Chapter Text
If Natsu had known waking up that morning would end with him engaged to Gray Fullbuster, he might have stayed in bed.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Gray snapped, glaring at the glowing bracelet in his hand like it might explode.
“I hate this,” Natsu muttered, crossing his arms as the enchanted silver band shimmered with faint runes. “I hate you.”
“Feelings mutual, flame brain.”
“Then why the hell are we being forced into this?”
It was Erza who answered, calm and deadly. “Because the Magic Council believes you two are ‘emotionally bonded enough’ to represent inter-guild unity. It's a diplomatic assignment.”
Gray’s jaw clenched. “What kind of idiot puts us in charge of unity?”
“You’re both war heroes,” Lucy said gently. “And everyone saw how you fought together during the final battle.”
Natsu snorted. “Yeah, fought together. Not fake dated.”
A sharp flick of light sealed the soulbands around their wrists. Instantly, they both staggered as a pulse of magic surged between them—warm and cold, colliding, reacting, recognizing.
Gray looked at Natsu, breathing heavy. “Did you feel that?”
Natsu’s heart pounded. “Yeah. I don’t like it.”
“I don’t either.”