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Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. Honors go to the proper creators and develop team.


"Hi Gray, um, where are your clothes?" Lucy replied, just happy to have some company.

Realizing he was naked, he shrugged nonchalantly, "Guess I must have lost them awhile back; townsfolk have been staring at me a while now. Kinda getting used to it already."

Juvia peered around the corner to get a peek at Gray's body.

She giggled slightly, "Have you seen Natsu or Happy?"

"No, not since the other night. Any idea what happened?" He lifted one hand to his chin.

"Nope, kinda wanted to know as well. I know! Let's go look for them!" She nearly jumped from her seat.

He sighed half-heartedly, "I guess we can do that. We'll walk around the town a bit and get some lunch. I'm getting tired of eating here."

She smiled in agreement; they exited into the bright light and excited chatter of people traffic.

"We could check out the market and visit Erza if she's still there, if we're lucky we'll find him on the way." Gray found his shorts on the ground and pulled them on.

"Sounds good to me."

They strolled down the road and into the market, looking over the different assortments of lunch plates and goodies.

"Wow, these look really good! We could go have lunch with Erza and find out what she knows!" Gray simply nodded at her and purchased three lunches and drinks. Entering the main street, a pinkette passed them walking in the opposite direction of the infirmary.

"Hey, isn't that Natsu?"

Gray looked over the figure and nodded with a brash attitude, "Told you it'd work."

Lucy reached out and hitched onto his shirt behind his neck, yanking him to a halt, "Natsu, we were on our way to-" Natsu whipped his shoulder freeing himself of her grip. He glared at her sharply freezing her feet and rendering her speechless.

"Natsu, calm down." Gray exclaimed, noticing how serious he seemed but Natsu spun around and returned to his strut down the street. "Guess he's in a bad mood. Are you okay Lucy?"

"I… I…"

"Lucy?" Gray leaned over into her face that was still staring at the fleeting pinkette.

She shook her head lightly before replying, "I'm fine, I was just caught off guard, that's all."

He stood upright again, "Let's go, I'm starving."


The small party had moved down the main street through the crowds into the infirmary.

"Ah, it feels so good to be in the air conditioning." He sighed in relief.

Lucy shivered, "I wish they didn't have it up so high though, I'm gonna turn into an icicle!"

Gray laughed at Lucy while following her to Erza's room. Upon entering, they found Erza seated upright in bed looking through the items and painting Natsu had gotten her.

"I'm back!" Lucy gleamed.

"Oh, hey Lucy, Gray; what are you doing back?" Erza set the trinkets and picture face down on the bed.

Gray leaned close to Erza, "Do you have a fever? You seem a little red…" Lucy laughed at the irony of the joke.

Erza waved one hand, "What? No, I'm fine-"

"Your room does seem a lot warmer than the rest of the building…" Gray said as he stood up, reaching into his small package bag. "Here," He held out one of the lunches.

Erza smiled slightly, "Thank you guys." She took the offering as the group sat down and enjoyed their lunch.

"Do you know what's wrong with Natsu?" Lucy asked with a full mouth.

"What do you mean? He seemed fine when he left me." Erza replied with one raised eyebrow. "Though he did act strangely for a moment…"

Gray's eyes narrowed, "He was furious when we saw him in the street. He nearly freaked out on Lucy here."

"Hmm…" Erza looked down at the fraction of food left in her container. Something must have happened sometime between yesterday and this morning…

Lucy watched as Gray and Erza stared at their food in complete and utter silence.

"Well," Lucy attempted to lighten the mood, "How soon are you able to leave?"

"The doctors say I'm healing well with their magical abilities and I should be out sometime tomorrow or the next day," She smiled slightly, "but Natsu said I had to stay for two weeks." Lucy laughed with her, as Gray remained lost in thought. "Looks like I'll be breaking his rule tomorrow..."

Gray peered at Erza as her serious nature returned.

"Is that Natsu's?" He asked, staring at the scarf.

"Yes, he lent it to me the night of the attack and it is now my responsibility to care for it." Feeling the loose strands, she remembered his promise to her. So he's now our bodyguard or something? "Maybe he just needs some time to cool down before we interfere."

Just then, there was a knock at the open door. The group turns to see a familiar tattooed face and blue hair.

"Jellal," Gray leaped from his seat and into his face. "What are you doing here?"

"Jellal?" Erza repeated from behind Gray. "I'm wondering too, what are you doing here?"

He strolled around Gray, stole his chair and sat beside Erza. "I heard you were hurt and wanted to make sure that you didn't die on me." His tone sounded genuinely concerned but Gray and Lucy remained on guard, preparing themselves to interfere.

"Guys, it's okay." Erza ensured, "Relax, he'll be leaving soon."

She looked at him with a look that could command a mountain to stand and flee.

Jellal nodded, "You're correct, I will be departing, but I want to ask you out to dinner sometime this, or next, week."

Erza remained silently staring at him with her 'look.'

"I'm very busy, but I want to see you again. What do you say?" Jellal's gleaming smile won her over and she dropped her glare.

"Fine. I think you should go now." Erza submitted. He nodded and made his way out casually. As he turned the corner she sighed quietly.

"You're going to actually do it?" Lucy asked from the corner of the room, returning to her seat.

"He is my old friend, Lucy. I'm just surprised he actually came here."

Gray shook his head, "Something's up with that guy… I can stand in below freezing temperature but I get shivers around him."

"Sounds like you have a date Erza." Lucy said causing her to blush.


Hope I didn't lose your interest.