Snow Dragon

Douglas poured his tea while hearing Lyon’s plea. He turned around to greet the ice make mage. “Lyon Vastia, age 24,” he said, lighting his pipe and setting down his tea. “Ice make mage, ace member of the Lamia Scale guild, former student of ice make master Ur. We have never formally spoken to one another, and our only connection is our shared affiliation with Gray Fullbuster. So, why come to the enigmatic Douglas Murdoch for help?”

“Well you have to know something that’s helpful! At this point I could make do with anything!”

“My hair isn’t messed up it just looks like this, asshole.”

“Just as gentle as always...”

Douglas poured his tea while hearing Lyon’s plea. He turned around to greet the ice make mage. “Lyon Vastia, age 24,” he said, lighting his pipe and setting down his tea. “Ice make mage, ace member of the Lamia Scale guild, former student of ice make master Ur. We have never formally spoken to one another, and our only connection is our shared affiliation with Gray Fullbuster. So, why come to the enigmatic Douglas Murdoch for help?”

“Well… Gray isn’t our only shared affiliation… And it kind of involves him, in a sense… Uh…” The Ice-Make Mage stuttered, “I’m kind of, um…” He swallowed hard and blurted out, “I’m in love with Sora!”

“Wait, it’s that obvious?!” Then did Sora already know about his feelings for her? “Well, you’re her friend, and you’re probably the least likely to tell her, right...?” This was starting to seem like a worse and worse idea the more he talked.

“My hair isn’t messed up it just looks like this, asshole.”

“Very well, I’ll stop.”

“My hair isn’t messed up it just looks like this, asshole.”

“If only that was your only similarity.”

Douglas poured his tea while hearing Lyon’s plea. He turned around to greet the ice make mage. “Lyon Vastia, age 24,” he said, lighting his pipe and setting down his tea. “Ice make mage, ace member of the Lamia Scale guild, former student of ice make master Ur. We have never formally spoken to one another, and our only connection is our shared affiliation with Gray Fullbuster. So, why come to the enigmatic Douglas Murdoch for help?”

“Well… Gray isn’t our only shared affiliation… And it kind of involves him, in a sense… Uh…” The Ice-Make Mage stuttered, “I’m kind of, um…” He swallowed hard and blurted out, “I’m in love with Sora!”

“My hair isn’t messed up it just looks like this, asshole.”

“It’s strange how similar you are to Gray sometimes.”

“My hair isn’t messed up it just looks like this, asshole.”

“You never change, do you?”

“My hair isn’t messed up it just looks like this, asshole.”

“Oh so now you’re making fun of my magic?”

“My hair isn’t messed up it just looks like this, asshole.”

“I just meant, uh, s-sorry...”

“Lyon! What the hell are you doing?!” Sora snapped at him, having grabbed an umbrella and run downstairs. “You idiot, you’re gonna get sick!” She hurried over to him and held the umbrella over them both, “What were you thinking, moron?!”

He couldn’t help but let out a little laugh, “I was thinking I was the biggest idiot in the world.” Lyon cupped her face with his hands and brought her into a kiss, not caring what happened now. He couldn’t just pretend like nothing happened between them, even if she broke his heart this had to happen now.

“Wait, what?”

“This better work, I look like a moron out here...” Lyon muttered, chucking another piece of ice at the third-floor window this side of the building. There were probably better ways to get her attention, and some that probably involved him not getting completely soaked in the rain, and yet here he was. Looking like a moron.

“It’s nothing important, I promise.” Sora shook her head, sighing, “Just the rain is all.”

“Well... I’ve already screwed everything up... May as well have her say it to my face.” He grumbled, turning on his heels and hurrying down the street. She’d mentioned she’d be staying at Keyra’s apartment, and Lyon knew all too well where that was.

“Yes, I’m sure he is.” Sora nodded, running a hand through her hair, “Ah, thank you. For sitting with me, that is.” She quickly added, as they got off the train. “Rain, even. Just my luck it would seem.”

In a slight act of bravery, he took her hand in his quickly and brought it to his lips, lingering for just a moment, “I hope to see you soon.”

“Don’t… Apologize…” She shook her head, “Lyon, don’t worry about it. We can just forget it happened.” Only she wouldn’t ever actually forget, and it would make it impossible for anything to be normal between them ever again.

“Right. That would... Make things easier, I’m sure...” He cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. Nothing would be easy between them though, of course it wouldn’t. It would always be awkward now. “Come. I’m sure Keyra is waiting for you.”

“Ah… Right… Yes, of course…” She nodded, chewing her bottom lip. Why did he have to kiss her? Why couldn’t she have just slept through it? Why didn’t she just kiss him back…? They were probably going to sit in awkward silence the rest of the ride now, at least so she assumed.

And sit in awkward silence they did the rest of the way. Entirely because he was stupid enough to kiss her when he knew there would never be anything between them. He only spoke again once they finally reached their stop. “Sora... I... I’m sorry...”

“Well… I… Ah…” She cleared her throat, looking away from him. Sure, they had pretended to be dating while Lyon taught her Ice-Make magic, but that was just to piss her brother off. There weren’t any feelings there… Right…? 

“W-We should be arriving in Margaret Town soon...”