Gray walked into Fairy Tail that morning with a newfound resolve. He was going to tell her. He was finally going to make a move, after 10 years of avoiding his feelings for his best friend, Erza Scarlet. He was frustrated- for the past month, Erza had been giving him small signs of hope that she possible felt something for him too. A brush of their hands, lingering touches, and the heated stares they exchanged. He couldn't take this uncertain feeling stirring in his gut anymore. He had to get this off his chest, whether she accepted his confession or not.
He had been talking with Cana when he saw her finally walk in the guild doors. He watched as she greeted people with a small smile on her lips, her scarlet hair swishing behind her. Gods, she was beautiful.
Cana followed his line of sight, a playful smirk forming on her lips. "Hm, what's this? Gray, do you have a little crush on Erza?" She nudged his arm, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
He turned to her with a slight pout. "Crush? Cana, we're not eight anymore. Don't call it that."
"Ah, but you didn't deny it!" She clapped him on the back. "Finally growing the balls to ask her out? Gray, I'm so proud," she sniffed as she faked wiping a tear.
Gray opened his mouth to retort but instantly shut it when he saw Erza making her way over to them. "Beat it, Cana."
"Hello Gray, Cana." Erza nodded to both of them in greeting before sitting next to Gray.
Cana smiled knowingly at him. "Hey, Erza." She looked into her jug and gasped rather dramatically. "Oh, look at that. I'm all out of booze!" She winked at Gray before hopping off the table, no doubt heading to the bar.
Gray felt his hands get clammy. He shouldn't be this nervous- he'd been preparing for this moment all morning! Erza was his best friend, and he confided even his darkest secrets to her with absolute trust. A confession should be easy!
"Hey, Erza.. I need to tell you something," he managed, trying to look her straight in the eye.
Erza raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What is it?"
"Uh, well I— "
"ERZA! GRAY!" a booming voice yelled, thoroughly interrupting Gray.
They both turned to see none other than Natsu standing by the request board. Gray gave him a deathly glare. "Natsu," he seethed.
Natsu bounded over, completely oblivious to the deathly aura Gray was giving off. "Wanna go on this job? Escorting an ambassador to Seven, 300,000 jewels made easy. What do ya say? We'll ask Lucy to come too!" he said with a huge grin.
Erza took the flyer from his hands. "Hm, 300,000 jewels? I do need to pay my rent soon…" she trailed off, scratching her chin in thought. "Alright, let's go."
"Sweet! Come on, we got to go get Lucy!" Natsu said as he ran off, Happy hot on his trail yelling, "Aye sir!"
Gray inwardly groaned. Not only did Natsu interrupt him just when he was about to spill his guts, but now he had to go on a job with the flaming idiot? Wonderful.
Erza sighed as she stood, putting a hand on Gray's shoulder. "What are we going to do with that guy… Come on Gray, we've got a job to do."
The journey to Seven had gone without a hitch… until the very end.
A group of assassins had ambushed them as they were approaching the border. Natsu had immediately charged, thinking that he was enough to handle all 8 of them. They proved to be more skilled than he thought, throwing him off and continuing their assault. They eventually did manage to defeat all eight enemies, but not without a struggle. They were clearly trained and had apparently studied up on their knowledge of Fairy Tail's mages, because they knew all their strengths and weaknesses. It hadn't been the easiest fight they'd ever been in.
Seeing them all injured and banged up, the ambassador had arranged a hotel room for them and for medical supplies and extra money to be sent to their room. The man sure knew how to be grateful for having his life saved.
Night had fallen. They all agreed to rest there for the night and return to Magnolia in the morning. Lucy, Natsu and Happy took the money and went out to get them all dinner, having patched themselves up rather quickly. That left Erza and Gray alone to tend their wounds.
Gray finished bandaging himself without difficulty. Erza had wrapped her forehead and arms, now moving on to her stomach and chest. She struggled with it by herself for a while before giving up with a huff, throwing the tape on the floor.
Gray couldn't help but chuckle at her childish pout. He found it cute. "Need some help?"
Her frown only deepened. "NO!"
He sighed. "Yes you do. Give up the tough guy act, you know it doesn't work with me." He sat down behind her and began to wrap her stomach.
Erza visibly relaxed at his touch. "I know. It's just a habit, I guess."
"Why though? Why do you always put up a front with everyone? We're your friends, Erza."
Her body tensed. "Gray, this isn't something I want to ta-"
Gray quickly spun her around, gripping her arms firmly. His intense stare made Erza a little nervous. "Erza. We've known each other for more than 10 years. You gotta trust me."
Erza reached up and rubbed his forearms absentmindedly. "I do trust you, Gray. It's just… a hard topic to talk about."
His gaze softened, and Erza could've sworn his face was closer to hers than it had been a minute ago. "You can talk to me about anything. You know this."
She spun herself around, motioning him to continue wrapping her. "I know." She sighed heavily, caving. "I just don't want to be seen as weak. Vulnerable. Just the thought of it makes me uneasy. It scares me… the only times that I've let my guard down around people, I've gotten hurt." Ugly memories of her time at the Tower of Heaven passed through her mind. "I don't ever want to experience that again. Even if I'm surrounded by my friends, I just can't let it go."
Gray ripped off the end of the bandage, tying it together. He turned her around again to look her in the eye. "Erza, you forgot one thing though. Ever since I caught you crying when we were kids, you've never tried to guard yourself when it's just you and me." He took her hand in his, running his thumb over the back of her hand reassuringly. "Who's to say you can't try to open up to other people too?"
Erza looked away, a sad smile on her face. "Well, you're the exception. You're the only one who ever got through to me." She squeezed his hand. "Besides, people expect me to be confident and strong. They see me as the great Titania. I can't let them down, can I?"
"Erza, it's okay to be vulnerable sometimes. It doesn't make you weak; it only makes you stronger. If you have the strength to be honest with yourself and others, there's no limit to what you can do. I'm sure everyone in Fairy Tail would agree with me."
Erza smiled, a real, genuine one. "I suppose you're right. But… I'll do that when I'm ready. I want to just keep this exposure between us for now. Deal?"
Gray chuckled. "Deal. Say, Erza… do you remember when I said I had something to tell you earlier today?"
"Yeah. What was it?"
He swallowed thickly. This was it. He just hoped she couldn't feel his hand sweating. "Well… when I was younger, I asked Cana to read my fortune one day. She told me I was supposed to have brilliant luck that day, which I thought was a load of bull. I'd fallen into ditches, lost my wallet a couple times- nothing was going right, but no matter what, my fortune didn't change. Now, I think I finally understand why I supposedly had great luck that day." He looked her straight in the eye. "Do you know why?"
Erza just gave him a confused look. "No, I don't."
"That was the day you joined Fairy Tail. The girl who was in the rags and an eye patch who would someday become my closest friend. And, somewhere along the way, I found myself falling for that girl. This probably sounds super cliché and sappy but… I love you, Erza. I always have and I always will."
Erza stared at him with wide eyes, completely speechless. Gray started to panic. Oh god, she was going to laugh at him for being such a sap. She was going to reject him and avoid him and never talk to him agai—
Grays thoughts came to a halt when he saw tears falling down her cheeks. Shit, he made her cry! "Oh shit, don't cry Erza, I didn't mean to make you ups— "
Erza cut him off with a kiss. Gray froze in surprise, but quickly got over it and kissed her back eagerly. It was slow and sweet. A surge of warmth washed over him as he felt her cup his cheeks. He sighed contentedly, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her closer.
Erza broke away and smiled lovingly at him. "Idiot. Don't make me cry with that sentimental stuff."
Gray chuckled lightly, wiping her tears off her face. "I'll take that as a good thing. Does that mean… you know…you— "
"Why do you think you're the only one I've ever let myself be vulnerable around? Seriously Gray, you're such an idiot.."
He smiled. "Well, I'm your idiot now, so deal with it."
"I guess I'll have to," she sighed as she pulled him in for another kiss.
Are your teeth rotted after all that fluff yet? ;)
I had to do it, guys. I had to bring up the Lucky Day. IT HAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL! And Mashima hasn't put it to good use! Who knows though, maybe he will bring it up again in the future to ties loose ends up. I mean, there has to be some closure to that topic, otherwise why would he even put it in there, right? Ugh, it's so frustrating, sometimes.
