"Y'know, this kinda seems like something out of a bad horror movie." Natsu sat in the front seat of the car, pulling at the blindfold covering his eyes. Gray reached over and grabbed his hand, twining their fingers together so he couldn't disturb it.

"Look, I promise I'm not taking you out to murder you," he said, taking a left at the intersection and feeling his stomach start to churn with both excitement and anxiety. The sun was brilliant today and he squinted, gazing out over the yellow fields of canola. "Stop pulling at it, we're almost there."

"That's what you said twenty minutes ago," Natsu teased. Even with the blindfold blocking his vision, he tipped his head back and sighed happily in the sunlight.

"It'll be worth it."

"I know," Natsu replied, smiling and squeezing Gray's hand. Those simple words stilled the anxiety in Gray's chest and flooded him with a warm sense of contentment. Natsu trusted him. Natsu loved him. Even after a year and a half together, Natsu could still make him feel this way.

The smooth road eventually gave way to gravel and Gray slowed down, pulling up next to their destination. He got out and opened Natsu's door, helping him up and kissing him on the cheek.

"We're here."

"Where's he—"

Natsu stopped mid-sentence as Gray stepped behind him and undid the blindfold, dropping it to the ground. Gray hovered hesitantly, excited yet anxious.

"This…"

They were at the farm. Instead of the dilapidated buildings that had been here a year ago, everything was neat and tidy. The fence had been repaired, the house repainted, and the garden raked out and ready to plant. The trees surrounding the property were lush and green, and cast shadows on the ground as the light trickled through them.

"Gray… what did you…" Natsu turned to him, face running through a hundred different emotions. He looked back and forth between Gray and the house, hands moving uncertainly at his sides. Gray grabbed them, stepping in front of Natsu.

"It's ours," he said softly. "I'm sorry, I wanted it to be a surprise but maybe that wasn't the best id—"

Natsu pulled him in and kissed him, soft and sweet and full of affection. He brought a hand up to Gray's hair and another to his hip, and tugged Gray forward until they were pressed against each other. Gray melted into the touch, putting both his arms around Natsu's neck and playing with his hair.

"Oh my god," Natsu whispered eventually, pulling back a bit and looking over at the house again. "You… it's ours? We're gonna…"

"I bought the property a while back and had someone come fix up the house," Gray said, suddenly shy. "I did the fence and the garden myself, but you have to help me plant things because I have no idea where anything goes."

Natsu choked out a laugh, tears starting to trail down his cheeks. He brought a hand to his mouth, turning to Gray and burying his face in the soft fabric of his sweater.

"We're gonna live here?" He whispered, letting Gray wrap an arm around him.

"Yeah," Gray said softly, kissing the top of Natsu's head. "If you want to."

"If I want— of course I want to, this is… I can't believe you did this for me." Natsu wiped his face, then grabbed Gray's hand and tugged him towards the gate. When he saw the sign he nearly burst into tears again. He had touched it up a while back, planning to keep it at the apartment, but Gray had secretly snuck it out here a few weeks ago.

welcome to our home

Natsu practically ran to the house, pushing the door open and exhaling shakily at the renovations. There was new hardwood, and the walls had been repainted in the same colors. He kicked his shoes off and left Gray behind as he ran up and down the hallways and peeked into each room.

Gray smiled, moving into the kitchen and looking out the window into the front yard. The blue sky stretched forever past the trees, and he felt an incredible sense of peace. This felt so right.

He let out an oof as Natsu's arms wrapped around his waist from behind. "I love you so much," Natsu murmured, kissing the side of Gray's neck. "This is... I don't even know where to start." He pressed his forehead to Gray's back, tightening his arms.

"How about a kiss?" Gray teased, turning around in the embrace and tipping Natsu's chin up. Natsu hummed, pressing Gray against the counter as they kissed. It sent a thrill through Gray, just like every time they touched, like there were new pieces of them that hadn't explored each other yet.

"You even fixed up this piece of junk," Natsu said as they separated, gesturing to the old radio that sat on the windowsill. Gray laughed, turning around and fiddling with the dial. "I used to listen to those old horror stories on that thing. Scared me so bad I ended up sleeping with my parents."

Gray pushed one of the buttons and moved the slider again. "It might not work, we won't get very good reception out here." There was a burst of sound and he adjusted it carefully, then tentatively moved his hand away.

"Oh my god," Natsu whispered. The radio had managed to pick up a signal after all, and a soft, familiar song was playing. Natsu reached around Gray and turned up the volume, then leaned back and gave Gray a brilliant smile. "You know what this is?"

"Yeah," Gray said, shaking his head and laughing. "First song we danced to." It felt like so long ago when they'd met, awkward and lonely and tripping over each other. And now...

"Come dance with me," Natsu said, taking Gray's hand and stepping back into the center of the kitchen. They slipped into familiar positions as they came together, eyes fixed on each other, feet moving smoothly across the floor. Natsu stumbled and Gray caught him, pulling him tight and kissing his cheek.

"You're still a pretty terrible dancer," he said, and he could feel Natsu laughing against his chest. Gray shifted his hand on Natsu's hip and kept him steady as they continued their dance.

They moved together lazily in the afternoon light, exchanging touches, soft words, and softer looks. As the sun filtered through the window, it lit up Natsu's smile and Gray couldn't help but kiss it.

The song changed and they ignored it, lost in each other and the feeling of lips and fingertips. Gray's heart felt full, a deep contentment that sunk into his heart and thrummed under his skin. This was love. This moment, and the next moment, and every one after that would be theirs.

Gray smiled as Natsu's fingers ran gently up his back, lips brushing Gray's jaw as they swayed. If the rest of the afternoon held more kissing than dancing, Gray certainly wasn't going to complain.

Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
- "Ulysses", Alfred, Lord Tennyson