Misunderstandings

Disclaimer - I don't own Fairy Tail. I don't own the art either! It's by the beautiful and amazing "milady666"

Summary - "It was all part of a misunderstanding, a big and complex misunderstanding which tangled both of them into a messy situation. It was bad enough to the point of no-return." A GrayLu two-shot.

Genre - Romance/Angst

Beta-read by - Nora57. A big thanks to her!

Note - Updated as of 01-05-2015. The old ver. was horrible, so many mistakes. Due to popular demand and for my satisfaction, I am happy to announce that another fic with an alternative end will be up soon. Thanks for the response, guys. It was very motivational

Chapter 1

The Withering Flower

If anyone thinks that the ice maker isn't interested in romance, is gay or just doesn't care, they are wrong. For he has one, a ray of sunshine - the naive newcomer. True, at first he thought she was just cute, a little sexy but nothing special. Oh, how greatly he has had underestimated her. He gives her a few weeks to see what she is made off, and she blows him away. For, he is already smitten. The female mage whom he likes to refer as,

"Cruel Beauty..."

At first, he thinks that he may be just into her body. After-all she is very attractive and hot - makes him drool. No, he is not a pervert from any angle... okay, maybe a little but nothing extreme. As he spends more time with her, he realizes how relaxed he feels around her; how his mundane days become better than ever just by sharing a seemingly simplistic but amazingly enjoyable conversations with her. She has the power to enlighten his entire world with just one simple but precious smile - The smile for which he was willing to sacrifice his everything.

The question is, why exactly does the cruel beauty not realize it? Okay, cruel might be an exaggeration, but it is true that she is dense. Too dense as compared to what one would expect from her. She is intelligent and has always proved to be. He even trusts her in this aspect and even depends on her brains during their missions. In-fact, everyone does and secretly, he is proud of her. Remember the time when they had to catch a golden nightingale, and the team had no idea how to? Well, she did. She devised such a plan that it worked and they even got a bonus for fulfilling the requirements in a short while! That was amazing. He couldn't help but pat her head (he saw Erza doing it) and she giggled. That giggle was... Wait- no this is going in another direction.

What he wants to say is, why an overly smart woman like her can't read his feelings and emotions?

True, he has not straightforwardly revealed his affections for the adorable creature (whom he wants to whisper words of love, make love till death and never let go) but hey, he has been dropping hints properly!

Gray's Hints

.

- Always ensuring that he is the only one to stand besides her (and not as much around others) so that he can watch over her from behind. Too bad, flame-brain steals the privilege from him at the crucial moments. Sometimes, circumstances lead them to be separated. Anyways, he doesn't want to come off clingy, but still when the blonde is in the company of another man, he feels veins popping out of his forehead, and he succeeds in hiding them. Being a calm and collected guy he is, he acts cool but only he knows about his heart. Now, who is at fault? It's obviously not him, right?

- Making sure that the blonde is in perfect condition, even if he has to stalk her stealthily (while making sure no one finds him out) in order to make sure of her security. Protecting her silently, enjoying the unexpected eye-contacts (but never showing any of it) All of it are proper hints, you know!

- Moreover, protecting her smile by dropping mystery presents at home. No way even in her dreams, Lucy would find out that the person she refers excitedly as her secret admirer to him, is actually the person standing in front of her. Then she gives him sweetest and the most adorable smile ever and he thinks, why has the earth not exploded already? He finds his mind and heart floating to the heights of the sky but he would not dare reveal it.

Wait, doesn't that mean... He sucks at providing hints? Whatever.

.

The truth is - no matter how much he tries to earn her company, she automatically spends more time with the pinkette due to them being best friends (he cringes at the thought. why is it not to him. It's another thing he is grateful to the dragon slayer for bringing her to him- to the guild) How carelessly the flame-breather visits her apartment, how they know about each other's secrets. It all makes him jealous, it hurts yet surprisingly he can cool down these feelings quickly.

"Maybe it's due to him being a gifted ice mage?" he laughs pathetically at his silly pun.

The fire-brain is always around her, grinning and showing off his goofy smile. The only thing which has kept him in control is, she likes the idiot's company. Otherwise he would have dealt with the fire mage a long time ago. She even blushes around him at times, and this stings the ice maker's heart.

The porcelain cheeks don't give him the pleasure.

.

And thus times move on. Sad times come, but so happy day, and he is still living somehow. All of these moments bring him to the present day. Seemingly average, but something might just happen, something which is going to bring drastic changes to his life. Whether it's for better or worse, that's up to him.

/.\

Today is a lazy morning, the day seems slow and lethargic . It's summer, after-all. He arrives in the guild as he yawns in and out. His keen ears happen to hear the dreadful rumors involving a pair of bratty twin spirits, her and him. he has a heart-attack ... Apparently, they have revealed his skillfully masked feelings towards the blonde... almost. Suddenly the slow time seems to pick up its pace. The night is going to be hell-ish. He is going to think out strange thoughts, maybe unable to even get a wink.

The result - he forgets to put on his pants the entire day, leaving him with his underwear only. The others laugh and feels the embarrrassment.

.

But still this is not all to it. For today is the day, he is going to face her once and for all. He has made up his mind.

.

His heart is thumping hard as he catches her sight. Blushing a crimson red, she makes the butterflies fly all around within his stomach with her obvious "I-am-confused-because-a-guy-is-interested-in-me-and-I-don't-know-what-to-do" symptoms. This much is clear even to him from her robotic style of walking and dozing off..

He is starting to expect something from her, maybe she loves him as intensely as he does. Just the thought of it is so engrossing that he spends the day daydreaming - in his boxers (Because the awkwardly behaving blonde was making the room a bit too hot). As he is busy in comparing her smooth, silky hair to the beautiful orange-red sun setting beyond the peachy horizon, she calls his name in a whimpered tone and he freaks out. Wanting to talk somewhere in secret (or so she had told him) they start to take quiet steps. He feels that he is going to explode from inside and the reason of his death will be none other than the not-so-innocent woman - Lucy Heartfilia. The ice comes in handy and he was back to his usual self in a matter of ten seconds.

She is standing nervous right before his eyes, hands twitching and breath out of place.

"Gray... "

His heart rises like a sun as he breathed in and sinks as he breathed out. She is gazing intently at him, cheeks flushed and her stare piercing right through his heart. He swallows his saliva as he makes an attempt to part his lips. He is going to say it. This is the moment. Everything is perfect. She is going to be his, that is, as long as she feels the same towards him. The lump in his neck moves upward as he glances at her one moment and at the ground the next moment.

"T-there is... no way... that gemini is true, right... ?" She whispers.

Rolling her eyes in embarrassment, playing with her hair, glancing at him with such nervousness as her voice disappears. And so, the mirror which reflects her image in his mind, cracks.

"I mean, it's you... we are talking about. You and I... are just friends... right?" She laughs nervously, trying to meet the ends of her fingers.

He feels empty. Suddenly, he feels another emotion, and he thinks it's right - the urge to meet her expectations. He always has, he always will. This is the reason he is better than the flame mage, right? He is more compromising him, more faithful, more gentle; he is going to prove it once for all.

The countless images of her time spent with his eternal rival start passing through his eyes. She is always laughing, beaming, around him. They give off a couple-like aura and even get teased by the guildmates for it. It stings him but he hides it behind a cool demeanor. Yeah, he always has. There's no way he can say it to her. The statement of her makes him feel that she doesn't feel anything for him. It is just him all along, raising stupid expectations which will never be answered.

"No." Something inside him screams out. " Don't give up. Grab her tight. Make her say... Look at me! Feel me! I am in love with you... you dimwit! How can you be so bright and slow at the same time?

"How can you be... you..."

He breaks. Something within him breaks. The world breaks as well. Everything does. And he doesn't give a damn to it.

"Please, Never stop being you..." He whispers, and she is unable to hear, giving him a quizzical look. He feels pathetic.

And then he lied, noncholantly and coolly - just like he does all the time and he was satisfied with the perfect lie. Now she can rest in peace and rush off to her home calmly. Leaving him all alone in the dark.

Yeah... we are friends. Always will be, nothing more. Nothing less."

Lonely. pathetic. heartbroken - a puppet of her expectations.

.

Then something happens. Maybe, it is just him but he sees her and notices. Notices how the facial expressions gradually turn bitter as she lightly bites her lower li[ - No, it must be just him. Afterall, does she not love that fire freak? He wants to hold her, tell her that he loves him much more than she can imagine, more than the moon which is craving for the sun; more than the sky which cares for the earth...

More than the fire rising towards the stars.

Being selfish and forceful to her, the woman of his dreams, is something he will never even think of. He loves her truly, so he doesn't want to come off annoying and demanding. He wants to respect her choice, her decisions. To him, that's the most important thing.

"Is t-that so... That's how it would be right... I am such an idiot... Looks like I was worrying about some stupid problems..."

He sees her face darken for a moment, it is him restless. Maybe he is wrong, maybe she does feel something - Faint hopes submerge deep within his heart.

"I-"

"Yes, we are just friends in the end and will forever be... Good friends."

She looks at him, and grimaces. He can only awe at her, mesmerized as he makes a vague choice at a wrong moment. It's something which he will willingly regret forever. She walks away, as he finds himself unable to take off his eyes from her. He extends his hand, a little more and he would grab the light - his light. But it fades away, leaving him vulnerable.

He sees a carefree fire dragon slayer exiting the guild just in the meantime - it's the worst. He managed to catch the sight of the female mage, who has broken into a dash now as her figure disappears far head. He looks at him with concern and worry.

"Gray, what happened to Lucy?"

He is pissing him off, why was he here anyways? Just because he is better at stating his care for his comrades? Nonsense. Was he going to add salt to his wounds, make fun of him?

"None of your concern!"

He comes off angry but this is not his intention.

"You... It was you right?... Bastard!"

He jumps at him, clenching his fist.

"Answer me, Gray!"

But he can't answer, what he can say anyway? That he is the reason, she isn't his? That it is his fault that she loves the fire bastard whom he is beginning to loathe by now? What? He doesnt understand anything, and he doesn't want to. He can't see anything.

"Lo-"

"She was crying!"

His eyes widen as he looks at the halted fist right before his very eyes. He must be joking, the guy must be annoying him as he alway does, he thought.

"No I didn't... idiot... She was laughing just a minute ago!"

Yeah it is him who is hurt the most, it's only him and no one else.

"I could smell it, the smell of tears. You made her cry... bastard!"

'Wait- s-she is crying?... But why would she-'

His mind is so occupied that he froze on his feet. Before he could react, a punch lands on his face, knocking him to the ground.

His heart aches as the pinkette gives him a furious look and leaves him alone, running ahead to check up on their mutual friend and possible crush. He stands still, feeling the cold breeze as the nightmare continued. His body which can tolerate the coldest climate, isn't able to handle mild weather. He is an emotional mess right now and it is affecting him badly.

"Just what was that...? Lucy... why would she cry?"

A moment of hysteria, as he chuckles beneath the wide yet strikingly lonely sky. The mere chuckles turned into loud laughters as he veiled his face with his arm.

"It must be because, she felt sorry for me. It would always be Natsu, I know...Damn it!"

Laughter reduced into groans as he finds his eyes dampening.

"There is no way she would choose me..."

No, I have to confirm it. I need to see it with my own eyes, or else I would regret it a lot.

So he ran as fast as he could, he has had an idea where he would find her. Whenever the blonde gets sad, she is at the park. He knows. He needs to say sorry to her, for being foolish, for being prideful. He reaches there, only to find the blonde hugging the dragon slayer behind a tree. He can't see her face, nor does he want to. Not because it is lovely anymore, because it will start hurting even more than it already does.

"Looks like I am... unneeded..."He chuckles painfully.

So he silently head backs, like the lone star he is. And now he knows one thing for sure - It hurts to love her but he loves the hurt.

.

Although it took a long time, but he has already recovered over it. His heart has been scarred, and there is a forever emptiness which only she can heal but he knows, it won't happen. Since that day, she has been even more close to that annoying rival of his, and his chest tightens.

"Like they were already not inseparable..."

He has already learnt to hide his emotions even better now, forcing a seemingly genuine smile and being hurt inside is common thing for him now. Waking up. Lying. Sleeping, he has gotten tired of the same routine, but he is living through it. She has grown distance, and he has taken her example - He has become aloof to her.

Even if they interact, it is not the same. Her smiles around him are just obligatory, and this upsets him. To pre

vent it, he spends more time with the water mage so that she doesn't have to force herself. She hates him and yet, he can't help but want her happiness. He can't bear to go through the same process, that day is the last thing he want to remember about but it keeps haunting him. He will do anything for her joys and hers alone. Because she is his true love, even if she doesn't want to be with him anymore.

"Because she is special..."

/.\

Gray puts his hands in his pockets, as he turns to the counter. Requesting a strawberry shake from the silver-haired barmaid, he slides his fingers back in. For some reason, he has had a bad feeling about the day since the morning. So far everything has been going okay, so he sighs in relief. Just in the meantime, the oldest take over sibling emerges and gives him his shake, smiling warmly. He grabs it and moves to the nearest available table, where the water mage had already seated comfortably.

Staring at him excitedly, she smiles as he takes a seat next to her. He greets her, chuckling as he takes a sip through the straw. Glancing at her and seeing her face over cloud nine, he frowns. Just in the meantime, everyone starts whistling at how both of them are looking like a couple and she faints from a nosebleed. He supports her, helping her by pulling back and the reactions only get intense. He quickly lets go of her, and gets back to his seat. A voice reached his ears, how he should already make her his girlfriend and he grits his teeth.

He has had enough of it, he is again being forced to form a relationship with her when he sees the water mage only as a friend. It's always like this, no one cares about his opinion, he can't keep her happy if he doesn't see her as a woman and yet... But as time flows by, he has learned to shrug it off.

As they settle down into a random conversation, the door opens and so, the magical woman enters. He quickly turns away, peeking at her as unnoticably as he could. To his surprise, they have an unexpected eye contact and the world around him turns silent, the air thickens. He wants to turn away but at the same time, deep somewhere in his heart, he wants to treasure this subtle yet sweet moment. So he beams at her, and not just his ordinary smirk.

.

Come to think of it, just how long has it been since he has felt this good?

.

He forgets to breath because it is not just one of her ordinary or fake ones, but a genuine smile - What he likes to call "Lucy-like smile" and it mysteriously soothes the wounded being.

Just how long has it been since she has shone this brightly? Inside his mind, he is jumping with joy but outside, he is as calm as ever. He arches his neck back, trying to get his attention away and hide his flustered reaction. He finds the best solution is to talk with the rain woman so that his idiotic mind can stop exaggerating such a pointless moment.

As he leans in, his keen ears hear a particular noise, something he had never liked even once in his life and will forever hate. Teasy screams and noise started to rise off once again, making his heart rate decrease by leaps and bounds. As his eyes travel all the way to the hinted scene in anxiousness, he find something which utterly breaks his heart.

.

For a moment, he finds the world around him spinning in circles as his minds turns hazy.

For a moment, he wants to stand out and shout loudly to attract everyones' attention to him, because the blonde is hugging the pinkette and not him.

For a moment, he wants to jerk the hand place on her shoulder away, and scream that he loves her for God's sake and she needs to look at him properly.

.

but he can't do it, he can't do anything.

For she is shining for the dragon slayer right now and not for his sake. All of his dreams and hopes shatter into an empty space, as he found his eyes darting back and forth.

"Getting excited just for a smile... Idiot... I am an idiot..."

He finds something in his chest dying as gave in to the slayer, someone whom he hated to lose. Not because, he was his rival but to protect the smile which she passed to him a while ago.

"There is no way... she would be mine..."

So he decorates his face with a smile, continuing the so-called romantic talk with the blue-haired woman who has been calling out to him for a while now. Another act, another lie, another drama and it's all for her. Something desirable, something alluring, something intoxicating and yet all along, unreachable - That's her, that's his Lucy. At least in his dreams, she can be his... he likes the idea of it.

.

Because she is the withering flower, which he wanted to mend by pouring his icy water on, but was scared that he might accidentally break it by applying too much force. Now the flower was blooming, but not by his hands but another person. So he will swallow all of it - His pride, his love, his mistakes, how badly he wants her...

And he will forever remember it as,

.

"He fell in love with an angelic devil,

.

.

.

and is paying the price right now..."

...

(It's not the end yet...)

Writer's Corner

First time I have ever written this genre so I wasn't expecting such positive response, neither I deserve it. I don't know... thank you so much for the kind review! But yeah, this story sucks cuz the Gray in it is kinda stupid. Run after her, you idiot. So what if she is kissing Natsu? Make her turn your way, say you love her, you idiot. Lol I feel like rambling xD

no doubt I had to write alternative ending.