The water runs down my back and onto the floor as I crouch in the shower, staring at my arms. Purple henna patterns stopping where arm becomes shoulder. It's such an ugly place to end. I've always wanted them to connect on my back in a thin line of beauty.
I groan. I have to go back after my outburst yesterday. Cripes that was embarrassing. I have to apologize, I suppose, since it was, in fact, this part of me that almost assaulted that boy. If I can get to the guild before he does.
I stand; I'm wasting water by sitting here and thinking to myself. This is when I'm supposed to be arrogant. I can think when I've got blue on my arms rather than purple. This is the time to be cocky like Laxus, and unthinking like Natsu. I sigh. I have some hella weird friends. Not that I'm any less weird.
I turn off the running, steaming water. I wonder when Laxus will be back from his mission. Then I wonder if I should go on my own mission. Not necessarily because we need money, but to clear my head a little. Nothing like punching and manipulating things to make a girl feel like new.
I allow my body to drip into the tub for a few seconds, then wrap a black towel around my body. I finger the discoloration at the corner of the material. Black to gray to distorted white. White that isn't white; not really.
I look at my arms again. I think I'll wear the lace gloves today; the fingerless ones.
Opening the bathroom door, I walk into the kitchen. Great floor-plan, I know. This place was also made for short people. Not that I have a thing against short people. We're just not short, what with Gray being 5'9", with me just an inch behind him.
I see Gray groggily walking out of his room mostly naked. He has boxers on, thankfully, so I won't bother to tell him to put anything else on. He rarely wears a shirt at home. But that's alright; it gives me less reason to wear a bra.
"Make sure you don't forget your necklace, bro," I say walking by him.
"Yeah, yeah," he grumbles, walking back into his room to grab said item.
Padding to my room adjacent to Gray's, I shut the door. I choose a simple outfit; black jeans, plain white t-shirt, and my lace gloves. I don't feel like looking at my arms today, for the first time in forever.
Choosing brown boots, I walked out of my room to the front door and placed them near the entry mat. I sit down at the table where Gray had placed coffee for me.
"Thanks," I say, voice hoarse and raspy from the whole "morning" thing. There's a thump outside, and he gets up to get the paper. The new paperboy just keeps throwing it at our doors, trying to get his route done. I let out a huff of air. Either Gray or I will have to scare him into doing it properly. I do hope he thinks himself one of those thugs. It would make it more fun.
Gray walks back in and slides me the paper, knowing I'll tell him anything of interest. Skimming it, I see of Natsu and Lucy's heroics in bringing Macao back. Lucy. I had already forgotten her name. I'll have to assess her later; I hope she becomes a positive force in the guild. There's been some unfriendly fighting recently. Natsu has been restless, calling people out on the smaller things, and it put everyone else on edge. Maybe this Lucy girl will end his reign of terror.
He seemed happier with her, anyway.
Nothing is interesting in the paper. Even the funnies section is full of jokes that aren't even remotely funny.
I stand and head to the bathroom to pull a brush through my hair. I go to the door and pull on my boots, and then I wait for Gray to pull himself together.
"Let's go, Fullbuster!"
"Shut up, Tachi, I'm coming," I hear from the next room over. Did he just abbreviate my last name?
"Don't call me Tachi, Gray, or I'll hit you."
"I think it just stuck, lady. You won't be Rosie for much longer," he approaches with a smirk. I glower at him. I decide not to hit him. Maybe later once the coffee hits me.
"Let's just go, pretty boy; time's a-wastin'," I drawl, opening the front door, only to have the newspaper thrown in my face.
"Oh, that is it," I snarl. "I'LL KILL YOU, YOU PUNK ASS KID!"
"Whoa there, tiger. That's a fight for another day," Gray says, mirth in his voice, holding me by the collar of my shirt.
"Come on! We already got our paper! He's just doing it to spite me, Gray, let me at 'em!" I whine, struggling to get out of his grasp.
He waits for me to tire myself out or get bored, which doesn't take long. The punk is out of sight. I'll get him tomorrow.
Gray pats my head. "Let's go see what everyone's up to."
A weight settles on my chest and I walk ahead before he can react, tugging my gloves further up my arms. I can hear my brother half-jog to catch up to me.
We don't talk for a while; the only thing to be heard was the clicking of my boots. After a solid five minutes of silence, he breaks it.
"You doing all right, little sib?" he asks cautiously, his hand skimming his pocket. Probably where his cigarettes are.
I stop and look down to my shoes.
"What happened after I left the guild yesterday?" I ask quietly. He lets out a little huff of air.
"The new girl Lucy wanted to go after you, but Mira convinced her not to," he says.
"I'm sorry."
"Aw come on, Ash, we're past apologies with that kind of stuff, and that flame-for-brains knows it. Most people were mostly worried if you were okay," he says sincerely.
"Most?" I quirk an eyebrow.
"Laxus," he says simply. I purse my lips to keep from laughing and my eyes widen ever so slightly. Gray smiles.
"Wanna go get some breakfast somewhere outside the guild?" he asks. My nose crinkles.
"I'll go with you, but it's too early for me," I say, finishing the sentence with a yawn.
"Well then, come on," he says, dragging me by the wrist, running, to the nearest cafe.
We walk in, slightly winded, to the coffee shop and make our orders. My second coffee of the day, and his scrambled eggs. Despite what he'll tell anyone, Gray's got a wicked thing for eggs.
I watch him take the first bite. He groans.
"So good...!" he moans. I throw my spoon at him.
"Don't make it sound like you're having sex with eggs in public Gray Fullbuster." His cheeks are faintly dusted with pink at the realization of the sound he just made. He eats his eggs with no further noises, besides to exchange a few words on what jobs might be offered at the guild that would get us fed for another day.
About ten minutes later, the second, I swear the damn second I take the last sip of my coffee, our waitress runs up to us and cries "I just want you to know that you two are the cutest couple ever!"
I choke on my coffee and shake my head.
"It is time to go."
"I couldn't agree more."
A/N
Yeah, probably not the best place to leave off. Idk tho because I tend to ramble if no one stops me at 2 am, so my judgement might be slightly impaired.
I feel like I should also say that I did manage to see Frozen like four times, since I said I wanted to see it a couple chapters ago? I illegally streamed it the first time, and the second time it got my two friends to date.
Sorrynotsorry if this chapter is all over the place. Actually sorry for any grammar/tense/spelling errors I made. It is late and I am burnt out.
I'll see you next time (probably)
~Angelheat
