Author's Note: Okay, I was wrong about it not being too long, it took longer than I suspected, all because I hit a few snags down the road. Ah, writers block, how you torment us all. I'm sorry that it's kinda rushed, but I'm going away for a week and a bit, and I'm not going to have any access to computers, so I thought I'd get something up, even if it is just this.

Disclaimer: I don't own these guys, I'm just borrowing them. I promise I'll return them intact. Mostly.

Burning Ice – Chapter Four

"Well?" Gray asked hesitantly, eyes down, unable to stand the judgment in Natsu's eyes. It wasn't in his nature to be so hesitant, or to speak his emotions so bluntly, but if there was hatred - or worse, disgust - showing on Natsu face, and if it was there it would show, he didn't think he would be able to stand it.

"All this time?" Natsu asked, something that sounded like disbelief in his voice. "You've felt like that all this time?"

Gray nodded slightly, shoulders twitching involuntarily as he heard Natsu take a step towards him. He braced himself.

Natsu grabbed Gray by the shoulders of his shirt, and yanked him forward. "And you thought," he yelled in his face, "that the best way to show me was by tying me to a bed? Asshole!" He lifted one fist and swung, punching Gray in the face. It would have sent him flying if not for Natsu's other hand holding his shirt.

Gray snarled, all his hesitancy gone. He was not about to let Natsu just beat him up without a fight, even if he did deserve it. He was not that passive! He pulled himself out of Natsu's tight grasp, ignoring the tearing sound as his shirt ripped. He dodged Natsu's next blow, and, snarling, launched himself at him, all his pent up anger and frustration, not just at Natsu, but at himself, releasing in a blow that sent Natsu flying.

Natsu slammed into a tree, and slid down it. Before he could get up, Gray was on him, straddling his waist and pinning him down with his hands on Natsu's shoulders. Natsu shoved at his shoulders but couldn't shift him.

"Get off me, pervert!"

Gray ignored his ineffective shoves and lent down right into Natsu's face, watching with interest as his cheeks flushed pink, the same colour as his hair. A sudden insight flushed him, and he leaned in even closer, pressing the skin exposed by his ripped shirt against Natsu's chest, a sly grin making his eyes shine. "Is your problem with me, or with the tying to the bed bit?" He purred seductively.

Natsu's checks heated, and he turned his head, looking away from Gray, avoiding his eyes. He muttered something incoherent and Gray's smile broadened.

"What was that?" Gray lowered his head even further, until his mouth hovered just above Natsu's check, his cold breath a shocking contrast to the heated flesh of Natsu's face.

"Idon'twanttobetiedup," he said in a rush, eyes squeezing shut as what he hadn't said hit Gray like a tonne of bricks.

Rocking back on his heels, Gray rubbed a hand over his eyes. Even though he had thought maybe, still…. Natsu took the opportunity to push him off and scramble to his feet. He looked down at the stunned ice mage, and smiled, offering him a hand up.

Gray placed his hand in Natsu's and let him pull him to his feet. They stood so close together that their chests were almost brushing with each breath. "You….just didn't like being tied up? You weren't disgusted because….of me?"

Natsu bit his lip, and Gray immediately wanted to replace his teeth with his own. "Um….." Natsu hesitated, not sure what to say. "I've always admired you, and then we became friends, and then that day at the beach….. Well I realised that I wouldn't mind if we were more than friends." He stared up at Gray, his face reflecting the swell of emotions that rose within Gray also.

Gray lifted a hand, and rested it gently against the side of Natsu's face, drawing him even closer, pressing their bodies together. Just as gently, he touched his mouth to that of the dragon slayer before him. Natsu's hand came up to burrow into Gray's hair and pull him even closer, increasing the pressure of their mouths, and letting him feel the hardness that was growing between his legs, as heat unlike anything Natsu had ever experienced before running through him. Gray's tongue flicked out to lick the crease of his mouth, coaxing it open.

The tone of the kiss changed in that moment, going from gentle to heated in a split second. They battled for supremacy, their tongues tangling together. Gray swept his tongue around the warm, wet heat of Natsu's mouth, exploring as much of it as he could. His tongue pressed against the roof of his mouth and Natsu groaned deeply, breaking away from the kiss.

They panted, their breaths in sync, and their eyes locked. Gray pressed his forehead against Natsu's and wrapped his arms around him, holding him tight.

How long they stood there in the moonlit clearing, neither knew. But what they both knew was that they had changed in that moment. The question was, how much?

To Be Continued….

Author's Note: There's still at least one chapter to go. After all, what'll happen when the rest of the team get back? I'm thinking that I'm either going to change the rating to T or I'll add a smutty kind of chapter at the end. Tell me what you think? Please?

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you in a week and a bit.