Here's chapter two!
I don't own Fairy Tail or any of its characters, and I do not own this plot. This belongs to CrAzY-SiLLy-Me, whom I thank very much for allowing me to use her plot to make more GraLu stories.
~Say It Again~
Chapter 2
December: Under the Mistletoe
"And now there's a voice inside my heart that's got me wondering."
The winter air in the morning was relaxing, at the same time, chilly. Yet despite that cold feeling I seem to be having, I also feel the warmth coming, since it's the month of Christmas, and it's getting closer. Just five more days left, and I'm proud to say that I've done all of my Christmas shopping!
…Except for one more person.
"Ah, what am I going to get him?" I murmured to myself, walking from store to store inside the mall as I tried to search for the perfect gift.
It's been about a month since I met Gray, and we've been good friends since then. Yet he doesn't smile, still. He always smirks, and I wait for the day that I would see him smile or laugh.
"I give up," I said, sighing, and proceeded to the exit of the mall.
Last month, I asked Gray what his job was, now that he's no longer a soldier. He said he was still looking, yet it wasn't really that necessary, since he still has a lot of money saved up for another year due to his salary when he was still a soldier. According to him, he only spends when needed, and does not buy anything that he won't gain and benefit from. Despite being an ex-soldier, he sure still acts like one most of the time.
I asked if he wanted a job, and he said that doing something would be good, since he's getting bored staying at home. So after our conversation, Gray started working at Mira's flower shop on day three after we met. Of course, with Mira being Mira, she always managed to find a way to get me to replace her when Mrs. Strauss would leave her in-charge. It was tiring, since it was just Gray and I working in the flower shop. And ever since the Next Axe Model has started working, there have been an increase in female customers, both young and old.
A crowded flower shop that small was the last place I'd like to work in, especially if it's full of girls who ignore your services due to the Cutie who was available.
Ah, yes, I've started calling Gray the nicknames that Mira has given him. Of course, only when he's not around. The last thing I want to do is to embarrass myself in front of him.
"Lucy?"
I froze. That did not just sound like Mr. Rawr.
"Didn't think I'd meet you here..."
Yes. It was him alright.
"Oh, hi!" I greeted. "Merry Christmas!" I was about to leave, but Mira called my name, causing Gray and I to turn to her, seeing her with Freed. "Mira!" I smiled. "Hey Freed!"
"Do you realize where you two are standing?" Freed asked.
I noticed Mira's grin, and when I looked at the ground and saw nothing, I turned back to raise a brow at them, only to have my eyes widen when she pointed something above my head. I turned, seeing Gray eyeing the mistletoe that hovered over us, and my face turned a deep shade of red for that.
"Wow, didn't see that," Gray said, staring at the innocent looking piece of ornament – for me, it was annoying.
I sighed and turned my head away from him while Mira and Freed watched in amusement.
"Do you mind?"
I looked up at Gray when he asked, seeing his head lowered to look at me, his eyes questioning, asking for permission. Damn, he was perfect in his own way, and I really, really wished I met him before Dan.
"No, go ahead. It's the holiday rules after all."
He nodded once, and lowered his head to mine, eyes closed as I let my lids cover my vision and tilt my head up. I felt his lips brush against mine lightly, and thought it only took a second or two for that light kiss to occur, it felt like a minute to me, and I felt disappointed that it was over as soon as it came, and I kicked myself mentally for wanting more.
"It would be so romantic if that was Lucy's first kiss!" Mira exclaimed, and I fought the urge to feed her a knuckle sandwich. Gray only smirked slightly and shrugged. "Welcome to reality," he said, turning back to me. "So, you're out of the house, alone, again."
"Yeah; why?"
"Isn't your ex on the loose?"
I nodded and turned my back to him, hands clasping behind me as I smiled. "I doubt he'd make a move in this place. There are too many people, and I'm much more careful than before."
"Heh; we'll see."
I twitched and glared at him. "You arrogant little-"
"Little?" Gray raised a brow, smirking at me, again. "Mind checking who among us is taller first, Lucy?"
Oh he did NOT just insult my height! I am so going to jump him! And NOT in THAT way you perverts!
.
.
.
...Though it's quite tempting.
"Damn you," I seethed. Ah, lame old me.
"Hn." He turned to Mira when she called his attention, and I swear that my match-making friend had something in mind. And I'm pretty sure it involves Gray and I. Yes. That's how much I knew Mira and her very, very, VERY evil mind. I can only hope and pray that she won't make us do anything embarrassing.
"I guess."
I looked up at Gray, wondering what he meant by that as he put on a white coat, contrasting his dark clothes.
I notice black looks good on him, since it makes him a lot more mysterious. I wonder if he's up for the job of being my bodyguard.
.
.
.
Nah! I wouldn't want him following me around. And knowing the training a soldier goes through; I would definitely – somewhat – pity his victim. Oh well. Let's throw that idea out. It's useless.
"Lucy!"
"WHAT?!" I snapped, glaring at Mira for disrupting my thoughts.
"Sheesh! I've been calling you for five times already! Come on!"
I blinked, opened my mouth to speak but felt her grab my hand and pull me elsewhere, me glancing behind to see Gray and Freed following us. That's when it hit me. Mira had most probably demanded a double date – and I knew I would kill her for that. "Mira," I hissed, narrowing my brows when she turned to me with a grin. "What did you do this time?" I demanded.
"I asked Cutie over there to accompany us."
"What do you mean by 'us'..?"
"It's kind of like a double date."
"...MIRA!"
"Yes dear?"
"I swear...I swear...I SWEAR!"
I may not have seen it, but I knew that Gray and Freed were blinking at us, and sweat dropping at our behavior.
"Sorry you got dragged..." I murmured, slumping my shoulders as Gray accompanied me on the way back home, slightly happy since I finally got a gift for him. "You could've refused you know," I said, but my thoughts wandered back to the present I got him.
I saw Gray shrug from the corner of my eyes and remained silent. I guess he wasn't in the mood to talk, so I just resorted to observing him, seeing his hands tucked in his white coat's pockets, said coat open to reveal the black turtle neck shirt he had underneath. He also had dark blue jeans tucked into black combat boots, and it made me wonder how he actually looked in a military uniform. From what I remember my mom saying, men always seem to look good in uniforms.
"Gray...?"
"Hn."
"...Do you...have a picture of yourself when you were still a soldier?"
He raised a brow at me, so I laughed nervously, hoping that he wouldn't think that I wanted one. Even though that was part of the reason, but I'd rather bite my tongue than say that out loud.
"Why?"
"Well..." I grinned. "I'm curious as to how you look in a military uniform."
"Curiosity kills the cat."
But satisfaction brings it back.
"I'm not a cat..." I pouted.
He smirked. "It's a figure of speech, Lucy."
"Ah screw this," I murmured. "Come on! I just want to see!"
"You'll have to earn it."
"How will I?"
"Find a way."
Argh! He was getting on my nerves! But when I think about how we converse like this, it makes me blush, because I feel like we act like we're together, yet we're not. I remember being like this to my ex, when I'd want something, and he won't give it to me just yet, teasing me first before giving in when I start being silent and sad. At the thought of Dan, my mood turned a bit bitter and sorrowful, and perhaps Gray had noticed, since he turned to look at me, but I refused to lift my head to meet his gaze.
"That's not going to work."
"Huh?" I blinked and looked at him. "Sorry, what did you say?"
Gray turned his head back to look at the road before him. "You suddenly turned quiet," he said. "If you think it's going to make me feel guilty, then you're wrong."
"...I wasn't even attempting to make you feel guilty."
"Hn. One can't be too sure," he said with a shrug, crossing the street with me when the stoplight for cars changed to red. Gray seems to shrug a lot, a habit that he can't seem to get rid of. That, and his other habit which includes his hand running over his hair, like what he just did now. Aside from that, he also tends to sigh afterwards, and when he's wondering or confused over something, he would tilt his head a bit, his bangs being pulled by gravity, and I would blush when he does that, since he has equally cute and innocent eyes that blink when doing that gesture, and I can't help but want to have that image remain permanently in my head.
"Anyway, I'll think about it."
I snapped from my thoughts when he suddenly spoke.
"Huh?"
Smooth Lucy...real smooth.
"The picture," Gray clarified. "I'll think about it."
"Oh." I smiled a bit. "If you don't want to show me, it's fine."
"...Suit yourself."
I almost tripped. I would have thought that he'd insist, but he actually didn't, and I saw how he smirked, most likely, he anticipated what I was planning.
"Did I mention that I graduated at the top of my class in NDA?"
"...No. You didn't," I hissed. That could only mean that Gray's not only good in battle strategies, but in daily life tactics as well. Sheesh! I refuse to play mind games with him, even if I were to be paid a million yen or more.
...Million yen huh? On second thought, I might give it a shot.
"Oi."
I felt the scarf around my neck tighten since it was pulled from behind, and I nearly choked and turned to glare at Gray who was eyeing something before him.
"Ugh!" I gasped. "What was that for?!"
Whether he's drop-dead-gorgeous or not, I will not tolerate him doing what he pleases.
"You kept walking pass your home."
I turned to where Gray stared, and indeed, I was already before my house.
"Aheh." I stuck my tongue out, and he eyed me. "Sorry." And I made a move to enter the gates, stopping to turn back to him. "Hey, you... busy?"
He shrugged.
"Any plans?"
"Not likely."
I smiled. "Would you like to stay for dinner?"
Before any of you jump to conclusions, I was only being polite.
He remained silent, staring at me, and I wondered why.
"Gray, are you okay?"
"I don't know whether to say yes or no," he muttered.
"Eh?"
"Hn." He lowered his head slightly before meeting my gaze. "Rejecting an invitation is rude. Accepting it just like that is like intruding."
I swear, I need to brainwash him. He already retired; he should really stop acting like a soldier.
"I assure you, if you say no, I won't consider it rude. If you say yes, it won't be intruding."
"...It's like you're forcing me."
"I'm not." I paused. "Okay, maybe I am. But who cares?" I grinned at him. "Come on, you'd be bored at your place anyway."
"And how do you know that?"
"I just do..?" I giggled. "Come on, please?"
Whether it was because he just couldn't resist my adorable puppy dog eyes, or if it was due to me being right about him being bored at his place, I beamed with joy when he accepted and went inside my house with me.
In fact, I was so happy that I forgot how my dad was still angry at Dan's treatment, and how dad has yet to allow me to invite someone over.
Wait. I just remembered that. Oh crap!
"Um, Gray...?" I was about to tell him that we ought to just eat out, but my father suddenly came in from the kitchen after hearing my voice. And based from the way he looked happy to see me home yet remained silent all of a sudden upon seeing Gray, I knew what was to come.
"I'm sorry if I'm intruding sir."
Before I could even speak, Gray beat me to it and bowed down in respect to my father. I just gaped at him, because not even Dan did that when I first introduced him as a suitor to my parents. Dad even said that Dan was rude, but for my sake, he'd give the guy a chance. Maybe this time, he wouldn't get mad, since Gray did greet him.
"…I do believe you're not intruding," my father replied, nodding at Gray as my ex-soldier friend straightened himself up. Ah great, he's in that "stand at attention" pose of his again. Seriously, I'm going to add that brainwashing thing on him in my things to do list before New Year's. "I'm pretty sure my daughter invited you," my father continued, and I grinned sheepishly when my dear daddykins looked at me with accusing eyes.
"She may have, but I didn't consider your approval first."
I don't know if Gray was raised to be that polite, or if it was the training for both discipline and respect that he underwent in NDA.
Whichever it is, I couldn't help but be awed at how calm he remained and still looking so damn good enough to eat.
.
.
.
Forget I said that.
"Hmm, maybe," was what daddy replied, and I anxiously waited for dad's temper to erupt. "But it would be rude to send you away, and besides, you did accept my daughter's invitation." I saw dad fix his glasses first before continuing, and I knew that father was calming down, letting his tensed muscles relax. Indeed, I now knew that dad has placed his trust on Gray. Albeit not entirely, but for sure, my father knows he can have faith. "Then, come in and make yourself at home."
I smiled at dad; he returned it and told me to cater to Gray first while he goes back into the kitchen to inform my mother. Whew! I guess I panicked over nothing.
"You know," I began, sitting beside Gray after telling him to make himself comfortable. "I'm really awed by your politeness."
"Why would you be?"
I smiled warmly at him. "Not too many guys I've known actually show that kind of respect to my parents, especially towards my father." I paused and looked down on my knees, watching how my fingers clenched, signaling how nervous I was sitting beside Gray. "He's very…" I trailed off, not knowing how to describe Jude Heartfilia, a.k.a., daddy dearest. "…let's just say, respect is in one of his top ten requirements for a guy; whether said boy is a suitor, or a friend."
"Heh."
I looked at Gray, seeing him smirking.
"That's how fathers are supposed to be, especially when it comes to their daughters, only child or not."
I giggled, catching his attention. "Would you be like that if you'll have a daughter someday?"
"I'd most certainly demand a lot from a suitor, no doubt."
I can just picture Gray sitting on a couch, glaring at his daughter's suitor, watching the guest fidgeting from under his piercing gaze. Ah, poor child of his.
"And if you have a son?"
"Hn. I'd make sure he has respect for not only the girl he'll be courting, but also to the girl's family."
I really can't help but feel that Gray is perfect. No matter what others say that nobody's perfect, I just can't deny the fact that for me, he is. It feels as if God has sent me an angel friend, and it happens to be the guy next to me, with that calm gaze on his face, his lips not bearing a smile but a straight line, yet it did not look as if he was in deep thinking or anything. Gray just looked relaxed, as if he had no worries in life, nothing to fuss over, and definitely nothing to fear.
"You're so…" I couldn't finish my sentence, for I ended up forgetting the next words when he turned to look at me, his head tilting a bit, his bangs following his movements, his eyes, those beautiful dark orbs, gazing at me, blinking, penetrating my very soul.
I knew it. I had it bad. I'm definitely falling for him, and I can't stop myself, because no matter how much I want to avoid falling in love again, to not want to experience the same pain I've gone through with Dan, to not want to have a relationship which causes both problems and hindrances in life, I just can't prevent myself from slowly loving this man.
Gray Fullbuster will someday be the death of me, or the life of me…
What was it about him anyway? Seriously; ever since that night I invited Gray for dinner, which happened two days ago, I started to feel my cheeks grow hot. I could tell that my ears were red, and it's not because of the cold. I'm pretty sure that it's because of him. No doubt about it. It's getting frustrating, since I can't keep my promise to myself any longer. It's getting annoying, because I don't really like the idea of falling in love with Gray, but I know that I want to feel what it's like to be in a relationship with him.
"Damn this."
"Are you cursing the flowers or your job?"
I blinked for a few times and turned behind me, spotting Gray a few feet away, not looking at me but tending to the roses on the other side. This would be our last day working here for the year. Mrs. Strauss had mentioned that there will be a few changes in the store due to the sudden increase of customers and income.
Obviously, it was all thanks to Gray's presence.
"I'm not supposed to be working here."
"Yet you are," he mused, still keeping his eyes on the red, blue, white, yellow, pink, lavender, and orange roses. "You know, you can just tell them."
"…I know."
"Then why aren't you?"
I twitched. Gray, you can be quite dense despite being a former soldier. "I don't want to."
He smirked. I should know, for I felt him smirking. "Why not?"
Because I want to stay here, work here, have fun caring for these beauties, be able to actually relax and enjoy at the same time, and lastly, because I want to be with you. Isn't it obvious? Or am I just not as transparent as I thought I was? But I definitely will not be able to blurt out the last part. No way will I admit that I actually want to stay next to him, near him, in the same place where he is.
"I like flowers."
"Hn." I glanced at him, seeing how he finally looked at me. "You do know that I don't believe you."
"And I believe you know the answer to that."
"Yes, and I'm sure you're aware that I'd like you to confirm."
Ah, we're playing this game again. Is it any wonder for me to often think that we're together but not actually in a relationship?
"…Let it go," I muttered, not in the mood.
I would have jumped in surprise when a poinsettia suddenly appeared in front of my face.
My eyes travelled at the hand that held the flower, then at the wrist, seeing the familiar black wristband that kept the watch attached to its owner. Then I observed how lean the muscles of the man's arm were, until slowly, I turned my head, my eyes meeting a pair of dark orbs which I always drown in.
"Poinsettia: Be of Good Cheer."
I blinked, and I saw a tiny hint of a smile, though it wasn't the kind of smile I would have hoped to see, but it was a small curve up of one side of Gray's lips, and that was good enough, for the time being.
I continued to remain silent, yet my hands took the flower from him gently, my eyes not leaving his gaze as he looked at the petals of the blossomed plant I held in my hands, and still, my eyes remained glued to him.
"At least, that's what I hope and think it means."
My lips involuntarily turned into a small and shy smile, and my head lowered, while my cheeks turned red. Gray was trying to cheer me up over something, and it was perhaps of my last comment. I told him to just drop the subject, and he assumed that I was having a problem. In a way, I was, but it doesn't matter anymore, because he just cheered me up, and it really did.
"That's better."
I blinked, again, and looked up at him.
"It's a lot better to see you smiling you know," Gray said with a shrug before turning around to head back to caring for the roses. From what I've observed, he seems to take extra good care of those compared to the other flowers. "Do roses hold a special meaning to you?" I asked, curious.
He stiffened all of a sudden, and I was about to tell him to forget about it, but he soon turned his head a bit with eyes looking down. I could see the solemn expression on his face, especially on his eyes. The pain he was feeling; I have no idea how bad it was, but it sure earned me a pang in my own heart, wondering why I even felt that all of a sudden.
"Yes," Gray answered, head lowering a bit, causing his bangs to shield his eyes, hiding the emotion he was feeling from me. "Roses hold a very special meaning to me."
"I'm…sorry I asked." And I felt sad as well.
Usually, when you feel what the other person is feeling, it should mean something. I believe that if I see Gray suffering, I would too.
"It's official," I whispered to myself, glad that Gray had turned back to doing his job without hearing what I just said. "I've definitely gone too deep."
Maybe it was my imagination, but I swore I saw how his ears twitch a bit, symbolizing how he had heard the last part, yet I pretended to be ignorant about it and turned back to the daffodils, staring at one particular flower, causing me to smile sadly. Daffodils are definitely my kind of flower; it symbolizes what I am feeling right now.
"Does it involve a girl?" I asked out of the blue, hoping that Gray's answer would be a 'no'.
But as what he said before when Mira commented how it would have been romantic if that under-the-mistletoe-kiss of ours was my first, "welcome to the real world" - the world where we all live in, the world where reality bites, the truth hurts, and life stinks.
"Aa."
And with that, I held the daffodil tighter and closer to my chest, my eyes shutting as I tried to prevent stupid, unwanted tears from spilling. Why was I hurt? I didn't need to be. Gray was never mine from the start. Gray is my friend, my savior. He's my knight in shining armor despite how cheesy it sounds.
"Girlfriend...?" I managed to squeak out, forcing myself to smile, but unable to stop the tears. I glanced a bit, seeing how he raised his head for a moment, his eyes half-closed, and his lips in a thin, straight line. Gray's silence only made my mood worsen, made my heart ache some more, made me admit how the daffodil and I fit together.
Unrequited Love...
"Is this true, I want to hear it one more time."
Let me know what you think about it. This plot is interesting to my taste. I mean a military Gray? Come on!
Haha, Gray has been revived in 335! I knew it, I so knew that something like that would happen. I'm still depressed because Ultear sacrificed her life, and I really like her character... But I'm incredibly happy that Gray is alive!