undercurrents.

This is my only contribution to Graylu Fluff Fest 2016, specifically Day 4 so I’m actually slightly late. Oops. It’s not much, just 500+ words, mostly pre-romance – first time writing them so I’m not sure if they’re in character.

Prompt: Books

Erza, Natsu and Happy has already waltzed into Lucy’s apartment through multiple other entrances when Gray slips in through the window as Lucy yells at them. When the blonde notices him, she yells at him too, but she is soon distracted by their brand of crazy.

Just as planned.

Gray tries not to grin as he saunters towards Lucy’s writing desk. Coming to Lucy’s with them is a good idea. It gives him time to look at the book Lucy has apparently been writing.

When that bit of gossip spread throughout the guild, Gray is taken aback. He knows Lucy is smart, but her writing a book is unexpected news.

What kind of book would Lucy write though?

That question drives him to satisfy his curiosity now, as he casually sits at her desk, rifling through drawers and books and stacks of paper.

By the time Lucy wrangles almost everyone out of her apartment to prepare for a job, turns around and catches sight of what Gray is reading so intently, Lucy marches up to him and grabs her first draft.

“Hey!“ Gray nearly rises from his seat. “I need to know what happened to Iris!” The embarrassed flush that steals across Lucy’s features only grows stronger with the dismay she witnesses flickering over the ice mage’s face.

“You don’t need to know,” Lucy huffs, looking torn as she denies herself a chance for feedback. “I promised Levy that she’d read my book first.”

“When it’s complete, right?” A grin tugs at the corners of Gray’s mouth as he offers, “But until then, I can read and comment on it.”

“No!” Lucy clutches the draft tighter to her chest. “It’s embarrassing. And why are you so interested in it anyway?”

Gray scratches his cheek. “Thought it’d be interesting to see what kind of book you’d write.”

There is a pause as Lucy waits for Gray to elaborate. When Gray fails to follow through, Lucy’s eye twitches as she set down her first draft and crosses her arms.

“Well?” Lucy says pointedly and Gray meets her eyes, confused. “What do you think of it?” Her own bluntness makes Lucy squirm, but she tries to hide it from Gray.

“It’s very…” Gray shrugs, at a loss for words. “…you.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Lucy directs an unimpressed stare at him.

“You know, like you. More than what it seems at first glance. Full of surprises. Looks like my kind of story.” Gray admits nonchalantly.

Did he just…?

Lucy stares at the change that slowly comes over Gray’s expression, trying very hard not to turn red. As red as Gray is now, when he realizes what exactly he has said to her face.

First at Fairy Tail, then Galuna Island, now this.

Gray stammers a little as he stands up straight, mind racing, clearly looking for exits. Lucy lets him go. Watches his tense back, his warm ears as Gray leaves from her window, the ever-present butterflies in her stomach flap their wings in a delighted chorus.

The next time they meet, they don’t bring it up. Not yet.

In the near future, when Gemini blurts out Gray’s opinion of her, Lucy is still surprised but perhaps not as surprised as she should have been.