A Forbidden Practice ( Gray x reader)

When the Past Returns

(Y/N POV)

My eyes fluttered open as the sound of my ringtone pulled me out of the grips of sleep. I slightly groaned as I sat up and grabbed my phone. I looked at the number and didn't recognize it. "Hello?" I questioned. "(Y/n)? Is that you?" A deep, familiar voice spoke from the other en of the phone. I froze when it hit me. "D-Dad?"

My voice cracked as I swung my legs over the side of the bed, slightly gripping the sheets. "I know I'm not your favorite person, and neither is your mother, but I-no, we, need you to come back home." He told me. I felt a bitterness wash over me. "After everything, you want me to come back? It's been 4 years since I left- Sorry, since she kicked me out and you did nothing about it. What could you possibly want with me?" The other side of the line was quiet for a moment. "Your mother is sick and it doesn't look good. She wants to see you again." I didn't know what to say. 'Okay,' was all I could muster. "(Y/n)-" He started but I cut him off. "Fine. I will come back and see her. I can probably be there by dinner time.."

I tossed my phone back onto my bedside table and put my head in my hands. 'God, why did I agree to go back... even if it is only for a few days at most..' I thought to myself. I hated that I still cared. "Are you okay?" Gray sat up, his voice raspy from sleep. I didn't look at him. "I don't know." I was fighting the lump in my throat and took a deep breath to collect my thoughts. "What's wrong?" He asked, concern in his voice as he scooted beside me. I stood up and kept my back to him, "I'm r-really sorry Gray, but can you go for now? I" My voice faltered as tears started to form in my eyes. "What? Do you want to talk-" I shook my head and interrupted. "No, please just get out." My voice was slightly raised as tears slipped down my cheeks. With that he left me alone.

A mix of emotions swirled through me as I stepped out of last nights clothes and into the steaming shower. I was dreading seeing them but it needed to be done. I needed to see her again, I wanted things to end on a better note. The fight we had four years ago was still fresh in my mind. I sat on the shower floor, letting the water run over me.

'Get out of my room!' I yelled back at her as I threw clothes into a duffel bag. She stood in my doorway glaring at me with her arms crossed. 'You think you can just yell at me like that? I am your MOTHER!' She put emphasis on mother. Tears clouded my vision. 'You stopped being my mother as soon as I could heat up food in a microwave.' I spat as I zipped up the duffel and pushed past her. 'If you leave the don't even think about coming back!' She yelled as I walked down the hallway. I looked back at her as I opened the door. 'I guess this is goodbye.'

Her words were still sore wounds. I wiped the tears that escaped and cut off the water. In the foggy reflection of the mirror all I could see was her. I've always hated how much I took after her. As I applied my makeup her words all those times still stuck with me.

'Go away, (Y/n), Mommy is going out for the night.'

'Don't touch me with those grubby hands'

'Your dad will be home soon so behave until then.'

I packed my bag with enough outfits to get me through for a few days. As I zipped it up and through it over my shoulder, I looked one last time. The crisp long sleeved button up was neat and tucked into my black pencil skirt without any wrinkles. The black sheer tights hugged my legs. I grimaced because everything about me had her engraved into it.

(Gray POV)

I sighed as I tried to figure out what was wrong with (Y/N). She was obviously upset, and I assume it was because of that phone call. I walked through the streets down to the guild when I passed the boutique (Y/N) worked at. (F/N) was out sweeping the front door step. I figured she might know something.

"Hey, (F/n), can I ask you something?" She looked up from her task and set the broom aside. "Sure, what is it?" She had a bitter note to her voice. "Do you know what's wrong with (Y/N)? She got a call this morning and then kicked me out right after. She seemed pretty upset." I explained. "Yeah, I just got off the phone with her. She likes to deal with things on her own so it's not surprising she kicked you out- wait." She narrowed her eyes at me. "Why were you there so early? Is there something (Y/N) hasn't told me?" I sighed. "I took her home last night because she was a little tipsy  and she asked me to stay over. Now can you tell me why she was so upset?"

"She went back to her home town to visit her mom in the hospital." (F/n) informed me. "I still can't believe she is going back, I can't say I would if I was her." The last part of what she said caught me off guard. "What do you mean?" She gave me a questioning look. "She didn't tell you what her parents did?" I shook my head and (F/n) sighed. "Her dad was an alcoholic and liked to beat on his wife and (Y/N). Her mom on the other hand was never home, apparently she was out with other men."

Everything seemed to make sense. Why she didn't like being alone, the vulnerability she had when I tried to leave, the way she tensed up when I mentioned her mom. "Gray, one more thing... (Y/N) is a good person and she really cares about you. Whether  if it is romantically or just as a friend, be there to comfort her, help her out when she needs it. Just treat her right. She is strong but she can't handle everything by herself. I know you care about her too, I can see it in the way you look at her. I also want you to know that if you hurt her or make her cry, in any way, there will be hell to pay. She has been through enough, don't make it harder on her."

As she turned and walked into the shop, I noticed something on the back of her neck; a guild stamp.