"First things first, I'm going to need you to put on some underwear," I sigh, throwing the wadded up fabric at his face.
"What? How'd that get there?" Gray mudders, confusion spread across his face. I can't help but laugh when he looks like that - I know he doesn't mean to take off all his clothes, it's just a thing that happens due to his childhood. No one really knows why, but I can't judge him. I can only tease playfully, and make him laugh with me.
"Just put them on already!" I giggle, walking back over to him with a set of clothing, fresh out of the laundry. "And this too. We're leaving soon!"
"Relax Juvia, we still have some time." He reached around the fabric to grab my lower back instead, pulling me into him and planting a small kiss on the side of me neck. As badly as I'd love to give in, I know I can't, and instead spin away from him and push his pants back into his chest.
"Not that much time, love. Now get on your clothes so we can get going!" I hear him mumble something about his zipper from behind me. "Relax. The sooner we get going, the sooner we get home, and finish what you just started."
"Alright Juvie, let's go to Fairy Tail!"
Neither of us has been in the past two years. Of course, we've been keeping in contact with our friends, but ever since graduation we've been far too busy to actually make time to visit. We still hold the bar in high esteem, and occasionally go in for a drink or two.
"Hey babe, what are you thinking about?" Gray asks, obviously realizing that something was up. He squeezes my hand in reassurance. "Is it happening again?"
"Not this time, don't worry about me. I was just thinking about the past few years," I tell him, even though I know he won't believe me. It's been this way for the past two years, and I don't blame him. Sometimes my sudden silence isn't a false alarm.
"If it's happening again you know you can tell me…" He starts to slow down, pulling me to look at him.
"And if it was you know I would. I tell you everything, you know this."
"I know, but I still worry about you. It's because I love you." With that, he pulls me into his chest and kisses the top of my head.
"Gray w-"
"No. The guild can wait. I just want to hold my Juvia for a little while longer, okay?"
The clouds begin to transform from black to a light silver, while the setting sun shines through in dim beams of pink.
"The sky is so beautiful when you're happy baby," Gray whispers lovingly into my ear and twirls my newly dyed hair. "Are you okay to go now?"
"Of course!" I slip my hand back into his and pull him along towards the hall, which is just coming into view. It's hard to miss, really. After the last set of repairs, it was seriously upgraded and is now easily the most breathtaking building in the ancient city.
I take a deep breath at the doors and prepare myself for the emotions that will come with seeing all my dearest friends at once. We'd been planning this reunion for months now, and everyone had found a way out to our beloved hangout from before we had to grow up.
"C'mon. It's time. We've all had to wait long enough," Gray says seriously, taking my waist in his arm. Together, we push through the massive double doors and into the building.
"Juvia! Gray!" Lucy is the first one to meet us at the doors, which isn't surprising. We'd stayed the closest this entire time, through attending the same university and never leaving the city. She and Natsu might as well be our neighbors too.
"Hey guys, long time, no see!" Natsu calls from across the bar, "what's it been? Three days?"
We share a laugh before heading over to the bar to get a couple drinks and start our night.
"Hey, Cana! What are you doing behind the bar? It's unlike you to miss out on an opportunity to drink with the rest of us!" Gray teases.
"What can I say? I'm a changed woman," she proudly states, handing us our drinks.
I can't help but gasp in disbelief at such a statement from my alcoholic friend. I'm so shocked that I don't even know if I should be happy for her.
"Nah, jokes. You should have seen your face Juvia! Mira has just been working double time and Bacchus and I figured we'd give her a night off, right babe?" The end of her sentence is obviously directed at the man standing beside her, who I only know from stories.
"She means that she decided, I'd love to be getting to know the rest of you! My name's Bacchus, it's nice to meet you," he says with a smile, and puts out his hand.
"It's nice to meet you too," Gray replies, putting his out to meet before letting it find my back again.
"Yes for sure, I've heard so much about you!" I gush to the man in front of me and watch as he turns to my friend with a devilish grin. "Now if you don't mind, we're going to go see everyone else."
As I pull Gray with me I giggle at Cana, who I can only imagine is as red as a tomato as she deflects Bacchus' jokes. I had to do it, for old times sake.
"That wasn't very nice," Gray laughs, "but then again, I wouldn't expect anything less. After all, she would have done the exact same."
It's then that Mira, Fairy Tail's second in command, stands atop a table and shouts to the busy room, "can I have your attention please!"
This is followed by the clinking of drinks and a chorus of shouting.
"Now if everyone could sit down in one of the booths, it's time for us all to catch up, wouldn't you say?"
. . .
What do you guys think? This is my first fanfic, so I would absolutely love some reviews. I'm still getting into the swing of things, but I have some ideas which I can't wait to write about! I'm planning on doing weekly or biweekly updates, for now, depending on how many people read and like what I'm doing here.
Talk to you soon! Xoxo Emy