Chapter 1: Coming To Terms With Our Feelings

Ever since that incident in the cellar, Gray had felt different about Natsu. He was never able to directly confront him about... Kissing him... So many thoughts were in his head at once and it made him crazy. Gray found himself often asking if he had liked the kiss or not, if he liked Natsu that way, if it was all in his head, if Natsu thought about it too. 'Just stop worrying about it...' He'd tell himself whenever he thought too much, like right now. He was so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed Natsu approach him and probably ask a question. "Oi..." The dragon slayer waved a hand in front of Gray's face, "H-Hm..?"

Natsu smirked, "So it speaks…" He joked, "Oh up yours, slanty eyes." The ice mage sat back in his seat, crossing his arms. Natsu frowned, "So what were you spacing out about dream king?" He raised a brow. "I was just thinking about how great of a kisser you are." Gray closed his eyes and tipped his chair back, noticing a blush spread onto Natsu's cheeks. "Wh-What?" The flushed dragon slayer looked down, "I'm kidding retard…" Gray leaned forward and his chair fell onto all four legs. "What did you think I was spacing out about?" Gray technically had been thinking about kissing Natsu, but not whether Natsu was good or not. 'That would be dumb… right? Well….'

Gray began to question himself again, about his opinion on the kiss. "Oi!" Natsu snapped his fingers in the ice mage's face once again, "Just answer my question." Gray had a realization, "What question..?" He asked cluelessly, looking at Natsu. "Nevermind…" The dragon slayer shook his head. "What do you mean, 'Nevermind'?" Gray got agitated.

"I mean, nevermind. Forget about it."

"No, what were you gonna say?"

"Nothing! Forget it, underwear prince!"

"You wanna go, slanty-eyes!?"

"Only if y-!"

"That's enough!"

Erza stepped in, looking at each of the boys. "R-Right…" Natsu, who had basically climbed onto the table between him and Gray, stepped down. "Whatever…" Gray put a hand on the back of his neck and looked down. Everything was silent for a while other than the slight clinking of Erza's armor as everyone in the guild watched her walk away. Then everyone resumed their daily actions. "Tch…" Gray rolled his eyes and made a displeased expression.

Natsu sighed and shook his head, propping his feet up on the table. Both males looked annoyed. Lucy came holding a paper, "Guys, we really need to do a job. It's been forever… and I'm almost out of money.." Gray and Natsu didn't even look at her before mumbling, "Mehh…" in unison. Lucy looked down, dejected. "Oi…" She sighed and walked away, "I knew they wouldn't come…" the blonde mumbled upsetly.

~~~Time Skip~~~

Natsu climbed into the window of Lucy's apartment, "Luuuucyyyy~" He called, only for no response. "Hm?" The dragon slayer looked around and flopped onto her bed. "Oh? Gray..?" Gray looked at him, "Hm?" They stared at each other for a moment, "Where's Lucy?" They both asked each other at the same time, "Tch, like I know…" Gray retorted, "I think she went on that job…" Natsu thought out loud. "Great…" Gray muttered, sitting on the floor.

"So where's Happy?" Gray looked around, "Last I saw he was with Lucy…" Natsu crossed his arms. There was another silence. "Why don't you just leave?" The mages both asked at the same time, and both answered, "I need a place to sleep!"

"Oi…" Gray looked down, "That gets old doesn't it? Arguing all the time?" Gray fiddled with his fingers, "It does but- oh, your clothes…" Natsu looked at the ice mage, who had stripped down to his underwear… again.. "Oi~!" Gray's eyes went wide as he collected his clothes and hurriedly pulled on his jeans. "Weirdo…" Natsu shook his head. "I may be weird, but this isn't my fault…" Gray crossed his arms, not bothering with his shirt. "You, on the other hand." Gray looked over Natsu and was super close. "M-Me? What..?" The dragon slayer gulped, "What was that in the cellar, hmm?" The ice mage questioned. "What was wh-?" Gray cut him off with his lips and Natsu blushed darkly. "That!" Gray pulled away, "What was that!?" Gray crossed his arms. "Well…" Natsu looked down.

Natsu sighed, "I don't know…" Gray clenched his fists, "What do you mean you don't know!?" Natsu flinched, " I don't know! I just- Gray..?" The dragon slayer looked up at his friend, who had his arms crossed and was looking in the other direction. 'Is he… blushing..?' Natsu thought, craning his neck. "What?" Gray looked at Natsu, "Do you- are you-?" Natsu smiled a little, "Are you blushing.?" He asked, "Do you… feel that way for me…?" The dragon slayer was sitting up now, looking at his friend. "Tch…" Gray rolled his eyes. "I'm not… blushing.." Gray crossed his arms tighter, his eyes never meeting Natsu's. "Gray…." Natsu leaned forward and poked his cheek, "You are blushing!" He pulled at the ice mage's cheek that he had poked and giggled a little. "You do like me! Right?" Natsu tugged at the irritated Gray's face. "Oi!" The raven-haired male snapped, "Stop touching me!" He twitched, obviously irked. "G-Gomen…" The dragon slayer giggled, looking up at irritated male. "But…" He ceased his laughter, looking up at Gray seriously. "I-I need to know… If you really do feel that way or not…" Natsu looked down nervously, blushing. For once, Natsu was genuinely trying to be serious about something that was meant to be taken seriously. "I-I don't know…" Gray bit his nervously, not knowing exactly how he felt towards his close friend. 'We have been close friends for almost as long as I can remember…' Gray thought, 'But is it even possible for us to be more than that..?' He asked himself, mind racing about how he should answer. "I…" He looked at Natsu, feeling his throat dry up.

"I see…" Natsu looked down slightly, then looked back up at Gray. Leaning closer, the dragon slayer placed his hands on Gray's shoulders and pressed their lips together, closing his eyes. Gray widened his eyes in shock, "Mmf-!?" Natsu pulled him close to keep him from running, pulled him closer, closer, even closer. Gray let out a muffled surprised gasp as he felt himself fall under Natsu, their lips unlocking. "Oi! Idiot, what are you doing!?" Gray blurt out at the blushing Natsu, "Sorry…" Natsu bit his lip, looking up at Gray who sighed. "Whatever… Idiot…" Gray turned away from Natsu, never meeting his eyes. "Just… Get off me already would ya?" Natsu pouted his lip, "You look cute though…" He said, "Natsu!" Gray pushed Natsu down and switched their positions.

"Ow!" Natsu complained and rubbed the back of his head, "Gray, what was that f- mmf-!?" Natsu's words were cut off by Gray's lips. The dragon slayer widened his eyes, being pinned down by his friend. 'What-!?' His thoughts ran wild. 'What is he…?'