Gray saw Erza before she saw him. She was dressed in a pretty purple number, and Gray couldn't help but appreciate his best friend's sexy figure. He tensed when he realized what he was thinking – Erza would either hug him or punch him for thinking such things, and both options were quite painful.
He watched as Lucy and Levy entered the guild, and Erza strayed behind. He noted the melancholy look on her face and guessed what was bothering her. He didn't like seeing Erza upset – she was his precious nakama, like a cherished sister.
"Wow Erza, you look great," he said, deciding this was a safe compliment. "I bet I'm getting dirty looks just being seen next to you."
She turned to him with a smile on her face. "Thanks. You clean up pretty nice yourself."
"What, this old thing?" He pulled at his lapels playfully. "Everything else was dirty."
She laughed and he moved closer. "So why is a lovely lady standing outside by herself, huh?" He asked her, putting his arm out for her to take. He thought she'd get a kick out of him playing the gentleman. "Are you thinking about Jellal and those guys?"
He could tell by the quick expression of sadness that flew across her face that he guessed correctly. Taking his arm, she responded. "I just hope they're doing okay out there."
He patted her arm gently, trying to comfort her. "Well Millianna's got Mermaid Heel, so I'm sure she's doing great," he told her. "And I'm sure those other guys are having the adventure of a lifetime."
He was rewarded with a smile. "I know, but it's still lonely sometimes…especially at midnight."
He nodded in understanding. "That's no reason to stand outside in the cold though, eh? You're not an ice mage like me." He noticed that though she was acting tough, she had goosebumps. "Come on, I'll escort you."
He strutted into the guild and spun Erza playfully on the dance floor before depositing her with Lucy, Natsu, Happy, Levy and Gajeel, who were all at a table chatting with Mirajane. Then he went in search of the resident Tarot mage.
He found her, unsurprisingly, at the bar, sneaking refills at the tap while Mira waited tables. "Hey Cana, I've got a favor to ask."
"Mmm? I told you before Gray, I only accept cash payments for sex."
He rolled his eyes, used to her snarky attitude. "I think you'll be on board with this idea. I need you to find someone for me and help me get them here, tonight."
She continued gulping down her beer but nodded for him to continue.
"And we have to keep it a secret, especially from Erza."
Cana paused for air and looked at him. "Are you thinking of a certain ex-prisoner on the run from the Council, by any chance?"
He grinned. "So we're on the same page then?"
She finished her drink and slammed the glass down on the counter. She glanced in Erza's direction, then grinned and flicked out a hand of cards. "I like it."
Crouching behind the bar, Cana made quick work of pinpointing Jellal's location. "He told me how to get around his magical protections at the Grand Magic Games," she explained to Gray. "The council wouldn't be able to find him this easily."
"He's not that far from here," Gray observed. "That's only an hour's trip without magic. He could get here in plenty of time." It was only 10pm and the party was just picking up.
"I'll contact him right away." Cana's eye sparkled with excitement at the thought of giving Erza such a great surprise. "Go back to the party or Erza will suspect we're up to something. I'll keep you updated." As children, Gray and Cana were something of a dream team when it came to schemes and practical jokes. Gray grinned and gave her a high-five before melting into the party.
After an hour and a half of chatting with Juvia, Charle and Wendy, Gray saw Cana trying to get his attention. Excusing himself (which was difficult with Juvia clinging to his arm) he made his way over to the brunette.
"Operation was a success." Cana informed him. "The subject will report in at zero-hundred hours?"
"Eh?" Gray said, confused by her military lingo.
"He'll be here just in time for a midnight kiss!" Cana translated, beaming at the success. "He won't be able to stay long, but I think that will suffice."
"Perfect!" Gray exclaimed, slapping her on the back. "You're brilliant, Cana!"
She laughed. "I know. Just one issue though…." She gestured at the rest of the guild. "I don't know where Erza is."
Gray took stock of the guild hall. Juvia was hiding behind a pillar nearby stalking him (he waved awkwardly and tried to ignore it). Natsu was brawling with Gajeel while Lucy and Levy giggled. Wendy and Charle were playing with Asuka while Alzack and Bisca chatted with Laki and Max. The master was drinking with Gildarts, Macao and Wakaba while Mirajane scolded them for overindulging. There was a mess of people on the dance floor, but Gray doubted Erza was a part of that.
"I hope she didn't leave…" Cana commented, also scanning the guild for any sign of the mage.
"I'll go look for her," Gray said, running toward the door. "She can't have gotten that far."
He found her a few blocks from the guild, sitting on a bench staring at the stars. "Had enough of the party already?" He asked.
She sighed. "I'm just not in the mood to party, I guess," she said. "There's a lot on my mind."
"But you have to come back!" he said, a little more aggressively than he intended. She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Why?" She looked at him in irritation. "I'd rather just go home."
Gray didn't want to ruin the surprise, so he blurted out the first thing he could think of. "Because I was going to kiss you at midnight!"
She stared at him for a full three minutes. His cheeks were bright red after the first thirty seconds.
"Shouldn't you be kissing Juvia?" she said finally. "She'd much prefer it…"
Gray decided to ignore the subtle insult she'd just handed him. "Look, I know you're thinking about Jellal tonight, but Jellal's not here, and I am. So let me step in and make this the best New Year's you've ever had."
"Are you even a good kisser?" she asked bluntly. He felt red in the face again, this time from anger.
"I'm an excellent kisser, thank you!" He said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back toward the guild. "Now get back here so I can prove it to you!"
He was slightly terrified that she might kick his ass for that, but she came without argument. They reentered the guild and and he glanced at the clock. Five minutes until midnight. He saw Cana waving at him widely and trying to mouth some message, but a certain pink-haired menace got in the way.
"Erza, this is the year I'll beat you," Natsu told her, oblivious to the awkward air between the knight and ice alchemist.
Erza put a hand on her hip and flipped her bangs out of her eyes casually. "We'll see how that goes," she told him. She turned back to Gray. "I really don't understand what's going on here…"
Gray ignored her and shoved Natsu out of the way to get a better view of Cana, who was now jumping up and down and making a complete spectacle. Natsu responded by punching him in the shoulder.
"Ow, fuck Natsu!" Gray shouted, turning to his attacker with ferocity. "I'm in the middle of something here!"
Gray was still trying to understand Cana's peculiar sign language when Erza rushed away from him and shouted "I'm sorry, but I don't want to have your children!" Guild members dove out of the way as she created a wall of swords between them. Gray felt a vein pop out of his forehead – this was getting out of hand.
"What?" heads turned at the bizarre outburst. Juvia looked away from an intense conversation with Gajeel and Levy.
"Who's children?" she asked, sounding innocent but with a dangerous gleam in her eye. "Gray-sama, how could you?"
"Gray put up his hands and backed away from the approaching water mage. "It's not what it looks like!" He insisted. Cana was still making ridiculous hand motions toward the bar– and that was when Gray noticed a tuft of blue hair peeking out from behind it.
"Jeez, you guys are annoying," Natsu said, cleaning out his ear with a finger. "It's almost midnight – can't this wait until after?"
"He's right!" Lucy squealed, looking at the clock. "Fifteen seconds!"
"Countdown time!" Elfman roared. The standoff between Erza, Gray and Juvia was temporarily forgotten.
"TEN. NINE. EIGHT. SEVEN. SIX. FIVE. FOUR. THREE. TWO. ONEEEEEEE."
Gray was incredibly satisfied with his work when he watched the tuft of blue hair morph into none other than Jellal Fernandes, who approached Erza from behind and literally sweep her off her feet into a passionate kiss. Mission successful.
"Gray-sama!" A teary-eyed water mage jumped into his arms. "Please tell Juvia it's not true."
"It's not true," he assured her, allowing her to cling to his arm as he rubbed her back comfortingly. "Take a look." He pointed at Erza and Jellal. Juvia gasped.
Jellal finally broke the kiss and said something to Erza that caused her to look in his direction. He winked before returning his attention to Juvia. "Cana and I had a little plan worked out, but there was a tiny misunderstanding along the way. Luckily it worked itself out."
"Gray-sama is so wonderful to his friends!" Juvia exclaimed. "But Juvia would very much like it if she could have a midnight kiss too!"
"Ahh…" Gray looked around and realized almost everyone else had engaged in some form of a kiss. Romeo had pecked Wendy on the cheek, Natsu had bent Lucy backward so he could land a wet kiss on her lips, Freed had bent a knee and was kissing Mirajane's hand, and Cana and Laxus were still engaged in a messy lip lock that Gray thought looked gross.
"Fine, but don't make a big deal of this…" he said. He placed a hand under her chin to tilt her face up toward him, then gave her a gentle peck on the forehead. He pulled his face away quickly and blushed, but not as quickly as Juvia passed out.
"Heh," he chuckled, wrapping an arm around her to make sure she didn't fall and hit her head. "Happy New Year."