Trail of a Fairy

27. Father

Nashi walked into the guild proudly — his chest pumped up and his neck warm. The scarf fell neatly over his shoulder. He loved the way it felt — so soft, so warm. And safe. It was his scarf — the second scarf. And Nashi couldn't help but grin as he walked up to his friends.

"Gael! Freyr! Nayeli!" He called.

The children looked up and waved at him. He sped up; crossing the guild's hall in less than a second. All of his friend were sitting at the table except for Subaru. She was off on a job with a new person. But everyone else welcomed Nashi just as warmly as she would — without the armored hugs.

"Nashi!" Gael beamed. "You got a scarf!"

"Wow!" Nayeli gasped. "Where'd you get it?"

"Aye!" Freyr grinned.

Nashi felt his smile grow wider as he answered. "My mom. My mom made it for me."

The children paused — not quite sure what to make of his answer. Freyr titled his head in confusion — completely forgetting the fish between his paws. Nayeli sat back in her chair. She slumped down; in surprise or awkwardness no one could completely tell. But Gael kept her smile. It wasn't the wide smile of a child. It was a smaller, understanding smile.

"That's great, Nash."

The children looked up at the man who had spoken. Tossing his shirt on the floor, Gray sat next to his daughter. As soon as he was seated, Gael leaned into him. She felt him chuckle as he continued to talk.

"So. The flame brain finally finished it. Damn." He sighed. "I lost a bet, kids."

Nashi paused. Flame brain? "Of course it's finished. My mom started it just after I turned two..."

With a loud laugh, Gray threw his head back, and wiped away the tears. He took a second to compose himself. To stop laughing or to stop the tears wasn't clear. But the children watched as he rubbed his chin.

"Nash. Your mom didn't finish it. She started it, however. But she didn't get far until-" Gray sighed, "she died."

Nashi finally took a seat next to Nayeli. In his quietness, Nayeli patted his back. She rubbed it gently, feeling the small hiccups in his chest. And she felt it heat up.

"Dad said it was from her." Nashi confirmed. "And dad wasn't going to lie to me anymore."

"He promised." Nashi pressed.

Gray, sighed, and leaned forward to ruffle Nashi's hair. He smiled at the child that looked so much like his mother. "I don't think he would lie to you — I just know he didn't tell the whole truth. And that's not bad. He'll say it when he's ready."

Nashi sighed heavily, curling into himself as he did. He hugged his scarf a little tighter, feeling the bumps collected on one end. It was the roughest part of the scarf; and Nashi continually ran his hands over it.

"But he promised." Nashi barely held back the hiccuping tears. But he did, and it made his eyes hurt. So he clamped them shut. He barely felt the two little tears that ran down his cheeks. He promised.

Gray sighed, and stood up. Gael watched carefully as her dad went to sit beside Nashi. The man held him close, and Nashi leaned into his cool side. Breathing deeply, Gray rubbed the boy's shoulder.

"Nashi, your mother did start the scarf. She wanted you to have it, so don't worry about the rest. Natsu is just trying to do right by you and your mom."

Nashi didn't say anything. Instead, his arms silently wrapped around Gray's torso. Hugging tightly, Nashi hid his face in his scarf. He sat there for a while, with his friends quietly watching him and Gray rubbing his back. Carefully, Gray motioned for the other kids to leave. Gael was the first to leave her father and Nashi. Nayeli and Freyr followed with glances back.

Nashi knew his friends had left. But it didn't change anything. He still sat there — face buried in his scarf and in Gray's side. His side was cool, and Nashi could see the scars. There were a few small ones, but the one that caught Nashi's attention was larger, and spread over Gray's side.

"Uncle Gray, why do you have such a large scar?"

Gray sighed, and turned to look across the guild; there was a certain water mage playing with their daughter.

"I got that scar for Juvia. And she got a scar for me too."

Nashi paused, looking a little closer at the shape stretched in his uncle's skin. He blinked, once, twice, then looked back at his uncle.

"Does... Does my dad have a scar for mom?" He asked, carefully watching his uncle's reaction.

First, Gray sighed. He took a moment to look at the floor. Nashi couldn't quite tell, but it seemed as if — for a split-second — his eyes dulled. Gathering his thoughts, Gray turned to Nashi.

"Yeah, he does. Just not ones you can see."

Nashi sighed. And under his breath — not even audible to Gray — he whispered "I wish he'd let me see them."