Frost

13

It was noon on Christmas Day. The guild children were opening their gifts from the guild master himself. Everyone was celebrating with a big lunch. Smiles were spread throughout the room, as well as cheers and laughter. Everyone was happy, including Gajeel, who was feeling well enough to join the celebration.

Natsu was absent, which didn't surprise Erza. When Juvia asked what had happened to him, Erza only waved her off. She knew exactly what Natsu was doing at the moment. It was why she didn't take the syringe from him while he was unconcious.

•••

"Hello!" Natsu banged on the door of the house built inside a tree. He took a few peaks through the round windows, but no one was in sight. Natsu knocked on the door louder this time. He wondered what Porlyusica was doing at the moment. Did she have a family? Or . . .

"Stupid child! I have errands to run!" Porlyusica hit Natsu with a broom when she opened the door, making the dragon slayer scream. He hadn't been expecting it. While he was knocking on the door, she was looking for her broom.

Christmas was Porlyusica's day alone. She wouldn't have anyone to bother her and nothing to worry about. That meant that she could buy a whole supplies worth of medicine and ingredients that could last her a half a year. But Natsu knocking at the door around noon and not celebrating Christmas with the Fairy Tail guild . . . Now that was a surprise to her.

"M-Merry Christmas ma'am," Natsu smiled while rubbing his head. Porlyusica only growled and hit him in the head again. "Don't try to charm me! It won't work!" Natsu winced and held his hand up before the old woman could strike again.

"Wait! I n-need you to look at something for me!" Porlyusica places her broom down and sighed. When Natsu relaxed, she invited him in and closed the wooden door behind him. Natsu found a nearby wooden seat that Porlyusica motioned for him to sit in. Beside it was a small round table, and another chair rested on the other side. The old woman sat in it and stared at Natsu angrily.

"I'm waiting." Natsu dug in his pocket and pulled out the syringe. He placed it on the table, and Porlyusica scanned over it. After a few moments, she shook her head and said, "I already saw this."

"You have to listen-" Natsu started, but Porlyusica already had a broom in her hands. Natsu immediately stood up and back slowly towards the door.

"You've wasted my time," the old woman growled. Natsu held his hands above his head as the woman held the broom above her own head. Just moments before the wooden stick came down onto Natsu, the dragon slayer shouted, "The water is enchanted!"

Porlyusica stopped the broom and looked at Natsu right in the eye. The broom dropped down onto the floor with a hard crack, and it made the dragon slayer jump. He once again removed his hands from his head. Natsu watched as the old woman made her way back to the table. Porlyusica grabbed it and examined it closely now.

"Ah, I see . . ."

"See what?" Natsu questioned. He walked over to the old woman and took a look at the syringe.

"It explains the smell. I was always wondering about the scent. I look into it. However, I still have errands to run, so if you would leave-" Natsu was already out the door before should could turn around. Porlyusica placed the syringe on a counter and shook her head.

The smell had made her very curious. In fact, she had been digging into it while she had checked if the blood on the top was Gray's. She had an idea on what it was, but she was afraid she didn't know how to reverse the enchantment.

•••

Gray had been focusing on his magic since Christmas Day. Two days have passed since, and he was only able to change the color of the frost from a light blue to his usual icy blue color.

This was frustrating.

He was in the infirmary, and he wanted to go home. However, he didn't want to open the door and freak anyone out, so he was stuck in there until someone opened the door.

Gray was resting on one of the infirmary beds because he was exhausted. His energy was low, and he hadn't felt like that since he first tried to move items. He was about ready to give up, to say that he could just stay invisible for the rest of his life. Or maybe he could have someone else do the work for him?

"No, I have to help," Gray told himself. He sighed and rolled onto his side. There was a small dresser beside the bed, and built inside it were three small drawers. For as long as he was in the guild hall, he had never gotten to see what was inside those drawers.

He opened the first one; inside was a needle and tread. Gray opened the second one; inside was a box of tan latex gloves and a bottle of hand sanitizer. In the third drawer was four rolls of bandages and some rags. Gray shut all three drawers and closed his eyes.

At the same time, the infirmary door freaked open, making Gray hop out of the bed. In came Juvia, who was talking to someone on Erza's communications lacrima.

"Natsu's been searching for Gray the entire time . . . No, I haven't seen him . . . I'm in the infirmary, and he's not here . . . I don't know where he could be, Lyon," Juvia shivered and quickly walked out of the room, leaving the door wide open behind her. The perfect escape without having to worry about scaring anyone.

But when Gray reached the door, he stopped abruptly. Juvia had a communications lacrima, and you could touch their screens to call anyone. In the drawer was a pair of latex gloves, and he could use them to cover his hands. Maybe he could go to his apartment and call someone on his own lacrima. It would show the entire guild he was there.

Yes, his plan had to work. Now, he just needed his apartment keys from Erza.