"Gather around," Erza said and clapped her hands. The children didn't need telling twice. "Now, who wants to hear a story?"

Cries of "Me!" and "Yay!" and "Story!" filled the air. Gray smiled to himself.

"All right." She sat down on the grass and the kids all sat around her in a circle. There was some pushing and shoving to be at the front, but that was normal. "What about a story about a dragon?"

At the tumultuous agreement, she grinned and a book appeared in her hand out of thin air. One of the many adaptations of her adventures, probably. Writers were always keen on novelising the exploits of popular mages. And Erza was, well, Erza. Titania was in a class of her own.

Most of the kids were attending this impromptu storytelling session. Erza had told him to interact with them, but there weren't any left to talk to. Even in an orphanage, Erza Scarlet was a celebrity.

Gray watched her read dramatically to the kids for a while before walking away silently. The orphanage was run by the Church. Every day, the kids were taken to the park for a couple of hours. All work and no play makes you wanna die.

What this quest was even about, Gray didn't know. Erza had dragged him there without giving him detailed instructions.

Talk to them, she'd said. Help any who need it.

Again, he didn't see why this counted as S-Class training. But he'd stopped asking. He was sure she had her reasons. Gray trusted her. Besides, while he didn't really get kids, he wouldn't have said no.

So, he decided to take a stroll around the park. He saw a few children here and there. Playing games like catch or tag. Some were on swings or seesaws or merry-go-rounds. He couldn't see any that needed help of any kind. Always a good thing. The less suffering, the better.

Spotting a pond in the middle of the park, Gray started walking towards it. A few kids were splashing around in the shallows under the supervision of an older boy. He smiled. It was a hot day. Some others were racing paper boats. Nobody was drowning. Nobody was holding anybody else down.

Man, these kids are tame.

Back in his time, he and Natsu had terrorised the guild hall all day, every day. It was just how they were. That they could do something constructive instead hadn't occurred to them.

In contrast, the boy watching over the kids in the pond was gluing sticks to coloured paper. Gray sat down on his haunches near him.

"Whatcha got there?" he asked.

The boy glanced at him and returned to his work. "I'm making kites."

"Oh?" Gray had never flown a kite before. "How's it going?"

"Not bad." He shrugged. "You're with Miss Scarlet, right?"

"Mhmm. I'm Gray." He held out his hand. "And you?"

"Jon." The boy took it. He looked about thirteen. Maybe a little older. "Are you from Fairy Tail, too?"

"Sure am."

"What kind of magic do you use?"

"I make stuff with ice."

"Cool." The boy stood up. "Will you help me fly this thing?"

"Uh, sure." He got up as well. "What do I gotta do?"

Jon handed him a large coil of string. "Hold this," he said. "As the kite climbs, feed it more and more string."

"That's it?"

"That's it." Jon then held the kite aloft and took off at a run. He ran against the wind, holding the string in one hand, and soon enough, the kite took to the air. It soared and fluttered, almost like a flag, and Gray couldn't help the grin forming on his face as it climbed higher and higher. Jon controlled its trajectory by pulling the strings. The kids got up from the pond and circled him, asking him to make it go here and there. With a smile on his face, Jon complied.

A little ways behind him, Gray stood and watched. He let out more string when the line grew taut. There was something magical about it. Just a mishmash of paper and sticks, thriving and climbing towards the heavens. Who woulda thought?

Gray didn't know how much time had passed, but soon, a bell starting ringing. The younger kids all started running towards where Erza sat. Jon started pulling his kite down, too.

"That's the gong for lunch," he explained.

"Don't you gotta go?"

Jon shook his head. "Not yet."

"Not hungry?"

"I still have to build another for…" he trailed off into a mumble. Gray blinked.

"A gift?" he prompted and was rewarded by a blush breaking across Jon's face.

"Yeah."

"For a friend?"

"Yeah."

"Good. I'm sure they'll appreciate it."

He was clearly embarrassed, so Gray didn't push it. Jon was about that age when butterflies started to flutter in your stomach. He knew how that went.

I wish I had advice for you, kid. I have no clue how to go about it, either.

"Sarah."

"Hmm?"

"Her name's Sarah."

"Oh." Jon glanced at him expectantly. Gray smiled. "I'm sure she'll appreciate it."

"Yeah." He sounded a little deflated. "I hope so."

Gray hummed. "You don't sound convinced."

"Yeah, well." The boy sighed as the kite landed. He started walking towards it. Gray followed. "Never mind."

Sighing, Gray scratched his cheek. Asking the all-important question would make him clam up even further. So, deciding to wait, he asked, "You know each other long?"

A nod. "We grew up together, I guess."

"So what's the problem?"

With another, deeper sigh, Jon picked up the kite. "We've always been good friends. But now things are getting different."

Gray said nothing.

"It's like… I don't know. I get all weird when I talk to her. Sweaty and everything. The others make fun of me." He shook his head. "It's all weird."

"Did you get the talk yet?"

"The talk?" He tilted his head quizzically. "What talk?"

"Y'know. The Talk."

"Oh." He chuckled. "Yeah, I know, don't worry." Gray felt his shoulders relax. "I don't like the change, that's all." He started walking back to the pond where he'd left his materials. "Also…"

"Hmm?"

"She's not into me. Not in that way." Ahh. "She hangs out with other kids most of the time. I just feel..."

"Left out," Gray finished for him. "You know, it's pretty normal. She makes new friends, you make new friends. That's what being young is all about."

"I'm getting adopted."

Gray looked down at him. "When?"

"Two weeks."

Damn. Hence the gift. "I see."

"Yeah. I'll still be in town, so I asked her if she wanted to fly kites with me. We could exchange messages that way." He knelt to pick up his things but sat down instead. "She said she'd like it. So, I was…"

Gray heard him sniffle. Saw him drag his shirt over his face and pretended not to. He wondered what he could say. He sucked at words. Always had. He didn't know how people did it.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes. He thought back to when he was around Jon's age. A similar situation had presented itself back then, too. A child crying by the water. Is that a thing now? It's always by the water, too.

So, he did what he'd done back then and sat down beside Jon. The boy didn't look at him. Gray didn't look his way either. Instead, he reached out and took a fistful of sand from the pond's bank. Held it up.

"You see this?" Jon looked up. "You see the sand leaking through my fingers?"

"Yeah."

Gray clenched his fist tightly. "Sometimes, the harder you hold on to something, the faster it slips away." He opened his fist and let all the sand fall. "All you can do is let go."

"But Miss Scarlet says we should never give up. Isn't letting go the same as giving up?"

With a wistful smile, Gray hummed. Is it, I wonder? "No, Jon. You're going away. You can't change that. Right?"

"Right."

"You going away means you two won't be seeing each other every day. That'll change your relationship. Your interactions will change. Get more limited. Maybe you won't talk at all for days. Or weeks." He looked out at the pond. "You'll miss her a lot. It'll hurt. I won't lie. Any change is difficult. Especially when new people will enter her life." He paused. "Yours as well. What matters is how you deal with it."

He dusted his hand against his trouser. "You have to let go of what was in order to welcome what's to come. Like exchanging old clothes for new ones." He smiled to himself. "But be sure to be there for her. Show her that you're capable and dependable. And always work to stay in her life. If she's important to you, you'll find a way." He looked at Jon. "If she feels the same way, she'll do the same."

Jon blushed and looked down at the ground. Gray put his hand around the boy's shoulders.

"Let go of what you can't control," he said quietly. "Never give up on what you can."

And hope for the best.

Jon leant his head on his shoulder, but said nothing. The sun was starting to set, but he made no move to get up. Gray heard the crunching of grass behind them, and glanced over his shoulder to find Erza. She stopped upon being spotted and raised her eyebrows.

What's going on? All okay?

Gray cracked a smile and shook his head imperceptibly.

It's all right. Under control.

At that, Erza smiled back and nodded. Gray patted Jon's shoulder.

"It's getting late. I've gotta check you in now."

"Right." Jon moved immediately. He'd gathered up his things by the time Gray stood up.

"Does Erza come by here a lot?" he asked the boy as they made their way to where she stood waiting.

"About once or twice a month. Sometimes, she cooks for all of us. Sometimes, she teaches us how to fight." Jon nodded to himself. "She's nice. I like her."

"Yeah." I do, too. "She is, isn't she? She was pretty different when she was young."

"You knew her?"

Gray smiled at him. "We grew up together."

Jon considered this for a long moment before breaking into a grin himself.

Erza met them with a scowl. Gray knew it was for show, but it was still intimidating.

"You shouldn't skip meals," she scolded the boy lightly. "Neither of you should." She turned her glare on Gray. He didn't protest. "It's not healthy."

"Yes, ma'am," Jon and he replied in unison.

Erza sighed. "Boys never grow up. Run along now. Don't keep the others waiting. They'll worry."

With a nod, Jon made to take off, but turned back.

"Will you be back?" he asked Gray seriously.

"Sure," he replied with a chuckle. "Teach me how to fly a kite."

Jon grinned widely. "Sure will!" Then he ran towards the orphanage. Gray watched him go, smiling.

Good luck, kid.

"So," Erza began, snatching his attention away. "You seem to have had fun?"

Gray shrugged. "You could say that, I guess."

She nodded, apparently satisfied with herself. "Good. Come, then. Let's be on our way. More quests await!"

"Uh-huh." As he fell into step behind her, Gray cleared his throat. "Say, Erza."

"Mmm?"

"Can I see the request for this particular quest?"

She walked in silence. Didn't say anything.

"Erza?"

"Some things… they don't require requests," she said quietly. Gray lengthened his stride so he could walk beside her. "Some things you just do."

He remained silent.

"As an S-Class mage, you have the responsibility to inspire good in others. Be a beacon of hope. Something people can aspire to be." She smiled slightly. "Who knows what might happen on a quest. You may have to console people. Give advice. Children may be involved. You must be ready."

It was sound logic, but he wasn't fooled. "Hey, Erza?"

"Yes?"

"You don't have to justify this visit." He bumped her shoulder with his. "I understand."

She gave him a long look, which he met with a smile. Having no response, she huffed.

"I don't know what you mean," she muttered.

"All kids should have a mentor. A guide. I'm glad you can be that for them." Very gently, he placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm proud of you."

Okay, enough sap, Fullbuster.

Gray was already in the process of pulling back when she placed her hand over his. He stared, stunned. His mind was helpfully blank.

"Erza?"

"Thank you." She turned to him, smiling brightly. "I appreciate it."

What do I do here? Why am I always so weird around her? Ugh!

"Don't mention it." She released his hand and he pocketed it immediately. "You're surprisingly good with kids."

"What do you mean, 'surprisingly'?"

"Uhh."

"Gray?"

"Oh, look! A bakery!"

"Where?!"

A/N: You know, Guest, a name would be much appreciated xD