Standing in the Rain
Chapter 1- Missing
It was a normal day at the guild. Well, as normal as a day could be at Fairy Tail. Cana was chugging down a barrel of sake. Nab was standing in front of the request board, not actually thinking of taking a job of course. Gajeel was chewing on some iron scraps and staring across the room at Levy who was too engrossed in a book to be aware of his gaze. Mirajane was polishing drinking glasses behind the bar counter and Elfman was in a heated argument with Evergreen about being a "man".
Despite the usual shenanigans of the guild members, the mood was mellow considering no all-out brawls had started yet. Part of the reason for this was that it had been raining hard for most of the day so far and most of the reason, was that Natsu had not arrived at the guild yet. Everyone pretty much figured that chaos would ensue once Natsu busted through the guild doors and attempted to challenge everyone to a fight, starting with Gray who would somehow start an argument with him. However, a certain ice mage was in no mood to fight, or actually even deal with anyone at the moment. He had been feeling very troubled since this morning, and not because he was greeted by an overly-passionate "OHAYOU GRAY-SAMA~" from a blue-haired water mage when he arrived at the guild, or because he felt a pair of eyes following him and watching his every movement as he walked around or even because said water mage had managed to attach herself to his hip. No, Gray was feeling uneasy because none of above had happened. These actions by Juvia were so ordinary to the ice mage that when he wasn't followed around by Juvia or given a bento lunchbox from her this morning he felt uneasy.
Where is she? Gray thought. I don't remember her telling me she was going on a mission, she usually always tells me when she is leaving the guild-not that I care or anything-but it's strange that she isn't here. There isn't a single morning where she hasn't greeted me. I hope nothing is wrong with her. Gray mentally face-palmed. Why do I care so much what she is doing or where she is? I should be happy that she isn't here doing her crazy antics.
At that moment, the guild doors were kicked open and brief hope flashed across Gray's face before it set to a scowl as a happy-looking Natsu busted in with a not-so-happy-looking Lucy running after him.
"Natsu! How many times have I told you not to sneak into my bed in the middle of the night?!" She fumed.
He just grinned at her, "Oh Come on Luceee" he whined, "your bed is so much comfier than mine and it smells so good!"
With that he walked off in Gray's general direction leaving a blushing Lucy standing near the door who was trying to remain angry but failing miserably and stuttering incoherent gibberish.
"Oi Gray, teme, what are you glaring at with that stupid face?" Natsu yelled walking towards the bar and ready to start a fight. Gray just stared contemptibly at Natsu and ignored him. "Droopy eyes, you deaf or something?". Gray would usually have started hurling insults at Natsu by this point, but his mind was too focused elsewhere. The heavy rain that had been pouring all morning reminded him of Juvia and he wondered if she was causing it. Maybe I should try to go find her, he thought. He pushed past Natsu and headed out of the guild causing most of the guild members to stop what they were doing and gape. Natsu insulted Gray and Gray didn't even respond? What had the world come to? Natsu seemed pretty confused as well but Mirajane smiled with knowing eyes. She had an idea of why Gray was feeling so unsettled and was overly curious about how long it would take for him to come to terms with his feelings for Juvia.