Back with another chapter. :) I hope you'll enjoy it.
If you should have some preferable couples for the next chapters, I would gladly hear your opinion. :D
(As you probably have realised the main couple is Grayza :), but I enjoy writing about others too :3)
9. Confusion
Erza sat on one of the bar stools at the Fairy Tail guild and overwatched it. How long has it been, since she joined this guild? It was her first guild and she promised herself long time ago, that it would be her last. This guild was more, than she had ever hoped for. She began to smile, as she was remembering the scenes, which were dearly important to her. How did she came to his guild. She remembered, when she was a prisoner in the Tower of heaven. Rather a slave. There was a time, when she couldn't remember the stinging scenes, without desperately gasping for air.
In the last years she felt like she began to heal, but still there were nights, when she woke up, sweaty from the nightmares, which she couldn't seem to shake off. Still she was more than happy to have found such a place like this one. She had made some really great friends and countless aquaintances on her missions. Sometimes she thought, that maybe she needed to be caught in that Tower, where so many dark memories stayed. Otherwise she probably wouldn't have ended up here.
Even though, she thought about all her hurt comrades at the Tower, who maybe never would get over it and about all the people, who had died there. About the old grandpa, who she took into her heart. About Simon, who had sacrificed himself, in the act of protecting her. About Jellal. Jellal, who always played a very important role in her past. The moments, when he always tried to think positive and his sudden change. All the times, he tried to kill her and her precious friends. Without them, she probably wouldn't be here anymore.
And now she was in constant contact with him. Back then, she didn't think, this could ever happen again, but he had changed. His once self-confident and cheerful personality had been reduced and now he was a man, who seemed to have just one goal, to get even with Zeref. Erza did understand Jellal, but she wished he could finally forget about it. She suddenly remembered the scene, when he had almost kissed her. She couldn't help blushing. She was in love with him back then, in the Tower of Heaven and probably she liked him even now. But was she truly in love with him even now? And was there even a place in his life for her? Whenever she talked to him, he seemed his plans never involve her. She had asked him about his future, but he always avoided it. He focused on atoning his sins, like he always told her. Just yesterday she had talked to him and got a bit louder. She had yelled at him, why he didn't involve her into his plans, that she was worried about him and that she thought, that she was his friend.
Back then, she wished, he would have been angry at her, for yelling at him, but he just smiled and looked at her warmly. He thanked her for always believing in him, but he said, that he needed to do this alone. That this was his sin, which he would never forgive him.
This stubborn dork, he would never let her in his heart. Erza already knew this long ago, but it seemed like her heart couldn't process it.
Her eyes stopped at the front door, which got pulled and then her eyes caught Gray, who came marching in with Juvia behind him. His eyes darting right to hers, like their eyes to seem a magnet, with opposite poles. She took a sip of her drink and remembered the moment, when she entered the guild and Gray had yelled at her. He had been so straightforward and she needed to laugh a little. Nowadays hadn't his straightforwardness loosen up? Gray was coming towards her, nodding at her, but some metres aways, Juvia stopped him and excused herself for going to the bathroom.
Then he turned back to Erza. His dark eyes already telling her, what he wanted to ask her. She lowered her gaze and reminsced about the moment at the river, when he had lectured about crying alone. She suddenly got the feeling, she always avoided him. She was just like Jellal.
Erza sighed without noticing.
„Was your day that unpleasant?", asked Gray her, while sitting next to her, sending Mirajane a signal, to bring him a refreshment.
For a moment she thought about, bringing up her memory with him, but she overthrowed it again. Why would he be interested in it. Because he always showed interest, said her heart to her brain.
„No, just a bit boring", she answered absentmindedly.
He realised her behaviour and turned to her. „Am I disturbing? Don't you want to talk with me?", he asked her carefully.
What was with his tone? She turned to him. Her eyes staring into his, why are his eyes so clear, she thought. „That's not it", she mumbled.
They both sit a while, without saying furthermore. After a moment, they got interrupted by the water woman. Erza eyes wandered to her, but Gray's eyes didn't move away.
„Let's do a mission again, Gray-sama. Juvia is really glad and hadn't so much fun in a long time", she exlaimed happily and smiled heartily at him.
Erza face faltered and she looked away. What was that feeling? On the one hand, she felt happy, seeing her friend smile so grateful, on the other hand her heart began to sting. What was wrong with her. She clearly had no desire for confusing feelings and tried to drink up her drink, so she could escape this unpleasant situation.
Gray finally turned to Juvia nodding, „you're welcome", he answered, suddenly contemplating about something, but then adding: „But I actually planned to have a mission with someone else in th e near future, so it could take some time", he explained smiling softly.
„Is that true?", asked Juvia a little disappointed and sighed. „Okay...", she murmured and looked at Erza. She tilted her head a little and approached Erza. „Erza, do you have some time this week? Juvia saw a mission hanging up on the board, which searched for girls helping out as models. Juvia thought, that you might like to help Juvia out", she suggested, but when she caught Erza facial expression, she added: „Are you okay? Juvia thinks, you don't look so good", she asked her friend worringly. Erza raised her eyebrows, when she realised her friends staring at her and worrying about her. „I'm good" she exlaimed. „About the mission..", she started, but Gray interfered. „Actually, she already goes on a mission with me", he declared, feeling abruptly, a litte unpleasant and insecure, but his gaze didn't waver.
„Oh", Juvia's mouth escaped and she begin to recede a bit. „Is that so?", she mumbled a little taken aback. Gray nodded. „It's important for me, do you understand?", he pressed her carefully. Juvia nodded slowly, while staring at the floor. „If this is, what Gray wants", she whispered, seemingly gloomy.
Erza gulped at the sudden turn of the situation. „Can't she come with us?", asked Erza.
Already regretting, what was she thinking? Gray should go with Juvia alone. Gray bit on his lower lip and brushed through his hair. „Actually it's a pair mission. I want to go with you, Erza", he declared and straightened himself, signaling Erza and Juvia his opinion. Juvia nodded. „Juvia understands", she mumbled. „Well.. Juvia is a bit tired, so Juvia is going to return a bit earlier home", she stated and left the guild, seemingly hurt.
Erza watched Juvia leaving the guild. She instantly stood up from her chair, but Gray hold her back, while his hand grabbed for her arm. „Please, don't make it harder for me", he whispered huskily.
She didn't know, what to do and shook his arm off. She turned towards him and asked him: „What was this all about? You do see, she has feelings for you, don't you?", she exlaimed, anger growing in her.
Gray was helpless, he always was in those situations, but he needed to make it clear once and for all. He took a deep breath, straightening himself once again, staring her deep in the eyes. „Erza.. you are the...", he started, when a pink head suddenly popped up between.
„Nahahah... what are you guys plotting with those wrinkled faces?", Natsu exlaimed grinning. Happy appearing behind him. „Actually I could go for some fish", he said dreaming and licking his lips, while his tail curled at the thought of the delicious fish. „Happy, you're really clever. Food is very important, so let's order some meals. Lucy, what about you?!", Natsu yelled through the guild to the other end. At the sound of Natsu's yell, Gray and Erza's ears seemed to fall off.
Gray and Erza approached him simultaneosly: „Natsu, just quiet down already!", they yelled back.
„What the heck?! Do you have any problems? Man.. Do something against your agression. This is really no fun", he exlaimed and plopped down on the chair next to them. Gray and Erza were boiling, seemingly annoyed. „Your order is ready", signaled Mirajane to Natsu.
„Ah!", jumped Natsu up. „Wait you two, I really need to eat this, because I'm dying right now of hunger. So let's battle after I ate, but don't go away, got it?!", he stated and already dug in with a big grin on his face.
P.S. Enjoy your life like Natsu. ;)
~Mintdreams
