LET YOU KNOW...
Juvia loves him. That's all that mattered.
He was willing to let her go with him. She became his companion, and she was thankful.
Juvia can wait, that's what she always told herself. In fact, she convinced herself that it was better this way — as friends, as comrades, as partners (in combat and training, and as a fellow traveller). They were both on the journey to self-discovery and self-renewal, to improve their skills and become the best at their elements, as well as to let all the pain from the past subsides.
There were quite a number of times when Juvia caught Gray staring at her — stolen glances, in other words. The inner romanticist in her would squeal and yelp in victory. Yet, she would internally scold herself for misinterpreting it. Her love for him was the unrequited kind; his 'love' for her was the friendship type.
At least he began to show interest. Still, Gray acted his typical standoffish character. Okay, he wasn't as indifferent as before anymore. He rarely repelled her touches nowadays. When Juvia clung to him, mostly out of habit, Gray would look the other way, but he didn't pull his arm away or brush her off. Juvia would be the one to disarm her hold on him, apologizing nonstop. Gray would coolly tell her it was nothing. No need for 'sorrys'.
Most of the times, unbeknownst to Juvia, a deep blush covered his cheeks.
Because, unbeknownst to Juvia, after a year of travelling, Gray developed feelings that are deeper than friendship.
Juvia suddenly became a presence he couldn't live without. Juvia's smile was akin to the glistening of ice during a wintry day when the sun shines brightly. Her laughter was the cool breeze that soothed his exhausted limbs. Her squeals and yelps were desserts to satisfy his ego. Her grunts during a fight were his energizer and motivation.
Juvia became his source of warmth.
He won't hesitate no more. Even with the scars he carries, and the fear of committing one's self to another, he won't hesitate no more.
As the water mage skipped in excitement upon hearing their return to Fiore, Gray observed her with tenderness.
He wants Juvia. He needs Juvia.
He called her name. She stopped and turned to look at him, a sparkling smile etched on her face. He called her name again, stepping forward. She continued to smile at him, not entirely sure why he kept calling her name. She finally asked, her melodious voice filling his ears. One more time, Gray spoke her name. This time Juvia looked confused, almost concerned of why he was saying her name with such a serious tone.
He kept saying her name and taking closer steps from where she stood frozen. Once he was mere inches away from her, towering over her petite, sexy frame, Gray couldn't help anymore.
He was a man of few words. And though he rarely took action when it comes to the romance department, this time he was determined to take the initiative.
Juvia... His voice was barely a whisper now. He leaned forward, his upper body bent to meet her height. He stared hungrily at her lips, which he could tell were making the water mage dizzy. If his presence made her swoon and weak, her closeness drove him to ecstasy.
She opened her lips to say something but words seemed stuck inside. So before the blue-haired beauty could say something, Gray took advantage of it.
Chapped lips pressed against soft lips. The ice mage should take it slow, but her breath and scent became an aphrodisiac.
In the middle of a glade where rays of sunshine filtered through the forest leaves, a few miles away from Fiore, a dark-haired man let the passion in him erupt. To onlookers it would seem he was attacking the lips of a fragile beauty, but to the blue-haired mage it was simply a long awaited gift.
He loves Juvia.