Aria (Gray x OC)

+Eleven+

"Mellodi..." A distant whisper echoed through her groggy mind. "Mellodi." The voice repeated, and she started to feel her body shake back and forth gently. She groaned, growing irritated at the way she felt.

"Mellodi." The voice was suddenly very clear and close.

She blinked, and let out a loud squeal and jumped away from the one who had kept her safe and warm as she slept. She clasped her hands over her mouth as her face reddened.

Gray averted his dark eyes in an odd, shy manner as his cheeks became slightly flushed with embarrassment. "Well..." He trailed, clearly uncomfortable. "Shall we continue?"

"Continue what?!" Mellodi gasped, obviously interpreting the wrong message.

"That's not what I meant!" He quickly retorted as he raised his hands innocently. "The job! The job!"

"O-oh... Yeah, I guess..."

With both mages feeling rather flustered, they put out the fire, gathered their belongings, and continued down the tunnel. Mellodi took off the coat that her companion allowed her to use and gave it back to him, however, he wouldn't take it.

"I don't get cold." He explained. "You can use it." He said with rose-colored cheeks.

She cautiously slipped the coat back onto her body, but was immediately greeted with much-appreciated warmth. "Thanks, Gray."

Upon hearing her say his name, he turned further away as his face took on a brighter shade of red. He didn't understand why his heart was racing so much or why he was embarrassed and flustered; it was all rather new to him. All he could make sense of was that she made him feel this way.

Once he felt his body return to a normal state, he realized the awkward silence between the two of them. Neither was looking at each other, but instead, focused on the ground. Eager to break the uncomfortable atmosphere, Gray spoke.

"What was that song you were singing earlier?"

"Hm?" The girl hummed as though she was just arriving in reality. "Oh, it's a song my mom used to sing to me. I don't know the name or anything." While explaining this, she clutched the coat more tightly.

"It's a really pretty song. I feel like there was a lot more emotion behind it compared to when you usual sing. That's what makes it my favorite from the ones I've heard you sing." He smiled and looked up at the dripping icicles on the ceiling.

Mellodi sighed quietly and smiled, though she seemed deep in thought and distant. "I always feel like she's nearby when I sing that song. It makes me feel safe."

Gray blinked as he digested her words. It was obvious there was something going on regarding her mother, but he didn't know how or what to ask. Instead of remaining on the mysterious topic, he decided to try to lighten her mood and return her to her normal, bubbly personality. He placed an assuring hand on top of her head and ruffled her thick curls. "Don't worry. As long as I'm around, I'll keep you safe." He declared.

Mellodi looked up at the tall boy with shining auburn eyes. "Gray..." She gasped. Then, she giggled happily. "You sound like some kind of hero." She commented jokingly. "What do you want? A kiss or something?" She questioned, tears of laughter budding in her eyes.

"E-eh?!" He remarked, stunned by her bold reaction. "T-that's not what I meant by that at all!"

"Aw..." The girl, still acting mischievous, pouted. "Do you not want me to kiss you? Am I not attractive to you?" She rested a finger on her lower lip like a child. Surely, she was finding his distraught state hilarious.

"I didn't mean that either!" Clearly, the boy was struggling with how to respond. "You're very attractive!"

"Oh, so I am attractive?" Mellodi hummed with a grin.

Gray scratched the back of his head and averted his dark gaze. "I mean, yeah, of course."

She leaned closer. "Oh, really? Then you would like a kiss?"

"I-I..."

Mellodi laughed cheerfully. "I'm just joking with you. You don't have to be so distraught over it." She said and reverted to walking forward, further down the narrow pathway. Before the topic was dropped, she did mutter, "But if that is what you would like, I don't mind."

Gray covered his crimson face with his hands in a defeated manner, finally admitting to himself that that was what he actually wanted.

+---*---+

Finally, the two mages approached where the narrow cavern widened into the center of the volcano. Beneath them, even the lava had frozen, and a chill even colder than anything they had experienced on the island enveloped them. Mellodi rubbed her arms for warmth as Gray appeared unaffected.

"I have no idea what's waiting in there, but be ready for anything." The experienced mage informed.

The girl nodded, her brows knitted together in concentration.

Cautiously, they proceeded onto the frozen surface. Mellodi was careful not to slip, but her companion seemed to walk on the ice effortlessly. Although she was extremely cautious, upon her next step, the ice underneath her feet shattered.

It happened too quickly for her to scream as her breath escaped her. 

But she didn't fall any deeper into the gap that had widened beneath her. She was suspended over a seemingly never-ending abyss, and when she looked up to meet the dark eyes of her savior, Gray was the one that leaned over the edge, clutching onto her slim wrist.

His brows furrowed in concentration as he pulled her back onto the stable ice.  Once she was safe, he released her wrist, only to notice her shaking figure. Her auburn gaze was distant and her knuckles were red due to how tightly she gripped onto the coat.

"Mellodi, are you alright?" The boy asked, concerned.

She slowly nodded. "Y-yeah, it just startled me."

However, Gray wasn't convinced. He calmly wrapped his arms around the scared girl warmly. He then repeated the words he had said earlier that day. "As long as I'm around, I'll keep you safe."

A low, eerie chuckling interrupted them, and a loud voice echoed through the spacious area, mocking them by saying, "How cute..."

The two mages stiffened and began to search frantically for the source of the voice. Rising from the hole where Mellodi had fallen was a young man standing about the same height as Gray, also bearing large muscles and a strong presence. He had tousled, icy blue hair that messily draped his shoulders and a sleeveless gray coat with fur lining. His cocky grin stretched from ear to ear as his black eyes reflected distorted excitement.

"Sorry to interrupt." He shrugged and cackled. "But you're kinda in my way, here."

"You're the one that's behind all this?" Gray asked accusingly, narrowing his eyes as he kept a stern arm around Mellodi.

The young man hummed confidently and tossed his hair over his shoulder. "Quite remarkable work, isn't it? I'm sure you can appreciate it as an Ice Mage yourself." His words seemed bitter as he placed his thumb and index finger on his chin thoughtfully.  "I'll tell ya what else is quite a remarkable work..." He trailed and began to walk towards the two Fairy Tail mages.  With every step, the ice crackled under his feet and seemed to become harder.

He had gotten so close that Gray and Mellodi leaned away to avoid his touch, yet he reached out a hand to the girl.  She braced herself for the worst, but just before he touched her vibrant hair, a shield of ice formed between his hand and her face.

"Don't touch her." Gray growled in a dark, threatening manner that the girl had never heard from him before.

The mysterious man blinked his onyx-colored eyes and redirected his attention to the Ice Mage.  "Don't you tell me what to do." He spat and flung his fist at him.

"Gray!" Mellodi shrieked as he was forced against the rocky wall with a loud thud. This man was particularly strong, and she had a feeling he wasn't even using his magic. 

The man approached Gray with his fists clenched. The girl's friend was still recovering from the initial impact, and wasn't able to escape before the icy-haired boy raised his fist.

She shouted Gray's name again and in a desperate attempt to keep him from getting hit again, she tugged on the air that twisted between her fingers.