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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
- 59
- 60
- 61
Audio drama: http://chirb.it/4MEFns
Chapter 60
Cake Surprise
In the month since they got back together, Gray had not really paid attention to just how busy Natsu had been. They were wizards, they took missions to make enough money for things like rent, food, clothes—a lot of clothes, in Gray's case—so taking multiple missions every week was standard. Sometimes they did team missions for the bigger rewards, but there were lots of smaller missions one person could do in just half a day.
So Natsu going on missions nearly every day had not been a big deal. It was not until he returned a week after Gajeel's birthday, covered head-to-toe in bandages with Happy translating his mumbles, that Gray began to realize that the missions Natsu was taking were rather large ones, the sort that normally their whole team would tackle. When Gray tried to ask why he would take such risky missions alone, Natsu's eyes grew wide, and he hobbled away on his cane, muttering something through his bandages.
Happy giggled and patted Gray on the leg. "I hope you didn't forget what's coming up."
"Coming up?" It was not time for the S-Class trials, or any of the usual reasons for wizards to splurge on missions.
Happy sighed and shook his head, as if he had expected this but was still disappointed in him. "How long have you and Natsu been together?"
"We hooked back up last month."
"I mean, how long total?"
Gray paused. Total? He used to know their anniversary date. The last time they really went all-out to celebrate had been their three-month anniversary. There had been some time, maybe a bit over a month, after that—he was not sure how long since during that time he had been more worried about Natsu pulling away from him—followed by 6 months apart as they saw other people.
"Natsu doesn't care about the time you weren't together," Happy explained. "As far as he's concerned, you've been dating for almost a year."
"A year?" Shit! Had it really been a year since that day Natsu jumped through his window and ended up getting fucked in his shower? "So that means Natsu is trying to get money for something, right? Is it a trip?"
"I'm not sure. He won't tell me, but he keeps checking out places around town."
"What sorts of places?"
Happy covered his mouth as he giggled and sang out tauntingly, "I can't tellllll youuuuuu."
Gray went back to eating, knowing that if he kept asking, he really would get too curious. Part of him wanted to see for himself just how Natsu would surprise him. After all, Natsu was going off on a lot of missions for this to be merely a simple dinner and flowers. (He'd kick Natsu's ass if it was something sappy like flowers!)
Saving up that much money must mean it was a gift of significance. If Natsu had to check out many places around town, then it meant he was shopping for something fairly common, a gift that cost a lot yet could be bought in multiple places around town, which meant it was not the magic shop or Heart Kreuz store. Something expensive, appropriate for such a major anniversary…
The flash of a diamond lit up in Gray's imagination, nearly causing him to choke. He blushed as he coughed and shook his head. There was no way Natsu would get him an engagement ring. No way! They weren't ready for that.
But what if Natsu was ready?
If Natsu proposed, could he actually tell him no?
Gray looked around frantically for Happy to ask at least if it was something like that, but the blue Exceed was nowhere to be found. Gray was stuck with a panicking feeling.
"Is something the matter, Gray?"
He jolted at Mira's voice.
"You look pale. Are you feeling sick?"
"No," he muttered. His curiosity both alarmed him and left him giddy deep down inside. "Mira, just how stupid do you think Natsu is? Would he do something totally and utterly reckless, without consideration to others?"
She tapped her finger to her lip as she thought through it. "Natsu may be destructive and unthinking when he fights, but if there's one thing about him, it's that he's always considerate of others, willing to go far beyond what is necessary to make them happy. If he purposely does something, it's never without a lot of thought and often asking around to make sure that what he's doing is the right thing. Such as what he's planning to get you for your anniversary."
Gray jolted so hard, he nearly fell off his chair. Mira merely chuckled.
"I overheard you and Happy," she explained, amused by his reaction. "Natsu has been asking just about everyone for weeks now. He's putting a lot of thought and a lot of love into this gift, and he's doing all that just for you, Gray. I think, instead of fretting over him doing something stupid, you should be focusing on what sort of gift you can give back to him. I don't know yet what he decided on, but I will say that, with how much he's been working on this, you really should prepare something special."
Gray looked back down to his food. Something special? "I don't know what. I don't even know where to start looking."
"Then I'll tell you what I told Natsu. Make it something that lasts. That means not food," she added with a giggle, and Gray had to laugh as well. He could imagine Natsu's stunned face as Mira told him that food was not the best gift in the world. "This is a big anniversary for a couple, so it should be something you can look at later on and remember this whole year together, as well and everything you look forward to in the future. It should represent not only your feelings, but what makes you two unique. It can be something you buy or make on your own, just so long as it comes from the heart."
Gray pondered over her words as he ate. After he was done, he roamed aimlessly through town, passing stores and boutiques. Mira's words kept ringing through his mind.
Something that lasts … something to remind them of their first year together … representing his feelings … what makes them unique.
He had no clue. He began to realize that food would have been an easy gift, but this was too special.
"My feelings?" he muttered, staring up at the sky.
"Sir, you just dropped your shirt."
Gray jolted out of his thoughts to retrieve the clothes he had stripped out of. He buttoned up his shirt and tugged his lapels straight. Suddenly, he paused.
It should represent not only your feelings, but what makes you two unique.
"Got it!"
He turned sharply and headed straight to a shop he knew. It would be special, unique, custom-made, representing everything he felt and everything he wanted in the future.
He just hoped he could get it finished in time.
A Few Days Later
Gray began to wonder if Natsu had decided upon food anyway. Not just a gift of food, but a whole experience of dining in one of the most elite fine dining restaurants in all of Fiore.
The restaurant was far beyond anything they had ever gone to in the past. A sting quartet played light music, magical lamps floated around the restaurant and shifted color to match the emotions of the people dining. The food was all cooked using magic. The fine china plates had filigree gold around the rims, and the silverware was laid out in proper order. A sommelier selected precisely the sort of wine that not only complimented the food, but their own unique tastes: a fiercely full-bodied red wine for Natsu, a boldly sweet icewine for Gray.
Across from him, Natsu ate with gusto, barely taking in all the opulent ambiance, although he had been the one to suggest this place. Gray was honestly shocked when Natsu told him that morning to dress "extra nice tonight." After a small party to celebrate their anniversary with the guild, they both left to go home and change. Gray was just going to put on a shirt and tie, but he remembered Natsu said extra nice. He had the outfit he wore for the grand banquet long ago. It was one of the nicest outfits he owned, magically sealed away in a bag for special occasions. He looked from the plain suit to the opulent dress-wear and back again, debating which to wear.
In the end, he was glad he picked the fancier clothes, since Natsu arrived dressed like a prince. Now here they were, on the southern coast of Fiore, eating in an oceanside restaurant, the sort of place that took people like them a whole week's worth of missions to afford.
And Natsu seemed to be more interested in his food than in the boyfriend sitting across from him.
Gray did not mind, though. Romance … that just wasn't his thing! If they tried to speak like a couple of lovers, he would probably get nervous, and then he would start to strip again. He was really struggling not to do that here.
So instead they ate, commented on the food, sipped wine, and they stared out the window at the sun setting on the ocean. Gray realized, it had been a whole year and still they acted like they were an awkward new couple.
Yet somehow, that was fine.
Gray smiled to himself and continued to sip his icewine.
Natsu was glad he had picked this place. He had to ask around other guilds. While the people in Fairy Tail knew the best bars and taverns in the kingdom, they were not exactly the fine dining sort of crowd. Freed and Mira had some good suggestions for romantic restaurants, but Natsu wanted to really go all out. So while on a mission, he stopped in on Blue Pegasus.
Now here were people who knew about fine dining and how to set up the most romantic evening!
When Natsu mentioned to Ichiya and Master Bob about planning something for his and Gray's one-year anniversary, the Trimens sprang into action. They ushered him to a side room, sat him down in a plush chair, and proceeded to give a theatrical explanation of everything he needed to do, from how to set up the mood before dinner, to what not to order, how to drink his wine correctly, and take smaller bites of food—Natsu and Happy were glad for the free meal as they basically trained him how to eat properly. They then gushed out suggestions on what to do after the meal.
When Natsu mentioned the present he had picked, they collectively gasped and their faces lit up. Ichiya danced around with hearts in his eyes, Eve declared it was the most romantic thing he had ever heard, Ren assured him that Gray would like it, and Hibiki prattled out ideas for how to present his gift to Gray in a way that would melt his heart.
Natsu had a hard time remembering everything. He wrote down which restaurant at least, and he tried to keep in mind what to avoid doing so he did not act like a totally immature idiot on this special, romantic night.
Now, he realized that the Trimens had forgotten to mention about dinner conversation. What was he supposed to say?
He glanced over to Gray. Maybe it was the magic lighting that picked up emotions, but the pale blue mixed with gold really looked good on him, bright and angelic.
Gray must have sensed him staring, because he looked up. They still had barely said anything, and already their plates were empty. Gray held his gaze for a few seconds before looking away with a blush. Natsu realized the lighting overhead shifted to bright pink.
A waiter came forward just then, and the colored light abruptly went to a plain white as they were both startled by the interruption. Their plates were cleared and the waiter asked them about dessert. They both peered over the dessert menus, hiding away in the lists of delicious sweets so they did not have to feel so awkward in this romantic setting. Gray ordered first: crushed mint cookie ice cream cake. Natsu chuckled quietly to himself. How utterly appropriate! However, he was stuck on what to pick. Although they were probably all good, he was not one for sweets. He wished they had a meat pie or something.
"Oh, maybe this. Sree- … Srai- … sriracha? Sriracha chocolate dulce de leche tart." He closed the menu. "I can never pronounce that word right. Chocolate sounds good, though."
"You're crazy," said Gray. "That's really spicy stuff."
"Not for me. It's good."
The waiter left, and the light above shifted back to golden, with blue and pink battling until it seemed like they were bathed in lavender. Somehow, even that looked good on Gray, a regal purple shimmering in his dark hair. His own personal ice prince!
Natsu stretched his arm across the table while it was empty and held out his hand. Gray looked down at it, a little startled at first; then he smiled and took the offered fingers. Natsu's warm hand tightened on his, and their eyes remained locked.
"Are you enjoying this?" asked Natsu.
"Yeah. Crazy good food here. I've never had veal like that in my life. How did you hear about this place?"
"Oh, some friends recommended it," he said, trying to dismiss it. "I had to save up to afford it."
Gray chuckled. Then this meal really was Natsu's gift, despite Mira telling him not food. Then again, a restaurant like this was about far more than mere food.
"My treat, by the way," Natsu added. "This is my way of apologizing for those six months." He looked slightly abashed as he stared down at his and Gray's hands gripping one another. "It's our one year anniversary, yet it probably should only really be six months. I broke your heart for half of this year."
"Natsu—"
"And I've decided," he cut in, "I'm going to make up for that. This coming year, I'm making up for those six months. That's my goal and my mission. I … I never considered us to really be apart, but I wasn't there for you. We missed so many holidays," he sighed. Christmas, New Year, Valentine's Day, White Day: so many holidays that were specifically for lovers!
Gray squeezed his hand. "You needed time. So did I."
"Yeah. And I'm better. Getting better," he corrected. "This year, I'm going to really put effort into it. I'm going to make sure every day is important to us."
"Is that so?" Gray smiled at just how determined Natsu looked. He truly was adorable when he got serious. "Then I look forward to it."
"Also, I, um…" Natsu suddenly looked bashful. "I was thinking about things … about us … and I … I got—"
Just then, the waiter returned with dishes. Their hands pulled apart as the space between them filled with food.
Natsu's eyes lit up as soon as he saw the slice of creamy chocolate topped with a gleaming red chili pepper. He dug right in and closed his eyes as the chocolate seemed to melt over his tongue, tingling in spicy goodness.
"Oh gawd, dis ish good!" he said with his mouth full. He gulped hard. "Mira needs to learn this recipe. Seriously, you should try this." He took another bite and closed his eyes again, humming and not caring if he got weird looks from other diners.
Gray, however, had paused with his fork in his hand, staring down at the cake. It was green mint flecked with black crushed cookies, with a star-burst dollop of whip cream on the top. Right in the middle of the whip cream, he saw a glint of gold and the rainbow reflection of a diamond.
His heart dropped and thumped in a panic. A ring. Shit! Oh shit, shit, shit! A goddamn diamond engagement ring.
He realized it was secured above the cake in a clasp pierced down through the whip cream, keeping it out of the messy sweetness. He looked up at Natsu, but the Dragon Slayer was having an almost orgasmic love affair with his chocolate tart.
"Natsu?" he said, but his words barely escaped his choked throat.
"Do you like it?"
Gray shivered and looked down again. An engagement ring! He felt like he was five seconds away from a panic attack.
"Natsu, you … are you … oh damn." He felt dizzy, shaking deep inside.
"Gray?" Natsu swallowed his chocolate down. "Don't you like it? It's a special evening. If you don't want it…"
Gray plucked the diamond ring off the clasp in the cake and held it up.
Shit, it looks really expensive as well.
A huge stone had been a cut in a way that sent the light scattering into many colors. Natsu had been going on missions all month to save up money. A lot of money. For this?
"Gray, what—?" Natsu choked as he saw Gray's face and then the ring.
"Natsu—"
"Wait!"
"Something like this … so soon…"
"Hear me out."
"I'm … honored, really. I'm glad you feel that strong about this, but … shit, I can't—"
"That's not mine!" Natsu yelled in a panic.
Gray jolted at the shout. "Not … huh?"
Instantly, a waiter raced over. "I am so sorry. My deepest apologies. You ordered the same dessert as the couple over there," he said softly, pointing to two oblivious lovers staring into each others' eyes without a care for the rest of the restaurant. "It was a mix-up. She was supposed to get the ring. Oh dear, you can see her girlfriend looks confused. Dear oh dear! I will get you a new dessert, and I will remove the charge for both of your desserts. We'll have to put the ring in a glass of champagne or something for the lucky couple," he muttered to himself. "Oh dear! My sincere regrets for the mistake."
The ring was plucked out of Gray's numb fingers, and his cake was taken away, to be replaced in under a minute by a new one. This cake had only the dollop of whip cream with a cookie instead of a diamond ring.
Still, Gray stared at the cake like it was now cursed. His nerves were shaking, and deep in his chest his lungs shivered as he tried to breathe steadily.
"Gray?" Natsu asked, now looking deeply concerned. "I wasn't going to … I mean, I know we're not ready. I wouldn't push you into something like that so quickly."
"Y-Yeah, it's … it's fine." He tried to laughed it off. "A mix-up, that's all."
Part of him was relieved. Turning down a proposal would have utterly ruined the evening. Merely as much as he did put a damper on the day. Another part of him was depressed as he realized he really was about to turn down Natsu's (apparent) proposal. It saddened him and confused him, because there was a tiny piece of him that really wished Natsu felt that way. Even if Gray himself was not ready, it would have been nice to know that Natsu wanted him forever.
"Are you going to eat?"
Gray suddenly remembered to breathe. The shock really had gotten to him. He took a long sip of wine, nearly finishing the glass, then picked up his dessert fork again; however, he hesitated as he glared at the inauspicious cake.
"There are no surprises in here, right?" he asked suspiciously.
Natsu chuckled, but the twist of his eyebrows showed how concerned he was. "Nope, just food hopefully. If you taste any Jewels crammed in there, don't get them stuck in your throat."
Gray finally dug into the cake. It was amazingly good, and he almost wished the waiter had not taken the other slice away.
They heard a squeal from across the restaurant. The enamored couple had finally gotten the ring in a complimentary glass of champagne. The girl obviously was going to say yes.
Seeing the two kiss and cry stung Gray. They looked so happy, so eager to start a life together. As they kissed and the proposing lady wiped the tears from her girlfriend's eyes, Gray saw that they were deeply in love.
Was it even possible for him to reach such a point?
"Gray?" Natsu's voice was still edged with worry.
He knew his smile must look fake, but it was the best he could do. "Those ladies are real lucky. Maybe one day we'll be like that."
Natsu blushed that Gray would even dream of that. "Well, for one, I'd never propose in a restaurant. That's so cliché, and it's too crowded. I want to do it where it's just us."
"Who said you'd be the one to do it?"
"Because you suck at romance," he said bluntly.
"Hey!" Gray gave him a kick under the table. "I'm getting better."
Natsu beamed a smile. "Yep, you are. So if you're the one to ask, just don't do it in a crowded place."
Gray slouched back. If he was the one to ask? As nice as that sounded, it also seemed impossible. He did not like to admit it, but he knew it probably would be Natsu to propose.
If that day ever happened, of course.
Suddenly, although he had begun to turn him down just minutes ago, the idea seemed not so scary now. It was something for the future … far in the future … but still … maybe some day…
He realized his dessert suddenly tasted a lot better, and the lights overhead glowed to pink and golden again like a rosy summer day.
After dinner, they went to another part of the restaurant where there was dancing. The wine left Natsu a little tipsy, but dancing with Gray was always fun. As much as he grumbled that he could not dance, Natsu knew Gray was actually incredibly agile on his feet. He took the lead as the two twirled around the ballroom with others wearing formal attire. Natsu laughed at how fun it was to dance freely, and Gray smiled at the happiness in that wild face.
A whole year of having Natsu smiling at him this way!
It really was incredible to imagine that they somehow ended up together, let alone that they could go from rivals who used to beat each other up until one dropped unconscious, to being madly in love.
They did not dance long before Gray began to feel too hot. He had already thrown off his coat, so Natsu stopped them, retrieved the fancy blue jacket, and said they should go home.
The train ride back to Magnolia was predictably pathetic with motion sickness, but it was unavoidable. Natsu had hoped to get a room to stay by the restaurant, but apparently since it was a posh beach resort, those rooms booked up months in advance, so they had to get back home before the last train.
Once back in town, Natsu insisted that they should go for a walk. This was also part of the Trimen's suggestions. They needed some time alone together, where they could hold hands and maybe even walk arm-in-arm. That was probably asking too much. Still, Gray and Natsu held hands when there was not much traffic around, yet walked more casually when it got busy and people started to stare. Gradually, they made their way out of the busy avenue and to the docks.
The moon was full above and made Lake Sciliora ripple in twinkling silver waves that gently lapped against mooring posts. A breeze had picked up, whistling past the masts of fishing boats, and the ropes that moored them to the docks creaked with the ebb and flow of the waves. Above, seagulls floated on the wind, their white feathers like slices of silver in the moonlight. Natsu tugged his scarf a little higher against the moist breeze.
Gray paused and leaned on a railing to gaze out at the lake. Natsu slipped up behind him. They had hardly spoken all day, but now there was a miasma of tension between them.
"You seem disappointed," he said cautiously. "Was the food not what you were hoping for?"
Gray jolted back around. "N-No! The food was awesome. Did you like it?"
Natsu excitedly exclaimed, "Best meal I've had in a long time." However, his face twisted up. "It's about … that, isn't it? The ring. You thought—"
"It shocked me, that's all," he said, cutting in. "I knew you'd probably want something romantic today. For a moment, I even worried that you'd do precisely that. I mean, that's … I don't know if … I mean…" His brain still struggled between liking the idea of being with Natsu forever and being utterly terrified of screwing up Natsu's life with his own problems.
"Are you disappointed that I didn't get you that?"
Gray's face went pale. "I … n-no … well, maybe, but … it's not that I want … sheesh, I don't know what to say."
"I think I'm asking the wrong question." Natsu hesitantly took Gray's hand.
He felt his heart beating frantically just like it had earlier. "Natsu?"
"I'm not proposing," he assured right away. "Actually, I agree with you. I think we're not at that point. We've still got a helluva lot of issues to clear up. Still, it's been a year. Maybe we spent half of that time apart, but still … it's a year of thinking, about what I want, how I hope my life will turn out. A lot has changed for both of us in this year. A lot more will happen in the future. We're not in any rush."
"N-No," Gray said, laughing nervously in agreement, although he felt his spirits darken slightly.
"Still," Natsu added, and Gray instantly looked back up with renewed anticipation. "Still, I … I think we … should maybe…" He growled in frustration as words failed him. "Dammit, I knew what to say an hour ago." He tapped his foot as he tried to come up with how to express himself clearly. "Would you want to … sometime in the future … aim for that? Make it a goal?"
Gray swore all sounds around them came to a halt. "Do you mean … marriage?"
Natsu bit his lower lip; hearing Gray say it made him worry if this was too much after all. "Is that something you might possibly want? Later? When we're ready?"
Gray blinked, first utterly stunned into silence, but then he felt moist heat beading in his eyes. He had to forcefully blink his eyelids to hold back the tears. Instead, he sputtered out a shaky laugh, realizing this was something he wanted, and something that scared him, yet here was Natsu offering to make it a goal. Not a proposal, but something to fight for. Together!
"I wouldn't mind. Someday."
"Then … I actually planned to give this to you at dinner, but the ring mishap totally ruined it."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a rectangular box. Inside were matching bracelets. They were a braid of silver, gold, and copper. In the center was a titanium infinity knot. On one end of the knot was a small but fiery red ruby, and on the other end was an ice blue sapphire. In the center of the knot, where the two ends met, gleamed an amethyst.
Gray gawked at the metal bracelets. "Natsu!"
"They're like promise rings, except I figured we punch people so much, rings would be rather stupid. They're … promise bracelets? Or something." Natsu blushed and laughed with a shrug. "I don't even know. I just wanted to get you something special, so I had them custom-made. They're tempered in magic to not melt or shatter in extreme temperatures. After all, I wouldn't want to be brawling with you and accidentally melt off your promise bracelet."
"Promise … bracelet?" Gray muttered, still staring at the three gems.
"W-Well, I mean, they don't have to be promise anything, if you don't want that. They could be just plain anniversary bracelets, but … but if you do want … I mean, i-if that's a goal we can make … look, I'm gonna shut up now. Just take it."
Gray chuckled at his awkwardness. He picked up one of the bracelets and wrapped it around his wrist.
"W-Wait!" Natsu tucked the box under his arm. "Let me connect it."
Gray grinned as he held his arm out. Natsu looked far too serious as he attached the clasp at the ends. Then Gray put the matching bracelet on Natsu's wrist. They held their arms out and looked at the metal bracelets gleaming in the light of a dock lamp.
"This is awesome." Gray leaned forward and kissed Natsu on the cheek. "Thanks."
"It's not stupid?" he asked worriedly.
"Not at all. You always were the romantic one," he said, remembering the first months of dating, how it was always Natsu who came up with romantic ideas. That never changed, and he was glad. "I can't wait to show everyone at the guild. Promise bracelets!"
Natsu nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Th-They don't have to be that."
"Well, that's what I'm gonna call them."
"Really? It's not dumb?"
"Sheesh, will you stop it! It's romantic, and they're awesome. I really want something to show we're a serious couple. I mean, we're not ready for marriage yet, but this shows that we're committed to each other."
"Y-Yeah, exactly," he said, feeling elated that Gray understood his intentions.
"Besides, this is better than my gift."
Natsu's eyes lit up. "You actually bought me something?"
"Of course I did! It's our anniversary, after all. I'm not sure if it'd ruin the mood, though."
"Why? What is it?" Deviously, he asked, "Is it something sexy?" By Gray's slight blush, Natsu knew he had guessed right. He whispered since they were in public. "I wouldn't mind that tonight, if you want. I mean, it's the anniversary of me … um … losing my virginity also, so … i-if you want…" He ran his hand sensually up Gray's chest. "…I'm up for it."
It was so tempting to hide on one of these boats and take him right there. However, Gray wanted to give Natsu his gift tonight, while it was still technically their anniversary.
He asked, "Don't you have some grand romantic evening planned?"
Natsu chuckled stiffly and shrugged. "Actually, this was about it."
Gray reached down and took Natsu's hand. He gazed at the bracelet gleaming against his skin. "How about this: we stop off at the guild, show everyone this, then we go to my place. I'll give you your present, but you get to decide what we do from there."
Natsu lifted an eyebrow. "I decide?"
"You also have to decide if you want to accept the gift."
"Of course I'd want any gift from you. Well, so long as it's not a jerk gift, like fart-scented donuts."
Gray sneered in disgust. "You are seriously weird. Where the hell do you come up with these ideas?"
"You see, once it was Gildarts' birthday, and so Happy and I spent a whole week eating beans and brussel sprouts so we could make—"
"Never mind that I asked!" Of course, he did something that idiotic. And to Gildarts, no less. "Come on, flame-brain."
Gray yanked him to follow. They walked up from the lake and to the hill where Fairy Tail sat. There was still a crowd inside although it was getting late. When they walked in wearing their fancy suits, people in the guild whistled and catcalled them. Mira squealed that they looked so dashing, while Gajeel tossed playful insults about looking like stupid dress-up dolls.
Lucy ran up and grabbed Natsu's wrist. "Is this it? What you told me about?"
Happy flew up. "Aye! I helped him to pick it out."
Gray said, "I thought you didn't know what he was getting."
The blue cat gave a wide shrug. "Well, I didn't at the time you asked me. It took Natsu a while to make sure it was perfect. He actually wanted a diamond in the center, but I said—"
"Happy!" Natsu shouted, turning bright pink with embarrassment.
Gray gawked at him. Had Natsu honestly almost bought him a diamond bracelet? That was way too much like a proposal. Besides, how expensive would something like that even be?
Lisanna shouted from across the room. "Natsu, let me see!"
Lucy dragged him along with her, while Gray got pulled another way by guild members who wanted to see Natsu's gift. Gray quickly got the sense that Natsu really had asked everyone in the guild for advice.
"An amethyst?" Wendy reached forward and touched the stone, admiring the way it gleamed. "What an interesting choice. I mean, I get that he picked the ruby to represent him, and the sapphire probably for you, but amethyst!"
Gray shrugged. "It's just a combination of the colors, right?" He had not really thought much into it beside blue and red made purple.
"That could be it, and probably why Natsu picked it. It's just interesting given the meaning behind the gem."
"Meaning? Like how flowers have meanings?"
Wendy nodded. "Precisely. Grandeeney taught me about it. In ancient times when magic was less common and lacrima crystals were rare, gems were used for magical purposes. Amethysts in particular are a protective stone. They were thought to protect a person against psychic attacks, as well as simply on journeys. Travelers would carry one for good luck. They were also thought to heal a person emotionally. They were used to help a person getting over grief or trauma, bringing about emotional stability and inner strength. They were said to magically help people with addiction and compulsion issues. In health, they were said to help with insomnia, headache, drinking problems, phobias—"
"Phobias?" Gray cut in sharply.
She shrugged. "That's the ancient belief Grandeeney taught me. Likely, they were used like lacrima crystals, and some healing wizard simply imbued the crystals with different types of magic."
Gray looked down at the bracelet, and he rubbed over the oval amethyst. Had Natsu known any of that when he picked that particular stone? Happy said he had wanted a diamond, so maybe the amethyst was merely a backup plan, picked randomly.
Or maybe whoever made this—Natsu had said it was custom-made—explained the meanings behind gemstones, and he picked this particular jewel on purpose.
Erza suddenly grabbed Gray in a headlock and yanked him over. He struggled to breathe as she forced him across the guild room.
"What are you two doing, one on one side of the room, one on the other? It's your anniversary. You two should be side by side the entire time."
"Not … ack … not my fault … hurk … I got pulled away," he gagged out, trying to grab at her armored arm.
Gray was practically thrown at Natsu. He tripped, began to fall, and Natsu barely managed to catch him. Gray was dipped back, Natsu leaned over above him, and they froze as they looked at one another in this awkward yet romantic pose.
"Kiss, kiss, kiss!" the crowd cheered.
Gray felt panicked. Kissing? In public? Like this?
However, Natsu had an impish smile. Despite Gray trying to choke out a protest, Natsu leaned over and kissed him, dipped back so romantically. The guild howled in wild approval. Although Gray felt humiliated that they were all watching him—especially since he was the one being held like a fucking princess—he still loved the warmth of Natsu's lips. He was relieved when Natsu yanked him back up. No tongue, nothing erotic, just a kiss.
"Oh, you two!" Lucy bounced up and hugged them both. She also pulled them in closer and whispered, "Seriously, I'm glad everything is working out now."
"Thanks to you and Loke," Natsu whispered back.
She winked and left it at that, since just then Happy flew up to join the hug, and then Erza crushed all of them.
As the party drifted, Happy whispered privately to Natsu. "Are you staying the night with Gray?"
Natsu blushed and nodded. He still wondered what Gray got him. Something he had to decide to accept? It sounded strange, but if it was sexy then it would definitely be a fun ending for the night.
Happy sagely patted Natsu's arm. "Stay as long as you want. I'm going to spend tomorrow fishing until I catch a really, really big fish, and then I'm going to give it to Carla." He sighed as he imagined how happy she would be to accept it.
Natsu chuckled and patted his head. "Use our good bait, and go to that one spot by the willow tree. That's where the biggest fish are."
"Aye, sir!"
Natsu came up to Gray, who was chatting with Macao, and tugged on his sleeve. When Gray looked down, he saw a diffident look, and yet Natsu's pupils were huge with lust.
"Well, guys," Gray announced, "I have one little surprise just for Natsu. If you'll excuse us."
"It better be golden handcuffs," Cana shouted out.
Gray glared at her. "It's not handcuffs."
She nodded guilefully. "Ah, toys."
"Sheesh, it's not a sex toy either. Get your mind out of the gutter."
Natsu was stunned. He honestly thought this was going to be a sex toy as well.
So what was it?
Gray pulled Natsu by the hand before other people shouted out lewd guesses. Mostly, he wanted to get away before someone guessed right and his face betrayed him. Knowing Cana's pervy mind, she probably would have been correct in another three guesses.
He paused before they reached the guild gates and suddenly pulled Natsu aside into the shadows of the souvenir shack. Natsu went eagerly, and they both slipped behind the little stand. Gray thrust Natsu up against the stone wall that put a barrier between Fairy Tail and the rest of the town. He kissed Natsu hard; he had been wanting to do this all night, but especially after that gentle kiss earlier, he needed to do something in public, yet out of view, how he preferred it.
Natsu's hands roamed over him and down to Gray's ass, yanking him in closer. Gray surged in, pinning Natsu hard against the wall and frotting up against him.
"Damn, I would take you right here," he said in a hoarse, ardent whisper. However, Gray broke free from the kiss and wiped his lips dry. "But I'm not doing that in public, not where we can get caught, at least."
"I wouldn't mind if you did," Natsu said with a suggestive lick.
Already feisty and horny? Good! Gray knew his gift was a bit of a risk, but if Natsu wanted it … if he was already like this … it truly would make this anniversary perfect.
"I'm gonna take you to my place…" Gray leaned into his ear and whispered. "…and get you naked!"
Natsu almost moaned, but he bit his lip to hold it back. Gray grabbed his hand firmly, and Natsu followed him, eager to find out what Gray had planned for this special anniversary night.
He watched the moonlight reflect on the bracelet, the red, blue, and purple.
Purple, like the blend of their elements.
Purple, like royalty: he the son of the Flame Dragon King, and Gray his ice prince.
Purple, an amethyst, which was perfect when he saw a chart at the jewelry maker's store with the meaning of gems and realized what this stone was believed to do.
If it could cure his fears, if it could banish Gray's phobias, if it could ease the scars of the past and lessen the anxiety that had permeated their relationship from the beginning…
If this symbolic bracelet—their promise bracelet—could do all that…
He wanted to be together with Gray … forever. One day, he wanted to give him a ring, with an actual diamond, a huge one, and he wanted to know Gray would not panic like he had tonight. One day—one day—they would both be at a point where they could make that goal they promised to aim for on this special night.
One day…
End of Chapter 60
A/N: Since this site doesn't allow images, I'll have to direct you to my picture of the promise bracelet posted on Tumblr.
http://wildrhov.tumblr.com/post/157015032849/
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