Fake Love...?
Summary: AU: Lucy was having a stalker problem, thank god Gray is always there to help her.
Pairings: Lucy Heartfillia x Gray Fullbuster
Disclaimer: Fairy Tail® Hiro Mashima
Genre: Romance, Alternative Universe,
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"Why are we here?" Lucy asked, blinking her eyes questioningly at Gray as soon as he was finished giving their order to the waitress.
"We're on a date," He said with a very casual expression.
That caught the blonde lady off guard. "Uhm, why?" She asked, cursing herself inwardly when she felt her cheeks heated up.
Gray shrugged his shoulders. "'Cause we're pretending to be dating, remember?"
Lucy blinked again, the conversation from last night replayed in her mind. She blinked once again before a saying. "Oh, you're serious with that," she mumbled, light pink dusting her cheeks again.
"Yeah, Lucy. I told you I'll help you get rid of that stalker of yours."
"Thank you, Gray," Lucy beamed at him.
"We're friends, Lu," Gray rolled his eyes while shaking his head with a fond smile playing on his lips. "If you needed my help, I'll be gladly to give you a hand or two," he said. And then he gestured to the book on the table. "Now, go on. Continue with that book of yours," he said, placing his back against the back rest of the chair.
Lucy slowly nodded her head before opening the book. Five minutes passed, but her chocolate-coloured eyes trailed across to the same line repeatedly, she's far too distracted with Gray's presence before her to even bothered pretending to read her book.
Gray, on the other hand, was very casual with their pretend date. He was even reading a magazine, but Lucy didn't know where he got it from.
"Here's your order," a voice interrupted them.
Lucy and Gray simultaneously looked up and was greeted by a waitress, who's eyes trailing only to Gray. Lucy fought the urge to raise an eyebrow, however she was very open with her annoyance to the waitress, who was trying to act cute (because who wouldn't? He's goddamn attractive for his own good) to Gray.
The waitress placed the plate of cheesecake in front of him; the young man , however, gently pushed the dessert to Lucy.
"No," He gave the waitress a small smile, "the strawberry cheesecake goes to her. Thanks."
Lucy wanted to cheer and scream 'Hah! Take that, b!' to the waitress as Gray took the glass of juice and the cup of coffee from the tray and placed the juice to Lucy again.
Lucy smiled gratefully to Gray. It warmed her heart that Gray paid attention to the things she likes. Even though, she's only been friends with Gray during their second year in Mongolia University; only two years. Lucy was introduced to Gray through her best friend's, Levy, boyfriend Gajeel. In all honesty, it wasn't a nice first impression. Gray freaked Lucy out more than once with his stripping habit, but looking pass his unusual pattern, Gray was a good friend with Lucy.
He was sweet, caring, and usually acted an older sibling to Lucy, too. Lucy, may or may not, fantasised Gray acting like that only towards her. So yes, Lucy maybe, sort of, kind of likes Gray a little. Okay, a lot.
She really likes Gray a lot.
Lucy sighed, if it wasn't for her predicament right now, Gray would never asked Lucy out for a casual date; pretend or not.
Last night, she was complaining to Levy that she has been receiving anonymous gifts and love letters from a secret admirer. At first, she shrugged it off, however, if she was being honest, it creeped her out every time she'd arrived at her apartment's doorstep with a present, bouquet of flowers or envelopes waiting for her.
And then, everything escalated.
Last week, she received a call in the middle of the night. When Lucy (begrudgingly mind you, because who's this insane person calling her at two in morning?!) answered the call nobody answered back, but she could hear the subtle sound of someone's breathing from the other line. Goosebumps trailed down her spine so she hastily slammed the phone down. She could feel her heart pounded harder when the phone started ringing again.
She immediately thought about the mysterious person behind the creepy gifts. The blonde college lady disconnected the phone from its plug in order for her creepy admirer to stop calling her, and decided against connecting her landline back the very next day.
After that, the stalking came after. Lucy could literally feel someone following her. From the university, to the local library, to her favourite coffee and book shop, and then back to her house. She even caught a glimpse of her stalker, a man wearing a large cap that covered half of his face, a loose jogger pants and a jacket that had been zipped all the way up to his chin. The blonde lady attempted to hide her panic, and quickly resumed her walk back to her apartment; trembling in fear all the way back.
Her stalking issues caught Gray's attention, and with concern etched on his handsome face, the black haired young man offered to help Lucy.
At first, Lucy turned him down, but Gray insisted of helping her. Gray wanted to confront the stalker, but the stalker was too good at stalking Lucy and was even more too good of getting caught.
So plan B is for Lucy to pretend to be in a relationship with Gray so her mysterious admirer would stop pestering her.
And thus, today is their first official 'date' as a couple.
Lucy sighed again. If she was being honest, she wanted Gray to date her without this complication hanging on their shoulders. She would really like to go out with him, officially as his 'girlfriend'.
Sensing her distress, Gray lifted his eyes from the magazine and wrapped his large hand over Lucy's small one. Lucy jumped from her seat, totally not expecting this intimate gesture from Gray. She blinked her owlish eyes to him, only to be returned with an encouraging smile.
"We'll get rid of him, Lu, even if I have to punch the day light out this stalker of yours; I'd do it in a heart beat," he said, his grip over her hand tightened a little to lift her mood.
Shoving down the disappointment of Gray mistaking her forlorn disposition to feeling disturbed with her stalker issues rather than feeling dismayed with their 'pretend' relationship, Lucy squeezed Gray's hand back and smiled. "I really owe you one, Gray," she said.
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Lucy thank all the gods when their 'date' went off without a hitch.
Although, Gray was a little bit disappointed because her was so eager to plant his fist against her stalker's face. Lucy giggled at Gray, inwardly enjoying her limited moments with him.
However, on their way back to her apartment, she noticed something. She didn't want to question Gray, but they stopped by five different shops (sport shop, book shop, clothes shops — male and female — and lastly a shop for gadgets) before finally going to the road that would lead to Lucy's apartment.
"Thank you for walking me all the way to my apartment, Gray," Lucy said, bowing a little as soon as they've reached the door.
Lucy, however, was baffled after she noticed the frown on Gray's forehead. He also have his head tilted a little over to his left shoulder; stealthily looking whatever is it that's behind him. The blonde lady, confused, was about to peek behind Gray, when the latter suddenly grabbed her face and pulled her to him.
Their face were too close to each other; Lucy was fully aware that their lips were just hair's breadth with each other, and she could just lean forward a little if she wanted to plant her lips against his.
"Sorry," Gray muttered quietly, still keeping their close proximity, but his attention was far away from Lucy.
Lucy was more focused about their intimate position to even noticed the young man's serious expression." Uhm... uhh..." she stuttered.
"I sensed someone behind the lamp post. It's been following us after we left the coffee shop," Gray whispered, still have his eyes on his shoulder.
Lucy gasped a little. Forgetting all about Gray's inviting lips. Her heart pounded hard as soon as she realised what he was talking about.
Oh god, her stalker.
He was following them since the coffee shop, and she wasn't even aware of it! Usually she'd quickly notice her stalker following her, but she was too star struck with Gray that she failed to be aware of her surroundings. Fear crept all over her body as she trembled against Gray's grip. Her quivering hands grasped his t-shirt before she tightly closed her eyes.
"Hey, don't worry," Gray reassured her after sensing her fear. He pulled her into a hug, planting his nose against her blonde hair. "I got you, Lu," he whispered soothingly.
Lucy slowly opened her eyes and nodded her head, drowning herself in Gray's kindness, trying to forget her fear and her creepy stalker. She pressed her body closer against Gray's lean one as she bathe herself with his warmth.
She doesn't know how long she's trapped inside Gray's arms, but when he said that he could no longer feel anyone near her apartment, he finally let her go; much to her dismay.
Gray turned around, making sure that the stalker really did leave the area. Lucy took Gray's distraction to survey around to calm her racing heart, and to hide the blush on her cheeks. It was a good thing that she felt herself presentable enough to face him; that's when Gray turned his attention back to her.
"Guess, the bastard's not around anymore," he said, and then he scratched the side of his neck. His cheeks flushed in light pink, which Lucy find so adorable. "Sorry about that. Uhh, I didn't want to scare you so I didn't say that he's following us. Thought I could shake him off."
"Ah, so that's why we stopped at different shops." Finally realising Gray's intention awhile ago, her lips forming a bemused smile.
"Yeah, anyways, you should go inside. Lock the door and the windows. Have my number on speed dial, okay? I'll wait until you locked everything."
Lucy chuckled lightly, her whole body gradually relaxing. "You don't have to wait," she said, as she fished out the keys from her shoulder bag.
Gray snorted. "What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't make sure that my girlfriend is safe?" Gray jived, taking the keys from Lucy's hand and unlock the door for her.
Forcing her blush down as Gray mentioned himself as her boyfriend and her as his girlfriend rather casually, even though she knew that he was joking. 'We're just pretending,' she has to remind herself the cold truth so she wouldn't be too hang up with their fake relationship after this facade is over.
She took the keys from Gray and flashed the young man with a quick smile before closing the door shut.
True to his words, Gray made sure that Lucy has locked the door and the windows of her apartment by calling her.
"Yes, Gray. I locked everything."
"I'm on your speed dial?"
"Yes."
"Call me as soon as you feel like someone's lurking around your place, okay?"
"Okay."
"I'll have to go to the nearest Police Box to request routine patrol around your apartment block just to be sure."
He didn't have to, but Lucy was so grateful to Gray's effort to keep her as safe as possible, and his concern sent a flash of warmth through her body. "Thank you, Gray. Really."
She heard him laughed a little. "It's fine. Good night, Lucy."
"Good night, Gray," with much reluctance, Lucy pressed the end call.
She stared at her phone for the whole minute before placing the contraption on her bedside table. With Gray coursing through her mind, Lucy was surprised she was able to sleep that night.
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To be continued