Newt's book of oneshots

After All - Gray Fullbuster

Word Count: 1187

Paring: Gray Fullbuster x gn! reader

Summary: Y/n's love obsessed Guildmate sets them up on a blind date, little did either one know that the date was Y/n's childhood friend that they thought died ten years ago.

A/n: Hello all, this is my submission for the weekly prompt in the X reader community that i'm in over on tumblr, this week's prompt being 'blind date'. I also took inspiration from the song 'After All' by Cher and Peter Cetera. This song was my parents' wedding song and it holds a special place in my heart so I recommend listening to it if you haven't heard it before. Anyway, i hope you enjoy and as always remember to hydrate or diedrate.

When I was eight my village was attacked by a demon from the book of Zeref, that demon was Deliora. For the past ten years I believed that I was the only survivor of the attack. I had lost both my parents and all of my friends. After that day I made my way across fiore and eventually learned plant magic from an elderly wizard. Having mastered the magic, I joined a wizard guild and made new friends, who eventually became like family to me. I specifically joined Lamia Scale. Everyone in the guild was quite the character, but that's what made the guild fun.

A few weeks ago Lyon and a few others had been sent out on a joint mission with three other guilds. Upon their return, Sherry made it her mission to try and set me up with one of the wizards they had worked with.

"Come on Y/n, you and him would be perfect for each other." She said once again trying to convince me to meet this mysterious wizard. "Lyon, tell them. You know Gray better than anyone, wouldn't Y/n and him be perfect together."

It was the first time I had heard the name of the poor wizard Sherry was trying to set me up with, and it caused me to freeze in my spot. I thought for a moment ignoring the two wizards as Lyon argued that he did not care about Sherry's stupid plan. It had to just be a coincidence that his name was Gray, after all my childhood friend died the night Deliora attacked. There was no way it could be the same person. Unless he survived somehow? My train of thought was interrupted by Sherry turning her attention back to me.

"Hey, Y/n, are you even listening to me?" She waved her hand in front of my face. "What are you thinking about that has you so spaced out?" She asked.

Shaking my head I debated my answer. "Just thinking about an old friend." I said with a sad smile. "But maybe you're right I should give this Gray guy a chance." I finished, earning a bright smile from the pinkette.

"Great, I'll send him a letter and set up a time for you guys to meet." She said, failing to hold back a squeal.

As Sherry ran off to set up this blind date, I looked over at Lyon. "So you know this Gray guy, what is he like?" I asked hoping the Ice wizard would have some answers for me.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "He's stubborn, but cares for his friends. Gray would risk his life for those he cares about." Lyon went on to talk about how they had been taught Ice make magic by the same person and how after she died they stopped talking for a while. I just listened, wanting to learn what I could about this person I had agreed to go on a blind date with. After all Sherry didn't really tell me much about him other than the fact that he was attractive and knew Lyon.

Time skip

It had been a few weeks since I agreed to this blind date, and Sherry just told me that my date agreed to it. She told me when and where to meet him and that's how I ended up here. Standing in the doorway of a small restaurant in the heart of Magnolia, frozen in place. I had agreed to this thinking that it couldn't hurt to make friends in other guilds. What I didn't expect was to see my best friend who I thought had been dead for the last ten years sitting at a table clearly waiting for someone. Sure it has been ten years, but he looked almost the exact same, only he was taller and looked more mature. But what really told me it was him was the look of shock on his face when he made eye contact with me.

After working through the first wave of shock, I moved closer to the table he was sitting at. "Hey, long time not see." I said with a slight laugh, hoping to keep the mood light.

He chuckled at my greeting. "Yeah, ten years is a pretty long time." His voice was deeper but I could still recognise it from the time we played together as children. "So, you want to sit and we can catch up?" Gray asked, raising his brow, gesturing to the chair across from him.

"Sounds good." I answered while sitting down.

After ordering food, we sat and talked about everything that has happened over the last ten years. How after Ure sealed Deliora, he joined Fairy Tail; how I learned plant magic and joined Lamia Scale. Once our food was finished, we left the restaurant and continued catching up while walking around Magnolia.

"So you're telling me you reunited with Lyon, simply because Natsu was an idiot and stole an S-class job request?" I clarified, holding in a laugh.

Gray nodded. "Yeah, Gramps sent me after him to try and stop him before Erza got back. But the stupid flame brain knocked me out and dragged me along." He explained. "But I guess I should thank him, if he hadn't I probably wouldn't have been able to reunite with you." The soft smile on Gray's face made my heart swell.

Returning the smile, I nodded. "Yeah I guess we both should thank him." I responded before looking down at my feet. "You know, I really thought I lost you. That night after Deliora had moved on from the Village I looked for you, but all I found was the burning collapsed remains of your house. I suppose had I looked more I might have found you, but I just thought you were another one of the many people I lost that night." I explained, fighting back tears.

Gray stopped, grabbing my wrist and turning me to face him. "I thought I lost you as well. The reason Ure had to use Ice shell on Deliora is because I went after him. I was stupid and wanted to get revenge for all the people he took from me." He began to explain. "That includes you. Sure we were only eight but I believed we would be together forever and in one night that dream was crushed. I lost you and I wanted revenge. But here you are, alive." I could tell he was serious, after all Lyon had told me that Gray had been extremely closed off with his emotions. "I know we lost ten years but maybe we can try to build something new?" The question caught me off guard, well the question plus the cool hand that was resting on my cheek.

I reached up resting my hand on his before nodding. "I would like that a lot." I said with a bright smile. I wasn't sure what would happen from here, but what I did know for sure was that Gray was going to be by my side through it all.