The streets were quiet, at least more than she expected, maybe because of the cold wind which continued to sweep the city. Who would want to go out under the prelude of an hivernal storm ? Not a sane personne.
She buried her nose in the collar of Grey's coat when a new freezy breeze reached them. Although she had given it back to him when they were at the hotel, he had put it on her shoulders again at the moment they quit the pawnbroker's shop. She didn't need it, she could have just invoked a coat, however she didn't refuse his gesture.
He had always been nonchalantly caring with her, like if it was natural for him. And with years he had learned to slit her armour. He was able to notice her discomfort, without she needed to say anything, just by looking at her he knew. It was nice to feel understood in a few glance.
Eventually time passed and she found reassurance in his presence. Not she needed it but she appreciated it. In some extent he understood her and sometimes better than she did herself.
Her phone rang and she breathed deeply before to pick up.
" So you found them ? "
" Not yet. We are in the same city. We are trying to localise them but it takes time "
" We left you two more days after this date we will contact an other guild. If you fail again you won't receive any recompense and you would have to respond of the destruction of public property and collateral victims caused by your guild, we have turned a blind eye in recent years. Some are imprisoned for less than that "
" Understood "
" Miss Scarlet your failure is a dishonour for the name of your guild as for your reputation. " and then the conversation was finished.
She slowed down and finally stopped. She had flinched her fists to contain her revulsion.
She was calm, self-control and diligent, she had always been and working with Natsu had strengthened those abilities. She would never have lost her nerves against a figure of authority. However, she could not stand injustice or despotism, and that was exactly what the man on the phone embodied: pure abuse of power.
She exhaled deeply before catch up Grey. She had asked him to pass in front when her phone rang.
" So you pick up the red phone ? "
" You know that had never been a telephone line "
" Yes, but the parallelism seems relevant "
She regarded at him.
" I guess it is, if we consider the threatening aspect"
He looked at her, perplexed. She was not the type to endure threats without saying anything but it seems that she did. She had to put her pride aside and judging by her tensed figure she had hated every second of it.
" Just tell them to go to hell. "
He knew she couldn't. She respected autority, more than him. Nonetheless, she didn't sermonise him as she would have normally done. She smirked.
" Let's go "
He nodded and they continued to walk under the coming snow. She put her hands in her pockets and he smiled realising how big his coat was on her.
She didn't realise it was that late. She had underestimated the distance until the hotel and totally forgot she had the key of the bedroom she shared with Lucy.
" So you are saying that you left Lucy without any room ? "
" I never do this type of mistake usually " she snorted closing her eyes. She felt guilty he can heard in her voice that and the angry towards herself.
" By all evidence "
She glared at him.
" Relax Erz', just kidding. It's not the end of the world, you thought we'd be here before them, she will understand anyway she's surely sleeping with Wendy. "
" No Wendy sleeps already with Carla "
" Alright so she must be with Natsu waiting for us patiently. All's well "
At least all was well. They stopped in front of the guys bedroom and Grey knocked but no one answered. He tried again looking at her, still no response. So she tried more resolutely but once again no response.
They looked at each other without speaking. She was not the talkative type, Lucy was. However, right now she would have said anything to break the tension between them. Anything, so why nothing come into her mind ?
One key. One bedroom. They had thought the same thing, she felt it. However she tried to ignore it. They will just sharing a room. That was nog a big deal. That's happen between friends.
" Okay seems useless to insist. let's go. There is still an other bedroom "
She yawned.
" Okay sleepyhead "
She looked at him but said nothing.
The room was big. Not huge or giant but more than comfortable. She open her suitcase picking a pijama before to disappear in the bathroom.
He walked around the room. Finally he opened the exterior door and took place on the balcony, half closing the door behind him. It was still snowing but the wind was calmer almost nice.
He regarded the city shine into the dark night, asking himself what their life will look like now the war was over. Fairy tail was his family but since its disbandment things were different, for him at least. He had suffered a lot, maybe too much. He had never been the golden retriever type but the years passing the worse it was. Traumatic experiences accumulate and he had strengthened his penchant for solitude.
Sometimes burdens were less suffocating when no one was in the surroundings. They seemed to vanish drowned into more darkness. Maybe because he didn't lost energy to denied them. Proportionally his lies had improved too. He knew that was bad, at least not sain. But he stopped to pursue his sanity a long time ago. He was broken and he tried to stick the shards of his life together. It works until it breaks again.
Depression had haunted him and still does. Sometimes he could feel the ghost of his loss and regrets sitting on his heart and embrace it until he couldn't breathe. But with time these visits had become more spaced and fleeting.
He had learned to handle with traumas. He had had to anyway. First the loss of his parents then the one of his master and evebtually her daughter. And it had been Jubia. Jubia who loved him and cared for him at a point which seems crazy, like if she needs him to breathe. She had suffocated him. But at the end of Fairy tail she was the only to be stayed at his side.
When his adoptive family had disbanded adding one more loss on the picture she stayed. She had never been a constant in his life but this day she became one. His family was not here anyway, his best friend, her best friend and even the one his heart cherished to a special way had disappeared. He thought he was going to die. Years after, he became this broken and mournful little boy again.
Then he had loosing himself in rage and resentment letting dark magic consume his soul. She had maybe not could help him with his sadness but at least her presence kept him alive. Jubia Locksear had saved his life, and when he thought he had loose her it had been one time too many. He was blinded by anger. However he had stopped himself and spare Invel's life.
Then his fight against Natsu had happened and this time he had not stopped himself. He losted too much. His anger was too huge. He was ready to kill his brother, the guy with who he had grew up. At this moment he had definitely lost this sanity, that even with all her love Jubia had never been able to reach, and that turned its back to him long ago. But when all was loose she reappeared, she stopped him from a loss he would have never pardoned himself. It was her, it has always been her.
" Mavis ! It's freezing Grey "
She gasped after opening the bay window. She only wore her pijama : a black camisole with some lace and a short which of course were not helping. Then she tried to remind herself who she was : Titania, the queen of the fairy. The one who survived to death multiple times, she wouldn't let the wind as strong and cold that he could be win against her. So she tried to ignore having goose bumps. Oh Mavis ! she couldn't, she was literally frozening.
" Your resistance to cold is really pitiful "
" As an ice mage your opinion is biased "
He smirked. Yes, she was the one who lighted his mood even when he was lost in his darkness. He finally turned towards her, he was hallucinating. Of course she was freezing.
" You are half naked ! Seriously go inside " There was no anger in his tone only worry.
" When you will, I would like to sleep, so fast please "
" Since when can't you sleep without me ? "
" I'm a light sleeper Grey. I have trouble falling asleep when I'm awaken. So if you could avoid waking me up by coming to sleep now that would be great. "
" all you want " said he while he was opening the bay window for them.
" Any preference for the side ? And don't be ridiculous proposing to sleep elsewhere there is no couch "
" I didn't mean to "
She gasped before closing her mooth, speechless. It was bold.
" Okay Lover boy. I'm glad for you that you still have enough energy to flirt but I don't. Can we sleep now ? "
" I don't care for the side. Just take one and I'll take the other. "
So she did and he switched off the light before joining her. They didn't have sleep in the same bed since years. He loose the habit of sharing bed. Even when he lived with Jubia in this tiny house, both of them had their own bedroom, no matter how many times she tried : first because of envy and then because of the nightmares that make him shout in dead of the night, they didn't sleep together. And usually he never stay sleeping with the women with who he had sex. So once again she was special.
Suddenly he was took out of his thoughts. He could sense her moved a lot. At first he didn't say anything. It was dark and he didn't distinguish nothing much, maybe she was just searching the better position. But he clearly heard chattering theeth, she was not moving she was shivering.
" You cold ? "
" N…No "
" Really ? " He knew sarcasm sounded harsh as he knew she lied to avoid appearing vulnerable and he respected it, but right now she was literally trembling. He turned towards her but only see her back.
" Okay…maybe… a little " She made a pause between each word to catch her shaking breathe.
" Can I touch you ? "
" You rarely asked "
" Yes, cause usually I can read your eyes but I can't right now "
She nodded and he passed his arm around her waist bringing her closer to him. She held back a gasp feeling his hand on her ribes, and his warm breathe on her neck. She turned on herself to put back some distance but he only thighted his grip pressing her against his muscular and bare chest.
Of course he took his shirt off to sleep. She tried to stay composed. Grey. It was only Grey. Just a friend. A very attractive, damn friend. It's okay. Not like if their friendship had never known ambiguous moment. But still, there was a difference between flirt for fun and this situation.
She felt her cheeks burned. But the warmth felt right. His warmth. Unthinkingly, she relaxed and began to be sleepy again. No matter if it was bad. She felt good in his arms.
" Seems you're starting to warm up. Why… wereu… so cold ? " he murmured, with a hoarse voice feeling sleepy.
" Believe or not but a rude guy… force me to catch… him outside to…slee "
She had closed her eyes and her words had fadede more and more as she nuzzled against him, her nose absently brushed his collarbone while she curled up, finally setting her head on his chest one arm laid on him and the other against her. He laid his chin on her head and let his fingers play abstractly with her long soft locks letting her calm breathe drifting him to sleep.