Dragon's Mate

dancibayo

Chapter 1

The first time Natsu Dragoneel met Gray Fullbuster, he immediately knew that he had found his mate. Even as a young child, his inner dragon hummed with approval at finding his lifelong companion. A dragon has only one mate, and there is a process for mating that every dragon (or in this case dragon slayer) must follow. Fight, bite, then claim. But since the two boys were too young to even know what sex was, they would be stuck in the first stage, fight for years to come.

Several years later

The war was over. Natsu had finished off Zeref, and with the dark wizard gone, the fire dragon slayer could claim what was his. He had every intention to carry out his plan as soon as he laid eyes on his ice princess. Speaking of which, there he was! Standing next to Juvia with his shirt and pants missing. Natsu's inner dragon gave a rumbling growl as the dragon slayer listened to Juvia and Gray's conversation.

"Gray-sama told Juvia that he would give her his answer after the war was finished. Juvia would like Gray-sama to do so now." the water mage asked, standing in her own torn clothing, pressing the tips of her fingers together. Gray sighed and scratched the back of his head.

"Look, Juvia. You're a great person and a beautiful woman but, I prefer men. I'm sorry it took so long to tell you, but I've never told anyone before. I was scared of what people would think. I hope you can forgive me." Gray replied solemnly. Natsu was nodding in agreement, when suddenly Gray's eyes met his. The ice make mage flushed slightly, and then averted his eyes. Natsu grinned and walked over to them. He put Gray in a headlock and laughed.

"Hey popsicle. Come with me, I have something to tell ya." Natsu demanded while dragging Gray with him behind some rubble from the fight with Zeref and his followers.

"Stupid flame brain, let go of me!" Gray grunted as he twisted out of Natsu's arms. His face was flushed, but he crossed his arms over his chest, acting like nothing was wrong.

"Calm down ice bastard. I heard what you said to Juvia. Any guy in particular you like at the moment?" Natsu asked while feigning ignorance. He knew Gray loved him. He could smell Gray's love for him as well as his fear. He didn't think Natsu would return his feelings, but oh boy, was he in for a surprise.

"There may be someone that I like. But no way in hell am I telling you." Gray said defensively. He started rubbing over his chest subconsciously, like his heart was aching.

"Come on snowflake. Promise I won't laugh." Natsu laughed. He was sure that Gray loved him, and that they would easily get together.

"I thought you had something to tell me." Gray said instead. Well Gray was right, Natsu did have something to tell him. So might as well get it over with.

"You're my mate." the dragon slayer said as if it explained everything. Gray started to smell confused, his eyebrow raised in question.

"What do you mean I'm your mate?" Gray asked. "Is that some weird dragon slayer thing?"

"It's not weird, but it is a dragon slayer thing." Natsu admitted. "Dragons have one mate their whole entire life. And you're mine." The dragon slayer was smiling bright. Gray was quiet for awhile but then started shaking his head.

"No, I don't believe you. You're just saying that to make fun of me. After all these years and you're just now telling me? Why wait this long if you knew? If you had told me when you first found out, I might have thought it was true."

No, no, this was not good. If Gray rejected Natsu, then the dragon slayer would get really sick and then die. But he couldn't tell Gray that. He would think he was just using him to stay alive.

"Gray you've got to believe me! I've known since we first met, but we were just kids then, and after we got older one thing after another happened. I wanted to be able to be happy with you without worrying about one of us getting hurt. I can't lose you Gray!" Natsu begged his mate.

"You knew that long and still never told me? How could you let me suffer alone for all those years? I'm sorry Natsu. I can't do this." Gray whispered, his throat thick with emotion. And so the ice mage turned around and walked back where the rest of the Fairy Tail was gathering. Natsu felt his heart break into a thousand pieces as his inner dragon let out a pained roar.

Clutching his chest, Natsu stumbled past Lucy, his goal now to find a quiet place where he could die alone.