This is the story of Lyon, who's head-over-heels for Juvia, who's pining after Gray, who's had a secret crush on Erza (basically since forever), but she's completely oblivious because she's totally in love with Jellal. Of Freed, who feels conflicted over his feelings for Mirajane who's ignoring him because she's not over Laxus who still misses what they used to have (even though he's mostly, completely over it). Of Loke who won't give up even though he knows that he has zero chance with Lucy, even though she's sick and tired of clueless, bone-headed Natsu who doesn't understand why there's a problem.

This is the Mazeverse series, a post-Tenrou AU with pairings galore. Gruvia, Lyvia, Grayza, Jerza, Nalu, Nali, Lolu, Graylu, Bixanna, Gale, ElfEver, Miraxus, Laxana, MiraFreed as well as a handful of crackships and rare-pairs as we try to pair the spares. This is the Mazeverse. No ship is safe ;)

Happy Friday! We've got a brand-new story this week an there's an interesting tale behind this one.

First of all, I totally headcanon that Gray has a motorcycle. One doesn't randomly decide to pick up a bike in Edolas or a quad in the Oracion Seis arc without any past history with these sorts of vehicles. Given that he's a bit of a bad boy, it totally fits his image. More bad-boy, biker Gray to come in this and other universes.

Second, this piece exists at the request of my beta Edgar (the other half of R011ingThunder). He wanted to know what happens when Gray and Erza aren't trapped in caves or skewering one another. This was my answer to that question: a little bit of filler-fluff. (Soon after, he asked what Team Natsu does when they aren't on the Doomed Relationship Hamster Wheel. I realized that I've never shown them as a team, so I wrote Happiness Comes in Waves to fill that gap.) I probably didn't need both this and Waves, since they serve the same purpose on the Grayza front, but it's written and it makes sense to keep it in this universe. It needs to be here and now and not later... for reasons. So that's that.

For those keeping score, it's still May-ish in this universe. This takes place just after the end of Much Ado about Nothing. That's not required reading to enjoy this.

Guest: The pleasure's all mine. I'm glad you liked Much Ado. We'll for sure see the Crime Sorciere crew again, and that includes Macbeth. (Who knows? If I'm feeling clever, I might even try to find the guy a girlfriend. XD) But in the mean time, I think you might enjoy this one. If I'm recalling our previous conversations correctly, Joyride should be right up your alley. Thanks again!

- K. Chandler

That was a mission accomplished, if she did say so herself.

The anniversary of the successful defeat of the Oracion Seis was only a few days away, and they were celebrating the occasion with a commemorative ball tomorrow night. That sounded like the perfect excuse for a new dress.

Being a S-Class Wizard paid well, so when it came to armor and other necessities, Erza wasn't afraid to indulge. Dresses, on the other hand, were another matter entirely. Erza had no need for such frivolous things. But for a special occasion like this one, Erza was willing to go to greater lengths for the dress she wanted, even if that meant going all the way to Crocus.

And the trip to Crocus had been well worth it. Erza had drawn up a design and commissioned a tailor who could complete it on short notice, though it had been no trifling sum. The finished garment looked even better than her sketches. Inspecting her reflection in the fitting room mirror, Erza couldn't have been more pleased.

"It's perfect."

With the gown paid for and safely Requipped away, Erza's business was complete. She stepped out of the boutique and into the streets of Crocus, heading towards the train station. It was time to return to Magnolia.

The deafening rumble of an engine made Erza stop. A motorbike roared, whizzing around a corner. It sputtered to a halt in front of her as the rider cut the engine. He was dressed all in black, from his boots, to his jeans, to his leather jacket. With gloved hands, he pulled off his helmet, tucking it under his arm.

Erza's eyes grew wide when she recognized him.

"Gray, is that you?!" she gasped.

He flashed his signature lazy smile. "Hey."

"What are you doing all the way out here?" she asked.

"Decided to go for a ride," shrugged Gray.

"All the way in Crocus?" she asked. He said it like it was a casual affair, something he had decided upon on a whim, but even by train, the journey took a good six hours.

"I guess, it was kinda a long ride," he admitted, shoulders rising slightly. "I was gonna head back to the guild. So I was thinking maybe, you know, I happen to have a spare helmet, so if you want, you could catch a ride with me. I mean, since I'm here anyways."

On a bike? Erza hesitated. She had never been on a motorcycle before.

"Beats the train," he coaxed.

Erza swallowed hard. "All right." She wondered if it would be anything like riding a horse. A horse, she could do. This would be a piece of cake. Wouldn't it?

Gray's face lit up, a boyish grin pulling at his features. "Awesome. You ever do this before?"

Erza shook her head, apprehension welling in her stomach.

Gray gave her a reassuring smile. He dismounted, taking Erza around the vehicle. He showed her how to climb on and where to put her feet.

"And that's all there is to it," he told her.

"Looks easy enough," she said with a confidence she didn't feel. She forced her nerves to settle.

"All right. Hang on to me," he said. "And don't let go. You'll be fine."

"Right."

"Ready?" Gray offered her the other helmet, helping Erza to secure the strap under her chin on before he replaced his own. He straddled the bike, fastening the SE-plug around his wrist. Then he waved for her to climb on behind him. Erza did as she was instructed, trying to find a comfortable position on this unfamiliar mount.

Once she was settled behind Gray, Erza felt the engine sputter to life, powered by Gray's magic.

Erza tensed as Gray accelerated onto the open road. The wind whooshed past her helmet, roaring in her ears.

This was nothing like riding a horse.

Erza could feel the vibrations of the engine all the way to her bones. Even worse, when they'd come up on a turn, the bike would sway sideways, and Gray would lurch along with it! The entire experience was thoroughly unpleasant.

At least a horse was predictable. Erza was a skilled equestrian and more than comfortable with guiding her mount with the slightest pressure of her knees. But this…this was something else entirely.

She was on the back of this… this… thing, hurtling down the road at God knows what speed. And if anything happened, she'd have two options: hang on for dear life and hope for the best, or jump off and hope for the best.

That didn't sit well with Erza. When things went wrong, she wasn't the type of person who sat around and hoped for the best. She was the type of person who did something about them. But now, she was entirely at Gray's mercy. She didn't like it.

"Something wrong?" Gray's voice crackled in her ear.

Erza jumped. "You didn't tell me you had a comms lacrima in this!" she exclaimed, annoyed that he had managed to unsettle her. Unsettle her more than the bike had, that is.

Gray chuckled. Erza could feel the rumbling through his chest and hear his voice in her earpiece. It was the most peculiar sensation.

"Did you expect to communicate with Morse code all the way home?" teased Gray. "Poke me in the ribs again and I might just be able to make out what you want to tell me."

Erza refrained from snorting. She wouldn't give Gray the satisfaction of knowing he'd managed to annoy her. Instead she scowled, since he wouldn't be able to see it. She felt the bike decelerate smoothly, Gray slowing it to a more manageable pace.

"So, what's the matter?" he asked.

"It's nothing," said Erza stiffly.

"You've got a death-grip on me," he said flatly. "So, what's the matter?"

Erza didn't respond.

"You're not scared, are you?" he asked.

"Of course, I'm not," she said quickly. And she wasn't exactly. She was more… uncomfortable. She was very much out of her element and she didn't like it.

"Do you want to stop for a bit?" Gray asked gently.

"No," huffed Erza. She didn't like the bike, but the idea of admitting defeat was even worse.

She heard Gray sigh. Then he spoke again. "Erza. Do you trust me?"

"…yeah."

"You should know, I've been riding for years," he said. "I won't let anything happen to you. Bike's not gonna fall over if I'm still on it, so relax, okay?"

Erza nodded.

"Was that a yes? I can't see out the back of my head."

"Yeah," she said.

Gray reached back with one hand, giving her knee a comforting pat. "I'm right here," he said.

"Both hands on the wheel," she commanded sharply, even though it wasn't really a wheel.

"I hear ya," he said lightly, but he did as she asked. "You okay if I speed up again?"

Erza nodded again before remembering to speak out loud. "Yeah," she said, feeling herself relaxing.

Gray was someone who kept his promises. If he said they'd be okay, she'd believe him.

This is probably a good time to mention that I know next to nothing about bikes... I'm using my imagination and 'The Google.' According to 'The Google' in-helmet radios are a thing for serious bikers, especially those who like to ride in groups or with a passenger.

Next time, in [Mazeverse] Joyride, a picnic: "Sandwiches?" asked Erza curiously as she held up the container he'd packed.

Stop back next Friday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.