Soulmates exist. They aren't magic, but a type of modification. A genetic sign that appears on the inner patch of skin of the dominant forearm. It will manifest as a symbol; in the shape of a soul, the soul of one's significant other. A sudden appearance, like an artwork painted by the gods themselves, will grace one's body, forever tying their future to a path of glory. For a soul mark to appear is a gift. It is the ultimate brand of happiness.
There isn't a day that goes by without hearing about a soul mark manifesting. Magnolia is, after all, a city that thrives on the romances and fantasies of its people. The guild of Fairy Tail is no different.
And Gray's sick of it. He doesn't want anything to do with soul marks; frankly, it's a nuisance and completely unnecessary. A mage doesn't need romance, and certainly not some stupid artwork on their skin either. Not that he isn't happy when his fellow guildmates find their soulmates. He was truly elated when Elfman and Evergreen sheepishly showed their painted arms. He congratulated them with all his heart, just as the rest of the guild did.
So it really wasn't that he despised the mark. He just found it redundant and highly inefficient. Why romanticize about something that you have no control over? It will come when it needs to. Life goes on regardless, right? Nothing to worry about, nor fuss over.
How wrong and how right he would be.
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It's not a particularly special day. Nothing extraordinary is happening; he isn't even on the job. He had planned to join Natsu and Lucy, or Wendy, but by the time he had arrived at the guild, both parties had been gone for hours. Even Juvia had left early to work. As aloof as he may seem, he's not keen on taking a request by himself. So he figures he'll just relax and take a day off at the guild.
It would come as a complete coincidence that Erza happened to also take the same day off. She was happily eating cake (who does that in the morning, seriously?), undisturbed by his entrance.
"Good morning, Gray. Sleep well last night?" She asks, friendly and welcoming. The knight's eyes never leave her snack.
"Fine, I guess. Natsu and Lucy left already?"
Mirajane, her trademark smile gracing her face, merely chuckled. "Yep! Happy found a request for hunting fish, and practically dragged them out before I could even register what was going on."
Gray sighed. There goes his plan for the day. He seated himself next to Erza, who was practically licking her plate by now. It's nothing out of the ordinary; they've known each other since they were children, and sitting next to each other has become more of a natural habit than an intentional thing. They sit in pleasant silence (any morning without Natsu's passionate yelling is a pleasant morning), save for small talk that arises whenever the thought of speaking comes.
He spends the rest of the day at the guild, spending his time equally with whoever was there. Sometime he played with Asuka, another he sparred with Elfman, later he talked with Gramps. It was an uneventful morning, with nothing that could even be labelled as a highlight. Natsu and Lucy don't even return at sunset, so he simply heads home after he's had dinner at the guild.
If there was something that truly would be different, it would be the fact that he walked home alone with Erza. The red-hair was calmly striding next to him, their paces matched to perfect harmony from years of being together. Even then, the walk home was nothing special. If anything, it was so familiar and natural that it never even really occurred to him that he rarely is alone with Erza nowadays.
It simply felt right. From the quiet atmosphere (neither were really the cheery type to chatter) to the slow walking pace, nothing seemed at all special.
As such, he's utterly flabbergasted, outright horrified, when his mark appears on his forearm after he's done showering. It's a sudden appearance, almost as though an invisible artist had randomly chosen his arm as their next masterpiece. The lines swirled, and the colors bloomed as they slowly wove themselves into art.
For moments he thinks that Natsu or Happy is messing with him. But the moment he realizes just what the lines had morphed into, he drops on his tailbone in a mixture of terror, surprise, and absolute shock.
His soul mark is huge, stretching from his inner wrist all the way to the bend of his elbow. It shines so beautiful, unnaturally realistic, on his arm. A pure silver sword, straight and powerful, finds its way up his skin. Wrapped around it is the most gorgeous shade of red – no, the most gorgeous shade of scarlet. A lustrous scarlet ribbon, weaving its way around the sword.
It takes him less than a minute to recognize the owner of this soul painting. And he's horrified.
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The shop is in a back alley, far from the wide-open streets. It's not somewhere Gray would go, had he been in his right mind and his life was still on its rails. However, considering how in shock he was, and how dire his desperate need to hide his forearm is, he has no choice.
The owner is an older woman, who merely gives him a nod as he browses the store. His eyes are spinning, and he can barely register what is written on the small glass bottles that line the shelves row after row. He snaps out of it only when the owner gives him his directions.
"The second shelf. Third one counted from the right." She says, voice raspy but darkly understanding.
Gray stiffens at her intuition, but recovers enough to give her a curt nod before snatching the bottle from its place. He fumbles to pull out his money, fingers shaking so much they are vibrating. She only sighs and taps the table lightly with her smoking pipe.
"Forget the payment. I'll keep it free for you this one time, boy. The magic only lasts for a day. You will feel a sudden coldness on your skin; that's when you know that the mark will reappear soon. You'll have to reapply more to hide it again." Gray bites his lip as she gives him a sharp glance. "And, one word of advice. This magic is only temporary. It's best you learn to face the truth."
Gray doesn't give her any more time to speak, rushing out of the shop as fast as he could. His fingers and the bottle in his hand feel strangely cold; a feeling he's never had ever since he became an ice mage.
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He hides it well for the first two months. Even the Master doesn't realize the magic he's soaked himself in. For all the guild, Gray is still the same hot-blooded Gray that they know.
Juvia, for her part, treats him the way she always has. Fawning over him, being as pushy as she could possibly be without a sense for personal space. And being the romantic that she is, all she talks about is how her soulmark will undoubtedly appear as shards of ice. Gray doesn't doubt that she believes he is her soulmate with all her heart.
He grows increasingly disappointed in himself for each time he fails to tell her the truth. It's so hard; both lying and staying quiet. Yet that just shows how successful he is in his facade. If even the person who watches him the most doesn't realize he's hiding something, he figures he's done a pretty good job.
Only he isn't the least bit happy about it.
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Team Natsu goes on a job in some town a few days away from the guild. It's nothing special, not even a job worth mentioning, but it does pay good money. With Lucy screaming about her rent payment coming up, the job's come at the right time.
Gray wasn't against going. He's far too used to covering up his soulmark that he can do it without the blink of an eye. For the first two days of their trip, no one notices either, so he counts himself safe for the time being.
On the third day, when the girls and the cats have more or less gone to sleep in their respective tents, he peels his arm warmers off, revealing the artwork underneath. It's faded with the potion he sprayed earlier that morning, but clear enough to shine in all of its aesthetic beauty. The mark is so beautiful he finds it repulsive.
Screw his life and the obstacles it throws at him.
He's about to spritz the potion over the exposed skin again, until a familiar voice speaks from behind him.
"You're hiding something."
Gray quite literally jumps, immediately pulling his rolled arm warmer back over the mark. He turns around to see sharp eyes and cherry blossom hair.
"Natsu, what the hell!? Jeez, I thought you were already asleep?"
The dragonslayer merely deepens his frown, ignoring the mundane question. His eyes narrow at the sight of Gray gripping his forearm, and lets out an animalistic growl.
"Spill."
The heaviness in his best friend's tone startles Gray. As much as Gray adores and trusts the friend he calls his brother, Natsu isn't exactly the serious type. Even in a fight against villains, there's always a lighthearted touch to his voice, a sort of ecstasy that Natsu simply can't hide.
So it comes as a surprise to hear the dark, heavy tone his friend has. Added with the solemn, concerned expression, Gray is more than taken aback.
"Spill what?"
Better to feign ignorance than confront him.
But Natsu doesn't buy it. The corner of his mouth raises in irritation, and for a moment Gray braces himself for Natsu to explode. Yet the dragonslayer doesn't explode into screams and shouts (something so very not Natsu), and only lets out a tired sigh.
"You have a soulmark, don't you?"
Gray's breath hitches. Shit. He didn't count for Natsu to be intuitive.
His friend clearly sees his shock and fear, so he explains himself.
"Gray, your stripping habits are practically a part of you. Yet you make sure not to strip off your arm warmers. Furthermore, you rarely ever wear arm warmers to begin with, but you've been doing so for the past month. So, it's pretty obvious you're trying to hide something. And the only thing I know big enough that causes you to hide is a soulmark."
The calm, concise deduction that comes from Natsu's lips in a quiet whisper is so drearily realistic that it feels like Gray's been dumped over with cold water. A seemingly terrifying slap back into reality.
He opens his mouth to respond, but Natsu cuts him off.
"Don't give me a bullshit answer. Spill it."
Gray clicks his tongue in annoyance, but pulls off his arm warmer. Natsu crouches down to take a better look.
His friend's eyes widen a fraction at the sight. Gray turns away, feeling as though someone's taken off his skin and laid him bare to bone.
Natsu's jaw hangs slightly ajar, but he lets out a small sound of understanding. The picture, though blurry, is unmistakable. Undeniable in the person it is.
"...I see."
Gray suddenly feels a desperate need to cry, which he probably does end up doing, considering the wetness of his cheeks and Natsu's soft pats on his back.
It takes a while for him to calm down and find his voice again.
"It appeared two months ago."
Natsu nods, his silence prodding him to continue.
"I… didn't know how to tell you… with Juvia… and everyone talking about Juvia's love… and Jellal…"
The dragonslayer nods again, his expression is passive and accepting. He waits a split moment for Gray to keep talking, but the ice wizard is winded once more.
Natsu lets out a slow breath. "I get it."
Gray bites his lip. He still feels like shit, though having his best friend hear him out has lifted a burden. He feels a tad bit lighter.
"Are you going to tell them?"
Gray looks at him. Natsu frowns lightly and continues on to explain himself.
"Are you going to tell Juvia and Erza?"
The one question he prayed Natsu wouldn't ask. The one question he doesn't want to answer, nor knows how to.
"I don't know."
Natsu doesn't make a sound beside him.
Gray clarifies. He does know.
"I don't know… how."
The fire wizard lets out a sigh of understanding. For a moment, Gray thinks that maybe, just maybe, Natsu might be hiding a similar secret.
But the dragonslayer doesn't move to tell him anything, only standing up to stretch his legs. Then he turns to give Gray a sharp look.
"You should tell them."
Gray turns to retort, but silences himself when he sees the firmness in his best friend's face.
"They deserve to know."
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The following day, they're back in the guild by afternoon. Throughout the entire time back, Natsu is the same as he always has been. He doesn't let last night's conversation show, which Gray is utmost grateful for.
Except for the one glare Natsu sends his way right when they are about to enter the guild doors.
Tell them.
The message is loud and clear.
Gray purses his lips and steels his nerves. He's not sure if it was intentional, but Natsu immediately rouses up a fight in the mess hall once again, giving him the perfect opportunity to pull Juvia outside.
The girl is ecstatic at her beloved man pulling her from the wrist.
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Juvia isn't a fool. She may be imaginative, and a little too much of a romantic, but she's no idiot. She knows when things aren't the best, and can read a person's expression with a mere glance.
Especially when it comes to her beloved Gray-sama.
"...What is it?" She says, her voice quiet and light.
Like she's stepping on eggshells.
Gray takes in a deep breath. He's got this. He has to.
"I… have a soulmate. My mark manifested."
Juvia's eyes widen, and her heart immediately sinks. Judging from the man's expression, she knows it isn't her. Moreover, it's probably someone she knows too.
"I see."
There is momentary silence between them, as Gray tries desperately to build his feelings up again.
Juvia does so before him.
"Can I… Can I see?" She asks. If she stays unknowing, she knows she'll probably tear herself apart thinking about it.
Gray stiffens, but nods in agreement. He extends his arm and slowly pulls off his arm warmer. It feels ten times heavier beneath his fingers.
Juvia gasps lightly as she sees the mark. And her heart drops more. The mark is so clear, so intricate, so breathtakingly beautiful it leaves no words for objection. She's researched so much about soulmarks; the more detailed the pattern, the stronger the bond.
It's so strong on Gray's arm it leaves her completely torn. There's nothing she's seen more beautiful than that sword and ribbon.
Gray looks at her, quiet and waiting. His arms shake in anticipation.
Juvia hugs her chest, trying to alleviate the pain in her heart. "I… I…"
Gray looks at her, encouraging her to speak.
"Gray-sama… I'm… I'm sorry."
It breaks Gray's heart to see her so crestfallen. Regardless, he still brings himself to give her a smile.
"I understand… Juvia."
For the next few days, Juvia does not appear at the guild.
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Erza is quiet as she listens to Gray's words. He's more confident this time around; maybe because he realizes just how important this confession is.
The knight gives him a small smile when he finishes. Then she unhinges her armour, revealing her own arm.
On it are clusters of shimmering ice crystals, wrapped with black swirls in a demonic pattern all-too-similar to his demonslayer form.
She knew.
Gray's jaw hangs open, bafflement obvious as it adorns his face.
"It was around the same time yours showed up, Gray. I did the same thing you did, and tried to hide it. I… wanted to believe it was Jellal."
Of course she did. Everyone in the guild knows well how much she loved him.
"But… something in me kind of knew. That he wasn't the one. That we weren't exactly… meant to be together."
Gray nods. He thought the same. They rub their own forearms gently, caressing the painted skin.
"So… what should we do about it?"
Erza gives him a mirthless smile. "You know, Natsu ratted me out. He realized I was hiding it."
Gray laughs. So Natsu knew from the beginning.
The S-class mage continues, smiling wider as she sees his laugh. "He told me… that nothing really needs to change."
They both share smiles at the words. Leave it to Natsu to pull them back into their senses. Of course. It wasn't the Fairy Tail way to put everything onto fate. Just because a painting on their arm might tell them a little about who they are, they don't really need to live by it. It doesn't dictate their lives.
They do.
And really… nothing did have to change.
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They agree together that they'll keep their marks a secret. They tell the rest of the team: being Lucy, Wendy, Happy, and Charle, but remain silent for the guild. The Master was informed, and he swore to secrecy when Gray and Erza told him they didn't want anything to change.
The Gramps had merely grinned at them. "A good answer."
Gray and Erza had grinned back, hearts lifted of a burden they didn't really know they carried.
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As for their relationship, it stays the same as it always has. Erza hasn't completely let go of Jellal, and Gray hasn't exactly recovered from breaking Juvia's heart. It will take a long time for them to accept what fate has in store for them.
Some day though, Gray thinks, when they have both learned to face the future… maybe, just maybe, they will come to be lovers. Maybe, they'll be proud to reveal their arms to the rest of the world. And they'll walk hand-in-hand as a couple.
But until then, they'll stay the same as they always have. They'll live life, laugh, and love each other not as lovers but as friends for a lifetime. As siblings-in-arms. As people who dictate their own fates.