A/N: MY INTERNET IS BACK YAY. I'VE BEEN DEPRIVED FROM IT FOR TOO LONG AND I APOLOGIZE PROFUSELY TO THOSE I'VE ANGERED OR LET DOWN. or if no one cares about my absence that's fine too. I was so mad though like the rest of my family had working internet and I didn't like what kind of fuckery is this shit. And they didn't want to help me either I was like 'call fucking time warner stupid cable' and my mom flat out told me 'no'. Like okay, so you don't love me anymore. whatever I fixed it myself. Actually I didn't it came back on on its own. hopefully it'll STAY on.
Leo 'Loke' King heaved out an incredibly dramatically laced forlorn sigh as he gazed at himself through the mirror's reflection. "It's not easy being a single daddy." the chestnut haired eighteen year old mourns.
Down on the ground by Loke's planted feet with his sweaty back pressed to the same glass Loke was gazing into is Gajeel Redfox. Waist long spiky midnight hair washes down the eighteen year old's back because he had taken the thick red cord keeping his hair tied back out. Without looking up from his phone screen, Gajeel emits a husky, "What the fuck.", which makes Loke gasp and lunge down to mess up Gajeel's hair frantically.
"Mama don't say such horrid language in front of our children!"
In the center of the dance studio posed in a straddle is Natsu Dragneel, a fifteen year old with vibrant pink lemonade spiky hair. On the ground Natsu appears much smaller than usual with his lithe but slight muscular built body angled over in half, and his chest touching the sleek while his left leg and arm spread wide opposite of his right leg and arm. His hands grasp the heel of his feet and he's resting his face on the cool wood surface, quite comfortable and very content. Without moving, he quips, "But didn't you just say you were single?"
Loke, who Gajeel promptly kicked away, readjusts himself on the ground from where he landed. "I was only trying to get mama's attention since he's been ignoring me all through practice!"
The rest of the occupants attending the room roll their eyes at the oldest who, for the most part, never mirrors his age. Besides tempered Gajeel and adorably flexible Natsu, there's a gorgeous blond named Sting Eucliffe who owns killer electric blue eyes and a wicked scar slanted in an X over his eye brow, quiet but blunt Rogue Redfox who is remarkably similar in features with his older brother Gajeel, especially their twin ruby gleaming eyes, but unlike Gajeel's fiery temper, Rogue is more calm and aloof.
And then there's Gray Fullbuster. The senior of Magnolia High that everyone crushes on, teachers included. All the attention he receives, Gray doesn't understand why and can't seem to wrap his head around the fact that he's a walking sex dream with his toned body and sculpted muscles he tends to tease through tight black clothing. Or the fact that his inky black spiky hair that sometimes drapes low over his creamy milky way cobalt eyes is a 100% confirmed death for all who like him. Gray likes to call himself a simple guy who just likes to dance but others don't see him just 'simple', Gray deserves better than just 'simple'. His personality draws others in almost just as bad as his looks and appearance. He's a friendly cinnamon roll at heart although he can be shy at times which causes even more of an uproar. People think he's so kind for buying lunch for the freshmen who didn't have any money. People think he's so kick ass for creating the school's well known hip-hop dance group (what started out as a school club fanned out to be more) and that he's won some competitions from it. People think he's so sexy because of the dark clothes he wears and his smoldering complexion. Gray just thinks he's human and leaves it at that. Besides, if anyone should be praised, it should be his group circled around him warmly like a grandmother's hand sewn quilt.
And, since Gray is secretly a bias guy, he thinks of a specific hard working pink haired teen who's still stretched out in his straddle. From where Gray is lounging on the side wall with Natsu's body turned towards him, it appears that Natsu has dozed off. Gray smiles. Cute. Everything about Natsu was cute but don't let him catch those words and his name in a sentence together, Natsu is very opposed in being called 'cute'. But Gray can't help it and while it irks Natsu, the younger boy lets him get away with it- and only him. And Gray digs that. A lot.
As bias as he is towards Natsu, Gray cherishes all of his dance members and appreciates all the hard work they throw their bodies into every day. They all offer a piece of a whole puzzle and Gray's thankful he's able to be part of the bigger piece. Natsu is the youngest but he has a flare, a fiery spark that always flares out into a flame of energized and aggression. It both awes and stuns Gray every time Natsu does a solo. Rogue is the second youngest at sixteen and it's like a flower blooming when he dances. A pop up book that jolts up and out of its hideaway corner to show the world an incredible expansion. Rogue sticks to himself mostly but he's quite fond of Sting and is always seen with the blond although one might not notice with how quiet and subdue he is. But the dance floor is different. The dance floor is a whole different world that Rogue feels comfortable enough to express himself, to expose himself. It's quite beautiful.
Sting is next in age at seventeen and when this sultry flirtatious blond hits the floor, it's a wrap. Especially for all the men and women who end up having to excuse themselves from damp underwear seeing Sting own his spotlight. In many ways, Sting and Loke are alike. They're both flirtatious and bubbly, and energized like the pink bunny. They eat up being the center of attention, they crave it. So Sting made sure to give his all in every performance, in every rehearsal which often he makes his other members laugh or snort in amusement when he decides to experiment a new movement whether that be a sensual random body roll or dancing against them unexpectedly.
Gajeel screams attitude on the dance floor and off. He's hard and rough, yet smooth and clip. Gajeel is the one who graces the floor before abusing it as he flips and grinds, and crunks atop it. Sometimes he'll rip his shirt. However they all discovered Gajeel never means to, he just gets caught up in the waves of the music, drowns himself and then suddenly the shirt is torn in two. One time after they slayed a performance, and Gajeel had ripped his shirt, said shirt ripper yelled in distraught over the shredded cloth because it had been his favorite.
What's not to enjoy about Loke when Loke dances? Even if it's just for fun without an actual choreography of movements, Loke still creates his own and still looks sexy and cute when he does. The thing about Loke is that he's a joker, the funny one. For fuck's sake for some unknown reason Loke has even given them all roles- he's the 'daddy' and Gajeel is the 'mama/mommy', and then Gray is the older child while Sting and Rogue have been titled as 'twins' and Natsu was dubbed 'baby'. So yeah, sometimes (all the time) Loke is on some weird shit that no one can ever grasp, yet whenever he dances seriously in a really dope routine Gray has conjured up, people find it hard to believe it's Loke because everything about him- his face, his movements, his aura dripping around him- is serious. And the audience gets drawn into that.
And then of course, there's him. Gray has always inhaled dance ever since he was four. His older brother Lyon had spent a full day with him watching dance videos on YouTube and little four year old Gray couldn't keep his eyes from not staying wide. He was enraptured by the dancers and wanted to do them too. It's fun to dance freely without a routine or rehearsed piece, Gray will be the first one to approve that. But for some reason, when he dances to a script of moves in order, his body melts into the music which sounds much more alive to him when he's moving in time with the beat, stomping his feet and waving his hands with each word and melody. In cooperating movements is something Gray loves to do and it's fun to find different music to challenge his group with. Fifteen years of dance and Gray is flawless when he graces the floor. No matter how modest he is and doesn't boost on his experience, everyone around him, specifically his dance members, make sure he knows just how much of an incredible dancer he is.
Gray breaks out of his musing to glance at the clock latched into the wall. He lets out a sigh before heaving himself up to his feet. His muscles dance loosely and his feet buzz in his black and white supra's but he welcomes the buzz like family. Fifteen years is practically family anyway. Stretching his arms above his head and relishing in the cool AC air hitting his heated exposed abs because his shirt had lifted, Gray lowers them down in front of him to clap his hands together gaining everyone's attention minus Natsu. Kid must've had a long day. Gray makes note to wake him up after he's done talking to the more 'adults' of the group.
"Three hours today guys, not bad. You all got my text about Saturday right?" Gray saunters to the middle of the floor and stops behind Natsu's slumped slumbering form. Gently knocking his knees against the stretched lean back and earning a grunt from Natsu's lips, Gray fishes his phone out of the deep pocket of his dark grey sweat pants.
"About Bickslow's throwback?" Sting pipes in before an easy grin slopes across his pale pink lips. "I'm so down."
Loke nods in agreement, a matching grin on his face as well. "Yeaaaaah! Let's turn his place over with our sexiness. Plus Lucy is going to be there? I'm so there." Loke's grin turns into a naughty smirk and Gray doesn't even bother wondering what kind of thoughts run through his best friend's mind but seconds later Loke's spluttering and clinging to 'mommy' saying "Daddy was just kidding mama, you have my heart soul and dick completely!" and then Gray doesn't bother helping his best friend up when Gajeel forces him to the ground with an upward knee to gut kick. Gray continues on like nothing happened.
"So Bickslow wants us to dance at his kickback he's throwing this Saturday. He told me he has a few performers lined up and wants us to be the opening act. So what do you guys say?" Gray looks around at their faces patiently before adding, "He said he'd pay us too because we 'dance like professionals' and should be paid as so." Okay, Natsu's slept enough now. Bending over, Gray curls his hands underneath the boy's arms and hauls him up.
Rogue tsked quietly and watches fondly. "I like how he thinks. Count me in Leader." Gray smiles. That's another thing.
In his arms, Natsu grumbles and along his incoherent speaking Gray catches the L word again. Leader. These little nuggets damn near his age have dubbed him Leader which honestly flatters Gray who's easily flattered.
Gajeel crosses his arms over his buff chest and glints his ruby stone eyes onto Gray. "I mean if we gotta'." Gray laughs because in other words, Gajeel is down with it too.
"Great! I'll let Bickslow know and I'll see you all tomorrow."
"Eh?" Natsu blinks blearily and watches his friends gather their dance bags and disband around him. Loke ruffles his hair and cooes a 'See you later baby! Gray make sure my baby gets home safe and sound or you're grounded- tell him mama' but Gajeel is already out the door with the twins following him behind, although Sting is talking too excitedly and there's a half sneer on Gajeel's mouth but Rogue is content listening to the blond ramble. Loke chases after them which leaves the Leader and the baby alone.
Gray released Natsu and walked over to where he had plopped his bag down his phone still out in his hand. He was texting Bickslow back to let him know his request was a go so with his eyes downcast and focus solely on his screen, Gray failed to hear Natsu come up behind him and tug on his shirt. "I'm hungry." Blinking, Gray glances back at the expectant Natsu who's giving him a petulant pout from not answering right now. "Leader, feed me damn it. I want a double cheeseburger with extra bacon and lots of pickles." Natsu confides in him as serious as a lawyer battling in court and Gray just chuckles as he lifts his bag straps over his shoulder and starts walking to the door.
Natsu follows him like a puppy and scurries out the door held open for him while Gray turns the lights off. The final action is done by Gray locking the door with his key -a nice perk to own when you're a club leader- and drops a heavy arm over Natsu's small shoulders. "No large fries?" he teases and Natsu grins.
"EXTRA large fries. Can I have a mango smoothie too? I've been craving one alllllll day and it's been killing me."
"Sure." Gray concedes and Natsu cheers.
"Ooh but I want onion rings too. Do you think I could get those and some whip cream in my mango smoothie?"
Gray sighs but he's only amused. As always when it comes to this kid. "Okay who even puts whip cream in a mango smoothie?"
"It's a smoothie." Natsu frowns as if that's the most obvious reason why.
"A mango one." Gray presses and doesn't have time to open the school's entrance doors because Natsu beats him to it with a mighty kick. "Easy, I barely have enough money to feed you. Can't fix the shit you break now."
"Shuddup. So can I?"
"Whatever." Gray smiles out into the parking lot. "If Loke finds out what I'm feeding you he'll flip. Sting will kick your ass." those two are the healthy nuts in the group and force greens down everyone's throat, especially Natsu. Natsu is probably the worst victim in the group by those two because he's so little and not heavy built on muscles. He's also short but Natsu doesn't care about his appearance at all. Or his eating habits. And Gray doesn't really care either, the kid could use some extra meat on his bones despite the amount of food he eats already. So it's Gray who spoils Natsu whenever they're together because Natsu knows Gray won't deny him of his fat food choices. Gray understands and Natsu appreciates that. What Natsu doesn't know is that Gray isn't 'understanding' he's more along the lines of 'whipped' because Natsu is the type who can easily get his way with someone as easily swayed as Gray. And he happens to be Gray's weakness but no one needs to know that.
"You looking forward to Saturday?" Gray asks as they slide into his car. It's a black Malibu and Natsu loves it because it always smells nice like Gray.
Beaming Natsu props his feet up on the dashboard but they get immediately swatted off. Unperturbed, Natsu leaves his feet on the ground. "Yup! Doesn't Bickslow have a pool? He'll feed us right? Oh oh oh-" Natsu continues rambling and Gray can only listen with a fond expression on his face.
"As long as you finish homework and try to eat healthy this week. It's Tuesday so you have time to start now." Gray tells him and Natsu pouts.
"Now? But I want a double cheeseburger with extra bac-"
"After tonight you damn twerp." Gray cuts in and Natsu sinks back into his seat in triumph. "Your brother works Saturday night right?" Gray speaks up after a few moments of silence.
"Yeah Laxus will be gone. Does that mean I can crash at your place?"
Gray shrugs lightly. "Maybe we all can. If not, I'm definitely not leaving you alone at your place."
"I'm old enough to take care of myself!"
"Didn't say you weren't. It'll just feel better if I have you." Natsu stares at him and Gray realizes he cut that sentence off way too soon. "Near me, have you near me with me, ya know. Oh look, The Burger." thankful for arriving at their destination, Gray pulls into the parking lot and when they get out the car, Natsu is running excitedly into the joint, Gray's slip up shoved away for safe keeping.