The Skull Hidden in the Sand

Shrimp Dreams, Stomach Fires, and Freedom from a Stalker

A/N - Aras' profile

"Okay, boys. The rest of the afternoon is yours. But starting tomorrow, I'll have activities planned out. So enjoy your break while you can~!" Mira giggled, slightly dementedly, before closing the door to their room.

"Alright, who's sleeping where?" Jellal asked.

"Natsu gets the floor." Gray teased, but Natsu acted as though he hadn't spoken and began to pace the length of the room.

"Mine." Gajeel grunted, claiming the bed by the window and flopping onto it.

"It's a little awkward...having to share beds..." Romeo commented into the silence. "But I'll bunk with Natsu-nii."

"Gajeel, do you have a preference?" The iron dragon slayer grunted in response.

"No, he doesn't." Lily answered, setting his bag down on the table. Freed poked his head through the door connecting the boys' rooms.

"I-if no one minds, I'll bunk wi-"

"With me!" Bickslow happily interrupted from behind him, flinging his arm casually over the green-haired man's shoulder. "We've been teammates forever, after all."

"Forever! Forever!"

"A-actually-"

"So Freed with Bickslow and Romeo with Natsu. Anyone else?" Laxus interrupted. Freed shot a forlorn glance at him, but said nothing.

"I'm not bunkin' with Stripper." Gajeel snarled. "I'm not dealin' with him losin' his clothes in the middle of the night." Jellal and Laxus looked at each other.

"Rock, Paper, Scissors?"

"Best two out of three." Jellal subsequently won twice in a row.

"Dammit. Fine. Iceboy, you strip and I electrocute. Got it?"

"I can't help it." Gray mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"AAAAUGH!!" Natsu yelled suddenly, grabbing his hair in frustration. "I'M GONNA KILL THAT GUY!!"

"What's the big idea Salamander?!" Gray yelled back. "You tryin' to give us heart attacks or somethin'?!"

"What's wrong Natsu?" Happy flew in from the ajoining room.

Natsu just growled and flames started to swirl around his arms and hands. "THAT ASSHOLE!! WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS?! Stealin' my teammates away, I'LL KILL 'IM!!"

"Natsu, relax." Freed soothed.

"What're you yammering about?" Bickslow asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"Yammering! Yammering!"

"The girls seem to have taken a liking to our greeter." Jellal answered, pulling his mask down.

"Really? We had some blue-haired chick. Cute, but not my type. What's this guy like?"

"Well, his name's Aras, he's blond, polite, and-"

"DEAD MEAT!!"

"Keep it down, Natsu. You'll bother other guests. Why are you so upset anyway?" Freed peered at him curiously.

"I dunno, but my stomach's burning and I need to destroy something! Or someone..." Natsu resumed pacing, pounding his fist into his other hand. He continued to rant, though not as loud, about Aras and the many ways he was going to beat the greeter.