Standard disclaimer: Fairy Tail and its characters belong to Hiro Mashima and the publishers.

A/N: Set in a slightly AU-timeline, where the issues with E.N.D. and Zeref are all done. I won't go into specifics of my made-up conclusion of FT (as I feel that's the ultimate arc leading to conclusion), just hints.

Also, this is going to be quite Mature in themes and scenes (at least for me as a fanfic writer). Please enjoy.


one


She's not a virgin, contrary to the unspoken popular belief.

She has the inkling that her friends and guildmates see her as an overzealous Gray-fangirl who's actually quite inexperienced. Well, yes, technically she is inexperienced when it comes to physical and intimate acts with someone. It's just that... the last time she slept with someone was also her first time sleeping with someone.

Juvia was soon-to-be seventeen when she's captivated by a very charming man. Seemingly, he was a few years older than her — not by a significant gap, but enough to make her adore his "maturity" compared to her own immaturity. Who would've thunk that it would turn out that man was actually way younger than her in mentality?! The point was — Juvia fell hard, so hard that she decided to give him her all after a day of dating.

She couldn't remember anything except for pain. He wasn't exactly big for her to accommodate but enough to make her cry out loud and felt blood dripping out. He cared for his own pleasure, and ignored his partner's satisfaction.

That experience with him made her gloomier than ever. Into their fifth day of dating, the man tried to sleep with her again. Juvia panicked, and for some odd twist of her power, brought the rain indoors, dousing him. He got mad. Of course, he got pissed! Who wouldn't? Imagine, you were about to get some and next thing you know you're drenched? Drenched with rain. Drenched because of rain, indoors!

Juvia ran after him when he left blazing mad, but he was gone like the wind. Oh, but if you knew Juvia, you'd know her latent ability to track someone. So, she was able to locate him in two days' time, never mind the mission Master Jose gave her. It was supposed to be their seventh-day dating anniversary, but he broke up with her instead.

When she became a Fairy Tail member, during one casual conversation with some guildmates, she found out that Natsu defeated a particular fire mage pretending to be the Salamander. Natsu defeated her one and only boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend, more like it. What a comeuppance!

All these unnecessary flashback is running through her brain as she feels calloused lips trailing down her neck. Juvia gulps, actually wanting to run away. Her fangirl side commands her to stay put and give in. After all, didn't she dream of being with Gray like this?

Juvia closes her eyes to dispel hesitations clouding her mind. She is twenty four years old, and she's only been with one man. A man who didn't even give her the sensation of pleasure. Juvia knows that Gray wouldn't be like that. He's had a one-night stand with Cana (one drunken night prior to Juvia joining the guild... so Juvia can't count her best friend as a love rival!); the latter has told Juvia Gray was a good lover. (Then again, Cana had said, she could've been creating her own account since she was so smashed. In fact, if Cana were to list all the good lovers she's had, Gray might find himself down on the list.)

Anyway, the fact that Gray owns Juvia's heart should be explanation enough for Juvia to feel good, despite the uncertainty she's feeling.

When she feels Gray squeezing one breast, she instinctively pulled away, ready to dash out of his apartment. Gray's feral instinct kicks in, and he uses one hand to smack Juvia's back closer to him, pressing her chest against him. Juvia relents and she responds vigorously when his mouth captures hers.

###

It is quick, despite seeing the time indicating they went at it for more than half an hour, foreplay included. Juvia is first to release herself, since it's been years since her last (and only) time. When Gray rolls off of her, he states nonchalantly, "You've been with someone already." He ties shut the used protection and makes a perfect toss to the waste basket.

It isn't a question; it's a direct statement. Juvia doesn't answer. Instead, she stands up from the bed. She can feel Gray's eyes on her. She'd like to think he's still lusting after her, but she knows better. She picks up her clothes and begins dressing up. Part of her craves for him to ask her to stay. Again, she knows better.

"Thanks, Gray-sama," she says as she puts on the last piece of clothing to complete her regular outfit. "Do not worry. Juvia will keep her word about this incident."

"Juvia," he says her name softly but no words follow it.

"It's funny that Gray-sama actually agreed to a one-night stand with Juvia. Oh, but it's not even the afternoon yet. So, is it a one-day stand?" she giggles but couldn't really find the humour in it. "When Juvia proposed it, she expected Gray-sama to reject the idea."

Gray sits up from the bed, giving her a sad look. Wait, no, not sadness but regret. Eyes full of regret. She nears the door, but before she turns the knob, Juvia turns to Gray with her usual beaming smile. "It's true. This isn't Juvia's first time; Juvia's only done it once with an ex-boyfriend. So, Juvia is really inexperienced. Juvia hopes Gray-sama is at least satisfied, since Gray-sama was very good to Juvia."

With that, Juvia gets out of his bedroom and out of his house.

###

One might ask... what brought this on? How come the reluctant Gray had sex with the eager Juvia?

She's been seducing him for years, ever since she entered Fairy Tail. They've been through so much. So many major and dangerous missions — a botched S-class exam, Acnologia, Tartaros, and the ultimate fight with Zeref, and the concluding arc with E.N.D. Amazingly, but not surprising, Fairy Tail survived it all.

Now, they're famous mages still going through missions. There was still a significant rise of dark guilds and there are still issues with evil wizards and creatures. Life goes on for them. Life goes on for Juvia.

So, after all these occurrences, even living together for half a year after the Tartaros event, how come only now?

It's only because Juvia has boldly asked him.

After seeing him with two different girls, on two separate occasions, in a span of three days, Juvia decided to offer herself. Don't badly judge her, or at least Juvia wants people to understand where she's coming from.

So, she knocked on his door and asked if he can spend one intimate session with her, just so she'll know how it'll feel like to be with him. She promised no one will know; she pledged that she'd end her suffocating infatuation after that. It took him minutes to let her in. He watched her as she sheds off her clothing piece by piece. When Gray snaked cold hands around her bare stomach, she knew he was willing.

And so, even with Reluctance telling her to back off this illogical plan, Juvia made love to Gray. At least for her it was making love. To Gray, it was probably just sex.

###

Well, you know, it is hard to just tell your heart to stop beating for someone. Especially if it's beating for that one person for years. So for Juvia to simply stop loving Gray, it's an impossible task at the moment. However, now Juvia knows it's feasible to move on from Gray. It will take time, but it is feasible.

Every morning, she greets him like usual and continues to call him with the same honorific. She gushes to her friends how handsome he looks. She tells them her gratefulness towards him for putting out her rain. Same old, same old, but lesser obsessive traits. It's enough for others to not question a sudden change in attitude. Gray, for his part, acts like nothing major (or intimate to be specific) has occurred between them.

It's been two weeks since Juvia had that 'one-day stand' with Gray. There comes a time to any hot-blooded human being, that when introduced to the pleasures of intimacy, the craving gets heightened.

Juvia is no different. She doesn't want to be seen as promiscuous, but she can't deny the feeling of longing. Heck, if she didn't control herself, she might've jumped up Gajeel during their last mission. But of course, Gajeel is strictly committed to another bluenette, the petite and smart one. And Juvia would never do such an atrocious act to ruin her friends' wonderful relationship. Most especially, it took time for Gajeel to come to terms with his passionate feelings for Levy.

Juvia cannot be the villain just to satisfy her carnal desires.

Hence, Juvia attempts to seek pleasure from Gray again. Sure, it means going back on her word. But if he's just looking for sexual satisfaction, Juvia is willing to give that to him with no strings attached. When she knocks on his door, a blonde girl opens it.

It isn't Lucy; the celestial mage wouldn't do something like that to her mate, the-now-quite-matured Natsu (especially after all the couple had gone through with the Zeref arc!). Juvia knows this woman. She's a mage from a newly-formed guild in Magnolia. She's wearing Gray's light blue button-down shirt. She eyes Juvia with a raised brow.

"Gray's in the shower. Do you need anything from him?"

Her tone is a little curt. Juvia's love for Gray is quite well-known in Magnolia, heck, perhaps in all Fiore.

"Oh, uh, umm," she stammers, blinking profusely. "Juvia just wanted to ask Gray-sama if he wants to go on a mission. But it seems Gray-sama is busy. Juvia will just ask someone else," she lies expertly.

The blonde mage nods. "Yeah, do that. He probably won't come out of here for the next few days," she winks at Juvia with a hint of mischief." Juvia bids her a farewell, masking the hurt in her eyes. "I'm not even gonna tell him you stopped by," she yells to Juvia, even though the water mage is still quite within earshot.

Never mind the horniness she's feeling. It dissipates a bit as soon as she thinks about Gray with the blonde mage. It greatly affects her this time. Perhaps it's due to recent observations of Gray. Juvia has noticed the ice mage looking intently at her, every now and then that is. The hopeful part in her assumed Gray is suddenly interested. After all, she's received that advice long time ago — that if she lessens the clinginess, Gray might be the one to pursue. It's all in her mind again.

She ends up at the train station, buying a ticket for a nearby town, about five stops from Magnolia. She just needs to get away from Magnolia and the guild for a day or two. The autumn sky isn't darkening and no rain clouds are visible. That's an improvement itself. It shows that despite the pinching ache, her heart is not in turmoil.

Once she gets to the small town, she goes straight to a familiar tavern. It is often the stopover destinations for Fairy Tail mages, especially those who embark on a longer journey into the night. She rarely stops there, but she trusts the tavern owner enough. She is greeted as soon as she enters, and she orders dinner. She also orders a mug of ale, just a pint to drown away lingering sorrow.

It has significantly become darker outside. There are only a few guests — a family of four, a couple (perhaps husband and wife), a man who seems to be in his early to mid thirties, and another with greying hair. The wife of the owner gives her an extra serving of sausages, winking at Juvia.

"We love Fairy Tail," she whispers to the water mage, and Juvia could only bow her head in appreciation.

She proceeds to eat her dinner in silence, with the owner's wife stopping by every now and then to ask if she needs anything. Juvia notices the younger man looking at her. His chocolate brown hair is combed neatly. He isn't bad looking, that much Juvia admits, but not near Gray's level of handsomeness. Heck, Natsu is even more charming. Juvia's still working on her pint of ale, but she knows that the alcohol would soon cloud her logic. She's worried that if she chugs the whole thing, it might lead her to seduce that man, whose stare is no doubt fixed on her. Juvia pushes the half-filled mug away. She cannot risk such promiscuity.

Just as the man is about to get up, whether he plans to approach Juvia or it's all in her imagination again, the tavern door opens. It is enough for the man to go back to his seat, much to Juvia's curiosity. So she turns around just to take a peek at the newcomer; her eyes bulge open when her gaze meets a dangerous pair of eyes.

Tall, broad-chested, dusty blonde hair, and a lightning-shaped scar on his right cheek that goes through his eyes.

"Laxus-sama," the mistress of the tavern greets him. "It's nice that you're visiting again."

His eyes travel from Juvia's to the middle-aged woman. "Your tavern is a favourite of mine," he charmingly tells her. "I'll have the usual, Mrs. Nalya. Bring it over there," he points to a direction with his thumb. Said direction is none other than Juvia's table. He struts towards Juvia with a smug look, pulls out a chair, and grabs the mug. "You done with this?" Juvia remains speechless but she nods. Laxus chugs the whole contents in one go. "What a surprise seeing you here! You on a mission?"

Juvia shakes her head.

"Coming back from a mission then?"

She shakes her head again, still not saying a word. They don't really talk; so why is he talking to her?

"Why not? We're guildmates," Laxus responds with a shrug, apparently hearing her mumbled words. "If you ain't on a mission, what are you doin' some miles away from the guild?"

"Juvia wants to be away from Magnolia for a few days," she decides to answer him. Juvia knows Laxus isn't the type to tattle away — at least she hopes so.

The owner's wife arrives and sets the plate in front of Laxus. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but are you two renting a room separately? We only have one left at the moment," she informs them.

"I'm staying and I'll take my room. Dunno about her," Laxus replies, pointing the fork at Juvia.

"Juvia planned to stay; but if you've no room, Juvia will look for another inn," she sadly states. Juvia is kind of hopeful that Laxus will take pity on her. That instead of him staying, he'll offer his room to Juvia and he'll find another place instead.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry, my dear," the owner apologizes. "Let me see what I can do about it!" she scurries away, perhaps to discuss this with her husband.

"There's another one about a kilometre or two away, but I'm telling ya this is the best place for a few nights' lodging."

Juvia frowns. He is making her leave? "Laxus-san is not a gentleman at all," she voices her opinion straightforwardly. Laxus raises a brow at her and smirks. The amused look in his eyes further aggravates Juvia. "Plus, Juvia got here first. Why should she be the one to leave?" She calls for the owner's wife. "Excuse me, Juvia will be the one staying since she arrived here first."

The owner and his wife both walk to their table. The wife bows down in apology. "Forgive me, my dear, but Laxus-sama has a reservation agreement here," she explains further. Basically, whenever there's one room left, and Laxus arrives, he automatically gets the room. This is due to the fact that the owners owe him a great deal after he saved them from thugs vandalizing the tavern. It was during Laxus's expulsion from the guild, and he helped them for free.

"She's staying with me," Laxus declares with nonchalance as he keeps shoving food in his mouth. The woman gasps as she steals a glance at Juvia. "She's my girlfriend, and she's just acting all moody. We'll share the room, of course," he shoots Juvia a glaring look, as if telling her to shut her mouth for now. Explanations, it seems, will follow.

When Laxus finishes eating, he stands up from his seat and tells Juvia to follow him. He gives a wave to the owner who tells him the room number he's assigned. It's apparently 'the usual'. Laxus goes in the room while Juvia lingers outside, unsure if this is the right move.

"I'm not gonna leave this door open for a long time. I'm offering you free lodging for the night. Up to you to accept it or not," he warns her as he closes the door a bit. Juvia rushes inside the room, standing as far away from him as possible. "Good girl."

The room is spacious, and the bed is a queen size. Laxus enters a smaller room, which Juvia alleges is the bathroom. This is the reason many of their guildmates prefer to go here. They find the rooms big enough to accommodate at least three people; there's a sense of privacy. Not to mention, the food is delicious.

Laxus comes out of the bathroom shirtless. He goes through his bag and fishes out a clean shirt and throws it at Juvia. "You can wear that." Juvia eyes it strangely. "Or you can wear nothing if you want," he snorts at his own joke.

Juvia goes to the bathroom to change into Laxus's shirt. She notices the reddish tint on her cheeks. While she'd like to associate it with alcohol, she knows the truth. Laxus's well-toned muscles and abs are clearly engraved in her mind. She shirks out of her long sleeves and skirt and puts on the white shirt. It's oversized on her, but it only reaches above her knees, mid-thigh, exposing her guild mark. Looking at the mirror, she can see traces of her black lacy bra underneath the flimsy material of the cotton shirt.

Perhaps it is indeed the alcohol affecting her, because she can just imagine Laxus's tongue licking her bare skin.

"Oi Juvia, are ya gonna stay there forever?" the booming voice of Laxus snaps her out of her lewd fantasy.

She opens the door and steps out of the bathroom. She doesn't know how she appears in his eyes, but his eyes roam her body up and down, as if undressing her.

She let the effects of the alcohol do the talking. "Do you find Juvia desirable?"

Her question doesn't faze him. If it did, he doesn't show it. "How do you want me to answer your question, Juvia?" he steps closer to her.

Dangerous territory, Juvia knows. Alarm bells are telling her to step away. When she stays muted, he inches even closer. "Do you want me to answer you through actions?" His voice is low and quite raspy.

Juvia just meekly nods.


To be continued...


A/N: This idea simply came out of nowhere. I'm in the midst of finishing the first chapter of my 2nd Navia fic, and then BAM! I thought about Laxus and Juvia as a [crack] pairing. I've seen a few fics concerning this [crack – just had to reiterate T_T) pairing, and most were great. I couldn't help but be inspired.

So please let me know how the fic goes. I'd love to continue it if there's enough feedback liking it. Once again, reviews are highly appreciated. It helps fanfic authors know where their stories stand in terms of interest. Thank you for reading.