Just A Little Love

Part 4: Brother

Thanks for your patience! Here's the next chapter of Jall!

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"Natsu." Gray's voice called from beside me.

"What?" I answered, playing with the end of my scarf.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked with a sigh. "You've been way to quiet."

"Sorry for not having anything I want to talk about." I said with a pout.

"Not what I meant." He frowned, putting his hands into his pockets. I fought back a smile. I knew what he meant, I just thought that what I was worrying over was trivial and stupid. But it wasn't something I wanted to just dwell on.

"Hey Gray." I said, catching his attention.

"Hmm?" He hummed, "What is it?"

I stopped walking, the action causing Gray to turn my way. I looked down at my shoes. "How are we supposed to tell the others?" God damnit! My voice cracked.

"Don't you want to?" He asked, motioning for Happy to go on ahead after the curious blue cat made a circle back. I snapped my head up, shocked at his question.

"Not that I don't want to!" I replied a bit too loudly.

"Then what's the problem?" Gray raised a hand up, cupping my cheek.

I leant into the touch, "I..." I sighed, laughing a bit. "I'm actually kind of nervous."

That simple admission made him sigh before he put my in a headlock. I tried to escape his hold fruitlessly. I wasn't getting away unless he wanted me to. "That's what you've been worrying over?!"

"Is that so wrong?!" I cried as I was finally released, falling flat on my ass (much to Gray's amusement as he had burst out laughing). I pulled my knees up to my chest, laying my head on them, "I just don't think I'm ready for them to know yet..." I mumbled into my arms.

"Then we can wait." Gray said, holding out a hand. "It's not like I was planning on telling them today anyway."

"Eh?!" So I worried for nothing?! I took his hand feeling like an idiot.

"It's really none of their business..." Gray sighed as he pulled me up. "Come on, let's go before they send a search party."

I laughed, following after him. "How about a race?" What better than a friendly competition to ease up.

Gray flashed me a confident smirk, "You're on!" We stood beside one another. Each watching the other. "Count of three."

"One." I began.

"Two." His grin widened as we faced to our destination.

I waited a moment, holding the suspense before taking off, shouting the last count behind me. Gray called out before taking off after me. I ended up laughing my ass off nearly the whole way. Well...until we reached the doors, both gasping for air.

"I win!" Gray exclaimed with an air punch. He had managed to catch up in the last stretch.

"Yeah, yeah. Do you want a prize?" I asked sarcastically.

"Yes, I do." He turned to me, holding out his hand.

"I wasn't serious you know." I sighed. "I don't have anything to give you."

"Yes you do." I blinked, looking up at him. He was standing right in front of me, so close I could feel his breath. "Kiss."

I blushed. We were in the middle of the street and in front of the guild! There way no way I would kiss him here! "P-pick something else." I tried to look away, only for him to hold my head in place.