Hello all, chapter two is here and I hope you enjoy it. I plan to continue this story for a little while, having maybe three more chapters after this. I should also mention that I adore Juvia, I really do, I just wanted to try something new. Furthermore Gruvia is my OTP.
Fairy Tail is the property of Hiro Mashima and TV Tokyo, enjoy.
"Gray, eat." Lucy commanded, leaning over him in her best angry mother pose.
"Lucy, I am fine, believe me." Gray replied, looking away from her.
And he was fine, to a certain extent. He was physically a little weaker than before but for the most part he had well surpassed the average human. He was one of Fairy Tail's most powerful mages with his Devil Slaying magic and he had been eating every day Lucy had visited him, which was now every day because the Celestial Spirit mage knew he wouldn't otherwise. Gray didn't feel like training, mentally wasn't prepared to return to his old self, but you could still see his body was in prime condition, just not where he liked to keep it. Lucy could tell there was a change in the ice mage, it wasn't much, but he was out of his bed lately, moving around and even helping Lucy cook for him, Lucy couldn't believe that he hadn't once used his stove! She actually went out and bought him a bunch of pots and pans so he could actually make something at home. When Gray insisted that he had a great freezer, Lucy insisted that ice and sugar wasn't a meal and wondered how he survived with such few nutrients.
"Mira usually slips in dietary supplements or makes me eat a proper meal before she will make me shaved ice, not that I mind, she makes great food, don't you think?" Gray explained.
"Hey I'm not so bad, don't you think?" Lucy asked, fishing for a compliment on her cooking. Gray picked at his risotto a bit and looked at her.
"You don't suck too badly, it tastes pretty alright!" Gray grinned, thinking she would be happy. She twitched and threw a cup at his head.
"What the hell Luce?" Gray asked, rubbing his now sore forehead.
"If my cooking is so bad you can cook for yourself." She huffed.
"I bet I can cook you a delicious meal fit for a king, or in your case a princess, right Princess?"
"What happens if I you can't?"
"You decide, I don't care."
"Alright then Gray, here's the deal; I don't like what you cook, then you have to come out of your apartment and visit the guild." She gave him a coy smile. His eyes narrowed.
"What do I get?"
"What do you want?"
"I can ask for anything?"
"Within reason."
"Ok, if I win you have to do a job for me, a big one, I'm running out of money."
"Alright Fullbuster, put your money where your mouth is."
She was surprised when he got up and started digging through his fridge, pulling out a bunch of ingredients and the a few pots to go with them. Ice making a knife he began to dice through the vegetables and meat with a speed that would make Jellal dizzy. When he finished with that he filled a pot with water and set it to boil. Turning around to flash an arrogant grin at Lucy, he began to fill the pot with the diced meat as it began to boil. In a larger pot he put a packet of pasta and let it cook. Finishing his bolognaise sauce in time for the pasta to finish cooking, he threw the cooked vegetables into the pasta and masterfully mixed the sauce through it. Ice making a cheese grater he dropped a group of cheese chunks through the grater. Making the ice creation spin the cheese fell all over the meal. Gray garnished the meal with basil and placed in gently in front of Lucy, grinning smugly.
"Wow Gray, that looks delicious, I hope it isn't." She playfully glared at him and took a bite. Lucy prided herself on self-control but she couldn't help but moan in appreciation of the delicate blend of flavours and the way the sauce and vegetables complimented the pasta flavour.
"So I guess that means you liked it." Gray laughed.
"Just a bit… How did you learn to cook like that?" Lucy asked and Gray stopped laughing, "Gray? Are you ok?"
"Yeah I am fine, Ur taught me mostly, Juvia… she taught me the rest." He trailed off.
"Oh dear Gray, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up. I'll go." Gray caught her hand before she could go.
"No, Luce, it's fine, please stay and finish your meal," He smiled at her, "It's better when you're here."
Lucy nodded, she thought better of saying anything, or rather she didn't need to say anything. She understood what Gray meant. She didn't know how it happened but he was relying on her and that made her happy. She was used to relying on him or Natsu or Erza, the strong members of Team Natsu, but now Gray needed her more than anyone. So she showed her appreciation by eating her meal as quickly as a lady should eat her meal while he began to clean up. She may not live in a mansion anymore but Lucy Heartphilia would be damned if she ever at like some of her friends and guild mates. As she finished her food Gray handed her a glass of water she assumed he chilled and an after dinner mint. Lucy graciously accepted the items and washed back her dinner, popping the mint into her mouth so her breath smelled fresh like she had just brushed it. Gray himself settled down on his basic couch, comfortable to say the least but not flashy by any merit and rested with his eyes shut. Lucy smiled at him, he seemed withdrawn but at the very least he was more Gray than she had seen him lately. And whether or not it was intentional, he wasn't wearing the jacket from earlier.
"Hey Gray do you want some coffee?" Lucy hummed.
"Sure, thanks Luce." Gray replied sheepishly.
Lucy filled the kettle and turned it on before flipping through the sparsely filled bookshelf in his living room. A large photo album stood out to her and she flipped through it. There were plenty of photos of Team Natsu, one of Gray and Laxus sharing a beer, a few of Gray and Cana as kids, the only photo she thought existed of Gray and Natsu smiling next to each other. There she and Gray were, there was Ultear, the Strauss siblings, even Gajeel. Everyone but Juvia she thought.
"Wondering where the Juvia photos are?" He called to her sluggishly.
"No, I know that they aren't here for a reason. I'm sorry Gray; I know it still guts you whenever you even think of her." Lucy looked back at him to see he still faced away from her, probably with his eyes closed and deep in thought.
"Yeah it does. It hurts like hell, but I think I'm starting to come to terms with it, at least a little."
"Gray…" she moved to finish making his coffee.
"Lucy, trust me, and don't think just because we have had a meaningful exchange that I have forgotten about the bet, you owe me a completed expensive job." He smiled, eyes still closed in a state of pseudo relaxation.
"Yes, I know, I'll go look for one tomorrow, I promise. I guess that is goodnight Gray, she said handing him the steaming hot glass which started to frost. I guess Gray likes iced coffee, no surprises there. He pulled the cup to his lip and downed it in a few seconds, finishing it just as she got to the door.
"Goodnight Gray. I'll do your job tomorrow, try to relax and forget her. Anyone who would do that to you doesn't deserve you or your regret." And with that Lucy walked out the door into the crisp air. Walking Magnolia's streets at night was always pretty safe but to be sure Lucy fingered her keys, finding comfort in their power. By the time she finally made it home she fell asleep as soon as she hit the bed, dreaming of all of tomorrow's possibilities.
