Worth the Wait

December 15, X783

Gray dropped his head in disappointment just after Makarov announced the names for the S-Class trial. Once again, Cana was called, as were others. And once again, both Gray and Natsu were passed over.

Gray felt frustrated, but he accepted the decision. He was young, after all. He still had his own personal demons to work out. He heard Natsu yelling at Makarov about not being chosen, and others added in their own arguments on why they felt they should be considered. None were heeded, and Natsu only earned a giant-sized fist to hammer him into the floor.

Gray shook his head at the idiot Dragon Slayer and turned to leave. Right then, all he wanted was to go home and brood a bit. However, he saw Loke standing right behind him.

"Thanks anyway for volunteering," Gray muttered to him.

Loke put a hand on his shoulder, and the gaze behind his blue-tinted glasses was firm and serious. "That promise is still good. If not this year, then the next, or the next after that. However long it takes, I'll be there to help you. I promise."

Gray's mouth dropped a little. He wanted to thank Loke, maybe offer to buy him some ramen, take him out drinking, perhaps just spend a day together so they could come to know one another better. He even wanted to offer him the chance to do a mission together while the others were off at the trial. He was about to speak when one of Loke's floozy beauties sauntered up and slithered her arms around the ginger-haired man.

"Loke-kuuuuun," she said seductively with a doe-eyed pout. "It's cold outside."

Gray rolled his eyes slightly. With the mini skirt and midriff blouse the lady wore, of course she would be cold. Those fishnet stockings probably did nothing to warm her legs, and it was a miracle she managed to walk anywhere in stilettos, let alone plod around in two feet of snow. It was an outfit meant for seduction... not that much was needed to catch Loke's eye.

Loke's personality instantly changed. His face shined, his eyes squinted into a fake smile, and he held the woman's arm a little too familiarly. "Baby, with me around, you'll never have to worry about the chill. I'm always hot and ready to cuddle. Let's find a cafe with a warm fireplace, a bottle of wine, and a night for just us." He began to lead the woman away, but he gave one last deep look at Gray, a smile meant for him alone.

The Ice-Make mage could have sworn that Loke looked... sad. And tired. Immensely tired, although the shades hid the bags under his eyes. In fact, he was looking far too weary these days, almost like he was getting sick. Gray worried about him.

Before he could make up his mind about what to do, Natsu recovered from Makarov's hit and decided to take his frustration out on Gray. He began with insults, getting right up into Gray's face, taunting him. The rest of the guild chuckled and shook their heads, but Gray sighed that he was once again about to be dragged into a fight.

"I'm not in the mood for this shit," he grumbled. He left Natsu, ignoring shouts that Gray was a coward who knew he could not win against the almighty Salamander. How could this brat be about the same age as him?

Gray stepped out into the snow, took a deep breath, and watched the smoke puff out from his mouth. He loved winter, but it reminded him of so much sadness. Gray pulled out a cigarette, lit it up, and took a long drag. He liked the look of cigarette smoke rings mixed with his own wintry breath. It distracted him from grim thoughts and memories of Ur and Lyon. Then he turned, listened to the muted crunch of his boots on packed snow, and began the long trek to his home.