.
And that's why he was in front of Natsu's house again, with a very interesting offer.
"SAY WHAT?!" Natsu shouted as his jaw was dropped on the floor in front of a very pissed Gray.
"I said, come and stay at my house until after Gildarts leaves town."
"Th-that's not necessary! Gildarts said that he doesn't need my house anymore!"
"Oh, but that's not what he said to me twenty minutes ago."
"WHAT?!"
"He needs the house, especially for tonight."
"You're bluffing…" Natsu tried to wear a sharp a look that was met by the coldness of Gray's stare.
"No, I am not. Try asking him."
"Oh maaaaaaaaaan…" Natsu whined going inside his home, brutally forcing his backpack's mouth open on the bed almost ripping the zipper of it, and stuffed some shirts, jeans, and other clothing articles inside, slamming the closet door shut as Gray watched with a satisfied smirk.
The peach pink-haired boy wrapped the scarf around his shirt and took Happy by his tail who was Aye-ing in refusal, but Natsu lent no ear.
"Woah, woah, why are you taking the cat? He can stay with Wendy."
"I AM NOT A CAT!" Happy yelled.
Natsu hugged Happy to his chest as he carried his backpack on, and smiled innocently. "Sorry, do you have a problem with Happy? Will I guess I have to find somewhere else to settle if we are-"
"-THE CAT IS GREAT. In fact, I am making fish for lunch
today, how does that sound, Happy?" Gray smiled as equally innocent as the other, but their almost banging heads said one thing or two about how they both were so annoyed from one another.
"Aye! Natsu let's go! Fish! Fish! Fish!"
"You little bastard." Natsu smiled.
"Got a problem, dumbass?" Gray smiled as he banged heads with Natsu while they exited the house.
Damn. The cat just had to interfere! Now how is he going to approach Natsu in any way?! Wasn't it enough that Happy teased them all the time, about about how they liiiiiked each other?!
Gray forced to calm himself down. His goal was to make Natsu accustomed to being intimate with him and that's not by just getting physical, but being close and understanding. It's good that the cat came. At least, Gray could focus on his mission instead of just drooling wanting to get Natsu to his bed as soon as possible.
Yeah, everything's good.
They say… When you are in a hole, stop digging. They also say, when you dig a hole for your enemy, be sure not to fall into it, because it'll make you utterly stupid and pathetic right?
Right.
Gray dug his own grave when he tried to do a set up for Natsu. Not only his house was suffering from different broken objects, but the 'being intimate' seemed so far from happening.
In fact, a lot of fighting occurred as soon as they got to Gray's house, and the cat was torn between them. And Gray cursed as Natsu set up his and Happy's sleeping position in the living room, thus crumbling the black haired boy's wish of being 'closer'.
They went to the magazine building the next day to resume the job and was assigned to do a quick photo shooting session before even talking to Gildarts or meeting any of Lucy, Erza or Loke.
They stood back to back glaring at each other, and the cameraman saw it as sexy, but disappointing at the same time.
"Boys, boys. You both are very well-known now, not just because you are in our magazine! But because you are in our magazine and you are real! How many times do you have the chance to be in fiction and reality? The people adore you and you should act accordingly if you are-"
"WE ARE NOT!" Natsu blurted! "I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT JACKASS!"
Gray scoffed. "As if I am admitting that too! Listen buddy, we here, are not in reality, just fiction, and if you decided to throw one of your smart ass comments again, I will rip your throat open."
The guy touched the back of his head and arms and remembered the countless times he was hit by all the crew for messing up the chance of photographing both of them. He thought it'll be an easy task after Gray Fullbuster had admitted his love for the hot pink haired mage, alas, disappointment came slapping him across the face.
Sally, the magazine editor groaned along with the standing crew. "Why the hell are you dozing off like that?! Take a damn picture before they decide to destroy this studio first!" The icy blue eyed boy had a point as the crew watched Gray and Natsu cracking their fists.
"A problem?" Suddenly Loke showed up next to Sally who was grabbing his own head which suffered from some sort of a headache.
"Great. Why did this clown have to show up?" The magazine editor huffed.
Loke glared. "Oh, are you talking about me?"
"Yes, I am."
"Fine, be childish, and see if I care."
"Go to Hell, Leo."
"I said don't call me that!"
"I Will call you whatever I want!"
"And I will stuff a shoe in your mouth next time-"
"BOYS!"
Everyone stood silent as a piece of the wall was shattered to due an anger coming from a certain Gildarts Clive.
Sally looked bored. "Or take a picture before THIS man destroys our studio before the idiots most certainly do."
Gildarts really didn't mean to destroy that wall. "Oh… sorry Sally-chan."
"I am sick of this!" Sally snapped, "AND I QUIT!"
All those in the room gasped and Gildarts hurried to hug the dark brown haired boy who was fuming with anger. "Sally-chan. I am sorry. Never going to happen again."
Loke muffled a growl as he looked to Gildarts. "So what?! Let him quit! We don't need him anyway."
Sally had a vein popping in his forehead. Boy did he hate that man!
"Hey Loke. Stop that. Sally is very valuable to the previous director, and after I am gone, this magazine will be ruined if he's not there!"
The crew released a few sighs of relief as the young magazine editor calmed down and took his clipboard bossing everyone around. Even though Sally was very young, he was very talented. He brought several stars into the magazine, and his true power was hidden unlike most people who possessed magic or strength. He was the brains.
"Now what seems to be the problem?" Gildarts asked going to the glaring 'lovebirds'.
"Ah, sir. They don't want to… hug." The cameraman said staying out of the way.
Gildarts laughed. "Well, boys. First, I would like to congratulate you for not being just fiction but-"
"SHUT UP! WE ARE NOT REALITY!" They both yelled.
"… So you are saying, the three days that I gave as a honeymoon didn't work out?!"
Gray glared at Gildarts. That man… why did he feel like he was the head of this whole problem?! If the old director was there, then everything would have worked out just fine!
"Honey… what?" Natsu questioned feeling dumbfounded as Gray shook his head in aggravation.
"No, it didn't work, because we are not reality. Face it. That dumbass will never learn anything better than eating food and scaring little kids with his ugly slanted eyes."
"Oh Gray, from the way you said it, it sure looks like you want him to eat something else."
SNAP!
"YOU PERVERTED ASSHOLE!"
Natsu didn't understand why Gray suddenly attacked the man who pinned Gray to the floor on his stomach and sat on him, making his face flush in embarrassment and teeth grit in pure frustration.
"Let me make this clear for you both. We are having our final issue for this volume, and that means you'll have a very long break before you can come here and do anything else, so please let us finish this as the people are waiting for the editions impatiently especially after your act at the festival. Finish this fast, then you can go dry humping or whatever the hell you two do these days."
Natsu stood, again, dumbfounded.
And he didn't understand why Gray's murdering intent rose up as he used his ice magic to freeze all the place around him (Destroying all the cameras in the process) in a futile attempt to get even with Gildarts who simply mumbled something about easy-to-provoke in Gray's flushed ear.
Loke snuck in and managed to get Natsu to go out with him from the magazine building without Gray knowing anything about the matter. The pink haired was confused about the secrecy, but he was promised food, so he couldn't say no.
When he entered that certain restaurant with Loke, he was greeted by the looks of seven men who looked happy to see him and one of them was Jellal.
"Woah Jellal?!"
They explained to Natsu the matter as they did with Gray before. "Yeah… the girls wanted a break so."
Natsu was amazed from Freed's work of art in concealing this supposedly-criminal away from the eyes so freely. They guy was sitting as if he was an old retired geezer and people won't even notice.
He looked to his right to find Hibiki and his team, to the left to find Sally, and Finally Lyon and Jellal sitting next to each other.
"But… why not bring Gray here?" Natsu asked Loke who shrugged.
"We don't really want him."
Natsu didn't understand that, but he didn't ponder as the food was placed in front of him and the others.
"Hey Natsu. How is your relationship going with Gray?" Lyon asked and Natsu turned immediately nervous.
"Haha… I don't understand what you mean." The pink haired mage said, trying to look busy with food.
"Hmm." Hibiki raised an eyebrow. "He means, tell us about your life with your beloved of course."
The food was caught in Natsu's throat and Loke quickly handed him water and pounded on his back several times. When he recovered, he stammered, "Why… Why… do you a-ask?!"
"Oh he just wants to know if you two had sex or not." Eve said clarifying Hibiki's words.
At that word, Natsu stopped eating. He remembered something that happened about two days ago. One morning he was in the guild and he overheard Lucy and the girls talking with Juvia about how she barely dodged having 'Sex' with Gray the night he apologized to her. She had mentioned something about Gray being gentle-hot-seducing-strong… and other crap that he didn't remember. He also recalled how the girls giggled and looked at him with a cryptic look saying 'Lucky moron' or something like that.
And it annoyed him that he didn't understand any of it. So he licked his lower lip and drank a little water before he gives them a serious look.
"I wanna ask a question." Natsu stated and he got their attention. "What is… Sex?"
At that, not only his friends gawked, but also the whole restaurant with elderly, young, and middle aged people who stared at Natsu with a strange look. The whole place just shut down as if Natsu had jinxed the place with a forbidden word, and he blinked at the small kids with the lollipops whose mouths were on the floor.
And slowly, the shock began to melt. People thought that Natsu was a mentally challenged person.
"HEY! There is nothing to watch here people!" When Ultear warned the people with her rasped voice from the shock as she held the trays of food, life began turning back sluggishly and eventually the people ignored the eight men's table. However the Blue Pegasus trio were petrified. Yes they knew Natsu didn't know how men 'Do it' but didn't think that he's unaware of something called sex which is a vital need like food and water for the adults.
"Ha… Ha… Ha… Remind me again, why are we talking to him?" Hibiki mumbled.
Loke sighed. "Just explain it to him."
"Alright." Hibiki beamed and Natsu was still wondering why did the restaurant seem like it was thrown with a bomb earlier. "I will tell you what sex is. It's a state where two clingy bodies are thrashing around against each other like animals-"
"-all sweaty and flushed-" Eve Tearm interjected.
"-Not to forget that hair gets misty-" Ren continued.
"-You lose your breath-" Oh great back to Hibiki.
"-Your mouth generously waters-" Eve takes control of the ball again.
"-Your heart races-" Ren interrupts.
"-Your blood rises-" And Hibiki again.
"NOT THE DIRTY SIDE YOU MORONS!" Loke snapped and Jellal plus Lyon was deadening their laughters.
Natsu blinked, cheeks getting faint pink on them as he adjusted himself in his seat. "It sounds… Delicious like food."
Loke couldn't hold it and laughed with the others who were choking on their food with the procedure.
"Ah… yes or no. You could interpret it the way you want." Hibiki said in between laughs making Natsu glare.
"I don't understand."
"Alright, looks like I will pull out my Hibiki Lates tutorial on you. Listen kid. There are two parts to this. The first part is, when you like or love someone, all you want to do is to stay close to them. To always be in touch with them. That could be by sleeping with them, hugging them, kissing them or simply having SEX with them. Now do you feel like that with your partner or not?"
Natsu's mouth opened and then closed as he gulped with redness smeared all over his face. "NO! OF COURSE NOT!"
"Whatever. Here is the second part. SEX. Ignore the version I have told you earlier for now. Focus on this. When two people like each other to the greatest point, they tend to have an intercourse or let's say it's the greatest connection any two people will ever have in their lives. Basically, it's the peak. Once you've done it with your partner, you will truly grasp the meaning of happiness. That is, if you are sincere about it."
Natsu looked blank.
"Please tell me you understand something." Hibiki hoped really. He didn't even explain the other categories of sex. Like the 'sex for just fun' because he didn't want Natsu's head to be full of crap just yet.
Jellal coughed to get some attention. "Natsu… Did Gray do anything… Ah…" Jellal seemed to look for any word and Lyon looked amused.
Natsu surprised everyone by shaking his head. "I… just noticed that he… he wanted something… but all I did was to run away. I guess I didn't really know what to do when he…" Natsu stopped talking and rubbed his head as the people on the table chose to be silent at that point.
"It's surprising that he didn't lay a finger on you until now." Lyon blurted and got glares from everyone around the table and one confused embarrassed look from Natsu. Jellal jabbed the white haired guy in the rib not-so-gently, with a scary innocent smile that made Lyon groan.
Natsu looked at Loke and asked nervously, "Is it okay if I ask questions here? I feel that there are many things that I need to know."
Loke patted his pink head. "Natsu, we are here to help you. If there anything that is not clear, we can still clarify it for you. So what's on your mind?"
"Thanks um. So… When do people have this sex exactly?"
Before Hibiki could speak a word, Jellal stopped him. "What?!" The blond asked frustrated.
"You will tell him the dirty version, so let me handle this." Jellal hushed the other who pouted and some of the waitresses fell in love instantly.
Natsu tried to concentrate on Jellal's explanation. "Natsu, that's a tricky question. Some people do it after a year or two from being together, because it's a big decision to make. You have to ask yourself if you want to be with that person to that point or not. Do you like him that much or not? You can't just do it with anybody. They have to have a special place in your heart, and only you know when you are ready to do it."
"Yes, but-" Hibiki interjected.
"Shut. Up." Jellal stepped on his foot from under the table and he glared with a few tears gathering in the corner of his eyes.
Natsu nodded and remained silent for a while, then asked again, "What if someone doesn't want to have sex with their partner? How will the other feel?"
The magazine editor sighed. "Natsu, that's like you are rejecting them. That means that you are not serious enough with them sometimes, and it drives the person crazy and upset. If you have a rational partner, then he should be patient enough until you make up your mind. But still, that's not a reason for you to rush this. You have to take your time, and think before you take any action."
Natsu's head went in circles. Gray and Juvia almost had sex?! What, why, and how?! Then again, he remained calm, and somehow the food in front of him was not alluring him at all.
"Oh and one last thing." Hibiki stood up and went behind Natsu and hovered his fingers above Natsu's head. Natsu blinked as he felt Hibiki's magic going into his body in a weird way. His green eyes turned golden and a magic circle was formed under both mages.
A sharp painful cry was heard in the restaurant, and Hibiki took his hands away rubbing them together as he returned to his seat, continuing to eat his food with glares directed at him as Natsu had sweat all over his body.
"And that Natsu is part of an intercourse. That's why it's the greatest connection between two people." Hibiki casually said.
Natsu had felt a sharp aching in his back for several moments before it disappeared completely and it felt like hell. It made him speechless the entire time while sitting in the restaurant, and when he was finished and leaving with Loke, several people were unhappy with Hibiki's doing.
And Jellal was the first. "You scared him. It doesn't feel that way if your partner is skilled which I believe you made Gray like so. Why the hell did you do that for?"
"You are all missing a point here. Natsu has to prepare himself for the worst. If he really is serious about the other, he will not care about such trivial things. He is always pushing himself to the limits and he has to learn how to do that with the one he loves. I didn't do what Gildarts initially asked me to do because I am sure Natsu will be better off surprised. But this is one thing that he has to know." Hibiki explained, "And after a few moments of thinking, you all are going to agree with me."
Lyon grunted. "I think you are right, but man, you are making it more complicated for my dear brother."
All of them sighed.
"I guess these meetings will increase from now on."
Gray entered his house and switched the lights on, walking inside. He stopped for a minute and looked to his right to find Natsu Dragneel sitting on the floor with a towel on top of his head indicating that he has just came out from the shower. The black haired mage sighed as he saw the familiar daydreaming look on his friend's face. What happened to Natsu during those showers, he will never know.
Before he could open his mouth to say anything, he shrugged and went over to his usual spot on the couch, making Natsu between both of his legs as he took the towel and slowly rubbed the carnation pink locks earning a gasp from the boy underneath him as he saw from the mirror placed on top as always.
"When d-did you come back?"
"Just now. Why were you sitting in the dark? And what are you thinking about?"
When Natsu didn't answer, Gray looked up to the ceiling in the mirror and saw a tense look with a bit of redness that he saw next, gathered in Natsu's ears.
"Stuff."
"What sort of stuff?"
"Complicated stuff."
"Seriously? Why are you even bothering with thinking of complicated stuff? That's not like you at all."
"You are right. That's why it is complicated." Natsu whispered looking down to his intertwined fingers on his lap.
"Any chance of me knowing what's going on?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean by I don't know?"
Natsu remained silent.
"Is it because of what happened in at the magazine building today?"
"No. I don't care about that anymore."
"Ok. Was it something that I did?"
"Maybe."
"Should I strangle you now?"
Natsu looked sadly to the ground with eyes that expressed discomfort and a desire to just let go. And when Gray saw that, he felt sad as well.
"Hey Natsu." Gray held the other's chin and turned it so that Natsu is looking up at him. "What's wrong?"
Gray was met with a nervous look that turned slowly into a pained one with something that Gray couldn't understand. His hand let go of the other's chin and sighed. "It's me, isn't it?"
"Wh-What?"
"Why do I feel that I am making life difficult for you?"
"You are not!"
"You know, you can always break this off if you don't want it. I don't want to think that I am hanging a rope around your neck with my desire to be with you."
"STOP IT!" Natsu threw the towel and stood facing the other with a slight shaking in his voice. "I am the one who told you that I want to be with you! You think I would let this happen if I didn't want to? You think I would come live here with you even if I knew that Gildarts didn't want my house if I didn't want to? Don't ever say things like that!"
Gray stood up irritated. "Then what is it dumbass?! Since we started… whatever we started, you are avoiding my presence, so sorry if I got the damn wrong perspective to this."
"You don't understand." Natsu looked down.
"Help me here. Maybe if I understand, I will stop making your life miserable."
They remained silent for a while. Gray was asking himself all sorts of things and among of them was that if he had made a mistake by wanting to be with this boy who almost drove him crazy.
Natsu came forward, taking Gray's right hand with both of his and caressed them slowly, not having the courage to look at the other in the eye when that vermillion color returned to his cheeks. Gray took several minutes to register what was happening and stood confused as Natsu's head rested on his chest.
"Natsu…"
"I… I am sorry. If you just… give me some time to adjust…"
Gray tried to understand something, anything, from those vague words, but he wasn't able to do that completely, still intangible to Natsu's dilemma. He sighed tiredly and hugged the boy completely to him once rubbing his back, twice patting his shoulders and his hair, trying to comfort him in any way because he didn't know what do except for this when it came to Natsu.
"Natsu. Do me a favor and look here."
The boy slowly complied and Gray sighed again as he saw troubled green eyes. "We are not in some sort of a marathon here. Hey, look. You can have all the time you need. I will wait for you as long as it takes, but I beg you, stop making feel that I am forcing this on you-"
"-I said you are not." Natsu's voice came out raspy.
"Ok. Good. Wonderful. So you don't need to avoid me anymore. I might not seem like it, but I know common sense. I know when you are avoiding me. And it's not very pleasant."
"…"
"I am not going to do anything you hate. And I will not hurt you, so you don't need to run away from me when you are supposed to run towards me."
Natsu chuckled. "So ironic."
"Yes it is. But my job as your partner is not to stress you. It's the opposite, and it makes me angry that I am causing your mind to think about 'complicated stuff' when really, you shouldn't."
"Insulting my intelligence again, are we?"
"Yes."
"Jackass." Natsu punched Gray's shoulder and broke the deep hug only to be pulled back again strongly to the other and Natsu replied with a gasp. His legs had already gone unstable to Gray's faint whiff of a citrus crisp scent that his sensitive nose was trying to collect as much from it as possible. Since they were little kids, everything about Gray irritated Natsu to extreme measures. Anything and everything except for this scent that Natsu didn't find an equivalent for if he tried to search all over the land, and he supposed it was something that compensated for Gray's stuck up personality.
He tried to conceal the shiver and nervousness when Gray's finger slid from his hair to the side of the face and finally settled on the corner of his lower lip. At this point, Natsu's eyes were looking down, while he endured Gray's longing look with a rebellious behavior going on in his heart beats. It was this man. His heart only produced those frantic sounds in his ear for this man alone, and he wondered what it meant. His legs told him to run, but his body urged him to take more of this embrace and humanly warmth as much as he could.
He could feel Gray's face hovering just above his and the beats increased, his mind going blank as the unique scent invaded his nose more and more. A strange feeling of bubbles rose up to his chest and the brush of the other's nose against his was enough to explode heat all over his body with a small gasp as lips soon followed the act of the nose. He was rendered speechless. Breathing became suddenly so hard to accomplish as he received the rare one and only pleasurable act that Gray Fullbuster ever did to him during their whole lives.
Gray held himself from chuckling at Natsu's reaction to him, and took the slightly parted lips between his, ignoring the sharp intake of breath from Natsu's side. Both of the pink haired boy arms were going to shove Gray away, but for Natsu's own astonishment he held on Gray's chest tighter closing the gap between their bodies, trying to respond to Gray's touch, desperately attempting to assure the other that he isn't the only one who would want something like this. When Gray decided to intensify this touch by giving Natsu's neck a tinge of his warm fingers, Natsu couldn't hold back a desperate whimper as Gray's small touch fueled his want to more of the sweet taste in his mouth which was watered with want.
Gray pulled back slightly and was amazed of how those green eyes looked. Half lidded with a flash of something mysterious inside. He licked the small thread connecting their lips off of Natsu and kissed Natsu's plump lips a final time, smiling.
"I said I will wait for you, and here I am, doing stupid things."
Natsu looked down with a face that could rival his pink hair.
With another pat on the hair, Gray pulled away, going to his room. "Good night, Natsu."
After a few seconds of Gray's absence, Natsu groaned as his legs gave up underneath him.
It has to be a crime to walk away like that after stirring all sorts of feelings, emotions, and the desperate need in someone. And Gray Fullbuster must be the most cruel person alive.
… Chapter Ends…
Author Note (Could be important you know):
Ahem. I can tell from the several deathful glares on me that you guys are upset. It could be either because of the ending of this chapter, or actually because I was late updating. And I am jumping out of my skin now, so please stop the glares because I have a present for all of you. Stop the glares!
Alright. The present:
Gray's new haircut photos. Who wants to see? If you are very interested, and very excited to see it (My wishful thinking I know), please visit the link below. It's a Facebook page of mine that I created for this purpose and other purposes as well. Feel free to explore Gray Fullbuster's sexiness with the new haircut (If any liked it). And please be sure to read the note I have posted on the page before rushing to the pictures.
www .facebook. (Insert dot com, then slash luke dot lauren.982 and of course remove the brackets and spaces altogether) /media_set?set=a.1411880229037898.1073741826.100006478037393&type =1
Finally:
Of course you have to sign in Facebook first. If you had problems reaching the link, please contact me, because I wouldn't want you to miss this if you were excited for it. And thanks the member ansjovisjjwho couldn't imagine the new Gray, I was able to search the globe for pictures that will give you an idea.
Enjoy, and see you in another chapter.
For my reviewers:
theabridgedkuriboh
"YAY MORE FLUFF AND A KISS AND PHYSICAL CONTACT OF ROMANTIC SORTS…"
Wahaa thanks! Well, for you to like the last chapter, I think I am satisfied, and just wait for it my dear, when Natsu finally surrenders, I hope it'll be worth your wait : )
Running Lynx
"Hi! Your story is one of the most fulfilling Gratsu stories I have read…"
And you are one of the loveliest reviewers I have ever had. *Hugs!* Thank you very much for the praise, and I wish this chapter will not disappoint you in any way. Thank you so much for the kindness.
gomogomo777
"I wasn't even sure if I shipped Natsu and Gray until I read this, and now they're my favorite pairing!..."
Hello there. I really don't know if you received my PM or not, but I want you to know that I am very happy with your recent activity to some of my stories these days. I am so thankful for your reviews in every one of them, and I… don't know why I don't have the confidence to write all the time, but your reviews are really nice, and it made me gain some of my non-existence courage back, hehe.
If I made you like the pairing, then yaaaay, I finally converted someone. Hehe, and I am so evil I know, but Gray and Natsu are made to be with each other, yep!
Enjoy this chapter!
sasunaruncho
"So. Many. Feelings... I. Just. Can't ... I NEED MORE! …."
Ohhh, wow thanks! That's exactly what I want you to feel, and in this chapter, I wish you will feel the same, or I am a failure among people *Cries!*
Anyway, I am glad you liked the story, and wish you a good time with this chapter.
Anon Banana
"HWAAAAHHH! SO CUTE!"
Thanks for this sweet review *Hugs!* Enjoy my dear!
Kayxs
"Gray really pissed me off in the beginning TT I'm so glad he finally admitted his feelings! Sheesh! On another note, I really like your stories they are so interesting to read!"
Isn't this the famous Kayxs-San?! You are really amazing. I can't believe you went through my stories and you are still alive! And you even find them interesting to read?! Gosh. I thank you so much for your keen reading on my stories these days. I have noticed it before too, but thought that I will thank you properly here. Thank youuu! And enjoy this chapter.
TheOneAndOnly123
"Another great chapter! Gosh I love this story so much! You've been doing a great job with it!..."
Ok, so I am shocked. How come a LokeXGray Fan is actually enjoying this?! Hehe, I am just kidding, but I really got surprised. People tend to prefer one pairing, and then everything else is just out of the norm for them. I am one of those people. *Hugs!* Thank you very much for this lovely review that made my chest flutter in happiness. And enjoy the rest!
BohemianRebel
"You, my author, ARE KILLING ME! I want to know more, more juicy details, more feels…"
*Grabs a tissue and cries…* Oh my, I missed you. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you writing here again. *Hugs!*
Anyway, I hope your holiday was enjoyable. I would ask you where it was, but I know that's just plain rude : )
Please forgive me if I am going with this incredibly slow, but as soon as Natsu… well, realize something, I hope you'll be satisfied then. I don't know if you read anything for me with *details* but I guess I can do a basic decent job, so don't be mad much.
Enjoy! And welcome back my friend.
Guest
Okkk! And wow that was soo... Amazing! I really can't describe how much fun I had reading it! And I got my kiss!
Daiki-chan
"XD and Natsu-chan, is not only gray the guilty...neither you say anything to him..."
Daiki-chan, why do you always have to stand on Gray's side? I will seriously consider killing Gray if you keep up with that! Wow… an idea. *Shrugs*
Thank you very much for your always lovely comments, and dear, enjoy! *Kisses*
ansjovisjj
"oh a picture! that would be awesome D
btw, about that ''touchy feely scenes'', I think they're really good! you hold on to their personality real good 3 (in my opinion) where most people go kinda OOC. I can totally see them acting like this *fangirl-squeel* "
Alright my friend! I have made the photos for you. Just refer to the Author note of this chapter and you'll find the link to Gray Fullbuster's awesome new look in this fic, hehe. Feel free to comment on it or anything, I don't go and restrain people. Just tell me what you think about it.
I hope you enjoy the chapter too, and don't hesitate to point out any mistakes or annoying things if you have : )
extremebookworm
"hahaha this chapter is great :D they're finally together! I can't wait for the next chapter lol"
Thank you very much! Yeah they both were very stubborn, but there you go. Enjoy! And thanks again for your review.
Scarlet Huntress
"Like always, another awesome chapter! And the one I was especially looking forward to! I know how it is to want to write something yet have a hard time doing it :) but you did an awesome job at this (hands author lots of chocolate) ;) update soon please! Good luck."
Chocolates… Chocolates… Chocolates… *Wipes the drool away!* Awwww, I would love to eat those but I am on this annoying diet, and yeah… I will save them for my free day. So don't worry, they are here right in my chest of drawers. Hehe.
Thank you so much! Well, if you found the chapter before is pleasant then maybe you'll enjoy this one too! Keep reading, and don't hesitate to point out anything you don't like in this story.
Natsudragneel-Fullbuster
"Kyaaa!"
Haha, well that's… very interesting. Thank you so much for reading! And enjoy this chapter as well.
jinxcat99
"XD. I loved this whole story so far. I'm kind of itching to see Natsu pummel Gajeel for punching him like that, but in a more joking manner because something AMAZING did come out of it after all..."
Thank you so much for following more than one story with me. I have to say, I am impressed by your keen reading. Thank you a million times ^^ and yes, Gajeel and Natsu will have their fair share of beating soon.
Also, if you want, you can go check Gray's new look from the link posted in the author note. And if you had any troubles with it, just contact me directly.
elex88
"Woohoo finally they kiss! Even though tears are shed I'm sure Gray will be a knight in ice cold armor and freeze the tears of sadness!"
Wow. Now that's a very nice sentence. I get mesmerized every time I read it. Haha, don't ask me why, but you grabbed my attention with it. It's probably the inner fangirl thing. Thank you so much for this lovely review, and enjoy. Oh, if you want, you can check out Gray's new haircut picture too. Have a good time dear!
Level X
First of all. I AM TIRED! I AM TIRED! I AM TIRED! I Feel that I can't defend my beautiful characters anymore because of your final decision to torture them all! *Cries in a corner…*
Please… stop bullying them. AND YOU ACTUALLY CREATED A WEAPON CALLED
IGNIS ENIM?! Waaaaaaaah *Cries waterfalls!* I am destroyed, I don't know what to do with you anymore. *Sulks in a corner!*
Hey but I have to admit, that was a cool weapon name, my you are a genius and-
STOP BULLYING MY CHARACTERS AND EVEN DEVELOPING NEW WEAPONS FOR THEM! YOU ARE SCARING ME TOO!
Ahem…
I can't thank you enough for these reviews. They are so rich, you are one of the most adorable reviewers I've ever met (WITHOUT THE WEAPONS AND STUFF) and I would like to thank your shiny hands. Oh and I also would like you to take a look at Gray's new haircut and maybe you'll forget about killing him. It's in the author note by the way. And If you had any problem reaching it, just contact me.
Enjoy~
Guest
"I think you did a fabulous job! Especially on the feeling part! Romantic feeling scene thingies are SO hard to write and after this chapter, I've gained even more of a respect for you!"
You totally made my brain fried from blushing when I read this. DON'T SAY THAT I am not that good still. I swear If I see you, I will hug you. Haha, and you wouldn't want that so stop being so nice with me!
Oh and I hope you'll enjoy this chapter as well.
AsDarknessSpreads
"aww gray got punched. eeeep! they kissed! aww gray an natsu fought. eeeep! they kissed! aww poor door. eeeep they kissed! aww, i am abusing aww again. eeeep they... they kissed! eeeeeeeeeeeep!"
You should be the queen of "AWW" and "EEP" hahahaha. You really amaze me, you make me feel like I am watching an old channel with the receiver going crazy!
Thank you so much, but please don't die on me again, cause I will be really sad!
Crystalangel554
" Normal people would pinch themselves to see if they were dreaming, NOT bang their heads against the wall, Natsu! But still, when is he EVER normal? XD"
Yes… apparently Natsu has some sort of a retardation. Because really even though I am doing the writing, I think I can't just write him any other way than this one. Stupid moron. Yes, and I am mad from him! Don't ask me why!
Hmm *Evil laughter!* Crys-chan, the day of revenge came. I am showing now pictures of Gray's new haircut so be sure to take a look (the link in the author note)! And don't forget my pictures of Natsu and Gray we talked about before! It should be a fair trade! Or else I will haunt you down!
Hehe, just kidding. Enjoy the pictures and the new chapter! *Hugs!*