Secret Wishes
He still wasn't moving fast enough. The thin cut Erza's spear left on his arm was bleeding steadily, but he could barely feel it. Ever since the first half of the exam his nerves were still shot; the innovative display of his power had taken a toll plus the constant use fried them.
"You're getting faster," Erza praised. With a flick of her wrist the blood on her spear head splattered across the mat. A distracted twirl brought the tip a little too close to Gray's face before it stilled. "How are your arms?"
"Movement is easier," Gray sighed "but I barely felt that cut even though it's deep enough to require stitches." The sword he'd conjured from his ice magic shattered, the shards hit the floor chiming like bells.
"Yet you can still use your magic? Doesn't that slow down the healing progress?"
"No."
"Explain." Erza's steely gaze was locked on his. Her weight leaning against the spear as if it were a cane.
"After my last offering to Juvia, I can control the output a bit better." Gray was struggling to put into words what he felt. The icy burn that usually accompanied his magic was still present but didn't quite hurt like it used too. It was more an itch than a burn. "I'd have to be constantly relying on it for an extended period before I put myself in danger. I'm fine with small things."
"Fine, lets keep going." A pause while the redhead pulled a longer dagger from a sheath on her back and handed it to him. "The more you use your arms the better for the blood circulation. Hopefully the feeling returns in the next week or two."
"I'm still bleeding." Gray grunted while struggling to parry one of Erza's swings. The wicked clint in her eyes stopped him from protesting more. He needed to focus before she accidentally shredded him.
oOo
Gray needed a drink after dealing with the never-ending annoyance the guilds grumpy healer always threw around. She'd been irritated to have to tend to his arms again, even more so because he was bleeding all over her freshly cleaned floors.
"Gray," Cana greeted from next to him at the bar, the rosy tint to her cheeks hinted at the amount of alcohol she drank. "You're looking a little pale."
"I got 37 stitches without being numbed."
"Piss off Porlyusica again?" A shit eating grin was working its way across her mouth, "you know she'd probably be less annoyed if she got la-"
"Gray what can I get you?" Mira interrupted Cana.
"The strongest drink you have. If its liquor make it a chilled double shot, I don't want to feel my arms anymore."
"Oh, the feeling finally came back?" a soft smile that disappeared in a swish of long white-blonde hair. The clanking of bottles was the sweetest music he'd heard in a while.
"No, but Porlyusica's heavy hand made sure I felt everything," Gray grumbled while quickly grabbing the cold double shot of some brown liquid before slinging it back. His breath hissed out of him a second later and he pushed the glass back towards Mira, "Same thing, this time make it a triple please." Gray was pretty sure Cana whistled from next to him but he was too busy trying to ignore the burn moving down his throat.
"Well," Mira hummed, "You and Natsu did give her quite a scare. She didn't think you'd ever be able to use your arms and that Natsu had ruined his throat beyond repair."
"He's talking again, sadly." Gray sighed while shooting back another glass and coughing. "Mavis, what is this?"
"An apple wine I haven't been able to sell. It's got a large alcohol by volume." Mira's eyes twinkled as she leaned against the bar, "It's also pretty pricey."
"Who cares, give me one more shot please." The burning in his arms was slowly being eclipsed by the warmth radiating from his stomach.
"No problem," said around a laugh, "Oh I almost forgot. You got an extermination request. I tried letting them know you were still recovering from your ranking exam, but the client specifically asked for you." a short pause as another shot hit the counter in front of him. "And Natsu of course, it's a two-man job but I think you'll be happy with the rewards."
"So, I've been cleared to go?"
"Erza cleared you both. She also mentioned that Natsu is getting a little restless again." Mira shrugged while looking at the bandaged portions of his arms, "I'm not sure if Erza really understands what healthy looks like, but Master trusts her judgement. Anyway, here's the information on the job request. Let me know if you'll take it by tomorrow so I can confirm with the client." A shrug before she held out a small packet of paper. Gray grabbed it, thumbing through it quickly.
"This is a Rank 7 request."
"You did pass the survival portion of the exam, besides there is a four-month period before the written exam is taken. Until you either pass or fail that the guild association is required to treat you as a Rank 7 hunter." Mira hummed while also sliding his bill across the polished mahogany. "Whenever you're ready." Gray was quick to grab the bill and throw down the money with a grimace. She wasn't kidding when she said it was pricey.
"Noted."
"I already alerted Natsu about the job. He seemed pretty excited since it's also calling for a third participant for research while you two do damage control." Mira called after Gray's retreating figure. He wasn't planning on looking at the request again until he was home and comfortable. The walk brought back memories of metallic scales and the smell of the ocean. Blue hair and a happy smile. Gray frowned while unlocking the door to his apartment. Though he knew it was going to be quiet, it didn't make walking into the now still apartment any easier. He'd gotten used to Juvia following him from room to room, pointing at things and asking him questions. He didn't miss the constant water on his bathroom floor from her long soaks in the bath. Who knew mermaids could dry out?
"At least my water bill is back to normal," Gray mumbled to himself while stripping off his shirt and throwing it across the room; he'd pick it up on his way to bed. Thumbing through the packet of information Gray noted the important things: Ice giants, a weeklong expedition and a reward of thirty thousand dollars plus a magically imbued aquamarine geode that would still need to be authenticated. "A geode huh," Gray's mind went to that conversation with Lucy, about magical grenades and summoning potential. Maybe this would be exactly what he needed.
Sliding off the couch after going through and noting a few more important details, Gray threw the packet on his coffee table. The rattling of scales he'd placed in a large seashell next to where the packet landed hand him rolling his eyes. It wasn't like he missed her, he just had a few questions. Questions about her scales, his limitations and what she happened to think of his progress. He owed her for his power and maybe a thank you was better done face to face.
