For ReallyYesShips, thanks for all the late night brainstorming sessions.
The guild was absolutely packed to the brim one afternoon when an incredibly excited Warren burst in holding a heavy looking metal box about the size of a shoebox. "I've finally done it!" he shouted.
"Whatcha got there?" asked Natsu from the table where he sat with Lucy, Erza and Gray.
"This," Warren began, sitting the box in front of Juvia at her table with Gajeel and Levy, "is a lie detector I was hired to make for the Magic Council."
"A lie detector?" asked Levy, "how does it work?"
Warren removed a key from his pocket unlocking the metal box and removing a cloth wrapped cube inside, "This works much like telepathy, this box harnesses the tester's magic power to enter the subject's mind and use their own memories to decide if they are telling the truth or not." Pulling the cloth away he reveals a clear glass cube and places it in front of Juvia, "Juvia, would you mind being a test subject?"
"Not at all," she replied, and the box chimed and glowed white.
"See everyone? That was the truth." Warren turned to face Juvia, "now if you don't mind would you tell a lie" No one seemed to notice the person gliding closer to the table to see what was happening up close.
"Juvia does not like to lie," she said modestly, the box once again chimed and glowed white.
"Oh, that's okay, just say anything." Warren smiled to reassure the nervous mage.
Juvia placed a fingertip to her lips and mumbled, "what should Juvia lie about?"
"Anything, it can be completely ridiculous; say the sky is orange, you live on the moon, or you don't love Gray," he joked causing a wave of laughter.
Juvia repeated to herself questioningly, "Juvia doesn't love Gray?" A chime and white light halted all the laughter of ger guildmates.
"Jeez, the things is broken Warren!" Natsu yelled from beside a puzzled looking Gray.
"That is strange…"Warren picked up the device turning it over in his hands and investigating it before setting it back on the table between them. "Juvia, can you say something else?"
Juvia looked nervous, "Um, Juvia uses fire magic." Buzzing and a red light punctuated her statement.
"Okay that worked, now why didn't the last one work?" Warren wondered aloud.
Cana leaned over into his personal space and winked, "Maybe Juvia really doesn't love Gray." A tension gathered in the air and suddenly there was a flurry of activity.
"Did you lie?" Lucy asked.
"About what?" Juvia asked confused.
"Of course she loves Gray, the thing must be defective," Natsu said poking the cube and getting his hand pulled away swiftly by Warren.
"She's only got eyes for Gray, right?" asked Lisanna.
Cana shoved Warren aside standing in his spot and took over the questioning, "Do you like someone else?"
Juvia blushed, "Um….."
Cana grinned, "answer the question Juvia, we're all friends here."
"Yes." Juvia responded so quietly it was hardly able to be heard by anyone without dragon senses, but it was clear when the white light and ding came from the lie detector.
"What?!" Lucy squealed, "Who is it?"
"Leave her alone, she doesn't have to say anything," Gajeel snarled.
"Is it Gajeel" Cana asked.
"NO!" both Juvia and Gajeel shouted in unison causing the cube to glow white.
"Juvia," Cana purred, "you don't have to tell us who you are dating."
"I know," Juvia shifted in her seat, watching the cube glow white.
"So, you aren't denying you are dating someone?" Cana smiled, Juvia had fallen into her trap.
Juvia froze. "No….I…." the cube buzzed and glowed red.
"Is it Lyon?" Lucy asked, "He's always had a thing for you."
"No!" Juvia said defensively, looking panicked as the cube chimed and glowed white.
A flurry of questions came from every direction;
"Is he tall?"
"Is he cute?"
"Is he in a guild?"
"Does he live in town?"
"Is he a mage?"
"Do we know him?"
All of the voices began to blend together and Juvia was too overwhelmed to confirm or deny anything. She finally spoke over the crowd, "Juvia doesn't want to say anything to embarrass anyone, she should stop talking now." standing she started to push her way through the crowd.
"I am not embarrassed by you." Laxus called out, causing Juvia to stop in her tracks, the cube lit up and chimed for confirmation. "why would you think that I would be embarrassed to be with you, Juvia?"
She played with the ends of her hair nervously, "Because Juvia is like…Juvia."
"Nope. Doesn't matter," he chuckled ignoring the chime of the lie detector as it lit up again. "You being you is why I like you." Another chime sounded.
"How long has this been going on?" Lucy blurted out.
Juvia started to answer, "Ever since the day that Laxus—" a hand clamped over her mouth.
Laxus flushed, "THAT might actually embarrass me," he said.
*CHIME*
