Moments with Little Gray
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by ILoveCelestialIce
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Chapter 11
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A week passed by like a breeze. And still, only Lucy and Mira manage to get the raven-haired boy's trust. And Plue. Sure, he tries not to hides his face on Lucy's neck anymore, as well as being carried, but those were the only things that has changed.
He never played with anyone except for Lucy, Plue and Mira.
But he does 'fight' a lot with Natsu and Erza. He glares at them until they get annoyed, call them names like 'Pinky-nii' and 'Kowaii-nee', and even mockingly showing them his tongue were three of the many others.
Those kinds of 'fights'. If you call them one.
Of course Lucy would be there to hit Natsu upside the head whenever she thinks he has the inkling of tackling the boy or when he's saying things like 'asshole', 'bastard' or 'brat'. And Gray would always be there to snicker at the sight of the salmon-headed lad.
Then again, that's not something to be surprised about.
Lucy sighed when Natsu and Gray are at it again― calling each other names such as 'ice princess', 'Pinky', 'stripper', 'Pinky', 'snowcone' or… err… 'Pinky' (you can't blame him― Gray's yet to be imaginative with words). And while everyone else finds it amusing, Lucy has just about had it. She sighed one again before scolding Natsu.
"Don't you think you're a little too old for this? Think about the consequences of saying those things to a child." she said, which earned her a pout.
"He's the one who started it," he complained as he watched Lucy carry Gray in her arms.
"Yet you're older and should know better," she retaliated.
"Why am I the only one you're mad at? He's done something to be scolded about, too, you know."
Lucy paused. He does have a point.
If she continued doing this, Gray might really end up being a brat. A spoiled one at that.
The blonde sighed, disregarding Natsu's comments when he thought she ignored him. She walked towards one of the guild's many tables and placed Gray on top of it while she slid on the seat provided. Lucy sighed once again before looking Gray in the eye.
"Gray," she called, "Stop provoking them."
Gray's head turned to side in wary and confusion, "Por-bo-king?"
"Stop making them angry. They're both older than you."
The said boy looked at her and pursed his lips but Lucy continued. "His name―" Lucy pointed at Natsu, "is Natsu, not Pinky, okay? And she's Erza," then her finger traveled to the redheaded teammate.
The boy remained quiet as he listened and glare at Natsu for having a stupid smirk playing along his lips. "But Pinky-nii started it," Gray pouted and looked down.
Lucy sighed for the umpteenth time which made Gray flinch. Her eyes soften when she saw how Gray crouched his body, seeming smaller than he looks.
"I might know what caused this. Why you hold such dislike towards them." she said, earning Gray's eyes, "you're still mad at them for what they did?" she said pertaining the day that Natsu, Erza, and Happy went back from the job with Gray secured on a baby holder bag.
And Gray simply nodded, reluctantly.
Lucy sighed. "Gray, did tou know that if you forgive someone, you'd be happy?" Gray raised his head and looked at the blonde as she continues. "Forgiveness is something that we don't only do for others but also for ourselves. So that we can let go of the anger in our hearts and make space for more enjoyable feelings."
Gray pouted even more. "They not say sowwy."
And Lucy once again paused. Her head snapped at Natsu and Erza who both flinched at her gaze. "You two are at fault here, too. So say sorry."
"What?! No wa―ACK!" Natsu was about to protest but Erza pulled his ears towards Lucy and Gray before smiling.
"I'm sorry, Gray. I know what we did that day was unpleasant for you. We should have known better. We should've considered the condition you're in." Erza smiled in apology, "I admit, though, that we don't know how to take care of a child, but that couldn't be considered as an excuse. We never should've done what we did."
The redhead then looked at Natsu and elbowed him, urging him to do the same using her piercing gaze, but Natsu merely pouted and looked away before muttering a single word only Lucy, Erza and Gray could hear. "Sorry."
Lucy smiled before turning her head to Gray to find him gazing at Erza and Natsu. He turned his whole body towards them and voiced out something Lucy was so proud of him about. "Sowwy, Erza-nee, Natsu-nii. Gurei fow-give you. Fow-give Gurei, too?"
Erza blushed and Natsu's eyes widen before grinning at the raven-haired boy.
"Good boy,"
Gray turned his head to Lucy after hearing this and closes his eyes when he felt a hand patting his head tenderly. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw the blonde's warm smile and he couldn't help but cry.
"Uwaaaaah~!"
The cry surprises everyone. But Lucy understands him.
She took Gray's frail form and cradled him on her lap, hugging him like a mother would. Lucy smiled while rocking Gray to and fro, whispering soothing words to calm the boy down.
"I'm not mad at you," she simply said making everyone understand.
..ooOoo..