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Everyone in the guild thought that Natsu was a guy that just had a lot of energy and could be a moron at certain times. But in reality, that was just an act for what he actually hides. He doesn't want people to look at him any differently and frankly some of them things he did hide were embarrassing in his opinion. One of his biggest secrets was that he knew how to dance.
When the team was going to go on that mission to the fancy party, they need to learn how to dance in order to blend in. Natsu decided that he was just going to act oblivious to the whole thing and let Lucy teach him how to dance, other than Erza's death spins Lucy did a good teaching them.
Every year on the Summer Solstice, when the sun is at its peak, Natsu either doesn't show up to the guild until after noon or he sneaks off to the clearing in the forest to practice the same dance that Igneel taught him all those years ago. Igneel told him about the legend behind the dance and its meaning and ever since Natsu practiced it. It was something that was special to Igneel and it was now special to him.
Except this year it was going to be harder to get away.
The team had just gotten back from a mission and Natsu was going to leave as soon as they got of the death machine that is called a train, but Erza said that they needed to report to the guild. Natsu knew too well what it was like to disobey Erza. So, he reluctantly followed her still thinking about slipping away before she would even notice him.
When they got into the busy market of Magnolia. Natsu hung back a little to make it look like he got lost in the crowd and successfully slipped away from the group and headed towards the clearing.
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"Hey, where did Natsu go?" Lucy asked when they reached the guildhall.
"You think he got lost in the crowd? It was pretty busy today." Wendy commented.
Erza sighed a little in annoyance and looked at Gray. "Go find him and bring him back here. No fighting." she ordered.
"What?! Why do I have to get Flame-Brain?!" Gray asked.
"Since we don't have Happy with us because he went with Pantherlily and Carla to see the other exceeds. You are the only one that really knows where he lives or where he could be." Erza said.
"Fine, I'll go find him." Gray whined leaving the group and heading towards Natsu's house.
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It took Gray longer than he would have like to admit to finding Natsu. He had checked the market, his house, even all the restaurants and bars in town but there was no sign of the fire breather anywhere. It was unusual for Natsu to just disappear on them without any warning. Then Gray started checking the forest on the outskirts of Magnolia and finally found Natsu in the clearing.
Gray was sure that Natsu had sensed his presences but was shocked to find that he didn't. In fact, Natsu seemed to be oblivious to the world around him. Gray quietly watched his movement and from time to time the small flame that would appear.
At the end of the dance Natsu finished with a peaceful gesture and he opened his eyes and smiled down at the small flame that he created in his hand before looking up at the sky.
"I didn't know, you could actually dance Flame-Brain." Gray comments leaving his hiding spot.
"Gray! What the hell are you doing here?!" Natsu yelled quickly turning to the ice mage with his face now a bright red that almost reached his ears.
"Erza told me to come find you. It took a lot longer than I would care to admit." he comments.
"That was the point. I didn't want to be found." Natsu said crossing his arms standing in the middle of the clearing.
"So, did you just sneak away and risk a beating form Erza to dance or what?" Gray asked.
Natus sighed a little before looking back up at the sky. Gray at noticed a small conflict in his eyes and his face was still a bit flushed.
"It's a sacred dance." Natsu finally answered looking back down towards Gray. The ice mage walked towards Natsu and sat down in the grass pulling the dragon slayer down to the ground as well.
"I think Erza will be mad at both of us now since it took a while to find you. We both she isn't the most patient person in the world." Gray joked, "So, why don't you tell me about this sacred dance." he then added.
Natsu laughed at that before nodding. "She definitely isn't." he answered. There was a moment of silence between the two it usually wasn't like this, usually by now they would be fighting each other until they were black and blue. It from time to time it was peaceful, and it was nice to enjoy each other's company.
"Igneel taught me the dance." Natsu said out of nowhere.
Gray looked over at the dragon slayer and waited for him to continue.
"In fact, he taught me a lot of dances but this one, was special to him. It was special to all fire dragons. Every year on the Summer Solstice fire dragons would gather to practice this dance when the sun was at its highest point in the sky. Legends said that it this dance was how they got the eternal flame, it is almost believed that this is how they learned the truth behind what fire magic actually is." Natsu explained.
Gray nods a little "Why didn't you tell anyone?" he asked.
"I was too embarrassed." Natsu answered honestly.
Gray nods a little looking at the sky. "What was that last movement you did? What did it represent?"
"Are you a thousand questions today?!" Natsu asked with a bit of sass in his voice.
Gray laughed a bit "No, it's just not often where we just sit down and chat for a bit. Plus, I'm just curious." he answered honestly.
Natsu rolled his eyes a little "I guess you're right. We should do this more often. It's nice every now and then." he said. "Anyways, it represents peace. Yeah, fire can be fueled by rage and can mean pure destruction, but it also means life. Take forest fires for an example, the old plants die, yeah, it's sad when those plants die. But in the ashes, there will be a day where new plants will sprout, and they might even be stronger than the ones that were there before." Natsu explained.
"I never expect an answer like that from you." Gray said.
"What is that supposed to mean Ice Princess!" Natsu shouted.
"It means! I wasn't expecting it. It was a nice answer though. You should teach me." Gray said looking over at Natsu.
"What!" he asked turning to the ice mage.
"Yeah! You should teach to me. That could be our first date." Gray grinned.
"Did you lose your brain on that mission!?" Natsu asked.
"I don't hear a no." Gray teased.
Natsu scoffed a little before looking away. "That was dumbest way to ask me on a date you know that."
Gray laughed a little before nodding "Probably so."
"Alright I'll go with you Ice Princess. You're buying though." Natsu said.
"I already planned on doing so." Gray said. "Afterwards though I'm learning that dance." he added.
"Fine, you got a date." Natsu said with a small smile. Gray grins at him before standing up.
"Well, lets go." Gray said.
"Now!" Natsu yelled
"Why not. We were never one to go with a plan." Gray said.
Natsu sighed then smiled, standing up and walking next to Gray grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the edge of the forest. "I know a great restaurant in town! We can eat there." Natsu smiled.