Enjoy the Christmas present! Three days left here! Well tomorrow is the 23rd so I don't know how you count it since its 9pm now. Haha if anyone here has read my story Last Man Standing, check there on Christmas day/eve I might have a Christmas chapter up there. Maybe, who knows how much time I have.
Anyway. Onward!
Gray drummed his fingers on the desk as he stared once again at his laptop screen. Still, he had nothing.
At the moment the bright and bubbly Meldy was at the top of his list, but the night before when he was in her dorm room with Juvia, he couldn't find anything. He smiled at the memory of the night before. They had played cards for a while, until Juvia pulled her computer out and they watched a movie, cuddled up on her bed. 10 Things I Hate About You. Gray remembered his sister forcing him to watch that movie years ago, but never did he expect anyone to cry during that movie. Along with Kat on the screen, Juvia had also bawled her eyes out. He wanted to roll his eyes at her, but instead he wrapped his arms around her and let her lean against his chest.
Not long after that, she had fallen asleep. Gray tucked her in and then raided Meldy's side of the room. Surprisingly enough, it was nearly eleven and the pink haired girl hadn't come back yet. Gray sighed, sat up in his chair, and began to add information to Meldy. He hated to write it but he knew he had to.
'Meldy Fernandez. Dating Lyon Vastia.' Gray hesitated over the keyboard as he stared at the new addition. He hoped that idiot knew what he was doing, dating a student and a possible killer no less.
His phone went off snapping him from his thoughts. Picking it up, he glanced at the screen. One message from Lyon twenty minutes ago, and one from Red, less than a minute ago. He read Lyon's first, 'Dinner at Mums. Look nice. I'll pick you up at five.' rolling his eyes he then opened the one from Red, aka Erza Scarlet. 'I have a job for you. It's quick, you'll be back before school tomorrow. I'm out front Storm.' Storm… he knew that name, people rarely used it anymore, most calling him Phantom. He even still remembered who gave it to him.
…
The woman before him, stood rigid and still. There was no visible emotion on her face which set him on edge. They were back in the room he had woken up in, a small room with a prison like bed, a dirty mirror, and a set of shelves.
"Who are you?" He asked hunching over on the bed, still keeping his eyes on the emotionless woman.
"I am me. Who else can I be?" She responded. She even sounded emotionless.
"No, I mean your name."
"I do not have a name. People refer to me as Phantom, but that is just a title."
"Well I can't just call you Phantom, I'd like a real name." He demanded, and she stayed silent, "If you're not going to tell me who you are." He paused for a second, looking at his hands, "Could you tell me who I am?"
"I do not know that. But that does not matter anymore. Who you were is gone now." He looked up and saw her staring at him, "You are now a killer."
"What?" He shouted, shooting from the bed, towering over her now, "What if I don't want to be?"
"Then you will die." His muscles relaxed, but he didn't feel any more relaxed, "You are now a part of this world. You will kill, or be killed."
"What if I killed you right now?" He threatened, "Who would be around to kill me?"
"If you kill me, then you will surely die."
She then turned from the room, silently beckoning him to come with her. She led him to the double doors which he had attempted to open earlier before she began chasing him, "No good. They're-" He stopped talking when she easily pushed them open, "Locked…" He finished. Just as he expected, those doors led to the outside world. However, all that was around them was desert. Even if he made a break for it, he would surely die before making it back to civilization.
"You will be with me at all times, and you will follow every order I give you." She ordered handing him a pile of clothes.
For days he trained, Phantom always watching from not too far away, but it wasn't until the day he learned to use a gun, he finally realised he was stuck.
They were around the back of the small building, where bricks were scattered all over. Some were chipped, some were cracked in half and some were still lucky enough to be whole. After standing some up on fence posts, oil drums and boxes, she returned to him, handing him a gun.
"Don't put your finger on the trigger until you're ready to fire." She instructed, helping him get into a proper stance with both hands on the gun, "Don't focus on your shoulders, or your arms. Focus on the fingers that hold the gun. Aim by looking through the notch in the rear side." In the past, he was sure he would have felt uncomfortable with having someone this close to him, or maybe he wouldn't. He honestly couldn't remember. Then again, he couldn't remember anything before a few days ago.
When he was ready. He shot. Knocking a brick to the ground, cracking it on contact. He then shot the other five.
"Good. From this distance you shouldn't miss. Once you can do that, we'll work on your speed."
She took the gun from and loaded it herself, before shooting another five down, without so much as blinking.
"Your goal is six shots in four seconds."
There were over a hundred shells on the ground when she spoke again.
"If names are so important to you, Master calls me Rain."
"Rain…" He tested. It wasn't exactly a name, but it was more of a name than Phantom.
"Yes. Then if I am Rain, you are what comes next. Storm. You will answer to that name. That is you who are now." From then on, that was how he was referred to, he was now Storm.
…
Opening up Lyon's message once again, Gray replied, 'Sorry. Busy.' and then he changed.
As he was walking across the school grounds to the car park, he passed Cana and Lucy. He gave the two a friendly smile and a nod before continuing on his way.
"Woof." Cana said to Lucy as she began fanning herself, watching Gray leave, "That man should dress more like that every day." Lucy rolled her eyes, but looked again at Gray. She couldn't help but think that he looked familiar. He wore a dark pair of dress pants, a loose near white turtle neck and a black jacket with the collar flipped up. On the outside of his turtle neck, his silver cross chain which he usually kept hidden under his clothes was now fully exposed.
Gray thought to himself, this wasn't how Gray Fullbuster dressed. This was how Phantom dressed. Just as she promised, Erza was out in the school car park, leaning up against her red sports car, her tight blouse threatening to burst at any moment, "Phantom." She greeted him when he was closer.
"It's Gray here."
"Apologies."
"Are you driving or am I?" Gray asked wanting to get the job over and done with.
"You can drive me." Erza said, tossing him the keys with a sly grin.
"So where are we going?" He asked sliding into the driver's seat as Erza slid into the passenger's side.
She turned to him with a playful smile, "I was thinking you owe me a date at the opera."
…
It took all of Lyon's strength not to call his brother and scream at him for blowing his mother off, "What's wrong?" Meldy asked looking away from the TV and up to Lyon from his lap.
"Stupid brother. Are you guys meant to be doing anything tonight?" He asked running his hand up and down her arm.
"Not that I know of. Why?"
"Because we're meant to go to dinner at Mum's and he says he's busy." Meldy shrugged and rolled back onto her side to return to the TV. After a few minutes of thinking, Lyon put his phone aside and leant over to obstruct Meldy's view, "Hey, do you want to come to dinner tonight?"
"And meet your Mum? Aren't we meant to, you know?"
"Yeah, but I was meant to bring Gray and the next person my Mum would want to see would be the woman I'm dating."
"Sorry hun." Meldy said quickly pressing her lips against his, "Juvia is getting worried that I'm not showing up. I think she thinks you're keeping me here against my own will. Maybe another time."
Lyon groaned and leant over completely squishing her, "You suck." he mumbled against his own leg.
"Love you too." She giggled patting his head before trying to shove him off of her, "You're suffocating me." She wheezed.
"I'm not that heavy." Lyon laughed sitting back up and poking her in the sides making her squirm, "Oh, ticklish are we?" He teased and began tickling her sides.
"Don't-ahh! Lyon! Stop!" Meldy squealed as she twisted and turned trying to squirm out of Lyon's hands, but over her squealing she was laughing and tears were filling the corners of her eyes. However Lyon continued to tickle her with no mercy. "No! Please! Stop!" Meldy cried now trying to push his hands off of her. Her pleas filled Lyon's ears, and he didn't hear his front door shutting downstairs.
The two soon fell on the floor, Meldy in an attempt to escape from Lyon had dragged him down with her. He quickly stopped after that and began to push himself up, only to stop, smiling down at the beautiful girl beneath him.
It wasn't until he heard, "Uncle Lyon!" Being shouted up the stairs that he quickly rolled off of Meldy and helped her up.
"Merida?" He asked in confusion just as his little niece's dark hair popped up at the top of the stairs, "What are you doing here? Where's Mummy?" He asked going over to the little girl and picking her up. Merida grabbed at her uncles face, giggling as she pulled it into different shapes.
"She's here." He heard his sister Ultear call as she climbed the stairs, "She ran inside and slammed the front door shut on me before I even had a chance to get to the door." Similar to her daughter's, Ultear also had dark hair and pale skin, however Merida's had a slight blue hue to it, from her father.
At the sight of Lyon's sister, Meldy froze and one thing was running through her mind. Crap, crap, crap. She repeated to herself in her head, "Oh I didn't know you had company." Ultear said smirking over at Meldy who stood awkwardly to the side.
"Yeah well I didn't know you had invited yourself over." Lyon grumbled and for a moment, Meldy saw a similarity in Lyon that Gray had as well and smiled a little.
"Don't be so sour." Merida pouted, still trying to twist Lyon's face.
"You're too smart for a two year old. You know that?" Lyon pouted, moving Merida's hands from his face.
"Ultear Milkovich, Lyon's older sister." Ultear introduced herself, holding her hand out for Meldy. Panic ensured Meldy's face as she looked over at Lyon for answers.
"Meldy Fernandes, Lyon's-"
"Student." Lyon butted in, "We were doing some tutoring."
Ultear looked suspicious at the two, but let it slide, "Well I hope he isn't teaching you any bad habits like he is Merida." She said taking Merida off of Lyon.
"Before you start making fun of me, can you please tell me why you broke into my house?" Lyon said, visibly irritated.
"I didn't break in, the front door was unlocked."
"Beside the point."
"Merida got something for Mum but she left it here last time she was here." Ultear explained.
"Well her room is down the hall, go check there." Lyon instructed, pointing down the hall behind him, trying to get rid of his sister.
"I think I know where it is." Ultear said walking past Lyon and down the hall.
"So…" Meldy drawled out as Lyon let out a heavy sigh, "Tutor?"
"Yeah, let's hope she doesn't notice the lack of books."
"Or the fact I'm…" She trailed off tugging at the collar of the blue and yellow shirt of Lyon's which she had slept in the night before along with a pair of his track pants.
"Crap!" Lyon cursed rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Well if she's anything like you or Gray she won't notice." Meldy teased.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Lyon snapped.
"Your niece has her own room at your place?" Meldy asked casually flipping the conversation.
Lyon's eyes narrowed but he didn't say anything about the conversation change, "Yeah, not too long ago Ultear went through a little… trouble, and Merida lived with me so she got her own room. She comes and stays also from time to time so-"
"That bright pink room I saw." Meldy said remembering the night before when she tried to find the guest room she had instead walked into a room full of pink and purple except for the walls.
"What can I say? I'm a sucker for pink." Lyon held out his hands and shrugged.
"Smooth." Meldy rolled her eyes.
"You give him too much credit." Ultear said standing behind Lyon, her arms folded and a smirk on her face.
"Busted?" Lyon wasn't game to face Ultear. His face scrunched up and Meldy couldn't help but giggle at the pained look on his face.
"You have no idea." Lyon could feel Ultear glaring a hold in the back of his head. Her expression softened when she looked up at Meldy, "It was nice meeting you Meldy. You seem like a nice kid, but seriously think about what you're doing." Stepping closer to Lyon she grabbed him by his shirt and forcibly spun him to face her, "And you." She hissed in his face lowly so Meldy couldn't hear, "Are going to get an earful tonight when Mum finds out."
Lyon winced but didn't say anything back as Ultear let him go and called out to Merida, "No!" The little girl shouted from her room.
"Merida stop messing around and get out here now!" Ultear shouted marching back down the hall.
"I should get going…" Meldy said feeling a little ashamed as she focused on the floor.
Stepping forward, Lyon touched her cheek to get her to look up at him, "They won't tell anyone. Believe me."
"But maybe Ultear is right. I need to think about if I'm doing the right thing. Even Cana, Lucy, Juvia and Levy think this is a bad idea." Meldy said hesitantly, feeling tears in her eyes.
"You know what? They're probably right." Lyon agreed making Meldy's heart drop, "But I don't care and neither should you. Because all that matters is whether we want to be together. I know I do. But if you're having second thoughts…"
Meldy let out a short half laugh half sob, "You're so cheesy."
"Is that a yes?" Lyon concluded a little sadly.
"No. It means you're right." Meldy wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his chest.
Lyon laughed and returned her embrace, kissing her forehead lightly before resting his head on hers, "I think you're the only person who would admit that."
"Well don't' get used to it."
Ultear stepped out of Merida's room with a struggling two year old in one arm and what they came for in the other arm. She stopped and smiled as she watched Lyon convince Meldy not to leave and quickly shushed Merida so she didn't interrupt them.
Although she thought there were plenty of other women that were much less inappropriate for her brother to date, she quickly realized that there was probably no other woman that Lyon would want. Within five minutes of knowing about her, Ultear could tell that the teacher-student relationship didn't bother either of them, and if any of them were going to be happy, Lyon was most likely the one to do anything to get it. Then again, she felt like she didn't even know her little brother. It had only been two years since she last saw him, but he was a complete stranger to her now.
After letting the couple embrace for a few minutes, Ultear decided to interrupt, "Hate to interrupt, but I will be seeing you and Gray tonight?" Ultear asked as she made her way to the stairs again.
"Actually." Lyon stepped beside Meldy, keeping one arm wrapped around her shoulders, "Gray texted me and said he's busy. I don't think I'll be able to break into his dorm and drag him out by force tonight. Maybe next time we take him by surprise rather than giving him a chance to make other plans."
Ultear sighed and shook her head, "Mum really won't be happy then. Hey why don't your bring Meldy?" Ultear suggested frowning as Merida began to struggle from her grip again.
"Why is it that your family thinks so much alike?" Meldy couldn't help but observe.
"You don't really have an excuse now. Gray ditched, and Ultear already knows about you." Lyon argued.
"I'm sorry but I can't. Like I said Juvia is worried about me." Meldy looked at Ultear apologetically.
"Next time." It was more a demand from the dark haired woman rather than a suggestion.
"Of course." Meldy smiled. She wanted to stay in Ultear's good graces if she was going to be with Lyon.
"I'll see you tonight then Lyon. And I'll see you another time." Ultear said just as Merida managed to break free from her grasp.
"Bye Uncle Lyon." Merida said hugging his leg.
"See you tonight kid." He said patting her hair. Merida looked up at Meldy with a cute smile and waved before rushing down the stairs, Ultear not too far behind.
Once they were gone Meldy began making her way towards the spare bedroom where her clothes were, "Where do you think you're going?" Lyon asked grabbing her hand and pulling her back to him.
"To get changed so I can head back to my dorm." Meldy explained simply.
"Twenty more minutes." He bargained, pushing her hair back.
"Fifteen." She offered.
"Twenty five."
"Ten."
"An hour." He held her face in his hands and began to lean down closer to her.
"You don't understand how bargaining works do you?" Meldy whispered when his lips got closer to hers.
"An hour and a half." Lyon continued.
"You'll be late for dinner." She still however wrapped her arms around his neck, encouraging him to come closer.
"I've never been one for being on time." And he closed the gap.
…
Gray was growing impatient. The show had already gone for two hours and still Erza hadn't given him the signal and his leg had gone numb. He shook his leg before jabbing it a few times trying to wake it up before he peeped through the scope to make sure he was still lined up with his target. He didn't know exactly who this guy was, it wasn't his business to know why, he just needed to know which one needed a bullet put between the eyes.
This one was apparently working with Jellal and the Phantom Master before they were both killed.
"I have a 3-0-8 calibre Remington for you." Erza explained to him not long after they left the school grounds, "The target is Vidaldus Taka. He will be seated in one of the balconies along with his wife Ikaruga. More information is in the folder. I want you to wear an ear piece. I will signal you through it when I want you to pull the trigger." Gray just nodded obediently, "Good."
Before the show had started Gray had positioned himself in the highest place possible, a small room full of old dusty furniture and musical instruments. Two of the lights were situated either side of him, blinding anyone from a chance to be able to see him.
He had found Vidaldus a long time ago and Erza knew. So all he had done for the past two hours was listen to people on the stage sing in some ungodly language he didn't even know existed until now. Either that or he just couldn't understand them over all the screaming and shouting known as opera singing.
"Don't put your finger on the trigger until you're ready to fire." Her words rung through his ears like they did every time he had to wait for a signal. His index finger danced around the trigger, never touching it as he grew more impatient by the second.
Every job he wanted to get over and done with as fast as possible. Every second spent here was another second lost trying to figure out who is after Lucy which was another second he had to spend at that godforsaken school near his brother and near his reminder of Rain. He wanted to be done with this job also so he could go back to his life, if you could even call it that. Having his family so close was painful, but it would be more painful to see them. He wanted to go back to Crocus, so he could forget once again about being Gray, and become the stoic Storm, become Phantom again. Nothing hurts when you're an emotionless killing machine. Nothing.
"Okay. Go." Erza's voice came through his ear. Without hesitation his finger touched the trigger and he fired. Panic quickly ensued, but only to those around Vidaldus. The performance went on and the rest of the crowd continued to watch, unaware of the assassination that just took place. Packing up the Remington, Gray also shoved the empty shell in his pocket before he casually made his way out.
He met Erza back down at her car, she was already seated in the passenger seat.
"Like I said. It would be a quick job." She said smugly as he jumped into the driver's seat.
"You sure took your time telling me to go." Gray grumbled as he sped off.
"I was enjoying the show."
…
It was late when he got back to Fairy Academy. Looking around at the empty school grounds, Gray suddenly became grateful that Erza had taken her time with telling him to shoot. If he had gotten back quickly he might have run into someone like Cana or Natsu. Shoving his hands in his pockets as he walked, he felt the bullet shell between his fingers.
He had almost made it back to the boy's dorm when he ran into one of the last people he would have expected. Well, there wasn't really a list of people that he would think to find out here, but he didn't expect to find Juvia sitting on a bench reading a book under one of the few outdoor lights that lit up the school dimly for the boarders to make their way around at night, even though they were encouraged not to.
"I was sure you had a nice comfy bed to do that. Or maybe even a common room. Or don't the girls have a common room." Gray said as he sat down beside her.
Juvia laughed and closed her book, pulling it close to her chest, "We do have a common room, and I do have a bed. It's not exactly comfortable but it gets the job done."
"Then why aren't you there?"
"Meldy needed some time alone, and the common room was too loud to read." Juvia explained simply.
"Trouble with mystery man?" Gray said curiously. He felt a little conflicted. Over the last few weeks Meldy wasn't exactly the nicest person to him, and she was at the top of his suspect list, but suddenly he felt protective of her, and wanted to bash in his brother's face if he had done anything to hurt her. It was either that or he was looking for an excuse to hit Lyon.
"I think so. But…" Juvia shrugged. Looking at Gray's attire, Juvia couldn't help but admire how good he looked, "Have you been out?"
"Yeah uh, dinner with the family." Gray lied. His stomach growled and he remembered that he hadn't actually eaten anything since lunch.
"Did you ever get around to the dinner part?" Juvia laughed as she heard his stomach grumbling.
"I didn't really eat. It's been a while since I've seen my Mum and sister." And it will be a little while longer now until I see them. If ever. He corrected in his mind.
"You should go find something. I don't think the dining hall is open anymore though." Juvia said tapping her fingers on her book, "But I'm sure we can find you something."
"It's fine. You don't have to help me Juvia." Gray said now wishing he had just kept on walking.
"But I do. You brought me food last night and cheered me up." Juvia said jumping off the bench and holding her hand out to him, "Now let me return the favour."
Looking at her hand, Gray frowned. He could find some chips or something in the common room fridge, but maybe he could accept someone else's help. Just this once, "I guess I don't have a choice do I?" He smiled up at her and took her hand.
The two went to check to see if the dining hall was open and in the distance Gray could hear the rumble of thunder of an incoming storm, and with storm, always came rain.
See what I did with the title? I couldn't help myself. I was watching Modern Family when did it.
Now what flashback should we do next chapter? A little on Gray's past before he vanished? How he vanished? How he found his identity again? Or some more Rain and Storm? How Storm met Erza? How Erza got a Phantom all her own? Or none at all! Cast your votes my pretties.
Lyredy happened because A. There isn't enough of it in this world and B. I need to get the fluff out of my system because Gruvia cannot happen yet.
