Hey there! I'm back with a new story. It consists of slight crime. Gray will appear in the next chapter with Lemon obviously. But for now, this particular chapter is risk free. Enjoy!

The ace of the diamonds was solo. Such a shame because it would look fantastic paired with, say, an ace of clubs, spades or hearts. But this hand she was dealt and it was ace high, nothing more. They were down to three still standing for this round- Juvia, the Trust Fund Baby, and then the new guy. His name was Sting, he was a beanpole and his hair was short, spiky and blond. He wore khaki pants and a plaid shirt, and obviously he had twitchy fingers. Probably because there was no-cell phone rule during the game, and he was missing out on e-mails from his team, Juvia guessed. She bet he was an Internet start-up type guy, maybe a venture capitalist. He was used to risks, he liked to take them. That's why he'd been brought to this game, recruited specifically to play with her. But the trouble was- well, trouble for him- he laughed when he bluffed. Juvia spotted it early and then tracked it. He'd done it with a pair of fives a couple rounds back that she easily beat with two jacks. He chuckled softly too with his king high a few hands ago.

Wow! Bless that newbie. He couldn't even hide his tell, and Juvia could kiss him if he kept this up because it made her job so much easier.

"Five hundred jewels", he said confidently, pushing another black chip into the pile as he cleared his throat. Juvia was a panther poised for prey; muscles taut and frozen, lying in wait for the sign.

Then it came. It started in his nose, like a small, playful snort, then traveled to his belly, and finally turned into a quick, rumble laugh. Ah, this is brilliant. She can smell potential victory in the air. Of course, she could also smell the chicken dumplings and pepper steak downstairs. When she'd first started coming here to this second floor apartment parked atop a restaurant in Magnolia that smelled of takeout even when pizza had been ordered for the games, she was sure she'd never remove the scent from her clothes, much less her nostrils. Perma-scent. But she'd has no problems in the laundry and as for her nose, well, she was used to the smell that permeated every pore on Tuesday nights.

She never ate here, especially not with the bulldozersized heavy who stood guard over the game in the kitchen. He had a name and she knew his name, but who cared what it was? To her he was simply Rogue; he had black unruly raven hairs that fell over his eyes and blood-shot red eyes which has no emotions at all. His pale fingers were jammed into the cold cut plate pawing through the leftover slices of deli meat. Juvia wanted to roll her eyes, crinkle her nose or shoot him down with a hard stare.

She knew better though. For many reasons, not the least of which was the square outline of the handle of the glock poking at the hem of his pants. He'd never pulled it, but the gun was an omnipresent reminder that a bullet could be unleashed at a moment's notice. She shivered inside at the thought, but outside she showed no emotion, not towards Rogue, not towards Sting the pawn, and certainly none for Trust fund Baby when he shrugged, blew a long stream of air through his lips and slammed his cards down. He held his hands out wide. "I'm out." Then there were two.

She eyed the pot, her hand and the newbie. Her heart thumped, and a fleet of nerves ghosted through her, but only briefly. Don't let on.

She had no tells. Her face was stone. She'd mastered the impassive look a long time ago. She could fake her way through anything. A perfect liar, the ninth grade school guidance counselor had declared when Juvia denied punching Evergreen in the nose after Evergreen had called her with a nasty name.

She plucked out a black chip from her stack, then another, rolling them back and forth between her index finger and thumb, her blur nails long and lacquered. The nails were part of the look-low cut tight black tank tops, her white leather jackets, her black tight jeans shorts and black converse for every game. The regulars knew her, but the new players never look took a woman seriously.

"Juvia will raise you FIVE HUNDRED jewels" she said in an emotionless voice sliding two chips inside the pile. This was the moment.

Sting sucked in a deep breath, like he was trying to inhale a thick malt from a thin straw. He stared longingly at the pile of chips and said "I'm out" slapping the cards on the table which smelled of alcohol, noodles and regrets.

"Then I'll take this" she said not needing to reveal her ace high as she reached across the table and gathered up the pot. She collected the chips and passed them to Rogue. "I'll cash out" Nearly five thousand she won, Wow! She wants to shout, to soar.

"You want me to give this to Rufus?" Rogue offered

She shook her head "Juvia will"

"I'll walk you downstairs then"

As if she were going anyplace else but to deliver the dough but still Rogue followed her huffing as he waddled down the steps

"You played good tonight", he said in between heavy breaths.

"Thanks"

"I'm proud of you" Rogue said patting her back. Inside she recoiled his touch but outside she acted like as if it was no big deal

A minute later they reached Mr Yajima restaurant where she would be meeting Rufus

He hunched over in a chair swiping his finger across the screen of his iPad He wore a sharp black suit white shirt with no tie and his usual signature hat He smiled upon noticing her baring sharp teeth which were quite yellow from smoking He eyed her body hungrily practically undressing her with his mind She handed him the cash "Here is the money count it"

"I trust you Juvia" he said smirking at her

"Juvia doesn't trust you though" she said sharply

"Funny" he said as he laughed then proceeded on counting the bills

"Very funny. Do you tell jokes that funny when you are working behind your bar? Or should I drop by sometime to check?"

Juvia clenched her fists. Anger was boiling inside her. And she hated when Rufus mentioned about her bar and profession. But still she can't say a word about it.

"You are welcome at Juvia's bar anytime" she said through gritted teeth

"I know, and next time I'm there, the pretty bartender will make me a pretty drink" he said pointedly

"I know you could take the VC", Rufus said to her with a nefarious glint in his eye. "That's why we brought Sting for you. You did a good job separating fool from his money."

"Now, Miss Juvia do you want some Chicken dumplings? It's considered as best in whole Magnolia by the critics" Rufus said taking out a small knife from his pocket and brought the knife to his chin stroking his jaw

She shook her head and "No, thanks Juvia had my fill tonight"

"I'll see you next Tuesday then. Shall I send one of my limos for you?"

"Juvia can walk of her own" She turned on her heels and left walking home in the Magnolia night.

When she returned home, she tried to push the game out of her mind as she let the door slam. She washed her hands and pours herself a glass of whiskey and turned on the TV flipping through channels when her phone rang, when she stood up to check the caller ID she was shocked to see that it was none other Gray Fullbuster on the phone. The tall, gorgeous, muscular Fiore guy with dark unruly raven hairs and midnight blue eyes and was a lawyer. Her stomach flipped and her heart dared to flutter. Dumb organs.

The caller was Gray Fullbuster or her Gray-sama who she'd met a week ago while she was tending bar who fucked like there was no tomorrow and called her irresistible and then asked her to tell him more about all the things she like as they laid tangled up in the bedroom of her apartment, blissed out. That was the best hours of her life.

She answered on the second ring. "Hello"

"Hey, Juvia. What would you say about coming to Fiore for the weekend?"

A smile started to form on her lips "Tell Juvia why would she go to Fiore for the weekend?" she said sinking on her couch, crossing her ankles

"For starters, I have a new set of ropes I've been meaning to use, and a restaurant I would like to try, and a big king size bed you'd look spectacular tied up to. Oh, and there's also a new movie coming out this weekend that we could see"

She laughed "Let Juvia get this straight. Juvia is invited to the Fiore for dinner, a movie and a kinky little bondage?"

"Yes, you can say that" She didn't answer right away her mind flew to the big win she had tonight

Regardless of the chains Rufus had on her she was closer and while she'd promised herself she wouldn't get involved with anyone till she was free, Gray wasn't asking for more than two nights of her life. Though two nights were thoroughly finite and therefore could be enjoyed. She had off this weekend. Besides, the very thought of Gray had had a way of erasing some of the evening, of blotting out those moments when she was so clearly under Rufus's thumb.

"Then the answer is pick Juvia up at the airport in a town car, handsome, because Juvia is going to be ready for all of that and then some as soon Juvia step off the plane" she said kicking off her heels and took the whiskey gulping it down.

They chatted for longer and soon the tone shifted and his voice lowered. "What are you wearing right now?"

"What does Gray-sama want me to be wearing?"

"Thigh-high black stockings, lacy black panties and a matching bra" he answered immediately

"And what would Gray-sama do if Juvia was wearing that?"

"Drive you crazy through the lace with my tongue, then take your panties off with my teeth" She didn't think it was the liquor anymore that was making her feel warm or his words. "Funny thing, Gray-sama. Juvia believes that's what she'll be wearing on Friday afternoon"

"I'll be waiting to take that thing off your body"

"Juvia will wait, but now she just wants to sleep, she had a long night. Bye" And before he could say anything she hung up the phone.

'Umm..so this weekend, Juvia still has one day to go. So tomorrow she'll go with Lucy-san for lingerie shopping' she thought before making herself comfortable on the couch and drifting onto sleep soon.

AN: So, this it. It is only the first chapter though. This chapter was quite shortbut the next chapters I'll try to make it long as much as possible. Fun will be there in the later chapters. And I just want to request you to drop a review, nothing more. Second chapter is complete though. If I get positive results I'll update very soon. And there's no harm in just dropping a review. So please kindly provide a review. And thank you to all who reviewed, favorite and followed my other previous Gruvia fics .