The entire manor was abuzz with activity. Maids were everywhere; polishing the chandeliers, dusting the showpieces, drying the curtains and tapestries, scrubbing the floors. Chefs were preparing the finest delicacies they could create, and every free hand that was available was being put to use. Two of those hands belonged to a young twelve-year-old boy named Gray Fullbuster.
The boy was currently helping out the chefs by washing the various pots and pans used for cooking, since he himself couldn't cook yet. While cleaning out a particularly sticky bowl, someone tapped his shoulder. He turned around to find a white-haired girl standing sheepishly behind him. He quickly asked someone else to wash the dishes for him, and wiped his dripping hands on his pants. "What's up, Lisanna?" he asked.
Lisanna twiddled her fingers. "Some of the maids want me to sweep the chimneys, since I'm small enough. But…" she trailed off and looked down. "I'm afraid of small spaces." She whispered, toeing at something on the floor.
Gray looked at the girl in front of him. Even if Gray was small for his age, he was still a head taller than her. She looked positively terrified; he didn't know if it was because she was afraid of asking him, or she was afraid of the prospect of closed spaces. "Don't worry, Ana. Leave it to me."
"Thank you, Gray!" Lisanna squealed and hugged him. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
She led him to the first chimney, where an older Strauss was waiting for them. "You asked Gray to help you?!" Mira asked, outraged at her little sister. The younger Strauss shrugged. "He agreed to help."
Mira turned to the Fullbuster. "Are you sure about this, Gray? You've never done this before." She asked worriedly.
"Psh, I'll be fine Mira." Gray said confidently. "What's so hard about cleaning a chimney?"
Mira did not look convinced. "If you are sure." She handed him a long, scruffy black brush. "You don't have to do it too thoroughly. We make sure to do this every two weeks, and we did this last week."
It was the middle of winter, so the fireplaces had been roaring almost every hour to keep the manor warm. "That's reassuring." He replied drily. "I can handle this, Mira. I'm almost thirteen, for crying out loud!"
He stepped in front of the fireplace and start poking his brush upwards. However, by blindly poking around, some of the soot settled on his face. His eyes watered and he started coughing and quickly got out. "Gray! Are you alright?" Mira interrogated, bending to his eye level to search for any signs of discomfort.
Gray rubbed his eyes. "I'm fine, Mira. I just got some soot in my eyes."
"What's so hard about cleaning a chimney?" Lisanna piped from behind her sister in a voice that mocked Gray's.
Before Gray could retaliate, one of the maids came running to the trio. "The Mistress requires Gray to serve them their lunch once again." She explains, looking at the boy in front of her. "The food has all been set on their trays. All Gray has to do is bring them to the table."
"Thank you, Laki." Mira bowed. She turned to Gray. "You think you can handle this one, Gray?" she teased.
"Of course!" Gray huffed and made his way to the kitchen.
Laki shook her head at the little boy. "Spirited as ever." Mira hummed in agreement.
Gray carried the trays one by one and gently set the table. He had done this quite a lot over the past few weeks, and had become a regular expert. Within ten minutes he had set the various cutlery and dishes needed for the step-family's lunch. As he was setting down the last dish, Lyon looked up from his plate looked at Gray. "What's that all over your face?" he sneered.
Jellal snapped out of his daze to focus on Gray's face and sure enough, it was marred with black smears. Ultear got up to inspect the boy's face and daintily ran a finger across his cheek. "Ashes." She said as she rubbed the soot between her fingers. "From the fireplace." She looked at the boy, her red eyes demanding an explanation.
Gray gulped. "I was just helping the maids sweep out the fireplaces for tonight's gathering." He quickly explained.
"Wipe those ashes from your face, Gray." Jellal quietly ordered. "Wouldn't want the food to be poisoned because of your carelessness."
Gray quickly grabbed a napkin from the table and started wiping his face. Lyon snapped his fingers, "You know what? Why don't we call you Ash Gray from now on? Since the ashes suit you perfectly." Lyon taunted, practically begging Gray to try and do something to him.
Gray clenched his fist. How he wished he could just take a swing at him. But doing that would ensure a whipping from Ultear. The said woman chuckled at her youngest son's behavior. "It's not a bad idea, Lyon. But please, mind your manners." Ultear scolds lightly, indicating that she was not serious. "Now, let's begin, shall we?"
The three started eating. Both Ultear and Jellal were eating with a refined air of dignity, but Lyon was wolfing down his meal like a beggar. Ultear shook her head. "Jellal, would you mind teaching your brother how to eat properly?"
"I would, mother." Jellal replied. "If he wouldn't faze out in the middle of it."
Both chuckled as Lyon finally looked up from his food. "A growing boy needs his nutrition. I wouldn't want to be a shrimp like Gray."
Gray glared at the boy and took a step forward, but one look from Ultear stopped him. He regained his composure and simply stepped back. The three resumed eating in silence. Midway through, Ultear signaled Gray to come. "Ash Gray, fetch my ash tray." Ultear ordered mindlessly, fingers toying with the thin, brass, reed which held her cigarette.
Gray looked appalled with her words, and both boys were trying to hold back their laughter. It truly didn't help when Ultear looked up and looked confused at her sons' actions. "What is so funny, boys?"
They couldn't help it. Lyon started guffawing loudly and even Jellal was chuckling. Gray took deep breaths to try to calm himself down. "Mother, did you even know what you said?" Jellal asked, daring to tease his own mother.
"Ash Gray! Fetch my ash tray!" Lyon ordered loudly before falling into fits of laughter. Gray was silently hoping that he would choke on his food, but sadly it didn't happen. Seeing her son so amused caused Ultear to smile as well.
It seemed that Gray got his wish, because suddenly Lyon was frantically gasping for air. The white-haired boy weakly pounded his chest and coughed wildly. Ultear glared at Gray. "What are you doing standing there? Help him!" She yelled. Gray flinched at her orders and quickly started pounding Lyon's back. After a few punches, a brown and green wad of food flew out of his mouth. Ultear sighed with relief. But then she noticed that Gray continued punching with increasing fervor. Lyon was trying to make him stop, but the pounding was so hard that it was causing him to cough again. Already weakened from his choking experience, he was starting to get tears in his eyes.
Gray could only see red. With each punch, he kept hitting harder and harder. Flashes of Lyon's bullying from the past month floated through his mind, and it fuelled his angers. He could barely hear Ultear's frantic shouts, or feel Jellal's arms wrap around his abdomen as he tried to pull Gray away from Lyon. After painstaking effort, Jellal finally managed to put some distance between the two boys. Gray was heavily panting, thoroughly enjoying the relief he felt after bottling his emotions. He was amused to see Lyon so helpless, being fed glasses of water by his elder brother.
The full weight of his actions finally settled into his mind, and he couldn't bring himself to look at Ultear. He braved a glance, and cowered at the sight of the lady. She looked calm to Lyon and Jellal, but Gray could make out a faint tremor in her body. He watched as the red-eyed lady crushed the cigarette at the end of the brass reed and took a few steps backwards. However, before he could fully escape, Ultear stopped him with her voice. "Jellal, take your brother to his room. He needs some rest." She ordered sternly. After making sure the boys were out of sight, she turned to Gray. "Follow me to my room, Ash Gray." She spat venomously and walked to her quarters. Gray gulped and briefly thought of disobeying, but then Ultear turned around and looked at him expectantly. Gray slowly walked behind her.
After that afternoon, the boys would tease Gray with his new name for quite a while. Lyon would continuously bully him, and Jellal would purposely call him that whenever he needed him. Even Ultear would indulge once in a while. Every time he wished to retaliate, the wounds around his back and abdomen would throb painfully, as if reminding him for the consequences of any reckless behviour.
Hehe :P I hope you don't hate me for this. I actually had this planned to release after the ball, but then forgot about it until now. It gives a little bit perspective as to how it was for Gray growing up. Don't worry; the story picks up the next chapter. ;)
Thank you, lovely reviewers! Gracy-chan and Guest 20/7/15. It really makes me happy when I get such compliments :P
Please, please, please review, follow and favorite! I spend a lot of time on this story (heck, it's the only fic completely planned out). It would be really nice if I knew your thoughts on it XD