She heard the scream before she saw the blood.Watched the bolt of raw energy rip through her friend before she heard the scream.She whirled to see why Juvia had screamed.She hadn't been prepared for what she saw next.

Her raven-headed friend had shoved the water mage out of the way and took a bolt to the chest.His mouth was open in a soundless scream as he fell-seemingly in slow motion-to the ground.Blood exploded from his back onto the ground, like some sick version of a waterspout.

Gray waited impatiently for her to walk through the doors. Who was she? Well, only the prettiest girl in all of Fiore, a specific celestial mage. So when she didn't come, he started to get a bit antsy. "Happy!" He called the little exceed, who quickly ran over, a fat fish in his mouth.
"Yosh?"
"Where's Lucy?"
"Oh, she'sh at her houshe with Natshuu. He wanted to shayy shomethin to her, but I couldn't shtay, he kicked me out!" The blue cat looked very put out. "I think Natshu kisshed Lushyy."

At the angry aura emanating from the ice mage, Happy quickly excused himself and hurried away, fearful of the raven-haired man's wrath.
"Erza!"
"What?"

"I'm gonna get Lucy. I'll be right back."
"Okay-" He was gone before he heard the rest of her sentence. Juvia watched forlornly as her Gray-sama hurried out into the night to Lucy-san's house. "Gray-samaaa…"

He arrived at the apartment to find it locked and all the lights off. Instead of knocking, like he normally would, he pulled a Natsu and climbed up to her window. Said window was unlocked, so he got inside that way. Glancing around, he found himself in her kitchen. Making his way to the bedroom, he found her in bed, sound asleep, but in Natsu's arms. Said fire mage was bare-chested, without even his scarf, which had found its way to the floor, along with what looked like Lucy's clothes. She was wearing flame-brain's jacket around her shoulders, and the fire mage had her tucked against his chest. Gray quickly woke the fire mage, trying as hard as he could to restrain his seething anger.

"Whaddaya wan', stupid ice-head?" Natsu slurred sleepily, pulling Lucy closer.

"What the hell are you doing, flame-brain? What did you do to her?!" He hissed, glaring murderously at the half-awake fire mage.

"I was sleepin', til you got here. I ain' do nothin' ta Luce, now go 'way…" Natsu mumbled, rolling back over and burying his face in Lucy's hair.

Ohhh, he was so jealous. He wanted to snuggle with the celestial mage. He wanted to do whatever the hell Natsu did with her. He wanted to love her openly like flame-brain.

But he couldn't.

He retreated to the windowsill of Lucy's bedroom and sat down, watching the sleeping girl for a while. Natsu gave him half-hearted glares from over Lucy's shoulder but refrained from doing anything.

How come he had to stay away from Lucy? Why was he denied something so simple, so essential like love? Why was Lucy in love with Natsu, of all people? It just wasn't fair.

Wow, he sounded like a child in his head. It's Lucy's decision, he mused, and she chose Natsu.I shouldn't be rude or unhappy.If she's happy, I'm happy.That's it.End of story. He frowned at the celestial's sleeping face, then gave up and smiled softly. She was so preciously adorable, especially in her sleep. He couldn't ever be mad at that face.

Well, not for long, anyways.

He stood and closed the window, then made his way to the kitchen and closed that window as well, seeing as he'd left it wide open in his anger to find Lucy. When it was closed and latched, he returned to Lucy's bedroom, shot Natsu a hurt-her-and-die look, bent down and kissed the sleeping girl's head, and left through the front door.

When returned to the guild, he found Juvia waiting at the entrance to the hall.

"Gray-sama, do you love Lucy-chan?" She asked bluntly. He flinched, realizing that she had certainly witnessed his storming out of the hall.

"I…I did."
"Did? Does Lucy-chan know?"
"No."
"Juvia is sorry, Gray-sama."
"For what?"
"That Natsu-san and Lucy-chan are together now."
"Oh."
"And, Gray-sama?"
"Yeah?"
"Your clothes…"
"Shit!" He gathered his pants and pulled them back on again, blushing furiously.

"Gray-sama is so silly…"
"Oh, yeah, yeah…" He muttered, glaring at his hands. "Hey, Juvia?"
"Yes, Gray-sama?"
"Tomorrow, are you doing anything special?"
"No, why?"
"Well, I thought maybe you might wanna go somewhere with me?"

"Really?!" the water mage squealed. Before she could tackle him or melt into a puddle, he grinned and moved forward, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek, before turning away and walking home. Behind him, Juvia squealed and fainted.

Maybe he couldn't love Lucy like he wanted, but he could still be there for her as a brother.

And maybe it was time to let Juvia in.

Hot damn. Sorry this chapter is so short, guys! I'm not used to doing Gruvia or Graylu just yet, so it's a bit discombobulated. Sorry 'bout that.