Icy Fire

Time ticks onward

The two fell into an easy routine over the next several weeks. Natsu would go out to light the fires in the morning, Gray would get up to make his breakfast. Natsu would return, they would eat together before heading off to their separate classes. They would eat lunch in school. Then at night the same processes would happen for dinner. Natsu was happy with how his life was. He was finding himself staring at the ice mage more and more.

As the two became familiar with each other their sex life had become even more pleasurable. They weren't afraid to tell the other what they liked and what they didn't. Happy was still chasing after Carla, although the female Exceed showed no interest in the blue cat like creature. Gray encouraged this. Natsu was supportive of his friend. Life moved on.

Then came the day it was announced the Knights and shifters would have a training class together. Natsu was ecstatic about the idea. Gray, being his aloof icy self, was far more reserved. Natsu had finished the fires and was just coming inside for breakfast. The smells from the kitchen were wonderful. Gray really could make anything taste amazing. Today they had bacon wraps with egg, peppers and cheese, a side of fruit, with hash and fried potatoes and coffee. Natsu came into the kitchen to see Gray slumped over his coffee cup at the table. The fire dragon washed his hands as he watched the ice mage. Gray didn't move.

Walking up behind him, Natsu wrapped his arms around the teen. Gray jumped, snorted and cried out "Huh? What?" he looked around and saw Natsu giggling.

"How did you fall asleep over your coffee like that?" the dragon shifter kissed his cheek before sitting down at his usual place.

"It isn't easy getting up so early to cook for you." Gray complained. Natsu sat back a mouth full of the delicious breakfast.

"I'm sorry. You don't have to. I can eat at school." He offered. Gray rolled his eyes.

"And go back to hardly seeing you, I don't think so." He sighed. "Look, I'm sorry I had a late session with a study group. I didn't get much sleep." He drained his coffee before pulling his own dish to him. As he began to eat he discussed with Natsu about this shared class.

"I wonder what we will be doing?" Gray offered.

"I dunno?" Natsu shrugged. Gray chuckled at his carefree attitude. He found it cute that Natsu hardly worried about anything. Standing up to take care of their dishes, he bent to get Natsu's plate. At the same time he was going to drop a kiss to the pink head. Natsu stood up, head butting Gray who cried out stumbling backwards.

"I'm sorry!" Natsu cried. "I was going to do the dishes for you this morning." He wailed. Gray formed some ice in his hand to hold to his fast swelling lip. He thrust the plate he held at the other teen.

"Here." He growled storming away to finish getting dressed and ready for his day. As he walked away, Natsu hung his head. It may have appeared to the dark ice mage that the dragons shifter didn't worry about much, but in reality, Natsu worried about everyone.

He cared for Happy and Erza as if they were his family. Gildarts was also always on his mind. He never knew if the man was alive, well or seriously injured. They would go months once even two years without seeing each other. Then there was Gray. Natsu was afraid of messing up that relationship. Gray meant more to him than just about anyone, and now he hurt him.

The pink haired shifter walked into the kitchen. He washed and took care of the dishes with Happy's help. Gray hadn't reappeared. Figuring the knight was upset with him, and therefore wouldn't come down until after he left, Natsu headed out to class. He had two before the training session with Gray.

"Hey, you ok?" Gajeel walked up beside the salamander.

"Yeah, just had a fight with Gray." Natsu muttered.