A/N: I decided to write a Gray/Juvia story. This pair makes me smile. Sometimes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters
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Easy Bait
"Juvia?"
The water mage was brooding. A childish pout reached her face as a few thoughts entered her mind. The usual smiling Juvia was a little bit sad. She wanted to be cheerful, but wasn't really in the mood. Though she should be happy – her love rival was getting married after all – she felt like something was missing. A gap that she wanted to fill for a few years now, was still wide open.
"Juvia!"
The umpteenth sigh left her lungs as she laid her head on the counter, drink in hand. She wasn't normally one to drink alcohol, but the situation made her drink a beverage. Just one, she told herself, and then Juvia would go home. She was dressed in a short blue dress with matching heels and she wasn't covered up as usual. Juvia looks pretty, she thought, but nobody seems to notice.
Indeed, Juvia looked as beautiful as ever, but her face didn't match her outfit. She had done everything to look good today, but as soon as she entered the guildhall, her mood seemed to fade away. It was the time of the month, perhaps Juvia could blame it on that, but she knew better. Her hormones just made it worse.
"Juvia?!"
This time she heard the voice who was trying to reach her. Juvia turned her head to the side to find a certain take-over mage looking a bit worried. Juvia blinked twice, eyeing Mira-Jane a bit sheepishly.
"What's with the confused look? Today should be a happy day!" The white-haired bartender said, showing her perfect white teeth.
Juvia shrugged and smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Juvia feels fine. She just feels a little tired, Mira-san."
Mira nodded, not entirely satisfied, but she didn't push any further. Although she was burning with desire what was up, for once Mira-Jane let go. Today wasn't the day to talk seriously. Today was the day Lucy and Natsu were getting married, at the age of 24. It wasn't normal for a dragon slayer to get married, due the fact they "mated" or some kind of crap, but Lucy insisted on getting married. Being a mate apparently wasn't good enough for the blonde.
"It's just..." Juvia began, getting once again the attention of the other curious mage. "It's just that Juvia feels that Gray-sama doesn't notice her at all. It has been forever now and Juvia is usually not willing to give up on Gray-sama, but now she is considering to take up on Lyon's request to go on a date. He has requested it several times now."
Mira blinked once, twice... That was not the respond she expected. The bartender always thought that Juvia would never give up on her Gray-sama. And Lyon... come on!
"Juvia should head home. She would ruin the wedding with her pouty face," Juvia said.
She was about to turn around, when a dark figure startled her. Juvia gasped and accidently pushed the bar stool. It fell to the ground and a painful yelp reached her ears.
"Juvia! What was your intention?" Gray hissed as he rubbed his toes.
Tears welled up in her eyes and she apologized to her beloved multiple times. It couldn't get worse than it already was.
The ice mage shrugged the apology off, grabbed Juvia by the shoulder and shook her to get her back to reality. "Look at me," he demanded. The girl managed to meet his gaze with her own pouty face. "Don't start the waterworks. I am not in the mood for this," Gray said harshly and she responded with a slight nod. Mira-Jane huffed quietly in the back ground, not enjoying the tone Gray spoke in.
"Juvia is sorry. Can she leave now?"
"No," Gray replied intensely, "I wanted to ask you something."
The stripper seemed to get nervous now and Juvia noticed. The determined look that had been on his face, had vanished into thin air. Gray swallowed multiple times and avoided Juvia's gaze as he stared at the wall behind her. The water mage tilted her head in curiosity and she almost wanted to caress his cheek to calm him down. Juvia restrained herself.
"Would you like to be my date for the wedding?" Gray managed to speak in a high-pitched voice.
In the background you could her Mira-Jane choke on her drink.
It should be a dream come true. This moment was everything Juvia wished for in the last few years. The daydreams she had longer than she could remember, were framed into this particular moment.
Yet, she did not say yes straight away. Why not?
Gray eyed her in suspicion. He had thought the girl would have jumped his gut and kissed his face all over, but instead Juvia remained her statue as a gentle smile reached her face.
"I am sorry, Gray-sama. My answer would be no."
Gray did not know what surprised him more. The fact that Juvia addressed herself with I or that she said no. This was not the way he pictured it. Juvia should have been overjoyed. She was supposed to run around the guild and start her waterworks. This couldn't be true. Maybe he misheard it.
"I beg your pardon?" He managed to squeak.
Juvia smiled sadly and said: "Juvia has been in love with Gray-sama for years now, but he has never noticed her really before. Juvia appreciates your consideration, but we both know that Gray-sama only asks Juvia for the sake of having a date. Juvia is an easy bait, but she deserves better than this."
Mira-Jane smiled at Juvia's wise words. She really did deserve better than Gray's attitude, although she knew for sure he felt differently towards her than Juvia thought.
Before she departed, Juvia stroke Gray's cheek gently and placed a small kiss there, leaving a stunned Gray with his proposal.
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Fin. Or not? - A/N: Would you like me to continue? Please review :-).