Happy Friday!

For those newer to Mazeverse, one thing that differs from the canon is that Juvia has enlisted Lyon's help with regard to her love life. Thus, she probably has him on speed dial and calls him twice a week (at least). I imagine that the conversation is still predominantly Gray-related, but I would hope they've had a couple of non-business conversations. I'd like to believe that they're at least sort-of friends. Is that wishful thinking?

guest: Thank you, my friend! This is one of my favorite chapters. Actually, I'm going to say that just about every week... lol! I think Lamia Scale is my favorite of the guilds. I just wish they had a cooler emblem.

- K. Chandler

How could he ask a girl out without really asking her out?

In all honesty, he was probably the wrong person to be answering this question. As flattered as Lyon was that his opinion on these things was respected, there was a part of him that recognized just how unqualified he was to be assisting with matters of the heart.

He wasn't sure how he got himself involved in these problems anyways. Who in their right mind would go to the most painfully single male they knew for relationship advice? His own love-life was practically nonexistent.

Sure, he'd dated before, but it had never gotten serious. He'd hardly consider those to be 'relationships.' It wasn't like he'd had any actual experience.

If anything, Toby would have been better off asking Sherry. She was the most relationship savvy person Lyon knew. It wasn't just her obsession with all things love that led Lyon to trust her judgement. Sherry was the only member of their team who he would consider to be in a serious, long-term relationship.

He hadn't expected them to last more than a few weeks, but she and Ren had been together for almost a year.

And it was with that in mind that Lyon asked the Marionette Mage to meet him at the guild hall.

"What did you need to talk to me about?" asked Sherry, taking the seat beside him. Her eyebrows were drawn down in concern. "You were pretty vague about it when you called."

"Don't frown like that," said Lyon. "It's nothing to worry about. I just wanted to talk through this whole Toby and Jenny thing."

Sherry's expression brightened immediately. "And can I say just how glad I am that you're helping? That's love! And it'll be nice for Toby to find his special someone," she gushed.

Lyon snorted. Sherry was such a mom! Lyon could imagine her cooing over the happy couple and forcing them to pose for pictures. If he could get them together, that was.

"I need your opinion on something. As a woman, do you think that it would be better to—"

Lyon's lacrima sounded, interrupting his question. He dug it out of his pocket.

Then he gave Sherry an apologetic smile. "Sorry, can I…" His eyes darted to the lacrima glowing in his hand.

"Go ahead," she said with a shrug.

"Hello?"

"Lyon! It's Juvia," came the voice on the other end.

"How are you, Juvia?" asked Lyon, unable to keep from smiling. He couldn't help the anxious little flutter in his stomach, even though he had a feeling this would end badly for him. It always did.

Sherry scowled at the mention of the other girl's name. "What does she want now?"

"I have question for you, if you're not busy," said Juvia.

"I'm not busy."

"It's a little silly…"

"That's all right. Go ahead," encouraged Lyon.

Sherry huffed, crossing her arms in annoyance. Lyon twisted to face away from her. He didn't need Sherry's distractions when he was trying to give Juvia his undivided attention.

"Cerulean or ultramarine?" asked Juvia.

Lyon blinked. "…what?"

"Cerulean or ultramarine?" she repeated. "See, I'm trying to pick a dress for the Gala and I wasn't sure what color to go with…"

"I think you're asking the wrong person," said Lyon. "You realize you're talking to a man who's worn the same color pretty much all his life?"

"And that color is blue, right?" said Juvia. "So you should be an expert here."

"I don't know about that…" said Lyon.

"Okay… Which one do you think Gray would like?"

Lyon grimaced, that familiar achy feeling already taking hold of his chest. "I think he should like you in whatever color you pick, or I'll pound him to a pulp," deadpanned Lyon, a slight growl rising in the back of his throat. "Does that help?"

"Lyon!" giggled Juvia. "Seriously, though… What color do you think would look better?"

"Me?" he asked hollowly, his brows furrowing in disbelief.

"I trust your judgement," said Juvia.

He opened his mouth. Then he shut it again, clenching his jaw.

She trusted his judgement…? Surely she couldn't mean it the way he wanted her to. No, because this call was all about Gray. It always was.

"Lyon? Are you still there?" came Juvia's voice.

His chest tightened painfully. He swallowed hard, struggling to find his voice. "Go with the blue one," he said finally.

"They're both blue…" said Juvia, her puzzled tone trailing off.

"I… I meant the darker one," he amended quickly, trying to cover for his slip-up and hoping she wouldn't notice.

"…Are you okay?" asked Juvia.

She noticed.

"Great. Perfect," he said, trying not to choke on the lump in his throat. "Anything else I can help you with?" he asked, trying not to sound too short with her. None of this was her fault, after all.

"Uh, no, that was it, I guess. Thanks!"

"Sure," Lyon said, before ending the call. He let out a heavy sigh, forcing the air from his lungs. He slumped forward, his elbows landing against his knees.

"What was that about?" asked Sherry.

Lyon unbent, turning to look at her. "What's the difference between cerulean and ultramarine?" he asked, intending for the question to be as much a distraction for himself as for Sherry.

But his teammate wouldn't be sidetracked.

"Why are you still taking her calls?" asked Sherry, her eyes narrowed.

"Leave it alone, Sherry," said Lyon.

"I don't like it, Lyon. I can see how much she's hurting you. But she doesn't even care," hissed Sherry.

"It's not her fault. She doesn't know," said Lyon.

"She's ridiculous! And you won't tell her, because…?" demanded Sherry.

"Just because," interrupted Lyon. "If she's happy, that's enough for me," he added softly. "I don't… need her to like me back. This is fine. Better, even," he insisted. If he kept repeating it, he might just believe himself.

"Then, you are the ridiculous one," said Sherry harshly. "This isn't love. I don't like this."

"I'm not asking you to like it," snapped Lyon. "Besides, I thought you found the whole affair to be hilarious."

"Yeah, before I realized how seriously screwed up it was! Maybe I should go and leave a rock-doll Jura on Fairy Tail's front lawn," muttered Sherry, referencing Lyon's brash display of loyalty when she and Ren had first started dating.

"I don't need you feel like you have to protect me," said Lyon, shaking his head. "You shouldn't have to worry about me."

"So it's okay for you to do it, but not for me to? Where's the love in that?" Sherry's voice rose shrilly, her eyes flashing in irritation. "And besides, if I don't, who will? You never look after yourself, and somebody has to."

Lyon ran a hand through his hair. "Please, Sherry. Please. Would you just let it go?" he asked wearily.

Juvia's blinding enthusiasm could be a little draining, but her constant fixation on Gray only made him feel worse. Trying to deal with Sherry on top of that was more than he could handle right now.

Sherry relented with a huff, her lips pulling down in disapproval. "This is cerulean," she said, jabbing him hard in the chest.

"Ow…" Lyon complained.

"And this is ultramarine…" she said sharply, jerking the edge of his cloak between two fingers before dropping it. Then she sighed. "Now, was there something else you wanted to ask me?" she added softly.

Lyon opened his mouth to speak when his lacrima sounded again.

"I have to take this," he told her.

"Again?" Sherry was the picture of exasperation when she threw her hands up.

Lyon shushed her, waving for Sherry to stay quiet.

"Hey, it's Juvia again. Sorry…"

"Not a problem. What's up?" asked Lyon, letting the excitement of hearing her voice drown out his prior disappointment.

"Hair up or down?" asked Juvia.

"Does she not have girlfriends to ask these questions to?" muttered Sherry.

"Down. Definitely down," he said.

"I was thinking about having Mira or Lucy straighten it for me…" said Juvia.

Lyon made a choked sound. "No… Don't do that."

"No?" echoed Juvia.

"Nope. I like your hair the way it is," Lyon told her honestly. Why change what was already perfect?

"Thanks, Lyon! You're the best!" exclaimed Juvia.

"Any time. And Juvia?"

"Hm?"

"Go with the ultramarine," he advised. "It'll bring out your eyes."

Lyon could hear the smile in Juvia's voice as she responded. "Good idea. Thank you again!"

He couldn't help but smile, despite everything.

Until he caught Sherry's scowl. "I swear, Lyon…" she said, shaking her head, her eyes concerned.

Lyon wiped the dopey grin from his face. "I have to get going," he said, excusing himself. "There's someplace I have to be."

It wasn't until he had stepped out of the guild that he realized that he'd completely forgotten to ask Sherry about Toby and Jenny.

Yeah... somebody's got it bad. Lyon is probably as single-minded as Juvia is, so he probably gets how she feels. That, and he probably knows just how hopeless his position is. The only reason he's not saying anything is that he's got the maturity to tamp down his feelings.

As for Sherry, she's as protective of her boys as they are of her, so of course she'll get all prickly about this whole un-relationship that Lyon and Juvia have.

Next time, in [Mazeverse] Matchmaker, Heartbreaker, Total Sucker, Lyon dishes out relationship advice: "I really don't like you getting hit on by those Pegasus guys," said Lyon honestly. "They're nothing but trouble."
Of course, Chelia's the one who's nothing but trouble.

Stop back next Friday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.