WORD by Fianan Gleoite: Unwonted – adj. not accustomed by experience
~UNWONTED~
Natsu, Gajeel and Gray happily stepped out of their dorm to greet the Monday dawn. They were all excited to go to the opening of the Magnolia Hot Springs which they endorsed as part of the city's tourism. They were to travel for three hours to get there and do a boring ceremony like cutting the ribbon and taking pictures and stuff but it was an exciting job, since they would be allowed to stay there for two nights for free.
"I can't believe it! Finally! The resort is going to open!" Natsu said cheerfully. "I'll make sure to buy Lisanna some souvenirs."
Gajeel pouted. "You be careful, now. If they get even a clue it's for a girl—"
"I know, I know," the Salamander dismissed, fixing his glasses. "I'll be careful. Hey, Gray, what are you buying Lu-chan?"
No answer.
"Gray?" Natsu looked behind him. His eyes widened. "Gray!"
Gray opened his eyes weakly and saw the ceiling of his own room. He remembered walking out the front door and then... nothing. He could remember nothing.
It's cold in here, he thought and felt his feet and hands freeze under the thick covers. He tried to get up to adjust the air conditioning but his body felt heavy—like a rock was laid on him. His throat was prickly and dry, and his head was pounding.
Oh, no... Not now, he complained and mustered all his strength to get up. Just in time, a blonde opened his door and came rushing to his side. She lay him on his bed and planted a heavy hand on his head.
"What do you think you're doing?" she asked angrily. "You can't get up yet!"
"B-But—" he coughed, "But the hot springs...!"
"You're not thinking straight!" Lucy exclaimed and pulled a thermometer from his mouth. Gray didn't even know it was there. "A hundred and four...*"
The idol looked at her and saw the disappointment in her eyes. He knew then that she was scolding him for overworking himself.
"I can't help it…" he defended, "I want to do everything to perfection..."
"Yeah, and end up dead!" she hissed, "How many times have I told you not to push too hard?"
At this, she helped him sit up slowly.
"What are you doing here? Where are the guys?"
"They left a few hours ago... They called me up saying you collapsed and needed someone to look after you until Erza comes back tomorrow."
"Oh... Okay," he said lifelessly.
"So? How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Like the life's been sucked out of me," he replied monotonously. He squinted at the sunlight that hurt his eyes. "I'm—" a cough, "hungry..."
"I made chicken soup," she said and a small smile ghosted over her lips. "Can you hold a spoon?"
He opened and closed his hand, "I think so."
The young woman carefully put a silver spoon in his hand and Gray lifted his arms to receive the tray with a hot bowl in it. He slowly started to fill his growling stomach with the soup that, today, tasted less appetizing because of his throat. As he ate and ate, Lucy watched and watched silently.
"Have you been getting enough sleep?" she asked, her voice sullen.
Gray cleared his throat. "Not any less than usual..."
"And the 'usual' is how long...?"
The raven-haired guitarist looked away and answered in a small voice, hoping she wouldn't hear. "Four hours...?"
"Are you insane?!" she yelled. "D'you have some sort of death wish?!"
"Ow! Ow!" Gray protested. The girl's loud voice was ringing in his ear, making his head throb. "Not so loud...!"
"Sorry..." she apologized. "Should we go to the doctor?"
"No. I'll be fine," he assured, bringing the spoon down. "This is nothing... And besides, I won't want anyone seeing you with me..."
Lucy sighed in defeat. "Okay, then... Just—Just tell me if you want anything, okay?"
It could be the fever talking but... Gray looked at Lucy with tired eyes; his cheeks were flushing and the tips of his ears were red but his face remained flat.
Maybe... Just maybe...
"I want..." he started, "…a kiss..."
"What...?" she hissed. One eyebrow was raised at him inquisitively, "You're clearly out of it…"
He shrugged. Oh, well, it was worth a shot. That Lucy would do something so unwonted, even given the circumstances, would take a miracle or a hundred million prayers. She still wasn't comfortable with things like that, was she?
Lucy was halfway out the door when Gray laid his tired head on the bed rest. It was throbbing so hard he felt his eyesight spin. He closed his eyes, even just to stop his vision from going round and round and round.
Ah, by now, I could be at the hot springs, he mused.
A warmth hovered over his face.
All of a sudden, Lucy's lips were on Gray's; he opened his eyes in surprise and saw his girlfriend leaning over him, her eyes closed, both hands behind her back. When he realized what was happening, Gray's right hand reached up to the girl's face and pulled her in as he deepened their kiss, surprising Lucy.
The girl pushed him away.
"Wha—What?!" she exclaimed, one hand covering her mouth. Was that or was that not his tongue?! "That was—clearly not what I had in mind!"
Gray licked his lips, "My lips were dry..."
"You pervert! Lecherous idiotic work-a-holic!" she screamed.
"Sorry... It's because I have a fever and don't know what I'm doing..." he reasoned.
"You're clearly doing this on purpose," she deadpanned.
Gray carefully put the bowl of soup on the bedside table and lay on his back on the bed rest again. He felt really bad, really tired and really sick.
"You should rest," she said, calming down from the ruckus a while ago. "I'll be downstairs..."
"Lucy..." he croaked and he closed his eyes, "I want a hug..."
All was silent. Gray was waiting. Lucy was thinking.
Then...
"Of course..." she said surely and sat beside him on his bed.
Two clumsy arms wrapped themselves around Gray's neck and pulled him towards her body. He laid his heavy head on her shoulders and sighed, content. At least he knew he would be dreaming a good dream.
He smiled and then let himself fall deep asleep in his lover's arms, feeling like the hundred million prayers were answered.
*A hundred and four degrees Fahrenheit – that's about 40 degrees Celcius
Fianan Gleoite: Did it turn out right? I hope you like it! Because of you, one word has been added to my dictionary and I will surely use it someday… ; )
