Chapter 10: Cold Called Promise (2-parter)

Lyon

To say I was surprised is an understatement. I was just talking with my team when the Old Hag informed me that Fairy Tail was on the lacrama and requested to talk. The only two people who would ever want to contact me in Fairy Tail would be Juvia or Gray. Gray less likely of the two, though both are just as rare to request me by the guild's lacrama rather than letter.

Something about the call made me feel queasy. When I got to the back room and saw it was Gray who was waiting for my response, I knew there was something wrong. He was serious, and the room he was in was different from what I expected. White walls and ceiling, cabinets and faucets. That looked like some sort of infirmary.

"Hey…" Gray started as I walked into the lacrama's vision.

"Hey…" I replied, not knowing what he was going to say. "What's up, Gray?"

He hesitated and couldn't make eye contact. He stated vaguely, "There's been… an incident. Fairy Tail's goin' under lockdown until it's resolved. All the guilds are being called to join us here…"

This caught my attention even more so than before. Fairy Tail… under lockdown? All of the guilds to gather at the Fairy Guildhall? I stammered, "What h-happened? And wh-what do you mean… by incident?"

Gray's eyes were covered by his bangs as he delivered, "There's a monster out there. Worse than anything we've ever dealt with before."

Deliora flashed before my eyes. Gray doesn't pass that sort of sentence with that sort of seriousness without meaning it. Something more powerful than Deliora. A demon or maybe worse. Fear overtook me by the prospect of such destruction and death. Of course Fairy Tail would be the center of something so terrible, whatever it may be.

He continued to state what I feared, "I'm not even sure Deliora could compete against this thing…"

"Is everyone alright?!" I exclaimed. Something so terrifying couldn't be realized without something truly awful happening and I feared the worst for my fellow wizards. And feared even more for how it's affecting Gray.

"Yeah…" Gray said slowly. "Yeah, they're fine."

This put me at ease with how Gray softened up with the answer. No one was killed and anyone who were involved were okay. I couldn't help but sigh in relief at this. Gray gave me a true scare.

"When you get here…" Gray began again. "Tell Mira that I want to see you."

Once again I was thrown for a loop. Gray was blushing slightly as he does when showing any sort of affection towards me. This was pretty rare. My half-brother doesn't just ask me to see him. He'd go out of his way to tell me to stay away.

An awkward silence followed as I didn't know what to say. Finally I had enough of being confused with Gray's vague non-answers. "I'm still not understanding anything here, Gray. You're going to have to be more specific if you want me to know what's going on."

"I know. I'll explain it all when you get here, okay?"

I sighed in defeat, "Alright. I guess that means I'll see you soon then."

Gray shifted in his stance, obviously uncomfortable with standing where he was for some reason. His hands tugged in his pants pockets, "Yeah, see ya."

The lacrama cut off the connection and left me staring at the blank orb.

Gray

I sighed as I ended the call with Lyon. He knew I was serious and I'm thankful for that. He does have 7 years on me. I wonder if I should have told him Juvia was involved. No, he would have flipped and complained like a child. At least this way he starts off with a clear head. Besides, he'd better lay off.

I looked back over to Juvia but was interrupted when Anastazia stated, "White hair, huh. At least he had a shirt on…" I glared at the accuser and she walked towards the exit asking, "I'm going to grab dinner, just a sandwich or two?"

"Yeah, thanks," I responded, returning to my place next to Juvia.

"Sounds great," Natsu's voice added.

"A raw fish please!" Happy called.

Anastazia happily replied, "Of course, Happy! You were a given. What about you, Lucy? Some soup okay?"

Lucy replied, "Yeah, that sounds good."

"Okay, I'll be back with everyone's food," Anastazia stated before she left the room.

It was just me, Juvia, Natsu, Lucy, and Happy left. Everyone else left to get some food, social activity in the guild, and some shut eye to prepare for their later investigation at nightfall. I sighed as I took a seat in the chair I'd been occupying for the last few hours.

"Scootch over," Natsu commanded of Lucy, taking the left side of Lucy's bed as she moved over for him. He rested his arms behind his head and Happy repositioned between the two mages. They were really something else.

I scoffed, "These aren't the largest of beds, ya know?"

Natsu frustratedly yelled back at me, "So?!"

"So she probably can barely stay on the bed with you taking up all the room."

Lucy interrupted before a brawl came about, "Guys, stop. It's fine. I have enough room. Don't worry about it."

I grumbled at this. Why do I have to sit in this foldable metal chair while Natsu gets to take up the nice medical bed? My back's been killing me and he's just gonna go an' be a jerk and steal all of Lucy's room. If I did that then I'd never hear the end of it from Ana, Mira, or Happy.

Thinking of, Ana came back with sandwiches as promised. Mira followed behind with other plates of food and drink as well. After handing me and Natsu our sandwiches, Anastazia pointed towards Natsu and Lucy stating, "Alright, now. Careful with that leg, you understand? Jeez, kid, give her some space."

"Yes, ma'am," Natsu and Lucy shamefully conceded to my bemusement.

"Thank you, Mira. And tell Lisanna I say thanks for the help as well," Ana turned to the white haired maiden. Mira nodded and left with the extra trays after delivering the soup to Lucy and Juvia's side table, and handing me and Natsu our spiked drinks.

Ana added towards me, "Don't you get any ideas, you hear? Juvia needs her rest."

Embarrassed at how serious she was, I replied to my sandwich, "None gotten."

She ruffled my hair as she walked back towards the infirmary exit stating, "Well kids, I'll be outside if you need me. Lucy, you should rest when you are done eating. Gray, should Juvia wake up, get her to eat please."

I nodded my head slowly at the instruction. Although I couldn't stay focused on anything outside of my sandwich. I didn't realize just how hungry I was until then. Did I miss lunch? Must have… I didn't even notice. The more I ate, the more it seemed the food didn't sit with me. I was too damn nervous for food. That's probably why I wasn't that hungry.

Natsu broke the silence, "You should probably rest again, Luce."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"G'night Luce."

"Good night, Natsu, Happy."

Happy yawned, "Night."

I'm not sure how long the silence lasted after that. It was obvious that Lucy and Happy had fallen asleep though when Natsu spoke up, "Gray?"

"Yeah?"

He paused, "They could have died yesterday."

"Yeah."

"I can't get my head around it… I just keep picturing that Future Lucy when I look at her."

"Me neither," I sighed.

After a minute of silence, Natsu spoke again, "Gray…"

I patiently responded, "What is it?"

Natsu was hardly this open about what he was thinking with me. Not that he thinks very often, but still… He was my friend, maybe even my best not that I could ever admit that to anyone, and I knew that Lucy being involved was really rough for him. He'd never been this close to anyone, not even Lisanna back in the day. It was obvious that he felt something for the celestial mage.

"I can't lose her. She means Fairy Tail to me."

I didn't answer. Was it just that simple?

"You know what I mean?"

That's how I feel about Juvia…

I finally answered, "All the more reason to kill that bastard, right?"

"Right!" Natsu agreed resolutely and rootched in the bed.

I looked over for the first time in a long while and watched as Natsu wrapped himself around Lucy to best fall asleep. It was so painfully obvious just how Natsu felt about Lucy right then. Just plain raw concern for her safety. Was that what others saw when they looked at me and my pathetic ass here next to Juvia? Was that how I felt?

I looked back to Juvia's face and couldn't help but fix her surreal blue hair around her head. My hand lingered closely to her pale face. Fingers stroked her slightly blushed cheeks to remember she was recovering and doing better. Her lips upturned in her sleep and I could help but smile back.

I can't lose her. If she went, I'd go with her.

Damn that woman! Why was she so important to me?! How could I have let this happen?! Everyone I care about dies!

But I can't lose her.

If I left, would she be safe? Though, I couldn't leave her, could I? Would I even last a week without missing that perfect smile? Or the way her hair always bounces as she skipped along? Or her giggle that sounds so beautiful when I'm the one to make her laugh? Or how she sways her hips in embarrassment when she tries to ask me something? Or how she's just generally adorable all the damn time? Damn, I wouldn't even last a day without her crossing my mind at least once.

"Gray…" her voice called me out of my thoughts. I shook the rest of my thoughts away as I focused on the subject coming awake.

"I'm here," I answered her and she smiled that beautiful smile. I have to snap out of it… So I remembered, "Mira brought in some food for you."

"What about you? Or Lucy?" she asked as she attempted to sit up.

I almost helped her, but she got herself propped up on her own. So instead, I handed her the, now cold, soup bowl, "We all ate, don't worry."

She hummed, accepting my reply. To keep from the silence being awkward, I applied some ice on her sore area to her sigh of relief. Knowing she was feeling better, I rested my head on my crossed arms on the bed. Gods I was exhausted, I just realized. My eyes closed, but I made sure to stay awake just in case Juvia needed me to do something for her.

Her cool fingers passed through my hair. It felt nice. A sigh came as I relaxed for the first time in hours. Of course she would want to comfort me. That's supposed to be my job… Not that I'm complaining…

She broke the silence, "Natsu will go out again, won't he?"

I hummed a response. I didn't have enough energy to give a real response. She already knew the answer, anyway.

"Will you go with him?"

I didn't have an answer.

"Go, Juvia appreciates you staying, but you should go out and help."

That's what I wanted to do but… Was that really what she wanted?

"Juvia won't go anywhere. She is recovering. You heard Ana."

I lifted my head finally to look at her, "Alright, I guess. Don't know how much help I'll be."

"You will. Juvia knows you will," she nodded, certain of herself. "Just promise her you'll stay safe."

"I'll try my best."

She looked serious at me, her eyes darker, "Promise Juvia."

With that, I grabbed her hand that had left my hair and landed on my shoulder when I looked up. I responded with just as much seriousness, "I promise to try my best to return to you, Juvia. And I promise that whenever I come across that freak, I'll make him pay for what he did to you."

She nodded, knowing I meant every word, "Thank you. You should rest before you go."

I had no reason to disagree. My head rested back down on my arm as she shimmied back down to rest herself. Our hands remained locked as my eyes closed once again.

I'll be sure to avenge you and keep you safe, I promise.