Unity

3

Zeref grabbed a few plates from the cupboard, placing a steak on each plate, a large spoon full of mashed potatoes, and some mixed vegetables. Zeref could cook better, it's just that he didn't want to cook better for Natsu's new friend.

Natsu's smile widened when he watched Zeref
serve food. The guy was hungry, and when his plate was sat in front of him, he dug in immediately. Zeref sat at the head of the table, watching as everyone dug into their food quickly. He eyed Gray, who was eating exactly like Natsu. Sloppy and carefree. Another reason to hate the guy.

And Zeref couldn't imagine him not being a murderer. There were signs. Signs! He never told Natsu his last name, his parents kicked him out and he never explained why, and he didn't call anyone when Natsu gave him his phone to call his parents!Yeah, Natsu already explained that his parents kicked him out, but it would also be okay to alert worried neighbors!

Zeref leaned against his arms and slowly dug into his food. He took small bites and watched as Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel finished their food at the exact same time.

"Gray? Since you . . . uh . . . work at Starbucks, would it be okay if you gave me a discount for every time your served me?" Natsu asked, looking away and waiting for Gray to say no. However, the raven laughed and looked down at his empty plate.

"If I can get away with it . . ."

"What!? How is that any fair to us!?" Sting shouted back.

"He's my friend! Back off!"

Natsu and Sting were ready to pounce at each other when Rouge gave them both the death glare. Natsu rolled his eyes and Sting crossed his arms, pouting. Gray snorted.

"Do you and Salamander go to the same school?" Gajeel asked suddenly, making Natsu growl. The rosette hated when Gajeel used his nickname. Especially if it was in front of his friends. "Yeah, we just never really noticed each other during school. At least until he helped me during the storm. I swear, I will forever keep my eyes out for his pink hair!" Gray explained, rubbing his hand in Natsu's hair. Natsu shoved his arm away and started fixing his spikes, mumbling about how much he hated it when people touched it.

"Oh! What was it like walking through the storm?" Wendy asked, her mouth full of mashed potatoes. Gray's eyes widened at her, and he gave her a goofy smile.

"It was kinda scary because I felt like I was gonna blow away. Especially since I don't have a car, which makes things harder. I was thankful when Natsu invited me in." Sting and Natsu both smiled at his explaination. Sting thought it was cute that Natsu helped a stranger. Natsu was glad Gray was thankful, and he couldn't help but admit that he was somewhat thankful for letting Gray in himself.

However, Zeref had stopped eating, his face red. He hated this. All the attention was on Gray, the guy he despised. The guy who could possibly be plotting on murdering his younger brother. The only family he had left. So, Zeref placed his hand down on the table, he wore a serious expression.

"Hey Gray? Why did your parents kick you out?"

The whole room went silent. Natsu's face turned bright red. The rosette knew that Zeref hated Gray, but this was too much. He was intruding in his business. It was something that Gray hadn't had the courage to explain yet. Natsu and Gray had only met three days ago, Zeref two days ago, and everyone else today. It was too early for anything deeper than simple questions.

Gray stood up from his seat, his face pale. "I should be leaving now. It's almost seven, and I have to go home to get ready . . ." The raven haired male walked out the room. Natsu stood from his seat, glaring angrily at his brother, and then running up to his friend.

"Wait! Gray! I'm so sorry about Zeref! He doesn't have good social skills," Natsu explained as he followed Gray outside. The other boy stopped in his tracks, turning around to face his friend. Except the mood was killed when the sound of fighting and items breaking and the sounds of shouting and running. Natsu's house seemed to have such thin walls.

Natsu looked back at his house, then to Gray, his face showing embarrassment. "You want me to drive you home?"

"The quicker the better," Gray said. Natsu told Gray to wait for a moment, running inside and snatching the keys off the coat rack. He ignored the fact that all the guys were fighting while Wendy was sitting at the dinner table, staring. Natsu ran back outside with the keys in hand, leading Gray to the car. The rosette then immediately drove away.

The car ride was quiet. It wasn't too long either. Natsu offered to give Gray a ride to Starbucks, which he accepted. Natsu sat in the car, his windows rolled down. He watched as the lights in Grays apartment went off. The raven was carrying a folded set of clothes, and he handed them to Natsu once he got into the car. The rosette tossed them into the back seat and pulled out of the apartment complex lot.

About halfway to Starbucks did Gray say, "I should tell you why my parents kicked me out."

Natsu took a quick glance at Gray, his eyes wide, before stopping at a stop light. "No. You don't have to. It's too early for that." Gray sighed, tugging at his uniform collar. He then began to fumble his fingers and looked at Natsu as he continued to drive again.

"Well, since we're friends now you should get to know more about me. Like . . . my last name. It's Fullbuster, by the way." Natsu thought for a moment. He liked the sound of it, and a small smile crept up his lips.

"Now I should tell you why I got kicked out," Gray mumbled as Natsu turned down a road. There was only a little bit of traffic at the next light. Natsu stopped at the red light and looked at Gray.

"Please don't-"

"No, I want to tell you. So I'm going to tell you," Gray demanded. Natsu's expression softened as Gray looked down to the ground. He looked scared and innocent, which made Natsu's heart quicken it's beats.

"If you want to, then say it now. The lights gonna turn green."

Gray nodded, and then faced forward in his seat, watching as every building passed by.

"My parents kicked me out because I'm gay, Natsu. They wanted a son who could give them grandchildren, a son who wouldn't ruin the family name. Not some kid who loves the same gender. They shunned me from the family Natsu, they pushed me away!" Gray was angry. No tears came from his eyes. He didn't seem to show sadness at all. Just pure anger.

Natsu's heart shattered. How could a family be so cruel to their child? Not everyone is the same! It hurt the rosette to see how cruel people could really get with their kids. He didn't care if Gray was gay or not. He was their own flesh and blood! Natsu was quiet for the rest of the drive, before he pulled into Starbucks. Gray still had ten minutes before he had to go in for his shift, so the two sat there together in peace.

Before Gray got out the car, Natsu placed his hand on top of Gray's. A smile crept up the rosette's lips, making the raven smile as well.

"Don't worry Gray . . . I accept you," Natsu said. That single statement made Gray burst to tears.