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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
- 66
- 67
- 68
Chapter 67
Couples Therapy
Two weeks later, Gray helped Natsu off a train, carefully guiding his green-faced boyfriend.
"Seriously, you're pathetic," Gray said with a heavy sigh. "I almost wish we had taken Happy with us so he could help hold you up."
"Shut … urp! … up, ice-stripper."
The salty breeze of the port town of Hargeon helped Natsu to revive. As they walked away from the station onto the streets lined with fish and vegetable booths, Natsu's sickness waned, and his natural exuberance shone forth.
"This place is always so awesome," he said, running from booth to booth. "Look at this fish, Gray. It's so funny! And look at this one. It sort of looks like Lucy."
"She'd smack you for saying that," Gray warned, but seeing Natsu's excitement made him smile. This was a good idea after all.
After what they had been through, after pain and old wounds and time apart to heal, they needed this, a time to be together, alone, away from the memories of what happened back at home, a fresh start to a romance that had been shaken to its core but survived.
In the distance, they could hear the steady pulse of the sea hitting the jetty that shielded the harbor. Burly sailors smelling of salt water and fish guts brought massive crates of the latest catch to be sold. The air was thick with the smell of fish, while seagulls raucously cried above and vendors with bombastic voices hawked their wares. There were vacationers reeking of cocoa butter sunscreen, lovers clinging to each other almost obscenely close, and families with exhausted parents and little children racing around with wide-eyed astonishment at the assortment of seafood fresh from the ocean.
They walked all the way to the Hargeon Marina Inn and dropped off their suitcases. Then they decided to have a little fun, not much, but some exploring was in order.
Of course, Natsu ran to the nearest saltwater taffy store and bought a huge bag of sweets. They looked at stores and laughed at sea lions sunning on the docks. As the sun began to set, they walked along the beach, scouting out the best places to play later on.
Gray pulled Natsu to a stop. The sun was just kissing the ocean, and like a bride, the whole world blushed. Natsu's face was bathed in pink, and his hair caught the sunset hues like a fire. That burning visage warmed Gray's heart, until he knew that he, too, was blushing.
Gray touched Natsu's cheek, gazed deeply into those wild and whimsical eyes, and leaned in to kiss him. Natsu could not help but have a small sigh escape. A kiss at sunset! Gray could be romantic once in a while.
Then Gray leaned back. Emotions boiled in his chest, but the words struggled to form.
"I … adore you."
Natsu's mouth dropped a little. Every time he heard Gray say that, it sent both chills and heat racing through his veins.
Gray's heart pounded so fast, he just knew the Dragon Slayer could hear it. His mind was in a whirlpool, emotions swirling, words whipping past him, none of them good enough to express the depth of how he felt. "I admire you, cherish you, need you…" A million words, a vortex of insufficient terms, but the one he wished to say would not bubble up.
Natsu put a finger to Gray's lips, silencing his frustration. "Just shut up and kiss me already."
That snapped Gray out of the cyclone, wanting to say three precious words, but struggling with the phobia that prevented him. How often had Natsu said, he did not need words, only actions. So Gray thrust aside that frustration and gave Natsu a sweet, long kiss.
As night settled in, they went to a restaurant right on the docks to eat some fresh fish. They were heading back to the inn, street lamps lit and the coastal fog like a veil over the grinning moon, when Natsu grabbed Gray's arm and stopped him.
"Hey, it's Laxus."
Sure enough, a little ahead was the imposing figure of the Lightning Dragon Slayer. Natsu had a mischievous smile, ready to bolt forward, but Gray suddenly grabbed his shoulder.
"Let's not say anything to him."
"But why?" Natsu whined. "He's in town as well. What are the odds?"
Gray pointed, and this time Natsu saw the slightly shorter person by his side. Only then did he recognize the slender man with long, green hair and a burgundy coat, and he realized their hands were clasped together.
"Oooh," Natsu whispered. "He's on a date with Freed."
"Let's just leave them to have fun," Gray advised.
Natsu pouted at holding back—he had wanted to challenge Laxus to a fight on the beach—but he supposed that if he wished for a private, romantic time with Gray, Laxus probably wanted the same with Freed.
Still, Laxus glanced back. His sharp ears and Dragon Slayer nose had picked them out of the crowd. He said nothing, turned back around, and pulled Freed into a store. Gray and Natsu walked past without saying anything.
"He's rather protective, isn't he?" Natsu observed.
Gray only hummed.
They reached their room at the inn and got ready for bed. There was a little bit of playful touching, but they were still getting used to this, holding back, consciously aware of limits now. It had taken Gray over a month not to flinch when Natsu touched him, and Natsu still did not fully trust himself.
Cuddles, though, were something they discovered that they really liked. Natsu clung to Gray's back, kissing his shoulders at times, nuzzling into his hair, sniffing the nape of his neck, and settling in to have his body pressed right up into Gray's.
He fits so well, Gray thought as nighttime peace settled over them. Like he belongs there.
That was his last thought as sleep pulled him out into the sea of dreams.
After a morning of cuddles and playful yet nervous kisses, followed by breakfast at a seaside café, Natsu led Gray on. They came here, not only to enjoy themselves, but to attend counseling … or whatever it was.
Natsu had the address and had found the place on a map of the town. Still, they held back from entering the building when they saw Freed standing in front.
"Why is he there?" Natsu whispered. "He's blocking the way in."
Gray began to piece it together. He had talked to Freed before, who hinted that he knew plenty about kinks. Now, at a counseling center for BDSM partners, a group led by a wizard, here was the dark swordsman of Fairy Tail.
"Maybe … we have to go past him."
Natsu looked over in shock. "You mean … Freed … is part of this group?"
"Could be. There's no point in being cowards."
Natsu grumbled, "I'm not a coward," but he knew Gray was right. Even if Freed really was part of this therapy group, that wasn't so bad. At least they would know someone. It was just weird for him; Natsu simply could not see Freed as the sort of person into kinks.
Then again, was he any different?
They walked up, and Freed raised an eyebrow at them.
"Well, good morning," he hailed the two. "Are you here on a mission?"
"We're supposed to go inside this building," Gray said sternly.
"I see," he said thoughtfully, glancing at Gray, then Natsu, seeing their uncertain faces that were close to humiliation. "If you're here for the group, you're welcome. I don't know how you heard about this place, but we accept all people." He moved aside and waved for them to enter. "Do behave, though," he added.
Natsu walked right in, but as Gray went by, Freed tapped his shoulder.
"I haven't seen you in a while. I was just wondering … if you're here, I'm guessing it was recommended, which means you two are having trouble."
"Yeah," Gray whispered, although he knew Natsu could hear him perfectly fine. "That advice you gave me backfired … horrifically."
Freed looked stunned, then miserable. "I'm sorry to hear that. It's hard to give relationship advice when you don't know the dynamics of the couple." He looked into the building's main foyer, at the group he had often counseled. Not always was the advice perfect. "I feel guilty, so I would like to help. I could set up a training session for you both. Free, of course. My way of apologizing."
"Training?" Gray asked in suspicion.
"Basically I observe while you two do … whatever it is you like to do in the bedroom. I can help with technique, correct any of your practices, maybe offer advice, especially if Natsu has sensitivities."
"That's … umm … generous." Gray blushed as the idea of someone purposely watching them have sex really turned him on. "But we're … well, sorta starting over. Things are going slow. We've not even had sex since that day I fucked up."
"I see. Well, my offer still stands."
"Do you … umm … offer that a lot?"
"Personal training? I wouldn't say a lot—I have my duties in Fairy Tail that take me away for weeks or months—but it's something I enjoy doing, helping others learn to get the most out of their sex lives."
"I see," he mumbled. "And, uh … would Laxus also be there?"
Freed chuckled with a glint in his eyes. "Would you want him there?"
Gray gulped hard. Two people watching! "Natsu and I, we did something like that before with … with another couple," he said, realizing he could not mention the partner swap with Loke and Lucy.
Just then, of all people, Lucy and Loke arrived. They nodded to Freed, but paused as they saw Gray, and then Natsu waiting impatiently inside.
"I see," Lucy said with a slight chuckle. "Welcome to the group." Then she went in to talk with Natsu.
Freed observed the faces Gray made at seeing those two and easily guess who the other couple was. "You know, Loke helped me as well in this. He's vastly experienced. I highly recommend using him one day."
Gray went bright red. "Y-yeah? Loke, huh? I guess he's got experience." He could hardly help but recall the way Loke had touched him that one night.
Freed wondered if Gray realized just how easy he was to read. "You could try him, but I wouldn't mind helping as well. I guess you could say that's partly my kink. I don't get off on it, but it does pleasure me to assist lovers who are new to this lifestyle. I can simply watch and train, or I can bring Laxus if that would make things more comfortable."
"I dunno. Natsu might be intimidated or jealous with another Dragon Slayer around, so maybe just you." He looked over to where Natsu was blushing from something Lucy and Loke were saying to him. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm not sure. We're not at that point yet. I'll let you know when we're able to get back into that sort of stuff, and if we need guidance."
Freed gave a genteel tip of his head, but just then three people came up to the door. Gray moved away while Freed greeted them, obviously a threesome he knew well, asking about their kids.
Others began to arrive, and Gray was glad—even surprised—to see that they all looked perfectly normal. They were shopkeepers, local fisherfolk, old, young, people of all ages and walks of life. The only hint that any of them were into kinks was when one lady asked for permission to remove her scarf, exposing a collar she wore underneath, and a group who Gray guessed were all subs crowded around to admire it.
As they watched the lady show off the new collar like a bride-to-be showing off her diamond ring, Natsu reached up and touched his neck. Gray caught the move and carefully observed how Natsu gazed at her in awe. Did he miss his collar? Was he wondering if he could wear it in public if it was a place like this, where people would admire it rather than think he was weird?
Freed went up in front. "All right, everyone."
There were seats set up like a little symposium. Gray took Natsu's hand and guided him over to a seat. An old couple with silver hair sat on one side of them—Gray had to wonder how people so old were able to do kinks, but maybe that was why they were there—and the threesome sat on the other side, the two men fawning over their pregnant mistress.
"Welcome," Freed began, "and I hope you had a good time off. Before we begin, we have a new couple here. You may introduce yourselves and share any amount of information that you feel comfortable divulging."
Natsu leaped up to his feet. "Hiya, everyone. I'm Natsu Dragneel, son of Igneel, the Fire Dragon King. I'm a Dragon Slayer in Fairy Tail. This is my boyfriend, Gray. We've been a couple for a little over a year, although kinda off and on. He's the kinky one."
"Natsu!" Gray shouted, feeling his cheeks getting red.
Freed prompted him. "How about you say a few words, Gray, before Natsu divulges all of your secrets?"
He stood and shoved Natsu back down to his seat. "Uh, yeah. Gray here." He tried to think of something, but his mind was in a fluster. "Pretty much what Natsu said, not sure what I can add."
The pregnant lady in the threesome looked over to him and said, "Usually we list what our main kink is, but you don't have to."
Gray felt his face getting red again. "Main … kink … well, I'm not sure if we have a main one—"
"Gray likes to tie me up and paddle me," Natsu shouted out. "He also makes me piss myself sometimes, although I'm not really into that. Occasionally we do things like ice play and hot wax. I really like that one. He's also a total exhibitionist and likes to try public sex, if we can get away with it."
Gray's mouth dropped that Natsu was volunteering to tell these strangers all of that. He thought Natsu would be the one to closely guard their kinks, given how he had panicked while wearing a collar in public. Perhaps a setting like this, where he was certain everyone was okay with what he did, gave the Dragon Slayer a feeling of freedom he desperately needed. Figuring that must be the case, Gray allowed him to talk as much as he wanted.
"Are you hiding a collar under that scarf?" asked the lady wearing hers openly.
Natsu reached up to the white muffler. "No, this is my special scarf my father gave me long ago. I have a collar, though. It's a really nice one, custom-made, with white leather and pink lining, and it says Beloved on it, because that's what Gray calls me."
Many in the group sighed romantically at that.
"You two sound like such an adorable couple," said the older, portly woman beside them.
Her ancient husband chuckled lewdly. "I know some good public places to have sex."
A flamboyantly gay man added, "And you've gotta try Freed's special room." He flipped his hand as he smacked some gum. "Totally."
Freed cleared his throat. "That's enough. You'll have time to chat with them after the meeting. Gray, Natsu, you're welcome here and free to come back whenever you'd like. Now, last month I was asked by Theodore to talk about aftercare and how to deal with sub drop, so let's get into that. First off…"
Gray listened, but most of his concentration was on Natsu, wanting to make sure he was okay. Thankfully, what Freed talked about was not really sexual in nature, but about what to do after the fun was over. The bit about sub drop in particular amazed Natsu. He leaned over and whispered.
"Hey, Gray, did you hear that? That happened to me once. Maybe it was sub drop."
Gray knew it probably was. The best way to avoid sub drop was for the dom to provide lots of aftercare, and Gray knew he was not the best at doing that. Freed's lesson hit him rather close to home. In order to be a proper dom, he had to do better at aftercare, to truly attend to his sub.
Although he and Natsu had opted not to use those labels, still, it was Natsu who was using pain and humiliation to plunge into subspace, and thus needed the aftercare.
After the talk and some round-the-room questions, of which Natsu asked many, there was a meet-and-greet with treats cooked by Freed, Lucy, and some of the other members. Many people came up to Gray and Natsu, but whereas Gray still felt uncomfortable talking about his kinks, Natsu laughed as he talked about the difference between paddles and floggers with one of the other subs.
Loke came up to Gray as he stood against a wall, trying to avoid people. He took a spot next to him and sipped a cup of punch.
"He's enjoying himself," he noted, watching Natsu as he stood surrounded by others. "Then again, Natsu gets along with everyone who isn't a rival Dragon Slayer."
"I'm glad," Gray muttered. "Natsu and I … haven't been doing too well this past month."
Loke looked over in worry. "More problems?"
"Yeah. I did something damn stupid, caused him to flip out, bad enough where he attacked me, almost killed me. That triggered him severely, and it took us a month to be even remotely intimate again. The only good result is he finally told me about his past."
Loke's eyes darkened. "He told you about … all of it?"
"All he could remember."
"Including what he discovered in the locked room back then?"
Gray gulped hard. "Y-yeah, you're talking about … about the pregnant woman, right?"
Natsu glanced briefly over at them, easily hearing what they were talking about, but just then a lady came up and insisted Natsu should try her cupcakes that were decorated with rainbow frosting. At the offer of food, Natsu eagerly bounded forward to stuff his face with sweets, much to the pleasure of the people who baked them.
"He told me," Gray whispered. "Her, the nurse he killed, mutilating that bastard who imprisoned him. All of it. I needed time to digest it all, and he needed time to trust himself after almost beheading me, so we've had a cool-down this past month. I think we needed it, especially me. Therapy has been helping a lot. In fact, coming here was his therapist's recommendation." Gray glanced around. "Seems like a good group."
"They are. Freed does a decent job. Sometimes he gives the lessons for the month, sometimes me, we haven't convinced any of the others to try." Loke glanced Gray over. "You're a well-read dom. Maybe you'd like to give the group a tutorial on paddling or rope play after you've settled in. This month's session was pretty tame. You should have seen June's meeting. We were practicing rope suspension in Freed's special room, and the place was so covered in knotted ropes, it looked like a spider got high on caffeine."
Gray laughed awkwardly. "I'm not sure if I'm good enough to give lessons. I mess up a lot."
"Many of these people are just getting into BDSM, or convincing a partner to try it out. It's also therapeutic to talk about problems we bump into along the way. Everyone messes up, Gray. Sometimes, we mess up pretty bad. The important thing is to learn from our mistakes and take care of our partner, even if that means keeping our distance for a while."
Gray hummed and glanced over to Natsu, who was eating a cupcake while the lady who made them looked happy that someone liked them. "I learned not to push his limits. We both learned to be open and honest, because hiding secrets from a partner leads to misunderstandings. I still feel really guilty, though, and I know he does too."
"Then that's what you need to work through, and do it slowly. I'll have a talk with Natsu as well."
"Thanks. He trusts you a lot."
"Well, that's good!"
Loke moved away, and Gray sighed. He was not so certain he made any progress by coming here, but he hoped Natsu did. Maybe meeting others like them was what he needed.
Gray wished he could figure out what it was he needed, though.
Gray and Natsu left the meeting, waving goodbye to Freed. They walked along with Lucy and Loke, who were staying at the same hotel as them.
"Maybe we can get together before we all head back to Magnolia," Lucy suggested.
"Beach party!" Natsu shouted, pumping his fist into the air.
Loke chuckled at his energetic enthusiasm. "That sounds like a good idea. I wouldn't mind a little fun on the beach."
Lucy slapped his arm playfully. "You just want to ogle the ladies in bikinis."
"Would you be angry if I did?" he asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
She pulled his tie like a leash and leaned up into his face. "I might have to punish you."
Loke nearly purred as he whispered, "Oh, I hope so."
Gray rolled his eyes. "All right, you two. We're in public. Save that for later."
Lucy let go of Loke's tie and continued on. "You're still so uptight, Gray. I'm rather surprised, considering your shirt vanished a block ago."
"Huh?" He looked down and saw his bare chest. "Dammit, I just bought that shirt last—" Natsu held the shirt out to him. "Oh. Thanks."
"Be more careful. I'm not your maid."
"We could arrange for that," Lucy offered with a sly chuckle. "I bet you kept that outfit from Gajeel's birthday party."
"Hell no!" Natsu shouted.
"It's in my closet," Gray said at the same time. They paused and looked at one another. "Oh," they both said together.
"You said you wanted to try playing a maid again," Gray said in confusion.
"Idiot! Don't tell them about that," Natsu shouted.
Lucy tittered. "Oh, don't mind us. You should see Loke dressed up as a maid."
"Lucy!" the Lion shouted in shock while both Gray and Natsu's faces went red.
None of them said anything more about that. They came to the hotel, but they were on different floors, so Gray and Natsu went to their room while Lucy and Loke continued on up the stairs.
Inside, Gray collapsed onto the bed and laid back. "That was … unexpected. To think Freed runs that group! Did you know?"
"No," Natsu said, cuddling up beside him. "I'm not sure if my therapist did, though. It might be why he recommended it, since it'd be someone we know. I felt a lot better with Loke and Lucy there as well. I trust them."
"Yeah," Gray muttered, thinking about just how much they had already shared with the two regarding their relationship, even inviting them to play along with it.
Natsu bit his lip and struggled to ask, "Would you … um … want them to sit in another time?"
Gray rolled his head over on the pillow to look at him. "Would you?"
Natsu squirmed with uncertainty. "Yes and no. I prefer you touching me, but … but I rather liked seeing you and Loke together, surprisingly enough. I felt … safe when we did that with them. More like, I wouldn't mind if they happened to be in the same room, but I don't want either of them to touch me. Only you."
"You just want them to watch? Wow, you're a bigger exhibitionist than I am."
Natsu blushed and hid his face away in Gray's chest. "I remembered liking the idea that they could pleasure you in ways I couldn't, and now … now we're facing the same thing. I can't do stuff, but you deserve to be pleasured. I … want you to be pleasured, even if it's not me."
Gray held Natsu's cheek and turned his head up to look at him. "If we agree to anybody else touching either of us, it'll be because we both want it, not because one of us feels guilty or inadequate." He gave Natsu a kiss on the forehead. "I know you feel safe with Loke and Lucy, but what about something a little different? Freed offered a tutorial. Sounds like he'd watch while I pleasured you. Would you be okay with that?"
"I dunno," Natsu admitted. "I mean, you and Loke already had a past, and I had accepted that, but Freed … I mean, unless you and Freed…?" He left it hanging open.
"No, but he's given me advice before. Not always the best advice," he realized. It had been Freed's idea—or at least a bad implementation of it—that led to Natsu flipping out and attacking him. "He seems like he really knows what he's doing. We can think about it, not right now obviously. I want us to overcome at least this part together."
Natsu smiled and nodded. "I'll think about it. Oh, but would Laxus be there? Because I really don't want to do it if Laxus is there."
He chuckled, glad he had already anticipated that. "Freed said he doesn't have to be there. It would simply be training."
"Training," he muttered. "I like training. And I wanna get back to where we were. I … liked all of that. Well, most of it."
"Oh yeah?" Gray stroked his fingers over Natsu's arm. "What parts did you like?"
He gulped at the sensual scratching of Gray's nails on his skin as well as the memories of everything they had done together. "I like being your dragon. I really liked the candle wax. I like whenever you freeze me to the bed. The paddling … w-well, so long as I need it."
Gray bit his lip and felt himself getting aroused as he recalled their playtimes as well.
"I liked that time you had my arms strung up. I mean, that was a dark time, but I ended up really liking how it felt. I'd like to try it again without all the darkness. And … and I like … w-when you jerk yourself off and I watch." He almost wanted to ask if Gray would do that now. He could smell the arousal increasing.
"You like to watch me touch myself, and you like to watch other people touch me," Gray said, continuing to stroke Natsu's arm with slow scratches. "Such a voyeur!"
Natsu wanted to protest, but he knew it was true. "I … I like … when we do something that drives you crazy. Like when we're in public. Your smell goes crazy when you know someone might be watching."
"Can't deny, that turns me on," he said. "What else?"
Natsu squirmed as heat pooled down below. "I like … the, um … t-the chastity belt. I really, really liked that."
"Oh?" Gray said slyly. "If you tempt me, I'll make you wear it every day."
"And … a-and when you make an ice dildo. That's always really good."
Gray licked his lips, knowing he was getting hard down below but not wanting that to get in the way of them talking. "I've told you before, since the ice is part of my magic, I can feel when it's inside you, so when I fuck you with my ice while you suck on me, it's like I'm getting it from you from both ends at the same time."
Natsu made a little whimper noise.
Gray leaned in to whisper in Natsu's ear. "I like when I get you to make that whimpering sound. I like knowing you enjoy it. I like to watch you surrender yourself to me, but most of all … I love that you trust me that much."
Natsu gasped as Gray said love again for the first time in a while.
"I love that you allow me to try things, even if we end up not liking it, or doing it all wrong. Still, you trust me. I really … really l-love that … about you."
Natsu stared in awe as Gray came so close—so close—to saying it. He could see his throat tensing to hold back shouts, probably screams of "No, I don't mean it that way" or even nightmares, flashbacks of horrors from the past. Natsu thought Gray was so brave to face his phobia just to say that word to him.
"I love that about you too," he said, hoping that would ease Gray's terror. "I love that you're always looking out for me, even when you screw up."
"Shut up. I don't screw up."
"You're always screwing up."
"I'm learning, okay? I've never done most of this stuff," he said defensively.
Natsu wrapped his arms around Gray. "Only with me?"
Gray gazed into those eyes, and his cheeks felt warm. "Yeah. Only with you."
Natsu bit his lip and tucked his head down.
"Sheesh, don't look that happy, idiot," Gray grumbled, feeling overwhelmed at Natsu's joyful expression.
"When you say mushy crap like that, of course I'll feel happy, stupid stripper."
Gray flicked Natsu in the head, and he poked him hard in the cheek in return. They began to tackle one another, laughing as they got in tickles, pokes, pulling hair, until they tumbled off the bed and hit the floor hard. Natsu rolled on top of Gray, pinning him down. He stopped, breathing hard with fading laughs as he gazed down into the stormy eyes and flushed face.
"I love everything you do," he whispered, and Natsu leaned over to rub their noses together. "Even the weird stuff, even the kinks I'm not into, I end up liking it because I can tell how much you like it, and I realize that the thing that makes me truly happy…" He leaned over and kissed Gray's ear before whispering, "…is making my kainushi happy."
Gray lost his breath at hearing Natsu call him that once again. When Natsu raised up with a smirk, Gray could only stare at him, up into those narrow, fiery eyes, feeling lost in their depths.
"My dragon," he whispered in adoration.
Natsu looked bashfully happy to hear him say that.
"Now … get your heavy ass off me!"
Instead, Natsu dropped all of his weight, crushing Gray down.
"Dammit, Natsu!"
Natsu snuggled deeper into him, purposely elbowing him in the ribs.
"Ow! Ow, you jerk. Get off!" Gray shoved Natsu over and leaped to his feet, holding his bruised rib. "You really are an asshole," he said, cringing in pain.
Natsu stood up and leaned into Gray. "And you're a dick. No wonder we belong together."
Gray paused, laughed, and shook his head. "That's seriously dumb."
"I thought it was clever. You know," Natsu said, and began to explain with his hands. "A dick and an asshole, together…"
Gray slapped his hands down as Natsu began to make a crude gesture. "Yeah, I get it, and that's dumb."
"Jerk!"
"Idiot!"
"Stripper!"
"Flame-brain!"
Natsu stole and kiss and smiled teasingly. "Dick."
"Asshole," Gray said, but he could not hold back his laughter. They both laughed and smiled at one another. Gray reached out and held Natsu's cheek with endearment. "We'll work our way back into those kinks you liked, but slowly this time."
"Yeah," Natsu muttered. "We really rushed into things."
Gray firmed up. "I want to date you properly."
Natsu jolted, and his eyes widened in shock. "Whuh? D-date? But … but we've been dating for over a year."
"Yeah, and we screwed up a lot of things along the way. I want to do it right this time. A fresh start, y'know. So, how about dinner?"
Natsu looked overwhelmed, but he nodded with enthusiasm. "There was a nice fish restaurant down the street. Looked kinda fancy, but if it's a date, it's worth it. A candlelight dinner at the beach is a good way to start this off."
Gray rolled his eyes. "You always were better with the romance stuff."
"Then leave it to me."
"I'll leave the bill to you, especially with how you eat," he teased.
"Screw you! We're splitting the bill."
"That's barely a date, then."
"Then you cover the bill."
"Hell no! You'd wipe out my savings."
"You suck at being romantic."
"I already know that, asshole!"
"Then leave it to me, dick."
"Then you cover the food."
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
They stopped, and Natsu slowly began to glare, realizing he had been tricked.
"You did that on purpose."
Gray chuckled with a scheming smirk. "Works every time on you."
"You suck!"
"Willingly, too."
Natsu went bright red. "G-Gray!"
He laughed as he turned away. "Get ready. I'm hungry."
Natsu slumped with a grumble, but Gray's words tingling in him. He wanted more between them … so much more than what they had limited themselves to. Was he ready to take things a little further? As much as he missed the sort of relationship they had, Natsu also barely trusted himself.
Yet he wanted Gray … so much!
Natsu realized right away, this restaurant was way above their normal level. He checked his wallet, then checked the prices on the menu, and whimpered as he realized he could not afford to order anything with meat.
Gray looked across the table in sympathy. Sure, it was a nice place, perfect for a date, but … what was the fun in eating somewhere if you couldn't afford to buy something really good?
"Hey," he said, jolting Natsu out of the menu. "Let's blow this joint."
Natsu blinked in confusion. "Blow it up?"
"No, idiot! Let's find a place where we can stuff ourselves."
Natsu grinned, and he happily left with Gray, shocking the waiter in a tuxedo as they waved farewell. Arm in arm, they strolled down along the docks until they found some tiny eatery, a place that could barely seat a dozen people. A look at the menu told them that this was more like it.
The chef there was happy to finally cook for someone who really appreciated the food. The diner was not fancy, but somehow the chef realized that this was more than just two guys out for a meal. He brought over a glass bulb with a votive candle, and when he could not get it to light, Natsu blew a flame into it, nearly melting the candle. The chef even put on a music lacrima, setting a little mood for them. He looked pleased to be helpful as these two had a cheap but romantic date.
"This is much better," Natsu said, looking around at the plastic seats and re-purposed table. "What's romantic isn't just how fancy a place is, but how much fun you have, and how much we both enjoy it. If we can eat a lot, we'll enjoy it."
"And if you don't drain my bank account, I'll enjoy it," said Gray.
"No!" snapped Natsu. "I'm paying this time. I said I would."
"I won't argue then," Gray said, holding up his hands.
They heard the chef chuckle and say to one of his cooks, "They're a cute couple." They both wondered how ridiculous they must sound, but figured it was fine. This was a date after all. As they waited for their food, they gazed at one another over the candlelight.
"Today…" Natsu whispered. "It gave me a lot to think about. Meeting people … y'know, like us … it made me realize we're not that weird. What we do, what we enjoy, other people are like that too, and they mess up along the way, and they trust one another so much that it's okay if things aren't perfect. That's … it's really … I guess it's what I needed to hear. It's okay that I'm a little strange and need things. It's okay that you can't say things. How we are, maybe it's a little strange, but it's okay, because there are others like us."
Gray reached across the table and held his hand. "I'm glad you had fun. I have to admit, I also liked hearing what Freed had to say. It gave me something to think about."
Natsu bit his lip. "Yeah … I've been thinking too."
Gray wanted to ask what had been on his mind, but their food came just then. With a gasp of excitement, Natsu plunged right into eating his fish with vigor, gulping it down and exclaiming how good it was. The chef beamed with pride, Gray laughed at his sloppiness, and the other people eating in the diner were stunned at how he ordered more and more, piling up plates, his belly getting bigger, yet Natsu could not stop eating. Fish, lobster, crab, squid, more plates of the fish he really loved: he ate with wild abandon. Gray sat back and just watched him, amused and happy to see him enjoying himself.
'Adorable idiot,' he thought.
Then it was time to pay the bill, and Natsu waddled out of the restaurant with a much bigger belly.
"Oooooh, so good!" he exclaimed in a gluttonous groan. "I haven't eaten like that in a while."
"You eat like that all the time," Gray countered.
"No, not like that. That was good food. Oh man, I could eat more."
"You'll pop."
Natsu laughed, but he knew he was way overstuffed. "Let me walk it off."
It was late, but they took a stroll around town, listening in to live music in pubs and little street shows by lamplight, until Natsu looked normal again. All the food was now making him sleepy, and half leaning on Gray, they walked back to their hotel.
Natsu entered the room and flopped on the bed with a satisfied groan. "I'm just gonna stay here for a week."
"Idiot. We leave tomorrow afternoon."
"Nooooo, wanna stay and eat more!"
"I'm not sure the town has enough food for you." Gray stripped out of his clothes and walked around wearing only boxers.
Natsu rolled his head over to watch Gray maneuvering around wearing nearly nothing. Sure, this was normal for him, but Natsu could still admire his body, the muscles, the scars, everything that made Gray unique from any other man.
"Damn, I love you," he sighed.
Gray froze in astonishment and looked over to him. "Are you okay?"
"Mm-hmm." Natsu snuggled down into the blankets. "I'm just … mmmm … really … really in love … with you." His mouth dropped open as he slumped heavily into the pillows.
Gray heard Natsu instantly breathing hard. "Sheesh." Eat, then sleep. So typical of him. Still, it was adorable. Gray came up to the bed and leaned in close. "Are you really asleep?"
The breathing was steady and deep.
"Natsu?"
He made a faint hum, but nothing more.
Gray bit his lip. "If I say anything, can you hear me?"
He waited, watching, his heart racing. Natsu suddenly slurped up saliva building up in his mouth, gulped it down, and then his mouth dropped open again, moaning in a half-snore. Gray waited a little longer, but he was positive Natsu was fully asleep.
"I love you too," he whispered. He gazed at the angelic face in the moonlight, laughed at how lucky he was to have this man, and shook his head as the antics of that evening played through his mind. "Asshole," he whispered, chuckling at that little argument. Leave it to Natsu to think calling one another an asshole and a dick was a cute couple's thing for two gay men to say. He was crazy, he was sloppy, he talked too freely, he ate too much…
And Gray loved every aspect of him.
He looked at their promise bracelets, how they glistened in the moonlight together, and he felt a flame burning in his heart. Gray leaned over, gave Natsu a kiss on the forehead, and whispered in barely a breath of air.
"I love you too."
Somehow, they would figure out what therapy worked for them. Somehow, slowly, things would get better.
And one day, he would say those words while Natsu looked him right in the eyes.
End of Chapter 67
A/N: Hey everyone! Look who's finally back.
It's been ages, and so much as happened that I could write a novel on this whole experience, from scrambling to get a roof over my head, to having to defend my roommate in court, an ordeal with a terrifyingly trigger-happy deputy sheriff, helping a friend recover from two horrific surgeries, nearly amputating my ankle on chicken wire, all whilst getting my 2nd novel prepared for Christmas. I honestly love farm life, feeding the chickens, ducks, and alpacas in the morning, growing potatoes and pumpkins, sunsets sipping tea on the porch swing, but sadly it won't last long. My landlord is getting married next year and will be moving closer to his future-wife's job. Not only that, but my husband's job is moving to another city. So while I'm in a stable situation for the moment, we already have to start looking for other housing. Well, we'll figure things out. This is all GREAT inspiration for some future story.
I managed a rare opportunity to make audio recordings of both this chapter and Chapter 66, when I realized I'd not done one. It's so hard to do audios now. I have to wait until absolutely everyone is gone from the house, since acting out sexy gay scenes really doesn't work with a super conservative farmer landlord, his cantankerous ancient mother, a homophobic roommate, and another roommate who has some nasty PTSD issues, so shouting (like I do in recordings with Natsu) is really bad around him. That's not counting the over-protective dog who barks and growls if my husband so much as kisses me "too aggressively" or pokes me to make me squeal, let alone loud shouts and sexy noises in audio recordings. (This dog has become seriously protective over me, to where my husband can't kiss me in front of the dog. He will barge between us and shove my husband away, and he's a big dog trained to attack and defend! I had to wait until he was at the vet to make these audios, or else it'd be a recording of barks.)
So please enjoy, or listen for the ASMR effects some of you guys seem to like, haha!
Chapter 66 - https://chirb.it/IDJt3J
Chapter 67 - https://chirb.it/ndmaLn
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