Erza's POV
"Hello, Mira. Good morning," I said, sliding onto a barstool. My armor clinked as I rested my elbows on the bar table.
The white haired mage peeked out from behind the bar, "The usual?"
I nodded. She stood up and set a plate of strawberry cake down in front of me. I smiled at her and thanked her. I immediately set to work on it, savoring each heavenly mouthful.
"Most people would think it weird that you eat cake every single lunch, but I've known you so long that it's become normal," commented Gray as he sat beside me.
"Gray, I'll pay for your meal!" offered Juvia, standing beside him with a hopeful look on her face.
"No thanks, Juvia. I'm not ordering anything," he said, "Thanks, though." She stalked off looking sad.
"That was harsh," I said, shoveling more cake into my mouth.
"What? I said thanks…" he said, propping his head up on his hand.
"You know what I mean," I said, staring him down.
He nodded, "Yeah…" He looked troubled for a moment and then lifted his head, "Hey, you feel like tagging along on Lucy's next job. Apparently Natsu somehow managed to make all of their hard-earned cash disappear again. She told me that she's going on another soon."
"That sounds nice," I replied, "Did she say yes to that?" I may often be the cause of the destruction we always leave in our wake, but I at least had some sense of decency.
"Yes…" mumbled Gray, his voice trailing off. I stared at him, dropping my fork to the plate. "Maybe…" he said under his breath. I leaned forward expectantly. "Ok, I didn't…but she'll say yes. She always does," said Gray, raising his hands in surrender. I frowned, "No sense of delicacy."
"I'm a man…we don't need delicacy," he said proudly.
"Right…so that's why you never wear clothes. I understand now," I said, nodding my head in understanding.
"That's not my fault! Ever since I was a kid—"
I stood up, "Of course. It's definitely not your fault." I started to walk away and called over my shoulder, "Find out of Lucy will let us come. I don't want to intrude." Though I actually do, I thought.
Grey's POV
"No," was her answer.
"But why? We won't destroy anything!" I complained.
"That's impossible for you," she said, crossing her arms over her chest, "Besides, I'm not even leaving until tomorrow. Maybe I'll change my mind by then, but you usually end up magically making my jewels disappear. I'm not fond of disappearing money."
"Will you at least think of taking us along? I'm getting dangerously close to being broke," I said, leaning against the wall.
"Yeah, well…I am broke. Sometimes when I bring you along, it actually turns out well…rarely. I might reconsider if you buy me food," she said, eyeing me.
"I thought I told you that I was practically broke," I said, frowning.
"I'll buy you lunch, Lucy," said a voice. I turned to see Laxus looking at Lucy. I frowned.
"You pretty much never talk to me. Why would you buy me food?" she asked.
"To piss of Natsu," he replied.
"Wait, why would that piss Natsu off?" I asked, really confused.
Laxus stared at me, "Is that a serious question?"
"I want to know, too," said Lucy, raising her hand. Good, I'm not the only one who has no idea what he's talking about.
"Well, if you don't know, then I'm not gonna tell. Just tell me want. I'll buy it," he said, "Going on S-Class jobs pays well. I'll get you whatever you want."
Lucy grinned, "Awesome!" She did a little leap and then walked over to where Laxus was sitting. She was smiling. Man, give her a little food and she perks right up…
"Gray," someone called to me. It was Juvia. I sighed, "What is it?" It's not like I hated her, actually I thought she was a pretty nice person, but sometimes she tired me out.
"Did you need someone to buy you lunch?" she asked. She seemed strangely calmer than usual. I raised an eyebrow, "Are you feeling alright?"
"I just feel a little sleepy. I'm fine," she said, resting her head on the table.
"I don't want to trouble you, though," I said, sitting down beside her. She shook her head, "It's impossible for you to trouble me."
I smiled at her and her eyes went wide, "Gray smiled at me!" Crap, she snapped back. "Mirajane! Gray smiled at me!"
"That's nice," Mira called back, smiling brightly.
Juvia turned to me, "So, about lunch." Her cheeks were bright red and her eyes sparkled.
"Yeah…about lunch," I said. I couldn't help but think that there might be a side to Juvia that I didn't know about.
Juvia's POV
"I overheard your conversation with Lucy earlier," I said, dangling my legs off of the bridge. I wasn't really afraid to fall into the water seeing as there was no danger for me there.
"And?" he said, looking up at me. We'd somehow ended up going on a walk together after we'd eaten lunch. It was like a dream come true. My heart had been beating nonstop since we'd left the guild. Earlier I'd felt strangely tired, but that feeling was gone now.
"I was wondering if…maybe…you'd like to go on a job with...m-me?" I asked hopefully. I traced circles on the wooden bridge with my finger nervously.
He was silent for a moment and then said, "I guess. If Lucy says no tomorrow, I'll go with you."
I turned to him and smiled, "So that's a maybe, right?"
He nodded, "Yeah…a maybe." He pulled himself up to sit beside me on the bridge, dangling his own legs off of the side. His were much longer than mine. I couldn't stop smiling and my face felt like it was going to set on fire any second.
"Do you remember when we first met?" I asked, smiling at the memory.
"And you tried to attack me?" he said, nodding.
"I was talking about when you saved my life," I said meekly, feeling sort of like he just slapped me in the face with his words.
"Well, I couldn't just let you die," he said, stretching his arms above his head. He stripped his shirt off and I looked away, clenching my eyes shut, "Why are you taking off your clothes?"
"I'm hot," he replied. Yes, yes you are! "I don't like being hot," he said. I realized that he meant temperature hot and not attractive. I blushed again, glad that I didn't say that out loud. When he saw me looking away he said, "Ease up…I'm not taking my pants off." I slowly turned my head back to him and did my best to keep from glanced down at his chiseled stomach muscles. It was a matter of willpower.
"Well, thanks for—" I started. I yelped as I began to slip from the bridge. I fell towards to water, but was stopped when Gray grabbed my wrist, "Hang on, I've got you." I looked up, "No, just drop me. I'll be fine. You'd be in danger if you fell. Let go."
"I'm not going to do that!" he said, his face serious. He tried to pull me back up, but I wouldn't let him. I didn't want to risk him falling into the fast-moving waters below me. I transformed my hand into liquid and it slipped through his fingers, "Sorry, Gray." His eyes went wide as I fell to the water, "Juvia!"
I turned around mid-air and watched as the water rushed towards me. As I plunged into the water, a pleasantly cold feeling surrounded me. My entire body was water now and I glided through the stream. I had to get to land again so that Gray wouldn't worry. I drifted to the surface and stuck my head out of the current. "Juvia!" called a voice. I looked up but didn't see anyone. That's when I realized that the voice sounded unusually close. I looked to my left and saw Gray fly past me. Idiot! Why did you jump in after me?
"Hang on, Gray. I'll catch up to you!" I called after him. His head went under the water as his strength began to leave him. I ducked back underwater and propelled myself forward with all the power I possessed. I caught up to Gray in no time. He was drifting with the current, his eyes closed. I grabbed onto him and launched the both of us out of the waves with a powerful blast of my magic. We flew through the air and tumbled to the ground. I groaned and then crawled over to Gray. I flipped him over and realized that he wasn't breathing.
I panicked for a moment and then got serious. This wasn't the right time to freak out. I leaned over him, ready to give him CPR. Our lips got dangerously close before he started coughing and water spilled from his mouth. His head connected with mine as he tried to sit up. "Ouch!" I yelped.
"Ah…what happened?" he asked, shaking the water from his hair. I had to shield my eyes from his blinding brilliance. A damp Gray was even more beautiful than the normal one.
"You nearly drowned," I said, "And what is wrong with you?! Why did you jump in?"
"I wasn't really thinking…" he said, looking up at me and still breathing hard, "The only thing I could think was that I had to save you…so I jumped." I gasped and turned away. I grasped my chest, trying to calm down my heart.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
I nodded, "Fine. I should be asking you that."
"I'm ok…because of you. Well, I guess this makes us even, huh?" he said, flopping down beside me. He lay on his back, his chest still expanding and contracting quickly. I lay down beside him and enjoyed the sun gently warming my skin.
"I guess so…" I muttered, my eyes closing.
A/N: Well, now that the main players are set up, we can proceed with the story. I'll start working on the next chapter immediately! *Salutes readers*
I'd like to know what other couples you guys would like to see. Leave a review or PM me! :) I plan on GaLe and JerZa. Thanks.
Next Chapter's Preview:
"Oi! What are you staring at?" I asked.
Lucy blushed, "Nothing!" She turned away from me and muttered to herself, "Stop it, Lucy! You are so not a pervert!"
