The Art of Trouble

Chapter 12: A Look of Gratitude

The bright rays of the sun had awakened Lucy's senses, and she  whimpered from the slight pain she instantly felt on her neck. She had probably been lying on the bed in the same position.
Lucy rolled off to another side of the bed when she realized that it wasn't the last place where she had been on. Yes, a moment ago, she was in Gray's room, yet, she hardly recalled what happened after she sat on the couch near Gray when he told her to stay; plus, she hadn't done anything besides looking after him for the night.
The blonde mage slowly got up from the bed and looked around her; it wasn't her own cabin. She furrowed her eyebrows and clipped her forehead with her two fingers. The young woman was unsettled, probably from lack of sleep. She thought of her friend who was in a state of muddle the night before, and immediately tensed when she noticed that he wasn't around. Awkwardness began to settle on her nerves  along with the thought of herself being in his room. Aside from that, she was concerned about being on his bed, instead of him on it, after all, he should give himself an ample rest.
Lucy stood up and decided to saunter around the room until she was led to a small balcony. Aside from a single window it had, rays of light had entered through its glass doors, which were opened that time.
The moment she walked through those doors, she immediately caught site of Gray's back. He was leaning on the boat's railings, his hair was messed up by the wind, blowing through its strands, and he surprisingly wore a shirt on him.
Lucy didn't make any attempt to intrude his solitude. She only gazed at him, trying to read him while appreciating their surroundings.
The weather had been good to them ever since they set foot on the boat, and the atmosphere  somehow alleviated the stormy feeling she and Gray  both had. Lucy hoped Gray could say the same thing about their surroundings. She admitted to herself, she didn't know how to give him comfort despite being his friend. But, that night, when she saw his vulnerability she promised to herself to be a trustworthy friend to Gray, just as she had been to Natsu. She really has to console him the way she knows she can.
Lucy gathered some strength to talk to him. For all she knew, Gray had never shown, or at least, had avoided getting his emotions revealed by others. She had only seen him doing it a long time ago at Galuna island, wherein, they fought a monster, named Deliora- the monster who killed Ur.
It was still clear to Lucy's memory how Gray had been that time. He was depressed and dangerously emotional, that it was difficult for any of them to come near him and give comfort for fear of him breaking down. Lucy had only thought of one move to console him that moment. Then, something suddenly occurred to her mind.

She moved back inside the room and silently scurried to an area, a little away from the balcony. She confirmed first if Gray was still on the balcony before she took one of her silver keys and summoned one of her spirits, whom she knew could bring calmness to this pervading situation.

"Gate of the Harp, I open thee, Lyra!" Lucy quietly called out.

Right then, an angel like girl appeared. She was bubbly, yet slightly modest, with a long, strawberry blonde hair.

"Hello, Lucy. What can I do for you this time?" The bubbly girl, who's actually called Lyra gently asked her master.
"Hi, I just want to ask if you can still sing the song you had back in Galuna island." Lucy promptly, but, kindly ordered her spirit.

"Uh, if I may ask, are you sad my master?" Lyra's expression had shown worry for her owner. Like her other spirits, she didn't wish for her master to feel lonely and depressed.

"Well, sort of..." Lucy's eyes gazed on the floor, before they went to the the side where the balcony is located. "But, I figured, Gray needs your song more than I do."
Lyra nodded in understanding and drifted herself towards the doors of the balcony. She had now taken a deep breath, getting ready to sing.

As soon as Lyra uttered the song's lyrics, along with their melodious  tone. Gray flinched because of its familiarity. He slightly turned his head towards the songbird before returning back to his original position, but now, his eyes were closed and he bowed down a little. It's as if he's meditating with the music. He inhaled some air, and with each of the song's Calando, he gave away a conciliated breath.
He continued to listen intently, and while he was doing this, good memories were being played at the back of his mind. Most of the memories he had were from the guild, that he already considered as his home.
It made him smile thinking about him and Natsu fighting, and Erza, who suddenly intruded them, banging their heads together; he had also missed Juvia's creepy advances towards him, and everybody's rowdiness. However, there's mainly, and at the same time unusually, one person that momentarily made his heart lightened up ...

As Gray continually hearkened to Lyra's song, it dawned on him that he once had listened to this when they were at Galuna island, and Lucy summoned this spirit in order to give him comfort, and he figured that it was just the same thing right now. He was indirectly being comforted by his friend, and he appreciated her so much for it.

                        "Lucy..."
He uttered quietly. His face showed gratitude, and he opened his eyes just yet.
He looked up at the sky for the first time in a few hours he was there.
It was pale blue, with thin clouds sitting high above, plus, migratory birds flew across it. The wind blew kisses on his face and he welcomed it with eminent recognition.

Indeed, it was a good weather. Then, Gray had once again said something...

                    "Thank you..."

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I know this is a short chapter, but, I decided to add another chapter for this week, so, don't worry, and cheers!  ;)