Cold and Armored Hearts

Here we go with chapter2 more ErzaxGray goodness for your reading pleasure!

Enjoy!

Only When It's Cold

He slid easily down the snowy slope before sliding to a smooth stop at its base. He took in his surroundings calmly before moving again towards his destination. The scattered trees which surrounded him were covered in snow and even though it was still early in the afternoon the sky was colored in sheet of light grey. Clothed (for once) in only a long sleeved shirt, dark jacket, and dark jean pants and boots the dark haired boy trudged on with an uncaring air about him shoving his hands deep within his coat pocket.

The immense quiet was lulling and comforting there was no noise for miles on it seemed except the occasional caw of black birds and the crunching of snow from against his boots. Then the tranquility was instantly broken from a sudden cry and a rush of snow falling down the slope he himself had just come down. Turning he looked to the pile of freshly fallen snow with a bored gaze before suddenly a hand popped out from the pile grabbing at nothing and he heard angry muffled sounds coming from the fallen snow as well. He watched for a moment considering but he didn't have to consider long before the snow lifted up slightly then settled back down and then in a great thrust the pile was lifted to reveal Erza standing there looking extremely miffed.

Wrapped tightly in the many thick shawls, the only opening being for her pretty face to look out, she glared fiercely at the boy.

"Gray, how long were you planning to just stand there with that stupid look on your face while I suffocated under this avalanche of snow!"

He sneered at her exaggeration saying, "It was just a small spill of snow! Besides if I had helped you, you would've started bitching about how you didn't need any help or say something like 'I can do it myself you over emasculating jackass'!"

That last part had been said in a high and whiny feminine voice that Erza assumed was supposed to be Gray's imitation of her. Honey brown eyes narrowed.

"I would have said no such thing! And I do not sound like that!"

Gray snorted, "Can we just move on! The snow's about to start falling again soon and I wanna be at least a decent ways to the town before it does!"

Erza gave him a scrutinizing look asking, "How do you know it'll start snowing soon!?"

"Because I know!" Was Gray's impatient answer as he began making his way back the way he had been headed before.

Erza rolled her eyes leaving it at an 'it must be an ice mage thing' before making her way to follow the boy. But the snow was fresh and extremely thick and she hadn't really been paying attention so, missing her footing, she tripped falling hard and deep into the cold powder.

Gray turned his gaze back to the red head just in time to find her quickly lift herself to her knees before crying out, "I hate the cold!"

He watched her again with dull eyes before muttering, "Is that right?"

Lifting herself to her feet Erza shot Gray another glare and she looked ready to yell something to the ice mage but instead was overcome by a sudden torrent of loud sneezing.

"Achoo!" came her finale sneeze loud and furious once again taking over the calm and quiet of the small woods. And then, of course, as soon as her sneezing session was done the tree she was standing under released a floret of snow to fall heavily on top of the poor swords wielder.

Silence. Then he heard her angry groan from underneath the snow.

He smirked in amusement.

With an angry scowl she clumsily began to push herself from under the fallen pile but was caught by complete surprise when she felt his hand grab hers and with a strong yet simple pull thrust her from the cold seize. With the sudden pull catching her of guard she staggered forward, just a bit, and brought her free hand up to press against his chest steadying herself.

"Lots of people hate the cold." He stated simply causing her to bring her gaze up to his.

His amused smirk was still in place as Erza stared up at him with wavering brown eyes. His hand and chest she noted were still warm even though they had been walking through the snow covered woods for nearly an hour now. He was hardly covered up and here she was wrapped tight with more than one heavy shawl and she was still shaking like a leaf!

It was then that a sudden shudder coursed up her spine making her shaking slightly more noticeable. A slight frown then graced his features,

"You alright?" He asked bringing his other hand up to place against her but she quickly flinched back snatching her hand out of his light grasp saying,

"Yes, I'm fine!"

He raised a slightly annoyed brow before turning back to continue on their destination, "Then let's go." He muttered carelessly.

Her frown deepened at his retreating figure as she unconsciously began to rub her hands together wanting to keep some of the warmth that had recently been given to them. Looking down at the accursed snow she made sure to bring her leg properly up so as not to trip into the snow a second time. But then looking to the footprints left behind by Gray a sudden thought came to her mind. Bringing her foot down into his oversized foot print she found that the snow didn't wrap around her ankle as much when she stepped in places where the footprints were already made. Finding this much more satisfying she began to literally follow in Gray's footsteps. Looking down so as to see where it was he had already stepped she found herself getting along much more easier than before but upon bringing her head up she was instantly met with Gray's taunting eyes watching her, a mean and jeering smile curled on his lips.

Blinking Erza felt herself blush thinking of how childish she must look. She glared placing her hands on her hips,

"What!?" She challenged willing her face to cool down. But Gray's smile only grew into a, now, jeering grin as he continued watching her with his smug look.

She once again rolled her eyes before moving to walk toward Gray making a show of stepping outside his line of footsteps as she did. She grimaced slightly as she felt the snow wrapping around her ankles as she did so.

"Do you know why I hate the cold!?" She asked haughtily just to talk, just to get him stop looking at her with that damn expression.

"I'm sure it's the same reason as everyone else's." He said uncaringly moving again on their way.

She shot his back a scornful look before asking, "You think so?"

"It makes the sky dark and gloomy, It makes your nose red, it makes your ears red, it makes you sick, it makes going outside a pain in the ass, It makes doing anything outside a pain in the ass, then there's the ice, unwanted snow, frostbite…some people can just bitch on and on and on…" Gray finished irritably.

Erza said nothing as she continued following Gray. Within a few more steps they were making their way from the small woods when she heard Gray speak up again.

"I happen to enjoy the cold."

And slowly she felt a smile begin to pull at her lips, "Well aren't you supposed to?" She asked lightly, "You are an ice mage after all."

Gray only gave a small chuckle in answer to that.

Now outside the woods they could make out the towns lights glowing a faint yellow further off in the distance. The gray sky was now smeared with a faint dark orange hue which Erza supposed was the sun's way of trying to let on it was here even if it couldn't be seen. And suddenly the snow began to fall in florid torrents seemingly from nowhere the entire scene was cast in something that strongly resembled a freshly shaken snow globe.

"So was I right?" Gray asked when they had walked a ways and the silence had dragged on.

"About?" Erza inquired still with only the view of his retreating figure.

"The reason you hate the cold." He stated matter of factly.

Gray was met with silence for a moment before Erza answered,

"For the most part."

Gray turned to look at her then a slight smirk on his features,

"I missed something?"

Honey eyes crashed strongly with dark brown and suddenly Erza stopped watching the Ice mage closely. This in turn caused Gray to stop the smirk slipping from his face he furrowed his brow watching the armored woman carefully.

He stood tall against the gray sky smeared with red as torrents of snow continued to rain on them in waves saluted against miles and miles of white blanket his slightly irritated gaze was questioning and firm. Against his element Gray always looked unyielding, and confident, solid and powerful, enduring and intense.

Standing there hugging herself tightly in a pathetic attempt to keep warm with her feet deep in the snow Gray, to her, looked more stronger than herself or any other class S mage in the guild.

At this moment Gray looked larger than life.

The wind blew gently against the two teens as they stood both watching the other until finally Erza looked away from Gray a small smile growing on her lips and a light blush gracing her cheeks.

"It's just… when it's cold like this I think I could love you." She replied casually almost inaudibly.

His eyes widened as he stared at Erza now with an incredulous look on his features. Her slight smile still in place Erza continued on her way with a small chuckle passing the still stunned boy. Never really looking to him she said,

"Yes that's it…It must be the cold."

It took a moment for Gray to regain his self before making his way to follow Erza towards the still far of town.

"Yeah…" He muttered in return, "That must be it."

~Fin~

Question are Erza's eye's brown or violet? I mean I see pictures of her usually having light brown eyes but I coulda sworn I saw a colored manga page with her having violet eyes. If anyone knows for sure please tell me so that I may improve my Gray/Erza fics.=) And any other info for how I can improve would be most greatly apreciated because reviews make the world go round!

Peace)-AR