"I had to touch you with my hands, I had to taste you with my tongue; one can't love and do nothing."
― Graham Greene

It was a mission for just the two of them. They had done this before, rarely, but occasionally. They were deemed "the strongest tag team in Fairy Tail" for a reason, after all. Somehow, even before their hearts were connected, they could read one another. After all, they grew up together, they fought all the time, they knew how each other thought, moved, responded. Fighting side by side meant knowing what the other person was about to do.

This time, though, they made one mistake. Not a serious one, not involving fighting. It had to do with preparing for the journey.

"I thought you were packing the food," Gray shouted.

"Why should I pack it?" Natsu yelled back. "Happy and I have a hard enough time fishing for enough food for the two of us. I figured you would."

"I didn't bring food because I was bringing the tent and sleeping bag."

"Exactly! You were in charge of that stuff."

"So what, you're along for a free ride?" Gray growled in exasperation. "Idiot. We have no food at all now."

"Don't get your panties in a wad, ice princess. We'll buy something in the next town."

"I hope you brought money."

"Wait, why is this all my responsibility? You were in charge of bringing money."

"I did. I brought enough for one night in a hotel while we're in the city, and travel expenses. Didn't you plan on chipping in at all? How greedy can you be?"

"Greedy? You asshole!"

"Look, I said I'd bring the camping gear and money. Everything else was supposed to be your job."

"Camping gear includes food."

"No it doesn't!" he screamed in outrage. "You were the one who begged me to help you, so you should at least take care of the food."

Natsu's eyes narrowed. "It's not like I need your help, popsicle dick!"

"If you don't need it, don't ask for it, you flame-brain fucker!"

"I thought it'd be a fun outing, but you're making this into a disaster."

"I didn't do shit! You're the one whining that you're hungry but didn't even pack food."

"You're the one accusing me of being greedy and along for a free ride! If you're gonna be an asshole about this, then fuck you! I don't need you for a mission this simple."

"Well, now you do, since you forgot the food."

"You were supposed to bring the food!"

After exhausting themselves in a shouting contest, they decided to split up and venture off the main road to a nearby forest. Natsu figured he could catch a fish in the river, and Gray went searching for nuts, berries, or edible mushrooms. He used Ice-Make to create a fishing spear out of ice, which Natsu complained about, and a gathering basket made of ice for himself.

Natsu seethed as he stood knee-deep in the icy river, cursing quietly about the coldness of the ice spear and grumbling about Gray calling him greedy. He honestly thought that Gray's offer to bring the camping gear included food. With him and Happy, camping gear always meant a tent, sleeping bag, cooking gear, and food. He thought it was sweet that Gray had offered to bring everything for their romantic outing together. Now, instead of cuddling together for dinner, they had their first fight as a couple.

This was turning out to be the worst mission ever!

Slowly, he began to cool off. He supposed they should have clarified who was bringing what. Besides, they were resourceful enough to scrounge up food.

Just then, his spear managed to stab one fish. He raised it into the air with a grin. Two minutes later, he had another fish. Things were looking up.

He gutted and roasted the fish with his own flames right there by the river. Then he sniffed out Gray's location and proudly brought the fish.

When he arrived, he saw Gray bent over picking mushrooms. That ass stuck out, so tempting. He came up from behind and caressed the protruding butt cheeks.

Gray jolted up in shock. "What the...?"

When he turned around, Natsu had soft, serious eyes. He placed the fish inside the basket and set the icy container to the side. He softly hushed Gray, and his hands ran through the raven hair.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. Natsu started to plant soft kisses on the side of Gray's neck as his hands roamed around his chest. "I should have made sure what I should bring."

"No, I shouldn't have called you greedy." Gray hummed as Natsu's lips left scalding marks on his neck and shoulders. "I'm sorry, too. Sheesh, our first fight and it's over food. That's so typical."

"It is, huh?" chuckled Natsu. He felt relieved that Gray was not mad. "I really wanted to go camping with you, ya know."

Gray smiled and hummed again as the hot mouth worked on his skin. "I guess it's a good thing I suggested we travel on foot instead of by train, eh?"

"Idiot," Natsu muttered, nipping his earlobe. "I wouldn't have wanted to take a train anyway."

Gray moaned as Natsu sucked softly on a spot just under his ear, not hard enough to pull up a mark, but it was one spot that got Gray every time. He and Natsu had made out so many times over the past two months, they knew what places were best.

"H-Hey, squinty-eyes. We're supposed to find food."

"I did," Natsu chuckled slyly. His tongue licked all the way up Gray's neck. "And I'm hungry."

"N-Natsu!" Gray moaned as he arched his spine with the back of his head resting on Natsu's shoulder. Natsu slowly caressed his chest more, stroking up pleasure. Gray shuddered at the touches, and Natsu's mouth kept kissing his neck and back.

Gray thought again about what Rei-chan had said. He should make up his mind to do more, to not flinch away even when something made him nervous. Right at that moment, he was hardly nervous. He felt hot with Natsu pressed up against his back. Out here, away from all civilization, they could do anything they wanted. No one was around for miles. No one would judge them or interrupt them. He consciously made up his mind. Whatever they did, he would not flinch away. He would indulge!

Natsu pulled Gray's body around to face him and crashed their lips together. Gray tangled his fingers into Natsu's hair and pulled him closer, swirling his tongue within that fiery mouth. Natsu grabbed Gray by the belt loops and pulled him closer just as his hips made a slight thrust against him. The friction made Gray moan right into the hot mouth.

Gray's hands moved unconsciously, flinging his shirt off. He heard Natsu make a lusty grunt as he felt the cool skin. Natsu unbuttoned his shirt and let it hang open and loose, fluttered back with the faint forest breeze. Their bare chests pressed together. Gray pulled Natsu in closer, loving the feel of the heated skin, and he felt Natsu's fingers clawing into his back.

"Is this okay?" Natsu asked between fervent kisses.

"Yeah. It's fine," he said breathlessly.

Natsu nipped on his earlobe. "But I want more." His mouth nibbled down over a throbbing artery. "Your smell is changing, and it's making me crazy."

"Shut up," Gray moaned. "Just ... don't talk."

Natsu smiled that he was not saying to stop kissing and touching. His hands stroked down Gray's body, holding him at the waist for a moment, but then one hand went even lower. He caressed down Gray's leg, then ventured back up, drifting over to the hardened groin.

"A-ahhhhhh!" Gray moaned at merely the ghosting touch of Natsu's hot hand.

Natsu thought about Rei-chan's words during their luncheon. Maybe try being more assertive. Always ask for permission, but state what you actually want first, then ask if what you want is okay.

"I want to touch you. Is that okay?"

Gray's teeth were clenched, but he nodded frantically.

Natsu palmed the soft thickness already rising. Gray let out a husky moan and thrust his hips forward to feel more. Natsu stroked him gently with one hand while the other caressed through the black hair.

"I only want to do whatever is okay with you." Natsu licked up Gray's neck and let out a restrained growl. "But there's so much more I wanna do, it's hard to hold back. Whenever I'm with you—" Natsu leaned into his ear and whispered. "—I always crave more."

He suddenly shoved Gray backward, sending him stumbling against a tree. His back was pressed tightly against the bark as Natsu thrust up against him.

"I want so much more," he snarled, palming Gray's clothed erection. "I'm starving for you." Natsu frotted gently against him, hips and hands moving in tandem, letting Gray feel his excitement.

"N-Natsu!"

"Is this okay?"

"Damn, yes!" Gray shouted, surrendering to the pleasure of that warm hand and hard body.

He frotted more while kissing his throat. "Your smell drives me crazy, Gray. I can smell what you want, and I want to give it all to you."

Give ... it all?

"What exactly do you want?" Gray asked in desperation. "Tell me! Tell me what to do." Just once, he needed Natsu to take control. Only the first time. He just needed a gentle push to get beyond his hesitations.

"Do whatever you want."

"Goddamn, tell me!" Gray shouted.

Natsu looked stunned. Why did Gray want to hear it? Or was he that type? Maybe he liked dirty talk. Or maybe he just needed to be guided.

"Do you want to touch me back?"

Gray thought about it. "Like, your cock? Do you want a hand job?"

"Y-you don't have to—"

"No! Don't be wishy-washy about this. Tell me what you want me to do, dammit."

Natsu shuddered. Saying it out loud was embarrassing. "I ... I want you ... to stroke me. Only if you want, though."

"I want to," Gray growled, reaching his hand down to the pole in Natsu's pants. "Damn, I want to feel you!"

Feeling another man's penis was definitely weird, but hearing the growling moan from Natsu sent his heart racing. He felt the contours through the clothes, outlined so perfectly he could almost imagine how it would look. Natsu buried his head down into Gray's shoulder and let out puffs of hot air.

"Yes, like that," he moaned.

"Too tight?"

"No! No, exactly like ... that!" He shuddered and stroked Gray in return, matching his pace until their hands moved in synchronism. "Oh damn, that feels good."

Natsu let out a needy whimper, and Gray smiled with a hum. Why had this scared him? For that matter, why did anything involving intimacy with Natsu make him freeze up? From the beginning, they had a relationship of timidity suddenly burned by Natsu's reckless desires. After a lifetime of being the one chasing after girls and always making the first move, Gray liked having Natsu initiate things. He could always take control after that, but he really did have a kink for surrendering to Natsu's wild passion.

"Gray," he whined, and he gazed up with begging eyes. "I need it. Sorry, but it's either you or I do it myself."

Need ... it! He needed fulfillment! Gray's heart skipped a beat as he thought about it, but he smiled gently. This was something he wanted, and he had told himself that he would not flinch away.

"I'd hate to miss seeing your pathetic face." He leaned into Natsu's ear. "Strip for me."

In a frantic rush, Natsu undid his belt and let his pants fall to his ankles. He pulled his opened shirt off and hung his scarf on a branch. He flushed as he stood there, naked and aroused.

To Gray, the sight was glorious. Natsu naked in nature! Somehow, that just seemed appropriate, this wild man stripped of civilization's conformities, and the two of them about to do what could never be done in polite society. Out here, in the untamed forest and amidst nature, they were just two horny animals ready to rut.

He glanced down and saw Natsu fully erect, poking up from a tuft of pink, wiry hair. He was really going to do this! Touching Natsu! Before he could think too much on it, Natsu grabbed Gray's face and kissed him possessively.

"Please," he huffed, already flushed and desperate. He reached down, took Gray's hand, and guided it over to him. "Please, Gray. I want it."

Gray's fingers found the shaft, led there by Natsu's eager hand. His fingers wrapped around the soft flesh and encircled his girth. He could hardly help the slightly competitive side of him that measured Natsu's size with just his hand. Damn bastard was thicker! Maybe not as long, but his fingers could not fully wrap around. He began to stroke, trying to mimic how he liked it.

Shivers took over Natsu as those icy fingers slid along him. It felt so good, the touch cold but gentle, precisely how he always imagined it might feel. Sparks lit up inside him, and the fire in his chest that had begun that day in the hospital, watching Gray sleep after surgery, now raged out of control.

"G-Gray!"

"Is it okay?" he asked, trying to find a rhythm but feeling awkward.

"Little ... little dry."

Gray spit on his palm and reached down again. He instantly felt how much better that was, and the tremble that convulsed through Natsu showed it was more pleasurable for him as well.

"That's good. Damn, so good."

Gray closed his eyes as his hand felt the silky softness of Natsu's skin, how his pink tuft of hair brushed over his cold fingers on every down stroke, the ribbed rigidness getting wetter with pre-cum, and sometimes brushing over the flared head, pulling all the way to the tip, only to thrust hard down. He grabbed Natsu closer and sucked on his neck, wanting him, claiming him, loving him so deeply.

Natsu felt the stinging pain in his neck and groaned. Being marked again! Gray desired him! Just knowing that, feeling that, overwhelmed him. The lust he had pent up for too long was building, bubbling, and now it was ready to overflow.

"That's ... nnngh ... dammit, I'm seriously not going to last long," he said in apology. "Can I?"

"Yes. Hold me," Gray whispered. "I want to feel you tremble."

Natsu grabbed Gray as if he was the only thing keeping him standing. He moaned and panted heavily, trying to thrust more with his hips, while Gray's hand stroked with calm grace.

"Please," Natsu whimpered. "Faster. Almost ... I'm so close." His arms tensed tighter. "Gray!"

Gray hushed him, and his wrist sped up. Natsu let out a choked cry, his body tensed, his fingers clutched at Gray's arms so tightly he would eventually end up with bruises, and Gray felt the surge in that arousal.

"Ahh ... ahhhhhn ... G-Gray. I'm ... mmnnnnaaaaaaaah!"

Gray heard wetness hit the dry leaves, but mostly he heard the sharp, staccato breaths from the Dragon Slayer. His body trembled, and Gray stood there, feeling it, sensing all that energy building only to release. Finally, he heard a sigh, felt the body collapsing in weakness, and now Natsu really did have to hold on to stay on his feet.

"Gray," he whispered, and that word was a thanks, a prayer, a declaration, and surrender, all wrapped into one.

Gray held him while Natsu rested in weariness. His own arousal ached, but he put up with the pain for now. Knowing he could finally pleasure someone was ... incredible! Every huff of air and low moan of exhaustion tingled him.

"Don't leave me hanging for too long, bastard," he warned.

Natsu pulled back with a smile. "Trust me, I won't." He licked his lips sensually, then glanced down to Gray's pants. "Can I?"

"Hell, yes," he moaned.

Natsu dropped to his knees and pulled Gray's belt loose. The ice wizard gazed down, shocked at the sight. He had dreamed of Natsu being like this, erotic fantasies of those squinty eyes gazing up at him, wet dreams of that fiery mouth, months of wanting this but fearing it. Now, his jeans fell, and Natsu tugged the boxers down. Those sage-green eyes gazed up with a smirk, knowing full well that he did not really have to ask again for permission, but still wanting to hear him ask for it, beg for it.

"Please," Gray whispered. He needed this. Now!

"Please ... what?" Natsu asked, leaning in but not touching Gray, only being close enough so his sensitive skin could feel the heat of his breath. "What do you want me to do, Gray?"

"You goddamn bastard! Don't play this sort of game with me. Suck my fucking cock or I'll choke you with it."

"Heh!" Natsu let out only that one brief laugh before leaning in.

Gray felt the hot breath before he felt anything else. First, it was lips, kisses up the shaft, and a peck to the tip. Then a tongue dabbed into the slit to lap up a small drop of pre-cum. Natsu sucked only the head at first, tugging the foreskin, nibbling it, running his tongue under it. Finally, a hand shifted the foreskin down, fully exposing him, and that mouth was immediately on him.

Gray tensed and grabbed the pink hair. It felt wrong. It felt right. It felt dirty. It felt perfect!

Natsu had always wondered what it would taste like. Bitter, but bearable. Musky, but sensual. The smell around Gray went out of control. Natsu knew of no smell that compared. It was so intense, so carnal, so addictive. He wanted that scent all over him.

He pulled off and rubbed the cock up his cheek while his mouth went down, lapping the balls hanging heavily with fullness. A cry, almost like pain, spiraled up from Gray.

"Not there! Too much!"

Natsu filed that away for later. Gray was weak there. Oh, that was going to be fun to explore. But not this time. He wanted that taste again. His mouth went down onto Gray, lower, lower, until he almost choked.

"Easy," Gray whispered. "Have you ever done this?"

Natsu shook his head with the penis still in his mouth.

"Don't overdo it. You don't need to. Believe me, this is really damn good," he admitted.

Natsu felt a bit smug. He knew he could probably suck Gray off as quickly as he had come from the hand job. However, this was a taste Natsu was not about to give up so soon. Just as he smelled the arousal increasing to an apex, he backed off, slowed down, and savored the cry of frustration from Gray as he felt the impending orgasm being put off.

"N-Natsu!" he whimpered. "Please!"

Nope, not yet. His hands ran up the bare thighs, and he felt the quivering of the muscles as Gray was edged closer and closer, only to be denied.

"Please!" he screamed.

Natsu reached back, gripping the firm buttocks. He grabbed those globes possessively and yanked all of Gray's groin to be closer. The shaft slammed into the back of his throat.

"Arghhhh!" Gray cried. "Shit, Natsu!"

That aroma was getting even stronger. Still, Natsu wanted one more thing. One hand reached back around, slid up the shaft while he licked around the head, and Natsu gave one finger a quick, wet suck. Then his mouth went down again, his hand slipped back around, and he slid the finger to the tight opening.

Gray's eyes went huge. He had gotten blow jobs before but ... this! No girl ever touched him back there.

"Natsu?" he asked uncertainly.

Smirking, Natsu pressed the finger in. He went deeper, hearing the slight discomfort from Gray, but he knew there was that place. If he could find that area...

The hands in his hair tensed. "Oh fuck!"

There!

"Ahh ... Natsu!" Gray was at a loss. The logical side of his brain was telling him, 'This is your prostate, and massaging that area will of course feel good.' Another part of his brain could not even come to grips with the idea that Natsu had his finger up his ass! But both sides, everything, his whole brain, had short-circuited by one thing.

It felt damn good!

Too good.

"Nngh ... Natsu! Gonna..." He could not even speak through his tensed throat, but he heard a hum of understanding below him. Natsu's mouth bobbed even quicker, no longer edging him but allowing him to release at last.

Gray yanked painfully at Natsu's hair and slammed in with a cry. His whole soul erupted in that moment, and the forest echoed with his jolting moans. It was so much, so good, so intense. In the midst of his pleasure his eyes cracked open and saw Natsu's face, the flush on his cheeks, his mouth wrapped around Gray, taking it all, his very essence.

Natsu felt the ring of muscles clench on his finger just before he felt the surge in his mouth. His eyes went wide in surprise. The taste ... was really not what he had expected. He did not want to pull back, but he also did not think he could swallow this. As the groans above him lessened, he seriously hoped Gray was not seeing the look of disgust on his face.

Unfortunately, Gray did see. Many girls had refused to swallow; he was used to that. Just having this pleasure was enough. There was no need for more.

"You can spit it out," Gray said softly, stroking back the sweaty pink hair.

Natsu lamented that Gray had seen his face. He still waited with that liquid under his tongue, away from his taste buds. When finally Gray began to shrink, Natsu pulled back, leaned over, and discretely spit out the white fluid.

"That was incredible," Gray sighed in exhaustion. "Damn, better than anything I imagined."

Natsu cleared out his mouth and gazed up. "Oh? Did you ever fantasize about that?"

He had to laugh through his buzzing weariness. "For some time now, probably since our beach trip early this summer."

"The beach trip?"

Gray held his hand out and pulled Natsu back up to his feet. "I accidentally overheard you in the shower while you were jerking off."

Natsu's face burst into crimson.

"I think that was the start of it for me. You sounded ... so hot," he admitted awkwardly. "I began to think about you differently, and I had dreams. Really pervy, huh?"

Natsu bashfully admitted, "That time in the shower on that trip, I was jerking off thinking about you."

Gray's eyes widened. "But you were with Rei-chan."

"I never fantasized about her, though. Only you."

Gray's face went brighter. "You ... were thinking about me ... while doing that?"

"Yeah," Natsu smiled sheepishly. "Every time. I knew I wanted you." His hand reached up and stroked Gray's cheek. "Now I have you."

Gray smiled, and he leaned forward to kiss Natsu. Immediately, he pulled back. "Oh God, you taste like cum!"

"You have some crappy tasting cum, you know. I would've swallowed but damn that tasted awful!"

"Well, if you don't like it, you don't have to do it again."

"Nah, I can put up with it, but next time it's your turn."

Gray's face went red. "N-next time?"

Natsu smiled up at him. "Yeah, if you want more of this. Was this okay? Too much?"

"It's ... fine. I mean, I like ... this much ... look, it's awkward to say," he snapped.

"Then say you liked it and want more."

Gray chuckled and yanked Natsu in close against him. "I loved it, and I want more." He leaned forward, and despite the taste, he kissed Natsu, letting the kiss deepen, their tongues entwining, while their hands gripped one another, both wanting this closeness to last.

***

Later that night, they were curled together by a fire, dirty plates set to the side, the tent up but ignored for now as they laid out in the open gazing up at the stars. Natsu's back was against a fallen log, leaning arched back on the mossy trunk. Gray was pulled in between his legs, settled against the hot chest, with Natsu wrapping his arms around him. Maybe it was not the most comfortable position, but they could feel one another, and that was enough.

"Are you cold?" Gray asked softly.

"I don't get cold. And you?"

"Do you really have to ask?" the ice wizard chuckled.

Natsu squeezed his arms around Gray, happy and relaxed, the pleasure earlier now faded into sleepy satisfaction. There was no more awkward sexual tension like what usually happened when they held one another this closely. They had taken a major step, and both felt that was enough for now.

"I love you," Natsu said out of nowhere.

Gray's attention was taken off the stars for a moment, but he smiled at hearing him say it. "I know that already, idiot." His hands rubbed up and down Natsu's thighs, not sensually, just happy he was there. "Love ya too."

Hearing it made Natsu smile and warm up. His hands kept drifting around Gray's shoulders, sometimes down to his elbow or over his chest, nowhere exactly erotic. He just wanted to enjoy this time together.

"Are you ready for bed?" Gray asked.

Natsu tightened his hold. "A little longer."

"We have to wake up early."

"I know. Um, unless you're sleepy. We can call it a night."

Gray leaned his head back onto Natsu's shoulder, their cheeks touching, and gazed up at the sky. "A little longer," he whispered.

An owl hooted, the fire crackled, and overhead a meteorite blazed across the heavens. They lost track of time in this place. However, as the moon began to dip behind the trees, Gray shifted away.

"We really should get some sleep."

Gray got up and headed off into the trees to relieve nature. Natsu devoured the flames until not a single flicker was left. He went behind a bush and undid the front flap of his pajamas to pee. Gray walked back just as Natsu was in the middle of relieving himself. He blushed and looked away, waiting silently for him to finish.

"You know, I can smell you there," the Dragon Slayer called out. Gray heard the trickling of liquid stop, a light grunt as Natsu adjusted himself, and then they walked over to the tent. "You're actually a gentleman. Who would have thought it?"

"Screw you! I'm at least that polite."

"Says the guy who admits he listened in on me jerking off."

"I just happened to walk into the hotel when you were doing that. If you fucked yourself quieter, I wouldn't have known."

"You should talk!" Natsu froze and his eyes widened.

Gray narrowed his gaze. "What?" he asked in soft, dire tones.

"I ... it was ... a-a-accident. An accident."

"When?" he asked sharply.

Natsu flinched. "I can't remember the details. It was when you were still on crutches. That day I had to pick you up out of the shower."

"You bastard! You said you were going out to the store. I thought I was alone."

"You began before I ever said that. I thought I'd give you a chance to do it without straining to keep quiet."

"Obviously you didn't leave!" Gray shouted. "You lied!"

Natsu pulled back with guilt. "I ... I'm sorry. I was curious."

"You spied on me!" Gray yelled. "You lied so you could spy on me. At least when I heard you, it was an honest accident."

Natsu dropped his head. That was true. He had lied to Gray that day and eavesdropped on him in such an intimate moment. Not only that, he had jerked off listening to Gray pleasuring himself. Natsu turned away silently and began to walk back to the fire pit.

"What are you doing?" Gray asked warily.

"You're mad, and you have every right to be pissed as hell," Natsu muttered petulantly. "I'll sleep out here."

"You don't have a sleeping bag or blankets."

Natsu shrugged. "It's not like I get cold," he muttered.

Gray gave a sigh and looked aside. Another fight! He supposed all couples had them from time to time. Two in a row just seemed like a lot.

"Come here," he said, beckoning to him.

Natsu glanced briefly, but turned aside again. "You have a right to be mad."

"You're damn right I do! Still, I've been looking forward to sleeping with you, and I don't want a stupid fight to ruin that. Come here!"

Still Natsu stood by the ashes of the pit. He had thought that this trip might be a good time to discuss the truth about how Gray got healed. He did not want to mention it on the road going there, just in case things went bad. He had planned to tell Gray on the journey home, during a night much like this.

If Gray was this mad learning about one of Natsu's secrets, just how enraged would he be to learn that Natsu's weakened heart was caused by the machine that healed his leg? These fights scared Natsu. He didn't want to lose Gray so soon.

He cringed and shook his head. Two fights in one day! There was no way he could tell Gray about his heart, not when they had fought twice already.

"Natsu?"

The voice was soft and very close. Natsu jumped. He had not heard Gray approach him, lost in his own thoughts.

"I forgive you," Gray said softly. "You're a pervert, but I'm not much better, I guess. Please, come to bed." He held Natsu's arm, trying to tug him.

Natsu looked over with tears in his eyes. When could he tell Gray the truth? Hiding it now, especially after his scare with the shark, was eating at his soul. Gray deserved to know, but Natsu really feared how he might react.

"I don't want to lose you," he sputtered as the tears tumbled over his lids.

Gray sighed and hugged Natsu, rubbing his back. "Idiot. You're not gonna chase me away that easily."

That easily ... but what about the damning truth about why he was able to stand on two legs now? Natsu clenched his teeth, shoving aside his plans to tell Gray, at least for now. He needed more courage first.

"Shh, it's okay," Gray whispered, feeling the tension in Natsu's muscles. "Let me hold you tonight. I won't leave."

Natsu scrubbed his eyes clear. "Promise?"

"Of course," Gray smiled, glad he was settling down. Gray took Natsu's hands and slowly pulled him along. "That's it. Come to bed. It'll be better in the morning. I'm not angry. I'm gonna tease you like hell about being a voyeur, though," he smirked playfully.

Natsu managed to laugh. "Exhibitionist!"

"It's not exhibition if I'm in my own home and you're spying on me."

"Can I tell you the truth once more? Promise you don't be mad?"

"Tell me."

"I spied on you one other time. I was going to climb through your window, but I saw you were ... busy."

"Did you watch me?"

Natsu blushed fiercely. "Y-yes."

"Did you touch yourself while watching me?"

His face shrank down into the scarf. "Maybe a little."

"And you were outside my window? Masturbating in public! Who's the exhibitionist?"

"I ... it wasn't like that. I just forgot where I was and ... and you were hot!"

Gray chuckled and gave Natsu a kiss just before entering the tent. "Pervert," he teased. Then he crawled down, pulled back the tent flap, and entered.

Natsu followed him in, crawling on his hands and knees under the small tent. They had their bags set to the side and a single sleeping bag in the center. Gray waited, so Natsu climbed in first, settling into the snug wrapping. Then the covers pulled as Gray wiggled down inside the sleeping bag, curling around Natsu's body. Natsu shifted some more, fitting up against Gray's taller frame. He hated to admit it, but he fit good as the little spoon.

"Comfortable?" Gray asked, wrapping an arm around Natsu's waist and settling in against his back and ass.

"You're getting hard and poking me."

"It'll go away. Unless you wanna watch me jerk off before bed," he teased.

"Asshole," Natsu grumbled, although he felt a tingle in his pants thinking about it.

They went quiet, Gray wrapped around Natsu, Natsu feeling himself wrapped tightly by Gray's arms and the cocooning blanket.

"You're not mad?" Natsu suddenly asked.

With his eyes closed, Gray muttered, "Nope."

"I haven't done anything like that since we got together, I swear."

Gray chuckled sleepily. "Maybe I don't mind."

Natsu jolted, but he could not look around. "Huh?" he squeaked.

"Maybe ... don't mind ... you ... watching." His words faded away into sleep.

Natsu smiled and snuggled into the strong embrace. "Pervy exhibitionist," he whispered. "I really do love you."