Cherished Friendship

Commissioned by *dreamchaser21

Message from :

Her OC Talia with Gray Fullbuster

Here's a short fanfic I wrote to go with the picture. I want to share this with everyone!


Time was no longer still and the moment had been halted for uncertainty and the feelings of guilt between the two mages. The once crisp breeze had became slightly colder every minute that time passed. Gray had paused his movements and gently pushed himself away from the projectile mage just before their lips had made contact. What on Earth did he just do or what was he trying to do? Did Gray just seriously tried to claim her lips with his? To taste that mysterious flavor that only belonged to the projectile mage?

He couldn't believe that he was about to share an intimate endearment with the girl that he claimed was his nakama. Did he like her as a friend? Yes, definitely. Even if she acted like a brute sometimes. Did he thought she cute? Of course he did. Talia was very pretty in his opinion and any man would have to be blind to not see that. Did he wanted that kiss to happen? Unfortunately, it was both a yes and a no answer and that confused him greatly. Even though his heart was dead set on wanting to kiss her, his mind was telling him it was wrong in some kind of way.

The ice mage had descended his head to where his dark fringes had concealed his eyes, hiding his rueful eyes. He couldn't look at the midnight-haired woman in front of him and the penitence in his heart was overwhelming him.

“Talia, I can't...” Gray answered her with remorse in his voice. “We're friends and partners all the same and mages from the same guild. I see you as a dear friend, but I feel something more than what a comrade should feel towards another. It's difficult for me to grasp these feelings and I can't fully understand why I feel this way towards you. You feel this way towards me as well and even you don't understand these feelings. It wouldn't be right to take something from each other that we might end up regretting later on in life. Believe me when I say this. I do care about you a lot, Talia, but I just can't bring myself to do this...”

He couldn't do it. Gray could not go through with taking the drastic step that could have possibly change everything about them. It scared him and hurt him more than he had initially thought. This moment between them wasn't suppose to happen and it wasn't even right to begin with, but who was he to say what was right and what was wrong? At this point, it didn't help Gray that his mind and heart was saying two completely different things.

“Geez...” Talia stated with her voice trembling. “If you're gonna friendzone me, then at least do it right, idiot...”

When Talia slowly ascended her head to gaze up at the ice mage, the expression that was showed within the projectile mage's eyes had clearly said everything that he needed to know. Gray was no fool. She was breaking from the truth that he was speaking. Behind her lying plead, Talia's strong and powerful demeanor was falling apart right before him. He understood how she felt and the unbearable pain of having to deny being with one another in an intimate way was downright hurtful, but Talia knew where he was coming from. She was still confused about where her feelings lie with the ice mage and she didn't want to take such a risk with partial understanding of her feelings.

What made it even worse was that he wanted the same thing and knowing that made the ice mage feel the same kind of afflicting pain that she was feeling. The feeling of wanting something and knowing that you couldn't never have it was harrowing. No amount of physical pain or torture could even graze the mental agony that was seemingly inflicting on himself and Talia at the moment. “Talia, I...”

“Don't you dare. Please don't be sorry. It's okay, Gray-san. I understand how you must feel about all this...” The projectile mage had smiled with her tears following soon after in small drops. She didn't see the point of holding them back anymore. There was no need to. “...and I do too. I feel the same way...”

The clear droplets falling from her eyes had showed Gray even though he had trouble trying to say it, Talia had understood him. This was one of the qualities that he liked most about her; she could figure out things without the need of him using actual words.

These two cherished each other dearly, but they treasured their friendship with such an abundance and they didn't want to ruin their bonds for something that wouldn't possibly last. Gray and Talia were certain that if they gave it a chance, it could have possibly worked out in the end, but they knew it would destroy something else in the process: the hearts of the two people who truly loved them.

Taking her hands into his, Gray had slowly closed his eyes and tried to mute out those quiet sobs that the projectile mage was making. This was not the girl he was used to seeing and arguing with. Talia is a bad ass mage and fighter, fierce and fiery on the battlefield, and kind and sweet towards those who mattered to her. She was one the few girls that could hold her own against him in a verbal fight and be brave enough to stand up against him. She's tough as nails and was too cold-hearted to let anything bother her, but seeing the kuudere girl in tears and in such a vulnerable state was unbearable for even him to watch.

The ice mage's dark cobalt eyes had convulsed with bereavement and Gray had wanted nothing more than to embrace her and tell her that everything was just a cruel lie and that he was indeed lying to her and himself. Even so, that would have been too cruel for even him to do. There was no way around it and it could never work out between them. Until they fully understood their feelings, Gray would not act on them. Even if it took a lifetime to understand them, he would never act on them again and neither would Talia. This was for the best.

The feeling of being more than friends yet less than lovers...is such a painful feeling to endure...