Author's Note: Hey everybody I'm back~! Now before you throw the closest things at your disposal, let me explain myself a bit. I've not been able to update due to my finals for my courses, but now that they're over I got the chance to finish this chapter. To make it up for my inactivity, this will be a special double update. That's right, you great readers will get two chapters to read! So let's get on with this chapter, review and enjoy! (P.S. I'm not so great at fight scenes, please forgive me!)
Chapter 16
"Lisanna look out!" Gray called out as a fireball was thrown her way, luckily the heads up allowed her enough time to dodge and let the man she was fighting get struck by it instead.
From the twenty or so Berserkers that came along with Psychonaut, barely a fourth of them still stood; however, the problem the Fairy Tailers were having with the remaining enemies were the ones would could wield magic. From what they had seen, Psychonaut and his crew mainly used fire magic as their choice leading Gray to assume that they chose to specialize in it for its destructive capabilities. Which was the main concern for both Lisanna and Gray since it could get out of hand and the building could be set on fire.
"Come on boys! You're the best ones of the crew, so don't let these Fairy wimps escape with their lives!" Psychonaut wasn't really amused for the fact that over half his crew was already knocked out; a good portion from a big boobed tiger girl and the rest from an ice piece of shit who wouldn't stand still. Friendly fire was something his boys should've known, then they would've dodged when he miss- purposely misfired instead of getting hit.
Lisanna had managed to get the drop on another one of his crew, effectively taking him down but had to side step when another fireball was chucked her way. She was thankful that Gray was putting out whatever fires were lit with his magic as he circled around with his ice blades to bring down the mage that fired at her. In no time flat he stood right next to her, his aura misting around them as the chill cooled her heating body.
"Ring of Fire time boys!" Psychonaut commanded, although the Fairies couldn't track where his voice came from.
They concentrated on the threat at hand as the last of the Berserkers stood in a complete circle around them, trapping them from escape with flames building with their palms. Both the ice wizard and animal soul mage recognized this as an "all attack" strategy where they'd shoot at them from all sides, while they were stuck in the middle.
"Got any ideas Gray? They've got us cornered." Lisanna knew that dodging was out of the question, their bodies have done enough of that and were close to their limit.
"I just came up with one, but saving our skins comes first!" Gray exclaimed as he drew Lisanna closer to his body right as the Berserkers extended their arms to fire. "Ice Make: Cocoon!"
Immediately a cocoon formed around the mages as a shied to protect them both from the volley of fire magic, the sharp jagged exterior providing extra defense in case they tried to come closer. But a whole different problem was happening inside, concerning a certain ice mage's bare skin and Lisanna's "assets" too close to one another. If the animal soul mage wasn't already red in the face from exhaustion than she was now since she hadn't expected to be this close to Gray. Said mage cursed to himself for not at least trying to make the cocoon bigger on the inside than it usually is, along with the few indecent thoughts that spawned in his mind. Don't judge him, even if his blood runs colder than others he's still a slightly warm blooded man nonetheless.
"Sorry about that Lisanna, this thing's usually made for one." Gray spoke up as the white haired girl refrained from looking up at him and he was glad she wasn't moving too much.
"T-That's okay Gray, s-so what's the plan you came up with?" Lisanna replied nervously as her skin felt defined muscles from another man that wasn't her brother or Natsu.
"Right, are you familiar with how Cat's Cradle looks like?" He asked as the young Strauss nodded her head in confirmation. "Good since I'll use most of the magic I have left to create the intricate design and you use it towards your advantage to take the rest of these bastards down."
"You think I could do it on my own?"
"If I didn't trust my guild mate to be tougher than these low end thugs, than I would've thought up another plan to use instead." Gray smirked to her as the resounding thump of Lisanna's heart rang in her ears, hearing that Gray had a great amount of trust in her.
"Alright, let's do it!" With boosted determination set up, Lisanna prepared herself for Gray to cast his spell.
"Ice Make: Cat's Cradle!" The cocoon's jagged exterior shot out into multiple directions missing the Berserker thugs purposely, while entrapping them all in their own separate space whereupon Gray added another cradle above it so they couldn't fire another volley.
Once the design was completed, Lisanna sprang into action going for the closest thug trapped in his own pen. She nimbly used the cradle to move from space to space as a form of leverage, going between the open spaces of both cradle's that allowed her a view of her opponent's mid-drift. With the confusion already set in place, her speed and agility plus the amount of room each entrapped placement gave for her to attack, the young Strauss easily out matched the remaining Berserkers.
By the sound of the last thug hitting the floor, Gray had dropped the spell and was thoroughly impressed yet again by the white haired girl's prowess. He had both faith and trust in each of his comrades in their abilities, so he knew that Lisanna was very capable in following through with the plan. He watched as she made her way over to him smiling triumphantly for a job well done, although he knew it wasn't over yet.
"We did it Gray!" Lisanna cheered, however the angered shout drew their attention towards the main table.
"You piece of shits may have beaten my boys, but so long as I can take my bitch back I can start all over again!" Gray grit his teeth as he saw Psychonaut forcefully holding Jessie in his grasp, her face stained in tears from the pain his grip was giving her.
"Why you son of-" Gray was about to charge at him, but stopped when the vile man lit his palm with flames.
"Not so fast Ice Boy...Make another move and she gets a couple of nasty burns I won't mind her having." He grinned maliciously at them, all the while Jessie was pleading for them to save her.
Gray was at an impasse, he was fairly low on magic as it was and he knew Lisanna was tired out from everything she had done. They couldn't sneak around him before he burned her and it was too dangerous to try and attack him at range since there was the possibility that he would hit Jessie. Gray was trying his hardest to come up with a plan that didn't have a major consequence as a result, but everything was being shot down as he gave it thorough thought. His thoughts immediately vanished as the sound of an explosion drew him out, he looked around for what made it until he laid eyes upon Psychonaut again.
The ice mage saw the vile man's face contort in pain before he released his grip on Jessie and fell face forward onto the ground. Both Fairy Tailers watched as Christopher walked his way up to be seen with a magic pistol in his hand, quickly hugging his crying wife to comfort her.
"What kind of man would I be if I don't defend the woman I love?" Christopher spoke out loud, feeling much easier now that his wife was in his arms again looking at the mages coming up to him.
"Is he...?" Lisanna spoke up, pointing to the downed Psychonaut's form, while Christopher dropped the pistol onto the ground.
"Dead? No, just in serious pain." He replied as the mages looked at him questioningly. "I managed to calibrate the pistol so it fires more of a concussive magic round than a lethal one."
"Not bad, but we're sorry that your party's ruined." Gray said as he dispelled the igloo protecting the guests, which drew away most of his magic during the melee.
"That's okay, so long as everyone's safe than we're fine with it." Jessie replied as she managed to calm down, still holding onto her husband.
"We should be thanking you two, we're glad that Fairy Tail sent a pair of great mages to protect us." Christopher added as Lisanna smiled in response and Gray gave one of his winning smirks.
Now that the excitement had calmed down, many party guests began to help clean up the damages along with Gray and Lisanna. Luckily for them the local healer and doctor had attended they part, so their wounds were tended to and Gray tied up the nasty crew and their leader up. As for them, Mr. Hansworth had informed the Fairy Tailers that he managed to get in contact with Rune Knight outpost that could swing by and take them away for imprisonment. All-in-all, the town helped each other out with what's left and decided to end the night like that with the ice mage giving one final toast to the new married couple.
With a few more words spoken to the couple and with the mayor, the tired mages set out back towards their hotel rooms ready to get some nicely deserved rest. Although, they had to wait for a bit longer for Lisanna to get redressed into something else since her dress had gotten ruined during the fight. It took some time, but one of the local girls had brought her some clothes that were close to her size for her to change into. Finally with new clothes on, the opposite colored hair duo set out back towards their hotel rooms with a casual stroll to pass the time.
"Sorry about the dress Lisanna, guess the flames singed it pretty good." Gray had felt slightly responsible that her dress was ruined, he believed that he could've done a better job at defending her.
"It's alright Gray, I could always get another one." She held the ruined dress in her arms, slightly shaking from the cold air of the night.
"Just make sure Mira doesn't think I put you through too much of the line of fire, okay?" Gray joked as he wrapped his blazer over Lisanna's shoulders. "Plus you've got to remember to bring something to keep you warm next time."
"I'll remember to bring one next time Snowball." Lisanna replied and instantly fell silent as she uttered that nickname, full knowing how Gray hardly enjoys being called names.
"Snowball?" Gray's heard of so many different names thrown at him that he's felt like he's heard them all, but being called a snowball was a first.
"It's nothing G-Gray, just a nickname I called Surge back in Edolas. You know...because he looks like a snowball and...he's always cold." The white haired mage's voice began to drop to a whisper from her first few words to her last, completely embarrassed by the fact that she casually thought of him like the close friendship she had with Surge.
"Hmph, that's a good one although if you're going to do that I might as well call you Lis or something in return." Much to Lisanna's surprise, Gray took it pretty well instead of getting offended or angry like she was expecting him to become.
"Wait, you're not upset?" She was curious to know why Gray was alright with it, rather than reacting the way he does when Natsu's the one saying it.
"Why would I be? I know that you're a nice person who wouldn't insult just about anyone, let alone one of your own guild mates. Besides it was just the slip of the tongue, right?"
Gray left her speechless as she had no words of reply to him, completely unprepared to know how much Gray is aware of a person's traits. She walked with wonder, questioning why Mira had sent her on this mission now that she could sum up that Gray probably knew what she was trying to do from the start of their train ride here. If anything, her mission to extract information was a failure from the start; however, Lisanna didn't feel bothered that she couldn't accomplish it. Instead it felt like she was learning a few new things from the ice mage beside her that maybe not many people knew about.
Now that she knew the plan wouldn't work anymore, she still talked to him as they walked back to the hotel about different things avoiding the subject about the nickname. Lisanna always held the belief that Gray was someone who needed time to warm up to another person, but to see him easily talk with her and joke around casted that belief away. The one thing that came up into her mind was how she was going to act knowing that her own sister had a crush with the mage right beside her. Although Lisanna was accustomed to seeing a love struck Gray for so long, seeing one who was much more silent, rarely showed emotion and was much harder to get to open up was an interesting change of pace.
Nevertheless things went back to how they were and the two were about to part ways for the night once they got back to the hotel, but Gray wanted to end the night celebrating so he got himself a couple of shots before calling it a night. Lisanna, being the best caretaker besides her sister, went along with the ice mage, but avoided any alcohol and decided to get herself something fizzy. Gray on the other hand called for something stronger after the first three were a little on the mild side compared to what he usually got, so when it arrived for the eighth time Lisanna decided to intervene.
"Alright Gray, even I know your tolerance for alcohol isn't as great as Cana's." The young Strauss said as she supported the unbalanced mage back to his room.
"What would I do without you Lis?" Gray slurred slightly while trying to balance himself so the white haired girl didn't need to support him so much.
"Fall asleep in the hotel's bar counter after getting drunk?" Lisanna said as he began to chuckle at her claim, completely off his rocker and riding the sweet drunken bliss he had going for him.
"You're a good *hic* girl you know that." Gray drunkenly remarked as the two slowly made their way up the stairs with a few other guests giving her a few sympathetic smiles, understanding in their own way of the girl's job at the moment. "...So I'm gonna tell ya a piece of advice."
"Sure Gray, I'm listening." Lisanna had a feeling that it had to do with what guys like or the other, something she usually heard Wakaba and Macao talk about when they're like this.
"Don't give up..." Three simple words he said and yet Lisanna was confused as to what he meant, but before she could ask him anything he continued. "I'm not b-blind to how you truly feel about the dense pink headed moron, *hic* so keep trying. You're one of the best things to happen to him, so don't get *hic* disheartened and give it your all."
"Thanks Gray I really appreciate it." Lisanna was embarrassed to know that he made it sound like she was very obvious, but she was grateful to hear encouraging words from the person who was close to Natsu; like a brother the dragon slayer always wanted to fight with.
Before she realized it they both stood in front of his room and with a little more awkward movements as the walked inside, Lisanna had managed to sit Gray down on his bed. After what they've been through, she believed that a night's rest is something they both deserved before heading back to the guild. Though an idea had popped into her mind before she exited his room, one that she believed could help her complete the mission she thought was uncompletable.
"Hey Gray, what do you...what do you think about the other girls? Like Erza or Cana or even Mira-nee?" The white haired mage was riding on the hope that Gray would drunkenly answer her, she knew it wasn't nice to take advantage of someone in his position, but she was all out of options at this point.
" *hic* Weird thing to ask, but whatever." Gray replied as he made himself comfortable on his bed. "They're special, I don't *hic* really know how to put it into words, but they're much closer to me than most people in the guild."
"It's something at least" Lisanna thought to herself as this would be the closest she'd get on info for her sister, even though she asked for those three instead of asking about the other girls too.
"B-But you shouldn't be concerned with me *hic*, more like think about yourself this time around." Gray spoke up, but Lisanna could already tell that he was slowly falling asleep as he turned to the other side instead of facing her.
"What do you mean?" She was confused about what he was saying, did he mean that she's supposed to think about herself over others or something like it?
"This is your second chance Lis, make it count..." Gray lowly replied as he faded into deep sleep, while Lisanna was trying to figure out what he really meant by his words.
She wrapped her head around it before she came to the realization that he was talking about Natsu and how this was her chance to be with him. It surprised her that the ice mage was rooting for her in his own way, as if he knew that she did have the chance that Natsu would return her feelings after so long. She had her own fears that he moved on to someone else like Lucy since they were inseparable, but Gray was pushing her to try. She was about to thank the raven haired mage for his confidence in her, until she heard light snoring coming from him and came to the conclusion that he fell asleep while she was trying to figure things out.
"Thank you Gray." She whispered lightly and from out of the moment she lightly kissed his cheek, quickly rushing right out of his room after.
The animal soul mage rushed into her room, her heart beating against her chest either from her quick dash to her room or from the incident earlier. She slowly sat herself down on her bed and waited for her heart to settle, trying her hardest to calm herself from what she did. She kept reminding herself that it was another way for repaying his kindness, although it would take some time before she would finally go to sleep. Her last thoughts being that she kissed him to repay his kindness and nothing more, hopefully.
The next morning, Gray and Lisanna had come to the mayor's office to collect their reward and give their goodbyes to the couple before they left. Gray had gone ahead to clear up a few things with the mayor before they head off, while Lisanna spoke with the couple for a bit longer. If the ice mage was still around during that time, he would've heard the couple tell Lisanna that they'd be sending them a lacrima copy of their wedding party. Of course Lisanna had accepted it, she herself wanted to have something to remember this place by; however she didn't know how Gray would feel but decided that he'd also be fine with it.
With a few more goodbyes the two Fairy Tailers set out for the guild, making idle chatter as they rode the train back to Magnolia. For all the requests Gray's done before, this one had a good blend of some relaxation and action for him. A good way to catch a break from what he's been going through, but that wouldn't last for long. Lisanna on the other hand was pleased with how their request went, yet she had wished she did a little better with her personal mission rather than getting a tid bit of info on three people. Nonetheless the experience was good over all and she hoped that her little action would get lost in the recesses of her memories somewhere down the road, but for now she made friendly chatter with the ice mage.
For a pair of guild mates that hardly got the chance to speak with one another they sure got accustomed to one another, which came as a surprise to see Gray chuckling alongside Lisanna from one of her jokes as they walked inside the guild. It was surprising for many other members that the ice mage was actually laughing at something that didn't involve an insult to Natsu or his pain at the hands of Erza. Even so, there was still the emergence of jealous stares from those who saw Lisanna as someone who was getting too close to their Gray, but it had little effect on the young Strauss compared to her older sister's knowing smile that even had Gray on his toes.
"Welcome back you two, I guess the request went well?" Mira asked as they approached the bar counter, Gray taking a seat a stool away from Lisanna for safety reasons of course. He was in the presence of a protective demon after all.
"It went very well Mira-nee, it was a fun experience going with Gray." Lisanna replied as Gray nodded his head in agreement, hoping that Mira wouldn't think that he did something indecent to her younger sister. He knows he's innocent, but being marked as a stripper has pegged him with doubts from some people.
"That's good to hear, oh and Gray..." Mira said in sweet tone that sent a tingle down Gray's spine, one of her ultimate ways of scaring him shitless only comparable by Erza's commanding tone that is.
"Y-Yes Mira?" He tried to play it cool, but he was slightly shaking in his socks as she looked over at him, since his boots were lying right next to his stuff near the door.
"Levy asked me to send you over to her table when you'd come back, something about a promise you made to her or a da-"
"Right, thanks Mira!" Gray interrupted her before she could finish her sentence, wanting to make sure that no one else would catch onto his plans with Levy. He always questioned why the day goes by so slowly for him when he gets involved with someone, seriously it's barely eleven thirty and now he has to go and fulfill his "date" with Levy.
The ice mage made his way over to her table, only to take into account that his entire team was sitting with her and the air couldn't get anymore thicker for him. If he were to ever get through this in one piece, he had to act normally and hope that things with Lucy and Erza are alright. As far as Natsu goes, it was a blazing grenade that he was cautious to get close to in case things explode into a cloud of awkwardness. As far as it goes, he just had to talk to Levy, get the details and get through it without worrying Lucy, having Erza suspecting him and Natsu do something the ravenette had no idea of happening.
"Hey Levy, Mira said you needed to see me as soon as I got back?" Gray casually walked up to her, waving his hand at everyone, although he missed eye contact with the pink haired mage still unsure of how he should even react to him.
Lucy had caught on to how Gray purposely avoided eye contact with Natsu and could only feel sorry for her best friend, understanding that Gray was not acting wrongfully towards Natsu. Rather he was acting like anyone should be after someone they've known forces themselves on you, yet the blonde didn't want to see this continue. Erza had a similar thought as Lucy and as for Natsu he still felt hurt that Gray wouldn't look at him in the eye, but he remembered what the girls had told him and was grateful that he even came this close to the table at all.
"Yeah I did, the book club's meeting has been moved to today and I was wondering if you could still be able to go." Levy said, she too had no idea of the schedule change and was slightly miffed that it had been moved much sooner than she anticipated.
"Sure it's no problem, but do ya think there's still time for me to drop my things off?" He's still got energy in him and Gray was fairly sure that the hangover he was feeling in the early parts of the morning has managed to subside.
"Sure, it doesn't start for another hour and a half so you've got time Gray." Levy was silently happy that he was still willing to go even on short notice, not to mention the rest of Team E.L.L.N. was glad that the advantage was still theirs.
"Good, I'll see you then Levy. Later." "I hope I get to see you more when it's just the two of us also." The beautified Gray added making Levy blush into her hands as the ice mage began to make his way out of the guild, putting his boots back on as he was getting his stuff.
"Well done Levy, we still hold Gray with us. Now that we know who we're up against, we must be weary of those who are most likely to take Gray when our backs are turned." Erza said while she kept an eye around their surroundings, cautious of those seeking a victory over them.
"She's right, make sure to keep the ice statue with you so we can have him to ourselves!" Natsu was still feeling blue after what happened, but moping around wouldn't help him hold onto his new interest at all. He needed to act and accept what happened in the past so he could fix things up in the present and future.
"We're right behind you Levy-chan, give it your best alright." Lucy pitched in her supportive words to her best friend, knowing that Levy was a very capable young woman given her size and standing in the guild.
"Don't worry everyone, I'll give it my all and won't let Team E.L.L.N. down either." This was her time, after all those hours they spent at that meeting it was time that she acted. Internally hoping she could get things to go her way with the ever so calm ice mage, alas only time would tell.
