This is in response to a request through @fuckyeahgratsuâ ! The original request:
@chii-kyeoraâ I hope you enjoy!!
âCome on, Natsu!â Happy flew to Natsuâs back, grasping the mageâs vest in their tiny paws, pulling as hard as they could. Natsu chuckles.
âIâm almost done, Happy,â Natsu tries calming the blue cat. âWhy are you in such a rush? Weâre not supposed to meet Gray for another twenty minutes.â Natsu cuts the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in front of him in half, then wraps them in a napkin, before placing it in the picnic basket on the table.
âBut Gray said heâd bring me fish!â Happy continues tugging on Natsuâs clothes, the fire breather barely feeling their efforts.
âAlright, alright.â Natsu dismisses Happy, grabbing a couple water bottles to throw in the basket, before closing it up. Happy lets go of Natsu and floats in front of him, staring with wide, hopeful eyes. Natsu stares back for a moment before saying, âWell, letâs go than!â
Happyâs face lights up, and they zooms to the front door, pushing it open and flying out into the open. Natsu follows behind, laughing loudly.
Gray walked along the riverbank, a folded blanket under his right arm, and a plastic bag in his left hand. Thereâs a ghost of a smile on his face as memories of his dragon slayer flood his mind. His stomach has small butterflies as he nears the destination where he is to meet Natsu and Happy. Gray searches the surrounding area, only to find heâs alone.
Finding the biggest tree, Gray sets the bag aside, and unravels the blanket, laying it neatly on the ground under the shade. He nods to himself, satisfied with the placement before grabbing the bag of goodies he brought. Just as heâs about to sit down, Grayâs ears pick up the familiar sound of his boyfriendâs laugh. Donât need dragon hearing to find that loud bastard.
Gray turns away from the water, looking behind himself to find Happy floating beside Natsu, whoâs walking towards him. The closer Natsu gets, the clearer his expressions are.
Grayâs heart stutters as he sees his favorite grin spread wide across Natsuâs face.
âThere he is, Natsu!â Happyâs shrill voice is heard. Their wings flap harder to get closer to where Gray is, body shaking with excitement. âI told you we were going to be late!â They glare at their best friend before flying ahead so Natsu couldnât respond.
Natsu shakes his head, huffing under his breath, and picks up the pace. As he reaches Gray and Happy, he overhears their conversation.
âNatsu insisted we werenât going to be late!â Gray laughs at Happyâs buzzing energy before petting their furry head.
âI mean, you werenât late,â Gray looks up at Natsu at the edge of the blanket, a soft blush on his cheeks. âI was just, early.â Natsu smirks.
âExcited to see me, ice princess?â Natsu sets the basket down before stretching his arms behind his head.
âIn your dreams, Flame Brain,â Gray rolls his eyes, but the redness reaching his ears says otherwise. Natsu scoffs before sitting down.
Gray sits closest to the tree, his plastic bag on the grass at the edge of the blanket; Natsu sits beside Gray, their knees touching. Happy sits in front, facing both of them, as the two mages face the river they used to fight by as children.
âSoooooo,â Happy rubs their paws together, looking at Gray with wide eyes. âWhat kind of fish did you bring me?!â
Gray laughs. âI have tuna, cod and salmon.â Gray pulls containers holding said fish out of his bag and sets them in between the three of them. Literal hearts are in Happyâs eyes as they stare at their lunch. Their small paws reach of the cod while in a trance, until Natsu lightly slaps their greedy appendages.
âHappy,â Natsu starts, sternly. The blue exceed looks at their friend, a small amount of betrayal shining in their eyes. âWhat do you say?â Natsu raises an eyebrow, not backing down.
Happyâs eyebrows raise before their head snaps towards Gray. âThank you, Gray!â The little cat spreads his wings, flying into Grayâs chest to give the ice wizard a hug.
Gray chuckles, patting Happy on the back. âYouâre welcome, Happy,â The exceed lets go, and returns to their spot on the blanket, then looks at Natsu with hopeful eyes.
Before the fire mage can finish nodding, Happy is ripping of the top of the first container, quickly eating the cod, moaning in delight. Gray and Natsu laugh.
âAlright, flame brain,â Gray looks over at his boyfriend. âWhat did you bring?â Natsu pulls the basket into his lap, opening the lid.
âJust some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, apples, and a small cherry pie that I asked Mira to make.â Natsu takes out each item, a pink flush down his neck. âSorry itâs nothing special.â Natsu shrugs his shoulders, avoiding Grayâs eyes.
âDoesnât have to be if Iâm with you,â Gray speaks before he can think, and only realizes what he said when Natsu looks at him with wide eyes and mouth ajar. Gray matches that expression, unsure of what else to say.
Natsu can see the internal struggle Gray is in and tries to rid him of his misery. âGood, because I feel the same,â Natsuâs voice starts strong, then results to a whisper as he admits the same thing.
The wizards keep eye contact for a few silent moments, before Gray leans over and grabs a sandwich. Natsu huffs a playful laugh, unwrapping his own food and taking a bite. The two mages fall into easy conversation, while Happy devours his own lunch.
Happy snores softly, sprawled like a starfish on the blanket, whispering, âYummy fishies. My fishy Natsu. Yummy fishies.â They mumble the mantra, as Natsu and Gray lay side by side, staring at the darkening sky above them. They are holding hands, Grayâs thumb rubbing slow circles against the fire mages skin.
âSix months, ice princess,â Natsu is the first to break the quiet. Gray blushes.
âYeah, went by kind of fast,â Grayâs voice is low, not wanting to wake Happy, but to also keep the calmness surrounding them.
âTrue,â Natsu chuckles, then sighs. âWish it would slow down.â Gray hums in agreement, and the silence returns for a couple moments.
Natsu turns on his side, facing Gray, without letting go of the ice mageâs cool hand. Gray tilts his head in Natsuâs direction, an eyebrow raised and a flush down his neck.
âWhat?â Gray asks, the red on his skin increasing under Natsuâs wandering gaze. The pinkett grins.
âNothinâ.â Gray huffs in annoyance and turns back to the sky, though he can clearly feel Natsuâs smoldering eyes on him. The ice-make wizard allows the staring for a couple more minutes, hoping Natsu would get bored and give up, but he had no such luck.
Gray abruptly turns on his side, glaring at Natsu. âWhyâre you staring at me?â Gray growls.
Natsuâs playful expression turns to one of contentment and adoration. Grayâs features soften at the sudden change in atmosphere, but he doesnât back down.
Just as Grayâs about to ask again, Natsu says, âI love you.â
Navy blue, wide eyes stare at the fiery man, mouth agape in shock. There are a couple beats before Gray finds his voice again.
âY-you.. You,â But just because he could speak, didnât mean it would make sense.
Natsu giggles. âWhatâs wrong, ice princess? Finally donât have a response?â Natsu smirks, returning to his position on his back, letting go of his boyfriendâs hand, and puts his arms behind his head, closing his emerald eyes.
Gray shakes his head and leans up onto his elbow, staring down at Natsuâs abnormally calm aora. âDo you mean that?â Grayâs voice is frantic, scared almost, and it causes Natsu to peek an eye open.
âOf course I do, idiot.â Natsu sighs loudly, closing his eye once again. Gray just stares at his boyfriend, unsure of what to do with this new information.
Natsu can feel the tense energy radiating off Gray, and understands his boyfriendâs reaction a bit better now. Slowly opening his eyes, Natsu stares up at Gray lovingly. The fire user lifts his right hand, cupping Grayâs cheek in his palm.
âYou donât have to say anything back, but I want you to know,â Natsu pauses, making sure Gray is listening clearly. âI love you.â He enonicates each word, trying to get the emotion across.
Gray opens and closes his lips so much. Natsu fears Happy will mistaken his boyfriend for a fish. Laughing softly, Natsu leans up and kisses Gray gently. A small whine escapes the ice userâs mouth when Natsu pulls away, who snickers.
âCome on, icicle,â Natsu shoves at Grayâs shoulder to sit up himself. âLets get packed up and head home.â Natsu stretches with a groan before looking over at Gray, whoâs still a bit stiff. Natsu sighs and takes chilly hands into his own. âYou can come over for a bit, if you want.â Natsu figures Gray may not want to be alone right now, so he lays out the offer just in case.
Gray nods and stands, picking up empty bags and used napkins, throwing them in his original plastic bag to throw out. The two continue cleaning until the only thing left is Happy still sleeping soundly on the blanket. Natsu and Gray look at each other, sharing a chuckle, before the fire mage picks up his buddy, while Gray folds the comforter. Soon enough, theyâre on the track to Natsuâs home.
Natsu brings Happy to their small bedroom and places them on the hammock in the corner. Happy immediately curls into themself as Natsu lays a blanket over them. With a sweet smile, Natsu turns out the light and quietly closes the door.
When Natsu enters the living room, Gray is on the couch wringing his hands, but stands once he hears his boyfriend enter, walking straight up to him. Natsu jumps and stares in shock at the sudden energy.
âWha-â But heâs interrupted by Gray.
âI-Iâm sorry for how I reacted earlier,â Gray avoids eye contact with Natsu, but doesnât hold back from holding the dragon slayerâs hands, needing something to ground him.
âGray, itâs oka-â Natsu tries, but Gray speaks up again.
âI love you too,â Natsu sputters while Gray blushes furiously. âAnd I know Iâm a bit messed up because of my past, and youâve been so supportive and caring through it all, but I know I love you, and I want you to know that nothing will hold me back from telling you that, and reminding you everyday.â Gray lets out a long breath, eyes closing in the middle of his rant, fingers tightening around Natsuâs.
Without another word, Natsu squeezes Grayâs hands, causing the ice mage to open his eyes. Natsu beams, a sparkle in his eye. Gray relaxes.
âThen letâs get to bed, popsicle,â Natsu smirks. âAnd you can show me what you mean.â Gray chuckles, incredibly thankful for having someone like Natsu all for himself.
âLead the way, flame brain,â He gives a cheeky grin, lightly smacking Natsuâs rear as they quickly retreat to the bedroom in the back, door shutting and locking behind them.