This is a BOYS-LOVE STORY and also contains BOY CROSS-DRESSING AS GIRL! So, please for everyone who don't like this kind of story, don't bother to read and review if it's only for bashing me. Thank you very much for understanding, people! I love you all!
/ CHAPTER 8 – Dilemma /
Gray looked at the pink haired. "Hey, pinky..."
"Yea?" Natsu smiled at the raven.
"You..."
"Me?"
"Are you..."
"Am I... what?"
Seeing Natsu's stupid innocent face, Gray shook his head and smirked. "Are you hungry? Since we haven't had any breakfast this morning."
"Huh? What's with the sudden care?" Natsu chuckled.
"What's that supposed to mean? I am a caring person. Especially caring for you."
"Who are you and what did you do to the pervert ice-block named Gray?" And the pinkette ran away while still laughing.
"Get back here, you damn pinky!" Gray laughed along and started chasing Natsu.
/ WELCOME TO FAIRY TAIL CAFÉ /
Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima
Info(s): AU human world, no magic
Pairing(s): Gray x Natsu, (oneside)Sting x Natsu
Warning(s): !BOYS LOVE!, cross-dressing, cursing, OOC, bad writing and English
I don't make any profit from this story. It's purely just for fun.
'Natsu is... a boy...'
Gray was on his way back home after parting with Natsu in front of the café. He couldn't stop thinking about... that. The first thing he's going to do once he arrived home was a nice cold shower. Yeah, it sounded so perfect to clean his head.
As soon as the cold water touched his body, "Shit!" And imagining Natsu with body like his own, "... Shit..." He cursed again.
Gray then threw himself on the bed, not even bothered to wear a shirt, and covered his face with his palm.
'Natsu is a boy.'
Words 'Natsu' and 'boy'. Where. The. Fuck. Was. The. Connection? It didn't make any sense at all in Gray's brain. He tossed and turned on the bed while kept thinking about that. Until he saw the clock on the wall and, "Shit!" he realized he's late for the class and started running as fast as he could while wearing his shirt in rush.
"Mister Fullbuster. What time is it?"
"Almost ten thirty. Sorry, ma'am..."
Gray immediately took a random empty seat inside the class. Judging from his face, he looked like he was concentrating listening to the lecture. While the truth was, his concentration went for something else. Screw the class. His head was so full of Natsu it's starting to spin around.
.
.
.
"G-Gray, I l-like you! Would you go out w-with me?"
"Sorry, but I don't even know who you are. I wouldn't go out with someone I don't know."
After the girl who confessed to him ran away with teary eyes, Gray sighed and started walking back at the corridor towards his locker. How many girls had asked him out? He felt bad for rudely rejecting them, but how could he possibly fall for someone he didn't even know? One thing he knew for sure, most of them wanted to be with him (and his buddies) only because of his face and money. Correction, his father's money.
Okay, enough with that. Back to the core of the problem.
Natsu.
A boy.
"Shit..."
Just when he was starting – stress that – starting to be truly interested in someone, that someone just had to be a boy. Great.
'So I like... boys?'
"Oh my god..." Gray face-palmed.
But he refused to to believe it. He looked up to see girls and boys walked around him. Hesitated at first, but he decided to... to check on them.
Girls with big breasts, girls with long smooth hair, girls wearing glasses, girls with mini skirt and their exposed thighs, etc. Done. Then he changed his attention to some boys. But soon, he felt... erm... he couldn't describe the shudder that suddenly grew inside him.
But nothing. No one had successfully made him felt something. Anything.
Well, at least he could clarify himself that he did not like boys.
Gulping, the raven then started imagining Natsu. With her– HIS boyish feature. From his spiky pink hair, the hairpins, his jade eyes, his stupid grin, those slender shoulders, his powerful punch, flat chest, flat abs, down to–
Twitch.
"... Shit..."
"Yo, Gray!"
"SHIT! Loke! You fucking startled me!" How many times had Gray blurted out that one specific word in a day? "Why are you here? Where are your fans?"
"I called you a few times but you didn't respond! So I told the girls to go on without me because my best friend looks like a soul-less snowman." Loke winked. "What's wrong? Having some serious issues?"
Now that Gray thought about it, maybe Loke could help him. Besides, he desperately needed some advices right now. And what could be better than advice from your bestie, right? ...Right?
"Right." Gray closed his locker after picking up the books he needed for the next class. "How do you deal with a... person who turns out is not someone you expected?"
"... Man, your question is so complicated. Let's simplify it. I promise I won't tell a soul about this. So... Is it a 'girl' issue? As in, falling for a girl?"
'Technically Natsu is not a girl, but...' "Well... You could say that... But falling for? I don't know, Loke. I don't even understand myself."
"So you don't understand how to 'woo' this chick because she doesn't like you the way you expected her to be?"
"Wait, wait, what?! Fuck, NO! That's not what I mea–
"Okay, let this gentleman teach you how to 'woo' a girl skillfully." Loke took Gray's hand. "You take her hand gently. Take steps closer to her."
"The fuck?" Gray took a few steps backwards.
"Lock your eyes with hers. Make her eyes focus only to you."
"Loke. Stop." And then Gray's back finally hit the locker.
"Perfect. Now put your other hand next to her head. Trap. Her."
"Loke, I swear–
"Lift her hand close to your lips. Let her feel your breath."
"L-Loke–
"And you lean closer. Closer. Clos–
"AHEM! What the fuck are you guys doing in the middle of the crowd?" Sting and Hibiki suddenly interrupted.
"... Nothing... Please don't misunderstand..."
.
.
.
Headache.
It was the result of waking up in a few next mornings for Gray. He even skipped the café-time with his friends just to avoid the certain pink haired maid.
Cursing didn't even help reducing the pain. It's like he woke up from a terrible nightmare to face the reality which was worse than the nightmare itself.
Gray terribly regretted ever asking his bestie for advice. He of all people should have known Loke's brain was only filled with 'wooing-every-girls'. Well, at least Loke could keep his promise not telling anyone, even Sting and Hibiki. And Gray's very grateful for that.
The raven groaned as he sat up on his bed. Glancing at the clock, it's about seven thirty in the morning. His class wouldn't start soon, but he didn't feel like sleeping anymore.
.
.
.
"Gray? Is that you? Good morning!"
Gray decided to take a morning walk to refresh his mind, but hearing that very familiar voice calling him, he immediately regretted his own decision.
"... Mornin'... Natsu..." Of course he had a very big chance to meet the pinkette because he's walking down the route to the café. Fuck his feet for unconsciously bringing him there.
Natsu saw Gray was bringing a bag. "Are you having a class now?" The pink haired then puffed both hands with warm air from his mouth.
The raven took a glance at the pinkette beside him. 'I still can't believe this one next to me is a boy. Which part of her– HIM is a fucking boy?!' "... No... Just taking a stroll."
"Oh, okay." Natsu stopped his pace as they arrived in front of the café. "Wanna come in? You haven't been here lately. But only Mira's here. And me. And Cana, in a few more minutes I guess."
Gray just shrugged and both of them entered the café.
It took about ten minutes for Natsu to change into his maid uniform. He went out of the locker room to find Mirajane and Gray were having some serious conversations. Seeing Natsu coming out, both of them immediately stopped talking.
The raven then just left without saying anything. Natsu was confused. 'What's wrong with him?' Maybe Gray's just having a hard time and needed to be alone. He just hoped it wouldn't be too long.
.
.
.
Another few days since the last time Natsu saw Gray. And it made him really, really worried.
"Hey, Mira." One morning, Natsu asked his manager. "Is... Is something wrong? With Gray? D-did I upset him?"
Mirajane raised her eyebrows. "What makes you said that?"
"... Nothing... It's just my feeling then."
CLING! CLING!
"Excuse me? Fairy Tail Café?" A girl came through the front door.
"Ah! Y-yes! Welcome to Fairy Tail Café, Master." Natsu immediately approached the customer. "Sorry for I wasn't able to greet you first. I'm Natsu and I'm at your service."
"It's okay. So this is his café?" The girl talked to herself while looking around on her own. "Natsu, right?" She then looked at the pink haired maid. "Say... Can you do me a favour, Miss maid?"
"Uh... Sure. What about?"
"Regarding Gray?"
.
.
.
After 'taking care' of Juvia just like what Mirajane did to her on his test day, Natsu went back to the dining area.
"I can't thank you enough, Natsu." This girl, Camille, was the one who came to the café a few days ago.
Camille was one of those girls who could get along quite well with Gray in the university. They often had same classes and sometimes ended up in the same work group. She knew Gray always rejected every girls confessing to him because he didn't know them, Gray told her himself.
"This idea of yours to decorate the table is great!" Camille was very pleased and held Natsu's hands. "And thank you so much for... encouraging me to confess my love to him..."
Twitch.
"No problem, Camille! You really should. And of course I'll support you! I mean, you can't let that ice-block confuse you even more!" Natsu grinned.
When Natsu heard about Camille wanting to confess to Gray, he agreed to help her out. Although Mirajane had warned him that Gray didn't like – or to be precise, hated – this kind of thing, but Natsu still insisted to do it because he didn't want to disappoint Camille after seeing her hopeful face. Eventually, Mirajane gave up and let Natsu do whatever he wanted.
That night, Fairy Tail Café was running as usual. But one table in the center was beautifully decorated. And it was Natsu's idea. Building the atmosphere before confessing would probably help, he said.
But... Why? There's this twitching inside his chest and it's... hurting him? He didn't know what it was, but decided to push that feeling aside.
.
.
.
"Why did she have to ask to do our group work in the café this late?" Gray sighed as he walked towards Fairy Tail Café while carrying his bag. 'And there's that very person I'm not ready to deal with.'
CLING! CLING!
"Welcome to Fairy Tail Café, Master Gray!" Great. It had to be Natsu who greeted him. "Let me escort you to the special table for you and your friend!"
Before Gray could ask, Natsu stepped aside to show him the special table with Camille wearing a beautiful dress standing next to it.
"Hi, Gray..." She smiled shyly at the raven.
"... Cam?" Gray was confused.
"Now both of you please sit down." Natsu took a quick act, bringing the food and placed them on the table. "And enjoy the dinner!"
Before leaving the two, the pinkette whispered a 'good luck' to Camille. After that, he turned to Gray to... smile at him.
A few bites, then Gray would steal a glance at the pinkette who's also serving another customers along with Lucy, Levy, and Lisanna. Natsu was doing his work as usual, grinning and smiling like an idiot. But Gray could tell there's something wrong with him.
'... Why do I even care for her– HIM?'
Gray tried so hard to not pay attention to the pinkette. The raven thought that maybe, maybe, he could clear his own thought by not seeing the pink haired for a few days. But, no. Not seeing Natsu for a few days made him couldn't stop looking at the pink haired maid right now. And it's ruining his concentration on everything else around him.
'What is that idiot doing? Sh– HE's really not himself toda–
"Gray? Are you listening to what I said?"
"Ah... No... Sorry, Cam... Can you repeat?"
.
.
.
Seeing Gray and Camille having a casual chat with each other, the twitching inside Natsu's chest somehow... increased. He didn't understand. But before he could think further, Camille summoned him to refill the water.
"Sorry for the wait. Here's the water." Natsu forced himself to smile as he poured Camille's glass.
Then he turned to fill Gray's glass and nervously look into the raven's eyes. But his nervousness was forgotten when he saw some sauce on the corner of Gray's mouth after he took the last bite.
Without hesitation, Natsu took a tissue from the table. "Hey, you got some sauce there."
Gray was okay with Natsu trying to wipe the stain, until...
'Natsu is a BOY!'
SLAP!
And the tissue fell on the floor.
The scene and the sound of Gray warding Natsu's hand, hard, made the whole café went silent.
"... Shit..." With that last word, Gray left the café.
Both Natsu and Camille (and all the people inside the café) were speechless. And it's hurt. Inside. So much. For Natsu.
But when he looked at the very disappointed Camille, he felt so guilty for ruining her chance to confess. 'What have I done? It was supposed to be her special moment!'
Burying all his pain, he pulled Camille to stand up and take her to the front door. "Camille, I'm so, so sorry!" He bowed down. "But you still have hope! Go! After him!"
With a determined look, Camille nodded and left Natsu.
.
.
.
"Sorry, Cam. But I don't like you that way." Gray apologized. "And I'm so sorry for leaving like that. I wasn't mad at you, I swear. I was just... having a lot of thoughts jumbled in my head."
Camille managed to catch up with Gray and finally confessed her feeling after they both walked together for a while. "It's fine, Gray. Actually deep inside I already know the answer. I just want to release it and be free from it."
Gray escorted his friend until they reached her house. Before getting in to her house, Camille turned around and smiled. "So... Friends?"
Gray smiled back and nodded a little. "Of course. Friends."
"By the way, Gray. I think you left your bag in the café?"
.
.
.
'Shit... It's already this late. It must have been closed.' Gray thought as he ran back to the café. He finally arrived and sighed as he saw the lights had all been turned off. "Guess I'll just come back here tomorrow before the class start–
On the corner side of the café, he caught a glimpse of something pink? "... Natsu?"
"Gray? Just as I thought." Natsu stood up and approached the raven. "Here. Your bag."
They both stood in silence in the middle of the dark.
"Natsu, I–
"Gray." Natsu interupted. "I'm sorry..."
"Sorry for... what?"
"You... know, don't you?"
"... Yeah. I've spoken with Mira."
"... I see... Please don't be mad! I'll tell you everything!"
"... Okay..."
.
.
.
Author's Note: I was having a though time writing this chapter. Because both Natsu and Gray are confused with each other. And their complicated situation makes me confused too! So, I truly apologize to all of you if this chapter makes you... dizzy...? But if it doesn't, congrats for you!
And a little Loke x Gray won't kill you, will it? I don't know how but somehow my fingers just unconsciously typed that scene. Bad hand! BAD hand!
/REPLIES/
Mintleaf64: Thank you! I love you too! Here's the next chapter!
Shiona Acitiu: Yes, Gray knows and he becomes confused with his own feeling.
Nega Kris: Maybe someone will, or maybe not. I don't know myself, haven't thought about that. Hahaha. And yes! You caught the smallest RoWen moment in the last chapter! I love these two! They're so cute!
darkhuntressxir: Because I'm a little evil squirrel who loves cliff-hanger! Mwahahaha! Sorry, kidding. But I don't deny I love cliff-hanger so much.
noah03: Yay for the fluff~
MistyMachine: I'm so touched you love this story. *hug!*
gratsulover117: Thank you. I am evil. Mwahahaha! Okay, I'm just joking. Here's the next chapter for you! Love you!
KonaMikuisOtAnime: ... Seriously, I can't catch what you wrote for the last chapter review. But judging by the 'happy-messy-squeeing-kyaaa-XD-dyingofthefluff' thingy you wrote, can I conclude that you're... satisfied with the last chapter? Hahahaha.
LALALA: Thank you for clicking the review button! And thank you for asking the most asked question. Here's my most favorite answer for you: Because I'm evil and I love cliffie so damn much!
Kei-kei Yuki: Thank you! I really tried to keep Natsu (and all the others too) in character and it's so hard! I have to keep reminding myself that Natsu is a boy! Sometimes I'm very confused, just like Gray in this chapter. But for me, that reminder has to be kept in my mind for the whole long story. Damn! Hahaha.
Guest: Because I simply couldn't write a 'rape' story, that's why Wendy's helping me to not have to do that. I'm just suck like that, thank you~
Thank you for everyone who read, fave, and review on my story. I accept every critiques and inputs for this story progress. I'll try to keep every characters to their own personality.
Sorry for the typos, wrong grammars, bad spellings, etc.; English is not my mother language.