A/N: Blegh, sorry for the long wait.
"I can't believe we're living here for four weeks." Gray grumbled, mostly to himself but Lyon heard and answered while unpacking his suitcase from across the room.
"Don't start whining princess. This won't be such a bad place."
Gray glared at his brother. "Call me a princess again and you'll wake up to pink hair instead of silver." Lyon just smirked, not disturbed by the younger's threat.
"Speaking of 'pink hair', what do you think about-"
The raven hair male turned his back to his brother and resumed his packing, but less angry now. "There's nothing to think about." He interrupted, cutting Lyon off curtly. But inside, his thoughts filled up with Natsu, the pinkette rider. A couple days ago when Erza introduced them all, he found himself entranced with Natsu. All he did was stare at the sweaty male during the introductions, gobbling down every micro tiny detail he could.
"Are you sure because that's not what I take in. Just the way you looked at him was like you wanted to eat him or something." Lyon snickered and ducked a pillow thrown his way. "Don't throw the nice furniture. And don't be embarrassed; from the way he looked at you it seemed like the two of you wanting to eat each other might be mutual."
After sputtering and choking on his own spit after hearing his brother's words, Gray opted to ignore Lyon and his delusional thinking and finished his packing quietly. After he was done he picked his large suitcase and tucked it under the bed. He stood up and stretched before glancing around the room. It was almost as nice as his actual one back home. Movement made him look to the side to see Lyon taking his shirt off and climbing on his bed.
"You're going to sleep already?" Gray asked, dark brows raised. He knew the actual program started tomorrow and would be filled with non stop activities and sleep would be good to get but it was only a little past nine. Curfew (yes, they had to abide by a curfew) wasn't till ten thirty.
"Nah, I'm just resting my eyes." was the lazy answer. Gray rolled his eyes.
"You might as well go to sleep."
Lyon stretched lazily and rolled to his side with his back facing Gray. "Turn off the lights if you're going out."
Gray just sighed with annoyance and headed towards the door, turning the light switch off as he passed through the doorway. The door slammed shut but Lyon was already past out to hear the loud sound.
...
The place was so big, it was hard to believe that it was an actual horse stable. Gray has heard of Fairy Tail Stables, reading articles and columns about them. From what he's gathered they're all crazy to keep it simple. Something that he remembers reading about them is how last year a majority of the Fairy Tail horses got loose and stampede all through town, wrecking havoc and causing damage to a good section of Magnolia. Some how Macarov persuaded the Council into not punishing him or his 'children' and then in the end, they found out that the whole thing wasn't an accident.
"Sabertooth.." Gray muttered to himself and stuffed his hands into his pockets. He doesn't know much about them but he is very aware that there is a intense rivalry between the two stables. The teen scratched his head. 'And now we are thrown into the mix here. Tch.. I'm just glad it's just four weeks-'
"Oi, watch out!"
WHAM!
Gray got knocked backwards with the wind sucked out of him. He hit the concrete hard as something soft toppled over on him. "Oof!"
Now he was pissed. "Who the fuck says 'oof'?!" He wheezed out and lifted his head slightly to see pink hair. His mouth dried instantly and his heart raced.
"Ow damn it you jack ass." A moment of silence. Then the head full of pink hair tipped up and a careless grin was spread over Natsu's face. "Is that better than 'oof'?" He chuckled before letting out a soft groan. "Damn, you are not a soft person to land on." The pinkette slowly maneuvered himself so he was off Gray and resting on his knees beside Gray instead.
The raven haired male slowly sat up on his elbows and stared at the other with slight incredulity. Natsu was leaned forward with his arms draped over his knees and was still grinning at Gray with closed eyes.
It seemed like they sat there in ages. Gray was utterly confused and getting agitated. Natsu was still grinning at him stupidly. Until it dropped suddenly and he stood up quickly. Gray looked up at the pinkette who was now looking embarrassed beyond time. A small blush dusted his cheek bones and he was looking away.
"I'm sorry, I saw you and just- I had to come talk to you- just acted, my feet flew me over here- I swear I didn't mean to knock you down, I was going too fast and couldn't stop-" Natsu's gushing ceased to a stop and he looked back at Gray while biting his lip. "Sorry." He mumbled before turning on his heel and walked quickly away.
Gray blinked. He was more than confused now, but there was also some kind of feeling building up in his gut, something warm and fuzzy. Somehow he translated Natsu's almost incoherent talk and concluded that perhaps Lyon was maybe possibly just in the slightest bit might be right. So he called out to Natsu's retreating figure and stood to his feet.
Natsu stopped and looked back back halfway, eyes swarming with emotions. Gray was taken aback. After a minute he slowly walked forward until he stood directly in front of the young rider. "You 'had' to come talk to me?" Gray couldn't help but hold a slight teasing tone.
"I m-mean, I saw you!" Natsu protested though he didn't know what for. Gray felt the warm feeling inside him spread some more. "I just, I feel bad for when we first met because I didn't say anything..."
Gray blinked. "Neither did I."
"Natsu meet Gray, Gray meet Natsu." Erza introduced the two males. They both stared at one another not seeming to have heard the scarlet haired woman since they were too busy seizing the other up.
Slim body, taut muscles, sweaty golden skin. Soft face, chapped lips, button nose and big eyes.
Hard body, built with muscles, snow white skin. Gorgeous face, pale lips, cute nose and dark eyes.
W...what's this warm feeling?
Gajeel snorted. "Looks like they'll be getting along just fine."
"You distracted me." He added with a wink, but it was so quick that Natsu almost missed it. The pinkette blushed again wearing a smile.
"I could say the same for you."
Once again the dark haired teen was taken aback. He was going on a teasing approach to show Natsu that he was into him but Natsu was being forward and serious yet sweet about it. A whisper of a smile spread over Gray's mouth he casted his eyes to the ground. He wouldn't fool around with Natsu or his emotions. With that being stuck firmly in his brain, Gray looked up and stepped closer to the pink haired teen.
"Let's start over then. Gray Fullbuster." He extended his hand for Natsu who took it.
"Natsu Dragneel." They shook hands before letting go.
The two smiled like idiots at each other before Gray cleared his throat. "It's not ten yet, would you like to show me around or something?" He offered and Natsu nodded excitedly.
"Yes! I want you to meet my horse!" Before Gray could blink, Natsu grabbed his hand and took off like the speed of light.
"Whoa ho!" Gray exclaimed as Natsu flew them down the pavement and led them through twists and weaves before tumbling down a grassy slope. The hyper pinkette skidded to a stop at a huge barn, Gray stumbling behind him.
"Here we are." Natsu laughed and turned to face Gray. "Ready?" He asked.
'Now he asks me...' "Show me the way." Gray couldn't help but smile. Something about Natsu really attracted him. He followed the shorter boy inside and instantly the smell of everything 'horses' invaded his nostrils.
He must have been making a face because Natsu stuck his tongue out at him. "The smell gets better, promise. Now this way!" Once again before he could reply he was being dragged. Natsu led them deeper inside the huge barn before coming to a stop at a stall.
"We're really not supposed to be here but Gramps doesn't really do anything to stop us rebels." Natsu teased as he unlatched the stall and stepped inside. "Wait just a second, I'll bring him out." Natsu's voice carried on. "He's a bit big and likes to move at his own pace when I'm not riding him."
Gray couldn't help but laugh a little. A few seconds later Natsu was stepping out with a huge deep auburn colored horse right behind him. Gray stopped and stared. Not only was the horse a giant, it was a mouth dropping gorgeous giant. Natsu took in his companion's expression and laughed.
"He's quite the looker, yeah? Igneel is the stud around here if I do say so myself." Natsu gave his horse a pat. "Igneel, this is Gray. You're going to be nice to him, okay?" Natsu wrapped his arms around Igneel's thick strong neck and combed his fingers through the long slick mane.
"He's gorgeous." Gray murmured, soft smile on his face as he came around to stand next to Natsu. "May I?" He asked, hand extended towards the horse. Natsu nodded. Gray gave Igneel a pat in which the horse happily enjoyed, letting out a soft nicker.
"This might be really weird to you but my foster father is named Igneel." Natsu broke the comfortable silence. He could feel the other's eyes on him and continued. "Igneel said he found me wandering around alone and took me in. For my seventh birthday, I received my horse and a new home." Natsu's voice grew soft and he wrapped his arms tighter around Igneel the horse, hiding his face. "Igneel brought me here without telling me why and left saying that he'd see me again soon and that I was to stay here. It's been nine years." Natsu's voice sounded heavy and Gray wanted to comfort him but he didn't know if that would be okay.
Instead he stayed silent and mulled over what Natsu told him. He was surprised really, they hardly knew each other and Natsu has revealed something rather deep about himself. If he felt that comfortable enough with Gray then the least Gray can do is pat his back or something.
Just as Gray was about to 'pat his back or something', Natsu whipped his head up from his horse's neck and smiled brightly. "No matter how long I have to wait, I know that Igneel will keep his word and come back for me. Besides, living here has gave me the opportunity to make amazing friends and learn about horses. There's so much I've done and too many people I love. I think that when the day Igneel comes back, I won't be able to leave." Natsu's smile brightened if possible. He stepped close to Gray and poked him. "Especially now since you're here."
Gray blinked several times and felt his face warm up. "Wh-what?" He stammered out, flustered. Natsu laughed and turned around.
"Nothing! Stay here, I'm gonna do something real quick!" Before Gray could say another word, Natsu and Igneel were gone in a flash.
"What an idiot." Gray said to himself as he shook his head fondly. But that damn warm feeling was rising inside him again, heating up even more intensely.
"Graaaay!"
Gray started and followed the direction Natsu's voice came from. He stared with an open mouth. The rider was mounted on Igneel bareback and looked sexy as hell up there. But that wasn't important. What was important that Natsu walked Igneel over to Gray and extended a hand for him.
"I know you are not trying to get me on this big ass horse." Gray's quick tongue dropped the words. "Shit, this was NOT the horse I first saw you on."
Natsu smiled. "I was on Lisanna's horse. Don't try to get out of this, come here." When Gray seemed to balk, Natsu's smile parted down into a half pout, half smile. "Don't you trust me?" The pinkette asked, staring down at Gray who stared at his offering hand. Dark eyes blinked up at him.
"What?"
"I said 'don't you trust me?' " Natsu repeated, his offered hand not wavering. Gray bit his lip (an action that Natsu found utterly adorable) and flickered his eyes away as they took in the not only huge horse but an intimidating one at that.
"It's not that I don't, I just... a horse, I've never rode on one before." Gray admitted bashfully.
"That's okay! Tomorrow when you start and Gramps ask if you've ever been on a horse, you can say yes!"
Gray couldn't help but crack a half smile at Natsu's innocent childness. 'Riding a horse for not even half a day doesn't really give count for me to say yes...'
"Besides, it will give me great pleasure having taught Gray Fullbuster on how to ride a horse. Or at least get him on one." The pinkette winked.
"...okay." Gray said, giving Natsu a nervous smile before taking said boy's offering hand. Despite his slenderness, Natsu was very strong. He heaved the bigger male up on his horse easy peazy. It felt weird. There was no saddle so Gray could feel the hardness of the horse's back.
"How's it feel?" Natsu asked as he rubbed a spot behind Igneel's left ear.
"You don't ride with a saddle?" Gray replied with a question as he tried to get comfortable.
"Nope!" Came the chirp reply. "I don't even own one.
Gray stared at Natsu's back. "You don't own a saddle?" He asked in disbelief. "Wouldn't it be easier? And less painful for your ass?"
Laughter erupted from Natsu. "I rode western one time with Igneel and we both absolutely abhorred it. It was a first for me when he kept trying to buck me off. Actually, he was trying to get the saddle off but considering I was on it..."
"So... no saddles."
"Nope." Natsu popped the 'P'. "I like to be one with him and bareback is the only way. When I first got him, he'd just been born. A few weeks old at the latest. I remember him always near me or at my side. And when he was old enough for me to start riding, I just hopped on him and never came off." Gray could hear the fondness in the smaller male's voice. The compassion he had for his horse, it made Gray happy. "I don't use a bit either. It looks too uncomfortable and I don't care that horses are built for them, I will never stick one in this guy's mouth. Like I said, we've been together since forever. We've built a strong bond over the years. We know that as long as we listen and trust one another, everything is fine."
Gray felt his mind to be in a gentle mush. 'Wow... he really loves this horse. That's... amazing.'
Natsu suddenly jerked around to give Gray an apologetic, slightly bashful smile. He rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry, I ramble a lot when it comes to certain things."
"No, it's fine. It makes me happy to know you're comfortable enough to spill all your juicy details of your life." Gray winked. Natsu nudged him playfully.
"Hold on tight to me, ne? I'm used to bumpy bareback but you my friend, are not."
A roll of the eyes ensued from Gray but he wrapped his arms around Natsu's middle. He blinked in surprise on how petite the rider was. Gray's arms swallowed him so he dropped one, startled when it still went around Natsu in one loop.
"Oi Pinky, do you eat at all?"
"Of course I eat. I eat more than ten of you combined." Natsu boasted proudly. Gray felt Natsu around. No bones poked out. He remembers back to the first day when he saw Natsu who'd been shirtless. So he did have some muscle but still...
"Your size is ridiculous, munchkin."
"Shuddup, I can still kick your ass." Came the huffy reply. "I'm serious, hold on tight. Despite my size, I ain't gonna break." Gray did, and just in time, for Natsu clicked his tongue and they were galloping off.
...
"Oh my FUCK!" Gray wheezed as Igneel slowed to a walk. After an hour of endless cantering, galloping and absolutely no walking, Natsu finally had Igneel head back to the barn. "My stomach- I hurt, the ass-" Gray slumped forward against Natsu's back who was cackling at him. "Shut up you lil shit. Jesus, doesn't your horse ever walk?"
"He is now."
"Don't be sassy with me, I mean when you're out with him!"
Natsu jumped off Igneel once they reached his stall and tied him outside. "Igneel and I like speed. We hardly ever walk." The pinkette informed Gray who was still on the horse.
"Well gee, you couldn't have told me that before I got on and saw my life flash before my eyes every two seconds?"
Natsu stared up at him with all seriousness. "You wouldn't have gone on then."
"EXACTLY. Now get me down." Gray grumbled with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Come again?" Natsu asked, a slow smirk building over his features.
Gray growled. "You know what I said. When I get down there, I'm beating your ass. Now help me damn it."
Natsu laughed. "Yes princess. Shall you jump into my awaiting arms?"
"Shall you face slam into my awaiting foot?" Gray shot back. His pink haired companion giggled.
"Gray, you're kind of cute when you're frustrated." Natsu was in the midst of getting Gray off who was saying something along these lines: 'Yeah, well I'm about to get real fucking adorable' when Igneel, who decided he had waited long enough for the load to get off his back, gave a slight buck making Gray's turn to topple on Natsu who fell to the ground almost instantly.
"Ow ow ow." Natsu wheezed from Gray's weight. Gray on the other hand seemed perfectly fine and unharmed from the fall.
"Wow, you're like a soft cushion." The bigger male commented.
"Yeah, who's being flattened like a pancake." Natsu retorted making Gray laugh.
"Sorry." He helped Natsu stumble to his feet and dusted them both off. "Well, time is about up. Thank you for this, even though you almost killed me."
Natsu grinned. "But I didn't!"
Gray found himself grinning back. "Nah, I'm still here."
"You should probably head back though. I have to take clean this guy up so I'll be another while." Natsu said.
"Yeah.." But Gray didn't move. He still stood there staring at Natsu who was staring right back. After a minute, without thinking, Gray zipped forward and pressed his lips gently to Natsu's flushed cheek. "Thanks for tonight." He whispered before turning on his heel and walking away.
Natsu blinked several times before reaching up to feel where Gray's cool lips still touched his skin. He shivered as he stared at the retreating figure before sluggishly beginning to wash Igneel down.