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Fight Me, Bite Me	By : Rhov Category: +. to F > Fairy Tail Views: 39446 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: Fairy Tail is the property of Hiro Mashima. I make no money, I just do this for my own pleasure.

Chapter List
- 19
- 20
- 21
A/N: I'm frequently asked, "How long will Gray be sick?" Gray gets put on a two-week regimen of medication. Six days pass, and then we skip to the wet dream-nightmare in Chapter 16. Chapters 16-20 take place within 2 days. Making out in the guild storage room, paddling and the butt plug, the hot shower and finger licking, Natsu threatening to top Gray, and now a tickle fight are all a two-day binge after six days of being apart. This is the 7th day of treatment, Gray will be on his medication for 14 days, so he has a week to go.

Chapter 20

Tickle Fight
Gray got out of the shower and saw Natsu lying in bed, glancing through the latest Sorcerer Magazine that had his own pink-headed face plastered on the front. He looked so relaxed and normal, not at all like the frightening attacker he had pretended to be that morning, or the wildly aggressive sex fiend he had been just a few minutes ago. He looked like normal Natsu, completely dry already, dressed in trousers but no shirt, with his white scarf wrapped around his neck.
"Anything interesting in the magazine?" asked Gray.
"Jason is still an asshole."
Gray had to laugh at that. That hyperactive reporter who shouted "Cool, cool, coooooool" all the time had somehow earned the wrath of the Fire Dragon Slayer.
"Did you take your medicine this morning?" asked Natsu.
"Yeah, I did just now. Seven more days of taking those pills. I can't wait until I don't have to anymore."
Natsu set the magazine down and fidgeted in his seat. "Hey Gray, I was thinking."
"That's rare for you."
"Shut up! Do you … maybe … wanna … stay at my place?"
"Do you mean tonight?"
Natsu tucked his head down into his scarf and muttered, "I was thinking more like … every night."
Gray eyes widened.
"Ah! I … I mean … just until you're well. You're sick, it's normal to take care of sick people, so no one will question it. Well, not much. Happy seemed to be fine with it."
"Oh. But … I'm not going to be sick for much longer, hopefully."
"That's fine. Even if it's just a week, it's fine. I … wanna live with you," Natsu declared boldly, but that confidence wavered when Gray's mouth dropped. "Is that weird?"
It took a moment for Gray to get over the shock. "No. No, i-i-it's … it's not weird, just … shocking. You … want to…? R-really?"
Natsu nodded happily. Suddenly, Gray leaped onto the bed on top of Natsu, glad the Dragon Slayer really did still want him despite having an infection.
"God, I … I'm so relieved. I'm glad you feel that way." He kissed Natsu hard. "Even just for a week, let's do it."
Natsu beamed happily. "Awesome! Now, let's go on a date."
Gray glanced to a clock. "I guess it's close to lunchtime. We skipped breakfast."
"We were busy," Natsu smirked. "But I want to have a date with you. I'm buying, so I get to pick, and I want ramen."
"You're a cheap date," Gray teased, trying to tickle Natsu but not finding any good spots.
"I just really love ramen." Natsu reached forward and casually tickled him back.
To his surprise, Gray laughed and swatted his hands away. Natsu was stunned. He never thought about a stripper like Gray being ticklish. A scheming gleam shined in his eyes as Natsu chuckled mischievously. He reached out again, and his fingers attacked Gray's ribs.
"Kyaaaaa! Stop! Stop it!"
Gray laughed and fought off Natsu's tickle attack. The two boys tussled and roughhoused all over the bed until they fell off and landed on the floor. Still, Natsu aimed to reach Gray's ribs, armpits, stomach, all the normal places. Gray shielded himself, yet he still laughed even if he managed to keep Natsu's burning fingers away.
"Stoooooop!" Gray wailed, laughing uncontrollably. "I'm serious, stop."
He knew of one weakness for Natsu. Gray covered the tip of his finger with a layer of ice and rammed it into Natsu's belly button, wiggling it around. Natsu shrieked a laugh and rolled away across the rug.
"I give, I'm sorry," he laughed.
Gray pounced on top of him. "Who says I forgive you?"
He tickled with the ice again, but Natsu aimed for Gray's waist. Just a slight pinch to it made Gray collapse to the floor with convulsive laughter. Natsu instantly rolled on top of him, pinned Gray's arms above his head, and tickled his armpits.
"Oh God, no, stop!" Gray shrieked, writhing underneath, laughing and gasping for air. "Oh … shit, Natsu, no! Come on, I'm … I'm gonna piss myself. S-s-stop!"
Natsu stopped and grinned wildly down at Gray. "Maybe I want that."
Gray breathed hard, but he looked up in surprise. "You … want … that?" He gulped to moisten his throat through the heavy panting. "Since when have you been into pissing?"
"It'd serve you right," Natsu said a little harshly.
Gray saw just a small bit of spite. He guessed Natsu was still upset about last time, when Gray made him pee his pants with the chastity belt on. He had pushed Natsu's limits too far that day.
"Sorry," Gray whispered, looking aside with guilt.
"Apology not accepted." Natsu tickled Gray even more, and the bad feelings vanished as Gray squealed with laughter.
"Noooo! I'm serious, stop! Na- … kyaaaa … Natsu! Stop … hehehe … stoooop."
Natsu let him go. Gray kept twitching with spasmodic laughs, holding his midsection protectively with his armpits closed tightly in self-defense. His face was flushed from all the roughhousing, his chest rose and fell deeply at each breath, and when he glanced up at Natsu, those stormy-blue eyes looked a little hazy. Natsu realized Gray looked this way one other time: just after sex. It was an arousing face to show, and Natsu knew that if he stayed like this, he would attack Gray, just like he had attacked him just a few minutes ago in the shower.
"I forgive you," Natsu said, and he kissed Gray on the forehead. "Now, lunch." He rolled off and rose to his feet.
It still took Gray a minute to calm his breathing, while Natsu walked around getting dressed, combing his hair, and straightening his white scarf.
"Hurry up, slow poke. I'm hungry! Ramen, ramen, ramen, ramen!"
Gray leaned back and sighed out the last of his twitching laughs. Defeated through tickling! What an idiot! But he adored this crazy Dragon Slayer.

After an uneventful but still sweet lunch together at a ramen shop, the two went to the guild. Natsu went to find Happy and apologize for not coming home last night. Happy did not question it, and Natsu had a feeling his best friend already knew why he was gone.
Gray felt a little self-conscious. He and Natsu had entered the guild together. No one questioned it, though. Part of him realized they had no reason to question. There was nothing weird about two teammates entering at the same time, even if they were rivals. Still, after a wild morning like that, and a sweet date with his boyfriend, Gray was worried that people would start noticing things about them.
He took a seat across the room. It was another normal day in Fairy Tail. Gajeel was sitting in the corner having an arm-wrestling contest with Elfman. Lucy sat at the bar, her notebook out, writing her story, with Levy looking over her shoulder trying to read everything Lucy penned. Cana was at her own table working on her third barrel, although it was barely past noon, with a gathering of the younger men around her telling lewd jokes. Reedus was painting a picture. Nab stood by the mission board like always. Vijeeter danced on a table. Laki and Kinana were gossiping with Mira. All around him, Gray saw the normal, everyday, Fairy Tail ruckus.
Then he heard a distinctive laugh and looked across the room. He could have sat next to Natsu, but it was a bit awkward. Natsu sat with Lisanna, Wendy, Carla, Happy, and Romeo. He was not sure what they were talking about, but Wendy and Romeo were laughing, Lisanna was shaking her head while tittering, and Natsu was boasting about something.
Gray found himself staring, watching him from afar. Natsu looked like a normal guy, laughing so widely, as if nothing had happened.
Then a flashback hit Gray: the shower that morning. Just a few hours ago, Natsu had shown Gray just how aggressive he could be. Gray never thought he would want someone to top him again. He had tried it once. It was not so great. Not that he had minded the pain too much. Perhaps if he had actually known the guy, had feelings for him, rather than some random stranger he found at a gay bar, it could have been a better experience.
If it had been with someone he cared for…
If it was with Natsu…
He wanted to try it with Natsu. He wanted to see that aggressive side.
And he knew, Natsu was not ready. It was so frustrating.
Still, Gray could almost feel that heat up against his flesh as Natsu pressed against him, rubbing, stroking himself against Gray's back. It was like he could feel that fire against his skin right here, right now.
In the midst of these prurient thoughts, Erza came up. "Thinking about something?" she asked, taking a casual seat beside him.
Gray blushed a bit and hoped his boner did not show. How could he possibly tell her about his wild fantasies and lewd memories? He glanced again at Natsu.
"It's nothing," he muttered.
Erza smiled to herself. "You could go over and talk to Natsu, you know?"
Gray took on a typical grimace at the Dragon Slayer's name. "Why would I want to do that?" he asked with a hint of annoyance. "Maybe I'll challenge him later. Right now, it's not worth the bother." Gray tried to make it sound like normal. He hoped he at least looked the part of a rival. Probably not.
He still could not help it. His eyes drifted back to Natsu. He knew he had to calm things down between them. He had just seven more days of medication to go before getting tested again. Still, after just a week…
There was no way to hold himself back, no matter how he tried, and how much he knew he needed to be careful. As if that craving was not bad enough, Natsu wanted to live together again, this time staying at his place. That was probably better. With Happy around, they would be less tempted. Still, although Gray knew he should have said no, he could not help but say yes. He needed Natsu. Desperately! He had not realized how addicted he had become until his drug—his fix—had been taken away.
"Erza?" He needed to distract himself. "Do you think the team can take a mission? I'm feeling fine, really."
"I'm not chancing you missing your medicine doses. If you're truly in need of more money, I can take Lucy and Natsu on another mission. Or if it's serious, I can let you borrow a little."
"No … no, I'm fine for now, not that desperate," he grumbled. Partly, he realized that he did not want Natsu to leave him again. If it was a mission, he wanted to be with Natsu.
"You're bored, right? That's normal. As soon as you're well, we should do something as a team."
"Yeah…" He still felt troubled, flustered by his inner thoughts, consciously trying not to look at Natsu so often.
Just then, Lucy walked past them. "I'm leaving, Erza."
"Did you rewrite that chapter?"
"Yes, with your suggestions. Thank you. I'm meeting Loke now for some training."
Gray chuckled softly. "Training, huh?"
Lucy's cheeks went bright pink. "Hmph! Y-yes, training."
"You've been training a lot lately," Erza pointed out. "That's good. It's a fine thing to improve one's skills."
Lucy grinned at such praise coming from a woman she admired. "Yes, and Loke's been making me stronger."
"Don't limit yourself to just one," Erza warned.
Lucy looked confused. "Don't … limit myself?"
Gray was trying hard to hold back his laughter. He bet Lucy was thinking Erza was telling her to sleep around. It was hilarious to see her shocked face and Erza's obliviousness.
"You should train with all of your Celestial Spirits," Erza told her. "Your strength is in your diversity."
Lucy suddenly let out a nervous laugh of relief as she realized what Erza actually meant. "Oh, of course, of course. It's not good to ignore any of them."
Gray smirked at her embarrassment. "Have fun training Loke. Ah, I mean, training with Loke. Sorry, slip of the tongue. I'm sure you know how that's like."
She got angry now. "Gray!" she shouted. "You … you pervert!" She scoffed, stomped her boot, and stormed out of the guild hall as her cheeks burned brightly in mortification. The ice wizard just laughed at her way-too-obvious reaction to his teasing.
Erza glaring reproachingly. "Gray, that wasn't nice."
"Oh come on! We know those two are fuc-…"
"Gray," she warned, and her dark eyes silenced him instantly.
Gray shrank down under her disapproving scowl. "Sorry, Erza."
The menacing aura around her faded as quickly as it had formed. "Lucy and Loke aren't ready to announce to the whole guild. We should respect that. I'm sure you know just how that is."
He glanced sideways at her. Cautiously, he asked, "What do you mean?"
Just then, Natsu leaped up. "See ya later, guys. Happy, I might be late coming home. I have some … special training." He turned to leave, and as he did, his eyes met Gray's. They were intense, poignant, rife with lust that had not been fully sated despite their play last night and that morning.
Does this guy ever wear out? Sheesh, I seriously don't know if I could go for another round.
"Gray."
He leaped at Erza's voice and looked back at her. He felt like he had been caught doing something wrong. Well, in a way, he had. Gray had been staring at Natsu's ass as he left out the door and thinking about the faint limp Natsu had from the paddling he got last night.
"Come on," she smiled, dropping her voice. "It's only obvious that you and Natsu have been hanging around each other a lot more than usual. I saw you at a ramen shop around lunch, I've seen you at ice cream parlors and walking around town together, and you two came in together today."
"We … we're just … uh…" He stuttered as he tensed up at getting found out, and by Erza of all people. "We're just trying to be … friendly … like you always tell us to be."
"Uh-huh," she smirked knowingly.
Gray looked around the guild frantically, but it was a normal day, no one was near enough to hear them, and no one was watching. "Erza, come on," he growled. "Stop joking."
She kept her smile but dropped her voice softer. "It would take an idiot not to see it."
He left out a sigh of frustration, but there was no use hiding anything from Erza. "And how many idiots are in this guild?"
"Too many. I don't think anyone but Gajeel knows. I overheard him muttering about Natsu smelling like you, but he won't say anything. I made sure of it."
Gray was curious, but he figured he really did not want to know precisely how the Titania had made sure to keep the Iron Dragon Slayer's mouth shut on the matter.
"Do you really not want people to know?"
"No!" he cried out, but his voice dropped again. "Come on, Erza. I'm … I'm sick still."
"Yes, which is what worries me," she said, all playfulness gone and a serious expression on her stoic face.
"Which is precisely why I'm not telling anyone yet," he whispered. "Not until I'm well."
"Are you two…?" Her eyebrow waggled to silently express what she meant.
"I'm being careful," he cut in sharply. He looked around again, making sure no one saw her. "We both are."
"You better be," she warned sternly. "If you get him infected—"
"I'm not going to let him get sick," Gray growled, fury in his eyes. "Absolutely not! I … I ca- … can't put him through that." He blinked his eyes as he thought about the fear he had. Even just from this morning, with Natsu pressed against him, that had scared Gray afterward. There was no way he could handle it if Natsu got sick because of him.
"Were you two … involved before you found out about your sickness?"
"Yes, he was tested, and he's fine. I've not … we haven't … I'm being careful." Even if they had been somewhere private, he would feel embarrassed to talk about this, but speaking about his sex life in the middle of the guild was too much.
"So, you top, huh?"
His cheeks instantly went crimson. "Erza!" he hissed.
"No one can hear us," she assured with a whimsical smile. "Besides, I'm curious."
Gray debated it. He did not want to kiss-and-tell, he felt his relationship was his own business, but he was also a little worried that if he said nothing, Erza might speak up. It was silent blackmail. So blushing, he whispered, "Y-yeah. I'm … he's … it's not like he … ah, dammit," he grumbled.
"It's complicated, huh?"
Gray had to laugh wryly. "That's an understatement."
"You do know … well, maybe you don't know." She dropped her voice to be aimed at just him. "Natsu had an … issue in the past. He was deeply scarred. Tortured."
Gray looked over at her in shock. "How do you know about that?"
"I was warned," she said cautiously. "Did Natsu tell you everything?"
"He told me enough." Gray glanced around the guild. "How many people know? Honestly, before we hooked up, I had no clue he went through that. None!"
"I don't think many people know. I was only warned when we started up the team. Makarov took me aside and … well, he just gave me a warning to keep an eye on Natsu, just in case."
Gray sighed, not sure how to feel. On one hand, it was good that Makarov cared enough about Natsu's well-being that he had Erza keep an eye on him. After all, there was no telling when a mission might turn bad and something could have triggered the Dragon Slayer's buried fears and aggressions. On the other hand, he wished no one knew about that side of Natsu. He wanted to protect Natsu and shield him from anyone finding out that he had suffered in that sort of way.
"Is he really okay with this?" Erza asked cautiously.
Gray thought about all the troubles they had up to this point. If she had asked during their first week of being a couple, he might have wondered if Natsu truly was okay. Even if it had been yesterday, after Natsu questioned aloud if their relationship was worth it, he had doubts. However, right now, after the aggressive lust Natsu showed, and after asking Gray to live with him for a week, Gray felt far more confident.
"I think he's getting better because of this," he said with a light smile. "It's helping him to learn how to deal with his past."
"I don't know details, Gray, and I don't want them. Makarov told me just enough so that I understand potential triggers and can avoid missions that might involve things Natsu would not handle well. However, from my understanding, what you two are involved in is definitely riddled with potential triggers. When I first heard the story, I worried that the poor guy would never be able to have a normal relationship."
Gray had to laugh. He wondered if this even counted as a normal relationship.
"I'm truly worried for him."
Gray was glad someone like Erza was the one who knew. "He … has issues," he confessed softly. "I work with him. We work around the things that bother him. Sometimes, I think we're helping each other."
"Each other?" she asked, mildly intrigued. "What sort of issues do you…?"
"Erza, don't," he warned sternly.
"I'm curious about you, also."
"It's none of your damn business."
"You're right," she agreed. "I'm just worried for you. You're like a brother, Gray. We grew up together. I know, even when I first arrived here at Fairy Tail, you had a very deep darkness in your heart, one that kept you from fully opening up to others, even close friends."
"Yeah," he agreed, thinking about how his fear of love plagued him still, "and Natsu is helping me. A lot," he added with a faint smile.
"That's good. I think you two are … well, I don't want to say you're meant for each other, since I honestly never would have imagined it could work out this way, but I think you're good for each other."
"You … you approve?" he asked in surprise.
"Are you seeking my blessing? I'm not Natsu's mother."
"No, just … I wasn't sure how the guild would react."
"Well, to be honest, I think that when you two do come forward, you're going to get a wide variety of reactions. This is you and Natsu, after all. Still, I think more people than you imagine will fully support you two as a couple." She knew already that Mira and Lucy were fond of the idea of the two rivals secretly being lovers, and surely other girls in the guild had yaoi fantasies about these two.
Gray looked down at his hands. "I hope so," he muttered. "Don't tell anyone, okay? We're not ready. Um … I'm not ready. I mean, I want to tell them. I want to tell everyone, but … not when I'm like this. I … I don't want anyone to think anything bad about Natsu, especially because of me, because of my past, because of what's going on right now, being sick. I don't want any of that … filth … to make him seem dirty."
"Gray, I think the guild would forgive your past. We're good at forgiving."
He let out a soft laughing hum and had to nod at that. He had forgiving Lyon for what happened on Galuna Island. Lucy had forgiven her father. The guild had come to accept Gajeel and Juvia, although they had attacked Fairy Tail and destroyed the first guild hall. They had all forgiven Laxus and the Thunder God Tribe despite pitting the guild against one another. And Erza…
"You know better than anyone, right?" he said with a smile to her.
"Yes, I do," she said wistfully, and Gray could see that she was thinking about Jellal again. "Sometimes, it's very hard to forgive people, but sometimes it's easy. Your past relationships are your own business, Gray. No one judges Gildarts for his promiscuous ways. No one ever got angry at Loke. Annoyed, maybe, but we let him date as many girls as he wanted and never scolded him. You and Natsu might face hard times at first, but I truly think we'd all eventually forgive your past and support both of you, so long as you don't cheat on him and hurt him."
"I never cheat on someone I truly care for," he assured her sternly.
"I'll hold you to that," she warned. "I understand that this is a hard time for you, being sick like this, yet just now discovering your feelings for someone. It's honorable that you're thinking about Natsu's welfare to this extent. So, I'll keep quiet. When you're ready, just make sure I'm here," she said sternly. "Don't you dare tell everyone when I'm not around to see what their reactions are going to be like."
"I think as long as you support us, everyone else will fall into line."
"They better!" she said with a thudding tone.
Gray laughed softly. "You're too scary, Erza."
He glanced around again. Hopefully soon, he could just come out and say it. He wondered if their announcement would be explosive, or if the guild would casually accept it. Maybe more people than just Erza had noticed already. The most anticlimactic response would be for everyone to say "About time!" and go back to their normal conversations.
Or the whole guild would blow up with angry denial and shouts of protest. That was what Gray feared, at least.
"Um … when we do come out, could you be the first to … um … to congratulate us or … or…" Gray's face tensed up, and he looked down to his hands folded nervously in his lap. "I just don't want Natsu to get ridiculed … at all. He's excited and eager to tell everyone, and I don't want him to be disappointed. I don't want him to feel like this—all of this—is nothing but a mistake. I don't want to lose him over something as stupid as peer pressure."
"Sure, Gray," she said amicably. "When you two are ready, I'll be the first to congratulate you. I'll also pound anyone who gets out of line."
"Thanks, Erza. Really, that's a big load off my shoulders, knowing one person will accept us."
"Like I said, you're like a little brother. Both you are Natsu are family. It's—ahem—not something I expected, per say," she confessed, "but if it makes you happy, and if it helps him, I want to be supportive of both of you."
He blinked hard to keep his eyes from watering. "Th-thank you so much," he whispered, his heart swelling with happiness.
Erza pounded him on the back with her gauntlet. "Now, go chase after Natsu before you start crying."
"Hey!" he shouted in protest.
She chuckled and leaned into his ear. "He's waiting for you, Gray. Go make your boyfriend happy."
He blushed to hear her say that aloud. Having someone else call Natsu his boyfriend made the relationship seem more official. Erza nudged him with her elbow and winked. Gray whispered thank you again, got up, and left the guild hall.
Natsu actually was waiting for him at the entryway, standing by the large gates with his arms folded. He turned away as soon as he saw Gray exit, and when Gray rounded the corner, he saw that Natsu was heading to Gray's place. He followed at a distance, sensing that Natsu was keeping himself ahead just far enough. Finally, as they reached Gray's quiet neighborhood, Natsu's steps slowed down until Gray gradually caught up.
They walked along quietly, keeping some space between them, until they reached Gray's apartment. There, Gray reached over and boldly took Natsu's hand. The cold grasp startled Natsu, and he almost tripped over his own feet. Then he smiled, squeezed Gray's hand in return, and they went back to the room hand in hand.
"Natsu," he said softly as they went up stairs. "Earlier, were you serious about wanting to live together?"
"Yeah," Natsu said, surprised he would ask.
"I'd … like that," he said awkwardly. "Maybe not permanent yet, but … I have another week to go. We can give it a trial run, if you promise to behave yourself. I am still sick, y'know."
Natsu blushed lightly and confessed, "That's part of the reason for asking you. I think I'd behave myself more at my house than at yours. You're the one with all the kinky stuff."
"True enough," Gray agreed, realizing that with Happy around, he would constantly think twice before initiating anything. He brought out his keys and let them inside the apartment. "I'll pack a few clothes. Then we can head over."
"Great! We should tell everyone tonight."
"No." Gray looked up into Natsu's face. "Erza and I were talking about it."
"Erza?"
"She kind of figured it out," he confessed.
"And she approves?" Natsu asked eagerly.
"I guess so…"
"Yay! We got Erza's approval," Natsu cheered. "If she approves, everyone will."
"Not everyone," Gray muttered. Magnolia should be put on flood warning before someone told Juvia. "She was worried. Everyone else would be as well, and I don't want them to think badly of you. Happy's going to mention that I'm staying with you. We can let people think it's just because I'm sick, and then I fell for you while you were caring for me. It's a typical story, right? The patient falls for the person nursing them to health. Then when I'm better, when my tests are all clear, we can slowly let people realize something is up. We'll let them think we've just started hanging out more, unofficial dating, not that we've been fucking one another for weeks."
Natsu pouted and looked away to the corner of the room. "Would it be better that way?"
"I think so," Gray replied hesitantly, wondering about the upset look in the Dragon Slayer's face.
"It's just … I want to tell everyone," he whined. "I don't want to hide it anymore."
Gray hugged Natsu's shoulders and pulled him in close. "I know." He kissed the top of the pink head. "This is just a really bad time for me. If people knew, they would think I got you sick. I don't want them to think that about you. Erza was really worried. Others would be, too. When we tell them, I want them to be happy for us, not worried about us. I don't…" His throat clenched. Here was the real reason Gray wanted to hold back telling their friends. "I don't want people to accuse me of getting you sick. When Cana announced it to the whole guild, people were so mad at me. Hell, Lucy slapped me! I don't want that sort of reaction again. I don't want them angry at me and thinking badly of you for getting involved with me. It'll be bad enough that people will think I'm about to corrupt you."
"You did," Natsu pointed out, and he grinned sensually at Gray. "And I loved it."
Gray laughed and gave him another light kiss. "I want our friends to be as happy for us being together, as I feel happy being with you. I want them to party, not start yelling at me and warning you to not get involved with a man-whore like me. I want them to cheer and faint and be shocked, not yell and get angry and try to break us apart before we can even be happy as an openly-dating couple. I want it to be memorable, not regrettable."
Natsu picked up Gray's hand and kissed his knuckles. "You have a romantic buried deep inside that kinky brain of yours. Don't worry. It'll be fine. Even if it turns out bad, I'll be there to hold your hand." He kissed Gray's fingers again, dragging his lips slowly over the skin.
Gray felt his cheeks get hot from the burning lips of the Fire Dragon Slayer. "Idiot," he mumbled, yanking his hand away before he got aroused from memories of Natsu sucking on his fingers in the shower. "It's supposed to be me protecting you."
"Screw that! You know I'm not some weakling."
"Yeah, but still—"
"Hey." Natsu pulled Gray over to the couch, and they sat down together. "When we tell them, I'm going to be right there beside you, okay? We'll be holding hands and smiling at one another and looking sickeningly cute and in love."
Gray flinched slightly at that. In love…
"I'll be there, so you don't have to worry. Even if they react bad, that doesn't matter. Even if the guild doesn't approve … well, screw them! Some might not be okay with it, but our real friends are going to cheer us on. So it'll be fine even if a few think we're not right for one another. Hell, we both know Juvia isn't going to be happy to find out her Gray-sama is dating a man."
Gray groaned loudly and flopped his head back on the couch. "Oh God," he moaned in annoyance. "Yeah, she's going to be a problem."
Natsu patted his hand consolingly. "I don't know if Lisanna will be an issue. Probably not. She'll be okay so long as it makes me happy. I was worried about Erza, honestly."
"Me, too. That's why I'm glad she approves."
"Yeah, she'd be scary if she was against the idea. So see, it's gonna be okay."
Gray's brow tensed up. "I still want to wait."
"That's fine," Natsu assured. "I mean, it's just another seven days."
Gray grumbled, "We should give it some time even afterward, otherwise it's obvious we were hiding it the whole time."
"Ten days, then. We can tell everyone in ten days."
"That works."
"Good. Then in ten days we'll announce to the guild that we're dating." Natsu rested his head on Gray's shoulder while squeezing his hand. "It'll be awesome, you know. Half the guild will faint, and the other half will want details."
"Details," Gray grumbled.
"Obviously, we won't tell them," Natsu chuckled. "I liked your idea earlier. You'll stay at my place, I'll care for you while you're sick, and people will think we fell in love just recently."
"What if they ask me … why? Or what I feel about you? I mean, remember with Happy? What if people want me to … to say it? What if they ask you 'Has he ever said I lo- … I lo-…' Dammit!" He clenched up his fists and growled in frustrated. "Goddammit, I used to be able to say the word in passing just fine, and now I can't even do that. I'm … I'm too scared. I'm scared because I know I feel it, so I'm afraid if I say it, that's like the final word in a magic spell that makes you end up dead."
"Calm down," Natsu said, looking worried at the angry shouts.
"No!" he bellowed. "What if they ask?"
Natsu squeezed his hand tighter. "Gray, you've said it in so many ways, and you've showed me in more ways than words could ever express."
"But … but what if they ask?" he hissed in frustration.
"I'll be right there, right beside you, and if they ask, I'll be the one to answer."
"You're not always going to be there, Natsu," he snapped.
Tears came to his eyes, and he pulled away before Natsu could see him like this. Gray threw off his shirt in anger as he walked to his window, but he felt the heat of the Dragon Slayer come up long before those warm arms embraced him from behind, and the soft pink hair rested against his bare back.
Gray looked out the window and down to the street. He saw a young couple walking hand in hand. He bet those two said 'I love you' all the time. He feared their friends would want to hear them declare it. They might pressure Gray into saying it. No one would understand why he could not say it. He barely understood it himself. He knew it was a silly superstition, but that did not ease his phobia.
"The more I think about it—the more I feel it—the more scared I get … and the more I feel miserable that I can't even say the damn words!" he shouted.
Natsu squeezed around Gray tighter. "Maybe we can think of a way for you to answer that sounds even better, without saying those words."
"Yeah, like what?" he grumbled petulantly.
"Well, like you can say … um … he's precious to me."
"That doesn't sound quite the same."
"Well then, say he's … he's … I dunno. I mean, what am I to you?" Natsu asked, looked up imploringly to Gray.
Gray turned around to face the Dragon Slayer. He cupped Natsu's cheek in his hand and smiled with heartfelt emotions. "You're everything."
"Everything like … what?" he asked.
"I don't know!" he snapped, but Gray glared off to the side, trying to put it into words. "You're … you…" Could he say it? He felt he could. "You're … my beloved."
Natsu's eyes went huge. His mouth opened to speak, but the words dried up. He looked thoroughly overwhelmed by Gray's words.
"I can say that word," Gray insisted. "You're my boyfriend, my … my … my lover." That word was a little harder to say, although he told himself, he had taken many lovers without feeling emotions at all. The title of lover did not always have to imply the emotion of love. "You're … my beloved. Goddammit, why can I say those words but I can't say the other?"
"Because it's all psychological, Gray. You know that, and so do I. We both have issues, and we're working on them, so don't worry about it. I'm fine with that. You say what you can and … and…" He laughed softly. "Say it again," he urged emotionally.
Gray still felt cranky. "What?"
"Call me that again," he begged, looking ready to cry.
"Which?"
"Well … both."
Gray scoffed and looked away. However, he looked at those eager eyes, and he could hardly help it. "You're my beloved, the only lover I want or need."
Natsu covered his mouth and cheeks, and he suddenly looked away as tears came to his eyes. He began to laugh, and then snuffled, overwhelmed with emotions at hearing Gray call him such tender terms. Beloved was definitely not a word tossed out lightly, and being called it made happiness burn all through Natsu's nerves.
"D-dammit, I'm about to cry," he sputtered. Natsu laughed, but then he wiped his eyes. "Dammit!"
Gray touched his shoulder. "Natsu…"
The tears kept coming, although Natsu insistently wiped them away. "Why am I reacting so badly? Like a damn PMS'ing girl. I just…" His chest shuddered with joy. "I just really like hearing you say that," he confessed. "Dammit, the tears won't stop."
"Natsu," Gray whispered warmly.
"Tell them that." He still kept wiping at the tears, but he laughed some more. How ridiculous this was, laughing and crying over something so silly! "If … if they ask, and you can't say you love me, tell them that." He laughed some more, imagining the gawking faces. "Yeah, that'll make them shut up, because I think … I think that's way better than … than just three words." He snuffled up snot. "Dammit. I'm going to the bathroom."
"Natsu…"
"N-n-no. No, I'm … I'm acting like an idiot right now."
"You are an idiot, so stay here." Gray loved to see Natsu this emotional over something so sweet.
"I … I wanna laugh and cry and hear you call me that all night long." He tried to pull away again, but Gray wrapped him up in his arms, refusing to let him go. "I just … I like to hear you call me that. I don't know why."
"It's the same as when I hear you call me kainushi. It makes me feel warm inside."
Natsu laughed some more. "We really are a stupid couple now." He turned around to face Gray solidly. His eyes were bloodshot, but his face beamed with intense joy. "I love you. I'm no good with words, so that's all I know how to say, just those three words. You're able to say so much more about how you feel and what you think about me. I'm … I'm a little jealous. Even if you can't say that one word, you can say and show so much more." Then Natsu bit his lip and asked timidly, "Can … can you say it again? Just one more time."
"Silly," Gray teased, caressing away the tears. "I care about you so much, and I want you to know, you're my dear, precious lover. I never want to lose you, I would die to save you, and I would fight anyone or anything to protect you … because you are the only person in my life who I've ever thought of as being my beloved. That's something that belongs to no one else but you, Natsu. You're the only person who has ever touched me this deeply."
The playful smiles vanished, and Natsu looked up to him in shock. "Gray…" he whispered. "The … the only…?" His lips began to tremble, tears tumbled over his eyelids, and he turned away again. "Dammit, now I really am crying."
"You were crying before, idiot." Gray walked around to face Natsu, but the Dragon Slayer tried to look away. Gray pulled his head back. "I like seeing these type of tears on your face. Come here." He began to pull Natsu back to the couch.
"N-no. I wanna go to the bathroom, wash my face, and…"
"And I want you to stay here."
"Gray—"
"Stay!" he ordered sternly.
Natsu pouted in protest. He flopped on the couch, folded his arms, and looked away stubbornly.
"Good dragon. I want to hold you, just like this. Just hold you." Gray wrapped his arms around Natsu and nuzzled into his hair, giving him a kiss on the scalp. "We can stay like this all day, if you want."
"Mmmm," Natsu hummed happily. "But I kinda wanna head home for tonight. I want to start living together."
"Then I'll pack, and we'll go back to your place. Later. I want to hold you for now, when I'm not self-conscious about Happy staring at us."
"Are you really going to stay the night?"
"I said I would."
"Good." Natsu snuggled into Gray's arms. "I want you to stay the night. Every night," he added softly.
Gray smiled at hearing that. He wanted it, too. He never wanted to be apart, not for anything. He kissed the rim of Natsu's ear and breathed in softly, "My beloved."
Instead of overwhelming him, the emotions now just warmed Natsu up, making him want to hold onto Gray tighter than ever. "I love you," Natsu whispered. "Now I really wanna tell everyone. Ten days, right?"
"Yes," Gray said quietly, rubbing Natsu's neck with his nose, and laying down occasional kisses. "In ten days, we'll tell them."
"We need to put Magnolia on flood alert," Natsu said drowsily, loving the feel of Gray's mouth on his skin.
Gray chuckled quietly to himself, nibbling Natsu's earlobe. "I was just thinking the same thing. Maybe we can arrange to have Juvia out of town that day."
"We'll have to deal with her eventually. You don't think she'd actually try to kill me, do you?"
Gray thought about it and then answered honestly, "She might. She is a bit obsessive."
"That's putting it mildly," Natsu scoffed. "Have you seen her room?"
Gray looked over in shock. "You have?"
"No, but Happy has. He goes to Fairy Hills once in a while, they let him in because he's a cat, and he went into her room one day. He told me about … the dolls." He shivered slightly.
"Dolls?"
"You really don't want to know," Natsu grimaced. Happy's description of Juvia's room had been creepy even back then. Now that he was Gray's lover, it seemed so much worse.
"Oh God," Gray moaned, pretty sure he could guess as least a little about how bad it was, and too afraid to ask for details. "I really might have to protect you from her."
"Yeah. Not that I mind. You'll have to stay with me all the time. She might attack during the night."
"You just don't want me to go, do you?"
"Nope," Natsu grinned. "I want you with me every night."
Gray ruffled up his pink hair. "Maybe just until she calms down. We could switch off, me sleeping at your place and you sleeping at mine. Once everyone knows, they won't question if we sleep together."
"They might question the bruises. That's what you were most worried about, right?"
Gray frowned and grumbled, "Yeah." He was still worried about that part. He did not want the guild to know he was a sadist with a lot of kinks.
"It's the only downside," Natsu agreed. "Well, that is … unless they think I'm the kinky one."
It took Gray a moment to figure out what Natsu meant, and he looked at the Dragon Slayer in shock. "Whuuuh?"
"They don't have to know it's you. They can think it's me."
"But … but Natsu—"
"I'm fine with that, Gray. They already think my so-called girlfriend was kinky and into bondage. I could just hint that after experiencing it once, I rather liked it. That's not lying. Well, so long as I don't mention the fictitious girlfriend directly. I just have to be vague. 'I tried it once, I really liked it, so Gray does that to me now.' Then they'll think I'm the one who's kinky, and I'm making you do these things to me because I like it. I'm willing to take on that burden, Gray. It's fine by me." He looked truly accepting of it.
"R-really?" Gray asked, stunned that Natsu would go this far, just like he had when he lied to Happy to protect Gray's honor.
"Yeah. That way, they won't think anything bad about you besides that…" He laughed lustfully. "…that you're giving me what I want." He ran his hand up Gray's bare chest. "Which is totally true." He turned around and climbed on top of Gray, straddling him over the couch. "I want your kinkiness," he moaned, rubbing himself against Gray's body. "I want you to tie me up and work me out. I love making you restrain me."
He kissed Gray, and their tongues casually danced together. Then Natsu bit Gray's lower lip, tugging it out with a hungering sneer. Gray moaned at the bite, and Natsu felt a stirring in Gray's pants. Then Natsu's sultry face instantly went away, and he rolled off, plopping back onto the couch, leaving Gray turned on.
"That's what I'm gonna do, and that's final."
"W-wait, what?" Gray blinked in confusion. Natsu had instantly messed up his head with that one kiss.
"That's what you're worried about most, right? Your whole issue with telling people, it originally started because you don't want anyone to know you're a kinky guy. It's bad enough that they think you sleep around, but if they thought you got off tying up people and hitting them … well, that looks bad for you and makes me look like I'm just being used. But if they think I'm the one making you tie me up, that's totally different. When the whole guild thought I had a kinky girlfriend, it didn't really bother me. Nobody teased me much after the first day. I just hated to lie. I won't be lying this time. I like being spanked and restrained. It's arousing. If people know that … well, I'd rather if they mind their own damn business, but if they do find out, I don't mind. Plus it's my way of protecting you. You protect me from Juvia, and I'll protect you from rumors. Deal?" He ended with a beaming smile.
Gray laughed, stunned Natsu would take on what he felt was the heaviest burden of coming out to their friends. "Y-yeah … sure, it's a deal. Th-thank you," he muttered, truly amazing Natsu would go this far for him. "But we don't have to tell them."
"No, but if they find out, we can tell them that. We should still be cautious about leaving bruises at first. It's probably best if they think we're merely dating at the beginning."
"Precisely," Gray nodded. "I'll be careful."
"Me too. No more scratching up your chest."
"And I'll use my ice rather than ropes or cuffs. You don't get bruised that way. We can be careful."
"Of course we can. Now that that's settled, cuddle me." He flopped back against Gray and wiggling down into his chest.
Gray wrapped his arms around the warm Dragon Slayer and stare into nothingness. A few minutes ticked by with the two together, cuddled close, simply enjoying being together. Gray gave a long sigh of contentment.
"It's rather nice, having simple moments like this."
"Mm-hmm," Natsu hummed. He felt at peace, and being held like this, he felt truly loved.
Gray whispered into Natsu's ears. "My beloved."
He shrank down a little and could hardly help but smile. "You really know how to make me blush."
"Yep," Gray smiled placidly. "I shouldn't use it too often, though. I might wear it out. Then I won't get to see you blush like this."
Natsu nodded sleepily. Then he teased, "Ice princess."
"Flame-brain."
"Stripper."
"Sulfur-breath."
"Pervy exhibitionist."
Gray laughed and squeezed him lightly. "Guilty as charged." Then in a cold breath, he whispered into Natsu's ear again. "Beloved."
"Stop it," Natsu whined, hating how he blushed at just one word. "It's getting embarrassing now."
"Good. You do realize, I've gotta call you that in public."
"What! Y-you don't have to," he protested.
"Yep. I want to."
Natsu petulantly sank down, hiding into Gray's chest. "Idiot," he mumbled. "Let's go to my house already."
"Then get up."
"Don't wanna."
"Then we're staying here."
"Don't wanna either."
"Then I'm carrying you princess-style from here to your house."
"Like hell!" Natsu stood up. "Pack your clothes. I'll go on ahead. I'm not sure how we are on food. See you in a bit."
"Yeah," Gray muttered. Once again, he caught himself staring at Natsu's ass as he left out the door. He still felt the lingering warmth in his chest and arms. He never wanted this feeling to end.

End of Chapter 20
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