Last Words

Day 3 - Theme: Confession

Gray and Natsu had been fighting an enemy who was far more powerful than they had anticipated. Neither liked that they had to join forces just to fight on the same level at the dark mage, and they especially hated that, despite teamwork, they were pinned down in dire trouble. Natsu even sent Happy to fly off and bring Erza, as much as he despised the idea of asking for help to win a fight. It was safest to just stay in their hiding place and wait for Erza to arrive. However, they could hear Lucy getting hurt somewhere. Her cries of agony tore at both of them.

"We've gotta save her," Natsu insisted.

"I know! I'm trying to think of a way out of this." Gray growled. Strategy was not his forte. Lucy and Erza were better at making battle plans and weighing the strength of an enemy against the weaknesses of others.

Natsu growled deep in his throat. "How messed up! Why can't we defeat one lousy mage?"

"We could, but those bursts he creates gave me such a headache ... sheesh!" Gray held his head. "It's still pounding, like it messed up my brain somehow."

"Wimp!"

"Hey! You weren't any better. You just stood there like a deer in the headlights. Who do you think made that ice shield and saved your butt?"

"I couldn't help it. That light, whatever it was, made me forget where I was and what I was doing."

"Yeah, exactly. That's a dangerous magic that makes you forget things. Dammit!"

Natsu growled softly as they heard Lucy scream again. "I can't just sit here!"

"Do you have a plan?"

"I think so, but it's pretty stupid and suicidal."

"That's typical for you. Well, suicidal is better than nothing." Then he teased bitterly, "Got any last words?"

"Yeah." Natsu suddenly got right into the ice mage's face and stared straight into his eyes. "I like you."

Gray blinked in surprise. "You ... huh? What?"

"I said, I like you, Gray."

Suddenly, Natsu leaned forward, and his lips crashed roughly against Gray's mouth, stunning him into silence. Gray could do nothing but gawk, his eyes huge, his brain frozen in shock, as Natsu kissed him hard with fervent passion. Then, just as sudden, Natsu pulled back. He smiled at the ice mage's reaction. Priceless! He wanted to etch that dumbfounded face into his memory.

"I just wanted to tell you, before I forget everything."

Without warning, Natsu bounced to his feet and rushed out.

"Wait ... wait a minute!" shouted Gray. There was no way he would let the Dragon Slayer say something like that without explaining himself. Plus he realized that if Natsu confessed something that serious, his crack-brained plan must truly be suicidal. "Hey, idiot! Stop!"

Before Gray could scamper after him, there was an explosion. The same brain-numbing flash blinded Gray, and the heated shock wave threw him through the air, screaming Natsu's name.

Later in the hospital, Gray sat by Natsu's bed. It had been a whole month, and still the Dragon Slayer was not awake.

"Idiot. Another day you're just gonna sleep away."

Gray reached out and took the limp hand. He had held Natsu's hot fingers many times over that month, hoping he would wake up someday. It used to be that everyone on the team spent their time in here, waiting, worrying, hoping...