Of Fire and Ice

C.26

The next day I fixed myself up, put on a straight face, and went to Fairy Tail. I attracted quite a lot of attention on the streets, wearing tight black shorts and a skin tight black crop top and ripped black tights and my boots. My makeup was dark, and my hair hanging in the same old loose waves.

I entered the guild hall and went up to the bar. I sat down and flashed a smirk to Mira.

"Henley? You look different." She said, coming around with a beer for me. "You like? I've had a change of heart." I smiled, kicking my feet back and forth excitedly. "You look dangerous." She said, actually looking kinda worried. "Good." I smirked and let out a laugh.

"Henley, what happened to you?!" Lucy squealed as she came up with Ari, Happy, and Natsu. "Well... I've had a revelation." I nodded. "Mind sharing?" Natsu asked, his voice a little squeaky.

"Sure! I'd love to! It's kinda about what Grey said yesterday. I'm a monster that manipulates people into liking me? Well, he got that idea off of Ari, right? So he's not the only one who thinks it, right?" I said and it was oddly silent in the hall.

"What was it you called me, Ari? A psychopath? A pathological liar? Sociopath? A monster?" I stared at her and Ari stared back with wide eyes.

"Well, my thought was that you two aren't the only ones who think it. I mean, our whole team saw me wipe out that one dark guild alone. They're all dead now, that guild doesn't exist! So there's at least six who think I'm some sort of monster, right?" I said and the four exchanged nervous glances.

"And wasn't it the same six who convinced me that this guild would be understanding of me? That no one would judge me in any way?!" I stood up, now spotting Erza and Grey across the room. "Wasn't it you guys who told me I wasn't a monster in the first place?!" I said and the whole guild was listening in.

"So did you all change your minds randomly, or was there some conference or discussion that you six left me out on to talk about me BEHIND MY BACK?!" I shouted, he silence echoing throughout the hall.

"So my revelation is, if I really am a monster according to you all, I have to look the part, don't I?" I said, downing the last bit of beer and walked to the door. "You all sicken me." I said before I left.

........................................
GREY'S P.O.V.

"Guys, she's right. This is our fault." Lucy said, tears now in her eyes. "It isn't our fault! It's Grey's fault!" Natsu said and I stood up. "How exactly is it my fault?!" I asked.

"You're the one who got jealous! You didn't listen to everything I had to say! You're the one who started fighting and yelling at her at the train station! You're the one who called her a monster!" Natsu said and I stormed over to him.

"Grey, your clothes." Lucy said and I shot her a look. "I don't care that I'm naked right now! Natsu, we all agreed after she murdered that guild that something was wrong with her! We all heard her say it! Murder doesn't bother her anymore!" I said.

"This is such a complicated argument. Grey, just because murder and killing doesn't bother her doesn't make her a monster. And we said something was wrong with her and we would stay by her side through this. We never said she was a monster." Erza said.

"I don't see a difference." I huffed and she hit me over my head. "You pushed her over the edge! This is your fault! If you don't go and make up with Henley, I will give you the worst beating of your life!" Erza shouted in my face.

I was going to argue until there was a wail. "It's my fault too! I said all those things about her!" Ari cried. "See? It's not only my fault!" I said and this time Natsu hit me. "No, but it's mainly your fault! You never listen to me!" He groaned.

"Fine! I'm listening now, what?!" I groaned. "She doesn't love you because she feels it's too early in your relationship to say so. She still cares about you deeply and, and I quote 'all that romantic shit'." Natsu said and I calmed down suddenly.

"Oh yeah, we've talked about that. She's kinda old fashioned that way. She doesn't want to say it too early and scare off the dude." Lucy nodded. "Yeah, she thinks the relationship should at least be six months old before the 'I love you's." Ari said. "Yeah, that's how long it would take to know you love someone in her mind." Lucy agreed.

"There was this saying she liked. 'It takes a few minutes to develop a friend, a few days for an attraction, a few weeks for a crush, and months for love, but years for a life partner.'" Ari recited.

I sighed and hung my head. "Guess I gotta go talk to her, huh?" I sighed and when they all nodded, I turned and left as well.