Cold Love (Gray Fullbuster x female reader)

Chapter 18 - You will be punished!

(The next day)

I woke before the sun rose and was at the guildhall as soon as possible. No one else is there except for me. I don't even bother to turn the lights on when I sit at the nearest booth to the door a slump down into it until my legs are against the booth across from me. I woke up with the dreadful feeling I felt for a moment yesterday and I have yet to shake it. Thinking about Gray in the middle of an S-Class trial right now sends such an unfamiliar feeling throughout my body that I don't even flinch when the light turns on.

"(Y/N)?" A voice asks that I recognize as Cana. I slowly sit up and turn around. "What are you doing here so early? And in the dark?" She asks.

"Oh, um, I just came to see if Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Happy had made it back yet and once I was here I figured I'd stay for a few minutes just in case." I explain. She walks over and sits in the booth across from me.

"Do you want me to be honest with you?" I shake my head. "If they aren't back by now, I'm sure they are on the island trying to complete the job. I know Gray went there to stop them, but if he hasn't brought them back yet, then they've brought him with them. It might take some time for them to get back and you can't torture yourself like this until he gets back." I don't respond for a minute because she caught me off guard with the 'he gets back.' Does Cana know too? Did someone tell her about Gray and I or did she figure it out on her own?

"I... I know. But it's just so hard not to. I want them to come back safely as soon as possible and I absolutely hate having no idea what's going on. I just can't believe they are so stupid.. ya know..? Why in the world did any of them think they could handle such a thing?" I ramble on while Cana shakes her head and listens intently.

"I understand. But what you have to understand is as much as it sucks you feel that way, right now, it just doesn't matter."

"Cana!! Yes it does!"

"It doesn't matter because it won't make anything happen. You can wallow in this feeling or you can patiently wait for their return. It's up to you how you handle the situation for yourself, but otherwise you just have to let it go until they are back." I sigh  and shake my head. She's right. But I just don't know how.

"Go home and go back to bed. It's basically the middle of the night. You will know he is back the minute he gets here, you know that. But if he takes days to get back and you don't sleep the entire time then you will basically be dead by the time he gets here and then what would the point be?" She chuckles a bit and I join.

"Alright, alright, I'll go. Thank you Cana, really."

"It's not a prob, let's walk back together." She says as we both stand from the booth and leave.

"What were you doing here so early anyways?" I ask.

"Umm.." She scratches the back of her neck. "I heard you leaving and got curious and once I saw you off in the direction of the guildhall I wanted to see what was up!" She laughs awkwardly.

"Oh my goodness Canaaa!" I roll my eyes.

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"I'm assuming you aren't here for an ice pop?" Mira asks as she approaches me. I shake my head. "Why don't you take a small job while you wait for their return? It's not going to do you any good just sitting around and waiting for them." She suggests.

"It's alright. I don't mind waiting." I reply.

"Suit yourself!" She smiles and walks away.

I knew they wouldn't be back when I arrived at the guildhall early this morning but I couldn't stop myself from checking anyways. I didn't sleep much when I went back home but I didn't come back to the guildhall for a while anyway. I don't know what to do with myself while I wait. And if I'm being honest with myself, if I took a job out of town I don't know if I'd be able to stop myself from going to Clover instead to investigate. I don't want to abandon Gray again. I need to make sure he arrives home safely.