Gray and Juvia
As much as she tried to hold it back, Juvia felt a sizable yawn escape her. From her seat at the bar, she looked around at the dimly lit guildhall around her. This late in the day, nearly everyone had gone home for the night. But even after only three mages remained in the building, the rain woman refused to leave.
Not until her beloved awoke from his slumber.
Gray had fallen asleep shortly after arriving at the guildhall this afternoon. Through the many hours that followed, Juvia never once left the man's side. Weary eyed, and needing desperately to pee, she began to shake as she waited for him to move.
"You can use the restroom Juvia" Mirajane said from behind the bar, "I promise Gray will still be here when you get back." While she spoke, the white-haired mage was busy cleaning the counter between them.
Juvia looked up and promptly shook her head. "Juvia will not leave this spot until he awakens. Ever since joining Fairy Tail, Juvia has walked home with her beloved whenever possible."
In response, Mira giggled as she continued to clean.
"What?" Juvia asked, confused by her friend's reaction.
"Oh nothing" Mira answered in a coy tone, "it's just cute how much you care about him."
A faint blush on her cheeks, Juvia looked to the sleeping man beside her. Gray was snoring lightly, and his body shifted every few minutes, causing his stool to creak underneath him. Just being this close caused her heartbeat to increase dramatically. A small part of her wanted nothing more than to inch closer, but a sudden twinge of fear stopped her from doing so.
Instead, she switched her gaze back across the bar. She must have zoned out longer than she thought, because Mirajane was already finished cleaning. Now wearing a light coat over her usual attire, the white-haired mage walked around the bar.
"Gray has never been one to let his emotions show easily" the girl said during her walk towards the door. "He really does like you, he just needs time to realize how much."
Before Juvia could fully take in her friend's words, a slight movement drew her attention elsewhere. At the same time Mirajane walked out the door, Gray awoke alongside a deep yawn. The man stretched as he opened his eyes, slowly taking in the scene around him. When one of his outstretched arms almost grazed her cheek, Juvia had to stop herself from falling to the floor.
"Oh, hey Juvia" Gray said groggily, still fighting back a powerful yawn. "Looks like everyone else went home huh."
"Mirajane just left" Juvia explained. The rain woman stood to her feet as Gray did the same. "Natsu and Lucy were here earlier, but they left when they couldn't find a decent job."
Gray nodded his understanding. "Yeah, it's been a slow week. So why are you still here?."
The question took Juvia off guard. Not because she wasn't expecting it, but because she had no explanation that would sound normal. It had to be passed midnight by now, no lie could possibly explain why she was here this late at night. She hated the idea of going for broke, but the situation wasn't giving her much of a choice.
"Juvia...just thought that maybe..." she said with her face to the floor, "maybe we could walk home together."
Instantly destroying every bit of tension between them, Gray shot a wide grin in the girl's direction. "You waited all day to ask me that?."
Juvia opened her mouth to respond, but for the first time in her life, found it too dry to do so. A simple nod, and Gray led their way to the door. Outside, a cold gust of wind caused her body to shiver. As she waited for her beloved to lock the guild's main entrance, she rubbed her hands together for warmth.
"Juvia enjoyed spending the day with you" she said, her own words causing her to blush.
After a loud 'clunk' told him the door was secure, Gray turned to her with a confused glance. "Seriously?, I was asleep the entire time. I couldn't of been very good company."
It was hard to meet the man's eyes as she spoke, but Juvia forced herself to keep his gaze. "That doesn't matter to Juvia. Awake or asleep, you're still fun to be around."
"Really?" Gray said, his tone even more confused than before. "Well now I feel bad, you spent the whole day right beside me and I completely ignored you. Tell ya what-."
Taking Juvia's hand, the ice mage walked his friend away from the guildhall. During that walk, Juvia wondered if the man could her heart pounding. Because she certainly could.
"Lets just stay here a while, maybe watch the stars." Gray stopped at the first step leading down the hill. With all of Magnolia sprawled out in front of them, both mages sat down instinctively. "If that's okay with you?."
"Of course" Juvia's answer didn't miss a beat. A star filled sky above her, and Gray's hand holding her own. She couldn't think of a better way to end the night.