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cud·dle

ˈkədl/

verb

hold close in one's arms as a way of showing love or affection.

"he cuddles the baby close"

noun

a prolonged and affectionate hug.

The guild was, as usual, loud, and he was just having a drink at the bar. Natsu and Happy were not around – because they went God-knows-where – and without the flame-brain to argue with about something completely random and pointless, he didn't have much to do. Gray debated on taking a job, but he just returned from one not too long ago. Either way, none of the requests seemed interesting enough. Thus, here he was; drinking away at the bar, absolutely bored, and annoying the hell out of Mira.

Beside him sat a very puzzled blonde, deep in thought. Lucy Heartfilia was biting her nails, looking anxious and restless. He greeted her, but she didn't say anything in return, and he doubted she noticed him. He was beside her for a long time and, so far, she didn't say a single word. Until now.

"Gray," her voice, soft and gentle, spoke at last, causing him to turn in the direction. She looked absolutely serious when she asked, "Can you tell me the difference between cuddling and hugging?"

"What?!" Her face looked so absolutely serious, and her question was so stupid. Gray couldn't even register it. What was wrong with this girl?

Just then, Lucy let out a groan. "It's Happy, okay? That stupid cat got inside my head! Confused me completely about everything. Now, suddenly, I can't differ a cuddle and a hug."

"Why were you two talking about this in the first place?"

"It came up very randomly. You know how it is with Happy, don't you? Just... help me out over here!"

"There is no difference between a cuddle and a hug," Gray shrugged carelessly. "They're just synonyms."

"Are they?" Lucy now took a peculiar tone, one he couldn't identify. All he knew about it was that it was getting him confused as heck.

"Uh... yes?" His answer sounded more like a question, and Lucy rolled her eyes. "I mean, yeah, that's what it's supposed to be."

"I need a firm answer. Possibly a demonstration as well."

"Demonstration for what?" Both of them turned to the third voice, finding a very cheerful Erza make her way to them and take a seat beside Gray at the bar, a huge grin on her face.

"You look... unusually happy," he commented, to which her smile still didn't vanish.

"Don't I? It's because I've had a lot of cheesecakes today!" she explained, and both of her teammates immediately got the hint. Erza Scarlet loved cheesecakes, and they never failed to put her in a good mood. It certainly explained why she was so chipper.

"Anyway," she waved her hand, "what were you two talking about? A demonstration for what?"

Gray let out a sigh, "Lucy wants to demonstrate whether or not a hug and a cuddle are the same."

Erza raised an eyebrow, "A hug and a cuddle?"

"I told her they are the same! She doesn't believe me!"

"That's because you told her the wrong thing," the requip mage argued. "A hug and a cuddle are different things."

"Oh, are they now? Can you prove it?" Gray spoke with confidence, raising an eyebrow at her, as if it was a challenge. No matter how stupid the reason was, Erza was provoked.

"Yes," she spoke with equal confidence – maybe even more. "I can."

"Fine; go right ahead."

"Well, okay then." Once she spoke those words, Erza immediately went forward and wrapped her arms around Gray's neck, shocking him as he froze. She pulled him closer and held him tightly, eventually closing her eyes.

"This," she lightly whispered to his ears, "is a hug."

She took some steps back, resisting not to laugh at his befuddled face.

"And a cuddle..." she was about to take some steps again, but almost in an instant he was five meters away.

"Uh... um..." Gray's face was absolutely flushed, and all three of them – Lucy was still there, though her presence was ignored – were shocked at that fact. "I just remembered... I need to– uh, go somewhere. Bye!"

He sprinted away, and both the girls watched him as he went out the door, almost as if running for his life. Once their eyes met, both of them immediately burst into laughter, not being able to stop. They did so, a while later, still heavily breathing.

"Oh... my... God!" Lucy exclaimed.

"It worked," Erza stated with pride.

"Of course it worked; it was Mira's plan," the blonde pointed out.

"Well, true. To be honest, though, I doubted it. I didn't know Gray would react in such a way..."

"I feel kind of bad, though," Lucy admitted, "you know; with all of us ganging up against him."

"I don't," Erza spoke the truth. "I don't feel bad in the slightest."

"Instead," a faint smile played at her lips, "I almost feel like... doing it again."