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Recipient(s): Metalhead, Bumblebee, Wendy.
Subject: No subject.

Me: Okay.. Um... guys... I have something to tell you..

Metalhead: Is it about you being a dragon slayer after all?

Wendy: WHAT!?

Me: Um no... It's not about that...

Wendy: You boys never tell me anything!

Me: Anyway... Just don't get mad when I tell you.

Wendy: What have you done?

Bumblebee: Pls don't say you've been arrested. I can't be bothered to come to the station.

Me: This is me we're talking about... Not Gajeel.

Metalhead: Asshole

Me: Why did you all assume something is wrong or I did something?

Wendy: Bc the last time u txted us all at the same time u told us you'd been suspended from school.

Me: Fair point. But it's not really bad this time...

Metalhead: 'not really bad'

Me: Shut up idiot. Just don't freak out okay... I'm outside.

Bumblebee: R u telling me I have 2 move? Bc that's effort.

Wendy: Sting move yo lazy ass.

I waited for a few minutes and then I heard the front door open.

"Natalie?" Wendy called out softly.

"Here..."

Wendy, Gajeel and Sting all turned to look at me simultaneously. I gave them one of my signature awkward smiles and waved nervously.

"Holy crap..." Wendy said with wide eyes.

"Fuck." That was Gajeel.

"...." Sting just stayed silent.

"What do you think? Don't I look more like Natsu!? Lucy surprised me earlier."

I had to admit I looked completely different. My hair was much shorter, obviously, and I was wearing an outfit that Lucy picked out. A black top, underneath a checkered red and black button up shirt (which was open to show the black top) ripped black skinny jeans, some black shoes with red laces and to top it off a few bracelets and a small cross necklace with a blue gem in the middle that she said she found a few days ago.

"You look... Hot..." Wendy said slowly, she came closer and reached up to touch my hair.

"I'll second that." Sting said quietly before walking inside quickly.

"Hey Nat..." Gajeel said, gaining my attention. "Come to my room for a sec I wanna talk to you..." I looked at his retreating figure in confusion.

"It must be important... He never normally let's us in his room." Wendy said, with a hint of what I think was envy.

I nodded in agreement and followed Gajeel into the house. I walked up the stairs and stood in front of his door, looking at his big 'KEEP OUT' sign. I took a deep breath and knocked before entering.

"Hey... Come sit."

I closed the door and awkwardly made my way to his bed, sitting on it and crossing my legs.

"You don't have to look so scared, I'm not gonna kill you dipshit." He said with a smirk.

"It's just... Nobody's ever really allowed in your room."

"Yeah well... It's more private in here than in the living room."

I raised an eyebrow slowly. What on earth is he up to, inviting me in his room and acting all weird?

"Look... I know you've been fixated on this whole transgender thing for a while and I know we aren't really the best at understanding things but..." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, making me raise an eyebrow again.

He broke eye contact and looked away, taking a deep breath as if preparing himself for something, before opening his mouth to speak again.

"Do you want to be my little brother instead of my little sister? I'll call you Natsu instead of Natalie and I'll use your pronouns and I'll support you... But if that's what you want it will take some getting used to... I'll slip up sometimes." He said in a soft voice I've only heard him use a handful of times.

My eyes widened with shock and my jaw dropped. Is he being serious? He's never been even remotely interested in my gender ever since I came out...

"A-are you serious?" I asked trying to get my words out.

He looked at me again and nodded slowly.

"Of course I'm serious. As long as you're happy then I don't care what you identify as..."

I looked at Gajeel for a few seconds, processing what he's offering and everything he's saying and I felt the tears roll down my cheeks slowly.

"H-hey! Don't cry idiot I'm trying to be nice!" He said with a worried look.

"I-I know...T-that's why I'm crying."

"Well? Give me an answer then..."

I stood up and hugged Gajeel tightly, crying on his shoulder. I guess he was shocked considering we haven't hugged since we were toddlers and I hate to be touched.

"Yes... Yes that's w-what I want." I managed to get out between sobs.

A strong arm wrapped around me for a second, hugging me back.
"Hey, stop crying. You're making my shirt wet and I don't like tears remember..."

"S-sorry." I said, moving away from him. We sat in silence for a few minutes while I sniffled.

"When were you gonna tell us about the dragon slayer thing?" He said suddenly, but quietly.

"I wasn't planning on it at all..."

Gajeel nodded slowly and smiled.

"Well it was probably the coolest way you could have told us... Me and Sting were speechless. You actually looked really badass." He said with a smile.

I chuckled slightly at the memory.

"Lucy thought so too..." I smiled softly and then yawned involuntarily.

"Go wash your face kid, and get some sleep, we have school tomorrow."

I nodded and yawned again. I stumbled a little whilst walking to the door but I made it there eventually.

"Hey Nat, your hair... It suits you a lot."

"Thanks metalhead. Goodnight."

"Night..."

I closed his door quietly and made my way to the bathroom to wash before tiptoeing to my own room with a ginormous smile. Gajeel may be a huge dickhead sometimes but I love him a lot.

I stripped out of my clothes and my binder, put my pyjamas on, and got into bed.

Me: Goodnight idiots, I love you. Xx

Bumblebee: Night. Ly Xx

Wendy: Night brotherlings, see you tomorrow. Love you. <3

Metalhead: Love you, nought. Xx

Metalhead: Autocorrect wyd?

Metalhead: Night.*

I smiled and read through the messages a few more times before locking my phone and turning my lamp off. I ran over today's events in my head. I was just drifting off when I realised.

'Wendy: Goodnight brotherlings, see you tomorrow. Love you <3'

I locked my phone for a second time and fell asleep with a smile on my face.

••••
THIS IS SO LONG I'M SORRY.
GAJEEL AND NATSU ARE SO CUTE IM YODELLING.
Tell me what you thought about this chapter, did you notice the sly little clue I put in there? Well... That's it for now my cute little dinosaurs.
Constructive criticism is always welcome.
Love you.

~Approach_with_care
Xx