"Juvia" The blonde tapped the rain woman's shoulder quickly. Lately, she had seen Juvia walk around the guild mopping, dragging herself along place to place; it worried Lucy a bit, "Are you doing alright?" Lucy asked, this time making Juvia look at her. Lucy's face fell when the rain woman shook her head as she played with her thumbs.
"Juvia is upset." She obviously said, "Gray-Sama took a job and didn't even say goodbye to Juvia! Juvia tried to follow him, but she lost track of where he went. It was like Gray-Sama knew Juvia would follow him."
"O-Oh…" Lucy said, nodding. She knew Juvia followed Gray everywhere, and she knew that Gray knew about it too. 'I guess he just doesn't want Juvia following him this time..' Lucy thought to herself as she sighed, tapping Juvia's knee. "Well maybe the mission was dangerous and he didn't want you to get hurt?"
Juvia shrugged and whimpered a bit, "Juvia wishes Gray-Sama would pay more attention to her. Juvia would like to be noticed more by Gray-Sama. Why doesn't Gray-Sama understand?" She asked herself out loud, making Lucy sigh in response. Juvia looked back at her hands and sniffed a bit, feeling her nose clog up. Tears were going to come soon.
Lucy looked up, noticing the rain pouring down outside the window, making her frown more indented.
"Ah, rain again?" Someone asked, looking out the window.
"It's been raining a lot lately." Another added.
"I wish it would stop." Agreeing hums came from others.
Juvia looked behind her, knowing she was the cause. The cause of all this gloom. "It's not like Juvia has any control of the rain…" Which in all honesty, she did.
"Hey… Boys don't understand that girls want attention…And Gray? Uh, well… He just really isn't one to think about things like that. He does whatever he wants to do. Maybe he'll come around?"
"Maybe Lucay is right…." Juvia smiled a bit, frowning again, "But only maybe."
"See, cheer up."
The rain woman expression changed effortlessly into a serious one, "But if Lucy is trying to keep Juvia away from Gray-Sama so Lucy can have Gray-Sama all to herself, then watch out. Juvia will have her eye on Lucy." She threatened.
Lucy giggled nervously and waved her hand, "How about you go home, get some rest or something? Start off fresh tomorrow… Just wait for Gray to get back." With that, Lucy stood up and smiled at Juvia one last time before departing to the Salamander at the other table, leaving Juvia by herself and alone from the others. She didn't really have many close friends at Fairy Tail. Other than Gajeel, but he wasn't one for doom and gloom either.
"Juvia will go home…" She agreed with Lucy's statement, maybe a nice nap with calm her down, probably stop the rain. "The rain won't stop..." She caught herself saying as she looked to the sky. Lifting her arms up, she felt the water fall onto her hands, smiling at the wet feeling it give. It sent chills down her spine, good chills. Juvia looked down on the ground and her smile faded a bit to see the old snow on the ground. Being as cold as it was, the rain mixed with the snow, making slush and thick ice. 'Water and ice….' Was all Juvia thought about as she started to walk down the wet road to Fairy Hills.
If only she knew what Gray felt about her. All this possible jealousy and closeness meant something to him. Was he just doing it because he doesn't like Lyon? 'Lyon and Gray-Sama do have a rivalry…' But isn't Gray taking Juvia back from Lyon a sign? Or would he do it for the other girls like Lucy or Erza…?
Juvia's head was hurting and the anxiety she felt in her stomach wouldn't go away. She clenched her tummy and walked up the stairs to the second floor of Fairy Hills, mumbling under her breath about what was going through her head. Groaning, she pulled out her room key and unlocked her door to a delicious aroma in her apartment. Sniffing the air, Juvia smiled to it, then wondered what was making that smell.
"Oh! Welcome home dear!"
Juvia stopped in her tracks and looked over at the white headed male in an apron in front of her. In his right hand was a ladle that was continuously stirring a pot on the stove. The other, waving her direction.
"L-Lyon?!" Juvia cried in surprise, "What is Lyon doing here? How did Lyon get in? Juvia's door was locked."
Lyon waved his finger back and forth making a clicking sound with his tongue. "Your spare key was under the mat… Plus," He used his ice maker magic to form a key in his hands, "I'm an ice mage. I can make any kind of key I want to, dear Juvia."
Flustered by the intrution, Juvia balled her fists in anger, "Lyon shouldn't have barged into Juvia's house!"
"Room." He corrected.
Juvia growled a bit.
"You mean I don't have permission? Despite what you say, I have to protect my dear Juvia-chan, don't I? I mean, look at that rain. Something must be going on with you my dear." He slightly smiled, giving her a concerned looked. "You hungry? I made soup."
"Juvia told you to stop using chan with her name…" She said quietly as he pointed out the rain. She relaxed her posture and stroked her arm a bit. "Juvia is a bit hungry…."
"Great, it's almost done." He smiled cheerfully as he stirred. "So… Tell me what's wrong…"
"Juvia is just upset."
"About what?"
She paused and looked away. "Gray-Sama is gone and Juvia is worried about him."
Lyon nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. "Juvia, I don't think you should be worrying about Gray. He's a student of Ur, there is no way anything could happen to him. Besides, if I had someone as pretty as you to come home to, I'd hurry back as soon as possible." He complimented, looking away slightly to examine the soup. "Just don't worry, I bet he's fine."
"Juvia hopes." A slight blush came a crossed her face as Lyon talked about how pretty she was. She wasn't use to getting compliments back.
"Well at least you got me to keep you company till he comes back." He added, smirking slightly.
Juvia shook her head. "After Lyon is done, Lyon is going home."
Lyon frowned, "But it'll be dark by then… And it'll be a long train ride back… Alone… In the dark… By myself."
When Lyon put it that way, Juvia bit her lip, feeling bad she even mentioned it. "Lyon should check into a hotel or something then….Juvia will be right back. Juvia needs to take a shower." She nodded, walking away swiftly.
"Can I join?" He teased no hint of sarcasm on his face.
"N-No Lyon cannot!"
"I was teasing." He smiled slightly and continued stirring. "Have a nice shower my dear."
"Juvia will." She called from the room, undressing quickly. Juvia slipped into the shower and started humming songs in her head, making Lyon smile a bit. She had a soft voice, very mellow and smooth, like melted chocolate. Lyon stopped to listen to it for a moment, smiling more to himself. Then it stopped.
"Juvia?" Lyon mumbled, cocking an eyebrow.
"U-Uh oh…" He could hear her from the bathroom. "Juvia has ran out of shampoo…." Juvia groaned and whimpered.
Lyon turned down the stove and chuckled. He pressed against the door and knocked a bit. "Juvia is there something wrong?"
"…Juvia has ran out of shampoo…."
"Do you have any extra? Just come out in a towel, I promise I won't look."
"Juvia will not!" She flushed.
Lyon hummed, "Where are they?"
Juvia tapped her chin and thought about it for a moment. "Juvia thinks that there is an extra bottle in the closet by the couch…"
"I'll grab it for you.."
"Lyon doesn't have to."
"Don't be silly, it'll be my pleasure."
"Don't say it like that!" With that, he made his way to closet and opened it. Everything was organized and folded. The towels where together and everything was in a separate place.
"Never knew she was so organized…" He mumbled to himself, grabbing a shampoo bottle. "There." He smiled, closing the closet doors, and opening her room door. Still all organized, bed nicely made, drawers all tucked in and desk nicely organized. Lyon was a bit impressed, but he soon blushed bright red in the sight of her panties lying next to the clothes she once was wearing ten minutes ago. "O-Oh my… P-Panties..." He whispered.
"Lyon?" Juvia called, making him jump a bit, "Does Lyon have the shampoo?"
He cleared his throat and entered the bathroom quietly, stopped and looking at her silhouette through the shower curtain. What a beauty she was to him, a dreamy smile came crossed his face.
"Lyon?" She blinked and waited for him to answer her. "Lyon? Lyon did you get it..?"
Suddenly a hand popped in front of her, "Here." He said, an 'eep' came out of her mouth and she quickly grabbed it from him.
"Get out!" She yelled, flustered.
"Juvia, don't freak out, I didn't see anything." He huffed and got out quickly.
Juvia covered herself and blushed red. "Lyon… Thank you…" She mumbled, squirting some in her hands, lathering it in her blue locks.
Lyon smiled a bit and grabbed a bowl from her cupboard, pouring some into it. He placed it on the counter and left her a note beside it. Lyon grabbed his coat and slipping out of her apartment, unnoticed. Within 15 minutes, Juvia stepped out of her room with her hair in a pony tail and her normal attire on.
"L-Lyon?" She blinked and looked around for him. "Lyon where are you?" The steaming bowl of soup caught her attention. "Oh.." Walking over to it, she grabbed the letter and frowned slightly.
Dearest Juvia,
I hope you like your soup I made for you, there is more on the stove if you'd like seconds. I decided to take my leave. So pardon my intrusion. I'll be staying at the Harvest Inn, in downtown Magnolia. If you need anything come by and let me know, I'll be staying in town for a few days.
Yours Truly,
Lyon Vastia
Juvia set the letter down on the table slowly, a bit sad that he left so suddenly. Looking at the bowl of steaming broth, Juvia sighed, not wanting to eat alone again for the night. Lucy was probably eating and dealing with the pink haired boy, Natsu. Gajeel must be in the mountains or on a mission. He'd probably not be so willing to come keep Juvia company anyway. Gajeel wasn't one for talking to when she was sad.
"Hm..?" Juvia looked up, noticing how light the rain had become. All that time she didn't have her mind set on gray at all. Lyon must have made her forgotten a bit. "Hm… Lyon's probably lonely." She huffed. "Is Juvia really that desperate for company?" Whimpering, she grabbed her furry shawl and put her bowl of soup in a portable container. " Juvia is going now.." Biting her lip, she proceeded out her door and headed to The Harvest Inn.
Knock Knock
"Hm?" Lyon looked up from his book and put it aside. "Coming." He stood up, grabbing a blanket, hiding his bare chest under it. As he opened the door, he blushed at the sight of Juvia standing before him. The blanket that was wrapped around him soon came down as he stroked his white droopy hair out of his eyes. "Juvia, I didn't expect to see you so soon." He leaned against the door frame and a playful smirk appeared on his face.
"J-Juvia is wondering if Juvia could join Lyon for dinner?" She avoided his gaze, afraid that he would see her blushing.
Lyon's heart stopped and his cheeks flushed red. "Juvia.. But of course we can have dinner! What great timing!" He smiled big and grabbed her wrist, pulling her into the hotel, eagerly. "What made you wanna come eat with me?" He asked, as he locked the door behind her.
"Well Juvia didn't want to eat alone." She removed his hands and then her coat. She sat down and held the bowl close in her hands. "How is Lyon doing?" She asked, making small talk.
"I am doing alright." He chuckled a bit and patted her head before he sat a crossed from her. "But I am sorry, I am not hungry. So you might be eating alone after all." He frowned slightly, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, that's the last thing I would want to do…"
"It's alright. Everyone else was busy so Juvia came here." She smiled a bit. "Juvia just wanted some company is all…"
"I can do that." Lyon nodded, smiling.
"Lyon's clothes though…"
Lyon looked down and then back up at her. "Yes? What about it?"
"Lyon should put a shirt back on."
He narrowed his eyes, smiling a bit. "Does it bother you?"
"….A bit…"
"….Can I ask why that is?"
Juvia shifted in her seat and huffed. "Lyon just go put on a shirt."
A bit of laughter came from him. "Alright fine."
Juvia nodded and watched him go into his room. "Juvia will heat up her soup if Lyon doesn't mind."
"Actually I do, let me do it." He called out from his room, slipping on his blue shirt with gold trim. "Seriously, let me help." By the time he came back, Juvia was already lighting the stove with the soup in a pot. "Juvia." He huffed. "I told you to wait for me…"
"Juvia is capable to do things herself a bit."
Lyon came up behind her and set his hand on her shoulder, peering over her other shoulder. "You should let me help. You are my guest this time…"
Juvia blushed and looked up at him. "No Juvia can handle it…"
Lyon let out a deep breath and leaned towards her ear. "Juvia let me do it…"
A shiver ran down her spine as the icey breath of the mage touched her ear. Juvia shifted slightly over and let him light the stove top. She blushed brightly and leaned against the counter behind her. Lyon glanced over at her and cocked an eyebrow. A smile soon appeared which made her look away, puffing out her cheeks.
"See was that so hard to let me be a host to you?"
Juvia rolled her eyes slightly and huffed. "Juvia can take care of herself Lyon."
"I know but, it's nice to have something's done for you, isn't it?" He asked, glancing back up at her. "Call me anytime you need me."
"Call Lyon?"
"Yes, call me… send me a letter… anything really. I would love to hear from you more."
"Juvia doesn't think Gray-Sama would like Juvia to talk to you."
"Gray doesn't control you." A growled came from his throat in the mention of his name.
"Juvia loves Gray-Sama. Of course Juvia would do anything to please him. Make Gray-Sama happy."
"…." Lyon bit his lip. "I don't understand why…"
"Hm?"
"Is there a particular reason that you love him? Is it because he's ice and your water? Is it because he has that strange habit of taking off his clothing? Cause if it is, then look no farther, your prince is in front of you." Lyon looked up at her, innocently. He was trying to make her realize that there was someone else with the same qualities but, someone who loved her.
The look Lyon gave her, made her cheeks tint red. "Juvia loves Gray-Sama because he was the first one to clear up the sky for Juvia… The first one who made Juvia feel something good inside her."
"Yeah but is that everything?" He asked, stirring the soup with a metal spoon.
Juvia was taken back a bit. "Juvia doesn't have to explain her feelings to Lyon."
Lyon stopped stirring and looked up at her. "I'm sorry… I honestly didn't mean to upset you at all…How about we start over."
Juvia nodded. "Fine."
"So… I noticed that when you came in, you were trembling. Were you cold?"
"…..The winter breeze and freezing temperatures does take effect on Juvia's body; even though the heat does not."
"Why is that?"
"Water freezes faster? Juvia thinks so…"
Lyon nodded. "Makes sense; I guess water takes a while to heat up. Looks like your soup is hot enough to eat," Lyon said, grabbing a bowl and ladle from the cupboards. He swiftly poured the soup into it and gave it to her. "Be careful it's hot." He said, putting a spoon in it.
"Juvia thanks Lyon."
"Lyon is happy to help." He teased her third person speech a bit, but it made her smile. Juvia sat down at the tabled and began to pick at her soup. "Lyon never told Juvia what kind of soup this was…"
"Chicken Gnochii…It's creamy and dooey… Thought it would be nice to make some…" He smiled and sat a crossed from her. "Ah, dinner with Juvia… What a dream come true…"
"This is not a date!"
"Calm down I was kidding…" Lyon smiled.
"Lyon shouldn't joke about that." Juvia looked away.
"Nonsense. I can do as I please."
Juvia smiled a bit by how cocky he was. She took a bite of her soup and looked up at him surprised. "Juvia loves this soup!"
Lyon smiled, proudly. It was music to his ears. "Juvia likes my cooking! Good! I made it for you. I took my time."
"When did Lyon enter Juvia's room?"
"Right when you left this afternoon."
"…"
"I-I know I will respect your privacy from now on…" Lyon flushed and looked away. It was refreshing to see the cocky ice mage blush.
"Lyon is blushing."
"Sh-Shut up…"
"Juvia will not." She smirked, "It seems like Lyon the ice Mage has a gentle side."
"…You have no idea…" He mumbled softly.
"Juvia is curious… Hey does Lyon like Juvia?"
"You mean love?" He asked, smiling a bit, "I mean just look at you… You are a sight to see… Such a beauty should have a strong man beside her… A man who loves her dearly. I am amazed by how strong you are… You are tough, clever, and need to give yourself much more credit then what you have."
Juvia felt butterflies in her stomach. She never had so many compliments about her before. "Juvia thanks Lyon."
"No need to thank me my dear." Lyon set his elbows on the tabled and looked at her. "Juvia…. I have a question to ask you."
Juvia wiped her mouth with her napkin before she spoke. "Yes Lyon? What does Lyon wants to ask Juvia?"
"Juvia... Would you have me take you on a date?" He asked, "Just one… Then I promise I will never ask again…"
Juvia hesitated a bit, not wanting to sound rude. "Lyon… J-Juvia."
"Please. Just one… Give me a chance."
A moment of silence was passed between them before Juvia spoke her answer. "One date… After… Lyon cannot bug Juvia again."
"Agreed, but what if Juvia wants to see me again?"
"Juvia would want no such thing."
"…Alright." Lyon smiled, even though that crushed his heart a bit.