Gray started toward the train station, but stopped when he saw Laxus going in a different direction. "I don't like trains." Laxus said over his shoulder. Gray remembered seeing the other dragon slayers during the games and recalled that all dragon slayers with the exception of Wendy have motion sickness. He didn't really mind walking anyway, so he followed the older male. Gray wondered if he should start a conversation, but he had no idea what he would even say. He used to go out on a few jobs with Laxus in the past, but then Laxus distanced himself from everyone. As the years past, Laxus had expanded that gulf so that it would be nearly impossible to bridge. He treated them all badly, mocked them and be-littled them. However they always put up with it because he was part of Fairy Tail, and that meant he was family. Then came the whole Fantasia incident. Gray had been surprised that Laxus had done something like that, and was even more stunned when Laxus was casted out of the guild afterwards. When they were fighting Hades though and Laxus had arrived, Gray couldn't remember a time when he had been so happy to see the wayward Lighting dragon slayer. His help was what saved them all and it was greatly appreciated by everyone. He was also ecstatic when Gildarts made Laxus a guild member again. Gray hadn't expected to be on a competing team with Laxus and the others though, but that didn't mean he would allow himself to loose to them, so it had been a little bit of a relief when they formed a single team. Like all the others, Gray had trusted Laxus not to loose and to remain though the end of the game. After all, Laxus was not the same man that he was before. He was more open and friendly with the guild and Gray couldn't help but be happy for the older mage for how far he had come. The train's noise would have been a welcome distraction from the silence though.
Laxus meanwhile was having a similar problem. He realized that the trip would be a little awkward since the two of them hadn't really spent time just one-on-one in years. He had heard about Deliora and Ur, as well as that idiot ice mage Lyon. He knew those were things Gray wouldn't want to talk about. He thought about asking Gray about Juvia, but he knew that the young man never actually admitted his own feelings to himself, let alone someone else. Something had to be said though, because the tension between them was so thick, passerby's had began to notice. "You did pretty good during the games." Laxus tried. Gray gave him a skeptic look. "I didn't get to see it myself, but the others told me how you took out that Sabertooth guy and your friend Lyon. Not bad." Laxus said. Gray gave a small humorless laugh.
"Say's the guy who beat a wizard saint." Gray pointed out. Laxus sighed, this conversation not going anywhere.
"So, why did you ask me to come?" Gray asked. Laxus sighed, not really knowing himself.
"I guess it was because you were sitting there." he said, and he could see immediately that the answer disappointed the ice mage. "Since Natsu always challenges me and Erza, we've been able to see just how much he's grown over the years, but I don't recall really ever sparing with you. I honestly have no idea where you stand. I thought it would be a good chance to see." Laxus continued. Gray nodded, alright with the answer. It was true he never challenged Laxus, Erza, or even Mirajane for that matter. He had learned not to mess with Erza long ago, and he really never had a desire to go up against Laxus or Mira. Gray didn't really know what else to say, so the two fell silent again.
"That idiot flame-brain will pick a fight with anyone." he mused. Laxus smirked.
"Are you sure you should be calling him an idiot? At least he wears all of his clothes." the elder male said. Gray looked down to see his shirt was in fact gone. In a mild panic, he looked around, trying to find where exactly he left it. "Don't worry, we're almost there anyway." Laxus said. Gray gave him an odd look. There was no way they were anywhere near their destination, they weren't even out of Magnolia yet. However he didn't speak. As they walked a little further they arrived at a stable of some sort. Gray realized Laxus intended to get them animals to ride. It made sense, since he had never seen Natsu get sick on animals. He assumed it was a mind thing, that only when they thought too much about the vehicle did they get motion sick. Gray wondered over to a nearby store to pick up a new shirt, then returned to see Laxus with two horses waiting outside. "It'd be faster for me to go alone, but you need something." Laxus said. Gray climbed onto one of them and followed Laxus as they left the town.
xxxxx
Laxus stopped as it started to get dark and dismounted his horse. Gray followed suit. "We'll camp here for the night." Laxus decided. Gray could have figured that out himself, but he knew Laxus was just trying to fill the silence. Gray just hoped they could get to their destination soon, then they could fight and it wouldn't be so tense. "So, this is your second S-class job?" Laxus asked as he gathered wood. Gray nodded as he grabbed some and threw it in a pile.
"Yeah, but at least this time I don't have to worry about Erza coming after me." he said. Laxus laughed.
"She can be scary when she wants to. Mira too for that matter." he agreed. The two sat down in front of the wood pile and Laxus hit it with a bolt of lightning, making the wood ignite and catch fire. Gray sat looking at the flames, wondering if it would be less awkward if they had brought someone else.
"If we ever do this again, we should bring Cana." Gray thought out loud. He didn't realize he had voiced that until Laxus hummed in agreement.
xxxxx
Laxus woke Gray up at the first light and the two headed out again. It was nearing the end of the day when the village they were supposed to go to came in sight. The two stopped. "So, how do you want to handle this?" Gray asked. Laxus looked around.
"Let's just see what happens." Laxus said. He started forward, going slowly. Gray followed suit. As they went down the dirt street Gray saw a flicker of movement. He turned to warn Laxus, but he saw the lighting dragon slayer tense and knew that he was aware. They were being surrounded and once the thieves thought they were cornered, they'd attack. Judging from the sounds, Gray assumed there were possibly five of them. He hoped for their sake they wouldn't do anything. Then one of them stepped out into the middle of the road, as if he was trying to make Laxus stop. To humor them, Laxus did. Gray pulled his horse to a stop as well.
"Hello boys, nice day huh?" the man asked. Laxus just raised an eyebrow, not amused. "Tell you what, the city isn't exactly the safest place, so why don't you leave all your stuff with us while you look around?" the man suggested. Gray smirked.
"Do you think we're idiots?" Gray asked. The man shrugged.
"It was worth a shot, but now you don't have an option, leave all your things or you'll die." the man said, and his four comrades stood up so that Laxus and Gray could see them. Laxus turned to glance at Gray.
"You can handle this." he said. Gray gave him a confused look, before realizing Laxus was having him get rid of all five. He smirked.
"Whatever. Ice-make lance!" Gray said, slamming his fists together. Five shots of ice flew from the young mage, hitting all five men and knocking them over. The leader stood up, clearly afraid. They had not been expecting mages.
"Wh...what do we do boss?!" one asked. The man glared at Laxus. If he hadn't done anything, then he was probably stronger than the younger, and the younger seemed to be skilled enough to take on the five of them. He knew they had no chance against them without backup. The man snarled at them.
"We'll be waiting for you." he said, and they fell back. Laxus smirked.
"Too bad they're not all that easy." he said. Gray nodded.
"The next time we'll see them, they'll have their whole guild, and probably a few skilled mages." he agreed. Laxus started going forward again.
"Let's go get their guild's location from the client so we can head back home." he said. Gray nodded. It sounded like a good idea to him.
Yeah I know, first chapters are never really interesting. Sorry, had to set it up! I hope you all like it so far, and I have to say, I didn't expect anyone to notice the intro, so I have huge thank you's to Xateramusa IcePrinceRay, dragonlover89, Odette12, Doggieband, Raphael Van Halen and PokeTail. I hope you all like this story and continue to stay with it til the end!