The sixth visit was not even supposed to happen, but at that point Natsu had just resigned himself to his fate of constant humiliation.
He'd gone to Erza's place because they always met on Sundays to practice fencing. They both loved sword fighting and Erza had apparently just met the green-haired guy from the sex shop who was also into the sport. She'd told Natsu to come a few hours earlier so that they could go over their footwork again so that she could invite 'Freed' the next time around. Just as they'd finished, Erza asked if Natsu wanted to go get takeout and he'd agreed, despite the completely miserable time he had in the car. They ate and then she ordered two extra sets of food and drinks. It was at that point that Natsu got a little suspicious because Erza only ordered second servings if they included strawberry cake and they were in a burger joint that had cake precisely nowhere on their menu. She's up to something.
She'd rushed into the car and just as Natsu closed the door and asked why she got more food, Erza pulled the car out of the parking space, causing him to steel his stomach against the onslaught of nausea, and cheerfully informed him that they were going to visit Gray and Jellal at work and bring them lunch. Natsu was too preoccupied trying to keep the contents of his own lunch inside his stomach to form any of the protests on the tip of his tongue and soon enough they were parked right in front of the sex shop. He'd been there just two days ago and he just sighed because Erza shoved the sodas into his hands and she would murder him if they didn't reach her precious Jellal and her friend Gray. You've been here enough times already, there's no point in fighting it anymore. Just bear the shame like a man. Because that's what you are. A man! Don't let those pink-hating assholes from the supermarket tell you otherwise. Elfman said you're manly. Elfman is the manliest guy there is, he knows his shit.
Natsu was still dizzy from the car ride, but he dutifully followed Erza to the counter and placed the drinks between the two registers. Erza immediately walked right behind the counter, pulled a chair up beside Jellal and put her legs over his lap, talking to him about work and fencing and Natsu was always taken aback at how bold Erza could be considering that just six months earlier she was red-faced at the mere mention of Jellal. Still, as Jellal pulled out his meal, Erza stopped brushing her hand through his hair for a moment and ordered Natsu, yes ordered him, as she pointed toward the far aisle on the right, to take the takeout bag and the other soda to Gray.
Natsu sighed heavily and picked up the food and the soda, heading in the direction she'd pointed to. At least maybe he'll be a little more receptive to you if you're the one who gives him food. You might even be able to ask him out.
That did not happen. At all. Because as soon as Natsu got to the last aisle on the right, he remembered just what aisle it was and blushed heavily, yelping at the sight of Gray in a tight white t-shirt with rolled up sleeves that exposed his arms in all of their muscular glory, black fingerless leather gloves, mid-calf leather Harley-Davidson motorcycle boots, the tightest faded blue jeans Natsu had ever seen, and a thin black choker… organizing the selection of dildos. Every single one of those things alone would have made Natsu's heart race, but the combination of everything in one was too much stimulation and he nearly dropped the food when Gray turned to look at him. Gray placed the last dildo on the shelf.
He removed his headphones and asked, politely, "Umm, did you say something?"
He looked the slightest bit nervous but Natsu didn't notice because you're here to hand him food not stare at him in awkward silence. He's gorgeous, if he wanted to be a model, he would be. He didn't decide to work in a sex shop so that people could stare at him in uncomfortable silence.
He held out the food and the soda.
"For you," he stated, hurriedly and in a higher pitch than strictly necessary. Gray blinked a couple of times and walked forward, glancing over at Jellal's register and, at the sight of Erza, he completely understood. Erza had brought them food before. Usually with the lack of a pink-haired potential date, but Gray wasn't complaining. He nodded and smiled at Natsu, taking the food from his hands.
"Thank you," he said. Natsu was pink and silent and he just nodded once and didn't appear to be breathing. Gray took one more look at Erza and Jellal who were now whispering to each other and sending them meaningful glances that Gray didn't like one bit and he turned to Natsu, impulsively saying, "We have a back room. Do you want to go in there with me while Erza finishes talking to Jellal?"
Because whenever Erza visited she took her time and then Natsu would just be an awkward third wheel and Gray had been that awkward third wheel several times and he wouldn't wish that on anyone. Not with Erza and Jellal. They might be good about hiding their marks and passing them off as injuries from other activities like sports, but Jellal like to whisper things to Erza that made her a red and stuttering mess when he thought Gray couldn't hear and Gray could too hear and he didn't like hearing it. Especially because ever since Natsu first visited, anytime that Gray seemed frustrated with anything Jellal took great pleasure in calling Erza and putting her on speaker to tease Gray mercilessly over the tan pink-haired blushing regular.
Natsu was speechless and wide-eyed for a moment because holy shit he wants to spend time with you. You are fire, hot and eye-catching… and a potential disaster but that is besides the point right now. Focus!
He nodded once, cheeks still tinged pink.
Gray motioned for Natsu to follow him, pointedly ignored Erza's lecherous grin, and made his way to the back room, a blushing Natsu behind him.
The lights flickered on at the motion in the room and Gray sat at the square wooden table, pushing out the chair across from him with his foot so Natsu could sit.
Natsu sat, fidgeting nervously and Gray let out a small laugh before he unplugged his headphones from his phone and raised the volume to music. That was preferable to silence and would hopefully make Natsu relax. Gray asked about how long Natsu knew Erza and Jellal and who the girl he came in with the other day was and Natsu seemed to lose the tense strain in his shoulders a little more with every question, but he still wasn't asking Gray out and that was immensely frustrating because it was against policy to ask out consumers and he knew that Natsu at least found him attractive. The lingering glances did not escape him. So as soon as he finished his food, he put on a different song. Requiem for the Blue Jeans. Slow and with a nice beat. He would get the blushing man to ask him out… even if it took something a little obvious.
When the lyrics started playing out, Gray moved his hips forward slightly, rotating with his abdomen, legs opening slightly.
Natsu froze in his seat, all tension returning at full force, cheeks red, eyes wide. He's grinding in his seat to the song. He is giving the fucking chair a lap dance. Just when you were working up the courage to ask for his number. Courage, gone.
Gray tilted his head back against the back of the chair, kept rolling his hips forward and back to the beat, grabbed his soda, closed his eyes and took a sip, slid his eyes open halfway and stared directly into wide green eyes as he licked his lips, tongue piercing dragging slightly over his lip before disappearing back into his mouth.
Natsu was now the brightest shade of red ever created and unbearably hard in his seat. You need to leave. Holy shit. Just look away, just turn aside. His eyes were locked on Gray's body as he stuttered out, "I-I'm gonna find Erza, and- and, see you!" running out of the door nearly tripping over the leg of the chair and Gray sagged in disappointment, confusion briefly passing over his features. Did I go too far? What am I doing wrong?
He threw the trash away and headed out to the counter, seeing the last glimpse of a red Natsu dragging an irritated Erza outside.
He sighed.
Jellal didn't look at him as he asked, "So what did you do to scare him off?"
Gray scowled at him.