Ice-Make: Software

Earl Grey Amore

Gratsu Week Day 3: (love) letters

I should clarify, this AU is set on the American East Coast.

Earl Grey Amore – based on a real tea: http://www.tamborinetea.com.au/earl-grey-amore-tea

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Gray's second day at work began already with a distraction. When he entered the cubicle farm, Freed Justine was already waiting by his desk. Lyon, the tech sitting beside him, kept making intimidated, brief glances up at the tall man with long hair flowing elegantly down his back, like Freed belonged in another century.

As Gray approached, Freed handed him a slip of paper. "Your instructions." Then he walked away swiftly. "Try not to race the clock in the future."

"I'm not late," Gray mumbled in protest.

He unfolded the slip of paper. The name of the gyro shop he mentioned yesterday was on it, along with a time. 12:10.

This had to be Natsu!

Lyon pouted as Gray slowly sat down. "So, what does it say? Freed said it was a company secret."

Company secret? Gray thought it must be normal for Natsu to dine out with his employees. Did this imply that it was less common than he had been trying to convince himself?

He crumbled up the paper and slipped it into his pocket. "Password," he lied.

"Oh, that makes sense. Can't just email those over the network." Lyon let the matter be and went back to his computer.

True, it was actually safer to write a password down than email it. That would also apply to setting up a date with your underling.

This is not a date! Stop it, Gray! You're crazy to think that.

Despite trying to convince himself that Natsu was simply being a nice boss, Gray felt his heart racing. He knew it was going to be a long morning.

At lunch he went to the gyro shop. Natsu was waiting outside, and as soon as their eyes met, he looked excited to see Gray approach. They ordered, sat down, and it was another meal of Natsu asking him all sorts of questions, while Gray tried his best to answer.

"You can ask me anything, you know," Natsu finally offered.

That stunned Gray. He tried to think of something, but not much came to mind. He would love to ask for details about that cyberterrorist brother mentioned on his Wikipedia page—that sounded fascinating—but he figured that was the worst thing to bring up.

"Tell me about how your father started up the company."

Natsu blinked in surprise. "About Dad? Uh, sure." He looked a little disappointed. Had he hoped Gray would ask him about something personal?

Natsu told him all about the founding of Dragon Enterprises decades ago. Most of this, Gray had already read about online, but it was nice to hear Natsu mention little details that were more personal.

"Sounds like you really admire your adopted father."

"I don't even think of him as adopted. He's just my Dad. And yeah, he's my hero!" Natsu declared enthusiastically.

That made Gray laugh, although he tried to hold it back. This man really was something else!

Natsu smiled warmly at the way Gray laughed. "Do you have anyone like that? A hero?"

"My mentor, Ur. That's why getting to work on ICEMAKE means so much to me."

Natsu rested his cheek on his hand. "Like you were destined to come to my company."