A/N: Day 4: Smothered


Gray was beginning to really regret agreeing to go on a date with Juvia. He thought she was cute and all, but right now it was just overwhelming. The constant hanging all over him was something he wasn't used to. Gray Fullbuster was normally a lone wolf. Or, at least he used to be before Lucy came along. The blonde had a way of bringing people together, he had to give her that. It was actually her idea that he should go on a date with Juvia. She thought that Gray would be able to get to know Juvia more and Juvia would get to know him more and would then stop acting so...crazy. Lucy was wrong, though. Dumb blonde, got me into this mess, Gray thought. Juvia was currently holding onto his arm for dear life as they walked through the park. The only thing this date was doing was making him feel smothered. Juvia was droning on about how their magic abilities for water and ice was a sign that they were meant to be when Gray finally snapped.

"Juvia! I can't take this anymore," he told her as he stopped walking.

"What's wrong, Gray-sama?" Juvia asked with a concerned look, "Do you want to go somewhere else? Is the park not to your liking?"

"No, it's not the park. It's this," Gray gestured to the two of them, " Juvia, I'm sure you're great and all. I mean, you're pretty and a very talented mage, but you're smothering me."

Juvia's face fell. She took a deep breath before replying, "Well, Gray-sama, if that's how you feel, then Juvia has no choice but to respect your wishes and leave." She turned and started to walk away. Gray could hear her starting to cry and she ran off before he could hear her full out sobs. Gray felt like a jerk, a free jerk, but still a jerk. He hoped tomorrow would be better.


Gray entered the Guildhall the next day expecting Juvia to be sitting at the table with his friends already, but instead she was sitting by herself looking at the wall. She didn't even run up to him to ask him how he slept like she usually did. Gray could almost get used to this, if it weren't for the hollow look in Juvia's eyes. That was the only thing that kept him from feeling like it was old times.


It had been a week without Juvia throwing herself at Gray. Gray thought that it was great in the beginning, but now he felt kind of lonely. He never realized how much time he spent talking to Juvia until she stopped talking to him. He had come to the conclusion that sometimes he couldn't live with her, but he sure as hell could never live without her either. With that thought in mind, he decided that he was going to apologize to her and try to get the light back in her eyes.


Gray found her in the park sitting by the water later that day.

"Juvia, can I talk to you?" Gray asked. Juvia just stiffened and went to walk away.

"Juvia, wait," he called. She stopped but didn't turn to look at him.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you. This past week without you has given me a chance to think and I realized that I miss you. I don't want you to not be in my life. If I could take back what I said right now, I would," Gray continued.

"Juvia does not want to smother Gray-sama any longer. Juvia is sorry for any problems she has caused, and will not cause any more," she said with slight strain before starting to walk away again. Gray couldn't take it anymore. He reached out, grabbed her arm and swung her towards him before kissing her. She was shocked at first but then started to kiss back. Gray was probably going to regret this later, but for now, everything was just fine.