Author's Note: I apologize for the late update, I was hoping to upload this chapter last week but I ran into trouble mid-way through. My fear was realized when my laptop crashed on me and I wasn't able to save the other half of the original chapter, so I hope this one can make it up although I'm still unsure of it. The good news is I got a new laptop so that gets rid of that problem. Personally, I think the original was better, but I'll let you decide for yourselves, anyway here's chapter 8! Review if you like to and enjoy!
Chapter 8
"So where do you want to go?" So far the two mages had been walking down the streets of Magnolia, the amount of people around had decreased since Gray was around with Levy and the cool breeze of the evening swept through them.
"I was thinking of going to this cake shop I frequently go to when I leave for a mission." Erza had been wanting her favorite strawberry cheesecake since Gray left their table in the early afternoon, but she wasn't going to risk getting more. She in her own way of knowing Mira came to the conclusion that she may put something in it to knock her out.
"If you wanted cheesecake, I know of a place you'll probably like." Gray said as he led her down a few more blocks, the shops becoming slightly far in between until he stopped in front of a cafe.
It was a small cafe located in a area mostly surrounded by homes and apartments, nothing like the busy commercial area heading towards the guild. It had beautifully crafted out door tables and chairs, surrounded by a small metal fence lined with bushes of various flowers and a few families were enjoying there meal there.
As the two made their way inside, Erza looked at how it was decorated and could only describe it as "homey". It had such a warm feeling to it that she found it a little out of character for Gray to be in such a place, nonetheless it brought such a comfortable feeling to her. Although she could be better if she didn't catch a group or two of girl friends eyeing Gray as they made there way towards the register, of course it's nothing she couldn't handle with a glare.
"Hello Gray, a little early in the week to be coming in don't you think?" A nice woman said as she looked up at the ice mage who gave a small smile to her in return.
"It kind of is, but today's an exception because I brought someone along with me ." Gray said in reply shifting his shoulder slightly for her to see the red head standing behind him.
Erza looked up to a woman who seemed to be in her early thirties, brown hair draped down her youthful looking face. Her bright green eyes held a welcoming appeal and the smile she wore brought a similar feeling as well. All in all she was a beautiful woman, however Erza had the sudden urge to stick by Gray's side.
"My, my has Gray finally landed himself a girlfriend. She's such a pretty young woman." Mrs. Cromwell said causing Gray to reel back in shock waiting on Erza's reaction, but when he turned to look at her it was a different sight to see.
He turned to see her cheeks dusted pink as she coughed to alleviate the slight awkward tension, although it did remind Gray that under all that hard exterior and armor Erza is still a young woman. Gray felt like saying that she had it all wrong, but for some reason he was just plain in wonderment on how cute Erza was being when she was embarrassed.
"I-It's nothing l-like that ma'am, I'm just a good friend of Gray's is all." It was not what Erza wanted to say in the slightest, but she wasn't his yet.
"Oh is that so and here I thought Gray had gotten a girlfriend, not just any girl but the Titania of Fairy Tail." Mrs. Cromwell was gushing at the thought of the two together, to which both Fairy Tailers were reminded of a certain take over mage thinking about potential couples.
"Yeah it is, we're here because this place came to mind when she wanted to get some cheesecake." Gray spoke up facing Mrs. Cromwell again, in the meantime Erza regained her composure although on the inside she felt like huddling into a fetal position from placing herself in the friendzone.
"Well, go have a seat and I'll serve you two in no time plus I'll have Terrance make that special cheesecake for you." She said directing the two to a free table, one next to a large window plane allowing them to see the sun slowly inch its way away for the night to come.
"So you're a regular here Gray? To be honest, this place isn't one I'd expect you to go to." Erza said as she took a sip of her tea that Mrs. Cromwell had served for them before she went to attend to her other patrons.
"I come by here every Sunday to have a coffee or some breakfast, nothing too special." He said looking out at the neighborhood, seeing the few people around go by.
"I assume so, however I'm curious as to why they allowed you to come back with that stripping habit of yours. I would've guessed that they found it a little unsettling to have someone strip in their cafe." She was actually curious since Gray's always managed to get himself kicked out of some places because of his habit.
"To be clear I did that twice here before. I got off with a warning those times, but a little down the road I stopped stripping altogether in the cafe. It's probably just my nerves that make me do it." Gray said the sun striking his features perfectly as he looked back at Erza and for her it was greatest scene she had ever witnessed. But alas the moment passed and she made sure to stay focused, who knows when she'll be caught day dreaming.
"Is that so?" She said thinking back to the times he would strip, but she noticed an interesting detail. He always stripped around her when they were kids, but he hardly does now at their current age. "Why is that?"
"Yeah I think it's just that this place gives off a relaxing feeling to me that I'm just calm" He said, leaning back into his seat and Erza mustered her courage for her next question.
"If that's the case then why don't you strip around me? I would have believed that I make you nervous, always thinking that I'm going to punish you." Erza made sure she kept up her character, avoiding the suspicion of acting weird.
"Well sure I used to do that when we were younger, but over the years I got used to you and who you are that I felt at ease around you." Gray replied normally, but unknown to him Erza's heart skipped a beat. "I'm honest when I say that I feel at ease around you Erza."
"Then thank you for getting accustomed to me Gray." She said smiling kindly to him even though her heart beat increased significantly and Gray felt something inside of him tighten up.
"You're welcome, besides life at the guild would be different without you there." Gray whole heartily meant what he said because Erza has done so much for the guild and the guild has done so much for her.
Erza's heart fluttered within her as Gray said that, she knew the ice mage was not that great with words and emotions but he knows how to say the right things without knowing it. Her smiled never wavered as they talked more, but Erza could feel something was off within her as if her mind and body were trying to be with Gray now more than ever instead of being separated by a table.
"You know Gray, Cana was right when she said you were one hot guy." Erza's comment slipped right out of her mouth and it took her less than a second to realize what she had just said.
Gray's eyes widened in surprise at Erza's random comment, taken aback from the fact that Erza would say that to him. Although in Erza's case she just couldn't believe that happened and a blush dusted her cheeks as they both stared at each other. She wanted nothing more than to die of embarrassment at that point and Gray's surprised face had her both swooning on the inside and nervous as to what he might say.
"Sorry to bother you two, but Gray could you help Terrance in the kitchen for a quick moment?" Mrs. Cromwell couldn't have picked the best possible time to come for both their sake.
"Sure, no problem" He replied making his way towards the kitchen door, taking a quick glance behind him to meet eyes with Erza again only for her to shift her gaze away a second later.
"Idiot!" Erza berated herself for allowing such a comment to slip through and couldn't muster a thing to say to Gray right after.
"Now don't beat yourself up sweet heart. Sometimes you just can't hold back when you care about another person as much as you do to Gray." Mrs. Cromwell said as Erza looked up at her feeling an aura of a caring mother radiating off of her.
"I do care for him, but I don't know how to go about it." It amazed Erza internally to know that she was being open about her emotions to a woman she barely met. She still can't discuss them with others in the guild, but with Mrs. Cromwell it easily flowed out of her.
"Then I'll tell you. All you've got to do is behave normally and don't be afraid of your emotions, sometimes you've got to let them take the reins." Mrs. Cromwell replied looking at how Erza gave it much more thought.
"I guess that may help me." Erza had decided to try it out and see how far she would go casting aside the hard exterior she usually had.
"There you go and don't worry about Gray. He'll understand just perfectly, the boy has a good head on his shoulders although you may need to take things into your own hands." The red head was more than grateful for the advice and she found it interesting that she was given this by a cafe owner she had barely met that day.
"Thank you very much Mrs. Cromwell" Erza said as her fears and nervous attitude calmed down significantly.
"You're welcome and please call me Alice." She replied refilling Erza's tea cup and moving on to help what remained of the day's customers.
"Maybe I should let me be myself around him, it couldn't hurt to try." Erza thought to herself prepared to continue their day normally.
At the same time as Alice and Erza were having their small conversation Gray had gone to the kitchen looking for Terrance. He had been accustomed to calling him by his first name since he first did a job for them years ago, but when it came to Alice he couldn't do it and just called her Mrs. Cromwell. He went through the unchanged kitchen smoothly, remembering some of the old equipment with the occasional new tool in place of an old one until he found who he was looking for.
In front of him was a middle aged man, his hands caked with white flour holding onto a wrench, an apron on his body slightly messy from the orders he's made and a little girl who sat on a stool a little ways behind him. The little girl took notice of Gray and signaled her farther of his presence, to which he shifted his head over to look at the ice mage. His face was the same as always in Gray's eyes, always looking to be smiling in any circumstance and before Gray knew it the little girl was at his side.
"Hey Gray, it's a good thing you showed up today!" The little girl said smiling up to the older teen, her name is Carrie and her appearance resembled very closely to her mother's although her eyes were a darker shade like her fathers.
"Hey squirt and how come?" He asked as he looked towards Terrance who was rubbing the back of his head, chuckling quietly to himself.
"My dad's fridge went on the fritz and he needs your help to keep some things cold till he fixes it" Carrie had then moved to her father's side crossing her arms as he kept chuckling.
"Come on Carrie, you make it sound like I'm using him as a freezer." He said, although Carrie did have a comeback for that if her memory serves her right.
"Didn't you guys pay him to be one though?" She may have been little then, but she trusts her memory to help her out now.
"Alright you win, but for now hurry and deliver the last of those orders okay." He said and smiled watching his young daughter take a few plates and quickly making her way to the front.
"I still haven't gotten used to seeing Carrie as old as Wendy yet." Gray commented as the last time he had seen her, she was no taller than his knee and was about five.
"It's surprising how fast kids grow up these days, but anyhow it's good to see you Gray." Terrance had a similar way of feeling about how big his daughter had gotten as well, but for the time being something was at hand. "Let's get down to business."
"What do you need me to do?" Gray asked even if he had a general idea as to what it would be that he needed to do.
"Like Carrie said I need you to keep the produce inside cool long enough for me to get this thing up and running again." Gray nodded in response and Terrance got straight to work while he used his magic to lightly cool the produce inside.
"Feels like on back on a request from you." Gray said making small talk to pass the time rather than just waiting.
"It sure seems so, the only difference is that this isn't my family's slow beginning." Terrance replied as Gray was the mage he had hired to do the exact same thing he is now, but it was a much older fridge than the newer one he has now. "However, I'm interested to know that you brought the Queen of the Fairy's here on a date. I didn't know you had it in you Gray."
Gray was shocked to know Alice must of said it that way to him and he could feel his cheeks warm up at the thought of him and Erza on a date. Terrance on the other hand took Gray's silence as a confirmation and was amused to know he went big when he picked out a girlfriend.
"Y-You've got it all wrong, me and Erza aren't on a date." Gray needed to cover this whole misunderstanding up before something else happens he can't control.
"Oh do I? Call it what you will Gray, but when a boy takes a pretty girl to a cafe, just to the two of them mind you, then I'd call that a date if I ever heard one." Gray had given what Terrance said into profound thought and realized that it did look like they were on a date.
"Okay maybe it looks like that, but I swear it isn't one" Continuous chuckling was heard from the outside of the fridge where Terrance was repairing it after Gray said that.
"Deny it if you want, but don't let her hear that. It may hurt her feelings and besides I think it's about time you did take a girlfriend. You've been single for as long as I can remember." Terrance had talked with Gray like this on multiple occasions when he was first starting out with the cafe and his older fridge broke down.
"Hey! I wasn't single, I had girls before" Gray had been on dates before, but they were under some circumstances.
"Your little escapades with that Loke character don't count since those girls went with him in the end." He may not be a teenager anymore, but gossip was something some customers tend to do in the cafe and even Terrance could hear some of the things they said.
Gray was at a lost for words since Terrance was pretty much right and those dates he went on were doubles. He'd let his date enjoy her time, but somewhere nearing the end he would lead her over to Loke. Loke's reputation as a huge playboy was built of his own doing, but he couldn't have gotten there without a little support from Gray.
"Come now Gray, I know you care for her more than anyone else out there. It didn't take much to figure out who you were buying those special cakes for every year, not to mention you usually talked highly of her at times." Gray's usually subtle about the thing he says about his friends, even Natsu, but he was shocked that Terrance pieced that together.
"I...well that may be true, but..." Gray was level headed when it came to conversations, but this one had him in a bind that even he didn't know how to speak his mind.
"There aren't any 'buts' to this Gray, all you've got to do is open your eyes to the truth that you haven't seen yet." Terrance was amazed at how well he had done in giving Gray a piece of mind to his life.
"What's the truth then, since you can see it and I can't." And like that Terrance internally face palmed, but he decided to let it go and hoped Gray would figure it out soon.
"If I tell you then where would be the fun in the discovery?" He replied wanting to keep what he said earlier cryptic, it would teach Gray about his own feelings in time. He just knew it would soon. "Anyway, I'm almost done so don't you worry about leaving your girlfriend alone out there any longer."
"Oh can it old man" Gray said in a joking manner, but on the inside he was in complete wonder of what he said. "What truth am I not seeing?"
Erza sat patiently waiting for Gray's return, but was glad she had time to herself to think about how she was going to handle things with a newer perspective in play. She had decided to exquip from her armor, donning a simpler look of dark denim jeans, a black turtle neck and her regular boots to start. She felt it right to not rely on her armor when it came to her dear friend, rather than let him support her.
She had then took notice of a young girl who looked no older than Wendy serving tables in such a fluid way that it seemed she was adept to working in this cafe. Before long the young girl was making her way towards Erza's table a plate in her hand that heightened Erza's cheesecake sensors to max. It was one she hasn't smelled in a while, one that was always given to her on her birthday.
"Wow, so you're Erza Scarlet! Gray sure knows how to pick them." The girl said setting the slice of cheesecake down. Even though it was there Erza's interest was pointed to the girl when she said Gray's name.
"Yes I am, may I ask who you are and how you know Gray?" Erza asked although her hands were moving on their own to reach for the cheesecake.
"My bad, I should've introduced myself. My name's Carrie Cromwell and I got to meet Gray when I was about two years old." She replied looking at Erza who was both looking at her and enjoying the wonderful cheesecake. "You sure like your cheesecake as much as Gray said you do." She joked a bit, however she was cautious not to unintentionally insult the Titania.
"I do, this is one cheesecake I look forward to each year. I've always searched for the cake shop that made this, but I could never find it." Erza was in true bliss, finally finding the place where the greatest cheesecake she's ever eaten are made.
"Yeah my parents are great cooks and bakers themselves, although we only make these for a limited time. Right around this one actually." Carrie said and noticed how Erza slightly deflated when she heard that they are only made for a short amount of time.
"You don't say, then it must be a high priced item than." Erza really wanted to get more, she was willing to make a separate budget just to get her hands on more.
"It sort of is, we sell it just as much as a regular meal at times for a few slices. It seems like a lot, but the reason is that the ingredients themselves are expensive to come across, also they are made around this time because those ingredients are at their best." Carrie looked on as Erza seemed to be contemplating something.
"Then buying an entire cake must come at a high price correct?" Erza wanted to know who'd get this type of cake for her, even at such a high price.
"It does, the only person who did buy an entire cake like that would be Gray. From what my parents have told me he'd buy it for a special person who'd love it more than anyone." Carrie answered her and witnessed the look of surprise on Erza's face when she said who does it.
"So Gray's been buying such expensive cake for my birthday." Erza said aloud in surprise, but she was also happy to know that Gray thought of her as a special person.
"You're that special person then! How come you didn't know that Gray bought you those cakes?" Carrie was confused since a person usually knows who gives them gifts on their birthday.
"Because I left the gift with the others without writing down who it came from." Came the voice of Gray who was making his way over to his seat, in which Carrie excused herself and went on with business.
"Why didn't you put your name on it?" Erza was wondering why Gray would go and get her a gift, but not say it came from him.
"It never crossed my mind to do so, I just thought that so long as you enjoyed it then I'm fine without writing my name on it." He replied casually, but he had then taken noticed of Erza's current apparel. "You changed clothes?"
"I thought it be better this way than in my armor." Gray was glad to hear that. To him it meant that she was learning to rely less on the armor and live life without a breastplate over her body.
The two mages spent a little more time talking to one another in the cafe, Erza listening to how Gray first came to the cafe when he was about fifteen and finding out about the specially made cheesecake. While Gray looked on at how Erza was intrigued by his recounting and the little satisfied face she made after finishing her fourth slice of cheesecake. Here and there Erza had the slight tingle to get closer to Gray, but she proved with her will power to be the stronger.
A little ways away, both Alice and Carrie kept tabs on the couple giving each other a reassuring smile at how they were doing. Alice had also taken notice of some of Erza's behavior and hoped that struggling feeling she looks to be having is her own way of trying to open up to Gray even more.
The sun soon began to set and Gray decided that it was time for them to head home, of course he offered to take Erza home and she was more than happy to hear him say that. She went outside to wait while Gray went up to the cash register to pay for the food they got.
"That'll be 1,275 Jewel Gray." Alice said to him as he payed for the expenses, yet before he left Carrie came rushing out to meet Gray, holding a bagged box in her hands.
"Wait up Gray!" She called reaching him in time before he opened the door.
"What is it Carrie?" He asked to which she extended the bagged box out to him smiling for some reason he didn't know.
"Dad said that this cake's the one we didn't have last week for your girlfriends birthday, so he wanted to make it up to 's on the house!" She was being very enthusiastic about it, but Gray assumed that her parents might have put a lot of hype in him getting a girlfriend.
"Don't tell me you're on the "Gray's got a girlfriend" train too." He said in an annoyed tone, but Carrie simply stuck her tongue out at him in a playful manner.
"Good luck out there Onii-san," Gray's eyes widened when she said that and Carrie's face had a full blown blush realizing what she had just called him. "I-I mean Gray, good luck out there G-Gray."
"Heh, didn't think you'd still call me that." Gray said with a small smile forming on his lips, but Carrie was too busy being embarrassed to want to talk any further.
"W-Whatever, just get going! Your girlfriend's waiting!" She exclaimed rushing back into the kitchen, not daring to look back. Gray chuckled a bit and waved goodbye to the Cromwell family as he exited the cafe, the complete cheesecake in his hand.
Gray quickly caught up to Erza, continuing their walk towards the Fairy Hills girls dormitory taking a few scenic routes to enjoy their walk a little more while they talked to each other. Soon enough the surrounding area became very familiar until there they stood on the place in which Erza's life in Fairy Tail changed. She sat down on the hill slope over looking the river as the sun continued to set, the sound of footsteps walking across the bridge dying down with the last crosser making it to the other end and the ice mage decided to stand next to her to enjoy the sunset.
"It's been a long time since we've been here." Erza said, looking back all those years ago when she was alone and had no one to turn to.
"It sure has, but the memory is still with us." Gray said putting down the bagged box and placing his hands inside his coat pockets.
"I never truly thanked you for what you did for me back then, have I?" She brought up her knees to her chest, crossing her arms on top of them, while her best friend still stood in his stoic manner.
"No you haven't, but that's alright. You've come a long way since then." Gray coolly said and Erza felt a tingle go down her spine for some reason she couldn't explain. "Besides I've managed to create a great friendship with such a beautiful woman, so that's as much of a thank you for me."
"R-Really, well if that's what you believe than I'll take your word on it." She replied nervously as the battle to subdue a blush from forming was raging in her own body, but she received some support from the intoxicating smell of something delicious.
"I do and I've actually got something for you." Gray said turning back towards the bag and picking it up, "This is a late birthday gift from me and the Cromwells, sorry I couldn't get you this last week Erza." He said handing her the bag and a grateful smile grew on the red head's face looking back at the ice mage.
"It's quite alright Gray and give my thanks to them when you see them again please." She replied placing it next to her, her heart beating increasing fast knowing that Gray had always bought her this cake for her past birthdays without her knowing. He thought of her as a special person and that alone wouldn't stop her emotions to run wild.
Erza sat there battling her emotions, afraid to ruin this moment, but a thought had crossed her mind, one she remembered from Alice. "Don't be afraid of your emotions, sometimes you've got to let them take the reins." This had cleared her mind and the internal battle was over, she let her feelings take control.
In that instant Erza stood up abruptly and hugged Gray, the ice mage was caught off guard and had no idea of what to do. He wiggled a little to see if she was trying something, but she hugged him tighter and kept him in place. Gray was confused and worried about his friend, for she hardly hugged a person like this unless something is bothering her.
"Erza are you alright, talk to me." He was stricken with worry, she was a proud and strong woman and he fears that this place might have triggered something in her.
"No Gray I'm not." She replied, her face buried within his shirt as it was slightly covered by his coat's unbuttoned side.
"Tell me what's wrong and I'll help you deal with it Erza." Gray tried to push her shoulders forward so she could see her face, but she wouldn't budge. "Erza I'm worried about you, please let me in. I'll always be by your side, you can count on that. I won't abandon you."
Erza's heart was ready to explode within her chest. Gray was being sympathetic to her at a level that she couldn't believe he'd go to. Had she learned just how much he cared for her, Erza would've found her oasis in the desert of despair she went through after her escape from the Tower of Heaven. Even yet to the years that followed when she would cry herself to sleep at times when she remembered about those she had left behind.
"This is something I have to do on my own Gray." She still wouldn't look up to his face, even if she allowed her emotions to take control there was still a slight fear in her.
"No Erza, you don't have to do it on your own anymore. You have everyone at the guild to rely on. You have me at your side no matter what." Gray spoke kindly to his old childhood friend, he may not be the best with words, but it doesn't mean he wouldn't try for her sake.
"That's the thing Gray, you're what's wrong with me." She replied, but the ice mage was confused as to what she meant. "I didn't realize it until now, but you have this way of being so important to me. You bring joy to me more than I thought you could and care about me more than I had expected. I've opened up to you more than anyone else and... and..." Erza just couldn't take anymore of it, so she let her actions do the rest.
She looked up at the him, her brown eyes meeting his dark blue ones with a need that had to be filled. She drew him away a little to give her room and moved her hands to the sides of his face. Her smooth hands felt the chill of his skin as she held his cheeks softly and with one fluid motion she brought his lips down on hers. His cold lips felt smooth to the touch for her, the taste of mint was present as his natural aroma of peppermint and pine wafted into her nose. She put every last ounce of the burning passion in her heart into the kiss hoping it would make it clear how she feels about him.
Gray was in a state of shock when she brought her lips to his, it took him by surprise when she pulled his face down and now she was kissing him. Even in this time of shock he couldn't help but feel how incredibly smooth her lips were, the smell of cherry invaded his sense of smell thanks to her hair. Had Erza felt this way about him this whole time? He had no answer to this and soon the kiss between the two ended.
Erza had a blush adorned on her face as she settled her self down, her heart still beated fast but it would calm down soon enough. Gray on the other hand had the look of surprise on his face, unable to form words as to what just happened. She let out a small cough and picked up the cheesecake she left at her side when she was sitting down.
The sun had finally set and dusk was upon them, illuminating as much as it could for the city of Magnolia while the lacrima lamps began to turn on for the night. She looked at him in the eyes again, her blush yet to have left and Gray regained his composure, albeit still unable to say anything to what had just transpired.
"T-Thank you for the lovely evening Gray, I hope you understand what has been bothering me now." Erza said as she quickly pecked him on the cheek. "Oh, and don't forget your clothes Gray." And with that she walked away back to Fairy Hills on her own, cheesecake in hand. She was hoping that there was someone there she could talk to about this, she needed help. "Maybe I should speak with Levy, she's a very reliable person and Lucy as well"
Gray was so confused about what had just happened, he had just shared a kiss with Erza and his own damn heart won't stop beating so fast. He had always thought her to be cute, very strong willed and he greatly respected the woman she is after all that she's been through, but he couldn't have imagined this to be an outcome. His head was buzzing with so many questions as to why he was feelings this way about her now when he was interested in Lucy, until it him like an avalanche.
"All you've got to do is open your eyes to the truth you haven't seen yet." Those exact words is what Terrance had meant when he said it to him back at the cafe. Was the truth staring at him the entire time? Was he unknowingly in love with Erza this whole time and barely realizes it now? His head was spinning at the thought that he had fallen for his best friend and yet liked another girl. He was brought out of his confused state at the sound of one ever so annoying voice to him.
"Oi! Ice princess I've been looking for you!" Natsu called out as he ran up to him.
Natsu decided to confront Gray about his feelings once and for all to settle this matter and make sure Gajeel didn't ruin it for him. He had his best blue furry friend at his side as they scoured all over Magnolia for the ice mage, however Happy had barely realized that his fish went missing at some part of their flight over the city. He had left Natsu in search of it, claiming it wasn't good to let a good fish rot away.
Natsu had then carried on searching everywhere he could, he would've tried to pick up his scent but the amount of people had prevented him from doing so until later as the day was coming to a close did he pick it up. Natsu followed the scent all the way towards a very remote location with grasslands on the other side of the river and homes on the side he was on. He soon spotted Gray standing near the river for some reason and decided to call out to him, as now was his chance to confront him.
"Oi! Ice princess I've been looking for you!" He called running up to him, but he simply looked at him before picking up his discarded garments and began walking away towards his house opposite of where he was facing originally. "Hey don't ignore me!" Natsu yelled pissed off, but couldn't help himself indulging his scent which was much stronger now and he found it interesting that he smelled like Christmas.
"Not now flame brain, I've had a long day and I just want to go home." Gray was still trying to get the kiss out of his mind, but no matter what he tried it would come back. His mind wouldn't settle down and he kept walking down the street as Natsu caught up next him holding both hands behind his head.
"Whatever snowman, but just hear me out for a sec. I came to this answer myself." He was feeling a burst of giddiness about telling his rival what he had decided, but Gray paid little mind to him for the while.
"Can you tell me tomorrow, I really just want to go home." Gray was very bothered at this point with his inability to make sense of what happened and his own impatience with Natsu.
"I can't do that cold cut, it might get ruined by Gajeel if I wait." Natsu wasn't about to lose to Gajeel and his own anger fueled at the thought of him, which wasn't the best thing at the moment with an angering Gray nearby.
"I said to hold it for tomorrow flame freak!" Gray couldn't take anymore of wracking his brain around for a good answer and stormed away, passing by an object that shined blue due to the light of the lacrima lamp.
"Don't get your boxers in a twist ice pants and get back here! This is like super important!" Natsu shouted rushing right after him, but he ended up slipping on the thing that Gray had passed and it turned out to be the fish Happy was looking for.
Gray turned around ready to tell Natsu off one more time until he crashed right into him, toppling them both over. Gray felt something hot press against his lips and thought the flaming idiot had his hand on his mouth, but when he opened his eyes he was met with another pair. Gray immediately shoved Natsu off of him and began spitting in random directions, he has never been so disgusted in his entire life until now. The feeling of throwing up all the contents inside of him was beginning to build up in his stomach.
"That's so sick, ugh! Mavis help me! Did I just k-k-k..." Gray couldn't finish his thought as it just rewarded him the sensation of bile going up his throat once again.
Natsu on the other hand was completely entranced by the way Gray's lips felt on his own, how their coolness simply steamed with his hot fiery ones. He's never really kissed anybody before, but if that's how it feels than he wanted to do it again. Plus he did it with Gray, so it worked in his favor for when he told him his decisions, but for now he'll hold back on it. Kissing him was a plus for how he was feeling towards the ice mage, although he felt a stronger sense of heat on his face when he locked eyes with the beautified Gray while they were kissing. He had no idea that a tint of blush slightly lighter than his own hair appeared on his cheeks.
Natsu couldn't explain it, but he felt warmer all over when he thought even further about the kiss, though it only lasted for about six seconds he couldn't help but like the taste, it had a mixture of mint and cake although he's like the only person he knows of that likes those two together. However, he smelled another scent on Gray that begged the question he wanted answered.
"Gray who were you just with? There's another scent on you." Natsu needed to know who that other person is because if it were Levy than there was going to be a problem.
Gray stopped wiping his mouth and spitting to look at Natsu as if he were crazy. How could he play off what just happened just now like nothing?
"The FUCK! Dude you just kissed me and now your asking me who I was with like it didn't even happen!" Gray was angered, confused and disgusted all in one and wanted nothing more than to leave this day behind him. "I'm hurt Natsu, I thought it would mean more to you."
"I know it happened and it does mean something to me, but right now I need to know who were with." Natsu was slightly worried that he offended Gray, but he knew that he had to push his questions harder on him to get an answer.
Gray had no idea what he meant when he said it mattered to him, but when he repeated his question he became slightly on edge. Why does he want to know who he was with? For now he'd play it safe and answer little by little.
"I was with Erza" He answered and Natsu gave it more thought before grinning from ear to ear.
"I see, you smell like her because she was demolishing your ass into the floor for doing something stupid, huh?" Natsu was hit plenty by her for a while so learning that his rival got beat too made him happy.
"Y-Yeah, something like that. Now would you leave me alone?" Gray was hoping that the idiot would be too caught up at laughing at him for his non existent demise to let him go.
"Whatever ice princess, I'll tell you about it some other time then. Today's been rough for me too." He replied and Gray was grateful for that, but he heard the sound of something flying. In no time flat Happy was beside Natsu with anime tears in his eyes.
"Natsu I can't find my fish." The blue cat cried until Natsu pulled up the ruined fish he stepped on that left his sandal mark on it.
"Sorry buddy, I'll get you another one later. Come on let's get going." He said as Happy climbed onto his back.
"But Gray's right there, didn't you say you needed to talk to him?" Happy asked as he waved a paw to him and Gray waved back.
"Nah, I think I'll tell him later. Now let's go." Natsu said and Happy said his signature Aye as he was preparing to carry Natsu back home.
"You two act as if I'm ten feet away you know that." Gray said as the duo were about four feet away from him, yet he was still looking disgusted with Natsu.
"Whatever ice princess, see you later." Natsu replied waiting on Happy to take to the sky.
"You okay Gray, you look kinda weird?" Happy asked as Gray simply shook his head telling him not to worry.
"I'm alright, just super disgusted is all. I may need to see a doctor to find out if idiocy is contagious." He replied, as Happy nodded to his answer. "Goodnight"
"Goodnight Gray." Happy said finally taking to the skies again with Natsu in tow who was in deep thought as the sight of Gray slowly began to disappear from behind the many homes.
"You know what Happy? Let's go to Lucy's house, I need to ask her something." Natsu needed to tell someone of what happened, maybe even telling her may give him more help to get Gray. "Lucy will probably know all sorts of ways to help me beat that stupid metal face from taking away my Gray. This is a great idea!"
Erza has made her intentions as clear as possible in her own power, sharing an intimate moment with one of her oldest friends. Gray has now realized that there was a deeper connection that he felt for Erza he had no clue about after all this time growing up with her. Natsu's managed to get a little Gray action too, but he either ruined a somewhat difficult to understand night for Gray or added more to it. Not to forget that Natsu ended up sharing his first kiss with Gray and hoped to do it again. The trouble doesn't stop there since our little celestial spirit mage and solid script mage have to deal with two power houses after the same man as them.
How are they going to deal with such a dilemma? Find out in the next chapter!
