A/n: Here is the second chapter of "Don't Hold Your Breath". In this chapter is Gray and Natsu's real first meeting as we also dig into Natus's past...and his life. This chapter is in 3rd person. And you know you have a problem when Gray Fullbuster has your attention in this story~
Don't Hold Your Breath 01
Our Meeting
Natsu Dragneel, a normal teen on the outside that is always optomisict. However, on the inside, no one knows that the box inside of him has yet to be opened. His life at home is anything but fantastic, no one knows the pain he goes through...no one at all. Not even his two best friends Lucy and Laxus know about his home life, not even the one he loves. None of them know...that his life is a living hell all of the time...
Beep...
Beep...
Beep...
A slow hand gripped around for something to shut the alarm clock off. He groaned and slammed his hand to the alarm clock that abruptly stopped as a pink haired boy slid out from his covers. His body lay scarred and broken, but he still moved. Marks lined his sides from lashes he had gotten the night before, where the blood was still drying. He rubbed his eyes, almost amine to the pain. He was missing his shirt of course, and was only in his boxers. Beside him lay blood, but he promptly ignored it and got up to dress. His best friend, a teenage girl named Lucy, would for sure kill him if he was late for school like he had been for they're early morning get together's because of his Father during the summer, the first day of school, and the hardest. No one, not even his best friends, knew about what happened to him at home. He never intended to tell them in the first place. A grab of the simple backpack on the ground and he swung it over her shoulder.
He headed down the stares to where his Father was laying on the couch. He was asleep, thank the gods. The boy hesitantly left the home, opening the door and closing it softly, wincing as it made a sound. He prayed his Father would not wake. He left down the steps and quickly left out the gates before his Father could see him leaving for school. He made his way down to the corner where a hefty blonde male and a small blonde girl stood. The male was like he was taken from a magazine with all those hot guys. The blonde was well curved as well and her hair turned to a ponytail while on the male was a scar that was an 'x' shape. The girl smiled and waved enthusiastically as the male slowly waved as well, eyes of steel for the most part here.
"Natsu~!" The girl called out and hugged the pink haired boy happily. He chuckled and smiled at her as the girl moved back and adjusted her school bag lightly. "So...your finally not late huh? Interesting...why would you not be late on the day that you were assigned to start a project with Mr. Playboy? It's the first day of high school, but you know...already assigned to do work with him by Erza and you show up?" She frowned and crossed her arms. "Don't tell me you like him Natsu!" She snapped and he quickly shook his head as the male replied then.
"Lucy," He said to the female. "I warned him remember? If he was late another day I would swear to kill him..." He crossed his arms and smiled. "And you know very well I could if I wanted to!" He laughed and she frowned somewhat then smiled as well and laughed.
"Laxus!" Natsu groaned and the male smiled at him, a smirk more than not however. Laxus, he was a man that wasn't that cheerful unless his friends were about him. He was the son of the man that ran the school they all went to, and if a teacher got on his bad side he could have them fired, hence he was treated with great respect, as well as for the fact his Grandfather invented a book called Fairy Tail which later became the name of they're family owned school. Oddly enough, all characters were from the book were actually students or teachers, or past students and teachers as well.
"Sorry Natsu." Laxus ruffled the younger boys head and then picked up his bag. "Comon' we need to go...or we will be late." He paused as he noted that Natsu was limping and sighed softly. This was normal, but Natsu never dared tell them what was wrong with him. He picked the latter up and handed his bag to Lucy who took it without complaints so that Laxus could carry Natsu to school...he looked in pain, but they didn't know why exactly. Laxus didn't contemplate to Natsu's arguments of putting him down.
"Hello cutie." A voice murmured into Natsu's ear. Natsu sighed softly, he remembered this voice from during the summer, often hearing it while the person flirted with random people that he happened to come across. "What? Not going to reply..." A soft hand trailed up Natsu's chest and he growled, and slammed his head back to hit the other, only to fall back into the person's arms. A light blush came to his face, and he groaned before looking up at a blackette. This person was taller than him and as some say 'dark and handsome'. This person however, had been known to break and crush more hearts than anyone else known in they're vicinity.
"Jerk...let go of me." Natsu mumbled and tried to get away from him, but the person kept a tight grip on him and nibbled on his ear somewhat. "Agh...l-let g-go Gray!" He snapped then and tried to get away once again but the other abruptly grabbed him back. He slammed Natsu into the lockers, where Natsu found himself pinned. He winced softly from the wounds he had.
"And why should I let go of you?" The taller one murmured, and smiled, moving a piece of hair out of Natsu's face. The bell silently chimed, unknown to the two boys who stood in the hallway. They would be late for class, but neither noticed as Gray so kindly started to kiss at Natsu's neck. Natsu groaned and used all power he could muster to try and get the taller one to get away from him. "Hmn...Natsu...you taste odd but good..." He purred as he nipped at the smaller one. "...like you have thin skin and blood trailing down your-"
"Sicko!" Natsu shouted then and pushed Gray back enough for him to get out. He quickly bolted down the hallway, red faced and panting. He didn't know how that had happened, and he sure as hell did not want to think it about it however...that was just so sick...how could Gray have done that to him? Jerk, how could he come after him? He had made a clear point of wanting him to stay away many times before...why now? Because Laxus and Lucy wern't around or what?
"Natsu there you are!" A voice cried and Natsu looked up to see Lucy and Laxus. Lucy hugged him then paused and looked at his neck. She frowned, and then lightly hit his head. "Natsu! What did you do? Did you do something with Lisanna again?" She asked him, and he shook his head. Natsu blushed, he had never done such a thing! Well, Lucy thought so but...
"I did it~" A voice purred and arms enveloped him. Natsu swallowed, and lightly blushed some. Did Gray follow him or something? It surly seemed like it with what was happening to him. He felt teeth nip at his ear and he felt the soft breath. "Meet me after school in the Teachers Lounge." He murmured and then he left abruptly before Laxus pummeled him. Lucy hugged Natsu who then sighed and shook his head. Laxus grumbled and crossed his arms. Natsu just wanted to understand this all...
Natsu, despite the whole day telling himself not to, he was going to meet Gray as he had been asked to do...well more so told. He walked to the room and paused. He bit his lip somewhat before he knocked on the door. Slowly, it opened and Natsu was pulled inside. He blinked some before his eyes rested on the man before him, Gray Fullbuster. He blinked some then felt the door close beside him and he panicked some. He was pressed into the door and he felt a skilled tongue touch his neck and move along it. His whole body tensed up and he groaned. He had to wonder, well, was this why he was called here? To be played with? He wasn't to sure...However, this thought became more accurate as he felt his shirt ride up and a hitched breath.
Natsu swallowed as he felt a soft, cold hand, move along the scars on his chest. He blushed softly and looked away. "...I...I..." He was cut off as lips connected to his own. Okay, now Natsu had more questions than answers again. The hand on his chest traced the scars before Gray pulled away from him and pressed his forehead to Natsu's.
"...I see what he did to you." He murmured softly. "You know, a lot of people were questioning if something was happening at home to you, and I was the go-to guy...scars...man...Natsu..." He licked Natsu's cheek softly. "I guess your father does a number on ya, huh?" He sighed softly and pulled Natsu close.
"So you just did this because of that?" Natsu hissed and tried to push Gray away, mad with himself for falling for this, and mad for the fact the other had found out about something no one else knew. Gray looked right into his eyes honestly.
"No Natsu. I've had my eyes on you for a while...this was just easier for me to do...but...really...how do you go through this?" He murmured right before a phone started to go off.
I'm always fightin' for things I can't have.
I'm always fightin' for friends I don't get.
I'm always fightin' for people I can't love.
I'm always fightin' for the will to live.
I'm always fightin' for my reason to exist.
I'm always fightin'...
No matter how hard I try to get stronger,
I never get ta' the world I want.
Natsu swallowed and tried to break free to grab his phone but Gray grabbed it instead and looked at it. "...your father." He mumbled and Natsu swallowed. He was doomed, his Father wanted to know where he was, and that meant that he was screwed when he got home. Gray however, smiled. He dropped the phone to the ground and picked Natsu up. "Oh well~, he won't see you tonight. My parents are gone for a while, and I told Levy and Gajeel that if what they thought was true, you could stay with me~" He smiled and Natsu blushed. Oh great, don't tell me I'm falling for the PlayBoy? He thought and then sighed, hearing a sound. His eyes closed, and he gave in, this was batter than being around his abusive father right?
"Fine, but if you lay one hand on me mister, I'm kicking you out of your own home." Natsu hissed and Gray chuckled softly and left the room, noticing Natsu was more relaxed. This worked better than he had thought it would, and that made this easier. In truth, no one had asked him to do this, he had wanted to know what happend to Natsu to make him so insecure around others. With his mother dead, he had to wonder if it was an abusive father or not, and he was right about that part. However, this other part was all his idea. In truth, he lived alone as well, and now he had Natsu there...with him. He smirked, oh, he would soon show Natsu he felt something for him than anyone else. He was a playboy, but that was only because he had wanted to find the one person that made his heart soar...and that had to be Natsu Dragneel...
Phase one, finished...Phase two...well now that was to start tonight.
Love is a powerful thing,
Be careful where you step,
Or you may not come out from it...