Sorry about the awkward update, it took forever since I've been re-watching the entire arc to make sure situations and quotes are accurate, and I'm still getting used to how to post things on here.
"Gihehe," Gajeel giggled as he clapped his hands together admiring his handiwork. "Those fairy butts will never have seen this coming, I only wish I could be there to see their faces. He wiped his hands nonchalantly on the rough fabric of his pants and smirked.
Juvia had followed him to the Fairy Tail Guild hall. Originally she had just wanted to look from afar, to see what they were up against. People had always underestimated how observant she could be, and she always used that to her advantage, but she had never foreseen this.
The water mage wasn't very experienced in the social realm, so she was unsure of how far someone could take a joke before it became too much, but she was pretty sure Gajeel had gone too far. According to the dragon slayer, Phantom and Fairy Tail had always been on bad terms, but as Juvia looked around their guild hall, their home, with iron beams sticking out every which way, she couldn't help but feel saddened. She knew she could never tell Gajeel what she thought, though. He was the closest thing to a friend she had ever had, and she was not about to ruin that.
"Whaddya think?" he asked with a chuckle.
Juvia shook her head slowly. "Juva isn't sure what to think, Gajeel-san," she answered honestly.
Gajeel laughed again and set a hand on her shoulder. "This is only the beginning, water girl; don't get a weak stomach on me now." He turned and began to walk home.
Juvia attempted a smile and walked a few paces behind him through the darkened night and back toward her own apartment. She waved a quiet goodbye to Gajeel and went up the stairs leading to her room. Juvia knew she'd be getting no sleep tonight.
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Her rain was coming down harder today than it had in a long time. Juvia held her umbrella close as she walked toward the guild. Her brow was furrowed in thought; to be honest, she felt guilty for the previous night. Although she hadn't done anything personally, Gajeel really ruined the Fairy Tail guild hall. Juvia looked up at the Phantom Lord castle, with the sign that hung above the door frame. Whenever she saw this, she felt at home, safe. Did the others feel that too? What would the Fairy Tail members feel like when they arrived to see their home destroyed? The bluenette shook her head in an attempt to rid herself of these thoughts. She closed her umbrella as she stepped through the door, shaking out her damp clothing.
"Sheesh, water girl. We can always tell when you're almost here," Gajeel said, sauntering up to her and looking at the rain clouds outside the window.
"Drip, drip, drop," Juvia said sarcastically.
Gajeel smirked and looked down at her. "So, I'm thinking I'm going to strike again, tonight. You in?"
Juvia chewed her lip nervously and shook her head. "Juvia thinks she will stay in her apartment tonight."
The dragon slayer scoffed and walked away. Juvia rubbed the back of her neck. Why was she starting to feel so weak? To doubt her guild? This wasn't right. Juvia resolved to have some tea and relax later that night. She knew she was being silly, she just needed to think their plan through.
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Juvia woke up again to the familiar spattering of rain against the window. After a few moments, she was ready to head back to the guild. She walked into the dimly lit room right after Gajeel. Their fellow guild-mates clapped and hooted as he walked past, congratulating him as he made his way to a nearby table. Juvia felt refreshed, and she settled into her normal corner to watch as the events unfolded. Their master, Jose, came out to congratulate Gajeel personally.
"That alone won't make them act," Gajeel snarled, "so I left them a little extra present." Shivers ran up Juvia's spine, but she held her tongue.
"Well, well. Just make sure to keep that one alive, please," the master muttered.
"Gihehe," Gajeel chuckled, as he turned and went back to eating his stack of iron. Juvia shook her head again. Juvia will just do her part, and not think too much of it. This is a job after all, if the client is happy, master is happy. Then things can go back to normal. Juvia looked up just in time to see Jose approaching her.
"Juvia," he said slowly. "I have a special job for you.
Juvia nodded and looked at him expectantly. "Juvia will do as you wish."
He gave a crooked smile. "The fairies are going to be angry after what transpired last night. My guess is that they will come in a matter of hours. When the rest of the fairies come, I need you to capture the girl. He held up a picture of a pretty blonde in a large gown. "She'll be dressed differently, but remember her face. Capture her, and bring her to me. I'd suggest leaving now if you want to find her in time."
Juvia nodded again and left before her guild-mates could notice her absence. After traveling the short distance to Magnolia and wandering the streets for about an hour, Juvia caught her first glimpse of the blonde. She hid behind a wall and watched her as she carried her grocery bags down the cobblestone street. Juvia rushed ahead so she could cut her off. The blonde remarked something about the weather change, but Juvia ignored it.
"Drip, drip, drop," she said quietly. "Juvia is the rain-woman. Drip, drip, drop."
"Who-who might you be?" the other girl asked nervously.
Juvia resisted a smile, people's reaction to her never failed to amuse her. "Drip, drip, drop," she popped open her umbrella, and began to walk past the fairy. "It was a pleasure. Fare thee well."
"Like, what the heck?!"
"Non, non non. Non, non, non, non," Juvia's fellow member of the element four mumbled as he emerged from the stone street. Juvia ignored him as he mumbled something else unintelligible; she had always thought this guy was annoying. "Juvia-sama, you mustn't abandon your job now."
"Monsieur Sol," Juvia said politely.
Sol proceeded to inform the blonde that she was their target. Juvia rolled her eyes at him as he introduced himself.
"The element four? Phantom!" the girl screeched.
"Yes, we two have come to collect you for the Great Phantom Lord. And this is the rain-woman of the element four," he said gesturing toward Juvia, who was currently peeved that her master sent Sol to help her. "People call her Juvia of the deep," the man continued.
Seeing the girl reach for some keys at her waist, Juvia gathered water around her hands. A celestial wizard? She wondered.
"How dare you do that to Levy-chan!"
Juvia got more aggravated as the girl continued to screech angrily and sent a water lock around her.
"Non, non, non. With non of three, I correct your error," Sol said, twirling his moustache, "Attacking your guild and attacking Levy-sama was all the work of Gajeel-sama!"
"What is this? Let me go!" she said, struggling in the water.
"Juvia's water lock cannot be broken," Juvia said calmly. "Do not fear, Juvia will not kill you, because it is Juvia's job to bring back⦠Lucy Heartfilia." Lucy stopped struggling in the water. "We have captured the target," Juvia continued, addressing Sol. "Drip, drip, drop."
Sol meandered ahead as Juvia trailed her water-locked prisoner behind toward where their master was waiting.
"I see you found her easily, I would have expected no less," Jose said as they entered. "Such a pretty thing, he mumbled. The girl had passed out a while ago, so Juvia let her out of the water so the master could bind her hands.
He clapped his hands together and licked his thin, dark lips. "This is perfect, Makaraov will love this." The master shooed her away and carried the blonde up the stairs and into a separate room. Juvia breathed deeply. At least that bit was over, now they had to get ready for the second day of action.
I know, the lack of Gruvia is killing me, but I needed to establish her character. Next chapter will be when they meet!
