Ice-Cold (Gruvia Fairy Tail Fanfic)

Chapter 8: Insensitive

 I feel like I should have updated sooner and I'm really sorry, but this story has been getting more views and now I feel obligated to continue writing. Please enjoy Chapter 8 of Ice-Cold.

Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail.

Sitting in a warm, toasty room while its raining an ocean outside at a large dining table surrounded by welcoming aromas of delightful dishes would sound like heaven on earth to anyone. Even Gray Fullbuster. Just not at the moment.

Gray forced himself to eat the mouthwatering joys, and tried his best to lighten up. But he couldn't bring himself to completely erase the gloom from his expression. Sensing his mood, the Howard family chose to keep quiet all throughout dinner. Gray was so lost in his own miserable thoughts he was absolutely oblivious to the lustful looks Hazel was giving from a few chairs away. Clarissa tried to keep a straight face while serving and eating but she knew something was very wrong. She looked over to her husband, Benjamin. 

The old man was grumpily eating his meal with eloquent manners, but with great difficulty due to his foul mood. Clarissa was losing her patience as well and decided to break the silence.

"Would you care for more tea, Gray?" she asked politely.

It'd been so quiet that the new sound almost hurt Gray's ears. He looked up with a blank expression. "No, I'm good."

Nothing could be further from the truth.

At that moment, Benjamin slammed down his cup from the other end of the table. This shocked both his wife and daughter, whom was broken out of her trance. "Why, Benny, dear! Whatever has gotten in to you?" Clarissa asked, worriedly.

Mr. Howard's hard stare was directly sent towards Gray sitting at the opposite end. "Don't tell me you failed," he spoke in a dark tone.

Gray raised an eyebrow before realization hit him. The job. He was supposed to retrieve that diamond for him. Of course he'd be upset.

"I thought you were a capable wizard!" Mr. Howard's voice was rising. "I thought your guild never went back on their word. What have you got to say for yourself?!"

"Benjamin, you musn't-

Clarissa was cut off by the wizard in question. "You're right. I did fail to complete the mission. I accept that you won't be paying me," Gray didn't know what else to say.

"You bet your sorry hide I won't be paying you!" his client yelled in return. "Daddy!!" Hazel stood up with a horrified expression. "Don't be so hard on the poor man! I'm sure he did his be-

"YOUR BROTHER IS DEAD!!" Mr. Howard yelled at the girl. Hazel was taken back by the outburst until his words settled in.

Clarissa's eyes widened. She put a hand to her mouth in shock. "W-what? What..d-did...you s-say?" At that moment, everyone in the room (including Gray) stared in shock as tears were let loose from the old man's eyes. Mr. Howard continued to speak. "He was in the hospital, as you all know. We were all told he would be fine, but...that wasn't the case. It was only a matter of time and he couldn't continue fighting. I got the news earlier today..." he spoke shakily.

Gray's eyes widened. Clarissa had broken down in tears. Hazel was shaking and crying softly. She then turned and ran out of the room. Gray could hear her sobs getting louder as she ran up into a room and shut the door. He hung his head low because it just felt right at the moment. "I'm sorry for your loss..." Gray said.

After thirty minutes of standing awkwardly in the sorrowful atmosphere, Mr. Howard calmed down and looked at Gray. "I apologize. For my outbursts earlier... I don't know what had gotten into me."