Disclaimer I do not own Fairy Tail.
I will confess, I somewhat insecure with writing this chapter, but thanks to my beta, leoslady4ever, I felt so much better!
Sorry for any tears I have caused you all to shed. I truly do love you all to the moon and back! Thanks for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting!
xoxox xxSaphireBluexx
Chapter 4: His Fury
...These wounds won't seem to heal...
Lucy's P.O.V.
For the first time, since I've entered the guild, I noticed that it wasn't all loud and rowdy. There were no brawls or talks of who belongs with who. Everyone was sober, and mourning. Lyon of Lamia Scale decided to stay here for a while, admitting he wasn't in any condition to return to his guild. The only person who was able to as much as move from her seat was Mirajane.
She was making everyone food, trying to keep the guild members from starving. I decided to help her out, seeing as I had the strength to. I got up from my normal seat and went towards the kitchen where Mira was. I absolutely hated seeing the guild like this so this was the least I could do for them.
"Lucy," Mira acknowledged me with a soft half-smile that quickly turned into a frown.
"D-do you n-need help?" I managed to stammer out when I saw the frown appear on her face.
"Sure," she replied simply, pointing to the soup she was making.
"What should I do?" My quiet voice asked.
"Stir it gently until it simmers, then add the vegetables and the half cooked chicken over there," Mira replied, pointing out where the ingredients were. "Then leave it for about 15 minutes and serve it to the guild."
"Sure," I replied quietly.
It really was a harsh reality that faced our guild, and had Gray not already found vengeance, we all would have been doing everything in our power to. Since we couldn't do that, we would mourn and let our hearts find a way to deal with the pain they felt.
Mira sighed deeply as she placed a batter into the oven, "What worries me is that no one has seen Gajeel or Gray since the funeral."
It hit me and it hit me hard. I had no idea that Gajeel would be like this. Normally he is off in some corner chomping down on some iron. No one really expected him to have a soft spot for anyone, not even Juvia. But I suppose that the water mage was like a sister to the Iron Dragon Slayer and this was one of the only things that truly hurt him.
"It concerns me," Mira added, breaking me free from my trance. I looked down at the soup and noticed that it began to slightly bubble up, so I decided to add in the vegetables and chicken Mira had pointed out earlier.
"I can imagine. I mean, I understand their pain, but at the same time, isolating themselves isn't going to help. If anything, it'll make it harder for them," I voiced my opinion on the situation, starting to worry more and more for Gray.
I hope he wouldn't drown imself in alcohol or starve himself. I really didn't want to see Gray under such a situation. I wanted to be there for him every step of the way and help him live with the fact that Juvia...was gone.
"And it's been two days since anyone has seen them," Mira let out an upset sigh. She was probably just as worried about them. She feared them turning to negative solutions to numb their pain. I knew it.
I wanted to so desperately help Gray from sinking away in his pain but I wasn't exactly sure what I was expected to do. I let out a sigh, causing Mira to turn to me.
"Lucy, maybe you should deliver the food to them. I can give you their addresses. I would hate for them to starve," Mira replied with the utmost sadness in her voice.
"A-are you sure?" I asked hesitantly. As much as I wanted to help Gray out, I feared overstaying my welcome. Never had he invited anyone over to his house so what if my coming in was like intruding?
"I can help the guild members," Mira replied with a hidden pain that lurked deep in her voice. As much as she tried to put up a strong face for the guild, it was obvious that she felt it too. It was clear to see that Mira was just as broken from Juvia's loss as everyone else. But Mira was also aware that if she allowed herself to become consumed in her depression, that the entire guild would break down. At the moment, she was their lifeline and the reason any of them were eating, bathing and even walking around.
"I can help them," Mira repeated herself in a voice that made me turn around. Once I was face to face with the oldest Strauss sibling, I noticed that Mira was shedding silent tears, not making a single sound as the tears cascaded down her cheeks.
"I can help them," Mira repeated for a third time as the tears continuously fell. Mira started taking deep breaths and her eyes were glued onto the ground. I rushed towards her, wrapping my arms around her, showing her she wasn't alone. Losing Juvia was a painful experience, almost unbearable. It was something that hurt each and every guild member to a point where their chests ached at the reality that they had to face.
After several minutes, Mira was able to compose herself and she took a step away from the hug. She looked up at me to speak.
"You should really take the food to Gajeel and Gray."
It was that moment where I realized that the food was completely cooked and ready to be served. I looked back to stare at the pot of soup and then turned back to Mira, who was wiping the tears out of her eyes. She took out two bowls and filled them up for me to give to the boys.
I took the two bowls, and placed a cover atop of them to ensure that the food wouldn't be wasted. I was about to walk out of the kitchen until I heard another sound, causing me to turn back.
"Thank you," Mira's voice was filled with the utmost gratitude. I wasn't sure what exactly I did but apparently it was enough to have Mira thank me. I gave her a genuine smile before turning to walk out of the kitchen.
Mira needed someone to help her with her sorrows so she could put on a strong face for the guild. If that was what she needed, then I would give her it. It was the least I could do.
Gray's P.O.V.
I hate the world. I hate everything that fills it. I hate the sound of the rain continuously splashing onto my windows. I hated the sound of someone fanatically knocking the door to my front entrance. I hate that I got up from my couch to answer it.
"You..." My eyes met up with the Iron Dragon Slayer, his red eyes burning with a raging fury.
"What?" I replied nonchalantly. I barely left my bed since the funeral. I looked like a damn mess. My face needed washing and my hair needed combing. My house was starting to lose its minty smell and began to reek.
So what blessing was it that I actually had someone give the slightest shit to come check up on me? I obviously didn't deserve it so why would he even come?
But what answered my thoughts wasn't a word Gajeel said. No, it was his actions. It was an iron pillar being sent straight to my torso, that sent me towards the wall with quite an impact. I could have sworn it left a mark on my wall.
"You fucking fool!" Gajeel yelled as his iron fist was sent swinging across my face.
Instead of being filled with fear like a normal person, I just stood still, accepting the blows that were being sent my way. I deserved it after all.
But I didn't remain quiet. I decided to taunt him by saying, "I guess you're mad."
Looks like it worked too because silver scales began to coat his body and after seeing this form before, I would be a naive idiot to think that the next blow wouldn't hurt. Gajeel's rage had fuelled him into dragon force and whatever he had planned would most likely leave a mark.
"You were supposed to take care of her," his voice softened for a second as his eyes began to well up with tears. The softness only lasted for a second because this time, he roared out the words, "You were supposed to fucking take care of her!"
With that, his right hand took the form of a blade while his left hand began to suffocate me. He kept me pinned up to the wall and I could have sworn my vision was beginning to blur. The sword began to near my heart at an impeccable speed, but something stopped him. The sound of a girl yelling.
"Stop it Gajeel!" the voice called out.
It was because of the person, that his left hand let go of me and he dropped me to the ground. I was panting, trying to refill my lungs with the oxygen that it lacked and upon a deep breath in, I could smell the scent of alcohol that Gajeel was releasing.
I looked up at my entry way to see a flash of blond hair. It had to be Lucy, but how? She's never been to my house and I was next to certain she didn't even know where I live.
The iron dragon slayer was now in front of Lucy. His intimidating eyes staring deep at her.
"Gajeel," she sighed, her warm eyes staring at him as her tentative hand touched his face. Although now was not the time to feel it, a part of me felt envious of the kindness she was showing him. I wanted her to so desperately look at me with the same warmth.
"Please, don't hurt Gray," she begged him as her eyes filled up with tears.
"But he let Juvia die," Gajeel responded with a harsh tone.
"He let my little sister die," Gajeel repeated the fact, the harshness in his voice disappearing as his voice cracked half way through. Was he...was he crying?
"He would never do that deliberately," Lucy responded as her shaky hand made its way from his cheek to the back of his head.
"J-Juvia was family," she added with a pained voice and from where I was, I could see the tears cascade down her cheeks.
He turned back to stare at me in my pathetic position, still on the ground, gaping for fresh air. To think that Fairy Tail's Newest S-Class would be found at such a pathetic state. Not that it mattered. What mattered was why Lucy was here.
"I know," Gajeel replied in an unstable voice.
"But," he paused, taking a deep breath in, trying to compose himself. He then opened his mouth and spoke, "Juvia died under his care."
"I know…"
She knew. She understood it was my fault.
"..But..."
But what? I let our family die. I let one of the only people Gajeel had ever opened up to die. I let everyone suffer this great loss.
"…Gray didn't mean for it to happen. He would never let our family lose a member on purpose."
Why did I have to be the reason for Lucy's tears? As much as I wanted to help wipe her tears away and bring a smile on her face, I couldn't. I needed to stay away from her to keep her safe. I loved Lucy far too much to let her become just like what Juvia became.
"Gajeel, please calm down," She continued to stare at the enraged Iron Dragon Slayer, whose panting began to return to normal.
"Have you been eating?" She asked him, trying to maintain a warm smile. How exactly was it, that Lucy was able to soothe him? I couldn't fathom what she did, or how she did it, but it worked.
"No," he mumbled as his eyes looked down on the floor.
"Here, take this," Lucy responded with gentleness in her voice as her hand reached towards one of the bowls.
"It's soup," Lucy added.
Gajeel's eyes shifted from Lucy's face to the bowl in her hand. He then looked back at me with a glare as harsh as could be and it was that moment, the moment I saw his face I realized that Gajeel had, in fact, been crying.
"I'm not hungry," Gajeel grunted angrily.
"Gajeel, just take it. Eat it and just rest your head. Then go visit the guild. We miss you," Lucy responded kindly, never once losing her temper with the stubborn and spiteful Dragon Slayer.
"And," this time her voice came out cautiously, "Perhaps you should stop drinking. Don't drown yourself in your sorrows by your lonesome, share them amongst us. We can help strengthen one another."
Gajeel stood there, dumbfounded at the kindness in both her actions and words. Not only did she come here and bring food, but she never once got angry at him for almost killing me. Never once did she shun him for it- instead she helped hold him up.
Lucy truly was a remarkable girl. She was amazing. Everything about her from her ability to see the best in everyone to her incredible wits to her emotional strength. It all amazed me.
He took the bowl with his right hand as his left hand pushed my entry door open. He then walked out but before he left, he turned to the Celestial mage and said, "I'll um…see you at the guild."
And with that he was gone, leaving me alone with her.
...This pain is just too real...
Ohhh...I'm nervous for Lucy and the next chapter!
