A New Home (Gratsu)

Pink Hair is... Cute?

Sunlight streamed through the window deciding that now was a good time to assault Gray's eyes. Gray didn't curse at the sun for being rude which was very unusual for him. Deciding that that meant today was going to be a good day Gray sat up and turned on the phone that Lisanna, and the rest of the house, had given him.

    "Fuck!" He swore, probably a little too loudly. It was already noon! This wouldn't be a problem to Gray on a usual day but Lisanna had said that she was taking him out today. Gray slipped on his shirt from last night and quickly fished out a clean set of clothes from the cupboard above his bed. He tripped on his shoes as he ran into the hallway, cursing profusely the entire way.

Of course it was right about now that Gray realized no one had shown him where the bathroom was. He didn't know if he was late or not so he decided to play a game of Russian Roulette with the doors, praying that he would find the bathroom without embarrassing himself in front of one of his housemates. Gray walked down the hallway and sighed in relief as he saw a door with a sign taped on the front saying "bathroom". Sending out a silent thank you to whoever was watching over him today he stepped into the bathroom but suddenly wished he hadn't. His good luck seemed to have run out already.

Completely naked, and covered in steam, was some guy drying his hair with a towel that Gray didn't recognize. Gray didn't remember seeing him at dinner yesterday... If he had he definitely would have remembered. Gray's eyes traveled down the boy's chiseled torso, gazing at the light pink happy trail that traveled down his tanned skin. Gray let out a soft laugh as he pictured the boy dyeing his body hair pink. There was no way that colour could be natural on a human being. Apparently this boy had superhuman hearing as well because once Gray laughed he had ripped the towel away from his face, ready to fight whoever was in the room with him.

"Huh? Who the heck are you?" the boy said glowering at Gray, who jumped when he heard the teen's voice. Thankfully it didn't seem like he had noticed Gray staring at his body.

"I-I'm Gray..."

"The newbie? Sweet! Happy come look at the newbie!"

"Happy?" Gray asked. From the corner of his eye he saw a sopping-wet blue cat flying over to the two teens with a set of pure white wings. He assumed that this was an Exceed.

"Aye-sir, that's me! Natsu he's so... skinny! I think he needs a nice juicy fish," said the Exceed to the pink-haired boy.

"You're right... Ha! I could snap you like a twig, Gray! What's up with that?"

    "I'm not that skinny... By the way do you need like a towel or something?" Gray said, hugging his body as he felt their judgement.

    "Nah. I like to steam dry! Perks of being a Fire Dragon Slayer... I'm like my own blow dryer!"

    "Natsu I'm gonna go find Lisanna. She promised she'd brush me after we showered!" Happy said, already halfway out of the room.

Gray felt like the walls were closing in on him as this Natsu kid stared at him again, somewhat aggressively. He wasn't sure why but he felt like Natsu was judging him. Gray felt tears in his eyes and, as he grew upset, the air around him dropped in temperature. Gray's shallow breaths left puffs of steam that joined the steam still emanating off of the boy in front of him.

    "You alright dude?" Natsu asked the raven-haired boy in front of him with a worried look on his face.

    "I'm fine you stupid flame brain! Why don't you put on some clothes and get out of here so I can take a shower? I'm not going to strip in front of some guy I don't even know." Gray had to admit that what he had said was a little harsh. He felt a pang of guilt as the pink-haired teen flinched at his harshness. 'Well... Potential friendship with cute boy ruined... Way to go me...'