A New Home (Gratsu)

Bruised Pride

For an ice block Gray could move surprisingly fast. Natsu, despite all of his running, still couldn't catch up to him as Gray continued to slide towards the entrance. Not one to accept defeat Natsu pushed himself to his limits as he lit his hands on fire. If he was going to leave this world today Natsu wanted to leave it as a human jetpack smushed into the side of a building.

"I had a nice view back there but I can't be completely selfish. I thought I'd give you a good one!" Natsu managed to say between gasps as he rocketed past Gray. On a regular day Natsu convinced himself that he would have won already if he had the chance to warm up a little bit. He gave himself a mental kick to make sure that he didn't fall behind like that again.

From a young age Natsu had never accepted loss very well. His father Igneel is well known for being one of the strongest mages in the world. He is able to actually transform himself into a dragon, the physical manifestation of pure magic. Natsu always felt his father's strong hands pressing down onto his shoulders no matter how kind and supportive Igneel was towards him.

Natsu saw the automatic doors of the mall and knew that victory was within his grasp. Unfortunately for him he suddenly slipped on a patch of ice that appeared out of nowhere and skyrocketed out of control. Since it was the middle of summer he knew it could only mean one thing: Gray was cheating again. That was the only thought that crossed his mind before he slammed into the doors which just couldn't open fast enough. As he fell to the ground he saw Gray slide past him with his arms thrust in the air.

"Victory is mine! What do I get for winning, Natsu?"

"Shut up."

"Whoa no need to be so rude Natsu it was ju-"

"I said shut up!"

Gray flinched at the anger in Natsu's voice, not quite sure what he had done wrong. He didn't have a chance to ask Natsu what that was all about though since the boy had shot up and stormed into the mall, leaving Gray alone. Standing at the entrance, unsure of where to go, Gray felt the uncomfortable stares of the families and groups of friends around him. Gray's cheeks tinged pink when his eyes meet the gaze of an older woman beside him. They had all seen Natsu blow up at him.

"I must have really messed that up... I thought we were just having fun! Way to go Fullbuster... Now you're all alone in an unfamiliar area AND one of your new friends, no matter how annoying they are, has decided they probably hate you now. Good going!"

Deciding against wandering a large building and possibly getting lost Gray sat on a bench near the entrance of the mall, waiting for someone to come out and find him. Out in the open like this he felt his anxiety begin to flare up as he convinced himself that he was unsafe here. In Gray's mind every pair of eyes became judgmental and every movement was a possible attack. When the phone in his pocket buzzed he nearly blacked out from surprise. As he pulled the phone out he saw Lisanna's name spread across the screen.

Lisanna: Hey Gray! I put my number into your phone in case we got separated! Guess that was a good idea cause I don't know where you are! uwu

Gray didn't want Lisanna to be upset with Natsu because of what happened. Especially since whatever did happen was probably Gray's own fault.

Gray: Uh... I'm still with Natsu! We'll be in soon!

Lisanna: Really? Cause Natsu's with me right now...

Gray: Is he? Does he look mad or anything?

Lisanna: Not really... Why? Did something happen? Where are you, Gray? I'm coming to get you.

Gray: No nothing happened... I'm at the entrance to the mall. I got split up from Natsu and didn't want to get lost looking for you guys... Sorry.