Gratsu Bingo 2019

Prompt: Love

Chapter 3

It had been a week since the incident and Natsu was going stir crazy. The hospital had kept him under observation for several days poking and prodding him incessantly. They'd checked his brain and his heart and everything else they could think of before finally discharging him.

He'd been lucky, aside from the rather severe burns on his hands, the damage hadn't been too bad. His organs were fine, but he'd suffered some muscle injuries as well as a dislocated shoulder from when he'd smashed into the wall behind him, and he felt generally sore.

Gray had been a nervous wreck throughout, refusing to leave his side. Natsu knew he was terrified that if he left for even a moment, Zeref would swoop in and take him away. It was ludicrous, but Natsu didn't fight him, he knew Gray had his own issues, and he certainly didn't mind getting so much attention from his man.

Through it all, there had been no more word from his brother and although he'd like to think Zeref had seen the error of his ways It wasn't like him to give up so easily. So Natsu waited for him to make his move.

He heard the apartment door open and found himself relaxing, Gray had left that morning for his dissertation defense and had promised to be home for lunch. He looked up, smile at the ready only to see Lyon coming into his bedroom.

"Hey Pikachu, how you feeling?" Lyon greeted, smirking at Natsu's heated glare. He helped Natsu off the bed and into some clothes.

"You're not funny," Natsu complained, he hated needing help, but the burns on his hands were still very tender and even he wasn't stubborn enough to subject himself to that much pain just for the sake of pride, "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Gray called me, his defense is taking longer than he expected, so he asked me to check on you," Lyon explained as he walked Natsu over to the bathroom, being careful to give him as much support as he could since Gray had mentioned sometimes Natsu's muscles would spasm randomly.

Natsu stopped mid-step and glanced at Lyon worriedly, "Wait, is that bad?"

"No, I think it's good, they just had more questions than what he'd anticipated, he sounded pretty upbeat actually. I think in a few hours we'll have to start calling him Dr. Fullbuster," Lyon beamed at the giddy expression on Natsu's face at hearing those words.

"We should have a party or something," Natsu clapped his hands, forgetting his injuries in his excitement and almost passing out from the pain.

"You really are an idiot," Lyon sighed as he grabbed hold of Natsu and held him against his body while the younger boy rode out the wave of pain. "Where are your pain meds?"

When Natsu didn't immediately answer Lyon sat him down on the toilet and looked in the medicine cabinet. Reading the instructions on the Vicodin bottle, he grabbed the appropriate dosage and poured some tap water into a rinsing cup.

"Open up," he placed the pill on Natsu's tongue and held up the cup to his mouth to allow him to drink it down. "Stay here, I'm gonna get you a snack, you shouldn't have that on an empty stomach."

Natsu nodded listlessly, he couldn't wait until he could do things for himself again. He didn't mind it so much when it was Gray, but anyone else irritated him, especially if it was someone from work. Lyon soon returned with a glass of milk and a cereal bar. He fed him, and after helping him use the restroom, he looked at the bandages nervously.

"Come on, we might as well change your bandages," Lyon declared bravely. He was rather squeamish, but he'd promised Gray he would take care of Natsu and so he would do it.

He grabbed the instructions and assembled all the pieces. Natsu stared at him with wide eyes, but he took a shaky breath and presented his hands without complaint.

Lyon donned some gloves per the instructions and after twenty of the most torturous minutes of both their lives, they were done, and Lyon walked Natsu over to the living room setting him down on the couch before sitting beside him and grabbing the remote.

"Have the pain meds kicked in yet?" Lyon asked guiltily, wondering if perhaps he should have waited. Natsu's glare was reply enough. They sat in companionable silence, neither of them really watching the TV.

Soon, he could see Natsu's body relaxing, and after some deliberation, he finally blurted out, "What's the deal with your brother?"

Lyon wasn't sure Natsu would answer him, but after a week of nagging his brother for information and getting nowhere, he figured it was at least worth a try. He needed to know how much of a threat this guy really was so he could take steps to protect them.

"I never told you about that, huh?" Natsu sounded very calm, and it was a bit unnerving to see him this way, even though Lyon knew it was just the effect of the opioid on his brain.

"You know, considering how overprotective you both are you'd probably have gotten along pretty well." Natsu smiled at Lyon, his eyes closing briefly in thought. "I don't remember much of it, but when I was five years old, I almost died, well technically I was dead for a few minutes. Zeref could never get over it."

Lyon peered at Natsu in confusion not understanding what that had to do with anything. He waited for more information, not wanting to push, but none seemed to be forthcoming. His cellphone rang, and he answered it, assuming it was Gray while Natsu sat quietly, lost in his thoughts.

"Hello?" A slew of frantic babbling came over the line, and Lyon looked down at his Caller Id to make sure he was talking to who he thought he was.

"Laxus?" Lyon called out, "You gotta slow down, dude, you're not making any sense. What about Natsu's brother?"

He listened for a few minutes and in a voice filled with rage, he announced, "We're on our way."

Lyon nudged Natsu to get his attention, "We gotta go to the office, your brother is threatening to sue the business for negligence. The lawyers need you to come in for a deposition."

O-o

Gray still couldn't believe it was over, after all the months of research and writing he had finally presented his dissertation, and it had gone much better than he could have ever hoped. The professors had asked so many questions it had gone way over the scheduled time, and now with their approval, he was officially a Doctor! He'd even been offered a few job interviews. After all the years of struggling to make ends meet, everything was starting to look up for them, and he couldn't be happier.

He couldn't wait to celebrate with Natsu and Lyon, both of whom had encouraged and made it possible for him to pursue his dream. He'd stopped at Natsu's favorite pizza place on the way home and ordered two of their favorites pies before stopping at a convenience store to get a twelve-pack of Lyon's favorite beer since Natsu couldn't drink while on his pain meds.

Gray knocked on the door, but when no one answered, he figured Lyon was probably helping Natsu. He balanced the pizza boxes and case of beer as best he could by pressing them between his chest and the door as he fumbled in his pants pocket for his apartment key.

Somehow Gray managed to make his way inside without dropping anything, and he pushed the door shut behind him.

"I'm home," he announced loudly, heading towards the kitchen to put the food down on the counter. He opened the box of beer putting four in the freezer and the rest in the fridge before grabbing a pile of plastic plates from a cabinet. He was a little surprised no one had come out to greet him yet.

He walked out towards the living room, "Where are you guys?"

"They've been called away, I didn't want our conversation to be interrupted," a voice replied. It was a voice Gray had only heard once before, but it had managed to imprint itself in his mind.

A sheen of cold sweat covered his body as he turned to see Zeref Dragneel standing in his living room, his expression disgusted as he peered down at a framed picture of Natsu kissing Gray at the beach. It had been taken by their friend Levy a few years ago, and it was one of Gray's favorites.

"How did you get in here?" Gray snarled, trying to hide the fear that he couldn't seem to shake after so many years.

"This dump?" Zeref took out his wallet and showed him a credit card. "Does Natsu really enjoy living here?"

"He's never complained," Gray bristled at the man's haughty tone as he stood there looking down on their home. Gray walked over to the door, pulling it open roughly, "Thanks for stopping by, now get the hell out."

"There's no need to be hostile," Zeref smirked, sitting down on their couch, "Gray, is it?"

"You know damn well what my name is, I'm sure by now you've had me checked out."

Zeref chuckled, "I have indeed. I have to admit given your proclivities, I was expecting to find something more...scandalous."

"Sorry to disappoint," Gray retorted, and when Zeref made no move, he growled, "Am I going to have to drag you out?"

"Sit down, Gray," Zeref ordered, his voice infused with authority. "We have a lot to talk about."

Gray could feel his blood turn to ice as his previous elation turned to dread. What did Natsu's brother want with him? He thought about Natsu, and it helped bolster his courage, whatever it was didn't matter, there was nothing this man could do to tear them apart.

"There's nothing for us to talk about, you've made your feelings quite clear," Gray snapped before closing the apartment door with a frustrated grunt and sitting down in an armchair.

"Where's Natsu?" Gray demanded.

O-o

Lyon and Natsu had rushed to their workplace to find the office in chaos. There were several men dressed in business suits that Natsu had never seen before along with a white-haired man that seemed vaguely familiar. It bothered him that he couldn't place him until Lyon reminded him he had been at the hospital with his brother.

Another group of men was talking to Laxus in the office's conference room. They could hear Laxus muffled shouts before the door was pulled open so hard the room shook around them.

"This is bullshit!" Laxus yelled at the group of lawyers who only nodded politely and entered the room, shaking hands with the men inside, closing the door behind them. Freed hurried in with a pitcher of water and some cups.

Sting was also in the office, and he looked positively terrified. Natsu felt terrible for him, it had been a stupid accident, and now his brother was using it as some sort of excuse to come barging into Natsu's life.

Freed came back out and informed Sting the lawyers wanted to speak with him first. Sting took a shaky breath before going inside.

It was slowly beginning to dawn on him that there was only one way for this to end. Zeref would threaten to put the company out of business unless Natsu went home with him. It was despicable, but it was just the type of thing he'd expected from his brother.

"I have to quit," Natsu thought out loud, it was the only way for Zeref's threat to disappear. He wasn't willing to go back home, but his friends shouldn't have to suffer for it. But if he quit, what would they do for money? They didn't really have a lot saved up, and until Gray found a full-time job, they'd be screwed.

"Like hell, you will! You're one of my best employees and more than that, you're family," Laxus protested, grabbing a stress toy and squeezing it in his hand, "There's no need for any of that, Pikachu, this will blow over."

Natsu rolled his eyes at the nickname. Great, it had stuck. Fucking Lyon!

"They just showed up requesting a bunch of documents," Freed reported, looking a bit flustered by all the activity in the usually quiet office. "Then they asked for you, and when they learned you were still out, they demanded you and Sting come in for depositions. They want to talk to a bunch of the others too."

"You're an adult," Laxus pointed out, hand squeezing the toy ever faster, "He shouldn't be able to initiate legal matters on your behalf. Come to think of it shouldn't they be talking to you first, seeing as you're the injured party? How're your hands healing, by the way?"

Natsu and Lyon looked at each other at the same time and yelled, "Gray!"

"We gotta go," Lyon held the door open for Natsu, and they rushed back to his car.

O-o

"Natsu should be fine, I'm sure by now he's beginning to realize what he's up against," Zeref's smile was almost predatory, "But let's talk about you. How long have the two of you been together?"

"Ten years, "Gray replied defiantly, wanting Zeref to know how strong their relationship was. They'd been together through some tough times, clinging to each other just to get through it.

"Ten years, huh? I have to hand it to you, that's a long time," Zeref whistled, "That's actually longer than our parents managed to stay together."

"So tell me, what are those ten years worth to you?"

"They mean everything to me, he means everything to me," Gray replied simply.

"No, I mean, what do you think would be adequate compensation?" Zeref took out a checkbook from his jacket pocket, "How about one hundred thousand for each year, that's a million dollars just for shacking up with my brother."

"A bribe? After all these years, that's the best you can manage? This is what I was so scared of?" Gray laughed in disbelief.

"Take it and leave. It's not a bad haul for someone like you."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"We both know you're nowhere near Natsu's league. If he hadn't run away when he did, you would never have even met."

"Do you believe in fate?" Gray asked, suddenly.

Zeref scoffed, "I believe you make your own way in the world."

"I believe that Natsu and I were fated to meet, that we are two halves of one whole and there's nothing that can break us apart. Not your money, not your lawyers and certainly not you," Gray sneered.

"I know you don't approve of us, and frankly, I don't care. For years, I've had to watch as Natsu worked his ass off just so we could have a life on our own. He paid for everything, including my school, and he did it all with a smile. But that's about to change because Natsu deserves the world and now that I achieved my dream, I'm going to give it to him, not you."

"You can't seriously believe this is what's best for him? I'm his brother, I know what's best for him," Zeref roared.

"You're so full of shit, you know that? You know nothing about him. With all your resources, you could've found Natsu at any time, but you didn't even bother looking for him, did you? You were probably expecting him to come running back to you. Tell me something, is your father really back, or was that just bait?"

"That's enough!" Natsu's voice was full of rage, and Lyon immediately moved next to Gray, as if he expected Zeref to attack him at any moment.

"What are you doing here, Zeref?" Natsu asked, "I thought I made myself clear at the hospital."

"Natsu, for God's sake, look at this dump. How can you live here when you could be back home?"

"I don't have to explain myself to you," Natsu snapped, but when he saw a flicker of something real in Zeref's eyes, he reined himself in. "I wish you'd understand. There's more to life than money, Zeref. I've never been happier anywhere than I am here."

"There is nothing you can do or say that will make me leave Gray and I think you realize that or you wouldn't be here. Did you try to bribe him?" Natsu chuckled already knowing the answer.

Zeref looked at the ground, making Natsu laugh harder.

"How much?"

"One million dollars," Zeref responded grudgingly.

Natsu whistled, "That's a decent chunk of change, Gray."

Gray crossed his arms, annoyed at how Natsu didn't seem to be taking the situation seriously, "Perhaps I should have taken it."

Natsu laughed, "Nah, don't be a sucker. I'm worth way more than that."

He suddenly looked over at the kitchen counter, "Is that pizza I smell? Why don't we go eat it at the beach? I want to hear everything!"

"Aren't you forgetting someone?"

"Zeref?" Natsu looked confused, "He can come if he wants to."

Gray and Lyon were both looking at him as though he'd grown a second head.

"Actually, why don't you guys go ahead and set it up, we'll be right behind you."

Natsu waited until the two brothers had left with the food, smiling at Gray reassuringly when he noticed his worried expression before turning to face Zeref, his smile replaced with determination.

"If you want to give me my life back, with Gray in it, I'll consider it. But I won't be your whore. Either make the deal without me or not at all. And back off my boss, he runs a good place and helps a lot of people out."

"I don't get you," Zeref growled with frustration, not used to not getting what he wanted.

"I don't expect you to," Natsu shrugged, "Our lives are too different. All you really have to do is accept me, Zeref. Love me for who I am, not who you wanted me to be."

"I'm going to lose a ton of money on this," Zeref complained, but he didn't try to change Natsu's mind, and he took this as a good sign.

"It's only money, Zeref, you have plenty of it," Natsu reminded him, "Loosen up a little, have some fun. Eat pizza at the beach while drinking a cold beer. Get to know my boyfriend, he's amazing."

Natsu motioned for him to open the door to his apartment so they could head over to meet the others. Zeref only stared at him in confusion until Natsu waved his bandaged hands in his face. Zeref paused for a moment before complying.

Natsu began ambling towards the beach, and Zeref settled in next to him, matching his pace.

"He does seem to care for you," Zeref admitted reluctantly, "He didn't even consider the money."

"I give amazing blowjobs," Natsu retorted with an evil grin, enjoying his brother's obvious discomfort at his words.

"I really don't want to hear about that," Zeref groaned uncomfortably, "Oh God, please tell me you never did anything like that for money."

"I could have if things had been different," Natsu stopped to look his brother in the eye, his tone serious, "Your words really hurt me back then, and I didn't ever want to go back. I would have done anything to stay gone. But I found Gray instead, and he saved me. He introduced me to Gramps, who made sure I stayed in school and got me a job with Laxus when I graduated."

"Natsu, I—," Zeref began but didn't expand, only managed to look embarrassed.

"I've had to work hard for everything I have, and I'm proud of it. I like my life. I enjoy my job, and my friends even though they're dicks half the time. I found someone I love, and I do love him Zeref. He makes me want to be the best I can be to be worthy of him. I would do anything for him, " he stared at his brother, daring him to say anything against his next words, "and I plan to marry him as soon as I can."

Zeref stopped in his tracks, "Marry?"

"Yes, Zeref, marry," Natsu deadpanned, "It's a thing we can do now. And I'd like you to be there and be happy for me, but I can't make you accept me. That's up to you."

Zeref considered his words, remaining quiet for what felt like forever and staring at Natsu the whole time.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I said those awful words to you," Zeref sighed in defeat, "I know I'm an asshole, but I really don't want to lose you again. I'll try."

Natsu gave him a hug as best he could with his injured hands, "I forgive you, we've both grown up a lot since then. At least I hope so."

They arrived at the beach and were able to see Gray and Lyon by the picnic tables. Gray was pacing while Lyon tried to calm him down. Natsu smiled.

"You're right, it's kind of nice here," Zeref commented beside him, "The view is beautiful."

Natsu, who only had eyes for Gray, replied with, "I couldn't agree more."

Zeref snorted marking where Natsu was looking, "You really have it bad, don't you?"

"Hmhm, and he's a doctor now, you know," Natsu grinned proudly, "That's what we're celebrating, his dissertation was approved."

Zeref rolled his eyes at his excitement but smiled before looking suddenly ashamed. "Hey uhm, Natsu? Igneel didn't really come back."

"I figured, let's just go eat, okay?"

They made their way to the table with Zeref getting a slice of pizza and putting it on a plate for Natsu while Gray fussed over him.

"Everything's gonna be fine, Doctor Princess, we've come to an agreement. Zeref's gonna try not to be an asshole, and I will no longer deny he's my brother," Natsu grinned happily at Gray's disgust at the new nickname and Zeref's annoyed grunt. "Now tell me all about your dessert presentation."

Gray glanced at the two brothers, and although he was a little hesitant to take Natsu's words at face value, he dared to believe they might be true. That they could move forward without having to worry about Natsu's family ever again.

He wrapped his arms around Natsu, being careful of his injuries and whispered, "I love you."

"I love you, too," Natsu replied before kissing him sweetly, "and you don't have to get me the world. Everything I need is right here."

"Really? That's too bad, cause I thought since you were injured, I could do this," Gray whispered some words into Natsu's ear that made him blush and peer at him with undisguised desire.

When Natsu tried to coax him into doing whatever it was Gray shoved a pizza in his mouth, and the two of them began laughing hysterically with Natsu almost choking on the food.

They could hear Zeref ask Lyon, "Are they always like this?"

"You don't know the half of it..."