post-Christmas special.


He rushes out of the door, paying no heed to his state of undress.

He shouldn't have dared her to go out in the nude.

He should've realised that she had been heavily intoxicated. Should've realised that this, coupled with her competitive nature, would have led her to take on his challenge, no matter how outrageous it was.

Should've realised that this was one of those times she had needed to be protected - even if it was from herself.

On the way out, he grabs a coat hanging neatly on the stand. It's soft, fluffy and bright yellow - probably Lucy's. Lucy won't mind though. She has Natsu to keep her warm, anyway.

He quickly scans the roads outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of scarlet hair.

The streets are silent and deserted - an unsurprising fact, given that most people would be indoors waiting to usher in Christmas day with their significant others. Snow fall lightly onto the pavements, soft and gentle, and a small breeze stirs up next to him, carrying with it a swirl of pure white flakes - past the window sills; past the flower beds; over to the solitary bare tree sitting at the end of the road, and down to tug at the hairs of both a redhead and a bluenette walking closely side-by-side, their outlines faint but unmistakable in the far off distance -

He tugs on the jacket, paying no heed to the fact that it's a little too small for him. It's suddenly cold out.

Somewhere behind him, the town clock strikes twelve.

It's Christmas day.

"Gray-sama, why are you out here by yourself?"