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 9 – Slowly /
It was dark already. Stores were closed and the busy street had gone quiet. But those didn't stop two persons to sit down in front a café to talk. Because both desperately needed explanations from each other.
"So, um... How are you and Camille?"
"... Putting aside the rejection, we're still in a good term."
"Oh..." Natsu felt sorry for the sweet girl, but at the same time he almost smiled in relief hearing the fact they're not together. And guilty feeling washed over his chest.
"Enough with the chit-chat. Why did you do that?" Straight to the point, Gray.
"... Because... I... I couldn't..."
"Couldn't what?" 'Trust me?'
"B-because I couldn't refuse Camille's request." Natsu sighed. "Seeing her hopefull face, how could I say no to her?"
"... What are you talking about?"
"... About Camille's confession...?"
/ 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.
"After talking to Mira, you know, right? That it was I who planned that."
"..."
"... Okay. I know you're angry. Mira had told me you hated this kind of lovey-dovey stuff and all, but I kept pestering her until she gave in."
"..."
"Uh... S-so it's not her fault! And certainly not Camille's either! It was my idea to decorate the table with all those stupid-cute-fluffy-sparkly-sugary-sweet-whatever stuff you loathe. Please, don't be mad at them! You can be mad at me or anyth–
Suddenly Gray hugged him.
And he laughed.
He freakingly laughed hard.
"W-what's so funny?!" Natsu managed to break his face free from the raven's chest.
"Hahahahahaha! YOU! Ahahaha!" Gray finally calmed down. "Haha... Oh my god, this is so... weird... Haha..."
"You're the weird one for laughing at nothing." Natsu murmured.
Gray pulled away from Natsu, making the latter a bit disappointed because of the warmth lost. Confused jade eyes and contended dark blue orbs still glued to each other.
"Natsu... You're really stupid, oblivious, bold, thick-headed, childish, and very... simple-minded."
"... Because I'm the wrong one here, I'll accept whatever insults you're throwing at me."
"Hey! I'm not saying those are bad things." Gray ruffled Natsu's pink lock.
Confusion, happiness, anger, jealousy, relief, vexation, plus a little pinch of another similar emotions combined. They both really whisked each other's heart and mind for sure.
'I'll wait then. Until the day he told me himself...' Gray smiled.
.
.
.
"Good morning! Welcome to Fairy Tail Café, Master Gray. Visiting so early? Haha." Natsu greeted happily. How could he not? Not only Gray wasn't mad at him, they were also being as their usual selves towards each other.
"Well, it's my café. Of course I can come here whenever I want."
As much as Natsu wanted to punch that arrogant bastard's face, his statement was awfully undeniable: It was HIS café. And to bolster that displeasing statement, the pinkette worked for him. Where the heck was justice when Natsu needed it?
"Are you perhaps expecting someone, Master?" It was strange for Gray to suddenly ordered two sets of breakfast meal.
"Again. My café. I can do whatever I want." Gray scoffed. "Even shagging on the table if I felt like it."
"Even WHAT?! EWH! Just... EWH! How could you contaminate these fantastic foods with those filthy words of yours?!"
"Shut up."
"Okay, fine. Keep on being a bastard like you'll always be and d–
"Shut up, Natsu. Sit."
"... Pardon...?"
"Sit. Down. Stop. Talking. Start. Eating. My treat."
Natsu's brain couldn't process the command. But somehow his muscles could, and they started prosecuting as instructed. Mainly because he had no ability to resist the food. His pride was already beaten by his huge appetite.
Gray observed the messy-eater in front of him. Natsu was savouring the meal eagerly like he was in his own wonderland. Sometimes the fork would drop the food because he didn't stab it right and he would pout afterwards. Too much eagerness resulted with some crumbles around his mouth. And Gray couldn't deny that it's...
'... Cute...'
As a girl or a boy, Natsu was still... so Natsu in Gray's eyes. He couldn't seem to find anything fake out of the pinkette. Except his gender, of course.
And watching the 'teenage-drama' out of the two idiots, "Wow... This is the first time I saw Gray truly treating someone." Mirajane whispered to Cana in amuse.
"Yeah. But the way he asked, it's just... cheap. I doubt Natsu even gets that it's a 'date', considering he's dumb hard as a rock." Cana sighed.
The combination of Gray with his horrible woman... erm... man-approachment-skill, and Natsu with his dull food-oriented-only brain. Where their relationship would go, only both of them knew.
.
.
.
After a couple of morning dates in some random days, it's time.
To try applying Loke's... education.
Morning in the café was the perfect time. No other customers yet, the only maid there was Natsu (let's not count Mira and Cana), also the nice peaceful quiet atmosphere.
Perfection.
"Thanks for the meal, Gray!" Natsu grinned as he finished eating his breakfast treat. He stood up to take the tray and clean the table, when suddenly Gray caught his wrist.
"Natsu..."
He took steps closer, resulting a few steps back from the surprised pinkette.
"Nats–
BANG!
And that's the sound of the tray coming in contact with the raven's head.
.
.
.
"Yo, Gray! How's your 'unexpected' chick? Any luck with her?"
"... Luck my ass. Your stupid trick sucks."
"What?! No way! It always works for every girl I met!"
While Loke was being hysterical, Gray just sighed. 'That's because Natsu's not a chick.'
"Just who is she, man? I can't stop wondering." Loke asked again.
"... You expect me to give out any name? Seriously? Fuck off."
"Guys! Stop chit-chatting and help us with the decoration here!" Lucy shouted at the two buddies.
.
.
.
"Mag-U sure is huge."
Natsu stared in awe at the enormous entrance gate of Magnolia University. He took some time to appreciate the amazing scene in front of him. Like a plebeian he was, but whatever, that was his first time there so he couldn't hide his excitement.
"I'm so excited!" Natsu grinned.
"Me too. Sting and the others have been working so hard for this event as the committees. That's why when he said take a day off and come here, it means we must come. No bargaining." Mirajane giggled.
"Hahaha, right. Typical Sting. Too bad Cana couldn't come with us. I hope she gets well soon."
Natsu and Mirajane stepped inside the university. They saw so many kinds of booth. Fast food, garage sales, sweet stuff seller, takoyaki booth, and many more. Natsu didn't remember when was the last time he came to an event like that. He's surely going to enjoy it to the fullest.
"Hey Mira, I think lots of males are fascinated by you." The pinkette whispered to the white haired girl next to him.
"Don't be silly, Natsu." Mirajane only giggled at Natsu's obliviousness.
"Hahaha, but it's true! You're pretty!" Said the one who's pretty himself.
The deeper they walked inside, the more crowded the people. Just to see what's in front of them was hard. And finding the committee's station as the meeting point with their friends was even more difficult.
"Mira! Over here!" Lucy waved her hand. "Guys! Mira's coming!"
"Glad to see you make it here, Mira." Sting said. "Where's Natsu? I thought you came with her?"
"I did. She's–" Mirajane turned around to find... no one behind her. "... uh... not here...?"
.
.
.
"Natsu!"
"Ah, Gray!" Natsu then excused himself from the boys around him.
"Code 'pink' is found. I repeat, code 'pink' is found. Back to the station." Gray reported through his walky-talky. "What the fuck are you doing here with all those boys?! Weren't you supposed to be with Mira?!"
"I didn't realize we got separated! Mag-U is freaking huge and it's so crowded here! You can't expect me to NOT get lost on my first visit here!" Natsu crossed his arms. "Besides, those guys were just escorting me to your station!"
"In more than fucking thirty minutes?!" That's NOT escorting! This spot and the station are only ten minutes walk at most!" Gray ruffled his own hair in frustration. "Really. I don't see the point of you coming."
"Let me remind you that this charity bazaar is open of public even thought it's held in Mag-U." Natsu snorted. "Why are you so against me coming when Mira is fine? And the others are okay with me coming here!"
"Well, Mira is! But you... I don't... You! ... Fuck... Just follow me."
Natsu pouted as he followed Gray. A few days ago, Gray was being nice, treating him breakfast and all. Now he's acting like a total asshole. What an unstable emotion he had. And at the very moment, the angry raven was glaring at every male who dared to ogle at the pinkette without the subject himself knowing.
Sure, Natsu only wore plain white long-sleeve t-shirt, skinny black trousers, a pair of his usual sneakers, and his trademark muffler. With his favorite black hairpins of course. He looked like a girl but wasn't even feminine at all. Still, that didn't stop those men to scan him. Because fuck, even Gray found Natsu like that was adorable as hell.
The very reason of Gray's disapproval: 'Natsu as a delicious display'.
He wanted to grabbed the pinkette, pulled him into the empty classroom, shoved him on the table or something, ripped his clothes off, did this, did that–
Okay, brain, stop right there before muscles truly executed that beautiful tempting daydream.
By the time they arrived at the station, Natsu was greeted by Sting's hug which he immediately replied with a nice smack on the hugger's head. But he also said sorry for worrying and troubling them all.
And because the pinkette asked cutely, all of them couldn't not forgive him.
.
.
.
Hot.
The weather was literally hot.
But Gray's chest was also boiling hot inside.
How the heck did it end up like this?
Weren't they supposed to go around the bazaar together, skipping happily while holding hands and laughing like a bunch of drooling five-year-old toddlers in their wonderla–
Oh.
Right.
Couples suck.
Hibiki disappeared the moment he caught Jenny in his sight.
Levy already said she couldn't accompany them in the first place because she would be with Gajeel all day long.
Mirajane and Lisanna. They just wanted to enjoy their sibling moment together, so let's just leave them out of it.
And Loke. That fucking traitor. What kind of bestie was he? Leaving Gray just to chase Lucy who's angry at him because he flirted with another girls in front of her. Well, serves him right.
"Look at them. Aren't they so cute with each other?" Juvia said.
And that's the very comment Gray didn't ever want to hear. If Natsu looked good with Sting, what would that make him? There were only two 'males' and two 'females' in their toddler group at the moment, and considering one male was with one 'female', there's only one answer for the question.
"Master Gray, let's give them time on their own! And we could both go together too!" Juvia said hopefully.
Of course the answer was definitely a no. Gray would never leave Natsu alone with Sting. Who knew what his buddy could do to his crush. That's why he would keep an eye on them. To prevent anything ugly from happening.
.
.
.
"Good thing Juvia didn't come."
After excused himself from his three friends, Natsu finally found the restroom. Female sign was pointed to the right, and male sign to the left. He made sure no one's around before stepping inside the male restroom. Although he (really didn't want to admit but he) looked like a girl, he would never go to female restroom. That would make him a real pervert, just like the ice-block.
After peeking inside, the restroom was empty. Nice. But just to be safe and not to scare any boys coming in anytime, Natsu chose to use the cubicle. How considerate of him.
"W-wait, Daniel!"
"What's wrong, Liz?"
"A-are we really gonna do it here?"
"Why not? I've locked the restroom and put 'in-service' sign outside, no one's coming in. And nobody's here. So let's continue, babe."
Dear, 'Daniel'. You're a fucking terrible liar. Couldn't you hold your boner even just for a few seconds to check if there's ACTUALLY someone in there? Trapped in the cubicle, too afraid, too ashamed, and too freaked out to come out.
Natsu was slow. But he didn't need to be explained what kind of sounds the couple's producing. Or what they're doing specifically. His old man also did that with his lovely momma to 'create' him and Wendy. And he could learn about that by himself without being taught.
But hearing it 'live' was never an option for him to learn from. Ever.
And now his ears had lost their virginity as well, following his cheek's fate.
.
.
.
"Code 'pink' is found! I repeat! Found! I'll bring her back to the station." Gray then snapped at the pinkette after reporting. "Another thirty minutes?! Are you a fucking ninja or something?! Just which restroom were you going to? Edolas?! We had to split up again just to search you on every fucking restroom!"
Natsu just replied weakly as he walked back to the last spot they're at. "... Please stop yelling and rambling like a girl in her period. My ears just can't take any more pressure..."
"Who's the girl here? We're worried! I'M worried! What if something bad happened to you?! I know you can take care of yourself, but still–
Suddenly Gray felt a weight on his chest. Natsu buried his face there and covered his ears with his palms. "... Let me... calm myself for a while..."
Both of them didn't care about the stares they received. They just stayed like that for a while. Gray's fans could try to murder Natsu anytime they wanted, and vice versa.
"H-hey... You okay?"
"..."
"Natsu! Talk to me! Don't tell me... someone did..."
"... It was... terrifying..."
"... No no no NO! How-?! It was supposed to be..." 'ME!'
"Prohibited in the university area. I know. But that didn't stop them from doing... that..."
Natsu pulled himself from the raven after he calmed down and started ranting about the ugly experience he had. Trapped in the cubicle, the boy, the girl, the kiss, the voice, the moan, the wet sound, the... 'that'. And while hearing the story, Gray's expression gradually changed. From anger, to shock, to relief, and eventually he couldn't stop himself from laughing.
"... I still don't understand your way of humor, ice-block. I can't imagine if... if I... Damn! That was freaking traumatizing!"
"That was freaking hilarious!" Gray finally stopped laughing.
"... Sure... Whatever you say. Pervert..." Natsu sighed. "But once again, sorry for making you worry, I didn't plan on getting lost for the second time, you know."
"It's alright. At least nothing bad happened to you. Aside from your ears. And sorry for yelling too. I was totally freaked out back then so I ended up taking it out on you." Gray smiled at the pinkette. 'This person... has never failed to amaze me with just being himself. Well, it means I still have the 'first-time' chance!'
"... Stop smiling like a creep you are. Reminds me of that. It makes me shivered."
"Don't worry." The raven patted Natsu's head. "Unless you're willing, I won't let anyone do anything to you."
"Oh my dear knight in shining armor. Then please protect me from a pervert named Gray Fullbuster."
And they laughed together as they walked back to the committee station.
The 'path' they're walking wasn't a smooth one. It's going to be full of stones, curving, or be it a steep cliff. But one thing they both knew, there's no need to rush. As long as it's moving forward together, surely it's okay to go slow.
.
.
.
Everything went well on that day and everybody seemed to enjoy the charity bazaar event.
Until...
Gray suddenly grabbed Natsu's waist, lifted him up, and abruptly sat him down on the table.
"Ouch!" The pinkette winced. "Hey! What are you doi–
"Take off your shirt." The raven demanded.
"... What?"
"Take off your shirt."
.
.
.
Author's Note: So, to get Natsu to like you, it's not gonna be that easy, my dear Gray. At least I won't make it that easy. Anyway, in this chapter, I'm showing that Gray's becoming more and more protective towards Natsu (and jealous) because he finally realized he liked him just the way he is. *insertTHEsonghere* I don't want their progress goes too fast, but not too slow either. Thinking about what kind of scenes that would improve their relationship to the next level step-by-step was unbelievably H.A.R.D. Anywaaaaaayy... Let's just hope my work and especially my lazyness don't hold me back to keep writing. CHEERS!
/REPLIES/
Shiona Acitiu: Thanks! About the other boys knowing Natsu's real identity, I haven't thought that far. But thanks for the comment! I'll keep it in mind!
darkhuntressxir: Natsu only confessed about him being a bad 'girl' for pestering Mira and Cam, that's all. Yes! That's the beauty of cliffy! Thehe~
b-nothing: Thanks for liking the little LokexGray! Here's chapter 9 for 'ya!
MistyMachine: *catchingthebutterflies* Aaaawww~ thank yooouu... I love you too!
negakris9: You're very welcome! And thank you for reviewing too! About Gildarts return and Cana's relationship, that would be hilarious! XD
Guest: Thanks! Here's the next chapter for you, dear guest! Happy reading and reviewing!
snakeboy33: Try googling 'female natsu by mashima'. It's the first picture shown. I remember seeing it on Mashima's twitter, but it's already buried far under the other posts. You can also find female version of Gray and male version of Lucy.
Nega Kris: Actually, it's just me who couldn't write smut. I don't know, I just don't have the heart (yet?) to write that kind of story. Haha... You're welcome! And thanks for reviewing! Btw, are you the same person as 'negakris9'?
mikici: Honestly I really really want to do that as well. But you see, I'm just suck like this so I couldn't bring myself to write that. And thank you! I tried so hard to keep their relationship progress moving forward. Love you too! Thanks for reviewing!
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.