Chapter 2
*****
WARNING: LONG CHAPTER AHEAD :D
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Restless Gray wandered the hallow corridors, letting his feet take him where ever they wanted to go - he hadn't been able to sleep once his mom came into their room. The woman snored like a bloody chainsaw! Shaking his head away from the memory, the raven soon found himself on the elevator; pressing a few random button, the door shut and the steel cage moved as Gray's thoughts traveled onto Natsu. They had parted ways a few hours ago while in that large room, thinking about the room made him feel like a child as excitement bubbled to the surface. The next time the elevator ding'd, the raven stepped off only to find himself - surprisingly - on the third floor. A small mental joke about fate being involved as he shook his head; Gray saw the infamous stairwell that he had gone up earlier three times in front of him meaning...
"The room is this way," Heading right down the previous toured corridor, the raven's mind traveled over to Natsu and questions that were suddenly occurring to him.
'Why did Natsu say he could only visit the room at night?'
'Does that mean that Natsu can't be out in the daylight?'
'Wouldn't that make him a vampire then?'
Standing outside of the room, Gray concluded one thing to be true: 'It must be the sleep talking' before reaching to open the door but when it opened, he paused for a moment. Swallowing back the thoughts that Natsu would still be here well after midnight, the raven pushed open the door to reveal the room with the breath-taking view. He made a dash across the room, which ended up being more like sliding across the polished floor with his socks until he reached the large bay window. Wide onyx eyes took in the scenery again so focused on the beauty laid out before them that its owner flew in the air when a voice behind him chuckled: "Don't you ever go to bed...?" Natsu...
"Why would I do something like that?"
The rosette sat down next to him, wearing only a pair of fairly loose black sweatpants that hung down slightly on one side of his waist, before snickering: "Because maybe I was hoping something about you was normal,"
"I am normal!" Gray hissed at his companion before realizing what the other was wearing then quickly turning away while his brain was in overdrive filling with thoughts he shouldn't be having about someone he met only earlier today!
A snort, earning an irritated glare that quickly weakened again when Gray remembered why he wasn't looking at Natsu in the first place, before: "Sure you are... I mean, every guy I know can show up at a ski resort knowing no one and in a mere hour have every teenage girl's hormones in hyper drive,"
Silence then: "You're not hiding some secret pheromone that instantly attracts girls, are you?" Gray wanted to smack the other's head for asking such a weird question but instead he chimed in: "Yeah, how did you know... Mr. Vampire?"
"Do you see me sparkling?"
"No but-"
"Then I'm not a vampire," Silence fell between them but was short-lived as both teens broke out in laughter, leaning against one another for support while their stomachs threatened to rip from the amount of laughter that was coming from them. When the noise finally settled down, onyx met cobalt in a staring contest while the faces attached to them flushed with color over the closeness.
"Would it okay if we just closed this distance before I go crazy?" Natsu's voice purred, sending chills down a pale spine and without thinking Gray nodded.
You know those cliche actions and feelings that are often shown in movies or on television when two people kiss? Like sparks fly... heart starts pounding like a drum... sudden cravings of wanting more... pulling the other closer... and lastly the need to push the basic human needs by continuing to kiss until the warning signs raise that you need to breath! The raven was surprised that all of these emotions flooded his system when the rosette kissed him; how his hand instinctively reached out and rested behind Natsu's neck before gently pushing him closer. Their lips slowed in their movement before Gray took a chance; nibbling ever so gently on his companion's lower lip until the other gave a response - a breathless 'fine' - then the feelings from the beginning were revitalized. Warning signs became to pop up in their minds:
First, did either of them realize they were kissing someone they just met?
Second, was this only a one-time fling? Or could it be something more in the end?
Lastly, when were they planning on breathing again?!
As the last sign raised alarming question in their heads, they pulled away enough not to be lip-locked; breathing in the musty air between them did little to help the lack of oxygen in their lungs.
"Are you sure you're not a vampire or something?" Gray asked with a shaky breath, earning an equally shaky smirk as the rosette muttered: "Does this look like a scene from Twilight?"
"You got a point... then explain why I can't come to this room during the day?"
"Because they have important stuff to talk about,"
"They?"
"The people who run this ski resort,"
Feeling a little stupid, Gray continued with his question as he begun feeling less winded: "So why do you have a key to this room then?"
"My dad works here... and I might have swiped it from him after they were done with this room," The emphasis on 'might' held enough playful quality to scream that Natsu had indeed stolen the card key from his father. After that round of questions the rosette asked his own to his companion, which all aimed at getting to know the other better - occasionally Gray would ask the same. Their conversation continued until the sun peeked over the horizon and Natsu stood up with a huge grin: "See~ Told you I wasn't a vampire,"
This grin didn't last long before Natsu seemed to grow sullen, which did not go unseen by the raven; immediately Gray was to his feet asking with the utmost care: "What's wrong?"
"I just realized... I'm so dead for being out all night," His shoulders sagged; thinking it was sarcasm, Gray joked: "You can't be in that much trouble,"
The look reflecting in those cobalt eyes said otherwise; "My dad isn't happy when I don't come back on time..."
"Can't you just lie and say you came back then woke up early?" The raven suggested to the shaken rosette, who licked his dry lips as he wondered if that would even work.
Surely his adopted father would believe that; after all, he is always tired after work - "Maybe... I better head back though," A solemn breath of words was all the raven got before he watched his companion dashed out the room.
Gray, remembering what the rosette had said about the room being used by the owners of the resort, headed out as well; walking back to the room he was sharing with his mom. The older raven was still sleeping when he slipped back inside and when he slipped under the covers on his own bed; his mind wandered over to Natsu and something raised a flag in his head. Staring at the wall, he carefully heard the warning sign out as it spoke of a bad feeling like never seeing the rosette again... Of something bad happening to Natsu... Should he go relieve the bad feeling in his chest by sneaking back out and hunting down his friend? Or should he just close his eyes and enjoy a little bit of sleep?
Sliding back out, Gray gave in - he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep and worse case scenario: it was just his imagination and his mother would find out about his late night. Running down the halls until he reached the front desk, the raven hoped that the person standing there to help early risers would give him the answer he was looking for.
"Can I help you?" The woman smiled over at the out-of-breath teenager before her.
"Ah... yes, I'm looking for someone... and I was wondering if you could possibly tell me his room number," A small part of him figured she wouldn't tell him but he still held onto hope she would.
"I'm sorry but I-"
"Please! It's very important! Maybe you could call the room and ask if he could meet me here?" The determination in his eyes must have made an impact on the young blonde behind the counter because the next thing he knew she asked politely, "What's your friend's name?"
"Natsu... he's the son of the janitor who works here," One of the things he learned about his rosette companion was that his father worked as the janitor who cleaned up the lodge.
"Oh you mean, Mr. Zeref's son?" A light gasp before she went to work in dialing the room number, waiting a few moment Gray listened to half the conversation, "Ah! Good morning, Mr. Zeref... Yes, I have a boy here who would like to speak with your son, is he avail- ...Oh, I see... I'm sorry to hear that... Yes, yes I'll tell him... Thank you,"
The raven waited as the blonde's eyes softened, "It seems Natsu got injured at the dance party the resort held last night,"
"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" He hadn't meant to yell but he couldn't believe his ears; he had just seen the Natsu almost an hour ago and he was not injured so that means: "He was fine when I saw him after the party! Please you have to tell me his room number!"
"Ah... room 34C," pointing to her right, "its just down that hall," Something in the manner of the teenager in front of her changed her mind of not breaking the company's rules.
The moment her words left her mouth, Gray was racing down the specified hall eyeing every door that came into his line of vision; slowing to a stop in front of a brown door with the gold plated number and letter reading '34C', he inhaled a deep breath before knocking hard on the door. He wasn't sure what to expect as the door opened moments later but it was not what he ended up seeing; Natsu opened the door slightly and it wasn't the sight of his friend that had the biggest impact but the black-eye and busted lip glaring back at him.
"G-Gray...?" Cobalt eyes seem to plead 'take me where ever you go' or maybe it was just what he wanted them to say; the raven grabbed the wrist that held open the door and with one hard yank, he ran away with the rosette in tow.
"He did that to you for being late, didn't he?" He didn't need an answer; the air between them seemed to explain it all: Natsu was being physically abused by his father.
The raven stormed over to the blonde, who was talking to a few older men in suits before noticing the raven teenager; "Call the police," his demanding words drew everyone's attention onto them. Chocolate-brown eyes glanced at both teens before taking the other teen's appearance into account; Gray didn't waste any time in explaining: "Look, call the cops or let my friend continued to be beaten for no good reason," in an angry hissed.
The woman immediately dialled the three necessary numbers before notifying the police of her reason for calling; she hung up the phone before asking the raven to take his friend to his lodge room and she will let him know when the police arrive. A smile spread across the pale features as he lead his companion, who still hadn't said a word since he opened the door, followed closely in pursuit. Gray opened the door, seeing his mother watching T.V. before glancing over asking with mild curiosity: "What's going on, Gray?"
"My friend here is going to stay here for a bit," He flashed a cheeky grin that clearly read that he was hiding something but his mother didn't push the issue and merely shrugged her shoulders.
Gray lead the silent rosette over to the door leading to the balcony, opening it with his other hand and gently pulling the other out; with his free hand still on the door he shut it and pulled Natsu tightly against his chest whispering: "I'm so sorry... if I hadn't made you stay out all night... this... this wouldn't have happened,"
A soft voice whispered back as arms wrapped around his lower torso: "Please don't blame yourself, Gray... this happens whenever he's stressed or I don't listen,"
"That's no reason to hurt someone," The raven's arms tensed up for a moment before relaxing enough to still have a protective hold on the one before him.
"So what's going to happen now?" Gray mentally noted that it was a good question; one he wished he had an answer for - an answer that was realistic but all that came out his mouth was: "I'm going to save you,"
Pulling his upper half away slightly, cobalt eyes hopefully stared into the onyx eyes before him asking in a worried voice: "Then what'll happen to us?" that received a head cock to the side from the raven.
Chuckling out silver clouds of warmth: "You can't honestly tell me that after last night we could be friends," Natsu's words forced color to flush onto pale cheeks as Gray stammered out, "O-Oh... umm..."
"How about this," his offer stopped the stutters coming from his companion, "no matter what happens, we'll meet again... and when we do: we can be together like we were last night?"
"I promise," Before any further words could be shared between the two, Gray's mom's spoke: "Gray... the door... it's for you and your friend,"
The duo re-entered the room to see two men dressed in uniform entering their lodge room; after what seemed like hours of interrogation and explaining of both their stories, including most of the details from their late night excursion (minus the kiss and newly-discovered feelings for the other), the officers motioned for them to follow. The teenage duo were lead down the hall towards the lobby then out the door to a patrol car before one officer explained: "We'll be taking Natsu Dragneel into child protective services until he either eighteen or is adopted,"
"Can't my mom do it?" The thought of having the person he loved close wasn't his reason for his words but the worry that the abuse might repeat.
Before the officers could speak, the raven heard: "No can do, Gray" from his mother who had followed them out.
"Why not?"
"Because adoption is very expensive," seeing the hurt look on her son's face she quickly added, "I would do it if I could afford it but I can't... sorry," and he knew his mother was.
Taking a step forward, Natsu glanced back with a grin the raven hadn't seen since last night before saying gently: "No matter how far apart we are, I'll come back to you... So no matter what keep smiling even when you're ready to give up hope of us ever seeing one another again... I promise to come back so you can keep your promise to me,"
[ - ]
Winter passed and summer came and Gray still heard no word about how Natsu was doing; the lack of knowledge was driving the poor raven insane with worry. He did his best to smile like he was asked to by the rosette beauty he had somehow fallen for in one night at a ski resort he had wanted to be at. Autumn was finally a hop, skip and a jump away now, school would be starting soon - Gray would be a senior, focusing on SAT's... college applications... and him. The raven had long since given up on trying not to think about the grinning rosette...
