Frost and Iron: Gajeel x black oc

Stripping Down and Brotherly Bonds

Chapter 3: Stripped Down and Brotherly Bonds

By mid-afternoon, the excitement from the earlier fight had simmered down, and Aislyn found herself wandering around the Fairy Tail guildhall, trying to shake off the tension from the upcoming mission. The humid air had started to stick to her skin, making her shift uncomfortably in her clothes. The heat always seemed to get to her, and without even thinking, her hands reached for the hem of her tank top.

"Ugh," she muttered, lifting the fabric over her head and tossing it aside, revealing her toned stomach, her belly piercing catching the light as it glittered above the waistband of her combat pants. The black sports bra underneath clung to her, but at least it gave her a bit more freedom to breathe.

Gray, who had been lounging nearby, caught sight of the movement and snorted. "You really have no shame, do you?" He, too, was shirtless—though at this point it was hardly noticeable, given that his habit of stripping was just as infamous as his magic.

Aislyn smirked, running her fingers over her septum ring absently, something she did whenever she was lost in thought. "You can talk, Gray. Every time I look at you, you've lost more clothes. At least I keep my pants on most of the time."

Gray rolled his eyes, leaning against the bar. "Fair point. But it's different when I do it. You just started taking off your clothes in the middle of the guild like it's nothing."

Aislyn shrugged, adjusting her hair—this time she had gone for tight braids that fell neatly down her back. "I like to be comfortable, and this place is a sauna. Plus, it's not like anyone here hasn't seen worse."

Gray laughed softly, shaking his head. "Yeah, okay. Maybe you're right. But people are starting to notice, especially when it's synchronized stripping. It's bad enough that people confuse me for you sometimes."

Aislyn gave him a sideways glance. "Confuse me with you? You wish." She poked him lightly in the ribs, her fingers brushing against his bare skin. "I'm at least twice as good-looking."

Gray snorted, but there was an undeniable affection in the way he looked at her. They hadn't known each other long, but in the chaos of Fairy Tail, it didn't take long for bonds to form—and there was something familiar about their constant stripping habits that had forged an unspoken sibling-like bond between them.

"You ever get tired of it?" Gray asked suddenly, catching her off guard.

"Tired of what? Being half-naked?"

"No," Gray chuckled. "Tired of running from your past. You seem like you've been carrying something heavy for a while."

Aislyn froze for a second, the smirk slipping from her face, but she quickly masked it with a shrug. "We've all got skeletons, Gray. Some of us are just better at ignoring them."

He didn't push her, though. That was the thing about Gray—he was blunt and straightforward, but he wasn't the type to pry when someone wasn't ready to talk. Instead, he nudged her with his shoulder, giving her a mischievous grin.

"Well, if you're gonna stick around, you better get used to being part of this crazy family. Shirt on or off, we've got your back."

Aislyn felt a warmth in her chest she wasn't used to—family. That was something she hadn't allowed herself to think about in years. Not since Glaciara disappeared. Not since she had started wandering, always on her own.

But Fairy Tail... this place was different.

"Thanks," she said quietly, and before the moment could get too serious, she gave him a mock glare. "But you better find your damn shirt. You're making me look bad."

Gray chuckled, looking down at his bare chest as if noticing for the first time that his shirt was, once again, missing. "Damn it! Where did I even put it?"

Aislyn burst out laughing, and Gray joined in, the sound of their shared laughter filling the air. The easy, light moment was exactly what she needed, a break from the weight she constantly felt pressing down on her.

A little later, as Aislyn was sitting at the bar, leaning back with her arms stretched out, she heard heavy footsteps approaching. She didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"You ready, Ice Queen?" Gajeel's voice was low and gravely, the usual smirk present in his tone.

Aislyn glanced over her shoulder, her expression impassive. "I was born ready, Ironhead."

Gajeel's eyes flicked down to her bare midriff and the gleaming belly piercing she so casually flaunted. "You gonna fight like that?" he asked, his tone half teasing, half challenging.

"Why? Worried you won't be able to keep up?" Aislyn shot back, turning fully to face him now. She grabbed her discarded tank top from where it had landed earlier, but didn't bother putting it back on.

"Nah," Gajeel grunted, crossing his arms over his chest. "Just don't want you to whine when your pretty jewelry gets smashed in battle."

Aislyn rolled her eyes, pulling her top back on but leaving it rolled up just above her belly button, still showing off the piercing. "I'll be fine. Can't say the same for you, though. Hope you brought your best game."

Before Gajeel could respond, Erza appeared, her imposing presence cutting through the casual banter like a sword. "I hope you two are ready," she said, her expression serious. "The mission is urgent. Makarov wouldn't have sent you both if it wasn't important."

Aislyn's playful smirk faded, and she nodded. "Yeah. What's the full story?"

Erza handed her a rolled-up scroll, her eyes sharp. "There's a dark guild up north, near the mountains. We've been getting reports that they've been specifically targeting Dragon Slayers. It's unclear why, but their methods are dangerous. Makarov wants you two to investigate, neutralize the threat if possible, and report back."

"Dragon Slayers, huh?" Gajeel's jaw clenched slightly, his playful tone now replaced with a more serious edge. "Sounds like they're asking for trouble."

Aislyn felt a familiar knot twist in her stomach at the mention of Dragon Slayers being targeted. Memories of Glaciara, her dragon mother, and the mysterious enemies she had always warned her about flooded back to her mind, but she pushed them aside. "What kind of methods are we talking about?" she asked.

Erza's expression darkened. "They've been using some kind of advanced magic to drain Dragon Slayers of their power. We don't know the full details, but it's possible they're trying to harness Dragon Slayer magic for their own purposes."

Aislyn exchanged a glance with Gajeel, the seriousness of the situation sinking in.

"We'll take care of it," Aislyn said, her voice steady, though inside, her mind was racing. Whoever these people were, they sounded dangerous. And if they were specifically targeting Dragon Slayers... it meant this could get personal, fast.

Gajeel cracked his knuckles, his usual smirk returning. "Sounds like a good time to bash some heads in. Let's go, Ice Queen."

Aislyn stood, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Lead the way, Ironhead."