When the event ended, Gray came to find you, still without a shirt. You had exited the arena with him to find some place quieter.

"I still can't believe how scary Mira is when she transforms like that," you start.

"Me too," answers Gray, "I'm pretty happy she's in my team."

"You guys are so strong!" you exclaim. "I can't even imagine winning against Laxus, Mirajane or Freed."

"Then I'm not strong?"

"Exactly." You smile. "Jokes aside, I just think I will actually be able to survive a fight with Gajeel or you. But not the others." Hell, you even won a couple of times against Gray!

"Hm. I think you are underestimating yourself."

"Maybe." You pause a moment, thoughtful. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, but... Thanks for saving me from Lyon's attack."

Gray smiles.

"No problem."

A moment of silence passes. Strangely, it isn't awkward at all.

"So what did you want me to do, for the bet?" you ask, breaking the silence. You see Gray blush and he looks away.

"Hum... Well, I wanted..." He takes a deep breath. "Wouldyouliketospendtherestofthedaywithme?"

"What?" you laugh. "Gray, maybe you can speak even faster!"

"Yeah, right... Anyway, what I wanted to say is..." He hesitates.

"Come on, whatever you say I am obliged to accept it, you know. I don't break my promises."

"I want you to spend the rest of the day with me, if that's okay with you." His face get redder and he looks away again, as if he was embarrassed.

His request surprises you, but at the same time you are happy. Well, it won't be that difficult. Maybe you won't even fight with him. No, you actually can't, because your shoulder is in a too bad shape to fight.

"Sure," you answer with a small smile. "I'm sure I can manage that."

"Great." Gray looks relieved by your answer. "Are you hungry? We can go grab something if you want."

"Yeah, I actually am starving. I haven't eaten anything since this morning."

"Let's go then. I know a good place where we can eat."

Maybe this bet wasn't a bad idea after all.

***

You are leaning on the balustrade, just beside Gray, the small river that passed through town flowing by you. You've finished eating your supper. You had bought a delicious sandwich with Gray a little while ago, and you decided to go eat it by the river. You were having a great time with the ice mage. It wasn't that late, and the streets were full of people, due to the popularity of the Magic Games. Everyone was cheery and looked happy, including you. That atmosphere makes you calmer.

"I always wanted to do something like this with you," starts Gray before taking the last bite off his sandwich.

"Really?" you ask Gray, a little surprised.

"Yeah." He glances at the river, lost in thoughts. "Crazy, right? We were always fighting, but the only thing I could think about was how it would be fun to hang out, just like this." He shook his head. "Seriously. I don't even know why we are always combating."

"I do," you reply hesitantly.

"Could you enlighten me then?"

"I like how you look when you fight." As soon as you say that, you feel blood rush to your cheeks. You actually said it. You had only thought it, but the sentence had slipped out.

"What?" Gray was deeply confused. You blush even harder.

"Look, how can I even explain...?" You take a deep breath. "You're beautiful when you fight."

You glance at the river and put your hands on the balustrade, your hair flying in the evening wind. You are dying to hear Gray's response. Does he think you're a total weirdo?

"You look quite pretty too," he says softly after a moment.

Of all responses, you had not expected that one.

"What? Are you serious?" you exclaim.

"As serious as you were when you told me I was good-looking." He smiles. "I am goddamn hot after all." Your surprise melts and you smile back.

"Says the ice mage." Gray starts laughing and you giggle too. The tension seems to have dissipated. You sigh of delight.

"What is it?"

"Nothing. Hanging out isn't half bad after all."

Gray nods with a smile and you turn from the river to face the street.

"Hey, do you mind if I got check out that seller's display?" you ask him as you point it.

"I'm coming." You walk to the seller. The streets were full of them because of the games. They were trying to make a big profit from the tourists. You come close to the tables full of jewelry of all sorts. You stare in awe at the beauty of the piece of art. A particular necklace catches your eye.

You take it and softly lift it in the air. It is a small crystal-like snowflake. It is simple, but very delicate. You love it.

"Do you like it?" asks Gray beside you.

"Yeah, a lot." You don't say that it somehow reminds you of him, and that it might be why you like it.

"That's only 5,500 jewels, my lady," says the vendor with a nice smile.

"Damn," you whisper as you put down reluctantly the jewelry. You aren't that rich and you don't have the patience to argue with the seller.

"Where do you want to go next?" you ask as you turn to face Gray. He shrugs.

"I guess we can take a walk around town."

"Sure."

***

You were chatting with Gray about anything and everything. It was really nice to speak so calmly to your friend. The streets were getting emptier and emptier, people slowly going in their house for the night.

Then you had bumped into something, falling down on your knees.

"Are you okay?" says Gray as he helps you get up.

"What the hell was that?" you exclaim, slowly rising up. You put your hands in front of you. You can feel a hard but invisible surface. As you touch it, the wall brightens up and becomes slightly visible. You turn around yourself in surprise and you hear Gray swear. The walls are completely surrounding you and the ice mage, making you two prisoners of a cage.

"Crap!" exclaims Gray. "I know what this is. It's one of Freed's enchantments!"

"What?! Why would Freed do that?!" you say as dark letters appear on one of the walls.

Rule: One has to kiss the other person to get out.

You look at Gray. You aren't sure what you feel. You are horrified, surprised, confused...

"Is this some sick joke?!" you scream. "Freed, come the hell out!"

"He's not here," replies Gray.

"Huh?"

"Freed can leave enchantments anywhere he wants. They're like traps. They're completely independent. He could be lands away and it would still be active."

You swear and kick a wall. It doesn't move and now your foot hurts. Great.

"So you're telling me we can't get out?" you ask Gray.

"We can. If we listen to the rule." He glances at you. You blush and look away. You would prefer to die than admit it, but you did want to kiss Gray.

"You actually...We're actually going to listen to that stupid order?" you stutter as Gray comes closer to you. You back up, but your back hits an invisible wall.

"Why not?" He leans toward you with a small smile. "It's not that I don't want to."

His lips touch yours and you lose control of yourself. You kiss him back passionately, enjoying the moment. You can feel the wall behind you disappear as the kiss goes on, but Gray stops you from falling back. After a moment, out of breath, you finally end the kiss.

"It wasn't so bad, wasn't it?" asks Grey, still holding you close in his arms.

"It was quite... interesting," you reply with a small smile.

"I know you liked it," teases Gray, smiling back.

"It's getting late. I should go back to the inn." You try to push him away, but he holds you back

"Fine, but I want a last kiss before you leave," he says as he leans toward you. You don't protest and kiss him again. You can't resist Gray. You love him too much.